JP2000037500A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such problem of game machines of the prior art that the kinds of symbols that can be arranged on one reel are limited, leading to decrease in number of kinds of winning combinations of symbols and therefore decreased fun of the game. SOLUTION: A first reel 23 and a second reel 24 variably displays three symbols each on first and second lines, and a third reel 26 variably displays five symbols on a third line. Three winning lines L1, L2, L3 on which the symbols displayed on the lines of the reels 23-25 are linked together in the line direction, i.e., in the horizontal direction to determine a combination of three symbols and two winning lines L4, L5 on which the symbols displayed on the lines are diagonally linked together to determine a combination of three symbols are marked on display windows 26-28. Further, two winning lines L6, L7 on which, of the five symbols displayed on the third line, the symbols not adjoining to the three symbols displayed on the second line, i.e., the symbols at upper and lower ends, are aligned to determined the combination of three symbols, are marked thereon.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine in which when a predetermined symbol combination is stopped and displayed on a winning line by a variable display device, a prize is generated according to the symbol combination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of gaming machine, for example, there is a slot machine shown in FIG. When the start lever 1 is operated by the player, the three reels 2, 3, and 4 arranged side by side start to rotate. On the outer peripheral surface of each of the reels 2, 3, 4, 21 various symbols are drawn, and these symbols are provided on three display windows 5, 6, 7 provided on the front panel 8.
, Three of the reels 2, 3 and 4 are observed in a row. After that, the stop buttons 9, 10, 1 by the player
When 1 is operated, the rotation of each of the reels 2, 3, and 4 is stopped according to the operation timing of the stop buttons 9, 10, and 11. At this time, when a predetermined symbol combination is stopped and displayed on the activated pay line out of the pay lines 12 to 16 drawn in the display windows 5, 6, and 7, a prize is generated. The number of medals is paid out from the payout port 17 to the tray 18.

[0003] The winning lines are connected to the symbols displayed on each of the reels 2 to 4 in the row direction (horizontal direction) to determine a symbol combination composed of three symbols.
5, 14 and two winning lines 15, 16 for connecting the symbols displayed on the reels 2 to 4 diagonally (diagonally) to determine a symbol combination consisting of three symbols. is there. For these pay lines 12 to 16, predetermined pay lines are activated in accordance with the number of medals inserted into the insertion slot 19.

The stopping positions of the rotating reels 2 to 4 are as follows.
The symbols in the prize mode specified by the internal lottery of the gaming machine are controlled so as to be stopped and displayed on the activated prize line. In other words, when the stop buttons 9 to 11 are operated, the symbol displayed on the activated pay line is not a symbol corresponding to the winning mode, but is, for example, a symbol for four frames displayed subsequently on the activated pay line. If there is a symbol corresponding to the winning mode, reel control for drawing the symbol is performed so that the symbol corresponding to the winning mode is stopped and displayed on the activated winning line.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine, as described above, the pull-in control of the reels 2 to 4 is performed within the range of 4 frames, and each of the reels 2 to 4 is controlled.
Since 21 symbols are drawn on the outer circumference of the reels, in order to reliably perform the reel pull-in control of the symbols according to a certain winning mode, the winnings are made every 4 frames at the maximum on the outer circumferences of the reels 2 to 4. You have to place the role symbols. Therefore, it is necessary to provide at least 4 to 5 winning combination symbols on one reel.

For example, a reel band 2a, shown in FIG.
When the reels 3a and 4a are stuck on the outer circumferences of the reels 2, 3 and 4, and the respective stop buttons 9 to 11 are sequentially pressed, the reel pull-in control of the bonus winning pattern "MAGNUM" is performed on the second reel. In order to perform the operation reliably, the second reel band 3a
It is necessary to provide five symbols "MAGNUM" as shown in FIG. Here, the forward push means that each of the stop buttons 9 to 11 is in the order of the first reel 2, the second reel 3, and the third reel 4.
Is operated. Also, the design "MAGNUM"
Is a pattern in which a picture of a pistol, a black painted number 7 and a character MAGNUM are drawn in an overlapping manner.

For this reason, in the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine, the types of symbols that can be arranged on one reel are limited, and accordingly, the types of winning symbol combinations are also reduced. For example, a payout table when the above reel bands 2a to 4a are used is shown in FIG. C
A small winning prize mode symbol combination at the time of a department or a general game is shown in the section D. In this case, there are only two symbols, "bell" and "bullet", except for the replay "plum", which are used in the general game. Therefore, in a general game in which the number of games is usually the largest, a small hit prize is generated only by two types of symbol combinations. As a result, conventional gaming machines have a lack of interest in gaming.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a winning mode determining means for determining a winning mode of a game by random lottery, and various symbols can be changed into a plurality of rows. A variable display device to be displayed, a plurality of winning lines that determine the symbol combination by connecting the symbols displayed in each column, and a predetermined number of symbols corresponding to the winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means. And a stop display control means for stopping and displaying on a winning line in the variable display device, wherein the variable display device includes at least one of the columns and a symbol variably displayed on the remaining columns. It is characterized in that the number of symbols larger than the number of the symbols is variably displayed, and a winning line for determining a symbol combination through a symbol that is not adjacent to the symbol in the remaining column among the symbols in the at least one column is further provided. .

