EA010954B1 - Game machine, game control method and game system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a gaming machine of the present invention, a processing device executes: a processing reading from a storage device a program for shifting the game mode from a without-insurance mode to a with-insurance mode on condition that a specific number of game media have been inserted, and then executing the program; a processing reading from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode has been shifted to the with-insurance mode, and outputting an image or sound to an output device based upon the notification data; and a processing reading from the storage device a program for providing the player with a predetermined profit when a predetermined variable, accumulatively counted every time a game is played after the game mode has been shifted to the with-insurance mode, reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with the predetermined variable, and then executing the program.

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine, such as a slot machine, in which a game is conducted using a gaming payment means (valuable game means), such as coins, etc., to a game control method for a gaming machine, and to a game system comprising automatic and control device.

The level of technology

Usually in an institution where gaming machines are installed, such as a slot machine, a game is played by inserting various kinds of gaming payment means into the gaming machine, such as coins, cash, etc. Each gaming machine pays the player a dividend in accordance with the state of winnings (the result of playing the game) generated during the game.

In a casino, where many slot machines are installed, the credit used in each slot machine is partially reserved, and when the reserved amount reaches a predetermined amount, in one of the slot machines they provide a game of so-called JACK POT for a large amount that is not paid. with the usual win (for example, see patent document 1). In such slot machines, the winnings in each slot machine are usually obtained with a given probability, and the player plays the game, waiting for the winnings to appear. One of the slot machines has the chance of a JACK-POT appearing during a lottery draw, different from the usual lottery, in which the slot win probability mentioned above is set in the slot machines. Usually, many casinos are interconnected over the network to increase the value of the winnings in JACK-POT.

In addition, a system is available in which the host computer and a plurality of gaming machines are interconnected over the network, and the host computer controls the bonus generation in the gaming machines (for example, see patent document 2). In this system, not only the number of coins inserted in each slot machine is summed up, but also a part of the total number of coins inserted in a variety of slot machines, which are separately summed up as a bonus fund. The host computer provides a bonus qualification for a gaming machine in which the number of inserted coins reaches a predetermined value. The host computer sends a command to one of the gaming machines selected from the gaming machines that have the bonus qualification when the bonus pool value reaches a predetermined threshold value. On the slot machine that receives this command, you can play the bonus game, which has a high level of excitement.

Patent document 1: 1P-A 2003-117053.

Patent Document 2: US Patent No. 5820459.

Summary of Invention

Disclosure of problems solved by the invention

However, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, the player who plays the game with the gaming machine selected during the lottery receives income from JACK POT. Consequently, there is a case when a player who has spent a lot of coins cannot use the game in JACK-POT at all, and another player who has just started the game gets an income by playing in JACK-POT.

In the system described in patent document 2, the chance of earning income in a bonus game is also provided to one of the gaming machines, in which the total number of inserted coins reaches a predetermined number. The chance of earning an income in the bonus game does not always provide the player who spent a lot of coins. Therefore, in the system described in patent document 2, a case arises where a player who has spent a lot of coins cannot receive income in the bonus game, and another player who has just started the game earns income in the bonus game, similarly to the slot machine described in patent document 1.

In the system described in patent document 2, a portion of the total number of coins inserted into each of the plurality of gaming machines is summarized as a bonus pool. Therefore, in the case when the frequency of using the slot machines in the system is low, the player who spent a lot of coins is not able to receive a reward in the form of income during the bonus game, since the bonus fund amount has not reached a predetermined threshold value. In addition, since the bonus game in the system described in Patent Document 2 is characterized by a high level of excitement, there is a case when the income in the bonus game cannot be received sufficiently by the player, even when he is given the chance of earning income.

If such a situation arises, a player who has spent a lot of coins may have a feeling of dislike towards the game, he becomes suspicious of the game or he loses interest or attention to the game.

The present invention has been drawn up in view of the above problems and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that prevents a player who has spent a lot of gaming payment means, such as coins, feelings of dislike towards the game, an increase in distrust of it or loss of interest, is prevented. or attention to the game; a game control method associated with the gaming machine; and a gaming machine system consisting of a gaming machine and a control device.

- 1 010954

Problem Solver

To solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the following configuration is proposed.

(1) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device and an image or sound output device, in which the processing device performs processing, reading a program from the storage device for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executing this program;

a processing that reads notification data from the memory device to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and output an image or sound to an output device based on the notification data; and processing that reads from a storage device a program intended to provide the player with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable, which is accumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, reaches a predetermined value that is compared with in advance set variable, and then executing this program.

In accordance with the configuration (1), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered (for example, coins, credits corresponding to coins). The player is provided with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable, which is accumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, reaches a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with a predetermined variable.

Thus, the player can switch the game mode from the no-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode when he inserts a certain amount of game media. Further, in the insurance mode, even in cases involving the case when a player spends a large amount of game media, playing a game for a long period of time, if during a continuous game of play a predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value, the player can get a given income.

In addition, since the switching of the game mode to insurance mode is notified by outputting an image or sound to an output device, it is possible to notify a player to switch to insurance mode by presenting an image or sound to interest the player or draw his attention to obtaining a predetermined income .

Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

It should be noted that in the first aspect of the present invention, the predetermined variable, in particular, is not limited to counting it with accumulation each time a game is played. Examples of a predetermined variable may include the number of games, the payment balance in terms of the game media, the payment rate of the game media, game time, and the like.

(2) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device and an image or sound output device, in which the processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in the storage device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

a processing that reads notification data from the memory device to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and output an image or sound to an output device based on the notification data; and processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state when the number of games is cumulative calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, it reaches a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the quantity game, and then executing this program.

In accordance with the configuration (2), the game mode is switched from non-insurance mode to

- 2 010954 with insurance, provided that a certain (specific) amount of game means of payment was entered. Then, a second special game state is generated when the number of games that is counted each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode reaches a predetermined value. Then, based on the notification data intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode, an image or sound is output to the output device. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(3) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device and an image or sound output device and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively counts the number of games for each gaming machine from a plurality of gaming machines, in which the processing device performs processing determining a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in a memory device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

a processing that reads notification data from the memory device to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and output an image or sound to an output device based on the notification data;

a processing transmitting identification information about the gaming machine stored in the memory to the control device via the communication line each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode;

a processing that receives a command signal transmitted from the control device when the number of games accumulatively counted by the control device based on the gaming machine identification information reaches a predetermined value that is the object of comparison with the number of games; and processing reading from a memory based on a command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state, and then executing this program.

In accordance with the configuration (3), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been deposited. Then, the second special game state is generated after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device when the number of games that the control device counts after the game mode is switched to the insured mode reaches the predetermined value. Then, based on the notification data, an image or sound is output to the output device to indicate that the mode has switched to the insurance mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(4) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device and an image or sound output device, in which the processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in the storage device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

a processing that reads notification data from the memory device to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and output an image or sound to an output device based on the notification data;

processing, cumulatively counting the number of games each time a game is played after

- 3 010954 switching the game mode to the mode with insurance;

a processing that determines whether the number of games has really reached a given value; and processing that reads from a memory device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state when it is determined that the number games reached the set value, and then executing this program.

In accordance with the configuration (4), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The number of games is then accumulatively counted each time the game is played after switching the game mode to insurance mode. Then determine whether the number of games has reached the specified value. When it is determined that the number of games has reached a predetermined value, a second special state of the game is generated. In addition, an image or sound is output to an output device, based on notification data for notification that the game mode has switched to the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(5) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device and an image or sound output device, in which the processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in the storage device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

a processing that reads notification data from the memory device to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and output an image or sound to an output device based on the notification data; and processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state, when the payment balance in the expression the game media, which is cumulatively calculated each time a game is played after switching the game mode to insurance mode, becomes equal to or less than, h m predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the payment balance in terms of game media, and then executes the program.

In accordance with the configuration (5), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated when the payment balance in terms of the game media becomes equal to or less than the specified value. Then, based on the notification data intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode, an image or sound is output to the output device. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(6) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device and an image or sound output device and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively calculates a payment balance in terms of a gaming payment tool for each gaming machine of a plurality of gaming machines, in which the processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by performing a lottery program, saving stored in a storage device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

processing that reads from the storage device notification data for notification that

- 4 010954 game mode has switched to insured mode, and outputting an image or sound to an output device based on notification data;

a processing that transmits the number of game media inserted and paid in the game played by the player, along with the gaming machine identification information that is stored in the storage device, to the control device, through the communication line each time the game is played after switching the game mode to insurance mode;

processing accepting a command signal transmitted from the control device when the payment balance in terms of the game media, which the control device accumulates, is based on the identification information about the gaming machine and the number of game media inserted and paid during the game played by the player or less than the specified value, which is the object of comparison with the payment balance in terms of the game media; and processing reading from a memory based on a command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state, and then executing this program.

In accordance with the configuration (6), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated, after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device when the payment balance in terms of the game media, calculated by the control device after the game mode is switched to the insured mode, becomes equal to or less than the specified value. Then, based on the notification data intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode, an image or sound is output to the output device. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(7) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device and an image or sound output device, in which the processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in the storage device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

a processing that reads notification data from the memory device to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and output an image or sound to an output device based on the notification data;

processing, cumulatively counting the payment balance in terms of the game media each time the game is played after switching the game mode to insured mode;

a processing determining whether the payment balance in terms of the game media is actually equal to or less than the specified value; and processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state, when the payment balance in the expression the game media is defined as equal to or less than the specified value, and then executing this program.

In accordance with the configuration (7), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The payment balance in terms of the game media is then cumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to insured mode. Then determine whether the payment balance in terms of the game media has become equal to or less than the specified value. When it is determined that the payment balance in terms of the game media has become equal to or less than the specified value, a second special game state is generated. In addition, an image or sound is output to an output device based on notification data for notification that the game mode has switched to the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

- 5 010954 (8) A game control method, comprising the steps of switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been deposited;

output of the image or sound, with the help of which they notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode; and presenting to the player a predetermined income when the predetermined variable, which is accumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, reaches a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the predetermined variable.

In accordance with the configuration (8), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The player is then provided with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable, which is accumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, reaches a specific amount. After that, the player is notified about switching the game mode to the insurance mode by presenting an image or sound. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(9) A gaming system comprising a gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device; and a control device connected to the gaming machine via a communication line, in which the processing device performs processing, reading from a memory device, a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific number of game media has been entered and then executing this program;

a processing that reads notification data from the memory device for notification that the game mode has entered the insured mode, and outputting an image or sound to an output device based on the notification data; and processing, reading from a storage device, a program intended to provide the player with a predetermined income after receiving a predetermined signal from the control device, and then executing this program, and the management device performs processing, accumulatively counting a predetermined variable in the gaming machine, every time play after switching the game mode to the mode with insurance; and processing transmitting a predetermined signal to the gaming machine when the predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value, which is an object of comparison with the predetermined variable.

In accordance with the configuration (9), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The player is then provided with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable, calculated cumulatively in the insurance mode, reaches a certain amount. After that, the player is notified of the switching of the game mode to the insurance mode by presenting an image or sound. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides the following configuration.

(10) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command relating to an insured mode, in which the processing device performs a processing that reads a program from the memory device for switching the game mode from the no-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes this program;

a processing that reads from a memory device a program intended to provide a player with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable, accumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, reaches a predetermined value that is compared with a predetermined value variable, and then executing this program;

a processing that receives a request to output from the input device when the player controls the input device; and processing outputting to the output device based on output data stored in the memory device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining quantity until the predetermined variable reaches the predetermined value after receiving the output request signal from the input device in the insured mode.

In accordance with the configuration (10), the game mode is switched from non-insurance mode to

- 6 010954 with insurance, provided that a specific amount of game means of payment was entered. The player is provided with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable, which is accumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, reaches a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with a predetermined variable.

Therefore, the player can switch the game mode from the no-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode by inserting a predetermined number of game media or a specific value corresponding to them. Then in the mode of insurance, even in cases involving the case when a player spends a large amount of game media, playing a game for a long period of time, if during a continuous game of play a predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value, the player can receive in advance given income.

Then, since an image or sound corresponding to the remaining quantity is output from the output means, until the predetermined variable reaches the predetermined value, when the command relating to the insurance mode is output in the insurance mode, it is possible to interest or attract the player by giving the predetermined income when a given variable reaches a given value.

Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(11) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command relating to an insured mode in which the processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in a memory device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same game state or a different game state from the first special game state when the number of games that are cumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, it reaches a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the number Twomey games, and then executes the program;

a processing that receives a request to output from the input device when the player controls the input device; and processing outputting to an output device based on output data stored in the memory device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until the number of games reaches the predetermined value, after receiving the output request signal from the input device in the mode with insurance.

In accordance with the configuration (11), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated when the number of games that is counted each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode reaches a predetermined value. Then, based on the data for output, the image or sound corresponding to the remaining number, until the number of games reaches the predetermined value, is output to the output device when the player controls the input device in the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(12) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command relating to an insurance mode and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively counts the number of games for each a gaming machine from a plurality of gaming machines, in which a processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations, in advance determined by performing a lottery program stored in the memory;

- 7 010954 processing, reading from the storage device program designed to generate the first special game state, which is a game state, favorable for the player when a certain winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing this program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

a processing transmitting identification information about the gaming machine stored in the memory to the control device via the communication line each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode;

a processing that receives a command signal transmitted from the control device when the number of games accumulatively counted by the control device based on the gaming machine identification information reaches a predetermined value that is the object of comparison with the number of games;

a processing that reads from a memory based on a command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state, and then performing this program;

a processing that receives a request to output from the input device when the player controls the input device; and processing outputting to an output device based on output data stored in the memory device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until the number of games reaches the predetermined value, after receiving the output request signal from the input device in the mode with insurance.

In accordance with the configuration (12), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, the second special game state is generated after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device when the number of games that the control device counts after the game mode is switched to the insured mode reaches the predetermined value. Then, based on the data for output, the image or sound corresponding to the remaining number, until the number of games reaches the predetermined value, is output to the output device when the player controls the input device in the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(13) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command relating to an insured mode, in which the processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in a memory device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

processing, accumulatively counting the number of games each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode;

a processing that determines whether the number of games has really reached a given value;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and is the same game state or a different game state from the first special game state when it is determined that the number of games reached the set value, and then executing this program;

a processing that receives a request to output from the input device when the player controls the input device; and processing outputting to the output device based on output data stored in the memory device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining quantity until the predetermined variable reaches the predetermined value after receiving the output request signal from the input device in the insured mode.

- 8 010954

In accordance with the configuration (13), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, the number of games is accumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to insurance mode. Then determine whether the number of games has reached the specified value. When it is determined that the number of games has reached a predetermined value, a second special state of the game is generated. Then, based on the data for output, the image or sound corresponding to the remaining number, until the number of games reaches the predetermined value, is output to the output device when the player controls the input device in the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(14) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command relating to an insured mode in which the processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in a memory device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different game state from the first special game state, when the payment balance in the game expression a payment instrument that is cumulatively calculated each time a game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, becomes equal to or less than the specified value, which is the object of comparison with the balance of payments in terms of the game media, and then executing this program;

a processing that receives a request to output from the input device when the player controls the input device; and processing outputting to the output device based on output data stored in the storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until the payment balance in terms of the game media becomes equal to or less than the specified value after receiving signal request to output from the input device in the mode of insurance.

In accordance with the configuration (14), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated when the payment balance in terms of the game media becomes equal to or less than the specified value. Then, based on the data for output, the image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount, until the payment balance in terms of the game media becomes equal to or less than the specified value, is output to the output device when the player controls the input device in the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(15) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command relating to an insurance mode and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively calculates a payment balance in the expression a gaming payment facility for each gaming machine of a plurality of gaming machines, in which the processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected a plurality of winning combinations, by performing predetermined lottery program stored in the memory;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

processing that reads from a memory device a program intended to transfer

- 9 010954 switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executing this program;

a processing that transmits the number of game media inserted and paid in the game played by the player, along with the gaming machine identification information that is stored in the storage device, to the control device, through the communication line each time the game is played after switching the game mode to insurance mode;

processing accepting a command signal transmitted from the control device when the payment balance in terms of the game media, which the control device accumulatively calculates based on the identification information about the gaming machine and the number of game media inserted and paid during the game played by the player is equal to or less than the specified value, which is the object of comparison with the payment balance in terms of the game media;

a processing that reads from a memory based on a command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state, and then performing this program;

a processing that receives a request to output from the input device when the player controls the input device; and processing outputting to the output device based on output data stored in the storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until the payment balance in terms of the game media becomes equal to or less than the specified value after receiving signal request to output from the input device in the mode of insurance.

In accordance with the configuration (15), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated, after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device when the payment balance in terms of the game media, calculated by the control device after the game mode is switched to the insured mode, becomes equal to or less than the specified value. Then, based on the data for output, the image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount, until the payment balance in terms of the game media becomes equal to or less than the specified value, is output to the output device when the player controls the input device in the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(16) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command relating to an insured mode in which the processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations predetermined by executing a lottery program stored in a memory device;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating the first special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing the program;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the program;

processing, cumulatively counting the payment balance in terms of the game media each time the game is played after switching the game mode to insured mode;

a processing determining whether the payment balance in terms of the game media is actually equal to or less than the specified value;

a processing that reads from a storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different game state from the first special game state, when the payment balance in the game expression a means of payment is defined as equal to or less than the specified value, and then executing this program;

a processing that receives a request to output from the input device when the player controls the input device; and processing outputting to the output device based on output data stored in the storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining quantity, until the payment balance in terms of the game media is equal to or less than

- 10 010954 this value, after receiving the request signal to output from the data input device in the mode of insurance.

In accordance with the configuration (16), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The payment balance in terms of the game media is then cumulatively calculated each time the game is played after switching the game mode to insured mode. Then determine whether the payment balance in terms of the game media has become equal to or less than the specified value. When it is determined that the payment balance in terms of the game media has become equal to or less than the specified value, a second special game state is generated. In addition, based on the data for output, the image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount, until the payment balance in terms of the game media is equal to or less than the predetermined value, is output to the output device when the player controls the input device in the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(17) The gaming machine according to any of the configurations (10) - (16), in which the processing device performs processing accepting the deposit of the game media, the amount of which is required to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, after receiving a predetermined signal from the input device in the no-insurance mode.

