Game parlor management system

Abstract

To precisely calculate the rate of operation of a new introduction date.SOLUTION: In a game parlor management system, a section operation rate is calculated and displayed by dividing an average consumption point as an average of points consumed in a game targeted for all of game machines 1 of a model ID concerned by a section absolute consumption point as a point obtained by dividing an average consumption point in one section by average game time in each section for each lapse of one hour from business start time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system for an amusement facility. [Background technology]

[0002] In gaming facilities, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, it is common to judge the quality of the operating situation based on the operating rate of each machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-275224 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In particular, for newly introduced models, it is essential to determine as early as possible whether they are popular models that can be expected to operate at high capacity, or unpopular models that cannot be expected to operate at high capacity, so the operating rate immediately after introduction is a very important indicator. Therefore, there is a need to calculate the operating rate on the day of new introduction with high accuracy.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide an amusement center management system that can calculate the operating rate on the new installation day with high accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in claim 1 is an amusement facility management system for managing a plurality of types of gaming machines installed in an amusement facility, comprising: a gaming time calculation means (e.g., the management device 6) for calculating the time during which a game is played as a gaming time during a target period after a predetermined exclusion period has elapsed from the start of business; a consumed gaming value calculation means (e.g., the management device 6) for calculating the gaming value consumed by the game during the target period as a consumed gaming value; and a consumed gaming value calculation means (e.g., the management device 6) for calculating the consumed gaming value per one gaming hour as a standard consumed gaming value (e.g., an interval interval) by dividing the consumed gaming value calculated by the consumed gaming value calculation means for a specific type by the gaming time. a standard consumed gaming value calculation means (e.g., the management device 6) for calculating a section operation rate (e.g., 70%, 68%, 70%, 75% shown in FIG. 6) of a specific machine by dividing an actual consumed gaming value (e.g., the average consumed points shown in FIG. 5) actually consumed for a specific machine in each section separated by a predetermined time from the start of business by the standard consumed gaming value calculated by the consumed gaming value calculation means; and a display means (e.g., the monitor 6a) for displaying the section operation rates calculated by the section operation rate calculation means in chronological order.

[0007] According to this configuration, the section operation rate of a specific machine is calculated and displayed by dividing the actual consumption gaming value of the specific machine by the standard consumption gaming value in each section divided every time a predetermined time has passed since the opening of business, so that the operation status of a newly introduced machine can be ascertained as early as possible by checking the section operation rate on the first day of the new introduction. Also, since the standard consumption gaming value for calculating the section operation rate is calculated for the period after the predetermined exclusion time has passed since the opening of the store, a highly accurate section operation rate can be calculated. This allows the operation rate on the new introduction day to be calculated with high accuracy. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an amusement center management system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2]Front view of the gaming machine and the rental unit [Diagram 3] A functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the gaming machine and the rental unit. [Figure 4] A diagram showing data by gaming machine [Diagram 5] Diagram showing model-specific data [Figure 6] A chart showing section operation rate data by model DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, a number of gaming machines 1 are installed in a gaming facility, and rental units 2 and gaming information display devices 3 are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the gaming machines 1.

[0010] The gaming machine 1 is connected to a corresponding rental unit 2, and each of the rental units 2 and game information display devices 3 is connected to a relay device 4, and the relay device 4 is connected to an amusement center management device (hereinafter referred to as the management device) 6 (corresponding to a playing time calculation means, a consumed gaming value calculation means, a standard consumed gaming value calculation means, a section operation rate calculation means, and a cumulative operation rate calculation means) via a LAN 5.

[0011] The relay device 4 relays data communication between the rental unit 2, the game information display device 3, and the management device 6. Game information in the gaming machine 1 is transmitted from the gaming machine 1 to the rental unit 2, and is received by the management device 6 from the rental unit 2 via the relay device 4. In addition, various setting information for the rental unit 2 set in the management device 6 is received by the rental unit 2 from the management device 6 via the relay device 4.

[0012] The management device 6 is connected to a monitor 6a (corresponding to a display means), manages the operating status of the gaming machines 1, the rental units 2, and the gaming information display devices 3, and collects gaming information collected from each gaming machine 1 and displays it on the monitor 6a, while also transmitting the collected gaming information to a management server 8 described below. In addition, the management device 6 receives collected data for each gaming facility created by the management server 8 based on the gaming information from the management server, and displays the received collected data on the monitor 6a.

