Game server, game machine, and game control method

• US 8,187,078 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• 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): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US12/183,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20080293496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463/42, 2731381- 2, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

In a collective control of plural game machines placed in the same parlor, it is detected whether there is a player change with each game machine and, based on the detection result, the cumulative credit consumption with each game machine is controlled per player. When the cumulative credit consumption of a certain player reaches a predetermined upper limit, return is executed to this player. The upper limit value is changed properly. Therefore, the player can perform a game without anxiety while enjoying amusement of the game. As the result, it may be avoided losing customers.

Claims

1. A game server that collectively controls plural game machines, each of which starts a game based on a deposit of coins and executes payout based on a result of the game, said game server comprising:

a processor configured to determine a cumulative credit consumption that is an amount of coins deposited for continuously played games on a first game machine by a first player that is performing a game and, when said cumulative credit consumption by said first player who has continuously performed the game with said first game machine reaches a predetermined upper limit as a result of the determination, said processor is configured to cause said first game machine to execute a payout return irrespective of the game result based on a predetermined return rate,

wherein the processor is configured to set the predetermined upper limit when performance of the game is switched from a previous player to the first player; and

a transmitting device configured to transmit a signal to said first game machine that causes a change in said predetermined upper limit.

2. The game server according to claim 1, wherein said payout return is executed without fail to said first game machine where said predetermined upper limit is reached, based on a result of a timing determination lottery for determining a timing of said payout return.

3. The game server according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting device transmits, when said first player performing the game with said first game machine is changed to a second player, a signal for resetting the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said first game machine to said first game machine.

4. The game server according to claim 1, wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed after said first game machine is brought into an advantageous state to said first player.

5. The game server according to claim 1, wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed after said predetermined upper limit is reached with said first game machine.

6. The game server according to claim 1, wherein, if a predetermined upper limit is reached with another game machine of said plural game machines, said change in said predetermined upper limit with the first game machine is executed after said payout return is executed to said another game machine.

7. The game server according to claim 1, wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed based on a result of a lottery.

8. The game server according to claim 2, wherein the transmitting device transmits, when said first player performing the game with said first game machine is changed to a second player, a signal for resetting the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said first game machine to said first game machine.

9. A game machine that starts a game based on a deposit of coins under collective control of a game server together with other game machines, the game machine comprising:

a processor configured to determine a cumulative credit consumption that is an amount of coins deposited for continuously played games on said game machine with which a first player is performing a game and, as a result of the determination, when said cumulative credit consumption reaches a predetermined upper limit, said processor is configured to execute a payout return irrespective of the game result based on a predetermined return rate wherein the processor is configured to set the predetermined upper limit when performance of the game is switched from a previous player to the first player; and

an upper limit changing unit configured to cause a change in said predetermined upper limit.

10. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein said payout return is executed without fail when said predetermined upper limit is reached, based on a result of a timing determination lottery executed by said game server in order to determine a timing of said return.

11. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein

the processor is configured to reset the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said game machine in response to a detection that said first player performing the game with said game machine is changed to a second player.

12. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed after said game machine is brought into an advantageous state to said first player.

13. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed after said predetermined upper limit is reached with said game machine.

14. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed, if the upper limit is reached with said game machine, after said payout return is executed to said game machine.

15. The game machine according to claim 9, wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed based on a result of a lottery.