JP2000279598A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a player from having a sense of incongruity and uncomfortable feeling by performing smooth display in a display part even when a display control part is restored so as to function normally again after it did not function normally and temporarily. SOLUTION: In a pachinko machine (game machine), a display control part 4 receiving a display command from a play control part 2 obtains display information corresponding to the display command from a first recording part 4a and records the obtained display information in a second recording part 4c and a third recording part 4d. When the display control part 4 is restored to function normally again after it does not function normally and temporarily due to any cause, a display execution part 4f performs display in a display part 6 based on the display information recorded in the third recording part 4d. For this reason, even if the display control part 4 does not function normally and temporarily, smooth display can be done in the display part 6. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a player from having a sense of incongruity and uncomfortable feeling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a technique for performing a required display on a display unit by a display command transmitted from a game control unit to a display control unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pachinko machine, which is one of gaming machines, includes a game control unit for outputting a display command for instructing a required display, and a display control for receiving a display command and displaying an image on a liquid crystal display. And a part. In the pachinko machine,
A display command is transmitted from the game control unit to the display control unit at a predetermined cycle (for example, every 1/30 second). This display command is command data (data length is, for example, 13 bytes) for specifying a display symbol, a display mode, and the like. On the display controller side, based on the received display command, the VDP (Video Display Processor) is displayed.
Display on the LCD through r). Specifically, V
The DP extracts and reads the corresponding data such as characters, designs, and backgrounds from the character generator, performs color editing, performs image editing such as sprite processing, and performs VRAM (Vide
o RAM), and finally output to the LCD as a video signal.

Incidentally, the display control section must end required processing within a predetermined period after receiving the display command. In practice, it takes approximately the same time as the above-mentioned predetermined period to perform the required processing, so that it has been difficult for the display control unit to perform display aiming at various effect effects. Therefore, in order to allow the display control unit to perform a process with a margin, a display command is transmitted from the game control unit to the display control unit every time a game event (for example, a special symbol change start, a symbol fixation, a big hit display, etc.) occurs. I do. In addition, the display command in this case has a minimum amount of information for realizing the function related to the game event. An example of a technique for transmitting a minimum amount of information each time a game event occurs in this way is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 5-1617.
No. 59 is disclosed. According to the technique disclosed in the publication, when a display control unit receives a display command including a minimum amount of information, a command interpreter creates command data according to a predetermined conversion rule based on the received display command. Then, by giving the created command data to the VDP, the required display is performed on the liquid crystal display through the above-described processing.

Here, a period from when a display command is received by the display control unit to when the next display command is received is received.
The display control unit temporarily malfunctions due to some cause (for example, static electricity accumulated in a liquid crystal display or a game ball, electromagnetic waves generated inside or outside a game machine, a drop in power supply voltage, an increase in ambient temperature, etc.). There is.

[0005]

However, according to the technique disclosed in the above publication, if the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally and then recovers to function normally again,
The display is performed on the liquid crystal display based on the display command received after the recovery. Therefore, the display command received before the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally is lost and is not displayed, and the display of the liquid crystal display temporarily displays a display different from the normal display (for example, nothing is displayed). Or an irregular pattern is displayed). At this time, the player who has been watching the screen of the liquid crystal display may feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable with the display. The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and performs smooth display on the display unit even when the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally and then recovers to function normally again. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine in which a player does not feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

[0006]

Means 1 for Solving the Problems Means 1 for solving the problems are as described in claim 1. Here, the terms described in claim 1 are interpreted as follows. This interpretation applies to the other claims and the detailed description of the invention. (1) The “display unit” may be a single display (display device) or may be composed of a plurality of displays. (2) When the "display command" is constituted by digital data, it may be fixed-length data or variable-length data. (3) “first recording unit”, “second recording unit”, and “third recording unit”
The “recording unit” may be provided in different portions of the same recording medium, or may be provided in different recording media. (4) The “some cause” includes all causes that the display control unit cannot perform normal display on the display unit based on the display information. For example, static electricity accumulated in liquid crystal displays and game balls, electromagnetic waves generated inside and outside game machines,
There are power supply voltage drop, ambient temperature rise, and the like.

