JP2000024284A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the tampering in advance in a game machine where a special picture is determined and displayed on a picture display device when a value of a judgement counter is agreed with a specific value when a game ball is detected by storing the value of the judgement counter even when a power source is off, and setting the stored value as an initial value of the judgement counter after the power source is on. SOLUTION: A value of a judgement counter can be stored even when a power source is off, and a stored value is set as an initial value of the judgement counter after the power source is on. The judgement counter, a special game state flag or the like are initialized when the power source is on, and the initialized pulse signal is output to the terminals (a), (b) of a display controller through the terminals A, B of a game controller. Whereby a pseudo counter of CPU on a tampered substrate is initialized by this initizalization signal even when the tampered substrate is mounted, whereby a value counted by the pseudo counter is not agreed with the value of the judgement counter even though the pseudo counter of the tampered substrate starts its counting on the basis of a pulse signal output from the terminals A, B after the power source is on, and the tampering can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game control device for selecting a special game state or the like provided in a gaming machine, and to preventing illegal acts by attaching an illegal board to the game control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, pachinko machines as gaming machines include:
A symbol display capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols is arranged substantially at the center of the game area. Then, when the game ball wins the winning opening, a prize ball is paid out, the winning winning opening is won, the game ball detector passes through a specific area, the game ball detector generates a game ball detection signal, and the signal is displayed according to the signal. There is a type in which the design of the container is variably displayed. Control of this kind of pachinko machine mainly includes a game control device, a display control device for controlling a symbol display of a symbol display device, a game ball detector for generating a game ball detection signal, as shown in FIG. It is composed of a relay board and the like. This game control device has a CPU (CENTR
ROM (READ ONLY MEMOR) that stores AL PROCESSOR UNIT and game program
Y) is provided. In addition, the display control device displays a symbol on a liquid crystal symbol display according to a signal from the CPU.

[0003] The pachinko machine having the above-described configuration generates a special game state based on a well-known determination method.
One such method will be described. The game program is initialized at the same time as power-on, and is initialized for a predetermined time (2 ms).
Each time, a determination counter Hc for adding 1 is provided, and this determination counter Hc corresponds to the probability of the special game state,
For example, for a probability of 1/330, a cyclic counter of 0 to 329 (number) is used. Further, the game control device generates a pulse signal every 2 ms for adding 1 to the determination counter Hc, and this pulse signal is transmitted to the terminals A and B of the game control device.
Are output to the terminals a and b of the display control device via the terminal, and the timing of symbol display on the symbol display is set, and the other terminals are used for signals such as selection of display symbols.

[0004] When a game ball passes through a specific area after winning a start winning prize port installed in the game area, it is detected by a game ball detector. The game ball detection signal is output to the terminals c and d of the relay board via the terminals C and D of the game ball detector, and the output signal from the relay board is output to the game control device. Then, the value of the determination counter Hc at the time of the falling of the game ball detection signal is stored, it is determined whether or not this stored value causes a special game state, and a symbol is displayed on a display control device (symbol display). Send a signal to start the fluctuation. When the stored value is a specific value (for example, “7”), after a predetermined time, the same symbol (special symbol) is fixedly displayed on the symbol display unit to generate a special gaming state that is advantageous to the player. .

[0005]

On the other hand, as illegal means, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), a circuit configuration is made via an illegal board on which cpu, rom for storing illegal software, etc. are arranged. That is, the output signals from the terminals A and B of the game control device are input via the terminals A 'and B' of the illegal board.
Further, the terminals C and D of the game ball detector are detached from the relay board and connected to the terminals C 'and D' of the unauthorized board, and the terminals e and f of the unauthorized board and the terminals c and d of the relay board are connected to each other. Connecting.

In the above configuration, it is assumed that the value of the determination counter Hc in the gaming machine is 0 to
It has been investigated in advance that the number of circulations is 329, and the specific value of the special game state is “7”. Then, the player plays the game as usual, but is controlled by software as described below. That is, the cpu of the improper board performs a process of adding 1 to the pseudo counter Gc every time a pulse signal generated every 2 ms for adding 1 to the determination counter Hc is received via the terminals A and B of the game control device. . As a result of this processing, the pseudo counter Gc on the unauthorized board becomes the same value (0 to 329) as the determination counter Hc.

