JP2002165938A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the interest of a game player over a long period. SOLUTION: A mode selecting random number is extracted from a mode switching random number generating means 704 with entering ball detection of a game ball to a mode switching gate 500 arranged in a game area 15 as momentum, and an output mode from a special pattern display device 20, a loudspeaker 10 and a decorative lamp LED 60 is changed on the basis of this extracted mode selecting random number.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, and more particularly to an improvement of a pachinko machine which outputs effect information to a player through an output device such as a speaker, a display lamp, and a symbol display device. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a pachinko machine, conventionally, various output devices such as a speaker, a display lamp, and a symbol display device are provided on a front surface thereof. These output devices are appropriately driven according to the game situation of the pachinko machine, for example, outputting sound, sound effects, and music from a speaker, and appropriately turning on and blinking a display lamp, and furthermore, design and character are displayed on a design display device. And the like, which plays a role in improving the interest of the player.

[0003]

By the way, in this type of gaming machine, the effect information output from each output device is more gorgeous in the special gaming state after the jackpot than in the normal gaming state. However, the output mode does not change under the same game state. For this reason, especially for advanced game players, the effect effect information is used at an early stage, and the interest in the game has to be gradually reduced.

In view of such circumstances, conventionally, a plurality of types of effect information having different output modes are stored in advance in a gaming machine, and a selection for selecting the effect information is provided on the front of the gaming machine. Some have provided switches. According to this gaming machine,
When the player changes the presentation effect information by using the selection switch, variations in the output mode are increased, and it is possible to prevent a situation in which the advanced game player gets used to the game at an early stage. However, since a gaming machine installed in a game store is a game where an unspecified number of players play a game, it cannot be said that there is no person who handles the above-mentioned selection switch messy, and the selection switch is used for a short time. Not only may there be a risk of being damaged beforehand, but also there may be a risk that the effect information itself is not output.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can enhance the interest of a player for a long time.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a gaming machine having an output device for outputting effect information to a player, the detection of an incoming ball to a specific incoming ball device provided in a game area is an opportunity. The output mode of the effect information is changed.

[0007] When changing the output mode of the effect information, a lottery is performed in response to the detection of a ball entering the ball entry device, and based on the result of the lottery, a response is selected from among a plurality of types of effect information stored in advance. What is necessary is just to select the output and output it. As the output device, a speaker that outputs auditory information to a player or a display device that outputs visual information to a player can be used. It is preferable to provide a notification device for notifying the player of the output mode of the effect information.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a pachinko machine which is an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention. In the pachinko machine 1 exemplified here, the front frame 3 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the outer frame 2. The front frame 3 has a frame shape having a window, and a metal frame 4 is provided in the window. The metal frame 4 is a metal frame body holding a glass plate (not shown), and is disposed on one side of the window of the front frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. A locking device 5 is provided between the front frame 3 and the metal frame 4 and between the front frame 3 and the outer frame 2, and it is possible to lock the spaces therebetween.

In the pachinko machine 1, an upper plate set 6 is provided below the metal frame 4, and a lower plate set 7 is provided below the upper plate set 6. The upper plate set 6 is provided with an upper plate 9 and a speaker 10 on a box plate 8, and is arranged to be openable and closable on the front frame 3 via one side, similarly to the above-described metal frame 4. The lower plate set 7 is provided with a lower plate 11 at the center thereof and an operation handle 12 at a position on the right side as viewed from the front.

On the other hand, the pachinko machine 1 is provided with a game board 13 detachably mounted on the front frame 3 described above. Gaming board 1
Numeral 3 is arranged so as to face the outside from the window of the front frame 3, and its surface is openably and closably covered by a glass plate (not shown) held by the metal frame 4.

The game board 13 is provided with a special symbol display device 20 in a game area 15 surrounded by guide rails 14. The special symbol display device 20 is for variably displaying a plurality of symbols such as numbers, symbols, pictures, and the like to the player through the display area 21, and is arranged at a position substantially at the center of the game area 15. The special symbol display device 20 of the present embodiment includes:
It has three horizontal display areas 21a, 21b and 21c, and it is possible to individually and variably display symbols in each of these display areas 21a, 21b and 21c. As the special symbol display device 20, a liquid crystal display or a rotating drum can be applied to perform display. In the following description, for convenience, the symbol displayed on the left display area 21a as viewed from the front is the first symbol, the symbol displayed on the central display area 21b is the second symbol, and the right display area 2 is indicated.
The symbol displayed in 1c is called a third symbol.

