Article acquisition game device

Abstract

[Problem] To simplify procedures related to work for performing various settings in an article acquisition game device. [Solution] An article acquisition game device 1 comprises: control means 60 that controls a game mode in which a player can acquire an article and a maintenance mode in which settings related to the game mode can be adjusted; and detection means 70 that detects a state of a door 21 that opens and closes an article storage part 20. The control means 60 performs control to shift from the maintenance mode to the game mode when the detection means 70 detects a closed state of the door 21 during control of the maintenance mode.

Description

Item acquisition game device

[0001] The present invention relates to an item acquisition game device capable of acquiring an item stored inside an item storage unit.

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an item acquisition game device that moves an item acquisition device in the vertical direction based on a player's operation to acquire an item stored inside an item storage unit.

[0003] When an administrator (for example, a store clerk of a store where the item acquisition game device is installed) who manages such an item acquisition game device performs various settings for a game in which a player acquires an item, the item acquisition game device is switched from a game mode for the player to play the game to a maintenance mode in which various settings of the game mode can be performed.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying an interlocking change mode icon for switching the validity / invalidity of an interlocking change mode in which when a set value is changed from a set value change icon on a touch panel of an item acquisition game device in a maintenance mode, each set value is changed while maintaining the difference between the set values before the change.

[0005] Japanese Patent No. 6443643

[0006] In a conventional item acquisition game device as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an administrator who performs work in the maintenance mode opens the lock of the operation unit door for maintenance at the center of the housing, switches an internal switch, shifts from the game mode to the maintenance mode, opens the glass door of the item storage unit in which the item is stored, and while changing the prize / floor configuration, etc., changes the setting items and various counter values displayed on the touch panel, etc. And when the work is completed, the administrator switches the switch, shifts the item acquisition game device from the maintenance mode to the game mode, and closes the glass door. Thus, in the conventional item acquisition game device, there is a problem that the procedure for performing various settings is complicated.

[0007] This invention was made to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art, and aims to simplify the procedure for performing various settings in an item acquisition game device.

[0008] (1) An item acquisition game device in which an item stored inside an item storage section can be acquired, comprising: control means for controlling a first mode in which a player can acquire the item and a second mode in which the settings for the first mode can be adjusted; and detection means for detecting the state of a door that opens and closes the item storage section, wherein the control means performs control to switch from the second mode to the first mode when the detection means detects that the door is closed while the second mode is being controlled.

[0009] In configuration (1), the item acquisition game device, which allows the player to acquire items stored inside the item storage section, comprises a control means and a detection means. The control means controls a first mode in which the player can acquire items, and a second mode in which the settings related to the first mode can be adjusted. The detection means detects the state of the door that opens and closes the item storage section. Then, while controlling the second mode, if the detection means detects that the door is closed, the control means performs control to switch from the second mode to the first mode.

[0010] According to the configuration of (1), in the second mode, in which the settings for the first mode in which the player can acquire items can be adjusted, it is possible to switch from the second mode to the first mode when the closed state of the door is detected.

[0011] This allows, for example, an administrator managing an item acquisition game device (e.g., an employee of a store where the item acquisition game device is installed) to switch from a second mode (e.g., maintenance mode) where various settings for the game in which players acquire items are completed, to a first mode (e.g., game mode) where players can acquire items, simply by closing the door of the item storage compartment. Therefore, the procedure for performing various settings on the item acquisition game device can be simplified.

[0012] (2) The item acquisition game device according to (1), wherein an operation that triggers a transition to the second mode is possible, and the control means further comprises a switching means that transmits operation information indicating that the operation has been performed, the detection means transmits closed information to the control means when it detects that the door is closed, the control means maintains the first mode even if it has not received the closed information in the first mode, unless it has received the operation information, and when it has received the operation information, it performs control to transition from the first mode to the second mode.

[0013] In configuration (2), the item acquisition game device further includes a switching means. The switching means can perform an operation that triggers a transition to the second mode and transmits operation information to the control means indicating that the operation has been performed. The detection means transmits closed information to the control means when it detects that the door is closed. The control means maintains the first mode even if it has not received closed information in the first mode, unless it receives operation information, and when it receives operation information, it performs control to transition from the first mode to the second mode.

[0014] In this scenario, the administrator may not want players to see the various settings in the second mode (e.g., maintenance mode) where the administrator configures various game settings for acquiring items. However, if opening the item storage compartment door automatically switches to the second mode, then if a player is nearby—for example, if a player requests that an item be rearranged—simply opening the item storage compartment door could immediately switch to the second mode, potentially exposing the player to these settings.