[0007] According to the means 1, the display control unit which has received the display command from the game control unit acquires the display information corresponding to the display command from the first recording unit, and stores the acquired display information in the second recording unit. The information is also recorded in the third recording section together with the section. When the display control unit is functioning normally, display is performed on the display unit based on the display information recorded in the second recording unit. On the other hand, when the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally for some reason and then recovers to function normally again, the display control unit displays the information on the display unit based on the display information recorded in the second recording unit or the third recording unit. I do. Therefore, even if the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally, a smooth display can be performed on the display unit. Therefore, the player does not feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

[0008]

Means for solving the problem 2 Means for solving the problem are as described in claim 2. Here, the term "check code" described in claim 2 is a code for detecting or correcting an error in display information. For example, checksum, error correction code (ECC)
Code), Error Detecting Cod (EDC)
e), parity check code, group count check code, Hamming code, cyclic redundancy check code (CRC; Cyclic Redundanc)
y Code). This interpretation applies to the other claims and the detailed description of the invention.

According to the means 2, the display control section adds the check code when recording the display information in the second recording section and the third recording section and records the display information. Then, the display control unit, which has temporarily returned to the normal function after having temporarily stopped functioning for some reason, returns to the second recording unit or the third recording unit.
A display is performed on the display unit based on display information having no error or display information in which the error has been corrected among the display information recorded in the recording unit. Therefore, even when the content of the display information recorded in the second recording unit and the third recording unit is changed (destroyed) when the display control unit does not function properly, the display information that has not been changed by the check code is changed. Can be extracted. When the display information is displayed on the display unit using the extracted display information, more accurate display can be performed.

[0010]

Means for solving the problem 3 Means for solving the problem are as described in claim 3. Here, the term "designation information" described in claim 3 is directly
The information is not limited to the information that specifies the recording position of the recording unit, and may be information that indirectly specifies the recording position of the first recording unit. This interpretation applies to the other claims and the detailed description of the invention.

According to the means 3, since the display command includes the designation information, the display control unit can acquire the corresponding display information from the first recording unit based on the designation information. Conventionally, commands have to be interpreted by a command interpreter, which takes time, but in the present invention, since the recording position of the first recording unit can be known from the designation information, display information can be easily acquired without requiring time. . Therefore, display information can be acquired and displayed on the display unit in a shorter time than in the related art, so that display can be performed smoothly even when a display command is received at a short time interval.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a type 1 pachinko machine, and FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the first class pachinko machine. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control board. FIG. 4 shows the contents of the display command processing, FIG. 5 shows the contents of the reception interrupt processing, FIGS. 6 to 7 show the contents of the start processing, FIG.
1 shows the content of the display process, and FIG. 12 shows the content of the save process in a flowchart. FIG. 9 shows a process of acquiring display data based on command data. FIG. 10 shows the structure of the display data.

First, an outline of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The gaming machine shown in FIG.
It has a display control unit 4, a display unit 6, and the like. The game control unit 2 outputs a display command for giving a required display according to a game situation or the like. The output display command is received by the display control unit 4 and displayed on the display unit 6.

The display control unit 4 has a first recording unit 4a, a second recording unit 4c, a third recording unit 4d, a command translating unit 4b, a display execution unit 4f, a monitoring unit 4e, and the like. Display information corresponding to the display command is recorded in the first recording unit 4a in advance. The second recording unit 4c and the third recording unit 4d respectively record the acquired display information. The command translating unit 4b receives the display command output from the game control unit 2, refers to the first recording unit 4a, acquires display information corresponding to the display command from the first recording unit 4a, and acquires the display information corresponding to the display command from the second recording unit 4c. Is recorded in the third recording unit 4d. The monitoring unit 4e operates in a state where the display control unit 4 is functioning normally (hereinafter, referred to as a “first state”) or after the display control unit 4 temporarily stops functioning normally, functions normally again. (Hereinafter referred to as a "second state"). The monitoring unit 4e outputs a first signal when in the first state, and outputs a second signal when in the second state. The display execution unit 4f that has received the first signal from the monitoring unit 4e performs display on the display unit 6 based on the display information recorded in the second recording unit 4c. On the other hand, the display execution unit 4f that has received the second signal from the monitoring unit 4e performs display on the display unit 6 based on the display information recorded in the third recording unit 4d.

According to the gaming machine configured as described above,
The display control unit 4 having received the display command from the game control unit 2 acquires the display information corresponding to the display command from the first recording unit 4a, and stores the acquired display information in the second recording unit 4c and the third recording unit. Record at 4d. When the display control unit 4 is functioning normally, the display execution unit 4f performs display on the display unit 6 based on the display information recorded in the second recording unit 4c. On the other hand, if the display control unit 4 temporarily stops functioning normally for some reason and then recovers to function normally again,
The display execution unit 4f performs display on the display unit based on the display information recorded in the third recording unit 4d. Therefore, the display control unit 4
Can be smoothly displayed on the display unit 6 even if the function does not function normally temporarily. Therefore, the player does not feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to a type 1 pachinko machine, which is one of gaming machines, will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG. 2, the pachinko machine 1
On the game board surface 0, the multifunction device 14, the first-type starting port 30, the large winning port 34, the lower starting port 62, a general winning port, and the like are appropriately arranged.

