JP2002177504A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the load the control for the identification information display of a game control means when a plurality of presentation control boards are provided separately from the game control means in a game machine executing variable display control even in a specific game state advantageous to a player. SOLUTION: Upon receiving a fluctuation pattern specified #9 command from the CPU 314 of a main board 310, a display control CPU 801 determines which of a plurality of fluctuation patterns variably displayed for 17.0 sec is used to variably display right and left patterns. Fluctuation actions and characters are displayed according to the determined fluctuation pattern. When an advance notice for a hit is determined, the display control CPU 801 controls to display a hit advance notice character during the single fluctuation action of the right pattern. The pattern is changed before the single fluctuation action start of the right pattern so that the pattern is established at the stop pattern informed from the main board 310, then the established pattern is displayed.

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 gaming machine in which a game is played according to a player's operation.
In particular, a variable display is performed as a derivation operation of the identification information, and a right generation state is generated on condition that a predetermined specific display result is derived as a display result. The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of providing a predetermined game value when a detection is performed by a predetermined detection unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a gaming machine, a game medium such as a game ball is launched into a game area by a launching device, and when a game medium wins a winning area such as a winning opening provided in the game area, a predetermined number of prize balls are obtained. Are paid out to players.
Further, a variable display unit whose display state can be changed is provided, and when a game ball wins in a specific area when the display result of the variable display unit has a predetermined specific display mode,
There are those that give a game value (right to be in an advantageous state) to a player. During this right generation state, the special winning opening can be opened. During the right generation state, when the game ball wins a predetermined third type start port and is detected by the third type start detection means, the special winning port is opened,
A predetermined game value (advantageous state) is provided to the player. Such a pachinko gaming machine is generally called a third-class pachinko gaming machine.

[0003] The game value means that the state of the variable winning ball device provided in the game area of the gaming machine is in a state that is advantageous for a player who is likely to win a hit ball, or is in a state that is advantageous for the player. In other words, the right is to be generated, or the condition for paying out premium game media is easily established. Further, when a predetermined amount of game balls or coins are awarded or points are added in accordance with establishment of predetermined conditions such as winning, these are referred to as value or valuable value.

In a third-type pachinko gaming machine, it is generally known that a display result of a variable display device for displaying a symbol (identification information) is a predetermined combination of specific display modes.
It is called "hit". When a hit occurs, for example, a game medium is guided to a predetermined winning opening, and the right to enter the big hit gaming state is given by causing the winning medium to win the game medium. When the player who has acquired the right plays a predetermined game, the specific variable winning opening is opened a predetermined number of times, and the state shifts to a big hit game state in which a hit ball is easy to win. Then, in each open period, when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of the specific variable winning openings is won, the specific variable winning opening is closed. Then, as long as the right continues, the game is shifted to the jackpot game state by performing the predetermined game again. Continuation of rights
It disappears when the number of times of opening the specific variable winning opening ends a predetermined number of times (for example, 16 rounds). An opening time (for example, 10 seconds) is determined for each opening, and when the opening time elapses even if the number of winnings does not reach a predetermined number, the specific variable winning opening is closed. Note that if an operation for generating the right is performed again while the right is being continued, the right disappears.

[0005] Further, "outside" other than the combination of "hit"
Of the combinations of the display modes, at the stage where some of the display results of the plurality of variable display apparatuses have not yet been derived and displayed, the display mode of the variable display apparatus whose display results have already been derived and displayed is a specific display. A state that satisfies the display condition that is a combination of aspects is referred to as “reach”. The player plays the game while enjoying how to generate and continue the right and how to generate the big hit.

[0006] The game progress in the third-type pachinko gaming machine is controlled by game control means such as a microcomputer. The game control means executes control of the entire game such as display control of the variable display device, control of a light-emitting body such as a lamp, and sound output control of a speaker and the like, in addition to the progress of the game.

[0007]

However, if the configuration of the variable display of the identification information displayed on the variable display device is varied, the capacity of the program relating to the variable display control becomes large. Therefore, it is difficult for the microcomputer of the game control means having a limited program capacity to control the identification information and the like displayed on the variable display device.

Therefore, it is considered to be advantageous to use a display control microcomputer (display control means) different from the microcomputer of the game control means.
In this case, the game control means needs to transmit a command for display control to the display control means. The generation of image data such as identification information may be performed by the display control means. However, the display position of the changing identification information in the screen every moment is determined by the game control means that controls the progress of the game. Is preferably determined by the game control means.

From the above, it is conceivable that the game control means determines the display position of the identification information at appropriate timing and transmits the display position to the display control means. However, there is a problem that a load of control for displaying the identification information is increased, and a processing time that can be spent for other game control is limited. In order to solve such a problem, for example, the game control means transmits the speed change point (including the start and stop of the change) of the identification information to the display control means, and according to the speed received by the display control means. It is conceivable to determine the display position of the identification information. However, even in such a case, since the command is transmitted from the game control unit to the display control unit many times during one change, In addition, the burden of control on the display of identification information by the game control means is large.

[0010] In the third-type pachinko gaming machine, the control relating to the identification information display is executed even during the right generation state. Therefore, if the control load relating to the identification information display is heavy, the effect can be controlled to the right generation state. Content is restricted.

The present invention relates to a game machine in which variable display control is executed even in a specific game state which is advantageous to a player, in which a plurality of effect control boards are provided separately from the game control means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of reducing the burden of control on display of identification information by control means.

[0012]

A gaming machine according to the present invention comprises:
A variable display unit capable of variably displaying identification information, wherein a predetermined specific display result (a gaming machine that changes symbols based on a predetermined detection, Is a concept that includes a specific display result in a gaming machine or the like that stops the symbol only at the time of confirmation), a right generation state is generated, and during the period in which the right generation state is in effect, A gaming machine capable of controlling a variable winning device from a second state disadvantageous to the player to a first state advantageous to the player based on the detection of the game ball by the start detecting means provided in the starting area. And game control means for controlling the progress of the game, and display control means for controlling the display state of the variable display section, wherein the game control means includes at least identification information in the variable display section. A command output unit including: a display content determining unit that determines a variable display time and finalized identification information that is determined as a display result; and a command output unit that outputs a control command for controlling the variable display unit to the display control unit. A variable display command (for example, a variation pattern command) capable of specifying at least a variable display time of identification information and an identification information designation command capable of specifying fixed identification information as control commands based on the determination of the display content determining means. , Capable of outputting identification information based on the variable display command at a time related to starting variable display, and capable of outputting a determination command indicating determination of identification information at a time related to ending the variable display. It is characterized by the following.

The variable display section has a plurality of display areas, and identification information can be variably displayed in each of the display areas, and the game control means transmits an identification information designation command corresponding to each of the plurality of display areas. It may be configured to output.

The control command output by the game control means is:
The display control means includes at least classification information (for example, MODE data) indicating the classification of the control command, and the display control means checks which classification of the control command is in accordance with the classification information indicating the classification of the control command, and at least performs variable display. It may be configured to determine whether the command is a command, an identification information designation command, or a fixed command.

[0015] The display control means may be configured to determine one display content from a plurality of different types of display content according to one variable display command, and control the display state of the variable display unit. .

When a specific display result determined in advance on the variable display unit is derived, and a special area detecting means provided in the special area detects a game ball, a right generation state is generated. You may.

According to the display result of the variable display section, either a first guiding operation for guiding a game ball to the special area or a second guiding operation for guiding to a normal area different from the special area. It may be configured to include guidance operation means capable of guiding a game ball.

Normally, the configuration may be such that the detection by the special area detecting means is invalidated, and is effective at least during a period when the guiding operation means is performing the first guiding operation.

An operation area through which a game ball can pass, and an operation detection means provided in the operation area, wherein a variable display of identification information is started on condition that a game ball is detected by the operation detection means, At least during the period in which the variable display is being performed and the period in which the guidance operation means is performing the guidance operation, the detection by the operation detection means may be invalidated.

An operation area through which the game ball can pass, and an operation detection means provided in the operation area, wherein the variable display of the identification information is started on condition that the game ball is detected by the operation detection means, At least during the period in which the variable display is being performed and the period in which the guidance operation means is performing the guidance operation, a shielding member that prevents the game ball from being guided to the operation area may be provided.

[0021] It may be so arranged that, even though the specific display result is displayed on the variable display section, if there is no detection by the special area detecting means, it is determined that there is an abnormality.

A discharge detecting means for detecting a game ball guided to the normal area may be provided.

Unlike the variable display section, the game machine includes a production electric component provided on the gaming machine, and a production control means for controlling the production electric component. The game control means uses the production electric component, An effect start command (for example, a fluctuation pattern command) for starting an auxiliary effect performed in response to the variable display of the identification information on the variable display unit is output to the effect control means, and the effect control means inputs the effect start. It is possible to control the electrical components for production based on the command, and in the right generation state, the game control means can control the production control means even when the variable display unit displays the identification information variably. In response to this, it may be configured not to output the effect start command corresponding to the variable display.

[0024] Unlike the variable display section, the game machine includes a production electric component provided in the gaming machine, and a production control means for controlling the production electric component. The game control means uses the production electric component, An effect start command for starting an auxiliary effect performed in response to the variable display of the identification information on the variable display unit is output to the effect control means, and the effect control means outputs the electric power for the effect based on the input effect start command. It is possible to control the parts, and in the right generation state, even if the effect start command is input, the effect control means is configured not to start the auxiliary effect based on the effect start command. Good.

[0025]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of a pachinko gaming machine, which is an example of a gaming machine, will be described. In this embodiment, a pachinko machine in which a stop symbol of a symbol that is variably displayed based on a start passage is a combination of a predetermined symbol and a predetermined right is generated or continued when a game ball is detected by predetermined detection means. A gaming machine (a third-class pachinko gaming machine) will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming board 6 of the pachinko gaming machine as viewed from the front. The game board 6 is detachably attached to the main body of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

First, the overall structure of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Pachinko machine 1
It has a glass door frame 2 formed in a frame shape. On the lower surface of the glass door frame 2, there is a hit ball supply tray 3. Below the hitting ball supply tray 3, a surplus ball receiving tray 4 for storing storage balls overflowing from the hitting ball supply tray 3 and a hitting operation handle (operation knob) 5 for firing a hitting ball are provided. Behind the glass door frame 2,
The game board 6 is detachably attached. A game area 7 is provided on the front of the game board 6. Two speakers 29 that emit sound effects are provided on the upper left and right sides of the game area 7. On the outer periphery of the game area 7, game effect lamps 30a to 30c are provided. further,
FIG. 1 also shows a card unit 31 that is installed adjacent to the pachinko gaming table 1 and that allows a ball to be lent by inserting a prepaid card.

A variable display device 8 including a variable display (determination symbol display) 9 using an LCD (liquid crystal display) for variably displaying the determination symbol is provided near the upper center of the game area 7. In this embodiment, the variable display 9 has two symbol display areas, “left” and “right”. In addition, the symbol display area has another number (for example, “left”,
It may have three areas of “middle” and “right”. A ball detection valid lamp 11a and a ball detection invalid lamp 11b are provided above the variable display device 8.

In the vicinity of the center of the game area 7, an ordinary variable prize device 12 for performing opening and closing operations is provided. The game ball that has won the normal variable winning device 12 is detected by the ball detection switch 13. When a game ball is detected by the ball detection switch 13, for example, five prize balls are paid out. Below the normal variable winning device 12, a guiding device 14 for guiding a game ball that has fallen into a predetermined guiding hole in the guiding area to the sorting device 15 is provided. At the lower part of the guidance device 14, a distribution device 15 to which a game ball guided by the guidance device 14 is guided is provided. Normal variable winning device 1
2, the operation of the guidance device 14 and the distribution device 15 will be described later in detail.

On the right side of the normal variable winning device 12, a rotating body 16 is arranged. The rotating body 16 has a mounting plate mounted on the front surface of the game board 1, and a surrounding frame is protruded from the front surface of the mounting plate, and a motor 62 inside the surrounding frame (see FIG. 8).
To rotate clockwise. A ball receiving recess 17 for receiving one hit ball is formed on the outer periphery of the rotating body 16. The ball receiving concave portion 17 is configured to be able to receive a hit ball entered from a starting winning opening 18 formed at an upper portion of the surrounding frame by rotating the rotating body 16. The hit ball received by the ball receiving recess 17 is guided to the back surface of the mounting plate, and is detected by the starting ball detection switch 19. When the starting ball detection switch 19 detects a hit ball during the right generation state, a big hit state in which a large winning opening described later is controlled to open is generated. When a game ball is detected by the starting ball detection switch 19, for example, five prize balls are paid out. An opening / closing plate 20 that is opened in the big hit game state is provided below the rotating body 16. In this embodiment, the opening and closing plate 20 serves as a means for opening and closing the special winning opening. The winning ball guided from the opening / closing plate 20 to the back of the game board 6 is detected by the count switch 21. When the count switch 21 detects a game ball, for example, 15 prize balls are paid out.

The game board 6 is provided with a normal variable winning operation port 22. The winning of the game ball to the normal variable winning operation port 22 is detected by a correspondingly provided normal variable winning operation switch 22a. . When a game ball is detected by the normal variable winning operation switch 22a, for example, five prize balls are paid out. The gaming board is provided with a plurality of winning ports (general winning ports) 23 to 26, and the winning of the gaming balls to the respective winning ports 23 to 26 is determined by correspondingly provided winning port switches 23a to 23a. 26a. When a game ball is detected by any of the winning ports 23 to 26, for example, 15 game balls are paid out. Winning lamps 22b to 26b are provided in the normal variable winning operation port 22 and the winning ports 23 to 26, respectively. Side lamps 27 are provided around the left and right sides of the game area 7 so as to blink during the game, and below the side lamps 27 are out ports 28 for absorbing hit balls and the like that did not win.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining the structure of the ordinary variable winning device 12, the guiding device 14, and the sorting device 15 provided on the game board 6. The predetermined internal areas of the normal variable winning device 12, the guidance device 14, and the distribution device 15 are referred to as specific regions. When a hit ball hitting in the game area 7 wins in the ordinary variable winning operation port 22 and is detected by the corresponding ordinary variable winning operation switch 22a, the left and right provided in the ordinary variable winning device 12 The pair of opening / closing pieces 32a and 32b are connected to the solenoid 60 (FIG. 8).
), The specific winning opening 33 is opened for a predetermined time. When the open / close pieces 32a and 32b are tilted and a game ball wins in the specific winning opening 33, the winning ball is detected by the ball detection switch 13 provided at the entrance of the specific area and then guided to the guidance device 14. .
The game ball guided to the guidance device 14 flows down the guidance region 34 in the guidance device 14 and reaches the three-hole clune 35. The three-hole clune 35 has three guide holes 36a to 36c for dropping a game ball. In this example, the game ball that has fallen into the guiding hole 36a provided in the central portion is guided to the sorting device 15, and the other two guiding holes 36b, 3
The game ball dropped to 6c is discharged from the rear of the game board 6. The game balls that have fallen into the guide holes 36b and 36c are detected by a discharge switch (not shown) provided at the rear of the game board 6. In this example, the guidance device 1
At the lower part of 4, there is provided a distribution device 15 to which a game ball guided by the guidance device 14 is guided.

The three-hole clune 35 of the guiding device 14 not only plays a role of drawing the game balls guided to the sorting device 15 but also prevents a plurality of game balls from being continuously guided to the sorting device 15. Has the role of When a plurality of game balls are continuously guided to the distribution device 15, there is a possibility that the game balls are continuously guided to a symbol operation switch 38 described later. In order to prevent such a situation, the three-hole clune 35 of the guiding device 14 is formed so that the game balls stay in the upper dish-shaped portion for a while, and the same guiding hole (the guiding holes 36a to 36a) is used. 36c), when a plurality of game balls fall, the game balls are sequentially dropped one by one.

The game ball that has fallen into the guiding hole 36a of the three-hole clune 35 is guided to the distribution device 15, and if the shielding member 37 is not in the shielding state, after being detected by the symbol operation switch 38, the guiding member 39 The ball is received by the ball receiving recess 39a for receiving one game ball. In this embodiment, a game ball that has passed through a passage provided with the symbol operation switch 38 is detected, so that the game ball does not stay in the passage of the symbol operation switch 38. Therefore, the game ball does not move up and down within the symbol switch 38 and is detected a plurality of times, and erroneous detection of the game ball can be prevented. When the symbol operation switch 38 detects the passed game ball, the symbol displayed in the symbol display area of the variable display 9 starts rotating. The rotation of the image in the variable display 9 stops when a certain time has elapsed. If the combination of images at the time of stop is a combination of winning symbols, the guide member 39 starts right rotation by driving of the motor 63 (see FIG. 8) provided on the back of the game board 6. When the guide member 39 rotates clockwise, the game ball received by the ball receiving recess 39a is released from the stopped state and guided to the V winning opening (special area) 40. Then, the game ball guided to the V winning port 40 is detected by the V winning switch 41, and the right is generated.

If the hit ball hits the ball receiving recess 17 of the rotating body 16 and the starting ball detection switch 19 is turned on while the right generation state continues, a big hit state occurs, and the big winning opening is kept for a predetermined time. Be released. It shifts to a jackpot game state.
That is, the opening / closing plate 20 is opened until a predetermined time elapses or until a predetermined number (for example, 10) of hit balls is won. Then, the big hit state is repeated each time a hit ball wins in the ball receiving recess 17 of the rotating body 16 and is detected by the starting ball detection switch 19 if the right generation state continues. However, the right generation state is continued when the hit ball is detected again by the V winning switch 41 during the right generation state, or a predetermined number (for example, 16) of the winning balls is detected by the starting ball detection switch 19. To end.

In addition, the guide hole 36a is added to the three-hole crown 35.
When the shield member 37 driven by the solenoid 61 (see FIG. 8) is in a shielded state, the game ball guided to the sorting device 15 is guided to the outlets 42a and 42b to be played. 6 from the rear. The outlet 42
The game balls discharged from a and 42b are detected by a discharge switch (not shown) provided at the rear of the game board 6. If the combination of the images at the time of stoppage on the variable display 9 is not the combination of the hit symbols, the guide member 39 starts the left rotation by the driving of the motor 63 provided on the back of the game board 6. When the guide member 39 rotates left, the game balls received by the ball receiving recess 39a are released from the stopped state and guided to the discharge port (normal area) 43. Then, the game ball guided to the discharge port 43 is detected from the discharge switch 44 and then discharged from the rear of the game board 6.

In this embodiment, the solenoids (for example, the solenoids 60 and 61) and the motors (for example, the motors 62 and 63) are driven without being affected by the power supply frequency, for example, a stepping motor or a rotary solenoid. Is used. Therefore, even in an area having different power supply frequencies, for example, eastern Japan and western Japan, it can be used normally (without changing settings and the like).

Further, in this embodiment, the V winning switch 41 is used to rotate the guiding member 39 (here, the operation executed after the fixed symbol indicating the hit is displayed) in order to prevent erroneous detection. Only) during the period when
An effective state is set in which a game ball can be detected. Therefore, for example, the time from when the game ball is released to when it is detected by the V winning switch 41 is shorter than the time until the guide member 39 returns to the original position after the game ball is released. , The driving time of the guide member 39 and the like are set.

As described above, the game ball that has entered the specific area is detected by the ball detection switch 13 provided at the entrance of the specific area. In addition, guide holes 36b, 36c
The game ball that has fallen into the guide hole 36a and the game ball that has fallen into the guide hole 36a when the shielding member 37 is in the shielding state are detected by a discharge switch (not shown). Further, the game ball guided to the discharge port 43 is detected by the discharge switch 44, and the game ball guided to the V winning port 40 is detected by the V winning switch 41. In this manner, all the game balls that have entered the specific area and the game balls that have exited the specific area are detected. Therefore, for example, if an error is notified when a larger number of game balls are detected than game balls that have entered a specific area, it is possible to confirm the presence or absence of fraud. The game balls that have fallen into the guide holes 36b and 36c, the game balls that have fallen into the guide holes 36a when the shielding member 37 is in the shielded state, and the game balls that have been guided to the discharge port 43 are placed in the same discharge switch (for example, discharge). Switch 4
The detection may be performed in 4).

The shielding member 37 of the above-mentioned sorting device 15
The symbol operation switch 38 is provided to prevent two or more game balls from being continuously guided. When a game ball is detected to prevent erroneous detection, the symbol operation switch 38 detects the game ball until the rotation operation of the guide member 39 after the finalized symbol is displayed (until it returns to the original position). Is invalidated. Therefore, if the game ball is allowed to pass through the symbol operation switch 38 for which detection is invalidated, there is a possibility that a player or the like may be misunderstood as a switch failure or the like. The shielding member 37 has a role of preventing the above-mentioned adverse effects by shielding the game balls from being guided to the symbol operation switch 38 during a predetermined period. The shielding member 37 is, for example, in a shielding state in which the shutter protrudes forward of the game area 7 when a game ball is detected by the symbol operation switch 38, and thereafter, when the rotation of the guiding member 39 is completed, the shutter is moved to the game board 6. It is driven so as to be in a non-shielding state housed inside the. Note that the shielding member 37 may be set to the non-shielding state for a predetermined period when the detection by the ball detection switch 13 is performed. In this way, it is possible to prevent the game balls that have not been detected by the symbol operation switch 38 from being retained in the ball receiving recess 39a after passing through the symbol operation switch 38 after a power failure due to a power failure or the like. can do.

The shielding member 37 of the distribution device 15 also serves to prevent the right from disappearing during the right generation after the right is generated. For example, if the symbol to be determined is changed based on the detection of the game ball by the symbol operation switch 38 during the right generation state, and the stop symbol on the variable display 9 becomes a hit symbol, the V winning opening The game ball guided to 40 is detected by the V winning switch 41 (the operation of generating the right is performed again), and the right is extinguished (so-called “punk”). The shielding member 37 has a role of preventing the above-mentioned adverse effects by shielding the game balls from being guided to the symbol operation switch 38 during a predetermined period.

