JP2002028308A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which enhances attraction for players by minimizing monotony in the varying of display figures of a figure display device watched by the players with the highest attention during the game to keep the players from being fed up with it. SOLUTION: A figure display device 30 is arranged almost at the center of a game area 20 of a playing board. After one or a plurality of display figures 32a-34a to be displayed in figure display areas 32-34 of the figure display device 30 are stopped once, they are inverted (radiated or focused) about virtual axes 50-52 of the display figures 32a-34a to be displayed. The display figures 32a-34a are changeable to different ones with the operation of inverting Arabic numerals, Chinese numerals, signs, alphabets and the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a symbol display device for controlling a display symbol in a plurality of display areas by firing a gaming machine, in particular, a game ball into a game area and causing a start port in the game area to win. It relates to gaming machines such as pachinko machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In such a conventional gaming machine, a special symbol display device (hereinafter referred to as a symbol) is disposed at a substantially central portion of a game area into which a game ball is shot and formed by a color liquid crystal display panel or the like. Display device). This symbol display device has, for example, three symbol display areas, and for example, symbols 0 to 11 are displayed in each display area. When a game ball wins in the starting opening, a lottery is performed by the symbol control device, and symbols to be stopped and displayed in each symbol display area are determined. Then, three stop display symbols are predetermined display symbols (for example, “000”, “111”,..., “11 11”).
11)), "big hit", and in other cases, "miss". In the case of "big hit", the special winning opening is opened for a predetermined time or until a predetermined number of game balls pass through the specific area, and a game state advantageous to the player, that is, a game state in which many prize balls are paid out. Become.

[0003]

However, the conventional gaming machine described above has the following problems to be solved. That is, the display of the symbol display device on which the player pays the most attention during the game is relatively monotonous, and there is a problem that the interest in the game cannot be enhanced or the player is easily bored with the game.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional gaming machine, and can further change the display of the symbol display device to enhance the interest of the player in the game. It is intended to provide a simple gaming machine.

[0005]

According to the gaming machine of the present invention, a variable display of a symbol row including a symbol imitating a symbol such as a numeral or a character is started upon detection of a game ball in a starting area. A symbol display device in which a symbol row is stopped and displayed after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the symbol display device displays a part of a symbol graphic displayed in the symbol row after the start of the variable display with respect to the symbol. The display is changed to a pattern including a figure recognizable as another figure by being inverted about the virtual axis line. Also, the symbol display device, the symbol of the symbol displayed in the symbol column after the start of variable display, by inverting radiation around the virtual axis with respect to the symbol, to a symbol including a symbol that can be identified as another symbol Change the display. Furthermore, the symbol display device, the symbol of the symbol displayed in the symbol column after the start of the variable display, one of the symbols obtained by dividing the symbol by a virtual axis with respect to the symbol is inverted to the center of the virtual axis and the other By superimposing on a figure, the display is changed to a pattern including a figure that can be identified as another figure.

Further, according to a preferred embodiment of the gaming machine of the present invention, the change of the display of the symbols is performed after the display of the symbols in the symbol row is temporarily stopped. There are three types of symbol columns that are displayed in a variable manner. After the variable display of the symbol columns is started,
Two of the symbol rows during the variable display are stopped, and the symbol display is changed for the remaining symbol rows. The virtual axis is any one of a horizontal virtual axis, a vertical virtual axis, and an oblique virtual axis with respect to the figure. In addition, the display change of the symbol is performed a plurality of times around different virtual axes among the virtual axes, and in the last round of the display change, the display is changed to a symbol including an identifiable graphic.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction and operation of a preferred embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a game board in a game machine to which the present invention can be applied. FIG. 1A is a front view of the game board 10, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of a symbol display device 30. . The game board 10 has a substantially circular game area 20 and guide rails 22 for guiding game balls fired from a firing device (not shown) into the game area 20. A symbol display device 30 is provided substantially at the center of the game area 20, and a start port 31 and a special winning opening 45 are provided below the symbol display device 30; It has a mouth 44.