The first-type starting port 30 has a starting port sensor 56, and when a pachinko ball wins, pays out a prize ball (also referred to as a "prize ball") like a normal winning port. The middle gate 32 has a gate sensor 54, and does not pay out prize balls even when a pachinko ball passes. The big winning opening 34 is a lid 66, a V zone 52
Etc. The lid 66 is opened and closed by the solenoid 50. The V zone 52 provided inside the special winning opening 34 has a V zone sensor 48. At the time of big hit game lid 66
Is opened, and when the pachinko ball wins the V zone 52, the jackpot game can be continued within a required number of times (for example, 15 times). The period during which the lid 66 is opened (hereinafter, referred to as a "large winning opening opening period") corresponds to, for example, whichever of ten pachinko balls wins in the special winning opening 34 or 30 seconds after opening, whichever comes first. I do. Below the lid 66, a lower starting port 62 having a function equivalent to that of the first type starting port 30 is provided. The lower starting port 62 has a starting port sensor 60 similar to the starting port sensor 56. Here, the starting port sensors 56 and 60 detect the pachinko balls that have won the respective starting ports. The V zone sensor 48 detects a pachinko ball that has won the V zone 52. The gate sensor 54 detects a pachinko ball that has passed through the middle gate 32. As the gate sensor 54, the starting port sensors 56 and 60, and the V zone sensor 48, for example, a proximity sensor, a microswitch, an optical sensor (light emitter and light receiver), and the like are used.

The composite device 14 has a normal design holding ball lamp 20, a special design display 22, a special design holding ball lamp 28, and the like. The holding ball lamp 20 is a plurality of luminous bodies (for example, four LEDs) arranged substantially horizontally above the special symbol display 22, and is usually used for the pachinko ball that has passed through the middle gate 32 during the change of the symbol. Display the number. The holding ball lamp 28 is provided with a plurality of light emitters (for example, four LEs) arranged substantially horizontally below the special symbol display 22.
D), and displays the number of pachinko balls that have won the first type start-up opening 30 during the change of the special symbol. In addition, the composite device 14 has a light-emitting body such as a lamp, a decorative plate, and the like, and exhibits a decorative effect to entertain the eyes of the player.

The special symbol display 22 corresponds to the display section 6,
For example, a liquid crystal display is used. The special symbol display 22 displays a special symbol, a chance symbol, a background symbol, and the like.
The special symbol is used to determine whether it is a big hit or not. The chance symbol (fourth symbol) is used to determine an additional privilege other than the bonus due to the jackpot, and the predetermined symbol is changed with a plurality of colors. The background design is a design that is displayed as a background of a special design or a chance design, and includes, for example, a moving image (video, animation, etc.) and a still image. In addition, as the special symbol display 22, other than a liquid crystal display, a display capable of displaying a special symbol such as a CRT, an LED display, a plasma display, or the like may be used.

In addition, the game board surface 12 has one or more decorative gates. In the example of FIG.
It has a right gate 24. These decorative gates, unlike the above-mentioned middle gate 32, do not have a gate sensor for detecting the passage of a pachinko ball. The right gate 24 is a normal symbol display 26
, But the left gate 57 has nothing. The normal symbol display 26 has one or a plurality of light-emitting members (two LEDs in this example), and the light-on / off state of the light-emitting member is a normal symbol. Ordinarily, the symbol starts blinking when the pachinko ball passes through the middle gate 32, and then turns on or off for each light emitter. Then, the lid of the lower starting port 62 is opened for a certain period of time (for example, 4 seconds) in accordance with the lighting or extinguishing mode of the light emitting body (for example, when the light emitting body on the right side of the two light emitting bodies is turned on). The normal symbol display 26 may be another display capable of displaying normal symbols, such as a liquid crystal display, a CRT, an LED display, and a plasma display. In this case, for example, alphanumeric characters and symbols can be used as the normal design. Further, the normal symbol and the special symbol may be displayed on the same display (for example, the special symbol display 22).

Other than the game board surface 12, a lower plate 40 for temporarily storing pachinko balls including prize balls, an ashtray 42 for holding cigarette butts, etc., and a speaker 4 for producing sound effects and music.
4. A touch sensor 38 for detecting whether the player's hand is touching the handle 36, a metal frame sensor 58 for detecting the opening of the glass frame 18, and the like are provided. The speaker 44 is provided inside the upper plate 46 which is a receiving tray for award balls, and the touch sensor 38 and the metal frame sensor 58 are provided at required positions.
Further, the lamps 16 use a light bulb, an LED, or the like, and are not limited to the illustrated positions, but are arranged at appropriate positions according to the type of the pachinko machine 10 and the game content.

