JP2000116875A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine superior in the novel and variable configuration of the pattern variation of a variable display device and capable of realizing the prize or REACH (to reach within an inch of winning) state with the configuration of novel pattern combination. SOLUTION: A pattern variation direction of a second display part 35 of a variable display device 33 is determined to be perpendicular to the pattern variation direction of a first display part 34 and a third display part 36, so that the novel display effect can be obtained, and the interest of a player can be improved. One of the patterns among those displayed on a plurality of sub- display parts 35a-35c of the second display part 35 is arbitrarily used as a prize pattern, regardless of the positions of the prize patterns displayed on the first display part 34 and the third display part 36. Whereby the variety of the prize pattern or REACH pattern can be remarkably increased, the interest in the game prize or REACH can be increased, and the player can enjoy the game with high expectation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a so-called fever machine, a blade machine, a right thing, a ball game machine such as an arrangement ball, and a coin machine such as a slot machine. The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a variable display device that stops and displays a specific symbol after a symbol is changed at the time of winning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a ball-and-ball game machine that has recently become popular,
For example, the following are known as fever machines. That is, when the display state of the variable display device becomes a specific state, for example, the symbols to be displayed on the three display units are changed and displayed, and the left symbol display unit and the right symbol display unit are sequentially stopped to reach the reach state ( In the case where the two symbols are aligned), if the combination of the symbols when the middle symbol is stopped becomes a specific combination such as “7, 7, 7”, a large hit state is set. In this jackpot state, the special winning opening of the specific winning opening is opened. The special winning opening is closed once a predetermined number of game balls have won or a predetermined time has elapsed, but if the game balls pass through a specific area formed in the special winning opening during the opening. It is opened again, and this opening and closing operation is repeated, for example, up to 16 times. This allows the player to receive a large amount of prize balls.

[0003]

Most of the variable display devices used in the above-mentioned conventional gaming machines have a display form imitating a drum-type display device such as a general slot machine, and the like. , The right symbol display portion and the middle symbol display portion all change the symbol in the same direction, so that the change is poor and the taste may be insufficient. On the other hand, the symbol arrangement that forms the big hit state is, for example, of the three symbols displayed vertically on each display unit, because only combinations of symbols arranged horizontally or diagonally are used. There are few reach patterns, and there is a difficulty that the interest is hard to excite.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a game in which the pattern variation of the variable display device is novel and varied, and a winning or reach state can be realized by a novel symbol combination configuration, and thus the interest of the player can be enhanced. To provide machines.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems and Action / Effects In order to solve the above problems, a first configuration of the gaming machine of the present invention is to display a plurality of symbols while changing them one after another in a predetermined direction. Based on a variable display device including a plurality of variable display units for stopping and displaying one of the plurality of symbols, and based on the result of determination as to whether or not the game has been determined by the game determination unit, a final display is performed through a variable display state of each variable display unit. Each of the variable combinations is changed so that the combination of the symbols to be stopped and displayed on the variable display portion is different from the others in some of the plurality of variable display portions. Display control means for controlling the operation of the display unit.

According to the configuration of the gaming machine, the variable display device is operated such that the direction of the symbol change in the variable display state is different for some of the plurality of variable display portions from the others. Therefore, the pattern variation is novel and varied, and it is possible to strongly attract the interest of the player.

The variable display device of the gaming machine includes at least three variable display units, a first display unit, a second display unit, and a third display unit, and the arrangement direction of the first to third display units (for example, Horizontal direction: In this case, the first display unit and the third display unit are equivalent to the right symbol display unit and the left symbol display unit in the conventional gaming machine, and the second display unit is equivalent to the middle symbol display unit. Can be configured in this order. In this case, the first display unit and the third display unit are configured such that a symbol change direction is set in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and a plurality of symbols can be arranged and displayed in that direction, and a plurality of arranged symbols are arranged. On the other hand, the symbols are displayed in a form (so-called scroll form) that flows along the symbol change direction, and the symbol change direction of the second display unit is the same as the symbol change direction of the first display unit and the third display unit. It can be configured as being set in an intersecting direction (for example, a direction substantially orthogonal).

In a conventional gaming machine, the pattern change direction of each of the left, right, and middle display portions is limited to the vertical direction, so that the change is particularly poor, and it is far from allowing a player to enjoy the display. Had become something. However, in the above configuration, the symbol change direction of the second display unit, which is equivalent to the middle symbol display unit, is set to intersect with the symbol change direction of the first display unit and the third display unit. It is possible to obtain a great display effect, and to further enhance the interest of the player.

In this case, the second display section can be formed as a combination of a plurality of sub-display sections for independently displaying symbols in a variable manner. In the conventional configuration, the middle symbol display unit corresponding to the second display unit in the present invention has a form in which a plurality of symbols are changed up and down in a scrolling manner. Even if it does, the pattern of the fixed arrangement simply flows in one direction, so there was a drawback that the expectation at the time of reach, for example, did not rise so much. However, in the above configuration, by combining the second display unit composed of a collection of independent sub-display units with the first and third display units in a scroll display mode, the player can, for example, It will be a form that inspires expectations from a different angle as to whether the club will reach a state, and it will be able to stimulate a lot of interest.

