JP2001346935A - Game stand - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game stand for lowering the possibility that a player overlooks internal information and the change of a game state displayed at a liquid crystal display device. SOLUTION: This game stand is provided with an image display device for displaying the internal information and game progress information including the internal drawing result of the game stand to the player by images and an attention arousing means for turning the attention of the player to the image display device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game medium (medals, balls, etc.) which is loaded, a reel composed of a plurality of kinds of pictures is moved (rotated), and when the reel is stopped, the reel picture display window is displayed. The present invention relates to a gaming table (slot machine, pachinko machine, etc.) in which a winning is determined from a combination of stopped patterns and a player enjoys paying out predetermined gaming media.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among conventional game consoles, for example, a slot machine has a plurality of rows of reels each having a plurality of pictures. When a medal is inserted and a start lever is operated, the reels start rotating and a game starts. .

In such a game console, a control unit mounted inside the game console, that is, inside the slot machine performs a lottery at the same time as the start of the game, and when the lottery results in a win, the internal winning state is established. Becomes Next, when the player presses the stop button corresponding to each reel, the control unit determines a predetermined pattern according to the pressed pattern position (location) of the corresponding reel and the internal winning state of the control unit. Is controlled to be displayed on the reel picture display window to stop the reel.

After all the reels have stopped, the control unit pays out a predetermined number of medals in accordance with the combination of the symbols displayed on the reel symbol display window, thereby ending one game.

Here, after all the reels have stopped, if the pattern displayed on the reel pattern display window indicates a specific pattern combination, a bonus is won and a bonus game is started. In the bonus game, since a privilege that many medals can be obtained is given to the player, how many bonuses are awarded to the player is the biggest factor that determines the interest of the game.

[0006] In view of the above, in recent game consoles, various types of game consoles have been provided in order to encourage players to expect a bonus. For example, when the player operates the start lever to start the game, the player turns on / off / flashes the backlight to perform an effect that enhances the player's expectation of the bonus.

Further, even when all reels are stopped and the game is over, in order to increase the expectation of a bonus for the next game, an effect simulating roulette is activated by, for example, sound effects, backlight, or the like. When the roulette light stops at a specific pattern stopped at the pattern display window,
There are effects such as increased expectations for bonuses. More recently, a liquid crystal display device is provided on a gaming table, and, for example, using characters or characters, an effect corresponding to a winning combination selected in an internal lottery (for example, displaying an animation).
In order to increase the interest of the game by notifying the winning combination and further increasing the player's expectation, or performing a special effect during the bonus game.

[0008]

However, as described above, even if a liquid crystal display device is provided to display internal information or a change in a game state, the player's primary concern is:
Most of the players, because the combination of reel patterns displayed in the reel pattern display window constitutes a prize,
The player plays the game while staring at the reel picture display window.
Therefore, even if the internal information or the change of the game state is displayed on the liquid crystal screen, the change may not be noticed, for example,
In some cases, the player would continue the game without trying to arrange the announced winning symbols. In other words, the player overlooks the odd chance,
There is a problem that disadvantage is given to the player.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is intended to reduce the possibility that a player will overlook internal information displayed on a liquid crystal display device or a change in game state. It is intended to provide a platform.

[0010]

The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and according to the present invention,
Equipped with a plurality of rows of reels with a plurality of types of designs, loading game media such as medals or balls, starting the movement of the plurality of rows of reels by a game start operation, and determining whether or not a prize is won by an internal lottery of the control unit. Is determined, the stop control of each reel is performed based on the result, and when it is determined that a prize is obtained by the pattern combination on the stopped reel,
An image display device for displaying at least one of internal information including at least an internal lottery result or game progress information to a player in an image at a gaming table for paying out a predetermined number of game media according to the winning combination; An alerting means for directing the player's attention to the image display device is provided.

Further, the above-mentioned alerting means is an alerting means using a combination of one or a plurality of output devices, of an alerting means using an output device for the visual, auditory or sensation of the player. I do.

[0012] Further, the output device for the visual, auditory or sensation of the alerting means is at least a display by a light emitting device mounted on a portion adjacent to the image display device or a sub reel device different from a plurality of rows of reels. It is an output device combining any one of an output device and an audio output device, or a combination thereof.

Further, the output device for the visual, auditory or sensation of the above-mentioned alerting means is a mechanical output device or an image display device for outputting an alerting image, or a combination of a plurality of them. It is an output device.

Further, the mechanical output device of the warning means is a mechanical drive device for outputting a mechanical movement around the image display device.

Further, the mechanical output device of the above-mentioned alerting means is a mechanical drive device for mechanically driving the image display device. It is an alerting means for issuing an alert.

Further, the present invention provides a gaming table characterized in that the above-mentioned alerting means operates in cooperation with switching of an image displayed on an image display device. Solution can be achieved.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a slot machine will be described as an example of an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention. The mode of the arousing means will be described in detail.

A. Configuration of Slot Machine The configuration of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below separately for the external configuration of the slot machine, the configuration of the reel mount, and the configuration of the control unit.

