JPH10151271A - Gift vender system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a player to select a desired gift among various gifts without troubling a person in charge. by recording the points of a game result in a player's recording medium to make the player select and obtain a gift and eliminating the point number corresponding to the gift. SOLUTION: This gift vender is equipped separate from a game machine 1 for business use. A magnetic card 2 is inserted into the game machine 1 for business use, a game is executed, then a game result is recorded in the magnetic card. After game is over, the magnetic card is discharged from the game machine 1 and is inserted into the gift vender 3. The gift vender 3 reads out information recorded in the magnetic card 2 to obtain effective points, and displays kinds of gifts capable of delivering within the range of the effective points. When a player selected a desired gift among those, the gift delivering device 34 delivers the gift and the date is recorded in the magnetic card 2 and eliminates the point number corresponding to the gift. Thus gift can be processed without troubling a person in charge.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a prize vendor system for providing a prize to a player by achieving a high score in a game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general prize vendor system for arcade game machines is such that when a predetermined level is cleared at the end of a game, the prize is directly discharged from a prize vendor built in the game machine. It is.
However, in this prize vendor system, the size of the game machine itself increases, the price per game machine increases, the floor efficiency of the game center deteriorates, and the cost of maintenance of the prize and the prize vendor is reduced. However, there was a problem that the bulk increased.

[0003] In addition, the prize vendors with built-in game machines cannot be made large in view of the size of the casing of the game machine, so that the size of the prizes is inevitably small, and the types thereof are extremely large. There is a problem that players are willing to acquire prizes, and this prize vendor can store only a small number of prizes, so game center staff must replenish prizes frequently. In addition, there is a problem that labor costs increase. The prize vendors with built-in game machines have various prize discharging methods, and many packaging materials, such as prize capsules and cases, are not common, so that management cost is also required from this aspect. In addition, there is another problem in that it is immediately determined whether or not a prize can be obtained based on the result of a single game, which in turn stimulates gambling.

As another prize vendor system, a commercial game machine is provided with a ticket vendor that issues tickets in accordance with a game result, and various prizes are prepared at a counter where a clerk is present, and the desired counter is prepared at the counter. And a prize for the number of tickets corresponding to the prize. This system has the advantage that the size and type of prizes can be diversified, and the game machine operation rate increases because the game is repeated until a predetermined number of tickets are collected.However, a person who counts tickets and hands over the prizes is required In addition, there is a problem that the labor cost is increased and the ticket itself is costly. In addition, there is a problem in that the player must carry around a large number of tickets so as not to lose a large number of tickets until the required number of tickets is collected.

As another prize vendor system, there is a system using a membership card such as a gas station. In this system, ID information is recorded on a membership card, the terminal is used to access the host computer from the terminal at the time of payment, and points corresponding to the payment amount are recorded on the host computer. When a predetermined number is reached, a prize is issued to the member.However, since this system increases capital investment and running costs, it is not practical to use it as a prize vendor system for game machines with a low unit price per customer. Not a target.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain points obtained as a result of various games without involving a clerk. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to select and receive a desired prize from various prizes in a cumulative manner, and to simplify replenishment and management of the prize.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an arcade game machine with a function of recording and accumulating points obtained by a game on a storage medium that can be carried by a player,
In a prize vendor provided separately from the arcade game machine, a required prize is discharged according to the number of acquired points recorded in the storage medium, and the number of points corresponding to the discharged prize is deleted from the storage medium. Is achieved by doing so.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of a prize vendor system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the arcade game machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an operation of the prize vendor shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows. First, FIG. 1 will be described. In the figure, 1 is an arcade game machine, 2 is a magnetic card, and 3 is a prize vendor.

The arcade game machine 1 is installed in a game center, and includes a CPU 10, a magnetic card reader / writer 12 connected to the CPU 10 via a magnetic card reader / writer interface 11, and a timer device connected to the CPU 10. 13 and a new card sending device 14. The arcade game machine 1 provides a type of game in which points can be obtained by achieving a result equal to or higher than a predetermined level. In the arcade game machine 1, descriptions of other components not directly related to the operation of the present invention, such as speakers and displays, are omitted for simplification of the specification.

[0010] The magnetic card 2 records the points obtained by playing the game and the date when the points were obtained. The magnetic card 2 is inserted into the magnetic card reader / writer 12 and mounted. The magnetic card reader / writer 12 reads the recorded content when the magnetic card is inserted, and outputs the information to the CPU 10 via the magnetic card reader / writer interface 11,
The points are deleted according to a command from the CPU 10 via the magnetic card reader / writer interface 11, and furthermore,
When a point is obtained, the date and the number of points obtained at the end of the game are recorded, and the magnetic card 2 is ejected.

When the magnetic card 2 is mounted on the magnetic card reader / writer 12, the timer device 13 outputs the current date when the magnetic card 2 is mounted to the CPU 10. The new card sending device 14 is connected to the magnetic card reader / writer 12 and stores a large number of new magnetic cards. The new card sending device 14 feeds out one new magnetic card stored based on a command from the CPU 10 to read out a new magnetic card. Writer 1
2.

When an operation for starting a game is performed or when the magnetic card 2 is inserted into the magnetic card reader / writer 12, the CPU 10 instructs the timer device 13 to output the current date, The record of the date recorded in 2 and the record of the date inputted from the timer device 13 are compared, and a point which has passed for a certain period of time, for example, three months or more, has been deleted as an invalid point. To the magnetic card reader / writer 12, and conversely, if the magnetic card 2 has not been inserted, a command signal is sent to the new card sending device 14 to send a new magnetic card to the magnetic card reader / writer 12. Output.

[0013] The current date is recorded in a memory (not shown) until the end of the game. CPU1
When the player obtains a point, 0 outputs the point and the data of the recorded date to the magnetic card reader / writer 12. In this prize vendor system, various game machines having the above-described configuration are installed in the game center where the arcade game machine 1 is installed and other game centers, and are recorded on the magnetic card 2. The information described corresponds to all these game machines.

The prize vendor 3 is provided separately from the arcade game machine 1, and includes a CPU 30, a magnetic card reader / writer 32 connected to the CPU 30 via a magnetic card reader / writer interface 31, a timer device 33, A prize discharging device 34. The prize vendor 3 is a vending machine that sells a plurality of products, and inserts and mounts the magnetic card 2 into the magnetic card reader / writer 32 instead of charging a fee.

The magnetic card reader / writer 32 reads information recorded on the magnetic card 2,
According to the instruction of 0, the points that have passed for a certain period of time, for example, three months, are invalidated and deleted,
After the prize is discharged, the number of points corresponding to the discharged prize is deleted, and then the magnetic card 2 is discharged.
When the magnetic card 2 is mounted on the magnetic card reader / writer 32, the timer device 33 outputs the current date of the mounting to the CPU 30.

The CPU 30 includes a magnetic card reader / writer 3
When the magnetic card 2 is mounted on the
3 to the current date information from the magnetic card reader / writer 3
2. Enter the date information recorded on the magnetic card 2 from the two, compare the two and get points,
For example, a command signal for erasing three months or more is output to the magnetic card reader / writer 12 and information on the number of valid points acquired is output to the prize discharging device 34.

The prize discharging device 34 has a plurality of selection buttons (not shown) provided for each type of prize, and the selection buttons corresponding to the prizes obtained within the range of the number of acquired points are highlighted. When any one of the highlighted buttons is pressed, the prize corresponding to the button is discharged. Although not shown, the prize vendor 3 is preferably provided with a prize cut-off lamp. It is also recommended that a device for generating an out-of-stock notice alarm be provided for the manager. One or several prize vendors 3 are installed in one game center depending on the number of game machines installed.

Next, based on FIG.
The operation of will be described. A coin is inserted into the arcade game machine 1 of this game system, and if it has the magnetic card 2, it is inserted into the arcade game machine 1. When the magnetic card 2 is inserted, the information written therein is read, and the presence or absence of an invalid point is confirmed. If there is an invalid point, the point is deleted, and if there is no invalid point, the game is started as it is.

When the user does not have the magnetic card 2, an operation for instructing a new play is performed. With this operation, a new card is sent to the magnetic card reader / writer 12, and the game is started. When the game is over and points are earned with a certain score or more, the number of points and the date of acquisition are recorded on the magnetic card 2, and then the magnetic card 2 is ejected and passed to the player's hand.

Next, referring to FIG.
The operation of will be described. When a magnetic card is inserted into the prize vendor 3, the information written therein is read and the presence or absence of an invalid point is confirmed. If there are invalid points, the points are deleted, and then the types of prizes that can be discharged within the valid number of points recorded on the magnetic card are displayed.

When there is a player's desired one of the displayed prizes, the prize is selected by pressing the prize selection button. Since the desired prize is discharged by the prize selection operation, the number of points corresponding to the prize is deleted from the magnetic card in order from the oldest acquisition date, and thereafter,
The magnetic card 2 is ejected and reaches the player's hand.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, a timer device may not be provided, and various types of memory cards, floppy disks, mini disks, etc. can be rewritten instead of magnetic cards. A suitable storage medium may be used. In the above description, the storage medium is issued and used in one store. However, the storage medium may be configured to be commonly used in a plurality of predetermined stores.
In this case, it is desirable to assign a store code to each member store, and record the responsible store code each time medium issuance, point assignment, and prize delivery are recorded. When a prize is delivered to the player, it is desirable to input the data of the media issue store and the point-providing store to the host computer together with the record of the prize to the host computer, and to prorate and calculate the cost of the provided prize.

Further, the new card issuing device may be provided not in the game machine but in the prize vendor, or may be provided as an independent card issuing machine. This way,
This facilitates card management. In addition, the arcade game machine of this system can employ all game machines other than those in which the act of acquiring a prize itself, such as a crane game, is established as a game. Can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention, and the present invention covers all modified embodiments that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art from the above description.

[0024]

According to the present invention, the prize vendor system according to the present invention is configured as described above. Therefore, according to the present invention, the assortment of prizes is diversified, and the results of various games are accumulated to obtain a desired prize. As a result, players will be more willing to acquire prizes, players will play the game repeatedly, and prizes can be refilled in large quantities at once, without having to walk between game machines to check for replenishment. Since it can be used, the labor of the staff can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing one embodiment of a prize vendor system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the arcade game machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the premium vendor shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ··············································································· Magnetic card reader / writer interface Apparatus 2 Magnetic card 3 Premium vendor 30 CPU 31 Magnetic card reader / writer interface 32 Magnetic card reader / writer 33 Timer 34 .... Premium discharge devices

Claims (3)

[Claims] An arcade game having a storage medium reader / writer (12) for providing a game of earning points by achieving a score of a predetermined level or higher and recording and accumulating the acquired points on a storage medium. Machine (1), a rewritable storage medium that is mounted on the arcade game machine (1) and records and accumulates points acquired in the game, and a storage medium provided separately from the arcade game machine (1) A prize vendor that includes a storage medium reader / writer (32) on which a prize is mounted, discharges a prize according to the number of acquired points recorded on the storage medium, and deletes the number of points corresponding to the discharged prize from the storage medium. (3) A prize vendor system comprising: 2. An arcade game machine (1) and a prize vendor (3) each include a timer device (13, 33) for outputting a date when a storage medium is mounted, and the storage medium has an acquisition point. And the date when the points were acquired, and when the storage medium is attached to the arcade game machine (1) or the prize vendor (3), the current date at the time of attachment and the date when the points were acquired are compared. 2. The prize vendor system according to claim 1, wherein points that have passed a predetermined period or more are deleted from the storage medium, and when the prize is discharged, the number of points corresponding to the prize is deleted in chronological order. 3. The prize vendor system according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is a magnetic card.