JP2002085731A - Game machine and advance notice method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable continuous advance notice which makes players feel expectation for a special prize by eliminating the redundancy of game control programs. SOLUTION: Preserved balls are judged for winning a special prize other than those undergoing varying actions during the varying of figures and as a result, when there are the preserved balls winning a special prize, the indication for the generation of an advance notice is transmitted to the second control means from the first control means. At this point, on the side of the second control means, an advance notice lottery with a high probability is performed when the generation of an advance notice is indicated and an advance notice lottery with a low probability, when the generation of an advance notice is not indicated. This facilitates the generation of a continuous advance notice when there is any preserved balls winning the special prize.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of notifying a player of a possibility of a special prize and a method of notifying the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some gaming machines generally called pachinko machines have a so-called jackpot (hereinafter referred to as a special prize).
There is a performance that can give a notice to the player about the possibility of the game.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-31, which is related to gaming machines
JP-A-9252, JP-A-11-70229 and JP-A-9-140881 disclose a general mechanical structure of a gaming machine. For example, some gaming machines include: There is a game board provided with a special symbol display device capable of variably displaying a special symbol (hereinafter simply referred to as a symbol for convenience) composed of a plurality of numbers, figures, and the like.

As a special symbol display device, a liquid crystal display device (hereinafter, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)) or a CRT
(Cathode Ray Tube) Variable display devices such as displays,
Some have a dot matrix display device and others.

During the change of the symbol, there is a possibility that a special prize may be given to the player by a notice such as blinking of the screen, a change of the symbol color and a character cut-in (the character appears on the display screen of the special symbol display device). Notify.

Hereinafter, a conventional notice method will be described. In addition,
In each of the drawings, similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a front view of a gaming board of a gaming machine.

In FIG. 2, a gaming machine according to the present embodiment has a gaming board 201 on which a character or the like of the gaming machine is mounted on a board, a special symbol display device 202, a start winning hole 203, a normal symbol display device operation gate (left) 204. , Ordinary symbol display device operation gate (right) 205, ordinary symbol display device 206, ordinary electric accessory 207, variable winning prize ball device 208, special symbol operation storage indicator lamp (hereinafter referred to as “hold lamp”) 209, 210, 21
1, 212.

The special symbol display device 202 includes, for example, L
CD, CRT display, 7 segment LED (ligh
t emitting diode), dot matrix display devices, drums and the like. The special symbol display device 202 variably displays a special symbol (hereinafter, symbol) such as a plurality of numbers and figures.

[0010] When the ball hit by the player wins, the start winning opening 203 is provided with an internal special symbol start switch 3.
When a trigger of 01 (described later with reference to FIG. 3) is generated, a winning is detected, and a trigger for a symbol change of the special symbol display device 202 is given.

Normal symbol display device operation gate (left) 204
When the ball hit by the player passes through the normal symbol display device operation gate (right) 205, a trigger of the internal normal symbol operation switch 302 (described later with reference to FIG. 3) generates a trigger of the normal symbol display device 206. Gives an opportunity to change the design.

The ordinary symbol display device 206 variably displays ordinary symbols to be displayed, such as 7-segment LEDs.

The ordinary electric accessory 207 is opened when the ordinary symbol display device 206 stops and displays a specific ordinary symbol,
Assist in winning in the starting winning opening 203.

The variable prize ball device 208 has a special winning opening on the front of the variable prize ball device 208 when the stop symbol of the special symbol display device 202 is a predetermined combination of specific symbols, that is, when a special prize is won. Release operation. The special prize is a point at which the game switches from the first state to the second state, and the second state is an advantageous state in which a predetermined game value is given to the player.

Hold lamps 209, 210, 211, 21
2 is turned on in conjunction with storing information of each ball which has won the starting winning opening 203 during the change of the symbol in a holding memory for each ball on the RAM 310 which will be described later with reference to FIG. , "Ball hold"), and the number of times the symbol can be changed continuously is notified. In addition, the winning prize ball to the starting winning opening 203 which is the target of the suspension of the ball is hereinafter referred to as “reserved ball”.

FIG. 1 shows an example of lighting of a hold lamp.

FIG. 1 shows a case where the ball a101, the ball b102, the ball c103, and the ball d104 successively win the winning opening 203 during the symbol change.

Along with the continuous winning, the holding lamps are holding lamp 212, holding lamp 211, holding lamp 210,
The lamps are turned on in the order of the holding lamp 209, and finally the ball a101
Is held by the holding lamp 209, the holding of the ball b102 is indicated by the holding lamp 210, the holding of the ball c103 is indicated by the holding lamp 211, and the holding of the ball d104 is indicated by the holding lamp 212.
Indicates.

FIG. 1 is a continuation of FIG.
Ball a accompanied by extinguishing of holding lamp 209 indicating holding of 101
During a symbol change with respect to the ball 101 (hereinafter, referred to as “reserved digestion” of the reserved ball a101), the ball e105 is set to the starting winning opening 2
03 shows a case where a prize is won.

In this case, the holding lamp 209 is turned on again, and finally, the holding lamp 209 indicates holding of the ball b101, the holding lamp 210 indicates holding of the ball c102, and the holding lamp 211 indicates holding of the ball d103. , Ball e104
Is indicated by the holding lamp 212.

Subsequently, if there is no winning in the starting winning opening 203, the holding lamps 209, 210, 211, 212
Are sequentially turned off, and the balls b102 and c, which are the four holding balls,
Reservation digestion of 103, sphere d104, and sphere e105 is performed.