<External Configuration of Slot Machine> FIG. 1 is a front view showing the external appearance of the slot machine in the present embodiment. At the center of the slot machine main body 100 shown in FIG. 1, three reels (a left reel 10) on which a plurality of types of patterns including a specific pattern (for example, “7”) are arranged on each outer peripheral surface.
1, a center reel 102, a right reel 103), and accommodated reel mounts (200: described later) are incorporated.
It is configured to be able to rotate inside the main body 100.
The symbols on the reels 101 to 103 are configured such that three symbols are displayed in the vertical direction for each reel by reel symbol display windows 104 to 106 provided on the front of the main body 100 so that the player can see the symbols. are doing. Therefore, when the reels are stopped, 3 × 3
Are displayed to the player.

In the following description, an area on the reel where one picture is drawn is referred to as a "frame". Therefore, in the reel pattern display windows 104 to 106,
A total of nine pictures are displayed.

Reference numerals 107 to 111 denote various display lamps. In other words, reference numeral 107 denotes a notification lamp, which notifies the player of a state in which each of the bonuses (Big Bonus: BB, Regular Bonus: RB) has been internally won as internal information as a result of the internal lottery. Reference numeral 108 denotes a Win lamp, which notifies a player that a combination of the symbols displayed in the reel symbol display windows 104 to 106 has won. A start lamp 109 informs the player that the game has started. Reference numeral 110 denotes a weight ramp, which notifies a player that the game is on standby when the time from the start of the previous game to the start of the current game is equal to or less than a specified value.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a replay lamp, which notifies the player that the next game is a replay game when the combination of the symbols displayed on the reel symbol display windows 104 to 106 has won the replay combination.

Reference numeral 112 denotes a credit display, which indicates to the player that the player has credited, for example, up to 50 medals obtained by the player. Reference numeral 113 denotes a medal insert lamp, which is a lamp for urging a player to insert a medal for starting a game.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a 7-segment display device of three colors and three digits, and displays the number of games such as BB or RB.
Reference numeral 115 denotes a payout display, which is a reel picture display window 1.
When the combination of pictures displayed in 04 to 106 is a winning combination, the number of medals to be paid out according to the winning combination is displayed.

Reference numeral 116 denotes a pay line display lamp, which displays the number of pay line corresponding to the number of inserted medals, and the pay line in which the reel patterns are aligned when all reels are stopped. I do.

Here, reel picture display windows 104 to 106
In general, a winning line in which a pattern aligned with is determined to be a prize is a middle horizontal line when one medal is inserted, and a middle horizontal line when two medals are inserted, and upper and lower horizontal lines. When three medals are inserted, two lines are added, and when three medals are inserted, a total of five lines, that is, a diagonal line from the upper left to the lower right and a diagonal line from the lower left to the upper right, are a total of five winning lines.

The number of winning lines is not limited to this, and the number of winning lines may be defined by the number of combinations of pictures displayed in the reel picture display windows 104 to 106. For example, in the slot machine shown in FIG. 1, three reels are displayed vertically for each reel. For example, when four reels are displayed vertically for each reel, the number of payable lines is eight. (4 horizontal lines, 2 diagonally right lines,
(Two lines diagonally to the left).

Reference numeral 117 is a medal slot for a player to insert medals when starting a game. Reference numerals 118, 119, and 120 are credit bet buttons that are pressed when inserting medals from credits, respectively.
Is a button for hanging up to two medals, and 120 is a button for hanging up to three medals. By pressing one of these buttons, the player can select one of the medals displayed on the credit indicator 112 from one to one for each game.
Three medals can be inserted (bet) into the gaming table.

Reference numeral 121 denotes a credit and settlement button, which is a settlement button for adjusting and discharging medals stored in the credit display 112, and storing up to, for example, 50 medals obtained by the player by winning. It also serves as a credit switching button for switching whether or not to do. (Medal settlement button / credit switching button) Reference numerals 122 to 124 are stop buttons for stopping the reels 101 to 103, and are provided corresponding to the respective reels. In this figure, the left reel stop button 122 corresponds to the left reel 101, the middle reel stop button 123 corresponds to the middle reel 102, and the right reel stop button 124 corresponds to the right reel 103.

Reference numeral 125 denotes a start lever for starting a game. When a player operates this lever, each of the reels 101 to 103 starts rotating at the same time and is provided inside the slot machine 100 at the same time. A random number lottery is performed by a control unit (described later).

Reference numeral 126 denotes a sound hole for outputting a sound of a speaker (described later) provided inside the gaming table, and this speaker generates a sound effect corresponding to each game state. .

Reference numeral 127 is a payout exit of the winning medals, and the medals paid out here are a medal receiving tray 128.
It is set to accumulate.

Reference numeral 129 denotes a flicker display lamp, which turns on / off / flashes an internal lamp in accordance with each game state (bonus game, replay game, etc.) so as to excite the game.

Reference numeral 130 denotes a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, LCD) provided at a central portion of the display section 132, and displays information such as internal information of the slot machine and progress information of the game to a player. Here, the internal information and the game progress information include the following, for example. (1) The number of medals inserted by the player during the predetermined number of games (2) The number of medals paid out by winning during the predetermined number of games (3) Each reel from when the stop button is operated by the player (4) Number of times a specific winning combination has been won during a predetermined number of games (5) Slump graph (medal) during a predetermined number of games (6) Production to have the player enjoy the game (7) When displayed on the reel picture display window,
Reach eye pattern combination (odds) that informs the RB or BB that it has been internally won.

