Patent Publication Number: US-8118656-B2

Title: Game device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a game device, more specifically, a game device for playing a medal game in which game players charge medals to play a game, and medals are discharged to the game players. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     One of the medal game devices is the so-called medal pusher. In the medal pusher, the medals inserted by game players are stored on a table, the medals stored on the table are pushed out by a medal pusher to pay back the pushed-out medals to the game players. In such medal game devices, the game players do not win many medals but doe not lose many medals. Such medal game devices are not amusing enough and do not incite the gambling spirit of the game players. 
     Recently, medal game device including several satellites around one large casing has increased. In such medal game device, new ideas that the usual medal pusher game is played by the respective satellites, and a common game all the satellites take part in is played to thereby pay out many medals, etc. are used. 
     Patent Reference 1: Specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 2004-113563 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, in the conventional medal game device, even a game common among the satellites is played independently by the respective satellites. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a game device which makes it possible to play a closely related game among the satellites. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     The game device according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the game device which can communicate information between a main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the main device comprises: a first memory means storing data of participation states of said plurality of satellite devices in a main game and game orders thereof; a second memory means storing chessman position data indicating a position of a chessman in the main game; and a main control means which lots for one of the satellite devices to participate in the main game, based on the data stored in the first memory means, adds a value based on a result of the lottery, executes prescribed processing based on data stored in the second storage means, to which the value has been added, lots for another satellite device of the turn next to said one satellite to participate in the main game, based on the data stored in the first memory means, adds a value based on a result of the lottery to the data stored in the second storage means, and executes prescribed processing, based said added data. 
     In the game device described above, it is possible that wherein each satellite device comprises a satellite control means which executes processing of a satellite game, based on an operation signal from an operation means operated by a player, and when the satellite device has become qualified to participate in the main game, based on a result of the satellite game, executes the processing of transmitting a signal of the satellite having become qualified to participate in the main game to the main device, the main control means of the main device executes the processing of receiving the signal transmitted from the satellite control means of the first memory means, and executes the process of making said satellite device participated in the first storage means and renewing the game order. 
     In the game device described above, it is possible that the main control means of the main device, when the prescribed processing based on the data stored in the second memory means is for ending the main game, executes the processing of transmitting to the satellite device a signal of ending the main game, and executes the processing of making the satellite device not participated in the first storage means and renewing the game order, the satellite control means of the satellite device executes the processing of receiving the signal transmitted from the main control means and starting the satellite game. 
     In the above-described game device, it is possible that the main control means of the main device, when the prescribed processing based on the data of the second storage means is for ending the main game, executes the processing transmitting signals of play values obtained in the main game to the satellite device, the satellite control means of the satellite device executes the processing of receiving the signals transmitted from the main control means, and executes the processing of discharging a play value obtained in the main game. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     As described above, according to the present invention, the main device comprises a first memory means storing data of participation states of said a plurality of satellite devices in a main game and a game order thereof; a second memory means storing chessman position data of a chessman position in the main game; and a main control means which lots for one of the satellite devices to participate in the main game, based on the data stored in the first memory means, adds a value based on a result of the lottery, executes prescribed processing based on data stored in the second storage means, to which the value has been added, lots for another satellite device of the turn next to said one satellite to participate in the main game, based on the data stored in the first memory means, adds a value based on a result of the lottery to the data stored in the second storage means and executes prescribed processing, based said added data, whereby the satellites can make the game closely related with each other. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the medal game device according to one embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates the appearance thereof. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the inside of the satellites of the medal game device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a game image of the mini monopoly game in the medal game device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the medal game device according to the embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates the structure thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the game board of the medal game device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are views of the data structures of the table and the various registers in the main game board of the medal game device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart of the big monopoly shift processing of the medal game device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of the big monopoly game processing of the medal game device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
         
           
               10  . . . casing 
               12  . . . big monopoly unit 
               13  . . . annular board 
               14  . . . pointer 
               20  . . . satellite 
               22 A,  22 B . . . medal charge means 
               24  . . . operation button 
               28  . . . medal discharge slot 
               30  . . . fixed table 
               32  . . . movable table 
               34  . . . medal table 
               36  . . . chucker member 
               36   a ,  36   b , . . . ,  36   i  . . . chucker 
               38  . . . display monitor 
               40  . . . medal box 
               42  . . . medal carrying rail 
               44  . . . medal supply unit 
               50  . . . satellite board 
               51  . . . CPU 
               52  . . . system memory 
               54  . . . bus arbiter 
               56  . . . program data memory or storage medium 
               58  . . . BOOTROM 
               60  . . . rendering processor 
               62  . . . graphic memory 
               66  . . . sound processor 
               68  . . . sound memory 
               70  . . . speaker 
               72  . . . communication interface 
               76  . . . peripheral I/F 
               78  . . . peripheral I/F 
               80  . . . main game board 
               86  . . . big monopoly drive means 
               88  . . . main display monitor 
           
         
       
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     An Embodiment 
     The game device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
     The appearance of the medal game device according to the present embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The medal game device includes a casting  10  having a configuration of a vertically bisected regular octahedral pole. 