[0007] Then, a player who plays illegally counts an unusual game, for example, a game ball detection signal, and
After that, pause the game for a certain time (for example, 3 minutes)
The game is started again, and then the game ball wins the starting winning opening, and the game ball detection signal from the game ball detector is counted.
Minutes) Perform a so-called set hitting method. When the set is performed a predetermined number of times, the set is completed. Then, when the game ball wins the starting winning opening and passes through the specific area and detects the game ball detection signal from the game ball detector, the pseudo ball Gc is not immediately output to the relay board, but is output.
The falling signal is output from the terminals e and f of the unauthorized board to the terminals c and d of the relay board just before the value of “7” becomes “7”. Then, the determination counter Hc generates a special game state, assuming that a game ball detection signal is output from the game ball detector. As described above, the cpu on the illegal board is output to the determination counter Hc at the timing of the special game state while comparing the game ball detection signal from the symbol display with the value of the pseudo counter Gc. A game state can be created.

[0008] As described above, the software based on the illegal board controls at first glance the game as if it were playing normally, so that the clerk cannot easily determine whether or not the illegal action has taken place. Because it is small, it is not easy to find out whether or not an illegal board is attached from the back of the gaming machine.
Therefore, the present invention provides a gaming machine capable of preventing illegal acts even when such an illegal substrate is attached.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine, comprising: a symbol display capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols; a gaming ball detector for detecting that a gaming ball has passed a specific area; A game control device having a determination counter for adding every predetermined time from the time is arranged, and this game control device outputs a pulse signal to the display control device for controlling the symbol display every predetermined time, and a game ball detector. When the value of the determination counter when the game ball is detected is a specific value, the symbol display is a gaming machine that displays a special symbol and generates a special game state while displaying a special symbol, and the value of the determination counter is The memory is formed so that it can be stored even when the power is turned off, and the initial value of the determination counter after the power is turned on is set to the value of the stored determination counter. Therefore, since the initial value of the determination counter is the stored value of the determination counter (a value other than “0”), the cpu on the unauthorized board is determined even if the pulse signal generated every predetermined time in the table is counted. Different from the counter value.
Therefore, when the value of the determination counter Hc is a specific value, it is not possible to output a game ball detection signal to the game control device, thereby preventing occurrence of an illegal special game state.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine, comprising: a symbol display capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols; a gaming ball detector for detecting that a gaming ball has passed a specific area; A game control device having a determination counter for adding each time is arranged, and the game control device outputs a pulse signal to the display control device for controlling the symbol display every predetermined time, and the game ball detector detects the game ball. If the value of the determination counter at the time of detection is a specific value, the symbol display is a game machine that confirms and displays a special symbol and generates a special game state. Since the voltage change arbitrarily changed after the power-on is added, even if the pulse signal generated every predetermined time is counted, the value is different from the value of the determination counter, so that the occurrence of an illegal special game state can be prevented.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A pachinko machine as a gaming machine is of a well-known type, and is related to the gist of the present invention with reference to a front view shown in FIG. 1 and a control block diagram shown in FIG. Will be described. Near the center of the game area 19,
A liquid crystal display type symbol display L for performing a variable display game through a plurality of variable symbols is arranged.
Is a CPU (CENTRA) provided in a game control device described later.
L PROCESSOR UNIT) and the display control device connected to the game control device, the symbol display portions L1 to L1.
L3 can be displayed separately, and the symbols "0-9, A-F" are variably displayed in this order.

On the left and right sides of the symbol display L, ordinary symbol start gates 23a and 23b are provided, and when a game ball passes, the ordinary symbol display 5 attached to a special winning opening 58 described later.
The symbol 6 starts to fluctuate, stops after a lapse of a predetermined time, and hits when the finalized symbol coincides with a preset symbol, and the ordinary electric accessory 57 is opened for a predetermined time. And
When a game ball passes the specific area after winning the ordinary electric accessory 57, a game ball detector (not shown) for detecting the winning ball generates a game ball detection signal, which will be described later in detail. It is determined whether or not a special game state or the like occurs.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram for controlling a pachinko machine, and has a game control device having the same configuration as that of the related art.
It is composed of a display control device that controls the symbol display of the symbol display, a game ball detector that generates a game ball detection signal, a relay board, and the like. This game control device has a CPU (CENTRAL
(PROCESSOR UNIT) and a ROM (REA) storing a game program capable of preventing fraud.
D ONLY MEMORY).

The game program includes a determination counter Hc which is a cyclic counter of 0 to 329 which adds 1 every reset time (2 ms) of the CPU, and a pulse signal generated at each reset time (predetermined time). Is output to the terminals a and b of the display control device via the terminals A and B of the game control device, and the timing of symbol display on the symbol display is set, and the other terminals are used for selecting a display symbol and the like. Used for signals. The predetermined time (2 ms) is
This is the time during which the entire game software can be executed.

