JP2002136693A - Information display device of game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the movement of the view point of a payer to aggregate the fatigue of eyeballs and to make the player easily recognize the information on, for example, passed time and remaining time for the player. SOLUTION: The illuminating color of holding lamps 200 is changed or an indicator part 256 is installed around the holding lamps 200 by taking note of the held lamps 200 or areas around the holding lamps 200 in an area where the view point of the player is concentrated in a game panel. By this, the movement of the view point of the player during playing can be minimized to provide new information. Thus, the movement of the view point of the player to aggravate the fatigue of the eyeballs can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a symbol variation function for notifying that a lottery is performed based on a prize of a game medium to a starting opening, and that the lottery results in a gaming state advantageous to a player in case of a win. The present invention relates to an information display device used in a gaming machine which can be selectively switched to any one of a normal mode or a time saving mode in which the symbol variation function has a reduced notification time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a gaming machine, in particular, in a pachinko machine, detecting a game ball (here, a pachinko ball) winning in a starting winning opening (a special symbol starting winning opening). There is a pachinko machine that has a function of opening a winning port for a predetermined number of times for a predetermined period when the result of the lottery results in a win, increasing the winning rate of the pachinko machine, and setting the pachinko machine in an advantageous state for the player.

[0003] In this type of pachinko machine, a display unit (usually a liquid crystal display screen) is provided at the center of the gauge board of the pachinko machine in order to notify the player of the result of the lottery. This display unit is configured with a plurality of rows of symbol variation screens (there is also a background screen), and is configured to notify a hit or miss in a line when the symbols are stopped. The player
By looking at the symbol change screen, it is possible to give a sense of expectation because it is a pleasure to see whether it is right or wrong.

By the way, the pachinko ball wins in the special symbol start winning prize opening during the change of the symbol on the liquid crystal display screen, that is, during the effect. The effect on the winning pachinko ball is started when the previous effect ends, so the winning ball is managed as a reserved ball. The management of the holding ball is notified to the player by the lighting state of the holding lamp.

[0005] Usually, four holding lamps are provided.
It is possible to confirm the presence of a maximum of four reserved balls. It should be noted that, at present, winning of the fifth and subsequent prizes is invalid (no lottery).

[0006] For this reason, during the game, the player sequentially checks the lighting state of the holding lamp, and this is an area where the concentration ratio of the viewpoint is high.

Here, in order to reduce winning balls that cannot be held, the player makes a so-called hitting. This stoppage is a disadvantageous operation for the store side because the operation rate decreases.

In order to solve this, the next predetermined number of times of the jackpot (approximately 100 to 300 times) shortens the effect time of symbol fluctuation on the liquid crystal display screen (time saving), and promptly consumes the reserved ball. , To prevent knocking.

[0009] Further, during the working hours, the player can easily be conscious that the winning is high (the lottery is repeated one after another in a short time), thereby giving a sense of security.

[0010] However, since the conventional display function for indicating the shortened time period is provided in the facility on the shop side above the pachinko machine, the viewpoint must be largely moved. In addition, some models have a function to display the number of times saved on the LCD screen, but some of the fluctuating screen is sacrificed, and it is not easy to see because it does not consider the viewpoint of the player. I just diverted it to a bowl.

