JP2000279583A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a player enjoyable the amusement of the probability change by setting a condition generable irrelevant to the special play situation as the condition of the probability change. SOLUTION: When a ball enters either of start winning holes 4a-4c, a dot matrix LED of a pattern display device 25 starts scroll fluctuation at such speed as unrecognized by a player and after a prescribed time has elapsed, the fluctuation display is stopped and displays three patterns. When the combination of the stopped and displayed patterns is the combination of big win patterns, it becomes a big win play state, or one of the special play states. In the big win state, opening/closing members 27a, 27b are opened for a prescribed time. Then, when it becomes the big win during the number of winning balls entered in the start winning holes 4a-4c, for example, reaching 50 from the charge of the power supply in opening a parlor, the probability of emerging the big win patterns in the next fluctuation and after is improved irrelevant to the combination of the big win patterns.

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 pachinko machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a combination of big hit symbols is displayed on a symbol display device, a big hit game state is established and a variable winning device is set in a predetermined mode (for example, until a predetermined time elapses, or a predetermined number of prizes are won). Until the ball occurs)
Based on the fact that a winning ball has won a continuous winning opening (also referred to as a V winning opening) formed in the variable winning device during the opening, a continuation right to reserve the next opening of the variable winning device is established. A large number of pachinko machines have been provided on the market that allow the continuation right to be established a predetermined number of times and repeatedly open the variable winning device in a short time. In such pachinko machines, those in which the probability that the combination of big hit symbols is displayed are dominant have been dominant, but in recent years, those that change the probability have been provided.

[0003]

In a pachinko machine in which such a probability is changed, one or three predetermined combinations of jackpot symbols are selected from among a plurality of combinations of jackpot symbols. Was changed to a high probability when was displayed, and the occurrence cycle of the next big hit gaming state was shortened to attract the interest of the player, but such a change condition is greater than the appearance probability of the big hit symbol At a low probability, and the probability does not change unless a considerable amount of time has passed since the opening of the store. Was. That is, when the power was turned on, the game was always in the normal game state in which all information was reset. Further, the probability changing condition is a unique one such as a predetermined combination among the big hit symbol combinations, and for the player, since the decision time at which the probability change is performed is determined every time at the time of the big hit, during the game other than that time Has no expectation of changing the probability at all, and there is also a problem that the fun of changing the probability cannot be suitably enjoyed by the player. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can make a player more interested in changing the probability.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a variable display device for variably displaying identification information when a predetermined starting condition is satisfied, and the final display result is a specific identification. In a gaming machine capable of generating a predetermined special game state for a player as a necessary condition to show information, and changing a probability that the specific identification information is derived, the special condition is set as a condition for changing the probability. It is characterized in that conditions that can occur regardless of the game state are set. In this case, the change condition may be set so that a condition that predetermined identification information different from the specific identification information is displayed on the variable display device becomes a condition.

[0005]

Since the condition for changing the probability of occurrence of a special game state has conventionally been the case where predetermined limited identification information is obtained from the specific identification information, the occurrence of the special game state is consequently changed. This is a condition, and unless the special game state is generated first, the player cannot obtain the special benefit of changing the probability. However, in the present invention, instead of or in addition to the special game state, it is set so as to satisfy the probability change condition irrespective of the special game state. The player can obtain the special benefit of changing the probability without generating the. Therefore, for example, when a game is started from the opening of the game hall, a unique profit can be given to the player such that the probability is changed first, and then a special game state is generated. It is possible to provide a variety of game patterns that overturn stereotypes such as the occurrence of a state, and this has the effect of increasing the interest of games. In particular, if predetermined identification information different from the specific identification information in the variable display device is displayed as the probability change condition irrelevant to the special game state, the player can perform the predetermined identification separately from the specific identification information. There is also an advantage that the player is strongly conscious of whether or not information appears, and the player can concentrate on the variable display of the variable display device.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG. 5, a description will be given of an entire configuration of a gaming board 1 of a pachinko machine provided with a variable winning device 20 including a symbol display device 25 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 5, as is well known, a guide rail 2 for guiding a hit ball is planted in a substantially circular shape on a game board 1, and a range surrounded by the guide rail 2 constitutes a game area 3 in which the hit ball falls. are doing.