Further, the LCD 130 displays, in addition to the above-described internal information and progress information, demonstrations of game rules, game examples, and the like in accordance with each game state (may include times when a game is not played). The service display can be displayed to the player as a moving image or a still image using a character or the like.

When the gaming machine is a pachinko machine, the LCD 130 corresponds to a liquid crystal display device provided at the center of the front panel of the pachinko machine.

Reference numeral 131 denotes a plurality of light emitting diodes, which are provided in a portion of the display unit 132 adjacent to the LCD 130, and are turned on, turned off, or blinked to draw the player's attention to the display screen of the LCD 130. (Details will be described later).

In this embodiment shown in FIG. 1, these light emitting diodes (hereinafter, referred to as LEDs) are connected to an LCD.
Four are arranged on the left and right sides of 130 in one vertical line.

In the present embodiment, the display device called the LED 131 is used as a means for directing the player's attention to the display screen of the LCD 130, that is, a warning means.

The shape of the display section 132 is such that a gentle curve is drawn, and the central portion of the display portion 132 is formed so as to protrude most in the horizontal direction of the slot machine front panel. The LCD 130 is set up so that the player can see the screen well.

<Structure of Reel Mount> As shown in FIG. 2, the three reels 101, 102 and 103 housed inside the reel picture display windows 104 to 106 shown in FIG. 200. Also, on the back side of each reel, a reel picture display window 10 is provided.
Substrates 210 to 212 to which backlights 201 to 209 are attached for illuminating three pictures respectively displayed on 4 to 106 from behind (back side) are installed. Of these substrates, on the left substrate 210, the left reel 101
Backlights in the vertical direction in the figure, from top to bottom.
01, 202, and 203 are provided. In addition, on the central substrate 211, 204, 205, and 206 are installed as backlights for the central reel 102 in order from the top. Further, on the right substrate 212, as backlights for the right reel 103, 207, 208, 209
Is installed. These backlights 201 to 20
Reference numeral 9 is configured to selectively illuminate the picture of each reel individually based on control by a control unit (described later). In the slot machine according to the present embodiment, various effects based on the progress of the game are performed by turning on / off / flashing the backlights 201 to 209 described above.

<Structure of Control Unit> Next, the structure of a control unit for controlling the above-described slot machine will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 300 denotes a main control unit that controls the entire game, and 400 denotes a sub control unit that controls various lamps provided on the front of the main body 100 in order to excite the entire game. It operates based on the control of 300. Reference number 500 is the LC shown in FIG.
A liquid crystal control unit that controls the display screen of D130, and operates based on the control of the main control unit 300 or the sub control unit 400.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each of these control units will be described in detail.

(Main Control Unit 300) In the main control unit 300, reference numeral 310 denotes a main microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as Ma).
In addition to performing main control related to the game, the main CPU transmits and receives control signals and data to and from the main control unit via the bus 330.

Reference numeral 311 denotes a random number generator for generating a random number used for an internal lottery or the like.
ainCPU 310.

Reference numeral 312 denotes a medal sensor for detecting a game medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 117, and 313 denotes a stop button sensor for detecting that one of the stop buttons 122 to 124 has been operated. A start lever sensor 314 detects that the start lever 125 has been operated, and a credit bet button sensor 315 detects that any one of the credit bet buttons 118 to 120 has been pressed. Reference numeral 316 denotes an overflow sensor for detecting that the number of medals overflowing from the hopper (medal payout device; not shown) to the auxiliary tank exceeds a specified amount.

These various sensors 312 to 316 are connected via an input interface 317 and a bus 330.
It is connected to MainCPU310.

Reference numeral 318 denotes a ROM (Read Only Memory), which is a program for controlling a main part of the slot machine of the present embodiment and a reel 10.
Control data for performing stop control of 1 to 103, and
An effect command or the like for instructing the sub-control unit 400 on the effect contents of the game is stored. (In addition, a command for instructing the liquid crystal control unit 500 to produce an effect via the sub-control unit 400 is included as necessary.)

Reference numeral 319 denotes a RAM (random access memory) which includes a work area portion of the program and temporarily stores variable data generated by the processing of the Main CPU 310. These ROMs 318
And the memory of the RAM 319 is connected to the Ma via the bus 330.
It is connected to the inCPU 310.

Reference numeral 320 denotes a motor control unit for controlling motors (not shown) provided for the respective reels for rotating or stopping the reels 101 to 103, and 321 for paying out medals. A hopper control unit that controls the hopper. These are input / output interface 322 and via main bus 330 via MainC.
It is connected to PU310.

Reference numeral 323 denotes a lamp control unit, which is a notification lamp 107, a Win lamp 108, a start lamp 109, a weight lamp 110, a replay lamp 111, a credit indicator 112, an insert lamp 113, and three colors shown in FIG. The three-digit 7-segment display 114, the payout display 115, the activated pay line display lamp 116, and the like are turned on / off / under the control of the Main CPU 310.
Flash control.

The player can confirm the progress of the game by referring to the control states of these lamps. The lamp control unit 323 is connected to the Main CPU 310 via the bus 330 and the output interface 324.

(Sub-control unit 400) Next, the sub-control unit 4
In reference numeral 00, reference numeral 410 denotes a sub-microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as “SubCPU”).
The effect command output from 10 is received via the input interface 417 and the bus 430, and based on this command, an effect for exciting the game by sound or light is performed.