[0010] In this configuration, the first to third display units selectively use any one of a plurality of symbols to be stopped and displayed as stop display states corresponding to the winning, and select a winning symbol combination. Can be displayed.
In this case, the first display unit and the third display unit use, as a winning symbol constituting a winning symbol combination, one symbol each having a specific positional relationship among a plurality of symbols arranged in the symbol variation direction. The second display unit wins any one of the symbols displayed on the plurality of sub-display units, which is not related to the position of the winning symbol displayed on the first display unit and the third display unit. It can be used as a design.

In a second configuration of the gaming machine according to the present invention, a plurality of symbols are displayed while sequentially changing the symbols in a predetermined direction, and then one of the symbols is stopped and displayed. Based on the variable display device including the display unit, based on the result of the determination by the game determination unit, so that the combination of symbols to be finally stopped and displayed through the variable display state is a predetermined combination, Display control means for controlling the operation of the variable display unit, the variable display device includes at least three variable display units of a first display unit, a second display unit, and a third display unit, The three display units are arranged in this order along a certain arrangement direction, and the first display unit and the third display unit each have a symbol variation direction set in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and a plurality of symbols are arranged in that direction. It is configured to be able to display the patterns of And a plurality of symbols to be arranged are displayed in a form of flowing along the symbol changing direction, while the second display unit is a combination of a plurality of sub-display units for independently changing and displaying the symbols. In addition, the first to third display portions are selected as a stop display state corresponding to the winning by selectively using one of a plurality of symbols to be stopped and displayed. It is assumed that the symbol combination is displayed, and the first display unit and the third display unit each constitute one winning symbol combination in a specific positional relationship among a plurality of symbols arranged in the symbol changing direction. Used as a winning symbol, the second display unit,
Any one of the symbols displayed on the plurality of sub-displays, which is not related to the position of the winning symbol displayed on the first display and the third display, is used as the winning symbol. It is characterized by the following.

In a conventional gaming machine, each of the left, right, and middle variable display portions scrolls and displays, for example, three symbols vertically, and the symbol combination pattern of the jackpot is also vertical and horizontal. It is limited to 5 or 8 patterns at the most by adding 2 rows of diagonal lines to the row of
There was a difficulty that the reach pattern was lacking in variety and was quickly tiring. Also, in the case of stopping the middle symbol at the end at the time of the reach, the focus is narrowed on which middle symbol is stopped at the position between the arrangement of the winning symbols of the first and third display units that have already stopped. Because of the shape, it was easy to monotonize and lacked in taste, and it was difficult to increase the sustainability of expectations.

However, in the above configuration, among the symbols displayed on the plurality of sub-displays of the second display, the positions of the winning symbols displayed on the first display and the third display are not related. , Any one of them is used as a winning symbol. As an example, while the first and third display sections each vertically display three symbols in a scrolling manner, the second display section is provided with three sub-display sections, and the symbols are independently changed. In the case of the configuration, for example, all three sub-display units are arbitrarily combined with each other in the arrangement of three columns in the horizontal direction of the first display unit and the third display unit and five columns of two diagonal lines. As a result, it is possible to set as many as 5 × 3 = 15 winning patterns or reach patterns. That is, since the diversity of the winning pattern or the reach pattern is greatly increased, the interest in the game winning or the reach can be enhanced, and the expectation of the player can be further excited.

In this case, the display control means can be configured so as to be able to set a winning symbol combination using only the symbols of the plurality of sub-display portions of the second display portion. Thereby, a winning pattern or a reach pattern using only the sub display unit is added, and the diversity can be further increased. For example, in the above-described example, one pattern using only the symbols of the three sub-display units is added to 15 patterns, so that a total of 16 types of winning patterns or reach patterns can be set.

For example, the first display unit and the third display unit stop and display the winning symbols constituting the winning symbol combination, and a specific one of a plurality of sub-display units of the second display unit is set as a reach position. When the state in which the symbols are variably displayed is the reach display state, the display control means may cause the variability display state of the sub-display portion at the reach position to be different from the variability display states other than the reach display state in the reach display state. Thereby, the reach emphasis means for emphasizing the reach display state can be provided. That is, if the reach display state is emphasized by the reach emphasizing means, the number of reach patterns is overwhelmingly larger than that of the conventional display device,
The player can easily recognize the arrival of the reach state, and thus can smoothly progress the game and maintain interest.

As the reach emphasis means, various forms can be adopted. For example, the reach enhancing means may include a symbol enlarging means for enlarging the display symbol size of the sub-display portion at the reach position. Thus, it is possible to quickly determine which sub-display unit has reached the reach position, and it is easy to visually and intuitively grasp the arrival of the reach state.

The first to third display sections can be integrated with each other in such a manner that each display section area is defined on the display screen of a common display section (for example, a liquid crystal display). In this configuration, the positions, sizes, or display states of the first to third display units can be freely changed, as compared with the case where individual display units are provided, and further, such as a background image.
There is an advantage that an additional image display or the like can be easily performed. By utilizing this function, the reach emphasis means can be added with a sub-display area position changing means for moving the area formation position of the reach position on the display screen of the sub-display section to a predetermined emphasis position. The movement of the sub display unit at the reach position allows the arrival of the reach state to be similarly intuitively grasped.

