JP2003245405A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an epoch-making, novel and original game machine for preventing the irrational situation that profits to be originally returned to a player is not returned because of circumstances on the side of a game parlor. <P>SOLUTION: In the game machine provided with a lottery processing means for carrying out lottery processing on whether a successful lot of prize winning is drawn or not, a prize winning processing means for carrying out prize winning processing when the successful lot is drawn as a result of the lottery and prescribed conditions are concluded later, and a storage means for storing information related to the successful lot of prize winning for maintaining the state of drawing the successful lot of prize winning as a result of the lottery until the conclusion of the prescribed conditions or until the end of the prize winning processing and other information related to a game, this game machine is equipped with a control means in which only the other information related to the game can be erased except for the information related to the successful lot of prize winning when the information related to the successful lot of prize winning is stored in the storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a slot machine or a pachinko machine having a function of storing the result of the lottery processing executed for each game for a specific winning and carrying it over to the next game or later. For gaming machines such as.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A slot machine exemplified as a gaming machine operates a starting lever to start rotation of three reels, and then operates a stop button corresponding to each reel to stop the reels to stop the reels. If a specific combination pattern is aligned on the stop line activated according to the number of input,
The prize relating to the combination design is established, and a predetermined number of medals determined according to the type of the prize are paid out, but in the game, the lottery process is internally performed according to the operation of the start lever. It is executed, if this lottery result wins any prize and the flag according to the type of the prize is not established, even if the stop operation timing of the stop button is proper, the combination pattern related to the prize Cannot be aligned.

In this type of slot machine, when a small winning combination such as bell or cherry is won, this flag (hereinafter, small winning flag) cannot be carried over to the next game. In, if you do not have a combination of prizes related to the small winning a prize, you may drop out other than the small winning a prize with 100% pull-in guaranteed, but relatively large profits for players such as big bonus and regular bonus. If you win a special prize (hereinafter, "bonus prize") that gives a lot (there is a large number of medals paid out), that flag (hereinafter, "big bonus flag", "regular bonus flag", generically "bonus flag") ), The bonus flag for the next game is Is carried over to later, is given a chance to combinations symbols relating to bonus winning is aligned so that the given is common.

Further, in the above slot machine, once the bonus flag is established, until the combination symbols relating to the bonus winning are aligned (the bonus flag that has been carried over disappears), the determination table excluding the bonus winning is used for the lottery. Since the process is executed, the small prize winning lottery is carried out, but the bonus winning lottery is not carried out. In this, the lottery which is disadvantageous to the player who can not easily arrange the combination pattern related to the bonus winning is repeated. However, in recent years, even when the bonus flag is carried over, the lottery process is executed using the determination table including the bonus prize as in the normal game, and during that time, the bonus prize is won again. , Slot flag with bonus flag storage function, such as bonus flag is further established (For example, JP 2000-21041
3) is also provided.

[0005]

By the way, the slot machine balances the profit of the player and the profit of the game store and eliminates the difference in the game technique between the players so as to perform a fair game. For the purpose, the winning probability of the big bonus can be set in 6 stages in the range of 1/240 to 1/300, for example. Specifically, when the power switch is turned off and the setting key is turned on and the power switch is turned on, the current set value is displayed on the setting display, and the set value is displayed each time the setting switch is operated once. It is designed to be changed one by one.

[0006] Generally, the setting change is performed on a part of the table in the store after the store is closed and before the store is opened the next day. However, the setting change involves the initialization of the stored information in the RAM in the control unit of the slot machine, and according to this, even the bonus flag stored in the RAM is carried over until the store is closed. Will end up.

Further, in consideration of the case where the CPU in the control unit malfunctions due to noise such as lightning strike and the game machine does not operate normally, the information stored in the RAM is initialized. A RAM clear switch is provided in the slot machine separately from the setting switch, and at some game shops, after the shop is closed, the game related information generated based on the operation of the slot machine on that business day is erased. Also, the RAM clear switch may be operated, but in these cases, the bonus flag stored in the RAM is also erased.

