CA2126560A1 - Game apparatus and game system - Google Patents

Game apparatus and game system

Info

Publication number
CA2126560A1
CA2126560A1 CA002126560A CA2126560A CA2126560A1 CA 2126560 A1 CA2126560 A1 CA 2126560A1 CA 002126560 A CA002126560 A CA 002126560A CA 2126560 A CA2126560 A CA 2126560A CA 2126560 A1 CA2126560 A1 CA 2126560A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
game play
play media
game
amount
loan
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002126560A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Takatoshi Takemoto
Kazunari Kawashima
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ace Denken KK
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2126560A1 publication Critical patent/CA2126560A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63FCARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F7/00Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks
    • A63F7/02Indoor games using small moving playing bodies, e.g. balls, discs or blocks using falling playing bodies or playing bodies running on an inclined surface, e.g. pinball games
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F5/00Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
    • G07F5/24Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks with change-giving

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus comprising a game machine main unit (30) for executing games with game play media in a tray and a game play media dispenser (20) responsive to a dispensing instruction for dispensing a specified number of game play media to the tray is disclosed. The game apparatus comprises a validator (26) for determining an amount of entered cash, means (60a) for subtracting a loan amount spent for a player to borrow game play media from the entered amount determined by the validator to find a remaining amount and managing the remaining amount, a loan switch (23) to specify a loan amount to be spent to borrow game play media, loan control means (62) for instructing the game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount specified with the loan switch within the range of the remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management means, and win control means (63) responsive to the winning signal output from the game machine main unit for a winning game play for instructing the game play media dispenser to dispense as many game play media as the number indicated by the winning signal.

Description

2 ~ a GAME APPARATUS AND GAME SYST:EM

S This invention relates ~o a game apparatus and a game system, such as a slot machine, for a player to play games with game play rnedia in a game play media tray and paying out prizes to the plsyer for winning game plays.

1 0 TECHNICAL BAClE~GROUND

Wi~h a conventional game machine and game play media lender, for example, a player inserts a prepaid c~rd s~onng the amount of money into a slo~ of the game play media lender and operates a switch to borrow game pl2y media. Thell, the player places the game play media in the game play media tray of a game machine. In this condition, the player loads necessary game play media into the game machine so as to play a game~ If the player satisfies a given condition in the process of the game, he or 2 0 she wins the game and receives game play media for the winning game play ~om the game machine.
For adjustment, the player . loads the paid-out game play media for winnlng game plays into a eounter. The counter counts the number of the loaded game play media, prints the result on a ;' 25 receipt, and discharges the receip~ to the outside. The player ~,, receives the receipt on which tlhe count is recorded from Ihe , ,;,' .

2 2126 iG~

counter. He or she goes to a pnze exchange coun~er or window for exehanging the receipt for prizes.
However, in the rela~ed art, the player first needs to purchase a prepaid card and from the beginning of a game to prize S exchange, it requires time and effort for the player to receive game play media from the game play media lender and move them to the game play media tray of a game machine ~nd finally to move paid-ou~ game play media for winning game plays to the counter from the game play media tray.
DISCLOSURE O~ ~VENllON

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a game apparatus and a game system which enable a player to play 1~ games in the range of any desired amount of mosley if he or she enters cash directly ;n~o the game apparatus and ~o save ~he player the trouble of purchasing a prepaid card and moving game play media received ~rom a game play media lender to the game play media tray of a game machine, etc.
2 0 To these ends, according to one form of the invention, there is provided a game apparatus having a game machine rnain uni~
for exeGuting garnes with game play media comprising:
a game play media d;spenser responsive to a dispensing instruction for dispensing a specified number of game play media 2 5 to the outside of the game apparatus;
a valida~or having a slot for entering cash and deterlrlining ., .

:. .
., ~ ., . . -, . - . , . . . ~ - .. .. , . - . . - . -~-~ 2~263 an amoune of cash entered ~hrough the slot;
a loan switch to specify a loan amount to be spent to borrow game play media;
means for determining that all entered amount is a loan S amount if the validator does not determine that an en~ered denomination is a large denominat;on bill or for determining that an amount specified with the loan switch is a loan amount if ~he validator determines that the entered denomination is a large denomination bill; and loan control means for ins~ructing the game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount determined by the loan amount determination means.
The game apparatus can fur~her include means for 15 subtracting a loan amount of game play media from the entered amount determined by the validator to find a remaining amount and managing the remaining amount.
Further, the loan control means can instruct the game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number 2 0 corresponding to the loan a~ount determined by the loan amount determination means within the range of the remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management means.
The remaining amount managemen~ means can comprise:
means for storing the remaining amount found by 2 5 subtracting a loan amount spent to borrow game play media from the entered amount determined by the validator;

,1 .

2 '~ 2 1~ r,,~ ~ a means for subtracting a loan amount corresponding to the number of game play media instructed ~o be dispensed by the loan control means from ehe amount stored in the remaining amount storage means; and S means for rewriting ~he operation result of the arnount subtraction means into the remaining amount storage means as a new remaining amount.
According to the invention, any of the following members can be added to the form whenever necessary:
Firs~, it can further include a tray for holding game play media used to play games, wherein the game machine main unit can execute games with the game play media in the tray and outputting a winning signal to pay out game play media for a winning game play if a given condition is satis~ied whçn a game is being played.
Second, it can further include win control means responsive to the winning signal outpue from the game machine main unit for a winning game play for instructing the game play media dispenser to dispense as many 2 0 game play media as the number indicated by the winning signal.
Third, it fan further include a remaining amount display sec~ioll for displaying ~he arnoun~ in thei remaining amount storage meians .
Fourth, it can further include:
2 5 a device for counting game play media in the tray and taking them inside the game apparatus;