In this case, the highlight position can be set on a line connecting the winning symbol positions of the first display unit and the third display unit. For example, in the configuration of the conventional variable display unit,
Since a winning pattern in which three symbols are arranged on a row or a diagonal line is employed, the number of winning patterns is limited, but it can be said that the arrival of the winning or the reach itself is easily grasped visually. On the other hand, in the above-described configuration, for example, when the sub-display units are arranged in a vertical line, the sub-display unit at a position shifted from the arrangement of the winning symbols in the horizontal direction of the first display unit and the third display unit. In the case of the reach position, not a line but a polygonal pattern arrangement is allowed as a winning pattern. In this case, it is expected that a player who is accustomed to the sense of a conventional gaming machine will feel somewhat confused when a polygonal linear reach pattern occurs. Therefore, by moving the sub-display symbol at the reach position to the emphasized position on the line as described above, the player can easily intuitively grasp the reach state as a conventional line.

Further, the reach emphasis means may be configured to include an emphasis image display means for superimposing an emphasis image on the background portions of the first to third display portions. Displaying the emphasized image on the background makes it easier to visually grasp the reach state.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. Here, as a gaming machine, a type 1 pachinko machine (ball game machine) of a so-called fever type is taken as an example, and the structure thereof is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. The surface structure of the pachinko machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. A glass frame 2 having a glass plate fitted on the back surface is pivotally mounted on a middle frame 3 so as to be openable and closable by a locking device 5. The middle frame 3 is the body frame 4
It is mounted on the shaft so that it can be opened and closed. An upper plate 6 and a lower plate 7 are arranged below the middle frame 3. The upper plate 6 and the lower plate 7 have discharge ports 6a and 7a for discharging game balls from the inside of the pachinko machine 1, respectively.

The upper plate 6 is provided with a speaker surface 8 having, for example, a plurality of long holes, and a speaker 9 for generating a sound effect according to a game state is mounted on the back side thereof. On the other hand, on the back side of the lower plate 7, a firing handle 11 for operating a firing device unit 117 (see FIG. 5) for firing game balls supplied from the upper plate 6 to the game area 25 (see FIG. 2) is provided. Have been. This firing handle 11 has
A touch switch 11a for detecting that the player is touching is mounted, and a fire stop switch 11b for temporarily instructing a stop of the fire is arranged near the start handle.

On the other hand, frame decoration lamps 12, 13, 14, and 15 are provided at the upper end of the main body frame 4, and a frame decoration lamp substrate 16 is installed corresponding to these lamps. At the upper left of them, a prize ball display LED 17 and a prize ball display LED
The board 18 is provided with a stop display LED 19 and a stop display LED board 20 at the upper right side. A volume switch board 21 is provided on the left rear side of the speaker surface 8. Further, a prepaid card unit 22 is mounted on the left side of the pachinko machine 1.

Next, the structure of the game board 24 will be described with reference to FIG. First, at the center of the game area 25 of the game board 24,
A center part 26 composed of a large frame is provided.
The center character 26 is provided with a normal symbol display device 27 in the upper center, a left passage opening 28 and a right passage opening 29 on both sides thereof, and a left ordinary symbol operation gate 30 and a right ordinary symbol operation gate 31 on both left and right sides. . A liquid crystal display 32 as a variable display device is provided in the opening of the center role 26.
(For example, a 10-inch size) is provided. The liquid crystal display 32 has a left symbol display area 34 as a first display section, a medium symbol display area 35 as a second display section,
The right symbol display area 36 as a third display section is formed in this order in the arrangement direction set in the horizontal direction.

As shown in FIG. 14, the left symbol display area 34
And the right symbol display area 36 are in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the display areas 34 to 36. In this case, a symbol changing direction is set in the up and down direction, and a plurality of symbols (three symbols in this embodiment) The symbols are displayed in an array, and the symbols to be arrayed are displayed in a scrolling manner along the symbol change direction.

On the other hand, the middle symbol display area 35 has a plurality of symbols for independently displaying symbols in a variable manner.
The sub-display areas (sub-display sections) 35a, 35b, and 35c are formed as a combination. Each of the three sub-display areas 35a, 35b, and 35c displays one symbol at the time of stop display, and the symbol change direction is the symbol of the left symbol display area 34 and the symbol of the right symbol display area 36, respectively. In the present embodiment, the direction is set to a direction that intersects with the fluctuation direction, that is, a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the symbol fluctuation direction of the left symbol display area 34 and the right symbol display area 36 (ie, the horizontal direction).

Returning to FIG. 2, a left passage outlet 37 and a right passage outlet 38 are provided on the lower left and right sides of the center part 26, while a lower part of the center part 26 has a condition device as a condition device. A big winning device 40 which is also called an operating attacker is provided. The big winning device 40 has a first type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 41 which is a starting winning port for the special symbol display device 33 in the upper center and a specific area opening / closing shutter 42, a specific area 43, and a specific area below the opening. An outside area 44 and a special winning opening 45 are provided. On the left and right sides thereof, a lower left winning opening 46 and a lower right winning opening 47 are provided.
And a right winning port 49 is provided. Further, in the lower area of the special winning device 40, an out mouth 50, an out ornament 5
1 and a back ball prevention member 52 are provided. On the other hand,
An outer rail 53, an inner rail 54 that forms the game area 25,
The foul ball preventing member 55 and the return rubber 56 are also provided on the game board 24.
It is provided in.