For example, the variable display device variably displays various symbols in three columns, and at least one of these columns is displayed.
Five symbols are variably displayed in columns, and three symbols are variably displayed in the remaining columns. The winning line is a symbol combination consisting of three symbols by connecting the symbols displayed in each column in the row direction. The two winning lines that determine the symbol combination consisting of three symbols by connecting the symbols displayed in each of the three winning lines and the columns in the diagonal direction, and the five symbols in the at least one column, It consists of at least two winning lines that determine a symbol combination consisting of three symbols through symbols that are not adjacent to the three symbols in the remaining rows.

According to this configuration, at least five symbols are displayed in one row, and two winning lines passing through two of the symbols are further provided, so that the symbol display area is reduced. Along with the enlargement, a winning line is set in this enlarged area. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the variable display devices in one row in order to reliably perform the reel pull-in control of a symbol according to a certain winning mode. The number of the winning mode symbols can be smaller than that in the related art. Therefore, it is possible to provide more types of symbols in each row of the variable display device.

[0011] The present invention also provides a prize mode determining means for determining a prize mode of a game by random lottery, a variable display device for variably displaying various symbols in a plurality of columns, and a symbol displayed in each column. And a plurality of winning lines that determine a symbol combination by connecting the symbols, and a stop display control unit that draws symbols corresponding to the winning mode determined by the winning mode determining unit on the pay line within a predetermined number of ranges and stops and displays the symbols. In the gaming machine configured to include a symbol, the variable display device variably displays one more symbol in each column, and connects these symbols in the row direction to determine one symbol line and It is characterized in that it further has two winning lines that determine a symbol combination in an oblique direction through the symbols at the ends of these symbols.

For example, the variable display device variably displays four symbols in three columns, and the winning line is a symbol composed of three symbols by connecting symbols displayed in each column in a row direction. It consists of four winning lines for determining the combination and four winning lines for determining the symbol combination consisting of three symbols by connecting the symbols displayed in each column diagonally.

According to this configuration, the symbol display area of the variable display device is enlarged, and a pay line is set in the enlarged area. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the variable display devices in one row in order to reliably perform the reel pull-in control of a symbol according to a certain winning mode. The number of the winning mode symbols can be smaller than that in the related art. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to provide more types of symbols in each row of the variable display device.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment in which a gaming machine according to the present invention is applied to a slot machine will be described.

FIG. 1 shows a slot machine 2 according to this embodiment.
1 is a perspective view of FIG.

Behind the front panel 22 of the slot machine 21, three reels 23, 2 constituting a variable display device are provided.
4, 25 are provided rotatably. Each reel 23,
On the outer peripheral surfaces of the symbols 24 and 25, symbol rows composed of a plurality of types of symbols (hereinafter referred to as symbols) are drawn. These symbols are displayed on the left display window 26 on the front of the slot machine 21.
And three through the central display window 27 and five through the right display window 28. That is, the first reel 23 and the second reel 24 variably display three symbols on the left first column and the center second column, respectively, and the third reel 25 displays five symbols on the right third column. Variable display. On the lower right side of the display windows 26, 27, 28, a slot 29 is provided for a player to insert a medal.

Each of the reels 23 to 25 is configured as a rotating reel unit shown in FIG. 2, and is attached to a frame 51 via a bracket 52. Each reel 23
25 to 25 are configured by attaching a reel band 54 to the outer periphery of a reel drum 53. The symbol row is drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the reel band 54 as described above. Further, each bracket 52 is provided with a stepping motor 55, and each of the reels 23 to 25 is driven by the motor 55 to rotate.

Behind each of the reel bands 54 of the reels 23 to 25, three back lamps are attached, and by lighting of each of the back lamps, each of the back lamps is selected from the symbols drawn on the reel band 54. 3 located in front of
The symbols are illuminated from behind. Therefore, three symbols are displayed on the display windows 26 and 27, respectively, and three symbols excluding the upper and lower ends of the five symbols are displayed on the display window 28. The reel 25
It is also possible to provide five back lamps behind the reel band 54 and to display five symbols on the display window 28.