i 5 ~ ~ ~ 6 j ~ ~
rl means for detecting the number of game play media in the tray; and automatic taking-in con~rol means, if the game play media detection means determines that the number of the game play 5 media in the tray has exceeded a predetermined upper lirnit, for instructing the taking-in device to t~ke in overflowing game play media.
Fifth, it can further include:
count storage means for storing the number of game play 10 media not contained in ~he tray and held in ~he game apparatus;
me~ns for adding the number of game play media taken in by the taking-in deviee to a count in the count storage means; and means for rewriting the operation result of the count addition means into the count s~orage means as a new amount.
Sixth, it can further include:
means fon instructing the game play media dispenser to dispense game play media with which the tray is to be replenished;
means for subtracting the number of game play media 2 0 dispensed in response to the instruc~ion of the means from the count in the coun~ storage means; and means for, rewriting the operation result of the count ~1 subtraction means into the count stor~ge means as a new count.
~J Seventhly, the means for instructing game play media to be 2 ~ dispensed for replenishing the tray can comprise:
a replenishing switch for specifying replenishment with a .1 , ;, , r 6 a predetermined number of game play media; ancl replenishment control means, whein the replenishing switch ;s operated, for instruc~ing the game play media dispenser to dispense game play media specified by handling the replen;shing 5 switch within the range of the count in ~he coun~ storage means.
Eigh~h, the means for instructing game play media t~ be dispensed for replenishing the tray can comprise:
means for detecting the number of game play media in the tray; and automatic replenishment control means, if the game play media detectioni means determines that the numbeir of the game play media in the tray has fallen below a predetermined lower limit, for instructing the game play media dispenser to dispense game play medi~ within the range of the count in the count 15 storage means.
Ninth, it can further include a count display section for displaying the count in the count storage means.
Tenthly9 it can further include:
a dispenser, upon receipt of information of the remaining 2 0 amount managed by the remaining amount management means at the end of game playing, for recording the information on a pr~yided recording medium and dispensing the recording medium;
an adjustment switch for speeifying the end of game playing 2 5 and adjustment;
adjustment control means9 when the adjustment switch is ~. , - 7 ?, ~ 2 ~

operated, for instructing the taking-in device to take in all game play media in the tray;
adjustment data ~ransmission means, upon comple~ion of taking in the game play media in response to the instruction of the 5 adjustment control means, for reading the amount stored in the rema~ining amount storage means and ~he count stored in the count storage means and transmitting the read data to ~he dispenser as the remaining amount data and the remaining count data; and dispensing control means, after the data transmission by ~he adjustment data transmission means is completed, for instructing the dispenser to write the data onto ~he recording medium and dispense it. In this case, the dispenser writes the remaining amount data and the remaining count data onto the recording 15 medium and dispenses it.
ln the form of the invention, the dispenser can write the data onto the recording medium by printing the data in a bar code as well as digits or characters.
Further, the dispenser writes the data onto the recording 2 0 medium by printing the data in digits or characters and recording ~he same as magnetic data.
AGcording to another form of the invention, there is provided a game apparatus having a game machine rnain unit for executing game$ with game play media, wherein the improvement 2 5 comprises: , a game play media dispenser responsive to a dispensing :,j ,1 e~ ~ a instruction for dispensing a specified number of game play media to the outside of the game apparatus;
a validatoF having a slot for entering cash and determining an amount of cash entered through the slot;
S a loan switeh to specify a loan amount ~o be spen~ to boIIow game play media;
means for subtracting a loan amount specified with the loan switch from the entered amoun~ determined by the validator to find a remaining amount and managing the remaining amount;
a remaining amount display section for displaying the remaining amount managed by the remaining amount management means;
loan control means ~r instructing the game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number 1 S corresponding to the loan amoun~ specified with the loan switch;
an adjustment switch for specifying the end of gan e playing and adjustment, and a dispenser, upon reception of information of the remaining amount manag~,d by the remaining amount management means at the end of gamj~ playing, for recording the information on a provided recording medium and dispensing the recording j~, medium. I
According to another form of the invention~ ~here is '!~ provided a game sys~em comprising a game apparatus having a 2 5 game machine main unit having a tray for holding media used to play games and executing games with the game play media in ~he ,,,~

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tray and a game play media dispenser responsive to a dispensing instruction for dispensing a specified number of game play media to the tray, the game machine mairl Ullit outputting a winning signal to pay ou~ game play media for a winning game play if a 5 given condition is satisfied when a game is being played and the game play media dispenser being responsive to the signal for dispensing a given number of game play media, wherelby game playing goes on and a prize exchanger for paying ou~ a prize in response to lhe number of game play media pa;d out as a winning I
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game play.
As the game apparatus used with the game systeml, the game apparatus in the forms described above can be used.
At the game apparatus of the invention, when cash is 5 entered in the slot, the validator determines the denomination and amount of the cash, and the amount is s~ored in the remaining amount storage means as an initial value. Further, when a player operates the loan switch, the loan control means ins~ructs the game play media dispenses to dispense game play media in a 10 number corresp;bnding to the loan ..mount specified by operating the loan switch within ~he range of the amount stored in the remaining amount storage means. Then, the game play media dispenser dispe~ses as many game play media as instructed to the tray.
15The player plays games wi~h the game p~ay media in the tray. When the player wins a game and a winning signal is output from the game machine main unit, the win control means instructs the game play media dispenser to dispense as many game play media as indicated by the winning signal. Then, the game play 2 0 rnedia dispenser dispenses as many game play media as instructed to the tray.
Thus, the player can play games in the range of any desired amount of money if he or she enters cash direc~ly into the game appara~us. Therefore, the game apparatus saves the player the 2 ~ trouble of purchasing a psepaid card and moving game play media received from a game play media lender to the game play media ~1 ;
,j .1 , I .

