JP2017012652A - System for game hall - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for game halls, in which a membership registration can be performed during a prize exchange even after the prize exchange in a prize exchange device has been started so as to promote membership registrations.SOLUTION: In the system for game halls, even after a start of prize exchange processing at a prize exchange counter, it is so configured that in the middle of the prize exchange processing, a membership registration can be performed and thereby a privilege as a member can be received. In this way, an effective promotion for a membership registration to a player in a face-to-face style becomes possible.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system.

  Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a system in which a member registration at a game hall can be performed as a temporary member registration at the time of counting pachinko balls acquired by a player and subsequently transferred to a main member registration. Has been. Specifically, at the time of counting, the player's mobile phone ID is read and registered as a temporary member, and the registration procedure for the main member is performed at a later date. In addition, when a gift is exchanged with the temporary member registered at the time of counting, since a message indicating that the member is a temporary member is displayed at the POS, it is possible to prompt the player to register the primary member.

JP 2008-194169 A

  However, temporary member registration can only be performed at the time of counting as described above, and when exchanging premiums at POS without temporary member registration, there is no longer any other way to exchange premiums as with ordinary players. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to enable membership registration during the prize exchange even after the prize exchange with the prize exchange device has started, and to promote the membership registration. An object of the present invention is to provide a game system that can be used.

According to the game system of claim 1, even after the prize exchange process at the prize exchange counter has started, member registration is performed in the middle of the prize exchange process to receive a privilege as a member. As a result, it is possible to urge the player to register as a member effectively in a face-to-face manner.
In particular, when a so-called saving service is included as a privilege provided to members, the game value remaining after the prize exchange can be immediately stored on the spot, so a great promotion effect can be expected.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. External perspective view of POS viewed from the employee side POS functional block diagram The figure which shows the screen before starting the prize exchange processing The figure which shows the screen when reading game value Figure showing a screen related to age verification Figure showing a screen for entering a PIN The figure which shows the screen of temporary member registration completion Flow chart showing the flow of the gift exchange process Flow chart showing the flow of member acceptance processing

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a game room system 100.
A plurality of gaming machines 1 are installed in the amusement hall, and a counting rental unit 2 is installed corresponding to each gaming machine 1. A plurality of these gaming machines 1 and counting lending units 2 are connected to the relay device 3 one by one. The relay device 3 is connected to the management device 5 via the LAN 4. The management device 5 receives game signals transmitted from devices on the gaming machine side such as the gaming machine 1 and the counting / lending unit 2, thereby playing game data for each gaming machine 1 and personal data for each member player registered as a member. Manage etc. Although detailed illustration is omitted, for example, several hundred gaming machines are installed in the game hall, and a plurality of gaming machine islands with different rental unit prices (rental unit prices) of game media are formed. FIG. 1 illustrates a gaming machine island (4 yen pachinko island) with a rental unit price of 4 yen as a game medium and a 1 yen gaming machine island (1 yen pachinko island).

  A POS 6 and a payment device 7 are also installed in the game hall, and these POS 6 and the payment device 7 are also connected to the management device 5 via the LAN 4. For example, a plurality of POSs 6 are installed in a prize exchange corner (a prize exchange counter), and each of the attached card processing machines 8 is connected thereto. As will be described in detail later, when the card processor 8 reads the number of possessions (game value) recorded on a general card or a membership card (represented by reference numerals 9 and 10 in FIG. 3), the POS 6 exchanges prizes. As a device, a prize exchange process for exchanging the game value and a prize desired by the player is executed. Note that, when the POS 6 is output to the management device 5, the POS No. POS that can identify which of the plurality of POS 6 in the giveaway exchange counter is the signal output. (Device ID) is added.

  When the general card 9 or the membership card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 7a, the checkout apparatus 7 reads the deposit balance recorded in the inserted cards 9 and 10 with a card reader / writer (not shown) and reads the read balance. Return processing is performed to refund the banknotes and coins corresponding to the deposit balance from the return port 7b. When the checkout device 7 and the POS 6 handle the game values recorded on the cards 9 and 10, the checkout device 7 and the POS 6 collate with the magnitudes of the game values stored in advance corresponding to the cards 9 and 10. After that, the handling of game value is made effective.

The management device 5 installed in the office in the game hall includes a control unit including a CPU and a storage unit (not shown), a transmission / reception unit, an output unit such as a monitor 5b and a printer, and an operation unit such as a keyboard 5a and a mouse. The operating status of the gaming machine 1, the counting lending unit 2, the POS 6, etc. is managed. In addition, the control unit of the management device 5 (hereinafter abbreviated as the management device 5 as appropriate) determines the magnitude of the game value ((the number of balls) Stores and manages the number of stored balls (in the case of members), the deposit balance, etc. Mochitama are balls counted during the day, and stored balls are balls counted before the previous day.
Also, a broadcasting device 11 connected to the LAN 4 is installed in the game hall, and the management device 5 transmits various broadcast command signals to the broadcasting device 11. The broadcast device 11 outputs various automatic voice messages according to the received broadcast command signal.

