JP2004202266A - Play equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide play equipment which increases players' hope for games by giving powerful impact to specific symbols and raises entertainment of games. <P>SOLUTION: The play equipment is provided with a rotary body which is arranged with characters at the outer periphery. The play equipment is structured with a rotary body 6 which has at least one luminescence processing character L whose surface is attached with a material which absorbs optical energy and glows for constant period time and a luminescence source 36 which is arranged near the outer periphery of the rotary body 6 and gives optical energy to the luminescence character L. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a game apparatus comprising a rotary body in which a plurality of symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface (the slot machine, such as a pachinko game machine incorporating a pachislo and the apparatus).

  A slot machine is an example of an amusement device using a rotating body. This slot machine has a plurality of reels around which a reel tape displaying a plurality of symbols is wound on the outer periphery. These reels rotate and stop according to the operation of the player. When these reels stop, winning or losing is determined by whether or not predetermined symbols are aligned on a predetermined pay line.

  For example, when one type of symbol (for example, "BAR") is arranged along a pay line, a certain amount of coins is paid. The amount of coin payment differs depending on the type of symbol. For example, "BAR" pays 10 coins, but "7" pays 100 coins. Discrimination against such symbols enhances the game's entertainment and makes the game more exciting. Therefore, the player pulls the lever for starting the game in the slot machine or presses the start button, and the display is displayed after the rotating body starts rotating or in the pachislot after the stop button is pressed. They tend to concentrate on the symbols arriving at the window and crave the emergence of symbols with higher payouts.

Therefore, there has been proposed a slot machine in which a lighting device is attached to the back side of a reel near a display window, which is particularly attractive to a player, to illuminate only the symbol near the display window, or to give a decorative effect to the symbol.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,452 Published Patent Application No. 4-208176 Published Patent Publication No. 4-220276 Published Utility Model Publication No. 3-58476 Published Utility Model Publication No. 4-50090 Published Utility Model Publication No. 4-50089 Published Utility Model Publication No. 3-58475 In these devices, the symbols appearing in the display window are emphasized by illuminating or embossing the symbols.

  Although these devices certainly emphasize the symbols appearing in the display window rather than the conventional symbols, all the symbols appearing in the display window are emphasized to the same extent, and therefore, these devices are used for specific symbols with a high payment amount. It has no effect of amplifying or stimulating the player's expectations.

  As described above, what the player waits for is the appearance of a symbol with a high payout amount (such as "7"). In particular, immediately before the reel stops, the player's attention concentrates on the specific symbol. Tends to be. Therefore, by emphasizing this specific symbol, the player's sense of expectation is increased, and the game's entertainment is enhanced.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to increase a player's expectation of a game by giving a strong impact to a specific symbol, and to improve the entertainment of the game.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a game machine having a rotating body having a plurality of symbols drawn on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a display window for displaying a symbol to a player, and a rotating body outside the rotating body. With the rotation, there is a light emitting source arranged at a position immediately before the symbol arrives at the display window, and the rotating body transfers the light energy from the light emitting source to a specific symbol having a high payment amount among the plurality of symbols. The game device is characterized in that a light emitting process is performed so as to emit light while receiving and passing through at least the display window.

Further, in a game device having a plurality of rotating bodies on which a plurality of symbols are drawn on an outer peripheral surface, the amusement apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting sources arranged to correspond to each of the rotating bodies and providing light energy to the symbols. The gaming machine is characterized in that a specific symbol having a high payout amount among a plurality of symbols is subjected to light emission processing so as to receive light energy from a light emission source and emit light at least while passing through a display window .

It is preferable that the amusement device further includes a light emission control unit that controls the light emission source to emit light for several rotations immediately before the rotating body stops.

The present invention, which is configured as described above, special processing (light emission processing, the three-dimensional processing) specific symbol has been subjected has appeal than other symbols, considerably conspicuous. Therefore, the player's attention is attracted regardless of whether the rotating body is rotating or stopped.

Since the present invention is configured as described above, while the rotating member such as the reel is rotating or stopped, its symbol is significantly more noticeable and powerful than other symbols appearing in the window. Demonstrate great appeal. Therefore, the player's sense of expectation is stimulated, and the entertainment is improved.

  Hereinafter, a game device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

  FIG. 1 is an external view showing a slot machine as a game machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This slot machine has a coin slot 1, a starter lever-2, a display 3, a switch section 4, a first reel 5, a second reel 6, a third reel 7, and respective display windows. 8, 9, and 10 are provided.

