Game machine, and, control method of controlling computer and computer program used therein

• US 9,216,357 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2012
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Inoue, Atsushi, Okuaki, Masato, Hirai, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US14/376,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20150005068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/25, 463/30, 463/31, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

A game machine uses a center unit that utilizes a physical operation of a ball to select at least one pocket by a drawing, and includes: cameras that are placed to be able to take images of the pockets; a center monitor that can display a video picture taken by the camera; and, sensors that detects the pocket decided by the drawing. And, the game machine specifies a predetermined video picture range from the video picture taken by the cameras, based on a detection result of the sensors, so as to include the video picture of the selected pocket at a time when the selected pocket is selected, and, displays a predetermined video picture on the center monitor based on the video picture in the predetermined video picture range specified.

Claims

1. A game machine, comprising:

a physical drawing mechanism, mounted within a frame of the game machine, that utilizes a physical operation of a drawing medium to select at least one option from options by a drawing for a progression of a game,

at least one image taking device that is placed to be able to take images of the options in the progression of the game;

a display device that can display a video picture taken by the image taking device, the display device being mounted within the frame relative to the physical drawing mechanism;

an option detection device that detects the option decided by the drawing of the physical drawing mechanism in the options;

a video picture specifying device that specifies a predetermined video picture range from the video picture taken by the image taking device, based on a detection result of the option detection device, so as to include the video picture of the selected option at a time when the selected option is selected; and

a video picture output device that displays a predetermined video picture on the display device based on the video picture in the predetermined video picture range specified by the video picture specifying device.

2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of image taking devices, which have image taking ranges individually and can take the images of the options in the progression of the game by combining at least each image taking range, is provided as the at least one specific image taking device, and

the video picture specifying device specifies at least one image taking device that can take the image of the selected option based on the option detection device and each image taking range of each image taking device, and specifies the predetermined video picture range such that the video picture taken by the specified image taking device is included in the predetermined video picture range.

3. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein the image taking devices include specific image taking devices in each of which an image taking range is set such that the image of the selected option can be taken from different angles, and

the video picture specifying device specifies the specific image taking devices as the at least one image taking device that can take the image of the selected option, and specifies the predetermined video picture range such that the video pictures taken by the specified specific image taking devices are included in the predetermined video picture range.

4. The game machine according to claim 3, wherein the video picture output device displays a processed video picture, in which at least a part of a video picture in the predetermined video picture range is processed, on the display device.

5. The game machine according to claim 4, further comprising a light device that can irradiate the image taking range with light.

6. The game machine according to claim 3, further comprising a light device that can irradiate the image taking range with light.

7. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein the video picture output device displays a processed video picture, in which at least a part of a video picture in the predetermined video picture range is processed, on the display device.

8. The game machine according to claim 7, further comprising a light device that can irradiate the image taking range with light.

9. The game machine according to claim 2, further comprising a light device that can irradiate the image taking range with light.

10. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the video picture output device displays a processed video picture, in which at least a part of a video picture in the predetermined video picture range is processed, on the display device.

11. The game machine according to claim 10, further comprising a light device that can irradiate the image taking range with light.

12. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising a light device that can irradiate the image taking range with light.

13. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device that can conduct communication with a player terminal used by a player; and

a terminal output device that outputs the predetermined video picture to the player terminal through the communication device.

14. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the physical drawing mechanism includes:

a roulette wheel around which accommodation units in each of which the drawing medium can be accommodated are formed; and

a guide path that can guides the drawing medium to each accommodation unit while restricting a movement range of the drawing medium, and

the physical drawing mechanism utilizes the accommodation units as the options, and performs as the drawing, a drawing using the accommodation unit, in which the drawing medium is accommodated, as the selected option.

15. The game machine according to claim 14, wherein the physical drawing mechanism further includes a driving mechanism that rotates the roulette wheel,

the roulette wheel is obliquely disposed such that a difference in height is formed in the accommodation units, and provided so as to be able to be rotated, and

range including the accommodation unit located in the lowest position of the accommodation units is set as the image taking range, and each accommodation unit is rotated in association with the rotation of the roulette wheel, whereby the image taking device takes the image of each of the accommodation units.

16. A control method of controlling a computer which is incorporated in a game machine, comprising the steps of:

utilizing a physical operation of a physical drawing mechanism, mounted within a frame of the gaming machine, to select at least one option from options by a drawing for a progression of a game;

taking images of the options in the progression of the game, using at least one image taking device;

displaying on a display device a video picture taken by the image taking device, the display device being mounted within the frame relative to the physical drawing mechanism;

detecting, using an option detection device, the option decided by the drawing of the physical drawing mechanism in the options;

a video picture specifying step that specifies a predetermined video picture range from the video picture taken by the image taking device, based on a detection result of the option detection device, so as to include the video picture of the selected option at a time when the selected option is selected; and

a video picture output step that displays a predetermined video picture on the display device based on the video picture in the predetermined video picture range specified by the video picture specifying step.

17. A non-transitory information recording medium storing a computer program for a game machine wherein the computer program is configured to make the game machine as:

a physical drawing mechanism, mounted within a frame of the game machine, that utilizes a physical operation of a drawing medium to select at least one option from options by a drawing for a progression of a game,

at least one image taking device that is placed to be able to take images of the options in the progression of the game;

a display device that can display a video picture taken by the image taking device, the display device being mounted within the frame relative to the physical drawing mechanism;

an option detection device that detects the option decided by the drawing of the physical drawing mechanism in the options;

a video picture specifying device that specifies a predetermined video picture range from the video picture taken by the image taking device, based on a detection result of the option detection device, so as to include the video picture of the selected option at a time when the selected option is selected; and

a video picture output device that displays a predetermined video picture on the display device based on the video picture in the predetermined video picture range specified by the video picture specifying device.