As described above, if the stop symbol of the variable display 9 is a hit symbol, the guide member 39 rotates clockwise, and if the stop symbol of the variable display 9 is a lost symbol, the guide member 39 rotates left. In this case, the guide member 39 rotates to a position where the game ball received by the ball receiving recess 39a is released, and after the game ball is released, reversely rotates to the original position. The rotation in the same direction may be continued even after the game ball is released, and the rotation may return to the original position. The variable display 9
Since it is desirable that the game ball released from the guide member 39 is detected through the path and detected by the V winning switch 41 within 15 seconds after the stop symbol is hit, the guide member The driving time of 39 (for example,
It is desirable to set it within 15 seconds (regardless of the loss). In this embodiment, when the stop symbol of the variable indicator 9 is a hit, the path after the game ball is released is longer than the time from when the guide member 39 starts driving until the game ball is released. The driving time of the guiding member 39 is set such that the time until the detection by the V winning switch 41 through the switch is shorter. Therefore, in the present example, when the guide member 39 and the V winning switch 41 are separated from each other, the adjustment is performed by, for example, setting the rotation speed of the guide member 39 to be low. Note that the rotation speed (rotation time) of the guide member 39 may not be constant, and for example, may be different before and after opening the game ball.

The distributing device 15 has a structure in which a game cover cannot be taken in and out from the outside, for example, by being covered with a transparent cover in order to prevent fraud. However, for example, after the power supply is cut off due to a power failure or the like when a game ball is present inside the guiding device 14, the game ball is placed in the guide hole 36a of the three-hole clune 35.
, The game ball is stopped in the ball receiving recess 39a without being detected by the symbol operation switch 38. Even in such a case, since the game balls cannot be taken out, it is said that the game balls remain parked in the ball receiving recess 39a even though the symbol change does not start after the power supply is restarted. Failure occurs. In order to avoid such adverse effects, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a configuration may be adopted in which a slit 45 is provided in the transparent cover on the front surface of the guide member 39 of the distribution device 15.
The slit 45 has a vertically long shape so that the inserted bar can be moved up and down. With such a configuration, even when the game ball is not detected by the symbol operation switch 38 and is parked in the ball receiving recess 39a, after the power supply is restarted, the glass window frame is opened and the slit is opened. 4
By inserting a stick into a specific area of the sorting device 15 via 5 and inserting the stick below the game ball and moving it upward, the game ball is pushed up and detected by the symbol operation switch 38. can do. Further, by pulling out the rod, the game ball is returned to the stop position in the ball receiving recess 39a. As described above, if the distribution device 15 is provided with the slit 45, even if a problem occurs that hinders the game, the problem can be resolved.

In the distribution device 15, the shielding member 37 is provided above the symbol operation switch 38. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the shielding member 46 is also provided above the V winning switch 41. It may be. The shielding member 46 is, for example, V from when the stop symbol of the variable display 9 hits the symbol, until the V winning switch 41 detects a game ball released by the guide member 39 rotating right. What is necessary is just to make it the non-shielding state which allows a game ball to enter the winning switch 41, and to set the shielding state which prohibits the game ball from entering the V winning switch 41 at other times. The shielding member 46 is driven by a solenoid (not shown) to be in a shielding state / non-shielding state. The shielding member 46 has a substantially V-shaped upper surface as shown in FIG. 5, and has a structure in which a game ball guided during the shielding state is stopped at the upper portion. In this embodiment, when a power failure due to a power failure or the like occurs, the shielding member 46 is closed before the detection operation by the V winning switch 41 becomes invalid, and the V winning switch 41 is turned on during the power-off state. The game state is backed up as a state where the game ball is not guided to the game ball. The backup processing of the gaming state will be described later in detail. When the game ball is guided after the power is turned off, the game ball is stopped above the shielding member 46, and the shielding member 46 is set to the non-shielding state after the power is restored. Thus, the game ball is detected by the V winning switch 41. Therefore, even if the power is turned off after the stop symbol becomes a symbol indicating a hit, it is possible to prevent the player from being disadvantaged without shifting to the right generation state. If the shielding member 46 is set to the non-shielding state immediately after the restoration of the power, the game ball may pass before the detection operation by the V winning switch 41 becomes effective. After the start, the shielding member 46 is set to the non-shielding state.
In this case, for example, if the shielding member 46 is configured to be in the non-shielding state when the solenoid is off, for example, a hardware circuit for closing the shutter (making the shutter in the shielding state) may be provided separately. Good.

The shielding member 46 may be controlled so as to be in the non-shielding state only during the contact operation of the guide member 39. In this embodiment, after the game ball is released from the guide member 39, the time required for the guide member 39 to return to the original position is longer than the time required for detection by the V winning switch 41. Is detected by the V winning switch 41 before the hitting operation of the guiding member 39 is completed (before the shielding member 46 is in the shielding state). Therefore, when the stop symbol of the variable indicator 9 hits, the shielding member 4 is set before the game ball wins the V winning opening 40.
There is no possibility that the game ball 6 will be in the shielding state and the game ball will be stopped above the shielding member 46.

In the example described above, the three-hole crown 35
A plurality of game balls are continuously operated by the symbol operation switch 38.
Is prevented from being led to the symbol operation switch, but may be prevented from being continuously led to the symbol operation switch by another structure. In this case, portions corresponding to the guidance device 14, the shielding member 37, and the symbol operation switch 38 are configured by, for example, a spring-type movable member 47, a shielding member 37a, and a symbol activation switch 38a, as shown in FIG. do it. Movable member 47
6B is changed from the horizontal state shown in FIG. 6A to the inclined state shown in FIG. 6B with the weight of one game ball. When the game ball is released, the spring returns to its original position by the restoring force of the spring. It is a member. The shielding member 37a has a design operation switch 38a of 1
From when the game balls are detected to when the predetermined game is completed (for example, until a variable symbol is confirmed and displayed, or until it is determined whether or not the right generation state has been established), the shielding state is set. Is provided to prohibit the inflow of the game ball in the direction of the operation detection switch 38a and to allow the game ball to flow out to the outlet. A guide member 39 (not shown in FIG. 6) is provided below the symbol operation switch 38a. Even in the case of such a structure, it is possible to prevent a plurality of game balls from being continuously guided toward the symbol operation switch 38a. This prevents the right from disappearing immediately after the right is generated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a player or the like from misunderstanding such as a switch failure.

In the other example described above, the spring type movable member 47 is used, but a movable member driven by a solenoid or a motor may be used. In this case, the movable member changes from the horizontal state to the inclined state with the weight of one game ball, and is returned to the original position by driving a solenoid or a motor at a predetermined timing after the game ball is released.

Next, the structure of the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. On the back side of the variable display device 8, as shown in FIG. 7, a ball storage tank 49 is provided above the mechanism plate 48, and when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed on the gaming machine installation island, the game balls from above. Ball storage tank 4
9. The game ball in the ball storage tank 49 reaches the ball payout device through the guiding gutter 50.

On the mechanism plate 48, a variable display control unit 51 for controlling the variable display 9, a game control board (main board) 310 on which a game control microcomputer and the like are mounted,
A relay board 52 for relaying a signal between the variable display control unit 51 and the game control board 310, and a payout control board 370 equipped with a prize ball control microcomputer for performing payout control of game balls are provided. ing. Further, on the lower part of the mechanism plate 48, a hitting ball launching device 53 for firing a hitting ball into the game area 7 by using a rotating force of a motor, and a signal for sending a signal to a luminous body such as the game effect lamps 30a, 30b, 30c. A lamp control board 350 is provided.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the main board 310. FIG. 8 shows the payout control board 370, the lamp control board 350, and the sound control board 70.
0, a launch control board 910 and a display control board 800 are also shown. On the main board 310, a basic circuit 311 for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to a program, a ball detection switch 13, a starting ball detection switch 19, a count switch 21, an ordinary variable winning operation switch 22a, winning opening switches 23a to 26a, a symbol A switch circuit 316 for giving signals from the operation switch 38, the V winning switch 41 and the discharge switch 44 to the basic circuit 311;
Solenoid 60 that opens and closes a and 32b and shielding member 3
The basic circuit 3 includes a solenoid 61 for shielding / non-shielding of 7 and the like.
Solenoid circuit 317 driven in accordance with a command from 11
And the motor 62 and the guide member 3 serving as a drive source of the rotating body 16.
And a motor circuit 318 for driving the motor 63 and the like serving as a drive source of the motor 9 in accordance with a command from the basic circuit 311.

Also, according to data provided from the basic circuit 311, information output for outputting jackpot information indicating occurrence of a jackpot, right occurrence information indicating that a right occurrence state has occurred, or the like to a host computer such as a hall management computer. And a circuit 319.

The basic circuit 311 includes a ROM 312 for storing a game control program and the like, a RAM 313 as an example of storage means used as a work memory, a CPU 314 for performing a control operation according to the program, and an I / O port unit 315. In this embodiment, the ROM 31
2. The RAM 313 is built in the CPU 314. That is, the CPU 314 is a one-chip microcomputer. Note that the one-chip microcomputer only needs to include at least the RAM 313,
The 312 and the I / O port unit 315 may be external or internal. Also, the I / O port unit 315
Is a terminal capable of inputting and outputting information in the microcomputer.

Further, the main board 310 includes one of a system reset circuit 320 for resetting the basic circuit 311 when the power is turned on and an I / O port section 315 by decoding an address signal given from the basic circuit 311. And an address decode circuit 321 for outputting a signal for selecting the I / O port. In addition,
Some switch information is input from the ball dispensing device 97 to the main board 310, but these are omitted in FIG.

A hit ball firing device that hits and fires a game ball is driven by a drive motor 911 controlled by a circuit on a firing control board 910. Then, the driving force of the driving motor 911 is adjusted according to the operation amount of the operation knob 912. That is, by the circuit on the launch control board 910,
Control is performed such that a hit ball is fired at a speed corresponding to the operation amount of the operation knob 912.

In this embodiment, the lamp control means mounted on the lamp control board 350 is the game board 1
Storage display 10, a ball detection valid lamp 11a, a ball detection invalid lamp 11b, a winning lamp 22b
26b, side lamp 27 and game effect lamp 30
The display control of a to 30c is performed. Here, the lamp control unit is an example of the illuminant control unit. The display control of the variable display 9 of the variable display device 8 that variably displays a symbol is performed by display control means mounted on the display control board 800.

FIG. 9 shows the circuit configuration in the display control board 800 together with the symbol display (LCD display) 9, the output ports (ports 0 and 2) 315A and 315C of the main board 310, and the output buffer circuits 322 and 322A. FIG. The output port (output port 2) 315C outputs 8-bit data, and the output port 315A outputs a 1-bit strobe signal (INT signal).

The display control CPU 801 controls the control data R
It operates according to the program stored in the OM 802, and receives an INT signal from the main board 310 via the noise filter 807 and the input buffer circuit 805B, and receives a display control command via the input buffer circuit 805A. As the input buffer circuits 805A and 805B,
For example, 74HC540 and 74HC14 which are general-purpose ICs can be used. The display control CPU 801
Does not include an I / O port, an I / O port is provided between the input buffer circuits 805A and 805B and the display control CPU 801.

Then, the display control CPU 801 controls display of a screen displayed on the variable display 9 according to the received display control command. Specifically, a command corresponding to the display control command is given to a VDP (video display processor) 803. VDP 803 is a character R
The necessary data is read from the OM 804. VDP803
Generates image data to be displayed on the variable display 9 in accordance with the input data, and outputs R, G, B signals and a synchronization signal to the variable display 9.

FIG. 9 also shows a reset circuit 808 for resetting the VDP 803, an oscillation circuit 809 for supplying an operation clock to the VDP 803, and a character ROM 804 for storing frequently used image data. The frequently used image data stored in the character ROM 804 is, for example, a person, an animal, or an image composed of characters, figures, symbols, or the like displayed on the variable display 9.

The input buffer circuits 805A and 805B
Signals can be passed only in the direction from the main board 310 to the display control board 800. Therefore, there is no room for a signal to be transmitted from the display control board 800 side to the main board 310 side. That is, the input buffer circuits 805A and 805B
Constitutes irreversible information input means together with the input port. Even if a circuit in the display control board 800 is tampered with, a signal output by the tampering is transmitted to the main board 310.
It does not reach the side.

The outputs of the output ports 315A and 315C may be directly output to the display control board 800.
An output buffer circuit 322 capable of transmitting signals only in one direction
By providing the 322A, one-way signal transmission from the main board 310 to the display control board 800 can be further ensured. That is, the output buffer circuit 322,
322A together with the output port constitutes irreversible information output means.

For example, a three-terminal capacitor or a ferrite bead is used as the noise filter 807 for cutting off the high-frequency signal. Even if the display control command causes noise between the substrates due to the presence of the noise filter 807, the noise filter 807 does not. The effect is eliminated. Note that a noise filter may be provided on the output side of the buffer circuits 322 and 322A of the main substrate 310.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a signal transmission / reception portion in main board 310 and lamp control board 350. In this embodiment, the ball detection effective lamp 11a,
Ball detection invalid lamp 11b, winning lamps 22b to 26b,
Side lamp 27 and game effect lamps 30a to 30c
A lamp control command indicating ON / OFF of the main board 310
Is output to the lamp control board 350. Further, a lamp control command indicating the number of lighted winning display units 10 is also output from the main board 310 to the lamp control board 350.

As shown in FIG. 10, a lamp control command relating to lamp control is
Output port (output port 0, 3) 31 of port section 315
5A and 315D. The output port (output port 3) 315D outputs 8-bit data, and the output port 315A outputs a 1-bit INT signal. In the lamp control board 350, a control command from the main board 310 is input to the lamp control CPU 351 via the input buffer circuits 355A and 355B. When the lamp control CPU 351 does not include an I / O port, an I / O port is provided between the input buffer circuits 355A and 355B and the lamp control CPU 351.

In the lamp control board 350, the CPU 351 for lamp control includes a winning storage display 10, a ball detection effective lamp 11a,
Ball detection invalid lamp 11b, winning lamps 22b to 26b,
Side lamp 27 and game effect lamps 30a to 30c
A light-on / light-off signal is output according to the light-on / light-off pattern. The light-on / light-off signal is output to a corresponding light emitter such as the ball detection valid lamp 11a. The light-on / light-off pattern is stored in a built-in ROM or an external ROM of the lamp control CPU 351.

As the input buffer circuits 355A and 355B, for example, 74HC54 which is a general-purpose CMOS-IC
0,74HC14 is used. Input buffer circuit 35
5A and 355B are the main board 310 and the lamp control board 3
The signal can be passed only in the direction toward 50. Therefore, the main board 310 is moved from the lamp control board 350 side.
There is no room for the signal to pass. For example, even if a circuit in the lamp control board 350 is tampered with, a signal output by the tampering is not transmitted to the main board 310 side. The input buffer circuits 355A, 355B
, A noise filter may be provided on the input side.

On the main board 310, buffer circuits 322 and 32 are provided outside the output ports 315A and 315D.
3A is provided. Buffer circuits 322, 323A
For example, 74HC which is a general-purpose CMOS-IC
250, 74HC14 are used. According to such a configuration, a signal input from the outside to the inside of the main board 310 is blocked, so that the lamp control board 350
Signal lines to which signals may be applied to 10 can be more reliably eliminated. The buffer circuit 32
A noise filter may be provided on the output side of 2,323A.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the signal control portion of the sound control command on the main board 310 and the sound control board 700. In this embodiment, the sound control command for instructing the sound output of the speaker 29 provided outside the game area 7 according to the game progress is:
The sound is output from the main board 310 to the sound control board 700.

As shown in FIG. 11, the sound control command is
The data is output from output ports (output ports 0 and 4) 315A and 315E of the I / O port unit 315 in the basic circuit 311. 8 from output port (output port 4) 314E
Bit data is output, and a 1-bit INT signal is output from output port 315A. Sound control board 700
, Each signal from the main board 310 is transmitted to the CPU 701 for sound control through the input buffer circuits 705A and 705B.
To enter. When the sound control CPU 701 does not include an I / O port, the input buffer circuit 705
A, 705B and the CPU 701 for sound control
A port is provided.

For example, the voice synthesis circuit 702 using a digital signal processor
A volume switching circuit 7 that generates a sound or a sound effect according to the instruction 1
03 is output. The volume switching circuit 703 includes a sound control CP
The output level of U 701 is set to a level corresponding to the set volume and output to volume amplifying circuit 704. Volume amplification circuit 704 outputs the amplified audio signal to speaker 29.

The input buffer circuits 705A and 705B are, for example, 74HC54 which is a general-purpose CMOS-IC.
0,74HC14 is used. Input buffer circuit 70
5A and 705B are from the main board 310 to the sound control board 700
The signal can be passed only in the direction toward. Therefore, there is no room for a signal to be transmitted from the sound control board 700 side to the main board 310 side. Therefore, even if a circuit in the sound control board 700 is tampered with, a signal output by the tampering is not transmitted to the main board 31 side. Note that a noise filter may be provided on the input side of the input buffer circuits 705A and 705B.

On the main board 310, buffer circuits 322 and 32 are provided outside the output ports 315A and 315E.
2A is provided. Buffer circuits 322 and 322A
For example, 74HC which is a general-purpose CMOS-IC
250, 74HC14 are used. According to such a configuration, since a signal input from the outside to the inside of main board 310 is blocked, sound control board 700
The signal line to which a signal may be applied to the signal line can be more reliably eliminated. Note that the buffer circuit 620,
A noise filter may be provided on the output side of 67A.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the power supply board 920. The power supply board 920 includes the main board 31
0, a display control board 800, a sound control board 700, a lamp control board 350, and a payout control board 370, etc., which are installed independently of the electric component control boards and control the voltage used by each electric component control board and mechanism components in the gaming machine. Generate. In this example, AC24V, VSL (DC + 30V), DC + 21
V, + 12V DC and + 5V DC. Also,
The capacitor 926 serving as a backup power supply is DC + 5
V, that is, charged from a power supply line for driving an IC or the like on each substrate. Note that VSL is generated in the rectifier circuit 922 by rectifying and boosting 24 VAC with a rectifier. VSL is a solenoid drive power supply.

The transformer 921 converts an AC voltage from an AC power supply to 24V. AC 24V voltage is applied to connector 9
25. The rectifier circuit 922 includes an AC24
A DC voltage of +30 V is generated from V and output to the DC-DC converter 923 and the connector 925. DC-D
C converter 913 includes one or more converters I
C932 (only one is shown in FIG. 12), and VSL
Then, + 21V, + 12V, and + 5V are generated based on the above and output to the connector 915. A relatively large-capacity capacitor 933 is connected to the input side of the converter IC 932. Therefore, when the power supply to the gaming machine from the outside is stopped, the DC voltage such as +30 V, +12 V, +5 V, etc., decreases relatively slowly. As a result, the capacitor 933 plays a role of an auxiliary drive power supply described later.
The connector 925 is connected to, for example, a relay board, and power of a voltage required for each electric component control board and a mechanical component is supplied from the relay board.

However, the power supply board 920 may be provided with each connector leading to each electric component control board, and the power supply board 920 may supply each voltage reaching each board without passing through the relay board. Although one connector 925 is shown as a representative in FIG. 12, the connectors are provided corresponding to the respective electric component control boards.

+5 V from DC-DC converter 913
The line branches to form a backup + 5V line. A large-capacity capacitor 926 is connected between the backup + 5V line and the ground level. The capacitor 926 is in a storage state with respect to a backup RAM of the electric component control board when the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off (RAM backed up by a power supply, that is, a backup storage means that can be in a storage content state even when power supply is stopped). Backup power supply that supplies power so that the power can be maintained. A diode 927 for preventing backflow is inserted between the + 5V line and the backup + 5V line. In this embodiment, +5 V for backup is supplied to the main substrate 310.

Note that a battery that can be charged from a +5 V power supply may be used as a backup power supply. In the case of using a battery, a rechargeable battery is used which runs out of capacity when power is not supplied from a + 5V power supply for a predetermined time.

The power supply board 920 includes a power supply monitoring I
C902 is mounted. The power supply monitoring IC 902
The occurrence of power interruption is detected by introducing the VSL voltage and monitoring the VSL voltage. Specifically, when the VSL voltage becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value (+22 V in this example), it is determined that the power is cut off, and a voltage drop signal (power cutoff signal) is output. The power supply voltage to be monitored is preferably higher than the power supply voltage (+5 V in this example) of the circuit element mounted on each electric component control board. In this example, VSL, which is a voltage immediately after conversion from AC to DC, is used. The voltage drop signal from the power monitoring IC 902 is
It is supplied to the main substrate 310 and the like.

The predetermined value for the power supply monitoring IC 902 to detect the power-off is lower than the normal voltage, but is a voltage at which the CPU on each electric component control board can operate for a while. Further, the power supply monitoring IC 902 is configured to monitor a voltage higher than a voltage for driving a circuit element such as a CPU (+5 V in this example) and a voltage immediately after conversion from AC to DC. Therefore, the monitoring range can be extended for the voltage required by the CPU. Therefore,
More precise monitoring can be performed. Furthermore, when VSL (+30 V) is used as the monitoring voltage, since the voltage supplied to the various switches of the gaming machine is +12 V, prevention of erroneous switch-on detection upon momentary power interruption can be expected. That is, when monitoring the voltage of the + 30V power supply,
The drop can be detected at a stage before + 12V generated after the generation of 0V starts to fall.

Thus, when the voltage of the +12 V power supply decreases, the switch output comes to an on state,
If the power supply interruption is recognized by monitoring the +30 V power supply voltage that falls earlier than V, the power supply wait state can be entered before the switch output turns on, and the switch output can not be detected.

Further, since the power supply monitoring IC 902 is mounted on the power supply board 920 separate from the electric component control board, the power supply monitoring circuit can supply a power off signal to the plurality of electric component control boards. No matter how many electrical component control boards need a power-off signal, it is sufficient that only one power supply monitoring means is provided. Therefore, even if each electrical component control means in each electrical component control board performs return control described later, However, the cost of gaming machines does not increase much.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 12, the detection output (power cut-off signal) of the power monitoring IC 902 is transmitted to each electric component control board (here, only the main board 310) via the buffer circuit 918. However, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which one detection output is transmitted to the relay board, and the same signal is distributed from the relay board to each electric component control board. Further, a buffer circuit may be provided according to the number of substrates that require a power-off signal.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the CPU 3 on the main board 310.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example around 14; As shown in FIG. 13, the power supply cutoff signal (voltage drop signal) from the power supply monitoring circuit (power supply monitoring means) of the power supply board 920 is transmitted to the CPU 3.
14 non-maskable interrupt terminals (XNMI terminals). The power supply monitoring circuit is a circuit that monitors a voltage of any one of various DC power supplies used by the gaming machine and detects a power supply voltage drop. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage of VSL is monitored, and when the voltage value becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, a low-level power-off signal is generated. VSL is the largest DC voltage used in gaming machines, and in this example is +
30V. Therefore, the CPU 314 can confirm the occurrence of power interruption by the interrupt processing.