  The player inserts coins from the coin insertion slot 1 prior to the game. In the game, valid pay lines A, B, and C are determined based on the number of coins inserted. For example, if the number is one, only A is a pay line, and if the number is three, A, B and C are the pay lines. Therefore, the probability of winning is increased according to the number of coins. The number of coins inserted is displayed on the display unit 3 as a digital number. The game is started by pulling the start lever-2 or pressing the start switch, and the first reel 5, the second reel 6 and the third reel 7 rotate simultaneously.

  The rotated reel stops after a certain period of time. At that time, the winning and losing of the game and the payout amount are determined by the symbol combination stopped on the winning line. At first, the reel is fast rotating, so that each symbol cannot be identified. However, just before stopping, the rotation slows down, and each symbol can be identified. At this stage, the player is aware of the symbols with a high payout amount. When the same symbols are arranged on the winning line, a certain amount of coins are paid. These coins are paid to the player through the coin outlet 11.

Next, a mechanical configuration and an electrical configuration of the slot machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a reel applicable to the slot machine according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a side view of the reel shown in FIG . 2 taken along the axis of rotation of the reel, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the slot machine according to the first embodiment .

  The reel includes a first reel 5, a second reel 6 and a third reel 7, and the respective reels are driven by stepping motors 22, 23 and 24. A reel tape on which a plurality of symbols are drawn is wound around the outer circumference of the first reel 5, the second reel 6, and the third reel 7, respectively. At least one of the symbols drawn on these reel tapes is a light-emitting symbol L that has been subjected to light-emitting processing. The light-emitting symbol is formed of a light-emitting surface (a fluorescent surface, a luminous surface, or the like) that receives light energy and emits light for a certain period of time. The light emitting surface can be formed by a method of printing on the surface using a fluorescent paint (ink) or a luminous paint, a method of applying a fluorescent paint or a luminous paint, or a method of applying a phosphor powder in a thin layer. As the phosphor powder that can be used here, for example, there is a material indicated in an Image Optical Handbook (May 20, 1986, edited by Kenji Hiwatari, published by Asakura Shoten, pp.268-269).

  In front of the reels 5, 6, and 7, a window area W including display windows 8, 9, and 10 is arranged. Just before the window area W and the reels 5, 6, and 7, respectively. Light-emitting sources 35, 36, and 37 for irradiating the above-described light-emitting symbol L with light are disposed above the light-emitting symbol L. Therefore, as the reels 5, 6, 7 rotate, the light-emitting symbol L receives light energy immediately before appearing in the window W, and emits light at least while passing through the window W. Therefore, the light-emitting symbol L is strongly recognized by the player from the display window and impressed. The specific arrangement of the light-emitting sources 35, 36, and 37, the distance from the reels 5, 6, and 7 depend on the light-emitting intensity of the light-emitting sources 35, 36, and 37, the afterglow time of the light-emitting symbol, and the rotation of the reel. Determined in consideration of speed and the like.

Next, a circuit configuration of the slot machine according to the first embodiment will be described. The reels 5, 6, and 7 are driven by the microcomputer 32 and the motor drive circuit 21, and the stop position of each reel is determined according to random number control by the random number generator 13. The stop position of the first reel 5 is determined when a coin is inserted, and the stop positions of the second reel 6 and the third reel 7 are determined by operating the start switch of the game switch unit 4. It is determined when the user presses or pulls the start lever-2. The random number generator 13 uses, for example, a 13-bit register and generates 8192 (= 213) types of random numbers. When the first reel 5, the second reel 6, and the third reel 7 are stopped, the first reel 5, the second reel respectively correspond to the winning lines A, B, and C. 6. The symbol on the third reel 7 is specified. When a winning combination is realized in any one of the winning lines, the number of coins corresponding to the winning is paid out from the coin outlet 11. At the same time, the number of coins inserted and the number of coins paid out are displayed on the display of the display 3, and one game is completed.

  If the game is performed after the "BET" switch of the game switch section 4 is pressed, no coin is paid out, and the same number as the number of payouts is displayed as a credit on "CREDIT" of the display unit 3. The number displayed as "CREDIT" is treated the same as an actual coin. That is, when the "BET" switch is pressed once, it means that one coin has been inserted, and the number of credits displayed in "CREDIT" of the display 3 is decremented by one. If the "MAX BET" switch is pressed when the number of coins more than the maximum number of coins of the game remains in the credit, the maximum number of coins of the game has been inserted, and the number of credits on the display 3 is displayed. Is also reduced by the maximum number of coins inserted. When the "PAY OUT" switch of the game switch section 4 is pressed, the number of coins displayed on the display 3 is paid out from the coin outlet 11.

