JP2000126428A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a player from feeling unreliability on failure of detector, or the like, by continuing a variable display game in progress when a failure is occurred on a detector, or the like, and stopping a variable display game when failure of a detector, etc., is continuing after the finishing of the variable display game. SOLUTION: When a game ball got in a pattern starting port 57 on a Pachinko (Japanese pinball game) machine, pattern display parts L1-L3 on a pattern display L start variation according to a pattern starting signal after the detection of prize winning by a starting detector. When the combination of determined patterns after a prescribed time come into a specific combination, a special game condition (jackpot) is generated, and, when in failure, whether a failure flag to show failure of a detector is 1 or NO is judged, the variable display game is continued and, when the detector is in failure after the determined pattern was displayed, the variable display game is stopped thereafter. Thus, the player is enabled to play at his/her ease.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a symbol display section for variably displaying a plurality of symbols, and relates to handling of a variable display game when a detector or the like fails in the variable display game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pachinko machine as a gaming machine has a plurality of symbol display portions L1, L2, L capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols.
3 is provided, and when a game ball (game medium) wins the symbol starting port, a symbol starting signal detected by a starting detector detects each of the symbol displaying portions L.
The symbols L1, L2 and L3 start to fluctuate, and after a predetermined time,
There is a case where a variable display game in which symbols are stopped sequentially is performed, and a special game state (big hit) advantageous to the player occurs when the combination of the fixed symbols is the same symbol, for example. Also, when a jackpot is won with a predetermined symbol (for example, a specific symbol), after the jackpot is completed, the probability of the jackpot is changed to a higher probability than the normal probability, and a gaming machine that is more advantageous to the player is provided. is there. When the start detector or the like breaks down, the variable display game in progress also stops while maintaining its state, and when the trouble is recovered, the gaming machine starts from that state.
Does not hurt the player.

[0003]

However, when the variable display game is stopped and then restarted while the symbols are changing, the player is informed that a change such as a big hit has been made, and the player is distrusted. Give a feeling. Therefore, the present invention provides a gaming machine that performs a variable display game that does not give a player distrust of such a failure of a detector or the like.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, when a detector or the like breaks down, the variable display game in progress is continued, and after the variable display game is completed, the gaming machine is stopped. Since the variable display game is stopped when the breakdown continues, the player does not have a distrust of the variable display game. The gaming machine of claim 2 is
If the detector or the like breaks down, the variable display game in progress is continued, and if a big hit occurs after the variable display game ends, the variable display is continued until the end of the big hit even if the detector or the like continues to fail. The game is continued, and the variable display game is stopped after the jackpot is completed. Therefore, the player can continue the game until the jackpot ends, so that the player can play the game with peace of mind.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 (front view) shows a pachinko machine 10 as a game machine, and a ball rental machine 20 is installed on a side of the pachinko machine. The ball lending machine 20 has a built-in card reader (not shown). The front panel 21 of the ball lending machine 20 is provided with an indicator lamp and a card insertion slot 22 when the operation of the ball lending machine is effective. On the other hand, the front panel 1 of the pachinko machine
An operation button and the like of the ball lending machine 20 are provided on the supply tray 12 attached to the card tray 1. Specifically, the balance (frequency) of the card inserted into the card slot 22 is displayed. There is provided a display 13a, a conversion button 13b for supplying a lending ball to the pachinko machine via the ball lending machine 20 by a player's operation, and a return button 13c for returning a card.

[0006] A storage tray 17 is provided below the supply tray 12, and stores overflowing game media (game balls, prize balls) when the supply tray 12 is full. or,
By operating the handle 18 of the firing device, the game medium supplied from the supply tray 12 for each ball is guided by the guide rail 31 and fired into the game area 19. In a substantially central part of the game area 19, a symbol display L of a liquid crystal display for performing a variable display game via a plurality of variable symbols is arranged. The symbol L is a left symbol display L1, a middle symbol. Display section L2,
The right symbol display L3 can be displayed separately, and the symbols "0-9,
A to E ”are variably displayed in this order.