FIG. 13 shows a system reset circuit 320.
Are also shown. When the power is turned on, the reset IC 320a sets the output to a low level for a predetermined time determined by the capacity of an external capacitor, and sets the output to a high level after a predetermined time has elapsed. That is, the reset signal is raised to a high level to make the CPU 314 operable. Also,
The reset IC 320a monitors the power supply voltage VSL, which is the same power supply voltage as the power supply voltage monitored by the power supply monitoring circuit, and determines that the voltage value is a predetermined value (a value lower than the power supply voltage value at which the power supply monitoring circuit outputs a power-off signal). The output is set to low level below. Accordingly, the CPU 314 performs a predetermined power supply stop processing in response to a power-off signal from the power supply monitoring circuit, and then performs a system reset.

As shown in FIG. 13, the reset IC 320
The reset signal from “a” is input to the NAND circuit 947 and also to the clear terminal of the counter IC 941 via the inverting circuit (NOT circuit) 944. When the input to the clear terminal goes low, the counter IC 941 counts the clock signal from the oscillator 943. Then, the Q5 output of the counter IC 941 is input to the NAND circuit 947 via the NOT circuits 945 and 946. The Q6 output of the counter IC 941 is input to a clock terminal of a flip-flop (FF) 942. The D input of the flip-flop 942 is fixed at a high level, and the Q output is input to an OR circuit (OR circuit) 949. The output of the NAND circuit 947 is introduced to the other input of the OR circuit 949 via the NOT circuit 948. The output of the OR circuit 949 is connected to the reset terminal of the CPU 314. According to such a configuration, two reset signals (low level signals) are supplied to the reset terminal of the CPU 314 when the power is turned on.
The CPU 314 reliably starts operating.

For example, the detection voltage of the power supply monitoring circuit (the voltage at which the power supply cutoff signal is output) is set to +22 V, and the detection voltage for setting the reset signal to low level is set to +9 V. In such a configuration, the power supply monitoring circuit and the system reset circuit 320
Since the voltage of SL is monitored, the difference between the timing at which the voltage monitoring circuit outputs the power-off signal and the timing at which the system reset circuit 320 outputs the system reset signal can be reliably set to a desired predetermined period. The desired predetermined period is a period from the start of the power supply stop processing in response to the power supply cutoff signal from the power supply monitoring circuit until the power supply stop processing is completely completed.

While power is not supplied from the +5 V power supply, which is the drive power supply for the CPU 314 and the like, at least a part of the RAM is backed up by the backup power supply supplied from the power supply board, and the contents are maintained even when the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off. Is saved. And when the + 5V power is restored,
Since a reset signal is issued from system reset circuit 320, CPU 314 returns to a normal operation state. At that time, since the necessary data is stored in the backup RAM, it is possible to return to the gaming state at the time of the occurrence of the power failure when recovering from a power failure or the like.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 13, two reset signals (low-level signals) are supplied to the reset terminal of the CPU 314 when the power is turned on. When using the CPU to be released, reference numerals 941 to 9
The circuit element indicated by 49 is unnecessary. In that case, the output of the reset IC 320a is directly connected to the reset terminal of the CPU 314.

CPU 314 used in this embodiment
Incorporates an I / O port (PIO) and a timer / counter circuit (CTC). PIO is PB0-PB
It has a port of 3 4 bits and 1 byte of PA0 to PA7. The ports PB0 to PB3 and PA0 to PA7 can be set for both input and output. Note that FIG.
As shown in the figure, the output signal of each switch such as the ball detection switch 13 is a buffer circuit 578A that inverts the logic.
And input via the input port 578.

Next, the operation of the gaming machine will be described. FIG.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a main process executed by the CPU 314 on the main board 310. When the power of the gaming machine is turned on and the CPU 314 is activated, the CPU 314 first performs necessary initialization in the main processing.

In the initial setting process, the CPU 314
First, interrupt prohibition is set (step S1). Next, the interrupt mode is set to the interrupt mode 2 (step S2), and a stack pointer designated address is set to the stack pointer (step S3). Then, the internal device registers are initialized (step S4). After initializing a built-in device (built-in peripheral circuit) CTC (counter / timer) and PIO (parallel input / output port) (step S5), the RAM is set to an accessible state (step S6).

CPU 314 used in this embodiment
Incorporates an I / O port (PIO) and a timer / counter circuit (CTC). Also, CTC has two external clock / timer trigger inputs CLK / TRG2, 3
And two timer outputs ZC / TO0,1.

CPU 3 used in this embodiment
14 has the following three types of modes as maskable interrupt (INT) modes. When an interrupt that can be masked occurs, the CPU 314 automatically sets an interrupt disabled state and saves the contents of the program counter on the stack.

Interrupt mode 0: The built-in device that has issued the interrupt request receives an RST instruction (1 byte) or a CALL instruction (3 bytes).
Byte) on the internal data bus of the CPU. Therefore, the CPU 314 executes the instruction at the address corresponding to the RST instruction or the address specified by the CALL instruction. Upon reset, the CPU 314 automatically enters the interrupt mode 0. Therefore, when it is desired to set the mode to the interrupt mode 1 or the interrupt mode 2, it is necessary to perform a process for setting the mode to the interrupt mode 1 or the interrupt mode 2 in the initial setting process.

Interrupt mode 1: When an interrupt is accepted,
In this mode, the camera always jumps to the address 0038 (h).

Interrupt mode 2: The address synthesized from the value (1 byte) of the specific register (I register) of the CPU 314 and the interrupt vector (1 byte: least significant bit 0) output from the built-in device is the interrupt address. Mode. That is, the interrupt address is an address indicated by 2 bytes in which the upper address is the value of the specific register and the lower address is the interrupt vector. Therefore, an interrupt process can be set at an arbitrary (albeit skipped) even address.
Each built-in device has a function of sending an interrupt vector when making an interrupt request.

Therefore, when the interrupt mode 2 is set, it is possible to easily process an interrupt request from each built-in device, and it is possible to set an interrupt process at an arbitrary position in a program. Will be possible. Further, unlike the interrupt mode 1, it is easy to prepare an interrupt process for each interrupt occurrence factor. As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 314 is set to the interrupt mode 2 in step S2 of the initial setting process.

Then, it is checked whether or not the data protection processing of the backup RAM area (for example, the power failure occurrence NMI processing such as the addition of parity data) has been performed when the power is turned off (step S7). In this embodiment, when an unexpected power failure occurs, a process for protecting data in the backup RAM area is performed. The case where such protection processing has been performed is regarded as backup. After confirming that there is no backup, the CPU 314 executes an initialization process.

In this embodiment, the backup RAM
Whether or not there is backup data in the area is confirmed by the state of the backup flag set in the backup RAM area when the power is turned off. In this example, as shown in FIG. 15, if "55H" is set in the backup flag area, it means that there is a backup (on state),
If a value other than “55H” is set, it means that there is no backup (off state).

When the backup is confirmed, the CPU 3
14 performs a data check (parity check in this example) of the backup RAM area. If the power is restored after an unexpected power failure, the data in the backup RAM area should have been saved, and the check result becomes normal. If the check result is not normal, since the internal state cannot be returned to the state at the time of power-off, the initialization processing executed at the time of power-on without power recovery is executed.

If the check result is normal (step S
8) The CPU 314 performs a game state restoring process for returning the internal state of the game control means and the control state of the electric component control means such as the display control means to the state at the time of power-off (step S).
9). Then, the saved value of the PC (program counter) stored in the backup RAM area is set in the PC, and the program returns to that address.

In the initialization process, the CPU 314 first
A RAM clear process is performed (step S11). Further, an initial value setting process for setting an initial value in a predetermined work area (for example, a symbol determination random number counter, a symbol determination buffer, a payout command storage pointer, etc.) is also performed. Further, sub-boards (lamp control board 350, payout control board 370,
A process for initializing the sound control board 700 and the display control board 800) is executed (step S13). The process of initializing the sub-board is, for example, a process of sending a command for initial setting.

Then, the register of the CTC provided in the CPU 314 is set so that the timer is interrupted periodically every 2 ms (step S14). That is, a value corresponding to 2 ms is set in a predetermined register (time constant register) as an initial value. Since the interrupt is prohibited in step S1 of the initial setting process, the interrupt is permitted before the initialization process is completed (step S15).

Execution of initialization processing (steps S11 to S1)
When 5) is completed, the process proceeds to a loop process in which the display random number updating process (step S16) is executed in the main process.

In this embodiment, the built-in CTC of CPU 314 is set to repeatedly generate a timer interrupt. In this embodiment, the repetition period is set to 2 ms. Then, when a timer interrupt occurs, as shown in FIG. 16, the CPU 314 executes a game control process of steps S21 to S31.

In the game control processing, the CPU 314
First, via the switch circuit 316, the ball detection switch 1
3, starting ball detection switch 19, count switch 21,
Normal variable winning operation switch 22a, winning opening switch 23
a to 26a, symbol operation switch 28, V winning switch 4
1 and the state of the ejection switch 44 are input, and the state of those states is determined (switch processing: step S21).

Next, various abnormality diagnosis processes are performed by the self-diagnosis function provided inside the pachinko gaming machine 1, and an alarm is issued if necessary according to the result (error process: step S22).

Next, a process of updating each counter indicating a random number for determination such as a random number for symbol determination used in game control is performed (step S23). The CPU 314 further:
A process for updating a display random number such as a random number for determining the type of stop symbol is performed (step S24).

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing each random number. Each random number is used as follows. (1) Random 1: Determines whether or not to generate a hit (for hit determination = for symbol determination) (2) Random 2-1 to 2-2: for left and right off symbol determination (3) Random 3: for hit (For winning symbol determination = for symbol determination) (4) Random 4: Determine a variation pattern such as a hit time (for variation pattern determination)

Incidentally, random numbers other than the above-mentioned random numbers (1) to (4) are also used to enhance the game effect. In step S23, the CPU 314 counts up (adds 1) a counter for generating the hit determination random number (1) and the hit symbol determination random number (3). That is, these are the random numbers for determination, and the other random numbers are the random numbers for display.

Further, the CPU 314 performs a symbol process (step S25). In the symbol process control,
A corresponding process is selected and executed according to a symbol process flag for controlling the pachinko gaming machine in a predetermined order according to the gaming state. Then, the value of the symbol process flag is updated during each processing according to the gaming state.

Next, the CPU 314 performs a process of setting a display control command relating to a symbol in a predetermined area of the RAM 313 and transmitting the display control command (display control command control process: step S27).

Further, the CPU 314 performs an information output process of outputting data such as right generation information and big hit information supplied to the hall management computer (step S29).

The CPU 314 issues a drive command to the solenoid circuit 317 when a predetermined condition is satisfied (step S30). The solenoid circuit 317 drives the solenoids 60 and 61 according to the drive command, and
33b is set to an open state or a closed state, and the shielding member 37 is set to a shielding state or a non-shielding state. Note that the CPU 3
14 is a circuit diagram of the motor circuit 318 when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
To the drive command. The motor circuit 318 drives the motors 62 and 63 according to the drive command to cause the rotating body 16 and the guide member 39 to perform predetermined operations.

Then, the CPU 314 executes prize ball processing for setting the number of prize balls based on the detection output of the switches 23a to 26a for detecting a prize in each prize port (step S31). Specifically, a payout control command is output to the payout control board 370 in response to the winning detection.
Dispensing control CPU mounted on dispensing control board 370
Drives the ball payout device according to the payout control command.

According to the above control, in this embodiment, the game control process is started every 2 ms.
In this embodiment, the game control process is executed in the timer interrupt process. In the timer interrupt process, for example, only a flag indicating that an interrupt has occurred is set, and the game control process is performed in the main process. It may be executed.

Also, the timer interrupt is set in the main process, and the game control process is executed by the timer interrupt process based on the timer interrupt that is periodically generated by the internal timer of the CPU 314 during the execution of the loop process. , All of the game control processing is reliably executed. In other words, the game does not return to the loop process until all the game control processes have been executed.
It is guaranteed that the execution of all the processes during the game control process is completed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 314 having a built-in CTC or PIO is
Interrupt mode 2 is set in the initial setting process. Accordingly, a periodic timer interrupt process using the built-in CTC can be easily realized. Further, the timer interrupt processing can be set at an arbitrary position on the program. Further, switch detection processing using the built-in PIO can be easily realized by interruption processing. as a result,
Effects such as a simplified program configuration and a reduced number of program development steps can be obtained.

The CPU 314 checks whether or not the symbol operation switch 38 has been turned on as shown in FIG. 18 in the special symbol process at step S25 (step S5).
1). When the symbol operation switch 38 is turned on, the value of each random number such as a hit determination random number is extracted (step S5).
2).

Next, the CPU 314 proceeds to step S52.
The hit / miss is determined based on the value of the hit determination random number extracted in (step S53). Here, the random number for hit determination has a value in the range of 0 to 299. As shown in FIG. 19, when the probability is low, for example, the value is “3”.
Is determined as “hit”, and when the value is any other value, “out” is determined. When the probability is high, for example, the values are “3”, “7”, “79”, “103”, “10”.
7 ”is determined as“ hit ”, and other values are determined as“ out ”.

If it is determined that a hit has occurred, a winning symbol determining random number (random 3) is extracted, and the winning symbol is determined according to the value (step S54). In this embodiment,
Each symbol of the symbol number set in the hit symbol table according to the value of the extracted random 3 is determined as a hit symbol. In the winning symbol table, left and right symbol numbers corresponding to each of a plurality of combinations of winning symbols are set. In addition, the variation pattern of the symbol is determined based on the value of the variation pattern determination random number (random 4) extracted in step S52 (step S55).

If it is determined that there is a loss, the CPU 31
No. 4 determines a stop symbol when no hit is made. In this embodiment, the left symbol is determined according to the value extracted in step S52, that is, the value of the extracted random 2-1 (step S56). And random 2-
The right symbol is determined according to the value of 2 (step S59).
Here, when the determined right symbol matches the left symbol, the symbol corresponding to the value obtained by adding 1 to the value of the random number corresponding to the right symbol is set as the right symbol stop symbol so that it does not match the hit symbol 57. To

Further, the CPU 314 determines a symbol variation pattern based on the value extracted in step S52, that is, the value of the extracted variation pattern determining random number (random 4) in the case of performing a hit notice or the like. (Step S58).

As described above, it is determined whether the display mode of the symbol variation based on the passing of the start is a hit or a loss, and the combination of the respective stop symbols is determined. In this embodiment, even if the gaming state is controlled to the right generation state (the same applies to the case of the big hit state), the variable display on the variable display 9 is executed. A judge is made. Therefore, the processing shown in FIG. 18 is executed even when the gaming state is controlled to the right generation state.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of a symbol processing program executed by the CPU 314. The symbol process process shown in FIG. 20 is a specific process of step S25 in the flowchart of FIG. When performing the symbol process, the CPU 314 performs steps S300 to S3 shown in FIG.
08 is performed.

Symbol change waiting process (step S300):
It waits for the hit ball to pass through the predetermined passage opening and the symbol operation switch 38 to be turned on. When the symbol operation switch 38 is turned on, a winning determination random number is extracted. That is, the first half of the process shown in FIG. 18 is executed. Symbol determination process (step S301): When the random number for hit determination is extracted, it is determined whether to win or lose according to the value of the random number for hit determination extracted. That is, the middle half of the processing shown in FIG. 18 is executed. Stop symbol setting process (step S302): The stop symbols of the left and right symbols are determined. That is, the latter half of the process shown in FIG. 18 is executed.

All symbol variation start processing (step S30)
3): The variable display 9 is controlled so that all symbols start to change. At this time, the left and right final stop symbols and information instructing the variation mode are transmitted to the display control board 800. When a background or a character is also displayed on the variable display 9, control is performed so that display control command data corresponding to the background or character is transmitted to the display control board 800.

Waiting for all symbols stop (step S30)
4): Control is performed such that all symbols displayed on the variable display 9 are stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed. Also, control is performed so that the left symbol is stopped at a predetermined timing until the timing of stopping all symbols. Further, control is performed so that display control command data corresponding to a background or a character displayed on the variable display 9 is transmitted to the display control board 800 as appropriate.

Winning display processing (step S305): If it is confirmed that the stopped symbol is a winning symbol combination and the V winning switch 41 is turned on thereafter, the internal state (process flag) is not set unless the right is generated. The process is updated so as to shift to step S306, and if the status is the right generation status, the internal status is updated so as to shift to step S308. If the stopped symbol is not a winning symbol combination, the internal state is set to step S unless it is a right generation state.
The process is updated to shift to step S300, and if the status is the right generation status, the internal status is updated to shift to step S306. Note that the winning symbol combination is a combination in which the right and left symbols are aligned.

Processing during Right Occurrence State (Step S30)
6): Control to make the rotating body 16 and the starting ball detection switch 19 effective. Specifically, the counter and the flag are initialized, and the motor 62 is driven to
To execute rotation / stop control (rotation / stop control may be performed even when the right is not in the state of right generation),
The detection result of the starting ball detection switch 19 is processed effectively. In addition, processing for confirming establishment of the opening condition of the special winning opening and establishment of the end condition of the right generation state is performed. When the opening condition of the special winning opening is satisfied, the internal state is changed to step S3.
Update to shift to 07. When the end condition of the right generation state is satisfied, the internal state is updated so as to shift to step S308. In this example, since the display of the judgment symbol on the variable display 9 is executed even during the right generation state, in the right generation state processing, S30 is executed.
Similarly to 0, processing such as confirmation of whether or not the symbol operation switch 38 has been turned on is also executed, and when the symbol operation switch 38 has been turned on, the internal state is updated so as to shift to step S301.

Processing during opening of the special winning opening (step S30)
7): Control for transmitting display control command data for the special winning opening round display to the display control board 800, processing for confirming establishment of the closing condition of the special winning opening, and the like are performed. If the closing condition of the special winning opening is satisfied, the internal state is updated to shift to step S306 if the ending condition of the right generation state is not satisfied. If the right generation state ends during opening of the special winning opening, or if the right generation state ends when the closing condition of the special winning opening is satisfied, the internal state is changed to step S30.
Update to move to 0. In this example, since the display of the determination symbol on the variable display 9 is executed even during the right generation state, the symbol activation switch is also set in the special winning opening opening process as in S300. Processing such as confirmation of whether or not 38 has been turned on is executed.

Rights generation state end processing (step S30)
8): Display for notifying the player that the right generation state has ended is provided. When the display is completed, the internal flags and the like are returned to the initial state, and the internal state is updated so as to shift to step S300.

As described above, when the game ball wins the predetermined passage and the symbol operation switch 38 is turned on, the CPU 3
In step S25 (see FIG. 16) in the symbol process processing, a hit or a miss, a stop symbol, and a variable display pattern are determined, and a display control command according to the determination is transmitted to the display control board 800. This is given to the display control CPU 801. The display control CPU 801 includes:
The display control of the variable display 9 is performed according to the display control command from the main board 310.

Next, the variation of the judgment symbol will be described using a specific example. FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of left and right symbols used in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 21, in this embodiment, each of the symbols displayed as left and right symbols is
The left and right have the same 10 symbols. When the symbol of symbol number 10 is displayed, next, the symbol of symbol number 1 is displayed. And the left and right symbols are, for example, "1", "3", "5",
When stopping at "7" or "9", a high probability state is set. That is, they become probable symbols.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a background symbol displayed on the variable display 9 used in this embodiment. In this example, (A) dojo, (B) flash, (C) aura, and (D) smoke background are used. FIG.
The display shown in (E) shows an example of a demonstration screen displayed during a non-game of the gaming machine or the like.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a character displayed on the variable display 9 used in this embodiment. In this example, (A) character A and (B) character B are used. In this example, when the left symbol is temporarily stopped or stopped, and the right symbol is in a fluctuating operation, the characters A and B are displayed so as to give a big hit notice by a balloon. In this embodiment, there are a plurality of jackpot notices (jackpot notices 1 and 2), and the jackpot notice 1 is used alone. However, the jackpot notice 2 is a predetermined time after the jackpot notice 1 is displayed. Is displayed when elapses.

In this embodiment, two modes are used as the jackpot notice, but more types may be used. Also, in this embodiment, the advance notice is given by the balloon of the character.
Any mode may be used as long as it can be recognized that the player has been notified. For example, the movement of the character different from the normal or the variation of the pattern different from the normal may be used. Further, a notice used in a case where there is a high possibility that a hit occurs in the probability change symbol may be used as the probability change notice. In addition, the notice may be divided into a notice with a high probability of a hit and a notice with a low probability of a hit.

Display Control C on Display Control Board 800
When receiving the display control command from the main board 310, the PU 801 performs control to move and display a predetermined background or character on the screen in each variation pattern. The background and the character are switched at a predetermined timing, and the display control CPU 801 independently controls the background and the character.

Next, from the main board 310 to the display control board 80,
The transmission of the display control command for 0 will be described.
FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing signal lines of a display control command transmitted from the main board 310 to the display control board 800.
As shown in FIG. 24, in this embodiment, a display control command is transmitted from the main board 310 to the display control board 800 through eight signal lines of display control signals D0 to D7. A signal line for a display control INT signal for transmitting a strobe signal is also provided between the main board 310 and the display control board 800.

In this embodiment, the display control command has a 2-byte configuration. As shown in FIG. 25, the first byte indicates MODE (classification of command), and the second byte indicates E (command classification).
XT (command type). The first bit (bit 7) of MODE data is always "1", and the first bit (bit 7) of EXT data is always "0". The command form shown in FIG. 25 is an example, and another command form may be used. In this example, the control command is composed of two control signals. However, the number of control signals constituting the control command may be one, or may be three or more. .

FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing the relationship between an 8-bit control signal constituting a control command for display control board 800 and an INT signal (strobe signal). As shown in FIG. 26, when a predetermined period elapses after the data of MODE or EXT is output to the output port, the CPU 314 outputs the signal IN indicating the data output.
Turn on the T signal. When a predetermined period elapses therefrom, the INT signal is turned off.

Although the display control command has been described here, the control commands sent to the other sub-boards are the same as those shown in FIGS. 24 and 25.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a display control command sent to the display control board 800.
In the example shown in FIG. 27, the command 80XX (H) (X
== 4 bit arbitrary value) is a display control command for designating a variation pattern in the variable display 9 for variably displaying symbols. Note that the display control command for designating the variation pattern also serves as a variation start instruction.

