JP2000107396A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set a holding number of times of a variable display by a game ball winning into a starting hole during variable display or passing a starting gate to be changeable. SOLUTION: In a Pachinko (Japanese pinball game) machine, as a game ball passes a contactless switch 18a at a type-1 starting hole 18, a CPU detects pass of the game ball based on an output from the contactless switch 18a. Based on this output, variable display action is made by a variable display unit 15. As an output is given during the variable display action, it is counted, the accumulated count number is held up to four normally, and the variable display action is made in order. Outputs from the contactless switch 18a over 5 are not held. However, when a condition without no special prize is continued long, it is controlled so that they can be held up to 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a variable display device which performs a variable display operation based on the passage of a game ball through a predetermined area, for example, the winning of a game ball to a starting port or the passing of a starting gate. The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of suspending a new game ball when it passes through a starting gate or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a game in which a variable display device performs a variable display operation based on satisfaction of predetermined conditions, for example, in a pachinko machine, when a game ball is awarded to a start port arranged in a game area or passed through a start gate. There was a machine. The variable display is performed for several seconds to several tens of seconds, and then stops. As a variable display, for example, three symbol rows are displayed in parallel on a display screen like a slot machine, and the symbols of this symbol row are displayed in a scroll shape, and symbols appear one after another from an upper edge and leave from a lower edge. There is something. In this type, a special game mode such as a so-called big hit state is given to the player when the symbols stopped after scrolling are in a specific arrangement. There are many types of variable display operations other than the types listed in this example, but the common thing is that it is determined whether a special game mode is given in the arrangement state of symbols stopped after the variable display operation is completed Is to be done.

Here, even during the variable display, the next game ball may enter the starting port or pass through the starting gate. Normally, in a pachinko machine, winning of a game ball to the starting port during the variable display is counted, and the variable display operation is sequentially performed according to the count number.
The state in which the game balls passed during the variable display are counted is set as a hold state, and the variable display operation is held (for example, four times) only for a predetermined number of times. This reserved number is usually displayed to the player by the number of lighting of the reserved lamp. Therefore, even if the game ball further passes through the passage gate, etc. in a state where all the holding lamps are on, the game is not held even if the holding lamp is on, and conversely, the game ball does not pass through the passage gate, etc. In both cases, the variable display operation is performed one after another by the number of times corresponding to the number of holdings.

[0004]

As described above, the number of reservations is set to a predetermined number and remains unchanged. However, as the number of reserves increases, the number of cases in which the game balls are not suspended (not counted) even if they pass through a passage gate or the like decreases, and conversely, the probability of a jackpot state increases as the number of variable display operations increases. Become. On the other hand, if the number of reservations is reduced, the probability of a jackpot state is also reduced. That is, if the number of reservations can be changed, the probability of the jackpot state also changes, so that it should be possible to provide a new pachinko machine focusing on the number of reservations. In addition, in a case where the game cannot be shifted to the big hit state despite a considerable number of variable display operations being performed in the game, the player wishes to perform the variable display operation even once. However, even when the jackpot is not long as described above, there is no device for increasing the probability of the jackpot. The present invention has been made by paying attention to such problems existing in the conventional technology. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of changing the number of times the variable display is held due to a prize of a game ball to a starting port during a variable display or a passing of a starting gate.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a game ball is supplied on a game surface, the game ball is lowered according to gravity, and the game ball is dropped on the game surface. In a gaming machine that is scattered by an interfering object and gives a benefit to a player by passing the same game ball through a predetermined area or being accommodated in a predetermined accommodation opening, when the game ball passes through the variable display operation area, the passing operation is performed. Passing game ball detecting means for detecting, and accumulating means for accumulating the number of times of outputting a detection signal indicating that a game ball has been detected from the passing game ball detecting means, and not counting subsequent accumulation when a predetermined accumulation number is reached; When there is accumulation in the accumulation calculating means, the variable display device can perform a variable display operation in accordance with the accumulation number, and the accumulation number of the accumulation calculating means can be reduced by one for each variable display operation. Display control means, and storage number changing means for changing the number of storable outputs of the storage operation means when the passing game ball is detected by the passing game ball detection means in a predetermined game mode. The gist is that it was done.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a game ball is supplied onto a game surface, the game ball is lowered according to gravity, and scattered by an interference body on the game surface, and the game ball passes through a predetermined area. Alternatively, in a gaming machine configured to provide a benefit to a player by being accommodated in a predetermined accommodation opening, when a game ball passes through a variable display operation area, a passing game ball detecting means for detecting a passing operation thereof, Means for accumulating the number of times of output of a detection signal indicating that a game ball has been detected from the means, and stopping the detection operation of the passing game ball detection means when a predetermined accumulation number is reached, and accumulating in the accumulation calculation means Variable display control means for causing the variable display device to perform a variable display operation in accordance with the stored number in the case where there is, and reducing the stored number of the storage calculation means by one for each variable display operation; Under the fixed game mode, the number of storable outputs of the accumulation calculating means is changed, and the number of storable output is changed up to the number of times the detection of the passage of the game ball by the passing game ball detecting means is changed. Make a summary.

