JP2001231985A - Method for displaying special pattern of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the entertainingness of a game machine. SOLUTION: A light is applied from a light source 1 to a specific three- dimensional object among a plurality of three-dimensional objects of special pattern to composite an image, which is displayed by a special pattern display device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a special symbol display of a gaming machine in which a game is played by changing and displaying an image pattern (special symbol) such as a plurality of numbers on a display unit to open a winning opening of a variable winning device. About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a game machine called a pachinko machine is provided with a display device arranged at the center of a game board and displaying a special symbol composed of a plurality of figures and figures while changing the pattern. There is. And of the image pattern,
For example, if the combination of multiple numbers is "8", "8",
When a predetermined combination such as "8" is reached, the variable winning device is opened for a certain period of time. A special prize state is set and a game value is given to the player. Further, the probability of the combination of the image patterns in the special prize state (hereinafter, referred to as fluctuation probability) is not fixed but is changed according to the game state.

[0003] The value of the variation probability is represented by, for example, a number, and is displayed on a display so that the player is notified of the value of the variation probability. Examples of gaming machines that perform three-dimensional display of special symbols include Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-70229 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
No. 81) has been proposed.

[0004]

However, in the above proposal, the movement of the three-dimensional object is, for example, only a rotational movement, and the recreation of the player is poor.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a special symbol display method for a gaming machine which can enhance entertainment.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is to project a specific three-dimensional object among a plurality of three-dimensional objects having a special design in a virtual space by using a light source. An image of the plurality of special symbols in a lighted state viewed from a camera viewpoint is synthesized, and the synthesized image is displayed by a special symbol display device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the special symbol display method for a gaming machine according to the first aspect, the light source changes a three-dimensional object to be projected in time series. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the method for displaying a special symbol for a gaming machine according to the first aspect, information is notified by changing a light emitting state of the light source.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the special symbol display method for a gaming machine according to the third aspect, the change in the light emitting state is a change in the color of light of the light source.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a gaming machine, in this case,
1 shows an example of a front view of a pachinko machine. Since the mechanical structure of the pachinko machine can be the same as that of the conventional example as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-319252, the description will be limited to only the components related to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a special symbol display device for variably displaying an image pattern.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a variable winning device that opens a winning opening when the image pattern is a combination of predetermined specific numbers, that is, when a special prize state is established. 102 is a specific area, and when a game ball wins during the special prize state, the special prize state is continued.

Reference numeral 103 denotes a normal symbol display device, and when a game ball wins a specific winning opening, different numbers are displayed while changing.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration of a control system of the gaming machine.
The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 200 denotes a CPU that functions as a main control unit. The CPU 200 uses a CPU chip including a ROM 201 and a RAM 202,
The ROM and the RAM may be connected by a bus.

The ROM 201 stores a program for controlling the gaming machine. The program includes a program for setting a change probability and designating a display pattern corresponding to the change probability. The ROM 201 further stores various parameter values for controlling the gaming machine.

The RAM 202 stores input / output data to / from the CPU 200, data for arithmetic processing, and the like. 20
Reference numeral 3 denotes an input port for inputting a signal from each circuit described later and transferring the signal to the CPU 200. Reference numeral 204 denotes a special symbol start switch, which is installed at a specific winning opening. When the number of the special symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 100 is a combination of specific numbers, and when the game ball wins the specific winning opening, the special symbol start switch 204 is operated, and the CPU is activated.
In accordance with the instruction of 301, the winning opening of the variable winning device 101 is opened.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a normal symbol operation switch. When a game ball wins a specific winning opening, the normal symbol operation switch 205 is operated, and a winning device, for example, a tulip is opened by an instruction from the CPU 200. Reference numeral 206 denotes a specific area switch, which is provided in the specific area 102 shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 207 denotes a conventionally well-known other switch group for operating each part of the gaming machine in accordance with the gaming state.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a power supply circuit for supplying power to the entire circuit of FIG. Reference numeral 209 denotes a variable input device, which is a CPU.
The winning opening is opened / closed by an instruction from 200. 210 is a device (including a circuit) installed in a conventionally well-known game.

Reference numeral 211 denotes a lamp display device related to a game, and selectively turns on / off a plurality of lamps according to an instruction from the CPU 200. A speaker 212 outputs sound related to the game.

FIG. 3 shows the internal structure of the special symbol display device 100.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU, which performs image processing and image display control according to a program stored in a program ROM 306.

Reference numeral 302 denotes a main control unit (CPU) 200
The display command signal receiving circuit receives a command signal relating to display, in this example, an identification code indicating a pattern of a symbol to be displayed.

Reference numeral 303 denotes a character ROM, which is data relating to a three-dimensional object for synthesizing an image (combination pattern) for displaying a special symbol, that is, shape data indicating the shape of the three-dimensional object (such as a wire frame or an object). ) And an image (called a texture) to be pasted (mapped) on the surface of the three-dimensional object, and an identification code (identification number of a special symbol) corresponding to the position and the image on the three-dimensional object.

Reference numeral 304 denotes an image processing LSI (integrated circuit), which outputs an image to be displayed on an LCD (liquid crystal) display 305 according to the control procedure of FIG.
The image is synthesized on the M 308, and the synthesized image is read out from the video RAM 308 at regular intervals and output to the LCD display 305.

