| Game system and information management apparatus -> Monitor Keywords |
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Game system and information management apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Credit/debit Monitoring Or Manipulation (e.g., Game Entry, Betting, Prize Level, Etc.), Pool Amount (e.g., Jackpot, Etc.)Game system and information management apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060287076, Game system and information management apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-145111 filed on May 18, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The present invention relates to a game system and information management apparatus, and more particularly to a game system and information management apparatus which actualizes a so-called jackpot function. [0004] 2. Related Art [0005] Presently, among the gaming machines installed in a so-called game center, casino and the like, there are some which adopt a system which is called a jackpot system. The jackpot system is a system whereby values such as medals or coins (hereafter referred to as "playing values") used in the gaming machines are accumulated in a fixed proportion and, when prescribed conditions such as the occurrence of a win by selection have been established, some of the playing values accumulated are paid to any one of the gaming machines or a player playing on the gaming machine. As the player can obtain not only a playing value which can be obtained in a game on the gaming machine but also a playing value which can be obtained on the jackpot system, the jackpot system has the feature of further increasing player's willingness to play. [0006] In such a jackpot system, the system has been proposed whereby, when the amount of playing values accumulated reaches a predetermined amount, by granting some kind of privilege to a player lastly involved in thus reaching the predetermined amount, a new playability is provided and player's expectations are increased (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-267428). In such a system, the predetermined amount is predicted by the player, whereby it is expected to attract the interest of a player other than a player actually playing and evoke the desire to play. [0007] However, in the aforementioned existing game system, the predetermined amount cannot be known unless the player actually plays, and even in the case of being finally involved in reaching the predetermined amount, the player cannot always obtain the playing values accumulated. Therefore, there is the problem that the existing game has not necessarily led to evoking the desire to play in a player other than a player actually playing. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the invention is to provide a game system and information management apparatus which can, as well as evoking the desire to play in a new player, increase the interest of a current player in a game. [0009] The invention is a game system comprising a plurality of gaming machines and an information management apparatus which collects and manages information concerning the plurality of gaming machines, the information management apparatus including: a selection section which carries out a selection relating to a payout of a cumulative playing value obtained by adding a prescribed proportion of playing values which correspond to playing operations on the gaming machines; a storage module which stores a plurality of selection probabilities relating to the payout of the cumulative playing value; a control section which designates a selection probability stored in the storage module; and a notifying section which carries out a notification corresponding to the selection probability designated by the control section, wherein the control section, when prescribed conditions have been fulfilled, designates a selection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than a current win probability. [0010] According to this configuration, when the prescribed conditions, such as the condition that the value of the cumulative playing value exceeds a fixed value, have been fulfilled, the control section designates a selection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than a current win probability. In response thereto, the notifying section carries out the notification corresponding to the selection probability designated. By this means, as the notification, which corresponds to the selection probability having a higher cumulative playing value win probability than the current one, is carried out, it is possible, through attracting the interest of a new player, to evoke the desire to play in the new player. Also, by increasing the probability of being able to obtain the cumulative playing value, it is possible to attract even the interest of a current player and also to arouse his or her gambling spirit, thus making it possible to increase the interest of the current player in a game. [0011] In the game system, the configuration may be such that the storage module stores a selection probability used at a normal time to pay out the cumulative playing value, a selection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than the selection probability used at the normal time, and contents for which a notification is raised by the notifying section in accordance with each of the selection probabilities. In this case, as the storage module stores a selection probability used at the normal time and a selection probability having a higher cumulative playing value win probability than the selection probability used at the normal time, it is possible for the control section to easily designate a selection probability used by the selection section. Also, as the control section can easily specify the notification contents corresponding to the selection probability designated by the control section, the notification corresponding to the selection probability designated by the control section can be carried out by simple control. [0012] Also, in the game system, it is preferable that the storage module stores a plurality of selection probabilities having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than the selection probability used at the normal time. In this case, by designating selection probabilities having a higher cumulative playing value win probability in a gradated manner, it is possible to increase the cumulative playing value win probability in a gradated manner. By this means, a new player, whose interest has not been attracted by only increasing the cumulative playing value win probability one step, can be prompted to play. [0013] Furthermore, in the game system, it can be considered that the control section, when the value of the cumulative playing value has exceeded a predetermined fixed value, designates a selection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than the current win probability, or that the control section, when a number of players on the plurality of gaming machine falls below a predetermined fixed number, designates a selection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than the current win probability. By changing the selection probability in accordance with such an occasion, it is possible to simplify the control involved in the change of the selection probability. Also, in the former case, as the cumulative playing value win probability is increased when the value of the cumulative playing value has exceeded the fixed value, by setting the fixed value to be somewhat high, the gambling spirit of a new player can be aroused, and the effect of evoking the desire to play in the new player can be further hoped for. In the latter case, as the cumulative playing value win probability is increased when the number of players has fallen below the fixed number, the operating rate of the game system by the players who have been prompted to play by the increase of the win probability can be increased. [0014] Also, the invention is an information management apparatus which collects and manages information concerning a plurality of gaming machines connected together via a communication network, comprising: a selection section which carries out a selection relating to a payout of a cumulative playing value obtained by adding a prescribed proportion of playing values which correspond to playing operations on the gaming machines; a storage module which stores a plurality of selection probabilities relating to the payout of the cumulative playing value; a control section which designates a selection probability stored in the storage module; and a notifying section which carries out a notification corresponding to the selection probability designated by the control section, wherein the control section, when prescribed conditions have been fulfilled, designates a selection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than a current win probability. [0015] According to this configuration, when the prescribed conditions, such as the condition that the value of the cumulative playing value exceeds the fixed value, have been fulfilled, the control section designates a selection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than a current win probability. In response thereto, the notifying section carries out the notification corresponding to the selection probability designated. By this means, as the notification, which corresponds to the selection probability having a higher cumulative playing value win probability than the current one, is carried out, it is possible, through attracting the interest of a new player, to evoke the desire to play in the new player. Also, by increasing the probability of being able to obtain the cumulative playing value, it is possible to attract even the interest of a current player and also to arouse his or her gambling spirit, thus making it possible to increase the interest of the current player in a game. [0016] According to the invention, it is possible to evoke the desire to play in a new player and also to increase the interest of a current player in a game. [0017] Additional objects and advantage of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE INVENTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principals of the invention. [0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a game system according to an embodiment of the invention; [0020] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of a management section in a management apparatus of the game system; Continue reading about Game system and information management apparatus... Full patent description for Game system and information management apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Game system and information management apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Game system and information management apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Value token dispensing system and method Next Patent Application: Progressive gaming system Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Game system and information management apparatus patent info. 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