(Conventional Notice Method 1) Conventionally, a special prize is judged also for other reserved balls immediately before the design change accompanying the reserved reserve of the oldest reserved ball, and according to the result, the special prize is accompanied. To display the notice continuously. In other words, as a result of the special prize judgment for the other reserved balls, if there is a reserved ball of the special prize,
The notice is displayed continuously until the symbol changes due to the reserved ball of the special prize.

For example, in FIG. 1, the sphere a10
1, the ball b102, the ball c103, and the ball d104 are out of the special prize at the time of winning in the starting winning opening 203, so that the RAM 31
In each of the reserve memories of the spheres a101 to d104 above “0”, “out” is stored.

Since the ball e105 draws a special prize at the timing of winning in the starting winning opening 203 while the ball a101 is held and consumed, the "special prize" is stored in the holding memory of the ball e105 in the RAM 310. .

At the start of the symbol change of the subsequent ball b102, the main control unit 308 (which will be described later with reference to FIG. 3), which controls the entire game machine, scans all other reserved memories on the RAM 310. (Scan) to determine the existence of the special prize, and perform a lottery of occurrence of a notice at an appearance ratio according to the determination result. That is, when it is determined that there is a special prize in the reserved memory, a high-probability notice lottery process is performed. In this case, since the “special prize” information is in the holding memory of the ball e105, a high-probability notice lottery process is performed, and when the lottery of the notice is won, the main control unit 308 gives the notice during the change of the symbols of the holding bout of the ball b102. Is performed.

By the same processing, the sphere c103 and the sphere d10
4. At the start of the symbol change of the reserve evacuation of the ball e105, a process of generating a notice during each symbol change is performed. Thereby, a notice is continuously generated until the reserved ball e105 of the special prize is exhausted, giving the player an expectation of the special prize.

(Conventional Notice Method 2) As another conventional notice method, the main control unit 308 sends a signal to a CPU 403 (described later in the description of FIG. 4) of the special symbol display device 202 at the start of symbol change. Based on the signal, the CPU 403 determines whether or not a prize is awarded, and displays a notice for only the symbol variation at a ratio according to the determination result.

This notification method will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The processing procedure of FIG.
8 shows the content of the game control process executed by the CPU No. 8;
This is a game control interrupt process by starting a 4 msec interrupt. FIG. 7 shows display control executed by the CPU 403.

Here, each processing step of FIG. 5 and each processing step of the game management processing of FIG. 6 showing a subroutine of step S540 are all described in the description of FIG. 5 and FIG. Included and detailed. Further, step S810 of the image data setting process of FIG. 8 showing each processing step of FIG. 7 and a subroutine of step S740.
The processing steps other than the above are all included in the description of FIGS. 7 and 10 in the embodiments of the invention described later and will be described in detail. Therefore, here, an outline of the conventional notice method will be described.

In FIG. 6, when the symbol change starts due to the holding of the reserved ball, or the winning of the ball to the starting winning opening 203 when the ball is not held, the main control unit 308 responds to the symbol change. Based on the special prize judgment of the winning ball
A plurality of symbols stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 202,
For example, the left, middle, and right symbols are determined, and the variation pattern of the symbols is determined (steps S600 to S640). Then, in step S570 in FIG.
Transmits the variation pattern designation command and the left, middle, and right stop symbol designation commands to the special symbol display device 202.

Subsequently, in FIG. 7, the CPU 403 performs an image data setting process in step S740 based on the received fluctuation pattern designation command and the left, middle, and right stop symbol designation commands.

In this case, in FIG. 8, the CPU 403 determines a special prize based on the combination of symbols specified by the left, middle, and right stop symbol specification commands, and generates a notice at an appearance ratio according to the determination result. Is performed (step S810). That is, when it is determined to be a special prize, a high-probability notice lottery process is performed.

When the lottery of the notice is won, the CP
U403 performs a process for generating a notice, and performs a process for symbol variation display (steps S810 → S830 → S
850).

[0034]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior notice method 1, every time the symbol change of the reserved digestion is started, every reserved memory in the RAM 310 is scanned to determine the presence or absence of the special prize information. A lottery will be drawn according to the notice. For this reason, the burden on the main control unit 308 for performing the preliminary lottery is large, and the steps of the game control program associated with the preliminary lottery are also redundant, and in the game control program capacity limited by the gaming machine regulations of the authorities, other control codes are used. Capacity pressure on In addition, when the authority inspects the game control program in the type test of the gaming machine, the number of inspection steps is increased.

Further, in the above-described conventional notice method 2, during the continuous use of the reserved balls, there is a possibility that a notice may appear by chance at the notice lottery at the start of the symbol change of the reserved use. For this reason, although there is no relevance between the notices of each reserved digestion, meaningless continuous notices that do not result in a special prize are generated, thereby reducing the interest of the player. Conversely, each pending digest notice is independently irrelevant,
The prior art has a problem to be solved that the continuous notice cannot be generated until the reserved ball of the special prize is exhausted as in the case of the preliminary notice method 1 and the expectation of the special prize cannot be given to the player. Was.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of continuous notice giving a player an expectation of a special prize without making the game control program redundant, and a notice method thereof.