  The gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a CR pachinko machine, and has an operation handle 12, an upper tray 13 and a lower tray 14 that constitute a launching device that launches balls on the board surface 1a, and a liquid crystal display unit 15 on the board surface 1a. It has a start port 16 and a grand prize port 17. When the player operates the operation handle 12, the ball is fired on the board surface 1a, and when the pachinko ball wins the start port 16, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the winning is paid out or a big hit lottery is performed. In the jackpot lottery, the liquid crystal display unit 15 executes a symbol variation based on a so-called special symbol, and a jackpot is generated when the symbol that is stopped and displayed is a jackpot symbol. When a big hit occurs, the big winning opening 17 is opened for 15 rounds, for example.

  The number of out balls indicating the number of game media inserted into the gaming machine 1 is specified from the device on the gaming machine side in accordance with the progress of the game such as the ball being thrown by the player or the start winning at the start port 16. Various signals such as a possible out signal, a safe signal that can specify the number of safe balls indicating the number of game media paid out from the gaming machine 1 by winning, a state signal that can identify the jackpot state generated in the gaming machine 1, and the like. A game signal is transmitted.

  Further, the counting lending unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit (game value specifying means) including a CPU and a storage unit (not shown), a state display unit 22 indicating a current operation state (normal state, error state, etc.), and banknotes. A touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 24 that accepts operation input from a bill insertion slot 23 to be inserted and a player, and displays various data such as information on a deposit balance, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls, for one unit (500 yen) A payout button 25 for paying out a corresponding ball, a payout nozzle 26 through which the payout ball passes, a card insertion slot 27 into which a general card 9 or a member card 10 is inserted, and a lower tray 14 of the gaming machine 1 A counting tray 28 and the like connected to each other are provided. Note that the control unit of the counting lending unit 2 (hereinafter, abbreviated as the counting lending unit 2 as appropriate) can detect the operation of the lending button 30 and the return button 31 provided in the gaming machine 1. Although not shown in the figure, the counting lending unit 2 reads, for example, a card stock section capable of stocking up to 10 general cards 9 and various information recorded on the cards 9 and 10. A card reader / writer for writing and a counting unit for counting balls flowing in from the counting tray 28 are provided.

  The general card 9 is a card that is valid only on the day and has an IC chip 9a built therein. In the IC chip 9a, a general ID that can identify the card is recorded, and the deposit balance deposited in the counting lending unit 2 and the number of balls held for each unit price are recorded. The membership card 10 is a card that is valid until a preset expiration date (for example, three years), and includes an IC chip 10a. In the IC chip 10a, a member ID capable of specifying a card member is recorded, and similarly to the IC chip 9a of the general card 9, the deposit balance and the number of balls held for each unit price are recorded. Further, the number of stored balls corresponding to the member card 10 is stored in the member account of the management device 5. Thus, the member card 10 is a member storage medium possessed by a player who has registered as a member in advance, while the general card 9 is a general storage medium that can be used by an unspecified number of players.

The counting lending unit 2 has the following functions.
(1) When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 23, the amount of the inserted bill (in units of 1000 yen) is stored, and the inserted amount (payment balance) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24.

  (2) When the lending button 30 of the gaming machine 1 is operated, the number of balls corresponding to the number of times (500 yen) is within the range of the deposit balance in accordance with the operation of the lending button 30. Lending processing to lend from the payout mechanism is performed. If it is a counting lending unit 2 installed on a 4-yen pachinko island, 125 balls are paid out, and if it is a counting lending unit 2 installed on a 1-yen pachinko island, 500 balls are paid out. At this time, the game machine 1 sends a signal indicating that the ball has been paid out to the counting lending unit 2 once, so the number of times (500 yen) is deducted from the deposit balance displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24. In addition, a sales signal that can specify the number of borrowed balls indicating the number of balls lent out is transmitted. Since one pulse is transmitted every time the sales signal is paid out for several minutes, one pulse is specified as a sales amount of 500 yen.

  (3) When a ball dropped from the lower tray 14 of the gaming machine 1 is received by the counting tray 28, the ball received by the counting tray 28 flows into the counting section, thereby being a ball that is a game medium (game value). Is counted, and the number of balls counted, which is the number of balls counted, is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24.

  (4) When the payout button 25 is operated, in accordance with the operation of the payout button 25, the number of balls (number of possessed balls) or the number of stored balls (in the case of a member player) is once (500 yen). The equivalent number of balls is paid out from the payout mechanism inside the gaming machine 1.

  (5) When the return button 31 of the gaming machine 1 is operated, the deposit balance and the number of possessions are recorded and issued on the general card 9 or the membership card 10 according to the operation of the return button 31 (return of game media Process). When neither the general card 9 nor the membership card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, the deposit balance and the number of possessions are recorded on the general card 9 stocked in the card stock section by the card reader / writer. Issue. When the membership card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, the deposit balance is recorded on the membership card 10, and the membership card 10 is issued by transmitting the number of possessions to the management device 5 on condition that the PIN number is input. . When the general card 9 or the member card 10 is issued, the management device 5 generates an issuance signal that can specify the deposit balance and the number of possessed balls recorded on the general card 9 or the member card 10 together with the general ID and member ID that can identify the card. , The deposit balance and the number of possessions recorded in the general card 9 or the membership card 10 are also stored on the management device 5 side.

