JP2000288163A - Device and method for internal prize informing in slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optionally set the informing timing for informing of a prize-winning result of an internal lottery in a slot machine. SOLUTION: This internal prize informing device is provided with an internal lottery unit 11 holding a lottery for whether an internal prize is won or not, an internal prize informing unit having a lamp and a speaker for informing a winning result if the internal lottery results in a prize, and an internal prize controlling unit 12 making an internal lottery prize informing unit 50 inform of an internal prize and making optionally settable the informing timing after operation of either of a starting lever or a plurality of stop buttons 5a, 5b, 5c in a slot machine when a lottery in the internal lottery unit 11 results in a prize.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for notifying a so-called internal hit in a slot machine (turning-type gaming machine), and more particularly, to a notification unit for notifying a result of winning of an internal hit at any time. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for notifying an internal hit of a slot machine that can be set.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a slot machine, when a player inserts a game medal and presses a start lever, a plurality of drums (usually three drums) each having a pattern displayed on the surface thereof start rotating, When the user presses a stop button, the respective drums are sequentially stopped, and various winnings are determined based on the arrangement of the symbols of the stopped drums, and medals corresponding to the winning contents are paid out to the player.

In such a slot machine, in order to increase the fun of the game, a system called an internal hit is adopted so that symbols are automatically stopped at a predetermined probability in a predetermined winning arrangement.

In this internal hit system, a lottery is automatically performed in a slot machine, and when the lottery results in a win, the symbols are arranged in a winning arrangement within a certain range regardless of the timing at which the player presses the stop button. The stop control of the drum is performed so that the winning is always achieved with a certain probability.

More specifically, a lottery is automatically performed every time a start lever is pressed by an internal win lottery provided in the slot machine, and a win or a non-win is determined. Then, when the game is won, a specific symbol (for example, “7”, “BAR”) of each drum is used as long as the game is continued until a predetermined amount of medals are paid out.
Etc.), the drums are controlled to stop in a line regardless of the timing at which the player presses the stop button within a certain range.

[0006] Here, the internal hits which are drawn by the internal hit lottery section usually have two or more different types of hits called a big hit (large bonus, BB) and a middle hit (medium bonus, RB). . For example, when a jackpot is won, a specific symbol for the jackpot is arranged (for example, “7, 7,
7 ") When the drum is controlled and the middle hit is won, a specific symbol for the middle hit is arranged (for example," BA
R, BAR, BAR ") The drum is controlled so that the big hit is paid out about three times as much as the medium hit.

However, the control of stopping the drum at such an inside contact is limited to a certain range.
In the case of a big hit, if the timing at which the player presses the stop button is too far from the symbol "7", the drum cannot be stopped at "7".

[0008] Therefore, even if an internal winning is won, the symbols are not always immediately arranged in a predetermined winning arrangement in the subsequent game. For this reason, in such a case, the player cannot know that he / she has won the inside hit, and even though the effect of the inside hit continues, the player stops the game thereafter. It can happen.

Therefore, in the conventional slot machine, when a winning is won inside the lottery as a result of the lottery, the fact is notified to the player, and the subsequent game is continued so that the player can receive the effect of the inside winning. I have to. As a method of notifying such an internal hit, two methods have been adopted so far, that is, a so-called reach eye display and the lighting of an internal hit display lamp.

Here, the so-called reach eye display means that when a lottery for the inside is won, the arrangement of symbols to be stopped in the subsequent game is changed to one of a plurality of limited symbols. Is displayed in advance in the vicinity of the slot machine or the like, so that the player can display his stopped symbols in the previously displayed reach pattern. The internal hit can be known by confirming whether or not the arrangement is the same.

[0011] On the other hand, the internal hit display lamp is to notify a player of an internal hit by turning on a display lamp provided on the front face of the slot machine when a lottery for the internal hit is won. Up to this point, the lamp is lit when all the stop buttons have been pressed and all the drums have stopped, and the player
It has been made possible to know whether or not an internal hit has been won based on whether or not the display lamp is lit.

[0012]

However, such a conventional method of notifying the internal hit has the following problems. First, according to the reach eye display method, each time the player stops the drum, it must be checked whether or not the arrangement matches the reach eye.

[0013] For this reason, there is a problem that the confirmation operation of the reach eye is complicated, the game cannot be continuously performed, and the fun of the slot machine game is reduced. In addition, since there are usually a plurality of reach eyes, there is a possibility that even if one of the reach eyes is coincident, it may be overlooked.