In accordance with the configuration (17), after performing operations with the data entry device in the non-insurance mode, the player is allowed to insert the game payment means (for example, credits), the amount of which is required to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, and then the game mode is switched to the insurance mode. Since switching to the insurance mode is easily performed by controlling the input device, it is possible to improve the usability of the gaming machine.

(18) The gaming machine according to any of the configurations (10) to (16), in which said output device is a display device having a display area for images, said input device is a touch panel located on the front surface of said display area and capable of detecting a player’s contact and outputting a signal indicating the position of the contact after detecting the contact, and said processing device performs processing displaying the input image of the command eklyucheniya for entering commands requesting mode switching to said insurance, on said display area in said no security mode;

a processing accepting deposit of a game media, the amount of which is determined to be required to switch a game mode from said non-insurance mode to said insured mode, when a signal indicating a contact position corresponding to a display position of said switching command input image is issued from said touch panel, while the said switching command input image is displayed;

a processing displaying a display command input image for entering a command requesting to display an image related to said insured mode in substantially the same position as the display position of said switch command input image on said display area in said insured mode; and processing receiving said output request signal when a signal indicating a contact position corresponding to a display position of said display command input image is output from said touch panel as said output request signal, while said display command input image is displayed.

In accordance with the configuration (18), the processing device displays an image of the input of the switching command on the display area in the non-insurance mode and accepts the game media insertion, the amount of which is required to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, when the signal indicating the contact position corresponding to the display position of the switching command input image is output from the touch screen, while the switching command input image is displayed.

Therefore, in the non-insurance mode, the player is allowed to enter the command to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode by touching the input image of the switching command via the touch screen.

In addition, in the insurance mode, the processing device displays an image of the input of the display command on the display section and then receives an output request signal when the signal indicating the contact position corresponding to the position of the display command input image is output from the touch screen as an output request signal While displaying the input command display image.

After receiving the output request signal, the processing device displays a display in the area

- 11 010954 an image that indicates the remaining amount until a predetermined variable (for example, the number of games, the payment balance, in terms of the game media) reaches the specified value.

Therefore, in the insurance mode, the player can enter a display command of the image showing the remaining amount until the predetermined variable reaches the predetermined value by touching the display command input image using the touch screen.

As described above, in accordance with the configuration (18), the image (the image of the input of the switching command or the image of the input of the display command) is displayed in a predetermined position in the display area, and the image function in the game is different depending on the no insurance mode and the insurance mode . With this arrangement, the display device’s display area is effectively utilized.

(19) A game control method comprising the step of switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insured mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered;

the step of providing the player with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable, accumulatively counted each time a game is played, after switching the game mode to said insured mode, reaches a predetermined value that is the object of comparison with said predetermined variable;

a processing receiving the output request signal output from said input device when the player controls said input device; and processing outputting said image or sound corresponding to the remaining quantity in said insured mode until said predetermined variable reaches said predetermined value when the player enters a command relating to said insured mode.

In accordance with the configuration (19), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The player is then provided with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable, which is calculated accumulatively each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the insured mode, reaches the specified value. Then, based on the output data, the image or sound corresponding to the remaining quantity, until the predetermined variable reaches the predetermined value, is output to the output device when the player controls the input device in the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(20) A gaming system comprising a gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device and an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command relating to an insured mode; and a control device connected to said gaming machine via a communication line, in which said processing device performs processing, reading a program from said memory device, to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific number of gaming payment has been entered means, and then performing said program;

a processing that reads a program from said memory device for providing the player with a predetermined income after receiving a predetermined signal from said control device and then executing said program;

a processing receiving the output request signal output from said input device when the player controls said input device; and processing outputting to said output device based on output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until the predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value after receiving said output request signal from said input device to said mode with insurance, and said control unit performs processing that counts the accumulatively mentioned predetermined variable in said gaming car ate each time playing the game, after switching the game mode to said insurance mode; and processing transmitting said predetermined signal to said gaming machine when said predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value, which is an object of comparison with said predetermined variable.

In accordance with the configuration (20), the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The player is then provided with a predetermined income, when a predetermined variable is counted

- May 12 010954 is accumulatively each time when the game is played after switching the game mode to the insurance mode, it reaches the set value. Then, based on the data for output, the image or sound corresponding to the remaining quantity, until the predetermined variable reaches the predetermined value, is output to the output device when the player controls the input device in the insured mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the following configuration is provided.

(21) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, said processing device performs processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game state from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of gaming funds has been entered, and then executing said program;

a processing that reads a program from said memory device for providing the player with a predetermined income, when a predetermined variable accumulatively counted each time a game is played, after switching the game state to said insured mode reaches a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the previously mentioned a given variable, and then executing said program; and processing reading from the memory device a program for switching the game state from said insured mode to said non-insured mode, when the result of the game in said insured mode satisfies a predetermined condition, and then executes said program.

In accordance with the configuration (21), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered (for example, coins, credits corresponding to coins). The player is provided with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable, which is calculated accumulatively each time the game is played after the game state transitions to the insured mode, reaches a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with a predetermined variable.

Thus, the player is given the opportunity to switch the state of the game from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode by inserting a specific number of game media. In addition, in the insurance mode, even in cases involving the case when a player spends a large amount of game media, playing a game for a long period of time, if during a continuous game of play a predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value, the player can get a predetermined income.

In addition, if the result of the game in the insurance mode satisfies a predetermined condition, the game state is switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode, which does not allow the player to receive a predetermined income. Since the condition was established for the continuation of the insurance regime, as described above, it is possible to interest the player or to attract him to receive a predetermined income.

Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

It should be noted that in the third aspect of the present invention, the predetermined variable, in particular, is not limited to its accumulation counting each time a game is played. Examples of a predetermined variable may include the number of games, the payment balance in terms of the game media, the payment rate of the game media, game time, and the like.

(22) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device in which the processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable for the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and performing said program;

a processing that reads from the storage device a program for switching the game state from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the said program;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game-friendly game state

- 13 010954 of rock, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from the first special game state mentioned, when the number of games accumulatively counted each time a game is played, after switching the game state to said insured mode values, which is the object of comparison with the mentioned number of games, and then performing the said program; and a processing that reads a program for switching a game state from said insured mode to said non-insured mode from said memory, when the winning combination determined in said insured mode is a predetermined winning combination and then executing said program.

In accordance with the configuration (22), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated when the number of games that is counted each time the game is played after the game state transitions to the insured mode reaches a predetermined value. In addition, since the condition for continuation with the insurance mode was established, that if the winning combination defined in the insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, the game state is switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode in order to prevent the generation of the second special game state, while it is possible to interest the player or bring him to the return mode. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(23) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively counts the number of games for each gaming machine from a plurality of gaming machines, in which said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said memory device;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable for the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and performing said program;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for switching the game state from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the said program;

a processing transmitting the identification information of the gaming machine stored in the memory device to the control device via the communication line each time the game is played after switching the game state to the insured mode;

a processing receiving a command signal transmitted from said control device when the number of games calculated by the accumulative said control device based on said identification information about the gaming machine reaches a predetermined value that is the object of comparison with said number of games;

a processing that reads from said memory device based on said command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player, and represents the same kind of game state or a different type of game state from said first special game state, and then performing the said program; and a processing that reads a program for switching a game state from said insured mode to said uninsured mode from said memory, when the winning combination determined in said insured mode is a predetermined winning combination and then executing said program.

In accordance with the configuration (23), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated, after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device when the number of games that the control device counts after the game state has passed into the insured mode reaches a predetermined value. In addition, a condition of continuing with the insurance mode is established, that when the winning combination determined in the insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, the game state is switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode in order to prevent the second special game state from being generated, thus allowing the player to increase interest or draw his attention to the second special state of the game. Therefore, for the game

- 14 010954 ka, which has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of hostility to the game, an increase in distrust of it or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(24) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable for the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and performing said program;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for switching the game state from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the said program;

a processing that cumulatively calculates the number of games each time a game is played, after switching the game state to said insured mode;

a processing determining whether the number of games has reached a predetermined value;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a player-friendly game state, and represents the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state when the number of games is determined has reached said predetermined value, and then executes said program; and a processing that reads a program for switching a game state from said insured mode to said uninsured mode from said memory, when the winning combination determined in said insured mode is a predetermined winning combination and then executing said program.

In accordance with the configuration (24), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, the number of games is accumulatively calculated each time a game is played after the state of the game has changed to the insured mode. In addition, it is determined whether the number of games has really reached a predetermined value. When it is determined that the number of games has reached a predetermined value, a second special state of the game is generated. In addition, a condition of continuing with the insurance mode is established, that when the winning combination determined in the insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, the game state is switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode to prevent the second special game state from being generated, thus allowing to increase the interest of the player or draw his attention to the second special state of the game. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(25) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable for the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and performing said program;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for switching the game state from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the said program;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable for the player, and is the same kind of game state or a different type of game state from said first special game state, when the payment balance in game terms a payment instrument that is cumulatively calculated each time a game is played, after switching the game state to the said mode with mill insurance is equal to or less than a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with said payment balance in terms of the game media, and then performing the said program; and processing that reads from the memory device a program for switching

- 15 010954 of the game state from the said insurance mode to the said non-insurance mode, when the winning combination determined in the said insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination and then performing the said program.

In accordance with the configuration (25), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated when the payment balance in terms of the game media becomes equal to or less than the specified value. In addition, a condition of continuing with the insurance mode is established, that when the winning combination determined in the insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, the game state is switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode in order to prevent the second special game state from being generated, thus allowing you to increase player interest or draw attention to the second special state of the game. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(26) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device and connected via a communication line to a control device that calculates a payment balance in terms of a gaming payment means cumulatively for each gaming machine of a plurality of gaming machines, in which said processing device a winning combination, selected from a plurality of winning combinations, determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said entry inayuschem device;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable for the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and performing said program;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for switching the game state from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the said program;

a processing that transmits the amount of game media contributed and paid in a game played by a player, along with gaming machine identification information that is stored in said memory, to said control device via said communication line each time the game is played, after switching game mode in the mentioned mode with insurance;

processing accepting a command signal transmitted from said control device when said payment balance in terms of a game media that said control device calculates accumulatively on the basis of said identification information about the gaming machine and said number of game media contributed and paid during the game, played by the player is equal to or less than the specified value, which is the object of comparison with the said balance of payments in the expression game media;

a processing that reads from said memory device based on said command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to the player, and represents the same kind of game state or a different type of game state from said first special game state, and then performing the said program; and a processing that reads a program for switching a game state from said insured mode to said uninsured mode from said memory, when the winning combination determined in said insured mode is a predetermined winning combination and then executing said program.

In accordance with the configuration (26), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. Then, a second special game state is generated after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device when the payment balance in terms of the game media counted by the control device after the game state has passed into the insured mode becomes equal to or less than the specified value. In addition, a condition of continuing with the insurance mode is established, that when the winning combination determined in the insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, the game state is switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode in order to prevent the second special game state from being generated, allowing, thus, to increase the interest of the player or to draw attention to the second special state of the game. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

- 16 010954 (27) A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device in which said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable for the player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and performing said program;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for switching the game state from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered, and then executes the said program;

a processing that calculates a cumulative payment balance in terms of the game media each time a game is played, after switching the game state to said insured mode;

a processing determining whether the payment balance in terms of the game media is actually equal to or less than the specified value;

a processing that reads from the memory device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable for the player, and is the same kind of game state or a different type of game state from said first special game state, when the payment balance in game terms a means of payment is defined as equal to or less than the specified value, and then performing the said program; and a processing that reads a program for switching a game state from said insured mode to said uninsured mode from said memory, when the winning combination determined in said insured mode is a predetermined winning combination and then executing said program.

In accordance with the configuration (27), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The payment balance in terms of the game media is then cumulatively calculated each time a game is played after the state of the game has changed to insured mode. In addition, it is determined whether the payment balance in terms of the game media has become equal to or less than the specified value. When it is determined that the payment balance in terms of the game media has become equal to or less than the specified value, a second special game state is generated. In addition, a condition of continuing with the insurance mode is established, that when the winning combination determined in the insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, the game state is switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode in order to prevent the second special game state from being generated, allowing, thus, to increase the interest of the player or to draw attention to the second special state of the game. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(28) The gaming machine according to any of the configurations (22) - (27), in which said predetermined winning combination is said special winning combination.

In accordance with the configuration (28), when the winning combination determined in the insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, the game state is switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode. Thus, the second special state of the game cannot be generated, but the first special state of the game is generated on the basis of a special winning combination. As indicated above, after the transition of the game state to the insured mode, the generation of the first special game state or the second special game state will necessarily follow. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(29) A game control method comprising the steps of switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered;

providing the player with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable, cumulatively calculated each time a game is played, after switching the game state to said insured mode reaches a predetermined value that is the object of comparison with said predetermined variable; and

- 17 010954 switching the game state from the said mode with insurance to the said mode without insurance, when the result of the game in the said mode with insurance satisfies a predetermined condition.

In accordance with the configuration (29), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The player is then provided with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable, which is calculated after switching to the insured mode, reaches a predetermined value. In addition, they establish such a condition for continuation of the mode with insurance that when the result of the game in the mode with insurance satisfies the given condition, the game state is switched from the mode with insurance to the mode without insurance, so as not to allow the player to receive a predetermined income, thus allowing increase player interest or draw attention to earning a predetermined income. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

(30) A gaming system comprising a gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device; and a control device connected to said gaming machine via a communication line, in which said processing device performs processing, reading a program from said memory device, to switch the game state from the non-insurance mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific number of gaming payment has been made means, and then performing said program;

a processing that reads a program from said memory device for providing the player with a predetermined income after receiving a predetermined signal from said control device and then executing said program; and processing reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insured mode to said non-insured mode, when the game result in said insured mode satisfies a predetermined condition, and then performing said program, and said control unit performs processing, counting a cumulatively predetermined variable in the said gaming machine each time a game is played, after switching the game state Ia in the mentioned regime with insurance; and processing transmitting said predetermined signal to said gaming machine when said predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value, which is an object of comparison with said predetermined variable.

In accordance with the configuration (30), the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of the game media has been entered. The player is then provided with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable, which is calculated after switching to the insured mode, reaches a predetermined value. In addition, they establish such a condition of continuation of the mode with insurance that when the result of the game in the mode with insurance satisfies a predetermined condition, the state of the game is switched from the mode with insurance to the mode without insurance, which does not allow the player to get a predetermined income, thus providing , increasing the interest of the player or attracting his attention to obtaining a given income. Therefore, for a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, it is possible to prevent the appearance of a feeling of dislike for the game, an increase in distrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

Effect of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to prevent a player who has spent a lot of game means of payment, the emergence of a sense of dislike for the game, an increase in mistrust of it, or a loss of interest or attention to the game.

Detailed Description of the Invention

An embodiment of the present invention is described below. In the following description, the first, second, and third aspects of the present invention are referred to as the present invention, unless it is necessary to distinguish them more specifically.

FIG. 1 is a diagram representing the entire construction of a gaming system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The gaming system 100 includes a plurality of gaming machines 10 and a control device 200 connected to the gaming machines 10 through a predetermined communication line 101.

Such a gaming system 100 may be built in a single leisure establishment, in which you can play different kinds of games, such as a bar, casino, etc., or in several recreational facilities. When the game system is built in one recreation facility, such game system 100 can be installed on each floor or in a part of the recreation facility. Communication line 101, in particular

- 18 010954, has no particular limitations, and it can be cable or wireless and / or can be an extracted line or a switched line.

In an embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is a slot machine. In the present invention, however, the gaming machine is not limited to the slot machine and, for example, a so-called separate gaming machine, such as a video slot machine, or a video game machine for playing a card game, etc., can be used, and also a so-called mass game (multi-terminal gaming machine) is used, such as, for example, a racing game, a bingo game, a public lottery, etc., which is a game that requires a predetermined time to display the result .

In the gaming machine 10, a coin, a banknote, or their corresponding electronic valuable information is used as a game payment instrument. In the present invention, however, gaming payment facilities, in particular, have no particular limitations, and, for example, a token, coupon, electronic money and a ticket can be used. The ticket has no specific restrictions and may include, for example, a ticket with a bar code, as described below, and similar tickets.

The control device 200 controls a plurality of gaming machines 10. In particular, in the present embodiment, the control device 200 controls switching to the return mode in each of the gaming machines 10. The return mode in the present invention corresponds to the second particular state of the game. In the return mode, they pay out a specific amount of coins or add a specific amount of credits. It should be noted that the control device 200 may control the transition to the return mode to control the return rate. In such a case, the control device 200 may individually control the rate of return in each of the gaming machines 10 or may control the rate of return in all the gaming machines 10. In addition, in the present invention it is possible to issue the barcode 39 described below with a bar code (see FIG. 2) when the second special game state is generated (when the game state enters the return mode).

The control device 200 may additionally perform the function of a so-called central server, which is installed in a leisure establishment, in which there is a plurality of gaming machines 10, or a server function, which jointly controls a plurality of recreation facilities. In addition, each gaming machine 10 has its own identification number and the source of data transmitted to the control device 200 from each of the gaming machines 10 is distinguished by its identification number. The identification number is also used to designate the destination of the data transmitted to the gaming machine 10 from the control device 200.

The identification number of the gaming machine corresponds to the identification information of the gaming machine in accordance with the present invention. The identification information of the gaming machine in accordance with the present invention does not have any particular limitations and its examples may include a letter, symbol, number, and their combination, etc.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically representing a gaming machine, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The gaming machine 10 includes a housing 11; the upper compartment 12 mounted on the upper side of the housing 11; and the main door 13, provided on the front side of the housing 11. Inside the housing 11, three reels 14 (14b, 14c and 14k) are mounted for rotation. Twenty-two patterns (below also called symbols) are depicted as a sequence of symbols on the outer surface of the circumference of each of the drums 14.