[0037]

In order to achieve such an object, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a player with a predetermined pattern based on winning ball information for changing a plurality of symbols on a symbol display device. In a gaming machine for performing a lottery in an advantageous state of giving a game value, a storage means for storing a plurality of the winning ball information in succession, and the continuously stored winning ball information from the storage means as 1 A first control means for notifying the start of symbol change each time the pick-up and processing are performed, and at least one second control means for performing processing synchronized with the symbol change when receiving the notification of the symbol change start With
The first control means stores winning sphere information from the storage means.
When one is taken out and processed, the lottery based on all the winning ball information stored in the storage means other than the taken out winning ball information is determined, and the determined result is at least one winning in the advantageous state. In the case of including, the second control means instructs the generation of a notice, the second control means performs a notice lottery when detecting the instruction of the notice occurrence,
A feature is that a notice is generated when a preliminary lottery is won.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the second control means determines the presence or absence of the instruction to generate the advance notice when receiving the notification of the start of the symbol change. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect, when the instruction of the advance notice is detected, a high-probability announcement lottery is performed, and when the instruction of the advance notice is not detected, the low probability lottery is performed. Is performed, and a notice is generated when the preview lottery is won.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the third aspect, the number of times of the high-probability notice lottery is set, and the notification of the start of the symbol change is received continuously for the set number of times. In this case, the high-probability preliminary lottery is performed without determining whether or not there is an instruction to generate the preliminary announcement.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the second control means is the symbol display device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the second control means is a lamp display device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the second control means is a sound generating device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, when the plurality of second control means are plural, the plurality of second control means are the symbol display. It is a combination of a device, a lamp display device or a sound generating device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine for performing a lottery in an advantageous state for giving a predetermined game value to a player based on winning ball information for changing a plurality of symbols on a symbol display device. In the advance notice method, a step of storing a plurality of the winning ball information in the storage means in succession, and a notification of the start of the symbol change each time one piece of the continuously stored winning ball information is taken out from the storage means and processed. A first control step to be performed, and at least one second step of performing a process synchronized with the symbol change when the notification of the symbol change start is received.
Wherein the first control step comprises:
When one piece of winning ball information is taken out from the storage means and processed, the lottery based on all the winning ball information stored in the storage means other than the taken out winning ball information is determined, and the result of the determination is at least. In a case where the winning in one of the advantageous states is included, an instruction to generate a notice is issued to the second control step, and the second control step performs a preliminary lottery when the instruction to generate the preliminary notice is detected. In the case of winning, a notice is generated. It is characterized by being.

[0046]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated. Also,
The mechanical structure of a gaming machine is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-31925.
Since it can be the same as the conventional example shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 and the like, the description will be limited to the components related to the present invention and the supplementary portions thereof. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same portions in each drawing including the above-described conventional technology, and the description will not be repeated.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 3 shows a control circuit configuration of a gaming machine.

In FIG. 3, the control circuit configuration of the gaming machine of the present embodiment includes a special symbol start switch 301, a normal symbol activation switch 302, a special winning opening switch 303, a reset circuit 305, a power supply circuit 306, an input port 307, Control unit 308, ROM 309, RAM 310, output port 311, special symbol display device 202, ordinary symbol display device 2
06, big winning opening operating solenoid 312, ordinary electric accessory operating solenoid 313, lamp display device 314, sound effect generating device 315, prize ball payout device 316, ball launching device 317
And other switches 304.

The special symbol start switch 301 generates a trigger when the ball hit by the player and hits the start winning port 203 passes this switch, detects the winning, and detects the symbol change of the special symbol display device 202. Give an opportunity.

The normal symbol operation switch 302 is driven out by the player to activate the normal symbol display device operation gate (left) 2
When the ball that has passed through the switch 04 and the normal symbol display device operation gate (right) 205 passes through this switch, a trigger is generated to give a trigger to change the ordinary symbol of the ordinary symbol display device 206.

The special winning opening switch 303 detects a winning of a ball to the variable winning ball device 208 when a special prize is won.

The reset circuit 305 sets the main control unit 308 in an initial state. The power supply circuit 306 supplies power to the entire circuit of FIG. The input port 307 receives a signal from each unit and transfers the signal to the main control unit 308.

The main control unit 308 is a CPU for controlling the entire gaming machine. Even if a one-chip CPU having a built-in ROM 309 and RAM 310 is used, the main control unit 308 uses a CPU externally connected to the ROM 309 and RAM 310 via a bus. Is also good.

The ROM 309 stores a program for controlling the gaming machine for the main control unit 308. Specifically, it stores a game control program of FIG. 5 that defines the content of the game control process performed by the CPU of the main control unit 308.
The ROM 309 further stores various parameter values for controlling the gaming machine.

The RAM 310 temporarily stores input / output data for the main control unit 308, data for arithmetic processing, various counters such as a random number counter related to a game, and the like, and records information of each reserved ball. Has pending memory.

The output port 311 outputs a signal to each unit and transfers the signal from the main control unit 308.

The special winning opening activation solenoid 312 opens the special winning opening on the front of the variable winning sphere device 208 when a special prize is won.

The ordinary electric accessory operating solenoid 313 opens the ordinary electric accessory 207 when the ordinary symbol display device 206 stops and displays a specific ordinary symbol.

The lamp display device 314 is a display device for lamps related to a game, and selectively turns on / off a plurality of lamps according to an instruction from the main control unit 308. As a result, the holding lamp is also turned on when information is recorded in the holding memory on the RAM 310, and turned off when the holding ball is used up.

The sound effect generator 315 generates sound related to the game. The prize ball payout device 316 pays out a prize ball when a prize is detected by the special symbol start switch 301, the special winning opening switch 303, the other switch 304, or the like.

When the ball launching device 317 detects the ball launching operation of the player by the gaming machine handle, the ball launching device 317 launches the ball to the game board 201.

FIG. 4 shows a control circuit configuration of the special symbol display device 202.