In addition, such a reach eye display is conventionally provided only when the winning result, such as a big hit or a middle hit, which has two or more different results, is simply notified as the internal hit. The user could not know whether the winning result was a big hit or a middle hit.

[0015] For this reason, even if the player knows that the game has been won internally, should the player stop the drum aiming at a big hit symbol (for example, "7, 7, 7") in the game after the winning? Medium hit symbol (for example, "BAR, BAR, BA
R "), it is not clear whether or not the game should be aimed at. Not only is the game not so interesting to aim at, but also the drum cannot be stopped at a predetermined winning symbol despite the fact that it has been internally won. In some cases, profits could not be enjoyed.

On the other hand, in the case of the method using the internal hit display lamp, it is possible to immediately know whether or not the internal hit has occurred, depending on whether or not the lamp is lit. .

However, the conventional internal hit display lamp does not light up until all the drums stop, so that it is not possible to judge whether to continue or stop the game during the rotation of the drums, and it is also necessary to always determine when the lamps are turned on. However, since the game was decided after the drum stopped, the game was not very surprising and lacked interest.

Normally, in a slot machine game, it is interesting that a certain amount of medals are continuously inserted and the game is repeated continuously. For this reason, it is not clear whether or not the inside hit is performed until all the drums stop in each game, and if the lighting time of the lamp indicating the inside hit is always determined after all the drums are stopped, during the game progress. The game cannot be continued or canceled afterwards.
In addition, since it is known when the internal hit is displayed, the game becomes monotonous, and there is an inadequate aspect in terms of the fun of the slot machine game.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve such a problem of the prior art, and it is possible to arbitrarily set the timing of notifying the winning result of an internal hit, so that the player can be surely notified. It is an object of the present invention to provide an internal hit notification device and method for a slot machine, which can inform the user of whether or not the internal hit has occurred, and increase the fun and unexpectedness of the game itself of the slot machine.

[0020]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a slot machine with a lottery portion for determining whether or not an internal hit has occurred, and a lottery result in the lottery portion. Is a notifying unit for notifying the result when is the internal hit, and a lottery unit, an internal hit notification device of a slot machine including a control unit for controlling the notifying unit, wherein the control unit is When the lottery is an internal hit, the notifying unit notifies the internal hit after any one of a start lever and a plurality of stop buttons of the slot machine is operated.

Further, the internal hit notification device for a slot machine according to claim 2 is configured such that the control unit arbitrarily sets the notification timing of the internal hit.

Further, the internal hit notification device of the slot machine according to the third aspect is configured such that the control unit sets the notification timing of the internal hit differently in units of days or hours.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the slot machine internal hit notification device, the notification portion is formed by at least one or a combination of two or more of lighting of a lamp, symbol arrangement of a drum of the slot machine, or sound. It is configured to notify the internal hit.

The internal hit notification device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is configured such that the notification timing of the internal hit is made different for each slot machine.

Further, the internal hit notification device of a slot machine according to claim 6 is configured such that the internal hit notification method is different for each slot machine.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for notifying an internal hit of a slot machine after the start lever or a plurality of stop buttons of the slot machine is operated to perform the internal hit notification. When the result of the lottery is an internal hit, one of the start lever and the plurality of stop buttons of the slot machine is operated in accordance with the set internal hit notification time. After that, there is a method to notify the inside hit.

According to the present invention, there is provided a slot machine internal hit notification method for changing the setting of the internal hit notification time.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for notifying the internal hit of a slot machine, wherein the setting of the notification time is changed in units of days or hours.

According to the apparatus and method for notifying the internal hit of the slot machine of the present invention having such a configuration, the notification time of the notifying section for notifying the result of the internal hit winning is arbitrarily set in the internal hit notification control section. Thus, the notification of the internal hit can be made, for example, after the start lever is pressed or after any one of the stop buttons is pressed.

Thus, the internal hit can be notified at an arbitrary time before all the drums stop, and the player can be reliably informed of the internal hit.
In addition, by setting the notification time of the internal hit arbitrarily and changing this setting in units of days or hours, it is possible to know that the internal hit has been hit unexpectedly, and the fun of the slot machine game itself, Can be more.

Further, by making the notification time and the notification method of the internal hit different for each slot machine, the result of the internal hit can be notified when the player cannot expect it, thereby increasing the surprisingness of the game. You can also.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a device and a method for notifying the inside of a slot machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an embodiment of an apparatus and a method for notifying the inside of a slot machine of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system for turning on an internal hit display lamp of the slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a lighting processing operation of the internal hit display lamp of the slot machine according to the present embodiment.