  Further, light emitting sources 35, 36, 37 are arranged above the reels 5, 6, 7 and these light emitting sources 35, 36, 37 are connected to the MPU 16. When the game starts, the MPU 16 turns on the light-emitting sources 35, 36 and 37 based on a signal input through the input port 14. Since the reels 5, 6, 7 rotate simultaneously with the start of the game, the light-emitting symbol L passes near the light-emitting sources 35, 36, 37. At this time, the light-emitting symbol L receives light energy from the light-emitting sources 35, 36, and 37, and the light-emitting symbol L emits light at least while the light-emitting symbol L appears in the window W. Therefore, the light-emitting symbol L is particularly conspicuous, and shows a stronger appeal than other symbols appearing in the window W.

  In this case, the MPU 16 may control the light-emitting sources 35, 36, and 37 to emit light only several rotations immediately before the reels 5, 6, and 7 stop. Alternatively, the light may be emitted only a few rotations after the emission. This kind of change can be realized by hardware or software, and is effective when a special payout rate is applied only while the symbol is emitting light or when a game change is produced. In addition, since the light emission time is shortened, it is economical.

  As described above, by controlling the effect of the light in time, it is possible to expect the effect of giving the game a stimulating effect and exciting the game.

Next, a reel applied to a slot machine related to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a reel applied to a slot machine related to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the reel shown in FIG . 5 as viewed along the axis of rotation of the reel.

The light emitting sources 35 , 36 , 37 are arranged on the opposite side of the window W with the reels 5, 6, 7 therebetween. Therefore, in the reels 5, 6, and 7, the rear side of the reel on which the light-emitting symbols L are arranged has a structure in which light from the light-emitting sources 35, 36, and 37 is transmitted. An opening H is formed on the back side of the reels 5, 6, and 7 where the light-emitting symbols L are arranged, and an optical path through which light from the light-emitting sources 35, 36, and 37 passes is secured (see FIG. 6). ). Therefore, when the light-emitting symbol L appears in the window W, the light-emitting symbol L is irradiated with light from the light-emitting sources 35, 36, and 37, and the light-emitting symbol L emits light. In this case, since the light is directly emitted to the light-emitting symbol L, the light-emitting intensity is higher than that of the reels 5, 6, and 7 described above. In this case, in order to enhance the contrast with the other symbols, a mask process that does not transmit light may be performed on the back of the symbols other than the symbols.

  Further, if a translucent material is used as the reel tape and a masking process is performed to attach a mask that does not transmit light to the back of the symbol other than the symbol, the light can be emitted without using a fluorescent paint or a luminous paint. As it becomes possible, the product price will be lower.

Note that the circuit configuration of the slot machine shown in FIG. 4 described above can be applied to this slot machine as it is .

Next, a slot machine related to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a side view of the reel related to the present invention viewed along the axis of rotation of the reel, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the principle of stereoscopic vision.

In this slot machine , a three-dimensional image symbol T obtained by performing at least one three-dimensional image processing on a reel tape is formed on the surface (see FIG. 7). The three-dimensional image symbol T includes a lenticular lens T1 and a composite photograph T2. The lenticular lens T1 is formed in a wavy shape and has a surface, and each wavy surface functions as a convex lens. The composite photograph T2 is fixed to the rear surface of the lenticular lens T1, and a plurality of photographs whose frames are slightly different from each other are composited so that images corresponding to the right eye and the left eye are alternately arranged. This kind of composite photograph is produced using a large number of original images having different parallaxes. These original images with different parallaxes can be easily produced with a camera capable of taking stereo images (for example, a stereo camera made in the United States, "Nishika N8000"). It can also be produced by a multi-lens camera such as a monocular camera or a one-shot camera (see Handbook of Printing Engineering, edited by The Printing Society of Japan, pp.1117-1119). Images corresponding to the right eye and the left eye are included in the composite photograph, and the lenticule lens T1 allows each image to enter each eye independently, thereby enabling stereoscopic viewing (see FIG. 8). .

Next, a slot machine related to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a side view of a reel related to the present invention viewed along the axis of rotation of the reel, and FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the principle of stereoscopic vision. The difference from the above-described slot machine related to the present invention is that the lenticular lens T1 and the composite photograph T2 constituting the stereoscopic image symbol T are separated. The composite photograph T2 is affixed on a reel tape, and the lenticular lens T1 is fixed between the window W and the reels 5, 6, 7 and in the vicinity of the reels 5, 6, 7. I have. The lenticular lens T1 is formed to be curved along the reels 5, 6, 7. The lenticular lens is formed to have a size that covers the entire window W, but may have a size that covers a part of the window W. When this reel is applied to a ghost type slot machine, all of the reel tape may be formed by a composite photograph. In this case, only the three-dimensional image symbol T is used as a picture symbol, and other areas are blank.

