JP2001218926A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a Pachinko machine which provides a variable pattern in a ready for winning state which can stimulate a feel of expectancy of a player. SOLUTION: When it is judged that a combination of patterns of a left and center pattern display devices, variations of which have been stopped, except for a right pattern display device which is stopped last, is in a ready for wining state in a step 124, variation displays are started again in the left and center pattern display devices in a step 132, so that the displays of the left and center pattern display devices are stopped simultaneously with the right pattern display device in a step 138.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game board, which variably displays a plurality of identification information provided on a variable display section provided so as to be visible from the front and stops the game. The present invention relates to a gaming machine that generates a gaming state advantageous to a player and a disadvantageous gaming state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the variable display of a plurality of symbol displays of a symbol display device is sequentially stopped, and when the variation result indicates a predetermined combination of large hit symbols, a large hit game state is established and a variable winning device is set. A number of game machines such as pachinko machines driven by a predetermined mode are provided on the market. In such a pachinko machine, the reach state which can be said to be a reserve state of the big hit game state, that is, when the first symbol display excluding the second symbol display which fluctuates and stops at the last stops the fluctuation, the first symbol Notify the player with a sound effect or a lamp that the combination of the symbol displayed on the display and the symbol displayed on the second symbol display that fluctuates at the end may become a combination of the big hit symbol, It was intended to give a sense of expectation to be a big hit game state and enhance the atmosphere of the game. And
The variation mode of the symbol display in the reach state described above is
In almost all models, only the last second symbol display is variably displayed while the reach symbol is displayed on the first symbol display already stopped.

[0003]

For this reason, the fluctuation pattern in the reach state is standardized and lacks in attractiveness in terms of raising the expectation of the player, which is the initial purpose, and tends to be tired of the player. Was. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine that exhibits a fluctuation pattern that can excite a player's expectation more than before. It is in.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a variable display device is provided with a plurality of variable display sections capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information. When a predetermined condition is satisfied in a gaming machine that generates a special gaming state advantageous to a player when a combination of identification information definitely displayed on the variable display unit becomes predetermined specific information, a predetermined condition is satisfied. The display control of each variable display section is performed as if the first identification information of the variable display section of one of the variable identification sections is chasing the second identification information of another variable display section, and the relative relationship between the first identification information and the second identification information is controlled. The speed is variably controlled. In this case, it is preferable that the specific information is constituted by confirming and displaying the first identification information and the second identification information on the respective variable display portions.

[0005]

A unique display effect in which the first identification information of a predetermined variable display section of each variable display section follows the second identification information of another variable display section is performed, as in the related art. This is a display effect completely different from a display effect in which the identification information is stopped in a predetermined variable display portion and the determination result in another variable display portion is waited for. as a result,
As a display effect in the process from the start of the variable display of the identification information in each variable display unit until it is determined, a display effect that is varied enough to be watched by the player is realized, and the variable display is performed. The game in the gaming machine using the device can be given a fresh taste and the thickness of the game increases. Further, since the relative speed between the first identification information and the second identification information can be changed, control such as reducing the relative speed in a portion approaching the combination of the specific information indicating the occurrence of the special game state is also performed. This makes it possible to give the player a strong sense of expectation and to give the game a further thickness.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a configuration of the pachinko machine 1 as a gaming machine according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a front view of the pachinko machine 1. In the figure, a metal frame 3 is provided around an opening of a front frame 2 formed in a frame shape of the pachinko machine 1. A glass door frame 4 having glass and a front plate 5 are provided on the metal frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. A game board 6 is arranged behind the glass door frame 4, and an upper plate 7 that stores hit balls and supplies the hit balls to a hit ball firing position (not shown) is fixed on the surface of the front plate 5. Further, below the front frame 2, there are provided an operation handle 8, which is a part of the hit ball launching device 40 (see FIG. 4), and a lower plate 9, which stores prize balls that could not be stored in the upper plate 7. I have.

On the front surface of the game board 6, a game area 11 defined by a guide rail 10 provided in a substantially circular shape.
Are formed. A symbol display device 12 as a variable display device that constitutes a main part of the present embodiment is disposed substantially at the center of the game area 11. The symbol display device 12 includes a start storage display LED 14 for notifying that the number of winning balls that have won the start winning ports 18a to 18c to be described later is stored, and a plurality of variable display units (in the case of the present embodiment, Is 3
) Symbol displays 13a to 13c. The start memory display LED 14 is used for displaying a start winning prize port 18 when a hit ball is being displayed while the symbol indicators 13a to 13c are being changed or a jackpot game state is being displayed.
When the winning is made, the start storage display LEDs 14 are turned on by the number corresponding to the held numbers, and are turned off one by one every time the symbol indicators 13a to 13c start changing. However, the maximum number of the stored memos is four, and a winning prize beyond that is invalidated.

