U.S. patent application number 11/246160 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-04 for gaming system and gaming machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aruze Corp.. Invention is credited to Hideaki Iwamoto.
Application Number | 20060094507 11/246160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35759418 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060094507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iwamoto; Hideaki |
May 4, 2006 |
Gaming system and gaming machine
Abstract
A slot-gaming system includes a management machine and gaming
machines connected to the management machine executing a base game
depending on a gaming value credited by a player. The gaming
machine transmits a collected gaming value, which is a part of the
gaming value credited by the player, to the management machine, the
management machine stores an accumulated gaming value obtained by
adding the collected gaming value, and the slot machine executes a
lottery for a Mystery jackpot, and determination is made on win and
loss whereby when the win is determined, a notification of the win
is transmitted to the management machine which upon receipt of the
notification, is operative to transmit a value of a whole of or a
part of the accumulated gaming value to the gaming machine to which
the win is notified.
Inventors: |
Iwamoto; Hideaki; (Koto-ku,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Aruze Corp.
Koto-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
35759418 |
Appl. No.: |
11/246160 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3258 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3267 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/042 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 29, 2004 |
JP |
2004-316295 |
Claims
1. A gaming system comprising: a management machine; and a gaming
machine communicably connected to the management machine and which
is configured to execute a base game when a player of the gaming
system credits a gaming value and transmit a collected gaming value
being a part of the gaming value credited by the player to the
management machine, wherein the management machine stores an
accumulated gaming value obtained upon adding the collected gaming
value transmitted from the gaming machine, and the gaming machine
executes a lottery for a bonus game, which is a game different from
the base game, for determining whether a win of the bonus game is
determined, and when the win is determined, the gaming machine
sends a notification to the management machine, and upon the
management machine receives the notification, the management
machine transmit a value of a whole of or a part of the accumulated
gaming value to the gaming machine from which the win is
notified.
2. A gaming system comprising: a management machine; and a gaming
machine executing a base game depending on a gaming value credited
by a player, wherein the management machine includes a
communication device enabling communication with the gaming
machine, and an accumulation processor collecting a collected
gaming value by collecting a part of the credited gaming value
received from the gaming machine via the communication device to
generate/store as an accumulated gaming value; and the gaming
machine includes: a communication device enabling communication
with the management machine; a base game processor executing the
base game depending on the gaming value credited by the player, a
collection notification device notifying the collected gaming
value, associated with the credited gaming value, to the management
machine, and a lottery device executing a lottery, related to the
accumulated gaming value stored in the management machine, to allow
a win of the lottery to be notified to the management machine.
3. The gaming system according to claim 2, wherein the lottery
device includes a first lottery execution device determining win
and loss on a first lottery, and a second lottery execution device
determining win and loss on a second lottery when the winning is
determined by the first lottery execution device.
4. A gaming machine wherein a base game is executed depending on a
gaming value credited by a player and a bonus game is provided in
relation to a provision of an accumulated gaming value obtained by
accumulating at least a part of the credited gaming value, the
gaming machine comprising: a base game processor providing the base
game depending on a gaming value credited by the player; a
collection processor determining a collected gaming value depending
on the credited gaming value; and a lottery device executing a
lottery related to an acquisition of an accumulated gaming value
generated by accumulating the collected gaming value determined by
the collection processor.
5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the lottery
device includes a first lottery execution device determining win
and loss on a first lottery, and a second lottery execution device
determining win and loss on a second lottery when the first lottery
device determines success of a win.
6. The gaming machine according to claim 4, further comprising: an
accumulation processor operative to generate and store an
accumulated gaming value by adding a collected gaming value forming
at least a part of the credited gaming value.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This invention is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No.
2004-316295, filed on Oct. 29, 2004, the entire contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to gaming systems and gaming
machines and, more particularly, to a gaming system and gaming
machine that are able to executed a base game and a bonus game such
as a jackpot.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Gaming machines, installed in game arcades such as casinos
or the like, include a system so called a "Mystery jackpot system".
As used herein, the term "Mystery jackpot system" refers to a
system, comprised of a plurality of gaming machines and a host
computer (management machine) connected to the gaming machines,
which functions as a system that executes a Mystery Jackpot (a game
programmed to increase an amusement property and renders all
players to have strong desires to obtain a jackpot (an accumulated
common bonus) whereby a fevered game can be realized while leaving
an attraction of the jackpot which is executed randomly). With the
Mystery jackpot system, among values (hereinafter referred to as
gaming values) such as medals or coins used in a gaming machine, a
predetermined number of the gaming values are automatically
transferred to the host computer from the respective gaming
machines to allow the host computer to accumulate the received
gaming values as the jackpot (reserve fund). The host computer
functions as a system by which when a predetermined condition
results in, a lottery, related to a payment for the accumulated
gaming value, is executed for paying out a whole of or a part of
the accumulated gaming value to either one of the gaming machines
or a player who plays with the same (as disclosed, for instance, in
Japanese Patent Laid. Open Publication No. 2004-267428 (in
paragraphs [0010] and [0029]) and Japanese Patent Laid Open
Publication No. 2004-130119 (in paragraph [0011])).
[0006] The player, who plays a game with the gaming machine
connected to the Mystery jackpot system, is able to obtain the
gaming values in two kinds of methods as follows: 1) the gaming
value that is obtained upon operation (playing the game) of the
gaming machine executed by the player himself; 2) the gaming value
(jackpot) that is obtained with the Mystery jackpot system.