The command 8F00 (H) is a symbol power-on designation command transmitted at power-on. The display control means, upon receiving the design power-on designation command,
The control for performing the initial display is started.

Commands 92XX (H) and 94XX
(H) is a display control command for designating left and right stop symbols of a symbol. The command A0XX (H) is a display control command (confirmation command) for instructing stop of variable display of symbols.

The command BXXX is a display control command sent during the right generation state. Command B8XX
Is displayed on the variable display 9 to display a display related to the right generation state (for example, a display indicating that the right generation state is being performed, a display for notifying the player of various information during the right generation state). , A display control command for specifying display contents during the right generation state. Note that other commands such as the command 80XX and the command 9XXX are also sent out even during the right generation state. The command CXXX is a display control command related to the display state of the variable display 9 irrespective of the change of the symbol and the game in the right generation state.

When the display control means of the display control board 800 receives the above-described display control command from the game control means of the main board 310, it changes the display state of the variable display 9 according to the contents shown in FIG.

FIG. 28 shows a main board 310 for controlling a game.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a lamp control command sent from the controller to a lamp control board 350; The ramp control command also has a 2-byte configuration of MODE and EXT. FIG.
In the example shown in (1), the command 80XX is a lamp control command for specifying a lighting / light-off pattern of a light-emitting body such as a lamp. Upon receiving this lamp control command, the lamp control board 350 extracts and executes a lamp / LED display control pattern corresponding to the specified variation pattern. Although not shown, the command A0XX is a lamp control command for instructing a lamp / LED display control pattern when stopping variable display of symbols. The command B8XX is used to execute lamp / LED display control (for example, control for turning on / off in a predetermined mode during the right generation state) related to the right generation state. This is a lamp control command for instructing an LED display pattern. And the command 9001
(H) is a ramp / L during the customer waiting demonstration
This is a lamp control command for instructing an ED display control pattern.

The commands 8XXX, 9XXX, AX
XX, BXXX, and CXXX are ramp control commands sent from the game control means in accordance with the progress of the game. The command 9101 (H) is a lamp control command transmitted when the gaming state is in the right occurrence state (when the V winning switch 41 is turned on when not in the right occurrence state). The command 9102 (H) is issued when the right generation state ends (specifically, when the starting ball detection switch 19 detects a winning ball a predetermined number of times during the right generation state and the special winning opening is opened a predetermined number of times). When the predetermined number of continuations of the jackpot is exhausted, or when an operation for further generating a right is executed during the right generation state (in this example, when the V winning switch 41 is turned on). This is the ramp control command to be sent. The command BXXX is sent during the right generation state. In addition,
In this embodiment, other commands such as command 8XXX are also sent out even during the right generation state. Upon receiving the above-described lamp control command from the game control unit on the main board 310, the lamp control unit changes the display state of the lamp / LED according to the contents shown in FIG. In addition,
The commands 8XXX, 9XXX, AXXX, BXXX, and CXXX are used in common with the display control command and the sound control command, for example, in a common control state.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of a sound control command sent from the main board 310 for controlling a game to the sound control board 700. MODE command for sound control
And EXT. In the example illustrated in FIG. 29, the command 80XX is a sound control command that specifies a sound output pattern from the speaker 29 or the like. Upon receiving the sound control command, the sound control board 700 extracts and executes a sound output pattern corresponding to the designated variation pattern command. The command BXXX is a sound control command for designating a sound generation pattern to be output during the right generation state. In this example, although not shown, in order to execute audio output control related to the right generation state (for example, control executed in a predetermined mode during the right generation state), an audio output pattern in the right generation state is designated. A sound control command (for example, command B8XX) is used.
In this embodiment, a lamp control command such as the command 80XX is also transmitted even during the right generation state. Other commands are sound control commands that are not related to symbol fluctuation and hitting games. Command 9101
(H) is a sound control command transmitted when the gaming state has changed to the right generation state. Command 9102 (H)
Is a sound control command transmitted when the right generation state ends. When the sound control means of the sound control board 700 receives the above-described sound control command from the game control means of the main board 310, it changes the sound output state according to the contents shown in FIG.

An example of a symbol variation pattern will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a pattern (fluctuation state) constituting each fluctuation pattern. FIG. 31 is a timing chart showing an example of the change of the symbol at the time of the loss. FIGS. 32 and 33 are timing charts showing an example of symbol fluctuations at the time of a hit notice (in the case of a hit and in the case of no hit).

In this embodiment, at the time of detachment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1A, in the “left” symbol display area of the variable display 9, first, the symbol is changed according to the pattern a. The pattern a is a pattern in which the fluctuation speed increases little by little as shown in FIG. After that, the pattern b fluctuates at a constant speed, and the stop symbol 3
After the symbol before the symbol is controlled to be displayed, three symbols are changed according to the pattern c. As shown in FIG. 30, the pattern c is a pattern that is gradually delayed and stops.

In the "right" symbol display area of the variable display 9, symbols are changed according to the pattern "a". Then, after a constant speed fluctuation, the control is performed so that the symbol three symbols before the stop symbol is displayed, and then the pattern c
In accordance with the symbol.

Note that the display control C of the display control board 800
The PU 801 repeatedly fluctuates the left symbol in the forward direction and the reverse direction until the right symbol is determined. That is,
The left symbol is displayed and controlled in a so-called swing fluctuation state. The swing fluctuation means that the symbol is displayed swinging up and down.
The swing fluctuation is performed until the final stop symbol (fixed symbol) is displayed. Then, when a display control command instructing to stop all the symbols is received from the main board 310, the swing variation state of the left symbol is ended, and the left and right symbols are fixed so that the left and right symbols do not move. In this example, the display control CPU 801 sets a value of 9.0 based on, for example, a fluctuation pattern designation # 1 command.
After the symbol fluctuation process is performed for a second, the state is set to the final state. In addition,
The right symbol may also perform a swinging operation after the fluctuation due to the pattern c, and then may be set to the final state. Further, the swing fluctuation may be changed to the left and right instead of the pattern which swings the symbol up and down.

While the symbol is changing, the display control CPU
A display control 801 performs display control so that “Dojo” (see FIG. 22) is displayed as a background, and displays a character A (see FIG. 23) on the screen and moves the character A appropriately. Do. Specifically, the VDP 803 is notified of the background and the character. Then, VDP
Reference numeral 803 creates image data of the designated background. Further, image data of the designated character is created and combined with the background image. Further, the VDP 803 adds
The left and right symbol image data are combined. The VDP 803 also performs display control for moving the character and display control for changing the design. That is, the shape and display position of the character are changed according to a predetermined exercise pattern. Further, the symbol display position is changed according to the fluctuation speed notified from the display control CPU 801.

Note that the display control CPU 801 controls the stop symbols at predetermined timings in the left and right symbol display areas so that the symbol change stops at the designated stop symbol.
The display before the symbol is controlled. Since the left and right stop symbols are notified at the start of the change, and the change pattern at the time of the loss is determined in advance, the CPU 801 for display control is used.
Can recognize the switching timing from the pattern a to the pattern b and the switching timing from the pattern b to the pattern c, and can also determine the symbol three symbols before to be replaced. The determined replacement symbol is VDP8
03, and the VDP 803 displays the notified symbol regardless of the symbol displayed at that time.

FIG. 31B shows an example of a fluctuation pattern at the time of a loss in the probability fluctuation state. In this variation pattern, as shown in the figure, after the left and right symbols fluctuate according to the pattern a, the pattern b, and the pattern c, the left and right symbols stop simultaneously. In this example, the display control CPU 801 performs the symbol variation process for 5.5 seconds in which the variation time is shortened based on, for example, a variation pattern designation # 35 command, and then sets the final state. Also when using this variation pattern, the display control CPU 801 controls the display so that “Dojo” (see FIG. 22) is displayed as the background, and displays the character A (FIG. 23) on the screen.
) Is displayed, and display control is performed so that the character A moves appropriately.

That is, in this embodiment, when the display control CPU 801 receives a display control command (see FIG. 27) for designating a variation pattern from the game control means, ie, the CPU 314 of the main board 310, the display control CPU 801 responds to the content of the designation. The left and right symbols are determined to be variably displayed using the variation patterns shown in FIGS.
It is decided to make the character A appear and to use the "Dojo" background screen.

FIG. 32 shows an example of a variation pattern displayed when, for example, 17.0 seconds is notified as a variation time from the main substrate 310. When notified of the change time, the display control CPU 801 uniquely determines which of the plurality of change patterns to be displayed with the change time is to be used. FIG. 32 illustrates one of the plurality of fluctuation patterns. The CP of the main substrate 310
The U314 may determine the type of the hit notice and send a command indicating a variation pattern corresponding to the determined type of the hit notice.

In the variation pattern shown in FIG. 32, after the left symbol stops, the right symbol of pattern d varies.
Note that the display control CPU 801 swings the left symbol in the stop state of the left symbol during the change of the right symbol. Pattern d is a pattern in which the fluctuation speed gradually decreases and thereafter changes at a constant speed. Then, the right symbol is changed independently (operation in a state where the left symbol is stopped or temporarily stopped), and the right symbol is changed according to the pattern b and the pattern c. When a display control command for instructing stop of all symbols is received from the main board 310, the swinging state of the left symbol is ended, and the left and right symbols are fixed. In this example, the display control CPU 801 performs a symbol variation process for 17.0 seconds based on, for example, a variation pattern designation # 9 command, and then sets the final state.

Further, the display control CPU 801 performs symbol replacement (symbol skip control) before the start of the right symbol independent variation operation so that the symbol is determined by the stop symbol notified from the main board 310. Since the variation pattern is determined in advance, the display control CPU 801 can recognize the switching timing from the pattern d to the pattern b and the switching timing from the pattern b to the pattern c, and the symbol three symbols before to be replaced. Can also be determined. Note that the background and the type of the character do not change during the change of the right symbol.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the display control CPU 801 receives the fluctuation pattern designation # 9 command from the CPU 314 of the main board 310, the display control CPU 801 executes the processing shown in FIG.
It is determined which of the plurality of variation patterns variably displayed for 0 seconds is used to variably display the left and right symbols.

If it is determined to use the fluctuation pattern of FIG. 32, when the left and right symbols stop and the right symbol moves independently, the background screen of the character A and the "Dojo" is continuously used. To decide.

The fluctuation time 17.0 shown in FIG.
Even in the second variation pattern, the display control CPU 801 swings the left symbol up and down until the right symbol is determined.
The symbol replacement control for the right symbol is executed at the timing when the left symbol stops. The display control CPU 801 includes:
Replaced according to the right stop symbol notified from the main board 310 at the start of the change, and the number of symbol changes during the single symbol change period (eg, the pattern d, pattern b, and pattern c change periods in FIG. 32). Determine the design.

Further, if the display control CPU 801 has decided to give a hit notice, the character A displayed at that time during the single symbol change operation of the right symbol.
Is displayed on the variable display 9 in the form of the hit notice 1 or the hit notice 2. Note that the mode of the hit notice 2 is a development of the hit notice 1. When the display control CPU 801 receives the display control command, the display control CPU 801 independently determines whether or not to perform the hit notification and the mode of the notification, but a specific determination method will be described later.

FIG. 33 shows an example of a fluctuation pattern displayed when the main board 31 notifies the fluctuation time of 22.0 seconds (during the reach period). Display control CPU 801
When 22.0 seconds are notified as the fluctuation time, the control unit uniquely determines which of the plurality of fluctuation patterns is to be used. FIG. 33 illustrates one of the plurality of variation patterns.

In the variation pattern shown in FIG. 33, the right symbol of the pattern d is varied after the left symbol stops.
Then, the right symbol independent variation operation is started, and the right symbol is varied according to the pattern b and the pattern f. The pattern f is a high-speed change, and a pause period is set before the start of the change by the pattern f. When a display control command for instructing stop of all symbols is received from the main board 310, the swinging state of the left symbol is ended, and the left and right symbols are fixed. In this example, the display control CPU 801 performs the symbol variation process for 22.0 seconds without reducing the variation time based on the variation pattern designation # 8 command, and then sets the final state.

Further, the display control CPU 801 replaces the symbols before the right symbol independent change operation is started so that the symbols are determined by the stopped symbols notified from the main board 310. In the variation pattern shown in FIG. 33, when the left symbol stops, the display control CPU 801 switches the background image to “flash” (see FIG. 22).

As described above, in this embodiment, when the display control CPU 801 receives the variation pattern designation # 8 command from the CPU 314 of the main board 310, the display control CPU 801 sets the number of times.
It is determined which of the plurality of variation patterns variably displayed for 0 seconds is used to variably display the left and right symbols. Then, when it is determined to use the variation pattern of FIG. 33, when the left and right symbols stop and the right symbol is changed independently, the background screen is determined to be switched to “flash”.

Even in the variation pattern of the variation time of 22.0 seconds shown in FIG. 33, the display control CPU 801 swings the left symbol up and down until the right symbol is determined. Also,
The symbol skip control of the right symbol is executed at the timing when the left symbol stops.

Further, when the display control CPU 801 determines to perform the hit notice, the character being displayed at that time is changed to the hit notice 1 or the hit notice 2 during the independent movement of the right symbol. The VDP 803 is controlled so as to be displayed on the variable display 9 in the manner described above.

Next, processing related to command transmission will be described. When a control command is to be output from the game control means to each electric component control board (sub-board), a command transmission table is set in this example. FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of the command transmission table. One command transmission table is composed of three bytes, and INT data is set in the first byte. In the command data 1 of the second byte, MODE data of the first byte of the control command is set. Then, in the command data 2 of the third byte, EXT data of the second byte of the control command is set.

Although the EXT data itself may be set in the command data 2 area, the command data 2
May be set to data (buffer designation data) for designating an address of a table in which EXT data is stored. In this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5 (A), bit 7 of command data 2
If the (work area reference bit) is 0, it indicates that the EXT data itself is set in the command data 2. Such EXT data is data in which bit 7 is 0. In addition, as shown in FIG.
If the work area reference bit is 1, the other 7 bits (FIG. 35 (B) assumes that 18 types of buffers are respectively specified, so bits 4 to 0 are used, and bits 6 and 0 are used. Bit 5 is unused) indicates that it is an offset for specifying the address of the table in which the EXT data is stored (compensation area for specifying the data storage location). In addition,
The 18 types of buffers include, for example, a symbol variation pattern buffer, a symbol left symbol buffer, a symbol right symbol buffer, and the like.

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the INT data. Bit 0 in the INT data indicates whether or not a payout control command should be sent to the payout control board 370. If bit 0 is "1", it indicates that a payout control command should be sent. Therefore, the CPU 314
For example, in the award ball processing (step S31 of the main processing), “01 (H)” is set in the INT data. Also,
Bit 1 in the INT data corresponds to display control board 800
Indicates whether the display control command should be sent. If bit 1 is "1", it indicates that a display control command should be sent. Therefore, the CPU 314 sets “02 (H)” in the INT data in, for example, the display control command control process (step S27 of the main process). I
Bits 2 and 3 of the NT data are bits indicating whether to transmit a lamp control command and a sound control command, respectively. When it is time to transmit those commands, the CPU 314 sets a pointer (eg, The INT data, command data 1 and command data 2 are set in the command transmission table pointed to by the symbol command transmission pointer). Then, when transmitting the command set in the command transmission table, the corresponding bit of the INT data is set to “1”, and MODE data and EXT data are set in the command data 1 and the command data 2.

In this embodiment, a plurality of command transmission tables are prepared for each control command, and the command transmission table to be used is set before the command transmission. Also, a plurality of command transmission tables are stored in one
May be set in one table. For example, as shown in FIG. 37, one table including a plurality of command transmission tables capable of storing a plurality of display control commands is prepared. Therefore, for example, in the display control command control process, the CPU 314 sets the INT data, the command data 1 and the command data 2 from the command transmission table pointed by the pointer, and transmits the display control command. Then, the pointer is updated. Thereafter, the display control command transmission process is repeated until the command transmission table designated by the pointer indicates the end code. A part of a table prepared for each control command (for example, a table in which a payout number designation command is set) may be configured in a ring buffer format.

FIG. 38 shows a display control command control process (step S27) in the game control process shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing of FIG. The display control command control process is a process including a command output process and an INT signal output process. In the display control command control process, the CPU 314 first saves the address of the command transmission table (contents of the read pointer) in a stack or the like (step S331). Then, the INT data of the command transmission table pointed to by the read pointer is loaded into the argument 1 (step S332). Argument 1 is input information for a command transmission process described later. Further, the address indicating the command transmission table is incremented by 1 (step S).
333). Therefore, the address indicating the command transmission table matches the address of the command data 1.

Therefore, the CPU 314 reads out the command data 1 and sets it as the argument 2 (step S33).
4). The argument 2 also becomes input information for a command transmission process described later. Then, a command transmission processing routine is called (step S335).

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a command transmission routine. In the command transmission routine,
First, the CPU 314 sets the data set in the argument 1, that is, the INT data, in the work area determined as the comparison value (step S351). Next, the number of transmissions = 4 is set in the work area determined as the number of processes (step S352). Then, the address of port 1 for outputting the payout control signal is set to IO.
The address is set (step S353). In this embodiment, the address of port 1 is the address of an output port for outputting a payout control signal. The addresses of ports 2 to 4 are the addresses of output ports for outputting display control signals, lamp control signals, and sound control signals.

Next, the CPU 314 shifts the comparison value right by one bit (step S354). It is determined whether or not the carry bit has become 1 as a result of the shift processing (step S355). The fact that the carry bit has become 1 means that the rightmost bit in the INT data is “1”.
It means that it was. In this embodiment, four shift processes are performed. For example, when it is specified that a payout control command should be sent, the carry bit becomes 1 in the first shift process.

When the carry bit becomes 1, the data set in the argument 2, in this case, the command data 1 (ie, MODE data) is output to the address set as the IO address (step S3
56). When the first shift process is performed, the port 1 address is set in the IO address. At this time, the MODE data of the payout control command is
Is output to

Next, the CPU 314 adds 1 to the IO address (step S357), and decreases the number of processes by one.
Subtraction is performed (step S358). If the port 1 is indicated before the addition, the IO address is set to the address of the port 2 by the addition processing for the IO address. Port 2 is a port for outputting a display control command. Then, the CPU 314 checks the value of the number of processes (step S359). If the value is not 0, the process returns to step S354. The shift process is performed again in step S354.

In the second shift processing, the value of bit 1 in the INT data is pushed out, and the carry flag becomes "1" or "0" according to the value of bit 1. Therefore,
A check is made as to whether it is specified that a display control command should be sent. Similarly, by the third and fourth shift processes, it is checked whether or not it is specified that the lamp control command and the sound control command should be transmitted. As described above, when each shift process is performed, a command (payout control command, payout control command,
IO addresses corresponding to display control commands, lamp control commands, and sound control commands are set.

Therefore, when the carry flag becomes "1", the corresponding output port (port 1 to port 4)
Is sent to the control command. That is, a single common module can perform a process of transmitting a control command to each electric component control unit.

As described above, since it is determined which electric component control means should output the control command only by the shift processing, it is determined which electric component control means should output the control command. Processing has been simplified.

Next, the CPU 314 reads the contents of the argument 1 storing the INT data before the start of the shift processing (step S360), and transfers the read data to the port 0.
(Step S361). In this embodiment, the address of port 0 is set to the IN for each control signal.
It is a port for outputting a T signal, and bits 0 to 4 of port 0 are ports for outputting a payout control INT signal, a display control INT signal, a lamp control INT signal, and a sound control INT signal, respectively. In the INT data, the bit corresponding to the output bit of the INT signal corresponding to the control command (payout control command, display control command, lamp control command, sound control command) output in the processing of steps S351 to S359 becomes “1”. Has become. Therefore, the INT signal corresponding to the control command (dispensing control command, display control command, lamp control command, sound control command) output to any of the ports 1 to 4 is turned on.

Next, CPU 314 sets a predetermined value to the weight counter (step S362), and the value is set to 0.
(Steps S363 and S36)
4). This processing is performed according to the I shown in the timing diagram of FIG.
This is a process for setting the ON period of the NT signal (control signal INT). When the value of the wait counter becomes 0, clear data (00) is set (step S365),
The data is output to port 0 (step S36)
6). Therefore, the INT signal is turned off. And
A predetermined value is set in the weight counter (step S36)
2) Subtract 1 by 1 until the value becomes 0 (steps S368 and S369). This process is a process for setting a period from the fall of the first INT signal to the start of EXT data output.

Therefore, the value set in the wait counter in step S367 is such that the period from the fall of the first INT signal to the start of the EXT data output is controlled by all of the electric component control means (sub This is a value sufficient to ensure that the CPU mounted on the board performs a command receiving process. Further, the value set in the weight counter is a value such that the period is longer than the time required for the processing of steps S351 to S359.

As described above, the MODE data of the first byte of the control command is transmitted. Therefore, CPU3
In step S336 shown in FIG. 38, 1 is added to the value indicating the command transmission table. Therefore, the area of the command data 2 in the third byte is specified. CPU 314
Loads the contents of the indicated command data 2 into the argument 2 (step S337). The value of bit 7 (work area reference bit) of command data 2 is “0”
Is determined (step S339). If it is not 0, the start address of the command extension data address table is set in the pointer (step S339), and the address is calculated by adding the value of bit 6 to bit 0 of the command data 2 to the pointer (step S340).
Then, the data of the area indicated by the address is loaded into the argument 2 (step S341).

In the command extension data address table, EXT data that can be transmitted to the electric component control means is sequentially set. Therefore, if the value of the work area reference bit is “1” by the above processing, the EXT data in the command extension data address table corresponding to the content of the command data 2 is loaded into the argument 2 and the work area reference bit is set. If the value is “0”, the content of the command data 2 is loaded as it is into the argument 2. Even when EXT data is read from the command extension data address table, bit 7 of that data is “0”.

Next, the CPU 314 calls a command transmission routine (step S342). Therefore, MO
The EXT data is transmitted at the same timing as the transmission of the DE data. Thereafter, the CPU 314 returns the address of the command transmission table (step S34).
3) Update the value of the read pointer pointing to the command transmission table (step S344). When the value of the read pointer exceeds the position of the command transmission table 12 shown in FIG. 37, the value of the read pointer is returned to 0.

Further, if a control command that has not yet been transmitted is set in the command transmission table, the flow returns to step S331. When returning to step S331, control commands are continuously transmitted, so that a delay time is set to allow an interval between control commands. Whether or not an untransmitted control command has been set is determined, for example, by comparing the value of the command transmission counter with the value of the read pointer.