[0013] A prize exchange terminal (hereinafter referred to as POS) (not shown) and a payment machine (not shown) are also installed in the gaming facility, and the POS and payment machine are also connected to the management device 6 via the LAN 5. When the POS accepts an IC card such as a membership card or a general card issued by the rental unit 2, it performs a prize exchange process based on the game value such as points or saved points specified by the accepted IC card. When performing a prize exchange process, the POS reads the points acquired by the player from the IC card, or identifies the member who wishes to exchange for a prize, and obtains the saved value (saved points) that the member player has deposited in the gaming facility online from the management device 6 to identify the game value that can be exchanged for a prize.

[0014] When the settlement machine accepts an IC card, it returns bills and coins from a return slot that correspond to the deposit balance specified by the accepted IC card. The settlement machine also has a bill slot into which bills are inserted, and when a bill is inserted into the bill slot, the amount of the inserted bill is added to the deposit balance recorded on the IC card.

[0015] The management device 6 is connected to a management server 8 so as to be able to communicate data with it via a public communication line 7 including, for example, the Internet. The management server 8 manages a plurality of gaming facilities and receives game play information from the management devices 6 installed in each gaming facility, thereby aggregating the game play information of each gaming facility to create and manage aggregated data, and also distributes (feeds back) the created aggregated data to the management devices 6 of each gaming facility.

[0016] The gaming machine 1 is a so-called sealed-in pachinko gaming machine, which stores and manages gaming points calculated by converting the player's balance, points held, and saved points, and supplies internal pachinko balls to a launching device to be launched onto the board on the condition that the stored gaming points remain, and when a win is achieved, the gaming points are managed by adding the pachinko balls to the data as won balls without paying them out.

[0017] 2, the gaming machine 1 has a board 9 from which pachinko balls are shot, a launch handle 10 constituting the launching device, a touch panel type information display section 11 that displays game information, a speaker 12 that outputs performance sounds, and decorative lamps 13. The board 9 has a pattern display section 16 including a normal pattern display section 14 and a special pattern display section 15, a through type normal pattern start opening 17, a special pattern start opening 18, a big prize opening 19, an out opening 20, and the like.

[0018] The lending unit 2 has a status lamp 21 that indicates the game status of the gaming machine 1 and the status of the lending unit 2, a bill insertion slot 22 into which bills are inserted, a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 23 that receives operation input from the player and displays game information, a lending button 24 that receives a lending operation, a replay button 25 that receives a replay operation, a return button 26 that receives a return operation, and a card insertion slot 27 into which an IC card is inserted. The lending unit 2 may also have a camera that photographs the upper body including the face of the player, a remote control receiver that receives a remote control signal from an employee remote control (not shown) carried by an employee, etc.

[0019] The gaming machine 1 operates as follows. When the game points are received from the card unit 2, it becomes possible to fire pachinko balls equal to the game points, and when the game points reach zero, firing becomes impossible. When a ball wins at the normal ball start port 17, a normal ball lottery is executed and the pattern on the normal ball starts to change. When the normal ball lottery is won, an electric device is opened to facilitate winning at the special ball start port 18. When a ball wins at the special ball start port 18, a special ball lottery is executed and the pattern on the special ball starts to change. When the special ball lottery is won, a jackpot pattern is displayed in a stopped state, and the machine transitions to a jackpot state. In the jackpot state, the jackpot winning port 20 is opened a specified number of times, greatly improving the winning rate.

[0020] A certain number of points are awarded depending on the winning of each starting slot 17, 18. There are three game states: normal state, probability of winning, and big win state. After the big win, there is a 70% chance of transitioning to the probability of winning, and a 30% chance of transitioning to the normal state. In the probability of winning, the odds of winning the special and regular lottery are higher than in the normal state.

[0021] The game points are sent to the card unit 2 according to the counting operation on the touch panel of the information display unit 11, and the game points are subtracted. A short touch sends one point at a time to the card unit 2, and a long touch sends all points at once to the card unit 2. The above explanation is one example, and performance and playability vary depending on the model, such as the probability of winning a jackpot, a special state, or a time-saving state, the number of points awarded when a prize is won, and the manner in which the patterns change.

[0022] The lending unit 2 operates as follows: When it receives game information from the gaming machine 1, it collects and stores the received game information, and transmits the game information to the management device 6 via the relay device 4 as needed. It also transmits the player's deposit balance and points to the management device 6 as needed.

