JP2001170300A - Game machine and method for controlling its peripheral device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the operation control of a peripheral device without having a conventional complicated command table and to reduce a processing burden on a main control means. SOLUTION: A main control part (not shown in the figure) for performing the operation control of the whole game machine transmits only one command showing a big winning state or a failure state to a CPU on the peripheral device (not shown in the figure) (a figure 10 (a)). Then, this CPU performs the operation control of the peripheral device in accordance with a game state shown by a receiving command with the reception of the command as a turning point (a figure 10 (b)). Thus, it is possible to perform the operation control of the peripheral device by reducing a data capacity to be used for controlling the game machine without having a conventional complicated command table and to reduce the processing burden on the main control means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention controls a peripheral device by transmitting a control command from a main control unit for controlling the operation of the entire gaming machine to a sub-control unit for controlling the operation of a peripheral device. Related to improvement of gaming machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the operation control of a game machine represented by a pachinko machine has become complicated, and in order to realize the complicated operation control, a main C for controlling the operation of the entire game machine has been developed.
There is a configuration in which a control command is transmitted from a PU to a sub CPU that controls the operation of a peripheral device. In such a gaming machine, the sub CPU on the peripheral device side receives the control command, and controls the operation of the peripheral device based on the received control command.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are a timing chart and an explanatory diagram of commands for explaining the operation of a pachinko machine of this kind, which was proposed and filed by the present inventors (unpublished at the time of filing). For example, when a pachinko ball is won, the main CP
U (not shown) transmits a "design variation designation command" for designating a symbol variation start at a timing shown by a sub CPU (not shown) for controlling a special symbol display device (not shown), Next, a "left stop designating command" for designating a left stop symbol after a lapse of T1 time, a "middle stop designating command" for designating a middle stop design after a lapse of T2 time, and a right stop design after a lapse of T3 time Is transmitted, and a "all symbol stop specification command" for designating a symbol stop is transmitted last.

As described above, the main CPU transmits five commands to the special symbol display device at a predetermined timing,
The sub CPU receives this, and performs from the start of the symbol change to the stop display at the appearance.

However, in order to greatly enhance the effect of the gaming machine, for example, it is necessary to change the symbols in a large number of change patterns. Both on the device side,
The combination of these five commands is stored in the command table as many as the number of symbol variation patterns, and the symbol variation is displayed in a desired variation pattern by interpreting the commands communicated between the two.

As described above, in the conventional gaming machine, the main CPU transmits a plurality of commands to the sub CPU to control the operation of the peripheral device. There is a problem that the processing load is complicated and the main CPU side is heavy, and the control data capacity is large because both need to have a complicated and command table in which a large number of commands are described.

The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem. The number of commands to be transmitted from the main control means is one, and a complicated command table as in the prior art is not provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine and a method for controlling a peripheral device of the gaming machine, which can control the operation of the peripheral device and reduce the processing load on the main control means.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine, comprising: main control means for controlling the operation of the entire gaming machine; and Sub-control means for controlling the operation of peripheral devices of the machine, wherein the main control means transmits only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or another game state to the sub-control means. The sub-control means controls the operation of the peripheral device according to the game state indicated by the received command when the command is received.

[0007] In the invention according to claim 1, the main control means transmits only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or a game state other than this to the sub-control means. Then, the sub-control means controls the operation of the peripheral device according to the game state indicated by the received command when the command is received, so that the control of the gaming machine does not have a complicated command table as in the related art. The operation control of the peripheral device can be performed by reducing the data capacity used for the control, and the processing load on the main control means can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine, comprising: main control means for controlling the operation of the entire gaming machine; display control means for controlling the operation of a display means capable of displaying identification information; Wherein the main control means is means for transmitting only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or any other game state to the display control means, and the display control means comprises: A gaming machine characterized in that it is means for controlling operation of the display means in accordance with a gaming state indicated by the received command, upon receipt of the command.