Therefore, the present invention aims to prevent an unreasonable situation in which the profit that should otherwise be returned to the player is not returned due to the convenience of the game store side, and is a novel game machine that has never existed before. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

The slot machine according to the present invention has lottery processing means for executing lottery processing for determining whether or not to win a prize, and predetermined conditions are satisfied after the lottery result wins the prize. Winning processing means for executing the winning process according to that, and winning prize related information for maintaining the state in which the lottery result is won for winning until the predetermined condition is satisfied or until the winning process ends, and other In a gaming machine provided with a storage means for storing the game-related information, if the storage means stores the prize-winning related information, it is possible to erase only the other game-related information excluding the prize-winning related information. It is characterized by comprising the control means.

According to the gaming machine having the above structure, when the stored information stored in the storage means is erased by an external operation or an internal automatic process, the control means stores the prize winning related information in the storage means. Judge whether it is remembered,
As a result, when it is determined that the prize winning related information is stored, the prize winning related information is excluded from the deletion target.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A slot machine, which is an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention, will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a slot machine according to this embodiment. In the slot machine, a symbol display section 3 in which three vertically long reel display windows 4 are arranged side by side is formed on an intermediate panel 2 provided on the front surface of a housing 1, and each reel display window 4 is provided in the housing 1. Reel 5 corresponding to the formation position of
It has a configuration in which three are arranged.

On the outer peripheral surface of each reel 5, a reel tape displaying a plurality of types of symbols such as letters, numbers, figures and characters is attached, and while the reels 5, ...
While the symbols displayed on the respective outer peripheral surfaces appear one after another in the reel display window 4, when the reels 5, ... Are stopped,
For example, three reels of symbols on each reel 5 are displayed in an aligned state on the five stop lines L, ... still,
In addition to the ordinary circular reel, a liquid crystal display or a belt type reel tape wound around a pulley and wound around may be used.

The stop line L is activated according to the number of inserted medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 6 and the push button operation of the BET button 7. For example, when one bet is bet, the central horizontal stop line L is valid, and when two medals are bet, the upper, middle and lower three horizontal stop lines L, Are valid, and when three medals are bet, all five stop lines L, ... Are valid.

The start lever 8 provided on the projecting surface below the intermediate panel 2 is operated to start the rotation of the three reels 5, ... Then, a stop button provided corresponding to each reel 5. When the push button 9 is operated, the three reels 5, ... Are sequentially stopped. At this time, if a particular combination symbol is arranged on the stop line L, which is activated by the bet number of medals, a winning according to the combination symbol is established, and a predetermined number determined according to the type of the winning symbol. Will be paid out.

Three types of reel tapes are prepared corresponding to the three reels 5, ..., From left to left reel, middle reel, and right reel, and the upper end portion and the lower end portion are connected to each other. It is a resin sheet that becomes a ring. The symbols include, for example, a big bonus symbol consisting of "7", a regular bonus symbol consisting of "BAR", for example, a small winning symbol symbol consisting of "bell", "cherry", "orange" or "replay", Twenty-one patterns in total are arranged on each reel tape by selecting these appropriately.

At the upper left and right positions of the intermediate panel 2, bonuses (hereinafter, unless otherwise distinguished, include both "big bonus" and "regular bonus") are internally won, and bonus flags are established. A bonus confirmation lamp 10 (notifying means) indicating that is provided. Further, a speaker 11 for performing sound effects during the game is provided at upper left and right positions, and an upper lamp 12 for performing an error display and a light effect during the game is provided at an upper position.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the slot machine according to this embodiment. The slot machine is a CPU 2 which is a main body of control and calculation regarding game contents.
6, a ROM 27 in which a game control program and a predetermined determination table are stored, a RAM 28 used for reading and writing game-related information including flag data corresponding to various prizes, and a main controller 25 having a random number generator 29. .

Various input / output units are connected to the CPU 26 via a bus 30. As an input part, a BET button 7, a starting lever 8, three stop buttons 9, ...
A setting switch 31 for setting winning probabilities of various prizes in six stages, a RAM clear switch 32 for initializing the RAM 28, etc. are connected, and these signals are sent to the CPU.
26 is input. As the output part,
A reel drive unit 33 for starting, stopping, and drawing in the three reels 5, ..., A medal payout unit 34 for paying out medals according to the type of winning are connected.