Reference numeral 411 denotes a ROM, which is a program for controlling lighting / extinguishing / blinking of various lamps, controlling generation of sound effects, BGM, and the like, and controlling display of an image on the LCD 130, for performing a game effect. And various control data. Reference numeral 412 denotes a RAM, which includes a work area portion of the program, and
The variable data generated by the processing of the CPU 410 is temporarily stored. The memories of the ROM 411 and the RAM 412 are connected to the SubCPU 410 via the bus 430.

Reference numeral 413 denotes a backlight control unit which controls on / off / blink of the backlights 201 to 209 shown in FIG. 414, a flicker control unit;
In accordance with the instruction of 10, the flicker display lamp 129 is turned on / off / blinks / turns off for staging or decoration in accordance with a bonus prize or each game state. Reference numeral 415 denotes an LED control unit.
Is turned on / off / blinks. These backlight control unit 413 and flicker control unit 41
4 and the LED control unit 415 are connected to the SubCPU 410 via the output interface 416 and the bus 430.

Reference numeral 418 denotes an amplifier, which amplifies a sound effect and a tone signal such as BGM transferred from the Sub CPU 410 via the output interface 419. Reference numeral 420 denotes a speaker, which generates a sound in accordance with the tone signal amplified by the amplifier 418.

In the present embodiment, the backlight 2
01 to 219, a flicker display lamp 129, and L
The control of the ED 131 is performed by the backlight control unit 413, the flicker control unit 414, and the LED control unit 415 of the sub control unit 400, respectively, and these are controlled by the lamp control unit 323 of the main control unit 300. It may be performed together with the control of the lamps.

(Liquid Crystal Control Unit 500) In the liquid crystal control unit 500, reference numeral 510 denotes an LCD microprocessor (hereinafter, LcdCPU), which is output via the output interface 421 of the sub control unit 400.
A display control signal from the CPU 410 is received via the input interface 511 and the bus 530, and an image to be displayed on the LCD 130 is generated and controlled based on the display control signal.

Here, depending on the state of the SubCPU 410, the LcdCPU 510 transmits the effect command output from the MainCPU 310 to the output interface 3.
25, an input interface 417 and a bus 430
May be directly received on the path of the output interface 421, and display control of the LCD 130 may be performed based on the received effect command.

Reference numeral 512 denotes a ROM,
A PU 410 and a video display processor (hereinafter referred to as VDP) 514 described later, and a program for transferring various control signals are stored. This R
The OM 512 is connected to the Lcd CPU 510 via the bus 530.
It is connected to the.

Reference numeral 513 denotes a ROM,
30 stores image data of an image to be displayed. V
DP 514 according to the instruction from LcdCPU 510,
An image displayed on the LCD 130 via the output interface 515 is controlled.

B. Outline of Operation and Control Details of Slot Machine Hereinafter, an outline of operation and control details of the slot machine in the present embodiment will be described.

<Outline of Game Operation> In the slot machine of the embodiment of the present invention, the player
The game is started by inserting medals from 17 and operating the start lever 125.

When the game starts, three reels 101
The operation of the stop buttons 122 to 124 provided corresponding to the respective reels is enabled after the rotation of the reels reaches a predetermined speed after the rotation speeds of the reels start simultaneously or randomly. The player sequentially presses the desired stop button to stop the rotation of the corresponding reel.

When all the reels 101 to 103 have stopped, if the combination of the symbols stopped on the winning line determined by the number of inserted medals corresponds to the predetermined combination of the winning symbols, the combination of the winning symbols is determined. Receive the number of medals 12
8 to complete one game.

Here, the types of winning combinations are BB, R
B, small role, replay, etc.

<Control of Games, Effects, etc.> Next, control examples of the game of the slot machine, effects control, and alert control in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the main control unit 300, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing performed by the sub-control unit 400. (Game Control) An example of control of the main control unit will be described below with reference to a flowchart showing the procedure of processing performed by the main control unit 300 shown in FIG.

Step S1: (medal insertion: bet) The player inserts a desired number (1 to 3) of game medals from the medal insertion slot 117 or presses one of the credit bet buttons 118 to 120. I do.

When a game medal is inserted, the Main CPU 310 determines whether or not the inserted medal is legitimate based on a signal from the medal sensor 312. If the medal is a legitimate one, the winning control line display lamp 116 corresponding to the number of inserted game medals is turned on via the lamp control unit 321. Thereby, the player is notified (displayed) that the game can be played.

When any one of the credit bet buttons 118 to 120 is pressed, the main CPU 310
Determines which button has been pressed based on a signal from the credit bet button sensor 315, and according to the pressed button, the pay line display lamp 116
Lights up.

Step S2: (Start Operation) Next, when the player operates the start lever 125 and the start lever sensor 314 is turned on, MainCP
U310 detects the acceptance of the start operation, starts the game, and proceeds to step S3.

Step S3: (Random Number Lottery) The Main CPU 310 obtains a random number from the random number generator 311 and performs an internal lottery as to whether or not any winning combination has been won, and stores the result in the RAM 319.

Step S4: (draft winning?) Using the random numbers acquired in the previous step S3, a lottery (hereinafter, “drafting lottery”) is performed as to whether or not to perform a later-described performance. When it is determined that the production lottery is won, the process proceeds to step S5. When it is out of the production lottery, the process directly proceeds to step S6.

