Game arcade management system

Abstract

To provide a game parlor management system capable of executing urgent lending of game mediums for preventing a game from finishing in a special prize state, while a risk for a game parlor is suppressed.SOLUTION: In the game parlor management system which manages game machines 1, game medium lending devices 2 and the like installed in a game parlor PP with a management device 3, each game medium lending device 2 performs processing of lending game mediums on the basis of a fact that credit information confirmable as information associated with a game customer playing with the game machine 1 satisfies a lendable condition and that a special case condition in which a risk of a game finish in a special prize state is high is established. This prevents a game from finishing in the special prize state while a risk for a game parlor is suppressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming machine installed in a game arcade and capable of playing games using predetermined game media, a game media lending device installed in association with the gaming machine and capable of lending out the game media to game players, and a management device capable of managing various devices in the game arcade including the gaming machine and the game media lending device, that is, a game arcade management system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, game arcades have provided games using gaming machines that use game media. To play a game, it is necessary to borrow game media that can be used for the game on the gaming machine from a game store. Therefore, money is inserted into the game media lending device, or a charged card is inserted, and the game media is lent out within the range of available money. For example, in a pachinko machine, pachinko balls are borrowed as game media, and the pachinko balls are launched onto the game board to play the game. A plurality of winning areas (winning holes) are provided on the game board, and based on the fact that the game balls have passed through the winning area, a predetermined number of game balls are given to the player as prize game media. On the other hand, in a spinning reel gaming machine, game medals are borrowed as game media, the spinning reels are rotated by inserting the game medals, and based on the stopped state of the reel symbols, a predetermined number of game medals are given to the player as prize game media. In addition, there is a possibility that enclosed pachinko machines and medal-less spinning reel gaming machines will be introduced into the market. In these gaming machines, by electronically managing the number of pachinko balls or game medals, the complexity of handling game media by game players is eliminated.

[0003] Thus, while playing a game machine, the amount of game tokens a player possesses increases or decreases as they are used to play and as prize tokens are won as a result of playing. When a player runs out of game tokens, they can no longer continue playing the game machine, and the game ends. However, they can borrow additional game tokens and continue playing. Also, during gameplay, a special prize state (a so-called jackpot) may occur, which offers a high probability of winning a relatively large amount of prize tokens in a short period of time. When a jackpot occurs, in pinball games the large prize slot opens, increasing the chances of winning and allowing the player to acquire many game balls. In reel games, the probability of matching symbols increases, and the player may receive assistance in game progression, allowing them to acquire many game tokens.

[0004] When a jackpot is hit, players can acquire many prize game tokens by continuing to play. However, if a player happens to run out of game tokens just before or after entering a special prize state, they may not be able to continue playing, and the special prize state may end (a so-called "bust"). In such cases, if there is money or card balance remaining in the game token dispensing machine, players can quickly borrow additional game tokens and continue playing before the special prize state ends. Unfortunately, if there is no money or card balance remaining in the game token dispensing machine, players may continue playing by borrowing a small number of game balls from a nearby player without inserting any more money into the machine. However, lending and borrowing game tokens from other players is not desirable.

[0005] Therefore, a gaming media lending device has been proposed that, when a special prize state occurs in a gaming machine, can perform an advance lending process that lends out a number of gaming media corresponding to the expected value of the number of prize gaming media that will be obtained in that special prize state (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The gaming media lending device described in Patent Document 1 lends out gaming media without charging a fee for lending them out when the number of usable gaming media remaining is less than or equal to a predetermined number when a special prize state occurs, making it a highly convenient service for players. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5599247 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is based on the premise that the number of game media lent out through the advance payment process will be settled from the prize game media obtained during gameplay in the special prize state. However, there is no guarantee in case settlement is not possible, and there is a risk of loss for the game store, so it is not practical.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a game arcade management system that enables the emergency lending of game media to prevent malfunctions in the special prize state, while minimizing the risks to the arcade. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the aforementioned problems, a game arcade management system is provided, comprising: a game machine installed in a game arcade and capable of playing using a predetermined game medium; a game medium lending device installed in conjunction with the game machine and capable of lending the game medium to a player; and a management device capable of managing various devices within the game arcade, including the game machine and the game medium lending device, wherein the game medium lending device performs the process of lending the game medium, which can be used to play on the game machine by consuming the valuable assets possessed by the player. The system is characterized by comprising: a media lending means; a ball handling means that stores the game media acquired by a player through playing the game on the game machine as balls that can be used to play the game on the game machine, and processes the game media to be used to play the game machine by reducing the number of balls; and a special game media lending means that processes the game media to be lent based on the fact that credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to a player playing the game machine satisfies predetermined lending conditions and predetermined special conditions are met.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the special game medium lending means may determine that the special condition is met when the following conditions are met simultaneously: a first condition occurs during gameplay on the game machine, in which a special prize state occurs that has a high probability of acquiring many of the game mediums in a short time; a second condition occurs when the number of balls stored by the ball handling means is less than the standard number of balls necessary and sufficient for continuing the game; and a third condition occurs when the value of the balls held by the player is less than the value that can be consumed in order to receive the lending of the game mediums by the game medium lending means.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above configuration, if the ball handling means acquires new game media as a result of gameplay after the special game media lending means has lent out the game media, it may store the number of acquired game media minus the number of game media lent out by the special game media lending means as the balls held.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the gaming medium lending means is capable of lending out the gaming medium by consuming the valuable value linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium of the player that has inserted it, and the special gaming medium lending means may restrict the return of the inserted recording medium from the time the gaming medium is lent out based on the fulfillment of the special conditions until the player acquires the same number of gaming mediums as the number of gaming mediums that have been lent out as a result of the game.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the gaming medium lending device may also include: a lending count transmitting means that transmits a lending count signal relating to the number of gaming media lent by the gaming medium lending means and the special gaming medium lending means to the management device; a transmission restriction means that restricts the transmission of the lending count signal by the lending count transmitting means while the return of the recording medium is restricted; and a transmission restriction release means that, when the restriction on the return of the recording medium is lifted and the recording medium is returned, releases the transmission restriction on the lending count signal by the transmission restriction means, thereby enabling the lending count transmitting means to transmit the lending count signal to the management device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, when credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to a player playing a game machine satisfies predetermined lending conditions, and when predetermined special conditions are met, the special gaming media lending means processes the lending of gaming media. In other words, by providing special gaming media lending only to players who meet the lending conditions, the gaming establishment management system enables emergency gaming media lending while minimizing the risks for the gaming establishment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a game arcade management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (A) is a schematic front view of a gaming media dispensing device for pinball gaming machines. (B) is a schematic front view of a gaming media dispensing device for reel-type gaming machines. [Figure 3] This is a front view of the display and operation unit installed in a gaming media dispensing device. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of the gaming media dispensing device according to the first configuration example. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of the special value setting process performed by the special value processing means for the gaming media lending device according to the first configuration example. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram showing the process by which the display content of the display operation unit changes in accordance with the special value setting process performed by the special value processing means of the gaming media lending device according to the first configuration example. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of the control device relating to the first configuration example. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows the main route of the special game media lending process performed by the special game media lending means of the game media lending device according to the first configuration example. [Figure 9] This flowchart shows the secondary route of the special game media lending process performed by the special game media lending means of the game media lending device according to the first configuration example. [Figure 10]It is an explanatory diagram showing the process in which the display content of the display operation unit transitions along with the special game medium lending process performed by the special game medium lending means of the game medium lending device according to the first configuration example. [Figure 11] It is a schematic configuration diagram of the game medium lending device according to the second configuration example. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart of the special game medium setting process performed by the special game medium processing means of the game medium lending device according to the second configuration example. [Figure 13] It is an explanatory diagram showing the process in which the display content of the display operation unit transitions along with the special game medium setting process performed by the special game medium processing means of the game medium lending device according to the second configuration example. [Figure 14] It is a schematic configuration diagram of the management device according to the second configuration example. [Figure 15] It is a flowchart showing the main route of the special game medium lending process performed by the special game medium lending means of the game medium lending device according to the second configuration example. [Figure 16] It is a flowchart showing the sub - route of the special game medium lending process performed by the special game medium lending means of the game medium lending device according to the second configuration example. [Figure 17] It is an explanatory diagram showing the process in which the display content of the display operation unit transitions along with the special game medium lending process performed by the special game medium lending means of the game medium lending device according to the second configuration example. [Figure 18] It is an image diagram showing an example of a management table in which various information managed in association with a card ID is grouped and generated into a record for each card ID. [Figure 19] It is a schematic configuration diagram of the prize exchange POS. [Figure 20] It is a functional block diagram of the game medium lending device and the management device according to the third configuration example. <000​​​​​​​​​ [Figure 24] This is a functional block diagram of the gaming media dispensing device and management device according to the seventh configuration example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0016] Next, an embodiment of the gaming arcade management system according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the attached drawings. As shown in Figure 1, a gaming arcade PP is equipped with multiple gaming machines 1, and a gaming medium dispensing device 2 that can communicate with each gaming machine 1 is also installed, allowing players to play games on the gaming machines 1 using gaming mediums dispensed by the gaming medium dispensing device 2. In addition, the gaming arcade PP is equipped with a management device 3 that manages the gaming machines 1 and the gaming medium dispensing device 2, as well as a prize exchange POS 4, a settlement machine 5, etc. The various devices within the gaming arcade PP are connected via an in-house network 6, and the management device 3 manages the setting information of the gaming medium dispensing device 2 and the processing result information transmitted from the gaming medium dispensing device 2. This management device 3 is designed to integrate functions such as counting and managing game results for each gaming machine 1 and managing the various devices within the gaming arcade PP, but each function may be configured as a separate device. The number of game tokens obtained as a result of playing on game machine 1 is digitized by the game token dispensing device 2, and players can exchange them for prizes at the prize exchange POS 4. In addition, if there is any remaining balance in the banknotes inserted into the game token dispensing device 2, players can settle their balance at the settlement machine 5.

[0017] Furthermore, the gaming machines 1 installed in the amusement arcade PP are divided into two types: pinball gaming machines 1A and reel gaming machines 1B, based on the difference in the gaming medium used. In pinball gaming machines 1A, game balls are used as the gaming medium, and the game is played by shooting the game balls onto the game board. The game board has multiple winning areas (winning slots), and when the game balls pass through the winning areas as the game progresses, a predetermined number of game balls are awarded to the player as prize gaming medium. On the other hand, in reel gaming machines 1B, game tokens are used as the gaming medium, and the reels are rotated by inserting game tokens, and the game progresses in a way that the reels stop when the stop button is pressed or after a certain amount of time has passed. If the stopping position of the reel symbols corresponds to a prize, a predetermined number of game tokens are awarded to the player as prize gaming medium. A pinball game machine 1A, which uses game balls as the game medium, is compatible with a game medium dispensing device 2A that can control the dispensing of game balls as the game medium, and a revolving game machine 1B, which uses game tokens as the game medium, is compatible with a game medium dispensing device 2B that can control the dispensing of game tokens as the game medium.

[0018] In the following explanation, when it is not necessary to distinguish between a pinball game machine 1A and a reel game machine 1B, it will simply be referred to as "game machine 1," and the game medium dispensing devices 2A and 2B connected to it will also simply be referred to as "game medium dispensing devices 2." Furthermore, game mediums obtained through playing on game machine 1 will be treated as "balls" or "coins" that can be used to play on game machine 1, without distinction from game balls or game tokens. On the other hand, there are types of game medium dispensing devices 2 that consume the valuable assets (explained in detail later) held by the player to dispensing game mediums that can be used to play on game machine 1, and then dispense the dispensed game mediums into the ball tray or token tray of game machine 1. When game mediums are borrowed from this type of game medium dispensing device 2, the game mediums (loaned balls) borrowed from game medium dispensing device 2 are dispensed into the ball tray or token tray that already contains the player's balls, making it impossible to distinguish between the player's balls and the loaned balls. Therefore, in the following explanation, borrowed balls are treated as owned balls, and the remaining number is recorded and managed by the game medium dispensing device 2. However, in a sealed game machine 1 that does not dispense game media outside the machine, owned balls and borrowed balls can be managed electronically and distinguished, so it is possible to control the machine to prioritize the use of owned balls as game media for play, and to provide borrowed balls for play only after the owned balls have run out. For convenience, "owned balls" is assumed to include the meanings of "owned game balls" and "owned game medals". The owned balls held by a player can be used again for play or exchanged for prizes, but only within the same store of the game arcade PP and on the same business day. In addition, when a player registers information such as their name, address, and telephone number and becomes a member, a recording medium such as a membership card (described in detail later) is issued, and they can receive a service to convert their owned balls into stored balls. "Stored tokens" is a service that allows players to deposit their tokens at the end of a game at the same PP (Passenger Passenger) location, so that they can be used again for gameplay or exchanged for prizes on subsequent days. Furthermore, under certain conditions, a service may be offered to convert stored tokens into playable tokens. When converting stored tokens to playable tokens, a fee may be deducted from the number of game tokens provided.

[0019] Next, with reference to Figure 2, the outline of the game medium dispensing device 2 will be explained. The game medium dispensing device 2A is a device that handles game balls as game medium and is installed on the left side of the pinball game machine 1A. The game medium dispensing device 2B is a device that handles game tokens as game medium and is installed on the right side of the reel game machine 1B. The game medium dispensing devices 2A and 2B are equipped with a banknote insertion section 21, a display operation section 22, and a recording medium insertion / extraction slot 23 in common. The game medium dispensing device 2A is equipped with a game ball supply section 24 and a game ball counter 25, while the game medium dispensing device 2B is equipped with a game token dispensing section 26 and a game token counting section 27.

[0020] Players who do not possess a recording medium 7, such as a membership card, first insert banknotes into the banknote slot 21. Once the banknotes are taken into the machine from the banknote slot 21, they undergo a verification process to determine whether they are genuine or suspected counterfeit. If the banknotes are recognized as genuine, the game media dispensing device 2 takes them into the machine and simultaneously records an amount corresponding to the banknotes' value as a deposit (electronic data). The recorded deposit can be viewed on the display operation unit 22 through automatic display (or by selecting a display option through a predetermined display operation by the player). Whether the deposit is displayed as an amount or as the number of game media equivalent to the amount is determined by a setting operation by the management device 3. In addition, to manage the inserted amount as a deposit, the game media dispensing device 2 issues a temporary card ID. As a result, the gaming media dispensing device 2 manages the deposit by linking it to specific information (card ID) on the recording medium 7, which has not been handed to the player, and also records the number of balls held (details to be described later) by linking it to this card ID. If the remaining balance or number of balls exceeds the card value at the end of the game, the card issuance conditions are met, and a recording medium 7 with the temporary card ID recorded as the official card ID is issued. If there is almost no remaining balance or number of balls at the end of the game and the card issuance conditions are not met, the recording medium 7 is not issued, and the remaining balls can be processed appropriately.

[0021] Figure 3 shows an example of the panel display of the display operation unit 22. The display operation unit 22 is broadly composed of a display unit 221 for displaying information and an operation unit 222 for touch operation. The operation unit 222 is equipped with a prize selection button 222a, a menu display button 222b, a return button 222c, a lending button 222d, a counting button 222e, etc. When a player selects one of these buttons (by touching the button display area on the operation unit 222), the game medium lending device 2 performs an action corresponding to the operation.

[0022] For example, when the balance (available deposit) can be confirmed on the display unit 221 of the display operation unit 22, game media will be lent out by pressing the lending button 222d on the operation unit 222. If the game media is game balls, the game media lending device 2A will supply game balls from the game ball supply unit 24 to the ball tray of the pinball game machine 1A. If the game media is game tokens, the game media lending device 2B will supply game tokens from the game token lending unit 26 to the token tray of the reel game machine 1B. Furthermore, convenience can be improved by setting the device to operate in an automatic lending mode that, when banknotes inserted into the banknote insertion unit 21 are determined to be genuine banknotes and taken in, lends out a number of game media corresponding to the minimum banknote value and deducts the deposit amount by the minimum banknote value without the user having to press the lending button 222d. The automatic dispensing mode for the gaming media dispensing device 2 can be set via control from the management device 3 or by manual operation by an employee of the gaming parlor.