'--`- 212 6 tray of a game machine, etc.
Further, i~ the loan amount determination means is provided, when the denomination of the entered cash is not a large denomination bill, in response to the determination result of S the validator, the loan amount determination means de~ermines that all the en~ered amount is the loan amount; when the entered cash denomination is a large denomination bill, the loan amoun~
determination means determines that the amounl specified with the loan switch is the loan amount. The game play media 10 dispenser automatically dispenses game play media in a number co~Tesponding to the loan amount. Thus, when entered cash is small denominàtion such as coins and the loan amount need not be set, game play media in a number corresponding to the eniered amount of money are automatically dispensed if the player does l S not operate the loan switch.
If the amount subtraction means and the amount rewrite means are provided, the amount subtraction means subtracts the loan amount by as much as the game play media instructed to be dispensed by the loan control means from the amount stored in 2 0 the remaining amount storage means, and the amount rewrite means rewrites ~ the operation amoun~ of ~he amount subtraction ~'imeans into the remaining amount s~orage means as a new remailling amoun~. Thus, the remainder of the entered amount not used to borrow game play media is always stored inside the 2 5 game apparatus,~ it is convenient for later adjustment, etc.
When the~ remaining amount display section is contained, it .'1 ;, ., , :tl .
1 ;

'' 10 displays the amount in the remaining amount storage means, namely, the remaining amount, thus the player can play games while always checking ~he remaining amount.
If the taking-in deviee, the game pl2y media de~ection 5 means, and the automatic taking-;n control means are provided, when the game play media detection means determines ~ha~ the number of game play media in the tray exeeeds a prede~ermined upper limit9 th~ automatic taking-in control means instruc~s the overflow game play media to be taken in and the talcing-in device 10 coants the overflow game play media and takes them inside the game apparatus; Thus9 if a large number of game play media are paid out to the tray for winning game plays, the game play media do not overflo I from the tray and are automatically taken in; this saves the player the trouble of taking out game play media ready 15 to overflow during game playing.
If the count storage means, the count addition means, and the count rewrlte means are provided, each time the game play media in the tray are taken in by the taking-in device, the number of the game play media is added by the count addition 2 0 means to the count in the sount storage means for registration; it is convenient for later adjustment, etc.
If the replenishing switch and the replenishrnent control means are included, when the player handles the replenishing switch, the replenishment control means ;nstructs the game play 2 5 media dispenser to dispense a predetermined number of game pl ty media specified by operation of the replenishing switch .~
:, .

2 ~ ~ 6 F~) 6 0 within the range of the count in the count storage means. Then, the game play media dispenser dispenses as many game play media as the predetermined number to the tray. Thus, when the ,, player has only,a few game play media left in the tray during the S progress of game playing while he or she continues to lose games, the player can oper~te the replenishing switch easily to dispense game play media to the tray in the range of the number of the game play media taken in so far and continue playing.
If the game play media detection means and the automa~ic replenishment control means are provided, when the game play media detectioff' means detects that only a few game play media are left in the, tray, the tray is automatically replenished with game play medi~ so long as the taken-in game play media are held in the game machine. Thus9 the player can also enjoy playing until he or she depletesi his or her game play media by as much as the entered amount and those paid out for winning game plays wi~hout taking care of the number of game play media in the tray.
If the count subtract;on means and the count rewrite means are included, the count subtraction means subtracts ~he number of 2 0 game play media dispensed in response to the instruction of the replenishment control means or-the automatic replenishment control means from the count in the eount storage means, the ''I count rewrite means rewrites the operation result of ~he eount subtraction means into the count stora~e means as new con~ents.
'''1 2 5 That is, the most recent number of game play media not dispensed ', ~o the tray and held in the game apparatus is always registered in , ., ,:.,,.. , . , .. ' . :.,` :' .. '. '-'.: .' .: .. '.. , . ' ,.. ,"'' "~""' .. "' ,, ~ '.'".''` " ' ' ' i ' ' .' ': - . . . '`'` '.,:, ', ,',' ~, ' '`', ` .'"''~ `'. ., ' ;'.' ' ' ' ' `'. " ' . ' '., ' ` '' , ' ' ` . ' ~ -~ 2 ~

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the count storage means; it is convenient for later adjustment and prize exchange.
If ~he coun~ display section is provide~, it displays the new count s~ored in the count storage means, namely, the most recent number of game play media not dispensed ~o the tray and held in the game apparatus. The player can play games while always checking the number of garne play media held in the game apparatus.
If the adJustment switch, the dispenser, the adjustment control means, ~he adjustment data {ransmission means, and the dispensing control means are provided, the adjustment control means is responsive to an instruction given by the user operating the adjustment switch to instruct the taking-in device to take in all game play media in the tray. Upon completion of ~aking in all game play media in response to ~hei instruction of the adjustment control means, the adjus~ment data transmission means reads the amount stored in the remaining amount storage means and the count stored inl the count storage means and transmits the data ~o th~ dispenser as the remaining amoun~ data and the remaining 2 0 count data. Upon completion of the data transmission by the adjustment data eransmission means, the dispensing control means sends an instruction ~o the dispenser. When receiving it, the dispenser writes the received remaining amount data and remaining count data onto a card-like recording medium stored '~ 2 5 inside in a prei~etermined format and dispenses it. Thus, ~o end I playing games, if the player only operates the adjustment swi~ch, ,1 .

2~6~ 9 .
~he recording medium on which information of th~ remaining count and the remaining number of game play media is registered is automaticall~ dispensed and adjustment or prize exchange can be made withou~ the time or effort of taking out game play medium from the tray and inputting them to the counter, e~c.
If the dis`penser writes data onto the recording rnedium by printing a bar code as well as digits or characters, personnel in the game house or the player can check the data at a glance from the digits or charac,;ers and the data can also be easily input to a POS
terminal or the like ~hrough a bar code reader.
When the dispenser writes the data onto the recording medium by recording it as magnetic data, the data can also be easily input through a magnetic card reader or the like.
With the~ game system comprising the prize exchanger for reading the remaining amount data or remaining count data on the recording medium and returning the remaining amount of money and paying ou~ a prize in response to the remaining count, the prize exchanger eliminates the need for personnel in the game house to pay out a prize desired by the player as instructed by the 2 0 player.
,:
DIRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAW~GS

In the accompanying drawings:
i~ 2 5 Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a game apparatus~ showing one embodiment of the ;nvention;

"

