JP2001327702A - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pachinko machine which enhances game enjoyment by arranging a game rule namely, a pre-winning pattern of the machine involved as previous notice while ensuring greater attraction of a player during the varying period of a pattern display device. SOLUTION: In the pachinko machine, a starting switch activates a main control part in response to the detection of a prize ball to generate the varying of a pattern display device and when the pattern stopped later presents a pre- winning pattern, the winning of jackpot or losing occurs. In the first half of the starting operation of varying the pattern, the pre-winning pattern is expressed by a series of animation image data (Fig.1 (b)) to arrange the pre- winning pattern as previous notice. This allows a player to foresee the development of a game and also can enhance expectation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pachinko machine which enhances the interest of a game by changing the design of a design display device using a liquid crystal or the like mounted on the pachinko machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pattern display device provided in a pachinko machine usually has a display panel of the pattern display device in which one of a plurality of types of symbols (consisting of a numerical value and a specific picture) is placed at a plurality of positions. The symbols are displayed, and the symbols at a plurality of positions are temporarily changed (all symbols are scrolled) by detecting a winning ball, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, one of the symbols is stopped and displayed. Then, it is determined whether or not the stopped symbol is a big hit according to the game rules, and when the big hit is determined, the accessory is operated so as to easily obtain the prize ball.

In a configuration in which three symbols are arranged and displayed on a display panel of a symbol display device, the timing of starting the fluctuation is the same among the three symbols, and the timing of the stop (temporary stop) is different from the game programmed separately. It is controlled based on the game. The display panel is also capable of displaying a background image and a character image by a unique program. Then, during the game, when the symbol change is started by the detection of the winning ball, the three symbols are displayed in a high-speed scroll display, and after a predetermined time, the symbols are stopped in order, and the winning probability increases at the stage when the three symbols are stopped. It is determined whether it is a big hit or not.

In this game, if two symbols stopped first become the same, a so-called reach state is reached.
The player's expectation for the big hit with the three symbols being aligned is increased. Also, there is provided a game game in which a notice symbol (reach notice) appears on the display panel so that when the three symbols start to change, the two symbols become the same in advance. Thereby, during high-speed scrolling of the symbol, the player can estimate a change after the reach.

[0005] As one of the types of pachinko machines for which reach notice is programmed, a character image or a background image displayed on a symbol display device is displayed by changing from a normal series of operations when the symbol starts to scroll at high speed. By doing so, there is a thing that informs the player that the symbol will reach. The character image or the background image is programmed so as to be continuously displayed until the display result is almost understood (until the symbol approaches a stopped state).

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned notice program, even if it is known in advance that a big hit or a reach will be made, it is not known in advance what kind of stop pattern will be made, and the probability of the big hit will be small. Since it is not known in advance whether or not the probability fluctuation will increase, the user will have a vague expectation during high-speed scrolling of the symbol. As a result, the time during which the symbol is changing may interrupt the player's thinking. In addition, there is a possibility that interest in the game may be reduced. Also, even if you know the combination of symbols that will be a big hit for the player who plays the model for the first time,
If only the background image and the character image change, the display operation of the notice may not be noticed and may be recognized as a mere series of moving image patterns. Therefore, it is difficult for the player to directly determine the jackpot notice or the reach notice only by this image change.

According to the present invention, during the fluctuation of the symbol display device, a part of the symbol of the jackpot or the reach is displayed in the first half of the fluctuation period, thereby attracting the player's interest and giving a notice on the symbol that will stop. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pachinko machine that is designed to enhance playability.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a display for displaying a final stop symbol of a symbol to be displayed while the symbol is being changed by the symbol display device. Data is displayed in the first half of the fluctuation process.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a start switch for starting a change of a display symbol, a main control section for detecting a signal of the start switch to execute image control, sound, light effect and the like.
A memory circuit that stores various types of image data, and a memory circuit that stores a series of moving image data, detects a signal from the main control unit, selects various types of image data, and generates a series of moving image data. While storing, a part of the latter half of the series of moving image data is overwritten on the first half of the series of moving image data, and the overwritten series of moving image data is output by a variable symbol display device having a plurality of symbols. And an image display control unit. The symbols are displayed by high-speed scrolling at the start of the fluctuation, and are displayed at a low scroll speed in the latter half of the fluctuation process, and are accompanied by a reach action before the symbols stop. Normally, the final display of a symbol is determined by the determination of a random number, but in the past, the player was not informed until the final symbol was formed. Therefore, a part of the reach action is copied together with the reach data, and the duplicated data is displayed in the first half of the fluctuation process.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, a part of the moving image data for overwriting is selectively overwritten on an original series of moving image data as a moving image or a still image. And

[0011] The invention of claim 4 is claim 2 or claim 3.
In the invention described in (1), a part of the moving image data for overwriting is reduced and overwritten on the original series of moving image data.