Further, the symbol display 13a in the present embodiment.
13c are constituted by 7-segment LEDs, and there are ten types of symbols as identification information displayed by the numbers "0" to "9". The symbol displays 13a to 13c indicate that the hit ball is a starting winning opening 18a to 1
Based on the winning of 8c, the above-mentioned numbers are displayed in a fluctuating manner at such a speed that the player cannot identify them, and when a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed, first the left symbol display 13a
Of the symbol display 13b is stopped, and after the predetermined time elapses, the fluctuation display of the symbol display 13b is stopped, and after the predetermined time elapses, the right symbol display 13c is controlled to stop. When all the symbols displayed on the three symbol indicators 13a to 13c at the time of stop are the same number, a big hit game state is established, and as described later, the variable prize device 15 is controlled to drive a large number of prize balls in a short time. Is caused to occur. When the reach state is reached, the fluctuation speed is changed to a speed at which the player can identify the symbol (number), as will be described in detail later.

A variable winning device 15 is arranged below the symbol display device 12 described above. The variable winning device 15 has an opening / closing plate 16, and the opening / closing plate 16 is driven to be opened and closed by an attacker solenoid 17 (not shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2). In addition, the variable winning device 15 includes a winning ball number detection switch 2 for detecting a winning ball received with the opening / closing plate 16 opened.
1 and a V prize ball detection switch 20 (not shown) for detecting a prize ball which has won a V prize hole formed in the opening / closing plate 16;
However, both are shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2). The variable prize winning device 15 configured as described above, until the opening and closing plate 16 passes for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) when the big hitting game state is reached, or a predetermined number (for example, 10) of prize balls. , And such an open state is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 times) on condition that a winning ball wins the V winning opening. The switch 21 for detecting the number of winning balls,
A switch 20 for counting the number of winning balls accepted during one opening of the opening / closing plate 16
Is used to detect a condition under which the opening / closing plate 16 is repeatedly opened.

In the game area 11, a start winning port 18 is provided.
a to 18c are provided. This starting winning port 18a ~
18c is a symbol display 13a-13 of the symbol display device 12
Therefore, the starting winning ports 18a to 18c are provided with starting winning ball detection switches 19a to 19c (not shown; however, not shown;
(Shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2). In addition, the starting winning port 18a is a symbol display device 12 and a variable winning device 15
The start winning ports 18b and 18c are disposed on the left and right sides of the opening and closing plate 16 of the variable winning device 15, respectively.

Further, in the game area 11, a symbol display device 1 is provided.
2 are provided with tulip-type winning ports 22a and 22b on both sides thereof.
a and 23b are arranged. These winning openings 22a,
The operation lamps 22b, 23a, and 23b are turned on or blinked according to various game states (not shown).
(However, shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2). Also, on each of the left and right sides of the game area 11, big hit lamps 25a and 25b which blink when a big hit game state is entered and notify the player of the fact are arranged. Further, at the lowermost part of the game area 11, there is provided an out opening 26 for collecting hit balls which do not win the above-mentioned winning opening or the like.

The big hit lamps 25a and 25b and the operation lamp 24 blink or flash in a predetermined manner during the big hit game state. In this embodiment, the symbol display device 12 is in the reach state. The display is also controlled in a different manner when it becomes. The big hit lamps 25a and 25b and the operation lamp 24 provided on the game board 6 are mainly used for notifying a player playing with the pachinko machine 1 of the fact or enhancing the atmosphere of the game. The display is driven, and a big hit state or a reach state is notified to another player or a store clerk of the game hall by a frame lamp device 27 provided above the front frame 2 of the pachinko machine 1, and the atmosphere of the state is displayed. Is increasing. A plurality of frame lamps 28 are built in the frame lamp device 27.
9 and connected to the game control circuit board 33a housed in the control board box 33, and the display is controlled when the gaming state becomes the big hit gaming state or the reach state.