When a game ball wins a start winning prize port installed in the game area and passes through a specific area, a game ball detector for detecting the game ball generates a game ball detection signal (symbol start signal), This game ball detection signal is supplied to terminal C of the game ball detector,
The signal is output to terminals c and d of the relay board via D. Then, the value of the determination counter Hc at the time of the falling of the game ball detection signal is stored, and based on the stored value, it is determined whether or not a special game state is caused, and a symbol is displayed on a display control device (symbol display). Send a signal to start the fluctuation. When the stored value is a specific value (for example, “7”),
After a predetermined time, the same symbol (special symbol) is fixedly displayed on the symbol display section, and a special game state that is advantageous to the player is generated.

Next, matters relating to the prevention of fraudulent acts in the software stored in the ROM will be described.
It should be noted that the illegal act is the same software as the conventional one, in which the illegal substrate shown in FIG. (First Embodiment) The present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B showing a control flow and FIG. 4 showing a pulse train. When the power is turned on, the judgment counter Hc,
The flag F and the special game state flag FA are initialized (S1, S2), and the initialized pulse signals are output to the terminals a, b of the display control device via the terminals A, B of the game control device. I do. Therefore, when an unauthorized board is attached, upon receiving this initialization signal, the cpu arranged on the unauthorized board initializes a pseudo counter Gc (0 to 329) that adds 1 by a pulse signal (see FIG. 4).

After the power is turned on, the control is performed in accordance with the control flow of FIG. 3B executed in the interruption process at predetermined time intervals (2 ms). First, it is determined whether the flag F is 1 or not. (S5). This flag F is set for a predetermined time (2
ms), it is determined whether or not to output the pulse signal to the terminals a and b of the display control device via the terminals A and B of the game control device, that is, whether or not to maintain the non-output state of the pulse signal. When the flag F is 1, the game ball has already won the starting winning opening and passed through the specific area,
Since the “game ball detection signal” has been generated, the process proceeds to step 10. On the other hand, when the flag F is not 1, since the pulse signal is not output, it is determined in step 6 whether or not the game ball detection signal is generated. And
When the game ball detection signal is generated, in the subsequent processing, the flag F is set to 1 so that a pulse signal every predetermined time (2 ms) can be output to the terminals a and b of the display control device.
(S7). By this processing, a predetermined time (2 ms) after the first game ball detection signal is generated
Each pulse signal can be output to the terminals a and b of the display control device, and the pulse non-output state is released.

In step 8, it is determined whether or not the special game state is present, that is, whether or not the value of the determination counter Hc is a specific value ("7").
A is set to 1 (S9), and the process proceeds to step 10.
When the big hit flag FA becomes "1", the symbol display units L1 and L are displayed in another control flow (not shown).
2. After a predetermined period of time, the symbols of the variable display are sequentially stopped at L3, and after the same symbol (specific symbol) is fixedly displayed, for example, a special game state process such as opening the special winning opening 58 is performed.

In step 10, a pulse signal is output every predetermined time (2 ms) to the terminals a and b of the display control device via the terminals A and B of the game control device. Therefore, FIG.
Pseudo counter Gc
(0-329) thereafter receives a pulse signal and starts counting (see FIG. 4). Then, a process of adding 1 to the determination counter Hc is performed (S11). In the next step 12, it is determined whether or not the determination counter Hc is 329. When the determination counter Hc is 329, the determination counter Hc is initialized (Hc = 0) (S13), 0-3
The circulation number is 29.

As described above, the judgment counter Hc is 2 ms
The number of cycles is 1 for each cycle, and the pulse signal every 2 ms is generated after the game ball first wins the starting winning opening, that is, after the first "game ball detection signal" is generated (FIG. 4). , The count values of the pseudo counter Gc and the determination counter Hc are different. Since the time at which the "game ball detection signal" is first generated is completely arbitrary, it is almost impossible to make the value of the pseudo counter Gc equal to the value of the determination counter Hc.

As a result, the value of the pseudo counter Gc becomes
The value Hc (specific value) of the determination counter that causes the special game state cannot be specified. That is, when the value of the determination counter Hc is a specific value, a game ball detection signal cannot be output to the game control device, and the occurrence of an illegal special game state can be prevented. In the above description, the time at which the pseudo counter Gc can count is after the "game ball detection signal" is first generated (time T shown in FIG. 4), but is not limited to the first time, and the second time and the like are not limited to the first time. The reference may be used.