Step S5: (effect flag setting) An effect flag for effect execution is set in the RAM 319, and the process proceeds to step S6.

Step S6: (Reel Rotation Control) A motor is used to simultaneously or randomly rotate the reels 101 to 103 so as to move the pictures displayed on the reel picture display windows 104 to 106 from top to bottom. The control unit 320 is instructed to start the rotation of the reel.

Step S7: (effect flag ON?) It is determined whether or not an effect flag is set in the RAM 319. If the effect flag has been set, the process proceeds to step S8. If the effect flag has not been set in the RAM 319, the process proceeds to step S9.

Step S8: (Send Effect Command: Start Processing of Sub-Control Unit) The effect command corresponding to the result of the internal lottery performed in step S3 is read from the ROM 318 and output to the sub-control unit 400 via the output interface 325. . Here, the production command is an LCD command according to the result of the internal lottery.
130, a command for instructing the sub-control unit 400 on an effect pattern (to be described later) performed using the backlights 201 to 209 and the various lamps shown in FIG. The sub-control unit 400 that has received the effect command,
Various effect controls are performed according to the contents, which will be described later in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step S9: (Reel stop control) Stop control of the reels 101 to 103 is performed. The output of the stop button sensor 313 is checked, and when the stop button sensor 313 detects that any one of the stop buttons is pressed, a motor (not shown) corresponding to the stop button is internally provided via the motor control unit 320. An instruction is given to perform stop control according to the result of the lottery. In addition, about the control method of the motor stop according to the result of the internal lottery,
Conventionally used technologies shall be applied.

Step S10: (Prize winning?) When all the reels are stopped, the reel picture display windows 104 to
The pattern displayed at 106 is determined, and it is determined whether or not the pattern displayed on the winning line constitutes a winning combination pattern. If the winning symbols are not aligned on the winning line, one game is completed and the game enters a standby state. If it is determined that a prize has been won, the process proceeds to step S11.

Step S11: (BB, RB?) It is determined whether or not the winning combination is a bonus game (BB or RB game). If the player has won the bonus game, the process proceeds to step S12. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S13.

Step S12: (Preparation for Starting Bonus) The RAM 31 is set so that the game corresponding to the type of bonus (BB or RB) won from the next game is started.
Prepare data for 9 etc.

Step S13 (medal payout) When the bonus game is won, whether the number of medals to be paid out corresponding to the winning of the bonus game is added to the number displayed on the credit indicator 112 via the lamp control section 323 or not. Alternatively, the hopper control unit 321 is instructed to send the medal tray 128 from the payout port 127 shown in FIG.
To end the current game.

If it is determined in step S 11 that the bonus game has not been won, the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is added to the number displayed on the credit indicator 112 or paid out to the medal tray 128. End the game.

When the main control section 300 of the slot machine has completed the above processing, it waits until the next game medal is inserted or one of the credit bet buttons 118 to 120 is pressed.

(Game Effect Control and Attention Control) In step S8 of the game control described above with reference to FIG. 4, when the effect command is output from the main control unit 300 to the sub-control unit 400, the sub-control unit 400 Performs the game effect control by turning on the backlights 201 to 209 and the flicker display lamp 129 and switching the display image on the LCD 130 in accordance with the content of the effect command. Hereinafter, the processing procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Step Sa1: (Interpretation of production command) The received production command is interpreted.

Step Sa2: (Reading of production control signal) Control data (hereinafter, production control data) for executing the production pattern corresponding to the interpreted production command is stored in the ROM.
411 is read.

Here, it is assumed that the slot machine according to the present embodiment executes the following effect patterns when a bonus game is won, for example. (1) Characters, characters, animations, or the like indicating that the bonus has been determined are displayed on the LCD 130. (2) The backlights 201 to 209 are simultaneously flashed several times. (3) The flicker display lamp 129 blinks. (4) A sound effect is generated from the speaker 420.

In order to execute the effect patterns shown in the above (1) to (4), the liquid crystal control unit 50 is read from the ROM 411.
0, effect control data to be output to the backlight control unit 413 and the flicker control unit 414. It goes without saying that any one or a plurality of the effect patterns (drive contents) of the above (1) to (4) may be executed simultaneously according to the content of the effect command.

At the stage of this step Sa2, the ROM 4
It simply reads the effect control data corresponding to the effect command from 11 and does not yet transmit it to each control unit.

Step Sa3: (Whether there is an effect on the LCD?) It is determined whether or not the effect control data read out in the previous step Sa2 includes effect control data to be output to the liquid crystal control unit 500. If the effect pattern executed on the LCD 130 is included,
Proceed to step Sa4. If it is not included, the process proceeds to step Sa5. Step Sa4: (Output of alert control signal) The alert control signal is transmitted to the LED control unit 415, and then the process proceeds to step Sa5.

Here, the alert control signal is the LCD1
The LCD 130 is used to draw the player's attention to the
Is a control signal for driving the LED 131 provided in an adjacent part of the LED. The LED control unit 41
5 drives (turns on / off / blinks) the LED 131 according to a predetermined drive pattern (described later) corresponding to the received alert control signal. The drive timing is determined by the Sub CPU 410 and the liquid crystal controller 500. As a result of the output of the effect control data, the adjustment control is performed appropriately so that the display image on the LCD 130 matches the timing of switching to the effect image based on the effect control data.