First, the overall structure of the slot machine will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a front panel 2 of a slot machine main body 1 has three display windows 3 (3
a, 3b, 3c) are provided, and the symbols drawn on the peripheral surfaces of the three drums which rotate independently inside each other are represented by:
The display window 3 can be identified. Note that a pay line display is drawn on the display window 3, and the winning is determined according to the type of symbols arranged on the pay line display.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a start lever, which is a game start device for simultaneously rotating the respective drums. 5
Is a stop button for arbitrarily stopping each of the three rotating drums. Three stop buttons 5 (first buttons 5a,
A second button 5b and a third button 5c) are provided.

By operating the start lever 4 and the stop button 5, the player enjoys the game in order to arrange winning symbols. Reference numeral 6 denotes a medal slot, and 7 denotes a winning medal payout port. Reference numeral 8 denotes a speaker, which is provided on the front of the slot machine main body 1. When a symbol of a drum is won, a melody for congratulation is played from the speaker 8 to enhance a staging effect.

Although not shown, a drive motor driven and controlled by a control unit 10 described later is provided inside the slot machine body 1, and is disposed at the center of the slot machine by the drive force of the drive motor. The three drums are designed to rotate and stop independently.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a lamp which lights in a predetermined combination according to the type when a symbol is won or an abnormality occurs in the slot machine. Usually, a plurality of lamps are provided on the front panel 2 of the slot machine. 9 (9a, 9b, 9c, 9
d, 9e) are provided side by side.

At the time of winning, all the lamps 9 are turned on and a melody flows from the speaker 8 to celebrate the player, so that the player can enjoy the game comfortably. Further, when an abnormality occurs inside, a predetermined lamp 9 is turned on in response to an abnormality detection signal from the location where the abnormality has occurred, and an employee or the like checks the lighting state to determine the occurrence of the abnormality and the type of the abnormality. You can know.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an internal hit display lamp, which is a notifying section for notifying the result of an internal hit lottery described later. As shown in FIG. 1, the internal hit display lamp 20 is provided at a place where the player can surely visually recognize it, such as the front surface of the slot machine body 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the lamp is controlled to be turned on and off by a signal from an internal hit notification control unit 12 described later.

Here, with reference to FIG. 2, a control system for turning on the display lamp 20 of the slot machine according to the present embodiment will be described. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a control unit, and an internal hit lottery unit 11 and an internal hit notification control unit 12
And controls the notification of the internal hit display lamp 20 and the lottery control for the internal hit. The control unit 10
Although not specifically shown, various controls in the slot machine are performed.

An internal win lottery section 11 for performing internal win lottery
As shown in FIG. 2, according to a signal from the start lever 4, a lottery for an internal hit is performed at the same time as the start lever 4 is pressed.

Here, the internal hits selected by the internal hit lottery section usually include two or more different types of wins, such as a big hit (large bonus, BB) and a middle hit (medium bonus, RB). For example, when a jackpot is won, a specific symbol for the jackpot is easily arranged thereafter (eg, “7,
7, 7 "), the drum is controlled, and when the middle hit is won, the drum is controlled so that a specific symbol for the middle hit is easily arranged (for example," BAR, BAR, BAR "). It is set so that about three times the amount of medals will be paid out per hit.

Then, when the result of the lottery by the internal hit lottery section 11 is an internal hit, as shown in FIG.
A signal is output from the internal hit lottery unit 11 to the internal hit notification control unit 12. In the present embodiment, a single signal is output as an internal hit regardless of whether the internal hit is a big hit or a medium hit. It is also possible to determine and output a signal according to the type.

The internal hit notification control unit 12 has a preset internal hit notification time, and the internal hit lottery unit 1
An internal hit indicator lamp 2 based on the internal hit signal from 1
A signal for lamp lighting is output to 0.

That is, the internal hit notification control unit 12
For example, the internal hit notification time can be set in advance so that the internal hit indicator lamp 20 is turned on, for example, after the start lever 4 is pressed or after any of the three stop buttons 5a, 5b, 5c is pressed. is there.