In view of the above facts, the present invention reduces the movement of the viewpoint of the player, which promotes eye fatigue, such as shifting the viewpoint,
It is another object of the present invention to provide an information display device for a gaming machine that allows a player to easily recognize information such as the number of hours left or the number of hours left for a game.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a lottery is performed based on a prize of a game medium to a starting port, and as a result of the lottery, a player is in a gaming state in an advantageous case in the case of a hit. An information display used in a gaming machine having a symbol variation function for notifying that the symbol variation function can be selectively switched to either a normal mode or a time saving mode in which the notification time is shortened. The device is characterized in that information on the player is displayed in an area where the viewpoint of the player is concentrated on the game board surface.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the area where the player's viewpoint is concentrated during the game is used as the information display area, so that it is not necessary to change the viewpoint to obtain information. Can be eliminated. Note that the game medium indicates a pachinko ball when the gaming machine is a pachinko machine.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the information is information on a notification time mode of a result of a lottery by the symbol changing function.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, whether the current symbol variation function mode is the normal mode or the time saving mode during the game is important information in the progress of the game, and this notification is made. By displaying the time mode in the area where the viewpoint of the game board is concentrated, the player can always check.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the pattern in which the area where the viewpoint is concentrated wins the starting opening and notifies the result of the lottery. It is characterized in that it is an area including a holding lamp indicating the waiting of the operation of the fluctuation function and a periphery of the holding lamp.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, if the winning opening is awarded in the game board, but the symbol variation function is in the process of producing the previous lottery result, the production of the previous lottery result is performed. Must be waited for, and there is a hold lamp to notify the player of this. Since the viewpoint of the player is concentrated on the holding lamp, new information can be easily checked by setting the holding lamp and the vicinity of the holding lamp as an area for displaying information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the content of the information is expressed by a change in a color tone of the holding lamp itself.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, normally, the holding lamp only needs to be distinguished between a binary state of lighting or extinguishing, but by changing the color tone of the holding lamp, it can be used as a means for displaying new information. Can be applied.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the periphery of the holding lamp also serves as an indicator for displaying the size of the information.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the information has a size, for example, a limit on the number of times in the time saving mode or the like, the number of times the time saving mode is used or the number of remaining times in addition to whether or not the time saving mode is simply added. Is preferably displayed. Therefore, by providing an indicator that changes according to the size around the holding lamp, it is possible to display the size of the mode in addition to the state of the mode.

[0022]

FIG. 1 shows a game board 111 of a pachinko machine 110 according to the present embodiment. The area surrounded by the arc-shaped rail 112 on the game board 111 is a gauge section 114 which is a game area.

A plurality of nails 116 are driven into the gauge portion 114 over the entire surface, and a pachinko ball hit through the rails 112 hits the nails 116 and is guided by a guide path formed by the nails 116. While falling. In addition to the nail 116, a windmill 118 is attached at a position symmetrical to the gauge portion 114 so as to turn the pachinko ball in an unexpected direction.

Further, the winning portion 120 is provided at a plurality of positions in the gauge portion 114, and a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out to the player when the pachinko balls enter the winning hole 120.

The gauge section 114 has a substantially symmetrical system, and an electric accessory unit 122 as a special symbol changing device is disposed at the center of the gauge section 114, and a display section 124 thereof is exposed. Below the display section 124, a special symbol starting winning port 126 is provided as a first starting port for starting the electric accessory unit 122.

A special winning opening 128 is arranged further below the special symbol starting winning opening 126. An opening / closing member 129 for opening and closing the special winning opening 128 is a so-called winning display state of the electric accessory unit 122 for a predetermined time. It is open and has a configuration that allows a large amount of pachinko balls to be won.

Note that the pachinko balls that have won the special symbol starting winning opening 126 are held for a maximum of four balls, and when the guidance of the lottery result by the electric accessory unit 122 is completed,
The reserved portion is digested. The number of the holding balls is indicated by four special symbol holding lamps 200 above the display section 124 of the electric accessory unit 122 in FIG.
(The lighting is suspended).

The gauge section 114 is provided with a normal symbol starting winning port 130 as a second starting port and a normal symbol display section 132 capable of displaying a single digit number from 0 to 9. When a pachinko ball wins the ordinary symbol start winning opening 130, the display of the ordinary symbol display portion 132 fluctuates, and when the number reaches a predetermined number, an electric tulip 134 as a movable portion provided in the special symbol start winning opening 126 is activated. It is opened for a predetermined time. By opening the electric tulip 134, the probability of winning in the special symbol starting winning opening 126 is physically increased.