  (6) When the general card 9 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, the deposit balance and the number of possessions recorded in the general card 9 are read out by the card reader / writer and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24. When the general card 9 is accepted, the lending / returning process is performed within the range of the deposit balance and the number of balls recorded on the general card 9. In addition, when the payout process is performed when the number of held balls recorded on the general card 9 is less than the number of balls corresponding to the one-time number, all the number of held balls less than the number of balls corresponding to the one-time number is paid put out.

  (7) When the membership card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, the deposit balance recorded in the membership card 10 is read out by the card reader / writer and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24, and the input of a personal identification number is required. The number of stored balls stored in the member account of the management device 5 is also displayed. When the membership card 10 is accepted, it is loaned / returned within the range of the deposit balance and the number of balls recorded in the membership card 10 and the number of stored balls stored in the management device 5 corresponding to the membership card 10 Process. In addition, the information regarding the number of possessed balls is recorded in association with the information on the rental unit price, and the general card 9 and the membership card 10 are recorded.

  As described above, the counting / lending unit 2 constitutes a game value specifying means for specifying the game value acquired by the player through the game, while the storage unit of the management device 5 is one of the general card 9 and the membership card 10. On the other hand, a game value storage means for storing the game value specified by the lending unit 2 in association with each other is configured. The storage unit of the management device 5 includes, for example, a ROM, a RAM, an EEPROM, and the like. Among these, the nonvolatile storage unit associates the game value (save ball) acquired by the player over a plurality of days with the member card 10. The storage game value storage means for storing is configured.

The POS 6 shown in FIG. 2 includes a card processor 8 and a second display unit 42 (shown only in FIG. 3) as an attached device separate from the main body unit 40.
The main body 40 of the POS 6 is arranged in the first direction D1 where the employee is located in the gift exchange counter, and includes a first display unit 41 and an operation unit 43 that are visible from the first direction D1 side. Provide one. The operation unit 43 of the main body unit 40 includes a warehousing button 43a for performing a warehousing operation of prizes, various operation buttons 43b, an exchange button 43c for performing an exchange operation for special prizes, and for completing a prize exchange process. An end button 43d, a PLU button 43e for selecting the type of the prize, a cancel button 43f for canceling each operation, and a numeric keypad 43g for inputting the quantity of each prize are provided. In the main body 40, a printer 44 is provided at a position above the operation unit 43, and a scanner 45 is provided on the left side.

  The 1st display part 41 displays the display content for employees, for example, consists of a liquid crystal display. A first touch panel 41 a made of, for example, a transparent electrode is provided on the front surface of the first display unit 41. Therefore, the employee can operate the first touch panel 41a with his / her fingers while looking at the first display unit 41 (hereinafter abbreviated as a touch operation).

  On the other hand, the card processor 8 is provided so as to be communicable with the main body 40 of the POS 6, and a general card receiving unit (not receiving) the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 8 a and the general card 9 can be received without contact (without taking in). A reader / writer unit) 8b, and a member card receiving unit (reader / writer unit) 8c capable of receiving and receiving the member card 10. The card processor 8 in FIG. 2 is shown in the same direction as the main body 40 of the POS 6 for convenience of explanation. However, the player inserts the membership card 10 into the reception unit 8c and the password on the liquid crystal display unit 8a. In order to enable a touch operation such as input, the card processor 8 is installed at the prize exchange counter toward the player.

  For example, in the prize exchange counter, the second display unit 42 is arranged facing the player side opposite to the arrow D1 in FIG. 2 in a state of being back-to-back with the first display unit 41 of the POS 6. Display the display contents. The second display unit 42 is configured with a liquid crystal display, for example, similarly to the first display unit 41, and a second touch panel (not shown) is provided on the front surface thereof.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the POS 6. The POS 6 includes a control unit 47 configured by a microcomputer having a CPU 47a, a ROM 47b, a RAM 47c, and an I / O 47d, and a peripheral unit connected to the control unit 47. As a peripheral part, the I / F part 48 which transmits / receives various signals and various information between the management apparatus 5 and the card processing machine 8, the 1st touch panel 41a, the 1st display part 41, and various buttons 43a-43g. (Operation unit 43), scanner 45, and printer 44. Further, the peripheral part includes a second display part 42 having the second touch panel and an employee card reader 49 (shown only in FIG. 3). The employee card reader 49 is provided in the main body 40 to authenticate the employee at the POS 6, and accepts the employee's IC card (not shown) by the card processor 8 (the card). A configuration in which the function of the reader 49 is also used may be used.

Although details will be described later, when the general card 9 is received by the card processor 8, the control unit 47 of the POS 6 (hereinafter abbreviated as POS 6 as appropriate) exchanges prizes relating to the game value associated with the general card 9. The process is executed according to the following procedure.
(1) The number of balls in the general card 9 placed in the general card receiving unit 8b of the card processor 8 is read. At this time, the magnitude of the read game value (that is, the number of possessed balls for each rental unit price) is specified and displayed on the first display unit 41 and the second display unit 42, respectively. Further, the management device 5 is requested (requested) for verification by transmitting information on the number of possessed balls.