,1, Figure 2 is a front view of the garne apparatus showing the embodiment of the invention;
Fi~ure 3 is a front view of a recording medium showing the embodiment of the invention; and Fi~ure 4 is a front view of a recording medium showing another embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the accompanying drawings of Figures 1-4, there is shown one embodiment of the invention.
A game apparatus 10 comprises a game play media dispenser 20, a game machine main l~nit 30, and a dispenser of storage medlia for adjustment, 50, as shown in Figure 2, and further contains an internal control section 60 asshown in Figure 1. A slot machine is built in as the game machine main unit 30. Handled as the game play media are those usecl with the game machine main unit 30, such as medals, chips, or balls. In addition, another game machine such as a pinball machine may be built in as the garne machine main unit 30.
The recording medium 40 handled at the dispenser 50 is a card made of a rectangular plate, as shown in Figure 3 or 4, and has one side 4ûa :il 20 consisting of a portion in which entries such as the remaining amount of money, the number of held game piay media, the date, and the game house name are made and a recording po~tion 41 or portions 43 and 44 where these ;. ~

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i information entries are registered. In the example7 the recording portion 41 is made of a magnetic recording ~and formed along one of long sides 4~, as shown in Figure 3. The recording portion 41 may be made of a bar code.
S The recording medium 40 may be enabled to be recycled by using a medium on which the inforrnation entries are printed in ink erased by irradiation with light of a predetermined frequency or a medium h~ving a surface on which characters, etc., can be written and erased as desired by applying predetermined heat.
The game play media dispenser 20 is adapted to dispense a specified number of game play media by the con~rol section 60 to a tray 32 (descnbed below). It has an indicator lamp 21, a slot 22, loan swi~ches 23, a remaining amount display section 24, and an adjustment switch 25 on the front 20a, as shown in Figure 2.
The slot 22 is provided to enter cash of bills or eoins. A
validator 26 (shown in Figure 1 ) for identifying the denomination and amount of entered money is disposed in the inside of the slot 22, and the determina~ion results of the denomination and amount . of cash entered through the slot 22 are senl to the control section 60. In Figure ~, the slot 22 is drawn as a double rectangle, but separate slots for bills and- coins may be located. In the embodimen~, ~he slot 22 is arranged so that a player can enter a bill upright, thereby contributing to decreasing the thickness of the game play media dispenser 20.
2 5 The loan S switches 23 are switches for specifying the loan amount to be spent to borrow game play media; in the example, .~, ~6 the switches 23 are pushbutton switches corresponding to the digits representing predetermined amounts of money, such as 100, 500, and 1000, which correspond to the denominations of coins, 100, 5ûO, and 1000 yen. The loan switches 23 may be made one pushbutton for 1000 yen, for example.
The game machine rnain unit 30 has on its front 30a a board face 31, which is an area for playing gannes, a tray 32 of game piay media, a handle 33 for loading game play media into the game machine, a count display section 34 for displaying the number of held game play media not dispensed to the tray 32, a replenishing switch 35 for instructing the tray 32 to be replenished with game play media, an adjustment switch 36 for instn3ctîng adjustment to be made at the end of plays, and a closed indicator lamp 37 for indicating that thegame machine is locked up on a win. When game play media in the tray 32 are loaded into the game machine main unit 30, the game machine main unit 30 executes games,and if the player satisfies a given condition, gives a prize to the player as a winning game play. When a winning game play occurs, the game machine main unit 30 outputs a winning signal to the control section 60.
J~ The board face 31 is designed to enable the player to see the progress of a game with game play media. The tray 32 is disposed to store game piay media to be propelled toward the board face 31. The tray 32 is provided with 2û game play media detection means 38 for detecting the number of game play media in the tray 32 and a takin~-in device 39 (shown in Figure 1) responsive ,, .
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to a command 'of ~he control section 60 for counting a specified number of game play media in the tray 32 and taking them into the inside of the game apparatus. The taking-in device 39 may be adapted ~o automa~ically take game play media overflowing from S the tray 32 into the inside uf the game apparatus independently of detec~ion of ~he game play media detection means 38.
The handle 33 is used for the player to propel game play media in ~he tray 32 toward the board face 31. The count display section 34 is responsive to a signal from the control section 60 for 10 displayin~ the number of held game play media not dispensed to the tray 32, namely, ~he nurnber of game play media with which the tray 32 can be replenished. The replenishing switch 35 is a switch for instr~cting the control section 60 to replenish the tray --32 with game play media. The closed indicator lamp 37 goes on to 15 inform the player tha~ the game machine is loeked up on a win.
The dispenser S0 is responsive to a command of the control section 60 for printing the remaining amount of money, the remaining numbbr of game play media, etc., on a recording , medium 40 stored in the inside and registering the information 20 pieces in the recording section 41 or 43, 44 as magnetic data. The , . ..
dispenser S0 may be adapted to print the information pieces as a I bar code.
- 1, The control section 60 consists of a cornputer system, for example. The hardware of the computer system has a general 2 S configuration (not shown) consisting of a central processing unit , (CPU), memory,¦ interface, etc. The memory stores CPU operation . j ! ! .
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i programs, data, etc. The CPU executes the programs for providing various functions. The fun~tional components provided by the CPU include means for managing the remaining amount of money, 60a, loan contr,ol means 62, win control means 63, loan amount 5 de~ermination means 64, automatic taking-in control means 67, count storage means 68, count addition means 69, count rewrite means 70 (addition count rewrite means, subtrac2ion couni rewrite means), replenishment control means 71, automatic replenishment control means 72, count subtraction means 73, 10 adjustment control means 74, adjustment data transmission means 75, and dispensing control means 76.
The means for managing the remaining amount of money, 60a, which has~ remaining amoun~ storage means 61, amount subtraction means 65, and amount rewrite means 66, suberac~s 15 the loan amount spent to borrow game play media from the entered amount of money determined by the validator to find the remaining amount of money and manages the remaining amount.
The remaining amount storage means 61 is a memory for storing the entered amount of money deterrnined by the validator 2 0 26 as an initial value. The loan control means 62 instruets the game play media dispenser 20 to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount within the range of the amount s~ored in the remaining amount storage means 61. The win control means 63 is responsive to a winning signal ou~put 2 5 from the game machine main unit 30 for a winning game play for instructing the game play media dispenser 20 to dispense as many .