Here, after the start lever 4 is pressed or after the stop buttons 5a, 5b and 5c are pressed, the next stop button is used for the start lever 4 and the first button 5a and the second button 5b. The third button 5c means a period until the third drum is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 2, the start lever 4 and each of the stop buttons 5a, 5b, 5c are connected to the internal hit notification control unit 12, and the start lever 4 and the stop button 5 are operated. As a result, a signal is input, and it is determined whether or not it matches a preset notification time. If it matches, a signal for lighting the internal hit display lamp 20 is output.

In the internal hit notification control unit 12, when the lamp lighting time is set when the third button 5c is pressed, the internal hit display lamp 20 is pressed by the third button 5c. As will be described later, in the above-described conventional slot machine, the lamp is lit after all the drums are stopped after the last button is pressed.

Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, since the player is notified of the internal hit earlier than in the prior art, there is a surprising effect, and moreover, the time from when the third button 5c is pressed until the drum stops. Since it is not known at which time the lamp will be turned on, it is possible to further give the player an unexpected feeling.

The symbol arrangement of the drum stopped after the internal winning lottery is determined by a symbol judging section (not shown) to determine whether or not a winning has occurred. In this case, a signal is output to the internal hit notification control unit 12, a medal hopper (not shown) is controlled, and medals corresponding to each prize are paid out from the winning medal payout opening 7 to the player.

In this specification, lighting means both a case where the lamp is continuously lit and a case where it is blinking. Therefore, in the present invention,
The internal hit indicator lamp may be turned on continuously, may be flashed, or may be combined.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lamp is lit as the notification of the internal hit without specifically discriminating whether the internal hit is a big hit or a medium hit. The lighting can be different depending on whether a big hit or a middle hit.

Further, in the present embodiment, the internal hit display lamp 20 is employed as the internal hit notification unit. However, other than this, the internal hit can be notified by emitting a sound, for example. It is also possible to use light together. Even when the notification unit is a means for generating a sound or the like, different sounds can be emitted depending on whether the type of internal hit described above is a big hit or a middle hit.

The type of internal hit in the slot machine is generally set to the above-mentioned medium hit, but may be set to a small hit. This small hit means that even if the lottery for the inside win is lost, a certain pattern is completed (for example, "☆, ☆, ☆")
Is to pay out a small amount of medals.

Next, the lighting processing operation of the internal hit display lamp of the internal hit notification device of the slot machine according to the present embodiment having such a configuration will be specifically described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, a game is started by a player inserting medals through the medal insertion slot 6 (step 1).

After the medal is inserted, when the start lever 4 is pressed (step 2), each of the three drums rotates. At the same time, the lottery section 1 inside the slot machine body 1
In 1, it is determined whether or not the slot machine has already won an internal hit (step 3). If it is not an internal hit, the internal hit lottery section 11 performs an internal hit lottery (step 4). . When the game is newly started, the process of step 3 can be omitted.

When a lottery for an internal hit is performed in step 4, it is determined whether or not an internal hit has been made as a result of the lottery (step 5). The lamp lighting timing is determined according to the lighting timing of the internal hit display lamp 20 preset in the hit notification control unit 12 (step 6), and as a result of the determination, it is determined at which timing the lamp should be turned on. (Steps 7 to 10).

For example, if the setting of the internal hit notification control unit 12 is after the start lever 4 is pressed (step 7), if the setting is after the first button 7a is pressed (step 7). 8) At that time if the setting is after the second button 5b is pressed (step 9), and at that time if the setting is after the third button 5c is pressed (step 10), respectively. A signal is output to the internal hit display lamp 20.

Then, as a result of the determination, the internal hit display lamp 20 is turned on at the determined lighting timing, and the player is notified that the internal hit has been made (step 11). In addition,
During this time, the player knows the winning of the inside by the lighting of the lamp and, at his own discretion, presses the stop buttons 5a, 5b, 5c in order to stop the rotation of each of the three drums and arrange the symbols.

Then, the symbol determination unit (not shown) determines whether or not the symbol arrangement of the three stopped and arranged drums is a predetermined winning arrangement (step 1).
2) It is determined whether or not a prize has been won (step 1)
3). Here, when the symbol arrangement of the drum is winning, a predetermined medal is paid out from the payout port 9 (step 14).

In this case, at the same time as the internal hit (big hit, medium hit), the drum may stop immediately in a symbol arrangement (for example, “7, 7, 7”) such as a predetermined big hit in the current game. In some cases, the drum may stop at a predetermined big hit symbol after the next game.