As described above, the command control processing module, which is one control signal output module,
Each 2-byte control command (dispensing control command, display control command, lamp control command, sound control command) is transmitted to the corresponding electric component control means. In the electric component control means, when detecting the falling of the INT signal as the fetch signal, the control command fetch process is started. Is not output to the signal line. That is,
In each electric component control means, a reliable command receiving process is performed. Note that each electric component control unit may start the process of capturing a control command at the rising edge of the INT signal. Further, the polarity of the INT signal may be reversed from that shown in FIG.

Further, in this embodiment, when a plurality of control commands are set in the command transmission table, all the control commands are transmitted in one command control process. Since the command control process (for example, the display control command control process) is started once every 2 ms,
All control commands are transmitted in the ms main processing activation cycle. Further, in this embodiment, a plurality of command transmission tables are prepared for each control command (display control command, lamp control command, sound control command, payout control command) to each control means. When a control command is set in the command transmission table of the display control command, the lamp control command, and the sound control command, all display control commands, lamp control commands, and sound control commands are transmitted in one command control process. It is also possible. That is, at the same time (meaning in one main processing start cycle), those control commands can be transmitted. Since such control commands are transmitted at the same time during the progress of the game effect, it is convenient to have such a configuration. However, since the payout control command is generated independently of the progress of the game effect, the display control command,
It is not sent simultaneously with the lamp control command and the sound control command.

Here, an example of the transmission timing of the display control command from the main board 310 will be described. In the above-described all-symbol variation start process (step S303) in the symbol process process, in this embodiment, a command transmission completion waiting process is also performed. When the variation time and the stop symbol are determined in the stop symbol setting process of step S302, the transmission control of the display control command for instructing them is performed in the all symbol variation start process.
In step S303, processing for waiting for completion of command transmission is also executed. In the command transmission completion waiting process, the CPU 314 performs a game control process (see FIG. 16).
Based on the notification from the display control command control process (step S27), it is confirmed whether or not the transmission of the command has been completed.

In this embodiment, the CPU 314 starts the display control command (variation pattern designation command (80XX (H)) capable of specifying the variation period shown in FIG. 27 when the symbol variation is started. ) Is sent to the display control board 800. Subsequently, a display control command (left and right symbol designating command) indicating the left and right stop symbols that have been determined is transmitted to the display control board 800. Therefore,
In the command transmission completion waiting process, it is confirmed whether or not transmission of all the commands has been completed. In addition, CPU
314 may transmit a display control command indicating a left and right stop symbol, and then transmit a display control command capable of specifying a fluctuation time.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 27, in this example, the CPU 314 controls the display control command (variation pattern) including information for specifying the variation time and information indicating whether or not to perform the hit notice. Command) to the display control board 800. In other words, each command capable of specifying the fluctuating time without notice and each command capable of specifying the fluctuating time without notice are defined. It should be noted that a display control command capable of specifying the fluctuation time and a display control command indicating whether or not to perform the hit notice may be separately defined.

In the command transmission completion wait processing, C
When the transmission of the display control command is completed, the PU 314
The variable time timer for measuring the variable time notified to the display control board 800 is started, and the symbol process flag is updated so as to proceed to step S304. Then, in the all symbol stop waiting process (step S304), when the CPU 314 confirms that the variable time timer has expired, the CPU 314 sets a display control command for instructing all symbols to stop in the command transmission table, and proceeds to step S304.
The symbol process flag is updated to shift to 305.

As described above, in the symbol process processing, the CPU 314 displays the information for specifying the change time at the start of the change and the information for designating the stop symbol on the display control board 8.
00 and when the variable time timer expires,
That is, when the instructed fluctuation time ends, information instructing to stop all symbols is sent to the display control board 800. During that time, the CPU 314 does not send a display control command to the display control board 800. Therefore, the CPU 3 of the main board 310
The load required for the display control of No. 14 is greatly reduced.

FIGS. 40 to 42 are flowcharts showing an example of a non-maskable interrupt process (power supply stop process) executed in response to a power-off signal from the power supply board 920.

In the power supply stop processing, the CPU 31
No. 4 saves the AF register (accumulator and flag register) in a predetermined backup RAM area (step S751). Further, the interrupt flag is copied to the parity flag (step S752). The parity flag is formed in the backup RAM area. Also, BC
The register, the DE register, the HL register, the IX register, and the stack pointer are saved in the backup RAM area (Steps S754 to S758). When the power is restored, the register contents are restored based on the saved contents, and an internal setting of an interrupt permission state / inhibition state is made according to the contents of the parity flag.

Next, in this embodiment, the shielding member 3
After the switch 7 is in the shielded state (step S759), the detection signal of the symbol operation switch 38 is checked for a predetermined period.
Then, when a predetermined period has elapsed, a backup process of the gaming state is executed. In this example, the symbol operation switch 3
Since the symbol 8 does not turn on continuously, the game state backup process may be executed when the symbol operation switch 38 is turned on. Further, when the power-off is detected during the operation of the guide member 39, a backup process of the gaming state may be executed after the operation of the guide member 39 is completed. In this case, a backup power supply for maintaining the drive of the motor 63 until the operation of the guide member 39 is completed may be provided.

In this embodiment, a counter for measuring a predetermined period is used to measure a predetermined period.
The value of the counter for measurement for a predetermined period is decremented from the initial value m by one every time a switch detection processing loop (a loop starting from S761 and returning to S761) is executed once.
When the value becomes 0, it is assumed that the predetermined period has ended. In the detection processing loop, although there is an exception, almost constant processing is performed. Therefore, a time that is m times the time required for one round of the loop substantially corresponds to a predetermined period.

In order to measure a predetermined period, the CPU 314
May be used. That is, a predetermined value (corresponding to a predetermined period) is stored in a built-in timer at the start of the switch detection process.
Is set. Then, every time the loop of the switch detection process is executed once, the count value of the built-in timer is checked. Then, when the count value becomes 0, it is assumed that the predetermined period has ended. Although an interrupt by the built-in timer can be used to detect that the value of the built-in timer has become 0, at this stage, the control is performed so as not to change the control contents (each value stored in the RAM). It is preferable to use a program configuration in which the count value of the built-in timer is read out and checked without using the program.

Also, for a predetermined period, the game balls are
The time is set to be equal to or longer than the time from when the vehicle has passed the position provided with the symbol 7 until the symbol operation switch 38 is reached.
Specifically, the distance L from the position where the shielding member 37 is provided to the symbol operation switch 38, the passing speed V0 (for example, experimentally obtained) at the position where the shielding member 37 is provided, and the gravitational acceleration g are calculated. The fall time t during that time is represented. Therefore, the predetermined period is set longer.

At least during a predetermined period during which the switch detection process is executed, the symbol operation switch 38 must be in a state capable of detecting a game ball. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a capacitor 933 as a relatively large-capacity auxiliary driving power supply is connected to the input side of the converter IC 932 in the power supply board 920. Therefore, even when the power supply to the gaming machine is stopped, the +12 V power supply voltage is maintained in a switchable range for a certain period of time, and the symbol operation switch 38 becomes operable. The capacity of the capacitor is determined so that the period is equal to or longer than the predetermined period.

Note that the input port and the CPU 314 are also
Since it is driven by the + 5V power supply created by the converter IC 932, it can operate for a relatively long period even when the power supply is stopped.

In step S761, an initial value n corresponding to a time of 2 ms is set in the 2 ms measurement counter. Until the value of the counter for 2 ms measurement becomes 0 (step S762), the value of the counter for 2 ms measurement becomes-
1 (step S763).

When the value of the 2 ms measurement counter becomes 0,
An input check of the detection signal of the symbol operation switch 38 is performed. Specifically, data input to a predetermined input port is input (step S764). Next, clear data (00) is set (step S765).
Also, the port input data, in this case, the input data from a predetermined input port is set as a “comparison value” (step S766). Further, the address of the switch timer for the symbol operation switch 38 is set in the pointer (step S767).

Then, the switch timer indicated by the pointer (the address of the switch timer is set) is loaded (step S768), and the comparison value is shifted to the right (from the upper bit to the lower bit) (step S769). ). The data of the input port 1 is set as the comparison value. And in this case, the symbol operation switch 3
The detection signal of No. 8 is pushed out by the carry flag.

If the value of the carry flag is "1" (step S770), that is, if the detection signal of the symbol operation switch 38 is on, the value of the switch timer is incremented by 1 (step S771). If the value of the carry flag is "0", that is, if the detection signal of the symbol operation switch 38 is in the OFF state, clear data is set in the switch timer (step S772). That is, if the switch is off, the value of the switch timer returns to zero.

In this example, if the value of the switch timer is not 2 (step S773), the value of the counter for measuring a predetermined period is decremented by 1 (step S475), and if the value is not 0, It returns to step S461.
On the other hand, if the value of the switch timer is 2 (step S773), the symbol operation flag is set (step S774).

With the above processing, when the symbol operation switch 38 is turned on within a predetermined period, the symbol operation flag is set. Since the process for storing the contents of the backup RAM is performed after such a switch detection process, the symbol operation flag is always set for the game ball that has passed through the passage provided with the symbol operation switch 38. You. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a game ball not detected by the symbol operation switch 38 from being received by the ball receiving recess 39a of the guide member 39, and a contradiction occurs in the saved control state. Is prevented.

In the above switch detection processing, a timer processing using a detection period counter is performed. That is, the detection output of the symbol operation switch 38 is checked every 2 ms, and when the ON is detected twice consecutively,
It is considered that the symbol operation switch 38 has been reliably turned on.
That is, two consecutive ONs are detected before and after a predetermined game medium detection determination period (a period for determining the presence / absence of detection of a game medium in the power supply stop processing. In this example, a period of 2 ms or more). In this case, it is considered that one game ball has passed. As described above, when the on state is detected twice in succession, the symbol operation switch 38 is assumed to be reliably turned on, so that the switch-on state is prevented from being erroneously detected and passed. Gaming balls can be reliably detected.

In this embodiment, the switch detection processing of only the symbol operation switch 38 is performed. However, the same switch detection is performed for the winning opening switch, the V winning switch 41 related to the large winning opening, and the count switch. Processing may be performed. The same switch detection processing may be performed for other winnings. When such an on-check is also performed, even if a power failure occurs immediately after a game ball has won the winning opening, the winning is reliably detected,
This is reflected in the saved game state.

When a predetermined period has elapsed (step S77)
6) That is, when the value of the counter for measurement for a predetermined period becomes 0, the designated value with backup (“55” in this example)
H ”) is stored in the backup flag (step S).
781). The backup flag is formed in the backup RAM area. Next, parity data is created (steps S782 to S791). That is, first,
The clear data (00) is set in the checksum data area (step S782), and the checksum calculation start address is set in the pointer (step S783).
Also, the number of checksum calculations is set (step S
784).

The exclusive OR of the contents of the checksum data area and the contents of the RAM area pointed by the pointer is calculated (step S785). The calculation result is stored in the checksum data area (step S78).
6) Increase the value of the pointer by 1 (step S787),
The value of the number of checksum calculations is subtracted by 1 (step S7)
88). The processing of steps S785 to S788 is repeated until the value of the number of checksum calculations becomes 0 (step S789).

When the value of the number of checksum calculations becomes 0, the CPU 314 inverts the value of each bit of the contents of the checksum data area (step S790). Then, the inverted data is stored in the checksum data area (step S791). This data is the parity data that is checked when the power is turned on. Then, R
An access prohibition value is set in the AM access register (step S792). Thereafter, the internal RAM 55 cannot be accessed.

In this embodiment, the RAM area in which data used in the game control processing is stored is all backed up by a power supply. Therefore, a process of generating a checksum indicating whether or not the content is correctly stored, and an R for preventing the content from being rewritten.
The AM access prevention process corresponds to a process for saving a gaming state.

When an access prohibition value is set in the RAM access register, the CPU 314 enters a standby state (loop state). Therefore, nothing is done until the system is reset.

In this embodiment, the power supply stop processing is executed in response to the NMI.
The power supply stop process may be executed by connecting to the maskable terminal of the PU 314 and performing the maskable interrupt process. Alternatively, the power-off signal may be input to the input port, and the power supply stop processing may be executed according to the check result of the input port.

In this embodiment, the register saving processing is performed at the beginning of the processing started in response to the power-off signal. However, when the register is not used in the switch detection processing, the switch detection processing is performed. After execution, that is, before register backup processing and checksum calculation processing, register storage processing can be performed. In this case, the register saving processing, the backup flag setting processing, and the checksum calculation processing can be regarded as the power supply stop processing. Furthermore, even when some registers are used in the switch detection processing, register saving processing can be performed on unused registers before setting the backup flag and calculating the checksum.

The following describes the game state restoring process. FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing an example of the gaming state restoring process shown in step S9 of FIG. In this example, the CPU 314 returns the value stored in the backup RAM to each register (Step S91).
Then, based on the data stored in the backup RAM, the game state at the time of the power failure is confirmed and restored (step S92). In addition, according to the value of the symbol process flag stored even when the power is turned off, a control command corresponding to the progress of the symbol process processing when the power is turned off is transmitted to the display control board 800, the lamp control board 350, and the sound control board 7.
00 (step S93).

As described above, in the game state restoring process, the state of various electric components is restored in accordance with the restored internal state, and the display control board 800, the lamp control board 350, and the sound control board 700 are restored. Then, a control command for returning the control state to the power-off state (a control command for generating the control state at the time of power-off) is transmitted. Such a control command is, for example, a restoration command indicating that the power supply has been restored (the game state is backed up on the sub-board side, even if the control command is one or a plurality of control commands transmitted last before the power supply is cut off). Case). In this case, for example, at the time of restoration after the power is turned off while displaying the fluctuation symbol, when a restoration command is received,
What is necessary is just to make the display control board 800 blink the stop symbol of the symbol which was variably displayed when the power was turned off.

When the gaming state is returned to the state at the time of power-off, in this embodiment, the CPU 314 restores the interrupt permission / prohibition state at the time of the previous power-off to save the parity stored in the backup RAM. The value of the flag is confirmed (step S95). If the parity flag is off, interrupt permission setting is performed (step S96). However, if the parity flag is in the on state, the game state restoring process is terminated as it is (with the interrupt prohibition state set in step S1). The fact that the parity flag is in the on state means that the interrupt was prohibited at the time of the previous power-off, as shown in step S752 in FIG. Therefore, when the parity flag is in the ON state, the interruption is not permitted.

The game state is restored to the state before the last power supply stop by the game state restoration process. In this example,
Since the starting ball detection switch 19 is not effective until the switch processing (step S21) is started, the motor 62
Is started for a predetermined period of time, and control is performed so that the rotating operation of the rotating body 16 is restarted after the starting ball detection switch 19 becomes effective. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a game ball from passing through the starting ball detection switch 19 when the starting ball detection switch 19 immediately after recovery is still invalid.

The game state before the power supply is stopped is displayed on the variable display 9 and a symbol is displayed, and the V winning switch 41 after the opening operation of the game ball by the guide member 39 is completed.
Is in the standby state, the V winning switch 41
If the game state is invalid, the game ball may be won. Therefore, even if the game state is restored to the game state before the last power supply stop by the game state restoration process, the V winning switch 41 is detected. It is conceivable that the player is not disadvantaged and the player is disadvantaged without being in the state of right generation. Therefore, in this example, if the V winning switch 41 is not detected despite the recovery to the state of waiting for the detection of the V winning switch 41, the main board 310 is controlled by, for example, a lamp control command or sound control indicating an abnormality. A command is transmitted to perform control so that an abnormality is notified by a lamp or sound. This abnormality notification is continuously performed, for example, until the next stop symbol becomes a hit symbol, or until the discharge switch 44 detects a game ball. With this configuration, it is possible to inform a game store clerk that the V winning switch 41 is not detected and the right is not generated even though the symbol is certainly displayed on the variable display 9. Can be. Therefore, it is possible to request the game arcade to take measures for shifting to the right generation state, so that disadvantages of the player can be avoided.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing the main processing executed by the display control CPU 801. In the main process, first, an initialization process for clearing the RAM area, setting various initial values, and initializing a 2 ms timer for determining a display control activation interval is performed (step S701). After that, in this embodiment, the display control CPU 801 shifts to a loop process for checking the monitoring of the timer interrupt flag (step S703). In the loop, a display random number update process (update process of a counter for generating a display random number) is executed (step S70).
2). Then, as shown in FIG. 45, when a timer interrupt occurs, the display control CPU 801 sets a timer interrupt flag (step S711). If the timer interrupt flag is set in the main processing, the display control CPU 801 clears the flag (step S
704), the following variable display control processing is executed.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the timer interruption is performed every 2 ms. That is, the variable display control process is activated every 2 ms. Further, in this embodiment, only the flag is set in the timer interruption processing, and the specific variable display control processing is executed in the main processing. However, the variable display control processing may be executed in the timer interruption processing. .

In the variable display control process, the display control C
The PU 801 first analyzes the received display control command (command analysis execution processing: step S705). Next, the display control CPU 801 performs a display control process (step S708). In the display control process, a process corresponding to the current control state is selected and executed from among the processes corresponding to the control state. Thereafter, the process returns to step S702.

Next, a process of receiving a display control command from the main board 310 will be described. FIG. 46 shows the main substrate 310.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a configuration of a command receiving buffer for storing a display control command received from the server. In this example, a ring buffer type command reception buffer capable of storing six display control commands having a 2-byte configuration is used. Therefore, the command receiving buffer is configured by a 12-byte area of the receiving command buffers 1 to 12. Then, a command reception number counter indicating in which area the received command is stored is used. The command reception number counter takes a value from 0 to 11. It is not always necessary to use the ring buffer format. For example, two symbol design command storage areas (a command receiving buffer of 2 × 2 = 4 bytes) and another command storage area for designating a variation pattern (eg, one pattern storage area). A buffer configuration such as (2 × 1 = 2 byte command reception buffer) may be used. Similarly, the sound control means and the lamp control means may have a buffer format other than the ring buffer format. In this case, the display control unit, the sound control unit, and the lamp control unit are controlled based on the latest command stored in a storage area such as a fluctuation pattern. Thus, it is possible to quickly respond to an instruction from the main board 310.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing the display control command receiving process by the interrupt process. Main board 310
Display control INT signal from the CPU 80 for display control.
1 is input to the interrupt terminal. For example, the main substrate 310
When the INT signal is turned on, the display control CP
An interrupt occurs in U801. Then, the reception processing of the display control command shown in FIG. 47 is started.

In the display control command receiving process, the display control CPU 801 first saves each register in the stack (step S670). Note that, when an interrupt occurs, the display control CPU 801 automatically sets the interrupt prohibition state. However, when a CPU that does not automatically enter the interrupt prohibition state is used, the display control CPU 801 performs processing before executing the processing of step S670. It is preferable to issue an interrupt prohibition command (DI command). Next, data is read from the input port assigned to the input of the display control command data (step S671). Then, it is confirmed whether or not this is the first byte of the display control command having the 2-byte configuration (step S).
672).

Whether it is the first byte or not is confirmed by whether or not the first bit of the received command is “1”. The first bit is "1", which should be MODE data (first byte) in the display control command having a 2-byte configuration (see FIG. 25). Therefore, if the first bit is “1”, the display control CPU 801 determines that a valid first byte has been received and stores the received command in the reception command buffer indicated by the command reception number counter in the reception buffer area (step S67
3).

If it is not the first byte of the display control command, it is confirmed whether or not the first byte has already been received (step S674). Whether or not the data has already been received is confirmed based on whether or not valid data is set in the reception buffer (reception command buffer).

If the first byte has already been received,
It is checked whether the first bit of the received 1 byte is “0”. And if the first bit is “0”,
Assuming that the valid second byte has been received, the received command is stored in the reception command buffer indicated by the command reception number counter +1 in the reception buffer area (step S675). The first bit should be "0", which should be the EXT data (second byte) of the display control command having a 2-byte configuration (see FIG. 25). If the confirmation result in step S674 indicates that the first byte has already been received, the process ends if the first bit of the data received as the second byte is not “0”.

When the second byte of command data is stored in step S675, 2 is added to the command reception number counter (step S676). Then, it is checked whether or not the command reception counter is 12 or more (step S677), and if it is 12, the command reception number counter is cleared (step S678). Thereafter, the saved register is restored (step S679),
Interrupt permission is set (step S680).

The display control command has a 2-byte structure, and the first byte (MODE) and the second byte (EXT) can be immediately distinguished on the receiving side. In other words, the receiving side can immediately detect whether the data as MODE or the data as EXT has been received by the first bit. Therefore, as described above, it can be easily determined whether or not appropriate data has been received. This means that the payout control command,
The same applies to the lamp control command and the sound control command.

FIG. 48 shows a command analysis process (step S
705) is a flowchart illustrating a specific example. The display control command received from the main board 310 is stored in the received command buffer. In the command analysis processing, the contents of the command stored in the received command buffer are confirmed. Note that the same processing is executed on the payout control board 370, the lamp control board 350, and the sound control board 700.

In the command analysis processing, the display control C
First, the PU 801 checks whether or not the display control command from the main board 310 stored in the reception command buffer is stored (Step S681). Whether it is stored or not is determined by comparing the value of the command reception counter with the read pointer. The case where both match is the case where the received command is not stored. If the received command is stored in the command receiving buffer, the display control CPU 801 reads the received command from the command receiving buffer (step S8).
62). After reading, the value of the read pointer is incremented by one.

If the read received command is a right generation state start command (see FIG. 27) (step S68)
3) The display control CPU 801 sets a right generation status flag (step S684). If the read received command is the right generation state end command (see FIG. 27) (step S685), the display control CPU 801 is executed.
Resets the right generation status flag (step S6)
86). Note that the right generation state flag is set when the right generation state is set, and is reset when the right generation state ends. For example, the display control board 800
Is stored in, for example, a RAM included in the program.

If the read received command is the left symbol designating command (step S687), the E of the command is read.
The XT data is stored in the left stop symbol storage area (step S688), and the corresponding valid flag is set (step S689). Whether or not the command is the left symbol designating command can be immediately recognized by the first byte (MODE data) of the 2-byte display control command. Similarly, if the read command read is the right symbol designating command (step S687), the EXT data of the command is stored in the right stop symbol storage area (step S68).
8) Set the corresponding valid flag (step S6)
89). The left and right stop symbol storage area is provided in, for example, a RAM included in the display control board 800.