[0023] The gaming media acquired as a result of playing games on the gaming machine 1 using the rented gaming media can be counted by the gaming ball counter 25 or the gaming medal counting unit 27 and converted into electronic data as acquired balls. The counting operation of acquired gaming media is basically automatic counting by detecting the gaming media, but as illustrated in the display operation unit 22 of Figure 3, there are also systems that have a counting button 222e and perform counting each time the counting button 222e is pressed. Furthermore, in the gaming machine 1 of the gaming media enclosed type, which has attracted attention in recent years, a button for counting acquired gaming media is provided on the gaming machine 1 side, rather than on the gaming media rental device 2.

[0024] If a player has remaining funds or tokens and meets the card issuance conditions, pressing the return button 222c will cause a recording medium 7 to be issued from the recording medium insertion / extraction slot 23 and provided to the player, allowing them to access the value information of their funds or tokens. The recording medium 7 does not directly write the remaining funds or the number of tokens held, but rather links this information to specific information on the recording medium 7 (e.g., card ID) and manages the remaining funds or the number of tokens held by the management device 3. While a thin IC card 7A containing an IC chip or a coin-shaped IC coin 7B is used as the recording medium 7, the type of medium is not particularly limited as long as it contains an electrically recognizable identifier (specific information). For example, a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet owned by the player may be used as the recording medium 7. Furthermore, there are two types of recording medium 7 depending on the player to whom it is issued. Players who are members whose personal information has been identified are issued a recording medium 7 that serves as a member card, while players who are not members are issued a recording medium 7 that serves as a general card. Furthermore, with standard cards, the card itself, which contains an IC chip, has inherent value. Therefore, to prevent theft of standard cards, the gaming media dispensing device 2 is equipped with a function that determines that the card issuance conditions are not met if the value of the deposit or the number of tokens held does not reach the value of the card itself, and prohibits the issuance of the card.

[0025] Players can use the recording medium 7 dispensed from the game medium dispensing device 2 to exchange for prizes or move to another game machine 1 to play again. When exchanging for prizes using the balls stored in association with specific information on the recording medium 7, the prize exchange POS 4 is used. If the game medium dispensing device 2 is equipped with a function that allows the prize exchange service to be used without going to the prize exchange POS 4, pressing the prize selection button 222a will display a prize selection screen, allowing the player to select the desired prize. When moving to another game machine 1, inserting the recording medium 7 into the recording medium insertion / extraction slot 23 of the game medium dispensing device 2 attached to the target game machine 1 will display the deposit and ball information managed in association with specific information on the recording medium 7 on the game medium dispensing device 2 at the destination, allowing the player to play again.

[0026] Furthermore, if there is a remaining balance in the deposit linked to the specific information on the recording medium 7, the deposit can be settled at the settlement machine 5. While the settlement of the deposit is in cash, it may be possible to provide a service that allows the player to choose to add the amount to electronic money or other forms of payment. If the settlement amount is to be added to electronic money or other forms of payment, the convenience for the player will be further improved if the settlement can be done at the game media dispensing device 2 without having to go to the settlement machine 5.

[0027] Next, as an example of the internal functions of the gaming media dispensing device 2, a first configuration example of the gaming media dispensing device 2A corresponding to the pinball game machine 1A (hereinafter referred to as gaming media dispensing device 2-1) will be explained based on the functional block diagram shown in Figure 4. The gaming media dispensing device 2-1 includes a control unit 201-1, a storage unit 202-1, a banknote identification unit 203, a display operation unit 22, a card processing unit 204, a game ball dispensing unit 205, a game ball counting unit 206, an external communication unit 207, and a game machine communication unit 208.

[0028] The banknote identification unit 203 determines the authenticity of banknotes inserted from the banknote insertion unit 21. If the banknote identification unit 203 determines that a banknote is genuine, it identifies the denomination of the banknote and stores it internally. On the other hand, if the authenticity determination fails (if the banknote identification unit 203 does not determine that a banknote is genuine), the banknote is returned to the player. When a banknote is determined to be genuine by the banknote identification unit 203 and stored internally, the amount of the banknote is stored in the deposit data storage area 202a of the storage unit 202-1 by the deposit management unit 201a of the control unit 201-1, and is managed as a deposit thereafter. However, if a portion of the deposit is set to a special value (explained in detail later), only the balance not set to a special value will be managed as usable deposits. Furthermore, the ball management unit 201b stores the game media acquired or borrowed by the player through playing on the pinball game machine 1A as balls available for use in the pinball game machine 1A in the ball data storage area of ​​the storage unit 202-2, and processes the game media to be available for use in the pinball game machine 1A by reducing the number of balls.

[0029] As described above, the display operation unit 22 displays various information on the display unit 221, such as the balance (usable deposit amount), the number of balls held, and the special loan balance (the balance of deposits set to special value), and is an input / output device that accepts operations such as requests for loaning and returning gaming media. Display control for the display operation unit 22 is performed by the display control unit 201c of control unit 201-1, and operation control such as loaning and returning gaming media is performed by the operation control unit 201d. Furthermore, the display unit 221 of the display operation unit 22 can be implemented using a thin display panel such as an LCD or an organic EL panel, and the operation unit 222 of the display operation unit 22 can be implemented using a touch panel such as a resistive touch panel or a capacitive touch panel.

[0030] The card processing unit 204, under the control of the card control unit 201e, takes in a card (a thin, card-shaped recording medium 7) inserted into the recording medium insertion / extraction slot 23 and reads the card identifier (specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player). The read card identifier is stored in the card data storage area 202d of the storage unit 202-1, and the card processing unit 204 receives information such as the player's ball count (described in detail later) linked to this card identifier from the management device 3. The card processing unit 204 is also equipped with a lock function to prevent malfunctions, and activates the card lock function after taking in a card. When the player presses the return button 222c on the display operation unit 22, the card lock is released and the card is returned when the conditions for card return (described in detail later) are met. The card processing unit 204 also primarily controls the issuance of new cards. Furthermore, if the card identifier recorded on the card can be transmitted via short-range wireless communication, such as when a portable wireless terminal device owned by the player is used as the recording medium 7, the card identifier can be read by holding the recording medium 7 over the card processing unit 204, thereby improving convenience for the player.

[0031] When the card identifier is identified by the card processing unit 204, it queries the management device 3 for the card identifier. If there is any information about the player's balls, stored balls, or deposits managed by the management device 3, the management device 3 transmits the information to the requesting gaming medium dispensing device 2-1. This allows the player to use their balls, stored balls, or deposits at the gaming medium dispensing device 2-1. In response to a request to dispensing gaming balls, the deposit management unit 201a of the control unit 201-1 determines whether gaming mediums can be dispensed based on the remaining balance data stored in the deposit data storage area 202a of the storage unit 202-1. If the deposit management unit 201a determines that dispensing is possible, it instructs the ball dispensing control unit 201f to dispense gaming balls, subtracts the amount equivalent to the number of gaming balls dispensed from the remaining balance data, and stores the new remaining balance in the deposit data storage area 202a. Furthermore, if there are stored balls for a loan request in the stored ball data storage area 202c, which stores stored ball information linked to a card identifier, the stored balls may be converted into held balls through control by, for example, the held ball management unit 201b.

[0032] When the player presses the lending button 222d on the display operation unit 22, the game ball dispensing unit 205 dispenses the requested number of game balls. Under the control of the ball dispensing control unit 201f of the control unit 201-1, the game balls are dispensed, for example, into the launch ball supply tray of the ball game machine 1A. However, if a game machine 1 with a sealed game medium is connected, the game ball dispensing unit 205 does not perform the game ball dispensing operation. In this case, the ball dispensing control unit 201f dispenses the number of game balls as a loaned game medium in electronic data, and the ball management unit 201b manages the number of game balls that were lent out as electronic data.

[0033] The game ball counting unit 206, under the control of the ball payout control unit 201f, counts the game balls inserted into the game ball counter 25. The counted number of game balls is stored as game ball information in the game ball data storage area 202b of the storage unit 202-1, under the control of the game ball management unit 201b. When a game machine 1 with a sealed game medium is connected, the game ball counting unit 206 does not perform the game ball counting operation, so the game ball management unit 201b only needs to manage the number of game balls dispensed based on the game results transmitted from the game machine 1 as acquired game mediums in electronic data.

[0034] The external communication unit 207 enables communication with the management device 3 and other devices connected via the in-house network 6. For example, under the control of the external communication control unit 201g, it downloads setting data and image data necessary for the operation of the game media dispensing device 2-1, and receives various information from the management device 3 that is linked to specific information on the recording medium 7 inserted into the recording medium insertion / extraction slot 23. The various information linked to specific information on the recording medium 7 is, for example, data stored in the deposit data storage area 202a, the balls held data storage area 202b, the stored balls data storage area 202c, etc. The external communication unit 207 also performs processes such as outputting various information stored in the storage unit 202-1 to the management device 3, and outputting data of the game machine 1 to the game machine data display device provided above the game machine.

[0035] Signals output to external devices via the external communication unit 207 include, for example, deposit signals, lending signals, stored ball payout signals, held ball payout signals, and counting signals. The deposit signal is output in accordance with the denomination when banknotes inserted into the banknote insertion unit 21 are properly authenticated and identified by the banknote identification unit 203. The lending signal is output in accordance with the number of balls lent when part or all of the deposited funds stored in the deposited funds data storage area 202a are converted into game media and lent out as game balls under the control of the ball payout control unit 201f of the control unit 201-1. The stored ball payout signal is output in accordance with the number of balls converted when part or all of the stored ball data stored in the stored ball data storage area 202c is converted into game media that can be used for gameplay under the control of the ball payout control unit 201f. The ball payout signal is a signal output in accordance with the number of balls converted when some or all of the ball data stored in the ball data storage area 202b is converted into game media that can be used for gameplay by the control of the ball payout control unit 201f. The counting signal is a signal output in accordance with the number of balls counted when the game balls are counted by the control of the ball payout control unit 201f and added to the ball data storage area 202b of the storage unit 202-1 as balls held by the player.

[0036] Furthermore, when the return button 222c is pressed, the external communication unit 207 sends the stored data from the deposit data storage area 202a, the balls held data storage area 202b, the stored balls data storage area 202c, and the card data storage area 202d of the storage unit 202-1 to the management device 3. Upon receiving this data, the management device 3 updates the balls management information and deposit management information linked to specific information (for example, the unique card ID attached to the recording medium 7). After all the information has been properly transmitted to the management device 3, the contents of the deposit data storage area 202a, the balls held data storage area 202b, the stored balls data storage area 202c, and the card data storage area 202d of the storage unit 202-1 are erased, and the card processing unit 403 performs the card return process.

[0037] The gaming machine communication unit 208 is connected to the gaming machine 1 by a dedicated cable, and the gaming machine communication control unit 201h communicates security confirmations and information about changes in the pinball gaming machine 1A. In addition, signals related to the game are input from the gaming machine 1 to the gaming media dispensing device 2-1, including a safe signal indicating that a game ball has passed through any winning area and entered a winning area, an out signal indicating that a game ball that did not enter a winning area has been collected from the out opening, a start signal indicating that a game ball has entered a specific winning area, and a special prize state signal indicating that a special game state advantageous to the player has occurred. When a game medium is lent out by pressing the dispensing button 222d, the gaming media dispensing device 2-1 may also communicate game medium dispensing information to the gaming machine 1 that contains the game medium. Note that some gaming machines 1 do not have a communication function, and in order to accommodate such gaming machines 1, there are also gaming media dispensing devices 2-1 that do not have the gaming machine communication unit 208.

[0038] The special value processing unit 201i, located in the control unit 201-1, processes a portion of the deposit into special value, which is restricted from being used to lend out gaming media, when the deposit management unit 201a detects a deposit. This special value is then stored in the special value storage area 202e, linked to specific information. Furthermore, the special value processing unit 201i performs a process to lend out gaming media by consuming special value (hereinafter referred to as the special lending operation) based on the fulfillment of predetermined lending conditions and the establishment of predetermined special conditions. In addition, when the special lending operation is performed, the special value processing unit 201i performs a special value update process, which subtracts the consumption value corresponding to the number of gaming media lent out by consuming special value from the special value and updates the remaining special value. Furthermore, the special value processing unit 201i may also process the remaining special value back to its initial value by using the game media acquired in games played after the game media were lent out using the special value to compensate for the consumption value consumed by the special game media lending means. In this way, since the special value processing unit 201i needs to cooperate with the deposit management unit 201a to perform its operations, the functions of the special value processing unit 201i may be included in the deposit management unit 201a.

[0039] In the gaming medium lending device 2-1 of the above-described configuration example, the control unit 201-1, storage unit 202-1, banknote identification unit 203, display operation unit 22, card processing unit 204, gaming ball dispensing unit 205, etc., work together to function as a gaming medium lending means. The gaming medium lending means performs the process of lending gaming medium that can be used to play on the gaming machine 1 by consuming the valuable assets possessed by the player. The gaming medium lending means also performs the process of lending gaming medium that can be used to play on the gaming machine 1 by consuming the valuable assets (deposit) linked to specific information (card ID) recorded on the recording medium 7 possessed by the player. Furthermore, even when a player who does not possess a recording medium 7 inserts banknotes to borrow a gaming medium, the deposit is managed by linking it to the card ID of the virtually issued recording medium 7. Therefore, in effect, the player is consuming the valuable information linked to the specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 they possess.

[0040] Furthermore, in the gaming medium dispensing device 2-1 of this configuration example, the control unit 201-1, storage unit 202-1, gaming ball counting unit 206, gaming machine communication unit 208, etc., work together to function as a means for processing the player's held balls. The means for processing the held balls stores the gaming medium acquired by the player through playing the gaming machine as balls that can be used to play on the gaming machine 1, and processes the game by reducing the number of held balls to make the gaming medium available for play on the gaming machine 1. The total number of balls held by the player is normally determined by counting using the gaming ball counter 25 of the gaming medium dispensing device 2A or the gaming medal counting unit 27 of the gaming medium dispensing device 2B. However, unless the player brings in or takes out gaming media from outside, the number of balls held, calculated based on the data showing the total number of gaming media dispensed as prizes from gaming machine 1 and the data showing the total number of gaming media lent out from gaming media lending device 2-1, will match the actual number of balls held. Therefore, assuming that there is no input or output of gaming balls to gaming machine 1 from outside, the ball handling means can properly record the number of balls held by calculating based on the data of gaming media acquired as a result of playing and the data of gaming media lent out by consuming their value. If the number of balls held, counted by the gaming ball counter 25 of gaming media lending device 2A or the gaming medal counting unit 27 of gaming media lending device 2B, differs from the calculated number of balls held, an abnormality may be reported to the management device 3, etc.

[0041] In the gaming medium lending device 2-1 of this configuration example, the control unit 201-1, storage unit 202-1, banknote identification unit 203, display operation unit 22, card processing unit 204, etc. work together to function as a special gaming medium lending means. The special gaming medium lending means performs the process of lending gaming mediums based on the fact that credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to the player playing on the gaming machine 1 satisfies predetermined lending conditions and that predetermined special conditions are met. Furthermore, if the special gaming medium lending means acquires new gaming mediums as a result of playing after lending them out by consuming special valuable value, it may restrict the number of newly acquired gaming mediums from being added to the number of balls held by the ball handling means, and instead use the number of acquired gaming mediums to compensate for the consumption value consumed by the special gaming medium lending means. In other words, when a player acquires new game media as a result of playing after the special game media lending means has lent out game media, the player stores the number of acquired game media minus the number of game media lent out by the special game media lending means as their own.

[0042] In this way, by providing a special game medium lending means in the game medium lending device 2-1 and setting special conditions to prevent malfunctions during the special prize state, it becomes possible to quickly perform special lending operations to prevent malfunctions. An example of a special condition determined by the special game medium lending means is that the following three conditions are met simultaneously. The first condition is that a special prize state has occurred, which is a state that occurs during gameplay on the game machine 1 and has a high probability of obtaining many game media in a short time. The second condition is that the number of balls stored by the ball handling means is less than the standard number of balls necessary and sufficient to continue playing. The third condition is that the value of the goods held by the player is less than the value that can be consumed to receive game media from the game medium lending means. When all three conditions are met simultaneously, it is difficult to continue playing even though the special prize state has occurred, so if a special lending operation is performed and game media is lent out, the player will be able to continue playing, making it effective in preventing malfunctions.