[0007] A variable winning device 20 including a symbol display device 25 as a variable display device is disposed substantially at the center of the game area 3, and three starting winning ports 4 a to 4 c are provided below the variable winning device 20 in the horizontal direction. It is attached to. In addition, between the variable winning device 20 and the central starting winning port 4a, a passing port 5 through which a hit ball falling from a later-described falling port 39 of the variable winning device 20 passes is disposed. In addition, the game area 3
In addition to the parts described above, winning ports 6a, 6b, 7a, 7
b, 8a, 8b, windmills 9a, 9b with lamps, windmill 10a
10 to 10d, and the big hit lamps 11a and 11b are arranged at symmetric positions with respect to the vertical center line, respectively. Further, the lowermost portion of the game area 3 is provided with the above-described winning opening and an out opening 12 for receiving a hit ball which has not won the winning device. Of the above-mentioned parts, the winning lamps 7a, 7b and the winning holes 8a, 8b have built-in operation lamps 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b which blink or operate when a big hit or the symbol display device 25 changes. The starting winning ports 4a to 4c have built-in starting winning ball detection switches 15a to 15c. The windmills with lamps 9a and 9b have the same function as the above-described operation lamp.

The variable winning device 20 provided substantially at the center of the game area 3 has a mounting board 21 mounted on the surface of the game board 1, and a normal winning opening 22 is formed at the top of the mounting board 21. Have been. The hit ball that has won the winning opening 22 is guided to the back of the gaming board 1 and is processed as a normal winning ball. In addition, below the winning opening 22, a rectangular hitting ball entrance 23 is opened and the hitting ball entrance 23 is formed.
A guide projection 24 is provided along the lower edge of the projection. For this reason, the hit ball that has flown from the left and right sides of the game area 3 is received by the guide protrusion 24 and is taken into the hit ball entrance 23. The hit ball taken into the hit ball entrance 23 passes through the side of the variable winning device 20 and is discharged again to the front side of the game board 1 from the drop hole 26 formed at the lower portion of the variable winning device 20. I have.

The above-mentioned guide projection 24 is projected substantially in a rectangular shape except for the lower portion, and a symbol display device 25 is provided so as to be surrounded by the guide projection 24. In the present embodiment, the symbol display device 25 is configured by three dot matrix LEDs, and each dot matrix LED configures 15 symbols (for example, a symbol).
(Numbers from 0 to 9 and English characters from A to E) can be displayed. And the starting winning ports 4a to 4c
When the hit ball wins any of the above, the dot matrix LED of the symbol display device 25 starts scrolling fluctuation at a speed that cannot be visually recognized by the player, and the fluctuation display is stopped when a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) elapses. The three symbols are stopped and displayed. When the combination of symbols stopped and displayed is a combination of big hit symbols, a big hit game state, which is one of the special game states, is set. The combination of big hit symbols is a case where the same symbol is displayed on three dot matrix LEDs, and therefore, there are 15 big hit symbol combinations. Then, when the combination of the predetermined big hit symbols (for example, the 3rd, 7th, 9th, etc.) becomes a predetermined big hit symbol combination during the normal game out of the 15 big hit symbol combinations, Is changed and set to a high probability (for example, 1/25). The gaming state set with such a high probability is one of the special gaming states. Note that the normal probability before being changed to the high probability (hereinafter, referred to as the low probability) is, for example, 1/2.
It is set to 50.

[0010] When the big hitting game state is reached, the opening and closing members 27a and 27b pivotally supported substantially at the center and left and right of the mounting board 21 are opened for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). However, if the number of winning balls received by the open / close members 27a, 27b during opening is ten, the open / close members 27a, 27b are closed even before a certain time has elapsed. In addition,
The opening / closing members 27a and 27b are connected to a solenoid 28 (not shown; however, shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4) via a link member (not shown) so that the opening / closing members 27a and 27b are opened when the solenoid 28 is excited. It has become.

The hit ball received by the opening / closing members 27a and 27b rolls rearward in the winning space 29 formed substantially at the center of the mounting board 21. Behind the winning space 29,
Three fall openings for the winning ball to fall downward are formed, the center of which is a V winning opening 30 as a continuous winning opening, and the left and right are normal winning openings. V winning opening 30
A winning ball detection switch 31 (not shown; however, shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4) faces and detects a hit ball that has won the V winning opening 30. V winning ball detection switch 3
When 1 is turned on, the open / close members 27a and 27b are repeatedly opened for a certain period of time. That is, when the big hit game state is set, the opening and closing member 27
The winning prize ball accepted by the opening of the a and 27b wins the V winning opening 30 to establish the continuation right, and the variable prize winning device 20 corresponds to the number of times the continuation right is established.
Is repeatedly performed, so that a large amount of winning balls are generated in a short time. However, the number of repetitions described above is set to a maximum of 16 times on condition that a hit ball is hit into the V winning opening 30.

In order to count the number of hit balls received by the opening / closing members 27a and 27b, a winning ball number detection switch 32 (not shown; however, a block diagram of FIG. Is displayed). The winning ball number detection switch 32 wins not only the winning ball guided to the winning space 29 and won in the V winning opening 30 but also the normal winning opening formed on the left and right sides of the V winning opening 30. It is arranged at a position where a winning ball can be detected. The winning ball that has passed through the winning ball number detection switch 32 flows down along the back surface of the game board 1 and is processed as a winning ball.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the variable winning device 20 has a starting memory lamp for notifying that the hit balls having been won in the starting winning ports 4a to 4c have been stored at the time of the jackpot game state or the variable display of the symbol display device 25. 33 (symbol display device 25
Located below).

The game operation of the pachinko machine 1 is controlled by a control circuit formed on a control circuit board housed in a control circuit board box (not shown). The control circuit is shown in FIG. . FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control circuit. The control circuit uses a microcomputer 50 as a control center. The microcomputer 50 has an external ROM 5 as storage means.
1. An external RAM 52 as a storage means is connected.

On the other hand, start winning ball detection switches 15a-15c for detecting winning balls in the start winning ports 4a-4c,
A V-prize ball detection switch 31 for detecting a prize ball in the V-prize port 30 and a prize-ball number detection switch 32 for detecting a prize ball received by the opening / closing members 27a and 27b are transmitted to the microcomputer 50 via a waveform shaping circuit 53. It is connected. The clock generation circuit 55 outputs an external interrupt signal to the INT terminal of the microcomputer 50 via the frequency divider 54. When power is supplied to the power supply circuit 57, the reset signal generation circuit 56 outputs a reset signal. The reset signal is supplied to the microcomputer 5
0 is input to the RST1 terminal, and an initial program (not shown) is started.

A display drive circuit 58, a display selection circuit 59, and a driver 60 are connected to each output port of the microcomputer 50. The symbol display device 25 and the starting memory lamp 33 are connected to the display drive circuit 58 and the display selection circuit 59. These displays are dynamically driven by outputting selected data and display data from the microcomputer 50 at regular intervals. That is, each display unit is selected by the display selection circuit 59 and displayed according to the output signal of the display drive circuit 58 at that time. The driver 60 operates in response to a signal from the microcomputer 50 to drive the open / close solenoid 28, the big hit lamps 11a and 11b, the operation lamps 13a and
Lighting operations of 13b, 14a, 14b, etc. are controlled respectively.

Next, of the game operations controlled by the above-described control circuit, an example of the probability improving process will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 2, it is determined whether or not the start winning ball detection switch 33 has been turned on in step 110. If not, the start winning subroutine ends.
If so, it is determined in step 120 whether or not the value of the starting storage counter C1 constituting the storage means is smaller than 4. If smaller, the value of the starting storage counter C1 is updated by one in step 130. The start storage counter C1 is for allowing the symbol display device 25 to fluctuate, and when the value is 1 or more, the symbol display device 25 starts to fluctuate by a fluctuation routine (not shown). Also,
When the fluctuation starts, the value of the start storage counter C1 is decremented by one. After the processing of steps 120 and 130 described above,
At step 140, the value of the starting integration counter C2 constituting the storage means is updated one by one. Start integration counter C2
Is for counting the number of winning balls hitting the starting winning ports 4a to 4c from the time of power-on. In this embodiment, the start storage counter C1 corresponds to the first storage means, and the start integration counter C2 corresponds to the second storage means.