In FIG. 4, the control circuit configuration of the special symbol display device 202 of this embodiment is the same as that of the display command signal receiving circuit 4.
01, power supply circuit 402, CPU 403, program RO
M404, RAM 405, image processing LSI (hereinafter referred to as V
DP (Video Display Processor) 406, character ROM 407, video RAM 408, variable display device 4
09.

The display command signal receiving circuit 401 receives a display command signal from the main control unit 308, in this embodiment, a 2-byte display command signal (hereinafter referred to as a command) as illustrated in FIG. Transfer to CPU403.

The power supply circuit 402 supplies power to the entire circuit of FIG.

The CPU 403 has a program ROM 404
Performs image processing and image display control in accordance with the program stored in.

The program ROM 404 has a CPU 403
Stores a program for image processing executed by the CPU 403. More specifically, it stores an image display control program of FIG. Further, the program ROM 404 stores the VDP 406
VDP mapping and writing to data register of
406 control data is also stored.

The RAM 405 temporarily stores input / output data for the CPU 403 and data for arithmetic processing, and functions as a work area and a buffer memory.

The VDP 406 stores sprite / scroll image data to be displayed on the variable display device 409 in accordance with a symbol update instruction from the CPU 403, in the video RAM.
408, and outputs image data in the display area of the variable display device 409 according to an output instruction from the CPU 403.
indicate.

The character ROM 407 has a CPU 403
VDP 406 received a symbol update instruction from
The image data of sprite / scroll developed in AM408 is stored.

In the video RAM 408, the image data to be output is expanded in the display area of the variable display device 409 by the VDP 406, and is temporarily stored.

The variable display device 409 is an LCD, a CRT display, or the like, and displays image data output from the VDP 406.

The processing of the notice method of the present embodiment with the system configuration described above will be described below. Since the present embodiment relates to a method of processing a continuous notice, a case in which a ball wins continuously in the starting winning opening 203 during a symbol change and one or more holding lamps are turned on, and the holding digestion is continuously performed. Will be described.

At the time of holding of the ball, a jackpot random number (random number for determining whether a special prize or not) related to the held ball is obtained. At the start of the symbol change of the holding ball, the winning random number, the reach random number (the random number for the lottery of the reach effect) and the symbol random number (the random number for the lottery of the stop symbol)
The left, middle, and right stop symbols are determined, and the pattern of the pattern variation until all symbols stop is determined. Various commands such as the left, middle, and right stop symbol designating commands and variation pattern designating commands are transmitted to the main control unit. 308 to special symbol display device 202
Sent to

At this time, in the present embodiment, a special prize is determined also for the reserved balls other than the retained balls related to the change when the symbol is changed, and as a result, when there is a reserved ball for the special prize, a notice signal for instructing the display of the notice is given. Is transmitted from the main control unit 308 to the special symbol display device 202.

The above processing in the present embodiment is performed according to the processing procedure shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. The processing procedure of FIG. 5 is an interrupt processing started every cycle t (for example, 4 msec).
U reads out and executes the game control program stored in the ROM 309. FIG. 7 shows C
The display control contents executed by the PU 403 are shown.
3 is performed by reading and executing the image display control program stored in the ROM 404.

In FIG. 5, when the power of the gaming machine is turned on, the main control unit 308 performs initial settings relating to images, lamps, sounds, games, and the like (step S500). Thereafter, the main control unit 308 generates a random number for a special prize by updating (+1) the jackpot random number loop counter in the process of step S510 every cycle t.

When a ball is won in the starting winning opening 203 during the symbol change, the main control unit 308 reads the jackpot random number from the jackpot random number loop counter in the process of step S520, and buffers it in the holding memory of the holding ball on the RAM 310. (Hold the ball). Each time this step is repeatedly executed, the value of each of the jackpot random numbers is continuously stored in the holding memory on the RAM 310 for a plurality of holding balls.

The error occurrence status of the gaming machine is determined by the main controller 30.
8 is checked by performing the process of step S530.

The main control unit 308 performs control related to the game such as symbol change and control of the accessory in the game management process of step S540.

Next, during the above-mentioned symbol change, the starting winning opening 203
The main control unit 308 pays out a prize ball to the ball which has been won and held (step S550), and the main control unit 308 executes the step to inform the gaming state to the outside of the gaming machine.
The information is transmitted to the outside by performing the process of S560.

When the gaming machine controls output data such as lamps, sounds, images, and the like, the main control unit 308 executes step S570.
Controls the output data. For example, the main control unit 308 instructs the lamp display device 314 to turn on the holding lamp to notify the holding ball, and sends a notice signal and other image control commands to the special symbol display device 20.
Send to 2.

The main control unit 308 updates the reach random number loop counter and the symbol random number loop counter in step S58.
This is performed by updating these random number counters n times (n is a natural number) using the remaining interrupt time of 0.

At the beginning of the fluctuation of the reserve digestion of the reserve ball,
Based on the reach random number read from the reach random number loop counter, the symbol random number read from the symbol random number loop counter, and the jackpot random number stored in the holding memory of the holding ball on the RAM 310, the main control unit 308 executes a fluctuation pattern designation command, The notice signal command and the left, middle, and right stop symbol designation commands and the like are transmitted to the special symbol display device 202. This processing is performed when the main control unit 308 determines that the symbol change has started during the game management processing in step S540.

FIG. 9 shows the contents of processing related to symbol fluctuation and notice in the game management processing of step S540 in FIG. In FIG. 9, when the main control unit 308 determines that the design change starts due to the reserved digestion of the reserved ball (step S
600), all the reserved memories other than the reserved memory relating to the symbol variation on the RAM 310 are scanned, and the jackpot random number special prize is determined for the other reserved balls (step S900).

If it is determined that another reserved ball has a special prize,
The main control unit 308 sets information of a notice signal command (command ID = 0) shown in FIG. 12 in a predetermined area on the RAM 310 (steps S910 → S920).

Next, the main control unit 308 determines a special prize of the symbol fluctuation to be started based on the jackpot random number stored in the holding memory relating to the symbol fluctuation on the RAM 310.
Then, based on the determination result, the reach random number read from the reach random number loop counter and the symbol random number read from the symbol random number loop counter, the special symbol display device 20 is used.
A plurality of symbols stopped and displayed in 2 are determined. For example,
The special prize judgment is “miss”, the reach type uniquely determined from the reach random number is “super reach”, and the left, middle, and right symbol numbers uniquely determined from the symbol random numbers are “7” in order.
H, 7H, AH "(hexadecimal notation), and the like. The main control unit 308 sets the respective symbol numbers as events, and the left, middle, and right stop symbol designation commands (each command ID) shown in FIG. Stores information of 1, 2 and 3) in RAM3
10 is set in a predetermined area (step S610 →
S620).

Next, the main control unit 308 determines the pattern of the symbol variation based on the above-described determination of the special prize and the reach random number. For example, in the case of the above-mentioned "outside, super reach", the fluctuation pattern is "outside (reach)" shown in FIG. 13, and as fluctuation pattern information, fluctuation pattern ID = 1, fluctuation pattern event = reach type (=
A reach random number “super reach”) is determined. Then, the main control unit 308 sets information of the variation pattern designation command (command ID = 4) in which the determined variation pattern information is set as an event in a predetermined area on the RAM 310 (step S630).

When the information of each command required for the symbol variation is set, the main control unit 308 sets a variation timer for monitoring the symbol variation to a predetermined value (step S).
640).

When the main control unit 308 returns the processing from FIG. 9 to FIG. 5 of the calling source, the main control unit 308 executes the above-described step S570 based on the information of each command required for the symbol change set in the predetermined area on the RAM 310. Depending on the processing, the fluctuation pattern designation command, the notice signal command and the left, middle,
Special symbol display device 2 for each stop symbol designating command on the right
02.

When the processing of FIG. 9 is called again from the processing of FIG. 5 by the interrupt processing, the main control unit 308
Indicates that the symbol is changing (step S600 → S6)
50), decrement (−1) the fluctuation timer (step S6)
60).

When the fluctuation timer reaches 0, the main control unit 308
Is the symbol stop command shown in FIG. 12 (command ID = 5)
Is set in a predetermined area on the RAM 310 (steps S670 → S680), and the process returns from FIG. 9 to FIG.

When the main control unit 308 returns the processing from FIG. 9 to FIG. 5 of the calling source, the main control unit 308 executes the symbol stop by the processing of the above-described step S570 based on the information of the command set in the predetermined area on the RAM 310 described above. The command is transmitted to the special symbol display device 202.

On the other hand, in FIG. 7, the CPU 403 performs an initial setting process of the CPU 403 after the gaming machine is turned on and turned on (step S700), and a command from the main control unit 308 monitored by an interrupt process (not shown). The result of the input detection is determined (step S710).

If there is no new command input, the process proceeds to step S740 without doing anything.

At the time of inputting a new command, the input new command is set in the set area on the RAM 405 (step S720), and unique data for the input command is set in the RAM 405 (step S730), and the flow proceeds to step S740. move on.

Next, the CPU 403 performs an image data setting process (step S740). Specifically, RAM
The VDP control data in the program ROM 404 is written to the VDP output buffer on the RAM 405 based on the data unique to the input command set in 405. If the information of the VDP output buffer can be output to the VDP, the output permission flag is turned on.

The CPU 403 determines the output permission flag (step S750). If it is OFF, the process proceeds to step S710.
Return to

When the output permission flag is ON, the CPU 40
No. 3 maps the information of the VDP output buffer to the data register of the VDP 406 in the address space of the CPU 403 and writes the data, and designates the address bus, the data bus, the write enable, the chip select, and the VD.
By issuing an instruction to P406, the video RAM 408
Sprite read from character ROM 407 on top
Expand the scroll image data. And VDP406
Then, a VDP data output process for instructing to display the image data on the video RAM 408 in the display area window of the variable display device 409 is performed (step S760).
It returns to step S710.

FIG. 10 shows the contents of processing related to symbol variation and advance notice in the image data set processing in step S740 of FIG. In FIG. 10, when the CPU 403 receives a fluctuation pattern designation command when the state is a symbol stop, the CPU 403 executes a program RO based on data unique to the fluctuation pattern designation command set in the RAM 405.
The VDP control data related to the symbol variation in M404 is RA
Write to the VDP output buffer on M405. Then, the CPU 403 converts the information of the VDP output buffer into a VD
If output to P is permitted, the output permission flag is turned on, the state is changed to immediately after the change, and the process returns to FIG. 7 of the caller (step S800 → S850).

When the processing in FIG. 10 is called again from the processing in FIG. 7, the CPU 403 determines whether or not a notice signal command has been received immediately after the state has changed (steps S800 → S1000). When it is determined that the notice signal command is received, a high-probability notice lottery process is performed (step S1020), and when it is determined that there is no notice signal command, a low-probability notice lottery process is performed (step S101).
0).

When the preliminary lottery is won, the CPU 4
Numeral 03 writes VDP control data, which is preview display data for the background and animation for the preview display in the program ROM 404, to the VDP output buffer on the RAM 405 based on data unique to the preview signal command set in the RAM 405. (Step S820 →
S830).

If the preliminary lottery has not been won, the CPU 4
03 writes VDP control data, which is normal display data for normal background and animation, in the program ROM 404 to the VDP output buffer on the RAM 405 (step S820 → S840).

Further, the CPU 403 updates the VDP control data relating to the symbol variation written in the VDP output buffer based on data unique to the variation pattern designation command set in the RAM 405. And
If the information of the VDP output buffer can be output to the VDP, the CPU 403 sets the output permission flag to ON, shifts the state to the changing state, and returns the processing to the caller in FIG. 7 (step S850). As a result, the symbol change is started, and when there is a notice, a notice is displayed, and when there is no notice, a normal display is performed.

When the process of FIG. 10 is called again from the process of FIG. 7, if the symbol stop command is not received while the state is changing, the CPU 403 determines whether the symbol change has been written in the VDP output buffer. Such VDP control data, VDP control data that is preview display data, or VDP control data that is normal display data,
Each of the data unique to the fluctuation pattern designation command set in the RAM 405 and the unique data or program R for the notice signal command set in the RAM 405
The update is performed based on the update data of the normal display data in the OM 404.

If the information in the VDP output buffer can be output to the VDP, the CPU 403 sets the output permission flag to ON and returns the processing to the calling source in FIG. 7 (step S800 → S850). The process of FIG. 7 is repeatedly called from the process of FIG. 7 in a loop, and the symbol updating process of step S850 in this case is repeated. As a result, the symbol is changed in accordance with the change pattern designating command. A preview is displayed when there is a notice, and a normal display is performed when there is no notice.

When the process of FIG. 10 is called again from the process of FIG. 7, when the CPU 403 sequentially receives the left, middle, and right stop symbol designating commands and the symbol stop command when the state is changing, the VDP The VDP control data relating to the symbol variation written in the output buffer is unique to the variation pattern designation command set in the RAM 405 and unique to the left, middle and right stop symbol designation commands set in the RAM 405. , The symbols are updated toward the left, middle, and right symbol stops.

When the information of the VDP output buffer can be output to the VDP, the CPU 403 sets the output permission flag to ON, and returns the processing to the caller in FIG. 7 (step S800 → S850). The process of FIG. 7 is repeatedly called from the process of FIG. 7 in a loop, and the symbol updating process of step S850 in this case is repeated. As a result, the symbol is changed according to the change pattern designation command, and at the time when each symbol is stopped, the state is changed to the symbol stop in step S850.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a special prize is also determined for a reserved ball other than the retained ball related to the change when the symbol is changed. Is sent from the main control unit 308 to the special symbol display device 202. At this time, the special symbol display device 202 performs a high-probability preliminary lottery when there is a preliminary signal, and a low-probability preliminary lottery when there is no preliminary signal. Easier to do.

Therefore, the load on the main control unit 308 can be reduced without making the steps of the game control program redundant, and the capacity for other control codes can be reduced even under the program capacity limited by the game machine regulations of the authorities. No more pressure. Further, it is possible to give a relevance to each of the notices of the reserved digests, to give a meaning to the performance that gives the player an expectation of the special prize, and to generate a continuous notice until the special prize.

(Embodiment 2) This embodiment relates to Embodiment 1.
In addition, a process is added in which a continuous announcement that rarely leads to a special prize occurs while a continuous reserved ball is being consumed.
Since FIGS. 1 to 5, 7 and 9 are common to the first embodiment,
Duplication of these descriptions will be omitted, and the contents unique to the present embodiment will be described below.

Since the present embodiment is also related to the method of processing a continuous notice, a ball wins continuously in the starting winning opening 203 during symbol change, and one or more holding lamps are turned on, and the holding digestion is continuously performed. A case in which this is performed will be described.

FIG. 11 shows the contents of processing related to symbol variation and advance notice in the image data set processing in step S740 of FIG. In FIG. 11, when the CPU 403 receives the fluctuation pattern designation command when the state is the symbol stop, the CPU 403 executes the program RO based on the data unique to the fluctuation pattern designation command set in the RAM 405.
The VDP control data related to the symbol variation in M404 is RA
Write to the VDP output buffer on M405. Then, the CPU 403 converts the information of the VDP output buffer into a VD
If output to P is permitted, the output permission flag is turned on, the state is changed to immediately after the change, and the process returns to FIG. 7 of the caller (step S800 → S850).

When the process of FIG. 11 is called again from the process of FIG. 7, the CPU 403 determines the number of times of continuous execution of the high-probability notice lottery process (hereinafter referred to as the number of notices) immediately after the state changes. Check (Step S80)
0 → S1100).

If the number of notices is 0, the CPU 403 determines whether or not a notice signal command has been received (step S11).
00 → S1000). When it is determined that the notice signal command has been received, a high-probability notice lottery process is performed (step S10).
20) If it is determined that there is no notice signal command, a low probability notice lottery process is performed (step S1010).

On the other hand, if the number of notices is not 0, the CPU 4
03 subtracts (-1) the number of notices (step S110).
0 → S1110). Then, a high-probability notice lottery process is performed (step S1020).

When a low-probability preliminary lottery is won, the CPU
Reference numeral 403 denotes a program ROM 404 based on data unique to the notice signal command set in the RAM 405 after randomly determining the number of notices from 1 to 4 times.
The VDP control data, which is the preview display data for the background or animation, is written into the VDP output buffer on the RAM 405 (step S820).
→ S1140 → S830).

If the low probability or high probability announcement lottery is not won, the CPU 403 stores the VDP control data, which is the normal display data for the normal background and animation in the program ROM 404, in the VDP output buffer on the RAM 405. Write (step S820 or S1
130 → S840).

[0119] When the high-prize preview lottery is won, the CPU
Reference numeral 403 denotes a program ROM 404 based on data unique to the notice signal command set in the RAM 405.
The VDP control data, which is the preview display data for the background or animation, is written to the VDP output buffer on the RAM 405 (step S113).
0 → S830).

Further, the CPU 403 updates the VDP control data relating to the symbol variation written in the VDP output buffer based on data unique to the variation pattern designation command set in the RAM 405. And
If the information of the VDP output buffer can be output to the VDP, the CPU 403 sets the output permission flag to ON, shifts the state to the changing state, and returns the processing to the caller in FIG. 7 (step S850). As a result, the symbol change is started, and when there is a notice, a notice is displayed, and when there is no notice, a normal display is performed.

When the process in FIG. 11 is called again from the process in FIG. 7, if the symbol stop command is not received while the state is changing, the CPU 403 determines whether the symbol change has been written in the VDP output buffer. Such VDP control data, VDP control data that is preview display data, or VDP control data that is normal display data,
Each of the data unique to the fluctuation pattern designation command set in the RAM 405 and the unique data or program R for the notice signal command set in the RAM 405
The update is performed based on the update data of the normal display data in the OM 404.

When the information of the VDP output buffer can be output to the VDP, the CPU 403 sets the output permission flag to ON, and returns the processing to the caller in FIG. 7 (step S800 → S850). The process of FIG. 11 is repeatedly called from the process of FIG. 7 in a loop, and the symbol updating process of step S850 in this case is repeated. As a result, the symbol is changed in accordance with the change pattern designating command. A preview is displayed when there is a notice, and a normal display is performed when there is no notice.

When the process of FIG. 11 is called again from the process of FIG. 7, when the CPU 403 sequentially receives the left, middle, and right stop symbol designation commands and the symbol stop command while the state is changing, the VDP The VDP control data relating to the symbol variation written in the output buffer is unique to the variation pattern designation command set in the RAM 405 and unique to the left, middle and right stop symbol designation commands set in the RAM 405. , The symbols are updated toward the left, middle, and right symbol stops.

Then, if the information of the VDP output buffer can be output to the VDP, the CPU 403 sets the output permission flag to ON, and returns the processing to the calling source in FIG. 7 (step S800 → S850). The process of FIG. 11 is repeatedly called from the process of FIG. 7 in a loop, and the symbol updating process of step S850 in this case is repeated. As a result, the symbol is changed according to the change pattern designation command, and at the time when each symbol is stopped, the state is changed to the symbol stop in step S850.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a special prize is also determined for a reserved ball other than a retained ball related to a change when a symbol is changed. Is sent from the main control unit 308 to the special symbol display device 202. At this time, on the special symbol display device 202 side, when the set number of notices is 0, a notice lottery with a high probability is performed when there is a notice signal,
In addition, when there is no notice signal, a low-probability notice lottery is performed, and when there is a reserved ball of the special prize, a continuous notice is easily generated.

Also, when the symbol changes, the special symbol display device 2
On the 02 side, when the number of notices set is 0, if there is no notice signal, a low-probability notice lottery is performed, and if the notice lottery is won at this time, the number of notices is set up to a maximum of four times. Then, the number of notices is checked and subtracted at the time of the on-hold digestion that follows, and at the same time, a high-probability notice lottery is performed
Until the number of notices reaches 0, a continuous notice that does not reach the special prize is generated.

Therefore, the load on the main control unit 308 can be reduced without making the steps of the game control program redundant, and the capacity for other control codes can be reduced even under the program capacity limited by the rules of the game machine of the authority. No more pressure. Furthermore, it is possible to generate a continuous notice up to the special prize by giving a relevance between the notices of each pending digestion and giving the player a sense of the expectation of the special prize, and rarely reaching the special prize. It is also possible to produce a continuous notice.

The following embodiment can be carried out in addition to the embodiment described above. 1) In the above-described embodiment, when the CPU of the special symbol display device executes the image display control program, the lottery of the notice and the notice of the image are generated. However, the lottery of the notice and the occurrence of the notice are not limited to this, and when the CPU of the symbol display device other than the special symbol display device executes the image display control program, the lottery of the notice and the generation of the notice of the image are performed. It may be. In addition, when the CPU of the lamp display device executes the lamp control program, the lottery of the notice and the generation of the notice of the lamp may be performed, or when the CPU of the sound effect generating device executes the sound effect control program, the notice may be issued. May be performed and a notice of the sound may be generated. When each CPU executes a control program in combination with the above-mentioned symbol display device (including a special symbol display device), a lamp display device or a sound effect generating device, a lottery of an advance notice and an advance notice are generated, and an image, a lamp or a sound is generated. It is also possible to make a notice effect of the combination of 2) In the above-described embodiment, the announcement lottery is of two types, a low probability and a high probability. However, each probability setting is not fixed, and it is a matter of course that various probabilities can be set depending on the effect. 3) In the above-described embodiment, the number of times to continuously perform the high-probability notice lottery process is randomly determined from 1 to 4 times, but this number is not limited to 1 to 4 times.
Various times may be set depending on the effect.

[0129]

As described above, according to the present invention, a special prize is determined for a reserved ball other than the retained ball related to the change when the symbol is changed. An instruction to generate a notice is transmitted from the first control means to the second control means. At this time, the second control means performs a high-probability preliminary lottery when there is an instruction to generate a preliminary announcement, and performs a low-probability preliminary lottery when there is no instruction to produce a preliminary announcement. Makes continuous announcements easier to generate.