According to this structure, when the game ball passes through the variable display operation area, the passage of the game ball is detected by the passing game ball detection means. When the passing game ball detecting means detects that the game ball has passed through the predetermined area, the passing game ball detecting means counts the number of times the game ball has passed and accumulates it in the accumulation calculating means. Then, if the variable display operation is completed and the accumulation calculating means has accumulation, the variable display control means causes the variable display device to execute the variable display operation, and the accumulation number of the accumulation computing means is reduced to one.
Decrease. On the other hand, the accumulation calculating means does not count the output of the subsequent detection signal when the predetermined accumulation number is reached. For example, if the accumulation number is set to four times, the passage of the fifth and subsequent game ball predetermined areas is not counted as a hold even if the passage itself is detected. However, in the predetermined game mode, the number of storable outputs of the accumulation calculating means is changed by the passing game ball detecting means. Here, the predetermined game mode is a player given based on, for example, a random number value extracted at a timing when a game ball passes a predetermined area or when the variable display operation of the variable display device is continuously counted a predetermined number of times. A mode which is advantageous to the player or a mode which is disadvantageous to the player who is provided in the case where the player is once provided with a jackpot, for example, immediately after the jackpot. The number of outputs that can be accumulated in these predetermined game modes is increased or decreased.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the configuration of the accumulation calculating means is different from that of the first aspect, and the accumulation calculating means stops the detecting operation of the passing game ball detecting means when a predetermined number of accumulations is reached. The signal is not counted by the accumulation operation means. However, as described above, by changing the number of storable outputs of the accumulation calculating means in the predetermined game mode, the detectable state of the detecting operation of the passing game ball detecting means is controlled, and the storable output in the predetermined game mode is controlled. Increase or decrease the number.

[0009]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, by changing the number of reserved game balls passing through the predetermined area, the number of retained game balls is changed so as to be advantageous or disadvantageous to the player depending on the game mode. The number can be adjusted. Therefore, the gaming machine is provided with a range of games based on the difference in the number of holdings which has not been available in the past, and the interest of the game increases.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a pachinko machine with a starting port (hereinafter simply referred to as a "pachinko machine") according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a game board 3 of a pachinko machine on a game surface. A special symbol display device (hereinafter simply referred to as a display device) 15 as a variable display device is incorporated in the center of the game board 3. Display device 15
Will be described later. On the upper part of the display device 15, a normal symbol display device 16 is provided. Normal symbol display device 16
Is a hold display unit 4 composed of a light emitting diode (LED)
It has a 7-segment display unit 17 composed of two hold lamps 16a to 16d and an LED.

A first type start port 18 is provided below the display device 15.
Is arranged. A proximity switch 18a as a passing game ball detecting means is provided in the first type starting port 18 (on the back side of the game board 3). A pair of opening and closing blades 19 are provided at the entrance of the first-type starting port 18, and can take an open position for guiding a game ball and a closed position where a game ball hardly enters the first-type starting port 18. The display device 15 is driven based on the winning in the first type start port 18. In the present embodiment, the number of prize balls obtained by winning the first type starting port 18 is 7 / prize ball. The opening and closing blade 19 is driven by a solenoid 19a disposed on the back side of the game board 3.

A pair of passing gates 20 are arranged on both sides of the display device 15. A proximity switch 20a, which is a ball detecting means for detecting the passage of a game ball, is embedded in the gate 20 (on the back side of the game board 3). When the game ball passes through the passage gate 20, the ordinary symbol display device 16 operates. In the present embodiment, the ordinary symbol display device 16 variably displays numbers from “0” to “9” and displays the segments on the 7-segment display unit 17 using predetermined numbers (“7” in the present embodiment). In case of stopping, the opening / closing blade 1 of the first type starting port 18
9 is continuously opened for a certain period of time. Ordinary symbol display device 1
Numeral 6 can store up to four times the number of times a game ball has passed through the pass gate 20, and the number of reservations is displayed on the reservation lamps 16a to 16d. Therefore, the four holding lamps 16a-
Even if a game ball passes through the passage gate 20 in a state where 16d is lit, it is not counted, and the holding lamps 16a to 16d are not counted.
As long as is lit, the normal symbol display device 16 is operated by the number of times corresponding to the number of holdings even if the game ball does not pass through the passage gate 20. Below each passing gate 20, there is a normal winning opening 21
Is arranged. The normal winning opening 21 is provided with a proximity switch 21a as ball detection means (on the back side of the game board 3). In the present embodiment, the number of prize balls for winning in the normal winning opening 21 is 10 / prize ball.

