Drawing machine and game apparatus using the same

The present invention relates to a drawing machine and a game apparatus using the same that carries out a drawing in accordance with winning-probability of respective drawing-objects determined by the winning-probability data and determines a winning-object in a plurality of drawing-objects.

A drawing machine that determines a winning-object in a plurality of drawing-objects is widely utilized in a wide range of fields. For example, a bingo game machine in Patent Document 1 has been known as a game apparatus utilizing the drawing machine. The bingo game machine described in Patent Document 1 is placed in an amusement hall such as a game center, and can be simultaneously used by a plurality of players (participants of drawing). With this bingo game machine, a bingo card image (an array image) arrayed in a square matrix consisting of 5 by 5 rows, in which a number image (a drawing-object image) is disposed by an array unique to each player, is displayed in a displaying unit set up for each player. After that, a winning number (winning-object) is determined from twenty-five numbers (drawing-objects) from “1” through “25” by a drawing machine, and display patterns of winning numbers and numbers other than the winning numbers are made different from each other in the bingo card images of the respective players. By repeating the above operation by a predetermined number of times, when all the numbers in any one of the longitudinal direction, the horizontal direction and the diagonal direction are drawn on the bingo card image, BINGO is established, and allotment is paid to the player.

In the drawing machine such as utilized in the bingo game machine, it is important to make a participant of drawing understand that a drawing is carried out fairly. Therefore, the bingo game machine described in Patent Document 1 utilizes a drawing machine carrying out so-called physical drawing. In detail, the drawing machine used in the bingo game machine is composed of a supply hole of a ball, one revolution body having a surface portion on which the ball rolls, a collecting unit provided with a plurality of pockets for collecting the ball. The revolution body is rotated on a fixed plane by a revolution driving mechanism. The revolution body makes the ball supplied from the supply hole roll irregularly on the surface portion and spring out. The twenty-four pockets are provided with a periphery of the revolution body along circumferential direction. Therefore, the ball rolling on the revolution body along circumferential direction enters into either pocket and is collected. Either of number “1” through “25” is allotted to the each pocket respectively, a number allotted to the pocket into which the ball has been entered is determined as the winning-object. According to the drawing machine carrying out thus physical drawing, since participants of drawing can understand definitely a process of the drawing, the participants of drawing can understand easily that the drawing is carried out fairly.

However, in the drawing machine carrying out thus physical drawing, there is a defect in that degree of variation when winning-probability of respective drawing-objects is changed is low.

That is, in an example of the drawing machine described in Patent Document 1, for example, if a size of the pockets is changed by using driving mechanism or a number allotted to the pockets is changed, it is possible to change the winning-probability of respective drawing-objects. However, the size and the allocable number of the pocket are restricted physically. Therefore, in a restricted range, it is necessary to change the winning-probability of respective drawing-objects, whereby a degree of variation for changing the winning-probability is low.

On the other hand, conventionally, a drawing machine carrying out so-called computer drawing has been known, by which winning-objects are determined by executing a drawing program in accordance with winning-probability of respective drawing-objects determined by winning-probability data. In the drawing machine carrying out thus computer drawing, since the winning-probability of each drawing-object is changed freely by changing the winning-probability data, a degree of variation for changing the winning-probability is high.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2001-161889

However, in conventional drawing machines carrying out the computer drawing, there is problem in that there is no room where participants of the drawing who participates in the drawing intervene in a process of the drawing.

In view of the above-described problem, the present invention realizes and provides a drawing machine and a game apparatus using the same by which participants of drawing can intervene in a process of drawing.

As an aspect of the present invention, it is listed that a drawing machine for determining a winning-object from a plurality of drawing-objects includes: a winning-probability data storage unit for storing winning-probability data showing respective winning-probabilities of the plurality of drawing-objects; a drawing unit for carrying out drawings in accordance with the winning-probabilities of the respective drawing-objects determined by the winning-probability data stored in the winning-probability data storage unit and determining the winning-object from the plurality of drawing-objects; an operation unit operated by a participant of the drawing; a desired drawing-object determination unit for determining a desired drawing-object which the participant of drawing desires to win or not win, from the plurality of drawing-objects based on an operation of the operation unit; and a winning-probability data changing unit for changing the winning-probability data stored in the winning-probability data storage unit so that a winning-probability of the desired drawing-object determined by the desired drawing-object determination unit is changed.

In the drawing machine, the desired drawing-object which is desired to win or not win by the participant of drawing is determined from the plurality of drawing-objects based on the operation when the participant of drawing operates the operation unit, a winning-probability of the desired drawing-object is changed. Therefore, a result of the drawing can reflect a desire of the participant of the drawing. Also, it is possible to determine appropriately in consideration of usage of the result of the drawing, etc. how to change the winning-probability in accordance with a desire of the participant. For example, with respect to the desired drawing-object that is desired to win by the participant, the winning-probability may be changed to increase or may be changed to decrease. Also, for example, with respect to the desired drawing-object that is desired to not win by the participant, the winning-probability may be changed to increase or may be changed to decrease.

Also, the drawing machine may further include: a winning-probability image displaying unit for displaying a winning-probability image showing the winning-probabilities of the respective drawing-objects determined by the winning-probability data stored in the winning-probability data storage unit; and a winning-probability displaying control unit for changing the winning-probability image displayed on the winning-probability image displaying unit, when the winning-probability data changing unit changes the winning-probability data, so as to correspond to the changed winning-probability data.

In the drawing machine, the participant of the drawing can understand visually that the winning-probability data is changed by the winning-probability data changing unit, by looking at the winning-probability image. Thereby, the participant of the drawing can check easily that the winning-probability data is changed in accordance with an own desire.

Also, the drawing machine may further include: a communication unit for communicating data with a communication terminal having a data communicating function via a network; and a transmission unit for transmitting data for displaying, on a displaying unit of the communication terminal, a winning-probability image showing winning-probabilities of the respective drawing-objects determined by the winning-probability data stored in the winning-probability data storage unit, via the communication unit to the communication terminal, wherein the transmission unit may transmit data for changing the winning-probability image displayed on the displaying unit of the communication terminal, when the winning-probability data changing unit changes the winning-probability data, so as to correspond to the changed winning-probability data.

In the drawing machine, the participant of the drawing can understand visually that the winning-probability data is changed by the winning-probability data changing unit, by looking at the winning-probability image displayed on the displaying unit of the own communication terminal wherever there is the participant in a place that can execute data communication with the present drawing machine. Therefore, the participant can check easily that the winning-probability data is changed in accordance with an own desire wherever there is the participant in a place that can execute data communication with the present drawing machine. Also, as the communication terminal, a communication terminal being composing of at least a displaying unit can be used, for example a mobile phone or a personal computer that can execute data communication via the Internet, etc. can be enumerated.

In addition, in the drawing machine, the winning-probability image may have image areas corresponding to the respective drawing-objects, and a difference of sizes of the respective image areas may correspond to a difference of the winning-probabilities of the respective drawing-objects.

In the drawing machine, the participant of the drawing can know a difference of the winning-probabilities of the respective drawing-objects by a difference of sizes of the respective image areas composing the winning-probability image. Therefore, since the participant can understand visually a difference of the winning-probabilities of the respective drawing-objects, it is easier that the participant understands the difference.

Also, the drawing machine may further include: a communication unit for communicating data with a communication terminal having a data communicating function via a network, wherein the desired drawing-object determination unit may determine the desired drawing-object which the participant of the drawing desires to win or not win, from the plurality of drawing-objects, based on an operation content of the operation unit of the communication terminal, which is received by the communication unit in place of an operation content of the operation unit of the drawing machine.