[0015] According to the configuration of (2), in the first mode (e.g., game mode), even if the control means does not receive closed information from the detection means indicating that the door is closed, it will maintain the first mode (e.g., game mode) unless it receives operation information (unless the switching means is operated), and when it receives operation information (when the switching means is operated), it will perform control to switch from the first mode to the second mode (e.g., maintenance mode). As a result, for example, if a player requests that an item be rearranged and the player is nearby, even if the door is opened, it will not switch to the second mode (e.g., maintenance mode) unless the switching means is operated, so that the various settings cannot be seen by the nearby player.

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to simplify the procedures for performing various settings in an item acquisition game device.

[0017] This is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of an item retrieval game device in one embodiment of the present invention. This is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of an item retrieval game device in one embodiment of the present invention. This is a diagram illustrating the operation of the key part switching means of an item retrieval game device in one embodiment of the present invention. This is a flowchart illustrating the mode switching process by the control means of an item retrieval game device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] The present invention will be described in more detail below using preferred embodiments. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The configuration of an item acquisition game device in one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of an item acquisition game device in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] The item acquisition game device 1 comprises a base 10 installed on the floor, an item storage section 20 placed on the base 10 and containing items (prizes, etc.), with walls and other surfaces made of a translucent material (for example, glass), a moving device 30 provided in the upper interior of the item storage section 20, a vertical moving device 40 attached to the moving device 30 and moving the item acquisition device 50 (described later) in the vertical direction, and an item acquisition device 50 capable of acquiring items.

[0020] The item acquisition game device 1, for example, based on the player's operation of an operating unit 11 such as a switch provided on the base 10, moves the vertical movement device 40 in the left-right and front-back directions using a moving device 30 provided in the upper part of the inside of the item storage unit 20, then moves the item acquisition device 50 downward using the vertical movement device 40, grasps an item (not shown) placed inside the item storage unit 20 with a pair of arms 51 of the item acquisition device 50, moves the item onto a drop-off opening 12 provided on the base 10, then opens the pair of arms 51 and drops the item into the drop-off opening 12, thereby discharging the item to the outside. In this way, the player can acquire an item placed in the item storage unit 20.

[0021] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 1, the item acquisition game device 1 includes a plurality of booths 5 (two in the example shown in Figure 1) arranged in a predetermined direction (left and right in the example shown in Figure 1). The item acquisition game device 1 has an item storage section 20 that is partitioned into booths 5, and each booth 5 is equipped with an operation section 11, a moving device 30, a vertical moving device 40, an item acquisition device 50, and a drop-off opening 12. With this configuration, one item acquisition game device 1 can accommodate as many players as there are booths 5 (two in the example shown in Figure 1), each playing the item acquisition game.

[0022] The base 10 is provided with a lock mechanism 13 near the item storage section 20, which allows the door 21 that opens and closes the item storage section 20 to be locked and unlocked. The base 10 is also provided with a detection means 70, which will be described in more detail later, for detecting the open / closed state of the door 21 and the locked / unlocked state of the lock mechanism 13. The item storage section 20 is also provided with a switching means 80 inside, which will be described in more detail later.

[0023] Door 21 can be locked and unlocked by an administrator (for example, an employee of a store where an item acquisition game device is installed), and can be unlocked and opened, for example, when replenishing items in the item storage section 20 or rearranging items.

[0024] Next, the functional configuration of the item acquisition game device 1 will be described. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the item acquisition game device in one embodiment of the present invention. The item acquisition game device 1 comprises an operation unit 11, a moving device 30, a vertical moving device 40, an item acquisition device 50, a control means 60, a detection means 70, and a switching means 80.

[0025] The operation unit 11 is located on the front side of the base 10 and includes switches and the like that receive player input in the item acquisition game. The operation unit 11 transmits various information (for example, information regarding the operation of the item acquisition device 50) in response to the player's input to the control means 60.

[0026] The moving device 30 moves the vertical moving device 40 and the item acquisition device 50 in a predetermined direction (for example, left-right direction or front-rear direction) under the control of the control means 60. The vertical moving device 40 moves the item acquisition device 50 in a predetermined direction (for example, up and down direction) under the control of the control means 60. The item acquisition device 50 opens and closes a pair of arm portions 51 under the control of the control means 60.

[0027] The control means 60 controls the operation of the item acquisition game device 1. Specifically, the control means 60 switches between a game mode in which the item acquisition game device 1 can be played and a maintenance mode, and controls the operation of the item acquisition game device 1 in each mode.

[0028] In this embodiment, "game mode" is a mode in which a player can play an item acquisition game, and is an example of a first mode. That is, the first mode is not limited to the so-called "game mode," but is a mode in which the item acquisition game device 1 is operated based on the player's actions.