2 ~ 2 ~

game play media as the number indicated by the winning signal.
In the embodiment, after the remaining amount of money reaches 0, the ~?layer en~ers another bill. However/ it is also made possible to enable the user to enter an additional bill before the S remaining amount OI money reachcs 0. To do this, the amount of money from the validator 26 is added to the amount of money stored in the remaining amount storage means 61 and the sum is written into the remaining amount storage means 61.
If the valida~or 26 does not determine that the entered 10 denomination is" a large denomination bill, such as a 5000-yen or 10000-yen bill,l the loan amount determination means 64 determines that all the entered amount is the loan amount; if the validator 26 determines that the entered denomination is a large denomination bill, the loan amount determina~ion means 64 15 determines that the amount specified with the loan switch 23 is the loan amount.
The amount subtraction means 65 subtracts the loan amount corresponding t'O the game play media instructed to be dispensed by the loan con'trol means 62 from the amount stored in the 2 0 remaining amo~nt storage means 61. The amount rewri~e means 66 r~writes the operation result of the amount subtrac~ion means 65 into ~he remaining amount storage means 61 as a new remaining amopnt.
When the game play media detec~ion means 38 determines 2 5 that the number of game play media in the tray 32 ha~ exceeded a predetermined upper limit, the automatic taking-in control means , .

;.1 , 67 instru,cts the taking-in device 39 to take in the u,verflow game play media.
The count storage m~a,ns 68 stores the num,ber of game play medi~, not in the tray 32 and heid in the game machine. The count a,d,dition 5 means 69 adds th,e nu,mber of game play m,edia taken into tlhe game machine by the taking-in device 39 to the count in ithe count storage means 68. The count rewrite means 70 rewrites the operation resuit of the count addition means 69 or the count subtraction means 73 into the count storage means 68 as a new count.
When -the replenishirtg switch 35 is operated, the replenishment control means 71 ch,ecks to ensure that the predetermined number of game play media specified with the replenishing switch 35 is within the range of the count in the count storage means 68, then instruc-ts the game play media dispenser 20 to dispense a predetermined numlber of game play 15 media as specified with, the replenishin,g switch 35.
When the game play media detection means 38 determines that the number of game play media in the tray 32 has fallen below a predetermined lower limit, the automatic replenishment control means 72 instructs the game play media dispenser 20 to dispense the game play :il 20 media witlllin the range of the count in the count storage means 68.
Various techniques as well as the technique of supplying game play media to the tray can be adopted as means for replenishing with game play media: Game play media may be .~

;~

2~ 56~

au~omatically supplied within the game machine or control is performed so a's to continue playing games electrically.
The coun~ subtraction means 73 subtracts ~he number of game play med~a dispensed in response to an illstruction of the S replenishment control means 71 or the automatic replenisllment control means 72 from the count in the count storage means 68.
When the adjustment switch 25 or 36 is operated, the adjustment control means 74 instructs the taking-in device 39 to take in all the game play media in the tray 32. Upon completion 10 of talcing in the game play media in response to the instruction of the adjustment ~ontrol means 74, namely, when the count addition means 69 stops counting for several seconds or longer, the adjustment' data transmission means 75 reads the amount stored in the rëmaining amount storage means 61 and the count 15 stored in the count storage means 68 and transmits ~he read data to the dispenser 50 as the remaining amount dat~ and the remaining count data.
After th~il data transmission by the adjustment data transmission m~ans 75 is completed, the dispensing control means 2 0 76 instructs thç . dispenser 50 to write the data onto a recording medium 40 and dispense it. Within several seconds of the recording medium 40 being dispensed, the dispensing con~rol means 76 signals the amount rewrite means 66 or ihe count rewrite means 70 to rese~ the contents of the remaining amount 2 5 storage means 61 and the count storage means 68 for displaying zero on the remaining amount display section 24 and the count '' .

. !

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display section ~ 34. However, if both the amount stored in the remaining amount storage means 61 and ~he count stored in the count storage means 68 are zero, the dispensing control means 76 does not instruct the dispenser 50 to dispense the recording 5 medium 40 and causes the indicator lamp 21 to blink or go on for indicating the end of game play.
The configuration of the game apparatus 10 has been discussed. If the game apparatus 10 is combined with a prize exchanger (not shown) for reading the remaining amount data or 10 remaining eount data on the recording medium 40 and returning the remaining amount of money to the player and paying out a prize to the player in response to the remaining count, a garne system according to one embodimenl of the invention is provided.
The system of the prize exchanger is described below.
1~ Next, the operation of the game apparatus will be described.
At the game apparatus 10, when cash is entered in the slot ¦ 22, the validator 26 determines the denomination and amount of the cash, and the amount is stored in the remaining amount storage means 61 as an initial value. When ~he denomination of 2 0 the entered cash is not a large denomination bill, in response to the determ;nation result of the validator, the loan amount ~, determination means 64 determines that all the entered amount is :,! the loan an3ou~t; when the entered cash denomination is a large ; 1 denomination bill, the loan amount determination means 64 2 5 determines that the amount specified with the loan switch is the i,~ 1';
~ loan amount. ~

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The loan control means 62 checks to ensure that ~he loan amount is within the range of the amount stored in the rema;ning amount storage~ means 61, then instructs the game play media dispenser 20 to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount determined by ~he loan amount determination means 64. Then, the game play media dispenser 20 dispenses as many game play media as instructed to the tray 32.
That is, when the entered cash is a large denomination bill, such as a 50ûO-yen bill, a wai~ is made for a player to operate the loan switch 23. When the player operates the loan switch 23, game play media in a number corresponding to the amount specified by o~erating the loan switch are dispensed. If the entered cash is a coin, etc., game play media in a number colTesponding to the entered amount of money are automatically dispensed regardless of how the loan switch 23 is operated.
The player plays games with the game play media in the tray 32. When the player wins a game and a winning signal is ou~put from the game machine main unit 3û, the win control means 63 ins~ructs the game play media dispenser 20 to dispense 2 0 as many game play media as indica~ed by the winning signal.
Then, the game' play media dispenser 20 dispenses as many game play media as instructed to the ~ray 32.
;., When the loan control means 62 instructs game play media ~ to be dispensed, the amount subtraction means 65 subtracts the .~ 2 5 loan amount specified by ~he loan control means 62 from the amount stored ln the remaining amount s~orage means 61, and the .', .