[0043] However, as a prerequisite for the operation of the special gaming media lending means, credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to the player playing on the gaming machine 1 must satisfy the predetermined lending conditions. The special gaming media lending means in the gaming media lending device 2-1 of the first configuration example confirms the special valuable value linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player as credit information, and determines that the lending conditions are met if there is special valuable value that can be consumed to lend out gaming media that can be used to play on the gaming machine 1. In other words, if it is confirmed as credit information that there is sufficient special valuable value in the special valuable value storage area 202e of the storage unit 202-1, then when the special conditions are met, the special valuable value can be consumed and gaming media can be lent out, so there is no risk to the gaming store associated with performing the special lending operation.

[0044] Furthermore, if the special game medium lending means manages the special value by linking it to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player, the recording medium 7 is taken into the card processing unit 204 and is not in the player's possession. Therefore, the special game medium lending means may restrict the return of the inserted recording medium from the time it lends out game media based on the fulfillment of the special conditions until the player acquires the same number of game media as the number of game media lent out as a result of the game. If the special lending operation avoids a malfunction and the game proceeds smoothly in the special prize state, the player will be able to acquire far more game media than the number of game media borrowed through the special lending, so it is unlikely that it would be a burden on the player to compensate for the special value consumed in the special lending with the acquired game media. Therefore, the return of recording medium 7 is restricted until at least the same number of gaming media as the number of gaming media lent out are acquired as game results. If the player chooses to return recording medium 7 after this period, the special value consumed for the special lending is compensated, and the remaining gaming media can be added to the player's holdings to end the game.

[0045] Furthermore, the gaming media lending device 2-1 is equipped with a standard function to transmit a lending count signal to the management device 3 relating to the number of gaming media that have been lent out. The gaming media lending device 2-1 in the first configuration example has the function of a special gaming media lending means in addition to the gaming media lending means, and is therefore equipped with a lending count transmitting means that transmits a lending count signal relating to the number of gaming media lent out by the gaming media lending means and the special gaming media lending means to the management device 3. If this lending count transmitting means transmits the number of gaming media lent out by the special gaming media lending means using special valuable value as a lending count signal to the management device 3, then if the special valuable value consumed in the special lending is replenished with acquired gaming media, it will be necessary to process the lending count transmitted to the management device 3, which is complicated. Therefore, the gaming media lending device 2-1 is equipped with a transmission restriction means and a transmission restriction release means. The transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count signal by the loan count transmission means while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted by the special game medium lending means. On the other hand, when the return restriction of the recording medium 7 is lifted by the special game medium lending means and the storage medium 7 is returned, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal by the transmission restriction means, allowing the loan count transmission means to transmit the loan count signal to the management device 3. In other words, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count amount corresponding to the special value consumed for the special lending operation to the management device 3 as a loan count signal, and when the recording medium 7 is returned as the consumed special value is replenished, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal. This eliminates the complexity of the number of game mediums being lent increasing or decreasing due to the consumption and replenishment of special value.

[0046] Here, an example of the special value setting process by the gaming media dispensing device 2-1 will be explained with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the special value setting process, and Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the process by which the display screen of the display operation unit 22 transitions along that flow. In Figure 5, the case in which the special value setting process is performed only when banknotes are inserted into the gaming media dispensing device 2-1 is shown, but it is also possible to perform the special value setting process by detecting when a recording medium 7 containing a deposit is inserted and setting a portion of the deposit as a special value.

[0047] In the special value setting process, first, it is determined whether or not a deposit has been detected into the game media dispensing device 2-1 (step S101). If no deposit has been detected, the determination in step S101 is performed again after the execution cycle period of the special value setting process has elapsed. When the game machine 1 is empty and no game is being played, the display operation unit 22 of the corresponding game media dispensing device 2-1 displays screen SD1-0, indicating that there is no balance and no tokens held. At this point, when a player inserts banknotes (for example, 10,000 yen) into the banknote insertion unit 21 of the game media dispensing device 2-1, and the banknote identification unit 203 determines that the banknotes are genuine and takes them inside, the deposit of 10,000 yen is displayed on the display operation unit 22 (see display screen SD1-1 in Figure 6).

[0048] As a result, a deposit is detected in step S101, and the special value setting screen (display screen SD1-2) is displayed on the display operation unit 22 (step S102). On this display screen SD1-2, the player is prompted to choose whether or not to set a portion of the deposited amount (for example, 500 yen) as special value. It is determined whether or not the player has selected to set special value (step S103), and if the player has selected to set special value, a portion of the deposited amount is set as special value (step S104), the special value setting screen is hidden (step S105), and the process returns to the determination process in step S101 in preparation for the next money deposit. Therefore, if the player has selected to set special value, the display operation unit 22 will display a balance of 9500 yen, 0 balls held, and a special loan balance of 500 yen, as shown on display screen SD1-3A. On the other hand, if the player has not selected to set a special value in step S103, the special value setting screen is hidden (step S105), and the system returns to the determination process in step S101 in preparation for the next money insertion. Therefore, if the player has not selected to set a special value, the display operation unit 22 will display a balance of 10,000 yen and 0 balls, as shown in display screen SD1-3B. In the special value setting process shown in Figure 5, the player is asked to set a special value each time money is inserted. However, this is not limited to this; if a special value has already been set, the system may process the entire amount as a deposit without again asking the player whether they wish to set a special value. Also, in the special value setting process shown in Figure 5, a portion of the inserted amount is used to set a special value. However, the entire inserted amount may be processed as a normal deposit, and a separate money insertion for special value setting may be requested to set the special value.

[0049] As described above, once the special value is set by the gaming media dispensing device 2-1, appropriate management linked to the player's specific information is performed by the management device 3. The management device 3-1 in the first configuration example shown in Figure 7 is equipped with a ball management means 31, a deposit management means 32, an operation management means 33, a special value management means 34, etc. The management device 3-1 may be configured to incorporate various functions into a single piece of hardware, or it may be composed of different pieces of hardware. Furthermore, the setting to switch whether or not to give the gaming media dispensing device 2-1 the function to set and process the special value may be performed automatically by the management device 3-1, or it may be possible to switch it individually for each machine using a remote control held by an employee of the gaming parlor.

[0050] The ball management means 31 manages information by linking the balls stored in the ball processing means of the game medium dispensing device 2-1 with specific information (e.g., card ID) on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The deposit management means 32 manages information by linking the deposits that the game medium dispensing means of the game medium dispensing device 2-1 has not used for dispensing game media with specific information (e.g., card ID) on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The operation management means 33 generates setting information for setting the operation of various devices installed in the game hall PP (game machine 1, game medium dispensing device 2-1, management device 3-1, prize exchange POS 4, settlement machine 5, etc.) and manages the operation of the corresponding devices by transmitting the setting information to the corresponding devices.

[0051] The special valuable value management means 34 manages information by linking the special valuable value set by the special game media lending means of the game media lending device 2-1 with specific information (e.g., card ID) on the recording medium 7 held by the player. Since the special valuable value is a deposit that cannot be used for lending game media under normal circumstances, the basic management content is the same as that of the deposit management means 32. Therefore, it is also acceptable to configure the deposit management means 32 to function as the special valuable value management means 34 by providing the deposit management means 32 with a special lending deposit management function 34' (shown by a dashed line in Figure 7). The timing of the special valuable value information update by the special valuable value management means 34 is not particularly limited. For example, when the game ends on the gaming machine 1 and the card is returned, the gaming media dispensing device 2-1 may transmit the stored information of the special value, and the special value management means 34 may update the special value information when it receives this special value information. Alternatively, the gaming media dispensing device 2-1 may transmit the stored information of the special value each time an update is made regarding the use of the special value, allowing the special value management means 34 to update the special value information in detail. Furthermore, if the operation management means 33 generates setting information that determines the appropriate timing for updating the special value information as setting information to be transmitted to the gaming media dispensing device 2-1, and transmits this setting information to the corresponding gaming media dispensing device 2-1, the timing for updating the information according to the usage status of the special value can be set individually, thus increasing convenience.

[0052] Furthermore, in the aforementioned gaming media lending device 2-1, the set special valuable value is stored in the special valuable value storage area 202e, and the special valuable value processing unit 201i updates the data of the special valuable value in connection with the consumption and replenishment of the special valuable value. However, this function may also be handled by the special valuable value management means 34 of the management device 3-1. That is, the special valuable value management means 34 manages the special valuable value that can be used by the special gaming media lending means of the gaming media lending device 2-1, linking it to specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. In this way, the special valuable value linked to each recording medium 7 can be managed collectively by the management device 3-1, and since the special valuable value is not directly written to each gaming media lending device 2-1, security against data leakage can be improved.

[0053] Next, an example of special game media lending processing, which involves lending game media using special valuable value at the game media lending device 2-1, will be explained with reference to Figures 8 to 10. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the main route of special game media lending processing. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the secondary route of special game media lending processing, and Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the process by which the display screen of the display operation unit 22 transitions along the flow of special game media lending processing.

[0054] The special gaming media lending process described below is performed only when the credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to the player currently playing on the gaming machine 1 meets the predetermined lending conditions. As mentioned above, the special valuable value linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player is confirmed as credit information, and it is determined that the lending conditions are met if there is special valuable value that can be consumed to lend out gaming media that can be used to play on the gaming machine 1. In the gaming media lending device 2-1 of this configuration example, the special gaming media lending process is performed only if the special lending balance as special valuable value stored in the special valuable value storage area 202e is equal to or greater than one special lending operation (for example, 100 yen). If these lending conditions are met, the special gaming media can be lent out by consuming special valuable value. Therefore, even if a malfunction occurs despite the special lending operation being performed and the players are unable to obtain their appropriate gaming profits, it will not result in a loss for the gaming establishment, and the risks to the gaming establishment associated with the special lending operation can be mitigated.

[0055] Furthermore, the special conditions for determining the special gaming media lending process are defined as the simultaneous fulfillment of the following three conditions: 1) A special prize state occurs during gameplay on gaming machine 1, where there is a high probability of acquiring a large amount of gaming media in a short time; 2) The number of balls stored by the ball handling means is less than the standard number necessary and sufficient to continue playing; and 3) The monetary value possessed by the player is less than the monetary value that can be consumed to receive gaming media from the gaming media lending means. In other words, if a special prize state occurs where there is a high probability of acquiring a large amount of game balls in a relatively short time, but the player has no game balls to use to continue playing and cannot borrow additional game balls, thus creating a high risk of a so-called "bust," then a special lending will be granted. However, even if conditions 1 to 3 are simultaneously fulfilled and there is a high risk of a bust, a special lending will not be granted unless the player has set a special monetary value in advance. Furthermore, the standard remaining number in the second condition is arbitrary and may be set to around 5 to 10 units, or to the amount for one lending operation (for example, 25 units). The method for setting the standard remaining number used to determine this second condition is also not particularly limited and may be set collectively or individually for multiple gaming media lending devices 2-1 from the management device 3-1, or it may be set for each gaming machine media lending device 2-1 from a remote control held by an employee of the gaming parlor.

[0056] In the special game media lending process executed by the game media lending device 2-1, the first step is to determine whether the aforementioned special conditions are met. First, the special prize status signal from the game machine 1 is monitored to determine whether or not a special prize state has occurred (step S201). If a special prize state has not occurred, the determination in step S201 is performed again after the execution cycle period of the special game media lending process has elapsed. Then, as shown in the display screen SD2-0 of Figure 10, it is assumed that a special prize state has occurred when the display operation unit 22 of the game media lending device 2-1 displays a balance of 0 yen, 0 balls held, and a special lending balance of 500 yen, indicating that there are no game balls remaining to continue playing, and the balance of the deposit, which is the value for borrowing new game media, has also run out.

[0057] If a special prize state occurs in this situation and the first condition is met, after determining in step S201 that a special prize state has occurred, a determination is made as to whether the number of remaining balls is less than the standard remaining number (step S202). At this time, according to the information stored in the game medium dispensing device 2-1, there are 0 balls available for play, and it is determined in step S202 that the number of remaining balls is less than the standard remaining number, so the second condition is met. Next, a determination is made as to whether the balance of valuable assets held by the player is less than the minimum lending amount (step S203). At this time, according to the information stored in the game medium dispensing device 2-1, the balance of valuable assets is 0 yen, and it is determined in step S203 that the remaining valuable assets are less than the minimum lending amount for game mediums by the game medium dispensing means (for example, 100 yen), so the third condition is met. In other words, since the conditions for special lending are met simultaneously, the special lending button 222f (see display screen SD2-1 in Figure 10) is displayed on the display operation unit 22 so that the special valuable value can be consumed and the game medium can be lent out (step S204). However, immediately after the special prize state occurs, if there is a small amount of balls remaining or a small amount of deposit remaining, the special condition is not met, so it is determined as no in step S202 or step S203, and the game continues without consuming the special valuable value. However, if the balls are then used up, there is no deposit balance, and the special prize state is still continuing, the special condition is met, the special lending button 222f is displayed, and the special lending can be received.

[0058] Next, it is determined whether or not the special lending button 222f has been pressed (step S205). If the special lending button 222f has been pressed, the special game medium lending operation is performed, which consumes special valuable value to lend out game mediums (step S206), and the remaining special valuable value is updated by subtracting the amount of special valuable value consumed (step S207). At this time, the game medium lending device 2-1 may notify an external device such as the management device 3-1 that special valuable value has been consumed, but in the game medium lending device 2-1 of this configuration example, the amount of special valuable value consumed is replenished with game mediums acquired through gameplay, so the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the lending count signal by the lending count transmission means. Therefore, when the special game media lending operation is performed, the card return flag is set (step S208) to restrict the return of the recording medium 7, and while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the number of lending signals.

[0059] When the special game media lending operation is performed and the special value is updated, the display operation unit 22 will display "Special lending executed 25 units" and "Special lending balance 400 yen" as shown in the display screen SD2-2 of Figure 10. In addition, when a special prize state is in effect, the probability of winning is increased, and there is a high possibility of easily obtaining prize game media based on winning, so the operation of the special lending button 222f will lend the minimum amount (for example, 100 yen worth of balls). However, it is also possible to display multiple special lending buttons 222f corresponding to multiple lending amounts, allowing the player to select the lending amount.

[0060] After receiving an exceptional loan as described above, and if it is determined in step S205 that the exceptional loan button 222f was not pressed, it is determined whether the special prize state has ended or not (step S209). If the special prize state has not yet ended, the process returns to step S205 to determine whether the exceptional loan button 222f was pressed or not. In other words, once the exceptional condition is met, as long as the special prize state continues, the exceptional game medium loan operation can be performed any number of times within the scope of the exceptional value, so that players can borrow additional game mediums within the scope of the exceptional value until they can stably acquire prize game mediums.

[0061] In this example configuration, if a player continues playing after receiving a game medium through the special game medium lending operation, the prize game medium acquired based on a win can be used for the game. However, the ball handling means does not treat it as a target for processing to be used for gameplay on the game machine 1, and stores it separately as game balls that are not added to the player's ball count. Therefore, if a win occurs during the special prize state, the display operation unit 22 will display 500 game balls and 25 loaned balls, as shown on the display screen SD3-3A in Figure 10. Furthermore, if a player attempts to confirm their ball count by pressing the counting button 222e during the special prize state, the prize game medium acquired based on a win during the special prize state will not be stored and processed as balls in the ball handling means. This is to use the game medium acquired through a win during the special prize state to compensate for the special value portion consumed by the special lending. Furthermore, since the special value set in the game media lending device 2-1 is a deposit from the player, if the value consumed by the special lending is not compensated and the balance remains as it is after consumption, it is acceptable for the prize game media acquired based on winning during the special prize state to be recorded as held balls by the ball processing means. However, since the special value set in the game media lending device 2-1 is a value set as a deposit amount sufficient to carry out emergency special lending, it is desirable to compensate for the value consumed by the special lending so that the special value can be reliably fulfilled in the original function of emergency special lending if it is returned to its initial value (for example, 500 yen).