In the invention according to claim 2, the main control means transmits only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or a game state other than this to the display control means. Then, the display control means controls the operation of the display means according to the game state indicated by the received command, triggered by the reception of the command. Therefore, the operation of the display means can be controlled by reducing the data capacity used for controlling the gaming machine without having a complicated command table as in the related art, and the processing load on the main control means can be reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect, upon receipt of the command, the display control means responds to a game state indicated by the received command. After determining the identification information of the eye, causing the display means to display the variation of the identification information, the means for stopping and displaying the determined identification information on the display means.

[0011] In the invention according to claim 3, the display control means, upon receiving the command, determines the identification information of the outcome corresponding to the game state indicated by the received command, and displays the identification information on the display means. After the information is changed and displayed, the determined identification information is stopped and displayed on the display means, so that the display control means does not rely on the main control means. I can do it.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the third aspect, the display control means performs a display process using a character, a setting process of a background image, and Further, it is a means for executing at least one of the processes of changing the fluctuation speed in the fluctuation display of the identification information and controlling the operation of the display means.

[0013] In the invention according to claim 4, the display control means changes the fluctuation speed in the display processing using the character, the setting processing of the background image, and the fluctuation display in the identification information during the fluctuation display. Since at least one of the processes to be executed is executed to control the operation of the display means, the display control means can perform fine display control without relying on the main control means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine, wherein a main control means for controlling the operation of the entire gaming machine and an operation of a game effect information output section for outputting game effect information for the game effect. Game effect information output unit control means for performing control, the main control means, a big hit state, or,
The game effect information output unit control means transmits only one command indicating any of the out-of-position states to the game effect information output unit control means. Is displayed, the operation control is performed such that the game effect information is output from the game effect information output unit in the jackpot game effect information output pattern. A gaming machine characterized in that it is means for performing operation control so that the game effect information is output from the game effect information output section in an information output pattern.

[0015] In the invention according to claim 5, when the received command indicates a big hit state upon receipt of the command, the game effect information output control means controls the game effect information in the big hit game effect information output pattern. The operation control is performed so that the game effect information is output from the output unit. On the other hand, when the received command indicates a missed state, the operation control is performed so that the game effect information is output from the game effect information output unit in the game effect information output pattern. Therefore, it is possible to control the operation of the game effect information output unit by reducing the data capacity used for controlling the gaming machine without having a complicated command table as in the related art, and to reduce the processing load on the main control unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the fifth aspect, the game effect information output section outputs a sound effect for a game effect or a game sound for a game effect. It is characterized in that it is configured to output effect light.

In the invention according to claim 6, the output control of the effect sound or the effect light can be performed by only one command from the main control means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game machine having a main control means for controlling the operation of the entire game machine and a sub-control means for controlling the operation of peripheral devices of the game machine. In the control method, the main control unit transmits only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or another game state to the sub control unit, and the sub control unit A method for controlling a peripheral device of a gaming machine, wherein the operation of the peripheral device is controlled in accordance with a gaming state indicated by the reception command, upon reception.

Also in the invention according to claim 7, the main control means transmits only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or a game state other than this to the sub control means, The means controls the operation of the peripheral device according to the game state indicated by the received command, upon receipt of the command. Therefore, the operation of the peripheral device can be controlled by reducing the data capacity used for controlling the gaming machine without having a complicated command table unlike the related art, and the processing load on the main control means can be reduced.

The above procedures are described in a program and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the above-described units are realized by, for example, the CPU executing the program. Such recording media include semiconductor recording media such as ROM and IC cards, magnetic recording media such as FD and HD, and CDRO.
M, an optical recording medium such as a DVDROM.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the game board 10. At a substantially central portion of the game board 10, there is a display area capable of displaying three symbols (left, middle, right).
In the display area, there is provided a special symbol display device 100 capable of variably displaying identification information independently composed of symbols and symbols, and a special symbol starting port 104 is provided immediately below. The normal symbol actuation gates 102, 102 are provided on both sides of the special symbol starting port 104.
Are arranged. Also, a pair of opening / closing members 120, 12
0 is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to form a special symbol starting port 104.

