Game server, game control method, and game machine

Abstract

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

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game server comprising: 
 a plurality of game machines which are brought into a status enabling to start a game based on a throw-in coin number or given credit number, and which are subjected to payout according to a result of said game, wherein said game server collectively controlling a plurality of the game machines;    first sending means for sending a control signal for reliably executing a return at a predetermined return rate to one of the game machines that a player is performing the game, when a cumulative coin or credit consumption reaches a predetermined upper limit by the player based on information about coin or credit consumption in the one of the game machines that the player is performing the game; and    second sending means for sending a display control signal for displaying a timing lottery result to the game machine that the player is performing the game when a return is discharged based on a result of a timing lottery for determining the timing of said return.    
     
     
         2 . The game server according to  claim 1  wherein said display control signal is to direct said game machine to perform a display only for notifying that said timing lottery was performed.  
     
     
         3 . A method for collectively controlling a plurality of game machines, comprising the steps of; 
 bringing each of the game machines into a status enabling to start a game based on a throw-in coin number or given credit number;    subjecting each of the game machines to payout according to a result of said game;    detecting whether cumulative coin or credit consumption of a player reaches a predetermined upper limit based on information about coin or credit consumption of one of game machines that a player is performing a game;    reliably executing a return at a predetermined return rate to said one of the game machines that said player is performing the game when a result of said detecting step is that said cumulative coin or credit consumption of said player reaches said predetermined upper limit;    timing lottery for determining a timing at which a return is executed; and    displaying a result of said lottery step on said game machine that said player performs the game.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein in said display step, said game machine is subjected to display control only for notifying that said timing lottery was performed, as the result of said timing lottery.  
     
     
         5 . A game system, comprising: 
 a plurality of game machines, each of which being brought into a status enabling to start a game based on a throw-in coin number or given credit number and, each of which being subjected to payout according to a result of said game; and    a game server for collectively controlling a plurality of said game machines;    each of said game machine including;    return means for reliably executing a return at a predetermined return rate and at a predetermined timing to a player in accordance with a control signal from said game server, when said cumulative consumption reaches said predetermined upper limit based on information about coin or credit consumption in the game machine that the player is performing the game; and    display means for displaying said timing lottery result based on a display control signal from said game server when said return means executes a return based on the result of a timing lottery for determining the timing of said return.    
     
     
         6 . The game system according to  claim 5  wherein said timing lottery result is displayed only for notifying that said timing lottery was performed.