In the game board 10 shown in FIG. 1, a symbol display device 30 is provided near the center of the game area 20. This symbol display device 30 is formed of, for example, a color liquid crystal display panel,
A normal symbol display device including a left symbol display region 32, a middle symbol display region 33, and a right symbol display region 34, and a normal symbol including, for example, three LEDs (light emitting diodes) 35 disposed above the special symbol display device And a display device.
The three symbol display areas 32 and 3 of the special symbol display device described above.
3 and 34 have three special symbols 32a, 33a and 34a respectively.
The change and stop of the game are executed when a game ball is awarded to the starting port 31 provided below the symbol display device 30.

In this gaming machine, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, twelve kinds of numbers from "0" to "11" are used as special symbols 32a to 34a of the symbol display areas 32 to 34 of the symbol display device 30. A substantially square pattern in which a simulated figure is drawn on a white background is employed. The arrangement of these special symbols is used as a special symbol row, and the special symbol row is set for each symbol display area of the symbol display device 30.
That is, the left special symbol row shown in FIG. 3A is displayed in the left symbol display area 32, the left special symbol row shown in FIG. 3B is displayed in the middle symbol display area 34, and the right symbol display area 34 is displayed in the right symbol display area 34. Adopts the right special symbol row shown in FIG. 3C and variably displays each special symbol row in each symbol display area.

Next, the symbol display operation of the symbol display device 30 in the first embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the steps of the flowchart shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, special symbols 32a, 33a and 34a
Are variably displayed in the left symbol display area 32, the middle symbol display area 33, and the right symbol display area 34, respectively. That is, in the step, each special symbol sequence is before the start of the variable display, and the special symbol (for example, “0”,
"1", "2") 32a to 34a are symbol display areas, respectively.
At 32, 33 and 34, they are displayed in a stationary state. next,
In the step, the special symbol row in the stationary state described above is started to fluctuate and display in the symbol display areas 32 to 34 at the same time when the game ball enters the starting port 31 on the game board 10. At this time, in each of the symbol display areas 32 to 34, the special symbols 32a to 34a constituting the special symbol row are scroll-displayed in the vertical direction so as to appear on the player side in the arrangement order. Next, in the step, after the above-described scroll display is performed for a predetermined time, the variable display of the left special symbol 32a and the right special symbol 34a of the left symbol display area 32 and the right symbol display area 34 is stopped (this specific example). Then, both display symbols 32a, 34
a is “2”).

Further, in the step, after the variation display of the left special symbol 32a and the right special symbol 34a is stopped, the special symbol is displayed on the middle special symbol 33a and the variation is "temporarily stopped". The special symbol 33a displayed by this “temporary stop” is, for example, “5”, and the displayed symbol column in this case is “252”, so it is “missing”. But,
According to the present invention, the display symbol 33a of the middle symbol display area 33 is:
Following the "temporary stop operation", as shown in FIG. 5, "reversal operation" is displayed about the horizontal virtual axis passing through the center of the special symbol 33a, that is, the horizontal virtual axis 50, and displayed (that is, up and down). (Inverted) and switched to another type of special symbol ("2"). Therefore, the display symbol row of the symbol display device 30 is “222”, which is “big hit”. Here, the display of the "reversal operation" is preferably expressed using animation so that another special symbol gradually appears. Finally, in the step of FIG. 4, the special symbol of the inverted special symbol 33a is completely displayed, and the change display of all the special symbols 32a, 33a and 34a is stopped.
For example, “222” is displayed, and the special symbol display operation of the symbol display device 30 ends. Therefore, the player is "stopped"
Pay attention to the game because not only the special display symbol at the time, but also the "reversal operation" and the final display is predicted and the final stop display is determined to determine "big hit" or "missing". It becomes possible to concentrate.

In the display example of the above-mentioned "reversal operation", not all the special symbols shown in FIG. 2 are executed, but a graphic displayed on the special symbol as described below. Is executed according to the type of That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a horizontal imaginary axis 50 passing through the center of the special symbol is set in the symbol of the "temporarily stopped" special symbol row, and the graphic ("5") of the special symbol is horizontally imagined. Assuming a figure inverted around the axis 50, if the inverted figure can be identified as a number ("2"), a special design including a figure imitating this identifiable number ("2") Is switched and displayed as the above-mentioned special symbol of the above-mentioned kind after the inversion. In the above case, the figure (“2”) represented in the figure assumed to be inverted is different from the figure (“5”) represented in the figure of the special symbol before the inversion. As shown in FIG. 6, when the graphic before the inversion and the graphic after the inversion are the same, the display symbol does not change due to the “inversion operation”, but the “inversion operation” may be displayed. FIG. 6 (A)
Is an example of a symbol imitating the numeral “8”, and FIG. 2B is an example of a symbol imitating the numeral “11”. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the figure assumed by the “reversal operation” cannot be identified as a numeral, it is preferable not to display the “reversal operation”. FIG. 7A is a pattern imitating the numeral “4”,
(B) is an example of a symbol imitating the number “7”.