Step Sa5: (Output of Effect Control Signal) Each control unit (backlight control unit 41) corresponding to the contents of the effect control data read out in the previous step Sa2.
3, flicker control unit 414, amplifier 418, and
The liquid crystal control section 500 outputs a control signal or data for an effect.

In accordance with the production control data, for example, a sound is generated from the speaker 420 and the backlight control unit 4
At 13, effects are performed using the backlights 201 to 209, and at the flicker control unit 414, an effect of turning on, off, or blinking the flicker display lamp 129 is performed. Further, the liquid crystal control unit 500 performs a process of switching an image displayed on the LCD 130 to an image according to the effect control data. At the same time when the image on the LCD 130 is switched, the LED control unit 415 causes the LED 1
31 is driven in accordance with a predetermined drive pattern to perform alert control.

The predetermined driving pattern of the LED 131 is, for example, L
ED131 blinks all at once, or 1
Lighting one by one, or a combination thereof may be considered. In any case, this driving pattern may be any lighting / light-off / flashing pattern as long as there is a possibility of attracting the player's attention.

When the processing of step Sa5 is completed, the sub-control unit 400 is in a standby state until an effect command is output from the main control unit 300 next.

When performing the processing of step Sa4 described above, a plurality of types of effect control data corresponding to the type of effect control data output from the sub-control unit 400 to the liquid crystal control unit 500 (in other words, the contents of the effect pattern or the effect command). It is configured to output an alert control signal, while LE
The D control unit 415 prepares a drive pattern corresponding to each of the plurality of types of alert control signals in advance, so that the pattern for driving the LED 131 is changed according to the type of screen to be switched on the LCD 130. It may be.

The LED control unit 415 is connected to the SubCP
It is not always necessary to drive the LED 131 when receiving the alert control signal from U410, and the LED 131 may be driven only when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Here, the predetermined condition includes, for example, a case where a lottery using a random number is won, a case where a previous bonus game or a predetermined number of games have been performed, a case where an instruction has been given by an effect command, and the like.

As described above in detail, in the slot machine of the present embodiment, the LCD 130
When the display screen is switched, the LED 131 provided at a portion adjacent to the LCD 130 can be driven to draw the player's attention to the LCD 130. For this reason, it is less likely that the player will overlook the internal information displayed on the liquid crystal screen or the change in the game state, and the chance of missing the given chance is reduced.

C. Other Aspects of Attention Means In the present embodiment described above in detail, four LEDs 131 provided on each of the left and right sides of LCD 130 are used as alert means, but other alert means instead of this LED 131 are used. The mode will be described below.

<Example 1 of Alerting Means> FIG. 6 shows another example of alerting means when a display device (here, an LED) is used as the alerting means. FIG. 6 shows an arrangement different from the arrangement of the LEDs 131 shown in FIG. That is, a large number of LEDs are arranged in a dot matrix over the entire area of the display unit 132 except for the LCD 130.

In the first example of the alerting means, the LCD 130
There are provided four illumination areas (hereinafter, referred to as light blocks) LB1 to LB8 on the left and right of the light block, respectively. In each light block, a total of four LEDs arranged in two rows and two columns are arranged.

When the example 1 of the alerting means shown in FIG. 6 is used, as a driving pattern of each LED to be executed when the display screen of the LCD 130 is switched, for example, lighting / off / flashing is performed for each light block. However, it also calls attention, or turns on / off / blinks each LED individually to call attention.

<Example 2 of Alerting Means> As an example 2 of alerting means, there is a mode shown in FIG. Example 2 of this alerting means
Is another form of the alerting means as shown in FIG.
A small reel (hereinafter, a sub reel) provided at a position adjacent to the LCD 130 is employed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, LEDs are used together with the sub reels.

In the slot machine using the second example of the alerting means shown in FIG. 7, sub reels 135 and 136 are provided on the left and right sides of the LCD 130, and LEDs 137 (above the sub reel 135) are provided on the upper and lower portions of each sub reel near the LCD 130. ), 138 (same lower side) and LED 139
(The upper side of the sub reel 136) and 140 (the lower side thereof).

In the case of Example 2 of the alerting means, the alerting means responds to the alerting control signal output from the SubCPU 410 (see FIG. 3) by a motor for rotating the sub reels 135 and 136. Needless to say, a motor control unit that controls the rotation or stop of the motor in a predetermined pattern is included.

When the sub reels 135 and 136 are used to call attention to draw the player's attention, for example, SubCP
When the alert control signal is not output from U410, the sub reels 135 and 136 display frames on which no picture is drawn.

When the sub CPU 410 outputs the alert control signal corresponding to the winning combination that has won the internal lottery,
The LEDs 137 to 140 are turned on and off, and the sub reels 13 are displayed such that a picture corresponding to the winning combination that has been won is displayed.
5, 136 are rotationally controlled. In addition, the sub reel 135,
A light emitting body such as an LED may be provided in the 136, and when a warning control signal is output, the rotation of the sub reels 135 and 136 may be controlled, and the light emitting body may be turned on, turned off, or blinked.

Similarly, a plurality of light-emitting members having different light-emitting colors may be provided in the sub reels 135 and 136, and the light-emitting color may be changed when the alert control signal is output.