[0007] Of these symbols "0-9, AE", five types of "1, 3, 5, 7, A" are designated as specific symbols, and the other 10 types are designated as non-specific symbols. When a jackpot occurs in a specific symbol, the jackpot is changed to a high probability (1/33) after the jackpot ends,
Since then, the jackpot has been set so that it can be acquired three times, so that the player can acquire many prize balls (game media).

On the left and right sides of the symbol display L, ordinary symbol start gates 23a and 23b are provided, and when a game medium passes through, a symbol of an ordinary symbol indicator 56 attached to a large winning opening 58 described later is displayed. Start the fluctuation, stop after the elapse of the predetermined time,
When the determined symbol matches a symbol set in advance, it is a hit, and the ordinary electric accessory 57 is opened for a predetermined time. Then, when the game medium wins in the ordinary electric accessory (symbol starting port) 57, as will be described in detail later, it is detected by a detector Sa (not shown) and the determination memory Q (I) contributing to the variable display game. ) Is sequentially stored, and the storage lamp LR is turned on in correspondence with the number of unprocessed variable display games that have been stored, to notify the player of the number of remaining variable display games. Also, in the game area 19, there are other ordinary winning openings 55.
a, 55b, etc. are provided, and the game media that does not win is discharged from the out port 8 provided at the bottom.

Next, the processing of the variable display game in the gaming machine having the above configuration will be described with reference to a control flow showing the concept executed in the interruption processing. Here, it is assumed that the failure is awarded to the normal electric accessory (symbol starting port) 57, and the detector Sa (not shown) holds the detection state (“ON”) due to the jamming of the game medium or the like.

FIG. 2A is a control flow of the initialization processing. When the power of the pachinko machine is turned on (or when the variable display game is initialized) (S1), the game is not performed by the player. The probability of an advantageous jackpot (special game state) is set to a low probability state (1/330), and at the same time, a jackpot determination means (determination counter Hc (circulation number of 0 to 329)) and a circulation counter which is a fixed symbol determination means M1, M
2, M3, determination memory Q (I) (I = 1 to 4), jackpot occurrence flag FH (jackpot occurrence when FH = 1, FH = 0
Jackpot disappears), time variables t1, t2, failure flag Fk (failure at Fk = 1, normal at Fk = 0), game flag Fb during variable display game (during game at Fb = 1, Fb = 0 (No game is played) (S2).

FIG. 2B shows a judgment counter Hc (0 to 3).
29) and each of the symbol display portions L1 and L in a jackpot or the like.
2, a circulation counter M for selecting a symbol to be confirmed and displayed on L3
The processing of 1, M2, and M3 is performed. First, the judgment counter Hc
Is added every 1 reset time (predetermined time (2 ms)) (S20), and the value of the added judgment counter Hc becomes 3
It is determined whether it is 30 (S21). When the value of the judgment counter Hc is 330, the value of the judgment counter Hc is initialized (S22). By this processing, the value of the determination counter Hc becomes the circulation number of 0 to 329.

1 is added to the circulation counter M1 every reset time (predetermined time (2 ms)) (S25), and it is determined whether the value of the circulation counter M1 is 15 (S26).
And when the value of the circulation counter M1 is 15,
Initializes the circulation counter M1 and the circulation counter M
1 is added to 2 (S27). Next, the circulation counter M2
Is determined to be 15 (S28), and when the value of the circulation counter M2 is 15, the circulation counter M2 is initialized and 1 is added to the circulation counter M3 (S28).
29). Then, it is determined whether or not the circulation counter M3 is 15 (S30). When the value of the circulation counter M3 is 15, the circulation counter M3 is initialized (S3).
1). As described above, the circulation counters M1, M2, and M3 have the circulation numbers of 0 to 14, and correspond to the symbols "0 to 9, A to E".

The symbols selected by the circulation counters M1, M2, M3 are displayed in the following manner. (B) At the time of a big hit, the left symbol display portion L1, the middle symbol display portion L2 and the right symbol display portion L3 include a circulation counter M.
A symbol corresponding to the value of 1 is displayed. (B) In the reach mode, the value of the circulation counter M1 is displayed on the left symbol display portion L1 and the right symbol display portion L3, and the value of the circulation counter M2 is displayed on the middle symbol display portion L2 (however, the reach counter is different from the circulation counter M1). Value) is displayed. (C) At the time of departure, the left symbol display portion L1, the middle symbol display portion L2, and the right symbol display portion L3 show the circulation counter M1, the circulation counter M2 (however, a value different from the circulation counter M1) and the value of the circulation counter M3. Display the corresponding symbol.

FIG. 3A is a control flow for detecting whether or not a game medium has won the ordinary electric accessory (symbol starting port) 57, which is executed every 2 ms (reset time).
On the other hand, when the game medium wins the ordinary electric accessory (symbol starting port) 57, the time during which the detector Sa is kept “ON” is longer than the reset time (2 ms), and the presence or absence of a winning ball is detected by the detector Sa. It is detected at the fall of “ON” to “OFF” (not shown). Therefore, it is determined whether or not the game medium has won the ordinary electric accessory (symbol starting port) 57 as shown in FIG.
The control flow shown in FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not a detector Sa (not shown) is "ON" (S80). If it is "ON", 1 is added to the time variable t1 (S81). And
This time variable t1 is a predetermined time T1 (for example, 2
Seconds), it is determined whether or not the above has elapsed (S82). When the "ON" state of the detector Sa is within the preset time T1, the detector Sa is considered to be normal, and the time variable t2 is set to 0 and the winning flag Fa is set to 0. (S83). However, the detector S
If "a" continues "ON" for T1 or more, it is determined that a failure has occurred due to clogging of the game medium or the like, and the failure flag Fk is set to 1 (S84). That is, when the game is normal, depending on the game medium, as shown in FIG.
“ON” to “OFF” is changed within at least one second, but when “ON” is continued in this way, it is determined that a failure has occurred.

Conventionally, in this step (S84),
Since the game was stopped (standby) until the malfunction was corrected, the symbols were stopped in the variable display game even if the symbols in the symbol display portions L1, L2, L3 were changing. However, in the present invention, the symbol variation processing described later is performed by setting 1 to the failure flag Fk.

At step 80, when the detector Sa is turned "OFF", 1 is added to the time variable t2 (S85), and it is determined whether or not the time variable t2 is "1" (S86). ). Since this determination means that the detector Sa has changed from “ON” to “OFF”,
The winning flag Fa is set to one. On the other hand, when the detector Sa maintains the “OFF” state, the time variable t1
Is set to 0, and the winning flag Fa is set to 0 (S88).

As described above, when the detector Sa changes from "ON" to "OFF" in steps 80 to 88, the winning flag Fa is set to 1 and the detector Sa is set to "O".
If the "N" state continues for T1 or more, the failure flag Fk is set to 1.

Next, the control flow shown in FIG. 4 is a continuation of the processing of the winning ball.
7 to determine whether or not the winning flag Fa is 1 (S5). When the flag is detected, the determination counter Hc (0 to 0), which is a jackpot determining means described later in detail, is detected. 329) is read. Then, it is determined whether the determination memory Q (1) is zero (S6).
When it is zero, the variable display game of the winning sphere is being executed or there is no winning sphere, so the value of the counter I is set to 1 (S7). That is, addresses (1 to 1) storing the determination memory Q described in detail in step 14 and thereafter.
4) Set.

Conversely, if the value of the decision memory Q (1) is not zero, it is determined whether or not the value of the decision memory Q (2) is zero (S8). If the value is zero, the counter I is set to 2. (S9). Hereinafter, the determination memory Q
(3), Q (4) is determined, and the counter I
Is set (S10 to S13). When the determination memory Q (4) is not zero, the maximum memory (4
), The winning ball is ignored, and the processing of this routine ends. Further, the memory lamp LR provided in the game area 19 is turned on in response to the non-zero number in the winning ball determination memory Q (I) contributing to the variable display game. You can know the number of games.

Then, the read judgment counter Hc is read.
It is determined whether the value of (0-329) is "7" (S14). When it is "7", the result "1" is stored in the determination memory Q (I) in order to generate a big hit (special game state) in the variable display game described later.
Write. Next, the determination counter Hc (0-329)
Is "80 to 90", the result "2" is written to the determination memory Q (I) in order to display the reach mode in the variable display game described later (S16, S16).
17) In other cases, "3" is written in the determination memory Q (I) to perform the disconnection processing (S18). By the above processing, the determination memory Q (I) (I = 1 to 4) stores “1” for a big hit, “2” for a reach, and “3” for a miss. You.

Next, the variable display game will be described on the premise of FIGS. 1 to 4 with reference to a control flow showing the concept shown in FIG. 5 for performing the symbol variation processing and FIG. 6 for performing the jackpot processing. The symbol change process in the variable display game is an outline. In addition, this variable display game is performed once each time for the contents (big hit, reach, and miss) stored in the determination memory Q (I) (I = 1 to 4).

Therefore, it is first determined whether or not the variable display game is in progress (Fb = 1) (S40). However, when the variable display game is not in progress, the judgment memory Q
It is determined whether or not (1) is zero (S41). If the determination memory Q (1) is 0, the symbol variation start storage (variable display game) is not performed, and the process ends. On the other hand, when there is a symbol change start memory (the judgment memory Q (1) is not zero), the value of the judgment memory Q (1) is set to QQ, and the value of the judgment memory Q (I) is set to the judgment memory Q (Q). (I
At the same time, the judgment memory Q (I) for the maximum value of I is set to 0 (S42). By this process, it becomes possible to contribute the winning prize ball which has won the ordinary electric accessory (symbol starting port) 57 to the variable display game.

Then, a symbol change start signal is generated to start the symbol change of the symbol display portions L1, L2, L3 all at once, and the game flag Fb indicating that the variable display game is being performed is set to 1, At the same time, the circulation counters M1, M
2. Read the value of M3 and select a display symbol (S
43). Next, in this variable display game, it is determined whether or not it is a big hit (QQ = 1) (S44), and if so, the big hit occurrence flag FH is set to 1 (S45). In the case, the jackpot occurrence flag F
H is set to 0 (S46).

After a lapse of a predetermined time, when a big hit (QQ = 1) and a reach (QQ = 2), a symbol corresponding to the value of the circulation counter M1 is displayed on the left symbol display section L1 during variable display. Is displayed, the same symbol is also displayed on the right symbol display portion L3, and then a reach action is displayed in which the symbol variation of the middle symbol display portion L2 is displayed at such a speed that the player can recognize it. The symbol (big hit symbol) is fixedly displayed, and when it is reach, the off symbol is fixedly displayed. In the case of a miss (QQ = 3), a miss symbol is definitely displayed (S47). As described above, when the fixed symbol is displayed on the symbol display sections L1, L2, L3, the variable display game is over, and the game flag F
b is set to 0 (S48, S49).

Next, it is determined whether or not the failure flag Fk is "1" (S50). If the failure is not a failure, the process is terminated. Conversely, if a failure is found, the detector Sa is set to "OF".
F "(S51). By this processing, even if a failure occurs in the detector Sa (FIG. 3A, S8
4) Then, a variable display game is performed (FIG. 5, S4).
7, S48), and stops after the symbol is confirmed and displayed. Therefore, during the variable display game, the player can detect the detector Sa.
If the player breaks down, the variable display game is continued and the result can be obtained, so that the player is not distrusted.

The reason why the failure flag Fk is set to "1" is that the detector Sa has been kept "ON" for the time T1 as shown in step 82 of FIG. Therefore, when the detector Sa is turned "OFF", the failure flag Fk is set to "0" and the operation is continued thereafter (S52).

Next, FIG. 6 is a control flow for performing processing when a jackpot occurs. First, it is determined whether or not a jackpot occurrence flag FH is 1 (S60). Although the process ends, when a jackpot occurs (FH = 1), a jackpot process is performed (S61).
This jackpot processing opens the special winning opening 58, and enables a large amount of prize balls (game media) to be paid out. When the jackpot ends, the jackpot occurrence flag FH
Is set to 0 and the jackpot end flag Fe is set to 1 and the process is terminated (S61, S62).