The display windows 26 to 28 shown in FIG.
Three pay lines L1, L2, L3 for connecting the symbols displayed in each column of the reels 23 to 25 in the row direction, that is, in the horizontal direction, to determine a symbol combination composed of three symbols.
, And two pay lines L4 and L5 for connecting the symbols displayed in each column in an oblique direction to determine a symbol combination composed of three symbols. Furthermore, of the five symbols displayed in the third column, a symbol that is not adjacent to the three symbols displayed in the second column, that is, a symbol combination consisting of three symbols passing through the upper and lower symbols. Two winning lines L
6, L7 are indicated.

Prior to the start of the game, when the player inserts one medal into the medal insertion slot 29, each reel 23
Only the central winning line L1 above the ２５25 is shown in FIG.
The activation line display lamp 31 is activated as shown in FIG.
Lights up. Also, when two medals are inserted into the insertion slot 29, the upper and lower winning lines L2 and L3 are added to this,
The three pay lines L1, L2 and L3 are shown in FIG.
Activated line indicator lamp 3 activated as shown in
1, 32 and 33 light up. When three medals are inserted into the insertion slot 29, a diagonal winning line L4
L5, L6, L7 are added, and all the winning lines L1 to L
7 is activated as shown in FIG. 7C, and all the activated line display lamps 31 to 37 are turned on. It should be noted that circles in the figure represent symbols drawn on the reels 23 to 25.

On the lower left side of the display windows 26 to 28,
A 1-BET switch 40, a 2-BET switch 41 and a MAX-BET switch 42 are provided. When a medal is credited in the credit number display section 43, instead of inserting a medal into the medal slot 29, these 1
By operating the push buttons of the BET switch 40, the 2-BET switch 41, and the MAX BET switch 42, one, two, and three medals are bet in one game, respectively. The number-of-credits display section 43 is composed of 7-segment LEDs of a number corresponding to the number of digits of the numerical value to be displayed, and displays the number of medals currently credited.

Below these BET switches 40 to 42, a credit / payment changeover switch (C / P switch) 4
4 and a start lever 45, and a stop button 46,
47 and 48 are provided. The credit / payout of the medal (PLAY CREDIT / PAY OUT) can be switched by operating the push button of the C / P switch 44.

By operating the start lever 45,
The rotation of the reels 23, 24, 25 starts simultaneously. The stop buttons 46, 47, and 48 are provided for the respective reels 23, 24, and 25.
And each reel 23, 24, 25
Is stopped for each column. Each reel 23-25
When the rotation speed reaches a certain speed, the stop buttons 46
The operations of Nos. To 48 are activated, and the stop buttons 46 to 48 stop the rotation of the reels 23 to 25 according to the push button operation of the player.

A sound emitting plate 60 and a medal tray 61 are provided at the lower part of the front of the slot machine 21. The sound emission plate 60 emits sound generated from a speaker housed inside the device to the outside, and has many small sound transmission holes (not shown). Medal tray 61 is medal payout exit 6
The medals paid out from 2 are collected. Also,
At the upper front of the slot machine 21, there is provided a payout display section 63 indicating how many medals are paid out for each winning.

FIG. 4 shows a slot machine 21 according to this embodiment.
2 shows a circuit configuration including a control unit for controlling a game processing operation in and a peripheral device (actuator) electrically connected to the control unit.

The control unit has a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 70 as a main component, and is further provided with a circuit for sampling random numbers. The microcomputer 70 includes a CPU 71 for performing a control operation according to a preset program, and a ROM 72 and a RAM 73 as storage means. The CPU 71 includes a clock pulse generation circuit 74 and a frequency divider 75 for generating a reference clock pulse, a random number generator 76 for generating a random number within a certain range, and a random number sampling circuit 77 for extracting an arbitrary random number from the generated random numbers. Is connected.

The main actuator whose operation is controlled by a control signal from the microcomputer 70 is the reel 2
Stepping motors 5 for rotating and driving 3, 24, 25
5. There are a hopper 78 for storing medals, a speaker 79, and activation line display lamps 31 to 37. These are driven by a motor drive circuit 80, a hopper drive circuit 81, a speaker drive circuit 82, and a lamp drive circuit 83, respectively. These drive circuits 80 to 83 are provided by the microcomputer 7
0 is connected to the CPU 71 via the I / O port. Each of the stepping motors 55 is excited in one or two phases by the motor drive circuit 80, and makes one rotation when a drive signal of 400 pulses is supplied.

The main input signal generating means for generating an input signal necessary for the microcomputer 70 to generate a control signal includes a start switch 45 S for detecting an operation of the start lever 45, and an input from the medal insertion slot 29. There is an inserted medal sensor 29S for detecting the inserted medal and the C / P switch 44 described above. Further, a photo sensor 5 for detecting a shielding plate provided in the stepping motor 55 is provided.
9 and a reel position detecting circuit 84 which receives the output pulse signal from the photosensor 59 and detects the rotational position of each of the reels 23, 24 and 25.