Next, the back structure of the pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a mechanism plate 30 is provided on the back surface of the pachinko machine 1. At the substantially center of the mechanism plate 30, a square opening 31 is opened, and the winning ball set cover 32 fixed to the back surface of the game board 6 faces the opening 31. This winning ball set cover 32
Is for covering the back surface of the plurality of prize devices and the prize holes provided on the game board 6, and guiding downward the prize balls which have won the prize devices and the prize holes. A control board box 33 for accommodating a game control circuit board 33a in which a control circuit including a microcomputer 50 to be described later is configured is fixed to the back surface of the winning ball collecting cover 32.

On the other hand, the mechanism plate 30 is, as is well known,
Various mechanisms are provided for processing the generated winning balls one by one and discharging a predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to the processed winning balls. For this reason, on the front side of the mechanism plate 30, there is formed a winning ball collecting gutter that collects generated winning balls in one place and sends them to the winning ball processing device 38.
On the rear side, various mechanisms for discharging the prize ball are provided. To explain these mechanisms, a prize ball tank 34 for storing a large number of prize balls supplied from a prize ball supply mechanism (not shown) is provided at the uppermost portion of the mechanism plate 30, and a prize ball is provided below the prize ball tank 34. A prize ball guiding gutter 35 for arranging the balls is provided at an angle. The prize ball guiding gutter 35 is arranged so that the prize balls are arranged in two rows. Also connected to the prize ball guiding gutter 35 and connected to the curve gutter 3
6 is provided to reduce the ball pressure of the prize balls stored in the prize ball guiding gutter 35. The prize balls arranged in two rows by the prize ball guiding gutter 35 and flowing down are supplied to a prize ball discharge device 37. Premium ball discharging device 37
Is provided with a stopper member which alternately opens and closes a storage cylinder for storing a predetermined number (for example, 15) of prize balls, and processes the prize balls one by one with the stopper member. When driven by the device 38, a predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to one winning ball are paid out. Then, the prize ball discharged from the prize ball discharging device 37 passes through the prize ball discharge passage to the upper plate 7 or the lower plate 9.
Is to be led to.

On one side of the upper part of the mechanism plate 30, there is provided a terminal terminal board 39 on which power supply terminals for the pachinko machine 1 and terminals for connecting the pachinko machine 1 and a hall computer (not shown) are collectively formed. Is provided. The terminal terminal board 39 is also provided with terminals for connecting the game control circuit board 33a housed in the control board box 33 and the frame lamp 28 of the frame lamp device 27. It is needless to say that power is supplied to the hit ball launching device 40 provided at one lower side of the back surface of the pachinko machine 1 through the terminal board 39.

The various configurations provided in the pachinko machine 1 and the game board 6 have been described above. The above-described symbol display device 12, the variable winning device 15 and the like are controlled by the control circuit shown in FIG. This control circuit is formed on the game control circuit board 33a housed in the control board box 33, and controls the microcomputer 50 constituting the simultaneous re-variable display control means as a control center constituting the re-variable display control means. Contains. Microcomputer 50
, An external ROM 51 and an external RAM 52 are connected. The external ROM 51 stores program data indicating a processing procedure, and the external RAM 52 writes and calls necessary data. The start winning detection switches 19a to 19c, the winning ball detection switch 21, and the V winning ball detection switch 20 are connected to the microcomputer 50 via a waveform shaping circuit 53 composed of a flip-flop.

The clock generating circuit 55 outputs an external interrupt signal via the frequency dividing circuit 54 to the IN of the microcomputer 50.
Output to T terminal. Then, in synchronization with the external interrupt signal, the microcomputer 50
Execute the main program stored in. Also,
When power is supplied to the power supply circuit 57, a reset signal is output from the reset signal generation circuit 56 to the microcomputer 50, and the reset signal activates an initial program.

A display driving circuit 58, a display selection circuit 59, a first
The flash circuit 60, the second flash circuit 61, the stop symbol identification signal output terminal 62, and the driver 63 are connected. The display driving circuit 58 and the display selecting circuit 59 include:
Symbol indicators 13a to 13c and start memory display LED 14
Is connected. These displays are dynamically driven by outputting selected data and display data from the microcomputer 50 at regular intervals.

The frame lamp 28 is connected to the first flash circuit 60 and the second flash circuit 61, and when the big hitting game state is reached, the first flash circuit 60 is driven by the big hit signal and when the reach state is reached. Then, the second flash circuit 61 is driven by the reach signal to display and drive the frame lamp 28 in each mode. The stop symbol identification signal output terminal 62 has a symbol display 1
Stop symbol identification signals corresponding to the symbols displayed in 3a to 13c are output. The stop symbol identification signal is output as a serial signal in a character code. Therefore, the stop symbol identification signal output terminal 6
By connecting the device 2 to a display device such as an external printing device or display via a personal computer or the like, a stop symbol pattern including a hit symbol pattern can be known. In addition,
The stop symbol identification signal may be output directly to the printing device as a parallel signal.