24 2~5~;) ` ., .

amount rewrite means 66 rewriteis the operation amount of the amount subtraction means in~o the remaining amount storage means 61 as a new remaining amount, which is then displayed on the remaining lmount display section 24.
S lf the player wins games repeatedly during playing and the numbeir of game play media in the tray 32 exceeds a predetermined upper limit and when ~he game play media detection meianisi 38 detects it, the automatic taking-in control means 67 instructs the overflow game play media to be taken in 1 û and the taking-in deivice 39 counts the overflow game play media and takes them inside the game apparatus. Each ~ime the game play media are taken in by the taking-in device 39, the number of game play media is added by the count addition means 69 ~o the count in the co'unt storage means 68 for registration.
If the player operates the replenishing switch 35 during ~i game playing, the replenishment control mearls 71 instructs the game play media dispenser 20 to dispense a predetermined number of game play media specified within the range of the count in the count storage means 68. Then, the game play media 2 0 dispeinser dispenses as many game play media as the ., predetermined number to the tray 32.
Even if the pkayer does not operate the replenishing switch 35, when the number of game play media in the tray 32 falls below a predetermined lower limit, the game play media detection ;j, 2 S means 38 detects it and the automatic replenishment control ., means 72 automatically replenishes the tray with game play. j ~,;
".,1 i , 2 l ~1 ~j r~

media so long ~s the taken-in game play media are held.
When the, held game play media are thus dispensed, the count subtraction means 73 subtraets the number OI game play media dispense~ in response to the instruction of the S replenishment ~ontrol means 71 or the automatic replenishment control means 72 from the count in the count storage means~ the count rewrite means 70 rewrites the operation result of the count subtraction means 73 into the count storage means 68 as new contents, and the count display section 34 displays the new count in ~he count storage means 68, namely9 the most recent number of game play media not dispensed to the tray and held in the game apparatus.
. If the player operates the adjustment swi~ch 25 or 36 at the end of game ~aying, the adjus~ment control means 74 instructs the taking-in device 39 to ~ake in all game play rnedia in the tray 32. Upon completion of taking in all game play media in response ~o the instruction of the adjustment control means 74, the adjustrnent da~al transmission means 75 reads the amount stored in the remainin~ amount storage means 61 and the count stored in .
~:/ 2 0 the count storage means 68 and transmits the data to the dispenser 50 as the remaining amount data and the remaining 1, coynt data.
~ Upon co~ple~ion of the data transmission by ~he adjustment ,l data transmission means 75, the dispensing control means 76 S sends the remaining amount data and the remaining count data together with a dispensing instruction io the dispenser 50. When ,: .
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receiving them,~ the dispenser 50 writes thei re m aining a m ount data and thei remaining count data onto a card-like recording m ediu m 40 stored inside in a predetermined fornnat and dispenses it. W hen both the amount stored in the remaining S amount storage means 61 and the count s~ored in- ihe count storage means ~8 are zern, the recording medium 40 is not dispensed and the indicator lamp 21 blinks or goes on, to indicate the end of game play under the control of the dispensing control means 76.
If the pla'yer takes the dispensed recording medillm 40 and goes to the prize exchanger where the player inputs data on the recording medium 40 and performs predeterm;ned operations~ a prize and the rimaining amount of money are paid out to the player- !
Thus, according to the game apparatus and the game system, if the player e~ters cash directly in the game apparatus and operates the loan switch 23, he or she can start playing a game within the range of any desired amount while checlcing the remaining am~unt; this saves the player the trouble of purchasing a prepaid card or receiving game play media from a game play media lender and moving them to the game play media tray of a game machine, ete. Moreover, when entered cash is a small denomination such as coins and the loan amount need not be set, operating of the loan switch 35 is not required.
If a larg~ number of game play media are paid out to ~he tray 32 for winlling game plays during game playing, ~he game play media do not overflow from the tray 32 and are automatically taken in; this saves the player the trouble of ~aking out game play!media ready to ovcrflow during game playing.
When ~he'player has only a few game pla~y media left in ~he S tray 32 during the progress of game playing while he or she continues to lose games, the player can operate the replenishing switch 35 to dispense game play media to the tray 32 in the range of the number of the game play media taken in so far and continue playing while checking the number of ~he game play media held in the game apparatus. If the player simply continues playing withoutl performing such operations, he or she can also enjoy playing unti~ the player runs through his or her game play media by as much as the loan amoun~ and those paid out ~r winning game plays.
If ~he player only operates the adjus~ment switch 25 or 36 at ~he end of game playing, a recording medium 40 on which information of ;the remaining amount and the remaining number of game play media is registered is automatically dispensed; this saves the player the trouble of ~aking out game play media from 2 0 the ~ray 32 and inputting them to the counter.
The recording medium 40 enables personnel in the game house or the player to check the data at a glance from the digits or ii characters prin~ed on the surface of the recording medium 40 and alsv enables the~ data to be easily input to the prize exchan~er ,1 2 S (POS terminal) through a magnetic card reader or a bar code 1 reader.