Next, various substrates (for LEDs or lamps) located on the game board 24 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. Here, a normal symbol display device substrate 59 provided with a special symbol hold display LED 57 and a normal symbol hold display LED 58 inside the center role 26, a display frame upper left lamp substrate 61 provided with a display frame upper left lamp 60, Display frame upper right lamp 6
Frame upper right lamp substrate 63 with display frame 2 and display frame left LE
Display frame left LED board 65 with D64 and display frame right L
A display frame right LED board 67 having an ED 66 is provided. Inside the big winning device 40, a lower left winning opening LED board 69 provided with a lower left winning opening LED 68 and a lower right winning opening LED board 7 provided with a lower right winning opening LED 70 are provided.
1 is also provided. Further, inside the left winning opening 48, a left winning opening LED board 7 having a left winning opening LED 72 is provided.
3 is a right winning opening LED 74 inside the right winning opening 49.
Is provided.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 4, of a ball path on the back side of the game board 24 and power distribution of switches and the like. In the center of the game board 24, there is a through hole 76 for attaching a center accessory.
A right winning opening mounting through-hole 77 and a left winning opening mounting through-hole 78 are provided below the left and right thereof, and a large winning opening mounting through-hole 79 is provided below the same. Further, on the left and right sides on the back side of the center accessory 26, a right normal symbol operation gate passage detection switch 80 and a left normal symbol operation gate passage detection switch 81 are provided. On the other hand, a first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) solenoid 82 is provided in the upper central part on the back side of the big winning device 40, and a first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) is provided below the solenoid 82.
A winning detection switch 83, a special winning opening solenoid 84 and a specific area opening / closing solenoid 85 are provided on the left and right sides of the special winning device 40, and a count detection switch 86 is provided on the right side of the special winning opening solenoid 84. On the left side of the solenoid 85, a count detection and a specific area passage detection switch 87 are provided. Meanwhile, the game board 24
A safe ball collecting gutter 88 and an out ball collecting gutter 89 are provided below the rear side of the safe ball collecting gutter 88. At the lower end of the safe ball collecting gutter 88, a winning ball discharge solenoid 90 and a winning ball detecting lever 91 are provided.
And a winning ball detection switch 92.

The back side structure of the pachinko machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the middle frame 3 is supported on the body frame 4 by a hinge 100 so as to be freely opened and closed. A game board 24 (FIG. 4) is detachably fixed to the front side of the middle frame 3.
The middle frame 3 has a pair of upper and lower hinges 101, 101.
The mechanism board 102 is detachably fixed. On the left side of the upper hinge 101, a winning ball tank 104 having a tank ball out detecting switch 103 and a tank rail 105 are attached. Further, a ball playing lever 106 is provided at the right end of the tank rail 105, a supply ball out detection switch 107 is provided downstream thereof, and a prize ball payout device 108 is provided downstream thereof.

Subsequently, a distribution unit 109 is provided downstream of the prize ball payout device 108. A back cover 110 containing the special symbol display device 33 is provided below the tank rail 105, and a main control unit 140 is provided below the back cover 110.
(In which a main substrate is provided). On the left side of the main control unit 140, the launching device control unit 5
13, a launch device control board 113 (FIG. 6) is provided therein, a touch sensitivity adjustment knob 114, a ball jump strength adjustment knob 115, and a launch control group relay unit 116. A firing device unit 117 is provided on the lower left side of the mechanical panel 102, and a frame control unit 150 (a frame control board is provided inside) having a frame state indicator 118 is provided on the right side. The frame state display 118 indicates that the supply ball is clogged, the lower tray is full, the main power supply voltage is abnormal, the firing is stopped, the main board communication is abnormal, the prize ball motor is abnormal, and the like.
This is displayed using a 7-segment LED.

On the other hand, at the upper right end of the mechanical panel 102, there are a fuse box 120, a power switch 121, a power terminal board 122 and a jackpot, a launch machine control, a ball cut, a door open, a prize ball, a ball rental game machine, and the like. A terminal board 523 having a frame external connection terminal is provided. Frame control board 11
From 9, a connection cable 124 extends upward and is connected to a prepaid card unit 22 having a power cable 125. Further, a ball path member 126 for a lower plate is provided below the mechanism panel 102.

Next, the electronic control unit 130 of the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 6 will be described. Electronic control unit 13
0 includes a main controller 140 having a main board, a frame controller 150 having a frame control board, and a special symbol controller 160 communicating with the main controller 140. The main control unit 140 includes a CPU 141, a RAM 142, a ROM 1
43 and an input / output interface 144 are interconnected by a bus 145, and the CPU 141
The control of the entire operation of the pachinko machine 1 is performed by using the RAM 142 as a work area by the control program 143a stored in the ROM 143. Also, the main control unit 140
Forms display control means (including reach emphasis means, symbol enlargement means, sub-display area position changing means, and emphasized image display means) together with a special symbol control section 160 (FIG. 7) to be described later. Further, the main control unit 140 executes the CPU 141 based on the rejection determination program 143b stored in the ROM 143.
Forms the game success / failure determination means.

Next, on the relay board 523, the touch switch 11a, the firing stop switch 11b, the right normal symbol operation gate passage detection switch 80, the left normal symbol operation gate passage detection switch 81, the count detection switch 86, the count detection and identification. The area passage detection switch 87, the volume switch 93, the out-of-tank ball detection switch 103, the out-of-ball supply detection switch 107, and the like are connected, and the output terminal of the relay board 523 is connected to the input / output interface 144. In addition, the first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 83 and the winning ball detection switch 92 are also connected to the input / output interface 144.