A large winning opening 22 is arranged below the first type starting opening 18. The big winning opening 22 is normally closed with the shutter 23 closed, and is opened when the display device 15 is operated to enter a big hit state (special game state) described later. The shutter 23 is driven by a solenoid 23a disposed on the back side of the game board 3. A V zone 24 is provided in the passage of the special winning opening 22. Same V zone 2
4 is provided with a proximity switch 24a which is a ball detecting means for detecting a game ball passing through the zone 24 (on the back side of the game board 3). In addition, a proximity switch 22a, which is a ball detecting means for detecting the entire game ball that wins the large winning opening 22, is provided. In the present embodiment, 15 prize balls per winning in the large winning opening 22 are winning balls.

An electronic decoration 25 is arranged on the game board 3 so as to surround the game surface and the display device 15. The lightning decoration part 25 is a transparent or translucent plastic panel, and the decoration lamp 2 made of LED is provided on the back surface of the panel.
5a to 25o are arranged at predetermined intervals. Each of the decorative lamps 25a to 25o blinks according to the game state. next,
The display device 15 will be described in more detail. The display device 15 has a display screen 15a formed of a liquid crystal display (LCD). The variable display is performed on the display screen 15a based on the winning of the game ball to the first type starting port 18. On the upper part of the display screen 15a, seven holding lamps 34a to 34g are provided as means for informing of the number of storages constituted by LEDs. The holding lamps 34 a to 34 g are incorporated on the back surface of the mounting board of the display device 15. Hold lamp 34a ~
34g indicates that a new game ball is in the first kind starting port 18 during variable display.
The number of winnings counted when the player wins is displayed to the player. The holding lamps 34a to 34g include four first holding lamps 34a to 34d arranged in an upper stage,
Three second holding lamps 34e to 34 arranged at the lower stage
g. In the normal game mode, only the first holding lamps 34a to 34d are used,
In the special mode, the first holding lamps 34a to 34a to
34d and all of the second hold lamps 34e-34g are used.

During the variable display operation of the display device 15, when the next game ball wins the first type starting port 18, the winning is stored. The stored number of wins is counted four times in the normal game mode and up to seven times in the special mode, and the variable display operation based on each win is performed in order. As described above, the variable display operation is performed later based on the winnings during the variable display operation.
That. The state counted four times in the normal game mode, that is, all four first hold lamps 34a-34
34d is lit (in the special mode, all seven first and second hold lamps 34a-34)
Even if a new game ball wins the first-type starting port 18 in a state where g is lit), the game ball is not counted. On the other hand, as long as the winning is stored, that is, as long as the first holding lamps 34a to 34d are lit in the normal game mode (the first or second holding lamps 34a to 34g are lit in the special mode). The variable display operation is performed a number of times according to the number of holdings even if the game ball does not win the first-type starting port 18). When the variable display operation for the reserved state starts, one of the first or second reserved lamps 34a to 34g is turned off. For example, in a state where the three holding lamps 34a to 34c are lit (that is, when three wins are made during the variable display operation) and there is no next win, a new variable display operation is started. At the same time, the third hold lamp 34c
Turns off.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
In a, three display areas of a left symbol row display area 30, a right symbol row display area 31, and a middle symbol row display area 32 are formed. In each of the symbol row display areas 30 to 32, a symbol row in which numeral symbols are arranged in series is displayed. As shown in FIG. 2, the symbols in each symbol row are scrolled downward from above the display screen 15a, as if the drum of the slot machine rotates and the symbols change from top to bottom one after another. As shown in FIG. 3, in the display screen 15a, the symbols are stopped in the symbol row display areas 30 to 32 at the stage where the variation of the symbols is completed and the symbols are stopped, and 5 symbols of 3 horizontal rows and 2 diagonal rows are displayed.
Two stop lines L are formed. The fluctuation of the symbol row is started when the game ball wins the first kind starting port 18, and in the present embodiment, when the ball fluctuates for a predetermined time, it is stopped in the order of the left symbol row, the right symbol row, and the middle symbol row.

Here, a case where three stop symbols on any one of the stop lines L are aligned in a state where the fluctuation is completed and the symbol columns of the respective symbol column display areas 30 to 32 are stopped is referred to as a "big hit state". . In the present embodiment, the jackpot state is a state in which the special winning opening 22 is opened and the number of winnings increases remarkably, and a state in which many prize balls can be obtained as profit. In addition, a certain stop line L includes two of the left symbol row and the right symbol row.
The state where the three symbols are stopped together is called "reach". When the third symbol in the third symbol row is stopped on the stop line L with the same symbol from the reach state, the large hit state is established.
On the other hand, when the stop symbol of the third middle symbol row is different from the two stop symbols of the left symbol row and the right symbol row, the reach was achieved but the hit was not achieved because the reach was not reached. Is called "out-of-reach." Also, in any of the stop lines L, if the stop symbol of the left symbol row and the stop symbol of the right symbol row are different, it is certain that the big symbol state does not occur at this stage without confirming the stop symbol of the middle symbol row. is there. This time is referred to as a "disconnected" state.