If the read received command is a fluctuation pattern command (step S690), the display control CP
U801 stores the EXT data of the command in the variation pattern storage area (step S691) and sets the variation pattern reception flag (step S692). The change pattern storage area is provided in, for example, a RAM included in the display control board 800. If the received command read in step S682 is another display control command, a flag corresponding to the received command is set (step S693).

FIG. 49 is an explanatory diagram showing display random numbers handled by the display control CPU 801. As shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the random number for display is a random number for hitting notice. The hit announcement random number is for determining whether or not to give a hit announcement.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing the display control process (step S708) in the main process shown in FIG. In the display control process,
Step S801 according to the value of the display control process flag
To S805. In each process, the following processes are performed.

Display control command reception waiting processing (step S801): It is confirmed whether or not a display control command (variation pattern command) capable of specifying the fluctuation time has been received by the command reception interrupt processing. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a flag indicating that the variation pattern command has been received has been set. Such a flag is set when the received command stored in the received command buffer is a variable pattern command.

All symbols change start processing (step S80)
2): It is determined whether or not to perform the hit notice, and the control content when the notice is to be made is determined. Also, control is performed so that the change of the left and right symbols is started.

Symbol change processing (step S803): The switching timing of each change state (change speed, background, character) constituting the change pattern is controlled, and the end of the change time is monitored. Also, stop control of the left and right symbols is performed.

All symbol stop wait setting processing (step S80)
4): At the end of the fluctuation time, if a display control command (confirmation command) for instructing to stop all the symbols has been received, the control for stopping the fluctuation of the symbols and displaying the stopped symbol (confirmed symbol) is performed.

Display processing during right generation state (step S80)
5): Indication in the state of right generation (including indication of big hit)
Control.

FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing the display control command reception waiting process (step S801). In the display control command reception waiting process, the display control CP
The U 801 first checks whether a display control command capable of specifying the fluctuation time has been received (step S811).
In this embodiment, the display control commands that can specify the variation time are the variation pattern designation commands (variation pattern designation # 1 to variation pattern designation XX-1) shown in FIG.
Is one of When a display control command capable of specifying the variation time is received, the value of the display control process flag is changed to a value corresponding to the all symbol variation start processing (step S802) (step S812).

When the symbol is changed, the display control command first transmitted from the main board 310 to the display control board 800 is a command indicating a change time and a command for designating a stop symbol of the left and right symbols. They are stored in the confirmation command buffer.

Here, the transmission form of the fluctuation pattern command indicating the fluctuation time and the command designating the stop symbol of the left and right symbols will be described. The fluctuation pattern command indicating the fluctuation time and the command for designating the stop symbol of the left and right symbols are transmitted in the above-described display control command control processing. When these commands are sent, for example, as shown in FIG. 52, the CPU 314 stores the command in the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter.
INT data, command data 1 and command data 2 are set. First, first command data (command data for designating a variation pattern set in the command transmission table + 0) constituted by the above three data is transmitted. Next, in the display control command control process executed during the next 2 ms (in this embodiment, the repetition cycle at which the built-in CTC of the CPU 314 repeatedly generates a timer interrupt is set to 2 ms), the next command is executed. Data (command data for designating the special symbol left stop symbol set in the command transmission table +1) is transmitted. When such a process is repeated and the symbol command transmission pointer indicates the end code, the command data is not transmitted until the command transmission table is effectively specified by the symbol command transmission pointer. The command data transmitted in this manner is received by the above-described command reception processing, and is stored in the reception command buffer. Each value indicating the command shown in FIG. 52 is an example, and 81 (H) and 83 (H) indicating the left and right symbols are for displaying “1” and “3” on the variable display 9 respectively. Command.

If the display control command capable of specifying the fluctuation time has not been received, the display control CPU 801
It is confirmed whether or not the control state is the right generation state (step S813). This confirmation is performed by confirming whether or not the right generation state flag is set. If the control state is the right generation state, the value of the display control process flag is displayed during the right generation state (step S80).
The value is changed to a value corresponding to 5) (step S814).

FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing the whole symbol change start process (step S802) in the display control process process. In the all symbol change start process, the display control CPU 801 first sets a value obtained by adding a predetermined time (for example, 0.1 second) to the change time according to the display control command in the monitoring timer (step S840). If a command designating all symbols to be stopped cannot be received before the monitoring timer times out, a predetermined process is performed. Next, the display control CPU 801 sets the main board 31
It is confirmed whether or not the notice of the advance notice is sent from the CPU 314 of 0 (step S841). In the case of giving a notice, if the value of the random number for the hit notice is 0, the big hit notice 1
(See FIG. 23), and if the value of the random number for the hit notice is 1, the mode of the hit notice 2 (see FIG. 23).
To give a notice (step S842).

As described above, the game control means determines whether or not to make a hit notice, and the display control CPU 801 determines in what manner the hit notice is to be given. Is reduced. In general, when a notice of a hit is displayed, a sound corresponding to the display is emitted from the speaker 29. However, the game control means issues a command to sound the notice sound to the sound control board 700 at the timing of displaying the notice of the hit. Send.

Although two types of hit notices have been illustrated here, there may be more types of hit notices. Also,
When a plurality of notice modes are used, the notice may be divided into a notice with a high probability of a hit and a notice with a low probability of a hit. Further, a notice used in a case where there is a high possibility that a hit occurs in the probability change symbol may be used as the probability change notice.

The display control CPU 801 determines to use a process table according to the selected variation pattern (step S843). In each process table, each variation state (variation speed, variation period at that speed, and the like) in the variation pattern is set. Also,
Each process table is set in the ROM. Also,
The display control CPU 801 starts the variable time timer (step S844). Then, the symbol change is started (step S845), and the value of the display control process flag is set to a value corresponding to the symbol change process (step S84).
6).

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing a process during symbol change (step S8).
It is a flowchart which shows 03). In the symbol change processing, the display control CPU 801 checks whether the change time timer has timed out (step S85).
1). If the variable time timer times out, the value of the display control process flag is changed to a value corresponding to the all symbol stop waiting process (step S804) (step S8).
52).

FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing the all symbol stop waiting process (step S804). In the all symbol stop waiting process, the display control CPU 801 confirms whether or not a display control command instructing the stop of all symbols has been received (step S861). If a display control command instructing to stop all the symbols has been received, control is performed to stop the symbols with the stored stopped symbols (step S86).
2). If a display control command designating all symbol stops has not been received, it is checked whether the monitoring timer has timed out (step S863). If a timeout has occurred, it is determined that some abnormality has occurred, and control is performed to display an error screen on the variable display 9 (step S864).

After performing the processing in step S862, the display control CPU 801 sets the value of the display control process flag to a value corresponding to the display control command reception waiting processing (step S801) (step S865).

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing the display process during the right occurrence state (step S805). In the right-occurrence state display, the display control CPU 801 first confirms whether or not control for displaying the display related to the right state on the variable display 9 is being performed (step S871). This confirmation is performed based on the state of the display confirmation flag indicating whether or not the display relating to the right generation state is being performed. The display-in-progress confirmation flag is set after the processing of step S874 and step S875 described later, and is reset after the processing of step S876 and step S878 described later. If the display control related to the right generation state is being executed, the display control CPU 801 continuously performs the display control related to the right generation state (step S872).

If the display control related to the right occurrence state is not being executed, the display control CPU 801 uses an interrupt in this example to check whether the display related to the right occurrence state is interrupted. The state of the display flag is confirmed (step S873). The interrupt display flag is set when the variable display based on the variation pattern command is being executed during the right generation state (specifically, when it is confirmed in step S878 that the variation pattern command has been received). This flag is reset when the variable display based on the fluctuation pattern command in the right generation state ends (specifically, when the interrupt display flag is confirmed to be on in step S873). If the interrupt display flag is on, the display control CPU 801
Resumes the execution of the display control related to the right generation state (step S874). If the interrupt display flag is not on (in this case, a new right generation state), the display control CPU 801 starts display control relating to the right generation state (step S875). Specifically, the display instruction given to VDP 803 to display according to a predetermined display pattern relating to the status of right generation is continued (step S872).
Resume (step S874) or start (step S8)
75). Then, the VDP 803 creates image data of the indicated display. The image data is combined with the background image.

Next, the display control CPU 801 checks whether or not the right generation state has ended (step S87).
6). In this embodiment, the display control CPU 801 determines whether or not the right generation state has ended based on, for example, the state of the right generation state flag.

If the right generation state has ended, the display control CPU 801 ends the predetermined display related to the right generation state, and then sets the value of the display control process flag to a display control command reception waiting process (step S801). (Step S877). If the right generation state has not ended, the display control CPU 801 checks whether a display command (variation pattern command) capable of specifying a variation time has been received (step S878).
If the change pattern command has been received, the display relating to the right generation state is stopped, and the value of the display control process flag is changed to the all symbol change start processing (step S802).
(Step S879).

If the right generation state has not ended, the display control CPU 801 confirms whether or not a display control command (variation pattern command) capable of specifying a variation time has been received, as in step S811 described above. Step S877). If you have received the fluctuation pattern command,
The display control CPU 801 sets the value of the display control process flag to a value corresponding to the all symbol variation start processing (step S802) (step S878).

FIG. 57 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the execution timing of the variable display processing based on the fluctuation pattern command during the right generation state. As shown in FIG. 57A, when the display control CPU 801 receives a change pattern command while performing control for performing a display related to the right generation state, the display control CPU 801 stops the display related to the right generation state. . Next, the display control CPU 801 starts executing variable display control based on the received fluctuation pattern command. When the variable display control based on the received fluctuation pattern command ends, the display control CPU 801
Restarts the control for displaying the right generation status. As shown in FIG. 57B, when a change pattern command is received during execution of the display control related to the right generation state, the display related to the right generation state is interrupted and the display control related to the right generation state is stopped. The execution state may be saved, and after the variable display control ends, the display control relating to the right generation state may be restarted from the place where the variable display control was interrupted.

As described above, when a variable pattern command is received during execution of the display control related to the right generation state, the display control related to the right generation state is stopped or interrupted, and the variable display control based on the variable pattern command is performed. Since the display control related to the right generation state is restarted after the end, the symbol can be variably displayed on the variable display 9 even when the right generation state is controlled. Therefore, during the right generation state, the display control board 800 can appropriately execute control based on the variation pattern command. Therefore, in the third-type pachinko gaming machine that executes the variable display control even during the right generation state, the display control board 8 is provided separately from the main board 310.
Even in the case where 00 is provided, accurate display control during the right generation state can be executed.

Next, the operation of the effect control means other than the display control means will be described. First, a lamp control CPU mounted on a lamp control board 350 which is an example of the effect control means
The operation of the lamp control means as the light-emitting body control means including the 351 will be described.

FIG. 58 is a flow chart showing the main processing executed by CPU 351 for lamp control. In the main process, the lamp control CPU 351 first executes an initialization process for initializing a register, a RAM including a work area, an output port, and the like (step S44).
1). Next, the lamp control command received from the main board 310 is analyzed (step S442: command analysis processing). Further, a process of updating the random number according to the content of the received lamp control command is performed (step S443).

Next, the lamp control CPU 351 performs a command execution process, such as a process of changing lamp data to be used, according to the received lamp control command (step S444). Note that the lamp control command from the main board 310 is fetched by an interrupt process started in response to the input of the INT signal, and stored in an input buffer formed in the RAM.

Thereafter, in this embodiment, the lamp control CPU 351 shifts to a loop process for monitoring the timer interrupt flag (step S445). And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, when a timer interrupt occurs, the lamp control CPU 351 sets a timer interrupt flag (step S451). If the timer interrupt flag is set in the main processing, the CPU 351 for the lamp control
Clears the flag (step S44)
6), a lamp process update process and a port output process are performed (steps S447, S448).

In this embodiment, the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED that is controlled to blink according to the progress of the game is RO
It is controlled according to the lamp data stored in M.
The ramp data is prepared for each type of control pattern (for each control command indicating the type of variation pattern designation shown in FIG. 28, and other game effects transmitted from the game control means according to the game progress status). Is prepared for each control command for Lamp data includes lamps
Data indicating that the LED is turned on or off, and data indicating the period of turning on or off (process timer value) are set. That is, the data indicating the lighting pattern of the light emitter is stored in the control data area.

In the ramp process updating process, a process of subtracting the value of the timer in which the value corresponding to the process timer value is initially set is performed. When the timer times out, the data set to the next address in the ramp data is replaced by the data. The lamp / LED is determined to be turned off or lit accordingly, and a process timer value according to the determination result is set in the timer. Also, when the process timer value is set to the timer, it is the time when the switching of the light-on / off is performed.
Data for turning on or off the LED is output to the corresponding output port.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the timer interruption is performed every 2 ms. That is, the ramp process update process and the port output process are activated every 2 ms.

Here, the address map of the ROM mounted on the lamp control board 350 will be described. The ROM area includes a control data area and a control program area. The control data area includes an initialization data table used for initialization of a register, a RAM, an output port, and the like, a storage display LED display table used for turning on / off the winning storage display 10 and the like, a lamp described later. Data is stored. The control program area stores a main processing program, an initialization process, a command recognition process, and a command execution process, and further includes a specific lamp / LED process, a lamp process update process, a port output process, and a command reception process. A program for interrupt processing and timer interrupt processing is stored.

FIG. 60 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the lamp data stored in the control data area. In this embodiment, data indicating the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED is stored in the lamp data in the control data area. In the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED stored in the lamp data, the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED as shown in FIG. 60 is defined corresponding to the variation pattern command (80XX (H)). In addition, there are prepared lamp data and the like in which a lighting pattern of a lamp / LED used in the right generation state is stored. Then, in the ramp process update process (step S447) in the main process,
Turning on / off the lamp / LED is controlled with reference to the lamp data.

FIG. 61 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the execution timing of the lamp / LED on / off processing based on the fluctuation pattern command during the right generation state. In this embodiment, the corresponding variation pattern command is sent to each of the effect control boards 800, 350, and 700 at the same time. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 61, the display control by the display control board 800 is performed. And the illuminant control in the lamp control board 350 are executed in synchronization. As shown in FIG. 61A, the lamp control board 350
Then, the lamp control CPU 351 executes the variation pattern command when the lamp / LED lighting / light-off control is performed using the lamp data in which the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED related to the right generation status is stored. Upon receipt, the lighting / extinguishing control of the lamp / LED related to the right generation state is stopped. Next, the ramp control CPU 351
Is the lamp L according to the received fluctuation pattern command.
Using the lamp data storing the lighting pattern of the ED, the lamp / LE based on the fluctuation pattern command is used.
The execution of the turning on / off control of D is started. When the lighting / extinguishing control of the lamp / LED based on the received fluctuation pattern command is completed, the lamp controlling CPU 351 uses the lamp / LED using the lamp data in which the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED related to the right generation state is stored. Is restarted.

As shown in FIG. 61 (B), when a variation pattern command is received during execution of the lighting / extinguishing control of the lamp / LED related to the right generation state, the lamp / LED related to the right generation state is received. While the lighting / light-off control is interrupted, the execution state of the lighting / light-off control of the lamp / LED related to the right generation state (for example, an execution table of the lamp data being executed) is stored, and based on the fluctuation pattern command. After the control of turning on / off the lamp / LED, the lamp / LE related to the right generation state is determined from the interrupted position (the execution table of the saved lamp data).
The control of turning on / off D may be restarted.

As described above, when the variation pattern command is received during the execution of the illuminant control related to the right occurrence state, the control of the illuminant related to the right occurrence state is stopped or interrupted, and based on the received variation pattern command. With the configuration in which the illuminant control related to the right generation state is restarted after the illuminant control is completed, even when the control related to the right generation state is being executed, the side lamp 27 and the like based on the fluctuation pattern command can be used. Lighting / extinguishing control of various light emitters can be performed. Therefore, during the right generation state, the lamp control board 350 can appropriately execute control based on the fluctuation pattern command.

Further, since the variation pattern command for designating the corresponding control content is transmitted at the same time, the lighting / lighting of the light emitter is synchronized with the display content of the variable display 9 under the control of the display control board 800. The light-off control can be executed. Therefore, even in the case of a configuration in which a plurality of effect control boards 800 and 350 are provided in the third-type pachinko gaming machine that executes the variable display control even during the right generation state, an accurate state during the right generation state is provided. It becomes possible to execute the light emitter control.

Next, the operation of the sound control means (sound control means) including the sound control CPU 701 mounted on the sound control board 700 as an example of the effect control means will be described.

FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing the main processing executed by CPU 701 for sound control. C for sound control
In the main processing, the PU 701 first registers
An initialization process for initializing a RAM including a work area, an output port, and the like is executed (step S461). Next, the sound control command received from the main board 310 is analyzed (step S462: command analysis processing). Further, a process of updating the random number according to the content of the received sound control command is performed (step S463).

Next, the sound control CPU 701 performs a command execution process, such as changing the voice data to be used, according to the content of the received sound control command (step S464). Note that the sound control command from the main board 310 is captured by an interrupt process started in response to the input of the INT signal, and stored in an input buffer formed in the RAM.

After that, in this embodiment, the sound control C
The PU 701 monitors the timer interrupt flag (Step S4
65). Then, as shown in FIG. 63, when a timer interrupt occurs, the sound control CPU
701 sets a timer interrupt flag (Step S
471). If the timer interrupt flag is set in the main processing, the sound control CPU 701 clears the flag (step S466), and performs the audio process update processing and the port output processing (steps S467 and S468).

In this embodiment, the sound pattern output from the speaker in accordance with the progress of the game is controlled according to the sound data stored in the ROM. The voice data is prepared for each type of control pattern (for each control command indicating the type of variation pattern designation shown in FIG. 29, and other game effects transmitted from the game control means according to the game progress status). Is prepared for each control command for

The voice synthesizing circuit 702 includes a transfer request signal (SIRQ) and a serial clock signal (SIC
K), a serial data signal (SI) and a transfer end signal (SRDY). Voice synthesis circuit 702
When SIRQ goes low, SI is fetched one bit at a time in synchronization with SICK, and when SRDY goes low, data consisting of each SI
Is interpreted as two audio data.

In each audio data, data corresponding to the serial data signal output to the audio synthesis circuit 702 and data indicating the duration (process timer value) of the audio generated according to the data are set. I have. That is, the control data stores data indicating an output pattern from the sound generating means (a speaker in this example).

[0287] In the audio process updating process, a process of subtracting the value of the timer in which a value corresponding to the process timer value is initially set is performed. When the timer times out, the data set to the next address in the audio data is deleted. Accordingly, it is determined to change to the output sound, and a process timer value according to the determination result is set in the timer. Further, when the process timer value is set to the timer, the output audio is switched, and therefore, in the port output process (step S468), the output audio is output through the output port for outputting data to the audio synthesis circuit 702.
Data corresponding to the new output voice is output to the voice synthesis circuit 702.

More specifically, the sound control CPU 701 turns on SIRQ (low level) in the port output process.
Then, the data (voice command) read from the ROM (voice command data area) is synchronized with SICK to SI
And when the output is completed, SRDY is set to the low level. When receiving the data by the SI, the voice synthesis circuit 702 generates a voice according to the received data.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the timer interruption is performed every 2 ms. That is, the voice process updating process and the port output process are activated every 2 ms.

Here, the R mounted on the sound control board 700
The OM address map will be described. The ROM area includes a control data area and a control program area. The control data area stores an initialization data table used when initializing registers, RAMs, output ports, and the like. In the control data area, an address of a program in which processing corresponding to the upper byte (MODE data) of the sound control command is stored, and a MOD
A command upper byte table in which an address table corresponding to the E data is set is stored. In the command execution process (step S464), the contents of the command upper byte table are referred to according to the MODE data of the received sound control command, and the corresponding process (program) is executed. In the process, data in the audio data selection table stored next to the command upper byte table in the control data area is specified according to the address table and the lower byte (EXT data) of the received sound control command. . Then, the audio data indicated by the specified data is selected.

The control program area stores a main processing program and programs for initialization processing, command recognition processing, and command execution processing. Also,
A voice address selection program is also stored.
Further, the control program area stores voice process update processing, port output processing, command reception interrupt processing, and timer interrupt processing.

In this embodiment, the speech synthesis circuit 702
Is stored in the voice command data in the control data area. Then, in the voice process updating process (step S469) in the main process, the voice data is referred to, and the output voice is controlled with reference to the voice command data. FIG. 64 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the content of audio data stored in the control data area. In this embodiment, data (voice command data) indicating a voice output pattern is stored in the voice data in the control data area. As the voice output pattern stored in the voice data, a voice output pattern as shown in FIG. 64 is used as the variation pattern command (80XX (H)).
It is determined corresponding to. In addition, audio data in which audio output patterns related to the right generation status are stored are also prepared. Then, in the audio process update process (step S467) in the main process, the audio output is controlled with reference to the audio data.

FIG. 65 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the execution timing of the sound output processing based on the fluctuation pattern command during the right generation state. In this embodiment, the corresponding variation pattern command is stored in each of the effect control boards 8.
Since it is configured to be transmitted at the same time to each of 00, 350 and 700, as shown in FIG. 65, the display control by the display control board 800 and the sound output control by the sound control board 700 are executed in synchronization. As shown in FIG. 65A, the sound control board 700 includes a sound control CPU 701.
When executing the voice output control using the voice data in which the voice output pattern related to the right generation state is stored, and receives the variable pattern command, the voice output control related to the right generation state is stopped. Next, the sound control CPU 701 starts executing the sound output control based on the fluctuation pattern command using the sound data in which the sound output pattern corresponding to the received fluctuation pattern command is stored. When the sound output control based on the received fluctuation pattern command is completed, the sound control CPU 70
1 restarts the audio output control using the audio data in which the audio output pattern related to the right generation state is stored.

As shown in FIG. 65 (B), when a fluctuation pattern command is received during the execution of the sound output control related to the right generation state, the sound output control related to the right generation state is interrupted and the right generation The execution state of the voice output control relating to the state (for example, voice command data of the voice data being executed) is saved, and after the voice output control based on the variation pattern command is completed, the place where the voice output control was interrupted (the saved Voice output control relating to the right generation state may be restarted from voice command data of voice data).

As described above, when the variation pattern command is received during the execution of the voice output control related to the right generation state, the voice output control related to the right generation state is stopped or interrupted, and the voice output based on the variation pattern command is output. Since the audio output control related to the right generation state is restarted after the control is completed, the audio output control based on the variation pattern command can be performed even when the right generation state is controlled. Therefore, during the right generation state, the sound control board 700 can appropriately execute control based on the variation pattern command.

Further, since the variation pattern command designating the corresponding control content is transmitted at the same time, the audio output control is executed in synchronization with the display content of the variable display 9 under the control of the display control board 800. Will be able to Therefore, even in the case where a plurality of effect control boards 800 and 700 are provided in the third-type pachinko gaming machine that executes variable display control even during the right generation state, it is possible to accurately perform the right generation state. Voice output control can be performed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the information which can specify the variable period and the stop symbol of the symbol variably displayed on the variable indicator 9 is transmitted from the game control means, that is, the CPU 314 of the main board 310 to the display control means. And display control means controls display and display switching of the background and the character irrespective of the design variation. Therefore, the number of display control commands sent from the game control means to the display control means for one symbol change is reduced.

Then, the game control means gives a display control command indicating stop of all symbols to the display control means at the end of the fluctuation period, and the display control means determines the symbol by the display control command indicating stop of all symbols. Therefore, the design is
It is definitely determined at the timing managed by the game control means.
As in this embodiment, the game control means transmits information that can specify the change time and information about the stop symbol at the time related to the start of the change of the symbol, and then the display control means determines the change pattern independently. In the case of performing symbol replacement control or the like, a substantial part of the display control is executed by the display control means.

In this case, since the game control means cannot recognize a specific change pattern, if no countermeasure is taken, there is a possibility that a change that is different from the change time determined by the game control means may be performed. However, if the game control means is configured to give a display control command indicating all symbols stop to the display control means at the end of the fluctuation period, the symbols are definitely determined at the end of the fluctuation time determined by the game control means. . If an error display is performed when a display control command instructing stop of all symbols cannot be received, it is immediately recognized that an abnormality has occurred.

As described above, in this embodiment, in order to execute an effect corresponding to the display contents variably displayed on the variable display 9, another effect control such as a lamp control means or a sound control means is performed. Since the corresponding variation pattern command is also sent to the means, and the lamp control means and the sound control means perform an effect based on the lamp data and voice data provided corresponding to the received command. The number of display control commands sent from the game control means to the effect control means for the effect caused by one symbol change is reduced.

[0301] In the above embodiment, the game control means has transmitted to the display control board information indicating the entirety of one variation period as information capable of specifying the variation time. However, 1
The variation may be divided into a plurality of sections, and the pattern information in each section may be transmitted to the display control means at the start of each section. In this case, the display control means may select one variation pattern from a plurality of variation patterns in the period from the pattern information received for each section.

As described above, each of the effect control boards 800, 800 during execution of the effect control relating to the right generation state.
350, 700 are fluctuation pattern commands (80XX
(H)), when the effect control related to the right generation state is stopped or interrupted and the effect control related to the right generation state is restarted after the end of the effect control based on the fluctuation pattern command, the right Even when the state is controlled to be in the occurrence state, it is possible to execute the effect control based on the fluctuation pattern command. Therefore, during the right generation state, it is possible to appropriately execute the control based on the variation pattern command in each of the effect control boards 800, 350, and 700.

Also, as described above, the variation pattern command for designating the corresponding control content is issued to each effect control board 80.
Since it is configured to be transmitted to 0, 350, and 700 at the same time, it is possible to execute control on the illuminant and audio output in synchronization with the display contents of the variable display 9. Therefore, even in the case of a configuration in which a plurality of effect control boards 800, 350, and 700 are provided in the third-type pachinko gaming machine that executes the variable display control even during the right generation state, the state during the right generation state is maintained. Exact performance control can be performed.

In each of the above-described embodiments, when the display related to the right generation state is displayed on the variable display 9, the display control board 800 operates the variable pattern command (80
XX (H)), the display related to the right generation state is stopped or interrupted, and the display based on the received fluctuation pattern command is performed. In such a case, the display and reception related to the right generation state are performed. The display based on the changed pattern command may be combined and performed simultaneously. In this case, for example, as a configuration in which the display area of the variable display 9 is divided and displayed, a display related to the right generation state is displayed in a part of the display area, and a display based on the fluctuation pattern command is performed in another display area. What should I do?

FIG. 66 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the execution timing of the variable display processing based on the fluctuation pattern command during the right generation state. In this example, when the display control CPU 801 receives the fluctuation pattern command while performing control for displaying the right generation state, as shown in FIG. A symbol (eg, display area 9c) related to the state of right generation is displayed, and a symbol based on a fluctuation pattern command received using another part (eg, display areas 9a, 9b) of the display area of the variable display 9 is displayed. And the like. In this case, since the content of the display related to the right generation state may be extinguished depending on the display result of the symbol and the subsequent game result, for example,
What is necessary is just to give an explanation of the act of extinguishing the right or to display a warning. Then, when the display of the symbol in the other part of the display area of the variable display 9 ends, the display control CPU 801 restarts the control for performing the display related to the right generation state.

As described above, if the display relating to the right generation state and the display based on the received fluctuation pattern command are combined and simultaneously performed, the received fluctuation pattern command is displayed while the display relating to the right generation state is continued. It is possible to perform a display based on this. Note that the display area of the variable display 9 may be divided in any manner.

In each of the above-described embodiments, when the lamp control board 350 executes the illuminant control related to the right generation state, the variation pattern command (80XX
When (H)) is received, the illuminant control related to the right generation state is stopped or interrupted, and the illuminant control based on the received fluctuation pattern command is performed. In such a case, the illuminant control related to the right generation state is performed. The illuminant control and the illuminant control based on the received variation pattern command may be combined and performed simultaneously. In this case, the illuminant control may be performed by dividing the illuminant controlled by the lighting / extinguishing pattern related to the right generation state and the illuminant controlled by the lighting / extinguishing pattern based on the variation pattern command. . In this example, the variation pattern command (80XX
In addition to the lamp data storing the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED corresponding to (H)), the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED corresponding to the fluctuation pattern command received during the right generation state is stored. Lamp data is also provided. The lighting pattern of the lamp / LED corresponding to the variation pattern command received during the right generation state is, for example, a part of the light emitter (for example, the side lamp 2).
7 is controlled by a light-on / off pattern related to the right generation state, and other light-emitting bodies (for example,
The pattern is such that the light-emitting bodies on the frame side such as the gaming effect lamps 30a to 30b) are controlled by a lighting / lighting-off pattern based on a variation pattern command.

FIG. 68 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the execution timing of the lamp / LED on / off processing based on the fluctuation pattern command in the right generation state.
As shown in FIG. 68, in the lamp control board 350, the lamp control CPU 351 controls the lighting / extinguishing of the lamp / LED by using the lamp data storing the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED related to the right generation state. When the change pattern command is received during execution, the control of turning on / off the lamp / LED related to the right generation state is stopped. Next, the lamp control CPU 351 uses the lamp data in which the lighting pattern of the lamp / LED when the above-described variation pattern command is received during the right occurrence state to execute control and the variation pattern command related to the right occurrence state. The execution of the lighting / extinguishing control of the lamp / LED in which the control based on this is combined is started. By this control, for example, a part of the luminous bodies (for example, the luminous bodies on the game board 6 side such as the side lamps 27) are controlled in a lighting / lighting-off pattern related to the right generation state, and other luminous bodies (for example, gaming effects) The frame-side light-emitting bodies such as the lamps 30a to 30c) are controlled by a lighting / light-off pattern based on a variation pattern command. Then, when the lighting / extinguishing control of the lamp / LED in which the control related to the right generation state and the control based on the variation pattern command are completed, the lamp control CPU 351 sets the lamp / LED in the right generation state.
The lighting / extinguishing control of the lamp / LED related to the right generation state using the lamp data in which the lighting pattern of is stored is restarted.

As described above, the lamp / LED on / off control related to the right generation status and the lamp / LED on / off control based on the received fluctuation pattern command are combined and executed. It is possible to perform control based on the variation pattern command received using another illuminant, while continuing control related to the right generation state using the illuminant.

In each of the above-described embodiments, when the sound control board 700 is executing the sound output control relating to the right generation state, the fluctuation pattern command (80XX
When (H)) is received, the sound output control related to the right generation state is stopped or interrupted, and the sound output control based on the received fluctuation pattern command is executed. And sound output control based on the received fluctuation pattern command may be simultaneously executed. In this case, a sound obtained by synthesizing a sound output pattern related to the right generation state and a sound output pattern based on the fluctuation pattern command may be output. In this example, the variation pattern command (80XX
(H)), voice data in which a voice output pattern corresponding to (H)) is stored, and a voice output pattern corresponding to a fluctuation pattern command when received during the right generation state (in this example, output of synthesized voice) Pattern) is also prepared. The voice output pattern corresponding to the fluctuation pattern command received during the right generation state is, for example, a voice output pattern obtained by synthesizing a voice output pattern related to the right generation state and a voice output pattern based on the fluctuation pattern command.

FIG. 69 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the execution timing of the audio output processing based on the fluctuation pattern command during the right generation state. As shown in FIG. 69, when the sound control CPU 701 receives the variable pattern command while executing the sound output control using the sound data in which the sound output pattern related to the right occurrence state is stored, The sound output control related to the occurrence state is stopped. Next, the sound control CPU 701 executes sound output control for outputting a synthesized sound using sound data in which a sound output pattern corresponding to the fluctuation pattern command when received during the right generation state is stored. When the voice output control based on the voice data in which the synthesized voice pattern is stored ends, the sound control CPU 701 executes the voice output control related to the right generation state using the voice data in which the voice output pattern in the right generation state is stored. Resume.

[0312] The synthesized speech is, for example, as shown in FIG.
(Sound Source 1 to Sound Source 3) and a sound (Sound Source 6 and Sound Source 7) output when the symbol changes, as shown in FIG. Is used. For example, as shown in FIG.
A sound obtained by synthesizing a sound indicating the right generation state (a sound whose volume is lowered) and a sound output when the symbol is changed is used. The composition ratio and the output sound ratio may be set in any manner.

[0313] As described above, a composite sound is output in which the sound output as a result of the control related to the right generation state and the sound output as a result of the control based on the received fluctuation pattern command are output. Thus, it is possible to output the sound indicating the right generation state and the sound output when the symbol is changed at the same time. In addition, since the output degree of the output sound based on the received fluctuation pattern command is increased, it is possible to reliably notify the player that the control based on the fluctuation pattern command has been started during the right generation state. Become like
Conversely, the output degree of the sound indicating the right generation state may be increased. With this configuration, it is possible to execute the control based on the variation pattern command without hindering the control in the right generation state. Therefore, it is possible to notify the player that the right generation state is continuing, and it is possible to prevent the player from erroneously recognizing that the right generation state has ended.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the other effect control boards 350 and 700 switch control contents in synchronization with the start of the symbol change control executed on the display control board 800 in response to the change pattern command. Although the configuration has been described, the control content may be switched at another timing. For example, when the display content of the variable display 9 becomes a hit notice, the timing at which the display related to the hit notice is started (for example, the timing at which the hit notice is displayed on the variable display 9 by the received variation pattern command) Is specified), the control content of each of the effect control boards 350 and 700 may be switched to control according to the variation pattern command. In this case, each effect control board 35
At 0,700, ramp data and audio data for executing such control may be prepared in advance.

Since the control is started based on the fluctuation pattern command received at the timing when the predetermined display is performed, the control related to the display is executed at the timing when the predetermined display is performed on the variable display 9. Can be done. Therefore, for example, at the timing when the display of the hit notice is started, each of the effect control means 35
By using 0,700, it becomes possible to execute the control suitable for the hit notice display.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the control of each of the effect control boards 800, 350, and 700 when a variable pattern command is input to each of the effect control boards 800, 350, and 700 during the right generation state. Although described, such control may be performed during another game state. For example, when a fluctuation pattern command is input to each of the effect control boards 800, 350, and 700 during the big hit game state, the above-described various controls may be performed.

In each of the above embodiments, the control on the other effect control boards 350 and 700 is executed in synchronization with the contents of the symbol change control executed on the display control board 800 in response to the change pattern command. Although the configuration has been described, when the symbol variation control is executed during the right generation state, the other effect control boards 350 and 700 may continue to execute the control during the right generation state. In this case, for example, while the main board 310 is in the right generation state,
The configuration may be such that the variation pattern command is transmitted only to the display control board 800. FIG. 71 is a flowchart showing an example of the switch process (S21) of the game control process (see FIG. 16) in this example. FIG. 72 is a flowchart showing an example of the command transmission table setting process in this example.

In the switch processing shown in FIG. 71, first, the CPU 314 checks whether or not the right is being generated (step S21a). This confirmation is performed based on the state of the right occurrence state flag. The right occurrence state flag is set when the state shifts to the right occurrence state, and is reset when the right occurrence state ends. If it is not in the right generation state in step S21a, the CPU 314 checks whether or not the specific ball detection switch 48 is turned on (step S21b). When confirming that the specific ball detection switch 48 has been turned on, the CPU 314 sets a right generation state flag (step S21c).

If it is determined in step S21a that the right generation state is in progress, the CPU 314 checks whether the right generation state has ended by monitoring the number of jackpots and each switch (step S21d). It should be noted that the right generation state is determined when the starting ball detection switch 19 detects a winning ball a predetermined number of times during the right generation state, and the predetermined number of successive jackpots is exhausted by opening the special winning opening a predetermined number of times. To end. The right generation state is also ended when an operation for generating a further right is executed during the right generation state (in this example, when the V winning switch 41 is turned on). When confirming that the right generation state has ended, the CPU 314 resets the right generation state flag (step S21e). Then, the state of other switches such as the normal variable winning operation switch 22a is confirmed, and processing (for example, setting / resetting of a corresponding flag) corresponding to the state is executed (step S21f).

The setting of the command transmission table is set as required in various processes such as a symbol process process. In this example, for example, in a predetermined gaming state such as a right generation state, the corresponding command is not set in the command transmission table so as not to send the variable pattern command to the predetermined sub-board. To control. The command transmission table setting process shown in FIG. 72 is called and executed in each process executed by the CPU 314 when, for example, an attempt is made to set a command transmission table. The command transmission table setting process shown in FIG. 72 may be incorporated in a control program that may execute the process of setting the variation pattern command in the command transmission table.

In the command transmission table setting process,
First, the CPU 314 checks whether or not the destination sub-board of the command to be set in the command transmission table is the lamp control board 350 or the sound control board 700 (step S101). This confirmation is performed by referring to the INT data of the command to be set in the command transmission table (see FIG. 36). If the destination sub-board is the lamp control board 350 or the sound control board 700, the CPU 314 checks whether the command to be set is a fluctuation pattern command (step S102). In this example, it is confirmed whether or not the MODE data is 80 (H). If the command to be set in the command transmission table is a variation pattern command (MODE data = 80
If (H), the CPU 314 checks whether or not the right is being generated (step S103). This confirmation is made based on whether or not the right occurrence state flag is on. If the right is being generated, the process ends without setting a command (variation pattern command) in the command transmission table.

If it is determined in step S101 that the destination sub-board is not the lamp control board 350 or the sound control board 700, it is determined in step S102 that the command to be set in the command transmission table is not a variable pattern command. Or step S
If it is determined in step S103 that the right is not in the status of occurrence of a right, the CPU 314 sets the control command to be transmitted in the command transmission table (step S10).
4).

By performing the command transmission table setting processing as described above, it is possible to prevent the variable pattern command for the lamp control board 700 and the sound control board 350 from being transmitted during the right generation state. become. Therefore, in this embodiment, since the variable pattern command is transmitted only to the display control board 800 during the right generation state, the variable display control in the variable display 9 is executed, and the light emitting element control and the sound are controlled. As for output control, control during the right generation state is continued. Therefore, even when a plurality of effect control boards are provided, it is possible to perform appropriate control during the right generation state. Further, according to this configuration, many control commands (for example, a control command different from the above-described variation pattern command 80XX (H)) are transmitted only to the display control board 800 when the right is in the right generation state. It is not necessary to prepare a variation pattern command to be executed.

In the other embodiments described above, the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 are sent to the variable pattern command (80XX
(H)) is not transmitted, but the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 may be configured not to reflect the variation pattern command (80XX (H)) in the control during the right occurrence state. In this case, in the main board 310, for example, in the command transmission table setting process shown in FIG. 72, the process of step S104 is performed without performing the determination of steps S101 to S103, and the control set in the command transmission table is performed. Make sure commands are sent out sequentially. FIG. 73 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command analysis process executed by the lamp control CPU 351 in this example. FIG. 74 shows a sound control CPU according to this embodiment.
7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command analysis process executed by the command analysis processing;

In the other embodiments described above, the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700
Even if a change pattern command was received during the right generation state, the control was not reflected in the control,
A variation pattern command not defined in the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 may be transmitted to each of the effect control boards 800, 350, and 700. In this case, the variation pattern command (80X
X (H)), a change pattern command for the right-occurrence state that specifies the same control content as X (H) may be separately provided, and may be defined only on the display control board 800. According to this configuration, when the variation pattern command for the right generation state is output to each of the effect control boards 800, 350, and 700, the display control board 800 normally performs symbol control, and the lamp control board 350 And sound control board 7
At 00, since an undefined command has been transmitted, the received fluctuation pattern command is ignored.

According to the command analysis processing executed by the lamp control CPU 351 shown in FIG. 73, the lamp control CPU 351 first checks whether the lamp control command from the main board 310 stored in the reception command buffer is stored. It is confirmed whether or not there is (Step S442a). Whether it is stored or not is determined by comparing the value of the command reception counter with the read pointer. The case where both match is the case where the received command is not stored. If a received command is stored in the command receiving buffer, the CPU 351 for lamp control
Reads out the received command from the command receiving buffer (step S442b). After reading, the value of the read pointer is incremented by one.

If the read received command is the right generation state start command (see FIG. 28) (step S442)
c), the lamp control CPU 351 sets the right generation status flag (step S442d). The read received command is a right generation state end command (see FIG. 28).
If (step S442e), the lamp control CPU
351 resets the right occurrence status flag (step S442f). Note that the right generation state flag is set when the right generation state is set, and is reset when the right generation state ends. For example, the right generation state flag is stored in, for example, a RAM included in the lamp control board 350.

If the read received command is a fluctuation pattern command (step S442g), the lamp control CPU 351 checks whether or not the right is being generated based on the state of the right generation state flag (step S442).
h). If the right generation state is not in progress (the right generation state flag is not on), the ramp control CPU 351 stores the EXT data of the fluctuation pattern command in the fluctuation pattern storage area (step S442i), and sets the fluctuation pattern reception flag. It is set (step S442j).
Note that the variation pattern storage area is the lamp control board 35.
0 is provided in, for example, a RAM. Step S
If the right generation status flag is on at 442h (if the right generation status flag is on), the CPU 351 for the lamp control
The variation pattern command is discarded (erased) without storing the EXT data (step S442k). If the received command read in step S442b is another lamp control command, a flag corresponding to the received command is set (step S442).
l).

According to the command analysis processing executed by the sound control CPU 701 shown in FIG.
The U701 first checks whether or not the sound control command from the main board 310 stored in the reception command buffer is stored (Step S462a). Whether it is stored or not is determined by comparing the value of the command reception counter with the read pointer. The case where both match is the case where the received command is not stored. If the received command is stored in the command receiving buffer, the sound control CPU 701 reads the received command from the command receiving buffer (step S46).
2b). After reading, the value of the read pointer is incremented by one.

If the read received command is the right generation state start command (see FIG. 29) (step S462)
c), the sound control CPU 701 sets a right occurrence state flag (step S462d). If the read received command is the right generation state end command (see FIG. 29) (step S462e), the CPU 701 for sound control is executed.
Resets the right generation status flag (step S4).
62f). The right generation state flag is set when the right generation state is set, and is reset when the right generation state ends. For example, the sound control board 700
Is stored in, for example, a RAM included in the program.

If the read received command is a fluctuation pattern command (step S462g), the sound control CP
The U701 checks whether or not the right occurrence state is being set based on the state of the right occurrence state flag (step S462).
h). If it is not in the right generation state (the right generation state flag is not on), the sound control CPU 701 stores the EXT data of the fluctuation pattern command in the fluctuation pattern storage area (step S462i), and sets the fluctuation pattern reception flag. It is set (step S462j). The variation pattern storage area is provided in, for example, a RAM included in the sound control board 700. Step S462
If the right is in the right generation state at h (if the right generation state flag is on), the sound control CPU 701 discards (erases) the variation pattern command without storing the EXT data (step S462k). If the received command read in step S462b is another lamp control command, a flag corresponding to the received command is set (step S462l).

With the above-described configuration, the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 receive the fluctuation pattern command (80XX
The control based on (H)) can be prevented from being executed. Therefore, in the gaming machine in which the variable display control based on the variable pattern command is executed on the display control board 800 even during the right generation state, when the gaming state is the right generation state, the variable pattern command is output to the lamp control board 350 or To prevent the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 from executing the control according to the fluctuation pattern command during the right generation state even when the sound control board 700 is transmitted to the sound control board 700. Can be. Therefore, it becomes possible for the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 to appropriately execute the illuminant control and the sound output control that are executed in accordance with the gaming state during the right generation state.

Further, in the above-described still another embodiment, each effect control board is configured to determine whether or not the right generation state is in accordance with the state of the right generation state flag. It is possible to quickly determine whether or not a predetermined command is a game state that should not be reflected in control.

Further, in the above-described still another embodiment, the configuration is such that it is determined whether or not it is a variation pattern command (80XX (H)) according to the contents of the MODE data. It can be determined whether the command is to be reflected in control.

In the above-described still another embodiment, the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 are configured such that even if a change pattern command is received during the right generation state, the change pattern command is not reflected in the control. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the fluctuation pattern command is not received (not stored in the command reception buffer) during the right occurrence state. In this case, the gaming state is grasped by the right occurrence state flag, and during the right occurrence state, the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 confirm that the variable pattern command has been transmitted from the main board 310 by the MODE data. In this case, the transmitted command may be ignored without being stored in the command reception buffer.

