JP2000233075A - Game equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To propose a promising fee collection method for zero-sum games such as poker. The game device includes a plurality of operation units each operated by a player, wherein a guarantee amount corresponding to an operation of the operation unit during a predetermined period is reduced from a hand-held amount allocated to each player, A security deposit setting means 301 for collecting the guarantee amount as the collection amount, a participation fee collection means 302 for reducing a fixed participation fee from the amount of money of each player and accumulating the participation fee to the collection amount, and a collection amount And a fee collection means 303 for calculating a fee at a predetermined rate for the fee, and subtracting the fee from the collected amount to obtain a reserve amount. It is possible to provide a method of collecting commissioner fees that is effective in a zero-sum game such as poker.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game apparatus which enables poker to be played in a casino-like style.
In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a method of collecting a deposit and a method of handling a player in poker or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a type of arcade game device installed in an amusement center, there is a game such as a playing card game or a horse racing game in which a plurality of players participate in the same game and play by setting a stake.

Conventionally, in this type of game device, the profit on the center side is secured by limiting the number of medals to be distributed when the player participates in the game or adjusting the probability of the player winning. Was common.

[0004]

An actual card game or mahjong that does not play against a dealer is called a zero sum game. Depending on the outcome of the game, the reserve collected from the participants of the game will belong to one of the participants, and will be divided into winners and losers, but the total reserves will change only if the attribution of the reserves changes Not a game.

[0005] There has been no game that implements such a zero-sum game on a game device. When a zero-sum game is played on a game device, there is a need for a method of naturally collecting a commission on the center side according to the reserve amount.

Further, in the poker game, each time a card is dealt, it is necessary to determine whether to continue (CALL) or abandon (DOWN) the game of that time (deal) by operating an operation button. When a player who has participated in the game abandons the game, the player does not always leave the seat after performing an operation necessary for the progress of the game. If any player forgets to perform the operations necessary for the progress of the game and leaves the seat, waiting for the operation of this player will cause the other players to be unnecessarily waited for and annoying Could be.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above disadvantages. A first object of the present invention is to provide a game device capable of implementing a reasonable fee collection method in a zero sum game such as a poker game. A second object of the present invention is to provide a game in which a plurality of players participate in a game in which even if one player abandons the game, the game processing can be continued efficiently so that the player of the game does not bother. It is to provide a device.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a game apparatus comprising:
In a game device configured to allow a plurality of players to participate, when playing a game, a fee is calculated at a predetermined rate for a collection amount collected from each player, and the fee is reduced from the collection fee. A game device characterized in that the balance can be used as a reserve for the game.

[0009] In the present invention, the "hand amount" means a credit that each player owns as a property for continuing the game. The “deposit” refers to a deposit brought out by a player for each game, and includes a game participation fee and a game continuation fee. "Game participation fee" is the amount that must be paid as long as the game is continued,
It forms part of the deposit. "Game continuation fee"
Means the amount that must be paid for each deal unless the game is abandoned. The “collected amount” refers to the total amount of the deposit collected from the player. “Reserved amount” refers to the remaining amount obtained by subtracting the commission from the collected amount. These amounts are
In addition to the amount itself, a relative value indicating the number of points in the game may be used.

[0010] As an example, the above-mentioned game apparatus includes a plurality of operating units operated by each of the players, and a guaranteed amount including a game participation fee and a game continuation fee corresponding to the operation of the operating units during a predetermined period. Deposit from the on-hand amount allocated to the said amount, a security deposit collecting means that collects the guarantee amount as a collected amount, and calculate a fee of a predetermined ratio for the collected amount, reduce the fee from the collected amount and reserve the amount Fee collection means.

[0011] The game device of the present invention may further include an image display means for performing a display corresponding to the fee when the fee collecting means collects the fee.

In the game device of the present invention, in a game device in which a plurality of players can participate, a period for inquiring each player about a mode of participation in the game is set, and the player is set within the period. When the participation mode is not specified, it is configured that the player can perform processing as if the predetermined participation mode was selected.

As an example, the game apparatus includes: 1) a plurality of operation units operated by each of the players; 2) a time measurement for setting a period for inquiring each of the players whether to continue or abandon the game. And 3) a continuation / abandonment determination unit that stores, in the storage unit, a flag indicating that the player corresponding to the operation unit has abandoned the game when the operation unit corresponding to the operation unit has not been operated during the inquiry period. Have.

[0014] In the game device of the present invention, when a flag indicating that the game has been abandoned is stored in the storage means, a game instructing an operation to the game in place of the player corresponding to the flag is provided. A proxy means may be provided.

