Game server, game machine, and game control method

Abstract

In a collective control of plural game machines placed in the same parlor, it is detected whether there is a player change with each game machine and, based on the detection result, the cumulative credit consumption with each game machine is controlled per player. When the cumulative credit consumption of a certain player reaches a predetermined upper limit, return is executed to this player. The upper limit value is changed properly. Therefore, the player can perform a game without anxiety while enjoying amusement of the game. As the result, it may be avoided losing customers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game server for collectively controlling plural game machines, each of which is brought into a status enabling to start a game based on throwing of coins or a given credit number and executes payout based on a result of the game, said game server comprising: 
 means for determining a cumulative credit consumption based on information of a credit consumption in a first game machine with which a first player is performing a game and, when said cumulative credit consumption reaches a predetermined upper limit as a result of the determination, causing said game machine to execute a payout return based on a predetermined return rate or to execute a return lottery to determine whether the payout return should be executed so as to execute the payout return based on the predetermined return rate according to a lottery result; and    means for sending said game machine a signal for causing a change in said predetermined upper limit.    
     
     
         2 . The game server according to  claim 1   wherein said payout return is executed without fail to said first game machine where said predetermined upper limit is reached, based on a result of a timing determination lottery for determining a timing of said payout return.    
     
     
         3 . The game server according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 means for causing said first game machine to execute said payout return when said first player performing the game with said first game machine has continued the game till said predetermined upper limit is reached with said first game machine.  
 
     
     
         4 . The game server according to  claim 1  comprising: 
 means for sending, when said first player performing the game with said first game machine is changed to a second player, a signal for resetting the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said first game machine to said first game machine.  
 
     
     
         5 . The game server according to  claim 1   wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed after said first game machine is brought into an advantageous state to said first player.    
     
     
         6 . The game server according to  claim 1   wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed after said predetermined upper limit is reached with said first game machine.    
     
     
         7 . The game server according to  claim 1   wherein, if a predetermined upper limit is reached with one of said plural game machines, said change in said predetermined upper limit with the first game machine is executed after said payout return is executed to said one of said plural game machines.    
     
     
         8 . The game server according to  claim 1   wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed based on a result of a lottery.    
     
     
         9 . The game server according to  claim 2  comprising: 
 means for causing said first game machine to execute said payout return when said first player performing the game with said first game machine has continued the game till said predetermined upper limit is reached with said first game machine.  
 
     
     
         10 . The game server according to  claim 2  comprising: 
 means for sending, when said first player performing the game with said first game machine is changed to a second player, a signal for resetting the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said first game machine to said first game machine.  
 
     
     
         11 . The game server according to  claim 3  comprising: 
 means for sending, when said first player performing the game with said first game machine is changed to a second player, a signal for resetting the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said first game machine to said first game machine.  
 
     
     
         12 . A game machine which is brought into a status enabling to start a game based on throwing of coins or a given credit number under collective control of a game server together with other game machines being put in a single parlor, the game machine to which payout is executed based on a result of said game comprising: 
 means for determining a cumulative credit consumption based on information about a credit consumption in said game machine with which a first player is performing a game and, as a result of the determination, when said cumulative credit consumption reaches a predetermined upper limit, executing a payout return based on a predetermined return rate or based on the predetermined return rate and a result of a return lottery executed by said game server in order to determine whether return should be executed; and    means for causing a change in said predetermined upper limit.    
     
     
         13 . The game machine according to  claim 12   wherein said payout return is executed without fail when said predetermined upper limit is reached, based on a result of a timing determination lottery executed by said game server in order to determine a timing of said return.    
     
     
         14 . The game machine according to  claim 12  comprising: 
 means for executing said payout return, when said first player performing the game on said game machine has continued the game till said predetermined upper limit is reached with said game machine.  
 
     
     
         15 . The game machine according to  claim 12  comprising: 
 means for resetting, when it is detected that said first player performing the game with said game machine is changed to a second player, the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said game machine.  
 
     
     
         16 . The game machine according to  claim 12   wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed after said game machine is brought into an advantageous state to said first player.    
     
     
         17 . The game machine according to  claim 12   wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed after said predetermined upper limit is reached with said game machine.    
     
     
         18 . The game machine according to  claim 12   wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed, if the upper limit is reached with said game machine, after said payout return is executed to said game machine.    
     
     
         19 . The game machine according to  claim 12   wherein said change in said predetermined upper limit is executed based on a result of a lottery.    
     
     
         20 . The game machine according to  claim 13  comprising: 
 means for executing said payout return when said first player performing the game with said game machine has continued the game till said predetermined upper limit is reached with said game machine.  
 
     
     
         21 . The game machine according to  claim 13  comprising: 
 means for resetting, when it is detected that said first player performing the game with said game machine is changed to a second player, said cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said game machine.  
 
     
     
         22 . The game machine according to  claim 20  comprising: 
 means for resetting, when it is detected that said first player performing the game with said game machine is changed to a second player, said cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said game machine.  
 
     
     
         23 . A game control method of collectively controlling plural game machines, each of which is brought into a status enabling to start a game based on throwing of coins or a given credit number and executes payout based on a result of said game, said game control method comprising: 
 determining a cumulative credit consumption based on information about a credit consumption in a first game machine with which a first player is performing the game;    executing a payout return based on a predetermined return rate or based on the predetermined return rate and a result of a lottery for determining whether the payout return should be executed when said cumulative credit consumption reaches a predetermined upper limit; and    instructing said first game machine to cause a change in said predetermined upper limit.    
     
     
         24 . The game control method according to  claim 23   wherein said payout return is executed without fail to said first game machine where said predetermined upper limit is reached, based on a result of a timing determination lottery for determining a timing of said payout return.    
     
     
         25 . The game control method according to  claim 23   wherein said payout return is executed, when said first player performing the game with said first game machine has continued the game till said predetermined upper limit is reached with said first game machine.    
     
     
         26 . The game control method according to  claim 23  comprising: 
 resetting the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said first game machine when said first player performing the game with said first game machine is changed to a second player.  
 
     
     
         27 . The game control method according to  claim 23   wherein instructing said first game machine to cause said change is made after one of said plural game machines under collective control is brought into an advantageous state to said first player.    
     
     
         28 . The game control method according to  claim 23   wherein instructing said first game machine to cause said change in said predetermined upper limit is made after said upper limit is reached with said first game machine if said upper limit is reached with said first game machine.    
     
     
         29 . The game control method according to  claim 23   wherein instructing said first game machine to cause said change in said predetermined upper limit is made after said payout return is executed with said first game machine if said payout return is executed.    
     
     
         30 . The game control method according to  claim 23   wherein instructing said first game machine to cause said change in said predetermined upper limit is made based on a result of a lottery for determining contents of said change.    
     
     
         31 . The game control method according to  claim 24   wherein said payout return is executed, when said first player performing the game with said first game machine has continued the game till said predetermined upper limit is reached with said first game machine.    
     
     
         32 . The game control method according to  claim 24  comprising: 
 resetting the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said first game machine when said first player performing the game with said first game machine is changed to a second player.  
 
     
     
         33 . The game control method according to  claim 31  further including the step of: 
 resetting the cumulative credit consumption of said first player with said first game machine when said first player performing the game with said first game machine is changed to a second player.