The frame control unit 150 includes an arithmetic circuit similar to that of the main control unit 140 (details are not shown). The input terminal of the frame control unit 150 is connected to the input / output interface 144, and the output terminal is provided with a frame decoration. Lamp board 16, various LEs
D substrates 18, 20, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 7
5. Various lamp boards 61 and 63, volume switch board 2
1, an ordinary symbol display device substrate 59, various solenoids 82,
84, 85, a winning ball discharge solenoid 90, a sound generator 94, a winning ball payout device 108, a launching device control board 113, and the like. Further, the power supply terminal board 122 and the special symbol control unit 160 are connected to the input / output interface 144.

The outline of the data transmission system from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 is as follows. First, data is transmitted from the main control unit 140 to the frame control unit 150 in a one-way format. On the other hand, a winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detection switch 92 is input to the main control unit 140. The winning ball detection signal is sent to the frame control unit 150 via the main control unit 140.

The prize ball operation is performed in the following order. First,
The main control unit 140 determines that the game ball is a count detection switch 8
6. After passing through the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 87, the number of 15 prize balls is incremented by +1.
+1 is added to the number of individual prize balls. Next, the winning ball detection switch 92 transmits a winning ball detection signal to the main control unit 140 and the frame control unit 150. When receiving the winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detection switch 92, the main control unit 140 transmits the winning ball number data to the frame control unit 150.

15 prize balls 15 if the number of prize balls is not 0
If the prize ball number data is 6 and the number of prize balls is not 0, 6
The prize ball number data is sent. In other cases, for example, when the passage of a game ball is detected at the lower left and right winning openings 46 and 47 and the left and right winning openings 48 and 49, ten pieces of prize ball number data are transmitted. Transmission of prize ball number data
This is repeated until the winning ball detection signal is turned off. Then, the frame control unit 150 receives the winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detection switch 92 and the winning ball number data from the main control unit 140, and operates the winning ball payout device 108. The frame control unit 150 sets the winning ball discharge solenoid 90 to O
N, OFF (one winning ball is ejected) to turn off the winning ball detection signal.

FIG. 7 shows the electrical structure of the special symbol control section 160. The special symbol control unit 160
PU 161, RAM 162, ROM 163, input / output port 164, VDP (Video Dispay Processor) 16
5, a bus 166 interconnecting them, a VDP 165
Converter 167 for receiving an output signal from the LCD, an output port for a liquid crystal display panel (output port for a liquid crystal display) 168 for outputting a signal from the D / A converter 167 to the special symbol display device 33, and the like. I have. Special symbol control unit 1
The CPU 161 of the H.60, together with the VDP 165 and the RAM 162, is controlled by the image display control program 163a stored in the ROM 163 based on an instruction from the main control unit 140.
As a work area, a special symbol display device 33 described later.
Controls the display of

The image data used for image display is
It is stored in the ROM 163. Specifically, the image data includes special symbols (“1”, “2”, “3”, and “3”) to be displayed in the display areas 34, 35, and 36 shown in FIG.
"4", "5", "6", "7", "8", "9",
Image data 163b of ".", "S", etc.) and the image data 1 of the normal background image 210 to be displayed on the background at the normal time.
63c, and image data 163d of the reach background image 211 displayed on the background at the time of reach, as shown in FIG. The image data of each special symbol is stored in a form associated with the symbol number.

Returning to FIG. 7, the main control unit 140 and the special symbol control unit 160 are connected by a bus 169 to perform bidirectional parallel data communication. The bus 169 connecting the main control unit 140 and the special symbol control unit 160 is, for example, 8
It has 16 data buses and 16 address buses. The main control unit 140 determines a game state based on the outputs of the various detection switches described above, determines whether or not the game is successful based on the game state, and displays an image in a corresponding symbol display pattern according to the determination content. Data for controlling is created and transmitted to the special symbol control unit 160.

The main control unit 140 includes a first-type starting port (ordinary electric accessory) winning detection switch 83, a count detection switch 86, a count detection and a specific area passage detection switch 8
Using a detection result of 7 or the like, an acquisition value of a special symbol success / failure determination random number, and the like, a state of waiting for a customer who is not playing a game, a state of playing a game but no start winning (variable preparation state),
A state in which a start winning is present, a special game state, and the like are determined. Further, when a winning start is detected, a win / fail determination is made based on a random number value, and data for display control such as a change or determination of a special symbol is created based on the determination result. The various lamps such as the frame decoration lamp board 16 and the sound generator 94 are controlled by the frame control unit 150, which receives an instruction from the main control unit 140, to change or stop the special symbol, to determine whether or not reach has occurred, and to determine whether or not reach has occurred. rotation,
Frame advance, reverse, pattern enlargement / reduction, etc.), special games,
And, it is controlled in a mode corresponding to a game mode (probability fluctuation, time saving, etc.).

Next, the main control unit 140 and the special symbol control unit 1
Among the various jobs executed at 60, the main job will be described. First, a main job executed by the main control unit 140 will be described with reference to FIG. This is executed by the CPU 141 based on a program stored in the ROM 143 of the main control unit 140. First, after setting the stack pointer to a predetermined address of the RAM 142 (S10), it is determined whether the initialization is completed (S20). If the initialization has not been completed (S20: N
O), the initialization job is executed (S190), and if it is completed (S20: YES), the jobs from the LED job (S30) to the switch job (S70) are executed.