The invention of claim 5 is the invention of claims 2 to 4
In the invention described in any one of the above, when a series of overwritten moving image data is displayed, a sound effect or an effect light corresponding to the moving image data is produced.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The pachinko machine is provided with a winning detection switch corresponding to the winning opening of the game ball, and a portion where the starting switch for operating the symbol display device is attached to the winning opening is distinguished as a starting opening. Note that the detection signals of the winning detection switch and the start switch can also be used as signals for processing prize ball payout.

As shown in FIG. 3, a main control unit 1 of the pachinko machine is electrically connected to a start switch 2 provided at a start port.
The drive units 6 and 7 for the effect light are connected, and the speakers 9 and
A lamp 8 is provided. The main controller 1 activates the special winning device 3 when the conditions of the game rules are achieved. By detecting a signal change of the start switch 2, the main control unit 1 converts one selected from the plurality of final stop symbol data, the number of seconds to stop, and the like into a command,
It has a function of transmitting to the image display control unit 4. In addition,
The start switch 2 here is a symbol display device 5 on the surface.
Is operated to scroll the symbol at a high speed to change the symbol.

The image display control unit 4 detects a signal from the main control unit 1 and extracts and reorganizes image data stored in the ROM by the CPU to produce a series of moving image data.
Note that the ROM previously stores, in addition to the design data, the character data, the background data, and the like, variable action data (such as a reach effect) corresponding to the number of seconds to stop. Also,
Sound effects and light effects are stored in chronological order corresponding to a series of moving image data.

The image display control unit 4 stores a series of variable display of the produced moving image data, that is, stores high-speed scrolling, reach, and stopping moving image data in a RAM, and further stores moving image data near a final stop symbol. (Reach mode) is overwritten on the first half of a series of moving image data. At this time,
Some of the sound effects and light effects stored in time series are also overwritten. Then, a series of overwritten moving image data is displayed by the symbol display device 5. When the moving image data in the vicinity of the final stop symbol is overwritten on the first half of the series of moving image data, the data is reduced and overwritten, so that the player can be notified of the data easily. In addition, since the sound effects and the like corresponding to a part of the extracted moving image data are fragmentarily extracted, the support for the player to imagine what the predicted reach is is weak. In such a case, the extraction location of the sound effect or the like may be shifted as appropriate.

That is, the moving image data in the vicinity of the final stop symbol to be notified to the player as a notice is a part of the latter half of the series of moving image data before reorganization, and the former half of the series of moving image data after the organization. Displayed in the section. In the reach mode displayed as a notice, the corresponding sound effect and effect light are generated immediately before the display of the reach mode to attract the player's attention. In addition, it is possible to give a sense of expectation. The moving image data to be notified as a notice is selectively displayed in a state where the notice image is operated or stopped. The display of a symbol by a series of moving image data is performed by high-speed scrolling at the start of the change, and the scroll speed is reduced in the latter half of the change process. If a reach action is involved after judging from a preset final symbol after the start of the low speed, a part of the reach action may be copied together with the reach data, and the copied data may be overwritten on the first half of a series of moving image data.

As shown in FIG. 1A, an example of processing moving image data as described above is as follows. First, a background image (standing tree, forest, etc.) and a character image (rabbit, etc.) appear. The three symbols start high-speed scrolling based on the signal of the start switch 2. Next, a balloon is drawn on the screen as if the image of the character is dreaming, and the content of the dream appears in the balloon. At this time, a corresponding sound effect and effect light are generated. FIG.
As shown in (b), the balloon is displayed enlarged and the image of the reach announcement appears as the content of the dream. That is, moving image data near the final stop symbol (reach mode)
Is a story development that appears as a reach notice in a balloon. The middle symbol in the balloon shown in FIG. 1B is scrolled at a very low speed, but the final stop symbol is not completely understood. Note that the story of the character or the like is not limited to this, and a preview symbol can be displayed in the guideline of the outer shape of a gradually increasing one (here, a balloon).

The process of moving from the symbol of FIG. 1A to the symbol of FIG. 1B is based on the moving image data stored in the RAM of the image display control unit 4, and the character is dreaming. Is displayed in the balloon, but in FIG. 1A, the balloon is still displayed small. When the balloon gradually becomes large and the display panel is full, it bursts and becomes the original high-speed scroll (Fig. 1
(See (c)), the symbols are gradually stopped.

When the symbol approaches the stop state, moving image data near the final stop symbol is displayed continuously.
The symbol in the balloon is displayed, and the player can confirm the reach mode. If the reach mode has a high probability of a big hit, the degree of expectation is concentrated on the final stop symbol after the reach at the stage confirmed by the balloon.

In the final stage in which the symbol stops, the image of the reach notice seen in the first half of the symbol change process is reproduced, and the medium symbol is scrolled at a slow speed. At this stage, the progress of the game is notified to the player by reproducing the notice reach, and the possibility of a big hit can be expected from the player. Then, as shown in FIG. 1D, a reach action (operation of forcibly stopping the symbol in which the rabbit is scrolling at a slow speed or replacing the symbol with the next symbol) is performed. The pattern is forcibly stopped when the symbols are aligned, or the symbol is hit when the symbols are moved up and the symbols are aligned (see FIG. 1 (e)). If it stops at any other timing, it will come off (Fig. 1 (f)
See).