<Example 3 of Alerting Means> As an example 2 of alerting means, there is a mode shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows speakers 141 and 142 instead of the sub reels 135 and 136 of FIG.
This is an example in which is adopted. In FIG. 8, portions having the same configuration as in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the case of the third example of the alerting means, the alerting means includes a tone signal for outputting a tone signal stored in advance to the speakers 141 and 142 in accordance with the alerting control signal output from the SubCPU 410. It goes without saying that a control unit is included.

In the third example of the alerting means, the speaker 1
Use 41, 142 to draw the player's attention. For example, S
When an alert control signal corresponding to the winning combination that has won the internal lottery is output from the ubCPU 410, the LEDs 137 to
140 is turned on and off, and a tone signal corresponding to the output alert control signal is output from the speaker 14 among a plurality of types of tone signals previously stored in the tone control unit.
1 and 142 for sound generation.

The above-mentioned tone signals include various sound effects (melody of short phrases, voices of humans or animals,
Sounds of the natural world, sounds of artifacts, etc.).

<Example 4 of Alerting Means> FIG. 9 shows an example of alerting a player by using a driving device that protrudes the LCD 130 itself as alerting means. In the fourth example of the alerting means, the LCD 130 itself is projected so that the player's attention is directed to the LCD 130.

In Example 4 of this alerting means, the LCD 130
(For example, a motor or the like) for projecting the LCD 130, a control unit for controlling the power source based on the alert control signal, and projecting the LCD 130 in the direction of the player by the power source (arrow in FIG. 9). A) A mechanism (for example, a cam or the like) for performing is a warning means.

Example 4 of this alerting means is, for example, Sub
When the alert control signal is not output from the CPU 410, the LCD 130 is retracted so that the screen surface of the LCD 130 and the surface of the display unit 132 substantially match, and when the alert control signal is output from the SubCPU 410. Then, the above-described power source is driven to protrude the LCD 130 to draw the player's attention.

Note that the control unit of the power source is a SubCP
According to the type of the alert control signal output from U410, for example, the number of repetitions of the projecting operation and the retracting operation of LCD 130 is determined in advance, and when the alert control signal is output from SubCPU 410, the type according to the type is determined. The control for calling the player's attention may be performed by repeating the projecting operation and the retracting operation of the LCD 130 by the number of times.

Further, the fourth example of the alerting means may be implemented in combination with any of the aforementioned examples of the alerting means (see FIGS. 1 and 6 to 8).

<Example 5 of Alerting Means> Example 5 of the alerting means is an example in which an LCD driving device for displaying an image on the LCD 130 is used as the alerting means. That is,
In the fifth example of the alerting means, the player's attention is directed to the LCD 130 by controlling the image display of the LCD 130.

In the fifth example of the alerting means, for example, the sub-control unit 400 determines whether or not the
At a4, the alert control signal is output to the output interface 42.
1 to the liquid crystal controller 500 (see FIG. 3).
Upon receiving the alert control signal, the liquid crystal control unit 500 first displays the image currently displayed on the LCD 130 (that is,
(The image before the display is switched) is faded out.
When the fade-out is completed, an image corresponding to the control signal transmitted from the sub-control unit 400 following the above-mentioned alert control signal is displayed on the LCD 130.

Note that the image display control method in the liquid crystal control unit 500 when the alert control signal is received includes, in addition to the above-described method of fading out the image before the display is switched, for example, a previously prepared alert control signal. (For example, image data in which the entire screen is white or black) and the image before the display is switched are alternately switched a plurality of times within a predetermined time. Further, the fifth example of the alerting means is the above alerting means (FIGS. 1 and 6).
To FIG. 9).

<Example 6 of Alerting Means> FIG. 10 alerts the player's attention by using an openable and closable door (hereinafter, a liquid crystal door) 145 provided on the display screen of the LCD 130 as alerting means. Example 6 is shown. In the sixth example of the alerting means, the player's attention is directed to the LCD 130 by opening and closing the liquid crystal door 145.

In the sixth example of the alerting means, the liquid crystal door 14
A power source (for example, a motor or the like) for opening and closing the control unit 5, a control unit for controlling the power source based on a warning signal control signal, and a power generated by the power source cause the liquid crystal door 145 to operate as shown in FIG. A warning mechanism is constituted by a conversion mechanism (for example, a mechanism based on a combination of a pinion gear and a rack) for opening and closing in the direction indicated by arrow B.

The alerting means 6 includes, for example, a SubCPU
When the alert control signal is not output from 410,
The position of the liquid crystal door 145 shown in FIG. 10 (hereinafter, the initial position)
When the alert signal is output from the Sub CPU 410, the above-described power source is driven to fully open the liquid crystal door.

In the control unit of the power source, Su
The number of repetitions of opening and closing the liquid crystal door 145 between the initial position and the fully open position is determined in advance according to the type of the alert signal output from the bCPU 410, and the SubCPU
When the alert control signal is output from 410, the opening and closing of liquid crystal door 145 may be controlled by the number of repetitions corresponding to the type. Although not shown, these controls may be performed directly by the Sub CPU 410 or may be performed by the Sub CPU 410.
It is also possible to provide a control unit for alerting on the bus 430 of the bCPU 410, to control it, to control it by the LcdCPU 510, or to provide a control unit for alerting on the bus of the LcdCPU 510. Needless to say.