Therefore, the player is able to have a chance to get a massive
amount of the gaming values, resulting in an increase in desires of
the player to play the game.
[0007] While the jackpot system, mentioned above, is able to
increase the desires of the player to play the game, issues are
encountered as described below.
[0008] That is, when one player obtains the jackpot, the host
computer notifies the jackpot-obtained player his obtained mount of
the gaming value (fist notification), and the host computer also
notifies the other players that one of the other player who plays
the gaming machine connecting this Mystery jackpot system obtains
the jackpot (second notification). In this notifying operation, the
host computer notifies the first and second notification at the
same timing.
[0009] Therefore, making an attempt to perform complicated effects
during the occurrence of the win on the jackpot results in an
increase in communication loads in exchange of commands between the
host computer and the associated gaming machines, and operational
loads such as operations for the timings to be synchronized,
causing issues to occur wherein among other things, the greater the
number of gaming machines involved in the Mystery jackpot system,
the greater will be the load with the resultant difficulty in
executing the complicated effects.
[0010] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a Mystery jackpot system operative such that in a jackpot
game using a plurality of gaming machines, the respective gaming
machines are able to perform lotteries and effects in complicated
mechanisms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] To address such issues set forth above, the present
invention has features described below.
[0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a gaming system that comprises a management machine and
at least one gaming machine connected to the management machine
with communication capabilities to execute a base game in
consideration of gaming values credited by a player.
[0013] The gaming system features that the gaming machines transmit
at least a part of the gaming values (collected gaming values)
credited by the player, to the management machine which in turn
stores as an accumulated gaming values resulting from adding the
collected gaming values transmitted form the gaming machines,
respectively, to allow the gaming machine to execute at least one
lottery for determining win and loss of a bonus game whereby when
the win is determined on the bonus game, the occurrence of the win
is notified to the management machine and upon receipt of the
notification of the win, a whole of or a part of the accumulated
gaming values is transmitted to the gaming machine from which the
occurrence of the win is notified.
[0014] Also, as used herein, the term "base game" refers to a game
to be executed by the gaming machine and may include all games
aside from the bonus game. Further, as used herein, the term "bonus
game" refers to a game that is related to the win on the
accumulated gaming values resulting from adding the respective
collected gaming values and may include, for instance, the Mystery
jackpot. As used herein, the term "Mystery jackpot" refers to the
bonus game of which the win is determined depending on a condition
under which a player is not aware of the occurrence of the winning
or a condition under which no presence of the winning is notified
to the player.
[0015] With the gaming system of this aspect, under circumstances
where the bonus game like the Mystery jackpot system is executed,
complicated lotteries and effects can be executed without causing
the management machine, which performs control related to the bonus
game, to bear loads.
[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a gaming system that is comprised of a management
machine and a gaming machine, operative to execute a base game
depending on gaming values credited by a player, for executing a
bonus game associated with the provision of an accumulated gaming
value resulting from accumulating at least a part of the paid out
gaming values.
[0017] With such a system, the management machine includes a
communication device (such as, for instance, a communication
interface) to perform communication with the gaming machines, and
an accumulation processor (such as, for instance, a gaming value
accumulation processor and an accumulated value storage device) for
adding collected gaming values, which is at least a part of the
credited gaming values, to generate an accumulated gaming value to
be stored. Further, the gaming machine of such a system includes a
base game device (such as, for instance, a microcomputer and reels)
operative to execute the base game depending on the gaming values
credited by the player, a collection notification device (such as a
collected gaming value processor) notifying a collected gaming
value depending on the gaming values credited to the management
machine, and a lottery device (such as, for instance, a primary
lottery execution section and/or a secondary lottery execution
section) operative to execute the lottery related to the win on the
accumulated gaming value stored in the management machine and
notify the win of the lottery to the management machine.
[0018] With the gaming system of such an aspect, operations related
to the lotteries are executed with the gaming machine, thereby
providing a bonus game like the Mystery jackpot system with
capabilities of executing complicated lotteries and effects without
causing loads to be applied to the management machine that performs
control associated with the bonus game.
[0019] Such a system may take a feature that includes a first
lottery section (such as, for instance, a primary lottery execution
section) determining win and loss on a first lottery, and a second
lottery section (such as, for instance, a secondary lottery
execution section) determining win and loss on a second lottery,
and a second lottery section when the win is determined on the
first lottery.
[0020] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a gaming machine operative to execute a base game
depending on a gaming value credited by a player and a bonus game
to determine whether providing an accumulated gaming value which is
obtained by adding at least a part of the credited gaming
value.
[0021] The gaming machine comprises a base gaming device (such as,
for instance, a microcomputer and reels) executing a base game
depending on a gaming value credited by a player, a collection
processor (such as, for instance, a collected gaming value
processor) determining a collected gaming value depending on the
credited gaming value, and a lottery device (such as, for instance,
a primary lottery execution section and/or secondary lottery
execution device) executing a lottery related to the win on an
accumulated gaming value resulting from accumulating the collected
gaming value determined by the collection processor.
[0022] With gaming machine of this aspect, operations related to
the lottery are executed on the gaming machine, making it possible
to perform complicated operation for lotteries and effects without
causing a load to be applied to the management machine for
executing control related to a bonus game when providing the bonus
game like the Mystery jackpot system.
