Game server, game control method, and game machine

Abstract

A plurality of game machines installed in a single hall are collectively controlled. Based on information of coin or credit consumption in a certain game machine on which a player is performing a game, this player's cumulative consumption of coin or credit is judged. As the result of this judgment, when this cumulative consumption reaches a predetermined upper limit, a return based on a predetermined return rate is executed without fail to the certain game machine on which this player is performing the game. That is, a predetermined return is guaranteed to a player who has consumed a predetermined amount, so that the player continues the game in expectation of the return. It is therefore avoidable that a player waiting for a prize for a long time keeps away from the hall.

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 number of a thrown coin or given credit number, and which are subjected to payout according to a game result, wherein said game server collectively controls a plurality of said game machines;    judge means for judging whether a cumulative consumption of coin or credit of a player reaches a predetermined upper limit based on information of coin or credit consumption of one of the game machines on which the player performs a game; and    sending means for sending a control signal to said certain game machine ( 2 ) for reliably executing a return based on a predetermined return rate to said player, when said judge means judges that said cumulative consumption of coin or credit reaches said predetermined upper limit on said one of said certain game machines ( 2 ).    
     
     
         2 . The game server according to  claim 1  wherein said return is executed based on the result of a timing lottery for determining the timing of said return.  
     
     
         3 . The game server according to  claim 1  further comprising: means for executing said return when one player performing a game on a certain game machine does not terminate a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine does not change to another player, by regarding one who has continued a game up to said predetermined upper limit on said certain game machine as said one player.  
     
     
         4 . The game server according to  claim 1  further comprising means for sending a signal for resetting the cumulative consumption of coin or credit of one player to said game machine, when the one player performing a game on said game machine terminates a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is changed to another player.  
     
     
         5 . The game server according to  claim 1  wherein said control signal permits a return to a player from a part of a sum obtained by reserving some of credit consumption on said plurality of game machines.  
     
     
         6 . The game server according to  claim 2  further comprising means for executing said return when one player performing a game on a certain game machine does not terminate a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is not changed to another player, by regarding one who has continued a game up to said predetermined upper limit on said certain game machine, as said one player.  
     
     
         7 . The game server according to  claim 2  further comprising means for sending a signal for resetting cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said one player on said certain game machine, when one player performing a game on a certain game machine terminates a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is changed to another player.  
     
     
         8 . The game server according to  claim 3  further comprising means for sending a signal for resetting cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said one player on said certain game machine, when one player performing a game on a certain game machine terminates a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is changed to another player.  
     
     
         9 . A method for collectively controlling a plurality of game machines comprising: 
 bringing into a status enabling to start a game based on number of a thrown coin or given credit number;    being subjected to a payout according to a game result;    judging whether cumulative consumption of coin or credit of a player reaches a predetermined upper limit, based on information of coin or credit consumption of a certain game machine on which the player performs a game; and    reliably executing a return based on a predetermined return rate to said certain game machine on which said player performs a game, when said judging step judges that said cumulative consumption of coin or credit reaches said predetermined upper limit on said certain game machine.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising timing lottery step for determining the timing of said return, wherein said returning step executes said return based on the result of said timing lottery step.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said returning step further includes the step of executing said return when one player performing a game on a certain game machine terminates a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is not changed to another player, by regarding one who has continued a game up to said predetermined upper limit on said certain game machine, as said one player.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of resetting, when one player performing a game on a certain game machine terminates a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is changed to another player, cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said one player who has performed said game on said certain game machine.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein said returning step executes a return to a player from a part of a sum obtained by reserving some of credit consumption on said plurality of game machines.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein said returning step further includes the step of executing said return when one player performing a game on a certain game machine terminates a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is not changed to another player, by regarding one who has continued a game up to said predetermined upper limit on said certain game machine, as said one player.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10  further comprising the step of resetting cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said one player who has performed said game on said certain game machine when one player performing a game on a certain game machine terminates a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is changed to another player.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising the step of resetting cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said one player who has performed said game on said certain game machine when one player performing a game on a certain game machine terminates a game, or when one player performing a game on a certain game machine is changed to another player.  
     
     
         17 . A game system comprising: 
 a plurality of game machines in a single hall under collective control of a game server, each of said game machines being brought into a status enabling to start a game based on number of a thrown coin or given credit number and each being subjected to payout according to a game result, each of said game machines including:    judge means for judging whether cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said player reaches a predetermined upper limit based on information of coin or credit consumption when a certain player performs a game; and    return means for reliably executing, according to a control signal from said game server, a return based on a predetermined return rate to said player, when said judge means judges that said cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said player reaches said predetermined upper limit.    
     
     
         18 . The game system according to  claim 17  wherein 
 said control signal reflects a result of timing lottery for determining the timing of said return, and  
 said return means further includes means for executing said return based on a control signal reflecting the result of said timing lottery.  
 
     
     
         19 . The game system according to  claim 17  wherein said return means further includes means for executing said return, when one player does not terminate a game, or when one player performing a game is not changed to another player, by regarding one who has continued said game up to said predetermined upper limit, as said one player.  
     
     
         20 . The game system according to  claim 17  further comprising means for resetting cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said one player based on a reset signal sent from said game server when one player terminates a game, or when one player performing a game is changed to another player.  
     
     
         21 . The game system according to  claim 17  wherein said return means executes said return from a sum obtained by reserving some of credit consumption on said plurality of game machines.  
     
     
         22 . The game system according to  claim 18  wherein said return means includes means for executing said return when one player does not terminate a game, or when one player performing a game is not changed to another player, by regarding one who has continued a game up to said predetermined upper limit, as said one player.  
     
     
         23 . The game system according to  claim 18  further comprising means for resetting cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said one player, based on a reset signal sent from said game server when one player terminates a game, or when one player performing a game is changed to another player.  
     
     
         24 . The game system according to  claim 19  further comprising means for resetting cumulative consumption of coin or credit of said one player based on a reset signal sent from said game server when one player terminates a game, or when one player performing a game is changed to another player.