Further, the slot machine is provided with a CPU 36 which is a main body for controlling and operating peripheral output units, a ROM 37 which stores various control programs, and a sub-control unit 35 which has a RAM 38 used for reading and writing data.
The sub control unit 35 is configured such that the buses 30 and 40 are connected to each other and various control signals are input from the main control unit 25.

The CPU 36 is connected to the speaker 11 and the like via the confirmation lamp 10, the upper lamp 12 and the voice control board 41. The various lamps are placed under the control of the CPU 36, while the speaker 11 receives a control signal from the CPU 36. Is placed under the control of the CPU of the voice control board 41.

In the slot machine having the above structure, the main controller 25 is operated every time the starting lever 8 is operated (every game).
The random probability generator 29 and the determination table in the ROM 27 are used to perform a lottery process, and a combination of symbols (winning prize) to be arranged on the activated line is determined according to the lottery result. Specifically, a random number is acquired from the random number generator 29 at the generation timing of the start signal generated by operating the starting lever 8, and whether this random number matches the winning value of any winning in the determination table. The lottery process is executed with the contents such as the determination.

The determination table shows the setting level (1
6 levels from ~ 6, the higher the setting, the higher the probability of winning the bonus prize. In general, the bonus prize such as the big bonus or the regular bonus, the small prize such as the bell prize, the cherry prize, and the replay prize. It is the data table which sets the winning value which relates to each winning a prize. When any winning is won in the lottery process, individual flag data corresponding to the winning is stored in the RAM 28.
It will be remembered in. Therefore, in practice, if the flag is not established, even if the stop button 9, ... Is pressed at the correct timing, it is not possible to arrange the combination symbols related to winning (to establish winning). Conversely, if the flag is established (it is understood), the combination symbols relating to the winning corresponding to the flag can be aligned (the winning is established) as long as the stop button 9, ... Is pressed at the correct timing. It will be possible.

In the present embodiment, the determination table is used not only in the normal game state, but the lottery result wins the bonus prize, the bonus flag is established, and the combination symbols related to the bonus prize cannot be arranged. This allows the bonus flag to be used even when the bonus prize has not been established and has been carried over to the next and subsequent games. Therefore, the bonus flag based on the previous bonus prize win disappears when the bonus prize is established. Even during the period, both the small prize winning lottery and the bonus winning lottery are performed.

When the result of the lottery is that the bonus prize is won while the bonus flag is established, new bonus flag data is additionally stored in the RAM 28. That is, the RAM 28 has two bonus flags,
It is possible to store two or more states in which the lottery result is winning the bonus prize by being set redundantly with three (so-called “bonus flag storing function”).

When the three big bonus symbols are aligned on the activated line L while the big bonus flag is established, a big bonus prize is established and one medal is inserted to pay out a predetermined number of medals. Two or three sets of a so-called "JAC game" and a so-called "small game" in which three medals are inserted between the JAC games to aim for a small prize are performed. On the other hand, with the regular bonus flag established,
When the three regular bonus symbols are lined up on the activated line, the regular bonus prize is established and the JAC game is played once.

When the bonus game ends, the RAM 28
The bonus flag (the big bonus flag in the case of a big bonus and the regular bonus flag in the case of a regular bonus) stored in 1 is decreased by one. If there are remaining bonus flags, the main controller 25
Continues the reel control such that the bonus symbol is pulled in, and enters the standby state for the rest of the bonus winning.

The fact that the bonus flag still remains
It can be confirmed that the bonus confirmation lamp 10 is in a lighting (or blinking) state. The lighting of the bonus confirmation lamp 10 is confirmed as establishment of a bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag stored in the RAM 28 (established when a lottery process executed for each game is won on condition that the bonus flag is established). The main control unit 25 transmits a lighting instruction signal to the sub-control unit 35, and the sub-control unit 35 receives the lighting instruction signal to perform the lighting instruction signal. On the other hand, the bonus confirmation lamp 10 is turned off by a bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag (bonus winning prize). The main control unit 25, which confirms the establishment or disappearance by disappearance of the bonus flag), transmits a turn-off instruction signal to the sub-control unit 35, and the sub-control unit 35 receives the turn-off instruction signal to perform the turn-off instruction. Therefore, if the bonus prize is won, the bonus confirmation lamp 10 is turned on immediately or after a while, and if the bonus prize is won again before the bonus prize is established, it is not turned off even after the first bonus game ends. , Will be turned off when the second bonus game is over (or the second bonus prize is established).

