JP4726971B2 - Bullet ball machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball machine, or a sparrow ball game machine, and more particularly to a ball game machine characterized by sound production during a special game such as a big hit game.

  A ball game machine such as a pachinko machine has a symbol start opening provided on the game board, a symbol display section for stopping a plurality of symbols after changing for a predetermined time, and a grand prize opening for opening and closing the opening and closing plate. Configured. When the detection switch provided at the symbol start port detects the passing of the game ball, the symbol display unit changes the display symbol for a predetermined time (this operation is sometimes referred to as symbol variation operation), and then the special symbol is aligned. Then, when it stops, it becomes a big hit state (special game state), and the big prize opening is repeatedly opened to generate a profit state advantageous to the player.

  The grand prize opening once opened is automatically closed when a predetermined number of game balls have won in it or when a predetermined time has elapsed, and the period from the opening of the grand prize opening to closing is determined. This is called one round. The special game is generally repeated up to 16 rounds, but during such a big hit round, the player is enlivened by playing high-quality dedicated music. Generally, the music corresponding to the character drawn on the game board is selected as the dedicated music, but when the reproduction of one music is completed, the same music is repeatedly reproduced.

JP 2002-159673 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-008044

  By the way, when the big prize opening is opened, the game ball wins as easily as it is not possible, but the time it takes for the number of game balls to reach the upper limit depends on the adjustment of the blocking nails. Some gaming machines end one round quickly, and conversely, some gaming machines take a considerable amount of time to complete one round.

  Therefore, the time from the start of the special game (the start of the first round) to the end of the game (the end of the final round) will be completely different for each gaming machine, and the music at the corner must be finished halfway. There is no current situation. For example, if the performance of a song for special games suddenly ends at the moment of entering the chorus part, the big hit round at the corner may also have a bad aftertaste. However, as shown in the following patent document, the conventional gaming machine cannot effectively cope with this.

  This invention is made paying attention to said problem, and makes it a subject to provide the game machine which can produce the audio | voice production corresponding to progress speeds, such as a big hit round.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a bullet ball game machine that easily starts a special game in which a game ball wins when a predetermined winning state resulting from the operation of the game ball occurs. Each time the special game divided into a plurality of game rounds is executed, the measuring means for measuring and storing the elapsed time for all or a part of the game round, and the newly started special game Changing means for changing the playback tempo of the voice playback operation in relation to the elapsed time stored by the measuring means .

  This gaming machine is typically configured to include a main control unit that mainly controls game operations and a voice control unit that operates based on an instruction from the main control unit. The measuring unit and the changing unit are preferably provided in either the main control unit or the voice control unit. In the embodiment, the measurement unit and the change unit are provided in the voice control unit. However, it is also preferable that the measurement unit and the change unit are provided in the main control unit or any one of them is provided in the voice control unit.

The invention according to claim 2 is a ball game machine that easily starts a special game in which a game ball wins when a predetermined winning state resulting from the operation of the game ball occurs, and is divided into a plurality of game rounds. every time it is the special game is executed, and computing means for computing and storing an average digestion time per predetermined game rounds to track the progress of the game round, the special game is started anew, Determining means for determining a progress speed of the sound effect in correspondence with the digestion time stored in the calculating means . This gaming machine is also typically configured to include a main control unit that mainly controls gaming operations and a voice control unit that operates based on instructions from the main control unit. The calculation unit and the determination unit are preferably provided in either the main control unit or the voice control unit. In the embodiment, the calculation unit and the determination unit are provided in the voice control unit. However, it is also preferable that the calculation unit and the determination unit are provided in the main control unit or any one of them is provided in the voice control unit.

In the above invention, since the contents of the sound effect during the special game can be changed, for example, when the winning speed of the game ball is fast due to poor adjustment of the blocking nail, the sound effect tempo is increased accordingly, and the reverse In addition, when the winning speed of the game ball is slow because the adjustment of the blocking nails is difficult, the tempo of the sound production can be slowed accordingly. Therefore, it is possible to produce a sound effect that matches the individuality of each gaming machine, and it is possible to realize a musical performance with a tempo that matches the average winning speed, and to match the rhythm of the game.