[0023] It receives and stores various setting information (game machine number, model name, point unit price, etc.) from the management device 6. When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 22, it adds it to the deposit balance and stores it. The upper limit of the deposit balance is, for example, 10,000 yen.

[0024] When an IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, it is checked against the card information stored in the management device 6 based on the card ID, and if the check result is positive, the deposit balance and the number of points held are read out and displayed. When the loan button 24 is operated, a fixed amount (e.g., 1,000 yen) is converted into game points (e.g., 250 points) and sent to the gaming machine 1. When the replay button 25 is operated, the number of points held is converted into game points in increments of 250 points and sent to the gaming machine 1.

[0025] It stores and displays the number of points owned, the number of game points, and the total number of points (number of points owned + game points). It receives point addition and subtraction information from the gaming machine 1 and updates the stored number of points. When the number of points is updated, it transmits the point number information to the relay device 4. When the return button 26 is operated while there is at least one of the deposited balance and the number of points owned, the deposited balance and the number of points owned are recorded on the IC card and issued. The gaming points are not recorded and remain on the gaming machine. A maximum of 10 IC cards can be stored in the main unit.

[0026] The electrical configuration of the gaming machine 1 and the lending unit 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The gaming machine 1 includes a main control unit 28 and an I / F unit 29 that performs data communication with the lending unit 2. The main control unit 28 is configured with a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O, etc., and is supplied with power from a power supply circuit unit 30. The main control unit 28 detects the passage of a ball into the normal winning hole 17 based on a detection signal input from a normal winning sensor 31, detects winning into the special winning hole 18 based on a detection signal input from a special winning sensor 32, and detects winning into the special winning hole 19 based on a detection signal input from a special winning sensor 33.

[0027] When the main control unit 28 detects the passage of a ball into the normal drawing start port 17, it outputs a pattern change start signal to the normal drawing display unit 14 to start the pattern change of the normal drawing, and when the normal drawing lottery is won, it outputs a drive signal to the special drawing start solenoid 34 to open the special drawing start port 18. When the main control unit 28 detects a winning entry into the special drawing start port 18, it outputs a pattern change start signal to the special drawing display unit 15 to start the pattern change of the special drawing, and when the special drawing lottery is won, it outputs a drive signal to the special drawing start port solenoid 35 to open the special drawing start port 20.

[0028] The main control unit 28 outputs a performance instruction signal to the performance control unit 36. When the performance control unit 36 ​​receives the performance instruction signal from the main control unit 28, it outputs the received performance instruction signal via the amplifier 37 to the speaker 12, the decorative lamp 13, and the display control unit 38 to the pattern display unit 16, and the speaker 12, the decorative lamp 13, and the pattern display unit 16 perform a performance in accordance with the pattern change pattern, etc.

[0029] The setting operation unit 39 accepts setting operations by, for example, an employee of the gaming facility, and outputs a setting operation detection signal capable of identifying the accepted setting operation to the main control unit 28. The touch panel 40 accepts various operations by, for example, a player, and outputs an operation detection signal capable of identifying the accepted operation to the main control unit 28. The main control unit 28 outputs a display instruction signal to the information display unit 11, and causes the information display unit 11 to display various game information.

[0030] The lending unit 2 includes a control unit 41 and an I / F unit 42 that performs data communication with the gaming machine 1. The control unit 41 is configured with a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, I / O, etc. The control unit 41 outputs a drive signal to the status lamps 21, and causes the status lamps 21 to display the game status of the gaming machine 1 and the status of the lending unit 2. The banknote processing unit 43 determines the authenticity of a banknote inserted into the banknote insertion slot 22, and outputs the determination result to the control unit 41.

[0031] When the player presses the lending button 24, it outputs an operation detection signal capable of identifying a lending operation to the control unit 41. When the player presses the replay button 25, it outputs an operation detection signal capable of identifying a replay operation to the control unit 41. When the player presses the return button 26, it outputs an operation detection signal capable of identifying a return operation to the control unit 41. When the player presses the card processing unit 44, it functions as a card RW (reader / writer) that reads various information from the inserted IC card and writes various information to the IC card when an IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot 27. The control unit 41 outputs a display instruction signal to the liquid crystal display unit 43, and causes the liquid crystal display unit 43 to display various game information.