The photo sensor 59 is provided for each of the reels 23, 24, 2
Every time when 5 rotates once, the shield plate is detected and a reset pulse is generated. This reset pulse is applied to the reel position detection circuit 8
4 to the CPU 71. In the RAM 73, a count value corresponding to a rotation position within one rotation of each reel 23 to 25 is stored.
When U71 receives the reset pulse, it clears this count value formed in RAM 73 to "0". By this clearing process, a shift generated between the movement display of each symbol and the rotation of each stepping motor 55 is eliminated for each rotation.

Further, as the input signal generating means,
Reel stop signal circuit 85 and payout completion signal generation circuit 8
There are six. The reel stop signal circuit 85 includes a stop button 4
When 6, 47, 48 are pressed, the corresponding reel 23,
Generate a signal to stop 24, 25. Further, the medal detection section 87 counts the number of medals paid out from the hopper 78, and the payout completion signal generating circuit 86 converts the medal count value actually paid out input from the medal detection section 87 into predetermined payout number data. When it reaches, a signal notifying the completion of the medal payout is output to the CPU 71.

The ROM 72 stores the slot machine 21
Is stored as a sequence program, and a winning probability table, a symbol table, a winning symbol combination table, and the like are separately stored.

The winning probability table is stored in the sampling circuit 7
7 is used to classify the random numbers extracted in 7 into the respective winning modes, and stores data for partitioning a certain range of random numbers generated by the random number generator 76 into the respective winning modes. Such a winning probability table is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. A1 to a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c in FIG.
3, d1 to d3, e1 to e3, f1 to f3, g1 to g3
Is numerical data set in advance, and is used when the random number extracted by the sampling circuit 77 is divided into each winning mode. This data is “a1 to g1” when the number of inserted medals is one, “a2 to g2” when the number is two, and 3
In the case of sheets, a combination of the numerical values of “a3 to g3” is used.

These numerical values are usually expressed as “a <b <c <d <e <
f <g ”and the extracted random number value is a
If it is less than, it will be a jackpot winning (big hit) and "B
B "Winning flag is set. If the extracted random number value is equal to or larger than a and smaller than b, a medium winning prize (medium hit) is set, and the “RB” winning flag is set. If the extracted random number value is b or more and less than f, a small hit prize (small hit) is obtained. In this case, if the value is b or more and less than c, a “plum” winning flag is set. Indicates a “bell” winning flag, a “four-cherry” winning flag is set when d is less than e, and a “two-cherry” winning flag is set when e is less than f. If the extracted random number value is equal to or more than f and less than g, a “replay” winning flag is set, and if the extracted random number value is equal to or more than g, a “losing” winning flag without winning is set.

That is, the winning mode is determined by which numerical range one sampled random number belongs to, and in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 5, a total of eight types including "losing" and "replaying" are provided. Represented by a winning flag. Here, a random number generator 76, a sampling circuit 77,
The winning probability table and the microcomputer 70 constitute a winning mode determining means for determining a winning mode of the game by random number lottery.

FIG. 6 conceptually shows the symbol table. This symbol table is provided for each of the reels 23 to 25.
Is associated with the symbol and the symbol sequence is represented by a symbol. In this symbol table, a symbol code corresponding to the code number is stored for each of the reels 23 to 25. The code number is sequentially assigned at a constant rotation pitch of each of the reels 23 to 25 based on the rotation position at which the above-described reset pulse is generated. The symbol code indicates a symbol provided corresponding to each code number.

In the winning symbol combination table,
The symbol code of each winning symbol combination shown in the payout display section 63, the symbol code of the symbol combination forming the "reach eye" that suggests to the player that the flag of the occurrence of the specific game is established, and each winning is shown. A winning determination code, a winning medal payout number, and the like are stored. The winning symbol combination table is referred to at the time of stop control of the first reel 23, the second reel 24, and the third reel 25, and at the time of confirming a winning after stopping all the reels.

Reel position detecting circuit 84, reel stop signal circuit 85, motor drive circuit 80, stepping motor 5
5 and the microcomputer 70 constitute stop display control means. The stop display control means includes stop buttons 46 to 48.
Is detected by the reel stop signal circuit 85. At this operation timing, the symbol displayed on the activated pay line is not a symbol corresponding to the winning mode, but the four frames displayed successively on the activated pay line. When there is a symbol corresponding to the winning mode among the symbols for the minute, control is performed to draw this symbol on the activated winning line of the display windows 26 to 28. At this time, the microcomputer 70 controls the motor drive circuit 80 and the stepping motor 55 while controlling the rotation of the reels 23 to 25 while the type of the symbols displayed on the display windows 26 to 28 is grasped by the reel position detection circuit 84. Will be

Next, the operation of the gaming machine controlled by the microcomputer 70 in this embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing the outline of this game processing.

First, the CPU 71 determines whether or not a medal BET has been placed (step 101 in FIG. 7).
reference). This determination is "YES" when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 29 and a detection signal is input from the medal sensor 29S or when a signal is input from the BET switches 40, 41, and 42. Next, it is determined whether or not a start signal has been input from the start switch 45S by operating the start lever 45 (step 102).

If the determination is "YES", a winning determination (probability lottery process) is performed by the above-described winning mode determining means (step 103). Subsequent to the winning determination processing, the first reel 23, the second reel 24, the third reel 25
Is performed (step 104), and after this reel rotation processing, stop control of each of the reels 23, 24 and 25 is performed (step 105). An outline of the reel stop control process is shown in a flowchart of FIG.

In this reel stop control, for the sake of convenience, the first reel stop button 46, the second reel stop button 47, and the third reel stop button 48 are operated in this order, and each of the reels 23 to 25 is moved to the first reel. A description will be given of a case where the reels stop in the order of 23, the second reel 24 and the third reel 25. However, the stop order of the reels 23 to 25 is not limited to this, and for example, a random operation order such as the first reel stop button 46, the third reel stop button 48, and the second reel stop button 47 May be stopped.

As described above, the operation of the stop buttons 46 to 48 by the player is detected by the CPU 71 via the reel stop signal circuit 85, and the ON operation of the first reel stop button 46 is performed in the step shown in FIG. If it is detected at 121, stop control processing of the first reel 23 is performed (step 122). That is, when the first reel stop button 46 is operated by the player, the first reel 2
The number of drive pulses supplied to the third stepping motor 55 is read from the RAM 73 and is associated with the rotation position of the first reel 23. When the rotation position of the first reel 23 is known, three symbols appearing in the observation window 26 are grasped as symbol codes by contrast with the symbol table (see FIG. 6).

In this case, when the big hit winning flag is set, it is checked whether or not there is a symbol constituting the big hit on the activated pay line in the observation window 26. Similarly, when the winning flag of the middle hit and the small hit is set, it is checked whether there is a symbol constituting the middle hit and the small hit on the activated pay line of the observation window 26. When there is a symbol corresponding to the winning flag on the activated pay line, the CPU 71 immediately stops the first reel 23. In consideration of the fact that the first reel 23 cannot be stopped instantaneously, this processing may be performed several steps before the reel rotation position.

If the symbol corresponding to the winning flag does not appear on the activated pay line in the observation window 26 as a result of the above-described check processing, what happens when the first reel 23 is further rotated by four symbols. Check if a new symbol appears. If there is a symbol corresponding to the winning flag, the first reel 23 is rotated to the frame position and stopped there. This pull-in control process is also performed at the time of each stop control process of the second reel 24 and the third reel 25 described later.

Next, it is detected whether or not the stop button 47 of the second reel 24 has been turned ON (step 123).
When the ON operation of the stop button 47 is detected,
A stop control process of the second reel 24 is performed (step 1).
24). In the stop control processing, first, it is assumed that 21 symbols of code numbers 0 to 20 are stopped on the pay line L1 in the center of the observation window 27 in a state where the second reel 24 is rotating. The combination with the symbol of the first reel 23 that has already stopped on the payline is read. In addition, a rotation code indicating that the third reel 25 is rotating is read. Note that the second reel 24 is also rotating, but is not read as a rotation code because it is assumed that the second reel 24 is stopped by the above processing.

When the combination of the symbol codes is read in this way, the winning symbol combination table described above is referred to, and the second reel 24 sets the 21 rotation positions with respect to the symbol determined by stopping the first reel 23. , It is sequentially determined what kind of winning may occur on the activated winning line. For example,
Assuming that the first reel 23 is stopped as shown in FIG. 10 (a), the symbol combination pattern at that time is checked assuming 21 stop positions of the second reel 24. For example, as shown in FIG.
Stops at the code number "5" in the center of the observation window 27, the symbol combinations on the pay lines L1 to L7 are as shown in FIG.

The arrow on the third reel 25 is a rotation code indicating that the reel is rotating. However, depending on the stop position of the third reel 25, a big hit "AAA" on the pay line L1 or a win is made. There is a possibility that a small hit prize of “EEE” will occur on the line L3. Therefore, for the code number "5" of the second reel 24, a big hit prediction flag and a small hit prediction flag are set as shown in FIG. The presence or absence of such a prediction flag is checked for all code numbers on the second reel 24, and these data are written to the RAM 73.

The prediction flag data written in the RAM 73 in this manner is referred to when the second reel 24 is stopped. That is, when the stop button 47 of the second reel 24 is operated, the prediction flag corresponding to the code number of the second reel 24 is referred to. Then, the stop control of the second reel 24 is executed so that the symbol of the big hit is stopped.

When the reel stop control processing in step 124 is completed, it is next detected whether or not the stop button 48 of the third reel 25 has been turned ON (step 1).
25) If the ON operation of the stop button 48 is detected, stop control processing of the third reel 25 is performed (step 126). In this stop control processing, the first reel 23 and the second reel 24 have already been stopped and the combination of the symbols has been specified. Therefore, the combination of these symbols is provided for each code number of the third reel 25. The possibility of winning is determined, and a winning prediction flag is set in the same manner as in the table shown in FIG.

This prediction flag data is also referred to when the stop button 48 of the third reel 25 is operated, and when a big hit is predicted, the big hit symbol is stopped on the activated pay line. Stop control of the third reel 25 is executed. At the time of the stop control processing of the third reel 25, not only a winning according to the winning flag but also a winning different from the winning flag is obtained by a combination with the symbols of the first reel 23 and the second reel 24 that are already stopped. The reel stop position is controlled so as not to be performed.

According to the first reel stop control processing in step 122, the second reel stop control processing in step 124, and the third reel stop control processing in step 126, when the winning flag is "losing", any of the activated winnings The reels 23 to 25 are controlled to stop so that no winning symbol combination is arranged on the line.

When the winning flag is "2 cherry", the first reel 23 of any of the activated pay lines
First reel 23 so that the symbol "Cherry" is aligned on top
Is controlled to stop. When the winning flag is "4 cherry", the reels 23 to 25 are controlled to stop so that the combination of the three symbols "cherry" is aligned on any one of the activated pay lines. When the winning flag is “bell” or “watermelon”, the symbol “bell” or “watermelon” is displayed on one of the activated winning lines.
Reels 2 so that each symbol combination is aligned.
Stop control of 3 to 25 is performed.

When the winning flag is "RB" or "BB", the reels 23 to 25 are arranged such that the symbol "7" or a predetermined character / symbol combination is aligned on one of the activated pay lines. Is controlled to stop.

When the reel stop control processing in step 105 in FIG. 7 is completed in this way, next, it is determined whether or not the display when all the reels are stopped is a predetermined winning symbol combination by referring to the winning symbol combination table. (Step 106 in FIG. 7). When no prize is obtained, the determination in step 106 is “NO”, and the process returns to step 101. If the result of the winning determination is a replay game (re-game), the process proceeds to step 102
The process returns to the operation waiting process for the start lever 45 (step 107). When winning a prize that is not a replay game,
The hopper driving circuit 81 is controlled by U71, and a predetermined number of medals are paid out to the coin tray 61 by the hopper 78 (FIG. 8, step 110).

For example, in the case of a small hit prize of "2 cherries", two medals are paid out, and in the case of a small prize of "4 cherries", four medals are paid out. In the case of the small win of "Bell", six medals are paid out, and in the case of the small win of "Plum", eight medals are paid out. In the case of a "BB" or "RB" jackpot, 15 medals are paid out.

Next, it is determined whether or not a BB game has occurred (step 111). If a BB game has occurred, the BB game is executed (step 112). In the BB game, a set of a bonus game in which a general game and a plurality of high payout games are combined can be performed a plurality of times. If the BB game has not occurred, it is determined whether or not the RB game has occurred next (step 113). If the RB game has occurred, the RB game has occurred.
The game is executed (step 114). In the RB game, the above bonus game can be performed once. Thereafter, the above processing is repeated, and a slot machine game is performed.

According to this embodiment, five symbols are displayed on the variable display column of the third reel 25, and two winning lines passing through the upper and lower symbols of the five symbols are displayed. Since L6 and L7 are further provided, the display area of the symbols is enlarged, and the winning lines L6 and L7 are also set in this enlarged area. Therefore, for example, in order to reliably perform the reel pull-in control of the symbol “7”, which is the big bonus winning mode symbol, it is necessary to arrange the reels 23 to 25 per row.
As shown in FIG. 12, the number of the winning mode symbols "7" can be reduced as compared with the related art.

That is, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the symbol "7" is stopped and displayed at the center of the first reel 2, the symbol "7" is displayed on the activation line L1 on the second reel 3. In order to reliably control the pull-in of "7", it is necessary to arrange this symbol "7" at intervals of a maximum of four frames on the reel band 3a of the second reel 3 as shown in the figure. This is because if the stop button is operated when the symbol “7” at the position A of the reel band 3a is shifted from the activation line L1 by one frame as shown in the figure, the next stop on the activation line L1 The symbol “7” at the position C to be retracted is at most 4 from the position B of the reel band 3a.
This is because the reel pull-in control cannot be performed unless it exists within the frame. Therefore, as described above, in the conventional gaming machine, 1
It was necessary to provide at least 4 to 5 symbols “7” on one reel band.