Next, a second embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The gaming machine according to the second embodiment is a modified example (another pattern) of the switching display method (step →) after “pause” in the gaming machine according to the above-described first embodiment, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. It is the same as a gaming machine. However, the figure imitating the number drawn on the special symbol to be adopted is slightly modified, for example, from “3” to “3” so that the effect of the switching display becomes clear. Note that the gaming machines of the second embodiment can be broadly classified into “copying type” and “converging type” described below.

First, the "copy type" will be described. In the switching display of the special symbol in the gaming machine of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a vertical virtual axis passing through the center of the special symbol, that is, a vertical virtual axis 51 is set. Then, a special symbol graphic ("3" on the right side) is centered on the vertical virtual axis 51.
When a figure obtained by inverting the figure and reversing the figure to the left is assumed, and the figure obtained after the reverse copy can be identified as a numeral (“8”), the switching display described below is performed. In the switching display of this embodiment, the special symbol (“3”) displayed by the temporary stop is “temporarily stopped”.
Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the right figure is inverted around the vertical imaginary axis line 51 passing through the center of the special symbol, and is copied to the left with a display operation of being made into one figure. , And is switched to a special symbol including a figure imitating an identifiable number (“8”).

Next, the "focusing type" will be described. The switching display of the special symbol in this embodiment is as shown in FIG.
A vertical virtual axis 51 passing through the center of the special symbol is set.
Then, assuming a figure in which the left half of the figure of the special symbol (a figure imitating “8”) divided around the vertical virtual axis is superimposed on the right side, the figure is obtained after the superimposition. If the figure can be identified as a numeral ("3"), the following switching display is performed. That is, in the switching display of this embodiment, the special symbol ("8") displayed by "temporary stop" passes through the center of the special symbol as shown in FIG. 9 following "temporary stop". Vertical virtual axis 51
A special pattern including a figure imitating a identifiable number ("3") is displayed with a display operation of reversing the figure on the left side and centering on the right side and superimposing the figure on the right side, with a display operation being made into one figure. It is.

Next, still another embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. As the special design graphic of the present invention, the above-mentioned “1”,
Arithmetic numbers (Arabic numbers) such as "2", "3", ...
It is not limited to only. As shown in FIG. 10A, Roman numerals such as "I", "II", "IV", "VI",... May be used. In this case, for example, "VI"
Is inverted with respect to the vertical virtual axis 51 according to the switching display of the first embodiment, and becomes “IV”. FIG. 10B,
As shown in (C) and (E), "one", "two",
A figure imitating a Chinese numeral such as “three”,... “Ten” may be used. In this case, for example, "3" is obtained by reversely copying "2" with the horizontal virtual axis 50 in accordance with the copy type switching display of the second embodiment. When "-" is reversely copied along the diagonal virtual axis 52 according to the copy type switching display of the second embodiment, "+" is obtained. Furthermore, not only numbers,
As shown in FIG. 10D, alphabets such as "M", "W",... May be adopted. In this case, for example, "W" is obtained by inverting "M" with the horizontal virtual axis 50 according to the switching display of the first embodiment.

Next, the setting of the switching display count and the virtual axis will be described. As the switching display of the special symbol in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, the setting of the virtual axis can be changed to a plurality of axes and the reversing operation can be performed a plurality of times. As shown in FIG. 11, the virtual axis passing through the center of the special symbol sets not only the horizontal virtual axis 50 or the vertical virtual axis 51 but also an axis in an oblique direction (diagonal direction of the symbol), that is, an oblique virtual axis 52. May be. Further, as long as the figure can be finally identified, the figure of the special symbol being switched may not be identified. In the example of FIG. 11A, an example is shown in which “Z” is subjected to a first inversion operation using the diagonal virtual axis line 52, and then a second inversion operation is performed using the horizontal virtual axis line 50 to display “N”. .
On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 11B, the figure simulating “6” is subjected to the first inversion operation on the horizontal imaginary axis 50 and then the second inversion operation is performed on the vertical imaginary axis 51 to “9”. Here is an example of obtaining a figure imitating.