In the LED job (S30), data for displaying the number of ordinary symbols and the number of ordinary symbol operation reserved balls, data for displaying the number of special symbol activated ball reserves, and the like are output. In the constant speed random number job (S40), a special symbol hit / failure random number memory and a general-purpose counter memory (not shown) in the RAM 142 are updated. In the non-constant-speed random number job (S50), a missed ordinary symbol random number memory (not shown) is updated.
The general-purpose counter memory (not shown) is used for creating values of “0” to “255” for each user reset, executing a command job, a music creation job, a decoration job, and the like. In the sound creation job (S60), data relating to music and sound is created, and in the switch job (S70), various detection switches are read. That is, a firing stop detection signal, a touch detection signal, a volume detection signal, a count detection signal, a specific area passage detection signal,
Various signals such as a normal symbol actuation gate detection signal are taken into the main control unit 140 via the relay board 523, and a first-type start-up opening detection switch 83 is used to detect a first-type start-up entrance. A signal and a winning ball detection signal are received from the winning ball detection switch 92, respectively.

Further, it is determined whether or not the count detection switch 86 and the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 87 are abnormal (S80).
0: YES) Jobs from the special symbol main job (S90) to the voice job (S110) are executed. Also,
If there is any abnormality (ball clogging, disconnection, etc.) (S80: N
O), an error job (S130) is executed.

In the special symbol main job (S90), a job of data necessary for the main control unit 140 and the special symbol control unit 160 to operate in cooperation is performed. Details will be described later. In the ordinary symbol main job (S100), data for displaying the ordinary symbol and the number of ordinary symbol operation reserved balls is created. In the voice job (S110), voice data corresponding to the game state is output.

Thereafter, it is again determined whether or not the count detection switch 86 and the count detection and specific area passage detection switch 87 are abnormal (S120). If there is no abnormality (S120: YES), the state of each flag is changed. It is set in the backup memory (S140), and the prize ball signal job (S140)
150), an information signal job (S160), a command job (S170), and a remaining time job (S180). If any of the switches is abnormal (S1
20: NO), an error job (S130) is executed.

In the award ball signal job (S150), data relating to award ball payout is created and output, and in the information signal job (S160), data necessary for information output to other control units is created. . Further, in the command job (S170), input and output of commands for special symbol management are performed, and in the remaining time job (S180), non-constant random numbers are called and a general-purpose random number memory (not shown) is updated. Will be

The determination of winning or losing at the time of the start winning and the determination of the display pattern of the special symbol are performed in a series of the flow of the main job. The contents of this job are summarized in an easy-to-understand manner. This is shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the description will be made along the flow (note that various memories used in this job are formed in the RAM 142 in FIG. 6, and typical ones are summarized in FIG. 8). First, T1
In step S2, it is checked whether or not there is a winning start. If YES, the number of holdings N stored in the special symbol holding number memory (FIG. 8) is incremented by one at T2. If the number of reservations N exceeds a certain value ("4" in this embodiment), the winning start is invalidated and the process skips to T6.
On the other hand, if the number of reservations is within a certain value, a special symbol determination random number (hereinafter, also referred to as a determination random number) is generated at T4 (either by generating a program or by using a predetermined random number generation circuit). Then, at T5, the read judgment random number value is stored in a special symbol hit / fail judgment random number memory (hereinafter, also referred to as a judgment random number memory) (FIG. 8). This memory stores the read determination random number values in a shift memory format in the time series of the start winning prize.

Next, at T6, the stored value of the oldest leading random number is read from the random number memory. And T7
Then, the big hit number is read from the big hit number memory (FIG. 8) and compared with the above judgment random number at T8. If both match, a big hit judgment is made, and if they do not match, a miss judgment is made. In the case of a jackpot determination, proceed to T9,
A decision random number of the big hit symbol is generated, read and stored in a big hit symbol determining random number memory (FIG. 8) (T10). The jackpot determination result ("1" in this embodiment) is stored in the determination result memory of FIG.
1). The special symbol specified by the big hit symbol determining random number is based on the special symbol image data 163b (FIG. 7).
In the left symbol display area 34, the middle symbol display area 35, and the right symbol display area 36 of FIG. 2, after undergoing a predetermined variable display state, they are displayed in a predetermined arrangement pattern on the special symbol display unit 33. .

On the other hand, if it is determined that the vehicle is off, T8 to T
The process proceeds to step S12, and it is determined whether or not to perform the off-reach job by using a random number. That is, a reach job determination random number is generated and read at T12, and the reach number stored in the reach number memory (FIG. 8) is read at T13. At T14, if they match, the job is a missed reach job, and if they do not match, the job is a normal missed job.