  Also, it is possible to almost end the music at the end of the final round, and it is possible to prevent an adverse effect that the performance suddenly ends at the moment of entering the chorus portion of the music. In this case, using the time from the start to the end of the special game, it may be set to finish one performance of the music, or may be set to finish the performance of the music a plurality of times. When the special game is divided into a plurality of rounds, it may be set so that the performance of one piece of music is finished once for each round.

  Each of the above inventions is typically configured to include a main control unit that mainly controls a gaming operation, and a voice control unit that operates based on an instruction from the main control unit. In special games divided into multiple rounds, the special prize opening is opened at the start of each round, while the special prize opening is closed at the end of each round.

  In addition, the main control unit during the special game is operating while appropriately shifting between a plurality of operation modes, and the operation mode counts the number of winnings to the special winning opening of the game ball and the passage of time. And a closed mode that is shifted from the open mode when the number of winnings reaches a predetermined value or the passage of time exceeds a predetermined value. It is preferable that the two operation modes are repeated up to a limit number of times, provided that the game ball passes through the specific area.

  More preferably, a determination mode is provided subsequent to the closed mode. In this determination mode, it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed through the specific area while the special prize opening is open, and the specific area is passed. If it is, the mode should be shifted to the open mode, and if it has not passed through the specific area, the special game should be ended through the end mode and returned to the initial mode.

  In each of the above inventions, it is preferable that a series of sound data for specifying a series of notes used for a sound effect during a special game is stored by specifying an address value for each note. In addition, a main control unit that mainly controls the game operation, and a voice control unit that operates based on an instruction of the main control unit, and a series of notes used for sound production during a special game, It is also preferable that a start address value of a storage area for storing a group of audio data for realizing each note and a data amount of the group of audio data are specified and stored in the audio control unit. In these inventions, the series of audio data is typically stored in a compressed state in the audio control unit.

  According to the present invention described above, it is possible to realize a bullet ball game machine capable of sound production corresponding to a traveling speed such as a big hit round.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine concerning an example. It is a front view which shows the game board of the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a block which shows the whole structure of the pachinko machine which concerns on an Example. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of a main control part. It is a flowchart which shows the timer interruption process in a main control part. 6 is a diagram for explaining in detail a part of the operation of FIG. 5. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of an audio | voice control part. It is drawing explaining the process which speeds up audio | voice reproduction | regeneration operation | movement. It is drawing explaining audio | voice reproduction operation | movement. It is a score which illustrates the music performed during a special game. It is a flowchart explaining the audio | voice output process of an audio | voice control part. It is a flowchart explaining the reception interruption process of an audio | voice control part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on a pachinko machine (first-type ball game machine) according to an example. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The illustrated pachinko machine 1 includes a rectangular frame-shaped wooden outer frame 2 that is detachably mounted on an island structure, and a front frame 4 that is pivotably mounted via a hinge 3 fixed to the outer frame 2. It consists of A game board 5 is detachably attached to the front frame 4 from the back side, and a glass door 6 and a front plate 7 are pivotally attached to the front side so as to be freely opened and closed.

  An upper plate 8 for storing game balls for launch is mounted on the front plate 7, and a lower plate 9 for storing game balls overflowing from or extracted from the upper plate 8 and a launch handle 10 are mounted at the bottom of the front frame 4. And are provided. The launch handle 10 is linked to the launch motor M1, and a game ball is launched by a striking rod that operates according to the rotation angle of the launch handle 10.

  An elliptical push button 11 with a built-in lamp is provided at the approximate center of the upper plate 8. The push button 11 is provided at a position where it can be operated with the left hand of the player, and the player can operate the push button 11 without releasing the right hand from the firing handle 10. This push button 11 does not function normally, but when the game state becomes, for example, a “button chance state”, the built-in lamp is turned on and can be operated.