  (2) Based on the collation result transmitted from the management device 5 (the reading result of the game value associated with the general card 9), when the handling of the information related to the number of possessed balls is made effective, the exchange is performed with the number of possessed balls When the number of possible special prizes is calculated for each rental unit price and displayed on the first display unit 41 and the second display unit 42 respectively, on the other hand, if the information on the number of possessed balls is not valid based on the matching result, this is indicated as “error”. Is displayed on at least the first display unit 41 to prompt the employee in charge to confirm the authenticity of the card 9.

  (3) Regarding the selection of a prize, any one of a touch operation on the first display unit 41 (first touch panel 41a), a touch operation on the second display unit 42 (second touch panel), and a button operation on the operation unit 43 Based on the operation input, the type of the prize is specified, or the type of the prize that the player desires to exchange is specified based on the operation input by the reading operation of the identification code (for example, barcode) of the prize by the scanner 45. In addition, a calculation process is performed to specify the number of balls (prize value) corresponding to the specified prize.

(4) The prize to be exchanged is determined, and the result obtained by subtracting the prize value from the game value is calculated as the number of remaining balls. Note that after the prize is confirmed by the POS 6, the prize is handed over by the employee in charge.
(5) When the calculated number of remaining balls or deposit balance is not 0, the number of remaining balls or deposit balance is recorded on the general card 9 by the general card receiving unit 8b. The general card 9 on which this recording has been performed is returned to the player by the employee in charge.

Further, the POS 6 executes a prize exchange process related to the membership card 10 in the following procedure.
(1) The number of possessed balls of the membership card 10 inserted from the insertion slot of the membership card receiving unit 8c in the card processing machine 8 is read, and the number of possessed balls is displayed for each rental price by the first display unit 41 and the second display unit. 42 is displayed. Further, as with the general card 9, information on the number of possessed balls is transmitted to the management device 5 to request verification.

  (2) When a personal identification number is input by a touch operation on the liquid crystal display unit 8a of the card processing machine 8, the number of stored balls of the corresponding member is requested to the management device 5 and the number of stored balls transmitted from the management device 5 (Game value associated with the membership card 10). The number of stored balls is displayed on the first display unit 41 and the second display unit 42 by adding the total number of stored balls and the above-mentioned number of stored balls read from the member card 10 (the number of stored balls + the number of stored balls). This is done by displaying each one.

  (3) As in the case of the general card 9, when the handling of the information regarding the number of balls is made effective, the number of special prizes that can be exchanged with the number of balls or the total number of balls is calculated for each rental unit, and each display unit 41 , 42, and when the information regarding the number of possessed balls is not valid based on the collation result, this is displayed on the first display unit 41 as “error”. Further, based on the operation input of the touch operation on the first touch panel 41a or the second touch panel or the operation using the operation unit 43 or the scanner 45, the prize is specified and the prize value is specified.

(4) As in the case of the general card 9, the prize to be exchanged is determined, and the result obtained by subtracting the number of balls for the prize as the prize value from the number of possessions or the total number of balls as the game value is the remaining Calculate as a number.
(5) When the calculated number of remaining balls or deposit balance is not 0, the number of remaining balls or deposit balance is recorded on the member card 10 by the member card receiving unit 8c. The recorded membership card 10 is returned to the player by the employee in charge.

  The data read by the POS 6 includes the general ID and the member ID, and the management device 5 collates the number of balls for each rental unit price corresponding to the ID. Hereinafter, the general card 9 and the membership card 10 are generically referred to as “card”, and the card information including the ID, the number of balls, etc. is simply referred to as “card information”.

  In addition, the special prize and the general prize are set as the prize of the present embodiment. Specifically, there are three types of special prizes: special prize large (hereinafter also referred to as “large”), special prize medium (hereinafter also referred to as “medium”), and special prize small (hereinafter also referred to as “small”). Has been. For example, the special prize size is set to 5000 yen, the special prize size is set to 1000 yen, and the special prize size is set to 200 yen. The general prize is a general prize such as confectionery (hereinafter simply referred to as a prize), and various kinds of prizes are prepared in the prize exchange counter.

  As a member storage medium issuing means, the POS 6 is configured to execute member registration processing on condition that predetermined member information is input and to issue a member card 10 to a player. Further, the member registration process of the present embodiment is performed after the prize exchange process is started by reading the game value associated with the above-described general card 9 and after the prize exchange process is terminated. Screens displayed during the prize exchange process and the member registration process will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the screen of the first display unit 41 before the start of the gift exchange process. The employee in charge of gift exchange causes the employee card reader 49 of the POS 6 to read the employee IC card in which operator information including his / her name and the like is recorded in advance. As a result, the name of the person in charge is automatically displayed in the date / time column 51 shown at the top of FIG. 4, and the operator information is transmitted to the management apparatus 5 and stored therein. In the “type” column 52 below, “4P” and “1P” corresponding to the 4-yen pachinko and the 1-yen pachinko are displayed as the types of game values read from the card. In addition, for the card, “input” indicating the number of cards read, “total” indicating the total number of read balls and total balls, and the amount of game value that can be exchanged for special prizes out of the total And a column 53 for displaying “fraction (total number−exchangeable number)” obtained by subtracting the exchangeable number from the total number, and “0” is displayed in the state before reading. Is done. Further, a column 54 representing the number of special prizes of “large”, “medium”, and “small”, and a column 55 representing one type of “prize name”, “unit price”, and “number” related to the above-mentioned prizes. However, in the state before reading the card, both are “0” and blank (blank).