The "temporary stop" and "switch display" of the special symbol row in the gaming machine of the present invention are not limited to one special symbol 33a in the middle symbol display area 33 described above, but may be any two (for example, left and right). Special symbols 32a and 34a, middle and right special symbols 33a and 34a) or all special symbols (32a to 34a)
This can also be done for a). In addition, the “temporary stop” of the special symbol sequence is not limited to sequentially stopping individually, and two sets or all the special symbol columns in each special symbol sequence may be simultaneously “temporarily stopped”.

The configuration and operation of some embodiments of the gaming machine according to the present invention have been described above in detail. However, such an embodiment is merely an example of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any way. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0021]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, not only one or more special symbols displayed in a plurality of symbol display areas of the symbol display device are changed but also changed once. Stop and stop after performing the reversal operation at least once on the selected virtual axis. As a result, by changing the display of the symbol display device that the player pays the most attention to, it is possible to further enhance the playability and to make the monotonous game more interesting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an example of a gaming board of a gaming machine embodying the present invention, wherein (A) shows the entire gaming board and (B) shows a symbol display device.

FIG. 2 shows “0” to “11”, which are examples of special symbols displayed on the symbol display device of the gaming machine of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing left, middle and right special symbol rows using the special symbol shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of variable display on a symbol display device of the first embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a special symbol capable of simple horizontal reversal display in the steps shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a special symbol (figure) having the same display before and after simple inversion.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a special symbol (figure) that is difficult to be identified by simple inverted display.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a special symbol (figure) displayed in reverse copy of the second embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a special symbol (figure) displayed in a reverse superimposed manner in the second embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing examples of various symbols displayed on the symbol display device of the gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the gaming machine of the present invention that performs a plurality of special symbol reversing operations.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Gaming board 20 Gaming area 30 Symbol display device 31 Starting port 32 Left symbol display area 33 Middle symbol display area 34 Right symbol display area 45 Big winning opening 50 Horizontal virtual axis 51 Vertical virtual axis 52 Diagonal virtual axis

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A fluctuating display of a symbol row including a symbol imitating a symbol such as a numeral or a character is started upon detection of a game ball in a starting area, and the symbol row is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed. In the gaming machine provided with a displayed symbol display device, the symbol display device, the graphic of the symbol displayed in the symbol column after the start of the variable display, by reversing the symbol around the virtual axis with respect to the symbol, A gaming machine characterized by changing a display to a pattern including a figure that can be identified as another figure. 2. A fluctuation display of a symbol array including a symbol imitating a symbol such as a number or a character is started upon detection of a game ball in a starting area, and after a predetermined time elapses, the symbol array is stopped. In the gaming machine provided with a displayed symbol display device, the symbol display device, the graphic of the symbol displayed in the symbol row after the start of the variable display, by reverse copying the symbol around the virtual axis line to the symbol A game machine characterized by changing the display to a pattern including a figure that can be identified as another figure. 3. A variation display of a symbol row including a symbol imitating a symbol such as a number or a character is started upon detection of a game ball in a start area, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the symbol row is stopped. In a gaming machine provided with a displayed symbol display device, the symbol display device obtains a symbol of a symbol displayed in a symbol column after the start of the variable display by dividing the symbol by a virtual axis with respect to the symbol. By inverting one of the figures to the center of the virtual axis and superimposing it on the other,
A gaming machine characterized by changing a display to a pattern including a figure that can be identified as another figure. 4. The display change of the symbol is performed after the symbol column variation display is started and the symbol column variation display is substantially temporarily stopped. A gaming machine according to any of the above. 5. There are three types of symbol columns to be variably displayed. After the variably displayed symbol column is started, two of the symbol columns being displayed in a variably displayed manner are stopped, and the symbol column is displayed for the remaining symbol columns. 5. A display change is made.
A gaming machine according to any one of the above. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the virtual axis is any one of a horizontal virtual axis, a vertical virtual axis, and an oblique virtual axis with respect to the symbol. 7. The display change of the symbol is performed a plurality of times around different virtual axes among the virtual axes, and at the last time of the display change, the display is changed to a symbol including the identifiable graphic. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein