JP2002204864A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change a character appearing in ready-to-win, etc., in a Pachinko game machine. SOLUTION: When ready is generated by the temporary stoppage of a left pattern area 28a and a right pattern area 28c ((a) in the figure 6), a character changing scene is displayed ((b) and (c) in the figure 6), the character is replaced, two articles are displayed on a table and a scene where the character cannot decide which one to choose is displayed ((d) in the figure 6). When a prize-winning pattern is stopped temporarily, the action of the character choosing an article highly connected with him/herself is displayed just before it and the prize-winning pattern is temporarily stopped nearly simultaneously with the completion of the action. The prize-winning pattern looks as if it has stopped temporarily because the character chooses is/her favorite, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of ball and ball game machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Lottery means for performing a lottery process for determining whether or not a lottery condition has occurred (for example, a game ball entering a starting port or passing a starting gate), an image display means for displaying an image, Display control means for controlling the image display means to variably display the symbols, then displaying the symbols in a manner indicating the lottery result, and displaying the character in a part or all of the period from the start of the fluctuation of the symbols to the final display; There is a ball game machine provided with advantageous game execution means for executing a game advantageous to a player (for example, a game for opening a special winning opening) on condition that a lottery has been won.

In such a ball game machine, a character (person, animal, personification of a plant, a robot, etc.) is used when the display mode of the symbol becomes so-called reach, for example.
There is something that makes the appearance.

[0004]

In a conventional ball-and-ball game machine, a character appearing at the time of a reach or the like is fixed, and this character does not change.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball game machine, comprising: a lottery means for selecting a hit or a miss due to establishment of a lottery condition; An image display unit to be displayed, and a part of a period from the start of the change of the symbol to the final display while the symbol is determined and displayed in a mode showing the lottery result after the symbol is controlled and the symbol display is changed and displayed. Or a ball game machine comprising display control means for displaying characters in all, and advantageous game execution means for executing a game advantageous to the player on condition that the lottery has been won,
Character display means for selecting one character from a plurality of types of characters is provided, and the display control means comprises:
Since the character selected by the character selecting means is displayed, for example, character A → character B
A plurality of types of characters such as → character C → character D can be exchanged. Therefore, it brings freshness that was not present in the conventional ball game machine in which only definitive characters appeared.

[0006] The character is selected when a specific event occurs (or ends), for example, each time a game advantageous to the player (a so-called big hit game) ends or a lottery result is displayed a set number of times. It may be performed, may be performed periodically, or may be performed at completely random timing.

A preferred example of such a selection timing is the configuration of claim 2. The ball game machine according to claim 2 is
2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the character selecting means selects the character when the symbol is displayed in a specific mode or before the specific mode is displayed. .

[0008] Examples of the specific mode include a reach display and a hit mode according to the third aspect. By selecting a character when or in such a specific mode, the character in the reach display or the hit mode can be changed each time.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ball game machine according to the first or second aspect, the character selecting means sets the symbol in a hit mode indicating that the lottery result was a hit. When the final display is made, the character having a high relevance to the symbol displayed in the corresponding or displayed mode is selected, and the display control means displays the character before the final display of the hitting mode. Features.

The high relevance between a character and a pattern is, for example, a relationship that one can easily associate the other with another or a relationship that is good or bad, and there is no uniform standard. The relevance holds. Rabbit (character)
And carrot (design), drunk (character) and sake (design). It is also possible to associate the character with the occupation or social status of the character, such as a pilot (character) and an airplane (design).

[0011] Therefore, by selecting a character highly relevant to the symbol displayed in the hit mode, and displaying the character at the time of the reach display, for example, prior to the final display of the hit mode, the player can obtain the hit mode. Can be foreseen and expected.

However, since it is not interesting if such a relationship always holds, a character having low relevance to the symbol is displayed before the final display of the winning mode (for example, at the time of reach). And, the player is surprised by the fixed display of the winning mode, or conversely, for example, a character highly relevant to the design is displayed at the time of the reach, and the deviated mode is definitely displayed, and It is also effective to display differently.

The same effect as that of the second or third aspect can also be achieved by the configuration of the fourth aspect. That is, in the ball game machine according to claim 4, in the ball game machine according to claim 1, when the display of the symbol is in a specific mode, the symbol is highly relevant to the selected character. And displaying the specific mode.

In this ball game machine, when the display of the symbol is in a specific mode, for example, a reach display or a hit mode as described in claim 3, the specific pattern is displayed in a symbol highly relevant to the selected character. Display the mode. For example, when a rabbit (character) is selected, a reach is displayed, for example, with a carrot (a pattern containing a carrot) that is highly relevant to the rabbit, and the same applies when a hit mode follows the reach. Is displayed.