Next, a main control board 100 and a display control board 2 for realizing a pachinko game by the pachinko machine 10 are described.
The configuration, operation, and the like of 00 will be described with reference to FIG. Both the main control board 100 and the display control board 200 are provided on the back side of the pachinko machine 10. The main control board 100 shown in FIG.
(Processor) 110, ROM 112, RAM 114,
It has an input processing circuit 102, an output processing circuit 104, a display control circuit 106, a communication control circuit 116, and the like. CPU11
0 controls the pachinko machine 10 by executing a game control program stored in the ROM 112. The game control program includes a program for realizing a display command process and the like to be described later. Although an EPROM is used as the ROM 112, an EEPROM, a flash memory, or the like may be used. The RAM 114 stores data such as various random numbers and information of various sensors or input / output signals. RAM1
Although a DRAM is used for 14, a nonvolatile memory such as an SRAM or a flash memory may be used.

The input processing circuit 102 includes the gate sensor 5
4. Winning sensors (V zone sensor 48, starting port sensor 5
6, 60) or other sensors (touch sensor 38,
Each signal transmitted from the metal frame sensor 58 or the like is converted into a data format that can be processed in the main control board 100, and the CPU 110 and the RAM are transmitted via the bus 118.
The data and the like are sent to 114. The output processing circuit 104 is a CPU
In response to the operation data transmitted from 110 via the bus 118, various operation devices provided in the pachinko machine 10 such as the solenoid 50 are operated. The display control circuit 106 receives the display data sent from the CPU 110 via the bus 118, turns on and off the ordinary symbol display 26, and displays the number of reserved balls (for example,
The number of lamps corresponding to 0 ≦ the number of reserved balls ≦ 4) is displayed, or the lamps 16 are appropriately turned on although not shown.
Controls such as turning off the light. The communication control circuit 116 is a circuit for transmitting data to and from the display control board 200 (or a frame control unit or a hall computer (not shown) as necessary). Each of the above components is connected to the bus 118.

Next, the display control board 200 receives the display command sent from the main control board 100, appropriately processes characters, designs, images and the like to be displayed, and displays the special design display 22.
Perform the processing to be displayed in. The display control board 200 is C
PU 210, ROM 202, RAM 204, communication control circuit 206, nonvolatile memory 208, watchdog timer 212, character generator 214, VDP 21
6 and the like. The CPU 210 operates the special symbol display 2 according to the display control program stored in the ROM 202.
2 is performed. In the ROM 202, in addition to the display control program, display information corresponding to a display command and all data for display necessary for performing a pachinko game such as a special symbol, a plurality of variation patterns, a decorative symbol, and the like are stored in advance. I do. An EPROM is used for the ROM 202.
An EPROM or a flash memory may be used. RAM
204 stores data such as display commands and display information and input / output signals. Although a DRAM is used as the RAM 204, an SRAM, a flash memory, or the like may be used. The non-volatile memory 208 stores data such as display information. A DRAM backed up by a battery (not shown) is used for the nonvolatile memory 208,
An SRAM or flash memory that does not require a battery may be used.

The communication control circuit 206 includes a main control board 1
Receive data from 00. Watchdog timer 2
Reference numeral 12 monitors the operation state of the CPU 210, for example, using M5295L manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric. The watchdog timer 212 outputs a reset signal and resets when the CPU 210 stops functioning normally. The character generator 214 stores characters (alphanumeric characters, kanji, etc.), designs (including characters), images (still images, moving images such as animations) and the like in advance. The VDP 216 has a VRAM, a palette RAM, and the like, receives display information sent from the CPU 210 via the bus 218, and
Is controlled to process and display symbols and images.
Specifically, data such as characters, designs, and backgrounds corresponding to the display information is read from the character generator 214,
Perform image editing such as color specification and sprite processing, and
The data is developed on a RAM or a palette RAM, and finally a video signal, a synchronization signal, and the like are output to the special symbol display 22. All of the above components are mutually coupled to the bus 218. In the above configuration, the ROM 202 corresponds to a “first recording unit 4a”, the RAM 204 corresponds to a “second recording unit 4c”, the nonvolatile memory 208 corresponds to a “third recording unit 4d”, and a watchdog timer. Reference numeral 212 corresponds to the “monitoring unit 4e”.

Next, a processing procedure for realizing the present invention in the pachinko machine 10 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12, respectively. Of the processes shown in these flowcharts, the display command process is executed by the CPU 110 shown in FIG. 3, and the reception interrupt process, start process, command data analysis process, display process, and save process are all executed by the CPU 210 shown in FIG. Is realized by executing.