  On the right side of the upper plate 8, an operation panel 12 for ball lending operation for the card-type ball lending machine is provided, a remaining amount display unit 12a for displaying the remaining amount of the card with a three-digit number, and a predetermined amount of game balls A ball lending switch 12b for instructing ball lending and a return switch 12c for instructing the return of the card at the end of the game are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 5 is provided with a guide rail 13 formed of a metal outer rail and an inner rail in an annular shape, and a liquid crystal color display 14 is provided at the approximate center of the game area 5a inside. Has been placed. And in the appropriate place of the game area 5a, there are arranged a symbol starting port 15, a big winning port 16, four normal winning ports 17, and gates 18 which are left and right passing ports. Each of the winning holes 15 to 17 and the gate 18 has a detection switch inside, so that the passage of the game ball can be detected.

  The liquid crystal display 14 is a device that variably displays a special symbol related to the big hit state and displays a background image and various characters in an animated manner. The liquid crystal display 14 has a special symbol display part DISP in the center and a normal symbol display part 19 in the upper right part. The normal symbol display unit 19 displays a normal symbol. When a game ball that has passed through the gate 18 is detected, the displayed normal symbol fluctuates for a predetermined time, and lottery is performed when the game ball passes through the gate 18. The stop symbol determined based on the random number for lottery is displayed and stopped.

  In this embodiment, the symbol start opening 15 is enlarged or reduced by an electric tulip having a pair of opening and closing claws, and when the stop symbol after the fluctuation of the normal symbol display unit 19 hits and the symbol is displayed, the opening and closing claws are displayed. It is expanded for a predetermined time. When a game ball wins the symbol start port 15, the display symbol of the special symbol display unit DISP fluctuates for a predetermined time, and the stop is determined based on the lottery result corresponding to the game ball winning timing at the symbol start port 15. Stop at the symbol.

  The special winning opening 16 is opened and closed by an opening / closing plate 16a that can be opened forward. When the special symbol display section DISP has a special symbol such as “7. The special game referred to is started, and the opening / closing plate 16a is opened. Further, there is a specific area 16b inside the special winning opening 16, and when a winning ball passes through the specific area 16b, a special game advantageous to the player is continued.

  After the opening / closing plate 16a of the big prize opening 16 is opened, the opening / closing plate 16a is closed when a predetermined time elapses or when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls wins. At this time, if the game ball does not pass through the specific area 16b, the special game ends. However, if the game ball passes through the specific area 16b, the special game is continued up to 16 times in this embodiment. It is controlled in a state advantageous to the user. In addition, when the stop symbol after the change of the special symbol display part DISP is a specific symbol of the special symbols, a privilege that the game after the end of the special game is in a high probability state is given.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the pachinko machine 1 according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, the pachinko machine 1 includes a main control board 30 that mainly controls the game operation, a symbol control board 31 that controls the operation of the liquid crystal display 14, and an audio control board 32 that realizes an audio game effect. A lamp control board 33 that causes the lamps to blink, a payout control board 34 that controls the payout motor M2 to pay out the game ball, a launch control board 35 that launches the game ball by the launch motor M1, and AC24V. And a power supply board 36 for supplying a DC voltage to each part of the apparatus.

  The main control board 30, the symbol control board 31, the voice control board 32, the lamp control board 33, and the payout control board 34 are each equipped with a computer circuit having a one-chip microcomputer. 32, the lamp control board 33, and the payout control board 34 receive a control command from the main control board 1 and realize individual control operations.

  Hereinafter, the circuits mounted on the control boards 30 to 34 and the operations realized by the circuits are collectively referred to as a main control unit 30, a symbol control unit 31, an audio control unit 32, a lamp control unit 33, respectively. And the payout control unit 34. Further, the symbol control unit 31, the voice control unit 32, the lamp control unit 33, and the payout control unit 34 are collectively referred to as a sub control unit.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the main control unit 30. As shown in the figure, the main control unit 30 includes a CPU circuit 30a composed of a one-chip microcomputer, a system clock generation unit 30b that generates a clock signal Φ0 that is an integer multiple of the CPU operation clock CLK, and an address signal from the CPU. A decoding circuit 30c for generating a chip select signal for each part, an output port circuit 30d for outputting data from the CPU, an input port circuit 30e for the CPU to take in external data, and the sub-control parts 31 to 34. An output drive circuit 30f that outputs a control command to the controller and a switch input circuit 30g that inputs ON / OFF states of switches of each part of the game board are mainly configured. The CPU circuit 30a incorporates a CPU core equivalent to Z80CPU (Zilog).

