Game server, game control method, and game machine

Abstract

A return is reliably executed to a player who has paid a predetermined amount to a game machine. The timing of this return is determined by lottery, and its result is displayed on the game machine. This thrills the player with expectation of the return, thereby keeping the player long on the same game machine. As the result, it is avoidable that the player waiting for a prize for a long time loses enthusiasm for the game and keeps away from the hall (i.e., a reduction in the number of customers).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a division of, and claims priority to application Ser. No. 10 / 268,725, filed Oct. 11, 2002.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a technique of controlling a return executed to players of pachislo game (Japanese slot game), pachinko (vertical pinball game), etc. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Generally, a hall is equipped with a plurality of game machines for pachinko game, pachislo game, etc. Each game machine in this hall is constructed so that a game is started with throwing of a game medium such as a pachinko ball or medal, and the game medium is paid out corresponding to a winning state (style) occurred in the course of the game. [0004] This game machine is set such that a winning state occurs at a preset probability. Therefore, the player continues the game in expectation of a prize. [0005] In the game machine that produces a prize merely depending on the probability as described, the probabili...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-described technical problem by guaranteeing a return to a player thereby to prevent the player from keeping away from the hall, so that the player performs a game at one game machine for a long time.

[0014] (1) A player who has performed a game with one game machine for a while can reliably receive a predetermined return, irrespective of the result of the game on the game machine. This avoids that the player waiting for a prize for a long time might lose enthusiasm for the game. In addition, the timing at which the return is executed is determined by lottery and its result is display on the game machine. This thrills the player with expectation of the return. As a display style of the lottery result, there are, for example, (i) “You have N games up to a return”; and (ii) “You missed this time but are in lottery mode.” The player watching such a display will continue the game on the same game machine. Therefore, it is possible to keep the player long at the same game machine.

[0015] (2) When performing a lottery for determining the timing of a return, there is displayed on the game machine only the fact that a timing lottery was performed (i.e., it is brought into the state that a return will soon be executed), without displaying on the game machine a concrete timing at which the return is executed. With this configuration, the player can continue a game with the same game machine while expecting that “a return will soon be executed.” As the result, it is possible to keep the player long at the same game machine. In addition, the information that “a return will soon be executed,” which contains no information of a concrete return timing, will thrill the player with expectation. As the result, the game will be more interesting.

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, the player waiting for a prize for a long time might lose enthusiasm for the game and keep away from the hall (i.e., a reduction in the number of customers).

However, the techniques disclosed in these publications are still not directed to guarantee a return to players, although the players will suffer no unfairness by eliminating variations in the probability of a big prize per game machine.

These burdens on a hall controlling a plurality of game machines.

As the result, a reduction in the total returnable amount is unavoidable.

In other words, the techniques in these publications are not directed to guarantee a return to players.

Therefore, this machine is not directed to guarantee a return to players.

In the case that the jackpot is so produced on a certain slot machine only, the sum of money obtained by the jackpot is extremely large.

Such gambling characteristics can make the game more interest, whereas the probability of jackpot is extremely low, thereby failing to guarantee a return depending on the sum of money that the player throws in.

As stated above, the conventional game machines do not guarantee any return.

Therefore, if a player receives no prize by performing a game for a while, the player unavoidably abandons the game itself or moves to other game machine and performs a game again.

Images