[0023] With such a system may take a feature that includes a first
lottery section (such as, for instance, a primary lottery execution
section) determining win and loss on a first lottery, and a second
lottery section (such as, for instance, a secondary lottery
execution section) determining win and loss on a second lottery,
and a second lottery section when the winning is determined on the
first lottery.
[0024] Further, the gaming machine may include an accumulation
device (such as, for instance, a gaming value accumulation
processor and an accumulated gaming value storage device) operative
to add the collected gaming value, which is obtained by adding at
least a part of the paid out gaming value, to generate an
accumulated gaming value for storage.
[0025] With such a structure, it becomes possible to provide a
bonus game, like the Mystery jackpot system, without providing a
management machine aside from the gaming machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is an external appearance perspective view of a
gaming machine of a gaming system according to the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structure of a control
system of the gaming machine.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one example of the gaming
system.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the gaming machine
(microcomputer).
[0030] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a management
machine.
[0031] FIG. 6A is a sequence diagram showing one operation example
of the gaming system.
[0032] FIG. 6B is a sequence diagram showing one operation example,
consecutive to that shown in FIG. 6A, of the gaming system.
[0033] FIG. 6C is a sequence diagram showing one operation example,
consecutive to that shown in FIG. 6B, of the gaming system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Hereunder, one embodiment of the present invention is
described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6C of the
accompanying drawings.
[1. Structural Example of System of Embodiment]
[0035] With reference to FIG. 1, description is made of a
fundamental structure of a Mystery jackpot system (also called as a
progressive system and hereinafter generally referred to as a
"Mystery jackpot system") of the presently filed embodiment. Also,
as used herein, the term the "Mystery jackpot system" refers to a
system, comprised with a management machine and at least one gaming
machine, which credits either one of the gaming machines with a
gaming value depending on predetermined conditions (such as, for
instance, a payout condition, the occurrence of a winning upon
lottery, etc.), of at least one part of an accumulated gaming value
(such as, for instance, an accumulated common bonus: Jackpot) to be
accumulatively added on the basis of a game to be played by a
player.
[0036] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the mystery jackpot
system of the presently filed embodiment according to the present
invention. Although FIG. 1 shows one gaming machine (slot machine),
the present invention may be implemented in a structure that
includes more than two gaming machines are connected to a host
computer (management machine).
[0037] In FIG. 1, a slot machine 1 includes a cabinet 2, forming a
whole of the gaming-slot machine, which has a front and upper area
on which an upper liquid crystal display 3 is located and has a
front and lower area on which a lower liquid crystal display 4 is
located. The upper liquid crystal display 3 is comprised of a
general-purpose liquid crystal display of the type that is
generally used and the lower liquid crystal display 4 is comprised
of a so-called transparent liquid crystal display.
[0038] Located in an area beneath the lower liquid crystal display
4 is an operation table 5, protruding frontward, on which a
CALL-OUT button 6, a PAYOUT button 7 and a HELP button 8 are
located. Further, a coin insertion section 9 and a bill insertion
section 10 are disposed in areas rightward of the HELP button 8.
Furthermore, a 1-BET button 11, a SPIN/REPEAT button 12, a 3-BET
button 13 and a 5-BET button 14 are located on the operation table
5 at a front area thereof. The CALL-OUT BUTTON 6 functions as a
button that is pressed for calling out of a shop assistant (a staff
of game the arcade) when making, for example, an exchanging a bill
into coins. The PAYOUT button 7, functioning as a button that is
pressed when finishing a base game, is operative such that when
pressed, coins got in the game are paid out from a coin payout
opening 15 to a coin receiving tray 16. Also, the PAYOUT button 7
includes a PAYOUT switch 41, which will be described below in
detail, and pressing the PAYOUT button 7 renders the PAYOUT switch
41 to output a switch signal to a CPU 30. The HELP button 8,
functioning as a button that is pressed when operation methods of
the game are unclear, is operative such that when pressed, the
upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display
4 are provided with a variety of HELP information. The HELP button
8 includes a HELP switch 42, which will be described below in
detail, and pressing the HELP button 8 renders the HELP switch 42
to output a switch signal to the CPU 30.
[0039] A coin sensor 43 is located in the coin insertion section 9
to be operative such that when a coin is inserted to the coin
insertion section 9, the coin sensor 43 generates a coin detection
signal that is outputted to the CPU 30. Further, located in the
bill insertion section 10 is a bill sensor 44 operative such that
when a bill is inserted to the bill insertion section 10, a bill
detection signal is outputted to the CPU 30.
[0040] By pressing the 1-BET button 11 once, one coin is credited.
The 1-BET switch 11 includes a 1-BET switch 38, which will be
described below in detail, and pressing the 1-BET button 11 renders
the 1-BET switch 38 to output a switch signal to the CPU 30.
[0041] The SPIN/REPEAT button 12 functions as a button that is
pressed when starting the rotation of reels, described below, to
begin the game with the number of current credits or preceding
credits. The SPIN/REPEAT button 12 includes a SPIN/REPEAT switch 37
and pressing the SPIN/REPEAT button 12 renders the SPIN/REPEAT
switch 37 to output a switch signal to the CPU 30. Meanwhile, when
the SPIN/REPEAT button 12 is pressed, 1 through 5 coins can be
credited.
[0042] When the 3-BET button 13 is pressed, the game stars with the
three coins are credited. The 3-BET button 13 includes a 3-BET
switch 39, which will be described below, and by pressing the 3-BET
button 13 renders the 3-BET switch 39 to output a switch signal to
the CPU 30. Likewise, when the 5-BET button 14 is pressed, the game
(including a bonus game) starts with the five coins are credited.