  On the upper right side of the screen, a “support request” key 56a and a “replacement request” key 56b are provided. These keys 56a and 56b are used to support a prize exchange operation, which will be described later, or to request a replacement by the touch operation. In addition, on the right side of the screen, a “select premium” key 57 and a “member management” key 59 are provided. The prize selection key 57 is used to transit to a prize selection panel screen (not shown) that displays prizes that can be exchanged within a fractional range (or within a game value range) as a list.

  The member management key 59 is for transitioning to a member management menu screen (not shown). On the member management menu screen that is transitioned by a touch operation of the member management key 59, various selection items including “temporary member registration” and “inquiry of member information” are provided. Transition to the “provisional member registration screen” (see FIG. 6). Note that the screen shown in FIG. 4 is also provided with a “stored ball” key 58a for storing the number of unexchanged balls for the member in the management apparatus 5 as a stored ball number, and an “end” key 58b for ending the gift exchange process. It has been.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the screen of the first display unit 41 when the number of possessed balls is read from the card. In this case, the card information is read and the result of automatic calculation of the number of special prizes, etc. is obtained with respect to the number of possessed balls that the player has acquired through the game at a 4-yen pachinko. That is, the POS 6 specifies the “type (4-yen pachinko)” and the “total number: 3456” of the number of balls by executing a reading process of a card (for example, one) provided by the player. The POS 6 calculates the total amount (3456 balls × 4 yen = 13824 yen) by multiplying the specified total number by the value of the rental unit price. Next, the POS 6 divides the calculated total amount by, for example, the corresponding amount of “large” of 5000 yen, “medium” of 1000 yen, and “small” of 200 yen in order to minimize the remainder. Find the number of special prizes. At this time, the POS 6 displays in the column 54 the numbers of “large”, “medium”, and “small” calculated by the following division.

13824 yen ÷ 5000 yen = 2 "large" ... remainder 3824 yen 3824 yen ÷ 1000 yen = "medium" 3 pieces ... remainder 824 yen 824 yen ÷ 200 yen = "small" 4 pieces ... remainder 24 yen Thus, POS6 is In response to the specification of “total number: 3456”, the number of special prizes that can be exchanged with the total number is specified. The POS 6 calculates and displays “exchangeable number: 3450” and “fraction: 6” from the values (13800 yen and 24 yen) obtained by the above division and the unit price of lending. Note that, when the POS 6 specifies a specific prize (for example, a plurality of prizes exceeding 200 yen) by the operation input, after subtracting the number of balls for the prize, the “large”, “medium”, “ Each number of “small” is obtained by recalculation. Although the amount is converted when calculating the number of special prizes that can be exchanged, the number of balls may be calculated without converting the amount. In this case, “large” is calculated as 1250 balls, “medium” is calculated as 250 balls, and “small” is calculated as 50 balls.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the screen of the second display unit 42 displays, as with the first display unit 41, a column indicating the type such as 4-yen pachinko or 1-yen pachinko, “total number” and “fraction”. In addition to a column indicating the number of special prizes, the premium selection panel, a column indicating a prize selected by the player on the premium selection panel, and the like are displayed.

  When executing the member registration process, the temporary member registration screen illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is sequentially displayed on the first display unit 41. First, on the temporary member registration screen of FIG. 6, in order to register the age confirmation information indicating that the player has reached the specified age, a confirmation message “Is the customer over 18 years old?” A pop-up display 61 is displayed on the exchange processing screen. In this case, the “Yes” and “No” keys 61a and 61b and the “Cancel” key 61c are displayed together. When the “Yes” key 61a is touched, the screen changes to the screen of FIG.

  In the screen of FIG. 7, in order to input the number desired by the player for the password to be input by the player when the game value is read from the management device 5, a message “Please enter the password” is displayed. Then, a pop-up display 62 is displayed on the gift exchange processing screen. In this case, for example, a numeric key 62b, a confirmation key 62c, a cancel key 62d, and the like are displayed together with a column 62a in which a password entered with a 4-digit number is replaced with an asterisk for display. Such age confirmation information and personal identification number are set as predetermined member information, and on the condition that both the age confirmation information and personal identification number are input, the member registration process by POS 6 is executed when the confirmation key 62c is touched. The

  FIG. 8 illustrates a screen displayed on the first display unit 41 when the member registration process is completed. In this case, a pop-up display 63 and a confirmation key 63a are displayed for issuing a membership card 10 and a message for prompting membership registration.

  That is, the above-described member registration process is a temporary member registration process in which a part of member information such as age confirmation information and a personal identification number is registered among prescribed member information necessary for registering a player as a main member. For registration of the “main member”, the player submits a predetermined application form in which necessary information is entered to the free gift exchange counter, and all of the prescribed member information including the necessary information is input to the management device 5. This is done by registering the player as a regular member.