     (Big Monopoly (Registered Trademark) Unit) 
     A large round roulette-shaped big monopoly unit  12  is disposed at the center of the casing  10 . In the big monopoly unit  12 , 2 front and back revolving annular boards  13  are provided, and at the top of the big monopoly unit  12 , a triangular pointer  14  for pointing measures of the annular boards  13  is provided. 
     Forty measures to be used in the monopoly are drawn at the peripheral edge of the two annular board  13 , and the forty measures correspond to forty partitions drawn at the boundary edge of the square board of the monopoly of the board game. The same partitions are drawn at the corresponding positions of the front annular board  13  and the back annular board  13  so that when the revolving annular boards  13  stop, the pointer  14  can point one and the same partition. 
     At an upper part of the front side of the big monopoly unit  12  inside the annular board  13 , a display monitor  15  is disposed, and displays various information of the big monopoly game. 
     When the player playing in the satellite  20  satisfies a prescribed condition, they play a monopoly game (hereinafter called “big monopoly game”) using the big monopoly unit  12 , which is common among all the players as the main game in which all the satellites  20  can take part in. 
     In the big monopoly game, the players sequentially revolve the annular boards  13 . In accordance with contents of a measure pointed by the pointer  14  when the annular board  13  has stopped, the game proceeds. 
     (Satellite Unit) 
     Respectively on the sides of the front and the back of the big monopoly unit  12  of the casing  10 , 3 satellites  20  are provided, totally 6 satellites  20  are provided. The satellites  20  are partitioned by transparent boards  21 . Characterizing illuminations are provided on the partition boards  21  between the satellites  20 . The illuminations of the partition boards  21  will be detailed later. 
     Each satellite  20  comprises an upper game unit, a middle operation panel unit and a lower medal discharge unit. 
     In the upper game unit, medal charging means  22 A,  22 B are provided left and right. In each satellite  20 , 2 game players can play, but 1 game player may operate the left and the right medal charging means  22 A,  22 B to play the game. 
     In the middle operation panel unit, a plurality operation buttons  24 A,  24 B,  24 C are provided. 
     In the lower medal discharge unit, a medal discharge slot  28  through which medals to be paid back to the game player is provided. The medals discharged by a medal discharging means (not illustrated) are paid out through the medal discharge slot  28 . The medal discharge slot  28  will be detailed later. 
     (Inside of the Satellites) 
     The inside of each satellite  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . On the bottom surface of the game field of the satellite  20 , a fixed table  30  is provided. A movable table  32  which slides reciprocally toward the inside along the fixed table  30  is provided. A medal table  34  for charging medals is provided above the fixed table  30  and the movable table  32 . 
     Inner of the medal table  34 , a chucker member  36  having a plurality of chuckers is provided. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , 9 chuckers are arranged transversely in one row, and most of charge medals from the medal charging means  22 A,  22 B pass through some of the chuckers  36   a ,  36   b , . . . . The medals which have passed through the chuckers  36   a ,  36   b , . . . drop onto the movable table  32 . Medals which have bounced on the partitions between the chuckers  36  roll on the medal table  34  also onto the movable table  32  or onto the fixed table  30 . The game player aims the medal charging means  22 A,  22 B at any one of the chuckers  36   a ,  36   b , . . . so as to pass medals therethrough. 
     Detection means (not illustrated) are provided on the respective chuckers  36   a ,  36   b , . . . of the chucker member  36  and detect whether or not medals charged from the medal charging means  22 A,  22 B have passed the chuckers  36   a ,  36   b, . . . .    