The 5-BET button 14 includes a 5-BET switch 40, which will be
described below, and pressing the 5-BET button 14 renders the 5-BET
switch 40 to output a switch signal to the CPU 30.
[0043] Further, the coin payout opening 15 is formed at a lower
area of the cabinet 2 in which the coin receiving tray 16 is also
disposed for receiving the coins paid out from the coin payout
opening 15. A coin detector 52, composed of a sensor (not shown),
is located inside the coin payout opening 15 to detect the number
of the coins paid out from the coin payout opening 15.
[0044] Now, a structure, related to a control system of the slot
machine 1, is described below with reference to FIG. 2. The control
system of the slot machine 1, shown in FIG. 2, is basically
comprised with a microcomputer 61 including the CPU 30 as a major
component element to which a ROM 31 and RAM 32 are connected. The
ROM 31 stores therein a game control program, various effect
programs rendering the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower
liquid crystal display 4 operative to perform various effects, a
lottery table for enabling the lottery on a variety of winning
combinations, additional various programs needed for controlling
the slot machine 1, and a data table, all of which are described
below. Moreover, the RAM 32 functions as a memory for temporarily
storing various data resulting from calculations of the CPU 30.
Also, the RAM 32 are used in cooperation with the CPU 30 and the
ROM 31 for the purpose of starting up a progressive program, of the
present invention, which is stored in a memory device such as a
hard disc (not shown).
[0045] Further, a clock pulse generation circuit 33 for generating
clock pulses, a frequency divider 34, a random number generator 35
for generating a random number, and a sampling circuit 36 are
connected to the CPU respectively. The random number, which is
obtained by the sampling circuit 36 upon sampling operation
thereof, is used for executing a variety of lotteries for winning
combinations, effects, etc. In addition, connected to the CPU 30
are the SPIN/REPEAT switch 37, provided in the SPIN/REPEAT button
12, the 1-BET switch 38 provided in the 1-BET button 11, the 3-BET
switch 39 provided in the 3-BET button 13, the 5-BET switch 40
provided in the 5-BET button 14, the PAYOUT switch 41 provided in
the PAYOUT button 7, and the HELP switch 42 provided in the HELP
button 8. Upon receipt of the switch signals outputted from the
respective switches 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 when the buttons 7, 8,
11, 12, 13, 14 are pressed, the CPU 30 performs controls to execute
various operations associated with the buttons, respectively.
[0046] Further, the coin sensor 43, disposed in the coin insertion
section 9, and the bill sensor 44, disposed in the bill insertion
section 10, are connected to the CPU 30, respectively. The coin
sensor 43 detects a coin inserted to the coin insertion section 9
and the CPU 30 calculates the number of inserted coins in response
to coin detection signals outputted from the coin sensor 43. The
bill sensor 44 detects a kind of and amount of bills inserted into
the bill insertion section 10 and the CPU 30 calculates the number
of coins in value equivalent to the inserted bills.
[0047] Three stepping motors 47, by which the respective reels 46
are rotatably driven, are connected through the motor drive circuit
45 to the CPU 30. Further the reel position detection circuit 48 is
connected to the CPU 30. As motor drive signals are outputted from
the CPU 30 to the motor drive circuit 45, the respective stepping
motors 47 and the motor drive circuit 45 allow the reels 46 to be
rotated.
[0048] When this takes place, after the rotations of the reels 46
have been started, the number of drive pulses supplied to the
stepping motors 47, respectively, is calculated, with the resultant
calculated value being written in a predetermined area of the RAM
32. Further, a reset pulse is outputted from each reel 46 for each
revolution thereof and inputted to the CPU 30 through the reel
position detection circuit 48. As the reset pulses are inputted to
the CPU 30 in such a way, the calculated values, written in the RAM
32, are reset to "0", upon which the CPU 30 recognizes rotational
positions of symbols (not shown), formed on the respective reels
46, in accordance with the symbol table in which the rotational
positions of the respective reels 46, stored in the ROM 31, and the
symbols on the respective reels 46 at outer peripheries
thereof.
[0049] A hopper 50 is connected to the CPU 30 via a hopper drive
circuit 49. As a drive signal is outputted from the CPU 30 to the
hopper drive circuit 49, the hopper 50 is rendered operative to pay
out a predetermined number of coins from the coin payout opening
15. Further, the coin detector 52 is connected to the CPU 30 via a
payout completion signal circuit 51. The coin detector 52 is
mounted inside the coin payout opening to be operative to output a
coin payout detection signal to the payout completion signal
circuit 51 and if the presence of a predetermined number of the
coins which is paid out from the coin payout opening 15 is
detected, the coin detector 52 operates to output the coin payout
detection signal to the payout completion signal circuit 51 which
in turns outputs a payout completion signal to the CPU 30.
[0050] Furthermore, the upper and lower liquid crystal displays 3,
4 are connected to the CPU 30 via a liquid crystal drive circuit
53. The liquid crystal drive circuit 53 may include a graphic board
or the like. Moreover, the upper and lower liquid crystal displays
3, 4 may be controlled with separate liquid crystal drive circuits,
respectively. Also, a touch panel 55 is connected to the CPU 30 via
a touch panel drive circuit 54.
[0051] In addition, LEDs 57 are connected to the CPU 30 via an LED
drive circuit 56. The LEDs 7 are controllably turned on and off for
lighting up and off by the LED drive circuit 56 in response to
drive signals outputted from the CPU 30. Further, a sound output
circuit 58 and a speaker 59 are connected to the CPU 30 to allow
the speaker 59 to reproduce a variety of effect sounds when
executing various effects in response to output signals from the
sound output circuit 58. Also, a communication interface (I/F) 60
is additionally connected to the CPU 30 to function as a
communication port to establish communication between the
management machine 300 and the slot machine 1. Besides, a download
(DL) interface 62 is connected to the CPU 30 to receive the
programs and software data from an external storage medium to allow
the CPU 30 to retrieve a program, on which a predetermined
operation sequence of the current slot machine 1 is described, and
software from the external source for storage in the RAM 32 or a
storage device (hard disc or the like) (not shown).
[0052] Further, the slot machine 1 has a structure, which includes
a storage area operative to store a predetermined program, such as
a program for the Mystery jackpot system according to the present
invention, such as a board (not shown) to which, for instance, at
least a hard disc and an optical disc drive or a memory card, such
as a Compact Flush (Trademark) or the like, can be installed and
which has a storage area that is able to store a predetermined
program such as a progressive program stored in the Compact Flush
(Trademark). For instance, when storing the progressive program
written in the optical disc, the progressive program is written in
from the optical disc using the optical disc drive and stored in
the hard disc (by installing, downloading and file copying).
Furthermore, when storing the progressive program written in the
memory card, the memory card is installed onto the board, which is
mentioned above, to download the progressive program to be stored
in the storage device equipped in the board.
[0053] Now, referring to FIG. 3, description is made of the Mystery
jackpot system connected via the communication interface 60 to the
management machine (host computer) 300 (FIG. 3) to which a
plurality of slot machines 1 (in FIG. 3, slot machines A, B, C, D)
are connected. FIG. 3 is a view typically showing the Mystery
jackpot system.
[0054] With the Mystery Jackpot System shown in FIG. 3, a plurality
(four pieces in the presently filed embodiment) of the slot
machines 1 are connected to the management machine 300 via
communication interfaces 60 thereof. Although a connection
structure is shown in FIG. 3 in the form of a star topology
centering on the management machine 300, the connection structure
may include a bus topology, a token and a bus topology and a token
and ring topology. Moreover, the communication interfaces 60 may be
connected to each other over either a wired network or radio
network. In addition, while the connection is shown in FIG. 3 in
the form of a specific connection like LAN, it doesn't matter if it
is structured such that the management machine 300 and the slot
machines 1 are connected to each other through various
communication networks like a data communication network such as
WAN or ISDN. The communication interface 60 executes mutual
transformation operation and communication protocol operation
between data and electrical signals in modes to suit communication
modes between the management machine 300 and the slot machines
1.
[0055] Further, while the respective slot machines 1 take the form
of a hardware structure shown in FIG. 2, only the communication
interfaces 60 and associated microcomputers 61 are shown in FIG. 3
and illustrations of other associated component parts are herein
omitted.
[0056] Upon principal operation of the slot machine 1 to execute
major operations, the Mystery jackpot system is realized according
to the present invention. A structural example of the microcomputer
61 is described hereunder.
[0057] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the microcomputer 61
of each slot machine 1. The microcomputer 61 is comprised of a
central controller 401, connected to the communication interface
60, a collected gaming value processor 402 connected to the central
controller 401, an accumulated gaming value storage device 403, a
primary lottery execution section 404, a secondary lottery
execution section 405 and an effect controller 406.
[0058] The central controller 401 serves to perform functions such
as determinations, controls and adjustments on operations of the
various component parts 402 to 406. The collected gaming value
processor 402 has functions to calculate/determine a collected
gaming value, which will be described below, depending on
notifications delivered from the BET switches 38 to 40. The
accumulated gaming value storage device 403 has a function to store
and hold an accumulated gaming value that will be described
below.
[0059] The primary lottery execution section 404 executes a first
lottery as to whether or not the player of the slot machine 1 is
able to obtain the accumulated gaming value that is a premium of
the Mystery jackpot game. With the presently filed embodiment, the
primary lottery execution section 404 allows a random number to be
obtained from the random number sampling circuit 36 for thereby
causing the winning to occur at a predetermined probability based
on the resulting random number. For instance, in order to cause the
winning at a 1/130 probability, the random number is generated in
the random number sampling circuit 36 within a range from "1" to
"130" and the primary execution section 404 obtains the random
number at a predetermined timing upon which if the resulting random
number is "7", then, such an occurrence is dealt to be won whereas
in other cases, a credit is dealt to be lost. Also, with the
presently filed embodiment, although the predetermined timing is
dealt to be timing at which the symbols are started to provide
variable displays, other events may be treated as a trigger of the
lottery and, for instance, it doesn't matter if the variable
displays are caused to stop when the BET switches 38 to 40 are
pressed.
[0060] The primary lottery execution section 404 executes the
secondary lottery execution section 405, which will be described
later, to start operations when the outcome of the relevant lottery
results in the "winning".
[0061] The secondary lottery execution section 405 is operative to
execute a second lottery in accordance with an operation start
command which is sent from the primary lottery execution section
404 as to whether or not the player of the slot machine 1 is able
to obtain an accumulated gaming value, which is a premium of the
Mystery jackpot system, whereby when the outcome of the lottery
results in the winning, the occurrence of the winning is notified
to the management machine 300 to enable the player to obtain the
accumulated gaming value, functioning as a winning premium, of the
Mystery jackpot game while providing the notification of the
winning to the management machine 300.
[0062] The second lottery may preferably include a lottery method
that is carried out in a way different from the first lottery. With
the presently filed embodiment, the secondary lottery execution
section 405 takes the form of a structure wherein the player is
provided with a plurality of alternatives, either one of which is
dealt to be won, and when the player selects an alternative
corresponding to the winning, the secondary lottery execution
section 405 determines that the alternative is won. In order to
provide the player with the alternatives, the secondary lottery
execution section 405 outputs a command to the liquid crystal drive
circuit 53 to allow the plurality of alternatives to be displayed
on a screen. As the player touches the touch panel 55 for the
purpose of designating either one of the alternatives, coordinate
information is, indicative of a contact position, is delivered from
the touch panel drive circuit 54 to the secondary lottery execution
section 405, whereby the secondary lottery execution section 405
determines based on the coordinate information as to whether or not
the alternative, corresponding to the winning, is selected.
[0063] The effect controller 706 has a function to output commands
to the liquid crystal drive circuit 53, the LED drive circuit 56
and the sound output circuit 58 for the purpose of allowing
predetermined effects to be executed under circumstances where the
winning occurs on the accumulated gaming value in the own slot
machine 1 or under circumstances where the management machine 300
provides a notification that the winning occurs in other slot
machine 1.
[0064] Next, the management machine 300 is described with reference
to FIG. 5.
[0065] The management machine 300 functions as a device operative
to communicate with the slot machines 1 through a communication
interfaces 501, respectively, and includes an information
processing device that is comprised of a central processing unit
(CPU), a main memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an input and
output device (I/O) and an external storage device such as a hard
disc, if needed. The management machine 300 includes an information
processing device such as, for instance, a computer, workstation
and an LSI (large-scale integration) or the like. The management
machine 300 stores therein a program, available for the information
processing device such as the ROM, described above, or the hard
disc device to function as the management machine 300, which is
installed on the main memory to render the CPU operative to realize
the management machine 300. Also, the program, mentioned above, may
not be necessarily stored in a storage device inside the
information processing device and may take the form of a structure
wherein the program is provided from an outside device (such as,
for instance, an ASP (a server, etc., of an application service
provider)) and installed on the main memory.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, the management machine 300 further
includes a gaming value accumulation processor 502 connected to the
communication interface 501, a winning notification processor 504,
and an accumulated gaming value storage device 503 connected to the
gaming value accumulation processor 502 and the winning
notification processor 504.
[0067] The communication interface 501 executes mutual alteration
and communication protocol operation between data and electric
signals in conformity to a communication mode between the
management machine 300 and the slot machines 1.
[0068] Upon receipt of a value of a collected gaming value notified
from each slot machine 1 via the communication interface 501, the
gaming value accumulation processor 502 is operative to add a
received value (collected gaming value) to the value of the
accumulated gaming value stored in the accumulated gaming value
storage device 503.
[0069] The accumulated gaming value storage device 503 has a
function to store a value of the accumulated gaming value,
resulting from the addition, delivered from the gaming value
accumulation processor 502 for delivery to the winning notification
processor 504 depending on needs.
[0070] The winning notification processor 504 serves to read out a
value of the accumulated gaming value, stored in the accumulated
gaming value storage device 503, in response to and at a point of
receipt of the win notification outputted from each slot machine 1
via the communication interface 501, for transmission of at least a
part of the value of the accumulated gaming value and an effect
command to the slot machine 1, from which the win notification is
provided, via the communication interface 501, while transmitting
the notification, indicative of the occurrence of the win, and
associated effect command or the like to the other slot machines 1.
Further, the winning notification processor 504 operates to command
the gaming value accumulation processor 502 so as to allow the
notified part of the value of the accumulated gaming value to be
subtracted to cause the gaming value accumulation processor 502 to
execute subtracting operation for storing a value, resulting upon
the subtraction, in the accumulated gaming value storage device
503.
[0071] Upon the execution of the subtracting operation mentioned
above, the winning notification processor 504 transmits the value
of the accumulated gaming value, resulting from the subtraction, to
the respective slot machines 1 via the communication interfaces
501. This enables the player to know the remaining amount
subsequent to the win payout of the Mystery jackpot in the
respective slot machines 1.
[0072] As set forth above, with such Mystery jackpot system, since
the occurrence of the win on the Mystery jackpot is notified to the
slot machine, in which the win occurs, and the other slot machines
(i.e., slot machines with no occurrence of the win), not only the
player, who won in the credit, but also players (players who lost
in the credit) of the other slot machines 1 and a gallery who
watches over a progress of the game practiced by the players are
able to easily confirm, with either the liquid crystal display
device 3 or the liquid crystal display device 4, when the Mystery
jackpot, indicative of the accumulated gaming value, is obtained.
This provides a capability of providing an increase in interests of
the player, who obtained the Mystery jackpot, to bring a lot of
excitations in seasoning. Moreover, under circumstances where a
plurality of the Mystery jackpots are set in the same Mystery
jackpot system, the presence of the winning can be notified for
each Mystery jackpot that is set. This enables the player to easily
confirm whether a common bonus, related to any of the progressive
bonuses, is obtained.
[2. Example of Operation]
[0073] Now, an operation example of the Mystery jackpot system of
the presently filed embodiment is described with reference to FIGS.
