Game server, game machine under control of the server, and game control method

Abstract

In a game center installing a plurality of game machine groups (G 01 , G 02 , . . . , and G 10 ) as a collection of game machines ( 2 ), a game server ( 1 ) collectively controls the cumulative credit consumption of the individual game machine groups (G 01 , G 02 , . . . , and G 10 ). With the configuration, when the cumulative credit consumption of a certain game machine group reaches a predetermined upper limit, a return is executed to a certain game machine ( 2 ) of this game machine group. Therefore, it is possible to provide such circumstances that the player can perform a game without anxiety, while enjoying amusement of the game. At the result, the problem of missing customers is solvable.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game server for collectively controlling a plurality of game machine groups installed in a game center, each of said plurality of game machine groups including a collection of game machines, each of which is brought into a status enabling to start a game based on a thrown coin or given credit number and is given payout according to a result of said game, said game server including: 
 a judge means for judging whether cumulative credit consumption of a predetermined game machine group reaches a predetermined upper limit, based on information about credit consumptions of said plural game machine groups; and    a first sending means for sending, when said judge means judges that said cumulative credit consumption of said predetermined game machine group reaches the predetermined upper limit, a return signal for executing a return based on a predetermined return rate, to one game machine of said predetermined game machine group.    
     
     
         2 . The game server according to  claim 1  further including: 
 a lottery means for determining by lottery a game machine to which said return is executed.  
 
     
     
         3 . The game server according to  claim 1  further including: 
 a second sending means for sending a notification signal to notify the one game machine of said predetermined game machine group that said return will be executed or that said return was executed.  
 
     
     
         4 . The game server according to  claim 2  further including: 
 a second sending means for sending a notification signal to notify the one game machine of said predetermined game machine group that said return will be executed or that said return was executed.  
 
     
     
         5 . A game machine that is controlled by said game server and that is brought into a status enabling to start a game based on a thrown coin or given credit number and is given payout according to a result of said game, said game machine including: 
 a first receiving means for receiving a return signal sent from said first sending means of said game server.    
     
     
         6 . The game machine according to  claim 5  further including: 
 a return means for executing a return based on a result of a lottery performed by said lottery means of said game server.  
 
     
     
         7 . The game machine according to  claim 5  further including: 
 a second receiving means for receiving a notification signal sent from said second sending means of said game server.  
 
     
     
         8 . The game machine according to  claim 6  further including: 
 a second receiving means for receiving a notification signal sent from said second sending means of said game server.  
 
     
     
         9 . A method for collectively controlling a plurality of game machine groups installed in a game center, each of said plurality of game machine groups including a collection of game machines each of which is brought into a status enabling to start a game based on a thrown coin or given credit number and is given payout according to a result of said game, said method including: 
 a judge step for judging whether cumulative credit consumption of a predetermined game machine group reaches a predetermined upper limit, based on information about credit consumptions of said plural game machine groups; and    a first sending step for sending, when a result of said judge step is that said cumulative credit consumption of said predetermined game machine group reaches a predetermined upper limit, a return signal for executing a return based on a predetermined return rate, to one game machine of said predetermined game machine group.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  further including: 
 a lottery step for determining by lottery a game machine to which said return is executed.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  further including: 
 a second sending step for sending a notification signal to notify the determined game machine of said predetermined game machine group that said return will be executed or that said return was executed.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  further including: 
 a second sending step for sending a notification signal to notify the determined game machine of said predetermined game machine group that said return will be executed or that said return was executed.