     Immediately behind the chucker member  36 , a display monitor  38  for displaying game images is provided. The length of the chucker member  36  is substantially the length of the lower side of the display monitor  38  and is disposed very near the lower side of the display monitor  38 . On the display monitor  36 , game images and warning images are displayed. A lamp  39  is provided above the display monitor  38 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates examples of the game images. The images of the partitions of the 9 chuckers  36   a ,  36   b , . . . are displayed on the display monitor near the lower side thereof. Thus, display images on the display monitor  38  and the real chucker  36  seem to be continuous to the game players. 
     In the game image, the same game board as the game board of the monopoly is displayed. Players play independently in the respective satellites  20  the monopoly game (hereinafter called “mini monopoly game”) as the satellite game executed in the satellite, in which the respective players play independently, charging medals. 
     A medal box  40  is provided on the left side of the medal table  34 . The medal box  40  has a medal carrying rail  42  for carrying medals, whereby medals are fed to the medal box  40  via the medal carrying rail  42  from the medal supply unit  44 . 
     When a big hit or a middle hit takes place, the medal box  40  is tilted to supply a large number of medals onto the medal table  34 . This repeated several times when a big hit takes place to thereby keep the game player excited. 
     (Structure of the Game Device) 
     The structure of the medal game device according to the present embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     In the present embodiment, on the front and the back of the big monopoly unit  12  of the casing  10 , 3 satellites are respectively provided, totally 6 satellites are provided. 
     In each satellite, a satellite board for generally controlling the medal game device is provided. To the satellite game board  50 , an operation button  24 , the medal charging means  22  for charging medals, the medal discharging means  28  for discharging medals, and the display monitor  38  for displaying game images, etc. are connected. 
     A main game board  80  is provided for generally controlling the medal game device. To the main game board  80 , a big monopoly driving means  86  for revolving the annular boards  13  of the big monopoly unit  12 , and a main display monitor  88  which is the display monitor  15  are connected. 
     The respective satellites  20  are independent of each other and respectively execute the medal game, i.e., the mini monopoly game described above. The main game board  80  monitors states of the respective satellites  20 . The game boards  50  of the respective satellites  20  transmit their own states of each frame to the board  80 , and the main game board  80  monitors their own states for each frame, based on data transmitted from the satellite game board  50 . 
     (Structure of Game Board) 
     The structure of the satellite game boards of the respective satellites  20  and the main game board  80  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The satellite game boards  50  and the main game board  80  have basically the same structure. 
     In each of the game boards  50 ,  80 , a CPU  51  which executes the game program, generally controls the system and makes coordinates calculation for image display, etc., and a system memory (RAM)  52  used as a buffer memory for storing programs and data necessary for the CPU  51  to make the processing are connected commonly to a bus line to be connected to a bus arbiter  54 . The bus arbiter  54  controls the flow of programs and data between the game boards  50  and the respective blocks and devices connected outside. 
     A program data memory storing the game program and data (including image data and music data) or a storage medium (including an optical disc, an optical disc drive, etc. for driving CD-ROMs, etc, which are game storage media), a BOOTROM  58  storing programs and data for driving the game device are connected to the bus arbiter via the bus line. 
     Via the bus arbiter  54 , a rendering processor  60  which reproduces image data (MOVIE) data read from the program data memory or the storage medium  56  and producing images to be displayed corresponding to operations of the players and game progresses, and a graphic memory  62  storing graphic data, etc. necessary for the rendering processor  60  to produced images are connected. Image signal outputted from the rendering processor  60  are converted by a video DAC (not illustrated) from digital signal to analog signals to be displayed on the display monitor  38 . 
     Via the bus arbiter  54 , a sound processor  66  which reproduces music data read from the program data memory or the storage medium  56  and produces effect sounds and sounds corresponding to operations of the players and game progresses, and a sound memory  68  storing sound data, etc. necessary for the sound processor  66  to produce effect sounds and sound are connected. The sound signals outputted from the sound processor  66  are converted by the audio DAC (not illustrated) from digital signals to analog signals to be outputted from a speaker  70 . 
     A communication interface  72  is connected to the bus arbiter  54 . The communication interface  72  is connected to the LAN in the game device. The satellite game boards  50  and the main game board  80  can communicate with each other via LAN cables, etc. 