Further, below the special symbol opening 104, a special winning opening 106, a normal symbol display device 108, and an out opening 114 are arranged in this order. Has a lamp display device 110,
110 is provided, and a lamp display device (more specifically, an LED device) is also provided near both side ends of the game board 10.
112, 112 are provided.

Then, when a game ball is won in the special symbol starting port 104 and random number lottery is performed, and when this random number is a big hit value, at least one random number is selected in the display area by the processing of the present invention described later. After the change display of the identification information is started, a predetermined pattern (for example, “7,
7, 7 ") is displayed by the special symbol display device 100, and the special winning opening 106 is controlled to be opened and closed in a predetermined pattern, so that a big hit gaming state advantageous to the player is achieved. further,
The game has a probability variation function in which the jackpot probability increases from a small to a large one when a specific hit is selected among the jackpots, and the symbol variation time is shortened while the number of variable display times is a predetermined number of times, for example, 50 times. It has a time reduction function that is advantageous for the user.

When the normal symbol operation gate 102 detects the passing of the game ball, a random number lottery is performed. When the random number selected is a small hit value, the normal symbol display device 108
Is displayed in a predetermined pattern (for example, “7” or “3”), and thereafter, when the opening / closing member 120 is opened and the game ball wins the special symbol starting port 104, the random number is similarly displayed. When a lottery is performed and the random number selected is a big hit value, the variable display in the display area is started by the processing of the present invention described later, and then a predetermined display pattern (for example, “7, 7, 7”) is displayed. Is performed by the special symbol display device 100, and the special winning opening 106 is controlled to open and close in a predetermined pattern, so that a big hit state advantageous to the player is achieved. On the other hand, hit balls that are not won are discharged through the out port 114.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing only a main part of the gaming machine in which such gaming machine control is performed according to the progress of the game. The main control unit 200 includes a microprocessor with a built-in CPU, and will be described later with a special symbol display device 100, a lamp display device 112,
A work area is formed with a command data table area 202 for storing commands for controlling peripheral devices such as the sound effect generator 116, and a ROM 201 for storing control programs and control data describing a series of gaming machine control procedures. A RAM 203 is provided to form an integrated one-chip microcomputer.

The main control unit 200 includes a special symbol start switch 304 provided inside the special symbol start port 104 through the input port 210 for detecting a winning of a game ball into the special symbol start port 104, a normal symbol operation gate. A normal symbol operation switch 306 provided inside the 102 and detecting a game ball passing through a gate, and a large winning opening switch 308 provided inside the large winning opening 106 and detecting a winning of the gaming ball in the large winning opening 106. The main control unit 200 is connected and can receive each detection signal.

The main control unit 200 has an output port 2
Many peripheral devices are connected via 15. That is, the main control unit 200 has a display area for displaying a special symbol or character via the output port, and has a left, a middle,
A special symbol display device 100 that can be variably displayed independently of each other and that is realized by an LCD or the like, lamp display devices 110 and 112 that control lighting of a lamp, a sound effect generator that generates a sound effect, for example, 7 Ordinary symbol display device 108 realized by a segment display device, starting port operating solenoid 3 for controlling opening / closing member 120 of the starting port
00, and a special winning opening operating solenoid 302 for controlling opening and closing of the wide opening and closing member of the special winning opening 106 is connected, and the main control unit 200 can transmit a control command for controlling each device. . Then, the main control unit 200
Is a special symbol display device 100, a lamp display device 110
(112) Only one command indicating a big hit or a loss can be transmitted to the sound effect generating device 116, and the special symbol display device 100 and the lamp display device 1
10 (112), the CPU inside the sound effect generator 116 performs fine control based on the received command without depending on the main controller 200.