However, according to the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the symbol "7" may be arranged at intervals of a maximum of six frames on the reel band 24a of the second reel 24. That is, in the present embodiment, the pay line L6 passing through the display area of the third reel 25, which is enlarged from three to five, is formed.
The symbol “7” may come on L7. Accordingly, when the symbol "7" is stopped and displayed at the center of the first reel 23 in the same manner as described above, the symbol "7" at the position D of the reel band 24a is shifted by one frame from the activation line L6 as shown. Even if the stop button is operated while in the position,
The next symbol "7" should be drawn into the position E on the activation line L7.

Therefore, the next symbol "7" need only be at position F within 4 frames at most from position E, and this position F has a space of 6 frames between the symbol "7" at position D. . As a result, it is sufficient to arrange at least three symbols "7" on the reel band on which 21 symbols are drawn, and even if the number of symbols "7" arranged on the reel band is smaller than before. Can be sufficiently drawn into the symbol display area.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to arrange various types of symbols on one reel band as compared with the related art. Therefore, in a general game in which the number of games is usually the largest, only two kinds of winning symbol combinations can be set in the above-described conventional gaming machine, but in the present embodiment, as described above, “two cherry” and “four It is possible to set a total of four various winning symbol combinations of "cherry", "bell" and "plum". Therefore, various winning combinations can be provided, and the gaming characteristics are diversified.

At the same time, the symbol display area and the pay line are increased, so that a prize is likely to be generated, and the game can be performed advantageously for the player. For example, even if the player's eye-catching technology is somewhat inferior, or if the eye-catching fails, the number of winning lines increases and more types of winning symbols are prepared, so the player Will also have more expectations for winning. Here, the pressing means a pressing operation of a stop button for visually grasping the movement display of the reel symbol and stopping and displaying the desired symbol at a desired position. As a result, according to the slot machine of the present embodiment, the interest of the game is improved.

In the above-described embodiment, five symbols on the third reel 25 are displayed in the display window 28, and the pay lines L6, L passing through the upper and lower symbols of this display column are displayed.
7 is newly set, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, five symbols on the first reel 23 are displayed on the display window 26, and the pay line L passing through the upper and lower symbols of this display column is displayed.
6, L7 may be newly set as shown. 5B, five symbols on the second reel 24 are displayed in the display window 27, and a valley-shaped prize line L6 and a mountain-shaped prize line L7 passing through the lower and upper symbols of this display column. May be newly set as shown in the figure.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, five symbols on the first reel 23 and three symbols on the third reel 25 are displayed on the display window 2 respectively.
6 and 28, a mountain-shaped winning line L6 passing through the lower end of each display column and a valley-shaped winning line L7 passing through the symbol at the upper end of each display column may be newly set as shown.

As described above, the rotating reels 23 to
Numeral 25 variably displays five symbols in at least one of the first to third variable display columns and three symbols in the remaining columns, and displays at least one of the five symbols in one column. The configuration may further include at least two pay lines L6 and L7 that determine a combination of three symbols through symbols that are not adjacent to the three symbols in the remaining columns. That is, the rotating reels 23 to 25 variably display more symbols in at least one of the variable display columns than the number of symbols variably displayed in the remaining columns, and Of these, any configuration may be used as long as it further has a winning line that determines a symbol combination through symbols that are not adjacent to the symbols in the remaining columns.

According to each of the above-described modified configurations, the display area of the symbol is enlarged, and new pay lines L6 and L7 are set in this enlarged area.
Therefore, in order to reliably perform the reel pull-in control of the symbol “7” according to a certain winning mode, for example, the bonus game winning mode, the number of symbols “7” that need to be arranged on each reel band of each of the reels 23 to 25 is The number is at least three, which is smaller than the conventional one. Therefore, it is possible to provide more types of symbols on each reel band of each of the reels 23 to 25, and the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Further, one symbol is variably displayed in each of the variable display columns, including one symbol, and these symbols are connected in the row direction to determine a symbol combination, and one winning line and a symbol at the end of these symbols. May be further provided with two winning lines that determine a symbol combination in an oblique direction passing through. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the rotating reels 91, 92, and 93, which variably display three symbols in three columns, variably display one more symbol in each column, for a total of four symbols. The individual symbols are variably displayed. Then, three pay lines L1 to L3 in the row direction and two pay lines L in the oblique direction.
In addition to the symbols L4 and L5, one winning line L6 which connects the symbols at the lower end of each column in the row direction to determine a combination of three symbols, and three symbols obliquely passing through the symbols at the ends of these symbols. Two winning lines L7 and L8 for determining a symbol combination are further newly set.

According to this configuration, the rotating reels 91 to 93
And the pay line L6, L7, L8 is newly set in this enlarged area as well. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the symbols in each reel band in order to reliably perform the reel pull-in control according to a certain winning mode. The number of the winning mode symbols can be reduced as compared with the related art. Therefore, according to this configuration, more types of symbols can be provided in each row of the rotating reels 91 to 93, and the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

Further, in addition to the above-described configuration, the present invention can be applied to a case where the number of variable display columns is further increased or a case where the number of symbols variably displayed in one display column is further increased. .

In the above description, the variable display device according to the present invention has been described as a rotating reel, but this variable display device is not limited to this.
A device such as a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display device, a light emitting diode (LED), or electroluminescence may be used as the variable display device. In the above description, the case where the present invention is applied to a variable display device of a slot machine has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a variable display device of a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine in the same manner as described above. . In each of these cases, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, the symbol display area of the variable display device of the gaming machine is enlarged,
A winning line is also set in this enlarged area. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the variable display devices in one row in order to reliably perform the reel pull-in control of a symbol according to a certain winning mode. The number of the winning mode symbols can be smaller than that in the related art. Therefore, it is possible to provide many types of symbols in each row of the variable display device, and various winning symbol combinations can be set, thereby increasing the interest of the game.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a rotating reel unit of the slot machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which a winning line described in a display window of the slot machine shown in FIG. 1 is sequentially activated.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main control circuit configuration of the slot machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a winning probability table used in a game process of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a symbol table used for a game process of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a first flowchart showing a game process of the slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a second flowchart showing a game process of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a reel stop control process shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between symbol codes assigned to and read from each rotating reel in the game processing of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a hit prediction flag table used in the game processing of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a comparison between the number of winning mode symbols arranged on a reel band according to the related art and the number of winning mode symbols arranged on a reel band according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing first, second, and third modified examples of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a fourth modification of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a conventional slot machine.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a configuration example of a reel band used in a conventional slot machine.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an example of a payout table used in a conventional slot machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 slot machine 22 front panel 23, 24, 25 first, second, third reels 26, 27, 28 window 29: medal slot 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 valid Line indicator lamps 40, 41, 42 BET switch 43 Credit number display section 44 Credit / payment changeover switch 45 Start lever 46, 47, 48 Stop button 60 Sound emitting plate 61 Medal receiving tray 62 Medal payment Exit 63: payout display section L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7 ... winning line

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A prize mode determining means for determining a prize mode of a game by random number drawing, a variable display device for variably displaying various symbols in a plurality of columns, and a symbol combination by connecting the symbols displayed in each column. A plurality of winning lines to be determined, and stop display control means for drawing and stopping and displaying symbols corresponding to the winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means within a predetermined number range on the pay line. In the gaming machine, the variable display device variably displays a larger number of symbols in at least one of the columns than the number of symbols variably displayed in the remaining columns; A game machine further comprising a winning line for determining a symbol combination through symbols not adjacent to the symbols in the remaining rows of the symbols of the above. 2. The variable display device variably displays various symbols in three columns, and displays five symbols in at least one of these columns.
Symbols are variably displayed, and three symbols are variably displayed in the remaining columns. The winning line connects the symbols displayed in the respective columns in the row direction to determine a symbol combination composed of three symbols. The symbols displayed in the three winning lines and the respective columns are connected diagonally to determine a symbol combination composed of three symbols.
A winning line of the book and at least two winning lines for determining a symbol combination of three symbols through a symbol that is not adjacent to the three symbols in the remaining row of the five symbols in the at least one row. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A gaming machine according to claim 1. 3. A prize mode determining means for determining a prize mode of a game by random lottery, a variable display device for variably displaying various symbols in a plurality of columns, and a symbol displayed in each of the columns. A plurality of winning lines for determining a symbol combination, and stop display control means for drawing and stopping and displaying symbols corresponding to the winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means within a predetermined number range on the pay line. In the gaming machine that is provided, the variable display device variably displays one more symbol in each of the columns, and connects one of the symbols in the row direction to determine a symbol combination and one winning line and A gaming machine further comprising two winning lines for determining a symbol combination in an oblique direction through the symbols at the ends of the symbols. 4. The variable display device variably displays various symbols in four rows in three columns, and the winning line is composed of three symbols by connecting the symbols displayed in the respective columns in a row direction. Four winning lines for determining a symbol combination and symbols displayed in the respective columns are connected diagonally to determine a symbol combination consisting of three symbols.
The gaming machine according to claim 3, comprising a winning line for books. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the range of the number of symbols drawn by the stop display control means is within four ranges. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine or a ball-and-ball gaming machine.