Therefore, for example, if the character appearing at the time of the reach display is highly related to the symbol used for the reach display, the player is foreseen that the winning mode will follow the reach display. Can be expected. A ball game machine according to claim 5, wherein in the ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the display control means displays the change scene of the character when the selection of the character is performed. It is characterized in that it is displayed on a display means.

The change of the character in response to the selection of the character may be performed without any warning. However, it is more clear to the player to display the change scene of the character on the image display means. You can enjoy what character changes in the changing scene. In particular, in the configuration according to the third aspect, if a change scene of the character is displayed at the time of the reach, for example, the possibility of the hit mode increases or decreases depending on the character after the change, thereby increasing the fun.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ball game machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the action of the character under the same situation is common regardless of the type of the character. It is characterized by the following. That is, even if the character is different, the action itself does not change, so that it is not necessary to set individual actions for each character. In addition, this eliminates the need for the player to care about the unique movement of each character, and the player can watch the character with confidence.

The term "under the same situation" does not mean only the same scene. Even if the same scene does not reach, for example, the case where the hit mode is displayed or not is displayed. , Meaning that it includes subsequent scene changes.

[0019]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a pachinko machine 10 as a ball-and-ball game machine has a structure in which each part of the configuration is held by a housing composed of a rectangular outer frame 11 and a front frame 12. The pachinko machine 10 is a so-called CR machine, and includes a card reader unit (hereinafter, CR unit) 13 for reading and writing a prepaid card.

The front frame 12 is attached to the outer frame 11 by the upper and lower hinges 14 at the left end so as to be openable and closable, and is normally closed as shown in the figure. A window-shaped glass frame 20 is attached to the front frame 12 so as to be openable with respect to the front frame 12. A plate glass 21 is doubly fitted in the glass frame 20, and a game board 22 held by the front frame 12 is stored behind the plate glass 21.

An upper plate 15 is disposed below the glass frame 20 and is removably attached to the front frame 12. The upper plate 15 is provided with a lending button 16 for instructing lending of game balls by a prepaid card, a settlement button 17 for instructing return of a prepaid card, and a balance display section 18 for displaying a balance of the prepaid card. Have been. When the prepaid card is inserted into the card slot 19 of the CR unit 13, the balance of the prepaid card is displayed on the balance display section 1.
8, when the lending button 16 is pressed, the lending of the game balls is executed within the range of the balance, and the game balls as the loaned balls are discharged to the upper plate 15. When the settlement button 17 is pressed, the prepaid card is ejected from the card slot 19.

Below the upper plate 15, the lower plate 23 is
2 and a firing handle 24 is attached to the right side of the lower plate 23. A dial portion 24a is mounted on the outer periphery of the firing handle 24. When the dial portion 24a is rotated clockwise, a firing device (not shown) operates to play the game balls supplied from the upper plate 15 and play the game board 22. Fire at. At this time, the strength of the firing force can be adjusted by the amount of rotation of the dial portion 24a. A conductive touch sensor 24b is provided adjacent to the dial portion 24a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 22 has a substantially circular game area 25a surrounded by a guide rail 25.
And a liquid crystal display device 26 having a liquid crystal display panel 26a as an image display means is provided at the center thereof. In the upper center of the frame of the liquid crystal display device 26, a seven-segment LED is usually mounted as a symbol display 27.

The game board 22 is provided with a tulip-type variable winning device 31 below the liquid crystal display device 26, and the variable winning device 31 functions as a starting port which is a specific ball-in opening. Gates 34 are disposed on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal display device 26, respectively. When the game ball passes through the gate 34, the display of the symbol display 27 usually fluctuates and stops, and if it is a hit value (for example, 7). The variable winning device 31 is opened for a shorter time until one ball is won or for a set time.

Below these gates 34, a normal winning opening 74 is provided.
Are arranged below the variable winning device 31. A large winning device 36 having a large winning opening 40 and left and right normal winning openings 76 is arranged, and an out opening 41 is provided at the bottom of the board. The game board 22 is provided with a number of game nails, and is provided with a windmill and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pachinko machine 10 includes a main control board 70, a payout control board 75, a firing control board 77, a lamp control board 80, a display control board 90, and a voice control board 97. The main control board 70 includes a CPU
70a, ROM 70b, RAM 70c, counter 70
d, 70e, 70f, input / output ports, etc.
It functions as a lottery means and also as an advantageous game execution means in cooperation with the special winning device 36. The main control board 70 includes a gate 34, a winning sensor 31 c of the variable winning device 31, a specific area sensor 36 c of the big winning device 36, and a count sensor 3.
6d, detection signals from the normal winning openings 74, 76, etc., signals from the touch sensor 24b, other gaming boards 22 and pachinko machines 1
0, and obtains signals from the sensors installed in each part of the unit, and sends various commands related to the progress of the game based on the signals to the payout control board 75, the firing control board 77, the lamp control board 80, the display control board 90, Output to the audio control board 97. The main control board 70 controls the opening and closing of the solenoid 31d of the variable winning device 31 and the solenoid 36b of the special winning device 36 by controlling the operations thereof.