Below the gauge section 114, there is provided a panel 140 provided with a handle 136 as a firing device and a receiving tray 138 for receiving a pachinko ball on the front side. The handle 136 is attached to a rotation shaft protruding from the inside of the panel 140, and is rotatable about this rotation shaft. That is, when the player grips and rotates the handle 136, the firing device is activated, and the firing intensity is set based on the rotation angle. Note that a return urging force is applied to this rotation, and the player automatically returns to the original rotation position when the player releases his / her hand.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a control system for controlling the pachinko machine 110. The control system mainly includes the main control board 150, the payout control board 152, the voice control board 154, the lamp control board 156, and the emission control board 15.
8, the display control board 160 and the like are classified according to their functions (hereinafter, when these are collectively referred to as a sub control board 151).

The main control board 150 and the sub-control board 151 are connected to the hall computer 208 of the pachinko parlor through the management control board 206, so that the operation status of the pachinko machine can be managed. I have.

The main control board 150 stores a basic program relating to a game.
0 based on the command signal from other sub-control boards 15
1 executes independently. That is, the main control board 150 basically outputs a command, and does not receive feedback on the result or the like.

The payout control board 152 controls the number of pachinko balls to be paid out, and the voice control board 154 controls output of sound effects and the like from a speaker 162 provided in the pachinko machine 110. Also, the lamp control board 156
Controls lighting and extinguishing of an electric decoration member (game board side indicator light) 164 attached to the pachinko machine 110, and the firing control board 158 controls firing of the pachinko ball by the player.

The display control board 160 includes the display section 124.
Are connected via a display driver 166, and execute a display that provides a predetermined effect based on a command signal from the main control board 150. The display control board 1
60 also controls the ordinary symbol display unit 132.

On the main control board 150, a special symbol winning sensor 168 provided in the special symbol starting winning port 126, a normal symbol winning sensor 170 provided in the normal symbol starting winning port 130, and a winning symbol 120 are provided. The win sensor 172 and the win sensor 173 for detecting a pachinko ball winning the win 128 are connected. The special winning opening 128 is provided with a V zone for continuing the opening and closing operation of the special winning opening, and the V zone is also provided with a V zone sensor 171.

The main control board 150 has a solenoid 17 for opening and closing the electric tulip 134.
4. A solenoid 175 for opening and closing the opening / closing member 129 of the special winning opening 128 and a special symbol holding lamp 200 are connected.

On the main control board 150, a special symbol or a normal symbol is selected by lottery, the display content on the display unit 124 is selected based on the lottery result, and an instruction signal is output to the display control substrate 160. That is, the display control board 160 stores data of different display contents based on a plurality of types of command signals in advance, and selects and starts data based on the command signals.

As shown in FIG. 3, the special symbol holding lamp 200 is composed of LEDs 250R, 250G and 250B which emit red, green and blue colors, respectively, in response to a signal from the main control board 150. The color of light emission is controlled.

That is, the holding lamp 200 is set to the L of each color.
The EDs 250R, 250G, and 250B are mounted on a substrate 252, and a lens 254 is provided so as to face the substrate 252.
Light emitted from OB can be collected and irradiated. As a result, when viewed from the player,
Even if 50R (or 250G, 250B) emits light,
It appears to be emitting light from a point.

It should be noted that a three-color LED that emits three colors in one chip may be used as the holding lamp 200.
The color of the color changes depending on the mode of the effect of the symbol displayed on the display unit 124. That is, in the time mode, in addition to the normal mode, there is a time-saving mode in which the time is reduced with respect to the normal mode, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the main control board 150 switches to the display control board 160. An instruction signal for the mode is transmitted.

For the hold lamp, 3 in the case of the normal mode.
By emitting the colors simultaneously, white light is emitted. In the case of the time saving mode, by emitting one or two of the three colors, the mode can be recognized based on a change in color tone.

The time saving mode is normally executed continuously 300 times, and the number of times is gradually reduced. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the number of times (remaining number) is also represented by a change in color tone. That is, green light is emitted from 300 to 201 times, blue light is emitted from 200 to 101 times, and red light is emitted from 100 to 1 times.

When displaying the number of retained balls and the remaining number in the production time mode and the time saving mode of the display unit 124 together, the number of reserved balls, the production time mode and the time reduction mode of the display unit 124 are displayed. Are alternately displayed at regular intervals (see Tables 1 to 4).

The reason for using the hold lamp 200 to display the remaining number in the production time mode and the time saving mode of the display unit 124 is the concentration area of the viewpoint during the game of the player. On the other hand, the player can obtain the information without changing the viewpoint. FIG. 4 shows a viewpoint distribution diagram during a game of the player. The configuration of the game board is different from that of the pachinko machine 110 shown in FIG. 1, and the position of the hold lamp 200 is different.
It is clear that the viewpoint is concentrated on the holding lamp 200.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below.

First, when the pachinko ball is fired, it is guided by the rail 112 and the nail 116 of the gauge portion 114 or the windmill 1
While abutting on 18 etc., it falls while moving unpredictably. Here, when a prize hole 120 is won, a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out (prize balls). When passing through the normal symbol start winning port 130, the normal symbol winning sensor 170 detects this.

By this detection, the main control board 150
Ordinary symbol lottery starts. That is, a number from 0 to 9 is randomly selected with a predetermined probability using a random number counter.
If the lottery results in a loss, there is no change in the game state. On the other hand, if the lottery results in a win (for example, a winning number of 7 is drawn), the main control board 150 opens the electric tulip 134 provided in the special symbol starting winning opening 126 so as to open. Power is supplied to the solenoid 174. As a result, a high probability state in which the pachinko ball easily enters the special symbol starting winning opening can be achieved.

When a pachinko ball wins in the special symbol start winning opening 126, a jackpot lottery is started on the main control board 150 with a predetermined establishment using a random number counter. When the winning / losing is determined as a result of the jackpot lottery, an effect pattern (symbol variation pattern) prepared in advance is selected (a random number counter may be selected).
Then, a command signal is transmitted to a control board related to the effect including the display control board 160.

The display control board 160 displays the symbol variation pattern on the display unit 124 via the display driver 166 based on the received command signal. In this symbol variation pattern, there are various effects such as hitting through reach, out-of-reach, and out-of-reach, and the player can wait for the lottery result with a sense of expectation.

Here, in the case of a win, the opening and closing member 129 of the special winning opening 128 is opened for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times, so that the probability of winning a pachinko ball becomes extremely large, which is an advantageous state for the player. It can be.

If a pachinko ball wins in the special symbol starting winning opening 126 during the symbol variation display, the lottery is performed at that time, but the symbol variation display currently in progress is waited until the symbol variation display is completed. . This is the hold lamp 200
Is turned on to notify the player.

Here, in the present embodiment, the display unit 124
Whether the production in the normal mode or the time saving mode,
As a means for notifying the player, a hold lamp 200
I use. Normally, the hold lamp 200 indicates that there is a hold by turning on the light, and indicates no hold by turning off the light. However, in the present embodiment, the color of the hold lamp 200 indicates, in addition to the information of the presence or absence of the hold, The display unit 1
24, it is possible to notify the player of the remaining time in the production time mode and the time reduction mode.

Here, if there is a hold in the hold lamp 200, the hold lamp 2 corresponding to the number of holds is held.
00 (one to four) lights up.
When the effect time mode in 4 is the normal mode, each color emits light at the same time, so that white light is emitted. This allows
The player can recognize the number of the reserved balls by counting the number of the reserved lamps 200 that emit white light.

On the other hand, when the time saving mode is set in a state where no ball is kept, the holding lamp 200 emits light in a color corresponding to the number of times of the time saving mode. That is, green light is emitted from the remaining number of 300 to 201 times, blue light is emitted from 200 to 101 times, and red light is emitted from 100 to 1 times. In this case, since there is no holding ball, all of the four holding lamps 200 emit light of each color continuously.

Further, when the time saving mode is set in the state where the ball is kept, the holding lamp 200 emits white light indicating the number of the holding balls, light emission of each color indicating the time saving mode and the remaining number, and
Is repeated alternately. For example, when there are two holding balls and the number of remaining balls is 50 in the time saving mode, two holding lamps 200 are used.
However, white and red light emission are repeated, and the other two holding lamps 200 are turned off.