The lower image display panel 16 is installed above the reels 14 in the main door 13. The lower image display panel 16 contains a transparent liquid crystal panel, and during the game various types of information, presentation images, etc., associated with the game are displayed on it. The bottom image display panel 16 corresponds to an image display device in accordance with the present invention.

The credit amount display section 31 and the payout amount display section 32 are formed on the lower image display panel 16. The number of coins constituting the loan amount is displayed as an image on the lower section 31 of the display of the number of credits. The number of coins for the payout is represented as an image in the payout amount display section 32, when the combination of the symbols displayed stopped on the winning line b is a predetermined combination.

Three display windows 15 (15H, 15C and 15K), the back sides of which can be visually distinguished, are formed on the bottom image display panel 16, and through each of the display windows 15, three symbols are displayed on the outer circumference of each of the reels 14. One winning line b, continuing horizontally through the three windows 15 of the display, is formed on the bottom panel 16 of the image display. The winning line b determines the combination of symbols. When the combination of symbols displayed with a stop on the winning line b is a predetermined combination, the number of coins corresponding to the combination and the number of coins inserted (the amount of BET) is paid out.

In addition, in the present invention, for example, when a lot of winning

- 19 010954 bb, which extend horizontally or tilted through three display windows 15; the effective number of winning lines b, the number of which becomes effective, established depending on the number of coins deposited, becomes effective; and the combination of symbols displayed stopped on the winning line b, which has become effective, is a predetermined combination, the number of coins corresponding to the displayed stopped combination can be paid out.

A touch screen 69, which is not shown in the drawing, is provided on the front side of the bottom image display panel 16, and the player can enter various kinds of commands (for example, commands for the insurance mode) using the touch screen 69.

Below the bottom image display panel 16 are located: a control panel 20 containing a plurality of buttons 23-27, with which the player inputs commands required during the game, a slot 21 for receiving coins through which coins are inserted into the housing 11, and banknote identifier 22.

On the control panel 20, a spin button 23 is mounted; button 24 exchange; button 25 CASH DELIVERY; button 26 1-BET and button 27 maximum BET. The spin button 23 is used to enter a command at the beginning of the rotation of the reels 14. The exchange button 24 is used when a player asks the serving establishment or the leisure establishment to exchange money. Button 25 CASH ISSUE is used to enter the command to pay the loan coins in the coin tray 18.

Button 26 1-BET is used to enter the command to put one coin from the coins of the loan. The maximum BET button 27 is used to enter a command with which the maximum number of coins that can be put in one game (50 coins in the present embodiment) from the coin coins is put.

It should be noted that in the present invention, inserting a game media means spending this game media. The case of spending the game media includes the case of betting the game media on the game, as well as the case of spending the game media to switch the game state to the insurance mode described below. For example, when coins inserted into slot 21 for accepting coins are directly put to a game, inserting coins into slot 21 for accepting coins corresponds to inserting a game means of payment. However, when coins inserted into slot 21 for accepting coins are credited temporarily, and the coins constituting the loan amount are put on the game, using button 26 1-BET or button 27 maximum BET, as in the present embodiment, the rate of coin credits for game matches the game media insert.

The banknote identifier 22 is used not only to distinguish a counterfeit banknote from a valid banknote, but also to receive a valid banknote in the housing 11. The banknote identifier 22 can be designed in such a way that the ticket 39 can be read with a bar code, which is described below . The bottom glass 34, which displays signs, etc. in the gaming machine 10, located on the front side of the lower portion of the main door 13, which is below the control panel 20.

The upper image display panel 33 is located on the front side of the upper compartment 12. The upper image display panel 33 contains a liquid crystal panel on which, for example, the representation image, the content of the game invitation and the explanation of the game rules are displayed. In the present embodiment, the upper image display panel 33 corresponds to an image output device in accordance with the present invention, as well as the lower image display panel 16. It should be noted that in the present invention, the lower image display panel 16 or the upper image display panel 33 may correspond to an image output device.

A loudspeaker 29 is mounted in the upper box 12. The loudspeaker 29 in the present invention corresponds to a sound output device. Below the top image display panel 33 are the ticket printer 35, a memory card reader 36, a data display 37, and a keypad 38. The ticket printer 35 prints a ticket on the ticket that encodes data such as credits, date, time, identification number gaming machine 10 and the like, and displays a ticket 39 with a bar code. A player can read a ticket 39 with a barcode on another slot machine and play a game on another slot machine, or can exchange ticket 39 with a barcode on banknotes in a predetermined place (for example, at a casino cash desk) for a leisure facility.

A memory card reader 36 is used to read data from a microprocessor card and write data to a microprocessor card. A microprocessor card is a card that a player carries with him and on which data is stored to identify a player, as well as data relating to the history of the game the player plays. Data corresponding to a coin, banknote, or loan amount can also be stored on a microprocessor card. As an alternative to a microprocessor card, you can use a magnetic stripe card. The data display 37 is a fluorescent display, etc., and it is used, for example, to display data read by a reader (reading unit) of 36 memory cards and data entered by a player.

- 20 010954 through the keypad 38. The keypad 38 is used to enter a command or data, to issue a ticket, etc.

FIG. 3 is a schematic depiction representing a sequence of symbols depicted on the outer surface of the circumference of each drum.

Twenty-two symbols are depicted on the outer surface of the circumference of each of the left drum 14b, middle drum 14C, and right drum 14B. The sequences of symbols represented on the outer surface of the circumference of each of the reels 14 are different from each other. The sequence of characters is a combination of the following characters: JACK-POT 7, BLUE 7, BELL, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY, PLUM, ORANGE and APPLE.

When the same three characters, such as one of the symbols JACK-POT 7, BLUE 7, BELL, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY, PLUM, and ORANGE, are stopped on the winning line b, a predetermined number of credits is added to the player’s account as a credit owned by the player ( see fig. 18).

In the case of CHERRY and ORANGE symbols, even if one or two of these symbols are shown stopped, a predetermined number of credits is added to the player’s account as credits belonging to the player, in accordance with the number of symbols displayed stopped (see Fig. 18).

The sequence of symbols APPLE is a switch of the bonus game (the symbol of transition to the bonus game). When the three symbols of the APPLE are displayed stopped on the winning line b, the state of the game switches to the bonus game. The bonus game corresponds to the first state of a special game. In the third aspect of the present invention, the bonus game switch corresponds to a particular winning combination.

In the present embodiment, the bonus game is a free game (a game in which you can play a given number of games without the need to insert coins for BET).

In the present invention, the first special game state does not have any particular limitations, in the sense that this game state is preferred by the player. The state of the game that is preferred by the player does not have any particular limitations, in the sense that it is more preferable than the state of a regular game (a different state of the game than the first special state of the game or the second special state of the game), and their examples include a state where a larger amount of game media can be obtained than in a normal game state; a state in which the game media can be obtained with a higher probability than in the normal game state; a state in which the amount of game payables spent by the player is less than in the state of a normal game, and similar states. More specifically, examples of the first special game state include a free game, a second game, a magic (mysterious) bonus, and the like.

The sequence of symbols depicted on each of the reels 14, when pushing the spin button 23 after the 26 1-BET buttons 26 or the maximum BET button 27 are pressed, is displayed as scrolling down in the display window 15 during the rotation of the reels 14, and after after a predetermined period of time has passed, the rotation of the reels 14 is stopped and, thus, the stopped sequence of symbols is displayed in the windows 15 of the display. Different types of winning combinations (see FIG. 18) are predetermined on the basis of a combination of symbols, and when the combination of symbols corresponding to the winning combination stops on the winning line b, the number of paid coins corresponding to the winning combination is added to the amount of credits belonging to the player. When the bonus game switch is set, a bonus game is generated.

When the return mode flag, which is described below, is set to the ON state, the game state switches to the return state after displaying stopped symbols, as described above. In the case of generating a bonus game, the state of the game switches to return mode after the end of the bonus game. The return mode corresponds to the second special state of the game. In the present embodiment, when a game state is switched to a return mode, a specific amount of coins is paid out, or a specific amount of credits is added. It should be noted that in the present invention, the ticket 39 with a bar code on which the predetermined information is printed may be issued after generating the second special game state (when the game state is switched to the return mode).

In the present invention, the second special game state is not specifically limited, as long as it represents a game state preferred by the player. Examples of such a game state include a state in which a larger amount of game media can be received than in a normal game state; a state in which the game media can be obtained with a higher probability than in the normal game state; a state in which the number of game payables spent by the player is less than in a normal game state, and the like. More specifically, examples of the state of the second game include a free game, a second game, a game with a magic bonus, and the like.

- 21 010954

In the present invention, the second special game state may be a game state of the same kind as the first special game state, or a game state of a different kind, different from the state of the first game as in the present embodiment. When the second special game state is transferred to a game state that is different from the first special game state, the variety of the game increases, which can increase the feeling of waiting for the second special game state. In addition, the game state in the second special game state may be an exclusive game state generated only when the second special game state occurs. In such a situation, the feeling of waiting for the second special game state can be further enhanced.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 2

The game board 50 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 51, a ROM 55 and a boot ROM 52, which are mutually connected to each other via an internal bus; slot 538 for the card into which the memory card 53 is inserted; 548 connector for the chip, which is installed OL (OLM, common logical array) 54.

The memory card 53 consists of non-volatile memory devices, such as the Sotras1Ia8Y (registered trademark), in which the game program and the game system program are recorded. The game program contains a lottery program. The lottery program is a program for determining the symbols (code numbers corresponding to the symbols) on each of the reels 14 that need to be displayed with a stop on the pay line b. The lottery program contains one or more character weighting definition data, each of which corresponds to a corresponding set of payout rate types (for example, 80, 84, and 88%). The character weighting definition data is data representing the interdependence of the correspondence between a code number (see FIG. 3) of each character and one of a plurality of random number values in a predetermined range of digital values (from 0 to 255) for each of the three reels 14. The payout rate is determined based on the data for setting the payout rate, which comes from SAB 54, and the lottery is played based on the character weighting definition data, in accordance with the payout rate.

The card slot 538 is designed in such a way that the memory card 53 can be inserted into or removed from it, and connected to the motherboard 40 via the SHE bus. Therefore, the type or content of the game that is played in the gaming machine 10 can be changed by pulling the memory card 53 out of the card slot 538, recording another game program and the game system program on the card and then installing the memory card 53 in the card slot 538. In addition, the type or content of the game that is played in the gaming machine 10 can also be changed by replacing the memory card 53, on which the game program and the game system program are recorded, to another memory card 53, on which another game program and the system program are recorded. games. The game program includes a program relating to the progress of the game, a program for generating the first special game state, and a program for generating the second special game state. The game program additionally includes: image data and sound data output during the game, as well as image data and sound data intended to notify that the game state has been switched to the insured mode. The image data and sound data intended for notification of the transition of the game mode to the insurance mode correspond to the notification data in the first aspect of the present invention.

SAU 54 is one of the types of PFU (PLC, programmable logic device), which has the structure of a fixed array of OR elements. SAU 54 is equipped with a plurality of input ports and output ports, and when predetermined data is input to the input port, data corresponding to the input data is output via the output port. The data output via the output port is the above data for setting the payout rate.

The chip connector 548 is designed in such a way that the SAT 54 can be installed into it or can be removed from it and can be connected to the motherboard 40 via the PC1 bus. Therefore, the data for setting the game norm coming from the output of SAB 54 can be changed by removing SAB 54 from slot 548 for the microcircuit, by rewriting the program recorded in SAB 54, and then installing SAB 54 into the socket 548 for the microchip. In addition, the data for setting the payout rate can also be changed by replacing the SAB 54 with another SAB 54.

The CPU 51, the ROM 55 and the boot ROM 52, interconnected with each other by an internal bus, are connected to the motherboard 40 via the PC1 bus. The PC1 bus not only provides signaling between the motherboard 40 and the gaming board 50, but also transmits electrical power to the gaming board 50 from the motherboard 40. The country identification information 55 and the authentication program are recorded in the ROM 55. In the boot ROM 52 recorded pre-authentication program, the program for the CPU 51, designed to activate the pre-authentication program (boot code), etc.

An authentication program is a program designed to authenticate a game program and a game system program (a change verification program). The authentication program is defined along with the procedure for confirming and verifying that the game program and

- 22 010954 grams of the game system, which are objects of authentication processing, have not been changed, i.e. during the authentication procedure of the game program and the game system program (authentication procedure). The pre-authentication program is a program to authenticate the above authentication program. The pre-authentication program is a procedure for verifying that the authentication program, which is the object of authentication processing, has not been changed, i.e., the procedure for authenticating the authentication program (authentication procedure).

The motherboard 40 is created using a commercially available general-purpose motherboard (a printed circuit board on which the main parts of the personal computer are installed) and includes the main CPU 41; ROM (Read Only Memory) 42; RAM (random access memory) 43 and data interface 44. The main CPU 41 is a processing device in accordance with the present invention.

The ROM 42 consists of a storage device, such as a flash-type memory device, and contains a program, such as a VY8 (BSVV, basic input / output system), executed by the main CPU 41, and permanent data. When the CPU 41 executes the V8, not only the initialization process of the specified peripheral devices is performed, but through the game board 50 also begins the process of reading the game program and the game system program recorded on the memory card 53. In the present invention, the contents of the ROM 42 may be rewritable or non-rewritable.

The RAM 43 stores data and programs used during the operation of the main CPU 41. In the RAM 43, an authentication program can be recorded read through the game board 50 along with the game program and the game system program. RAM 43 is a memory device in accordance with the present invention.

RAM 43 provides a memory area for the return mode flag. The return mode flag is a flag that is accessed when it is necessary to select a game state, whether to make a transition to the return mode, in accordance with the second special game state, or not. The memory area of the return mode flag consists of a memory area in which, for example, a specified number of bits and a return mode flag are turned ON or OFF, according to the contents of the memory in the memory area. If the return mode flag is set to the ENABLE state, the game state then switches to the return mode.

In addition, the memory 43 of the insurance mode flag is provided in the RAM 43. The insurance mode flag is a flag designed to indicate whether the current mode is an insured mode or a non-insured mode. The memory area of the insurance mode flag, for example, contains a memory area with a certain number of bits, and according to the memory content stored in the memory area, the insurance mode flag is set to ON or OFF. The insurance mode flag set to the ENABLE position indicates that the current mode is an insured mode, while the insurance mode flag set to the OFF position means that the current mode is a no insurance mode. RAM 43 additionally stores data on the number of credits, the number of coins deposited and the number of coins issued during one game, etc.

Data interface 44 is used to communicate with control device 200 via communication line 101. The main CPU 41 transmits the number of coins deposited and the number of coins issued, together with the gaming machine identification number for the gaming machine 10 of the control device 200 each time a game is played. The number of games, the accumulated number of coins deposited and the accumulated number of coins issued are associated with each slot machine identification number and stored in the control device 200. In the control device 200, a predetermined value, which is an object of comparison with the number of games, is initially determined with respect to each identification number of the gaming machine, and when the number of games on one gaming machine 10 reaches a predetermined value determined for this gaming machine 10, from the device 200 controls transmit a return command signal. When the main CPU 41 receives the return command signal through the data interface 44, the return mode flag is set to ON.

Both printed circuit boards, PCB (LV, printed circuit board) 60 of the case and PCB 80 of the door, which will be described below, are connected to the motherboard 40 via the I8B bus (USB, universal serial bus). The power supply unit 45 is also connected to the motherboard 40. When electrical power is supplied from the power supply unit 45 to the motherboard 40, not only the main CPU 41 on the motherboard is turned on, but also the CPU 51, as a result of electrical power supply, via the PC1 bus to the game board 50.

Equipment and devices that generate input signals for input into the main CPU 41, and equipment and devices whose operations are controlled by a control signal from the output of the main CPU 41 are connected to the housing PCB 60 and the door PCB 80. The main CPU 41 executes the game program and the game system program stored in the RAM 43 based on the input signal to the main CPU 41, and thus performs a predetermined computational processing, stores its results in the RAM 43 and transmits a control signal to each of the devices and

- 23 010954 equipment as a processing control for each of the devices and equipment.

Lamp 30, auxiliary CPU 61, coin acceptor 66, coin detection section 67, graphics card 68, loudspeaker 29, touch screen 69, banknote identifier 22, ticket printer 35, memory card reader 36, key switch 388 and data display 37 are connected to PCB 60 enclosures. The loudspeaker 29 corresponds to a sound output device in accordance with the present invention. The lamp 30 is turned on in a predetermined sequence based on a control signal from the main CPU 41.

The auxiliary CPU 61 controls the rotation and stop of the reels 14 (14b, 14c and 14b). The motor drive circuit 62, in which the PANA is installed (PVM, programmable gate array) 63 and the actuator 64 is connected to an auxiliary CPU 61. The PRSA 63 is an electronic circuit, such as (81 (LSI, large integrated circuit), which can be programmed and works as a control circuit for a stepper motor 70. A drive 64 operates as a pulse amplifier circuit supplied to a stepper motor 70. Stepper motors 70 (70b, 70c and 70b), which rotate each of the drums 14, are connected to the motor drive circuit 62. Stepper motor 70 is a 1-2 phase excitation stepper motor.

In the present invention, the excitation type of the stepping motor is not particularly limited, and for example, a 1-2-phase excitation motor can be used. Instead of a stepper motor, you can use a DC motor. When using a DC motor, a deviation counter, a D / A converter and a servo amplifier are serially connected to the auxiliary CPU 61 in the indicated order and the DC motor is connected to the servo amplifier. The rotation position of the DC motor is determined using a rotation coding unit, and the current rotation position of the DC motor is transmitted as data from the rotation coding unit to a deflection counter.

The pointer detection circuit 65 and the position change detection circuit 71 are connected to the sub CPU 61. The pointer detection circuit 65 is used to detect the position (pointers described below) of the rotating drums 14, and it can also detect the fault condition of the drums 14. With regard to the rotation and stop control reels 14, their detailed description is given below with reference to the drawings.

The position change detection circuit 71 detects a change in the stop positions of the reels 14 after the rotation of the reels 14 stops. despite the fact that the combination of symbols does not in fact constitute a winning position, and in similar cases. The position change detection circuit 71 is configured to detect the change in the stop position of the reels 14 by, for example, detecting ribs (not shown in the drawing) fixed at a certain interval on the inner side of the drum 14.