The pachinko machine 1 has a game area 1
5, a variable winning device 30 is provided at a position below the special symbol display device 20, and a portion located between the special symbol displaying device 20 and the variable winning device 30 and on both sides of the variable winning device 30. A starting means 40 is provided at each part.

The variable prize device 30 is a prize device that switches between a first prize state in which game balls cannot be won or extremely difficult to win, and a second prize state in which game balls can be won very easily. In the present embodiment, a horizontally long special winning opening 31 provided on the game board 13, an opening / closing plate 32 provided to open and close the large winning opening 31, and a special electric drive driving solenoid for driving the opening / closing plate 32 33 constitute the variable winning device 30. That is, the variable winning device 3
0, the opening / closing plate 32 is rotated through its lower end by driving the special electric drive driving solenoid 33, and the special winning opening 31
Is closed, the above-described first winning state is established, and when the special winning opening 31 is opened, the above-described second winning state is established. The game ball that has won the special winning opening 31 is taken into the back side of the game board 13 through the special winning opening 31, passes through a collecting gutter (not shown), and is guided to the winning ball processing device through a winning ball introduction path. .

A continuation switch 34 and a prize counting switch 35 are provided inside the special winning opening 31 to reach the above-mentioned gathering gutter (not shown). The continuation switch 34 and the winning count switch 35 electrically detect a game ball won from the special winning opening 31 and provide an output signal as a result of the detection to the game control CPU 701 of the control means 70 described later. It is. The winning count switch 35 is provided at a position where all of the game balls won from the special winning opening 31 pass, while the continuation switch 34 is a position for detecting only a specific one of the game balls winning from the special winning opening 31. It is provided in.

Each of the starting means 40 serves as a trigger for starting the special symbol display device 20, and is constituted by a starting port having a constant winning rate. The game ball which has won the starting means 40 is taken into the back side of the game board 13 and thereafter, as in the case of the variable winning device 30 described above, passes through a collecting gutter and a winning ball introduction path (not shown) to the winning ball processing device. You will be guided.

The starting means 40 is provided with a special figure starting switch 41 before reaching the collecting gutter (not shown). The special figure start switch 41 electrically detects a game ball won from the start means 40 and outputs an output signal as a result of the detection, similarly to the continuation switch 34 and the like described above, and a game control CPU 701 of the control means 70 described later. To give.

Further, the pachinko machine 1 is provided with a mode switching unit 50 at a position on the right side as viewed from the front of the game area 15.

The mode switching unit 50 comprises a mode switching gate 500 and mode notifying means 510. The mode switching gate 500 is a gate having a constant passage rate that secures an interval that allows only a game ball to pass. This mode switching gate 500
Is returned to the game area 15 from the lower end thereof without being taken into the back side of the game board 13. The mode switching gate 500 includes:
A mode change switch 501 is disposed inside the switch.
The mode changeover switch 501 is the same as the continuation switch 3 described above.
Similarly to 4 and the like, the mode switching gate 500 electrically detects the passage of a game ball, and gives each detection result to a game control CPU 701 of the control means 70 described later. The mode notifying unit 510 is a so-called 7-segment display configured by arranging seven light-emitting segments in the shape of a “day”. It is possible to display a single digit number.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes a normal winning opening, reference numeral 17 denotes a windmill, and reference numeral 18 denotes a variable winning device 30, a starting means 40, and an out for collecting game balls that have not won the normal winning opening 16. Mouth. Also, reference numeral 60 in FIG.
Are decorative lamps / LEDs provided at various places. further,
Reference numeral 19 in FIG. 1 is a rebound rubber.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the control means 70 of the pachinko machine 1 described above. This control means 70
Is comprised of a game control device 700 and a main body control device 710 each having an individual CPU 701, 711, and is disposed, for example, on the back side of the pachinko machine 1.

Game control CPU 7 of game control device 700
01 is a part for mainly controlling the game board. That is, the game control CPU 701 includes a special figure start switch 41 provided on the start means 40, a continuation switch 34 and a winning count switch 35 provided on the variable winning device 30, and a mode changeover switch 5 provided on the mode changeover gate 500.
01, winning ball confirmation switch 80 provided in the winning ball processing device
Output signals from these switches, the programs and data stored in the ROM 702 and the RAM 703, and the mode switching random number generation means 7
The drive control of the special symbol display device 20, the special electric drive solenoid 33, the mode notification unit 510, the decorative lamp / LED 60, the speaker 10 and the like is performed based on the number 04 and various random numbers extracted from the game random number generation unit 705. To do.