Further, the sixth example of the alerting means may be implemented in combination with any of the aforementioned alerting means (see FIGS. 1, 6 to 8).

Further, it is needless to say that the initial position of the liquid crystal door 145 may be a position where the liquid crystal door 145 is completely closed.

The mechanical output device which draws the player's attention by the mechanical movement described with reference to Example 6 is limited to the mechanical output by opening and closing the liquid crystal door 145 around the image display device shown in Example 6. Without being limited thereto, any mechanical output device may be used as long as it outputs mechanical movement around the image display device to draw the player's attention.

As described above in detail with reference to the embodiment using the slot machine, the present invention provides a game machine such as a slot machine for providing various information of the game machine to a player. The present invention provides a gaming table provided with an alerting means for alerting a player to view information output to the image display device when outputting the information to an image display device having the image display device. The effect is great when the result of the lottery inside the gaming table is notified using the display device.

Therefore, the alerting means according to the present invention is preferably located near an image display device for notifying various information of the gaming table. Further, the alerting means of the present invention provides an alerting means that appeals to the five senses of humans such as sight, hearing, and sensation, and is used for display devices with various illuminants provided in a gaming table, and for determining whether or not a game is appropriate. A display output device using a sub-reel device different from the reel to be used, a display device using a mechanical drive device that outputs mechanical movement, and a display output device itself that displays various information is driven by the mechanical drive device to provide a player with An object of the present invention is to provide an alerting means for alerting, an alerting means by sound output of an audio output device, or a gaming table provided with an alerting means by a combination thereof.

When such an alerting means is operated, it may be operated in cooperation with switching of an image to be displayed on the image display device.

As described above, according to the gaming table according to the present invention, since the alerting means for attracting the player's attention to the liquid crystal display device is provided, the player can be displayed on the liquid crystal screen. It is possible to reduce the possibility of overlooking the change in the internal information and the game state, and reduce the chance of missing the given chance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a view showing a reel mount in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control unit of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a main control unit of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a sub-control unit of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining Example 1 of the alerting means of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining Example 2 of the alerting means of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining Example 3 of the alerting means of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining Example 4 of the alerting means of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining Example 6 of the alerting means of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 slot machine body 101 left reel 102 middle reel 103 right reel 104 left reel pattern display window 105 middle reel pattern display window 106 right reel pattern display window 107 notification amplifier 108 win lamp 109 start lamp 110 weight lamp 111 replay lamp 112 credit display 113 Insert lamp 114 3-color 3-digit 7-segment display device 115 Payout display 116 Active line indicator lamp 117 Medal slot 118 Medal 1 button 119 Max 2 medals button 120 Maximum 3 medals button 121 Medal settlement button / Credit switch button 122 Left reel stop button 123 Middle reel stop button 124 Right reel stop button 125 Start lever 126 Sound hole 127 Medal payout 1 8 Medal tray 129 Flicker indicator lamp 130 LCD 131, 137 to 140 LED 132 Display unit 135, 136 Sub reel 141, 142, 420 Speaker 145 Liquid crystal door 200 Reel mount 201 to 209 Back light 210 Left backlight substrate 211 Medium backlight substrate 212 Right backlight substrate 300 Main controller 310 MainCPU 311 Random number generator 312 Medal sensor 313 Stop button switch sensor 314 Start lever sensor 315 Credit bet button sensor 316 Overflow sensor 317, 417, 511 Input interface 318, 411, 512 ROM 319, 412 RAM 320 Motor controller 321 Hopper controller 323 Lamp controller 324,3 25, 416, 419, 421, 515 Output interface 330, 430, 530 Bus 400 Sub-control unit 410 SubCPU 413 Backlight control unit 414 Flicker display lamp control unit 415 LED control unit 418 Amplifier 500 Liquid crystal control unit 510 LcdCPU 513 VDP

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A game machine comprising: a plurality of rows of reels provided with a plurality of types of patterns; a game medium such as a medal or a ball; and a game start operation to start the movement of the plurality of rows of reels. Whether or not a prize is won is determined by an internal lottery, and stop control of each reel is performed based on the result. When it is determined that a prize is obtained by a combination of pictures on the stopped reel, a predetermined value is determined according to the winning combination. In the gaming table that pays out the number of the game media, an image display device that displays at least one of the internal information including the internal lottery result or the game progress information to the player by an image, An alerting means for directing the player to the image display device. 2. The game console according to claim 1, wherein the alerting means includes at least one output device that outputs a stimulus appealing to any of visual, auditory, and tactile sensations of the player. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the output device is at least a light-emitting device mounted on a portion adjacent to the image display device, a display output device using a sub-reel device different from the plurality of rows of reels, or an audio output device. Any one of
3. The gaming table according to claim 2, comprising: 4. The output device according to claim 2, wherein the output device includes at least one of a mechanical output device and an image control device that causes the image display device to output an alerting image. Item 3. The gaming table according to item 3. 5. The game console according to claim 4, wherein the mechanical output device is a mechanical drive device that outputs a mechanical movement around the image display device. 6. The mechanical output device is a mechanical drive device that mechanically drives the image display device, and alerts a player by mechanically moving the image display device by the mechanical drive device. The gaming table according to claim 5, wherein the game is performed. 7. The game according to claim 1, wherein the alerting means operates in cooperation with switching of an image displayed on the image display device. Stand.