First, a method of transmitting command data from the main control board 100 to the display control board 200 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Main control board 100
On the side, when the timing to display the symbols and the like on the special symbol display 22 is reached, the display command processing shown in FIG. 4 is executed. In this display command processing, command data is set [Step S
10], and transmits the set command data to the display control board 200 [Step S12]. The command data is a fixed-length or variable-length data structure. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the command data 300 has a screen display mode 302, target screen information 304, and the like. The screen display mode 302 is R
The address table stored in the OM 202 is specified.
The target screen information 304 specifies an element in the address table specified in the screen display mode 302. The contents stored in the address table will be described later. On the other hand, on the display control board 200 side, an interruption occurs due to the reception of the command data, and the reception interrupt processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed. In this reception interrupt processing, the received command data is stored (written) in a reception buffer provided in the RAM 204 [Step S
20], and prepare for subsequent processing. Therefore, the command data transmitted from the main control board 100 can be stored in the reception buffer by the reception interruption to the CPU 210.

Next, a starting process performed before displaying a symbol or the like on the special symbol display 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. The starting process is performed by the pachinko machine 10.
Is executed when the power is turned on or when the display control board 200 is reset. Note that the connection between FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is connected by the connector A, and the processing is continued. In FIG. 6, after an initialization process is first performed [Step S30], the CPU 2
The watchdog timer 212 is started to operate in order to monitor the operation state of No. 10 (step S32). The initialization process is a process performed to make each element included in the display control board 200 function. For example, a required area in the RAM 204 or the nonvolatile memory 208 is cleared. The watchdog timer 212 can be activated by sending a required signal via the bus 218.

The RAM 2 corresponding to the main memory
04 to check the validity of the data stored in
The checksum of the data stored in the RAM 204 is calculated (step S34), and it is determined whether the calculated checksum matches the checksum stored in the checksum storage area (step S36). If the two checksums match (YES), RAM
Since the data stored in 204 is valid, the process proceeds to step S48 to be described later to start displaying symbols and the like.

If the checksums do not match in step S36 (NO), at least a part of the data stored in the RAM 204 has been changed, so that a correct display cannot be performed. Therefore, an attempt is made to see if a symbol or the like can be displayed by the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 208. Specifically, in order to check the validity of the data stored in the non-volatile memory 208, the checksum of the data stored in the non-volatile memory 208 is calculated (step S38), and the calculated checksum is It is determined whether or not the checksum stored in the checksum storage area matches [step S40]. If the two checksums match (YES), since the data stored in the nonvolatile memory 208 is valid, the data is transferred to the RAM 204 [Step S4]
2]. Thus, the preparation for displaying the symbols and the like on the special symbol display 22 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S48 to be described later to start the display. If the checksums do not match in step S40 (NO), at least some data stored in the nonvolatile memory 208 has also been changed. In this case, symbols and the like cannot be correctly displayed depending on the data stored in the RAM 204 and the nonvolatile memory 208. Therefore, all the memories are cleared with initial values in order to perform display based on the newly received command data [Step S44], initial settings are performed [Step S46], and display will be described later to start display. Proceed to step S48. The initial setting includes the initial setting of the I / O port of the CPU 210 and the RAM 2
04 and the setting of default values to various registers provided in the VDP 216.

In step S48, a display timing (for example, vertical synchronization; VSYN) for displaying a symbol or the like is executed.
Wait until C) is reached. Then, when the display timing has been reached (YES), the command data analysis processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed [Step S50]. In the command data analysis process, the received command data is analyzed to obtain display data including parameters and the like necessary for displaying symbols and the like. That is, in FIG. 8, the command data stored in the reception buffer in step S20 of FIG. 5 is obtained (read) [step S60], display data is obtained based on the obtained command data, and stored in the RAM 204 [step S6].
2]. More specifically, an address on the ROM 202 where the display data is stored is acquired from the screen display mode 302 and the target screen information 304 included in the command data 300, and the display data is acquired from the address. The RO
A plurality of address tables are stored in M202 in advance. One address table has a plurality of elements, and each element stores the address of the display data stored in the ROM 202.

In the example shown in FIG.
0, 312, 314, 316, 318,... And display data α, β, γ, δ, ε,. These address tables 310, 312, 31
, 316, 318,... And display data α, β, γ, δ,
are stored in the ROM 202 continuously or discretely in advance. In the memory map 320, a portion indicated by oblique lines indicates that no data is stored,
Indicates that other data is stored. For example, when the address table 310 is specified by the screen display mode 302 of the command data 300 and the third element is specified by the target screen information 304, the address a14 at which the display data γ is stored can be acquired. Thus, the desired display data γ can be obtained.