  In addition, in the prize exchange process related to the general card 9, the membership card 10 is issued by the member registration process, and at the same time, the remaining number of balls remaining on the general card 9 (the fraction after the prize exchange) is calculated from the following day. Can be stored in the member account of the management device 5 as a storage ball that can be used for the same, and so-called storage service can be received. Also, if the main member is registered when the player visits the store on or after the next day, the management device 5 uses the membership card 10 to replay the replay (replay service) as a replay medium rented by the counting lending unit 2. ) And prize exchange at POS 6 are allowed within the range of the stored ball (provides a privilege). In other words, after issuing the membership card 10 at the POS 6, the management device 5 is a re-game service or a prize exchange among the benefits that can be provided to the player until all of the prescribed member information is input. Suppress the provision of some benefits.

  In this way, the management device 5 constitutes a privilege providing means for providing a predetermined privilege to a player who possesses the membership card 10 and executes a game on the gaming machine 1 for the stored ball as a consideration. A re-playing means that enables the game is provided, and the player is provided with a privilege that the stored balls accumulated over a plurality of days can be used for the game. The pop-up displays 61 to 63 described above are not limited to the display on the first display unit 41 illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, but are also displayed on the second display unit 42, so that at least the employee in charge and the player are displayed. The touch operation is performed by either of the above. The password may be input by a player's touch operation on the liquid crystal display unit 8a of the card processor 8.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the prize exchange process executed by the POS 6 at a predetermined cycle. The POS 6 determines the start timing of the gift exchange process during the execution of the main process. If it is determined that the start timing has been reached, the process shifts from the main process and starts the following process.

  The POS 6 waits until a predetermined input signal is obtained from the first touch panel 41a or the card processor 8 in the prize exchange process. That is, the POS 6 determines whether or not the support request key 56a is touch-operated (S1). If the POS 6 determines that the key 56a is not touch-operated (S1: NO), whether or not the replacement request key 56b is touch-operated. It is determined whether or not (S3).

  When the POS 6 determines that the replacement request key 56b is not touch-operated (S3: NO), the POS 6 determines whether or not the card is received by the card processor 8 (S5). If the POS 6 determines that the card is not accepted by the card processor 8 (S5: NO), it determines whether the card information is stored in its own RAM 47c (S13). If the POS 6 determines that the card information is not stored in the RAM 47c (S13: NO), the touch operation of the keys 56a and 56b or the reception of the card by the card processor 8 (substantial start of the gift exchange process). Wait until there is (S1, S3, S5, S13 are repeated).

  Here, the support request and the change request will be described. For example, when the time when the number of players who wish to exchange prizes increases and the prize exchange counter becomes crowded, the employee in charge touches the support request key 56a of the first display unit 41. Accordingly, when the POS 6 determines that the support request key 56a has been touched (S1: YES), the POS No. A support request signal to which is added is transmitted to the management device 5 (S2).

  When the management device 5 receives the support request signal from the POS 6, the management device 5 communicates with the POS 6 other than the POS 6 specified by the support request signal, and is in a non-operating state in which the prize exchange process is not executed (or the standby state) Whether or not a support request is required is determined by determining whether or not the POS 6 in the state) exists. Here, if the management device 5 determines that there is a non-operating POS 6, the management device 5 transmits a broadcast command signal instructing the support request broadcast to the POS 6 to the broadcast device 11. Thereby, the broadcasting apparatus 11 outputs an automatic voice message “Please contact business support, support for No. POS” regarding the POS 6 specified based on the received broadcast command signal. If the management device 5 determines that there is no non-operating POS 6, the management device 5 does not instruct the broadcast device 11 to broadcast a support request.

  Further, for example, when the employee in charge operating at the POS 6 wants to change the giveaway exchanging work, the change request key 56b is touched. Accordingly, when the POS 6 determines that the support request key 56a has been touched (S3: YES), the POS No. A replacement request signal to which is added is transmitted to the management device 5 (S4).

  When the management device 5 receives the support request signal, the management device 5 determines whether or not the employee can be replaced with another employee. Specifically, for example, the management device 5 has previously registered shift data in which shift work hours in the amusement hall are associated with all employees including employees in charge of giving away prizes. Operator information and POS No. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the specified POS 6 can be replaced. Here, if the management device 5 determines that the replacement is possible, the management device 5 transmits a broadcast command signal for instructing the POS 6 to broadcast the replacement request to the broadcasting device 11. As a result, the broadcasting device 11 outputs an automatic voice message “business communication, please replace the No. POS” regarding the POS 6 specified based on the received broadcast command signal. If the management device 5 determines that the replacement is not possible, the management device 5 does not instruct the broadcast device 11 to broadcast the replacement request.

Subsequently, the case where the general card 9 is received by the card processor 8 by being placed in the general card receiving unit 8b in the step S5 (YES) will be described as an example.
In this case, the POS 6 reads the ID recorded on the general card 9 and the number of balls (game value) for each rental unit price, and develops (stores) the card information in the RAM 47c (S6). Further, the POS 6 transmits a verification request signal that can specify the read ID and the number of balls held for each rental unit price to the management device 5 (S7), and waits for reception of the verification result signal from the management device 5. When the management device 5 receives the verification request signal from the POS 6, the management device 5 holds the number of balls for each unit price corresponding to the ID specified by the verification request signal and the number of units for each unit price corresponding to the ID stored in the management device 5. The number of balls is read out and collated, and the collation result signal is transmitted to the POS 6.