In the present embodiment, one variable display time from the start of the change to the stop of the symbol is set as follows. 1) In the normal game mode, in the case of departure, the variable display time for one time is set to 10 seconds if the number of holdings is 1, 8 seconds if the number of holdings is 2 or 3, and 4 if the number of holdings is 4. If it is further shortened, it is set to 4 seconds. In the case of reach, A: 15 seconds, B: 20 seconds, C:
Four types of variable display times of 25 seconds and D: 30 seconds are prepared. In the present embodiment, A to D are assigned according to four types of expected jackpot values a to d. The jackpot expected values a to d are set to be higher expected values in the order of a to d. For example, in the case of the largest expected value d, the variable display time is set to D: 30 seconds, and the player can increase his / her sense of expectation by the long rendering time performed on the background screen. 2) In the special mode, in the case of departure, one variable display time is set to 4 seconds if the number of holds is 1 to 3,
When the number of holdings becomes 4 or more, the number is reduced to 2 seconds.
Since the variable display time is shorter than in the normal game mode, more variable display operations can be performed. 3
The reason for setting four seconds for one hold is that if the variable display time is too short, the player may not know whether or not the variable display has been performed, and at least three hold are set longer. In the case of the reach, only two types of variable display times of C: 25 seconds and D: 30 seconds (including the off-reach) are prepared. Then, an expected value c and an expected value d which are large expected values among the four types of jackpot expected values a to d are respectively assigned. This is to increase the sense of expectation by a long rendering time performed on the background screen only when the expected value of the jackpot is large, and to terminate the variable display operation once early when the expected value of the actual jackpot is small. This is for performing the variable display operation described above.

In the present embodiment, a special mode is provided for the normal game mode. The special mode is a game state to be shifted to when the variable display operation of the display device 15 does not become the big hit state 1000 times in a row (that is, when the display apparatus 15 stops for 1000 times consecutively in the off-reach or out-of-design), Although the number of suspensions is normally up to four as described above, up to seven can be performed in this mode. In the present embodiment, when the special mode is set, characters are displayed on the display screen 15a in order to notify the player of the special mode.

When three stop symbols are aligned on the stop line L on the display screen 15a, a "big hit notification screen" is displayed instead of the variable display operation screen to notify the player of the big hit state again. Is displayed. In the "big hit notification screen", a character design of "big hit" is displayed large on the display screen 15a to attract the attention of the player. Then, the special winning opening 22 is opened. The special winning opening 22 is closed once when 29.5 seconds have elapsed after being opened, or when 10 game balls have won the special winning opening 22 within 29.5 seconds. One round from the opening of the special winning opening 22 to the closing thereof is defined as one round. As long as the game ball passes through the V zone 24, the game can proceed to the next round. However, if the game ball does not pass, the big hit state ends in that round. In the present embodiment, the jackpot state continues up to a maximum of 16 rounds.

Next, an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. A read only memory (ROM) 4 is provided in a control unit (not shown).
1. A random access memory (RAM) 42 and a central processing unit (CPU) 43 are provided. The ROM 41 as a first main storage device stores in advance a pachinko machine control program and initial data for executing the control program. The RAM 42 serving as a second main storage temporarily stores new input data and a calculation result by the CPU 43. The CPU 43 as a control means includes programs and data in these memories, and furthermore, the proximity switch 18 as a detection means.
Various arithmetic processes are executed based on the detected values of a, 20a, 21a, 22a, and 24a. The CPU 43 includes a speaker 8, a display screen 15a, a 7-segment display unit 17, a solenoid 1
9a, 23a, holding lamps 16a-16d, first and second holding lamps 34a-34g, decorative lamps 25a-2.
5o is controlled.

First variable display control means, accumulation calculation means,
CPU 4 as variable display control means and accumulation number changing means
3 is a symbol random number buffer B1 to B6 as an auxiliary storage device
And a winning determination flag FE. The symbol random number buffers B1 to B6 are composed of three out-of-left symbol random number buffers B1 to B3, left, middle, and right, and three out-of-reach reach symbol random number buffers B4 to B6, left, middle, and right. The CPU 43 has various counters C. Counter C
Includes a round counter CR, a winning counter CV, a hold counter CH, an internal random number counter CI, a missed reach random number counter CO, and a jackpot symbol random number counter CB.
And three symbol random number counters CDL and CD, left, middle and right
C, CDR. Further, the CPU 43 has a variable display operation counter CS for accumulating the number of variable display operations.