[0062] If the end of the special prize state is determined in step S209 above, the special loan button 222f on the display operation unit 22 is hidden (step S210), and it is determined whether the number of balls acquired during the special prize state is greater than the number of special loans made by consuming special value (step S211). In other words, it is determined whether the amount of special value consumed by special loans can be compensated for by the prize game media acquired based on the wins during the special prize state. As shown in the display screen SD2-3A of Figure 10, if "500 game balls > 25 special loans", then as shown in the display screen SD2-4A, 25 special loans are subtracted from 500 game balls to compensate for the special value (step S212). Once the compensation for the special value is complete, the display operation unit 22 will show the balance as 0 yen, the number of balls held as 0, the number of game balls as 475, and the special loan balance as 500 yen, as shown on the display screen SD2-5A in Figure 10. Once the compensation for the special value is complete, the card return impossible flag is released (step S213), allowing the recording medium 7 to be returned. At the same time, the transmission restriction on the loan count signal by the transmission restriction means is released by the transmission restriction release means, allowing the loan count transmission means to transmit the loan count signal. After the card return impossible flag is released following the completion of the compensation for the special value, the number of balls acquired after the compensation for the special value (475 game balls) is counted and added to the number of balls held (step S214). This confirms that the number of balls held is 475. After this, the process returns to step S201 to confirm the occurrence of the special prize state.

[0063] The above describes the main route in which a special loan is issued after the special prize state occurs, and after the special prize state ends, the special value consumed by the special loan is compensated with the acquired game media. Normally, if the player can continue playing after receiving a special loan after the special prize state occurs, they should be able to acquire enough prize game media. However, there is a possibility that the special prize state may end without any wins due to some circumstances. In such cases, as shown in the display screen SD2-3B in Figure 10, the display operation unit 22 will show "Special loan executed: 25 units, Special loan balance: 400 yen, No wins," and the player can confirm that the value consumed by the special loan cannot be compensated.

[0064] Then, if the special prize state ends as is, in step S211 above, it is determined that the number of acquired balls is less than the special loan amount. As shown in the display screen SD2-4B of Figure 10, it is displayed that the special loan balance will not be returned because there were no wins, and the player is prompted to compensate for the special loan amount. After that, the player is allowed to compensate for the value consumed by the special loan until a certain period of time has elapsed (for example, a pre-set compensation grace period of 1 minute). In extremely rare cases, it may occur that even if there are wins during the special prize state, the total number of prize game media acquired based on those wins is less than the special loan amount. In such cases, the display content of the display screens SD2-3B and SD2-4B should be changed to inform the player that the special loan balance cannot be returned with the acquired game media.

[0065] In the secondary route, which shows the process when sufficient prize game media have not been acquired through winning during the special prize state (when it is determined to be "no" in step S211 above), it is first determined whether the number of special loans is zero or not (step S215). If the number of special loans is zero, the balance of special valuables remains at the initial value (for example, 500 yen), and there is no need to replenish the special valuables, so the process returns to step S201 to confirm the occurrence of the special prize state.

[0066] On the other hand, if the special value is consumed during the special prize state to borrow special game media, and it is determined in step S215 above that it is not (one or more special media have been borrowed), the timer for the compensation grace period is started (step S216). Next, it is determined whether or not a deposit or an increase in game balls has been detected (step S217), and if the player has not made any additional banknotes or additional game balls, it is determined that it is not in step S217 above, so it is determined whether or not the compensation grace period has elapsed (step S218). If the compensation grace period has not elapsed, the process returns to step S217 and waits for the player to make additional banknotes or additional game balls.

[0067] If step S217 determines that a deposit or additional game balls have been inserted before the compensation grace period expires, it is determined whether the increase is equal to or greater than the number of special loans (step S219). For example, if the number of special loans was 25, then if the increased number of game balls is 25 or more, or the increase in the deposit amount is 100 yen or more, the conditions for determination in step S219 are met, and the remaining special value can be returned to its initial value. However, if the increase is less than the number of special loans, step S219 determines no, and step S217 waits for further deposits or increases in game balls.

[0068] If, in step S219, it is determined that the deposit or increase in game balls is equal to or greater than the number of special loans, the special value is compensated by subtracting the amount or number of special value balls consumed from the newly inserted amount or number of game balls (step S220). After compensating for the special value, any remaining balance is added to the player's deposit, and any remaining game balls are added to the player's possessions (step S221), updating the player's possessions. If the compensation for the special value is properly performed in this way, the card return impossible flag is removed (step S222), and the process returns to step S201 to check for the occurrence of the special prize state.

[0069] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S219 that the increase is not equal to or greater than the number of special loans, and it is determined in step S218 that the grace period for compensation has elapsed, the special value remaining after the special loan is determined to be the new special value (step S223). In other words, if the player has not taken action to compensate for the special value before the grace period for compensation has elapsed, it can be inferred that the player has no intention of compensating for the special value. Therefore, as shown in the display screen SD2-5B in Figure 10, the display operation unit 22 displays a balance of 0 yen, 0 balls, and a special loan balance of 400 yen to inform the player that the balance of the special value has been updated. In this way, even if the balance is updated without the special value being compensated, the card return impossible flag is released (step S222), and the process returns to step S201 to check for the occurrence of the special prize state. Furthermore, if a game medium is borrowed through a special lending operation while a special prize state is in effect, it may be a requirement for continuing or ending the game to compensate for the consumed special value and restore it to its initial value. If compensation for consumed special value is a requirement, for example, after the compensation grace period has elapsed, a signal indicating that the compensation for special value has not been performed may be output to the management device 3-1, etc., so that the staff of the game parlor can take action.

[0070] Furthermore, if the special value is managed by the special value management means 34 of the management device 3-1, the special value information for the consumed portion is obtained from the special game medium lending means of the game medium lending device 2-1 that has determined whether the special condition has been met, and the special value management means 34 appropriately manages the consumption and replenishment of the special value. In other words, even when the special value is managed by the management device 3-1, if the special condition has been met, the special game medium lending means of the game medium lending device 2-1 and the special value management means 34 of the management device 3-1 cooperate to consume the special value and lend out game mediums, so that gameplay in the special prize state can be continued and a malfunction in the special prize state can be effectively prevented.

[0071] Next, the second configuration example of the gaming media dispensing device 2A (hereinafter referred to as gaming media dispensing device 2-2) will be described based on the functional block diagram shown in Figure 11. The gaming media dispensing device 2-2 includes a control unit 201-2, a storage unit 202-2, a banknote identification unit 203, a display operation unit 22, a card processing unit 204, a game ball dispensing unit 205, a game ball counting unit 206, an external communication unit 207, and a game machine communication unit 208. Components with the same functions as those in the gaming media dispensing device 2-1 of the first configuration example described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and their explanation is omitted.

[0072] In this gaming media lending device 2-2, the information of special gaming media linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player is checked as credit information, and it is determined that the lending conditions are met if special gaming media are available. For this reason, when the special gaming media processing unit 201j in the control unit 201-2 detects gaming media counted by the gaming ball counting unit 206, it sets a portion of the counted gaming media as special gaming media that are normally restricted from being used for gameplay, and stores them in the special gaming media storage area 202f linked to the specific information. Furthermore, based on the fact that the above-mentioned lending conditions are met and predetermined special conditions are met, the special gaming media processing unit 201j performs a process to reduce the number of special gaming media and lend out gaming media (hereinafter referred to as the special lending operation). In other words, if the system confirms, as credit information, that there are enough special game media in the special game media storage area 202f of the memory unit 202-2, then when the special conditions are met, the number of special game media can be reduced and the game media can be lent out, thus eliminating the risk to the game store associated with performing the special lending operation.

[0073] In the game medium lending device 2-2 of this configuration example, the control unit 201-2, storage unit 202-2, game ball dispensing unit 205, game ball counting unit 206, etc. work together to function as a special game medium lending means. The special game medium processing unit 201j may not simply add the game mediums acquired in a game after the game mediums have been lent out by the special lending operation to the number of balls held, but instead use them to compensate for the number of game mediums that were lent out as special game mediums, thereby returning the remaining special game mediums to the initial number of balls. In other words, when the balls handling means acquires new game mediums as a result of a game after the special game medium lending means has lent out game mediums, it stores the number of acquired game mediums minus the number of game mediums lent out by the special game medium lending means as the number of balls held. Thus, since the special game media processing unit 201j needs to cooperate with the ball management unit 201b to perform its various operations, the functions of the special game media processing unit 201j may be included in the ball management unit 201b.

[0074] Furthermore, if the special game media is managed by the special game media lending means in conjunction with specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 possessed by the player, the recording medium 7 is taken into the card processing unit 204 and is not in the player's possession. Therefore, the special game media lending means may restrict the return of the inserted recording medium from the time it lends out the game media based on the fulfillment of the special conditions until the player acquires the same number of game media as the number of game media lent out as a result of the game. If the special lending operation avoids a malfunction and the game proceeds smoothly in the special prize state, the player will be able to acquire far more game media than the number of game media borrowed through the special lending operation. Therefore, it is unlikely that it would be a burden on the player to compensate for the number of game media lent out through the special lending operation with the game media acquired. Therefore, if a player acquires new game media as a result of playing after an exceptional lending operation has been performed, the exceptional game media lending means may restrict the number of newly acquired game media from being added to the number of remaining game media by the remaining game media processing means, and instead use the game media acquired through the game to compensate for the game media that were lent out through the exceptional lending operation. In other words, if a player acquires new game media as a result of playing after the exceptional game media lending means has lent out game media, the remaining game media processing means stores the number of acquired game media minus the number of game media lent out by the exceptional game media lending means as remaining game media.

[0075] Furthermore, the gaming media lending device 2-2 is equipped with a standard function to transmit a lending count signal to the management device 3-2 relating to the number of gaming media lent out. The gaming media lending device 2-2 in the second configuration example has the function of a special gaming media lending means in addition to the gaming media lending means, and is therefore equipped with a lending count transmitting means that transmits a lending count signal to the management device 3-2 relating to the number of gaming media lent out by the gaming media lending means and the special gaming media lending means. If this lending count transmitting means transmits the number of gaming media lent out by the special gaming media lending means, after reducing the number of special gaming media, to the management device 3 as a lending count signal, then if the number of gaming media lent out by special gaming media is compensated for by acquired gaming media, it will be necessary to process the lending count transmitted to the management device 3, which is complicated. Therefore, the gaming media lending device 2-2 is equipped with a transmission restriction means and a transmission restriction release means. The transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count signal by the loan count transmission means while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted by the special game medium lending means. On the other hand, when the return restriction of the recording medium 7 is lifted by the special game medium lending means and the storage medium 7 is returned, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal by the transmission restriction means, allowing the loan count transmission means to transmit the loan count signal to the management device 3-2. In other words, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count signal to the management device 3 for the special game medium consumed for the special lending operation, and when the recording medium 7 is returned as the consumed special game medium is replenished, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal. This eliminates the complexity of the number of game mediums being lent increasing or decreasing due to the lending and replenishment of special game mediums.

[0076] Here, an example of the special game medium setting process by the game medium dispensing device 2-2 will be explained with reference to Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the special game medium setting process, and Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the process by which the display screen of the display operation unit 22 transitions along that flow. In Figure 12, the special game medium setting process is shown only when the game ball counting operation is performed by the game ball counting unit 206 of the game medium dispensing device 2-2. However, it is also possible to perform the special game medium setting process by detecting the insertion of banknotes or the insertion of a recording medium 7 containing a deposit, and setting a portion of the deposit to the special game medium.

[0077] In the special game media setting process, first, it is determined whether the game media dispensing device 2-2 has detected the counting of game media (step S301). If the counting of game media cannot be detected, the determination in step S301 is performed again after the execution cycle period of the special game media setting process has elapsed. When the game machine 1 is empty and no game is being played, the display operation unit 22 of the corresponding game media dispensing device 2-2 displays display screen SD3-0, indicating that there is no balance and no balls held. At this point, when a player inserts game balls (for example, 500 balls) into the game ball counting unit 206 of the game media dispensing device 2-2 and the balls are counted, the count result of 500 balls is displayed on the display operation unit 22 (see display screen SD3-1 in Figure 13).

[0078] As a result, the count detection is determined in step S301, and the special game medium setting screen (display screen SD3-2) is displayed on the display operation unit 22 (step S302). On this display screen SD3-2, the player is prompted to choose whether or not to set a portion of the inserted number (for example, 125) as special game medium. It is determined whether or not the player has selected to set special game medium (step S303), and if the player has selected to set special game medium, a portion of the counted game medium is set as special game medium (step S304), the special game medium setting screen is hidden (step S305), and the process returns to the determination process in step S301 in preparation for the next game medium count. Therefore, if the player has selected to set special game medium, the display operation unit 22 will display a balance of 0 yen, 375 balls held, and 125 special loaned balls, as shown on display screen SD3-3A.

[0079] On the other hand, if the player has not selected a special game medium in step S303, the special game medium setting screen is hidden (step S305), and the system returns to the determination process in step S301 in preparation for the next money insertion. Therefore, if the player has not selected a special game medium, the display operation unit 22 will show a balance of 0 yen and 500 balls, as shown in display screen SD3-3B. In the special game medium setting process shown in Figure 12, the player is asked to set a special game medium each time the count of game mediums is detected. However, the system is not limited to this, and if a special game medium has already been set, the system may add all game mediums to the player's ball count without asking the player again whether or not to set a special game medium. Furthermore, in the special game medium setting process shown in Figure 12, a portion of the inserted game medium is used for setting the special game medium. However, it is also possible to process all inserted game medium as normal tokens and then separately request the insertion of game medium for special game medium setting to perform the special game medium setting.

[0080] As described above, once a special game medium is set by the game medium dispensing device 2-2, appropriate management linked to the player's specific information is performed by the management device 3. The management device 3-2 in the second configuration example shown in Figure 14 is equipped with a ball management means 31, a deposit management means 32, an operation management means 33, a special game medium management means 35, etc. The management device 3-2 may be configured to incorporate various functions into a single piece of hardware, or it may be composed of different pieces of hardware. Furthermore, the setting to switch whether or not to give the game medium dispensing device 2-2 the function to set and process special game mediums may be performed automatically by the management device 3-2, or it may be possible to switch it individually for each machine using a remote control held by an employee of the gaming parlor, etc. Note that components with the same function as the management device 3-1 in the first configuration example described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and their explanation is omitted.

[0081] The special game media management means 35 manages information by linking special game media, which are set by the special game media lending means of the game media lending device 2-2, with specific information (e.g., card ID) on the recording medium 7 held by the player. Since special game media are game media that cannot be used for playing games on the game machine 1 under normal circumstances, the basic management content is the same as that of the ball management means 31. Therefore, it is also acceptable to configure the ball management means 31 to function as the special game media management means 35 by providing the ball management means 31 with a special lending ball management function 35' (shown by a dashed line in Figure 14). The timing of information updates for special game media by the special game media management means 35 is not particularly limited. For example, when the game ends on the gaming machine 1 and the card is returned, the gaming media dispensing device 2-2 may transmit the memory information of the special gaming media, and the special gaming media management means 35 may update the information of the special gaming media when it receives this information. Alternatively, the gaming media dispensing device 2-2 may transmit the memory information of the special gaming media each time an update is made regarding the use of the special gaming media, allowing the special gaming media management means 35 to update the information of the special gaming media in detail. Furthermore, if the operation management means 33 generates setting information that will be appropriate for the information update timing of the special gaming media as setting information to be transmitted to the gaming media dispensing device 2-2, and transmits this setting information to the corresponding gaming media dispensing device 2-2, the information update timing can be individually set according to the usage status of the special gaming media, thus increasing convenience.

[0082] Furthermore, in the aforementioned gaming media dispensing device 2-2, the set special gaming media are stored in the special gaming media storage area 202f, and the special gaming media processing unit 201j performs data updates for the special gaming media in conjunction with their consumption and replenishment. However, this function may also be handled by the special gaming media management means 35 of the management device 3-2. That is, the special gaming media management means 35 manages the special gaming media that can be used by the special gaming media dispensing means of the gaming media dispensing device 2-2, linking them to specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. In this way, the special gaming media linked to each recording medium 7 can be managed collectively by the management device 3-2, and since the special gaming media are not directly written to each gaming media dispensing device 2-2, security against data leakage can be improved.

[0083] Next, an example of the special game media lending process, which involves lending out special game media using special game media at the game media lending device 2-2, will be explained with reference to Figures 15 to 17. Figure 15 is a flowchart showing the main route of the special game media lending process. Figure 16 is a flowchart showing the secondary route of the special game media lending process, and Figure 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the process by which the display screen of the display operation unit 22 transitions according to the flow of the special game media lending process.

