Game server, game control method, and game machine

• US 8,192,273 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• 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:
  US12/183,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20080293482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 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

A plurality of game machines installed in a single hall are collectively controlled. Based on information of coin or credit consumption in a certain game machine on which a player is performing a game, this player'"'"'s cumulative consumption of coin or credit is judged. As the result of this judgment, when this cumulative consumption reaches a predetermined upper limit, a return based on a predetermined return rate is executed without fail to the certain game machine on which this player is performing the game. That is, a predetermined return is guaranteed to a player who has consumed a predetermined amount, so that the player continues the game in expectation of the return. It is therefore avoidable that a player waiting for a prize for a long time keeps away from the hall.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

a plurality of game machines, each of which;

is brought into a status enabling start of a game based on an amount of deposited coins or a given credit number,

makes a payout according to a result of the game, and

sends game information associated with play of the game on the game machine; and

a game server having a processor programmed to;

collectively control the plurality of game machines,

judge, based on the game information, excluding information associated with a game result, sent from one of the plurality of game machines, whether a cumulative credit consumption, corresponding to the amount of coins deposited or the credit number bet and consumed by only one player continuously playing or assumed to be continuously playing the game on the one game machine has reached a preset upper limit value not based on an amount of the payout irrespective of the game result for the one game machine, and

send, based on the judgment, a control signal to the one game machine for executing a return to the one player after the cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value, wherein,

the cumulative credit consumption data is reset at the end of the game by the player, and

the number of inserted coins or credit number is added to the cumulative credit consumption data, which is data of cumulative consumption of coins or credit number.

2. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the game server computes a return amount by multiplying the preset upper limit value by a predetermined return rate, and the sent control signal includes the computed return amount.

3. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the one game machine is configured to provide a notification that the one game machine has reached the preset upper limit value.

4. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the game server:

computes the number of coins or the credit number consumed in the one game machine by adding only positive contributing values associated with the play of the game on the one game machine played continuously by, or assumed to be played continuously by the one player, and

sends the control signal to the one game machine after it is judged that the cumulative credit consumption reaches the preset upper limit value for the one game machine.

5. The gaming system according to claim 4, wherein,

the game server computes a return amount by multiplying the preset upper limit value by a predetermined return rate, and

the sent control signal includes the computed return amount.

6. The gaming system according to claim 4, wherein the one game machine displays a notice to the player that the cumulative credit consumption has reached the upper limit value.

19. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein,

in each gaming machine, the number of inserted game coins or credit number is stored at the machine,

the total number of the cumulated coins or credit number accumulated by the same player at each machine is sent to the server at a predetermined timing as the cumulative credit consumption,

for each machine, each time the server receives a cumulative credit consumption from each machine, a predetermined percentage of the sent cumulative credit consumption is added as a hold number stored at the server, and

when the hold number reaches a predetermined upper limit, the server executes a return to the player.

20. The gaming system according to claim 19, wherein if the player terminates the game before receiving a return, the hold number is increased thereby to increase the amount of return to be executed next.

7. A gaming system, comprising:

a plurality of game machines, each of which;

is brought into a status enabling start of a game based on an amount of deposited coins or a given credit number,

makes a payout according to a result of the game, and

sends game information associated with play of the game on the game machine; and

a game server having a processor programmed to;

collectively control the plurality of game machines,

judge, based on the game information, excluding information associated with a game result, sent from one of the plurality of game machines, whether a cumulative credit consumption, corresponding to the amount of coins deposited or the credit number bet and consumed by only one player continuously playing or assumed to be continuously playing the game on the one game machine has reached a preset upper limit value not based on an amount of the payout for the one game machine irrespective of the result of the game, and

send, based on the judgment, a control signal to the one game machine for executing a return to the one player after the cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value, wherein,

each of the plurality of game machines includes a sensor configured to detect a player'"'"'s involvement, and upon detection of the player'"'"'s involvement by the sensor, the applicable game machine is operative to set the preset upper limit value and to start calculating the cumulative credit consumption,

the cumulative credit consumption data is reset at the end of the game by the player, and

the number of inserted coins or credit number is added to the cumulative credit consumption data, which is data of cumulative consumption of coins or credit number.