The display data α, β, γ, δ,
FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of ε,. The display data 350 in the example shown in FIG.
74. The plurality of data elements include, for example, status number 352, left symbol number 354, left position coordinate 35
6, middle symbol number 358, middle position coordinate 360, right symbol number 362, right position coordinate 364, animation number 36
6, Grand Prize Winner 368, Status Flag 370,
There is an animation timer 372 and the like. Checksum 3
Numeral 74 denotes the value of the lower 1 byte of the value (sum) obtained by integrating the plurality of data elements, for example.

Returning to FIG. 7, when the command data analysis processing is completed, the display processing shown in FIG. 11 is executed [Step S5].
2]. In the display process, a symbol or the like is displayed on the special symbol display 22 based on the display data acquired in step S62. That is, in FIG. 11, data such as characters, designs, and backgrounds are extracted from the character generator 214 based on the acquired display data [Step S70], and after image editing such as color designation and sprite processing is performed [Step S72], The data is developed on the VRAM or the palette RAM [Step S74]. Then, the developed data is converted into a video signal, a synchronization signal, or the like, and is output to the special symbol display 22 [Step S76], and the display processing ends. In this way, a symbol or the like can be displayed on the special symbol display 22 based on the display data.

Returning to FIG. 7, when the display processing is completed, the evacuation processing shown in FIG. 12 is executed (step S54). In the save processing, the data stored in the RAM 204 is saved to the non-volatile memory 208 so that the display control board 200 temporarily stops functioning normally due to the runaway of the CPU 210 or the like, and then functions normally again. That is, FIG.
In step 2, the checksum of the data stored in the RAM 204 is calculated [step S80], and the calculated checksum is stored in the checksum storage area [step S82]. When a part of the data stored in the RAM 204 is changed by the checksum, the change can be detected. And the RAM 20
After the data stored in No. 4 is transferred (copied) to the non-volatile memory 208 [Step S84], the save processing is terminated. After returning to FIG. 7 again to complete the evacuation process, the process returns to step S48, and steps S50, S52, S5.
4. Repeat S48. Thus, every time the display timing is reached, the display on the special symbol display 22 can be continued.

Here, even if the display control board 200 is functioning normally, the CPU 210 may run away under the influence of static electricity, electromagnetic waves, voltage drop, temperature rise, and the like. In this case, the display control board 200 does not function properly.
However, the operation state of the CPU 210 is monitored by the watchdog timer 212, and the watchdog timer 212 that detects runaway of the CPU 210 sends a reset signal to the CPU 210. Upon receiving the reset signal, the CPU 210 is reset to stop the runaway, and executes the starting process shown in FIGS. In this case, as described above, RA
If the data stored in either the M204 or the non-volatile memory 208 is valid, the data is displayed using the data (steps S34 to S46 shown in FIG. 6), so that the special symbol display 22 displays a smooth display. Done. Therefore, the player does not feel discomfort or discomfort.

According to the above embodiment, the display control board 200 (display control unit) that has received the command data (display command) from the main control board 100 (game control unit) Is obtained from the ROM 202 (first storage unit), and the obtained display data is stored in the nonvolatile memory 208 (third storage unit) together with the RAM 204 (second storage unit) [ Step S62 shown in FIG. 8 and step S shown in FIG.
84]. When the main control board 100 is functioning normally, a display is made on the special symbol display 22 (display section) based on the display data stored in the RAM 204. On the other hand, when the display control board 200 temporarily stops functioning normally for some reason and recovers to function normally again, the special symbol display 22 is displayed based on the display data stored in the RAM 204 or the nonvolatile memory 208. Display is performed (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 11). Therefore, even if the display control board 200 temporarily stops functioning normally, a smooth display can be performed on the special symbol display 22. Therefore, the player does not feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

According to the second aspect, the display control board 20
0 stores a display data in the RAM 204 and the non-volatile memory 208 with a checksum (check code) added thereto. Then, the display control board 200, which has temporarily stopped functioning normally for some reason and then recovered to function normally again, displays an error-free display data of any of the display data stored in the RAM 204 or the nonvolatile memory 208. Special symbol display 22 based on data
Is displayed (steps S34 to S42 shown in FIG. 6).
Therefore, even when the contents of the display data stored in the RAM 204 and the nonvolatile memory 208 are changed (destroyed) when the display control board 200 does not function properly,
Display data that has not been changed by the checksum can be extracted. When a display is performed on the display unit using the display data extracted in this manner, more accurate display can be performed.