  The main control unit 30 configured as shown in FIG. 3 performs overall control of the operation of the pachinko machine 1 by executing the timer interrupt process shown in FIG. 5 every predetermined time (2 mS). In the following, referring to FIG. 5, when a timer interrupt occurs, after the contents of each register are saved in the stack area (ST20), a random number generation process is first executed (ST21). The random number generation processing includes update processing of the winning counter RG and the big hit counter CT used in the lottery operation in the normal symbol processing ST29 and the special symbol processing ST34.

  In step ST21, the winning counter RG and the big hit counter CT are updated by increment (+1) processing within a predetermined numerical value range, respectively, and the updated counter values are the hit determination random value and the big hit determination random value, respectively. It is used as a numerical value in the lottery operation.

  Specifically, the value of the winning counter RG is used in the lottery operation in the normal symbol processing (ST29) when the game ball passes the gate 18, and the value of the big hit counter CT is determined by the game ball starting the symbol. When passing through the mouth 15, it is used for the lottery operation in the special symbol process (ST34). The random number generation process includes a winning symbol random number generation process and a big bonus symbol random number generating process for determining a stop symbol in the normal symbol display unit 19 and the special symbol display unit DISP.

  When the random number generation process (ST21) as described above is completed, after the timer subtraction process is performed for the timer that manages the time of each game operation (ST22), the detection switch for the symbol start port 15 and the gate 18, and Signals of various switches including the detection switch for the special winning opening 16 are inputted and stored (ST23). Each timer subtracted in the process of step ST22 is for managing the opening time of the electric tulip and the special winning opening 16 and other game effect times.

  Subsequently, after transmitting the control command generated at this stage to the corresponding sub-control units 31 to 34 (ST24), error management processing is performed (ST25). The error management process is a determination as to whether or not an abnormality has occurred inside the device, such as whether or not the supply of game balls has stopped or the game balls are clogged. Next, after creating a control command for the payout control unit 35 (ST26), the generated control command is transmitted to the corresponding sub-control unit (ST27).

  Next, the normal symbol processing is performed on the condition that the current operation state is not “winning” (ST29). The normal symbol processing means determination as to whether or not to operate an ordinary electric accessory such as an electric tulip. Specifically, when it is determined that the game ball is passing through the gate based on the switch input result in step ST23, the value of the winning counter RG updated in the random number generation process (ST21) is acquired. The acquired random value is compared with the winning value at the start of fluctuation. If the comparison result is a winning state, the operation state is changed to a “winning” operation state. On the other hand, if it is “winning”, a process for operating an ordinary electric accessory such as an electric tulip is performed (ST31).

  Subsequently, a necessary control command is transmitted to the corresponding sub-control unit (ST32), and special symbol processing is performed on the condition that the current operation state is not “big hit” (ST34). The special symbol process (ST34) is a determination as to whether or not to operate the first-type special electric accessory such as the special winning opening 16. Specifically, when it is determined that the game ball has won the symbol start port 15 based on the switch input result in step ST23, the value of the big hit counter CT updated in the random number generation process (ST21) is acquired. The random value obtained at this time is compared with the big hit winning value at the start of fluctuation. Then, if the comparison result is a winning state, the operation state is changed to a “big hit” operating state.

  When the special symbol processing (ST34) as described above is completed, the first type special electric accessory using the special winning opening 16 is operated on condition that the current state is the “big hit” operation state. Processing is performed (ST36). FIG. 6 shows an outline of the first type special electric accessory processing (ST36).

  In the process of step ST36, as shown in FIG. 6, the operation mode is appropriately switched from M1 to M6, and the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 16 is realized. In this embodiment, specifically, the waiting mode (M1), the big hit starting mode (M2), the big winning opening open mode (M3), the big winning opening closed mode (M4), the first type special electric motor Each operation mode includes a mode in which an accessory operation is stopped (M5) and a mode in which a jackpot is ended (M6).