According to the present invention, in a game processing method in which a plurality of players participate in a game, when a game is performed, a fee is calculated at a predetermined rate with respect to the amount collected from each player, A game processing method characterized in that a processing is performed so that a balance obtained by reducing the commission from a collection fee is used as a reserve for the game.

In the game processing method according to the present invention, in a game processing method in which a plurality of players participate, a period in which each player is inquired about a mode of participation in a game is set, and a game is performed within the period. A game processing method characterized in that when a player's participation mode is not specified, the processing is performed as if the player selected a predetermined participation mode.

The present invention is a recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the game processing method of the present invention is recorded. The recording medium in the present invention is a medium on which information (mainly digital data and programs) is recorded by some physical means, and which causes a processing device such as a computer or a dedicated processor to perform a predetermined function. Can be done. In short, any method may be used as long as the program is downloaded to the computer by some means and a predetermined function is executed. For example, a flexible disk, fixed disk, magnetic tape, magneto-optical disk, CD, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-R
AM, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, PD, MD, DC
C, ROM cartridge, RAM memory cartridge with battery backup, flash memory cartridge, nonvolatile RAM cartridge, and the like.

It is assumed that data is transferred from a host computer via a wired or wireless communication line (public line, data line, satellite line, etc.). The so-called Internet is also included in the recording medium mentioned here.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment,
The present invention is applied to a poker game.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main body and a front view of a display unit for explaining a configuration of a game device according to the embodiment.

The present game device comprises a main body 1 and a display section 2, as shown in FIG. In the main body 1, operation units 111 to 115 are arranged so as to surround the image display unit 105 which is a large screen. A chair or the like is provided in front of each operation unit, and a player can operate the operation unit to participate in the game.

Each of the operation units 111 to 115 is provided with a deposit setting button 1111, a bonus button 1112, a CALL button 1113, a DOWN button 1114, and the like. The deposit setting button 1111 is an operation button for applying for a deposit in units of 10 points during the deposit setting period. The bonus button 1112 is an operation button to be pressed during a deposit setting period when it is desired to receive a bonus when a certain combination is played in poker. The CALL button 1113 is an operation button that is pressed every time a card is dealt when the player performs an intention display to continue the game (deal). DOWN
The button 1114 is an operation button to be pressed when the player gives an intention to abandon (get down) the game after the cards are dealt.

The image display unit 105 is an image display surface on which game play contents are displayed as a two-dimensional image. FIG.
FIG. 11 shows an example of image display before the start of the game in the present embodiment. During the game, the image display unit 105 displays a guarantee amount display area 401 to 405, a reserve display area 406, a commission display area 407, a ranking display area 408, a bonus point display area 409, and a point explanation display area 410. . The guarantee amount display areas 401 to 405 are
, A game participation fee display 4011, a first deal game continuation fee display 4012, a second deal game continuation fee display 40
13 and third deal game continuation fee display 4014
It is composed of The amount that may be paid in the course of the game progresses as a fictitious medal in each area 4011 to 40.
14 is divided into mountains. According to this display method, the payment amount is clear,
This makes it possible for the player to accurately understand the usage status and usage of the money.

The display unit 2 is a part on which an image of a dealer that moves as if dealing a card to a player is displayed according to the game content displayed on the image display unit 105. The image display unit 205 is a large screen that displays an image of the dealer, and the speakers 204L and 204R generate sounds of the dealer and other sounds related to the game.

FIG. 2 shows a hardware block diagram of the game device according to the present embodiment. The main body 1 has a configuration as a computer device, and includes an arithmetic unit 101, an I / O unit 10
2, a storage unit 103, an image signal generation unit 104, an image display unit 105, a program storage unit 106, an I / O unit 110, and operation units 111 to 115.

The arithmetic unit 101 is composed of a CPU and its auxiliary processor, etc.
Are sequentially read, and processing corresponding to the machine language instructions and operands can be executed.

The I / O unit 102 is a serial port through which the arithmetic unit 101 transmits a command for specifying an image to be reproduced on the display unit 2 in accordance with the contents of the game processing.

The storage unit 103 is a RAM, a fixed disk, or the like, and stores a flag and other variables as a work area of the arithmetic unit 101, and also serves as a temporary load area for programs.

The image signal generation unit 104 includes a video processor, an image memory, and the like, generates an image signal according to the command supplied from the arithmetic unit 101, and can display the image signal on the image display unit 105.