(Second Embodiment) In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the time at which the pseudo counter Gc can be counted is determined by setting the value of the judgment counter Hc to an arbitrary number (M).
It will be set later. Therefore, in step 6 of FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the value of the determination counter Hc is "M" (S6 '), and if it is "M", the flag F is set to 1. The other steps are the same as those in the first embodiment (FIG. 3), and thus the description is omitted. With this setting, the value of the determination counter Hc and the value of the pseudo counter Gc are
Since the value is shifted by “M”, the output timing of the “game ball detection signal” to be in the special game state is not known, and it is possible to prevent the special game state from being generated arbitrarily.

The value of "M" may be changed each time a special game state occurs, or may be changed at any time as time elapses. As described above, if the value of “M” can be changed, it becomes more difficult to make the value of the pseudo counter Gc and the value of the determination counter Hc coincide. Further, in the first and second embodiments, when the power is turned on, the value of the determination counter Hc can be configured without initializing, and by starting from any value, the value of the pseudo counter Gc is further reduced. It is difficult to match the value of the determination counter Hc.

(Third Embodiment) In this embodiment, the initial value of the judgment counter Hc is selected by using an initial value selecting means. As shown in FIGS. When the power is turned on, the judgment counter Hc is not initialized. Then, the initial value of the determination counter Hc is used as an initial value selecting means.
(A)) is set to, for example, the value of the lower 3 bits (S
11). When the power is turned on, this RAM (A)
The noise is set to a completely arbitrary value (0 to 7).
However, when the initial value of the determination counter Hc is 0, since fraudulent acts cannot be prevented, 1 (a value other than zero) is set.
(S12, S13). Then, thereafter, as in the conventional case, the data is output to the terminals a and b of the display control device via the terminals A and B of the game control device every reset time (2 ms) (S14). The judgment counter Hc (0 to 329)
Is constituted by a circulation counter which adds 1 every 1 reset time (2 ms) configured in S11, S12 and S13 shown in FIG.

By the above control, the judgment counter Hc
The value of (0-329) and the value of the pseudo counter Gc are counted for each reset signal (2 ms), but these values are different only by the initial value of the RAM (A), and the special game state The output timing of the “game ball detection signal” is not known, and it is possible to prevent the special game state from being generated arbitrarily. Further, as another initial value selecting means, one or more memories (RAM (A) (B) (C)
And the like, and processing such as addition, multiplication, division, logical product, logical sum, and the like is performed. As a result, for example, there are various methods such as setting the value of the lower three bits to the initial value of the determination counter Hc. , The initial value of the determination counter Hc may be set to a value other than zero. Further, it may be configured not only at the time of turning on the power but also after a preset time has elapsed.

(Fourth Embodiment) In this embodiment, the initial value of the judgment counter Hc is selected by using another initial value selecting means. FIG. 7 executed in the interrupt processing every time (2 ms)
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 (A) is a control block diagram when an illegal act is performed, which is almost the same as FIG. 2 (B), except that a RAM (random access memory) attached to the game control device is backed up by a battery B. I have.
The RAM (random access memory) is a battery B
May be constituted by an unnecessary EPROM or the like. Therefore, even when the power of the gaming machine is turned off, the value of the determination counter (Hc ′) is stored in the memory.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the power is turned on, the judgment counter Hc is set to the value of the judgment counter (Hc ') (S20, S21). That is, the initial value of the determination counter Hc is set to the value when the power is turned off. When the value of the determination counter Hc is "0", it is impossible to prevent improper behavior, so that 1
(Value other than zero) (S22, S23). Then, in the same manner as in the related art, the data is output to the terminals a and b of the display control device via the terminals A and B of the game control device every 2 ms (S24). Note that the determination counter Hc (0 to 329)
It comprises a circulation counter which increments by 1 every RESET time (2 ms) configured in S11, S12 and S13 shown in FIG.

By this control, the value of the determination counter Hc and the value of the pseudo counter Gc are counted every 2 ms, but their values differ only by the initial value, and the special game state is set. The output timing of the "signal" is not known, and it is possible to prevent the special game state from being arbitrarily generated.