[0084] Furthermore, in the game media lending device 2-2, the special game media linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player is checked as credit information, and if there is a special game media that can be lent out for use in the game machine 1, it is determined that the lending conditions are met. In addition, the special conditions determined in the special game media lending process performed by the game media lending device 2-2 in this configuration example are the same as those of the game media lending device 2-1 in the first configuration example described above, and are the same as the first condition that occurs during gameplay on the game machine 1 and a special prize state occurs in which there is a high possibility of acquiring many game media in a short time, the second condition that the number of balls stored by the ball handling means is less than the standard number of balls necessary and sufficient to continue playing, and the third condition that the valuable value held by the player is less than the valuable value that can be consumed to receive game media from the game media lending means.

[0085] In the special game media lending process executed by the game media lending device 2-2, the first step is to determine whether the aforementioned special conditions are met. First, the special prize status signal from the game machine 1 is monitored to determine whether or not a special prize state has occurred (step S401). If a special prize state has not occurred, the determination in step S401 is performed again after the execution cycle period of the special game media lending process has elapsed. Then, as shown in the display screen SD4-0 in Figure 17, the display operation unit 22 of the game media lending device 2-2 displays a balance of 0 yen, 0 balls held, and 125 special lending units, and it is assumed that a special prize state has occurred when there are no game balls left to continue playing and the balance of the deposit, which is the value to borrow new game media, has also run out.

[0086] If a special prize state occurs in this situation and the first condition is met, after determining in step S401 that a special prize state has occurred, a determination is made as to whether the number of remaining balls is less than the standard remaining number (step S402). At this time, according to the information stored in the game medium dispensing device 2-2, there are 0 balls available for play, and it is determined in step S402 that the number of remaining balls is less than the standard remaining number, so the second condition is met. Next, a determination is made as to whether the balance of valuable assets held by the player is less than the minimum lending amount (step S403). At this time, according to the information stored in the game medium dispensing device 2-2, the balance of valuable assets is 0 yen, and it is determined in step S403 that the remaining valuable assets are less than the minimum lending amount for game mediums by the game medium dispensing means (for example, 100 yen), so the third condition is met. In other words, since the conditions for special lending are met when the first to third conditions are met simultaneously, the special lending button 222f (see display screen SD4-1 in Figure 17) is displayed on the display operation unit 22 so that the number of special game media can be reduced and game media can be lent out (step S404). However, if there is a small amount of balls remaining or a small amount of deposit remaining immediately after the special prize state occurs, the special conditions are not met, so it is determined as no in step S402 or step S403, and the game continues without consuming special game media. However, if the balls are then used up, there is no deposit balance, and the special prize state is still continuing, the special conditions are met, so the special lending button 222f is displayed, and special lending is available.

[0087] Next, it is determined whether or not the special lending button 222f has been pressed (step S405). If the special lending button 222f has been pressed, the special game media lending operation is performed to reduce the number of special game media and lend out game media (step S406), and the number of special game media remaining after subtracting the number of game media lent out is updated (step S407). At this time, the game media lending device 2-2 may notify an external device such as the management device 3-2 that the number of special game media has been reduced. However, in the game media lending device 2-2 of this configuration example, the number of special game media that have been reduced is compensated for by game media acquired through gameplay, so the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the lending number signal by the lending number transmission means. Therefore, when the special game media lending operation is performed, the card return flag is set (step S408) to restrict the return of the recording medium 7, and while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the number of lending signals.

[0088] When the special game media lending operation is performed and the remaining number of special game media is updated, the display operation unit 22 will display "Special lending performed: 25, Special lending remaining: 100," as shown in the display screen SD4-2 in Figure 17. Note that when a special prize state is in effect, the probability of winning increases, making it highly likely that the prize game media based on the win can be easily acquired. Therefore, the operation of the special lending button 222f will lend the minimum amount of balls (for example, 25 game balls). However, it is also possible to display multiple special lending buttons 222f corresponding to multiple lending quantities, allowing the player to select the number of balls to lend.

[0089] After receiving an exceptional loan as described above, and if it is determined in step S405 that the exceptional loan button 222f was not pressed, it is determined whether the special prize state has ended or not (step S409). If the special prize state has not yet ended, the process returns to step S405 to determine whether the exceptional loan button 222f was pressed or not. In other words, once the exceptional condition is met, as long as the special prize state continues, the exceptional game medium loan operation can be performed any number of times within the range of exceptional game mediums, so players can borrow additional game mediums within the remaining number of exceptional game mediums until they can stably acquire prize game mediums.

[0090] In this example configuration, if a player continues playing after receiving a game medium through the special game medium lending operation, the prize game medium acquired based on a win can be used for the game. However, the ball handling means does not treat it as a target for processing to be used for gameplay on the game machine 1, and stores it separately as game balls that are not added to the player's ball count. Therefore, if a win occurs during the special prize state, the display operation unit 22 will display 500 game balls and 25 specially lent balls, as shown on the display screen SD4-3A in Figure 17. Furthermore, if a player attempts to confirm their ball count by pressing the counting button 222e during the special prize state, the prize game medium acquired based on a win during the special prize state will not be stored and processed as balls in the ball handling means. This is to use the game medium acquired through a win during the special prize state to compensate for the number of special game mediums reduced by the special lending. Furthermore, since the number of special game media set in the game media lending device 2-2 is the number of game media deposited by the players, if the number of special game media remaining after the special game media lending operation is left as is without compensating for the number of game media reduced by the special lending operation, it is permissible to allow the ball handling means to record the prize game media acquired based on winning during the special prize state as balls held. However, since the number of special game media set in the game media lending device 2-2 is set to be a sufficient number of game media to carry out emergency special lending, it is desirable to compensate for the number of specific game media reduced by the special lending operation, as returning the number of special game media to the initial number at the time of setting (for example, 125) will ensure that the original function of emergency special lending is reliably performed.

[0091] If the end of the special prize state is determined in step S409 above, the special loan button 222f on the display operation unit 22 is hidden (step S410), and it is determined whether the number of balls acquired during the special prize state is greater than the number of special loans made using special game media (step S411). In other words, it is determined whether the amount of special game media consumed by special loans can be compensated for by the prize game media acquired based on wins during the special prize state. As shown in the display screen SD4-3A in Figure 17, if "500 game balls > 25 special loans", then, as shown in the display screen SD4-4A, 25 special loans are subtracted from 500 game balls to compensate for the special game media (step S412). Once the replenishment of the special game media is complete, the display operation unit 22 will show the balance as 0 yen, the number of balls held as 0, the number of game balls as 475, and the remaining number of special loans as 125, as shown on the display screen SD4-5A in Figure 17. Once the replenishment of the special game media is complete, the card return impossible flag is released (step S413), allowing the return of the recording medium 7, and the transmission restriction on the number of loans signal by the transmission restriction release means is released, allowing the transmission of the number of loans signal by the number of loans transmission means. After the card return impossible flag is released following the completion of the replenishment of the special game media, the number of balls acquired after the replenishment of the special game media (475 game balls) is counted and added to the number of balls held (step S414). This confirms that the number of balls held is 475. After this, the process returns to step S401 to confirm the occurrence of the special prize state.

[0092] The above describes the main route of play, in which a special loan is issued after the special prize state occurs, and after the special prize state ends, the amount of special game media reduced by the special loan is compensated with the acquired game media. Normally, if a special loan is received after the special prize state occurs and the game can be continued, sufficient prize game media should be acquired. However, there is a possibility that the special prize state may end without any wins due to some circumstances. In such cases, as shown in the display screen SD4-3B in Figure 17, the display operation unit 22 will show "Special loan executed: 25 units, Special loan remaining: 100 units, No wins," and the player can confirm that the amount of game media for the special loan cannot be compensated.

[0093] Then, if the special prize state ends as is, in step S411 above, it is determined that the number of acquired balls is less than the special loan amount. As shown in the display screen SD4-4B in Figure 17, it is displayed that the special loan balance will not be returned because there were no wins, and the player is prompted to compensate for the special loan amount. After that, the player is allowed to compensate for the number of game media reduced by the special loan until a certain period of time has elapsed (for example, a pre-set compensation grace period of 1 minute). In extremely rare cases, it may occur that even if there are wins during the special prize state, the total number of prize game media acquired based on those wins is less than the special loan amount. In such cases, the display content of the display screens SD4-3B and SD4-4B should be changed to inform the player that the acquired game media cannot be used to return the special loan balance.

[0094] In the secondary route, which shows the process when sufficient prize game media have not been acquired through winning during the special prize state (when it is determined to be "no" in step S411 above), it is first determined whether the number of special loans is zero or not (step S415). If the number of special loans is zero, the remaining number of special game media remains at the initial value (for example, 125), and there is no need to replenish the special game media, so the process returns to step S401 to confirm the occurrence of the special prize state.

[0095] On the other hand, if a special game medium is consumed during the special prize state and a special game medium is borrowed, and it is determined in step S415 above that it is not (the number of special game mediums borrowed is 1 or more), the timer for the compensation grace period is started (step S416). Next, it is determined whether or not a deposit or an increase in game balls has been detected (step S417), and if the player has not made any additional banknotes or additional game balls, it is determined that it is not in step S417 above, so it is determined whether or not the compensation grace period has elapsed (step S418). If the compensation grace period has not elapsed, the process returns to step S417 and waits for the player to make additional banknotes or additional game balls.

[0096] If step S417 determines that a deposit or additional game balls have been inserted before the compensation grace period expires, it is determined whether the increase is equal to or greater than the number of special loans (step S419). For example, if the number of special loans was 25, then if the increased number of game balls is 25 or more, or the increase in the deposit amount is 100 yen or more, the determination conditions in step S419 are met, and the remaining number of special game media can be returned to the initial value. However, if the increase is less than the number of special loans, step S419 determines no, and step S417 waits for further deposits or increases in game balls.

[0097] If, in step S419, it is determined that the deposit or increase in game balls is equal to or greater than the number of special loans, the amount or number of special game media that were deducted is subtracted from the newly inserted amount or number of game balls to replenish the special game media (step S420). After replenishing the special game media, any remaining balance is added to the player's deposit, and any remaining game balls are added to the player's holdings (step S421), updating the player's holdings. If the replenishment of special game media is performed properly in this way, the card return impossible flag is removed (step S422), and the process returns to step S401 to check for the occurrence of the special prize state.

[0098] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S419 that the increase is not equal to or greater than the number of special loans, and it is determined in step S418 that the grace period for compensation has elapsed, the remaining number of special game media left after the special loan is determined to be the new number of special game media (step S423). In other words, if the player has not taken action to replenish the special game media before the grace period for compensation has elapsed, it can be inferred that the player has no intention of replenishing the special game media. Therefore, as shown in the display screen SD4-5B in Figure 17, the display operation unit 22 displays a balance of 0 yen, 0 balls held, and 100 special loan remaining to inform the player that the remaining number of special game media has been updated. In this way, even if the remaining number is updated without the special game media being replenished, the card return impossible flag is released (step S422), and the process returns to step S401 to check for the occurrence of the special prize state. Furthermore, if a game medium is borrowed through a special lending operation while a special prize state is in effect, it may be a requirement for continuing or ending the game to replenish the reduced amount of special game medium to return to the initial value. If replenishing the reduced amount of special game medium is a requirement, for example, after the replenishment grace period has elapsed, a signal indicating that the replenishment of special game medium has not been performed may be output to the management device 3-2, etc., so that the staff of the gaming establishment can take action.

[0099] Furthermore, if the special game media are managed by the special game media management means 35 of the management device 3-2, the special game media information for the reduced amount is obtained from the special game media lending means of the game media lending device 2-2 that has determined whether the special condition has been met, and the special game media management means 35 appropriately manages the reduction or replenishment of the special game media. In other words, even when the special game media are managed by the management device 3-2, if the special condition has been met, the special game media lending means of the game media lending device 2-2 and the special game media management means 35 of the management device 3-2 cooperate to reduce the special game media and lend out game media, so that gameplay in the special prize state can be continued and a malfunction in the special prize state can be effectively prevented.

[0100] The above describes the first configuration of the gaming media lending device 2-1, which determines lending conditions using special valuable value as credit information, and the second configuration of the gaming media lending device 2-2, which determines lending conditions using special gaming media as credit information. However, it is also possible to configure a gaming media lending device 2 that can determine both of these lending conditions. That is, in a gaming media lending device 2 equipped with both special valuable value storage means and special gaming media storage means, the special gaming media lending means can be set to either special valuable value or special gaming media as desired by the player, or both, so that when the special conditions are met, a special lending operation using either special valuable value or special gaming media becomes possible.

[0101] Here, Figure 18 shows an example of a management table generated by the management device 3-2, which aggregates various information managed in association with the card ID into a record for each card ID. The deposit item associated with the card ID is information on the normal value (usable amount) managed by the deposit management means 32 and the special value (unusable amount) managed by the special value management means 34. The ball / coin item associated with the card ID (two types of game balls and one type of game token) is information on the usable game medium (number of usable balls and number of usable tokens) managed by the ball / coin management means 31 and the special game medium (number of unusable balls and number of unusable tokens) managed by the special game medium management means 35. The item for special loan usage status linked to the card ID is information on special loan usage status managed by the special valuable value management means 34 and the special gaming media management means 35 (information transmitted from the special gaming media lending means and special gaming media processing means of gaming media lending devices 2-1 and 2-2). In other words, this management table can manage all of the following: gaming media lending device 2-1 of the first configuration example which has special valuable value set, gaming media lending device 2-2 of the second configuration example which has special gaming media set, and gaming media lending device 2 which can set both special valuable value and special gaming media. Furthermore, this management table can manage multiple types of gaming machines with different values ​​for the gaming media they can use (for example, two types of machines: one where each gaming ball is worth 4 yen, and another where each gaming ball is worth 1 yen), as well as multiple types of gaming machines with different types of gaming media they can use (for example, two types of machines: a pinball gaming machine 1A that can use gaming balls, and a reel gaming machine 1B that can use gaming tokens).

[0102] Card ID 001 has only 500 yen of special value remaining as an unusable amount, and has not yet used the special loan, but is in a state where it can receive a special loan if a special prize condition occurs. Card ID 002 has used the special loan and borrowed 100 yen from its special value, reducing the unusable amount to 400 yen. Card ID 003 is currently using the special loan, with 500 yen in unusable amount and 475 usable game balls (4 yen balls). Note that the reason why the special loan can be used even though there are usable balls (4 yen balls) is that 4 yen balls cannot be used to play on the 1 yen ball game machine 1A or the 20 yen slot machine 1B. However, considering the convenience of the players, it may be possible to allow mutual conversion of 4-yen balls, 1-yen balls, and 20-yen tokens at an equivalent value for both usable and special game media (details to be provided later). Card ID 004 has a deposit of 10,000 yen, with a non-usable amount of 500 yen set, resulting in a usable amount of 9,500 yen, and naturally, special lending is not being used. Card ID 005 has not had any special value or special game media set, and possesses 375 usable 4-yen balls, 200 usable 1-yen balls, and 300 usable 20-yen tokens, and naturally, special lending is not being used.

[0103] On the other hand, card ID 006 has 375 usable 4-yen balls and 125 4-yen balls designated as special game media remaining, and has not used special lending, so it is possible to end the game as is. When a player possessing the recording medium 7 with card ID 006 goes to the prize exchange POS 4 to exchange for a prize, they can exchange the 375 usable 4-yen balls and the 125 4-yen balls that have been set to unusable for a total of 375 usable 4-yen balls. Therefore, a player possessing the recording medium 7 with card ID 006 can exchange it for a prize equivalent to 500 4-yen balls. For example, if the prize exchange POS 4 is equipped with a prize management table 41 as shown in Figure 18, it is possible to exchange it for four "Gold Prize Small" items, which have a lending price P of 4 yen and an exchange quantity P of 125 balls. In this way, when exchanging prizes, special game tokens can be treated together with regular game tokens, eliminating the need to separately settle the special game tokens, making it highly convenient for both players and arcades.

[0104] Next, a game arcade management system that enables special lending using the game media lending device 2-3 and the management device 3-3 of the third configuration example will be explained with reference to Figure 20.