Next, a slot machine related to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The difference from the above-mentioned slot machine related to the present invention is that the lenticular lens T1 is arranged over the reel area where the player can see from the window W, and the composite photograph in which the picture changes due to the change of the viewing angle is different. -Formed on the tape (see FIG. 11). For example, when the composite photograph T2 reaches the upper part of the lenticular lens T1, the player can see the first image by the action of the lenticular lens T1 (FIG. 11A). As the reel rotates, the angle at which the player views the composite photograph T2 changes. For example, when the player reaches the lower part of the lenticular lens T1, the player can see the second image (FIG. 11B). If the first image and the second image are continuous, a moving image in which the image changes as the reel rotates is realized. In this case, the more the number of original pictures to be synthesized, the more precise the motion of the moving picture. Using this principle, for example, a state in which “buds” gradually open or a state in which a volcano erupts can be easily expressed.

As described above, according to the above-described reel , the appearance of the specially processed symbol during the reel rotation increases the expectation of the player and enhances the entertainment of the game.

  Further, since the symbol is more prominent than other symbols, the player is given an impression that there are more numbers than the actual number. Also, when the reel is stopped, even if it is not a winning combination, if it appears in the window, the player feels "I was sorry!" By these phenomena, it is possible to obtain a near-miss effect by making a specific symbol stand out. Therefore, the business performance of the machine is improved, which contributes to the improvement of the business performance of the store where the machine is installed. Furthermore, the manufacturing cost is low and no special equipment is required.

Note that, for example , a holographic technique may be used as a method of representing a three-dimensional image (see Printing Engineering Handbook, edited by The Printing Society of Japan, pp.1119-1125).

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the triple reel type slot machine in which the reel rotates in the vertical direction is described as an example of the game machine, but the present invention is not limited to this slot machine. For example, the number of reels of the slot machine is not limited to three, and the reel may be rotated horizontally.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the apparatus using coins has been described. Pachinko balls or the like may be used. Therefore, it is not always necessary to provide a coin insertion device, a coin payment device, and the like.

  Further, the present invention can be applied to other amusement machines having a rotary reel, for example, pachinko slots and pachinko machines having a rotary reel.

1 is a front view showing the appearance of a slot machine as one embodiment of a game machine according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a reel applicable to the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a reel applicable to the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed along a rotation axis of the reel. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view showing a reel applied to a slot machine related to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of a reel applied to the slot machine related to the present invention as viewed along a reel rotation axis . It is the side view which looked at the reel relevant to the present invention along the reel rotation axis. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereoscopic vision applied to the reel of FIG. 7 . It is the side view which looked at the reel relevant to the present invention along the reel rotation axis. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the principle of stereoscopic vision applied to the reel shown in FIG. 9 . It is the side view which looked at the reel applicable to the slot machine related to the present invention along the reel rotation axis . FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a principle of realizing a moving image applied to the reel illustrated in FIG. 11 .

Explanation of reference numerals

1. Coin slot 2. Star tray lever
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Display, 4 ... Switch part, 5 ... First reel 6 ... Second reel, 7 ... Third reel 8, 9, 10 ... Display window, 11 ... Coin outlet 13 ... Random number generation Unit 14 input port 16 MPU 17 output port 21 motor drive circuit 22, 23, 24 stepping motor 32 microcomputer unit 35, 36, 37 light emitting source L: Light emitting symbol W: Window, T: 3D image symbol

Claims (4)

In an amusement device having a rotating body on which a plurality of symbols are drawn on an outer peripheral surface,
A display window for displaying the symbol to a player;
A light-emitting source disposed at a position immediately before the symbol arrives at the display window with the rotation of the rotating body and arranged outside the rotating body,
The rotator is characterized in that light emission processing is performed on a part of the plurality of symbols so as to receive light energy from the light emission source and emit light at least while passing through the display window. Playing equipment. In a game device including a plurality of rotating bodies on which a plurality of symbols are drawn on an outer peripheral surface,
A plurality of light sources are provided corresponding to each of the rotating bodies and provide light energy to the symbols,
An amusement device, wherein the rotator is subjected to a light emission process to emit light by receiving light energy from the light emission source on a part of the plurality of symbols.   The game device according to claim 1, further comprising light emission control means for causing the light emission source to emit light during a predetermined number of rotations at which the rotating body rotates immediately before stopping.   3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light emission control unit that extinguishes the light emission source after the rotator rotates a predetermined number of times after the light emission source emits light.

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