The round counter CR counts the number of rounds. Winning counter C
V is for counting the winning balls to the special winning opening 22. The suspension counter CH is for counting the number of suspensions of the variable display operation, and sequentially takes values of “0”, “1”, “2”, “3”, and “4” in the normal game mode,
"0""1""2""3" in special mode
The values "4", "5", "6", and "7" are taken in order. When CH = 0, it means that the state is not suspended or that the variable display operation is currently being performed. The internal random number counter CI is for determining a jackpot. The out-of-reach random number counter CO is for determining whether or not to display out-of-reach reach. The jackpot symbol random number counter CB is for determining a jackpot symbol.

These counters CI, CO, and CB are updated at predetermined time intervals (2 ms in this embodiment). The CPU 43 takes out a random number corresponding to each counter from the random number table in the ROM 41 every time the counters CI, CO, and CB are added. Each of the counters CI, CO, and CB forms a loop, and is returned to the initial value after each round.

Three symbol random number counters CD for left, middle and right
L, CDC and CDR are for determining a stop symbol. The left symbol random number counter CDL is updated every predetermined time (2 ms in the present embodiment). Left symbol random number counter C
The DL forms a loop, and is returned to the initial value after making one round. The medium symbol random number counter CDC is updated each time the left symbol random number counter CDL makes one round and returns to the initial value. The right symbol random number counter CDR is updated each time the medium symbol random number counter CDC makes one round and returns to the initial value.
That is, the middle symbol random number counter CDC carries the symbol of the left symbol random number CDL and the right symbol random number counter CDL carries the symbol.
R is the carry of the medium symbol random number counter CDC. In addition, the CPU 43 checks the combination of the three symbol random number counters CDL, CDC, CDR of the left, middle, and right each time it is updated. The data is stored in three out-of-design symbol random number buffers B1 to B3, and when it is determined that the combination is out of reach, the data is stored in the three out-of-reach symbol random number buffers B4 to B6. Further, the CPU 43 accumulates the number of times of the variable display operation of the display device 15 by the variable display operation counter CS, and when a big hit state is reached, the counter CS
Clear

The RAM 42 has a symbol random number area and a stop random number symbol area therein. The symbol random number area has an internal random number area R1 and an outreach random number area R2.
And three out-of-design symbol random number areas R3 to R5, left, middle, and right.
And is constituted by. Each of the areas R1 to R5 is divided into eight storage small areas i = 0 to 7 inside each according to the hold counter CH. Storage small area i = 0
Corresponds to the value "0" of the hold counter CH, the storage small area i = 1 is stored in "1", the storage small area i = 2 is stored in "2", and the storage small area i = 3 is stored in "3". The small area i = 4 corresponds to “4”, the storage small area i = 5 corresponds to “5”, the storage storage small area i = 6 corresponds to “6”, and the small area i = 7 corresponds to “7”. In the normal game mode, only the five small areas i = 0 to 4 are used, and in the special mode, all eight small areas i = 0 to 7 are used. For example, when the value of the hold counter CH indicates “1”, the random number value of the internal random number area R1 is the small area i
= 1. In the special mode, the value of the hold counter CH may indicate, for example, “7”. At that time, the random number value of the internal random number area R1 is stored at i = 1. The stop random symbol area has an area in which three stop symbols, left, middle, and right, are stored. The hit symbol random counter CB is used in the case of a big hit, and a miss symbol is used in the case of a miss symbol as a stop symbol. From the random number areas R3 to R5,
When the out-of-reach symbol is set as the stop symbol, values are taken from the out-of-reach symbol random number buffers B4 to B6.

Next, the operation of the pachinko machine configured as described above will be described. First, based on FIG.
3 will be described. The routine is a random number counter CI, CO, CDL, CDC, C each time a game ball wins the first kind starting port 18.
The random number value of DR is stored in a symbol area corresponding to the number of holds of the hold counter CH.

First, in step S11, the CPU 43 determines whether or not a game ball has won the first type starting port 18 based on the detection result of the proximity switch 18a of the first type starting port 18. If this determination condition is not satisfied, the process is temporarily terminated. If this determination condition is satisfied, it is determined in step S12 whether the gaming state is the special mode. Here, if the count value of the variable display operation counter CS is 1000 or more, it is determined that the special mode is set, and it is determined whether the value of the hold counter CH is smaller than the maximum hold number “7”. On the other hand, if the count value of the variable display operation counter CS does not exceed 1000, it is determined that the game mode is the normal game mode, and in step S13, it is determined whether the value of the hold counter CH is smaller than the maximum hold number "4". When the condition of step S12 or step S13 is satisfied, the CPU 43 adds (updates) “1” to the hold counter CH in step S14. On the other hand, if this determination condition is not satisfied, the hold counter CH holds the winning only four or seven times, and thus the process is temporarily terminated.

Next, in step S15, the random number value of the internal random number counter CI is stored in the internal random number area R1. In step S16, the random number value of the off-reach random number counter CO is stored in the off-reach random number area R2. Then, at step S17, three out-of-design symbol random number buffers B of left, middle and right
The random number values of 1, B2, and B3 are stored in the three out-of-design symbol random number areas R3 to R5 on the left, the middle, and the right, and the process is temporarily terminated.

Next, the "special electric accessory control routine" will be described with reference to FIG. This routine is for controlling the special electric accessory based on the calculation result of the above-mentioned "area storage processing routine". This routine is called CP
The process is executed by U43, and in the present embodiment, is executed at a predetermined timing of the pachinko machine.

The CPU 43 determines in step S21 whether the value of the hold counter CH is not "0". In the case of "0", it is determined that there is no prize in the first-type starting port 18 at present, and the process is temporarily terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the condition of step S21 is satisfied (CH = 1, 2, 3,
4 or 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) includes step S22.
Then, a small storage area for storing values of the internal random number area R1, the outreach reach random number area R2, and the three outlying symbol random number areas R3 to R5 of left, middle, and right is set to i = 0.

Next, at step S23, the hold counter C
It is determined whether or not the value of H (“0” to “7”) is the same as the address of the storage small area i = 0 to 7 in each of the areas R1 to R5. When this determination condition is not satisfied (that is, when the value of the hold counter CH is not the same as the address value of the storage small area storing the random number value in each of the areas R1 to R5)
In step S24, "1" is added to the address value of the storage small area i = 0 to 7 in each of the areas R1 to R5, and in step S25, the value of the storage area in each of the areas R1 to R5 is incremented by one. Shift to the previous address and step S2
The process returns to step 3.

On the other hand, when the judgment condition is satisfied in step S23 (that is, when the value of the hold counter CH and each area R1
If the address value of the small storage area in which the random number value in R5 is stored is the same as the address value, the CPU 43 proceeds to step S5.
At 26, one of the holding lamps 34a to 34d is turned off. Next, in step S27, the hold number of the hold counter CH is set to 1
In step S28, a process of determining a stop symbol is executed. An auxiliary routine of the stop symbol determination process executed by the CPU 43 will be described with reference to FIG. First,
In step S101, the CPU 43 determines whether or not the random number stored in the storage small area i = 0 of the internal random number area R1 is a "big hit" value. Here "big hit"
Is determined, the symbol corresponding to the value of the jackpot symbol random number counter CB is stored as a stop symbol in each of the stop symbol areas S1 to S3 in step S102, and the process is terminated once.

On the other hand, if the condition of step S101 is not satisfied, then in step S103 the out-of-reach reach random number area R2
It is determined whether or not the random number value at the address 0 is “out of reach”. Here, if it is determined that the value is "missing reach", the symbol corresponding to the value of the off-reach symbol buffer B4, B5, B6 is stored as a stop symbol in each of the stop symbol areas S1 to S3 in step S104, and the process is performed once. finish. If the condition in step S103 is not satisfied, in step S105, the symbols corresponding to the values of the out-of-design symbol random number areas R3 to R5 are set as the stop symbols, and the stop symbol areas S1 to S5 are set.
3 and temporarily end the processing.

Subsequently, the flow returns to the jackpot processing in step S29. An auxiliary routine of the jackpot process executed by the CPU 43 will be described with reference to FIG. This routine is performed after the fluctuation stop on the display screen 15a. First, in step S301, the CPU 43 sets the round counter CR to “0” and causes the display screen 15a to display a big hit. Subsequently, in step S302, the winning counter CV and the winning determination flag FE are both set to "0".
Set to. Next, in step S303, the CPU 43 excites the solenoid 23a to activate the special winning opening 24 (the shutter 2).
3) is released, and "1" is added to the round counter CR in step S304.

Next, in step S305, the winning counter C
V is a predetermined value (corresponding to the number of winning balls, 10 in this embodiment)
) Is determined. If this condition is satisfied, it is determined in step S306 whether the opening time of the special winning opening 24 (29.5 seconds in the present embodiment) has elapsed.
That is, it is determined whether the closing time has come. In this manner, the opening of the special winning opening 24 is continued unless the predetermined winning number of balls is counted after the special winning opening 24 is opened or the closing time comes otherwise. On the other hand, if the determination condition of step S305 is not satisfied or the determination condition of step S306 is satisfied, the CPU 4 determines in step S307.
Numeral 3 demagnetizes the solenoid 23a and closes the special winning opening 24 (shutter 23).

Next, in step S308, it is determined whether or not the round counter CR is smaller than a predetermined value (corresponding to the number of rounds, set to 16 in the present embodiment). If this condition is satisfied, it is determined in step S309 whether or not the winning determination flag FE is “1”. If this determination condition is satisfied, the process returns to step S301. On the other hand, if the determination condition in step S308 is not satisfied, it means that the game has been continued until the last round, and the present routine ends once. Step S30
If the determination condition of No. 9 is not satisfied, it means that there is no winning in the V zone 24 in that round, and the round continuation condition is not satisfied, so this routine is also once ended.

With this configuration, the present embodiment has the following effects. -Conventionally, even if a prize was won in the first kind starting port 18, it was held only up to four times. However, the special mode causes the game to be held up to a maximum of seven times, so that the number of holdings increases, and a prize sphere that does not participate in the variable display operation of the display device 15 despite winning the first-type starting port 18. Is reduced. Conversely, since the number of times of the variable display operation increases, the probability of the jackpot increases accordingly, and as a result, the interest of the game increases. -Even if the jackpot is difficult, the special mode will increase the probability of the jackpot. Can last. When the opening / closing wings 19 at the entrance of the first-type starting port 18 are open, game balls may continuously win. When the winnings are continuously made in this manner, continuous or very close random numbers are taken out as random number values of the internal random number counter. The internal random number counter forms a loop, and taking into account the fact that the same random number is taken out every few seconds, the probability of taking out the jackpot random number becomes higher as the random number is continuously taken and put on hold. Here, in the special mode, there is a possibility that continuous random numbers may be extracted up to seven times, so that a big hit is more likely to occur than in the case of holding four times. As a result, the player waits for the special mode with expectation, and the interest of the game increases. The player can determine whether the game mode is the normal game mode or the special mode not only by the first holding lamps 34a to 34d but also by the second mode.
Can be recognized by turning on the holding lamps 34e to 34g. However, in this state, the winning speed is slow and the second holding ramp 3
There is a case where the player does not know that the special mode is set, since there is no time when 4e to 34g are turned on. Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, when the special mode is set, characters are displayed on the display screen 15a to notify the player that the special mode is set.

In the above-described embodiment, the variable display time from the start of the change to the stop of the symbol in the case of the departure becomes shorter as the number of holdings in both the normal game mode and the special mode increases. Is set.
As a result, the number of times of change per unit time when there are many suspensions can be increased, and the probability of a big hit increases. In the above-described embodiment, the single variable display time from the start of the change to the stop of the symbol in the case of the departure is set to be shorter in the special mode than in the normal game mode. As a result, in the special mode, not only a large number of reserves can be obtained, but also the number of times of change per unit time increases, so that the probability of obtaining a big hit in the player increases. -In both the normal game mode and the special mode, in the case of reach, in order to increase the production time performed on the background screen and increase the player's expectation, unlike in the case of losing, according to the expected value One variable display time is set long. Therefore, in the case of a miss, the variable display time is short and the intention of the next variable display can be promptly increased, and in the case of a reach with a potential jackpot, the sense of expectation is increased, and the player's psychology is taken into consideration. Playing is possible.

The present invention can be embodied with the following modifications. In the above embodiment, the CPU 43 determines whether or not to set the special mode based on whether the count value of the variable display operation counter CS exceeds 1000. However, this count value can be set freely. Also, the transition to the special mode is not limited to the case where such a long non-big hit state continues, for example, an internal random number counter for determining whether or not to enter the special mode is provided, and the random number value is calculated at the timing of winning. It may be taken out. In this way, it is possible to acquire the special mode with a predetermined probability regardless of whether or not a big hit occurs. In the above embodiment, the normal game mode and the special mode are prepared, but some special modes may be prepared. For example, when the count value of the variable display operation counter CS is 0 to 299, the maximum number of reservations is “4”, when the count value is 300 to 599, the maximum number of reservations is “5”, 6
The maximum hold number may be set to "6" from 00 to 999, and to the maximum hold number "7" to 1000 or more. In the above embodiment, the number of times the variable display operation has been performed (how many count values of the variable display operation counter CS has been reached) is not notified to the player. You may make it notify so that it may be displayed. -The number of holds in the special mode can be set freely. -The accumulated game time may be used as a trigger for shifting to the special mode. For example, if there is no big hit for 15 hours, the mode is shifted to the special mode.
In this case, the player may be notified of how long the game is to be played and the mode is shifted to the special mode after the time is displayed. In the above-described embodiment, once the special mode is set, the profit is maintained until the big hit is achieved. However, a time restriction (for example, only for 10 minutes) may be provided. In addition, the time restriction may be set as an interval (for example, a 5-minute special mode, a 1-minute normal game mode, and a 5-minute special mode again. This is repeated several times). In the above embodiment, the second holding lamps 34e to 34g are used as a means for notifying the player of the special mode.
In addition to the lighting of, characters are displayed on the display screen 15a. However, as the notification means, a sound different from the normal game mode may be notified, or a special mode notification lamp may be provided. Further, only the second holding lamps 34e to 34g may be used as the notification means. Further, on the contrary, the player may not be informed of the special mode at all without providing the second holding lamps 34e to 34g.

In the above embodiment, the holding lamps 34a-34
The on-state and off-state of the 34g are used to notify the suspension state and the execution state of the suspension. Alternatively, or at the same time, a specific sound may be notified when the variable display operation for the hold is executed. In the above embodiment, it was determined whether the value of the hold counter CH was smaller than the maximum hold number “4” or “7”. That is, in the normal game mode, the fifth and subsequent winnings are set, and in the special mode, the seventh and subsequent winnings are not counted. This is the first type starting port 1
Alternatively, the proximity switch 18a as the passing game ball detecting means 8 may be turned off at the stage when the number of pending games reaches the maximum. In the above-described embodiment, when both the normal game mode and the special mode are off, the variable display operation time is set to be shortened when the number of holdings is large. That is, the variable display operation time is changed according to the number of holdings. However, the variable display operation time according to the number of holdings need not always be set. It is also possible to set only one of the normal game mode and the special mode to such a setting. Further, the variable display operation time in the case of setting may be changed. -In the above embodiment, in the case of deviation, simply set the variable display operation time to be short when the number of holdings is large,
In the case of the reach, the variable display operation time is long because the effect time performed on the background screen is long to increase the player's expectation. However, in the special mode, the variable display operation time may be shortened in the special mode if the number of holdings is large even in the case of a reach in order to increase the number of variable display operations. In the above embodiment, the variable display operation time is set to be long only for the selected large expected values c and d in the case of the reach in the special mode. However, the four expected values a to
A long variable display operation time may be provided for each of the d. For example, the variable display operation time may be set to be long only for the largest expected value d. Conversely, in the case of the reach, it is not necessary to set the variable display operation time according to such an expected value.

In the present invention, the pachinko machine is applied to a pachinko machine having a first-type start port as a pachinko machine, but may be used for a pachinko machine having another holding function. In addition to the pachinko machines, the present invention can be applied to gaming machines such as areaches and arrangement balls. The display screen 15a of the display device 15 is an LCD in the above embodiment, but a CRT, a dot matrix, an LED electroluminescence (EL), a fluorescent display tube, or the like may be used instead. Also, the display method may be represented by 3D or polygon. In addition, the present invention can be freely implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Other technical ideas of the present invention that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described below. (1) The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operation time of the variable display operation is reduced in a predetermined game mode. (2) The gaming machine according to (1) or (2), wherein the operation time of the variable display operation is shortened as the number of output times which can be changed and stored increases. (3) A gaming machine characterized in that the operation time of the variable display operation is lengthened when the expected value is high in (2). (4) The gaming machine according to (1) or (2), wherein the operation time of the variable display operation is changed depending on whether it is out of reach or reach. (5) A notification for notifying a player that the number of storable outputs of the accumulation calculating means has been changed in a predetermined game mode according to any one of claims 1 or 2 or additional notes (1) to (4). A gaming machine comprising means. (6) The gaming machine according to any one of (1) to (2) or (1) to (5), wherein the game mode is set to a predetermined game mode when an advantageous profit for the player is not given for a predetermined period.

[0044]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display screen of the same pachinko machine and illustrating an operation in which a symbol is scrolled downward.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a stop line on the display screen of the same pachinko machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the same pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an area storage processing routine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a special electric accessory control routine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a stop symbol determination subroutine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a jackpot symbol display subroutine.

[Explanation of symbols]

15: Variable display device, 15a: Display screen, 18a: Proximity switch as passing game ball detecting means, 34a to 34g
... first and second holding lamps as storage number notification means;
43 ... CPU as variable display control means, accumulation calculation means, accumulation number changing means.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A game ball is supplied on a game surface, the game ball is lowered according to gravity and scattered by an interference body on the game surface, and the game ball passes through a predetermined area or is stored in a predetermined storage port. In a gaming machine designed to provide a benefit to a player, when a game ball passes through the variable display operation area, a passing game ball detecting means for detecting the passing operation, and a game ball from the passing game ball detecting means are detected. Storage operation means for accumulating the number of times of output of the detection signal indicating that the operation has been performed, and not counting the output when the predetermined accumulation number is reached, and a variable display device according to the accumulation number when the accumulation operation means has accumulation. A variable display control means for causing a variable display operation to be performed and reducing the accumulation number of the accumulation calculation means by one for each variable display operation; Gaming machine characterized by having a storage number change means for changing the power number. 2. A game ball is supplied on a game surface, the game ball is lowered according to gravity, and scattered by an interference body on the game surface, and the game ball passes through a predetermined area or is stored in a predetermined storage port. In a gaming machine designed to provide a benefit to a player, when a game ball passes through the variable display operation area, a passing game ball detecting means for detecting the passing operation, and a game ball from the passing game ball detecting means are detected. Accumulating means for accumulating the number of times of output of the detection signal indicating that the operation has been performed, and stopping the detecting operation of the passing game ball detecting means when a predetermined accumulated number is reached; Variable display control means for causing the variable display device to perform a variable display operation in accordance with the variable display operation and reducing the accumulation number of the accumulation calculation means by one for each variable display operation. Gaming machine characterized by having a storage number changing means which enables up to the number of times to change the detection of the passage of which can be stored the number of output times by changing the passing game ball detection means according to the game ball storage computing means.