Game system including slot machines and game control method thereof

Abstract

In each of a plurality of slot machines, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in a basic game, a right to execute a second game is generated, and a second game starting signal for requesting the start of the second game is transmitted to a center controller. When the second game starting signal is received from at least one of the plurality of slot machines, and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the center controller starts the second game for the slot machine which has transmitted the second game starting signal, and performs control for changing the payout of the second game to be executed on the slot machine according to a bet made in the second game on the second game device.

1 . A game system, comprising:
 a plurality of slot machines, each comprising a controller operable to control at least a basic game and a second game, each being capable of making a transition to the second game when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the basic game, and each being operable to generate a right to execute the second game and to transmit a second game starting signal for requesting a start of the second game when the predetermined condition is satisfied in the basic game;   a second game device operable to execute the second game, the second game device being a device physically separate from the slot machines;   a second game terminal operable to allow a betting operation to be performed on the second game executed by the second game device, the second game terminal being a device physically separate from the slot machines;   a display adapted to display images according to a game status of the second game, the display being visible to a plurality of players playing the second game on the slot machines, the second game device, and the second game terminal; and   a center controller capable of communicating with the slot machines, the second game device, the second game terminal, and the display, the center controller being operable to cause, when the center controller receives the second game starting signal from at least one of the plurality of slot machines and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the second game device to start the second game for the slot machine which has the right to execute the second game, and which has transmitted the second game starting signal, and the center controller being operable to change a payout of the second game to be executed on the slot machine according to a bet made in the second game using the second game terminal.   
   
   
       2 . A game system, comprising:
 a plurality of slot machines, each comprising a controller operable to control at least a basic game and a second game, each being capable of making a transition to the second game when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the basic game, and each being operable to generate a right to execute the second game and transmit a second game starting signal for requesting a start of the second game when the predetermined condition is satisfied in the basic game;   a second game device operable to execute the second game, the second game device being a device physically separate from the slot machines;   a second game terminal operable to allow a betting operation to be performed on the second game executed by the second game device, the second game terminal being a device physically separate from the slot machines;   a display adapted to display images according to a game status of the second game, the display being visible to a plurality of players playing the second game on the slot machines, the second game device, and the second game terminal; and   a center controller capable of communicating with the slot machines, the second game device, the second game terminal, and the display, the center controller being operable to cause, when the center controller receives the second game starting signal from at least one of the plurality of slot machines and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the second game device to start the second game for the slot machine which has the right to execute the second game, and which has transmitted the second game starting signal, and operable to change a payout of the second game executed on the slot machine according to a type of a betting method made in the second game using the second game terminal.   
   
   
       3 . The game system of any one of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein
 the center controller sets an upper limit of a bet amount in the second game to be executed on the slot machine so that the upper limit would increase according to a bet made in the second game using the second game terminal.   
   
   
       4 . The game system of any one of  claims 1  and  2 , wherein
 the center controller sets the allowable number of betting methods in the second game to be executed on the slot machine so that the allowable number would increase according to a bet made in the second game using the second game terminal.   
   
   
       5 . A method of controlling a game executed in a game system, the game system comprising:
 a plurality of slot machines, each comprising a controller operable to control at least a basic game and a second game, each being capable of making a transition to the second game when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the basic game, and each being operable to generate a right to execute the second game and transmit a second game starting signal for requesting a start of the second game when the predetermined condition is satisfied in the basic game;   a second game device operable to execute the second game, the second game device being a device physically separate from the slot machines;   a second game terminal operable to allow a betting operation to be performed on the second game executed on the second game device, the second game terminal being a device physically separate from the slot machines;   a display adapted to display images according to a game status of the second game, the display being visible to a plurality of players playing the second game on the slot machines, the second game device, and the second game terminal; and   a center controller capable of communicating with the slot machines, the second game device, the second game terminal, and the display,   the method comprising the steps of:   receiving the second game starting signal from at least one of the plurality of slot machines; and   causing the second game device to start the second game for the slot machine which has the right to execute the second game, and which has transmitted the second game starting signal, and simultaneously changing a payout of the second game to be executed on the slot machine according to a bet made in the second game using the second game terminal, when the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
   
   
       6 . A method of controlling a game executed in a game system, the game system comprising:
 a plurality of slot machines, each comprising a controller operable to control at least a basic game and a second game, each being capable of making a transition to the second game when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the basic game, and each being operable to generate a right to execute the second game and transmit a second game starting signal for requesting a start of the second game when the predetermined condition is satisfied in the basic game;   a second game device operable to execute the second game, the second game device being a device physically separate from the slot machines;   a second game terminal operable to allow a betting operation to be performed on the second game executed on the second game device, the second game terminal being a device physically separate from the slot machines;   a display adapted to display images according to a game status of the second game, the display being visible to a plurality of players playing the second game on the slot machines, the second game device, and the second game terminal; and   a center controller capable of communicating with the slot machines, the second game device, the second game terminal, and the display,   the method comprising the steps of:   receiving the second game starting signal from at least one of the plurality of slot machines; and   causing the second game device to start the second game for the slot machine which has the right to execute the second game, and which has transmitted the second game starting signal, and simultaneously changing a payout of the second game to be executed on the slot machine according to a type of a betting method made in the second game using the second game terminal, when the predetermined condition is satisfied.   
   
   
       7 . The method of controlling games of any one of  claims 5  and  6 , further comprising the step of setting an upper limit of a bet amount in the second game to be executed on the slot machine so that the upper limit would increase according to a bet made in the second game using the second game terminal. 
   
   
       8 . The method of controlling games of any one of  claims 5  and  6 , further comprising the step of setting the allowable number of betting methods in the second game to be executed on the slot machine so that the allowable number would increase according to a bet made in the second game using the second game terminal.