Main body control CPU 7 of main body control device 710
Numeral 11 is a part for mainly controlling the pachinko machine main body. That is, the main body control CPU 711 monitors the output signal from the winning ball detection switch 81 provided in the winning ball processing device, and outputs the output signal given from the winning ball detection switch 81 and the game control CPU 701 described above. And the drive signal of the winning ball processing solenoid 82, the winning ball payout device 83, and the like, based on the output signal. Although not shown in the figure, the launching device of the game ball is also under the control of the main body control CPU 711.

In the pachinko machine 1 configured as described above,
A game ball launched by operating an operation handle 12 (not shown) is moved by a guide rail 14 to a game board 13.
Is guided above the game area 15 and flows down the game area 15 sequentially while appropriately changing the direction by the obstacle nail or the windmill 17.

In the meantime, when a game ball flowing down the game area 15 wins the starting means 40 and this is detected by the special figure start switch 41, the game control CPU 701 extracts a game random number from the game random number generating means 705. Is performed. The game random number extracted here is at least whether or not the symbol stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 20 is a jackpot to be described later, whether or not to create a reach state to be described later, and stopped on the special symbol display device 20. Includes what determines what symbol is displayed.

When a game random number is extracted from the game random number generation means 705, a control signal corresponding to the extracted game random number is output from the game control CPU 701 to the special symbol display device 20, and the special symbol display device 20 The display control is performed in. This display control is performed by the special symbol display device 2
In each of the symbol display areas 21a, 21b, and 21c, the symbol is variably displayed for a predetermined variable time, and then, for example, the first symbol is displayed.
Each symbol display area 21 in the order of symbol, second symbol, and third symbol
This is control processing until symbols are sequentially stopped and displayed on a, 21b, and 21c.

During this time, the game balls that have won the starting means 40 are taken in on the back side of the game board 13 and then subjected to individual winning processing in the winning ball processing device. That is, when the winning game ball is guided to the winning ball processing device, the game ball is individually detected by the winning ball detection switch 81, and the detection result is given to the main body control CPU 711. The main body control CPU 711 to which the detection signal has been given from the winning ball detection switch 81
The number of prize balls is determined based on the detection signal from, and the prize ball payout device 83 is driven to pay out the prize balls corresponding to the number of prize balls to the player. When the payout of the prize ball is confirmed by the prize ball confirmation switch 80, the prize ball processing solenoid 82 is driven, and the game ball is discharged outside the machine.

As a result of the display control by the above-mentioned special symbol display device 20, the first symbol and the second symbol are stopped, and the third symbol is stopped.
During the variable display of the symbol, when the first symbol and the second symbol match, such as "11?" And "22?", A so-called reach state is established. In this reach state, the display mode is changed from the normal game state, such as displaying a special character on the special symbol display device 20 or changing the variable display speed, and the speaker 10 is more gorgeous than the normal game state. In addition to outputting voices, sound effects, and music, the lighting and blinking of the decoration lamp / LED 60 is more gorgeous than in the normal game state, thereby notifying the player of the reach state. (Reach direction).

Further, when all the symbols such as "111" and "222" are completed at the time when the third symbol is stopped, it becomes a big hit and shifts to a special game. In this special game, since the variable winning device 30 which is normally closed is in the second winning state only for a predetermined period,
The winning number for the variable winning device 30 becomes large in a short time. Each of the game balls that have won the variable prize device 30 is individually subjected to a prize process in the prize ball processing device, similarly to the game ball that has won the start means 40, and a predetermined number of prize balls are given to each of them. Will be paid out. Moreover, in the special game, for example, 30 seconds have elapsed, or the winning count switch 35 detects ten game balls.
Until either of the above is achieved, the state in which the variable winning device 30 is continuously switched to the second winning state is defined as one round, and during this round, the continuous switch 34 detects a game ball every time a maximum of 16 times. It is possible to update until the round. As a result, according to the pachinko machine 1,
When the game is shifted to the special game, an extremely large number of prize balls are paid out to the player. Further, in the special game described above, the display mode of the special symbol display device 20 is further changed, and a more gorgeous voice, sound effect, or music than the reach state is output from the speaker 10, and the decoration lamp / LED 60 is turned on / off. By making the blinking more gorgeous than the reach state, the player is notified of the transition to the special game so as to enliven the interest (big hit effect).

If a game ball wins the starting means 40 while the special symbol display device 20 is performing variable display, up to a predetermined maximum storage number, for example, four, is stored and reserved. When the variable display of the symbol display device 20 ends or when the special game ends, the variable display of the special symbol display device 20 is sequentially performed by the number of times corresponding to the number of start storages.

Hereinafter, the above-described processing is repeatedly executed.
Pachinko games progress.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the effect effect information setting processing executed by the game control CPU 701 during the execution of the pachinko game.