6A, 6B and 6C.
[0074] First, suppose that a predetermined collection executing
condition, such as the start of variable movements of the symbols,
occurs in a slot machine A (S601). The Mystery jackpot system is
configured such that each slot machine 1 provides the management
machine 300 with information of a collected gaming value,
indicative of a predetermined gaming value, for each occurrence of
the collection executing condition to allow the transferred
collected gaming value to be accumulatively added in the management
machine 300 whereby such "an accumulated gaming value" is credited
to a winning object on condition of the occurrence of the winning.
Upon the occurrence of the collection executing condition, the
gaming values collected from the respective slot machines 1 are
added to the cumulative collection value at such a time point.
Also, the collection executing condition may be selected from those
of various items.
[0075] Upon the occurrence of the collection executing condition,
the slot machine A calculates the collected gaming value based on a
predetermined calculation formula to cause the resultant calculated
value to be notified with an adding request to the management
machine 300 (S602).
[0076] Next, upon receipt of such notification, the management
machine 300 operates at this point to add the notified collected
gaming value to the accumulated gaming value stored in the
accumulated gaming value storage device 503 (S603).
[0077] After the adding operation has been completed (S603), the
management machine 300 provides an accumulated gaming value
notification to all the slot machines 1 (including the slot machine
A and a slot machine B in this example) notifying the accumulated
gaming value that is updated upon executing the adding operation
(S604, S606). Upon receipt of the notification, the slot machines 1
displays the notified updated accumulated gaming value as new
amount of premium of the Mystery jackpot on the displays 3 or 4 of
the respective slot machines 1 (S605, S607). This makes it possible
for the respective players to grasp the present gaming values
(premium), which can be obtained in the Mystery jackpot.
[0078] In the meanwhile, upon the occurrence of the collection
executing condition, the other slot machine 1 (in this example, for
example, the slot machine B) executes the operation to add the
collected gaming value to the accumulated gaming value and the
operation to notify the accumulated gaming value. That is, if the
collection executing condition occurs on the slot machine B (S608),
the slot machine B calculates the collected gaming value using a
predetermined calculation formula or the like, giving notification
of the resultant calculated value with an adding request to the
management machine 300 (S609).
[0079] Next, upon receipt of the notification, the management
machine 300 adds the collected gaming value, which is notified from
the slot machine B, to the accumulated gaming value already stored
in the accumulated gaming value storage device 503 at this time
point (S610).
[0080] After the adding operation has been completed (S610), the
management machine 300 provides the accumulated gaming value
notification to notify the respective slot machines A and B with
the accumulated gaming value updated upon execution of the adding
operation (S611, S655). Upon receipt of this notification, the
respective slot machines 1 display the updated accumulated gaming
value as new amounts of premium of the Mystery jackpot on the
displays 3 or 4 of the respective slot machines 1 (S613, S614).
This makes it possible for the respective players to grasp the
present gaming value, to be obtained by the Mystery jackpot.
[0081] Thus, each time the collection executing condition occurs in
the respective slot machines 1, the collected gaming value is added
to the accumulated gaming value stored in the management machine
300, increasing the value of the accumulated gaming value until the
accumulated gaming value is paid out.
[0082] By the way, with the Mystery jackpot system, the respective
slot machines 1 always monitor whether or not a predetermined
primary lottery condition occurs.
[0083] Although the primary lottery condition may include any kind
of conditions, in this example, the respective slot machines are
supposed to perform random lotteries using the random numbers that
are triggered when the variable displays of the symbols are
started.
[0084] Now, suppose that with the slot machine A, the SPIN/REPEAT
switch 37 is pressed to start the variable displays of the symbols
with the resultant occurrence of the primary lottery condition
(S616). This occurrence is detected by the primary lottery
execution section 404 of the slot machine A, by which the primary
lottery is executed (S617). Here, a credit was lost in the outcome
of the primary lottery (S618). The slot machine A terminates the
lottery of the Mystery jackpot without sending any notification to
the management machine 300.
[0085] Next, description is made of an operation example of the
slot machine 1 in cases, where the credit is won in the primary
lottery but lost in the secondary lottery, taking the slot machine
B as an example.
[0086] First, like the manner as set forth above, it is supposed
that with the slot machine B, the SPIN/REPEAT switch 37 is pressed
to start the variable displays of the symbols with the start of the
primary lottery condition (S619). This occurrence is detected by
the primary lottery execution section 404 of the slot machine B by
which the primary lottery is executed (S620). Meanwhile, with this
example, it is also supposed that the result of the primary lottery
of the S620 is won (S623). Then, the primary lottery execution
section 404 of the slot machine B commands the secondary lottery
execution section 405 to start the secondary lottery. The secondary
lottery execution section 405 executes the secondary lottery in a
method under which alternatives are provided to the player in
response to the command, set forth above, for selection (S622).
With this example, it is supposed that the credit is lost in the
outcome of the secondary lottery (S623). As a result of secondary
lottery, the slot machine B terminates the lottery on the Mystery
jackpot without sending any notification to the management machine
300.
[0087] Next, description is made of operation examples of the slot
machine 1 and the management machine 300 in cases where the credits
are won in both outcomes of the primary and secondary lotteries to
execute the payout of the Mystery jackpot.