A power supply circuit 212 for supplying power and a reset circuit 213 for outputting a reset signal at predetermined time intervals are connected to the main control unit 200. A pulse signal generated by the periodic timer counter is input from the control unit 200, and a monitor signal for monitoring the current supply state from the power supply circuit 212 is input.

Now, as shown in FIG.
Special symbol display device 100, lamp display device 110
(112) The command sent to the sound effect generator 116 is an identifier for identifying the classification of the command, and indicates the mode (MODE), which is 1-byte digital information, and the content (function) of the command to be executed. It is an event (EVENT) which is 1-byte digital information.
FIG. 6 shows command data in the command data table area 202 stored in the ROM 201.

FIG. 6 shows that the main control unit 200 sends the peripheral devices (special symbol display device 100, lamp display device 110 (11)
2) shows a command to be transmitted to the sound effect generator 116). This command includes a hit command indicating that the gaming state is a big hit state, and a miss command indicating that the gaming state is a big hit state. A specific control procedure using these commands will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a special symbol display device 100 as an example of a peripheral device. The special symbol display device 100 supplies power to a data receiving circuit 1140 (including a voltage converting circuit for converting a data level) for receiving a strobe signal and a command from the main control unit 200, and to the voltage converting circuit and the like. A power supply circuit 1160 and an image processing LSI (VDP) 10 for generating control data necessary for performing display control based on a received command.
CPU 1020 (display control means) for outputting to C 60
A program ROM 1040 containing a program describing the operation procedure of the PU 1020, a RAM 1090 functioning as a work area and a buffer memory, an image processing LSI (VDP) 1060 for performing image expansion processing, and an image processing LSI (VDP) 1060 are provided. A video RAM 1080 for temporarily storing the developed image data, a character ROM 1180 for storing data necessary for the image processing LSI (VDP) 1060 to develop the image, and an image data temporarily stored in the video RAM 1080. It has an LCD panel interface circuit 1100 for receiving and sending, and an LCD panel 1120 for outputting a display image using the image data sent from the LCD panel interface circuit 1100.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the character RO
M1180 is a ROM title area, a ROM management information area, a character image data area storing actual character data, a pallet data area storing character color data, and a scenario data area storing information defining character movement. The character data is stored in the character image data area in a state where it is compressed by a specific compression method. Further, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of pairs of color numbers and color codes are stored.

The CPU of the special symbol display device 100
Reference numeral 1020 denotes an image processing LSI (VD) which generates control data generated inside its own device when the data receiving circuit 1140 receives a hit command or a disconnection command.
P) 1060. Then, the image processing LSI (V
DP) 1060, for example, decompresses the character data obtained from the character image data area, colors it with the color data obtained from the palette data area, and specifies the video R specified by the information obtained from the scenario data area.
By temporarily storing the image-developed data at a position on the AM 1080 and sending the temporarily stored data to the LCD panel interface circuit 1100, the LC
By the D panel 1120, various image displays including a change in a variable display speed, a character motion, and the like are performed in detail.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the command transmission / reception timing. As previously mentioned,
The command consists of a 1-byte mode (MODE) and a 1-byte event (EVENT).
In this example, the main control unit 200 transmits mode (MODE) information at the first rising edge of the strobe signal (DUSTB) generated by itself at the time of a command change, and then transmits the two strobe signals (DUSTB). Event (EVENT) information is transmitted with the rise of the eyes. Then, in response to this, the CPU 1020 of the special symbol display device generates an interrupt when the strobe signal (DUSTB) is transmitted, receives a command by this interrupt processing, and stores the command in the RAM 1090.

Next, first, a normal control operation performed by the main control unit 200 and the CPU 1020 of the special symbol display device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 8 (a general flowchart of game control) and the like. A simple control procedure will be described to facilitate understanding of the present invention. Note that the series of processes illustrated in FIG. 8 is executed by the main control unit 200, and is executed from the first step by using a reset signal supplied from the reset circuit 213 every predetermined time (for example, every 4 msec) as a trigger.