Further, in the above-described other embodiments and still other embodiments, the fluctuation pattern command for the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 is not reflected in the control during the right generation state. (For example,
(The main board 310 does not transmit the variation pattern command, the effect control boards 350 and 700 do not receive the variation pattern command, or even if the effect control boards 350 and 700 receive the variation pattern command, the control based on the variation pattern command is not executed.) However, such a restriction may be imposed during another game state. For example, a gaming machine in which the variable display control is not performed in the gaming state in which the right generation state is not in the specific gaming state, and in which the variable display control is performed in the specific gaming state. With regard to, the configuration may be such that the fluctuation pattern command for the lamp control board 350 and the sound control board 700 is not reflected in the control during the specific game state.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the third symbol pachinko gaming machine 1 of the judgment symbol type has been described as an example, but the variation pattern command, symbol, and the like can also be applied to the normal symbol type third pachinko gaming machine. Similar processing can be executed, such as executing display control of symbols based on the designated command and the symbol stop command. Hereinafter, an example of the configuration of a third-type pachinko gaming machine of the ordinary symbol type will be described. FIG. 75 is a front view of the gaming board 101 of the third symbol pachinko gaming machine of the ordinary symbol type as viewed from the front. Gaming board 10
1 is detachably attached to the main body of the pachinko gaming machine.

As shown in FIG. 75, on the front of the game board 101, there are guide rails 10 for guiding a shot hit.
2 are provided. Also, on the front of the game board 101,
A game area 103 is provided. In the vicinity of the center of the game area 103, a variable display device 1 using 7-segment LEDs
10 are provided. The variable display device 110 is mounted on the game board 101 by the mounting board 111 formed on the back surface.
It is attached to the front of The variable display device 110 includes:
Three symbol display areas 112 of “left”, “middle”, and “right”
LCD display (liquid crystal display device) 11 having a to 112c
2 are provided. A display window 11 having a window frame surrounding the symbol display areas 112a to 112c is provided on the mounting board 111.
1a is formed. At the top of the mounting board 111, a winning opening 113 and a pass storage display 1 comprising four LEDs are provided.
14 are provided. Also in this example, the pass storage display 114 increases the number of lit display units by one each time there is a pass detection by the starting ball detection switch 105 described later, with four as the upper limit. Then, the variable display device 110
Each time the variable display is started, the number of lit display units is reduced by one.

A starting ball passage 104 is provided below the variable display device 110. A hit ball that has passed through the starting ball passage 104 is detected by a starting ball detection switch 105 provided in the starting ball passage 104. In this embodiment, in response to the detection of the hit ball by the starting ball detection switch 105, the symbol display areas 112a to 112c of the variable display device 110 are controlled to start changing. In addition, a winning port 10 is provided below the starting ball passing port 104.
6 are provided. The winning opening 106 is the starting ball passing opening 1
The hit ball that passed through 04 is accepted as a winning ball.

On the right side of the variable display device 110, the rotating body 1
20 are arranged. The rotating body 120 is a game board 101
The mounting plate is attached to the front surface of the mounting plate, and a surrounding frame is protruded from the front surface of the mounting plate, and is configured to be driven to rotate clockwise by a motor inside the surrounding frame. A ball receiving recess 121 that receives one hit ball is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 120. The sphere receiving recess 121 is
Actuation winning opening 1 formed at the top of the surrounding frame by rotating 20
It is configured to be able to accept a hit ball coming in from 22. The hit ball received by the ball receiving recess 121 is guided to the back of the mounting plate, and is detected by the operating ball detection switch 123. When the activated ball detection switch 123 detects a hit ball during the right generation state, the variable winning ball device 150, which will be described later, is opened and controlled in a big hit state (1 in the specific game state).
Form) occurs.

On the left side of the variable display device 110, a variable winning detection device 130 is provided. In the variable winning detection device 130, a winning ball is detected by a winning ball detection switch 131. In the upper end portion of the variable winning detection device 130, an ordinary variable winning opening 132 is provided. The ordinary variable winning opening 132 has a pair of left and right opening / closing pieces 133a, 1
33b are provided. Opening / closing pieces 133a, 133b
Is variable between a tilted position and a vertical position based on driving of a solenoid (not shown) arranged on the back surface of the game board 101. In addition, the opening and closing piece 133a in the vertical position,
Above 133b, there is provided an obstacle nail 134 for preventing a hit of a hit ball into the normal variable winning opening 132. Thus, the opening / closing pieces 133a and 133b are in a tilted state in which the normally variable winning opening 132 is opened when the solenoid is on, and are in a vertical state in which the normally variable winning opening 132 is closed when the solenoid is off. At the lower end of the variable winning detection device 130, a winning ball detection switch 13 is provided.
1 is provided with a winning ball passage 135 through which the hit ball detected by 1 passes downward.

Below the winning ball passage 135, there is provided a distribution device 136 for receiving a hit ball from the winning ball passage 135 and determining whether or not a right generation state has occurred. In this embodiment, the variable winning detection device 130 and the distribution device 136 form a variable winning ball device. FIG. 76 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the distribution device 136. As shown in FIG. 76, a prize space in which a hit ball from a prize ball passage 135 is received is formed by a prize space forming member 137 in the distribution device 136. The winning space forming member 137 has a C-shaped frame portion 137a, a winning opening 137b, and a transparent front cover portion 137c. At substantially the center of the winning space formed by the winning space forming member 137, a winning ball stopping member 138 having a pair of left and right stopping recesses 138a at the front end is provided. Although not shown, the winning ball retaining member 138 operates in the front-rear direction with respect to the gaming board 101 by driving a solenoid provided on the back side. When the solenoid is turned on and the winning ball stopping member 138 is positioned forward, the stopping recess 138a is in a state of protruding into the winning space. Also, when the solenoid is turned off and the winning ball stopping member 138 is located rearward, the stopping recess 138a enters the inside of the game board 101 and is immersed in the winning space.
Above the winning ball retaining member 138, a specific winning port 139 for guiding a hit ball in the winning space to a specific ball detecting switch (not shown) on the back of the game board 101 is provided. Further, below the winning ball retaining member 138, there is provided a normal winning hole 140 for processing a hit ball that has not entered the specific winning hole 139 as a normal winning ball. A specific winning port 139 for guiding a hit ball in a winning space is provided to a specific ball detecting switch (not shown) on the back surface of the game board 101. The front cover 137c located in front of the specific winning opening 139 includes:
Guiding projection 13 for guiding a hit ball to specific winning opening 139
7d is formed.

Here, the operation of the winning ball in the distribution device 136 will be described. First, when the display result of the variable display device 110 becomes a hit symbol, the opening / closing pieces 133a and 133b are driven to open the variable winning opening 132 for a predetermined time. When a hit ball is won from the variable winning opening 132, the first and second winning balls are stopped on the stopping recess 138a projecting from the game area 103 as shown in FIG. Next, when there is a third winning ball, the third winning ball is guided to the specific winning opening 139 by the first and second winning balls and the guiding protrusion 137d. Then, the third winning ball is detected by the specific ball detecting switch, and a right generation state occurs. The first and second prize balls parked on the stationary recess 138a are moved backward by a predetermined time after the stationary recess 138a is moved to the stationary recess 138a.
Is stopped and guided to the normal winning opening 140 to be processed as a normal winning ball.

Next, the configuration of the variable winning ball device 150 provided below the variable display device 110 will be described. The variable winning ball device 150 has a mounting board 151 mounted on the surface of the game board 101. Mounting board 151
Is provided with a special variable winning opening 151a in the center portion thereof. In this embodiment, an opening / closing member 152 is provided in the special variable winning opening 151a, and the opening / closing member 152 functions as a means for opening and closing the special variable winning opening 151a. The opening / closing member 152 is opened by the solenoid 153 in the big hit state. A winning ball guided from the special variable winning port 151a to the back of the game board 101 is detected by a winning ball detection switch 154. In addition, special variable winning opening 15
A normal winning opening 155 is provided on the left and right of 1a.

Further, the game board 101 has a winning opening 160
The winning of the game ball to the winning opening 160 is detected by a correspondingly provided winning opening switch.
Side lamp decorations 16 are provided around the left and right sides of the game area 103.
1. Left and right windmills having a built-in windmill lamp 162 are provided, and a lower portion has an out port 163 for absorbing a hit ball that did not win. Although not shown, the game area 1
A plurality of speakers that emit sound effects are provided on the left and right upper portions outside the 03. Although not shown, luminous bodies such as a prize ball lamp that lights up when a prize ball is paid out, a ball out lamp that lights up when a supply ball runs out, and a game effect LED are provided on the outer periphery of the game area 103. .

Next, the operation of the pachinko gaming machine according to this embodiment will be described. The hit ball fired from the hit ball firing device passes through the guide rail 102 and the game area 103
And then go down the game area 103. The hit ball passes through the starting ball passage 104 and the starting ball detection switch 105
Is detected, the symbol display units 112a to 112 of the variable display device 110 are in a state where the change of the symbol can be started.
The symbol (for example, a number) displayed in c is in a state of continuously changing. If it is not possible to start the change of the symbol, the starting passage memory is increased by one.

[0347] The rotation of the image in the variable display device 110 stops when a certain time has elapsed. When the combination of the images at the time of the stop becomes the combination of the right generation symbols, the opening / closing pieces 133a and 133b of the variable winning detection device 130 are opened until a predetermined time elapses, and the winning ball is guided to the distribution device 136. Next, when the hit ball is guided to the specific winning opening 139 in the winning space of the distribution device 136 and the hit ball is guided to the specific ball detection switch, the right is generated. When the right generation state continues, the ball hits the ball receiving recess 12 of the rotating body 120.
When the player wins 1 and turns on the operating ball detection switch 123, a big hit state occurs and the special variable winning port 151a of the variable winning ball device 150 is opened. In the big hit state, if the right generation state continues, the hit ball is
The process is repeated each time the ball receiving recess 121 of 0 is won (opening cycle). However, the right generation state is continued when the hit ball is guided to the specific ball detection switch in the winning space again during the right generation state, or a predetermined number (for example, 16) of the winning balls is detected by the operating ball detection switch 123. Is terminated by detecting.

The present invention can be applied to a pachinko game machine of the judgment symbol type having the configuration and operation described above, and the same effects can be obtained.

Further, in the pachinko gaming machine of each of the above-described embodiments, when a stop symbol of a symbol variably displayed based on a predetermined game is a combination of a predetermined symbol and a predetermined symbol is detected, a predetermined symbol is detected. Although it was a type 3 pachinko gaming machine in which the right is generated or continued, when the stop symbol of the special symbol variably displayed on the variable display portion based on the start winning is a predetermined symbol combination, the predetermined game value becomes the player. -Type pachinko gaming machines that can be given to a second pachinko gaming machine that can be given a predetermined game value to a player when there is a prize in a predetermined area of an electric accessory that is opened based on a start winning prize. However, the present invention can be applied to a configuration that allows variable display control on the variable display unit even during a specific game state such as a big hit state.

[0350]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the game control means determines at least the variable display time of the identification information on the variable display section and the fixed identification information determined as the display result; Command output means for outputting a control command for controlling the display unit to the display control means, wherein the command output means variably displays at least identification information as a control command based on the determination by the display content determination means. A variable display command capable of specifying time and an identification information specifying command capable of specifying fixed identification information can be output at a time related to starting variable display of identification information based on the variable display command. Since it is possible to output a determination command indicating determination of identification information at a time related to the end, the game control means It is possible to reduce the number of commands to be sent to the display control unit, it is possible to reduce the processing load of the game control means.

[0351] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the variable display section comprises:
Since it has a plurality of display areas, identification information can be variably displayed in each of the display areas, and the game control means is configured to output an identification information designation command corresponding to each of the plurality of display areas. , Identification information displayed in each of the plurality of display areas can be designated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the display control means confirms which classification of the control command is in accordance with the classification information indicating the classification of the control command, and determines at least the variable display command or the identification information designation command. Since it is determined whether the command is a fixed command or not, the classification of the control command can be easily determined by simple processing, and the content of the processing to be executed can be quickly grasped.

In the invention according to claim 4, the display control means determines one display content from a plurality of different types of display contents according to one variable display command, and controls the display result of the variable display section. Therefore, it is not necessary for the game control means to determine the display content displayed on the variable display section and to transmit a command, so that the processing load on the game control means can be reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined specific display result is derived on the variable display section and a game ball is detected by the special area detecting means provided in the special area, the right is generated. The gaming machine having such a configuration can reduce the number of commands sent by the game control means to the display control means, and reduce the processing load on the game control means. it can.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, a first guiding operation that can guide a game ball to a special area or a second guiding operation that can guide a game ball to a normal area different from the special area according to the display result of the variable display section. Since the guide operation means capable of guiding the game ball in any one of the two guide operations is included, the game ball can be appropriately guided to a region corresponding to the display result.

In the invention according to claim 7, since the detection by the special area detecting means is normally invalidated and at least effective during the period when the guiding operation means is performing the first guiding operation, the special area detecting means is effective. If the game state is such that the game ball should not be guided to the area, the detection is invalidated by the special area detection means, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an unjust right. In addition, at least in a gaming state in which a game ball may be guided to the special area, the detection of the special area detection means is valid, so that the generation of a right is inhibited. Can be prevented.

In the invention according to claim 8, the variable display of the identification information is started on condition that the game ball is detected by the operation detecting means, and at least a period during which the variable display is performed, and the guiding operation means is provided for guiding. Since the detection by the operation detecting means is invalidated during the operation, a new series of processing is started until a series of processing based on the detection of the game ball by the operation detecting means ends. Can be prevented.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the variable display of the identification information is started on condition that the game ball is detected by the operation detecting means, and at least a period during which the variable display is performed, and the guiding operation means is provided for guiding. A shield member is provided to prevent the game ball from being guided to the operation area during the operation, so that the operation detection means detects the game ball before a series of processes based on detecting the game ball is completed. It is possible to prevent a game ball from being guided to the detection means.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when a special display result is displayed on the variable display section, but there is no detection by the special area detecting means, it is determined that there is an abnormality. It is possible to determine the failure of the area detecting means.

In the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the discharge detecting means capable of detecting the game ball guided to the normal area is provided, it is possible to grasp whether the game ball has been discharged reliably. become able to.

In the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the game control means produces an effect start command for starting an auxiliary effect performed in response to the variable display of the identification information on the variable display section, using the effect electric parts. In addition to outputting to the control means, the effect control means can control the production electric component based on the input effect start command, and in the right generation state, the game control means Even when the variable display of the identification information is performed, the effect control unit is configured not to output the effect start command corresponding to the variable display to the effect control means.
During the right occurrence state, it is possible to prevent the effect control means from executing the control based on the effect start command.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the game control means produces an effect start command for starting an auxiliary effect performed in response to the variable display of the identification information on the variable display section by using the effect electric parts. In addition to outputting to the control means, the production control means can control the production electric component based on the inputted production start command, and in the right generation state, the production control means Even if it is input, since it is determined that the auxiliary effect is not started based on the effect start command, it is possible to prevent the effect control means from executing the control based on the effect start command in the right generation state. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a pachinko gaming machine viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the gaming board of the pachinko gaming machine viewed from the front.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example in which a normal electrical working device, a guidance device, and a distribution device are viewed from the front.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing another example of the distribution device.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing still another example of the distribution device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of another structure for preventing continuous winning in a V winning switch.

FIG. 7 is a rear view showing an example of the structure of the rear surface of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration on a main board.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a display control circuit.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in a lamp control board.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in a sound control board.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in a power supply board.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example around a CPU on a main board.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by a CPU on a main board.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a relationship between a backup flag and whether or not to execute a game state restoration process.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a 2 ms timer interrupt process.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing each random number.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a process of determining a stop symbol for variable display and a process of determining a variation pattern.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a hit determination process.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing symbol processing.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of left and right symbols displayed on the variable display unit.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a background symbol displayed on the variable display unit.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a character displayed on the variable display unit.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing signal lines of a display control command.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a command form of a control command.

FIG. 26 is a timing chart showing a relationship between an 8-bit control signal and an INT signal which constitute a control command.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of a display control command.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a lamp control command.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of a sound control command.

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram showing a fluctuating state constituting each fluctuating pattern of a symbol.

FIG. 31 is a timing chart showing an example of a change in a symbol at the time of a loss.

FIG. 32 is a timing chart showing an example of symbol fluctuation.

FIG. 33 is a timing chart showing an example of symbol fluctuation.

FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a command transmission table.

FIG. 35 is an explanatory diagram showing one configuration example and another configuration example of command data 2;

FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of INT data.

FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a command transmission table.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a display command control process.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing a command transmission routine.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a non-maskable interrupt process in the game control means.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a non-maskable interrupt process in the game control means.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a non-maskable interrupt process in the game control means.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing a game state restoration process.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by a display control CPU.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process.

FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a command reception buffer.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing a command reception interrupt process.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing a command analysis process.

FIG. 49 is an explanatory diagram showing display random numbers.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing a display control process.

FIG. 51 is a flowchart showing a display control command reception waiting process of the display control process process.

FIG. 52 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a fluctuation pattern command and the like are set in a command transmission table.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing an entire symbol change start process of the display control process process.

FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing a symbol change process in the display control process process.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing an all symbol stop waiting process of the display control process process.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing display processing during a right occurrence state of display control process processing.

FIG. 57 is a timing chart showing processing executed by the display control CPU when a change pattern command is received during the right generation state.

FIG. 58 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by a lamp control CPU.

FIG. 59 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process executed by the lamp control CPU.

FIG. 60 is an explanatory diagram showing lamp data in an address map of a ROM mounted on a lamp control board.

FIG. 61 is a timing chart showing processing executed by the lamp control CPU when a fluctuation pattern command is received during the right generation state.

FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by a sound control CPU.

FIG. 63 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process executed by the sound control CPU.

FIG. 64 is an explanatory diagram showing audio data in an address map of a ROM mounted on the audio control board.

FIG. 65 is a timing chart showing processing executed by the sound control CPU when a fluctuation pattern command is received during the right generation state.

FIG. 66 is a timing chart showing another example of the processing executed by the display control CPU when a change pattern command is received during the right generation state.

FIG. 67 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display state of the LED display.

FIG. 68 is a timing chart showing another example of the processing executed by the lamp control CPU when a fluctuation pattern command is received during the right generation state.

FIG. 69 is a timing chart showing another example of the processing executed by the sound control CPU when a fluctuation pattern command is received during the right generation state.

FIG. 70 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a state of audio output.

FIG. 71 is a flowchart illustrating an example of switch processing according to another embodiment.

FIG. 72 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a command transmission table setting process according to another embodiment.

FIG. 73 is a flowchart showing another example of the command analysis processing executed by the lamp control means according to another embodiment.

FIG. 74 is a flowchart showing another example of the command analysis processing executed by the sound control means in another embodiment.

FIG. 75 is a front view showing an example of a game board of a pachinko gaming machine according to another embodiment viewed from the front.

FIG. 76 is a front view showing an example of the right generation device according to another embodiment viewed from the front.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pachinko game machine 9 Variable display section 310 Main board 314 CPU 350 Lamp control board 351 Lamp control CPU 700 Sound control board 701 Sound control CPU 800 Display control board 801 Display control CPU

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A variable display unit capable of variably displaying identification information, wherein a right generation state is generated on condition that a predetermined specific display result is displayed as a display result on the variable display unit. During the period in which the right is generated, the variable winning device is changed from the second state which is disadvantageous to the player to the player based on the detection of the game ball by the start detecting means provided in the start area. A game machine controllable to a first state, comprising: a game control means for controlling the progress of a game; and a display control means for controlling a display state of the variable display section, wherein the game control means comprises: Display content determining means for determining at least the variable display time of the identification information on the variable display unit and the fixed identification information determined as the display result; and a control command for controlling the variable display unit. Command output means for outputting a command to the display control means, wherein the command output means can specify at least a variable display time of the identification information as the control command based on the determination of the display content determining means. A command and an identification information designation command capable of identifying the confirmed identification information can be output at a time related to starting the variable display of the identification information based on the variable display command. A gaming machine capable of outputting a determination command indicating determination of identification information at a time when the game is performed. 2. The variable display section has a plurality of display areas, and identification information can be variably displayed in each of the display areas, and the game control means includes identification information corresponding to each of the plurality of display areas. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine outputs a designated command. 3. The control command output by the game control means includes at least classification information indicating a classification of the control command, and the display control means determines which classification of the control command according to the classification information indicating the classification of the control command. Check if there is
3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein it is determined at least whether the command is a variable display command, an identification information designation command, or a confirmation command. 4. The display control unit determines one display content from a plurality of different types of display contents according to one variable display command, and controls a display state of the variable display unit.
A gaming machine according to claim 3. 5. A right generation state is generated when a predetermined specific display result is derived on the variable display section and a game ball is detected by a special area detection means provided in the special area. The gaming machine according to claim 1. 6. A first guiding operation for guiding a game ball to a special area or a second guiding operation for guiding to a normal area different from the special area according to a display result of the variable display unit. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, further comprising a guiding operation means capable of guiding a game ball. 7. The gaming machine according to claim 6, wherein the detection by the special area detection means is normally disabled, and the detection is enabled at least during a period in which the guidance operation means performs the first guidance operation. 8. An operation area through which a game ball can pass, and operation detection means provided in the operation area, and variably displaying identification information on condition that the game ball is detected by the operation detection means. 7. The gaming machine according to claim 6, wherein the detection by the operation detecting means is invalidated at least during a period in which the variable display is being performed and a period in which the guiding operation means is performing the guiding operation. 9. An operation area through which a game ball can pass, and operation detection means provided in the operation area, and variably displaying identification information on condition that a game ball is detected by the operation detection means. 7. A shielding member for preventing the game ball from being guided to the operation area at the start and at least during the period when the variable display is being performed and during the period when the guidance operation means is performing the guidance operation. Item 7. The gaming machine according to Item 8. 10. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein, even though the specific display result is displayed on the variable display section, when the special area detecting means does not detect the result, it is determined to be abnormal. 11. The gaming machine according to claim 6, further comprising discharge detection means for detecting a game ball guided to the normal area. 12. An electronic component for effect provided on the gaming machine, different from the variable display portion, and effect control means for controlling the electric component for effect, wherein the game control means includes the electric component for effect. Using the to output an effect start command for starting an auxiliary effect performed in response to the variable display of the identification information in the variable display unit to the effect control means, the effect control means, the input effect start It is possible to control the electrical component for production based on a command, In the right generation state, the game control means, even if the variable display of the identification information is performed on the variable display unit, 12. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the effect start command corresponding to the variable display is not output to the effect control means. 13. An effect electronic component provided on a gaming machine, different from the variable display section, and effect control means for controlling the effect electric component, wherein the game control means comprises the effect electric component. Using the to output an effect start command for starting an auxiliary effect performed in response to the variable display of the identification information in the variable display unit to the effect control means, the effect control means, the input effect start It is possible to control the electrical component for production based on a command, and in the right generation state, even if the production start command is input, the production control unit performs an auxiliary production based on the production start command. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game is not started.