[0029] Furthermore, "Maintenance Mode" is a mode in which the administrator of the item acquisition game device 1 (for example, an employee of the store where the item acquisition game device 1 is installed) can perform various settings on the item acquisition game device 1 (for example, settings to adjust the amount of movement of the movement device 30, the vertical movement device 40, and the item acquisition device 50, etc.), and is an example of the second mode. In other words, the second mode is not limited to the so-called "maintenance mode," but is a mode in which various settings can be performed on the item acquisition game device 1.

[0030] In game mode, the control means 60 controls the operation of the moving device 30, the vertical moving device 40, and the item acquisition device 50 based on various information transmitted from the operation unit 11 in response to the player's operations.

[0031] Furthermore, the control means 60 performs control to switch from game mode to maintenance mode, or from maintenance mode to game mode, based on information indicating the state of the door 21 (see Figure 1) of the item storage unit 20 transmitted from the detection means 70 (described later) and operation information transmitted from the switching means 80.

[0032] Furthermore, in maintenance mode, the control means 60 performs various settings on the item acquisition game device 1 (for example, settings to adjust the amount of movement of the moving device 30, the vertical moving device 40, and the item acquisition device 50, etc.) based on direct operation from an administrator (operation on the item acquisition game device 1) or indirect operation (operation via a server to which the item acquisition game device 1 is connected via a network), and stores these settings in the storage means.

[0033] The detection means 70 detects the state of the door 21. In this embodiment, the state of the door 21 detected by the detection means 70 includes the open / closed state of the door 21 itself, the locked state of the door 21 (closed state), and the unlocked state (state in which the door 21 can be opened).

[0034] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the operation of the key mechanism of an item acquisition game device in one embodiment of the present invention. The key mechanism 13 comprises a cylinder 131 and a movable part 132. The cylinder 131 rotates when a key managed by an administrator (for example, an employee of a store where the item acquisition game device is installed) is inserted, causing the shaft extending in the front and back directions to rotate. The movable part 132 moves vertically in accordance with the rotation of the shaft of the cylinder 131, and has an engaging piece 132a that engages with the door 21 when it moves upward.

[0035] The door 21 has an engagement hole 21a formed on its side edge, through which the engagement piece 132a can be inserted. The engagement hole 21a is positioned directly above the engagement piece 132a when the door 21 is in the closed position.

[0036] When the engaging piece 132a is inserted into the engaging hole 21a, the door 21 becomes unable to open and enters a closed state (see Figure 3). On the other hand, when the engaging piece 132a is removed from the engaging hole 21a, the door 21 becomes able to open (see Figure 4).

[0037] Returning to Figure 2, the detection means 70 transmits closed information to the control means 60 when it detects that the door 21 is in a closed state. The detection means 70 may also transmit open information to the control means 60 when it detects that the door 21 is in an open state or in a state where the door can be opened.

[0038] Specifically, the detection means 70 is composed of a microswitch capable of contact detection or a reflective sensor capable of non-contact detection. For example, when the door 21 is closed, it detects a predetermined portion of the door 21 at predetermined intervals and transmits closed information to the control means 60 at predetermined intervals. The detection means 70 may also transmit open information to the control means 60 if the door 21 actually opens (the predetermined portion moves) and the predetermined portion can no longer be detected.

[0039] Furthermore, the detection means 70 is composed of a sensor that detects the position of the engaging piece 132a (see Figures 3 and 4), and for example, it can detect the engaging piece 132a at its uppermost position (the position in which the engaging piece 132a is inserted into the engaging hole 21a of the door 21 (see Figures 3 and 4)), and when this state (the locking state of the locking part 13) is detected, it may transmit closed information to the control means 60. Also, when the detection means 70 detects that the locking part 13 is unlocked, it may transmit open information to the control means 60.

[0040] Furthermore, if the detection means 70 transmits only closed information to the control means 60, the control means 60 may determine that the door 21 is in an open state when the closed information is interrupted.

[0041] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a switching mechanism for an item acquisition game device in one embodiment of the present invention. The switching mechanism 80 is located inside the item storage section 20 (in a position where it cannot be operated unless the door 21 (see Figure 1) is open). It is preferable that the switching mechanism 80 be located near the opening 21b formed when the door 21 is opened. This allows the administrator to open the door 21 and smoothly operate the switching mechanism 80 when performing maintenance work in maintenance mode, thereby switching the item acquisition game device 1 from game mode to maintenance mode.

[0042] The switching means 80 includes, for example, an operation unit 81 (e.g., a switch) that can be operated by an administrator to trigger a transition to maintenance mode, and transmits operation information to the control means 60 indicating that an operation has been performed on the operation unit 81.

[0043] Returning to FIG. 2, the control means 60 performs the following control according to the various information received from the detection means 70 and the switching means 80. In the game mode, the control means 60 maintains the game mode as long as it does not receive operation information from the switching means 80, even when it receives open information from the detection means 70 or when the closed information from the detection means 70 is interrupted. Then, in the game mode, when the control means 60 receives open information from the detection means 70 or when the closed information from the detection means 70 is interrupted and then receives operation information, it controls to shift from the game mode to the maintenance mode and executes the control for the maintenance mode.