[0105] The arcade is equipped with multiple types of gaming machines, each with a different value for the gaming media available. For example, there are two types of pachinko machines: machine 1-3A1, where the rental price of the gaming media is P1, and machine 1-3A2, where the rental price of the gaming media is P2. A gaming media rental device 2-3A1, which can rent out gaming media with a rental price of P1, is connected to machine 1-3A1, and a gaming media rental device 2-3A2, which can rent out gaming media with a rental price of P2, is connected to machine 1-3A2. The management device 3-3 can manage gaming media rental devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2.

[0106] Both the game medium lending devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 have functions for performing special lending operations in addition to standard functions for lending game mediums. Figure 20 shows the main functions for performing special lending operations. The game medium lending means 2001 performs the process of lending game mediums that can be used for playing on pinball game machines 1-3A1 and 1-3A2 by consuming the valuable value possessed by the player. The ball handling means 2002 stores the game mediums acquired by the player through playing on pinball game machines 1-3A1 and 1-3A2 as balls that can be used for playing, and performs the process of making the game mediums available for playing on pinball game machines 1-3A1 and 1-3A2 by reducing the number of balls. The recording medium processing means 2003 has the function of reading specific information (e.g., card ID) recorded on the recording medium 7 possessed by the player. The special gaming media lending means 2004-3 processes the lending of gaming media based on the fact that the credit information, which can be confirmed as information linked to a player playing on the pinball gaming machines 1-3A1 and 1-3A2, meets the predetermined lending conditions, as well as the predetermined special conditions being met. The special gaming media lending means 2004-3 is equipped with a lending condition determination function, a special condition determination function, and a special lending processing function, similar to the gaming media lending devices 2-1 and 2-2 in the first and second configuration examples described above, but the lending conditions are different as described later.

[0107] On the other hand, the management device 3-3 of the third configuration example includes a ball management means 31, a deposit management means 32, and an operation management means 33, similar to the management devices 3-1 and 3-2 of the first and second configuration examples described above. The ball management means 31 manages information by linking the balls stored in the ball processing means 2002 of the game medium dispensing devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The deposit management means 32 manages information by linking the deposits that the game medium dispensing means 2001 of the game medium dispensing devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 has not used for dispensing game mediums with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The operation management means 33 generates setting information for setting the operation of various devices installed in the amusement arcade PP (such as pinball game machines 1-3A1, 1-3A2, game media dispensing devices 2-3A1, 2-3A2, management device 3-3, prize exchange POS 4, and settlement machine 5), and manages the operation of the corresponding devices by transmitting the setting information to the devices.

[0108] Furthermore, the management device 3-3 includes a stored game media management means 361, a re-play processing means 362, and a game media value conversion means 363. The stored game media management means 361 takes custody of game media linked to specific information recorded on a recording medium 7 held by a player, and manages the custodial game media as stored game media according to different values ​​and different types. The re-play processing means 362 makes the stored game media managed by the stored game media management means 361 available for use in gameplay on the corresponding type of game machine 1 (pinball game machine 1-3A1 or pinball game machine 1-3A2). The game medium value conversion means 363 converts the stored game medium managed by the stored game medium management means 361 into stored game medium of different values ​​that can be used in different types of game machines 1 (for example, converting one game ball usable in pinball game machine 1-3A1 with a rental price of 4 yen into four game balls usable in pinball game machine 1-3A2 with a rental price of 1 yen).

[0109] In other words, the management device 3-3 can provide a service that allows players to withdraw and use the game tokens they have deposited on subsequent days (a so-called token storage service), and can also convert and provide stored game tokens of different values. For example, if a player's stored game tokens consist only of game balls with a rental price of P1, the only way to withdraw and use the stored game tokens is through the game token lending device 2-3A1 corresponding to the pinball game machine 1-3A1 with a rental price of P1. However, it is not possible to withdraw them through the game token lending device 2-3A2 corresponding to the pinball game machine 1-3A2 with a rental price of P2, which is inconvenient for the player. However, if a game medium value conversion means 363 is provided, as in the management device 3-3, game balls with a rental price of P1 can be converted into game balls with a rental price of P2 and withdrawn, so even a player who only possesses stored game mediums with a rental price of P1 can withdraw stored game mediums from the game medium lending device 2-3A2 and play on the pinball game machine 1-3A2 with a rental price of P2. Conversely, even a player who only possesses stored game mediums with a rental price of P2 can convert game balls with a rental price of P2 into game balls with a rental price of P1 and withdrawn, so they can withdraw stored game mediums from the game medium lending device 2-3A1 and play on the pinball game machine 1-3A1 with a rental price of P1. However, even if a gaming arcade is equipped with a management device 3-3 that can provide a service for mutually converting game media of different values, it cannot utilize the mutual conversion function of game media values ​​provided by the game media value conversion means 363 in gaming arcades that do not employ such a service. Nevertheless, if the mutual conversion function of game media values ​​provided by the game media value conversion means 363 is used in a limited manner for special lending operations to prevent players from running out of money, it can be a useful service.

[0110] As described above, when each game medium lending device 2-3A1, 2-3A2 is managed by a management device 3-3 equipped with a stored game medium management means 361, a re-play processing means 362, and a game medium value conversion means 363, it is possible to withdraw the stored game medium and play again even if the value of the stored game medium differs from the value of the game medium that can be used on the pinball game machine 1-3A1 or pinball game machine 1-3A2 that is currently being played. This provides information that a player possessing a stored game medium with a lending unit price P1 can be considered to possess a stored game medium that can be used on the pinball game machine 1-3A2 with a lending unit price P2. Therefore, in the third configuration example, the special game media lending means 2004-3 in the game media lending devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 verifies the stored game media, which are linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 possessed by the player and managed by the stored game media management means 361 of the management device 3-3, as credit information.

[0111] Furthermore, the special game media lending means 2004-3 of the game media lending devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 determines that the lending conditions are met if there are no stored game media of a value usable by the corresponding pinball game machine 1-3A1 (e.g., lending unit price P1), but there are stored game media of a value not usable by the pinball game machine 1-3A1 (e.g., lending unit price P2), and the game media value conversion means 363 of the management device 3-3 can convert the stored game media of a value usable by the pinball game machine 1-3A1 into stored game media of a value usable by the pinball game machine 1-3A1. For example, while playing on a pinball game machine 1-3A1 that can use game balls with a rental price of 4 yen, if a special prize state occurs, and the player has no remaining balls with any monetary value, and although there are stored balls with a rental price of 1 yen, there are no stored balls with a rental price of 4 yen, and therefore the stored balls cannot be withdrawn, the rental conditions are met, and the special conditions are also met. Upon the fulfillment of the special conditions, the special game medium rental means 2004-3 of the game medium rental device 2-3A1, 2-3A2 performs the special rental operation. However, there are no particular limitations on how the game medium for special rental is retrieved, and special monetary value or special game medium may be set in advance. However, in this configuration example, the stored game media managed by the stored game media management means 361 of the management device 3-3 are converted in value by the game media value conversion means 363, and the special game media lending means 2004-3 of the corresponding game media lending devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 reduces the number of stored game media whose value has been converted and lends out the game media, thereby realizing the special lending operation.

[0112] In the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the game media lending devices 2-3A1, 2-3A2 and the management device 3-3 in the third configuration example, there is no need to pre-set special valuable items or special game media specifically for special lending. Since the special lending operation is performed using stored game media that are widely adopted as standard member services, convenience for players is enhanced. Moreover, since the special lending of game media is performed using stored game media held by players as the source, the risk to the game store can be reduced when performing the special lending operation. Furthermore, if a player acquires new game media as a result of playing after the special lending operation has been performed, the special game media lending means 2004-3 may restrict the number of newly acquired game media from being added to the number of balls held by the ball handling means 2002, and may subtract the number of game media lent out as special from the game media acquired during the special prize state to compensate for the stored game media used for the special lending through value conversion. In other words, if the special game medium lending means 2004-3 lends out a game medium and the player acquires a new game medium as a result of playing, the ball handling means 2002 stores the number of acquired game mediums minus the number of game mediums that the special game medium lending means 2004-3 lent out as the number of balls held. When replenishing stored game mediums used for special lending, the special game medium lending means 2004-3 may restrict the return of the inserted recording medium 7 from the time it lends out a game medium based on the fulfillment of the special conditions until the player acquires the same number of game mediums as the number of game mediums that were lent out as a result of playing.

[0113] Furthermore, the game media lending devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 of the third configuration example are equipped with a lending count transmitting means that transmits a lending count signal to the management device 3-3 relating to the number of game media lent by the game media lending means 2001 and the special game media lending means 2004-3. If this lending count transmitting means transmits the number of game media lent by the special game media lending means 2004-3 as a lending count signal to the management device 3-3, then if the stored game media used for special lending through value conversion are replenished with acquired game media, it becomes necessary to process the lending count transmitted to the management device 3-3, which is cumbersome. Therefore, the game media lending devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 are equipped with a transmission restriction means and a transmission restriction release means. The transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count signal by the loan count transmission means while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted by the special game medium lending means 2004-3. On the other hand, when the return restriction of the recording medium 7 is lifted by the special game medium lending means 2004-3 and the storage medium 7 is returned, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal by the transmission restriction means, allowing the loan count transmission means to transmit the loan count signal to the management device 3-3. In other words, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count of the stored game medium that has been value-converted for the special lending operation as a loan count signal to the management device 3-3, and when the recording medium 7 is returned as the stored game medium that has been value-converted is replenished, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal. This eliminates the complexity of the number of game mediums being lended increasing or decreasing due to the lending and replenishment of stored game mediums through value conversion.

[0114] Furthermore, in the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the game media lending devices 2-3A1, 2-3A2 and the management device 3-3 in the third configuration example, the special lending operation by the special game media lending means 2004-3 cannot be performed unless the value of the stored game media is greater than or equal to the number of game media to be lent out by the special lending operation. However, even if there is a risk of failure during the occurrence of a special prize state, if the game can be continued by performing a special lending operation, it is usually possible to acquire enough game media, and it is extremely rare for a situation to arise where the game media for which special lending has been performed cannot be compensated for. Therefore, as an example of modifications to the game media lending devices 2-3A1 and 2-3A2 of the third configuration example, the special game media lending means 2004-3 checks the stored game media managed by the stored game media management means 361 of the management device 3-3, which is linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player, as credit information. If there are no stored game media of usable value in the game machine 1 being played (for example, stored game balls of value P1 usable in pinball game machine 1-3A1), but there are stored game media of unusable value in the game machine 1 being played (for example, stored game balls of value P2 usable in pinball game machine 1-3A2), then it is determined that the lending conditions are met. In other words, in this modified example, regardless of whether there are stored game media of sufficient value to compensate for the game media lent out through the special lending operation, if there are stored game media, they are subject to special lending. Since players who possess stored game tokens have used the amusement arcade's PP in the past, in this modified example, as a service to regular customers, the special lending operation can be performed without requiring the specially lent game tokens as collateral. Furthermore, in this modified example, there is no need to convert the value of the stored game tokens, so there is no need to provide the game token value conversion means 363 in the management device 3-3.

[0115] Next, a game arcade management system that enables special lending using the game media lending device 2-4 and the management device 3-4 of the fourth configuration example will be explained with reference to Figure 21.

[0116] The amusement arcade is equipped with multiple types of gaming machines 1 that use different types of gaming media. For example, there are two types of machines: a pinball gaming machine 1-4A that uses gaming balls as its gaming media, and a reel gaming machine 1-4B that uses gaming tokens as its gaming media. A gaming media dispensing device 2-4A that can dispense gaming balls is connected to the pinball gaming machine 1-4A, and a gaming media dispensing device 2-4B that can dispense gaming tokens is connected to the reel gaming machine 1-4B. The management device 3-4 can manage the gaming media dispensing devices 2-4A and 2-4B.

[0117] Both the game medium lending devices 2-4A and 2-4B are equipped with functions for performing special lending operations in addition to standard functions for lending game mediums. Figure 21 shows the main functions for performing special lending operations. The game medium lending means 2001 performs the process of lending game mediums that can be used to play on the pinball game machine 1-4A or the slot machine 1-4B by consuming the valuable value possessed by the player. The ball handling means 2002 stores the game mediums acquired by the player through playing on the pinball game machine 1-4A or the slot machine 1-4B as balls that can be used to play, and performs the process of making the game mediums available for play on the pinball game machine 1-4A or the slot machine 1-4B by reducing the number of balls. The recording medium processing means 2003 has a function to read specific information (e.g., card ID) recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The special game medium lending means 2004-4 performs the process of lending a game medium based on the fact that credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to a player playing on a pinball game machine 1-4A or a reel game machine 1-4B satisfies predetermined lending conditions and that predetermined special conditions are met. The special game medium lending means 2004-4 has a lending condition determination function, a special condition determination function and a special lending processing function, similar to the game medium lending devices 2-1 to 2-3 of the first to third configuration examples described above, but the lending conditions are different as described later.

[0118] On the other hand, the management device 3-4 of the fourth configuration example includes a ball management means 31, a deposit management means 32, and an operation management means 33, similar to the management devices 3-1 to 3-3 of the first to third configuration examples described above. The ball management means 31 manages information by linking the balls stored in the ball processing means 2002 of the game media dispensing devices 2-4A and 2-4B with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The deposit management means 32 manages information by linking the deposits that the game media dispensing means 2001 of the game media dispensing devices 2-4A and 2-4B has not used for dispensing game media with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The operation management means 33 generates setting information for setting the operation of various devices installed in the amusement arcade PP (such as pinball machines 1-4A, reel machines 1-4B, game media dispensing devices 2-4A, 2-4B, management device 3-4, prize exchange POS 4, and settlement machine 5), and manages the operation of the corresponding devices by transmitting the setting information to the devices.

[0119] Furthermore, the management device 3-4 includes a stored game medium management means 361, a re-play processing means 362, and a game medium type conversion means 364. The stored game medium management means 361 takes custody of game mediums linked to specific information recorded on a recording medium 7 held by a player, and manages the custodial game mediums as stored game mediums according to different values ​​and different types. The re-play processing means 362 makes the stored game mediums managed by the stored game medium management means 361 available for use in the corresponding type of game machine 1 (pinball game machine 1-4A or reel game machine 1-4B). The game medium type conversion means 364 converts the stored game medium managed by the stored game medium management means 361 into different types of stored game medium that can be used in different types of game machines 1 (for example, converting one game token usable in a reel game machine 1-4B with a rental price of 20 yen into five game balls usable in a pinball game machine 1-4A with a rental price of 4 yen).

[0120] In other words, the management device 3-4 can provide a service that allows players to withdraw and use the game tokens they have deposited on subsequent days (a so-called token storage service), and can also convert and provide the stored game tokens into different types of stored game tokens. For example, if a player's stored game tokens consist only of game balls with a rental price of P1, the only way to withdraw and use the stored game tokens is through the game token lending device 2-4A, which is compatible with the pinball game machine 1-4A with a rental price of P1. However, it is not possible to withdraw them through the game token lending device 2-4B, which is compatible with the revolving game machine 1-4B that uses game tokens with a rental price of P3, which is inconvenient for the player. However, if a gaming arcade is equipped with a gaming medium type conversion means 364, as in the management device 3-4, gaming balls with a rental unit price P1 can be converted into gaming tokens with a rental unit price P3 and withdrawn. Therefore, even a player who only possesses stored gaming mediums with a rental unit price P1 can withdraw stored gaming mediums from the gaming medium lending device 2-4B and play on the slot machine 1-4B with a rental unit price P3. Conversely, even a player who only possesses gaming tokens with a rental unit price P3 can convert the gaming tokens with a rental unit price P3 into stored gaming mediums with a rental unit price P1 and withdrawn. Therefore, a player can withdraw stored gaming mediums from the gaming medium lending device 2-4A and play on the pachinko machine 1-4A with a rental unit price P1. However, even if a gaming arcade is equipped with a management device 3-4 that can provide a service of mutually converting different types of stored gaming mediums, it will not be possible to utilize the mutual conversion function of gaming medium types provided by the gaming medium type conversion means 364 in an arcade that does not employ such a service. However, if the mutual conversion function of game media types by the game media type conversion means 364 is used to a limited extent in special lending operations to prevent players from running out of machines, it can be a useful service.