  When the POS 6 receives a verification result signal (that is, a game value readout result signal associated with the general card 9) from the management device 5, the POS 6 does not validate the handling of the card information based on the verification result signal (S8). : NO), this is displayed as "error" on the first display unit 41, and error notification is performed (S20). In this case, for example, the POS 6 waits for error cancellation until the end button 43d or the key 58b is operated, prompts the employee in charge to confirm the authenticity of the card, and operates the end button 43d or the key 58b. Then, the prize exchange process is terminated (return to the main process).

  On the other hand, when validating the handling of the card information based on the verification result signal (S8: YES), the POS 6 determines “exchangeable number”, “large”, The number of “middle” and “small” special prizes and “fraction” are calculated by the above-described calculation method (S9). In this case, the POS 6 displays the calculated exchangeable number, special prize number and fraction, and the above-described type and total number on the first display unit 41 and the second display unit 42, respectively (S10). Further, the POS 6 extracts prizes that can be exchanged based on the calculated fraction from a plurality of kinds of prizes stored in advance, and generates display data represented as the prize selection panel.

  Subsequently, the POS 6 determines whether or not the member management key 59 has been touched (S11), and based on the touch operation of the key 59 (S11: YES), executes a member acceptance process described later (S12, (See FIG. 10).

  The POS 6 determines whether or not the card information is stored in the RAM 47c when the member management key 59 is not touch-operated (S11: NO) or when the member acceptance process is executed (S13). When the POS 6 determines that the card information is not stored in the RAM 47c (S13: NO), the process returns to the first step S1. On the other hand, when the POS 6 determines that the card information is stored in the RAM 47c (S13: YES), It is determined whether or not it has been selected (S14). Here, it is assumed that the POS 6 determines that a prize has been selected by touching the prize desired by the player on the prize selection panel of the second display unit 42 (S14: YES). In this case, the POS 6 specifies the type of the prize and the prize value, subtracts the prize value from the fraction, and recalculates the fraction. As a result, the POS 6 identifies exchangeable prizes based on the fraction after recalculation, and updates the corresponding fields 53 and 55 of the first and second display units 41 and 42 and the display of the prize selection panel (S21). ), The process returns to the first step S1.

  If the POS 6 determines that no prize is selected (S14: NO) and determines that the fraction is not less than a predetermined value (for example, less than 20) (S15: NO), the process returns to the first step S1. Furthermore, even if the POS 6 determines that the fraction is less than 20 (S15: YES), if it is determined that the end button 43d or the key 58b is not operated (no end operation) (S16: NO), the first step Return to S1. Thus, in the gift exchange process, as long as the card information is valid and there is no end operation (S8: YES and S16: NO), the above steps S1 to S16, S21 are repeatedly executed.

  It is assumed that a player who is prompted to register as a member by the employee in charge wishes to register before performing this termination operation. In this case, the POS 6 determines that the member management key 59 is touched by the employee in charge (S11: YES), and receives the touch operation of the temporary member registration item on the transitioning member management menu screen. Then, the process proceeds to the member acceptance process of FIG. 10 (S12).

  In the member reception process, for example, by inserting a member card 10 initialized in advance into the member card reception unit 8c of the card processor 8 by the employee in charge, the POS 6 allows the member card 10 unregistered in the member card reception unit 8c. Is determined to be inserted (S31: YES). Next, the POS 6 performs a pop-up display 61 of age confirmation information shown in FIG. 6 on each of the display units 41 and 42, and accepts key 61a to 61c operations (S32). If the POS 6 determines that the “Yes” key 61a has been touched (S32: YES), the POS 6 switches to a pop-up display 62 for inputting the personal identification number shown in FIG. Then, if the POS 6 determines that the confirmation key 62c is touched after the password is input with a 4-digit number by touching the numeric keypad 62b of the player (S33: YES), the temporary member registration is completed. 8 is switched to the pop-up display 63 shown in FIG. 8, and the membership card 10 is issued (S34, S35).

  Specifically, since the predetermined member information including the input personal identification number and the age confirmation information is transmitted from the POS 6 to the management device 5 (S35), the management device 5 associates with the personal identification number and the like. The management which allocates ID and accumulates in the member account for every member is attained. Therefore, the benefit of the savings service can be immediately received for the fraction remaining after the prize exchange (the number of game media).

  Note that the player cannot receive some benefits such as replay or prize exchange until the above-described registration of the main member is performed. In addition, in the member acceptance process, when the conditions related to the age confirmation information are not satisfied and the “No” key 61b or the “Cancel” key 61c is touched (S32: NO), the password is input. If the cancel key 62d is touched (S33: NO), the member acceptance process is terminated (return to S13).

  Thereafter, the POS 6 rewrites the information of the general card 9 in the general card receiving unit 8b according to the above-described processing content (premium exchange information) by the completion operation of the premium exchange process (S16: YES), The rewritten card information and premium exchange information are transmitted to the management device 5 (S18), the card information in the RAM 47c is initialized (S19), and the premium exchange process is terminated. In this way, the employee in charge can hand the special prize and the prize to the player, and the player can receive the membership card 10 issued when the temporary member registration is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
Even after POS 6 has started the prize exchange process, membership registration is made in the middle of the prize exchange process so that members can receive benefits as a member. Can be encouraged to register as a member.