8. A gaming system according to claim 7, wherein:

the sensor detects that one player performing a game on a game machine terminates a game, or that one player performing a game on a game machine changes to another player, and

the game server sends the control signal to the one game machine if the server considers one player to be a player that has continuously played a game up to the preset upper limit value on the game machine based on the sensor detecting that one player playing a game on the one game machine has not terminated a game or changed to another player, and sends a signal for resetting the cumulative value, in correspondence with the amount of coins deposited or the credit number consumed in the game machine while one player plays a game on the game machine, based on the sensor detecting that one player playing the game on the game machine terminates a game or changes to another player.

9. A gaming system according to claim 7, wherein the control signal permits a return to a player from a part of a sum obtained by reserving a portion of coin or credit consumption on the plurality of game machines.

10. A game server configured to communicate with a plurality of game machines, each of which:

is brought into a status enabling start of a game based on an amount of deposited coins or a given credit number,

makes a payout according to a result of the game, and

sends game information associated with play of the game on the game machine, the game server comprising;

a controller operative to;

judge, based on the game information, excluding the game information associated with the game result, sent from one of the plurality of game machines, whether a cumulative credit consumption, corresponding to the amount of coins deposited or the credit number bet and consumed by only one player continuously playing or assumed to be continuously playing the game on the one game machine, has reached a preset upper limit value irrespective of the game result, and

send, based on the judgment, a control signal to the one game machine for executing a return to the one player after the cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value, wherein,

the cumulative credit consumption data is reset at the end of the game by the player, and

the number of inserted coins or credit number is added to the cumulative credit consumption data, which is data of cumulative consumption of coins or credit number.

11. The game server according to claim 10, wherein,

each of the plurality of game machines includes a sensor for detecting that one player playing a game on that game machine terminates a game or changes to another player, and

the controller sends the control signal to the one game machine if the server considers one player to be a player that has continued playing a game up to the predetermined upper limit on the one game machine based on the sensor detecting that one player playing a game on the one game machine has not terminated a game or changed to another player, and sends a signal for resetting the cumulative value, in correspondence with the amount of coins or credit number consumed in the one game machine while one player plays a game on the one game machine, based on the sensor detecting that one player playing a game on the one game machine terminates a game or changes to another player.

12. A gaming server according to claim 10, wherein the control signal permits a return to a player from a part of a sum obtained by reserving some of the amount of coins deposited or credit consumption on the plurality of game machines.

13. A game machine that is configured to communicate with a game server, be brought into a status enabling start of a game based on an amount of coins deposited or a given credit number, and make a payout according to a result of the game, comprising:

a controller operative to;

send game information associated with play of the game on the game machine to the game server,

receive a signal from the game server representing a judgment that the sent game information, excluding the sent game information associated with the game result, is indicative that a cumulative credit consumption, corresponding to the amount of coins deposited or the credit number bet and consumed by only one player continuously playing or assumed to be continuously playing the game on the game machine, has reached a preset upper limit value, irrespective of the game result, and

execute a return to a player performing a game on the game machine, in response to receipt of the signal after the cumulative value has reached the preset upper limit value, wherein,

the cumulative credit consumption data is reset at the end of the game by the player, and

the number of inserted coins or credit number is added to the cumulative credit consumption data, which is data of cumulative consumption of coins or credit number.