The program storage unit 106 is a ROM or a fixed disk, and stores a program for causing a computer to execute the game processing method of the present invention, image data, and the like. It should be noted that a storage medium reading device (not shown) may be provided so that the program is stored in the program storage unit 106 from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

The I / O unit 110 includes operation units 111 to 11
5 and is stored in a buffer so that the operation unit 101 can read the operation signal.

The display unit 2 is a storage medium such as a DVD or a CD.
-V, LD, etc., as a video signal reproducing device, including a reproduction control unit 201, a reproduction unit 202, and an image display unit 20.
3 and speakers 204 (L and R).

A video signal for displaying an image of the dealer is stored in the storage medium according to a predetermined method.

The reproduction control unit 201 receives a command from the main unit 1 and outputs an address of a storage medium corresponding to the command to the reproduction unit 202. However, when the arithmetic unit 101 can output an address (a chapter number or a track number) that can be input to the reproduction unit 202, the reproduction control unit is unnecessary.

The reproducing unit 202 has a function as a player of the storage medium, reproduces information (including digital data) from the storage medium, and displays the video signal on the image display unit 203.
, And an audio signal is supplied to the speaker 204.

As the image display unit 203, a general-purpose large projection TV device can be applied. In this case, the speaker 204 corresponds to an audio unit.

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the game apparatus according to the present embodiment divided into functional units. These functional blocks are functionally realized by a computer device having the above hardware configuration executing a program corresponding to the game processing method of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the present game apparatus has a deposit setting means 300, a game participation fee collecting means 301, a game continuation fee collecting means 302, a fee collecting means 303, an operating means 304, a card distribution means 305, a time measuring means. Means 30
6, continuation / abandonment determination means 307, storage means 308, game proxy means 309, win / loss determination means 310, and image display means 311. In this, the operating means 30
4 is realized by the reading functions of the operation units 111 to 115, the I / O unit 110, and the calculation unit 101. The storage unit 308 is realized by a read / write function of the storage unit 103 and the arithmetic unit 101. Image display means 311
Is realized by a drawing command of the image signal generation unit 104, the image display unit 105, and the calculation unit 101. The other function blocks are sequentially realized mainly by the arithmetic unit 101 executing the program. Game participation fee collecting means 301 and game continuation fee collecting means 30
2 corresponds to the security deposit collecting means of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a game processing method according to the present embodiment. As a premise of the processing, a player is seated in each of the operation seats 11 to 15 of the present game device, and a poker game is ready to be started by inserting coins and medals from a coin insertion slot (not shown). Shall be.

At the stage before the game starts (S1: NO),
As described with reference to FIG. 5, a graphic that is printed on a cloth in an actual game arcade is displayed.

When the prerequisites are met and the game is started (S1: YES), the deposit setting means 300 measures a fixed deposit setting period (S3: NO), during which an input from the operating means 304 is made. Is monitored (S2). If any one of the players presses the deposit setting button 1111, the deposit setting means 300 accumulates the deposit amount for 10 points by the number of times the deposit is made, and stores the deposit amount as the deposit amount desired by the player. To record. When the deposit setting period has ended (S3: YES), the deposit setting means 300 determines the minimum amount of the designated desired deposit amount as the deposit. In response to this, the image display means 311
As shown in FIG. 6, virtual coins C1 to C4 are displayed in the guarantee amount display area 40 in correspondence with the determined guarantee amount.
The image display unit 105 displays images as if piled up on 1 to 405.
(S4). Regarding the credit amount, which is the amount of each player's possession, each guarantee amount display area 401 to 40
5 may be displayed. This credit amount is
Every time a coin moves from the guarantee amount display area to the reserve display area 406, the coin is reduced and displayed.

The game participation fee collecting means 301 reduces the game participation fee from the guaranteed amount of each player (S5). In response to this, the image display means 311 displays the game participation fee display area 4 out of the guaranteed money display areas 401 to 405 of each player.
The virtual coin C1 of 011 is all moved to the reserve display area 406. However, the participation fee may be collected before setting the deposit.

When the above processing is completed, the poker game is substantially started. From the first deal to the third deal, a total of three games are played.

The game continuation fee collecting means 302 reduces the game continuation fee of the first deal from the guaranteed amount of each player (S6). In response, the image display means 311
The virtual coin C2 in the first deal / game continuation fee display area 4012 is moved to the reserve display area 406.

When the collection of the game continuation fee is completed, as shown in FIG. 7, the commission collecting means 303 displays the total amount of the reserve 411 accumulated in the reserve display area 406.
At the same time, the fee collecting means 303 calculates a predetermined ratio (for example, 10%) from the total reserve amount, and reduces the calculated amount as a fee from the collected amount (S7). In response, the image display means 311 displays this fee in the fee display area 407). Fees are rounded up or down. This reduction process is substantially equivalent to the center collecting the commission.