[0032] The gaming machine 1 outputs the following game information as the game progresses, such as when the player shoots the ball and wins a prize. Consumed game point information=Information showing the number of game points (outs) consumed in a game. Awarded game points information=Information showing the number of game points (safe) awarded upon winning. Start information=Information indicating that a jackpot lottery and pattern change have been carried out. Jackpot information = Information indicating that it is a jackpot state. Chance bonus information = Information indicating that the game is in a chance bonus state. The above explanation is an example, and the game information to be output differs depending on the model. The gaming machine 1 outputs the game information to the lending unit 2 at regular intervals (for example, every 200 milliseconds) as a data signal such as a message that can identify the game information, and outputs the cumulative data from the previous transmission.

[0033] The gaming information managed by the management device 6 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 to Fig. 7. The management device 6 manages data by gaming machine, data by model, gaming machine purchase history data, and gaming machine profit data by model as the gaming information to be managed. Below, various data managed by the management device 6 of the store "AAA" will be described, for example.

[0034] (1) Data by gaming machine (see Figure 4) The management device 6 manages the data for each gaming machine by machine number based on the game information received from the gaming machine 1. The management device 6 transmits the data for each gaming machine to the management server 8 at regular time intervals (for example, 5 minutes). The data for each gaming machine is organized into records with items such as machine number, model ID, points consumed, points awarded, playing time, start, and jackpot. Each item is as follows.

[0035] Model ID=Indicates an ID for identifying the model. Sales = Sales amount. Consumed points = The number of points consumed in the game. It is equal to the number of balls fired. Awarded points = the number of points awarded for winning. Play time = the time during which points consumed or patterns change continuously within a certain period of time (time considered as playing). Specifically, a timer of, for example, two minutes is started when points consumed or patterns change, and if points consumed or patterns change again before the timer runs out, the timer is restarted and the play time is added. If the next points consumed or patterns do not change before the timer runs out, the time after the last points consumed or patterns change is considered non-play time. Start = Indicates the number of pattern changes (number of jackpot draws) under normal conditions. Jackpot = Indicates the number of times a jackpot has occurred.

[0036] (2) Model-specific data (see Figure 5) The management device 6 calculates and stores the averages of various game data by machine type. The machine type data is divided into records for the following items: machine type ID, number of machines, points consumed, points awarded, payout rate, game time, and absolute points consumed. Each item is as follows:

[0037] Number of machines = The number of gaming machines 1 of the corresponding model ID. Average points consumed (corresponding to actual consumed gaming value) = The average points consumed in playing on all gaming machines 1 of the corresponding model ID. Average awarded points = The average points awarded for winning on all gaming machines 1 of the corresponding model ID. Payout rate = average number of points given / average number of points consumed. For example, for machine ID "1", the result is 43,210 / 45,678 = 94.6%. Average playing time = The average playing time for all gaming machines 1 of the corresponding model ID. Absolute points consumed = average points consumed / average playing time (average points consumed per playing time). For example, for machine ID "1", the answer is 45,628 / {(9 x 60 + 31) / 60} = 4800.

[0038] (3) Sectional operating rate data by model (see Figure 6) The management device 6 calculates the section absolute consumption points for each model, calculates and stores the section operation rate for each hour that has elapsed since opening time (9:00), and also calculates and stores the cumulative operation rate up to that time. While Fig. 6 shows an example of the section operation rate and cumulative operation rate up to 13:00, it is also possible to calculate and store the section operation rate and cumulative operation rate after 13:00, and it is also possible to calculate and store the section operation rate and cumulative operation rate up to closing time.

[0039] Absolute point consumption in the interval (corresponding to the standard consumption gaming value) = The average point consumption in the one hour period from 10:00 to 11:00 divided by the average gaming time (the gaming value consumed per one gaming hour is calculated as the standard consumption gaming value). In this case, the average point consumption in the one hour period from 10:00 to 11:00 is used because, immediately after opening (just after 9:00), all the machines start operating simultaneously from normal mode, so the absolute point consumption tends to be higher than the actual value, which can be a factor in reducing accuracy. In other words, to eliminate the influence of the tendency for the value to be higher than the actual value, the absolute point consumption in the interval (target interval) is calculated after one hour immediately after opening (9:00 to 10:00, corresponding to the excluded period). Section operation rate = Average consumption points in one section (1 hour) divided by absolute consumption points in the section (section operation rate is calculated by dividing actual consumption gaming value by standard consumption gaming value). Cumulative operating rate = Average number of points consumed from opening time to the relevant time divided by the product of the absolute number of points consumed for the period and business hours (the cumulative operating rate is calculated by dividing the cumulative consumed gaming value by the cumulative standard consumed gaming value, which is calculated by multiplying the cumulative time and the standard consumed gaming value).