  Hereinafter, the contents of the operation modes M1 to M6 will be described with reference to FIG. 6, but the operation mode is maintained in the standby mode (M1) until the operation state becomes “big hit” by the process of step ST34. Has been. When the operating state changes to “big hit”, the operating mode is changed to the big hit start mode (M2).

  In the big hit starting mode (M2), after a predetermined time, the special winning opening 16 is opened, and then the big winning opening open mode (M3) is entered. During the special game (during the big hit game), the open / close plate 16a of the big prize opening 16 is repeatedly opened and closed. However, during the time zone when the big prize opening 16 is open, the operation mode is the big prize opening open mode (M3). ).

  In the large winning opening open mode (M3), the total number of game balls won in the large winning opening 16 is counted while being counted. When the total number of winnings reaches 10, or when the predetermined maximum opening time is exceeded, the special winning opening 16 is returned to the closed state, and then the mode is changed to the large winning opening closed mode (M4).

  In the big prize opening closing mode (M4), it was determined whether or not the game ball passed through the specific area 16b in the previous big prize opening open mode (M3), and it passed the specific area 16b. In this case, the continuous operation flag is turned on except in the case where the final round has been completed. This continuous operation flag is a flag for determining whether or not to continue the so-called big hit round. In this embodiment, the maximum number of big hit rounds is 16 times because the continuous operation flag is turned ON up to a maximum of 15 times. It becomes.

  On the other hand, when the game ball does not pass through the specific area 16b during the special winning opening open mode (M3), the continuous operation flag is turned off. However, regardless of whether the continuous operation flag is set to ON or OFF, after a certain time, the operation mode is changed from the big prize opening closing mode (M4) to the first type special electric appliance being stopped. Transition to mode (M5).

  In the first-type special electric accessory inactive mode (M5), it is determined whether the continuous operation flag is ON or OFF. If it is ON, the number of rounds is incremented by one after a certain time and the special prize opening 16 is opened again. In the state, the operation mode is shifted to the special winning opening open mode (M3). On the other hand, if the continuous operation flag is OFF, the operation mode is shifted to the big hit end mode (M6).

  The operation in the big prize opening open mode (M3) is as described above, but in the big hit end mode (M6), after a certain period of time, the “big hit” operation state is canceled and the operation mode is changed to the big win. Transition from the in-completion mode (M6) to the standby mode (M1). After that, the operation mode remains in the standby mode (M1), and when the big hit state (special game state) is invited again and the operation state changes to the state of “big hit”, the operation mode becomes the standby mode. Transition from (M1) to big hit starting mode (M2).

As described above, the first-type special electric accessory processing is executed in any one of the operation modes M1 to M6. This type 1 special electric accessory processing (ST36) is a timer interrupt (TIMER INT) is repeated at an interval of 2 mS, but the above-described operation is executed when the operation modes M1 to M6 proceed appropriately.

  Also, by the first type special electric equipment processing (ST36), [at the start of special game (at the start of the first round of big hit)], [at the start of the second round of big hit], ..., at the end of the special game ] Is grasped. Then, at [at the start of the big hit n-th round] or [at the end of the special game], a control command to that effect is generated and transmitted to the symbol control unit 31, the voice control unit 32, and the lamp control unit 33. (ST37).

  During a normal game before entering such a special game, in the command transmission process (ST37), a control command for specifying a variation pattern for effect operation is transmitted to the sub-control unit, and this control command is received. The symbol control unit 31 starts a symbol changing operation on the liquid crystal display 14, and the voice control unit 32 and the lamp control unit 33 start a voice effect and a lamp effect based on the received control command.