Next, the probability improving subroutine shown in FIG. 1 will be described. At step 10, it is determined whether or not a big hit has occurred, and if not, the probability improving subroutine ends. If it is a big hit, it is determined in step 20 whether or not the value of the starting integration counter C2 is smaller than 51. When the value of the start integration counter C2 is greater than 51, it is considered that a predetermined period has elapsed since the power was turned on at the time of opening the store, and the jackpot determined in step 10 in step 30 is "3" or "7" or "9". It is determined whether or not any one of the two eyes is the one. If not, the probability improvement subroutine ends. On the other hand, when it is determined in step 20 that the value of the starting integration counter C2 is smaller than 51, or in step 30, it is determined that the big hit is any one of "3", "7", or "9". At times, a high probability flag is set in step 40. As a result, the cycle in which the big hit symbol appears in the subsequent fluctuations is shortened. Such a game that has a possibility of shifting to a high probability when the value of the start integration counter C2 is smaller than 51 is one of special game states. In addition,
The change of the probability is set based on the flag described above in a probability change subroutine (not shown).

As described above, in this embodiment, any combination of big hit symbols can be selected from when the power is turned on at the time of opening the store until the winning number of hit balls in the starting winning openings 4a to 4c reaches 50. Regardless of the big hit, the probability is improved, so that the atmosphere of the game hall at the time of opening the store can be excited. In addition, the starting winning opening 4a from the time of power-on
When the number of winning balls hitting 4c exceeds 50, the time has elapsed since the store opened, and the condition for changing to the high probability is set to the normal state. The transition from the high probability to the low probability may be shifted to the low probability based on the occurrence of the first big hit, or based on the occurrence of the second big hit or the occurrence of the big hit more times. You may make it shift to a low probability.

In the above-described embodiment, the condition for improving the probability at the time of turning on the power has been described as being all combinations of the big hit symbols. However, other conditions, for example, the combination of the symbols displayed at the time of stoppage are specified. It is good also as a condition whether it is constituted only from a design. FIG. 3 shows an example of an operation under such conditions. Hereinafter, the flowchart of FIG. 3 will be described.

First, at step 210, it is determined whether or not the combination of the displayed symbols is composed only of "3" and "7". When it is determined that such a combination is composed, the symbol is determined at step 220. It is determined whether or not the value of a change number counter C3 as a storage unit that counts the number of changes since the power of the display device 25 is turned on is smaller than 51. When it is determined that the variation counter C3 is greater than 51, it is considered that a predetermined period has elapsed since the power was turned on at the time of opening the store, and the probability improvement subroutine ends.
When it is determined that it is smaller than 1, the next step 25
Go to 0. On the other hand, when it is determined in step 210 that the display symbol is not composed only of “3” and “7”, it is determined in step 230 whether or not a big hit has occurred. If the big hit is completed, it is determined whether or not the big hit is any one of "3", "7" and "9". If not, the probability improvement subroutine ends. If it is determined in step 220 that the value of the variation counter C3 is smaller than 51,
Alternatively, when it is determined in step 240 that the big hit is any one of “3”, “7”, and “9”, a high probability flag is set in step 250. As a result, the cycle in which the big hit symbol appears in the subsequent fluctuations is shortened. The change of the probability is set based on the flag described above in a probability change subroutine (not shown).

Also in the above-described embodiment, when the display symbol is composed of only a specific symbol combination between the time when the power is turned on at the time of opening the store and the time when the symbol display device 25 changes 50 times, Since the probability is improved, the atmosphere of the game hall at the time of opening the store can be enhanced. In addition, the number of times the symbol display device 25 has changed 50 times since the power was turned on.
When the number of times has exceeded the number of times, since the time has elapsed since the opening of the store, the condition for changing to the high probability is set to the normal state. In this embodiment, the shift from the high probability to the low probability may be shifted to the low probability based on the occurrence of the first big hit, or the occurrence of the second big hit or more times may be performed. The transition to the low probability may be made based on the occurrence of a big hit.