In particular, when a savings service is included as a privilege to be provided to members, the gaming value remaining after the prize exchange can be instantly saved on the spot, so a great promotion effect can be expected.
In addition, as described above, the predetermined member information input at the POS 6 is only a part of the minimum information necessary for preventing congestion at the gift exchange counter, and all the members information after the membership card 10 is issued It is desirable to register as the main member when the member information is entered. In this case, during the period until registration as the main member, it is preferable to promote the registration procedure of the main member by suppressing provision of some benefits.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be modified or expanded as follows, or may be combined with the above-described embodiments, or may be combined with each of the modifications.

There may be one prize exchange counter in the amusement hall, or two or more prize exchange counters. In addition, the number of POS 6 installed in one premium exchange counter may be any number.
Examples of the benefits provided to the members include a storage service that accumulates game values over a plurality of days, a replay service that uses the storage balls, and the like, but are not limited thereto. The content of the privilege may be any privilege that can be a benefit to the member, such as various services using so-called store visit points or services that provide various game information useful to the player.

  The predetermined member information is exemplified as including a password and age confirmation information, but is not limited to this. For example, the player's address, occupation, and other personal information may be input as member information at the POS 6. As described above, since the registration of the main member requires a certain amount of time for registering (inputting) all of the specified member information, the input is performed by the management device 5. A configuration may be adopted in which an input related to the specified member information is performed by a device other than the management device 5 in the game hall.

  The means for requesting the support or replacement of the employee in charge related to the prize exchange is not limited to the broadcasting apparatus 11 in the hall, for example, an income apparatus in which the employee is wearing a voice requesting the support or replacement. It is good also as a structure output with respect to (illustration omitted). In this case, the income apparatus is provided with a headset that can communicate with the management apparatus 5 and directly voice-guides the automatic voice message to the employee. This intercom device also has the same effect as that of requesting support or replacement by the broadcasting device 11 such that an employee can quickly deal with it.

The keys 56a and 56b for requesting such support and replacement are provided on the first display unit 41 (first touch panel 41a) for employees, but are provided as buttons that can be pressed on the operation surface of the operation unit 43, respectively. You may do it.
The management device 5 determines whether or not support or replacement is necessary. However, any one of the POS 6 of the prize exchange counter detects the operating status of the other POS 6 and makes the above determination, and so on. You may make it perform the said determination with an apparatus.

Although a pachinko gaming machine is illustrated as the gaming machine 1, it may be a slot machine. Further, although balls are exemplified as game media, medals may be used.
Although the gaming machine 1 of the type that pays out actual gaming media in accordance with the winning is illustrated, it may be a gaming machine of a type that gives points instead of paying out gaming media.

  The game unit lending unit price can be arbitrarily set within the range determined by the rules. The rental unit price is not limited to two types of 4 yen and 1 yen, but may be 3 or more types. Each of the other numerical values is an example, and any numerical value may be adopted. Corresponding expressions such as “not reached” can be applied to “less than” described above.

  Although it is assumed that the counting lending unit 2 as a counting machine is attached to each gaming machine 1, one counting machine may be installed for a plurality of gaming machines 1. For example, a configuration in which one counter (counter per island) is installed for each gaming machine island may be used.

  In the drawings, 2 is a counting lending unit (game value specifying means), 5 is a control unit (game value storage means, privilege providing means, saving game value storage means, re-game means) of a management device, and 6 is a POS (freebie exchange device). ), 9 is a general card (general storage medium), 10 is a member card (member storage medium), 47 is a control unit (member storage medium issuing means), and 100 is a game system.

Claims (4)

A game value specifying means for specifying the game value acquired by the player through the game;
The game value specified by the game value specifying means is associated with any one of a general storage medium that can be used by an unspecified number of players and a member storage medium possessed by a player who has registered as a member in advance. Game value storage means for storing;
When the general storage medium or the member storage medium is received, the game value associated with the general storage medium or the member storage medium is read from the game value storage means, and the game value and the prize desired by the player A prize exchange device for executing a prize exchange process for exchanging
In a system for a game hall comprising a privilege providing means for providing a predetermined privilege to a player possessing the member storage medium,
The prize exchange device is:
A member storage medium issuing means capable of executing member registration processing on condition that predetermined member information is input and issuing the member storage medium to a player;
After the game value associated with the general storage medium is read and the prize exchange process is started and before the prize exchange process is completed, the member storage medium issuing means executes the member registration process to execute the member registration process. A game system characterized in that a storage medium can be issued. The privilege providing means is:
Saving game value storage means for storing the game value acquired by the player over a plurality of days in association with the member storage medium;
Re-game means for enabling the game on the gaming machine to be executed with the game value stored in the stored game value storage means as a price;
2. The system for a game hall according to claim 1, wherein a privilege that the game value accumulated over a plurality of days can be used for the game is provided to the player.   The predetermined member information includes a password that is input to the player when the game value is read from the game value storage means, and age confirmation information indicating that the player has reached a specified age. The game system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The predetermined member information is a part of member information of prescribed member information necessary for registering a player as a main member,
After the member storage medium issuance means has issued the member storage medium, the privilege providing means is a part of the benefits that can be provided to the player until all of the prescribed member information is input. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein provision is suppressed.

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