The card distribution means 305 determines two cards to be distributed to each player by random numbers, and virtually displays the cards (S8: 421 to 425). FIG. 8 shows a state in which cards are dealt (first deal) in the present embodiment. For each deal, each player is given the opportunity to choose whether to continue the game (CALL) or abandon and get down (DOWN).

In order to give this opportunity to the player for a certain time, the time measuring means 306 measures a certain selection period for each operation unit (S9). During this period, the player presses the CALL button 1113 or the DOWN button 1114 in each operation section (S10). When any operation button is pressed during the selection period (S11: YE
S), the continuation / abandoning determination means 307 registers the input content of whether the operation seat is continuation or abandonment in association with the operation content (S)
14).

FIG. 9 shows an example of an image display in a state where an inquiry about continuation / abandonment is made in the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, the CALL button 1
Since the button 113 has been pressed, a display 413 indicating that the player will continue the game is displayed, and an instruction display 412 indicating that the operation seat 12 is in the selection period is displayed, and CALL or DO is displayed.
Display 414 instructing selection of any one of WN
Have been. During the selection period, the coin display C2 in the first deal display area 4012 is moved forward and displayed. Of course, the coin display C2 may be kept displayed in the first deal display area without being moved forward. When CALL is selected, the coin display in the first deal display area 4012 is moved to the reserve display area 406, and when DOWN is selected,
The coin display C2 is again displayed in the first deal display area 40.
It is returned to 12.

If neither the CALL button nor the DOWN button is pressed (S11: NO) and the selection period ends (S12: YES), the continuation / abandoning determination means 307 determines that the player has pressed the DOWN button in the operation seat. And
The fact that the operation seat has been abandoned is registered in the storage means 308 (S13).

FIG. 10 shows an example of an image display in a state in which the player does not respond to the inquiry and abandonment display is performed in this embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the selection period has ended because the player has not been seated on the operation seat 12 or has abandoned halfway, and the selection period of the next operation seat 13 is now in progress. On the card display corresponding to the operation seat 12, a display 415 indicating that the game was abandoned at the seat is displayed.

The above processing (S6 to S1) is performed for each deal.
5) is repeated for all operation seats (S16: Y)
ES). When the first deal is completed (S16: Y
ES), the game continuation fee collecting means 302 collects the game continuation fee of the second deal (S6), and the coin display C3 of the game continuation fee display area 4013 is changed to the reserve display area 406.
It is moved to. The fee collecting means 303 collects a fee again (S7). The card distribution means 305 further distributes the card (S8). Also in the second deal, continuation or abandonment is determined by the time measurement unit 306 and the continuation / abandoning determination unit 307 in the same manner as in the first deal (S9 to S15). When the second deal ends (S16: YES), the process shifts to the third deal. In the third deal, the game continuation fee of the third deal is similarly collected, and the coin display C4 in the display area 4014 is performed.
Is moved to the reserve display area 406, and continuation / abandonment is determined (S6 to S15).

When the player instructs the abandonment of the game with the DOWN button in any of the operation seats in the middle of the game (S10 / S14), or when the continuation / abandoning decision means 307 registers the abandonment of the game due to the player's leaving. In (S13), the game acting means 309 acts on behalf of the operation seat. This is because in a poker game, the game cannot be continued unless a predetermined number of players are available. The game proxy means 309 displays the operation seat for the game on behalf of the operating seat, and participates in the game by random numbers. This form of participation means that the computer is acting on behalf of the computer.

The order in which the player selects continuation / abandoning may be fixed in a fixed order, but the player may turn from the operation seat having the highest hand (combination of cards) at that time. Good.

When the third deal is completed (S16:
NO), since there are no remaining deals, the winning / losing determination means 310 determines an order according to the share of each operator's seat based on the results so far, and displays the order in the order display area 408 numerically. The first control seat wins this game. The winning and losing determination means 310 is provided in the reserve display area 406.
Is moved to the guaranteed amount display area of the operation seat in which all the coins are displayed in the first position, and the amount in hand in the storage means 308 is also updated. In some cases, the operation seat substituted by the game substitute means 309 may be the first. If the remaining operating seats except for one player are abandoned, the processing may be performed so that the player is automatically set as the winner.

To play the game again (S1: YE
S) The next game is executed after a new player is greeted by the same player or in the abandoned operation seat.