[0088] First, suppose that with the slot machine A, the SPIN/REPEAT
switch 37 is pressed to start the variable displays of the symbols
with the start of the primary lottery condition (S624). With the
slot machine A, the symbols are stopped and displayed after the
start of the variable displays of the symbols, thereby executing an
original gaming operations (not shown) of the gaming machine with
the resultant occurrences of a normal winning and a bonus game
depending on statuses of the symbols stopped in displays 3, 4.
[0089] Aside from the original gaming operation of the slot
machine, the primary lottery execution section 404 of the slot
machine A detects the occurrence of the primary lottery condition,
upon which the primary lottery is executed (S625). Here, suppose
that a credit is won in the outcome of the primary lottery (S626).
Then, the primary lottery execution section 404 of the slot machine
A commands the secondary lottery execution section 405 to begin the
secondary lottery. The secondary lottery execution section 405
executes the secondary lottery in a method under which alternatives
are provided to the player in response to the command, set forth
above, for selection (S627). With this example, suppose that the
credit is won in the outcome of the secondary lottery (S628). As a
result of the secondary lottery, the payout of the Mystery jackpot
for the slot machine A is decided.
[0090] Hereunder, an operation example, to be executed after the
winning occurs on the secondary lottery, is described below with
reference to FIG. 6C.
[0091] Now, after the outcome of the secondary lottery appears to
be won (S628), the slot machine A, subjected to the occurrence of
the winning, transmits a winning occurrence notification to the
management machine 300 (S629).
[0092] Upon receipt of the winning occurrence notification, the
management machine 300 provides notification to the slot machine A,
to which the accumulated gaming value is to be paid out, with a
prize gaming value which is a whole of or a part of the value of
the accumulated gaming values stored in the accumulated gaming
value storage device 503 (S630).
[0093] Upon receipt of the notification of the prize gaming value,
the slot machine A executes a credit adding operation (S631). That
is, the slot machine 1 executes the operation to add the value of
the prize gaming value, notified from the management machine 300,
to the value (values of coins, already inserted by the player, and
a credit) of the credit stored at the time when the notification is
received and a value, resulting from the addition, is stored and
kept as a value of a new credit. That is, this results in a
capability for the player to receive the payment of the credit or
the like resulting from the winning on the so-called jackpot.
[0094] Further, the slot machine A performs the credit adding
operation (S631), while executing an own winning effect (S632). For
instance, the effect controller 40 of the slot machine A is started
up to provide effects in such a way to cause the LEDs 57 to be
blinked in a predetermined pattern and cause the speaker 59 to
sound a fanfare, a winning blessing music, etc., while providing a
display of a message "CONGRATURATION! YOU WIN MYSTERY JACKPOT!
WINNING CREDIT IS
.largecircle..largecircle..largecircle..largecircle.!" or the like
on the liquid crystal displays 3 or 4.
[0095] By the way, upon receipt of the winning occurrence
notification in step S629, the management machine 300 transmits a
winning occurrence notification to allow the player of the other
slot machine B to be notified with the occurrence of winning
(S633). Upon receipt of such a winning occurrence notification, the
slot machine B renders the effect controller 406 operative to start
up, thereby causing a winning notification effect to be executed.
For instance, various effects are executed such that the LEDs 57
are blinked in a predetermined pattern while providing a display of
a message "SOMEBODY HITS MYSTERY JACKPOT! ", etc., on the liquid
crystal displays 3 or 4.
[0096] Next, the management machine 300 regulates a value, stored
in the accumulated gaming value storage device 503, in association
with the credit adding operation of the slot machine A in which the
winning occurs, thereby executing a subtracting operation of the
value of accumulated gaming value (S635). The subtracting operation
may include a method of resetting the value, stored in the
accumulated gaming value storage device 503 to an initial value (an
arbitrary value such as, for instance "0", "100", etc.) and it
doesn't matter if a method is employed by which the amount of
payment is subtracted from the value stored prior to the
payment.
[0097] After the subtracting operation has been completed (S635),
the management machine 300 transmits a residue accumulated gaming
value notification, involving the accumulated gaming value, for the
purposes of providing notification to the slot machines A, B with
the value of the accumulated gaming value stored in the accumulated
gaming value storage device 503 (S636, S638). Upon receipt of such
notification, the slot machines A, B update the displays of the
present accumulated gaming value (S637, S639). This makes it
possible for the players of the respective slot machines A, B to
grasp the present gaming value.
[0098] Also, the Mystery jackpot system repeatedly executes the
operations to add the collected gaming values mentioned above,
execute the lottery and payout the accumulated gaming value for the
occurrence of the winning in subsequent stages, thereby
continuously providing the players with entertaining and exciting
values of a so-called Mystery jackpot game.
[3. Other Features]
[0099] While the presently filed embodiment has been described with
reference to an example wherein the management machine 300 is
comprised of a separate device independent from the slot machine 1,
however it is also possible to provide the management machine 300
integrally formed with any one of the slot machines 1 constituting
the Mystery jackpot system. For instance, a modified form of the
presently filed embodiment may be considered to have a structure in
which a board (such as a mother board), on which a microcomputer
with a function corresponding to the management machine 300 is
installed, is mounted on the slot machine 1 to allow the board to
be connected to the microcomputer 61 of the slot machine 1.
[0100] According to the present invention, the Mystery jackpot
system makes it possible to perform complicated lottery and effects
without causing a host computer from bearing a load. Also, while
the present invention has been described above taking a Pachi-Slot
machine for domestic use as an example, the present invention may
have application to slot machines manufactured for foreign
countries.
* * * * *