[0121] As described above, when the management device 3-4, which includes a stored game medium management means 361, a re-play processing means 362, and a game medium type conversion means 364, manages each game medium lending device 2-4A, 2-4B, it is possible to withdraw the stored game medium and play again even if the type of stored game medium and the type of game medium usable on the game machine 1 being played (pinball game machine 1-4A or slot machine 1-4B) are different. This means that a player who possesses a stored game medium with a lending unit price P1 usable on pinball game machine 1-4A can be considered to possess a stored game medium with a lending unit price P3 usable on slot machine 1-4B. Therefore, in the game media lending devices 2-4A and 2-4B of the fourth configuration example, the special game media lending means 2004-4 verifies the stored game media, which are linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 possessed by the player and managed by the stored game media management means 361 of the management device 3-4, as credit information.

[0122] Furthermore, the special game medium lending means 2004-4 of the game medium lending device 2-4A determines that the lending conditions are met if there are no types of stored game medium usable by the corresponding pinball game machine 1-4A (for example, game balls with a lending unit price of P1), and there are types of stored game medium that cannot be used by the pinball game machine 1-4A (for example, game tokens with a lending unit price of P3), and the game medium type conversion means 364 of the management device 3-4 can convert the types of stored game medium that cannot be used by the pinball game machine 1-4A (for example, game tokens with a lending unit price of P3) into types of stored game medium that can be used by the pinball game machine 1-4A (for example, game balls with a lending unit price of P1). Similarly, the special game medium lending means 2004-4 of the game medium lending device 2-4B determines that the lending conditions are met if there are no types of stored game mediums usable by the corresponding type of slot machine 1-4B (for example, game tokens with a lending unit price of P3), and there are types of stored game mediums that cannot be used by the slot machine 1-4B (for example, game balls with a lending unit price of P1), and the game medium type conversion means 364 of the management device 3-4 can convert the types of stored game mediums that cannot be used by the slot machine 1-4B (for example, game balls with a lending unit price of P1) into types of stored game mediums usable by the slot machine 1-4B (for example, game tokens with a lending unit price of P3). For example, while playing on a pachinko game machine 1-4A that uses game balls with a rental price of 4 yen, a special prize state occurs, and the player has no remaining balls or tokens of value. Although there are stored balls (game tokens) with a rental price of 20 yen, there are no stored balls (game balls) with a rental price of 4 yen, so the stored balls cannot be withdrawn. In this case, the conditions for lending are met, and the special conditions are also met. Upon the fulfillment of the special conditions, the special game medium lending means 2004-4 of the game medium lending device 2-4A performs a special lending operation. However, there are no particular limitations on how the game medium for special lending is retrieved, and special valuable value or special game medium may be set in advance. However, in this configuration example, the stored game media managed by the stored game media management means 361 of the management device 3-4 are converted by the game media type conversion means 364, and the special game media lending means 2004-4 of the corresponding game media lending devices 2-4A and 2-4B reduces the number of stored game media that have been converted by type and lends out the game media, thereby realizing the special lending operation.

[0123] In the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the game media lending devices 2-4A and 2-4B and the management device 3-4 in the fourth configuration example, there is no need to pre-set special valuable items or special game media specifically for special lending. Since the special lending operation is performed using stored game media that are widely adopted as standard member services, convenience for players is enhanced. Moreover, since the special lending of game media is performed using stored game media held by players as the source, the risk to the game store can be reduced when performing the special lending operation. Furthermore, if a player acquires new game media as a result of playing after the special lending operation, the special game media lending means 2004-4 may restrict the number of newly acquired game media from being added to the number of balls held by the ball handling means 2002, subtract the number of game media lent out as special lending from the number of game media acquired during play in the special prize state, and compensate for the stored game media used for the special lending by converting the type of game media. In other words, if the special game medium lending means 2004-4 lends out a game medium and the player acquires a new game medium as a result of playing, the ball handling means 2002 stores the number of acquired game mediums minus the number of game mediums that the special game medium lending means 2004-4 lent out as the number of balls held. When replenishing stored game mediums used for special lending, the special game medium lending means 2004-4 may restrict the return of the inserted recording medium 7 from the time it lends out a game medium based on the fulfillment of the special conditions until it acquires the same number of game mediums as the number of game mediums that were lent out as a result of playing.

[0124] Furthermore, the game media lending devices 2-4A and 2-4B of the fourth configuration example are equipped with a lending count transmitting means that transmits a lending count signal to the management device 3-4 relating to the number of game media lent by the game media lending means 2001 and the special game media lending means 2004-4. If this lending count transmitting means transmits the number of game media lent by the special game media lending means 2004-4 as a lending count signal to the management device 3-4, then if the stored game media used for special lending are replaced with acquired game media due to conversion of game media types, it becomes necessary to process the lending count transmitted to the management device 3-4, which is complicated. Therefore, the game media lending devices 2-4A and 2-4B are equipped with a transmission restriction means and a transmission restriction release means. The transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count signal by the loan count transmission means while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted by the special game medium lending means 2004-4. On the other hand, when the return restriction of the recording medium 7 is released by the special game medium lending means 2004-4 and the storage medium 7 is returned, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal by the transmission restriction means, allowing the loan count transmission means to transmit the loan count signal to the management device 3-4. In other words, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count of the stored game medium that has been converted for special lending operations as a loan count signal to the management device 3-4, and when the recording medium 7 is returned as a result of the replenishment of the stored game medium for special lending, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal. This eliminates the complexity of the number of game mediums being increased or decreased due to the lending and replenishment of stored game mediums that have been converted for special lending operations.

[0125] Furthermore, in the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the game media lending devices 2-4A and 2-4B and the management device 3-4 in the fourth configuration example, the special lending operation by the special game media lending means 2004-4 cannot be performed unless the value of different types of stored game media is greater than or equal to the number of game media to be lent out by the special lending operation. However, even if there is a risk of failure during the occurrence of a special prize state, if gameplay can be continued by performing a special lending operation, sufficient game media can usually be obtained, and it is extremely rare for a situation to arise where the game media for which special lending has been performed cannot be compensated for. Therefore, as an example of modifications to the game media lending devices 2-4A and 2-4B of the fourth configuration example, the special game media lending means 2004-4 checks the stored game media managed by the stored game media management means 361 of the management device 3-4, which is linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player, as credit information. If there are no stored game media of a type usable by the game machine 1 being played (for example, stored game balls with a lending unit price of 4 yen usable by the pinball game machine 1-4A), and there are stored game media of a type not usable by the game machine 1 being played (for example, stored game tokens with a lending unit price of 20 yen usable by the reel game machine 1-4B), it determines that the lending conditions are met. In other words, in this modification example, regardless of whether there is value in a different type of stored game media that can compensate for the value of the game media lent out by performing the special lending operation, if there is a different type of stored game media, it is subject to special lending. Since players who possess stored game tokens have used the amusement arcade's PP in the past, in this modified example, as a service to regular customers, the special lending operation can be performed without using the specially lent game tokens as collateral. Furthermore, in this modified example, since there is no need to convert the value of the stored game tokens, there is no need to provide a game token type conversion means 364 in the management device 3-4.

[0126] Next, a game arcade management system that enables special lending using the game media lending device 2-5 and the management device 3-5 of the fifth configuration example will be explained with reference to Figure 22.

[0127] The amusement arcade is equipped with multiple types of gaming machines 1 that use different types of gaming media. For example, there are two types of machines: pinball gaming machine 1-5A, which uses gaming balls as its gaming medium, and slot machine 1-5B, which uses gaming tokens as its gaming medium. A gaming media dispensing device 2-5A is connected to pinball gaming machine 1-5A to dispense gaming balls, and a gaming media dispensing device 2-5B is connected to slot machine 1-5B to dispense gaming tokens. The management device 3-5 can manage gaming media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B. Furthermore, a portable terminal device 8 carried by a player while playing pinball gaming machine 1-5A or slot machine 1-5B can communicate with gaming media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B.

[0128] Both the game medium lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B are equipped with functions for performing special lending operations in addition to standard functions for lending game mediums. Figure 22 shows the main functions for performing special lending operations. The game medium lending means 2001 performs the process of lending game mediums that can be used to play on the pinball game machine 1-5A or the slot machine 1-5B by consuming the valuable value possessed by the player. The ball handling means 2002 stores the game mediums acquired by the player through playing on the pinball game machine 1-5A or the slot machine 1-5B as balls that can be used to play, and performs the process of making the game mediums available for play on the pinball game machine 1-5A or the slot machine 1-5B by reducing the number of balls. The recording medium processing means 2003 has a function to read specific information (e.g., card ID) recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The special game medium lending means 2004-5 performs the process of lending a game medium based on the fact that credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to the player playing on the pinball game machine 1-5A or the reel game machine 1-5B satisfies predetermined lending conditions and that predetermined special conditions are met. The special game medium lending means 2004-5 has a lending condition determination function, a special condition determination function and a special lending processing function, similar to the game medium lending devices 2-1 to 2-4 of the first to fourth configuration examples described above, but the lending conditions are different as described later. Furthermore, the game medium lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B are equipped with a mobile terminal device communication means 2005 that can communicate with the mobile terminal device 8 held by the player.

[0129] The mobile terminal device 8, owned by the player, can communicate with the game media lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B via the mobile terminal device communication means 2005. This allows for services such as displaying game-related reference data on the mobile terminal device 8, and allowing the player to configure settings related to the lending of game media using the mobile terminal device 8. The mobile terminal device 8 may be a communication device such as a smartphone or tablet owned personally by the player, or it may be a terminal device with communication capabilities that the game parlor lends to the player when they visit. Furthermore, when the gaming media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B and the mobile terminal device 8 communicate wirelessly, there is a possibility that the gaming media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B, which are not compatible with the pinball game machine 1-5A or slot machine 1-5B that the player is currently playing, may be mistakenly connected to the mobile terminal device 8. Therefore, it is desirable to use short-range wireless communication corresponding to the standard separation distance between the gaming media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B and the mobile terminal device 8. Alternatively, the gaming media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B may be equipped with terminal mounting sections with connection terminals, or with cables for wired connections, to directly connect the gaming media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B and the mobile terminal device 8. In addition, the communication means for the mobile terminal device 2005 acquires unique information (for example, the serial number of the device or the assigned telephone number) through mutual authentication with the mobile terminal device 8 performed at the start of communication, and thereafter uses this unique information to identify the mobile terminal device 8 to connect to.

[0130] As described above, the mobile terminal device 8, which can communicate with the game media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B, is equipped with a special valuable value storage means 81 that stores a special valuable value that can be consumed in order to dispensing game media that can be used for playing games on the pinball game machine 1-5A or the reel game machine 1-5B. This special valuable value storage means 81 is generated, for example, when the mobile terminal device 8 first establishes a communication connection with the game media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B, and the game media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B request the setting of a special valuable value, which the mobile terminal device 8 accepts. Alternatively, the special valuable value storage means 81 is generated on the mobile terminal device 8 by installing an application provided by the game arcade or the issuing company of the game media dispensing card. In the case of terminal devices with communication functions that are leased by game arcades, the special valuable value storage means 81 may be provided as standard. The special value stored in this special value storage means 81 may be obtained by allocating a portion of the value linked to the recording medium 7 possessed by the player to the special value, or by inserting banknotes into the game medium dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B to charge the special value. Alternatively, the special value may be obtained by allocating stored game mediums deposited with the game parlor by the player, or by purchasing the special value using electronic money managed by the mobile terminal device 8.

[0131] On the other hand, the management device 3-5 of the fifth configuration example includes a ball management means 31, a deposit management means 32, and an operation management means 33, similar to the management devices 3-1 to 3-4 of the first to fourth configuration examples described above. The ball management means 31 performs information management by linking the balls stored in the ball processing means 2002 of the game media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The deposit management means 32 performs information management by linking the deposits that the game media dispensing means 2001 of the game media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B has not used for dispensing game media with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The operation management means 33 generates setting information for setting the operation of various devices installed in the amusement arcade PP (such as pinball machines 1-5A, reel machines 1-5B, game media dispensing devices 2-5A, 2-5B, management device 3-5, prize exchange POS 4, and settlement machine 5), and manages the operation of the corresponding devices by transmitting the setting information to the devices.

[0132] Furthermore, the management device 3-5 includes a stored game media management means 361, a re-play processing means 362, and a special valuable value management means 365. The stored game media management means 361 takes custody of game media linked to specific information recorded on a recording medium 7 possessed by a player, and manages the taken custody of game media as stored game media according to different values ​​and different types. The re-play processing means 362 makes the stored game media managed by the stored game media management means 361 available for use in the corresponding type of game machine 1 (pinball game machine 1-5A or reel game machine 1-5B). The special valuable value management means 365 manages the special valuable value stored in the special valuable value storage means 81 of the mobile terminal device 8, linked to the unique information of the mobile terminal device 8 possessed by the player. In this way, if the special valuable value stored in the special valuable value storage means 81 of the mobile terminal device 8 is also managed by the management device 3-5, it is possible to prevent fraud such as data rewriting on the mobile terminal device 8, and even if the special valuable value storage means 81 is cleared due to unexpected data loss, the special valuable value storage means 81 can be restored, thereby increasing reliability.

[0133] Furthermore, the special game medium lending means 2004-5 in the game medium lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B can lend game mediums by consuming the special valuable value stored in the special valuable value storage means 81 of the mobile terminal device 8 that is communicating. In other words, the special game medium lending means 2004-5 confirms the special valuable value stored in the special valuable value storage means 81 of the mobile terminal device 8 that is communicating via the mobile terminal device communication means 2005 as credit information, and determines that the lending conditions are met if it is possible to consume the special valuable value to lend game mediums that can be used for playing games on the pinball game machine 1-5A or the reel game machine 1-5B, and can then execute the special lending operation when the special conditions are met.

[0134] In the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the game medium lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B and the mobile terminal device 8 in the fifth configuration example, a special value specifically for special lending can be set in advance on the mobile terminal device 8 held by the player, thereby increasing the convenience for the player. Moreover, since the special lending of game mediums is performed using the special value stored on the mobile terminal device 8 held by the player as the source, the special lending operation can be performed with reduced risk for the game store. Furthermore, if the player acquires new game mediums as a result of playing after the special lending operation, the special game medium lending means 2004-5 may restrict the number of newly acquired game mediums from being added to the number of balls held by the ball handling means 2002, and may subtract the number of game mediums lent out specially from the number of game mediums acquired during play in the special prize state to compensate for the special value used for the special lending. In other words, when the special game medium lending means 2004-5 lends out a game medium and the player acquires a new game medium as a result of playing, the ball handling means 2002 stores the number of acquired game media minus the number of game media that the special game medium lending means 2004-5 lent out as the number of balls held. When replenishing stored game media used for special lending, the special game medium lending means 2004-5 may restrict the return of the inserted recording medium 7 from the time it lends out a game medium based on the fulfillment of the special conditions until the player acquires the same number of game media as the number of game media that were lent out as a result of playing.

[0135] Furthermore, the game media lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B of the fifth configuration example are equipped with a lending count transmitting means that transmits a lending count signal to the management device 3-5 relating to the number of game media lent by the game media lending means 2001 and the special game media lending means 2004-5. If this lending count transmitting means transmits the number of game media lent by the special game media lending means 2004-5 as a lending count signal to the management device 3-5, then if the special valuable value used for the special lending (special valuable value stored in the special valuable value storage means 81 of the mobile terminal device 8) is replenished with acquired game media, it becomes necessary to process the lending count transmitted to the management device 3-5, which is cumbersome. Therefore, the game media lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B are equipped with a transmission restriction means and a transmission restriction release means. The transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count signal by the loan count transmission means while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted by the special game medium lending means 2004-5. On the other hand, when the return restriction of the recording medium 7 is lifted by the special game medium lending means 2004-5 and the storage medium 7 is returned, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal by the transmission restriction means, allowing the loan count transmission means to transmit the loan count signal to the management device 3-5. In other words, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the loan count signal to the management device 3-5 for the amount of special valuable value consumed for the special lending operation (special valuable value stored in the special valuable value storage means 81 of the mobile terminal device 8), and when the recording medium 7 is returned as a result of the special valuable value being replenished, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the loan count signal. This eliminates the complexity of the number of game mediums being lent increasing or decreasing due to the consumption and replenishment of special valuable value.