     To the bus arbiter  54 , operation buttons  24 A- 24 C are connected via a peripheral I/F (interface)  76 . The peripheral I/F  76  outputs signals for controlling the game boards  50  in accordance with operations of the players. 
     To the bus arbiter  54 , the medal charging means  22  and the medal discharging means  28  are connected via the peripheral I/F  76 . The peripheral I/F outputs signals for controlling the medal charging means  22  and the medal discharging means  28  in accordance with operations of the players, etc. 
     A backup memory (not illustrated) is connected to the bus arbiter  54 , and results of the game, etc. are stored in the backup memory. The backup memory may be substituted by the system memory (RAM). 
     (Game Processing) 
     The game processing of the mini monopoly and the big monopoly of the medal game device according to the present embodiment will be detailed with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8 . 
     The mini monopoly game, which is the satellite game, is executed in the respective satellites  20 . The satellite game boards  50  make the game processing of the mini monopoly game. 
     The big monopoly game, which is the main game, is executed as a game common among the respective satellites  20 . The main game board  80  makes the game processing of the big monopoly game. 
     The basic flow of the game processing of the medal game device according to the present embodiment will be explained. Players play the mini monopoly game of special rules independently in the respective satellites  20 , charging medals. 
     When the player in a satellite  20  satisfies a prescribed condition, the player can take part in the big monopoly game which is common among all the players using the big monopoly unit  12 . Prescribed conditions for shifting to the big monopoly are suitably set. 
     For example, in the mini monopoly game, the players can build hotels. Every time when a player builds his own hotel, 1 house-shaped lamp  39  is lit. When the player has built  8  hotels, and all 8 house-shaped lamps have been lit, the player can take part in the big monopoly game. 
     In the mini monopoly game, a slot is provided in each game board at the center. Under a prescribed condition, a mini game in which the slot is revolved is executed. In the slot, when 7 and 7, for example, are paired, the player in the satellite can take part in the big monopoly game. 
     In the big monopoly game, the players sequentially operate to revolve the annular board  13 . In accordance with contents of a partition pointed by the pointed  14  when the revolving annular board  13  is stopped, the monopoly game of a special rule proceeds. 
     In the big monopoly game of the present embodiment, respective chessmen are not provided for the respective satellites  20 , but characteristically, only 1 pointer  14  corresponding to a chessman is provided commonly among all the participating satellites. The player in each satellite  20  advances the annular board  13  from a partition the pointer was caused to point by the operation of the preceding player by a number of pips of a die thrown by himself. Then, the player in the satellite  20  of the next turn advances the game with a partition to which the current player has advanced partitions as the start. 
     Thus, from which partition the players start depends not only on a partition of the die they throw but also on partitions of the die thrown by the players in the other satellites  20 . The players watch game results of the respective satellites and play the game closely related with the satellites. 
     The players playing the big monopoly game shift to the mini monopoly game under a prescribed condition. The prescribed condition for the players shifting to the mini monopoly game is suitably set. 
     For example, a partition pointed by the pointer  14  in the big monopoly game indicates “GO TO JAIL” “IN JAIL”, the player who has hit the partition returns to the mini monopoly. 
     When a partition pointed by the pointer  14  in the big monopoly game is a super jackpot which a large number of medals stored in the partition are discharged at once, the player who has hit the partition returns to the mini monopoly of the satellite  20 . 
     (Game Data of Main Game Board) 
     Various game data of the main game board  80  will be explained. 
     In the system memory  52 , which is the memory means of the CPU  51  of the main game board  80 , game data necessary to execute the game are stored. Examples of the game data are illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
     The satellite table (a first memory means) illustrated in  FIG. 6A  shows states of the respective satellites for executing the big monopoly game. The CPU  51  of the main game board  80  executes the big monopoly game, always referring to the satellite stable. 
     In the satellite table, as illustrated in  FIG. 6A , the satellite IDs of the satellites  20 , the participation flags which indicate whether or not the respective satellites  20  are participating in the big monopoly game, the die throw order of the respective satellites  20  throwing the die in the big monopoly game, and numbers of medals the respective satellites  20  have obtained are stored. 
     The various registers illustrated in  FIG. 6B  are for indicating states of the respective satellites for execution the big monopoly game. The CPU  51  of the main game board  80  executes the big monopoly game, referring to the various registers. 