14. A method for collectively controlling a plurality of game machines, each of which is brought into a status enabling start of a game based on an amount of deposited coins or a given credit number, and makes a payout according to a result of the game, the method comprising:

receiving game information associated with play of the game on the plurality of game machines;

judging with a processor, based on the received game information associated with the play of the game on one of the plurality of game machines performed by one player, but excluding the received game information associated with the game result, whether a cumulative credit consumption corresponding to the amount of coins deposited or the credit number bet and consumed by only the one player continuously playing or assumed to be continuously playing the game on the one game machine has reached a preset upper limit value not based on an amount of the payout for the one game machine irrespective of the game result; and

sending, based on the judgment, a control signal to the one game machine for executing a return after the cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value, wherein,

the cumulative credit consumption data is reset at the end of the game by the player, and

the number of inserted coins or credit number is added to the cumulative credit consumption data, which is data of cumulative consumption of coins or credit number.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

directing a setting of the preset upper limit value and starting of a calculation of the cumulative value responsive to receipt of an indication of detection of a player'"'"'s involvement.

16. The game control method according to claim 14, wherein the control signal is sent to the one game machine based also on one player being considered to be a player that has continued playing a game up to the preset upper limit value on the one game machine because one player performing a game on the one game machine has not terminated a game or changed to another player, and further comprising:

sending a signal for resetting the cumulative value, in correspondence with the amount of coins deposited or credit number consumed in the one game machine while one player plays a game on the one game machine, based on receipt of an indication that one player playing a game on the one game machine has terminated a game or changed to another player.

17. A game machine which is brought into a status enabling start of a game based on an amount of deposited coins or a given credit number, and makes a payout according to a result of the game, the game machine comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a read only memory (ROM) having stored therein program instructions that when executed by the CPU controls the game machine;

a random access memory (RAM) capable of storing a cumulative credit consumption corresponding to a sum of the amount of coins deposited or the credit number given to enable the start of a game by a single player playing the game on the game machine; and

a sensor capable of detecting an involvement of the player,

wherein the CPU executes the program instructions stored in the ROM to;

start computation of the cumulative value and set a preset upper limit value in response to an involvement of the player being detected by the sensor,

update the cumulative credit consumption by increasing the cumulative credit consumption currently stored in the RAM in accordance with the amount of coins deposited or credit number given by only the single player at the start of a game irrespective of the game result under the condition that the single player has been continuously playing or assumed to be continuously playing the games on the game machine,

compare the updated cumulative credit consumption and the preset upper limit value to judge whether or not the updated cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value irrespective of the game result, and

execute a return if it is judged that the updated cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value after the cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value, wherein,

the cumulative credit consumption data is reset at the end of the game by the player, and

the number of inserted coins or credit number is added to the cumulative credit consumption data, which is data of cumulative consumption of coins or credit number.

18. A game machine which is brought into a status enabling start of a game based on an amount of deposited coins or a given credit number, and makes a payout according to a result of the game, the game machine comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a read only memory (ROM) having stored therein program instructions that when executed by the CPU controls the game machine;

a random access memory (RAM) capable of storing a cumulative credit consumption corresponding to the amount of coins deposited or the credit number given to enable the start of a game by a single player playing the game on the game machine; and

a sensor capable of detecting an involvement of the player,

wherein the CPU executes the program instructions stored in the ROM to;

start computation of the cumulative credit consumption and a preset upper limit value in response to the involvement of the player being detected by the sensor,

update the cumulative credit consumption by increasing the cumulative value currently stored in the RAM in accordance with the amount of coins deposited or credit number given by only the single player at the start of a game irrespective of the game result under the condition that the single player has been continuously playing or assumed to be continuously playing the games on the game machine,

compare the updated cumulative credit consumption and the preset upper limit value to judge whether or not the updated cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value irrespective of a game result, and

execute a return irrespective of the game result if it is judged that the updated cumulative credit consumption has reached the preset upper limit value, wherein,

the cumulative credit consumption data is reset at the end of the game by the player, and

the number of inserted coins or credit number is added to the cumulative credit consumption data, which is data of cumulative consumption of coins or credit number.