[0136] In the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the game media lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B and the mobile terminal device 8 in the fifth configuration example, the special lending operation by the special game media lending means 2004-5 cannot be performed unless the special valuable value for lending through the special lending operation is secured in the special valuable value storage means 81 of the mobile terminal device 8. However, even if there is a risk of failure during the occurrence of a special prize state, it is usually possible to obtain sufficient game media if the game can be continued by performing a special lending, and it is extremely rare for a situation in which the game media for the special lending cannot be compensated for. Therefore, as an example of a modification of the game media lending devices 2-5A and 2-5B in the fifth configuration example, the special game media lending means 2004-5 verifies the unique information of the mobile terminal device 8 obtained through mutual authentication with the communication means for mobile terminal devices 2005 as credit information, and determines that the lending conditions are met if it is communicating with the mobile terminal device 8 of the unique information. In other words, in this modified example, as a service to regular customers who are communicating with the gaming media dispensing devices 2-5A and 2-5B using the mobile terminal device 8, the special dispensing operation can be performed without guaranteeing the special value of the specially dispensed portion.

[0137] Next, a game arcade management system that enables special lending using the game media lending device 2-6 and the management device 3-6 of the sixth configuration example will be explained with reference to Figure 23.

[0138] The amusement arcade is equipped with multiple types of gaming machines 1 that can use different types of gaming media. For example, there are two types of machines: a pinball gaming machine 1-6A that uses gaming balls as its gaming media, and a reel gaming machine 1-6B that uses gaming tokens as its gaming media. A gaming media dispensing device 2-6A that can dispense gaming balls is connected to the pinball gaming machine 1-6A, and a gaming media dispensing device 2-6B that can dispense gaming tokens is connected to the reel gaming machine 1-6B. The management device 3-6 can manage the gaming media dispensing devices 2-6A and 2-6B.

[0139] Both the game medium lending devices 2-6A and 2-6B have functions for performing special lending operations in addition to standard functions for lending game mediums. Figure 23 shows the main functions for performing special lending operations. The game medium lending means 2001 performs the process of lending game mediums that can be used to play on the pinball game machine 1-6A or the slot machine 1-6B by consuming the valuable assets possessed by the player. The ball handling means 2002 stores the game mediums acquired by the player through playing on the pinball game machine 1-6A or the slot machine 1-6B as balls that can be used to play, and performs the process of making the game mediums available for play on the pinball game machine 1-6A or the slot machine 1-6B by reducing the number of balls. The recording medium processing means 2003 has the function of reading specific information (e.g., card ID) recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player. This specific information is also used for the amusement parlor's membership management (details to be described later). The special game medium lending means 2004-6 performs the process of lending a game medium based on the fact that the credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to the player playing on the pinball game machine 1-6A or the reel game machine 1-6B meets the predetermined lending conditions and that the predetermined special conditions are met. The special game medium lending means 2004-6 has a lending condition determination function, a special condition determination function and a special lending processing function, similar to the game medium lending devices 2-1 to 2-5 of the first to fifth configuration examples described above, but the lending conditions are different as described later.

[0140] On the other hand, the management device 3-6 of the sixth configuration example includes a ball management means 31, a deposit management means 32, and an operation management means 33, similar to the management devices 3-1 to 3-5 of the first to fifth configuration examples described above. The ball management means 31 performs information management by linking the balls stored in the ball processing means 2002 of the game medium dispensing devices 2-6A and 2-6B with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The deposit management means 32 performs information management by linking the deposits that the game medium dispensing means 2001 of the game medium dispensing devices 2-6A and 2-6B has not used for dispensing game mediums with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The operation management means 33 generates setting information for setting the operation of various devices installed in the amusement arcade PP (such as pinball machines 1-6A, reel machines 1-6B, game media dispensing devices 2-6A, 2-6B, management device 3-6, prize exchange POS 4, and settlement machine 5), and manages the operation of the corresponding devices by transmitting the setting information to the devices.

[0141] Furthermore, the management device 3-6 includes a stored game media management means 361, a re-play processing means 362, and a member management means 366. The stored game media management means 361 receives game media linked to specific information recorded on a recording medium 7 possessed by a player, and manages the received game media as stored game media according to different values ​​and different types. The re-play processing means 362 makes the stored game media managed by the stored game media management means 361 available for use in the corresponding type of game machine 1 (pinball game machine 1-6A or reel game machine 1-6B). The member management means 366 manages member information about individual players linked to specific information on the recording medium 7 possessed by the player. When registering as a member, players are required to present identification documents (e.g., driver's license, health insurance card, passport, etc.) for identity verification, so members managed by the member management means 366 can be considered to have guaranteed identity. Furthermore, registered players can enjoy benefits such as a service that allows them to withdraw their stored game tokens the following day and play again, preferential services at affiliated stores, and a points service that allows them to accumulate points that can be used to exchange for prizes, etc., based on the amount spent.

[0142] The special gaming media lending means 2004-6 then verifies the member information linked to the specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player as credit information, and determines that the lending conditions are met if the player's member information is managed by the member management means 366. Thus, the special lending operation can be executed when the special conditions are met. In other words, in the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the gaming media lending devices 2-6A, 2-6B and the management device 3-6 in the sixth configuration example, the special lending operation can be performed as one of the member services without requiring the special value of the specially lent items or special gaming media as collateral.

[0143] In the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the game medium lending devices 2-6A and 2-6B and the management device 3-6 in the sixth configuration example, if a player is registered as a member, they can receive a special lending when the special conditions are met and continue playing in the special prize state, thereby improving convenience for the player. Furthermore, if a player acquires new game mediums as a result of playing after the special lending operation, the special game medium lending means 2004-6 may restrict the number of newly acquired game mediums from being added to the number of balls held by the ball handling means 2002, and may instead subtract the number of game mediums lent out as a special lending from the game mediums acquired during play in the special prize state to compensate for the number of game mediums used for the special lending. In other words, when the special game medium lending means 2004-6 lends out a game medium and the player acquires a new game medium as a result of playing, the ball handling means 2002 stores the number of acquired game mediums minus the number of game mediums that the special game medium lending means 2004-6 lent out as the number of balls held. When replenishing game mediums used for special lending, the special game medium lending means 2004-6 may restrict the return of the inserted recording medium 7 from the time it lends out a game medium based on the fulfillment of the special conditions until the player acquires the same number of game mediums as the number of game mediums that were lent out as a result of playing.

[0144] Furthermore, the game media lending devices 2-6A and 2-6B of the sixth configuration example are equipped with a lending count transmitting means that transmits a lending count signal to the management device 3-6 relating to the number of game media lent by the game media lending means 2001 and the special game media lending means 2004-6. If this lending count transmitting means transmits the number of game media lent by the special game media lending means 2004-6 as a lending count signal to the management device 3-6, then if the number of game media used for special lending is replenished with acquired game media, it becomes necessary to process the lending count transmitted to the management device 3-6, which is cumbersome. Therefore, the game media lending devices 2-6A and 2-6B are equipped with a transmission restriction means and a transmission restriction release means. The transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the lending count signal by the lending count transmitting means while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted by the special game media lending means 2004-6. On the other hand, when the storage medium 7 is returned after the return restriction on the recording medium 7 is lifted by the special game medium lending means 2004-6, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the number of lending signals by the transmission restriction means, enabling the number of lending transmission means to transmit the number of lending signals to the management device 3-6. In other words, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the number of game mediums lent out by special lending as a number of lending signals to the management device 3-6, and when the recording medium 7 is returned as the number of lending game mediums is replenished, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the number of lending signals. This eliminates the complexity of the number of lending game mediums increasing or decreasing due to lending and replenishment of game mediums by special lending operations.

[0145] Next, a game arcade management system that enables special lending using the game media lending device 2-7 and the management device 3-7 of the seventh configuration example will be explained with reference to Figure 24.

[0146] The amusement arcade is equipped with multiple types of gaming machines 1 that can use different types of gaming media. For example, there are two types of machines: a pinball gaming machine 1-7A that uses gaming balls as its gaming media, and a reel gaming machine 1-7B that uses gaming tokens as its gaming media. A gaming media dispensing device 2-7A that can dispense gaming balls is connected to the pinball gaming machine 1-7A, and a gaming media dispensing device 2-7B that can dispense gaming tokens is connected to the reel gaming machine 1-7B. The management device 3-7 can manage the gaming media dispensing devices 2-7A and 2-7B.

[0147] Both the game medium lending devices 2-7A and 2-7B are equipped with functions for performing special lending operations in addition to standard functions for lending game mediums. Figure 24 shows the main functions for performing special lending operations. The game medium lending means 2001 performs the process of lending game mediums that can be used to play on the pinball game machine 1-7A or the slot machine 1-7B by consuming the valuable value possessed by the player. The ball handling means 2002 stores the game mediums acquired by the player through playing on the pinball game machine 1-7A or the slot machine 1-7B as balls that can be used to play, and performs the process of making the game mediums available for play on the pinball game machine 1-7A or the slot machine 1-7B by reducing the number of balls. The recording medium processing means 2003 includes at least the function of reading specific information (e.g., card ID) recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player. This specific information is used in conjunction with a person subject to usage restrictions by a self-declaration program (described in detail later). The special game medium lending means 2004-7 performs the process of lending a game medium based on the fact that the credit information, which can be confirmed as information linked to the player playing on the pinball game machine 1-7A or the reel game machine 1-7B, satisfies the predetermined lending conditions and that the predetermined special conditions are met. The special game medium lending means 2004-7 has a lending condition determination function, a special condition determination function and a special lending processing function, similar to the game medium lending devices 2-1 to 2-6 of the first to sixth configuration examples described above, but the lending conditions are different as described later.

[0148] On the other hand, the management device 3-7 of the seventh configuration example includes a ball management means 31, a deposit management means 32, and an operation management means 33, similar to the management devices 3-1 to 3-6 of the first to sixth configuration examples described above. The ball management means 31 performs information management by linking the balls stored in the ball processing means 2002 of the game medium dispensing devices 2-7A and 2-7B with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The deposit management means 32 performs information management by linking the deposits that the game medium dispensing means 2001 of the game medium dispensing devices 2-7A and 2-7B has not used for dispensing game mediums with specific information on the recording medium 7 held by the player. The operation management means 33 generates setting information for setting the operation of various devices installed in the amusement arcade PP (such as pinball game machines 1-7A, rotary game machines 1-7B, game media dispensing devices 2-7A, 2-7B, management device 3-7, prize exchange POS 4, and settlement machine 5), and manages the operation of the corresponding devices by transmitting the setting information to the devices.

[0149] Furthermore, the management device 3-7 includes a stored game media management means 361, a re-play processing means 362, and a usage restriction information management means 367. The stored game media management means 361 takes custody of game media linked to specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 possessed by the player, and manages the custodial game media as stored game media according to different values ​​and different types. The re-play processing means 362 makes the stored game media managed by the stored game media management means 361 available for use in the corresponding type of game machine 1 (pinball game machine 1-7A or reel game machine 1-7B). The usage restriction information management means 367 manages usage restriction information regarding the player's restrictions on using the game hall, which is linked to the specific information on the recording medium 7 possessed by the player. Usage restriction information refers to various pieces of information used to implement a self-declaration program in which customers apply for restrictions on their use of amusement establishments as a measure against gambling addiction. Examples include the maximum amount of money that can be spent in one visit, the maximum number of visits allowed per month, and the maximum amount of time that can be played in one visit.

[0150] The special gaming media lending means 2004-7 then checks the usage restriction information linked to the specific information recorded on the recording medium 7 held by the player as credit information, and determines that the lending conditions are met if the player's usage restriction information is managed by the usage restriction information management means 367, so that the special lending operation can be executed when the special conditions are met. In other words, in the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the gaming media lending devices 2-7A, 2-7B and the management device 3-7 in the seventh configuration example, the special lending operation can be performed as a service to players who are using the self-declaration program, without requiring the special value of the specially lent items or special gaming media as collateral.

[0151] In the special lending process performed by the cooperation of the game medium lending devices 2-7A and 2-7B and the management device 3-7 in the seventh configuration example, if a player is eligible for the self-declaration program, they can receive a special lending when the special conditions are met and continue playing in the special prize state, thereby improving convenience for the player. Furthermore, if a player acquires new game mediums as a result of playing after the special lending operation, the special game medium lending means 2004-7 may restrict the addition of the newly acquired game mediums to the number of balls held by the ball handling means 2002, and may subtract the number of game mediums lent out as special lending from the game mediums acquired during play in the special prize state to compensate for the number of game mediums used for the special lending. In other words, when the special game medium lending means 2004-7 lends out a game medium and the player acquires a new game medium as a result of playing, the ball handling means 2002 stores the number of acquired game media minus the number of game media that the special game medium lending means 2004-7 lent out as the number of balls held. When replenishing game media used for special lending, the special game medium lending means 2004-7 may restrict the return of the inserted recording medium 7 from the time it lends out a game medium based on the fulfillment of the special conditions until the player acquires the same number of game media as the number of game media that were lent out as a result of playing.

[0152] Furthermore, the game media lending devices 2-7A and 2-7B of the seventh configuration example are equipped with a lending count transmitting means that transmits a lending count signal to the management device 3-7 relating to the number of game media lent by the game media lending means 2001 and the special game media lending means 2004-7. If this lending count transmitting means transmits the number of game media lent by the special game media lending means 2004-7 as a lending count signal to the management device 3-7, then if the number of game media used for special lending is replenished with acquired game media, it becomes necessary to process the lending count transmitted to the management device 3-7, which is cumbersome. Therefore, the game media lending devices 2-7A and 2-7B are equipped with a transmission restriction means and a transmission restriction release means. The transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the lending count signal by the lending count transmitting means while the return of the recording medium 7 is restricted by the special game media lending means 2004-7. On the other hand, when the storage medium 7 is returned after the return restriction on the recording medium 7 is lifted by the special game medium lending means 2004-7, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the number of lending signals by the transmission restriction means, enabling the number of lending transmission means to transmit the number of lending signals to the management device 3-7. In other words, the transmission restriction means restricts the transmission of the number of game mediums lent out by special lending as a number of lending signals to the management device 3-7, and when the recording medium 7 is returned as the number of lending game mediums is replenished, the transmission restriction release means releases the transmission restriction on the number of lending signals. This eliminates the complexity of the number of lending game mediums increasing or decreasing due to lending and replenishment of game mediums by special lending operations.

[0153] Although the amusement park management system according to the present invention has been described above based on embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and encompasses all amusement park management systems that can be realized without changing the configuration described in the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0154] 1. Gaming machine 2. Gaming media dispensing device 22 Display operation section 201 Control Unit 202 Records Department 203 Banknote Identification Section 204 Card Processing Unit 207 External Communications Department 208 Gaming Machine Communications Department 3 Management device 31. Methods for managing the number of tokens held 32. Deposit Management Methods 33 Operation management means 34. Special measures for managing valuable assets 6. On-site network PP Amusement Park

Claims

[Claim 1] A gaming arcade management system comprising: a gaming machine installed in a gaming arcade and capable of playing games using a predetermined gaming medium; a gaming medium lending device installed in conjunction with the gaming machine and capable of lending the gaming medium to players; and a management device capable of managing various devices within the gaming arcade, including the gaming machine and the gaming medium lending device, The aforementioned gaming media lending device is At a minimum, a game medium lending means that performs the process of lending out game mediums that can be used for playing games on the game machine by consuming the valuable assets possessed by the player, A means for processing game tokens that stores the game tokens acquired by a player through gameplay on the game machine as tokens that can be used to play on the game machine, and processes the game tokens to be used to play on the game machine by reducing the number of tokens, A special gaming media lending means that performs the process of lending out the gaming media based on the fact that credit information that can be confirmed as information linked to a player playing the gaming machine meets the predetermined lending conditions and that predetermined special conditions are met, Equipped with, The aforementioned special gaming media lending means is characterized in that it determines that the lending conditions are met when it confirms, as credit information, that the special valuable value and / or special gaming media that can be consumed in order to process lending the gaming media based on the fulfillment of the special conditions are linked to a player currently playing on the gaming machine.

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