The driver 63 includes the microcomputer 5
In response to the signal from 0, the attacker solenoid 17 is driven to control lighting or blinking of the big hit lamps 25a and 25b and the operation lamp 24.

Referring to FIG. 1, a variable display subroutine showing a processing procedure of variable display of the symbol displays 13a to 13c among operations controlled by the above-described control circuit will be described. First, during the big hit game state, the symbol display 13a
Since 13 to 13c are usually used in the big hit display processing, if it is determined in step 100 that the big hit flag is set, the following variable display subroutine processing is not executed.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the big hit flag has not been set, the state of the symbol displays 13a to 13c is determined in steps 102 to 108. Specifically, in step 102, all the symbol display devices 13a to 13a to
It is determined whether or not 13c is in a fluctuating state (state flag F = 1).
It is determined whether or not only 3a is in a state where the fluctuation is stopped (state flag F = 2).
It is determined whether or not 3), and in step 108, it is determined whether or not the combination of the symbols displayed on the middle left symbol indicators 13a and 13b is in the reach state (state flag F = 4).

When none of the above-mentioned states is present (when the state is not fluctuating), the state flag F is 0. At this time, in step 110, the start storage for storing the winning of the hit ball into the start winning openings 18a to 18c. It is determined whether or not the value of the counter C is 1 or more. If there is no stored value in the start storage counter C, the process ends without executing the following processing of the variable display subroutine.

When the value of the start storage counter C is 1 or more, the timers t1, t2, and t3 are set in step 112, and in step 114, all the symbol displays 13a to 13a-1 are set.
The fluctuation of 3c is started at the speed A, and the value of the state flag F is set to "1". The timers t1, t2, and t3 regulate the fluctuation time of each of the symbol displays 13a to 13c, and have a relationship of t1 <t2 <t3; t2-t1２−t3-t2. Further, the speed A is a speed at which a fluctuating symbol cannot be identified by the player, and each symbol indicator 13a to
The fluctuation speed of 13c may be unified with the speed A or may be set with different speeds (for example, A1, A2, A3), but in any case, it is desirable to set the speed at which the symbol cannot be identified. . Then, at step 116, the timer t1
If the time is not up, step 116 → variation display subroutine end ... variation display subroutine start → step 102 → step 116 →...

When it is determined that the timer t1 has expired, the variable display on the left symbol display 13a is stopped in step 118 and the value of the state flag F is set to "2". Hereinafter, similarly, step 120
It is determined whether or not the time of the timer t2 has expired, and if it is determined that the time has expired, the process proceeds to step 122.
Then, the variable display of the symbol display 13b is stopped and the value of the state flag F is set to "3". Then, when the variable display of the left and middle symbol displays 13a and 13b is stopped, it is determined in step 124 whether the display is a reach display.

If it is not reach display, step 12
At 6, it is determined whether or not the timer t3 has expired.
Until the timer t3 times out, step 126 → variation display subroutine end ... variation display subroutine start → step 106 → step 124 → step 126
If the time is up, the process proceeds to step 138.

On the other hand, if the reach display is determined, it is determined in step 128 whether or not the reach flag has already been set. If not, the reach flag is set in step 130 and the timer t
4 is newly set, and “4” is set as the value of the status flag F. Here, the timer t4 is used to extend the fluctuation time of the right symbol display 13c, which stops changing at the end in the reach state, and has a value (a plurality of values of a plurality of values) having a relationship of t4> (t3-t2). One value may be randomly extracted from among them). Timer t4
Also functions as a variation time when the variation of the left and middle symbol indicators 13a and 13b that have already been stopped is restarted.
Therefore, in the next step 132, the left / middle change is restarted at the speed B, and in step 134, the change speed of the right change is changed to the speed C.
Change to In this case, the relationship between the speeds is set such that, for example, A≫B> C or A≫C> B as compared with the speed A, and B and C are relatively close values. By setting the speed at which B and C are approximated and the symbols can be identified in this way, the symbols displayed on the symbol indicators 13a and 13b that have started to change again and the symbol symbols 13c on the right side that have not yet been determined are determined. Is changed in such a way that the symbols displayed on the screen will run away from each other, so that the player's sense of expectation as to whether or not the combination of the big hit symbols can be excited, and an unprecedented fluctuation pattern in the reach state You can enjoy. In addition, not only in the reach state, but also at the time of normal fluctuation, the fluctuation speed of each symbol display is a speed at which a symbol can be identified and is set to a speed of a different value, so that each symbol display is displayed on each symbol display. Since the symbols fluctuate in such a way as to run behind each other, it is possible to enjoy an unprecedented variation pattern. In this case, the relative speeds may be changed (including the same speed) during the fluctuation.