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The recording medium 40 may be a receipt of thermosensible ' type.
Prize exchange or return of ~he remaining money is automatically performed by the prize exchanger, elimin~ting the need for personnel in the game house to pay out a prize desired by the player as instrueted by the player.
The prize exchanger may be designed so as to pe.rform an adjustrnent process such as paying out a prize and returning the remaining money as described below.
O The prize exchanger ~lrst reads data on a recording medium (card) ins,erted ;by a player (customer) or personnel in the game house. If the date or ~he like differs from the correct one, a message such as "invalid date" is output by means of an alarm display or electron;c sound, etc., and the card is auiomatically rejected. ,~
Next, the ~ remaining money is returned based on the read data. To do this, bills for returnirlg the remaining money (1000-yen bills) set in a remaining money return section are automatically counted and output to the dispënsing slot so that , 2 0 personnel in th je game house check and hand the remaining money to the c~ustomer or the customer receives the remainin8 money ~irectly.
Next, a prize exchange process is performed in response to ~ the number of game play media paid out to the player. When ~he i~ 25 number of the game play media reaches zero, the process is terminated. When a remainder occurs in the number of game ~ ' , ;, 2 9 ~ 3 play media, a small prize corresponding to the remainder is paid out or the remalinder is discarded. The remainder can also be handled as described below.
Por example, a card where the remainder is entered is 5 delivered to the customer. The customer collects several remainder cards to a given count of the remainders for exchanging the cards for a prize. In this case, one remainder card may be given to one customer so that at each prize exchange, a new remainder is added to the count on the remainder card for 10 recording and the card is delivered to the customer.
Alternatively, a card as a membership card is issued instead of the remainder card and the remainders are stored in a computer in the game house together wi~h the membership number, or a ~,oint indication system rather than recording the 15 remainders of game play media may be adopted in which a given number of points collected can be exchanged for a prize.
In the e~.bodiment, for loaning, replenishing, or paying out for winning game plays, game play media are always once " , .
dispensed to the tray, but the invention is not limited to such a 20 system. For example, when the number of game play media in the tray exceeds a ;predetermined count (game play media overflow . .
from the tray), !game play media are no~ actually dispensed or taken in, and when a winning game play occurs, for example, internal data (~ata in the count storage means) or display (display 25 on the count d2splay section) may be counted up as if game play media were pald out for ~he winning game play.

, I .

, 30 I

Such a sys~em does no~ provide a dynamic stage effeet using a discharge so~nd of game play rnedia, but has an advantage of eliminating the j movement of extra game play media. ~or the method of repi~inishing with game play m.,dia for the system, the 5 technical conce~t proposed by the applicant in Japanese Patent Application No.Hei 1-220938 can be used.

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Claims (20)

1. (Amended) A game apparatus having a game machine main unit for executing games with game play media comprising:
a game play media dispenser responsive to a dispensing instruction for dispensing a specified number of game play media outside said game apparatus;
a validator having a slot for receiving cash and determining an amount of cash received through the slot;
a loan switch to specify a loan amount to be spent to borrow game play media;
means for determining that all of said received amount is a loan amount if said validator does not determine that an received denomination is a large denomination bill while determining that an amount specified with said loan switch is a loan amount if said validator determines that the received denomination is a large denomination bill; and loan control means for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount determined by said loan amount determination means.
2. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including:
means for subtracting a loan amount of game play media from the received amount determined by said validator to obtain a remaining amount for managing the remaining amount, said loan control means for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount determined by said loan amount determination means within the limit of the remaining amount managed by said remaining amount management means.
3. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said remaining amount management means comprises:
means for storing the remaining amount obtained by subtracting a loan amount spent to borrow game play media from the received amount determined by said validator;
means for, subtracting a loan amount corresponding to a number of game play media instructed to be dispensed by said loan control means from the amount stored in said remaining amount storage means; and means for rewriting an operation result of said amount subtraction means into. said remaining amount storage means as a new remaining amount.
4. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further including:
a tray for holding game play media to be used for playing games, said game machine main unit executing games with the game play media in said tray and outputting a winning signal to pay out game play media for a winning game play if a given condition is satisfied when a game is being played.
5. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further including:
win control means responsive to the winning signal output from said game machine main unit for a winning game play for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense as many game play media as the number indicated by the winning signal.
6. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further including:
a remaining amount display section for displaying the amount in said remaining amount storage means.
7. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further including:
a device for counting game play media in said tray and taking them into said game apparatus;
means for detecting the amount of game play media in said tray; and automatic taking-in control means for instructing said taking-in device to take in overflowing game play media, if said game play media detection means determines that the amount of the game play media in said tray has exceeded a predetermined upper limit.
8. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further including:
count storage means for storing the number of game play media not contained in said tray and held in said game apparatus;
means for adding the number of game play media taken in by said taking-in device to a count stored in said count storage means; and means for rewriting an operation result of said count addition means into said count storage means as a new count.
9. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 8 further including:
means for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense game play media with which said tray is to be replenished;
means for subtracting the number of game play media dispensed in response to the instruction of said means from the count in said count storage means; and means for rewriting an operation result of said count subtraction means into said count storage means as a new count.
10. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for instructing game play media to be dispensed for replenishing said tray comprises:
a replenishing switch for specifying replenishment with a predetermined number of game play media; and replenishment control means for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense game play media specified by operation of said replenishing switch within the range of the count in said count storage means, when said replenishing switch is operated.
11. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for instructing game play media to be dispensed for replenishing said tray comprises:
means for detecting the number of game play media in said tray; and replenishment control means for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense game play media within the range of the count in said count storage means, if said game play media detection means determines that the number of game play media in said tray has fallen below a predetermined lower limit.
12. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 11 further including:
a count display section for displaying the count stored in said count storage means.
13. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 12 further including:
a dispenser for recording, upon receipt of information of the remaining amount managed by said remaining amount management means at the end of game playing, the information on a provided recording medium and dispensing the recording medium;
an adjustment switch for specifying the end of game playing and adjustment;
adjustment control means for instructing said taking-in device to take in all game play media in said tray, when said adjustment switch is operated;
adjustment data transmission means for reading the amount stored in said remaining amount storage means and the count stored in said count storage means and transmitting the read data to said dispenser as the remaining amount data and the remaining count data, upon completion of taking in the game play media in response to the instruction of said adjustment control means; and dispensing control means for instructing said dispenser to write the data; onto the recording medium and dispense it, after the data transmission by said adjustment data transmission means is completed, said dispenser for writing the remaining amount data and the remaining count data onto the recording medium and dispensing it.
14. (Amended) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said dispenser prints the data in a bar code as well as digits or characters for writing the data onto the recording medium.
15. (Added) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said dispenser prints the data in digits or characters and records it as magnetic data for writing the data onto the recording medium.
16. (Added) In a game system comprising a plurality of game apparatus for executing games with game play media and a prize exchanger for paying out a prize to a player in response to the number of game play media paid out to the player as a winning game play, said plurality of game apparatus each comprising:
a game machine main unit having a tray for holding game play media to be used for playing games and executing games with the game play media in said tray, said game machine main unit outputting a winning signal to pay out game play media for a winning game play if a given condition is satisfied when a game is being played;
a game play media dispenser responsive to a dispensing instruction for dispensing a specified number of game play media to said tray;
a validator having a slot for receiving cash and determining an amount of cash received through the slot;
a loan switch to specify a loan amount to be spent to borrow game play media;
means for determining that all of said received amount is a loan amount if said validator does not determine that an received denomination is a large denomination bill while determining that an amount specified with said loan switch is a loan amount if said validator determines that the received denomination is a large denomination bill;
means for subtracting a loan amount of game play media from the received amount determined by said validator to obtain a remaining amount and managing the remaining amount;
loan control means for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount determined by said loan amount determination means within the limit of the remaining amount managed by said remaining amount management means; and win control means responsive to the winning signal output from said game machine main unit for a winning game play for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense as many game play media as the number indicated by the winning signal, said remaining amount management means comprising:
means for storing the remaining amount obtained by subtracting a loan amount spent to borrow game play media from the received amount determined by said validator;
means for subtracting a loan amount corresponding to a number of game play media instructed to be dispensed by said loan control means from the amount stored in said remaining amount storage means; and means for rewriting an operation result of said amount subtraction means into said remaining amount storage means as a new remaining amount, said same apparatus further including:
a device for counting game play media in said tray and taking them into said game apparatus;
means for detecting the amount of game play media in said tray;
automatic taking-in control means for instructing said taking-in device to take in overflowing game play media, if said game play media detection means determines that the amount of game play media in said tray has exceeded a predetermined upper limit;
count storage means for storing the number of game play media not contained in said tray and held in said game apparatus;
means for adding the number of game play media taken in by said taking-in device to a count in said count storage means;
means for rewriting an operation result of said count addition means into said count storage means as a new count;
an adjustment switch for specifying the end of game playing and adjustment;
a dispenser for writing transferred remaining amount data an remaining count data onto a recording medium stored inside of said game apparatus in a predetermined format;
adjustment control means for instructing said taking-in device to take in all game play media in said tray, when said adjustment switch is operated;