  When the command transmission process (ST37) is finished, the register saved in the process of step ST20 is restored and the timer interrupt process is finished (ST38). As a result, the process returns to the main routine. However, when the predetermined time (2 mS) has elapsed, the process of step ST20 is started again, so that the processes of steps ST20 to ST38 are repeated every 2 mS.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the audio control board 32. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the voice control board 32 mainly includes a one-chip microcomputer 20 and an amplifier 21 that amplifies a voice analog signal output from the one-chip microcomputer 20. The one-chip microcomputer 20 includes an input port 22 that receives a control command from the main control board 30, a CPU core 23 that controls the operation of the audio control board 32, and a TPU (Timer Pulse) that outputs various signals based on the system clock. Unit) 26, interrupt controller 24 that receives internal interrupt signals CH0 and CH1 from TPU 26 and strobe signal STB from main control board 30, and D that outputs PCM audio data restored in software and outputs an audio analog signal. / A converter 25, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 27 that stores control programs and compressed audio data (for example, ADPCM data (adaptive differential pulse code modulation)) in a fixed manner, and a control program work area (work area) A RAM (Random Access Memory) 28 used is mainly configured.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the interrupt controller 24 is supplied with internal interrupt signals CH0 and CH1 from the TPU 26 and a strobe signal STB from the main control board 30. The strobe signal STB is a signal output together with the control command from the main control board 30 and is supplied to the interrupt controller 24 as an IRQ (Interrupt Request) signal. The interrupt controller 24 that receives this signal sends an interrupt signal to the CPU core 23. INT is supplied and an interrupt vector for specifying an interrupt processing routine is output.

  The internal interrupt signal is set to be output from channel 0 and channel 1 of the TPU 26, but the interrupt signal CH1 from channel 1 is set to be generated every 4 ms, and the interrupt signal CH0 from channel 0 is Are set to be emitted at each sampling period (τ) individually set by the control program. Here, the sampling period means the output interval (τ) of the audio analog signal output from the D / A converter 25.

  The sampling period (τ) is individually set by the control program so that the sampling period can be appropriately changed according to each voice message output from the D / A converter 25. For example, when reproducing audio data (ADPCM data) acquired at sampling frequencies of 8 KHz, 16 KHz, and 32 KHz and stored in the ROM 27, time intervals (τ) of 125 μS, 62.5 μS, and 31.25 μS, respectively. When the interrupt signal CH0 is issued, the ADPCM data is converted into PCM data and output from the D / A converter 25 at a timing corresponding to the sampling frequency.

  FIGS. 8 to 9 are diagrams for explaining music played during a special game, among various sound effects executed by the sound control unit 32. FIG. 10 is a musical score showing a part of the music played during the special game. During the special game, the big winning opening 16 is repeatedly opened, so that the game ball is won very easily and gives a big profit to the player. Therefore, in general, according to the profit state of such a player, music that excites the player is played, but in this embodiment, according to the average winning speed of the game ball to the big winning opening 16, The performance speed of the music is changed.

  In other words, because the game board blocking nails are poorly adjusted, in game machines where the number of winning game balls quickly reaches the upper limit (10), the performance tempo of the music is accelerated accordingly. Due to the difficulty of adjusting the blocking nails, in the gaming machine where the number of winning game balls is slow to reach the upper limit, the performance tempo of the music is slowed accordingly.

  More specifically, at the end of the special game, the speed is adjusted to a performance tempo so that one or more performances of the music are completed. However, since it is virtually impossible to end the song correctly at the end of the special game, add a melody that will not be harmful even if it is repeated to the last part of the last song performance. The time is adjusted by repeating it several times. The average winning speed of the game balls is grasped by the progress speed of the big hit round.

  Hereinafter, a method for realizing such a unique operation will be described. For convenience of explanation, the sound data of the music played during the special game will be described as if it is in an uncompressed state. In practice, however, the data is appropriately compressed and stored in the ROM 27, and the compressed data is expanded and D / A converted during reproduction.

  If it demonstrates based on the above, in a present Example, about the music played in a special game, the head storage address AD (i) of audio | voice data is specified and memorize | stored in the pointer table TBL for every transition note. Further, the number Di of voice data from one note to the next note is specified and stored in the pointer table TBL in correspondence with the head storage address AD (i) of the voice data (FIG. 9A). reference).