The coin acceptor 66 is installed in the housing 11 and with its help it pays a predetermined number of coins through the output 19 to pay out coins in the coin tray 18, based on a control signal from the main CPU 41. The coin detection section 67 is installed inside the output 19 to pay out coins and when it detects that a specified number of coins has been paid through the coin payout exit 19, it outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41.

The graphics card 68 controls, based on a control signal from the output of the main CPU 41, the display of images on the top image display panel 33 and the bottom image display panel 16. The upper image display panel 33 and the lower image display panel 16 correspond to an image output device in the present invention. The number of credits stored in the RAM 43 is displayed in the credit amount display section 31 in the lower image display panel 16. The number of coins issued is displayed in the payout display section 31 on the bottom image display panel 16.

The graphics card 68 is equipped with a WED (VDP, video display processor), which generates image data based on a control signal from the output of the main CPU 41 and video RAM, which temporarily store the image data generated by the WED and a similar device. It should be noted that the image data used in the generation of image data using WED. read from the memory card 53 and contain in the game program stored in RAM 43.

The banknote identifier 22 not only distinguishes a valid banknote from a fake banknote, but also takes a valid banknote into the housing 11. The banknote identifier 22, when receiving a valid banknote, outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41 based on the nominal value of the banknote.

The main CPU 41 stores the number of credits corresponding to the sum of the banknote transmitted by the input signal to the RAM 43.

The ticket printer 35, based on a control signal from the main CPU 41, prints a ticket on the ticket by encoding data such as credits, date and

- 24 010954 time, the identification number of the gaming machine 10 and similar data stored in the RAM 43, and displays the ticket 39 with this bar code.

The reader (reading unit) 36 of the memory cards transmits data read from the microprocessor card to the main CPU 41 and writes data to the microprocessor card based on the control signal from the main CPU 41. A button switch 388 is provided on the keypad 38 and when the player operates keypad 38, outputs the specified input signal to the main CPU 41. The data display 37, based on the control signal from the main CPU 41, displays the data read by the memory card reader 36 and the data entered by the player using the button full-time panel 38.

The control panel 20, the return unit 218, the coin counter 21C and the cold cathode tube 81 are connected to the door PCB 80. The control panel 20 is equipped with a spin switch 238 corresponding to a spin button 23, an exchange switch 248 corresponding to an exchange button 24, a switch 258 corresponding to a button 25 CASH, and a switch 268 corresponding to the button 27 is the maximum BET. When a player operates with buttons 23-27, input signals to the main CPU 41 are input from the output of each of the corresponding switches 238-278.

The coin counter 21C is installed inside the slot 21 for receiving coins and determines whether the player inserts a coin into the slot for 21 to insert coins, real or counterfeit. Coins that are not valid are thrown through exit 19 to pay out coins. The coin counter 21C also outputs an input signal to the main CPU 41 when it detects a valid coin.

The return unit 218 operates based on a control signal from the main CPU 41, and distributes the coins recognized by the coin counter 21C as valid coins into a box of cash (not shown in the drawing) or a coin acceptor 66, which is located in the gaming machine 10. In other words, when the coin acceptor 66 is filled with coins, the actual coins are dispensed into the cash box using the return unit 218. On the other hand, when the coin acceptor 66 is not filled with coins, actual coins are distributed to the coin acceptor 66. The cold cathode tube 81 operates as a backlight mounted on the rear side of the bottom image display panel 16 and the image display top panel 33, and is activated by the control signal coming from the main CPU 41.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of a control device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The control device 200 includes: a CPU 201 used as a processing device; ROM 202; RAM 203, as a temporary storage device; data interface 204 and hard disk drive 205. The data interface 204 is connected to the data interface 44 of the gaming machine 10 via a communication line 101. The ROM 202 contains a system program for managing the operations of the control device, permanent data, etc. RAM 203 temporarily stores data received from each of the gaming machines 10 and data such as the results of the calculation operations. In addition, the game history of the gaming machine 10 is recorded on the hard disk drive 205, associating it with the identification number of the gaming machine of each of the gaming machines 10.

FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of a correspondence table between the identification number of the gaming machine and the history of the game.

Each of the gaming machine identification numbers corresponds to the game's history, which is based on the number of games, the accumulatively counted number of coins deposited, the accumulatively counted number of coins issued, the balance of payments in terms of coins, and the return rate of coins issued.

When the CPU 201 receives the number of coins deposited, the number of coins issued and the identification number of the gaming machine from the gaming machine 10 via the data transmission interface 204, the game history corresponding to the identification number of the gaming machine is updated. More specifically, 1 is added to the number of games, the number of coins inserted is added to the cumulatively counted number of coins deposited and the number of coins paid is added to the cumulatively counted number of coins issued. In addition, the balance of payments in terms of coins and the frequency of returns are calculated based on the accumulatively counted number of coins deposited and the accumulatively counted number of coins issued. When it is determined that the number of games after the update has reached a predetermined value, the CPU 201 transmits to the gaming machine 10 as a data a command return signal including the number of coins issued in the return mode.

FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of a table of correspondence between a given value and the number of payments.

The number of coins issued 500 in the return mode is assigned at the specified value of 600.

It should be noted that the correspondence table shown in FIG. 7 is stored in hard disk drive 205 as data.

In the present invention, the number of payouts in the return mode does not have to be

- 25 010954 standing, and, for example, the number of payments may vary in accordance with the history of the game, etc.

FIG. 8 shows a diagram representing another example of a correspondence table between a given value and the number of payouts.

For a given value of 600, (-the balance of payments) x50% (provided that the number of coins issued = 500 if the balance of payments is> 0) is set as the number of coins issued in the return mode. Therefore, if the balance of payments = -2000, when the number of games reaches 600, the number of coins issued is 1000, and if the balance of payments is -4000, the number of coins issued is 2000.

The following is a description of the processing performed in the gaming machine 10.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an authentication readout procedure for the game program and the game system program executed by the motherboard 40 and the game board 50 shown in FIG. 4. It should be noted that the memory card 53 is inserted into the card slot 538 on the gaming board 50, and the SL 54 is installed in the chip slot 548.

When the power switch is turned on in power supply unit 45, the motherboard 40 and the game board 50 are activated (steps 81-1 and 82-1). When the motherboard 40 and the game board 50 are activated, separate processing is simultaneously performed. At the same time, the CPU 51 on the gaming board 50 reads the pre-authentication program stored in the boot ROM 52, and performs pre-authentication, which, prior to the capture of the authentication program by the motherboard 40, confirms or certifies that the program has not been changed in accordance with the previously read program authentication (step 82-2). On the other hand, on the motherboard 40, the main CPU 41 executes ΒΙΟ8 stored in the ROM 42, while the compressed data contained in the SS8 is deployed to the RAM 43 (step 81-2). After that, the main CPU 41 executes the SS8 deployed in the RAM 43 to perform diagnostics and initialization of various types of peripheral devices (step 813).

Then, since the ROM 55 on the gaming board 50 is connected to the main CPU 41 via the PC1 bus, the main CPU 41 not only reads the authentication program stored in the ROM 55, but also stores the read authentication program in the RAM 43 (step 81-4). In this case, the main CPU 41 accepts a checksum in accordance with the method “8” (standard verification function), using the standard function “8 out of” 8 and processing to confirm whether the storage was performed without error, saves the authentication program in RAM 43.

Then, after confirming the devices connected to the GOE bus, the main CPU 41 accesses the memory card 53 inserted into the card slot 538 via the GOE bus, and reads the game program and the game system program from the memory card 53. In this case, the main CPU 41 simultaneously reads 4 bytes of data constituting the game program and the game system program. Then, the main CPU 41 authenticates by confirming and verifying in accordance with the authentication program stored in the RAM 43 that the read game program and the game system program have not been changed (step 81-5). In the case of the normal completion of the authentication processing, the main CPU 41 writes and stores in the RAM 43 a game program and a game system program that constituted the authentication object (were authenticated) (step 81-6). Then, the main CPU 41, via the PC1 bus, accesses the SLI 54 installed in the chip slot 548, reads from the SLI 54 data for setting the pay rate, and writes and saves the data into RAM 43 (step 81-7). Then, the main CPU 41 not only reads the country identification information stored in the ROM 55 on the game board 50 via the PC1 bus, but also stores the read country identification information in the RAM 43 (step 81-8).

After processing is completed, the main CPU 41 sequentially reads and executes the game program and the game system program in order to ensure the execution of the game.

After the processing shown in FIG. 9, the main CPU 41 performs game state selection processing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a game state selection processing procedure.

The main CPU 41 performs the processing of adding credits recorded in the RAM 43 as an interrupt processing when it receives a detection signal coming from the coin counter 21C in the case that the coin counter 21C detects a coin inserted into the coin receiving slot 21 when performing the procedure .

Initially, the main CPU 41 determines whether the insurance mode flag stored in RAM 43 has been set to ON (step 8111). When determining that the insurance mode flag was not set to ON, i.e. the insurance mode flag was set to OFF, the main CPU 41 performs the non-insurance mode image display processing (step 8112).

With this processing, the main CPU 41 transmits a command describing the image for the non-insurance mode to the graphics card 68. On the graphics card 68, the UED extracts image data from the RAM 43 to process them into the video RAM, based on the display command, and forms one frame of data

- 26 010954 images for output from it on the upper image display panel 33 and on the lower image display panel 16. As a result, for example, images such as those shown in FIG. 11, are displayed on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16.

FIG. 11 shows one example of images displayed on the upper image display panel and on the lower image display panel in the non-insurance mode. In the drawing, reference numeral 15 (15b, 15c 15k) denotes display windows. Reference numeral 31 denotes a credit number display section. Reference numeral 32 denotes a payout display section. The letter b represents the winning line.

At the bottom right of the bottom image display panel 16, image 90 is displayed representing INSURANCE BET $ 1.00, TOUCH TO BET. Image 90 is an image — a request for a player to select a mode with insurance and insert a game media required to select a mode with insurance. The player touches the predetermined portion of the touch screen 69, which corresponds to the display area of the image 90, to enter the command for selecting the mode with insurance.

The choice of regime with insurance requires a specific number of loans (one dollar in the present embodiment). Alternatively, the number of credits can be inserted banknotes or coins in an amount equivalent to the number of credits. In the case when the mode with insurance was selected, if the number of games reaches a predetermined value (for example, 600) and the bonus game was not generated, the return mode flag is set to ON, and the game state is switched to return mode. In the return mode, the player can receive a specific amount (500 in the present embodiment) of coins or credits equivalent to this amount.

In other words, in the mode of insurance, the game can be played in a state where the insurance is carried out to compensate for all or part of the loss gained during the game, when the bonus game has not occurred for a long time.

On the other hand, the mode without insurance is chosen, if they do not enter a command for choosing a mode with insurance. If the non-insurance mode is selected, the return mode flag is not set to ON, and the game state does not switch to the return mode, even if the bonus game did not occur for a long time after selecting the non-insurance mode.

Image 91, representing What is INSURANCE ?, is displayed at the top of image 90. Image 91 is an image for entering a command to display an image of an aid. The player touches a predetermined portion of the touch screen 69, corresponding to the display area of the image 91, to enter a command to display the help image.

An image 92, representing INSURANCE OFF, is displayed at the bottom of the top image display panel 33. Image 92 is an image representing that the current state of the game is an uninsured mode.

After processing at step 8112, the main CPU 41 determines whether a command has been entered to display the help image (step 8113). A command for displaying an aid image is input when the player touches a predetermined portion of the touch screen 69 corresponding to the display area of the image 91, as described above.

When a command to display the help image is entered, the help image display processing is performed (step 8114). In such processing, the main CPU 41 transmits an image display command of assistance to the graphics card 68. The graphics card 68 performs image display processing on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16 based on the above display command. As a result, the images shown in FIG. 12, for example, on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16.

FIG. 12 shows one example of images displayed on the top image display panel and on the bottom image display panel in the non-insurance mode.

The images on the top image display panel 33 and on the image display bottom panel 16 are substantially the same as the images shown in FIG. 11. However, the images shown in FIG. 12, differ from the images in FIG. 11 in that the help image 93 is displayed at the top of the upper image display panel 33.

The aid image 93 is an image representing the INSURANCE ASSISTANCE MESSAGE, when the switch of the bonus game YABLOKO does not appear for 600 games with the MAXIMUM rate, the insurance is paid in the amount of 500 credits. The aid image 93 is a verbal description of the insured mode. It should be noted that the help image 93 shown in FIG. 12 is turned off after a predetermined period of time (for example, 10 seconds) after it is displayed.

When processing at step 8114 is performed, or when the help display command is not entered at step 8113, the main CPU 41 determines whether a command has been entered to select an insurance mode (step 8115). As described above, a command to select a mode with insurance is entered when

- 27 010954 player touches a predetermined part of the touch screen 69 corresponding to the display area of the image 90.

When a command is selected to select the insurance mode, the main CPU 41 sets the insurance mode flag stored in RAM 43 to ON (step 3116). After that, the main CPU 41 performs the processing of subtracting a specific number of credits (in the present embodiment, the number of credits is equivalent to one dollar) from the number of credits stored in RAM 43 (step 3117).

At step 8111, when it is determined that the insurance mode flag has been set to ON, or when processing is performed at step 8117, the display mode with insurance is executed (step 8118).

In such processing, the main CPU 41 (processing device) transmits a mode display image command with insurance to the graphics card 68. In the graphics board 68, the ERMS extracts image data (notification data in the first aspect of the present invention) from the RAM 43 (memory) to be processed into the video RAM, and forms one frame of image data intended for output to the upper image display panel 33 and to the lower image display panel 16. As a result, images such as, for example, are shown in FIG. 13, are displayed on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16.

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing one example of images displayed on the upper image display panel and the lower image display panel in the insured mode.

The image 90 ', representing the INSURANCE CONTINUES, TOUCH TO SEE THE HELP, is displayed on the lower right side of the bottom display panel 16 of the image instead of the image 90 (see Fig. 11). Image 90 'constitutes an image representing that the current state of the game is an insured mode, as well as an image for entering a command to display the help image. The player can enter a command to display the help image by touching the predetermined part of the touch screen 69 of the corresponding display area of the image 90 '.

The image 92 ', representing the INSURANCE CONTINUES, the INSURANCE AMOUNT is 500 CREDITS, is displayed in the lower part of the top image display panel 33. Image 92 'is an image representing that the current state of the game is insured and that the number of credits that will be given to the player when the game state is switched to return mode is 500. Image 90' and image 92 'correspond to the images that display based on the notification data in the first aspect of the present invention.

After processing at step 8118, the main CPU 41 performs game execution processing in the insured mode (step 8119). During this processing, which is described in detail below with reference to FIG. 14, in the insurance mode, the image 92 ′ is displayed on the top image display panel 33 and the image 90 ′ is displayed on the bottom image display panel 16.

On the other hand, when the insurance selection command is not entered at step 8115, the main CPU 41 performs the game execution process in the no-insurance mode (step 8120). This processing is essentially the same as the game execution processing in the insurance mode (see FIG. 14), except that the processing according to switching to the return mode and processing according to counting the number of games is not performed ; therefore, their description is not given here. It should be noted that in the non-insurance mode, the image 92 is displayed on the top image display panel 33 and the images 90, 91 are displayed on the bottom image display panel 16. After processing is completed in steps 8119 or 8120, the processing then returns to step 8111.

In the present embodiment, a case was described when the images 90 ′, 92 ′, notifying that the state of the game has entered the insurance mode, are displayed on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16. However, in the present invention, a beep may be output through the speaker 29 notifying that the game state has switched to the insured mode.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the game execution processing procedure in the insured mode, which is called and executed at step 8119 of the procedure shown in FIG. ten.

When processing the execution of a game, the main CPU 41 first determines whether a coin has been shipped (step 810). During processing, the main CPU 41 determines whether the input signal from the switch 268 1-BET or switch 278 is the maximum BET or not, when they operate on the button 26 1-BET or the button 27 maximum BET, respectively. If it is determined that the coin has not been delivered, the process returns to step 810.

On the other hand, if it is determined at step 810 that the coin has been delivered, the main CPU 41 performs a subtraction processing of the number of credits stored in the RAM 43, in accordance with the number

- 28 010954 by the coin of BETTING (at step 811). In the case when the number of BET coins is greater than the number of credits stored in RAM 43, the process returns to step 810 without subtracting the number of credits stored in RAM 43. In the case where the number of BET coins exceeds the upper limit (50 coins in the present embodiment), up to which the BET is possible in one game, the processing proceeds to step 812 without performing the processing of subtracting the number of BET coins from the number of credits stored in RAM 43.

Then, the main CPU 41 determines whether the spin button 23 was pressed or not (at step 812). In this processing, when the spin button 23 is pressed, the main CPU 41 determines whether an input signal is received from the output of the spin switch 238 or not.

If it is determined that the spin button 23 has not been turned on, processing returns to step 810. It should be noted that in the case where the spin button was not turned on (for example, in the case when the game end command was entered without turning on the spin button 23), the main The CPU 41 cancels the result of the subtraction processing in step 811.

In the present embodiment, a description is given of a case in which, after a coin is placed (step 810), a subtraction of the number of credits is processed (step 811) before determining whether the spin button 23 was turned on or not (step 812). However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, processing the subtraction of the number of credits (step 811) may be carried out after the coin bet (step 810), after determining whether the spin button 23 has been turned on (step 812), and if it is determined that the spin button 23 has been turned on (YES in step 812).

At the same time, at step 812 in FIG. 14, if it is determined that the spin button 23 has been turned on, the main CPU 41 performs the lottery processing (step 813). When processing the lottery, the main CPU 41 (processing device) executes the lottery program stored in the RAM 43 (storage device) to thereby determine the code number on the stopped reels 14. Thus, the combination of symbols displayed when stopping is determined. A detailed description of this processing is given below with reference to FIG. 17 and 18. In the present embodiment, a description is given of the case where the combination of symbols displayed when stopping is determined, and thereafter one winning combination of a plurality of winning combinations is determined. However, in the present invention, a single winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations may be first determined using a lottery, and the combination of symbols displayed when stopped may be determined thereafter on the basis of the determined winning combination.