[0044] Also, during the control for executing the maintenance mode, when the control means 60 receives closed information from the detection means 70, it controls to shift from the maintenance mode to the game mode and executes the control for the game mode.

[0045] Next, the mode switching process by the control means 60 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the mode switching process by the control means of the article acquisition game device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] In step S1, the control means 60 controls to execute the game mode. Specifically, in the game mode, the control means 60 controls the operations of the moving device 30, the vertical moving device 40, and the article acquisition device 50 based on various information transmitted from the operation unit 11 according to the player's operations.

[0047] In step S2, the control means 60 determines whether it has received open information transmitted from the detection means 70 or whether the closed information transmitted from the detection means ۷0 has been interrupted. If the control means 60 determines that it has received open information or that the closed information has been interrupted, it transfers the process to step S3. If it determines that it has not received open information or that the closed information has not been interrupted, it returns the process to step S1.

[0048] In step S3, the control means 60 determines whether it has received the operation information transmitted from the switching means 80. When the control means 60 determines that it has received the operation information, the process proceeds to step S4. When the control means 60 determines that it has not received the operation information, the process returns to step S1.

[0049] In step S4, the control means 60 performs control to shift the state of the article acquisition game device 1 from the game mode to the maintenance mode.

[0050] In step S5, the control means 60 performs control to execute the maintenance mode. Specifically, the control means 60 performs various settings of the article acquisition game device 1 (for example, settings for adjusting the operation amounts of the moving device 30, the vertical moving device 40, and the article acquisition device 50, etc.) based on, for example, a direct operation from the administrator (operation on the article acquisition game device 1) or an indirect operation (operation via a server or the like to which the article acquisition game device 1 is connected via a network), and stores this setting in the storage means.

[0051] In step S6, the control means 60 determines whether it has received the closing information transmitted from the detection means 70. When the control means 60 determines that it has received the closing information, the process proceeds to step S7. When the control means 60 determines that it has not received the closing information, the process returns to step S5.

[0052] In step S7, the control means 60 performs control to shift the state of the article acquisition game device 1 from the maintenance mode to the game mode, returns the process to step S1, and in step S5, performs control to execute the game mode with the setting stored in the storage means.

[0053] According to the article acquisition game device 1 of the present embodiment described above, when the closed state of the door 21 is detected in the maintenance mode in which the settings related to the game mode in which the player can acquire articles can be adjusted, it is possible to shift from the maintenance mode to the game mode.

[0054] As a result, for example, an administrator managing the item acquisition game device 1 (for example, an employee of a store where the item acquisition game device is installed) can switch from the maintenance mode, where various settings for the game in which players acquire items are completed, to the game mode in which players can acquire items simply by closing the door 21 of the item storage unit 20. Therefore, the procedure for performing various settings in the item acquisition game device can be simplified.

[0055] Furthermore, according to the item acquisition game device 1, in game mode, even if the control means 60 does not receive closed information from the detection means 70 indicating that the door 21 is closed, it maintains the game mode unless it receives operation information (unless the switching means 80 is operated). When it receives operation information (when the switching means 80 is operated), it controls the device to switch from game mode to maintenance mode. As a result, for example, if a player requests that an item be rearranged and the player is nearby, even if the door 21 is opened, the device will not switch to maintenance mode unless the switching means 80 is operated, so that nearby players cannot see the various settings.

[0056] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. Furthermore, it is clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0057] 1 Item acquisition game device 5 Booth 10 Base 11 Operation unit 12 Drop-off opening 13 Key unit 20 Item storage unit 21 Door 21a Engagement hole 21b Opening 30 Moving device 40 Vertical movement device 50 Item acquisition device 51 Arm unit 60 Control means 70 Detection means 80 Switching means 81 Operation unit 131 Cylinder unit 132 Moving unit 132a Engagement piece

Claims

1. An item acquisition game device in which an item stored inside an item storage compartment can be acquired, comprising: control means for controlling a first mode in which a player can acquire the item and a second mode in which the settings for the first mode can be adjusted; and detection means for detecting the state of a door that opens and closes the item storage compartment, wherein the control means performs control to switch from the second mode to the first mode when the detection means detects that the door is closed while the second mode is being controlled.

2. The item acquisition game device according to claim 1, wherein an operation that triggers a transition to the second mode is possible, and the control means further comprises a switching means that transmits operation information indicating that the operation has been performed, the detection means transmits closed information to the control means when it detects that the door is closed, the control means maintains the first mode even if it has not received the closed information in the first mode, unless it receives the operation information, and performs control to transition from the first mode to the second mode when it receives the operation information.

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