First, when the power supply circuit 212 is activated by a power switch (not shown), the main control unit 200 is activated. It is determined whether or not the first processing has been performed since the power-on. Step S11
0). In the case of the first processing after turning on the power (Yes)
The process proceeds to step S200, but otherwise (No), the process proceeds to step S120.

In step S200, a clearing process of the storage area is executed as an initialization process of the RAM 203. Then, in step S210, data for performing the initial control process is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 203. On the other hand, in step S120, the count values of various random number generation loop counters (not shown) for large hit determination, small hit determination, and the like formed in the RAM 203 are incremented. Update the timer value of the timer.

Next, in step S140, a special symbol start switch 304, a normal symbol operation switch 306,
An input port process of reading and storing the detection signal output from the special winning opening switch 308 into a register (not shown) via the input port 203 is executed, and then the process proceeds to step S150 to read and store the data read by the port input process. Switch check processing for grasping the condition.

Next, in step S160, each switch 3
A check is made to see if there is a disconnection or short-circuit in the lines 04, 306, 308, etc., and if any of these failures has occurred (Ye
s) The process proceeds to step S220, but otherwise (No), the process proceeds to step S180 (step S180).
170).

In step S180, data necessary for display control of the ordinary symbol display device 107 is stored in the RAM.
At the same time, the command (command described above with reference to FIG. 6) necessary for the display control of the special symbol display device 100 is stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 203,
Decrease the timer values of the various timers (step S19)
0).

Next, in step S195, the start port operating solenoid 300 and the special winning port operating solenoid 302 are driven in order to control the opening and closing of the special winning opening 106 and the special symbol starting opening 104 in a predetermined pattern. Then, in step S220, a prize ball setting process for outputting control information for causing a prize ball payout device (not shown) to perform a payout operation is executed. Further, in steps S230, 240, and 250, a game (not shown) The external information processing for outputting various game data to the machine management device, and the command shown in FIG. 6 for controlling the lighting of the lamp display devices 110 and 112 in accordance with the game state are stored in the RAM.
An indicator light control process for storing in a predetermined area of the RAM 203 and a sound effect process for storing the command shown in FIG. I do.

Next, in step S260, R
The data stored in the AM 203 is output to the corresponding device via the output port 215 (port output process), and the device that receives the data performs a control operation based on the data. Then, for example, first, a strobe signal is output to the special symbol display device 100, and in step S180, the RAM 2
FIG. 5 shows the mode and event data stored in FIG.
Is transmitted as shown in. Thus, one of the commands shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted from the main control unit 200 to the special symbol display device 100 and received. Similarly, any one of the commands shown in FIG. 6 is transmitted from the main control unit 200 to each of the sound effect generator 116 and the lamp display devices 110 (112), and receives them. More specifically, when the main control unit 200 determines that a big hit has occurred, a hit command is transmitted to these peripheral devices. On the other hand, when it is determined that a miss has occurred, a miss command is transmitted to these peripheral devices. Sent.

In step S270, the reset circuit 21
The reset standby process is executed until the reset signal is input from Step 3, and when the reset signal is input, the process shifts to Step S110 to continue the gaming machine control. Note that the reset standby process includes updating of the various random number generation counters described above.

(First Embodiment) Next, an operation which is a feature of the present invention will be described. First, an operation of the CPU 1020 of the special symbol display device 100 as an example of the peripheral device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
As shown in (a), when a hit command or an out-of-control command is transmitted from the main control unit 200, the CPU 1020 receives the command and starts display control in a display control mode according to the received command (control start). After the display control is performed, the display control is terminated (control end).

After starting the control, the CPU 1020 performs fine display control. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of this display control. The CPU 1020 starts display control upon receiving the command (step S9).
00). If the received command is a hit command, the CPU 1020 shifts the processing to step S920. If the received command is a missed command, the CPU 1020 shifts the processing to step S950 (step S910).