FIG. 7 is a control flow for performing processing after the jackpot has been completed.
If not, this process is not performed (S70). on the other hand,
When Fe is 1, the big hit end flag Fe is initialized (S71), and thereafter, the control flow for performing the post-big hit process shown in FIG. 7 is not executed. The jackpot confirmed symbol is a specific symbol (“1, 3,
(5, 7, A) (S72), and if it is a specific symbol, the jackpot probability is changed to a high probability (S73). On the other hand, when the specific symbol is not a big hit, the process is terminated with a low probability (S74). In this way, the gaming machine is set to have a large jackpot probability (1/33) at the time of a jackpot with a specific symbol after the jackpot is completed, so as to be advantageous to the player.

(Second Embodiment) In the present embodiment, the processing at the time of failure is performed by the control flow showing the concept of FIGS. 8 and 9. However, even if the detector Sa fails, a big hit occurs. 8 and 9 are effective when there is no problem and are different from the first embodiment in FIGS. FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 5 and FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 6, and the steps of the same execution are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. In step 50 in FIG. 8, the detector Sa fails (the flag Fk
= 1), it is determined whether or not the jackpot occurrence flag FH is 1, that is, whether or not a jackpot is to be caused in the variable display game that has been executed in spite of the failure. (S55). Then, when a big hit occurs, this process ends. When a big hit does not occur, as in the first embodiment, the process waits until the detector Sa is turned “OFF” (S51).

If a big hit occurs in the step 55, a big hit process is performed in FIG. 9 (S61). Then, when the jackpot process is completed, it is confirmed whether or not the failure has continued (Fk = 1). If the failure has continued, the process waits until the detector Sa is turned off (S64). Then, when the failure is corrected, the failure flag Fk and the jackpot occurrence flag FH are set to 0, and the jackpot end flag Fe is set to 1, and the process ends (S65, S63).

By the above processing, even if a failure occurs in the detector Sa (FIG. 3A, S84), the variable display game is continued (FIG. 8, S47, S48) and a big hit occurs. When the game is to be made, the process is continued until the jackpot process is completed, and the game is stopped after the jackpot is ended. Therefore, the player can play the game continuously when a big hit occurs, so that the player can play the game with peace of mind.

It is needless to say that a failure of a detector or the like which generates a jackpot and enables the game to be continued has no effect on the jackpot processing. Either the embodiment or the second embodiment is selected. As a cause of the failure, the condition that the detector Sa for detecting a winning game medium in the ordinary electric accessory (symbol starting port) 57 is kept "ON", but other than power failure, other Can be dealt with even in the case of a failure of the detector or the like.

[0034]

According to the gaming machine of the first aspect, even if the detector or the like breaks down, the ongoing variable display game is continued, so that the player does not have a distrust of the variable display game. In the gaming machine according to the second aspect, even when the detector or the like breaks down or the variable display game in progress becomes a big hit, the game is continued until the big hit processing is completed. You can play games.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2A is a control flow diagram for initializing, and FIG. 2B is a control flow diagram for selecting a symbol to be definitely displayed on a judgment counter Hc and symbol display portions L1, L2, L3.

FIG. 3A is a control flow for detecting a winning ball which has won a normal electric accessory (symbol starting port), and FIG. 3B is a signal at that time.

FIG. 4 is a control flow for determining a winning ball that has won a normal electric accessory (symbol starting port).

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart for performing a symbol variation process.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart for performing a jackpot process.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart for performing post-big hit processing.

FIG. 8 is a control flow chart for performing a symbol variation process in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a control flowchart for performing a jackpot process in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 23a, 23b Ordinary symbol starting gate 57 Ordinary electric accessory 58 Large winning opening L Symbol display L1-L3 Symbol display

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A game in which a symbol display portion capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols is provided, wherein a symbol on the symbol display portion starts to change in response to a symbol start signal, and after a predetermined time, the symbol is definitely displayed. When the detector or the like fails, the variable display game in progress is continued, and after the variable display game ends, the variable display game is stopped when the failure of the detector or the like continues. A gaming machine characterized by: 2. A game in which a symbol display portion capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols is provided, wherein a symbol on the symbol display portion starts to change in response to a symbol start signal, and after a predetermined time, the symbol is definitely displayed. If the detector or the like fails, the variable display game in progress is continued, and if the jackpot is reached after the variable display game ends, even if the failure of the detector or the like continues. A gaming machine wherein a variable display game is continued until a big hit ends, and the variable display game is stopped after the big hit ends.