Therefore, when the predetermined inside hit symbols are immediately prepared, the player knows that the inside hit has been achieved. At this time, the melody for congratulation flows from the speaker 8 and the upper part of the slot machine is played. Lamp 9 starts blinking), and the internal hit display lamp 20 is turned off by a signal from the control unit 10.

On the other hand, even after the internal hit, the player does not know that the internal hit has occurred unless the drum stops at the predetermined winning symbol. Therefore, the internal hit indicating lamp 20 indicates that the drum has the predetermined winning symbol. Lights until stopped.

Next, when it is determined in step 3 that the slot machine is already in the internal hit state, the lottery for the internal hit is not performed, and then the stop is performed by pressing the stop buttons 5a, 5b, 5c. , The winning of the symbols of the arranged drums is determined (step 1).
2) If a prize has been won, a predetermined amount of medals are paid out to the player (step 15).

If it is determined in step 5 that no internal hit has been won, then the symbol of the drum stopped by the player is determined (step 12). Here, when the symbols are arranged in a predetermined arrangement (small hit), a winning is achieved (step 13), and a certain amount of medals are paid out (step 14).

Thereafter, the game is continued (step 1).
5) Unless the next medal is inserted and the game is started (step 1), the current game ends.

As described above, according to the internal hit notification device and method of the slot machine according to the present embodiment, the internal hit notification control unit 12 arbitrarily sets the notification timing of the internal hit display lamp 20 for notifying the internal hit winning result. By doing so, the notification of the internal hit can be made, for example, after the start lever 4 is pressed or after any one of the stop buttons 5 is pressed.

As a result, the internal hit can be notified at any time before all the drums stop, and the player can be reliably informed whether or not the internal hit has occurred.
In addition, the timing of the notification of the internal hit is optional, and the player can know that the internal hit has occurred during the game before all the drums stop, and the fun of the slot machine game itself can be further increased. it can.

Further, the timing of notifying the internal hit can be made different for each slot machine or even for the same slot machine on a daily or hourly basis, so that the result of winning the internal hit can be notified when the player does not expect it. It is possible to improve the unexpectedness of the game.

[0071]

As described above, according to the apparatus and method for notifying the internal hit of the slot machine of the present invention, the timing of notifying the winning result of the internal hit can be set arbitrarily, so that the player can be sure of the internal hit. In addition to notifying whether or not this is the case, the fun and unexpectedness of the slot machine game itself can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system for turning on an internal hit display lamp of the slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a lighting process operation of an internal hit display lamp of the slot machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine main body 4 Start lever 5 Stop button 10 Control unit 11 Internal hit lottery unit 12 Internal hit notification control unit 20 Internal hit indicator lamp 30 Internal hit notification unit 30a Drum 30b Drum 30c Drum 40 Internal hit notification unit 40a Lamp 40b Speaker 50 Internal hit notification unit 50a Lamp 50b Speaker

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A lottery section for performing lottery determination as to whether or not an internal hit has occurred, a notifying section for notifying a result of a lottery in the lottery section when the result is an internal hit, and a control section for controlling these lottery sections and the notifying section. An internal hit notification device for a slot machine, comprising: a start lever, a plurality of stop buttons, and a plurality of stop buttons of the slot machine, when the lottery in the lottery unit is an internal hit. A notification of an internal hit after any one of the above is operated. 2. The internal hit notification device for a slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the control section arbitrarily sets the internal hit notification time. 3. The internal hit notification device for a slot machine according to claim 2, wherein the control unit sets the notification timing of the internal hit on a day or hour basis. 4. The notification unit according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit notifies the internal hit by at least one of a lighting of a lamp, a symbol arrangement of a drum of a slot machine, and a sound. Or the internal hit notification device of the slot machine according to 3. 5. The internal hit notification device for a slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the notification timing of the internal hit is made different for each slot machine. 6. The internal hit notification device for a slot machine according to claim 1, wherein an internal hit notification method is different for each slot machine. 7. An internal hit notification is set in advance after one of a start lever and a plurality of stop buttons of a slot machine is operated, and a lottery is performed by starting a slot machine game. In the case of the internal hit, the internal hit is notified after one of the start lever and the plurality of stop buttons of the slot machine is operated according to the set internal hit notification timing. How to report inside hit of slot machine. 8. The internal hit notification method for a slot machine according to claim 7, wherein the internal hit notification timing is set and changed. 9. The internal hit notification method for a slot machine according to claim 8, wherein the setting of the notification time is changed in units of days or hours.