In step S920, the RAM 10
A random number for hit stop symbol selection generated by a loop counter (not shown) provided at 90 is randomly selected, and a left symbol, a middle symbol, and a right symbol to be hits are determined according to the lottery result (for example, “ 111 ”to“ 999 ”), and the determined hit information is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 1090. Next, the image processing LSI (VD) is displayed on the LCD panel 1120 so that the symbol variation display in the hit variation pattern is performed.
P) 1060 (step S930), and RA
The number of hits stored in M1080 is the LCD panel 1
In order to cause the image processing LSI 120 to stop and display the information, the hit information is given to the image processing LSI (VDP) 1060 (Step S).
940). Thereby, the CPU 1020 in the case of a hit
Performs a series of fine display controls.

On the other hand, in step S950, RA
A random number for selecting a stop stop symbol generated by a loop counter (not shown) provided in M1090 is randomly selected, and a left symbol, a middle symbol, and a right symbol to be a missed symbol are determined according to the lottery result (for example, “ Combinations other than “111” to “999”),
0 is stored in a predetermined area. Next, the LCD panel 11
In step S960, the CPU 20 controls the image processing LSI (VDP) 1060 so that the symbol variation display in the loss variation pattern is performed, and the hits previously stored in the RAM 1080 are displayed on the LCD panel 1120. In order to stop and display the information, the information of the missed outgoing is read from the image processing LSI (VD
P) 1060 (step S970). As a result, a series of fine display controls are performed by the CPU 1020 in the case of a miss.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, main controller 200 transmits only one command indicating either the big hit state or the off state to CPU 1020. Then, upon receiving the command, the CPU 1020 controls the operation of the special symbol display device 100 according to the gaming state indicated by the received command. Therefore, the special symbol display device 1 has a reduced data capacity used for gaming machine control without having a complicated command table as in the related art.
00, and the processing load on the main control unit 200 can be reduced.

Further, upon receiving the command, the CPU 1020 determines a symbol to be displayed according to the jackpot or the loss, which is the gaming state indicated by the received command, and causes the special symbol display device 100 to perform symbol variation display. After that, the determined symbol is stopped and displayed, so that the CPU 1020 can perform the symbol change and the symbol stop display at the time of the big hit and the time without the reliance on the main control unit 200.

The processing shown in FIG. 9 is an example of display control, and includes a character motion for displaying a character motion using data in the character ROM 1180, a background image setting process for appropriately setting a background image, and a variable display. At least one process such as a process of changing the speed and a time shortening process of shortening the fluctuation time may be included in the flowchart of FIG. 9 as appropriate. Thus, the CPU 1020
Is a display process using a character during the variable display,
Since the display control is performed by executing at least one of the processing of setting the background image and the processing of changing the fluctuation speed in the fluctuation display of the identification information, the CPU 102
0 can perform fine display control without relying on the main control unit 200.

(Second Embodiment) This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that
This is a case where the sound effect generator 116 is an example of a peripheral device. As shown in FIG. 11, the sound effect generator 116 includes a speaker 2040 that outputs a sound effect,
A CPU 2000 for controlling the operation of this and a RO storing a control program and an output control pattern table 2035 are stored.
M2030 and RAM 2 functioning as a work area, etc.
010. Output control pattern table 20
35 stores effect sound output patterns corresponding to the hit command and the miss command.