Thus, it is determined in step 136 whether or not the timer t4 has timed out. Step 136 → variation display subroutine end ... variation display subroutine start → step 10 until the timer t4 times out.
.. Are repeated, and when the time is up, the process proceeds to step 138.

When the timer t3 when the reach display is not performed has timed out, the timer t4 when the reach display is performed.
When the time is up, the variable display of all the symbol displays 13a to 13c is stopped in step 138.
At this time, in the stop in the reach state, the symbol displayed before the start of the re-change is displayed as the stop symbol displayed on the left and middle symbol indicators 13a and 13b. Thereafter, in step 140, it is determined whether or not the combination of the big hit symbols. If it is determined that the big hit is not a big hit, the reach flag is reset and the state flag is reset in step 142, and in step 146, the stop symbol identification signal is output. After the processing, the variable display subroutine ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined that a big hit has occurred, the reach flag is reset and the state flag is reset in step 144, and the big hit flag is set. In step 146, the stop symbol identification signal is output. Thereafter, the variable display subroutine ends. When the timer t3 has timed out in step 126, it is not necessary to determine the big hit.
The variation display subroutine may be terminated by stopping the variation display of b and resetting only the state flag. Further, the processing of step 146 may be executed after the fluctuation stop processing of step 138.

The configuration and operation of the pachinko machine 1 according to the embodiment have been described above. According to this embodiment, the left / middle symbol display device that has already stopped changing except for the right symbol display device 13c that stops changing at the end. When the combination of the symbols 13a and 13b is in a so-called reach state, the already stopped left and middle symbol displays 13a and 13b are again displayed in a variable manner and stopped almost simultaneously with the right symbol display 13c which finally stops the variation. Since the control is performed, the fluctuation pattern at the time of the reach can be tasted as fresh as ever before, and the player's expectation can be excited. In particular, the fluctuation pattern can be changed by setting the fluctuation speed in the re-change start symbol display in the reach state and the fluctuation speed in the symbol display in which the symbol is not fixed to various values, so that the fluctuation pattern can be changed. It is possible to attract the interest of.

In the embodiment described above, the symbol display 1
Although 3a to 13c are shown as being composed of 7-segment LEDs, other electric symbol displays (for example, LCD display, dot matrix LED, etc.) and mechanical symbol indicators (rotating drum or rotating disk) are provided. A design display device may be used. In addition, the order of stopping each symbol display may be arbitrarily set.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, the first identification information in a predetermined variable display section of each variable display section follows the second identification information in another variable display section. Such a unique display effect is performed, which is completely different from a display effect in which the identification information is stopped at a predetermined variable display unit and the result of determination is waited for at another variable display unit as in the related art. It becomes a display effect of a different kind. As a result, as a display effect in the process from the start of the variable display of the identification information in each variable display unit until it is determined, a display effect that is varied enough to be watched by the player is realized. In addition, it is possible to give a fresh taste to the game in the gaming machine using the variable display device, and to increase the thickness of the game. Further, since the relative speed between the first identification information and the second identification information can be changed, control such as reducing the relative speed in a portion approaching the combination of the specific information indicating the occurrence of the special game state is also performed. This makes it possible to give the player a strong sense of expectation and to give the game a further thickness.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a driving procedure of a symbol display device among operations controlled by the control circuit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit for controlling a game operation of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 6 Game board 12 Symbol display device 13a-13c Symbol display 15 Variable winning device 33 Control board box 50 Microcomputer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A variable display device comprising a plurality of variable display units capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information, wherein a combination of identification information fixedly displayed on each of these variable display units is a predetermined identification. In a gaming machine that generates a special gaming state that is advantageous to the player in response to the information being obtained, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the first identification information of the predetermined variable display unit is changed to the second identification information of the other variable display unit. Display control of each variable display unit as if chasing identification information,
A gaming machine wherein the relative speed between the first identification information and the second identification information is variably controlled. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first identification information and the second identification information are fixedly displayed on respective variable display portions to constitute the specific information.