Then, the main CPU 41 executes the reel rotation control processing (step 814). The processing step is a processing in which after the start of rotation of all the reels 14, the rotation of each of the reels 14 is stopped so that the combination of sequences of symbols corresponding to the winning combination determined in step 813 reflects stopped on the pay line b. A detailed description of this processing is given below with reference to FIG. 19-21.

Then, the main CPU 41 determines whether the bonus game switch has been set or not, i.e. whether the APPLE symbol is displayed with the stop in the display window 15 or not (step 815). If it is determined that the bonus game switch has been set, the main CPU 41 (processing device) reads the bonus game execution program from the RAM 43 (memory) to perform processing of the bonus game (step 816). This is where the first special game state is generated. A detailed description of the bonus game processing is given below with reference to FIG. 24

After processing at step 816, it is determined whether the return mode flag has been set to ON (step 825). If the return flag has been set to ON, it is set to OFF (step 826).

On the other hand, if it is determined at step 815 that the bonus game switch has not been set, the main CPU 41 determines whether a winning combination has been established or not (step 817). If it is determined that the winning combination has been established, the main CPU 41 performs the payout of coins in an amount corresponding to the number of coins deposited and the winning combination (step 818). In the case when the coins are reserved, the main CPU 41 processes the addition of these coins to the number of credits stored in the RAM 43. On the other hand, in the case that the coins are paid out, the main CPU 41 transmits the control signal to the coin acceptor 66 and performs the payment of the specified number of coins. In this situation, the coin detection section 67 counts the number of coins paid out from the coin acceptor 66, and when the number of coins reaches a predetermined amount, transmits a payout completion signal to the main CPU 41. Thus, the main CPU 41 stops the control of the coin acceptor 66 to stop the coin payout processing.

When it is determined that no winning combination has been set (i.e., the winning combination cannot be established), at step 817, or after processing is completed at step 818, the main CPU 41 determines whether the return mode flag in RAM 43 was set state ON or not (step 819). If it is determined that the return mode flag is set to ON, the main CPU 41 (processing device) reads a program from RAM 43 (memory) to switch a game state to a return mode, performs a return mode processing so as to switch the game state to return mode (step 820). At the same time

- 29 010954 rusatsya second special state of the game. A detailed description of return mode processing is given below with reference to FIG. 25

At step 819 or 825, when determining that the return mode flag has not been set to ON, or when processing is performed at step 820 or 826, the main CPU 41 determines (step 821) whether the bonus game was executed (step 816), or the state of the game is switched to the return mode (step 820).

If it is determined that the bonus game has not been executed or that the state of the game has not been switched to the return mode, the main CPU 41 performs processing (step 822).

The counting processing is the processing performed between the gaming machine 10 and the control device 200. The number of coins deposited and the number of coins issued for one game together with the identification number of the gaming machine are transmitted from the gaming machine 10 to the control device 200. In the control device 200, the number of games, the accumulated number of coins deposited and the accumulated number of coins issued, etc. updated in accordance with each slot machine identification number. When the number of games reaches a predetermined value, the number of coins issued in the return mode is determined in accordance with the predetermined value, and a return command signal indicating the predetermined value and the number of coins issued is transmitted to the gaming machine 10 from the control device 200. When the main command signal is received, the main CPU 41 returns the return mode flag to the ON state. A detailed description of the counting processing is given below with reference to FIG. 27.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the bonus game has been executed, or the state of the game has been switched to the return mode, at step 821, the insurance mode flag is set to OFF (step 823).

Then, the main CPU 41 performs image display processing representing the completion of the insurance mode on the top image display panel 33 and the image display bottom panel 16 (step 824).

In such processing, the main CPU 41 transmits an image presentation command representing the completion of the insured mode to the graphics card 68. In the graphics card 68, the ERMS extracts the image data from the RAM 43 for processing in the RAM, based on the description command, and generates one frame of image data for output to the upper image display panel 33 and to the lower image display panel 16. As a result, for example, images such as those shown in FIG. 15 or 16, is displayed on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16.

FIG. 15 shows one example of images displayed on the top image display panel and on the bottom image display panel, after the end of the insurance mode, as a result of the transition of the game state to the return mode.

An image 90 representing INSURANCE IS COMPLETED is displayed on the lower right side of the bottom image display panel 16 instead of the image 90 ′ (see FIG. 13). Image 90 is an image representing that the insured mode has been completed. The image 92a, representing the INSURANCE COMPLETED, is displayed on the lower part of the upper image display panel 33. Image 92a is also an image representing that the insurance regime has been completed.

FIG. 16 shows one example of the images displayed on the upper image display panel and the lower image display panel when the insurance mode was completed as a result of generating a bonus game.

An image 90 representing INSURANCE COMPLETED is displayed on the lower right side of the bottom image display panel 16. The image 92a ′, representing INSURANCE COMPLETED DUE TO THE GENERATION OF THE BONUS GAME, is displayed at the bottom of the upper display panel 33 of the image. Image 92a 'is an image representing that the insurance mode was completed as a result of generating a bonus game.

As described in this way, in the gaming machine 10, the image for display differs depending on whether the insured mode was completed as a result of the game state transition to the return mode, or the insured mode was completed as a result of generating a bonus game. After processing is completed in steps 822 or 824, this procedure ends.

As described above, in the case where the bonus game switch is set to the insured mode (step 815: YES), the main CPU 41 generates the bonus game (step 816) and then sets the insured mode flag to OFF (step 823).

When the insurance mode flag is set from ON to OFF, the state of the game is switched from insured mode to uninsured mode.

The processing in step 823 corresponds to the processing performed by the main CPU 41 (processing device), which reads from RAM 43 (memory) a program for switching a game state from insured mode to non-insured mode, when the winning combination defined in insured mode represents is a special winning combination of re

- 30 010954 key bonus game and then executes this program.

In the present embodiment, a case has been described where the game state is switched from the insured mode to the non-insured mode, when the winning combination determined in the insured mode is a particular winning combination of the bonus game switch. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, when it is determined that the winning combination in the insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, the game state can be switched from the insurance mode to the non-insurance mode. Namely, a winning combination, which is a switch to switch from insured mode to non-insured mode, does not have to be a special winning combination bonus game switch.

In addition, in the present invention, the predetermined switch condition for switching from insured mode to non-insured mode is not limited to the condition when the winning combination determined in the insured mode is the predetermined winning combination. Examples of this predetermined condition may include the case when the payment balance in terms of the game media in the insurance mode becomes equal to or less than the specified value and the payout rate (the number of coins issued / the number of coins deposited) of the game media in insurance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

After processing is completed in step 824 in FIG. 14, the main CPU 41 returns to the processing shown in FIG. 10. In this case, since the insurance mode flag was set to OFF (step 8111: NO), the main CPU 41 again performs the image display processing in the non-insurance mode (see step 8112 in FIG. 11). This result allows the player to perform the transition operation again from the no insurance mode to the insurance mode.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the lottery processing procedure called and executed in step 813 of the procedure shown in FIG. 14. This processing is the processing performed by the main CPU 41 by executing a lottery program stored in RAM 43. The main CPU 41 executes a random number generation program included in the lottery program, and the random number value is selected from a range of digital values from 0 up to 255 such that each of the selected values of the random number corresponds to each of the three reels 14 (step 831). In the present embodiment, a description is given of the case when random numbers are generated by a program (using the case of so-called program random numbers). However, in the present invention, a random number generator can be used, and random numbers can be extracted from it (so-called hardware random numbers can be used).

Then, the main CPU 41 (processing device) accesses the character weighting definition data corresponding to the payout rate setting data that was transmitted from the output of the SAB 54 and stored in the RAM 43 (storage device), and based on the selected three values of random numbers, determines the code numbers ( see Fig. 3) for each of the reels 14 (step 832). The code numbers of the reels 14 correspond to the numbers of the character codes displayed stopped on the payline B. The main CPU 41 determines the code numbers of the reels 14, to thereby determine the winning combination. For example, in the case when the code numbers of the reels 14 are determined to be 00, 00, and 00, this means that the main CPU 41 has determined the winning combination as JACK-POT. Based on the code numbers determined for each of the reels, rotation control processing of the reels as described below is performed.

The following is a description of a winning combination in the present embodiment. FIG. 18, a description is given of the relationship between winning combinations of various kinds, the probability of establishing each of the winning combinations and the number of coins issued in the present embodiment.

The probability values for establishing each of the winning combinations shown in FIG. 18, refer to the case when the payout rate is set at 88% in a game that is not a bonus game. The establishment probabilities shown in the drawing represent the probabilities of establishing each of the winning combinations shown when the code numbers of each of the reels 14 are determined based on the selected three random numbers values by referring to the character weighting definition data. In other words, the values of the random numbers are not made corresponding to each of the winning combinations.

The probability of establishing a bonus game switch is 0.5%. If a player has a bonus game switch, the three APPLE symbols are displayed stopped on the payline B and generate a bonus game. In a bonus game, a free game is performed in which the number of games is determined using a lottery.

The probability of establishing JACK-POT 7 is 0.5%. If this winning combination has been established, the three JACK-POT 7 symbols are displayed as stopped on the payline B and 30 coins are paid out for each coin that is placed. The lower the probability of establishing a winning

- 31 010954 combination, the higher set the payout. When the combination of symbols that is displayed stopped does not match any of the winning combinations shown in FIG. 18, the game is lost, and the coins are not paid.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the rotation control processing of the drum, called and executed in step 814 of the procedure shown in FIG. 14. This processing is the processing performed between the main CPU 41 and the auxiliary CPU 61.

The main CPU 41 transmits a start signal to the sub CPU 61, which starts the rotation of the reels (step 840). The auxiliary CPU 61 performs drum rotation processing when it receives a start signal from the main CPU 41 (step 851). In this processing, the auxiliary CPU 61 transmits a pulse to the motor drive circuit 62. The impulse coming from the auxiliary CPU 61 is amplified by means of the actuator 64 and transmitted to each of the stepper motors 70 (70b, 70c and 70b). As a result, the stepping motors 70 rotate, thereby rotating the reels 14 (14b, 14c and 14b). The stepping motor 70 is a stepping motor with a 1-2 phase excitation, which has an angular pitch of 0.9 degrees, and 400 turns are required per revolution. Therefore, if 400 pulses are transmitted to the stepping motor 70, the reels 14 will rotate once.

When the reels 14 begin to rotate, the auxiliary CPU 61 transmits pulses with a lower frequency to the motor drive circuit 62, and then the frequency of these pulses is gradually increased. The rotational speed of the drums 14 is thus increased. After a predetermined period of time, the frequency of the pulses is set constant. As a result, the drums 14 rotate at a constant speed.

The following is a description of the operation of rotating the reels 14 with reference to FIG. 20.

FIG. 20A-200 are side views for explaining the operation of rotating the drum 14.

As shown in FIG. 20A, a semicircular metal plate 14a is fixed on the side surface of the drum 14. The metal plate 14a rotates with the drum 14. Twenty-two symbols (see FIG. 3) are depicted on the outer surface of the circumference of the drum 14. Three symbols of the twenty-two symbols shown in the surface of the outer circumference of the drum 14 can be visually recognized through the display window 15 formed from the front side of the drum 14. The arrow, shown on the drawing by a thick line, indicates the direction of rotation of the drum 14. Contactless The sensor 65a is mounted on one side of the drum 14. A non-contact sensor 65a is used to detect the metal plate 14a. The proximity sensor 65a does not rotate or move even during the rotation of the drum 14.

FIG. 20A shows the position of the metal plate 14a when the proximity sensor 65a begins to detect the metal plate 14a (also referred to below as position A). If the drum 14 rotates when the metal plate 14a is in position A, the metal plate 14a moves to the position shown in FIG. 20B. FIG. 20B shows the position of the metal plate 14a when the proximity sensor 65a detects the metal plate 14a (hereinafter also referred to as position B). If the drum 14 rotates when the metal plate 14a is in position B, the metal plate 14a changes to the position shown in FIG. 20C. FIG. 20C shows the position of the metal plate 14a when the proximity sensor 65a no longer detects the metal plate 14a (hereinafter referred to as position C).

If the drum 14 rotates when the metal plate 14a is in position C, the metal plate 14a moves to the position shown in FIG. 20Ό. FIG. 20Ό shows the position when the proximity sensor 65a does not detect the metal plate 14a (also referred to below as the position Ό). If the drum 14 continues to rotate, the position of the metal plate 14a returns to position A. As described above, together with the rotation of the drum 14, the metal plate 14a changes its position in order from position A to position B, to position C, to position Ό, to position A etc.

The proximity sensor 65a is included in the pointer detection circuit 65 (see FIG. 3). If the state when the proximity sensor 65a detects the metal plate 14a is called High, and the state when the proximity sensor 65a does not detect the metal plate 14a is called Low, the status of the pointer detection circuit 65 will be High during the period when the metal plate 14a transitions from position A to position B and to position C, and the state of the pointer detection circuit 65 will be Low during the period when the metal plate 14a moves from position C to position Ό and to position A. Auxiliary th CPU 61 designates the transition from the growth of the Low state to the High state as a pointer (top frame) and 1 drop of transition from the High state to the Low as a pointer (origin) 2, to thereby detect the position of rotation of the drum 14.

The main CPU 40, after transmitting, at step 40, the start signal to the auxiliary CPU 61, performs the presentation that is performed during the rotation of the reels (step 841). This process consists in processing, during which an image is displayed on the lower image display panel 16 and sound is output through the loudspeaker 29 during a period (for example, 3 s) determined according to

- 32 010954 results, etc. lottery processing (step 813 in FIG. 14).

Then, the main CPU 40 determines whether the time has come when it is necessary to issue a command to stop the rotation of the drum 14 or not (step 842).

The time at which a command is generated to stop the rotation of the drum 14 is the point in time until the end of the performance performed during the rotation of the reels, which is performed during an interval having the minimum time necessary to stop the rotation of the drum 14. It should be noted that the minimum time required to stop the rotation of the drum 14 is determined in advance.

If at step 842 it is determined that the moment of time has not yet come when it is required to work out a command to stop the rotation of the drum 14, the process returns to processing at step 842, and continue the presentation performed during the rotation of the drums. On the other hand, if it is determined at step 842 that the time has come to which it is necessary to generate a command to stop the rotation of the drum 14, the main CPU 41 transmits to the auxiliary CPU 61 the code number of the drum, which is stored in RAM 43 (step 843). When the auxiliary CPU 61 receives the drum code number from the main CPU 41, this code number is converted to the drum stop position (number of steps) from the pointer, based on the correspondence table between the number of steps and code numbers stored in ROM (not shown in the drawing) entering to the auxiliary CPU 61 (step 852).

FIG. 21 is a diagram representing a correspondence table between the number of steps and the code number. Each of the code numbers is compared with the pointer and the number of steps.

Each code number corresponds to the symbols depicted on the outer surface of the circumference of the reels 14 (see Fig. 3), and the symbols with code numbers from 00 to 10 correspond to the pointer 1. In addition, the symbols with code numbers from 11 to 21 correspond to the pointer 2. Number steps in the correspondence table shown in FIG. 21, represents the number of steps with a pointer 1 as a reference pointer. For example, if the code number is 08, the drum stop position is 145 steps from the pointer 1. If the code number is 12, the drum stop position is 218 steps from the pointer 1.

Then, the sub CPU 61 executes drum stop processing (step 853). In this processing, the auxiliary CPU 61 detects a boost in the pointer detection circuit 65 from the Low state to the High state (pointer 1) on each of the reels 14, transmits to the motor drive circuit 65 pulses corresponding to the number of steps that were converted in step 852 from the code number , at the time of detection of pointer 1 and then stops transmitting pulses.

For example, when, in step 852, the stop position of the reels is determined at a distance of 145 steps from the pointer 1, the auxiliary CPU 61 transmits 145 pulses to the motor drive circuit 65 at the point in time at which the pointer 1 is detected, and then stops the pulses. In addition, when, at step 852, the stop stop positions are determined at a distance of 218 steps from the pointer 1, the auxiliary CPU 61 transmits 218 pulses to the motor drive circuit 65 at the time at which the pointer 1 is detected. As a result, the drums 14 stop at the code number position determined in step 32 of FIG. 17, and the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination determined in step 832 of FIG. 17, are displayed on the pay line b. On the other hand, the main CPU 41 finishes performing the presentation while the reels are rotating. After processing is completed in steps 844 and 853, the present rotation control processing of the reels is completed.

In addition, when the pointer corresponding to the code number transmitted in step 843 is different from the pointer detected by the pointer detection circuit 65 while the reels 14 are stopped rotating, this means that a fault condition has occurred on the reels 14; therefore, the main CPU 41 performs an error message display processing on the bottom image display panel 16 to pause the game.

For example, in the case even when the processing of the stop of the reel 14b was performed to obtain the code number 12, which corresponds to the pointer 2, if the pointer 1 detects the pointer 1 when the rotation of the drum 14b is detected, the game is temporarily stopped.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the assistance image display processing, which is performed as an intervention process when a player touches a predetermined area on the touch screen 69, which corresponds to the image display area 90 ′ (see FIG. 13) displayed on the bottom panel 16 display the image during the execution of the procedure shown in FIG. 14. Such processing is performed between the main CPU 41 of the gaming machine 10 and the CPU 201 of the control device 200.

First, the main CPU 41 transmits a request signal, including the identification number of the gaming machine, to the control device 200 via the communication line 101 via the data interface 44 (step 8150).

On the other hand, after receiving the request signal from the gaming machine 10 via the communication line 101 via the data transmission interface 204, the CPU 201 of the control device 200 transmits the response signal

- 33 010954 to the gaming machine 10 via the communication line 101 using the data interface 204, the response signal indicating the number of games stored in the hard disk drive 205, in accordance with the identification number of the gaming machine, which is included in the request signal, and the remaining number games until the number of games reaches a predetermined value (block 8160).

When receiving a response signal from the control device 200 via the communication line 101 via the data transfer interface 44, the main CPU 41 of the gaming machine 10 performs assistance image display processing based on the number of games and the remaining number of games, which are designated according to the response signal (step 8151).