As shown in FIG. 13, when a command is transmitted from main controller 200, it is received (step S13).
00), if this is a hit command, step S13
20. On the other hand, in the case of an off command, the process proceeds to step S1330 (step S13).
10). That is, upon receiving the hit command, the CPU 2000 controls the sound effect output in the hit control pattern using the speaker 2040 (step S20).
1320) On the other hand, upon receiving the disconnection command, the sound effect output control using the disconnection control pattern is performed using the speaker 2040 (step S133).
0), the sound effect output ends in step S1340.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, C
When receiving the command, the PU 2000 performs an operation control such that a sound effect is output from the speaker 2040 according to the hit control pattern when the hit command is received. On the other hand, when a disconnection command is received, operation control is performed so that a sound effect is output from the speaker 2040 in a disconnection control pattern. Therefore, the operation of the sound effect generator 116 can be controlled by reducing the data capacity used for controlling the gaming machine without having a complicated command table as in the related art, and the processing load on the main control unit 200 can be reduced.

(Third Embodiment) This embodiment is similar to the third embodiment.
This is a case where the lamp display device 100 (112) is an example of a peripheral device. As shown in FIG. 12, the lamp display device 110 (112) includes a lamp 30 to be turned on.
40, a CPU 3000 for controlling the operation thereof, a ROM 3030 storing a control program and a lighting output control pattern table 3035, and a RAM 3010 functioning as a work area or the like. The lighting output control pattern table 3035 stores a lighting output control pattern corresponding to each of the hit command and the off command.

As shown in FIG. 14, when a command is transmitted from main controller 200, it is received (step S14).
00), if this is a hit command, step S14
20. On the other hand, in the case of a miss command, the process proceeds to step S1430 (step S14).
10). That is, the CPU 3000 performs the lighting output control in the hit lighting output control pattern using the lamp 3040 when the hit command is received (step S1420). On the other hand, when the miss command is received, the CPU 3000 disconnects. The lighting output control in the lighting output control pattern is performed using the lamp 3040 (step S14).
30), the lighting is ended in step S1440.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, C
When receiving the command, the PU2000 controls the lighting of the lamp 3040 according to the hit lighting output control pattern when the hit command is received. On the other hand, when a disconnection command is received, lighting of the lamp 3040 is controlled by a disconnection lighting output control pattern. Therefore, the data amount used for controlling the gaming machine is reduced without having a complicated command table as in the related art, and the lamp display device 110 (11
2) The operation of the sound effect generator 116 can be controlled.
The processing load on the main control unit 200 can be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that various modifications and changes can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The example of the peripheral device is not limited to these, and the present invention can be applied to other devices. The present invention is also suitable for application to pachislot machines other than pachinko machines.

As described above, claims 1 and 7 can be used.
According to the invention according to the first aspect, the main control unit transmits only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or another game state to the sub-control unit, and the sub-control unit receives the command. As a trigger, the operation of the peripheral device is controlled in accordance with the gaming state indicated by the received command, so that the peripheral device has a reduced data capacity used for gaming machine control without having a complicated command table as in the related art. And the processing load on the main control means can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the main control means transmits only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or a game state other than this to the display control means, The display control means controls the operation of the display means according to the game state indicated by the received command when the command is received, so that the display control means does not have a complicated command table as in the related art and is used for controlling the gaming machine. The operation of the display means can be controlled by reducing the data capacity, and the processing load on the main control means can be reduced.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the display control means, upon receiving the command, determines the identification information of the outcome corresponding to the game state indicated by the received command, and After the identification information is changed and displayed, the determined identification information is stopped and displayed on the display means, so that the display control means does not rely on the main control means. The effect that display can be performed is obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the display control means performs a display process using a character, a background image setting process, and a change speed in the change display of the identification information during the change display. Since the operation control of the display means is performed by executing at least one of the processings for changing the display, the effect that the display control means can perform fine display control without depending on the main control means is obtained. Can be

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the received command indicates a big hit state upon receiving the command, the game effect information output unit control means controls the game with the big hit game effect information output pattern. The operation control is performed such that the game effect information is output from the effect information output unit. On the other hand, if the received command indicates a missed state, the operation is controlled so that the game effect information is output from the game effect information output unit in the game effect information output pattern.
It is possible to control the operation of the game effect information output unit by reducing the data volume used for controlling the gaming machine without having a complicated command table as in the related art, and to reduce the processing load on the main control unit. .