In the effect effect information setting process, the game control CPU 701 first determines whether or not it is at the time of initial power-on (step S1). If it is determined that the initial power is turned on, the contents of the RAM 703 are cleared (step S2), and the information corresponding to the initial setting is read out from a plurality of types of effect information stored in the ROM 702 in advance. RAM70 as new effect information
3 (step S3). Here, the effect information is data for determining the display mode of the special symbol display device 20, the driving mode of the speaker 10, and the lighting / flashing mode of the decorative lamp / LED 60. In the present embodiment, three different effect information, which are different from each other, specifically, “normal effect mode”, “effect mode more mature than normal”, and “effect mode more flashy than normal” Effect information in advance
702, and the “normal effect mode” is selected in step S3 described above.

Next, the game control CPU 701:
The identification information corresponding to the effect information stored in the RAM 703 is displayed on the mode notification means 510 (step S
7). The identification information is information for specifying the mode of the effect effect information currently stored in the RAM 703. In the present embodiment, “a production mode that is more mature than usual”... “1”, “a production mode that is more flashy than usual”.
An individual numerical value is previously assigned to each effect information such as “2”, “normal effect mode”... “3”, and for example, “normal effect mode” is selected in step S3 described above. In this case, “3” is displayed on the mode notification means 510. It is preferable that the relationship between the mode of the effect information and the identification information be displayed on the front of the pachinko machine 1 or the like so that the player can easily understand.

The game control CPU 701 displaying the identification information on the mode notifying means 510 appropriately drives the special symbol display device 20, the speaker 10, and the decoration lamp / LED 60 based on the effect information selected in step S3 (step S8). ), End the current process. As a result, at the time of initial power-on, during the game of the pachinko machine 1, the special symbol display device 20 is displayed according to the “normal effect mode”, and the speaker 10 outputs sound, sound effects, and music, and furthermore, the decoration is performed. The lamp / LED 60 comes on and blinks. Also, when the above-mentioned reach state is reached from this state, a reach effect according to the “normal effect mode” is performed, and when the hit condition is further increased, a jackpot effect according to the “normal effect mode” is performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that the initial power is not turned on, the game control CPU
Shifts the procedure to step S4, and monitors the entering of game balls into the mode switching gate 500 through the mode switching switch 501. If the game ball does not enter the mode switching gate 500, the procedure is described in step S
7 and step S8, the "normal effect mode" is maintained, and the special symbol display device 20
, The driving mode of the speaker 10 and the lighting / flashing mode of the decorative lamp / LED 60 do not change.

On the other hand, when a game ball enters the mode switching gate 500 and is detected by the mode switching switch 501, a process of extracting a mode selection random number from the mode switching random number generating means 704 is performed (FIG. 4). Step S5).

When the mode selection random number is extracted from the mode switching random number generation means 704, the game control CPU
After reading out the information corresponding to the mode selection random number from the plurality of types of effect information stored in the OM 702 and storing it in the RAM 703 as new effect information (step S6), the above-described steps S7 and S8 are performed. Execute the processing of

As a result, for example, when the mode selection random number extracted from the mode switching random number generation means 704 corresponds to the “mode of effect that is more mature than usual”,
After “1” is displayed on the mode notification means 510, the “play mode that is more mature than usual” during the game of the pachinko machine 1.
As a result, the special symbol display device 20 is displayed gently, voices, sound effects, and music are output gently from the speaker 10, and the decorative lamp / LED 60 is turned on and blinks gently. In addition, when the above-described reach state is reached from this state, a reach effect of an adult is performed in accordance with the “production mode of an adulter than usual”,
When the jackpot becomes even bigger, a bigger jackpot production will be performed according to the "rather than normal production mode". For this reason, for example, a long-time pachinko game increases fatigue, and it is possible to give a moderately comfortable sensation even to a player who feels that the effect of a flashy effect is sparse, and further stimulates the desire to play the game. Is also possible.

Conversely, if the mode selection random number extracted from the mode switching random number generating means 704 corresponds to the "modest effect mode more flashy than usual", "2" is displayed on the mode notifying means 510. After that, during the game of the pachinko machine 1, the special symbol display device 20 is displayed in a flashy manner in accordance with the “moderately more dramatic effect than usual”, and the voices, sound effects, and music are output from the speaker 10 in a flashy manner. The lamp / LED 60 comes on or flashes flashy. Also, when the above-described reach state is reached from this state, a fancy reach effect is performed according to the “fancy than usual effect mode”, and when the hit becomes even greater,
A flashy jackpot effect will be performed in accordance with the “flashy mode than usual” mode. For this reason, for example, there is no fear that the player immediately after starting the pachinko game may feel unsatisfactory, and it is possible to further stimulate the desire to play the game.