Tables 1 to 4 below show each of the holding lamps 20.
0, in order from the left as viewed from the player,
o. 1, Hold lamp No. 2, Hold lamp No. 3, Hold lamp No. 4 shows the lighting state under each condition when defined as 4.

[0057]

[Table 1]

[0058]

[Table 2]

[0059]

[Table 3]

[0060]

[Table 4]

As shown in Tables 1 to 4, the holding lamp 200 can be used for displaying the number of holdings, the normal / hour saving mode, and the remaining number in the time saving mode. If one looks at the hold lamp 200 where the viewpoint is most concentrated, as proved in FIG.
It is possible to reliably grasp the effect time mode of No. 4. Further, in order to recognize the effect time mode, it is not necessary to change the viewpoint to another place, so that the eye fatigue is not promoted. (Modification) In the above-described embodiment, the holding lamp 200 itself is the main body for displaying the state of the production time mode of the display unit 124 and the remaining number in the time saving mode. However, as shown in FIG. This is because the holding lamp 200 is most suitable as a region where the viewpoint is concentrated. Here, the same can be said not only for the holding lamp 200 but also for the surrounding of the holding lamp 200. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
In this case, a rectangular area) was used as the indicator unit 256.

The indicator section 256 is divided into vertical slits, and each divided display area 256A
Are independently controlled to be turned on / off. For this reason, when the time saving mode is entered, the display area 256A of the indicator section 256 is fully lit, and the number of lights in the display area 256A is gradually reduced according to the remaining number in the time saving mode. While watching the status of the hold lamp 200,
At the same time, the remaining number of the display unit 124 in the effect time mode and the time reduction mode can be recognized.

The display area 2 of the indicator section 256
56A is not limited to a vertical slit shape as long as it can represent a size such as a pie chart or a donut graph.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the holding lamp 200 or the periphery of the holding lamp 200 is focused on the condition that the viewpoint of the player is concentrated on the game board surface. By changing the color to be developed or providing the indicator unit 256 around the hold lamp 200, the movement of the viewpoint during the game by the player can be reduced as much as possible, and new information can be provided. As a result, it is possible to reduce a movement that promotes eye fatigue, such as a movement of the viewpoint, for the player.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, the movement of the viewpoint of the player, which promotes eye fatigue, is reduced, and information such as the number of remaining hours or the number of remaining hours of the player can be easily obtained. It has an excellent effect that it can be recognized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko pachinko machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hold lamp according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view distribution diagram of a player on a game board during a game.

FIG. 5 is a front view around a holding lamp according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 Pachinko machine (gaming machine) 114 Gauge section 150 Main control board 160 Display control board 122 Electric accessory unit 124 Display section 126 Special symbol start winning port 150 Main control board 160 Display control board 200 Hold lamp 250R LED (lit red) 250G LED (lit green) 250B LED (lit blue) 252 Substrate 254 Lens 256 Indicator section 256A Display area

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A symbol variation function for notifying that a lottery is performed based on a prize of a game medium to a starting opening, and that a result of the lottery results in a game state advantageous to a player in the case of a hit, the symbol variation is provided. An information display device used in a gaming machine whose function can be selectively switched to any one of a normal mode and a time saving mode in which a notification time is shortened, wherein an information display device of a player in a game board surface is provided. An information display device for a gaming machine, wherein information about the player is displayed in an area where a viewpoint is concentrated. 2. The information display device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the information is information on a notification time mode of a result of a lottery by the symbol variation function. 3. The area in which the viewpoint is concentrated is an area including a holding lamp indicating a state of waiting for an operation of a symbol changing function for winning a prize in the starting port and notifying a result of a lottery, and a periphery of the holding lamp. The information display device for a gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The information display device for a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the content of the information is expressed by a change in a color tone of the holding lamp itself. 5. The information display device for a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the periphery of the holding lamp also serves as an indicator for displaying the size of the information.