With such processing, the main CPU 41 stores in the RAM 43 the number of games and the remaining number of games, which are indicated in accordance with the response signal. After that, the main CPU 41 transmits a command to display an image of assistance to the graphics card 68, taking into account the number of games and the remaining number of games. The graphics card 68 performs image display processing on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16, based on the display command.

As a result, on the top image display panel 33 and on the image display bottom panel 16, images such as are shown, for example, in FIG. 23.

FIG. 23 shows one example of images displayed on the top image display panel and on the bottom image display panel in the insured mode.

An image 95 representing an up-pointing indicator and Look Up is displayed on the bottom of the bottom image display panel 16. The image 95 is an image intended to prompt the player to look at the top image display panel 33.

The help image 93 is displayed on the upper side of the top image display panel 33. The aid image 93 is the same image as shown in FIG. 12. Image 94, representing CONDITION WITH INSURANCE, Current number of games: 500 games, Remaining number of games: 100 games, display on the bottom side of the image 93 help. Image 94 is an image representing the number of games and the number of games remaining until the number of games reaches the specified value. Namely, the current number of games: 500 games shows the number of games, while the remaining number of games: 100 games represents the remaining number.

It should be noted that the images 94, 95 and the help image 93, which are shown in FIG. 23 is turned off when a predetermined period of time (for example, 10 s) of the display of these images passes.

After completion of processing at step 8151, this processing ends.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the bonus game processing procedure invoked and executed in step 816 of the procedure shown in FIG. 14. When processing a bonus game, the main CPU 41 first determines the number T of bonus games in the range from 10 to 25 games, based on the random number value obtained by executing the random number generation program included in the lottery program stored in RAM 43 (step 860) . The main CPU 41 saves a certain number of bonus games as data in the RAM 43.

Then, the main CPU 41 performs the lottery processing (step 861) and the drum rotation control processing (step 863). The processing at step 861 is essentially the same processing as that described with reference to FIG. 17. The processing at step 863 is the processing substantially the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 19. Since descriptions of these treatments have already been submitted, their description is not given here.

Then, the main CPU 41 determines whether the bonus game switch has been set or not, i.e. whether three APPLE symbols are displayed in the display window 15 or not (step 864). If it is determined that the bonus game switch has been set, the number ΐ of additional games in the bonus game is determined during the lottery (step 865) and a certain number of additional games are added to the number T of games of the bonus game (step 866). Thus, when the bonus game falls during the bonus game, the remaining number of bonus games increases. More specifically, for example, in the case when the state of the game moves to 20 bonus games for the first time and through 12 bonus games, 17 bonus games are played, another 25 bonus games are played (20 bonus games - 12 bonus games + 17 bonus games).

If the bonus game switch has not been set, the main CPU 41 determines whether the winning combination has been established or not (step 867). If it is determined that the winning combination has been established, the main CPU 41 performs the payout of coins in accordance with the number of coins deposited and the winning combination (step 868). Since this processing is similar to the processing performed at step 818, and its description has already been given, the description of the present processing is not given here.

In the event that processing was performed at steps 866 or 868, or if it was determined at step 867 that any winning combination was not established (if it is determined that a loss occurred - 34 010954 rysh), the main CPU 41 reads the number T of bonus games stored in RAM 43, and one bonus game is subtracted from the number of T bonus games read. The number T of bonus games after subtraction is again stored in RAM 43 (step 869).

Then, the main CPU 41 determines whether the number T of bonus games has reached the number of games determined at step 860 or not (step 870). More specifically, it is determined whether the number T of games stored in RAM 43 has become equal to 0, and if the number T of games is not 0, i.e. if it is determined that the number of bonus games played has not reached the number of games that was determined at step 860, the process returns to step 861, and the processing described above is repeated. On the other hand, if the number T of games is 0, i.e. if it is determined that the number T of games has reached the number of games that was determined at step 860, a reset signal of the number of games is transmitted to the control device 200 (step 871), and the present procedure ends thereafter. The reset signal of the number of games includes the identification information of the gaming machine for the gaming machine 10, and the CPU 201 of the control device 200, when receiving the reset signal of the number of games, is set to 0 the number of games stored in the hard disk drive 205 according to the identification information of the gaming machine machine included in the reset signal of the number of games.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the return mode processing procedure called and executed at step 820 of the procedure shown in FIG. 14.

First, the main CPU 41 extracts image data from the image data stored in the RAM 43 to notify a transition to the return mode, and performs image display processing on the lower image display panel 16 based on the image data (step 880). Image data for notification of the transition to the return mode is read from the memory card 53 and included in the game program stored in the RAM 43.

The main CPU 41 transmits to the graphics card 68 an image display command for notifying a transition to the return mode. In the graphics card 68 after receiving the display command, the UED extracts the image data from the RAM 43 for processing to the RAM and generates one frame of image data for output to the upper image display panel 33 and the lower image display panel 16. As a result, images are displayed, such as, for example, shown in FIG. 26, on the top image display panel 33 and on the image display bottom panel 16.

FIG. 26 shows an example of images displayed on the upper image display panel and on the lower image display panel during the transition to the return mode (during the generation of the second special game state).

Image 96, representing RECEIVING 500 CREDITS, is displayed on the top image display panel 33. In addition, in the lower part of the lower image display panel 16, the representation image 97 is displayed. The representation image 97 is an image representing the message COMPLETED INSURANCE PAYMENT, as well as the goddess paying the coins.

Then, the main CPU 41 extracts sound data from the sound data stored in the RAM 43 to notify a return to the return mode, and performs audio output processing through the speaker 29 based on the extracted sound data (step 881). Sound data intended for notification of the transition to the return mode is included in the game program read from the memory card 53 and stored in the RAM 43.

The main CPU 41 extracts the sound data intended for notification of the transition to the return mode, converts the sound data into a sound signal, and transmits the converted sound signal to the loudspeaker 29. As a result, an acoustic signal is output through the loudspeaker 29 to notify of the transition to the return mode.

Then, the main CPU 41 performs the payout processing of a specific number of coins or the processing of adding a specific amount of credits (step 882).

In the case of processing the addition of a specific number of credits, the main CPU 41 performs the processing of adding a specific amount (500 in the present embodiment) of credits stored in the RAM 43. On the other hand, in the case of coin disbursement, the main CPU 41 transmits a control signal to the coin acceptor 66 to pay a specific quantities (500 in the present embodiment) of coins. At this time, the coin detection section 67 counts the number of coins dispensed from the coin acceptor 66, and when this amount reaches a predetermined amount, transmits a payout completion signal to the main CPU 41. The main CPU 41 thus stops controlling the coin acceptor 66 to terminate the coin payout processing.

It should be noted that at step 882 a ticket 39 with a bar code may be issued. In such a case, the main CPU 41 transmits data to the ticket printer 35, such as a specific number of credits (500 credits in the present embodiment), date, time, gaming machine identification number 10, and similar data, and the ticket printer 35 issues a ticket 39 with a barcode code based on the above data.

After the processing performed in step 882, the main CPU 41 sets the return mode flag

- 35 010954 and in the OFF position (step 883), to complete this procedure.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the counting processing invoked and executed in step 822 of the procedure shown in FIG. 14.

This processing is performed between the main CPU 41 of the gaming machine 10 and the CPU 201 of the control device 200.

To begin, the main CPU 41 transmits via the data transfer interface 44 the number of coins deposited and the number of coins issued, stored in RAM 43, together with the gaming machine identification number, to control device 200 via communication line 101 (step 890). The number of coins deposited and the number of coins issued, which are transmitted to the control device 200 from the gaming machine 10, refers to this game.

The processing at step 890 is a processing in which the main CPU 41 (processing device) transmits identification information of the gaming machine 10 stored in the RAM 43 (storage device) to the control device 200 via the communication line 101 each time a game is played.

On the other hand, the CPU 201 of the control device 200, when receiving from the gaming machine 10, the number of coins deposited, the number of coins issued and the identification number of the gaming machine via communication line 101, using the data interface 204, updates the number of games, the accumulated number of coins deposited and the accumulated number coins in accordance with the accepted identification number of the gaming machine (step 8100) by selecting data that is mapped in accordance with each of the identification numbers of the gaming machine one of the number of games, the accumulated number of coins introduced, the accumulated number of issued coins stored in the storage 205 on the hard drive (see. Fig. 6).

Then, the CPU 201 determines whether the updated number of games is not less than the predetermined value for the preliminary announcement (step 8140). The set value for the preliminary announcement is a value (570 in the present embodiment), which is less than the set value and which has been previously stored as data on the hard disk drive 205.

At step 8140, when it is determined that the updated number of games is not less than a predetermined value for the preliminary announcement, the CPU 201 transmits to the gaming machine 10 via the communication line via the data transmission interface 204 a command signal to the preliminary announcement indicating the remaining number of games until the predetermined values of the number of games (step 8141).

After receiving the command signal to the preliminary announcement transmitted from the control device 200 at step 8141, the main CPU 41 of the gaming machine 10 extracts, from the image data stored in the RAM 43, image data in accordance with the aforementioned remaining amount. Based on the extracted image data, the main CPU 41 then performs image display processing in accordance with the remaining amount on the top image display panel 33 and on the image display bottom panel 16, to provide a preliminary announcement that the game state is transferred to the return mode through the display remaining number of games (step 8132). The image data for the provisional preliminary announcement of the transfer to the return mode is included in the game program read from the memory card 53 and stored in the RAM 43. This game program includes image data intended to provide a preliminary announcement of the return to the return mode, many different image data corresponding to the remaining amount.

The main CPU 41, based on the remaining number, determines the images to be displayed on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16. The main CPU 41 then transmits a display command to the graphics card 68 based on the result of the determination. In the graphics card 68, the UED extracts image data in accordance with the remaining amount from the RAM 43 for processing to the RAM memory based on a display command and forms one frame of image data for output to the upper image display panel 33 and the lower image display panel 16. As a result, an image, such as, for example, is shown in FIG. 28 and 29 are displayed on the top image display panel 33 and on the bottom image display panel 16.

FIG. 28 shows one example of images displayed on the top image display panel and on the bottom image display panel when 30 games remain to be played before the game state switches to return mode.

The upper image display panel 33 displays the view image 98 along with the image 92 '(see FIG. 13). The presentation image 98 is an image representing that 30 games are left to play before the game state transitions to the return mode, and it is displayed on the entire area of the top image display panel 33, with the exception of the area for image 92 '.

In addition, on the bottom panel 16 of the image display, image 99 is displayed, representing that 30 games are left to play before the game state switches to return mode.

FIG. 29 shows one example of images displayed on the top display panel from

- 36 010954 blrazheniya and on the bottom panel of the image display, when it remains to play five games before the game state returns to the return mode.

On the top image display panel 33, the image 98 ′ is displayed along with the image 92 ′ (see FIG. 13). The presentation image 98 'is an image showing that there are five games left to play before the game state transitions to the return mode, and it is displayed over the entire area, except for the area corresponding to the image 92', of the top image display panel 33. In addition, on the bottom panel 16 of the image display, an image of 99 ′ is displayed, indicating that five games remain to be played before the game state switches to return mode. As shown in FIG. 28 and 29, the display of the remaining number of games (the remaining number), before switching to the return mode, provides the possibility of providing the player with a preliminary announcement that the state of the game in the near future will be transferred to the return mode. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent a player who has spent a large amount of game media from losing interest or attention to the game, and stopping the game.

Then, the main CPU 41 extracts sound data, which corresponds to the remaining amount, from sound data stored in RAM 43, and performs audio output processing through the speaker 29 based on the extracted sound data to provide, with sound, a preliminary announcement that the game state is transferred to return mode, through the displayed remaining number of games (step 8133). Sound data intended to provide a preliminary announcement of the transition to the return mode is included in the game program read from the memory card 53 and stored in the RAM 43. This game program includes as sound data to provide a preliminary announcement of the transition to the return mode image data corresponding to the remaining amount.

The main CPU 41 determines the sound for output through the speaker 29 on the basis of the remaining amount. The main CPU 41 extracts sound data from the RAM 43 based on the result of the determination and converts the sound data into a sound signal for transmission to the loudspeaker 29. As a result, sound is output through the loudspeaker 29 to present a preliminary announcement that the game state will be transferred to the return mode via the remaining games displayed.

On the other hand, after executing the processing at step 8141, the control unit CPU 201 determines whether the updated number of games has reached the set value (step 8101). When determining that the updated number of games has reached a predetermined value, the CPU 201 transmits a command return signal to the gaming machine 10 via the communication line 101 via the data interface 204 (step 8103). The CPU 201 then sets to zero the number of games stored in the hard disk drive 205 in accordance with the gaming machine identification number of the gaming machine 10 (step 8104).

The main CPU 41 of the gaming machine 10, when receiving a return command signal transmitted from the control device 200 at step 8103, sets the return mode flag to the ON state (step 891). After this, the actual processing ends.

In the present embodiment, a description has been given of the case when the game state enters the return mode when the number of games reaches a predetermined value (see FIG. 27). The present invention, however, is not limited to this example. For example, in the case where the number of inserted game media for the game a player is playing, is the upper limit value that can be accepted in a single game, when the number of games reaches a predetermined value, a second special game state can be generated (the game state goes to return mode). This is due to the fact that in such a case, the player is prompted to insert a game payment instrument until it reaches the upper limit, and an institution such as a casino, etc., may as a result increase its income.

In addition, in the case where the second special game state is generated, when the number of inserted game media is set to the upper limit value, the second special game state can be generated not when the number of games reaches a predetermined value, but when the number of inserted game media is equal to the upper limit the value for the game in which the player plays when the number of games during which the game media is inserted is up to the upper limit value eniya reaches a predetermined value. This prevents the case when a small amount of the game media must be inserted during the game, which thus leads to the generation of the second special game state by spending the total of only a small amount of the game media.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment is a gaming machine that includes a main CPU 41 (processing device), a RAM 43 (storage device), and an upper image display panel 33, and an lower image display panel 16; and is connected to a control device that cumulatively counts the number of games played in each of the plurality of gaming machines 10 via a communication line in which the main CPU 41 performs processing executing a lottery program stored in RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from to determine in advance

- 37 010954 divided winning combinations (see Fig. 17); a processing that reads from RAM 43 a program intended to generate a bonus game (the first special game state) when a certain winning combination is a special winning combination, switching the bonus game, and then executing the program (see FIG. 24); a processing reading from RAM 43 a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific number of credits has been entered, and then the program is executed (see FIG. 10); processing reads from the RAM 43 notification data intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and display images (see FIG. 13) on the upper image display panel 33 and the lower image display panel 16 based on the notification data (see Fig. 10); a processing transmitting identification information of the gaming machine 10 contained in the RAM 43 to the control device 200 via the communication line 101 each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the specified insured mode (step 890 in FIG. 27); processing receiving a return command signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the number of games cumulatively counted by the control device 200 based on the identification information of the gaming machine 10 reaches a predetermined value (step 891 in FIG. 27); and processing reading from RAM 43 a program for transitioning a game state to a return mode (generating a second special game state) based on a command signal, and then executing the program (see FIG. 25).

In accordance with the gaming machine 10, the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) has been deposited. The state of the game then goes into return mode when the number of games that are cumulatively counted each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the specified mode with insurance reaches a predetermined value. Therefore, a player can insert a specific amount of coins in order to transfer the game mode from the no-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode. Then, in the insurance mode, even in cases involving a case where a large number of coins have been spent for a long period of time without generating a bonus game, if the player continuously plays the game until the number of games reaches the specified value, the game state is transferred to return mode and the player can get income.

In addition, since images 90 'and 92' (see FIG. 13) are displayed, intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode, you can notify the player about switching to the insured mode and interest the player or draw his attention to return mode. Thus, it is possible to prevent a player who has spent a large amount of coins from feeling uncomfortable or distrusting the game and losing interest or attention to the game.

In the second aspect of the invention, the gaming machine 10 in accordance with the present embodiment is a gaming machine which comprises a main CPU 41 (processing device), a RAM 43 (storage device), and an upper image display panel 33, and an lower image display panel 16; and connected to a control device that cumulatively counts the number of games played in each of the plurality of gaming machines 10 via a communication line in which the main CPU 41 performs: processing, performing a lottery program stored in RAM 43, to determine the winning combination selected from a plurality of predetermined winning combinations (see FIG. 17); a processing that reads from RAM 43 a program intended to generate a bonus game (the first special game state) when a certain winning combination is a special winning combination, switching the bonus game, and then executing the program (see FIG. 24); a processing that reads from RAM 43 a program for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific number of credits has been entered, and then the executing program (see FIG. 10); a processing transmitting identification information of the gaming machine 10 stored in the RAM 43 to the control device 200 via the communication line 101 each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the specified insured mode (step 890 in FIG. 27); the processing of receiving the return command signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the number of games accumulatively counted in the control device 200 based on the identification information of the gaming machine 10 reaches a predetermined value (step 891 in FIG. 27); a processing that reads from RAM 43 a program for switching the game state to a return mode (generating a second special game state) based on a command signal, and then executing the program (see FIG. 25); processing the reception request signal from the touch screen 69 (input device) when the player controls the touch screen 69 (see FIG. 22); and display processing on the top image display panel 33, based on output data stored in RAM 43, image 94 corresponding to the remaining quantity until the number of games reaches a predetermined value, after receiving an output request signal from the touch screen 69 in the insured mode (see step 8151 in FIG. 22).

In accordance with the gaming machine 10, the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) has been entered. With

- 38 010954 game standings then enter return mode after receiving a command signal transmitted from control device 200 when the number of games that is counted in control device 200 after the game mode is switched to insured mode reaches a predetermined value. Then, based on the data for outputting, an image 94 corresponding to the remaining amount, until the number of games reaches a predetermined value, is outputted on the top image display panel 33 when the player controls the touch screen 69 in the insured mode. Thus, it is possible to prevent a player who has spent a large amount of coins from feeling uncomfortable or distrusting the game and losing interest or attention to the game.

In the third aspect of the invention, the gaming machine 10 in accordance with the present embodiment is a gaming machine that includes a main CPU 41 (processing device) and a RAM 43 (storage device), and an upper image display panel 33, and an lower image display panel 16; and connected to a control device that cumulatively counts the number of games played in each of the plurality of gaming machines 10 via a communication line in which the main CPU 41 performs the execution of the lottery program stored in RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning predetermined combinations (see fig. 17);

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then the executing program (see FIG. 24);

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of credits has been made, and then the executing program (see FIG. 10);

processing the transmission of identification information of the gaming machine 10 stored in the RAM 43 to the control device 200 via the communication line 101 each time the game is played after the game state transitions to the insured mode (step 890 in FIG. 27);

the processing of receiving the return command signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the number of games cumulatively counted by the control device 200 based on the identification information of the gaming machine 10 reaches a predetermined value (step 891 in FIG. 27);

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state), based on the command signal, and then executing the program (see FIG. 25); and processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to transfer the game state from the insured mode to the non-insured mode, when the winning combination determined in the insured mode is a particular winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then the executing program (step 823 on Fig. 14).

In accordance with the gaming machine 10, the state of the game is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) has been deposited. The game state then enters the return mode after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the number of games that the control device 200 counts after the game state has changed to the insured mode reaches a predetermined value. In addition, since such a condition was established for continuation with the insurance mode, when the winning combination defined in the insurance mode is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, the game state is switched from insured mode to non-insurance mode in order to allow the transition of the game state to the return mode, which allows the player to be interested or draw his attention to the return mode. Thus, it is possible to prevent a player who has spent a large amount of coins from feeling uncomfortable or distrusting the game and losing interest or attention to the game.

The gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment is connected to the control device 200 via the communication line 101, and the control device 200 counts the number of games in the gaming machine 10 and determines whether the game state should be switched to the return mode (should the second special state be generated games or not). The gaming machine 10 does not have to use the network and can be autonomous. As such a gaming machine, you can use the following gaming machine.

The standalone gaming machine 10 in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine 10 comprising a main CPU 41 (processing device), a RAM 43 (storage device), an upper image display panel 33, and an lower image display panel 16 (output device) wherein the main CPU 41 executes processing of the execution of the lottery program stored in the RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning predetermined combinations;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a

- 39 010954 winning key combination, bonus game switch, and then program execution; processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) were inserted and then the program is executed;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the notification data intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and display images on the top image display panel 33 and the bottom image display panel 16 based on the notification data;

processing, accumulatively counting the number of games each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the specified mode with insurance;

a processing that determines whether the number of games has really reached a given value; and processing reading from RAM 43 a program for transitioning a game state to a return mode (generating the second special game state), when it is determined that the number of games has reached the specified target value, and then executing the program.

A stand-alone gaming machine 10 in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine 10 comprising a main CPU 41 (processing device), a RAM 43 (storage device), an upper image display panel 33, and an lower image display panel 16 (output device) wherein the main CPU 41 executes processing of the execution of the lottery program stored in the RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning predetermined combinations;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then the execution of the program;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) were inserted and then the program is executed;

processing, accumulatively counting the number of games each time the game is played after switching the game mode to the specified mode with insurance;

a processing that determines whether the number of games has really reached a given value; processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state), when it is determined that the number of games has reached the specified target value, and then the execution of the program;

a processing receiving a request signal for output output from the touch screen 69 (input device) when the player controls the touch screen 69; and processing the display on the top image display panel 33, based on the output data stored in the RAM 43, an image corresponding to the remaining number until the number of games reaches a predetermined value after receiving an output request signal from the touch screen 69 in the insured mode.

A stand-alone gaming machine 10 in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine 10 comprising a main CPU 41 (processing device) and a RAM 43 (memory), in which the main CPU 41 performs processing of a lottery program execution stored in the RAM 43 , to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of predetermined winning combinations;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then the execution of the program;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended to transfer the game state from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) has been entered, and then execute the program;

processing, accumulatively counting the number of games each time the game is played after the transition of the game state to the insured mode;

a processing that determines whether the number of games has really reached a given value; processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state), when it is determined that the number of games has reached the specified target value, and then the execution of the program; and processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to transfer the game state from the insured mode to the non-insured mode, when the winning combination determined in the insured mode is a particular winning combination of the bonus game switch, and then executing the program.

While the gaming machine 10, in accordance with an existing embodiment, enters a return mode (generates a second special game state) when the number of games reaches a predetermined value, the present invention is not limited to this example.

The gaming machine 10 in accordance with the present invention may go into return mode.

- 40 010954 (generate the second special game state) when the payment balance in the coin expression is equal to or less than the specified value. As such a gaming machine, you can use the following gaming machine.

The gaming machine 10 in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine that includes a main CPU 41 (processing device), a RAM 43 (storage device), an upper image display panel 33 and a lower image display panel 16 (output device); and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively calculates the payment balance in terms of coins in each of the plurality of gaming machines 10, in which the main CPU 41 performs processing of the lottery program stored in RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning predefined combinations;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then the execution of the program;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of credits has been made, and then the program is executed;

processing the reading of the notification data intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode, and display an image on the top image display panel 33 and the bottom image display panel 16 based on the notification data;

processing the transmission via the communication line 101 to the device 200 for controlling the amount of the deposited coins and the issued coins in the current game together with the identification information of the gaming machine 10, which is stored in the RAM 43; the processing of receiving the command return signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the payment balance in terms of coins, counted with the accumulation by the control device 200 based on the identification information of the gaming machine 10, becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value; and processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state) based on the command signal, and then executing the program.

In accordance with the gaming machine 10, as described above, the game mode is switched from the non-insurance mode to the with-insurance mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) have been deposited. The game state then enters the return mode after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the balance of payments in terms of coins, calculated by the control device 200 after switching to the insured mode, becomes equal to or less than the specified value. Then, based on the notification data intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode, images are displayed on the top image display panel 33, and the bottom image display panel 16. Thus, it is possible to prevent a player who has spent a large amount of coins from feeling uncomfortable or distrusting the game and losing interest or attention to the game.

The gaming machine 10 in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine that includes a main CPU 41 (processing device), a RAM 43 (storage device), an upper image display panel 33, and an lower image display panel 16 (output device); and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively calculates the payment balance in terms of coins in each of the plurality of gaming machines 10, in which the main CPU 41 performs processing of the lottery program stored in RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning predefined combinations;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then the execution of the program;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of credits has been made, and then the program is executed;

processing the transmission via the communication line 101 to the control device of the amount of the deposited coins and the issued coins in the current game together with the identification information of the gaming machine 10, which is stored in the RAM 43;

the processing of receiving a command return signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the payment balance in terms of coins, accumulatively counted by the control device 200 based on the identification information of the gaming machine 10, becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state) based on the command signal, and then

- 41 010954 execute the program;

a processing receiving the output request signal from the touch screen 69 (input device) when the player controls the touch screen 69; and processing the display on the top image display panel 33 based on the output data stored in the RAM 43, an image corresponding to the remaining number until the number of games reaches a predetermined value after receiving an output request signal from the touch screen 69 in the insured mode.

In accordance with the gaming machine 10 described above, the game mode is switched from the uninsured mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) have been deposited. The game state then enters the return mode after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the balance of payments in terms of coins, counted by the control device 200, after switching to the insured mode becomes equal to or less than the specified value. Then, based on the data for outputting, an image corresponding to the remaining amount, until the payment balance in terms of coins reaches a predetermined value, is output on the top image display panel 33 when the player controls the touch screen 69 in the insured mode. Thus, it is possible to prevent a player who has spent a large amount of coins from feeling uncomfortable or distrusting the game and losing interest or attention to the game.

A gaming machine 10 in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine that contains a main CPU 41 (processing device) and a RAM 43 (storage device), and is connected via a communication line to a control device 200, which accumulates the payment balance in terms of coins in each of the plurality of gaming machines 10, in which the main CPU 41 executes processing of the execution of the lottery program stored in the RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from the plurality of winnings pre-determined combinations;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then the execution of the program;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of credits has been made, and then the program is executed;

processing the transmission via the communication line 101 to the device 200 for controlling the number of coins deposited and coins issued in the current game, together with identification information of the gaming machine 10, which are stored in the RAM 43;

the processing of receiving a command return signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the payment balance in terms of coins, accumulatively counted by the control device 200 based on the identification information of the gaming machine 10, becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state) based on the command signal, and then executing the program; and processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to transfer the game state from the insured mode to the non-insured mode, when the winning combination determined in the insured mode is a special winning combination of the bonus game switch, and then executing the program.

In accordance with the gaming machine 10 described above, the state of the game is switched from the uninsured mode to the insured mode, provided that a specific number of coins (credits) have been deposited. The game state then enters the return mode after receiving the command signal transmitted from the control device 200 when the balance of payments in terms of coins, calculated by the control device 200 after switching to the insured mode, becomes equal to or less than the specified value. In addition, since such a condition was established for continuation with the insurance mode, when the winning combination defined in the insurance mode is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, the game state is switched from insured mode to non-insurance mode in order to allow the transition of the game state to the return mode, which allows the player to be interested or draw his attention to the return mode. Thus, it is possible to prevent a player who has spent a large amount of coins from feeling uncomfortable or distrusting the game and losing interest or attention to the game.

The gaming machine 10 is connected via the communication line 101 to the control device 200, and the control device 200 counts the payment balance in terms of coins in the gaming machine 10 and determines whether to transfer the game state to return mode or not (should the second special game state be generated or not). Slot machine 10, however, does not have to be auto

- 42 010954 mat connected to the network, and can be standalone. As a gaming machine you can use the following gaming machine.

The gaming machine 10 in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine 10 comprising a main CPU 41 (processing device), a RAM 43 (storage device), an upper image display panel 33 and a lower image display panel 16 (output device), wherein the main CPU 41 performs processing of executing the lottery program stored in the RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning predetermined combinations;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then the execution of the program;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to switch the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of credits has been made, and then the program is executed;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the notification data intended to notify that the game mode has switched to the insured mode and display images on the top image display panel 33 and the bottom image display panel 16 based on the notification data;

processing the cumulative calculation of the balance of payments in terms of coins every time the game is played after switching the game mode to the specified mode with insurance;

a processing that determines whether the payment balance in the coin expression is equal to or less than the specified value; and processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state) when it is determined that the payment balance in the coin expression is equal to or less than the specified value and then the program is executed.

The gaming machine 10 in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine 10 comprising a main CPU 41 (processing device), a RAM 43 (storage device), an upper image display panel 33, and an lower image display panel 16 (output device), wherein the main CPU 41 performs processing of executing the lottery program stored in the RAM 43 to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning predetermined combinations;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then executing this program;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended for switching the game mode from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a certain number of credits have been paid, and then executing this program;

processing the cumulative calculation of the balance of payments in terms of coins every time the game is played after switching the game mode to the specified mode with insurance;

a processing that determines whether the payment balance in the coin expression is equal to or less than the specified value;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state) when it is determined that the payment balance in the coin expression is equal to or less than the specified value and then executing this program;

a processing receiving a request signal for output output from the touch screen 69 (input device) when the player controls the touch screen 69; and processing the display on the top image display panel 33 based on the output data stored in the RAM 43, an image corresponding to the remaining number until the number of games reaches a predetermined value after receiving an output request signal from the touch screen 69 in the insured mode.

A gaming machine 10 in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention may include a gaming machine 10 comprising a main CPU 41 (processing device) and a RAM 43 (memory), in which the main CPU 41 performs processing of a lottery program execution stored in the RAM 43, to determine a winning combination selected from a plurality of winning predetermined combinations;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended to generate the bonus game (the first special game state) when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, the bonus game switch, and then executing the program;

processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state from the non-insurance mode to the insurance mode, provided that a specific number of credits has been made, and then executing this program;

- 43 010954 processing of the cumulative calculation of the balance of payments in terms of coins every time the game is played after switching the game mode to the specified mode with insurance;

a processing that determines whether the payment balance in the coin expression is equal to or less than the specified value;

processing the reading from the RAM 43 of the program intended for the transition of the game state to the return mode (generating the second special game state) when it is determined that the payment balance in the coin expression is equal to or less than the specified value and then executing this program; and processing the readout from the RAM 43 of the program intended to transfer the game state from the insured mode to the non-insured mode, when the winning combination determined in the insured mode is a special winning combination of the bonus game switch, and then executing this program.

In the present embodiment, a case of cumulative counting the number of games in each gaming machine was described in accordance with the identification information of the gaming machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, in the present invention, player identification information may be added for each player, and for each player, predetermined variables may be accumulatively calculated (for example, the number of games, the payment balance in terms of the game media) according to the player identification information. In this case, at the beginning of the game or when switching to the insured mode, input of the player's identification information is requested, and when the player enters the identification information, the return to zero preset variables calculated up to this point are processed.

In such a case, since the return may be more likely to be paid to the player who has spent more of the game media, it is possible to further increase interest or draw the player’s attention to the game.

In the present embodiment, a description has been given for the case when the game state is switched to the return mode, when the return mode flag is set to the ON state without setting any other conditions thereafter. The present invention, however, is not limited to this example, and, for example, the game state may go into return mode when a predetermined condition is satisfied after setting the return mode flag to ON. In such a case, the predetermined condition for transition to the return mode is not specifically limited, and may include, for example, setting a bonus game switch, display with the stop of a predetermined combination of symbols, and similar conditions.

In the present embodiment, a description has been given for the case when the game state is switched to the return mode, when the return mode flag is set to the ON state, regardless of the combination of characters displayed stopped after that. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, the combination of characters corresponding to the transition to the return mode can be set in advance, and the state of the game can be switched to the return mode after displaying with the character combination stopped.

In the present embodiment, a description has been given for the case where the characters are displayed stopped (step 814 in FIG. 14), processing is performed based on the displayed stopped character combination (steps 815-820 in FIG. 14), and thereafter the number of games is counted (step 822 in Fig. 14). However, in the present invention, there are no particular limitations on the point in time at which the number of games is calculated. For example, this point in time can be the point in time when you bet using a coin (after step 810 or 811 in Fig. 14), or in the moment in time when the spin button is turned on (after step 812 in Fig. 14). The number of games can be counted at a predetermined point in time, i.e. in the period from the point in time when the display of the change of symbols is started, to the point in time when the sequence of symbols is displayed stopped, and processing is performed based on the displayed stopped symbol combination (for example, at the point in time when the sequences of symbols are stopped). It should be noted that the point in time at which the payment balance expressed by the game media can be the same as described above.

In the present invention, in the case where a particular winning combination has been established in a period of time from when the number of games reaches a predetermined value, until the second special game state is generated, only the second special game state can be generated, or, alternatively , the first special state of the game or the second special state of the game can be generated, depending on the situation in the game, etc.

An embodiment similar to the above embodiment may also be adopted in the case where the second special game state is generated in accordance with the payment balance expressed by the game media. In other words, in the case where a special winning combination has been established, in the time period from the moment when the payment balance in terms of the game media is equal to or less than the specified value, until the time when the second state of the special game is generated, only the first special state of the game may

- 44 010954 only the second state of a particular game can be generated, or either the first particular state of the game or the second state of a particular game can be generated, depending on the situation in the game, etc.

Although this is a repetition, in the return mode as the second special game state, the return situation for the player may be such that they simply pay a predetermined amount of game media when the number of games reaches a predetermined value. Alternatively, a situation may arise when the number of games reaches a predetermined value, and the return mode can be set as the second special game state, allowing the player to receive a privilege, similar to the first special game state, for example, in the form of a free game, second game, magic game and and a predetermined number of game media is paid out in accordance with one of the above game states.

In the above embodiment, both embodiments are presented as an example. In this case, both variants of execution correspond to the second special state of the game in the present invention.

The point in time at which a predetermined number of game media is paid out is not limited to the point in time at which one game ends, and the sequence of characters is displayed as stopped, as in the magic (mysterious) game described above, and, for example, the game media can be paid immediately when the number of games reaches the set value.

In addition, the method of paying a given amount of game media is also not specifically limited, and, for example, coins may actually be paid out, the number of credits may be increased, or a ticket, such as a barcode ticket, may be issued.

However, to be able to distinguish and recognize whether a payout was made to a player as a result of a normal game or in a bonus game (the first special game state), or in the return mode (the second special game state), the following must be done. In the case when the coins are actually paid out as a magic bonus in the return mode (the second special state of the game), it is required that the time of payment is different from the time of payment in the normal game and in the bonus game (the first special state of the game). In addition, it is required that the payout in the normal game and in the bonus game (the first special state of the game) be performed with real coins, and the payout in the return mode (the second special state of the game) is made using the ticket described above. When using this option, the payout in the normal game and in the bonus game (the first special game state) and the payout in the return mode (the second special game state) can be distinguished from each other.

Although an embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been described above, only some of the specific examples are presented in the description, and it is not intended to limit the present invention in any way, and the specific structures of each means, etc., can be changed accordingly. creating In addition, the effects described in the embodiment of the present invention are the most preferred effects generated in the present invention, and the effects caused by the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram representing the entire structure of the game system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically representing a gaming machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a sequence of symbols depicted on the outer surface of the circumference of each drum;

in fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 2;

in fig. 5 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a control device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 6 schematically shows an example of a correspondence table between the identification number of the gaming machine and the history of the game;

in fig. 7 schematically shows an example of a table of correspondence between a given value and the number of payouts;

in fig. 8 schematically shows another example of a correspondence table between a given value and the number of payouts;

in fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure for processing the authentication read for a game program and a game system program executed by the motherboard and the game board shown in FIG. four;

in fig. 10 is a flowchart showing a game state selection processing procedure;

in fig. 11 is a drawing showing one example of the images displayed on the top.