(Fifth Embodiment) This embodiment is shown in FIG.
(A) is a control block diagram, in which an AC power supply from an outlet is connected to a power supply circuit for converting to DC. The power supply circuit outputs a DC voltage via a constant voltage circuit, converts the voltage to a digital signal by an A / D converter, and inputs the value as a power supply change Vi to the CPU. . The DC voltage output from the power supply circuit is output via a constant voltage circuit. However, since the DC voltage changes depending on the power consumption of the game machine (lamp lighting, motor rotation, etc.), this power supply change Vi is represented by 4 bits ( (4 steps) (or 8 bits (8 steps)).

The power supply change Vi is divided into four stages or eight stages with respect to the reference voltage (in this system, the power supply change Vi becomes plus and minus). A method of dividing into four or eight steps (the power supply change Vi is positive or negative according to this method) is adopted.

Next, a fraud prevention measure using the power supply change Vi will be described with reference to FIGS. 8B and 8C, which are executed in an interruption process at predetermined time intervals (2 ms). First, when the power is turned on, the judgment counter Hc is initialized (S50, S51) and output to the display control device (S52). This control is the same as the conventional one, and the display control device receives the initial signal. As a result, the pseudo counter Gc on the incorrect board is also initialized. The determination counter Hc does not necessarily need to be set to “0”, but is executed in consideration of the display control device.

On the other hand, the judgment counter Hc adds 1 to the value of the power supply change Vi (S54) after being incremented by 1 every reset time (2 ms) (S53). As a result, the determination counter Hc becomes an arbitrary value depending on the value of the power supply change Vi. Then, measures are taken so that the number of circulations of the determination counter Hc becomes 0 to 329 (S55, S56).

As described above, the judgment counter Hc is initialized when the power is turned on, but thereafter becomes an arbitrary value according to the value of the power supply change Vi which changes arbitrarily. Therefore,
When the power is turned on, the false counter Gc of the illegal board is initialized and the determination counter Hc has the same value as that of the false board, but since the value becomes different thereafter, the output timing of the "game ball detection signal" to enter the special game state is changed. Without knowing, it is possible to prevent the special game state from being generated arbitrarily. In addition, the method of changing the circulation number of the determination counter Hc to a different number after the power is turned on includes, in addition to the voltage change of the power supply circuit, a voltage change of a symbol display or the like attached to the game machine, or a voltage noise circuit. And adding the noise value to the judgment counter Hc, or measuring environmental changes such as temperature, humidity, sound, etc.
There is a method of adding a value that changes at random, such as a method of adding a measured value converted to a digital signal by a / D converter, and the like.

It is to be noted that the above embodiments may not be performed independently but may be configured by appropriately combining the embodiments.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the power is turned on, the judgment counter uses the stored value of the judgment counter as an initial value, so that the pulse signal generated every predetermined time is counted by the pseudo counter. Therefore, the value Hc (specific value) of the determination counter that causes the special game state cannot be specified, and the occurrence of the illegal special game state can be prevented. Further, since the judgment counter of the game machine according to the present invention adds a voltage change arbitrarily changed after the power is turned on, even if the pulse signal generated every predetermined time is counted, it is different from the value of the judgment counter. A special game state can be prevented from occurring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine (pachinko machine).

FIG. 2A is a control block diagram of a gaming machine,
(B) is a control block diagram when performing an illegal act.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing a control flow in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a pulse train in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a control flow according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a control flow according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a pulse train.

FIG. 7A is a control block diagram according to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a control flow.

8A is a control block diagram according to a fifth embodiment, and FIGS. 8B and 8C are diagrams showing a control flow.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Gc pseudo counter Hc judgment counter L Symbol display

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Toyoda 3-12 Nagatoicho, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya-shi Yutaka Maru Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C088 AA39 BC45 EA11

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A symbol display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols, a game ball detector for detecting that a game ball has passed a specific area, and a determination counter for adding every predetermined time from power-on. A game control device is arranged, the game control device outputs a pulse signal to a display control device for controlling a symbol display every predetermined time, and the determination counter when the game ball detector detects a game ball. Is a specific value, a special symbol is fixedly displayed on the symbol display, and the gaming machine generates a special gaming state. The value of the determination counter is formed so as to be memorable even when the power is cut off. A gaming machine wherein an initial value of a determination counter after power-on is set to a value of the determination counter in the storage. 2. A symbol display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols, a game ball detector for detecting that a game ball has passed a specific area, and a determination counter for adding every predetermined time from power-on. A game control device is arranged, the game control device outputs a pulse signal to a display control device for controlling a symbol display every predetermined time, and the determination counter when the game ball detector detects a game ball. Is a specific value, a special symbol is fixedly displayed on the symbol display and a special game state is generated, and a power change is added to the determination counter after power-on. A gaming machine.