Although the configuration and operation of the pachinko machine 1 according to the embodiment have been described above, according to the embodiment, a pattern which appears relatively well within the predetermined period after the power is turned on at the time of opening the store, compared to the prior art, is provided. When the combination appears, the probability is changed to the high probability, so that the atmosphere of the game hall at the time of opening the store can be excited. Further, since a plurality of different conditions are set as conditions that trigger the change of the probability, when these plurality of conditions are validated, for example, a specific identification information such as that conventionally seen is used. Opportunity to obtain a probability change that is advantageous to the player, because the probability change condition is not unique, as in the case where the probability change is performed only for a predetermined limited big hit symbol among the big hit symbols as Can be provided with a variety of variations, such as an increase in the probability of a change in the probability of being disadvantageous in some cases, and the interest of the game can be improved. Also, instead of always enabling all probability change conditions, there is a probability change condition that is activated only under certain conditions based on the number of start winning prizes and fluctuations, or invalidated under certain conditions. With this configuration, it is possible to provide many variations as compared with the actual number of probability change conditions, and the interest of the game is further increased.
Furthermore, since the change condition of the jackpot probability is conventionally limited to a predetermined limited jackpot symbol among the jackpot symbols as specific identification information, as a result, the occurrence of the special game state is a condition of the probability change. Therefore, the player cannot obtain the special benefit of changing the probability without first generating the special game state, the jackpot. However, in this embodiment, since it is set so that the condition of the probability change can be satisfied irrespective of the big hit, for example, even if the big hit is not generated first, the player can obtain the special advantage of the probability change. It becomes possible. Therefore, for example, when a game is started from the opening of the game hall, the probability can be changed first, and then a special game state can be given to the player, so that a special profit can be given to the player. It is possible to provide abundant game patterns that overturn stereotypes such as occurrences, and this has the effect of increasing the interest of games. In particular, if a combination of a predetermined symbol different from the big hit symbol in the symbol display device 25 is displayed as the probability change condition irrelevant to the big hit, the player can use the combination of the predetermined symbol separately from the big hit symbol. Is also strongly conscious of whether or not appears, and there is an advantage that the player can concentrate on the variable display of the symbol display device 25. In the above-described embodiment, the number of winnings in the starting winning opening and the number of times the symbol display device fluctuates are shown as the predetermined period from when the power is turned on. May be used as a condition. Also, the number of start winnings, the number of changes,
The values of the high probability and the low probability are examples, and may be set arbitrarily. Also, in order to distinguish between power-on at the time of opening the store and power-on at the time of recovery from a failure, etc., only when a predetermined switch operation of the operation switch or a permission signal from the management computer is derived, a high level based on the power-on is obtained. The process for changing to the probability, that is, the process after determining whether to use the counter constituting the storage means, may be executed. The microcomputer 40 that performs such processing constitutes a determining unit. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the opening / closing member 2 based on the display result of the symbol display device 25 is used.
7a and 27b are open, but any type of pachinko machine having any game content may be used as long as a predetermined game value is given to the symbol display device based on the display result.

[0024]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the condition for changing the probability of occurrence of the special game state is that the predetermined limited identification information among the specific identification information is conventionally obtained. As a result, the occurrence of the special game state is a condition of the probability change as a result, and unless the special game state is generated first, the player cannot obtain the special benefit of the probability change. Was. However,
In the present invention, since it is set so as to satisfy the probability change condition irrespective of the special game state instead of or in addition to the special game state, for example, the special game state is generated first. Even without doing so, the player can obtain the special benefit of changing the probability. Therefore, for example, when a game is started from the opening of the game hall, a unique profit can be given to the player such that the probability is changed first, and then a special game state is generated. It is possible to provide a variety of game patterns that overturn stereotypes such as the occurrence of a state, and this has the effect of increasing the interest of games. In particular, if predetermined identification information different from the specific identification information in the variable display device is displayed as the probability change condition irrelevant to the special game state, the player can perform the predetermined identification separately from the specific identification information. There is also an advantage that the player is strongly conscious of whether or not information appears, and the player can concentrate on the variable display of the variable display device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a probability improvement process.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing start winning processing.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating another probability improvement process.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control circuit for controlling a game operation of the pachinko machine including the symbol display device.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the game board of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine as a game machine, 4a-4c ... Starting winning opening, 20 ... Variable winning device, 25 ... Symbol display device as a variable display device, 50 ... Microcomputer.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A variable display device for variably displaying identification information when a predetermined starting condition is satisfied, and generating a predetermined special game state to a player on condition that the final display result indicates specific identification information. It is possible, in a gaming machine capable of changing the probability that the specific identification information is derived,
A gaming machine, wherein a condition that can occur independently of the special gaming state is set as the probability changing condition. 2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the change condition is set such that predetermined identification information different from the specific identification information is displayed on a variable display device. Machine.