  The ROM 27 stores the sound data in the state of the slowest performance (see FIG. 9B). At the time of reproduction, the number of data to be reproduced is variable in accordance with the statistical average winning speed of the game ball. is doing. That is, as shown in FIG. 9C, even if the number of stored data is Di, the audio data to be reproduced is shortened to N × Di in accordance with the winning speed of the game ball (N <1) Only N × Di audio data are reproduced from the address AD (i), and reproduction of the remaining audio data (the Omit portion in FIG. 9C) is omitted. As described above, in the case of the present embodiment, the shortening rate N (N <1) is determined corresponding to the statistical average progress speed of the big hit round.

  FIGS. 8A and 8B show a score (a) and a sound pressure waveform (b) in a case where all the audio data stored in the ROM 27 is reproduced, while FIG. (B) ′ shows the score (a) ′ and the sound pressure waveform (b) ′ when the reproduction amount is shortened. As described above, in this embodiment, the performance tempo is accelerated by deleting the end portion of the sound corresponding to each note (the Omit portion in FIG. 9C), so the frequency (pitch) of each sound is increased. There are no negative effects. That is, only the performance tempo can be accelerated without changing the sampling frequency during storage in the ROM and during reproduction.

  Hereinafter, a control program of the voice control unit 32 that realizes such an operation will be described. In the present embodiment, the control program of the voice control unit 32 includes a main routine that starts executing after power-on and repeats an infinite loop process, a timer interrupt processing routine that is started every predetermined time (4 mS), and a sampling cycle. A sound output interrupt routine (FIG. 11) for supplying audio data to the D / A converter every (τ), a reception interrupt routine (FIG. 12) started upon receiving a strobe signal STB from the main control board 30, It consists of an abnormal interrupt routine that starts due to runaway.

  In the main routine, the control command stored in the buffer area by the reception interrupt routine is analyzed to specify the sound effect to be executed. Then, at the start of a series of sound effects, the interrupt cycle (τ) of the sound output interrupt routine is determined in accordance with the sampling frequency of the sound data to be reproduced. Further, at the start of the sound effect, the timer operation of the TPC CH0 is started corresponding to the interrupt cycle (τ), and the CPU core is set in the interrupt enabled state. On the other hand, in the timer interruption routine, a sound production operation in accordance with a symbol variation operation such as a reach production, or a time management process related to music performance during a special game is performed.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the main processing contents of the reception interrupt routine. When interrupt processing is started upon receipt of the strobe signal STB from the main control board 30, a control command is acquired from the command input port (ST40), and this control command is sent to the write pointer WR. It is stored at the location indicated by POINT (ST41) and the write pointer WR The value of POINT is updated within the range of the buffer area of the ring buffer structure (ST42).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the stored control command is a command related to the start of a special game (ST43). If the stored control command is a control command related to the start of a special game, the operation of the management timer TMR that measures the progress speed of the big hit round And 1 is stored in the variable X that counts the number of big hit rounds. On the other hand, if the determination in step ST43 is NO, it is determined whether or not the control command stored in the process of step ST41 is a command related to the end of the special game (ST45).

  If the determined control command is a control command related to the end of the special game, the timer operation of the management timer TMR is ended (ST46). Since the value of the management timer TMR at the end corresponds to the total time TOTAL from the start to the end of the special game, the value of TOTAL / X is calculated based on the number of rounds X from the start to the end of the special game. (ST47). Next, the shortening rate N is calculated based on the value of TOTAL / X indicating the average round digestion time, and this is stored (ST48).

  On the other hand, if the determination in step ST45 is no, it is determined whether or not the control command stored in the process of step ST41 is a command related to the progress of the big hit round (ST49). If the control command is related to the progress of the big hit round, the variable X is incremented (+1). In other cases, the predetermined processing corresponding to the command is performed and the interrupt processing is finished (ST50). Note that the value of the variable X incremented here is used in the calculation of step ST47 described above.

  Next, the outline of the interrupt processing for audio output will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In the audio output process, first, the variable i is incremented (ST1), and then it is determined whether or not the value of the variable j exceeds the value of Di × N (ST2). Here, the variable j is a relative value indicating the storage position of the audio data (see FIG. 9B). Di means the number of voice data (note data) starting from the address value AD (i) (see FIG. 9B), and N means the shortening rate. Therefore, the process of step ST2 determines whether or not all the audio data for reproducing a specific note has been reproduced according to a predetermined shortening rate N.