An LCD display 305 displays an image synthesized by the image processing LSI 304. Three
A program ROM 06 stores a program for image processing executed by the CPU 301. The program ROM 306 stores a display control program defining the contents of the display control performed by the CPU 301.

Reference numeral 307 denotes a RAM, which temporarily stores data used for the arithmetic processing of the CPU 301. Reference numeral 308 denotes a video RAM for synthesizing an image to be displayed on the video RAM 308.

Prior to describing the present invention, an image processing LS
The processing of I304 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the processing contents of the basic program included in the image processing LSI 304. In FIG. 4, an instruction is sent from the main control unit 200 to the image processing LSI 304 to determine which corresponding symbol (identification number) is to be displayed as in the related art (step S1).
0). Upon receiving this instruction, the image processing LSI 304 reads out data relating to the objects and textures stored in the character ROM 302, creates an image described later using a three-dimensional processing program prepared in advance, and stores the image in the video RAM 308. Write (Step S2
0).

The image stored in the video RAM 308 is read out by the image processing LCD at regular intervals and read out by the LCD.
Display 305 is sent and displayed (step S3
0). The above processing procedure is repeatedly executed each time the special symbol is displayed in a variable manner.

The variable display control according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the three-dimensional object 2 having a plurality of special symbols is moved on a predetermined activation in the three-dimensional space. At this time, light is emitted from the light source 1 only to a three-dimensional object having a specific special design. At this time, images of a plurality of three-dimensional objects viewed from a camera viewpoint (not shown) are synthesized on the video RAM 308 and displayed on the LCD display 305 in a time-series manner, so that a special symbol is displayed in a three-dimensional manner.

The type (identification number) of the special symbol to be displayed on the display screen is designated by the main control unit 200 as before, and the object and the texture (if necessary, the background image) of the designated special symbol are read out. A calculation formula for calculating the position in the virtual space, or a predetermined position (these data are stored in the character ROM
(Prestored in the memory 302), a three-dimensional image of the special symbol is written by the image processing LSI 304.
At this time, the image processing LSI 204 is a character ROM.
Data relating to the direction, light quantity, and position of the light source stored in 204 is used.

Since the process of synthesizing an image of a three-dimensional object when light is emitted from a light source at a specific position can be realized by a well-known image processing technique, detailed description will not be required.

As described above, by projecting light onto a three-dimensional object having a specific special symbol and displaying the state in three dimensions, the following information can be notified to the player. a) By emitting light when the variable display is stopped, the stopped special symbol can be emphasized. b) Even if a plurality of special symbols are variably displayed, it is possible to notify that the projected special symbols are the final result of the lottery by projecting light. Therefore, it is not necessary to stop the change of the special symbol. c) By changing the color of the light projected from the light source, the blinking sensation, the change in the light projection position, and the speed of the change in the amount of light, the variation probability of the lottery can be expressed, and an error warning and other information can be reported. it can. Regarding these changes in the light emitting state, data for changing the characteristics such as the color described above in time series is stored in the character ROM 302, and the light emitting state is changed in the virtual space using the stored data. A simulation may be performed.

It should be noted that the light emitting position (direction) of the light source 1 may be arbitrarily moved while the special symbol fluctuates, and it is not necessary to constantly emit the special symbol.

Further, it is not necessary to limit the number of special symbols to be projected to one, and it is needless to say that three-dimensional objects of different numbers of special symbols different in time series may be projected. It is needless to say that a plurality of light sources may be provided.

Various modifications can be made in addition to the above-described embodiment. However, as long as the modification is based on the technical idea described in the claims, the modification falls within the technical scope of the present invention. .

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a variety of novel effects relating to pachinko gaming by projecting a specific special symbol on a light source, thereby improving the entertainment of a gaming machine. Can be enhanced. Further, by selecting the timing and target of light projection, there is also an effect that various information can be notified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of the front of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a special symbol display device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a display control procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing display control contents according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Special symbol display device 101 Variable winning device 102 Specific area 103 Normal symbol display device 200, 301 CPU 304 Image processing LSI 305 LCD display

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuo Nakajima 2-3014-8 Hirosawacho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma 8 Heiwanai Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuki Matsumoto 2-3014 Hirosawacho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma 8 shares Heiwauchi Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeaki Sueoka, 2-3014-8, Hirosawa-cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma 8 Heiwauchi Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Michiharu Akasaka 2-3014, Hirosawa-cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma 8 Heiwanai Corporation F-term (reference) 2C088 AA31 AA33 AA35 AA36 BC22 EB55

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image of a plurality of special symbols in a state where a specific three-dimensional object among a plurality of special three-dimensional objects is projected by a light source in a virtual space from a viewpoint of a camera is synthesized. A special symbol display method for a gaming machine, wherein the combined image is displayed by a special symbol display device. 2. The special symbol display method for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the light source changes a three-dimensional object to be projected in time series. . 3. The special symbol display method for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the information is notified by changing a light emitting state of the light source. 4. The special symbol display method for a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the change in the light emitting state is a change in the color of light of the light source.