adjustment data transmission means for reading the amount stored in said remaining amount storage means and the count stored in said count storage means and transmitting the read data to said dispenser as the remaining amount data and the remaining count data, upon completion of taking in the game play media in response to the instruction of said adjustment control means; and dispensing control means for instructing said dispenser to write the data onto the recording medium and dispense it, after the data transmission by said adjustment data transmission means is completed, said prize exchanger for reading the remaining amount data or remaining count data on said recording medium and returning the remaining amount of money and paying out a prize to the player in response to the remaining count.
17. (Added) A game apparatus having a game machine main unit for executing games with game play media, wherein the improvement comprises:
a game play media dispenser responsive to a dispensing instruction for dispensing a specified number of game play media outside said game apparatus;
a validator having a slot for receiving cash and determining an amount of cash received through the slot;
a loan switch to specify a loan amount to be spent to borrow game play media;
means for subtracting a loan amount specified with said loan switch from the received amount determined by said validator to obtain a remaining amount and managing the remaining amount;
a remaining amount display section for displaying the remaining amount managed by said remaining amount management means;
loan control means for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount specified with said loan switch;
an adjustment switch for specifying the end of game playing and making adjustment; and a dispenser for recording, upon receipt of information of the remaining amount managed by said remaining amount management means at the end of game playing, the information on a provided recording medium and dispensing the recording medium.
18. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein:
said loan control means instructs said game play media dispenser to dispense game play media in a number corresponding to the loan amount determined by said loan amount determination means within the limit of the remaining amount managed by said remaining amount management means.
19. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 18 further including:

a tray for holding game play media to be used to play games, said game machine main unit for executing games with the game play media in said tray and outputting a winning signal to pay out game play media for a winning game play if a given condition is satisfied when a game is being played.
20. (Added) The game apparatus as claimed in claim 19 further including:
win control means responsive to the winning signal output from said game machine main unit for a winning game play for instructing said game play media dispenser to dispense as many game play media as the number indicated by the winning signal.
CA002126560A 1991-12-25 1992-12-25 Game apparatus and game system Abandoned CA2126560A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3-343692 1991-12-25
JP3343692A JP2869830B2 (en) 1991-12-25 1991-12-25 Gaming equipment

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US (1) US5577959A (en)
EP (1) EP0619129B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2869830B2 (en)
KR (1) KR940703701A (en)
AU (1) AU662380B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2126560A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69218793T2 (en)
WO (1) WO1993012851A1 (en)

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EP0619129A4 (en) 1995-02-08
JPH05168759A (en) 1993-07-02
JP2869830B2 (en) 1999-03-10
DE69218793T2 (en) 1997-08-28
AU662380B2 (en) 1995-08-31
WO1993012851A1 (en) 1993-07-08
EP0619129A1 (en) 1994-10-12
US5577959A (en) 1996-11-26
DE69218793D1 (en) 1997-05-07
KR940703701A (en) 1994-12-12
AU3172493A (en) 1993-07-28
EP0619129B1 (en) 1997-04-02

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