According to the present embodiment, a fixed percentage of commission can be collected from the accumulated amount, so that even in a zero-sum game such as a poker game, game management can be performed without giving a player an unfair feeling. Commissioner fees can be collected for the elderly. The game device lends a gaming table for the player, and collects a commission corresponding to the collected amount for each game and deal.

According to the present embodiment, when the game is not operated within the selection period, the game is registered as abandoned, so that there is an operation seat where no player is present from the beginning or a player who has left during the game. , The game can be continued without stopping the progress of the game.

According to the present embodiment, coins can be displayed by dividing the amount to be paid for each stage, so that the player can clearly recognize the usage of coin collection and misunderstanding of the player occurs. Can be prevented.

According to this embodiment, even if there is an operating seat where the game is abandoned, the operation is performed by the computer, so that even a game such as a poker game that requires a certain number of participants can be executed. It is.

According to the present embodiment, during the selection period of continuation or abandonment, a clear instruction display indicating that is displayed, so that the player can operate naturally without being confused.

According to the present embodiment, the bonus can be distributed by the role separately from the main game, so that the game content can be more interesting than the actual poker game.

(Application of the Present Invention) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be applied with various design changes. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a poker game has been illustrated, but it is of course possible to apply the present invention to a game played by another person. For example, the present invention is applicable to other card games and mahjong games.

[0062]

According to the present invention, since a fixed percentage of the fee is collected from the money collected from the player, a reasonable method of collecting a fee in a zero-sum game such as a poker game can be provided.

According to the present invention, when one player abandons in the middle of a game in which a plurality of players participate, a specific treatment such as abandonment is performed after a certain period of time. It is possible to efficiently execute the game without disturbing the player.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main body and a front view of a display unit illustrating a configuration of a game device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the game device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram in which the game device according to the embodiment is divided into functional units.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a game processing method according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an image display example before a game is started in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an image display example in a state where a guarantee amount is distributed in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an image display example in a state where a game participation fee and a game continuation fee are collected and a commission is collected in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an image display example in a state where cards are dealt (first deal) in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an image display example in a state where an inquiry about continuation / abandoning is performed in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an example of an image display in a state in which a player does not respond to an inquiry and abandon display is performed in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main unit 2 Display unit 111 to 115 Operation unit 300 Security deposit setting means 301 Game participation fee collecting means 302 Game continuation fee collecting means 303 Commission collecting means 304 Operating means 305 Card distribution means 306 Time measuring means 307 Continuation / abandoning decision means 308 Storage means 309 Game acting means 310 Win / loss determination means 311 Image display means

Claims (9)

[Claims] When a game is played on a game device configured to allow a plurality of players to participate, a fee is calculated at a predetermined rate for the amount collected from each player, and the fee is calculated. A game device characterized in that the balance deducted from the collection fee can be used as a reserve for the game. 2. A plurality of operating units operated by each of the players, and a guaranteed amount including a game participation fee and a game continuation fee is assigned to each of the players in accordance with the operation of the operating units during a predetermined period. A security deposit collecting means for reducing the amount on hand and collecting the guarantee amount, calculating a fee of a predetermined ratio for the amount collected from the participants, reducing the fee from the amount collected, and reserving the reserve The game device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fee collecting means for setting a sum. 3. The game apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an image display unit that displays a display corresponding to the fee when the fee collection unit collects the fee. 4. In a game device configured to allow a plurality of players to participate, a period for inquiring of each player about a mode of participation in a game is set, and designation of a mode of participation of the players within the period is set. If the player has not performed the game, the game is processed as if the player selected a predetermined form of participation. 5. A plurality of operation units operated by each of the players; a time measuring unit for setting a period for inquiring each of the players whether to continue or abandon the game; 5. The game according to claim 4, further comprising: a continuation / abandon determination unit that stores, in the storage unit, a flag indicating that the player corresponding to the operation unit has abandoned the game when the operation unit that performs the operation is not operated. apparatus. 6. A game proxy means for instructing an operation on the game in place of a player corresponding to the flag when the flag indicating that the game is abandoned is stored in the storage means. The game device according to claim 5. 7. In a game processing method in which a plurality of players participate in a game, when playing a game, a fee is calculated at a predetermined rate for a collection amount collected from each player, and the fee is calculated. A game processing method of processing the game so as to use a remaining amount reduced from the collection fee as a reserve for the game. 8. A game processing method in which a plurality of players participate in a game processing method, wherein a period for inquiring each player about a mode of participation in a game is set, and within the period, the period of inquiry of the mode of participation of the players is set. A game processing method, wherein, if no designation is made, the game is processed as if the player selected a predetermined form of participation. 9. A recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the game processing method according to claim 7 or 8 is recorded.