     As the various registers, as illustrated in  FIG. 6B , the participant number register which indicates a number of the satellites taking part in the big monopoly game, the chessman position pointer which is a partition position memory (a second memory means) indicating a partition position of the annular board  13  pointed by the pointer in the big monopoly game, a current satellite indicating the satellite ID of a satellite which is currently in the turn of throwing the die in the big monopoly game, a number of medals to be discharged to a satellite in the big monopoly, and the end flag indicating the end of the big monopoly game are stored. 
     (Processing of Shifting to Big Monopoly Game) 
     The processing of the players in the satellites who have played the mini monopoly game shifting to the big monopoly game will be explained with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 7 . 
     It is assumed that, at the start, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the CPU  51 , which is the control means of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  is execution the mini monopoly game, and the CPU  51 , which is the control means of the game board  50  of Satellite (B)  20  is executing the mini monopoly game. 
     It is assumed that, at a certain time, the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  detects that a condition for shifting to the big monopoly game has been attained, e.g., all 8 hotels have been built, and all 8 lamps  39  have been lit, or “7” and “7” have been paired in the slot disposed at the center of the game board (Step A 101 ), the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  transmits the big monopoly shift information that Satellite (A)  20  will shift to the big monopoly game together with his own satellite ID to the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  (Step A 102 ). 
     Next, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  receives the satellite ID and the big monopoly shift information transmitted from the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  (Step M 101 ). 
     Then, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  makes the satellite participation processing (Step M 102 ). The CPU  52  of the main game board  80  adds 1 to the participant number register of the system memory  52  of the main game board  80 , turning on the participation flag of the satellite ID of Satellite (A)  20  of the satellite table and renews a die throw order of the satellite ID of Satellite (A)  20  of the satellite table with a number of the participant number register. 
     When the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  has completed the satellite addition processing, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  transmits an addition completion signal to the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  (Step M 103 ). 
     Then, the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  receives the addition completion signal transmitted from the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  (Step A 103 ) and executes the shift processing for Satellite (A)  20  (Step A 104 ). Satellite (A)  20  finishes the mini monopoly game and shifts to the usual pusher game in the mode of the big monopoly game and is ready to receive signals form the main game board  80 . 
     (Big Monopoly Game Processing) 
     The big monopoly game processing by the main game board  80  will be explained with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 8 . 
     First, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  makes the start processing for starting the big monopoly game (Step M 201 ). The satellite ID of the die throw order  1  in the satellite table is set in the current satellite register. 
     Next, the CPU  52  of the main game board  80  transmit a play start signal to the satellite (A)  20  of the ID set in the current satellite register (Step M 202 ). 
     Next, the CPU  52  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  receives the play start signal from the CPU  51  of the main game board  90  (Step A 201 ). 
     Then, when the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  detects a start button input by the player (Step A 202 ), the CPU  51  transmits a big monopoly start signal to the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  (Step A 203 ). 
     Next, when the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  detects the big monopoly start signal transmitted from the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  (Step M 203 ), the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  executes the sugoroku processing in the big monopoly game (Step M 204 ). The CPU  51  of the main game board  80  throws the die, based on a random number, adds a number of pips of the die to the chessman position pointer and revolves the annular board  13  by the big monopoly drive means  36  so as to point the pointer  14  to a partition corresponding to the chessman position pointer. 
     Next, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  makes the partition processing (Step M 205 ). The CPU  51  of the main game board  90  adds a medal number corresponding to the pointed partition to a won medal number in the satellite table of Satellite (A) of the ID in the current satellite. 
     Then, the CPU of the main game board  80  judges whether or not the partition pointed by the pointer  14  corresponding to the chessman position pointer is the partition for ending the big monopoly game (Step M 206 ). The CPU  51  of the main game board  80  judges whether the pointed partition is “GO TO JAIL” or “IN JAIL” or the super jackpot. When the partition is not for ending the big monopoly game, the end processing in Step M 207  which will be described next is skipped. 
     When the partition is for ending the big monopoly game, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  executes the big monopoly end processing (Step M 207 ). The CPU  51  of the main game board  20  turns off the participation flag of the current satellite in the satellite table, subtracts 1 from the participant number register and sets a won medal number of the current satellite in the satellite table in the medal discharge number register and turns on the end flag. 