As described above, according to the pachinko machine 1, even in the same game state, the mode switching random number generating means 70
When the effect information is changed in accordance with the mode selection random number extracted from No. 4, the special symbol display device 2
0, the output mode from the speaker 10 and the decorative lamp / LED 60 always changes. Therefore, there is no danger that even advanced game players who have abundant game experience will get accustomed or tired of the game early, and the interest in the game can be maintained for a long time.

The effect information is changed when a game ball enters the mode switching gate 500. Therefore, there is no possibility that a damage such as a “selection switch” may be caused by a random operation. Further, since the mode switching gate 500 is arranged at a position on the right side of the front of the game area 15,
When a game ball is launched aiming at a big hit (indicated by an arrow X in FIG. 1), there is no possibility that the effect information is inadvertently changed. Conversely, only when the player intentionally fires a game ball toward the right side of the front of the game area 15 (indicated by an arrow Y in FIG. 1), the effect information is displayed in accordance with the intention of the player. It can be changed. For this reason, in addition to the game aiming at the jackpot, a new game element in which the effect information is changed in accordance with the ball entering the mode switching gate 500 is added, thereby giving the player a further interest. Even things become possible.

In the above-described embodiment, a pachinko machine is exemplified as a gaming machine, but any other gaming machine may be used as long as it outputs effect information from an output device during a game. I do not care. In the above-described embodiment when applied to a pachinko machine, a so-called first-type pachinko machine is illustrated, but a second-type or third-type pachinko machine is used.
The present invention can be similarly applied to a pachinko machine called a seed. Furthermore, the mode switching gate, which is a specific ball entry means for changing the output mode of the effect information, is arranged at a position on the right side in front of the game area, but if it is a game area. It may be arranged at any position. As a method of detecting a ball entering the mode switching gate, the game balls may be individually detected,
For example, if a plurality of incoming balls are detected during a certain period of time, this is counted as one by providing an invalid time for a predetermined time after detecting the incoming ball of a game ball, etc. Can be prevented.

In the above-described embodiment, a seven-segment display is used as an example of the notification means, but other displays may be used. In this case, the output mode of the effect information to be notified does not necessarily have to be identification information including numerical values, and may be indirectly notified by a symbol other than a numerical value, or may be directly output by a character voice or the like. The notification may be made.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, three types of effect information are illustrated, but two or four or more types may be used. Also, since the visual information by the special symbol display device and the decorative lamp / LED and the auditory information by the speaker are changed at the same time,
Although it is possible to create a situation in which a single gaming machine plays a completely different game, it is sufficient to change at least one of these. Furthermore, a plurality of effect information is changed randomly by executing a lottery, but it is of course possible to sequentially change the effect information in a predetermined order.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In a gaming machine provided with an output device for outputting effect information to a player, the output mode of the effect information is changed upon detection of an incoming ball for a specific ball-entering device provided in a game area. Therefore, it is possible to enhance the interest of the player for a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine which is an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating control means of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a presentation effect information setting process performed by a control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 2 Outer frame 3 Front frame 4 Metal frame 5 Locking device 6 Upper plate set 7 Lower plate set 8 Box plate 9 Upper plate 10 Speaker 11 Lower plate 12 Operation handle 13 Game board 14 Guide rail 15 Gaming area 16 Ordinary winning opening 17 windmill 20 special symbol display device 21 display area 30 variable winning device 31 big winning opening 32 opening and closing plate 33 special electric drive solenoid 34 continuation switch 35 winning count switch 40 starting means 41 special figure start switch 50 mode switching unit 60 decoration lamp LED 70 control means 80 winning ball confirmation switch 81 winning ball detection switch 82 winning ball processing solenoid 83 winning ball payout device 500 mode switching gate 501 mode switching switch 510 mode notification means 700 game control device 701 game control CPU 702 RO M 703 RAM 704 Mode switching random number generating means 705 Game random number generating means 710 Main controller 711 Main control CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A game machine provided with an output device for outputting effect information to a player, wherein the output mode of the effect information is triggered by detection of a ball entering a specific ball-entering device provided in a game area. A gaming machine characterized by being changed. 2. A lottery is executed in response to the detection of a ball entering the ball entry device, and based on the result of the lottery, a corresponding one of a plurality of types of effect information stored in advance is selected and output. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the output device is a speaker that outputs auditory information to a player. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the output device is a display device that outputs visual information to a player. 5. An informing device for informing a player of an output mode of said effect information is provided.
A gaming machine according to any one of the preceding claims.