Game server, game machine, and game control method

• US 8,002,632 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner; Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US12/183,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

In a collective control of plural game machines placed in the same parlor, it is detected whether there is player change on each game machine and, based on the detection result, the credit cumulative consumption on each game machine is managed player by player. When the credit cumulative consumption of a certain player reaches a predetermined upper limit, payout return is executed to this player. The display status and non-display status of information about the upper limit can be switched depending on the play status. Therefore, the player can perform a game without anxiety while enjoying amusement of the game. As the result, the problem of missing customers is eliminated.

Claims

1. A game server for collectively controlling a plurality of game machines, each of which has a display and is brought into a status enabling starting of a game based on insertion of coins or a given credit number and executes a first payout based on a result of the game, and for directing execution of a second payout based on a cumulative value corresponding to the number of coins or the credit number bet by a player playing the game on each of the plurality of game machines having reached a predetermined upper limit, the game server comprising:

a communication interface configured for receiving information indicative of the cumulative value corresponding to a number of coins or a credit number bet by only a single player continuously playing the game on each of the plurality of game machines;

a sensor configured for detecting a player'"'"'s involvement; and

a CPU configured for controlling the display of the applicable game machine for switching to a display status in which information related to the predetermined upper limit is displayed on the display of the applicable game machine if the player'"'"'s involvement is detected by the sensor of the applicable game machine,

wherein the information related to the predetermined upper limit is information representing a gap between the cumulative value indicated in the received information associated with the applicable game machine and the predetermined upper limit associated with the applicable game machine, and

the CPU directs sending of a signal to the applicable game machine for executing the second payout based on the information indicative of the cumulative value having reached the predetermined upper limit, and irrespective of the game result.

2. The game server according to claim 1, wherein the CPU also directs execution of the second payout without fail by each of the plurality of game machines for which the received information indicates that the cumulative value has reached the predetermined upper limit and based on a result of a timing determination lottery for determining timing of the payout.

3. The game server according to claim 1, wherein the CPU determines, based on the received information indicative of the cumulative value, that the cumulative value has reached the predetermined upper limit when one player playing the game on one of the plurality of game machines continues playing the game until the cumulative value has reached the predetermined upper limit on the one game machine.

4. The game server according to claim 1, wherein the CPU also directs, when the one player playing the game on the one game machine is changed to another player, sending of a signal for resetting the cumulative value on the one game machine.

5. The game server according to claim 1, wherein the CPU further directs sending of a signal to the applicable game machine for starting a calculation of the cumulative value upon receiving a signal indicative of the involvement of a player detected by the sensor provided in the applicable game machine.

6. A game machine, which is brought into a status enabling starting of a game based on insertion of coins or a given credit number, which is under collective control of a game server together with other game machines, which executes a first payout return based on a result of play of the game, and which executes a second payout in accordance with a directive from the game server based on a cumulative value corresponding to a number of coins or the credit number consumed by a player playing the game on the game machine reaching a predetermined upper limit, the game machine comprising:

a sensor configured for detecting a player'"'"'s involvement in the game at the game machine;

a display configured for displaying information related to the predetermined upper limit; and

a communication interface configured for;

sending information indicative of the cumulative value corresponding to the number of coins or a credit number bet by a single player continuously playing the game on the game machine to the game server, and

receiving a signal from the game server for switching to a display status in which the information related to the predetermined upper limit is to be displayed if the player'"'"'s involvement is detected by the sensor,

wherein the information related to the predetermined upper limit is information about a gap between the predetermined upper limit and the cumulative value, and

the game machine executes the second payout based on the information indicative of the cumulative value having reached a predetermined upper limit, and irrespective of the game result.

7. The game machine according to claim 6, further comprising:

a CPU for executing the second payout,

wherein the communication interface is also for receiving the directive to execute the second payout from the game server without fail after the cumulative value on the game machine reaches the predetermined upper limit,

wherein the received directive establishes a timing for the execution of the second payout corresponding to a result of a timing determination lottery.

8. The game machine according to claim 7, wherein the CPU is also for resetting the cumulative value on the game machine after the one player playing the game on the game machine is changed to another player.

9. The game machine according to claim 7, wherein the CPU is also for determining the cumulative value only so long as the single player continues to play the game and at least until the determined cumulative value has reached the predetermined upper limit.

10. The game machine according to claim 6 wherein the game machine starts a calculation of the cumulative value upon receiving an instruction from the game server responsive to the sent information indicative of the status.

11. A game control method for collectively controlling a plurality of game machines, each of which is brought into a status enabling starting of a game based on insertion of coins or a given credit number and executes a first payout based on the result of play of the game, and for directing execution of a second payout based on a cumulative value corresponding to a number of coins or the credit number consumed by a player playing the game on each of the plurality of game machines reaching a predetermined upper limit, the game control method comprising:

receiving information indicative of the cumulative value corresponding to the number of coins or the credit number consumed by a single player continuously playing the game on each of the plurality of game machines;

controlling a display for directing switching to a display status in which information related to a predetermined upper limit is displayed in association with the applicable game machine if the received information indicates the status of the applicable game machine as being in play; and

sending a signal to the applicable game machine for executing the second payout based on the information indicative of the cumulative value having reached the predetermined upper limit, and irrespective of the game result,

wherein the information related to the predetermined upper limit is information representing a gap between the cumulative value on the applicable game machine and the predetermined upper limit, and

wherein the received information indicative of the status of an applicable game machine is information indicative of the involvement of a player detected by a sensor at the applicable game machine and the signal sent to the applicable game machine directs switching to the display status only if the received information indicates detection of a player'"'"'s involvement in the game at the applicable game machine.

12. The game control method according to claim 11, further comprising:

sending a signal to one of the plurality of game machines directing execution of the second payout without fail after the received information indicates that the cumulative value on the one game machine has reached the predetermined upper limit; and

executing a timing determination lottery for determining a timing of the execution of the second payout by the one game machine.

13. The game control method according to claim 11, further comprising:

sending the signal to the one game machine directing execution of the second payout only if one player continues playing the game on the one game machine until the cumulative value on the one game machine has reached the predetermined upper limit.

14. The game control method according to claim 11, further comprising:

resetting the cumulative value on the one game machine if the one player playing the game on the one game machine is changed to another player.

15. The game control method according to claim 11, further comprising:

sending a signal to the applicable game machine for starting a calculation of the cumulative value upon receiving the information indicative of the involvement of a player detected by the sensor at the applicable game machine.

16. A game machine, which is brought into a status enabling starting of a game based on insertion of coins or a given credit number, which is under collective control of a game server together with other game machines, which executes a first payout based on a result of play of the game, and which executes a second payout in accordance with a directive from the game server based on a cumulative value corresponding to a number of coins or a credit number bet by a player continuously playing the game on the game machine reaching a predetermined upper limit, the game machine comprising:

a display configured for displaying information related to a predetermined upper limit;

a sensor configured for detecting a player'"'"'s involvement in the game at the game machine; and

a communication interface configured for receiving a signal from the game server for displaying the information related to the predetermined upper limit if the player'"'"'s involvement is detected by the sensor,

wherein the information related to the predetermined upper limit is information about a gap between the predetermined upper limit and the cumulative value, and

the game machine executes the second payout based on the information indicative of the cumulative value having reached a predetermined upper limit, and irrespective of the game result.

17. The game machine according to claim 16 wherein the game machine:

sends a signal indicative of the player'"'"'s involvement detected by the sensor, and

starts a calculation of the cumulative value upon receiving an instruction from the game server responsive to the sent information indicative of the status.