Further, according to the present invention, when the number of times of successively performing the high-probability notice lottery process is 0 when the symbol is changed, the second control means sets a high value when the notice generation instruction is given. A preliminary announcement lottery of the probability is performed, and a preliminary announcement lottery of a low probability is performed in the case where there is no instruction to generate the advance notice. Also, when the design changes, the second
The control means sets the number of times the high-probability notice lottery process is continuously performed, and performs the high-probability notice lottery continuously for the set number of times without determining whether or not there is an instruction to generate a notice.

Therefore, the load on the CPU of the first control means is reduced without making the steps of the game control program redundant, and even if the program capacity is restricted by the rules of the game machine of the authority, other control codes may be used. Eliminates pressure on the volume. Furthermore, it is possible to generate a continuous notice up to the special prize by giving a relevance between the notices of each pending digestion and giving the player a sense of the expectation of the special prize, and rarely reaching the special prize. It is also possible to produce a continuous notice.

Further, since the preliminary lottery and the generation of the preliminary notice are all performed on the second control means side, when a plurality of second control means are used, the first control means performs the common processing of the whole gaming machine,
By performing various notice lottery probability settings and notice effects on each second control means side, the degree of freedom of the effect of the entire gaming machine is increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example of a lighting example of a hold lamp.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a front view of a gaming board of a conventional gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control circuit configuration of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control circuit configuration of the special symbol display device 202 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a game control processing procedure executed by a CPU of a main control unit 308 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a game management processing procedure executed by a CPU of a conventional main control unit 308.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display control processing procedure executed by a CPU 403 in the special symbol display device 202 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a CPU 40 in a conventional special symbol display device 202.
3 is a flowchart illustrating an image data set processing procedure executed by a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a game management processing procedure executed by the CPU of the main control unit 308 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an image data set processing procedure executed by a CPU 403 in the special symbol display device 202 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an image data set processing procedure executed by a CPU 403 in the special symbol display device 202 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a part of a command transmitted from the main control unit 308 to the special symbol display device 202 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying a part of fluctuation pattern information according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 Game ball 201 Game board 202 Special symbol display device 203 Starting winning opening 204 Normal symbol display device operation gate (left) 205 Normal symbol display device operation gate (right) 206 Normal symbol display device 207 Normal Electric accessory 208 Variable winning prize ball device 209, 210, 211, 212 Hold lamp 301 Special symbol start switch 302 Normal symbol activation switch 303 Large winning opening switch 304 Other switch 305 Reset circuit 306 Power supply circuit 307 Input port 308 Main control unit 309 ROM 310 RAM 311 Output port 312 Big winning opening operating solenoid 313 Normal electric accessory operating solenoid 314 Lamp display 315 Sound effect generator 316 Prize ball payout device 317 Ball launcher 401 Display command signal receiving circuit 4 2 power circuit 403 CPU 404 program ROM 405 RAM 406 image processing LSI (VDP) 407 character ROM 408 video RAM 409 variable display device

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine for performing a lottery in an advantageous state in which a predetermined game value is given to a player based on winning ball information for changing a plurality of symbols on a symbol display device, Storage means for successively storing a plurality of pieces of prize ball information stored continuously from the storage means.
A first control unit for notifying the start of the symbol change every time one of the pieces is taken out and processed; and at least one second control for performing a process synchronized with the symbol change when the notification of the start of the symbol change is received. Means, the first control means, the winning ball information from the storage means
When one is taken out and processed, the lottery based on all the winning ball information stored in the storage means other than the taken out winning ball information is determined, and the determined result is at least one winning in the advantageous state. In the case of including, the second control means instructs the generation of a notice, the second control means performs a notice lottery when detecting the instruction of the notice occurrence,
A gaming machine characterized in that a notice is generated when a preliminary lottery is won. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the second control means determines whether or not there is an instruction to generate the advance notice when receiving the notification of the start of the symbol change. Machine. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein a high-probability preliminary lottery is performed when the instruction to generate the preliminary notice is detected, and a low-probability preliminary lottery is performed when the instruction to produce the preliminary notice is not detected. A gaming machine characterized in that a notice is generated when a preliminary lottery is won. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the number of the high-probability notice lottery is set, and the notice is generated when the notice of the start of the symbol change is received continuously for the set number of times. A gaming machine that performs the high-probability announcement lottery without determining whether or not there is an instruction from the game machine. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said second control means is said symbol display device. 6. A game machine according to claim 1, wherein said second control means is a lamp display device. 7. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said second control means is a sound generating device. 8. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein when the plurality of second control means are plural, the plurality of second control means are the symbol display device and the lamp display device. Alternatively, a gaming machine characterized by a combination of sound generating devices. 9. A method for notifying a gaming machine of performing a lottery in an advantageous state of giving a predetermined game value to a player based on winning ball information for changing a plurality of symbols on a symbol display device, Means for continuously storing a plurality of the winning prize ball information in the means; and
A first control step of notifying a start of a symbol change each time one is taken out and processed, and at least one second control of performing a process synchronized with the symbol change when receiving the notification of the start of the symbol change When the first control step retrieves one piece of prize ball information from the storage means and processes the same, the first control step applies to all the prize ball information stored in the storage means other than the retrieved prize ball information. Determining the lottery based on the lottery, and when the result of the determination includes at least one winning in the advantageous state, instructs the second control step to generate a notice, wherein the second control step includes the step of generating the notice A preliminary announcement lottery is performed when the instruction is detected, and an advance announcement is generated when the preliminary announcement lottery is won.