In the case of a missed reach job, the process proceeds to T15,
Two special symbols to be aligned with the left symbol display area 34 and the right symbol display area 36 are determined using a jackpot symbol determining random number (a random number may be generated separately) (T1).
5, T16). Further, at T17, the symbol during the miss is determined in the same manner by using a random number, and the random number value determined at T18 is stored in the symbol number memory during the miss (FIG. 8). In T19,
FIG. 8 shows the determination result of the off-reach (“2” in this embodiment).
Is stored in the determination result memory. On the other hand, in the case of a non-normal job, the process proceeds to T20, where the left symbol, the right symbol, and the middle symbol are respectively determined by random numbers, and the determined random numbers are stored in the corresponding random number memories (FIG. 8) (T20 to T2).
5). In addition, at T26, the determination result of the normal deviation ("3" in this embodiment) is stored in the determination result memory of FIG.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic flow of the special symbol main job. In S901, as shown in FIG. 14, the left symbol display area 34, the right symbol display area 36, and the middle symbol display area 35 (three sub-display areas 35a, 35b, 3)
5c) The change of each special symbol is started. In the present embodiment, the left symbol display area 34 is directed upward from the bottom, the right symbol display area 36 is reversed, and the middle symbol display area 35 is divided into three sub-display areas 35.
a, 35b, and 35c are independently scroll-moved in the horizontal direction.

Next, in S902, the judgment result for each winning obtained in the job of FIG. 10 is read from the judgment result memory of FIG. In the case of the jackpot determination ("1"), (S9
03: YES), the process proceeds to S913 to S915, and the big hit symbol number is read from the big hit number memory of FIG. On the other hand, in the case of the off-reach determination ("2") (S904: YES), S91
0 to S912, the big hit symbol number (that is, the number of the left symbol and the right symbol to be aligned) and the symbol number in the middle of the loss are read out from each memory of FIG. 8, and the same goes through a reach job to become a symbol fixed job. . In addition, in the case of the normal departure determination ("3") (S905: YES), S906-
Proceeding to S909, the respective numbers of the left symbol, the right symbol and the middle symbol are read from each memory in FIG. 8, and stopped at timings shifted from each other in the order of the left symbol, the right symbol and the middle symbol.

FIG. 12 shows details of the reach job. First, in the present embodiment, among the symbols displayed in the sub-display areas 35a to 35c of the middle symbol display area 35, the positions of the winning symbols displayed on the right symbol display area 34 and the left symbol display area 36 are not related. No, any one is used as a winning symbol. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, the right symbol display area 34 (34a, 34a)
b, 34c) and the left symbol display area 36 (36a, 36b,
36c), and any of the three sub-display areas 35a to 35c of the middle symbol display area 35 are combined with respect to a total of five rows of the two diagonal rows, as shown in FIG. The winning patterns of 5 × 3 = 15 types shown in a) to (o) can be set (in the figure, the hatched symbol positions are the winning symbol positions).

Therefore, in the reach job shown in FIG.
At 01, a random number is determined as to which of the five columns in the right symbol display area 34 and the left symbol display area 36 is to have the two winning symbols aligned. Next, in S402, the middle symbol display area 3
Similarly, a random number is determined as to which of the three sub-display areas 35a to 35c is to be used as the reach position. And
As shown in FIG. 15, the winning left symbol and the winning right symbol are respectively stopped at the determined winning symbol positions (S40).
3, S404).

Subsequently, in step S405, the sub-display areas other than the reach position (here, 35a and 35b) are sequentially stopped.
The reach enhancement job in steps S406 to S409 is performed. That is, as shown in FIG.
c, the region forming position on the display screen is moved to a predetermined emphasized position, specifically, to an emphasized position defined on a line connecting the winning symbol positions of the right symbol display region 34 and the left symbol display region 36 to each other. (S407). Further, the display symbol size of the sub display area 35c at the reach position is enlarged (S4).
06), the fluctuation speed of the image is reduced (S408). Further, an emphasized image (reach image) 200 is superimposed on the background of each of the display areas 34 to 36 (S40).
9). Here, the pattern of (l) in FIG. 18 is set with “1” as the winning symbol, but (1) and (o)
Can be regarded as a double-reach state of “1” and “S” in which “1” and “S” are combined.

FIG. 13 shows the contents of the symbol fixing job. If the determination is a big hit in S501, S5
In step 02, as shown in FIG. 17, the symbol in the sub-display area 35c at the reach position is stopped at the big hit symbol, and the big hit is displayed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S501 that the game is out of reach, the process proceeds to S503, and the symbol in the sub-display area 35c at the reach position is stopped at the out-of-touch symbol according to the out-of-touch symbol number stored in the memory of FIG.

In the above-mentioned job, the symbols in the sub-display area other than the reach position are stopped at the time of the reach, but this is changed to the symbol in the sub-display area 35b at the reach position as shown in FIG. While emphasizing, the design change of at least one of the sub-display areas 35a and 35c at other positions may be continued. Also, as shown in FIG.
The symbol change direction of a part of the sub-display areas 35a to 35c may be different from the others.

It is also possible not to perform at least one of the reach emphasis jobs (FIG. 12) in S406 to S409. FIG. 21 shows the sub display area 35.
An example is shown in which c is a reach position and no enhancement job is performed. In this case, since the sub-display area 35c does not move, as shown in FIG.
4. A polygonal winning pattern is formed between the middle symbol display area 35 and the right symbol display area 36. Also,
FIG. 22 shows an example in which only the enlargement job is performed with the sub display area 35b as the reach position. In this example, the sub-display areas 35a and 35c other than the reach position are also erased in the reach state.

Further, FIG. 23 (or FIG. 18 (p))
As shown in FIG. 7, the winning symbol combination can be set using only the three symbols of the plurality of sub-display regions 35a to 35c of the middle symbol display region 35.

Hereinafter, various modifications of the middle symbol display area 35 will be described. FIG. 24 is an example in which the middle symbol display area 35 is configured as a single display area without being particularly divided into sub-display areas. FIG. 25 shows an example in which the symbol change directions of the left symbol display area 34, the right symbol display area 36, and the middle symbol display area 35 are all the same (here, the vertical direction). Further, FIG. 26 shows an example in which the arrangement direction of the sub-display areas 35a to 35c of the middle symbol display area 35 is not vertically aligned but arranged randomly.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.
The present invention is not limited to this, and improvements based on knowledge usually possessed by those skilled in the art can be appropriately added without departing from the scope described in the claims. In addition, the present invention, in addition to the fever machine, so-called right, feather,
The present invention is also applicable to various types of ball game machines such as models called “arranged balls” and general electric players, and game machines using other display devices, for example, slot machines.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming board.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement of substrates of each accessory on a game board.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a game ball path on the back of the game board and switch mounting.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of an electronic control device of the pachinko machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the special symbol control unit.

FIG. 8 is a list showing main memories of a special symbol control unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of a main job in the electronic control device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the success / failure determination job.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of a special symbol main job.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the reach job.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of a symbol confirmation job.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a display mode of the special symbol display device at the time of a winning start.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view following FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view following FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view following FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing an example of a winning pattern.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a first modification of the display mode of the special symbol display device at the time of a winning start.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a second modified example.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing a third modification.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing a fourth modified example.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing a fifth modified example.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a first modification of the display area setting of the special symbol display device.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing a second modified example.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing a third modified example.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing an example of a symbol fixed state following the display mode of FIG. 21;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 pachinko machine (game machine) 32 liquid crystal display (variable display device) 33 special symbol display device 34 left symbol display area (first display section) 35 middle symbol display area (second display section) 36 right symbol display area (third) Display section) 140 main control section (display control means, game success / failure determination means,
Reach enhancement means, symbol enlargement means, sub-display area position changing means, enhanced image display means) 160 Special symbol control unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A variable display device including a plurality of variable display sections for displaying a plurality of symbols while sequentially changing the symbols in a predetermined direction, and then stopping and displaying one of the plurality of symbols, Based on the result of the determination by the means, the combination of the symbols to be finally stopped and displayed through the variable display state of each of the variable display portions becomes a predetermined combination, and the symbol change direction in the variable display state is plural. And a display control means for controlling the operation of each of the variable display portions so that some of the variable display portions are different from others. 2. The variable display device includes at least three variable display units, a first display unit, a second display unit, and a third display unit, and the first to third display units are arranged along a direction in which the display units are located. In addition to being arranged in this order, the first display unit and the third display unit each have a symbol change direction set in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and a plurality of symbols can be arranged and displayed in that direction. The plurality of symbols that are configured and arranged are displayed in a form that flows along the symbol change direction, while the second display unit has the symbol change direction of the first display unit and the third display unit. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is set in a direction intersecting with a symbol changing direction of the display unit. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the second display section is formed as a combination of a plurality of sub-display sections that independently display and change symbols. 4. The first to third display sections display a winning symbol combination by selectively using any one of a plurality of symbols to be stopped and displayed as a stop display state corresponding to the winning. The first display unit and the third display unit constitute one of the plurality of symbols arranged in the symbol change direction, each symbol having a specific positional relationship with each other, and the winning symbol combination. Used as a winning symbol, the second display unit is related to the position of the winning symbol displayed on the first display unit and the third display unit among the symbols displayed on the plurality of sub-display units. No, any one is used as a winning symbol.
The gaming machine described. 5. A variable display device including a plurality of variable display units for displaying a plurality of symbols while sequentially changing the symbols in a predetermined direction and then stopping and displaying one of the plurality of symbols, and determining whether or not the game is appropriate. Display control for controlling the operation of the variable display sections based on the result of the determination by the means so that the combination of symbols finally stopped and displayed through the variable display state becomes a predetermined combination. The variable display device includes at least three variable display units of a first display unit, a second display unit, and a third display unit, and the first to third display units are arranged along an arrangement direction. In addition to being arranged in this order, the first display unit and the third display unit each have a symbol change direction set in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and a plurality of symbols can be arranged and displayed in that direction. Composed and array A plurality of symbols are displayed in a form of flowing along the symbol change direction, while the second display unit is formed as a combination of a plurality of sub-display units for independently changing and displaying the symbols. In addition, the first to third display sections display a winning symbol combination by selectively using any one of a plurality of symbols to be stopped and displayed as a stop display state corresponding to the winning. The first display unit and the third display unit constitute one of the plurality of symbols arranged in the symbol change direction, each symbol having a specific positional relationship with each other, and the winning symbol combination. Used as a winning symbol, the second display unit is related to the position of the winning symbol displayed on the first display unit and the third display unit among the symbols displayed on the plurality of sub-display units. No, any one Game machine characterized by being adapted for use as a winning symbol things. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein said display control means can set a winning symbol combination using only symbols of a plurality of sub-display portions of said second display portion. 7. The first display unit and the third display unit stop displaying a winning symbol constituting the winning symbol combination, and display a specific one of a plurality of sub-display units of the second display unit in a reach position. The state where the symbols are variably displayed here is a reach display state, and the display control means sets the variability display state of the sub-display unit at the reach position in the reach display state to a variability display state other than the reach display state. By making them different
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising: a reach emphasis unit that emphasizes the reach display state.