The control of notifying the reach notice together with the symbol change by the symbol display device 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the main control unit 1 selects the reach mode by detecting the signal of the start switch 2, it is selected whether or not to perform a reach notice (step S1). When the reach is not notified, the reach is the normal reach. Since the reach A or the reach B is determined when the reach mode is selected, the reach is determined (step S2). In addition, the sound effect and the light corresponding to the selection of the reach mode are extracted from a series of image data and generated. Accordingly, the image of the reach A is displayed by the program for reach A in the image display control unit 4 (step S3), and when the reach A ends (step S3).
4) The display mode of hitting or deviating is performed, and reach B
In the case of (1), the mode of the reach B is displayed (step S5), and at the end of the reach B (step S6), the display mode of hit or off is performed. Note that the reach A and reach B differ only in the conditions, and the same control is performed for reach announcement. Therefore, the description of the reach B program may be omitted.

When the reach announcement is displayed on the display panel, it is determined whether the reach A or the reach B is reached as described above (step S7). As a result, a series of moving image data overwritten by the image display control unit 4 is displayed by the symbol display device 5, and at the time of high-speed scrolling, only data immediately before the stop of the reach A (B) symbol is displayed (step S1). S8, S12), the notice screen is erased after a predetermined time (steps S9, S13), and the display is returned to the high-speed scroll. When the symbol is stopped, the reach mode of the same scene as the notice is displayed (steps S10 and S1).
4), the player recognizes that the symbol displayed during the high-speed scroll is a reach symbol. Then, when the three symbols stop (steps S11 and S15), the player can recognize whether or not the symbol has hit or missed.

With this, when the reach notice is indicated (the reach mode is displayed at the time of high-speed scrolling), the player can guess the next development while the symbol is changing, and the player cannot use the model for the first time. Even when playing a game, the content of the game can be easily grasped by the reach mode displayed in advance and the game can be enjoyed.

[0026]

The present invention is as described above. According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the symbol display device fluctuates during the game of the pachinko machine, the final stop symbol of the displayed symbol is changed. Since the implied notice display data is displayed in the first half of the fluctuation process, it indicates to the player the development of the game even during the change of the symbol, and the game contents can be easily displayed for the first-time player of the model. Can be recognized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a game ball wins at the starting port during the game of the pachinko machine, the starting switch operates,
The main controller starts changing the symbol of the symbol display device, and enters a high-speed scroll state. At this time, a sound effect and a light effect are also generated. Then, a series of moving image data is created from the memory circuit ROM storing various kinds of image data, stored in the memory circuit RAM, and a part of the latter half of the series of moving image data is transferred to the series of moving image data. The first half of the image data is overwritten, and a series of overwritten moving image data is output by the symbol display device. Thereby, a part of the latter half is displayed in the high-speed scrolling state of the symbol, and the player can look ahead in the game development. Also,
If a part of the latter half is a notice of reach, the expectation is also increased.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the moving image data for overwriting is expressed as an operation image or a stop image depending on how the player visually recognizes the high-speed scroll state of the symbol. And enhance the visual effect.

The invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 2 or claim 3.
According to the invention, since a series of overwritten moving image data is obtained by reducing the overwriting data, the increase in storage capacity can be reduced, and the cost in the production line can be reduced. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to fourth aspects of the present invention, when a notice of a reach mode is displayed, a sound effect or an effect light corresponding to the notice is generated. And inform the details of the reach announcement, and the player can observe in detail the reach mode that can be understood as to what reach will be developed by sound effects or light effects, and enjoy the game. Can be awakened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a transition of a symbol in a symbol display device of a pachinko machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for producing a symbol of the symbol display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part for controlling the symbol display device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control part 2 Start switch 4 Image display control part 5 Symbol display device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pachinko machine characterized in that, during a change of a symbol by a symbol display device, notice display data indicating a final stop symbol of a symbol to be displayed is displayed in a first half of a change process. 2. A start switch for starting a change of a display symbol, a main control unit for detecting a signal of the start switch to execute image control, sound, light effect and the like, and a memory for storing various kinds of image data. And a memory circuit for storing a series of moving image data, detecting a signal of the main control unit, selecting various kinds of image data, storing a series of moving image data, and An image display control unit that overwrites a part of the latter half of the data on the first half of the series of moving image data and outputs the overwritten series of moving image data by a symbol display device that can change a plurality of symbols. A pachinko machine characterized by that. 3. The pachinko machine according to claim 2, wherein a part of the moving image data for overwriting is selectively overwritten on a series of original moving image data as a moving image or a still image. 4. The pachinko machine according to claim 2, wherein a part of the moving image data for overwriting is reduced and overwritten on a series of original moving image data. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein when displaying a series of overwritten moving image data, a sound effect or an effect light corresponding to the moving image data is produced.
The pachinko machine according to any one of the above.