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart when the setting change operation by the setting switch 31 or the RAM clear operation by the RAM clear switch 32 is performed. First, the control unit 25 checks whether or not a setting change operation has been performed (S10), and if NO, checks whether or not a RAM clear operation has been performed (S2).
0). In the case of YES in S10 and S20, it is checked whether or not the bonus flag is stored in the RAM 28 (S30), and in the case of YES, the bonus flag data and the bonus decision lamp flag data when the bonus flag data is established are stored. RAM other than the designated area
If the area is cleared (S40) and S30 is NO,
All of the RAM area is cleared (S50).

Next, the control unit 25 checks whether or not there is a bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag in the RAM 28 (S60), and if the flag is YES, it sends a turn-off instruction signal to the sub-control unit 35. (S70).
If the setting change operation or the RAM clear operation is performed while the bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag is set, the bonus confirmation lamp 10 is turned on again when the power switch is turned from the OFF state to the ON state. S7
By the processing of 0, the bonus confirmation lamp 10 that has been turned on is turned off. Then, when the process of S70 is completed, the bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag is turned off.

As described above, according to the slot machine of this embodiment, the RAM is initialized when the game shop is closed and the setting is changed for the next business, or when an abnormality occurs. Even in such a case, the bonus flag in the stored RAM remains in the RAM as it is, so that the party who establishes the bonus flag by himself can make a profit that should be returned on the next day or in an abnormal situation. Will be available after recovery.

Further, although other persons may enjoy unexpected profits, after the setting change or RA
After the M initialization, since the bonus confirmation lamp is in the off state, it is not possible to know which unit the bonus flag is stored in. Therefore, it is expected that the bonus flag may be stored. It is fun to select a stand with a sense, and it has a high effect to arouse the interest of the player. Incidentally, if a table storing bonus flags is selected, a lottery process for turning on or off the bonus confirmation lamp 10 is executed for each game after the start of the game.
The bonus confirmation lamp 10 may turn on after a while, which allows the player to change his / her expectation into confidence.

The gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a plurality of flags can be stored for each type of bonus winning, but instead of this, the stored number data for each type of bonus winning may be stored. Of course, as long as the control unit can grasp the number of times that the bonus prize has been won but the prize has not been established yet, the memory form thereof does not matter. The prize winning related information may include winning order data, winning time data, and the like, in addition to the flag data, the stored number data, and the bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag data. If the prize-winning related information includes the number-of-storage data, the type data of the prize and / or the winning order data, the historical data such as the winning order data is grasped, so that the bonus winning after the setting change operation or the RAM clear operation is performed. Can be accurately released.

In the above embodiment, the bonus flag disappears when the bonus prize is established. However, when a plurality of flags are established for each type of bonus prize, for example, the bonus When the winning is achieved, the one bonus flag is not erased, but the update that "consumed" is added to the one bonus flag data and a series of bonus flags linked to the winning time data and the like. May be left as a history in the RAM. In this case, when the RAM is initialized, the history is maintained as prize winning related information.

Further, in the above embodiment, the areas other than the prize-winning related information storage area in the RAM are cleared. However, for example, the contents stored in the prize-winning related information storage area are stored in another RAM. It is also possible to clear all the areas of the RAM after copying to the RAM etc. and then copy the prize winning related information from another RAM or the like to the prize winning related information storage area of the RAM again. In short, the method for maintaining the prize-winning related information is not limited as long as it is a method that can ensure the substantial identity of the prize-winning related information before and after the setting change operation and the RAM clear operation.

Further, in the above embodiment, after the bonus winning is won, a lottery is made as to whether or not to turn on (blink) the bonus fixing lamp. However, in the bonus flag establishment game, the bonus fixing lamp is forced. May be turned on (blinking), or the bonus confirmation lamp may be turned on (blinking) after a predetermined number of games from the bonus flag establishment game or after a number of games determined by the lottery process. . In short, the bonus confirmation lamp is once lit (blinking) and kept lit (blinking) until the bonus prize is established, so that the player can be surely notified of the fact that the bonus prize has been won. If so, the lighting control mode is not limited.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the fact that the bonus winning is won is notified by the bonus confirmation lamp, but the image notification of the liquid crystal display or the dot matrix display, the audio notification by the speaker, etc. Good.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the RAM is initialized, the bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag, which is one of the prize winning related information, is also maintained. However, the bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag is won. If it is not included in the related information, that is, if the bonus confirmation lamp lighting flag is stored in an area other than the prize-winning related information storage area in the RAM, for example, after the bonus confirmation lamp is extinguished first, You may make it clear all the areas other than the prize winning related information storage area in RAM.