     Next, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  transmits the data of the won medal number, the data of the medal discharge number and the data of the end flag of the current satellite in the satellite table to Satellite (A)  20  of the ID set in the current satellite register (Step M 208 ). 
     Next, the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  receives the data of the won medal number, the data of the discharged medal number and the data of the end flag from the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  (Step A 204 ). 
     Next, the CPU  52  of the game board of Satellite (A)  20  makes the processing of ending the big monopoly game in Satellite (A)  20 , based on the data of the won medal number, the data of the discharged medal number and the data of the end flag the CPU  51  has received (Step A 205 ). 
     As the end processing, the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (A)  20  makes effect displays, as of, e.g., “Congratulations! OO number of medals won”, on the display monitor  38 . 
     Next, the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite discharges medals from the medal discharge means  28 , based on the data of the discharged medal number and the data of the end flag while making on the display monitor  38  effect displays, as of, e.g., “Sorry! Big monopoly ended! OO number of medals paid!” “Congratulations! Superjackpot! OOO number of medals paid!”. 
     Only when the big monopoly game ends, in Step M 207 , a discharge medal number is set, and the end flag is turned on. Unless the big monopoly game ends, no value is set in the discharge medal number, and the end flag is off. Neither the medal discharge nor the end effect display is made. 
     Then, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  makes the next play processing for the player of Satellite (B)  20  of the next turn playing the big monopoly game (Step M 209 ). 
     The CPU  51  of the main game board  80  subtracts 1 from the die order of all the satellites in the satellite table, and in the die order of a satellite whose die order has resultantly become 0 and whose participation flag is on, sets a value of the participant number register to renew the die order. 
     At this time, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  does not change a value of the chessman position pointer but retains the value as it is. Thus, in Satellite (B)  20  of the next turn, the big monopoly game is played based on the current chessman position pointer. 
     Next, for Satellite (B)  20  of the next turn, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  makes the start processing (Step M 210 ). The satellite ID of the die order  1  in the satellite table is set in the current satellite register. 
     Then, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  transmits a play start signal to Satellite (B)  20  of the ID set in the current satellite register (Step M 211 ). 
     Next, the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (B)  20  receives the play start signal from the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  (Step B 201 ). 
     Then, when the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (B)  20  detects the start button input by the player (Step B 202 ), the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (B)  20  transmits a big monopoly start signal to the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  (Step B 203 ). 
     Then, when the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  receives the big monopoly start signal transmitted from the CPU  51  of the game board  50  of Satellite (B)  20  (Step M 212 ), the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  executes the sugoroku processing in the big monopoly game (Step M 213 ). The CPU  51  of the main game board  80  throws the die, based on a random number, adds a number of pips of the die to the partition pointer and revolves the annular board  13  by the big monopoly drive means  36  so as to point the pointer  14  to a partition corresponding to the chessman position pointer. 
     Subsequently, the CPU  51  of the main game board  80  makes the same partition processing, judgment processing and end processing as in Steps M 205 , M 206  and M 208  and further makes the processing to a satellite  20  of the next turn by the same next play processing as in Step M 209 . 
     As described above, according to the present embodiment, only 1 pointer corresponding to the chessman is provided commonly among all participating satellites, and the players of the respective satellites advance the game, based on a play result of the preceding satellite, whereby the respective players have results influenced by their own plays but also by the other player&#39; plays. The players can play the game, watching their own game results and related closely with the satellites. 
     Modified Embodiments 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can cover other various modifications. 
     For example, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the medal game device for playing the medal pusher game but may be applied not only to the medal pusher game but also to game device for making other medal games. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the medal game device using medals. However, the present invention may be applied to any game device as long as the game device use a physical body having play values in the game, i.e., the physical body is not essentially medals and can be pinball balls, tokens, coins, prizes, etc. 
     In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the game device which uses no information storage medium, such as IC card, etc. However, the present invention may be applied to game devices using information storage medium, such as IC cards, magnetic cards, etc. and to game devices which use memories of other game devices, the memories in the satellites of the game device, and memories of game severs which can be communicated with the game devices via internets. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention relates to a game device for playing a medal game in which players charge medals to play a game, and medals are discharged to the players, and is applicable to game devices in which the satellites can play a game closely related with one another.