- 45 010954 image display panels and on the bottom image display panel in the non-insurance mode;

in fig. 12 shows one example of images displayed on the top image display panel and on the bottom image display panel in the non-insurance mode;

in fig. 13 shows one example of images displayed on the top image display panel and on the bottom image display panel in the insured mode;

in fig. 14 is a flowchart showing a game execution processing procedure;

in fig. 15 shows one example of images displayed on the top image display panel and on the bottom image display panel, after completion of the insurance mode, as a result of the transition of the game state to the return mode;

in fig. 16 shows one example of images displayed on the top image display panel and on the bottom image display panel after completing the insurance mode as a result of generating a bonus game;

in fig. 17 is a flowchart showing the lottery processing procedure;

in fig. 18 is a drawing showing an interdependence between winning combinations of different types, establishing the probability of each winning combination and the number of coins issued in the present embodiment;

in fig. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the drum rotation control processing;

in fig. 20Ά-20Ό show side views for describing the operation of rotating the drum;

in fig. 21 shows a diagram representing a correspondence table between the number of steps and a code number;

in fig. 22 is a flowchart showing the aid display image processing procedure;

in fig. 23 is a drawing showing an example of images displayed on the upper image display panel and the lower image display panel in the insured mode;

in fig. 24 is a flowchart showing a bonus game processing procedure;

in fig. 25 is a flowchart showing the return mode processing procedure;

in fig. 26 is a drawing showing one example of images displayed on the upper display panel of the image and on the lower display panel of the image when the game state enters the return mode (when the second special game state is generated);

in fig. 27 is a flowchart showing the counting processing procedure;

in fig. 28 is a drawing showing one example of images displayed on the upper image display panel and the lower image display panel when 30 games remain to be played before the game state returns to the return mode; and in FIG. 29 is a drawing showing one example of images displayed on the upper image display panel and the lower image display panel when five games remain to be played before the game state returns to the return mode.

Explanation of characters.

- gaming machine (slot machine);

- housing;

- upper compartment;

- main door;

(14b, 14c, 14k) - drum;

(15b, 15c, 15k) - display window;

- lower image display panel;

- coin tray;

- the output of payment of coins

- Control Panel;

- slot for receiving coins;

- banknote identifier;

- promotion button;

- replacement button;

- button to issue cash;

- 1-BET button;

- maximum BET button;

- 46 010954

- loudspeaker;

- lamp;

- display section of the number of credits;

- section of the display of the number of payments;

- top image display panel;

- bottom glass;

- ticket printer;

- card reader;

- data display;

- keypad;

- a ticket with a bar code;

- motherboard;

- main CPU;

- ROM;

- RAM;

- data interface;

- Power Supply;

- game board;

- CPU;

- boot ROM;

- memory card;

- OL (OLM);

- PCB housing;

- auxiliary CPU;

- motor drive circuit;

- RSLR (PVM);

- drive unit;

- pointer detection scheme;

- coin acceptor;

- coin detection section;

- graphics card;

- touch screen;

(70Ь, 70С, 70В) - stepper motor;

- a circuit for detecting a change in position

- door printed circuit board;

- cold cathode tube;

100 is a game system;

200 - control device.

Claims (30)

1. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device in which said processing device reads a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that an inserted a specific amount of game media, and then executing said program; processing reading from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, and outputting an image or sound to said output device based on said notification data; and processing that reads from said storage device a program for providing a player with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable accumulatively counted each time a game is played after the game mode is switched to said insurance mode reaches a predetermined value that is an object comparing with said predetermined variable, and then executing said program. 2. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device, wherein said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; a processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to games - 47 010954 rock, when a certain winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing reading from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, and outputting an image or sound to said output device based on said notification data; and processing, reading from said storage device, a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the number of games is cumulative counted each time a game is played after the game mode is switched to the said insurance mode, reaches a predetermined value which is I am the object of comparison with the mentioned number of games, and then executing the mentioned program. 3. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device and connected by a communication line to a control device that accumulatively counts the number of games for each gaming machine from a plurality of gaming machines in which said processing device performs processing determining one winning a combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storing m device; processing, reading from said storage device, a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing reading from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, and outputting an image or sound to said output device based on said notification data; processing transmitting identification information about the gaming machine stored in said storage device to said control device via said communication line each time a game is played after switching the game mode to said insurance mode; processing receiving a command signal transmitted from said control device when the number of games accumulatively counted by said control device based on said identification information about a gaming machine reaches a predetermined value that is an object of comparison with said number of games; and processing, reading from said storage device based on said command signal, a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, and then executing said program. 4. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device, wherein said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing, reading from said storage device, a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing that reads from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode is switched to the said mode with insurance, and outputs - 48 010954 dash or sound to said output device based on said notification data; processing counting cumulatively the number of games each time a game is played, after switching the game mode to said mode with insurance; processing determining whether the number of games has reached a predetermined value; and processing reading from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when it is determined that games reached said setpoint, and then executing said program. 5. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device, wherein said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing reading from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, and outputting an image or sound to said output device based on said notification data; and processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the payment balance in expression a game media, accumulatively counted each time a game is played after the game mode is switched to the said mode with insurance, becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, which is an object of comparison with said balance of payments in terms of game media, and then executes said program. 6. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device and connected via a communication line to a control device that calculates a payment balance in terms of a game media, accumulatively for each gaming machine from a plurality of gaming machines in which said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a program s lottery stored in said memory; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing reading from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, and outputting an image or sound to said output device based on said notification data; processing transmitting the amount of game media paid and paid in the game played by the player, together with identification information about the gaming machine, which are stored in said memory device, to said control device through said communication line each time a game is played after switching game mode to said mode with insurance; processing receiving a command signal transmitted from said control device when said balance of payments in terms of game media calculated cumulatively by said management device based on said identification information about a gaming machine and said amount of game media contributed and paid out during a game played by a player is equal to or less than a predetermined value, which is volume - 49 010954 by comparison with said balance of payments in terms of game media; and processing, reading from said storage device based on said command signal, a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, and then executing said program. 7. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device, wherein said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing reading from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, and outputting an image or sound to said output device based on said notification data; processing accumulatively calculating the balance of payments in terms of the game media each time a game is played after switching the game mode to said mode with insurance; processing determining whether the payment balance in terms of the game media is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the payment balance in expression by game media is determined to be equal to or less than said predetermined value, and then executing said program. 8. A game control method comprising the steps of switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been contributed; outputting an image or sound that notifies that the game mode is switched to said mode with insurance; and providing the player with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable accumulatively counted each time the game is played after the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, reaches a predetermined value that is an object of comparison with said predetermined variable. 9. A gaming system comprising a gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device; and a control device connected to said gaming machine via a communication line in which said processing device performs a program reading from said memory device a program for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited , and then executing said program; processing reading from the storage device notification data for notifying that the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, and outputting an image or sound to said output device based on said notification data; and processing reading from said storage device a program for providing a player with a predetermined income after receiving a predetermined signal from said control device and then executing said program, and said control device executing processing accumulatively counting a predetermined variable in said gaming machine each time play the game after switching the game mode to the said mode with insurance; and processing transmitting said predetermined signal to said gaming machine when said predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value that is an object - 50 010954 comparisons with said predetermined variable. 10. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device, and a data input device for inputting a command relating to the insurance mode, wherein said processing device performs processing reading a program for switching a game mode from said storage device a non-insurance mode, an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited and then executing the said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device to provide a player with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable accumulatively counted each time a game is played after the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, reaches a predetermined value that is an object of comparison with said predetermined variable, and then executing said program; processing receiving an output request signal issued from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting to said output device on the basis of output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until said predetermined variable reaches said predetermined value when said request signal for outputting from said input device is received data in the said mode with insurance. 11. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device, and a data input device for inputting a command related to the insurance mode, wherein said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations, determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the number of games is accumulatively counted every time a game is played after the game mode is switched to said mode with insurance, it reaches a predetermined value which is an object of comparison with said number of games, and then executing said program; processing receiving an output request signal output from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting to said output device on the basis of output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining number until said number of games reaches said predetermined value when said request signal for outputting from said data input device is received in the said mode with insurance. 12. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and an input device for inputting a command related to the insurance mode, and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively counts the number of games for each gaming machine from a plurality gaming machines in which said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by performing a lottery program stored in said memory; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that - 51 010954 but a specific amount of game media, and then executing the said program; processing transmitting identification information about the gaming machine stored in said storage device to said control device via said communication line each time a game is played after switching the game mode to said insurance mode; processing receiving a command signal transmitted from said control device when the number of games accumulatively counted by said control device based on said identification information about a gaming machine reaches a predetermined value that is an object of comparison with said number of games; a processing reading from said memory device based on said command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, and then executing said program; processing receiving an output request signal issued from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting to said output device on the basis of output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining number until said number of games reaches said predetermined value when said output request signal from said data input device is received in the said mode with insurance. 13. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device, and a data input device for inputting a command related to the insurance mode, wherein said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations, determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing counting cumulatively the number of games each time a game is played after switching the game mode to said mode with insurance; processing determining whether the number of games has reached a predetermined value; processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when it is determined that the number of games reached said setpoint, and then executing said program; processing receiving an output request signal issued from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting to said output device, based on the output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until said predetermined variable reaches said predetermined value when said request signal for outputting from said input device is received data in the said mode with insurance. 14. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device, and a data input device for inputting a command related to the insurance mode, wherein said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations, determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; processing reading from the said storage device a program for transition to - 52 010954 game mode from non-insurance mode to insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited and then executing the program; processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the payment balance in terms of game means of payment, accumulatively counted each time a game is played after switching the game mode to said mode with insurance, becomes I am equal to or less than a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the said balance of payments in terms of game media, and then executes the program; processing receiving an output request signal output from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting to said output device, based on the output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until said payment balance in terms of game media has become equal to or less than said predetermined value when accepted said withdrawal request signal from said data input device in said insurance mode. 15. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device and a data input device for inputting a command related to the insurance mode, and connected via a communication line to a control device that calculates the payment balance in terms of the game media means for each gaming machine from a plurality of gaming machines in which said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing transmitting the amount of game media deposited and paid in the game played by the player, together with identification information about the gaming machine, which are stored in said storage device, to said control device through said communication line each time a game is played after switching the game a regime in said regime with insurance; processing receiving a command signal transmitted from said control device when said balance of payments is expressed in terms of game media, which is counted cumulatively by said management device based on said identification information about a gaming machine and said amount of game media deposited and paid in a game played by a player is equal to or less than a predetermined value, which is an object of comparison with said balance of payments in the expression and Grove means of payment; a processing reading from said memory device based on said command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, and then executing said program; processing receiving an output request signal issued from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting to said output device, based on the output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until said payment balance in terms of game media has become equal to or less than said predetermined value when accepted said request signal for outputting from said data input device in said insurance mode. 16. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, an image or sound output device, and a data input device for inputting a command related to the insurance mode, in which said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations, determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; - 53 010954 processing, reading from said storage device a program for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing that calculates the cumulative balance of payments in terms of the game media each time a game is played after switching the game mode to said mode with insurance; processing determining whether the payment balance in terms of the game media is equal to or less than a predetermined value; processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the payment balance in terms of game by means of payment is defined as equal to or less than said predetermined value, and then executing said program; processing receiving an output request signal output from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting to said output device, based on the output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until said payment balance in terms of game media has become equal to or less than said predetermined value when accepted said request signal for outputting from said data input device in said insurance mode. 17. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 10-16, wherein said processing device performs processing receiving the payment of a game media, the amount of which is determined to be required to switch the game mode from said mode without insurance to said mode with insurance, after being received in advance a predetermined signal from said data input device in said mode without insurance. 18. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 10-16, wherein said output device is a display device having a display area for images, said data input device is a touch panel located on a front surface of said display area and capable of detecting player contact and outputting a signal indicating the position of the contact after detecting the contact, and said processing device performs processing displaying an image of input of the switching command I input a command requesting to switch to the said insurance mode, on said display area in said mode without insurance; processing receiving the payment of the game media, the amount of which is determined to be required to switch the game mode from the said mode without insurance to the said mode with insurance, when a signal indicating the contact position corresponding to the display position of said switch command input image is output from said touch panel, while displaying said image of the input of the switching command; a processing displaying an input image of a display command input for inputting a command requesting to display an image related to said insurance mode in substantially the same position as a display position of said switching command input image on said display area in said insurance mode; and processing receiving said output request signal when a signal indicating a contact position corresponding to a display position of said display command input image is output from said touch panel as said output request signal, while said display command input image is displayed. 19. A game control method, comprising the step of switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been contributed; the step of providing the player with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable accumulatively counted each time the game is played after the game mode is switched to the said insurance mode reaches the predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the predetermined variable; processing receiving an output request signal output from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting in the said mode with insurance the image or sound, respectively - 54 010954 remaining amount until said predetermined variable reaches said predetermined value when a player enters a command relating to said insurance mode. 20. A gaming system comprising a gaming machine equipped with a processing device, a storage device, and an image or sound output device and a data input device for inputting a command related to the insurance mode; and a control device connected to said gaming machine via a communication line in which said processing device performs a program reading from said memory device a program for switching a game mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited , and then executing said program; processing reading from said storage device a program for providing a player with a predetermined income after receiving a predetermined signal from said control device and then executing said program; processing receiving an output request signal output from said data input device when a player controls said data input device; and processing outputting to said output device, on the basis of output data stored in said storage device, an image or sound corresponding to the remaining amount until a predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value when said request signal for outputting from said data input device to said insurance mode, and said control device performs processing calculating a cumulatively mentioned predetermined variable in said gaming machine every time the game is played after the game mode is switched to the said insurance mode; and processing transmitting said predetermined signal to said gaming machine when said predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value that is an object of comparison with said predetermined variable. 21. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein said processing device performs processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; a processing reading from said storage device, a program for providing a player with a predetermined income when a predetermined variable accumulatively counted each time a game is played after the game mode is switched to said insurance mode reaches a predetermined value that is an object comparing with said predetermined variable, and then executing said program; and processing, reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insurance mode to said insurance-free mode when a game result in said insurance mode satisfies a predetermined condition, and then executing said program. 22. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the number of games is accumulatively counted every time a game is played after the game mode is switched to said mode with - 55 010954 insurance, reaches a predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the mentioned number of games, and then runs the said program; and processing, reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insurance mode to said insurance-free mode when the winning combination determined in said insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, and then executing said program. 23. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device and connected via a communication line to a control device that accumulatively counts the number of games for each gaming machine from a plurality of gaming machines, wherein said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing transmitting identification information about the gaming machine stored in said storage device to said control device via said communication line each time a game is played after switching the game state to said insurance mode; processing receiving a command signal transmitted from said control device when the number of games counted cumulatively by said control device based on said identification information about a gaming machine reaches a predetermined value that is an object of comparison with said number of games; a processing reading from said memory device based on said command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, and then executing said program; and processing, reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insurance mode to said insurance-free mode when the winning combination determined in said insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, and then executing said program. 24. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing counting cumulatively the number of games each time a game is played after switching the game state to said mode with insurance; processing determining whether the number of games has reached a predetermined value; processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when it is determined that the number of games reached said setpoint, and then executing said program; and processing, reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insurance mode to said insurance-free regime when a winning combination determined in said insurance mode is - 56 010954 battle a predetermined winning combination, and then executing the aforementioned program. 25. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device, wherein said processing device performs processing defining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the payment balance in terms of game means of payment, accumulatively counted each time a game is played after switching the game state to the said mode with insurance, becomes It is equal to or less than the predetermined value, which is the object of comparison with the said balance of payments in terms of game media, and then executing the said program; and processing, reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insurance mode to said insurance-free mode when the winning combination determined in said insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, and then executing said program. 26. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device and connected via a communication line to a control device that calculates a payment balance in terms of a game media is accumulatively for each gaming machine from a plurality of gaming machines in which said processing device performs processing determining one winning a combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said stock another device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing transmitting the amount of game media deposited and paid in the game played by the player, together with identification information about the gaming machine, which are stored in said storage device, to said control device through said communication line each time a game is played after switching the game a regime in said regime with insurance; processing receiving a command signal transmitted from said control device when said balance of payments is expressed in terms of game media, which said management device counts accumulatively based on said identification information about a gaming machine and said amount of game media contributed and paid out during a game, played by a player is equal to or less than a predetermined value, which is an object of comparison with said balance of payments in the expression game media; a processing reading from said memory device based on said command signal a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, and then executing said program; and processing, reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insurance mode to said insurance-free mode when the winning combination determined in said insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, and then executing said program. - 57 010954 27. A gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device in which said processing device performs processing determining one winning combination selected from a plurality of winning combinations determined in advance by executing a lottery program stored in said storage device; processing reading a program from said storage device for generating a first special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player when the determined winning combination is a special winning combination, and executing said program; a processing reading a program from said storage device for switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited, and then executing said program; processing that calculates the cumulative balance of payments in terms of the game media each time a game is played after switching the game state to the said insurance mode; processing determining whether the payment balance in terms of the game media is equal to or less than a predetermined value; processing that reads from said storage device a program for generating a second special game state, which is a game state favorable to a player, and is the same kind of game state or a different kind of game state from said first special game state, when the payment balance in terms of game by means of payment is defined as equal to or less than said predetermined value, and then executing said program; and processing, reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insurance mode to said insurance-free mode when the winning combination determined in said insurance mode is a predetermined winning combination, and then executing said program. 28. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein said predetermined winning combination is said special winning combination. 29. A game control method comprising the steps of switching a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been contributed; providing the player with a predetermined income when the predetermined variable accumulatively counted each time the game is played after the game mode is switched to the insurance mode, reaches a predetermined value that is an object of comparison with the predetermined variable; and switching the game state from said insurance mode to said non-insurance mode when a game result in said insurance mode satisfies a predetermined condition. 30. A gaming system comprising a gaming machine equipped with a processing device and a storage device; and a control device connected to said gaming machine via a communication line in which said processing device reads a program from said storage device to switch a game state from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode, provided that a specific amount of game media has been deposited , and then executing said program; processing reading from said storage device a program for providing a player with a predetermined income after receiving a predetermined signal from said control device and then executing said program; and processing, reading from said storage device a program for switching a game state from said insurance mode to said insurance-free mode when a game result in said insurance mode satisfies a predetermined condition, and then executing said program, and said control device performs processing, counting a cumulatively predetermined variable in said gaming machine each time a game is played after switching the game state I mentioned in the insurance mode; and processing transmitting said predetermined signal to said gaming machine when said predetermined variable reaches a predetermined value that is an object of comparison with said predetermined variable.