In the above embodiment, the prize winning related information is maintained by either the setting change operation by the setting switch or the RAM clear operation by the RAM clear switch (first instructing means). However, since it may be necessary to completely clear the RAM, for example, by either operation or by a dedicated switch or key separately provided (second instruction means), the prize winning related information is also included. The RAM may be completely cleared. Also, one switch may be used as both the setting switch and the RAM clear switch.

Further, in the above embodiment, the RAM is initialized due to an artificial operation such as a setting switch operation and a RAM clear switch operation, but whether or not the prize winning related information is maintained. Regardless of this, for example, the initialization of the RAM may be automatically performed in a predetermined time period after the end of business.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sub-control unit directly controls the bonus confirmation lamp, but the main control unit directly controls the bonus confirmation lamp regardless of the presence of the sub-control unit. It may be controlled.
In addition, when the sub control unit is provided, depending on the model, the prize winning related information may be stored in the RAM of the sub control unit. In this case, not only the RAM of the main control unit but also the sub control unit may be stored. In the RAM as well, the prize winning related information is maintained so that the substantial identity between the prize winning related information in the RAM of the main control unit and the prize winning related information in the RAM of the sub-control unit is ensured. More preferably.

The means for storing the prize winning related information is not limited to the RAM, and it is needless to say that other known storage means or storage means which will be provided in the future can be adopted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, two bonus prizes and other small prize prizes are prepared as the prize prize, but the prize may be one kind, in short,
How many kinds of prizes are made is a matter of design matters. Further, the data maintenance target is not limited to the bonus winning, and may be the small winning a prize (in this case, it is necessary to carry over the small winning flag).

[0045]

As described above, in the gaming machine according to the present invention, when the prize winning related information is stored in the storage means, only the other game related information excluding the prize winning related information can be erased. Therefore, for example, even if the game store business is closed and the settings are changed for the next business, or the RAM needs to be initialized due to an abnormality, etc., the winning prize is won. Since the related information is left as it is, it is possible to prevent an irrational situation in which the profit that should otherwise be returned to the player is not returned due to the convenience of the game shop side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an electrical configuration of the slot machine of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart regarding RAM initialization of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 symbol display section (symbol display means) 9 Stop button (stopping means) 10 Bonus confirmation lamp (informing means) 26 CPU (control means) 28 RAM (storage means) 31 Setting switch (instruction means) 32 RAM clear switch (instruction means)

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 8, 2003 (2003.5.8)

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A lottery processing means for executing a lottery process for determining whether or not to win a prize, and a prize winning process for executing a prize process in response to a lottery result winning a prize and a predetermined condition being satisfied thereafter. Means, and a storage means for storing prize winning related information for maintaining the state that the lottery result is won until the predetermined condition is satisfied or until the winning process is completed, and other game related information. In the gaming machine, when the winning-winning-related information is stored in the storage means, the gaming machine is provided with a control means capable of erasing only the other gaming-related information excluding the winning-winning related information. A gaming machine to do. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means can erase all game-related information including prize-winning related information. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising first instruction means for instructing the control means to erase only the game-related information other than the prize winning-related information. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising second instruction means for instructing the control means to erase all game-related information including prize-winning related information. 5. The system further comprises an informing means for informing the fact that the lottery result has won the prize until the predetermined condition is satisfied, and the control means operates the informing means together with the erasing process of the game-related information. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which executes processing for stopping. 6. A symbol display means for variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols for each column, and a stopping means for stopping the variable display of the symbol display means for each column, wherein the predetermined condition is a lottery. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the result is that the winning combination is won and the combination symbols related to the winning combination are prepared. 7. The storage means can store two or more states in which the lottery result is won, and the prize winning related information includes:
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the quantity information, the prize type information, and / or the winning order information are included.