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the effect of controlling the output of the effect sound or the effect light can be obtained with only one command from the main control means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a game board 10;

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the gaming machine.

3 is a block diagram of the special symbol display device 100. FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a character ROM memory map and pallet data.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the timing of command transmission and reception.

6 is an explanatory diagram of commands for controlling peripheral device operation stored in a command data table area 202. FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a data format of a command stored in a command data table area 202.

FIG. 8 is a general flowchart for explaining a game control operation of the gaming machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Game board 100 Special symbol display device 102 Normal symbol operation gate 104 Special symbol start-up port 106 Big winning opening 108 Normal symbol display device 110 Lamp display device 112 Lamp display device 114 Out port 116 Sound effect generator 120 Opening / closing member 200 Main control unit 201 ROM 202 Command data table area 203 RAM 210 Input port 213 Reset circuit 212 Power supply circuit 215 Output port 300 Starting port operating solenoid 302 Large winning port operating solenoid 304 Special symbol starting switch 306 Normal symbol operating switch 308 Large winning port switch 1020 CPU 1040 Program ROM 1060 Image processing LSI 1080 Video RAM 1090 RAM 1100 LCD panel interface circuit 1120 LCD panel 11 0 data receiving circuit 1160 supply circuit 1180 character ROM 2000 CPU 2035 outputs control pattern table 3000 CPU 3035 lighting output control pattern table

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A game machine, comprising: main control means for controlling the operation of the entire game machine; and sub-control means for controlling the operation of peripheral devices of the game machine, wherein the main control means comprises: Is a means for transmitting only one command indicating either a gaming state or a gaming state other than this to the sub-control means. The sub-control means, upon receiving the command, A gaming machine, which is means for controlling the operation of the peripheral device according to the indicated gaming state. 2. A gaming machine, comprising: main control means for controlling the operation of the entire gaming machine; and display control means for controlling the operation of a display means capable of displaying identification information, wherein the main control means A means for transmitting only one command indicating either a game state advantageous to the player or a game state other than this to the sub-control means, and the sub-control means, upon receiving the command, A gaming machine, comprising: means for controlling the operation of the display means in accordance with a gaming state indicated by a received command. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein, upon receiving the command, the display control means determines identification information of an outcome corresponding to a game state indicated by the received command. A gaming machine characterized in that the display means displays the change of the identification information and then stops and displays the determined identification information on the display means. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the display control means performs a display process using a character during the variable display.
A gaming machine that performs at least one of a background image setting process and a process of changing a fluctuation speed in the fluctuation display of identification information to control the operation of the display unit. . 5. A gaming machine, comprising: main control means for controlling the operation of the entire gaming machine; and a game effect information output unit for controlling the operation of a game effect information output unit for outputting game effect information for the game effect. Control means, wherein the main control means is means for transmitting only one command indicating either a big hit state or a loss state to the game effect information output unit control means, and the game effect information output The unit control means controls the operation such that the game effect information is output from the game effect information output unit in a big hit game effect information output pattern when the received command indicates a big hit state, upon receiving the command. On the other hand, if the received command indicates a missed state, the game effect information is output from the game effect information output unit in the game effect information output pattern. A gaming machine, which is means for performing operation control. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the game effect information output unit is configured to output an effect sound for a game effect or to output an effect light for a game effect. A gaming machine characterized by being made. 7. A method for controlling a peripheral device in a gaming machine, comprising: a main control unit for controlling an operation of the entire gaming machine; and a sub-control unit for controlling an operation of a peripheral device of the gaming machine. Transmits only one command indicating either a gaming state advantageous to the player or any other gaming state to the sub-control means, and upon receiving the command, the sub-control means
A method of controlling a peripheral device of a gaming machine, wherein the operation control of the peripheral device is performed according to a game state indicated by the received command.