[0040] According to the present embodiment described above, the following advantageous effects can be obtained. In the gaming center management system, the section operation rate is calculated and displayed by dividing the average consumption points by the section absolute consumption points for each section every hour that has passed since the opening of business, so that the operation status of a newly introduced model can be ascertained as early as possible by checking the section operation rate on the first day of the new introduction. In addition, the section absolute consumption points for calculating the section operation rate are calculated for the section (10:00-11:00) after the first hour (9:00-10:00) has passed immediately after opening, so that a highly accurate section operation rate can be calculated. This allows the operation rate on the new introduction day to be calculated with high accuracy.

[0041] In addition to calculating the section operation rate, a cumulative operation rate is calculated for each hour that has elapsed since the start of business by dividing the cumulative average consumption points for the accumulated time from the start of business to that time by the cumulative absolute section consumption points obtained by multiplying the accumulated time and the section absolute consumption points, and the section operation rate and the cumulative operation rate are displayed together, so that the operation status of newly introduced models can be determined by checking the cumulative operation rate.

[0042] In the section availability data by model shown in Figure 6, the section availability rate for each section in one-hour increments increases or decreases, and the cumulative availability rate up to that time increases or decreases accordingly, making it possible to properly grasp the trends in availability rate.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows. In addition, the configurations shown in the examples may be combined in any manner, including modified examples, or may not be adopted as appropriate.

[0044] The data by gaming machine and data by model described in this embodiment are merely examples, and various types of game information can be created as items. For example, the difference in points indicating the difference between the awarded points and the consumed points, the jackpot probability indicating the ratio of the number of jackpots to the number of starts, etc. may be calculated.

[0045] Although an example of an enclosed type pachinko gaming machine that awards gaming points according to winning has been given, the gaming machine is not limited to this, and may be a pachinko gaming machine that pays out pachinko balls according to winning. It may also be a pachislot gaming machine or a jump ball gaming machine. The gaming value used in the game may be physical balls, medals, etc., in addition to points treated as electronic data.

[0046] Although the configuration in which the section operation rate is calculated every hour has been exemplified, the section operation rate may be calculated every arbitrary time (for example, every 30 minutes). Also, although the configuration in which the section absolute consumption points are calculated based on the average consumption points and average playing time for 1 to 2 hours (10:00 to 11:00) after opening has been exemplified, the section absolute consumption points may be calculated based on the average consumption points and average playing time for a period after a sufficient amount of time has passed since opening. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] In the drawing, 1 is a gaming machine, 6 is a management device (play time calculation means, consumed gaming value calculation means, standard consumed gaming value calculation means, section operation rate calculation means, cumulative operation rate calculation means), and 6a is a monitor (display means).

Claims

1. In an amusement facility management system for managing a plurality of types of gaming machines installed in the amusement facility, a game time calculation means for calculating a time during which a game is played as a game time during a target period after a predetermined exclusion period has elapsed from the start of business; a consumed game value calculation means for calculating a game value consumed by a game during the target period as a consumed game value; a standard consumed game value calculation means for calculating a consumed game value per one playing time as a standard consumed game value by dividing the consumed game value calculated by the consumed game value calculation means of a specific machine type by the playing time; a section operation rate calculation means for calculating a section operation rate of a specific machine by dividing an actual consumed gaming value of a specific machine in each section divided at each time a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of business by the standard consumed gaming value calculated by the consumed gaming value calculation means; and a display means for displaying the section operating rates calculated by the section operating rate calculation means in a chronological order.

2. a cumulative operating rate calculation means for calculating a cumulative operating rate by dividing a cumulative consumed gaming value during a cumulative time from the start of business up to the time by a cumulative standard consumed gaming value obtained by multiplying the cumulative total time by the standard consumed gaming value each time a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of business, 2. The gaming facility management system according to claim 1, wherein said display means displays said cumulative operation rate calculated by said cumulative operation rate calculation means together with said section operation rate.

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