Further, in accordance with claim 3, the display data includes designation information for indirectly designating the address of the display data stored in the ROM 202. Therefore, the display control board 2
00 indicates the corresponding display data based on the specified information
It can be obtained from the OM 202. Conventionally, commands must be interpreted by a command interpreter, which takes a long time.
Since the storage position of M202 is known, display data can be easily obtained without requiring time. Therefore, display data can be acquired and displayed on the special symbol display 22 in a shorter time than in the conventional art, so that display can be performed smoothly even when command data is received at short time intervals. The display data may include designation information for directly designating the address of the display data stored in the ROM 202. Even in this case, the above effects can be obtained.

[Other Embodiments] The above-described pachinko machine 1
In 0 (gaming machine), the structure, shape, size, material, number, operating conditions, and the like of other parts are not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, each of the following embodiments to which the above embodiment is applied may be implemented. (1) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the pachinko machine 10 which is a first-class pachinko machine. Instead of this embodiment, the present invention can be similarly applied to other gaming machines having a game control unit and a display control unit. Other gaming machines include other types of pachinko machines and gaming machines other than pachinko machines (for example, slot machine machines, arrange ball machines, video game machines, and the like). Even with these gaming machines,
Even if the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally, a smooth display can be performed on the display unit, so that the player does not feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

(2) In the above embodiment, the display data (display information) is stored in the ROM 202 in advance, and the display data obtained based on the command data (display command) is stored in the RAM 2.
04 and the non-volatile memory 208. Instead of this mode, the data may be stored only in the RAM 204 and only in the nonvolatile memory 208. In this case, RAM
If only the second recording unit 204 or only the nonvolatile memory 208 is used as the second recording unit, a conceptual diagram of the invention corresponding to FIG. 1 is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 13, the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Even in this mode, the same effect as in the embodiment can be obtained. Further, the acquired display data may be recorded on another recording medium. As another recording medium, the VRA in the VDP 216 is used.
M, a pallet RAM, a computer (for example, a hall computer) connected to the communication control circuit 206 via a communication line, or an external recording medium accessible from the communication control circuit 206 or the like. External recording media include optical (magneto-optical) disks, flexible disks, IC cards,
There are cards such as a paper card and a magnetic card, and printed matter on which characters, codes, symbols (including bar codes) are printed, and the like. Even with these recording media, display data can be reliably recorded, and display can be performed on the special symbol display 22 (display) based on the recorded display data.

(3) In the above embodiment, when one command data is received, display data is obtained (see FIG. 8).
Instead of (or in addition to) this form, display data may be obtained only after receiving a plurality of display data. With this configuration, display data can be obtained based on a plurality of display data, so that the number of types of display data can be increased according to a combination of a plurality of command data. Therefore, the amount of information transmitted from the main control board 100 to the display control board 200 can be minimized while increasing the types of display data. (4) In the above embodiment, the display data corresponding to one command data is stored in the RAM 204 and the nonvolatile memory 20.
8 (Step S62 shown in FIG. 8, Step S84 shown in FIG. 12). Instead of (or in addition to) this mode, the display data corresponding to the plurality of command data received in sequence is stored in the RAM 204 and / or the non-volatile memory 20.
8 may be stored. In this case, the time interval between the command data received last time and the command data received this time is also adjusted together with the RAM 204 and / or the nonvolatile memory 2.
08. After the display control board 200 temporarily stops functioning normally for some reason and then recovers to function normally again, the display is displayed on the special symbol display 22 in accordance with the stored plurality of display data and time intervals. Do. By doing so, the symbols and the like just before the CPU 210 runs out of control are displayed on the special symbol display 22.
Therefore, even when the CPU 210 runs out of control, a so-called playback function can be realized.

(5) In the above embodiment, the special symbol display 22 is applied as the display unit. Instead of (or in addition to) this form, the present invention can be similarly applied to an ordinary symbol display capable of displaying symbols and the like. In this case,
When the display control board 200 temporarily stops functioning and recovers, symbols and the like are displayed on the ordinary symbol display based on the stored display data. Therefore, the display on the ordinary symbol display can be smoothly performed. (6) In the above embodiment, the checksum is used for RA
Stored (recorded) in M204, nonvolatile memory 208, etc.
The validity of the displayed data was checked [Steps S34 to S42 shown in FIG. 6]. This means that the validity of the display data can be similarly checked using an error detection code or the like. Also, instead of a checksum or the like, R
The validity of the display data stored in the AM 204 or the like may be checked. For example, FIG. 14 shows an example of the starting process instead of FIG. In FIG. 14, the same reference numerals are given to the same processing elements as those in FIG. The difference between FIG. 14 and FIG.
Error correction is performed on the display data stored in the AM 204 using an error correction code or the like (step S90),
It is determined whether the error correction has been completed [Step S9
2] If the error can be corrected, display on the special symbol display 22 is performed. If the error correction has not been completed (NO in step S92), the same processing is performed on the display data stored in the nonvolatile memory 208 [step S9.
4, S96]. By doing so, the content of the display data stored in the RAM 204 and the non-volatile memory 208 becomes C
Even when the data is changed due to a runaway of the PU 210 or the like, the error is corrected by the error correction code or the like, and the original data is restored. Therefore, the accuracy of the data can be increased,
Smooth display can be performed.