  If j> Di × N, it means that the reproduction has been completed for a specific note. Therefore, in order to specify the next note, the variable i is set to +2 and the variable j is set to zero (ST3). ). Here, the variable i is a relative value indicating the corresponding position in the pointer table TBL (see FIG. 9A).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the position of TBL (2 × i) in the pointer table is an EOF (End of file) position. If the end of the pointer table TBL is exceeded, the variable i is set to zero ( ST5). In any case, the stored data is acquired from the position of TBL (2 × i) in the pointer table, and the start address AD (i) of the memory position where the audio data to be output is stored is obtained from the acquired data. (ST6). Then, the audio data is read from the address of AD (i) + j, and this is output to the D / A converter (ST7).

  Since the above processing (ST1 to ST7) is repeated every sampling period (τ), the performance tempo can be changed without changing the pitch. If a song is set to end from the beginning to the end of the special game, an ending melody that is not harmful even if it is repeated is added to the end of the song. At the same time, the music can be played comfortably.

  On the other hand, if it is set to repeat a music performance multiple times from the start to the end of the special game, it is always determined whether or not it is a final round performance. The time is adjusted by repeating the ending melody several times after the performance.

  As mentioned above, although one Example of this invention was described, the concrete description content does not specifically limit this invention. For example, in the case of the present embodiment, the shortening rate N is determined based on the time from the start to the end of the immediately preceding special game. The reduction rate may be determined by statistically counting time. As a statistical counting method, for example, special game times are sequentially stored in a storage area of a ring buffer structure, and a plurality of special game times are averaged to calculate a shortening rate.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the time from the start to the end of the special game and the number of rounds of digestion are all grasped by the voice control unit, but it is not limited to such an example, and is grasped by the main control unit. You may do it. In this case, the main control unit may transmit a control command indicating the compression rate to the voice control unit at the start of the special game. By adopting such an embodiment, it is not always necessary to transmit the control command indicating the start of each round to the voice control unit, and it is sufficient to transmit each control command indicating the start and end of the special game.

  Furthermore, the parameters for determining the progress speed of the voice performance are not limited to the shortening rate obtained from the last special game time or the shortening rate obtained by averaging a plurality of special game times. The performance speed of the transition round may be determined based on the time required for the first round. It is also preferable to determine the performance speed of the next round based on the required time of the previous round, or to determine the performance speed based on the required time of any round or the average value of the required time of multiple rounds. .

  In the above embodiment, the longest sound data is stored and reproduced based on the shortening rate. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, sound data having a medium length may be stored and reproduced by shortening or expanding the sound data. Here, as the decompression process, it is simple to repeatedly reproduce the audio data of the final part of each note.

  Also, if the gaming machine itself is equipped with a MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) sound source and the like so that the gaming machine exhibits its synthesizer function, the music tempo can be freely changed.

  It is also preferable that the player can adjust the speed of the BGM during the big hit or other than that. In this case, a dedicated adjusting means is provided at a predetermined location on the front surface of the gaming machine. Further, instead of the player, a store clerk of the game store may set the BGM speed. In this case, a dedicated setting means is arranged on the back side of the gaming machine.

ST44, ST46 Measuring means ST1-ST7 Changing means

Claims (2)

A ball game machine that easily starts a special game where a game ball wins when a predetermined winning state resulting from the operation of the game ball occurs,
Measuring means for measuring and storing an elapsed time for all or a part of the game round each time the special game divided into a plurality of game rounds is executed;
In a newly started special game, a bullet ball game machine comprising: changing means for changing a playback tempo of a voice playback operation in relation to the elapsed time stored by the measuring means . A ball game machine that easily starts a special game where a game ball wins when a predetermined winning state resulting from the operation of the game ball occurs,
Every time the special game that is divided into a plurality of game rounds is executed, and computing means for computing and storing an average digestion time per predetermined game rounds to track the progress of the game round,
In a newly started special game, a bullet ball game machine comprising: a determination unit that determines a progress speed of a sound effect according to the digestion time stored in the calculation unit .