[0044]

As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. This embodiment includes not only the embodiments of the invention described in the claims but also other embodiments of the invention. Embodiments of the present invention will be enumerated below, and related description will be given as necessary.

[Aspect 1] In the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the display control section records a plurality of display information sequentially obtained and a time interval between the previous display information and the present display information in the recording section. When the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally for some reason and then recovers to function normally again, the display control unit sequentially displays the display units based on the plurality of display information recorded in the recording unit and the time interval. Gaming machine that displays on the display. According to this aspect, after the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally for some reason and then recovers to function normally again, the stored display data and the time interval are restored. Is displayed on the display unit in accordance with. By doing so, it is possible to display a design or the like slightly before the display control unit does not function properly on the display unit.
Therefore, a so-called playback function can be realized.

[Aspect 2] In a gaming machine having a game control unit for outputting a display command for instructing a required display, and a display control unit for receiving the display command and performing display on the display unit,
The display information corresponding to the display command is recorded in the first recording unit in advance, and the display control unit records the received display command in the second recording unit, and acquires and displays the display information based on the display command. The display control unit obtains display information based on the display command recorded in the second recording unit and displays the display information when the display control unit recovers to function normally after having stopped functioning normally for some reason. Gaming machines to be displayed in the section. According to this aspect, the display control unit that has received the display command from the game control unit acquires the display information corresponding to the display instruction from the first recording unit, and displays the acquired display information. Record in the second recording unit. When the display control unit is functioning normally, display is performed on the display unit based on the display information recorded in the second recording unit. On the other hand, when the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally for some reason and then recovers to function normally again, display is performed on the display unit based on the display information recorded in the second recording unit. Therefore, even if the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally, a smooth display can be performed on the display unit. Therefore, the player does not feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

[Mode 3] In the gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, the display control unit acquires display information based on a plurality of display commands sequentially output from the game control unit. [Related Description of Mode 3] According to this mode, the display control unit acquires display information for a specific display command based on a plurality of display commands sequentially output from the game control unit. That is, only after receiving a plurality of display commands, the corresponding display information is acquired from the first recording unit. Therefore, the number of types of display information can be increased according to a combination of a plurality of display commands. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the amount of information transmitted from the game control unit to the display control unit while increasing the types of display information.

[0048]

According to the present invention, a smooth display can be performed on the display unit even if the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally. Therefore, the player does not feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the appearance of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control board.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the contents of a display instruction process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of a reception interruption process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of a start process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of a starting process following FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of a command data analysis process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process of acquiring display data based on command data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of display data.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of a display process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of a save process.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of the invention in another aspect.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the contents of a start process in another mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 10 Pachinko machine (game machine) 22 Special symbol display (display unit) 26 Ordinary symbol display 30 First type starting port 32 Middle gate 34 Big winning port 54 Gate sensor 56, 60 Starting port sensor 62 Lower starting port 100 Main control Board (game control unit) 200 Display control board (display control unit)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game machine comprising: a game control unit for outputting a display command for instructing a required display; and a display control unit for displaying on the display unit in response to the display command. Unit, a second recording unit, and a third recording unit. The first recording unit records display information corresponding to the display command in advance, and the display control unit acquires the display information based on the display command. The displayed display information is recorded in the second recording unit for execution and also recorded in the third recording unit for storage. When functioning normally, the display control unit displays based on the display information recorded in the second recording unit. Is displayed on the display unit, and when the display temporarily recovers to function normally after having temporarily stopped functioning normally for some reason, the display unit based on the display information recorded in the second recording unit or the third recording unit. A gaming machine that displays. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit detects an error in the display information when the display information is recorded in the second recording unit and the third recording unit. When the display control unit temporarily stops functioning normally for some reason and then recovers to function normally again, the display control unit records the data in the second recording unit or the third recording unit. A gaming machine that displays information on a display unit based on display information having no errors or display information in which errors have been corrected. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the display command includes designation information for designating a recording position of a first recording section in which corresponding display information is recorded in advance.