The payout control board 75 activates the payout device in response to a command sent from the main control board 70 to pay out prize balls, and operates the payout device in response to a lending request from the CR unit 13. And let the ball be paid out. The launch control board 77 controls the operation of the launch device according to the signal of the touch sensor 24b and the command sent from the main control board 70.

Although not shown, the lamp control board 80 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output port, etc., and turns on lamps such as LEDs and light bulbs in response to a command sent from the main control board 70. Turns off, controls the operation of actuators such as motors and solenoids that are not controlled by other control boards.

The display control board 90 includes a CPU 90a, R
An OM 90b, a RAM 90c, an input / output port, and the like are provided, and control the display of the liquid crystal display device 26 and the ordinary symbol display 27 according to a command sent from the main control board 70. The display control board 90 (especially, the CPU 90a) corresponds to a display control unit in that the display of the liquid crystal display device 26 is controlled.

Although not shown, the voice control board 97 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a sound source LSI, an input / output port, and the like, and generates a voice signal in response to a command sent from the main control board 70. Then, the speaker is driven by the audio signal to output audio.

Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 will be described focusing on the processing of the main control board 70 (especially the CPU 70a) and the processing of the display control board 90 (especially the CPU 90a) related to the display of the liquid crystal display device 26. . FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a lottery process executed by the CPU 70a of the main control board 70 as a subroutine of a main routine (illustration and description is omitted). Main control board 70 (CPU 70
a) functions as a lottery means by executing this lottery process.

In the lottery process, the CPU 70a first determines whether or not the game ball detection signal (start signal) from the winning sensor 31c of the variable winning device 31 has been input, ie, whether or not the game ball has won the variable winning device 31. Is determined (S10
1). If the determination is affirmative, the values of the counters 70d and 70e are read (S103). Then, the value of the read counter 70d is collated with a predetermined hit value, and a lottery is performed to determine whether or not a big hit has occurred (S104). In this embodiment, there are a low probability mode having only one hit value (probability is about 1/300) and a high probability mode having five hit values (probability is about 1/60). Hour) is set to low probability mode, but after that, from low probability mode to high probability mode, depending on the symbol used to display the winning,
Also, the mode is switched from the high probability mode to the low probability mode.

Next, if the lottery in S104 is a hit (S106: YES), the CPU 70a proceeds to S103.
Based on the value of the counter 70e read in step S10, it is determined whether or not to set the high probability mode, that is, a lottery of probability variation is performed (S10
7). This lottery is also performed in the same manner as in S104, but the winning, that is, the probability of entering the high probability mode is about 1/2. Here, if the lottery is a win, the jackpot lottery from the end of the special game with the jackpot (described later) to the next occurrence of the jackpot is performed in the high probability mode.

Subsequently, a winning symbol for displaying the big hit is determined (S108). In the case of the present embodiment, the design used to show the result of the jackpot lottery is a design in which a number from 0 to 9 and an article are combined.
As shown in the figure, carrot (a favorite of rabbits) is combined with the symbol of 3. Various figures such as bone-in meat (dog favorite), bamboo grass (panda favorite), and bonito (cat favorite) are also combined with other figures. The rabbit,
Dogs, pandas, cats, humans, and the like are displayed as characters, the display of which will be described later.

The special symbol (winning symbol and missing symbol) indicating the result of the jackpot lottery is formed by arranging three symbols each having the same numeral in the design. , 111, 222, 333,
444, 555, 666, 777, 888, 999) are hit symbols. And among these 10 kinds of winning symbols, the combination of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 is a positively changing symbol indicating that the high probability lottery has been won. Except for the three-digit alignment, all of the symbols are out-of-designs for indicating out-of-place.

Therefore, in S108, one of the above-mentioned winning symbols is determined, but if the probability variable lottery in S107 is a winning, it is determined to be one of the five types of variable symbols. Subsequently, the CPU 70a stores information related to the winning symbol, such as the winning symbol determined in S108 and the presence or absence of a probability change, and sets the winning flag F1 to 1 (S109).

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in S106 (the big hit lottery is out), a winning symbol is determined by a combination other than the hit symbol described above (S110). It should be noted that since the appearance rate of the reach becomes smaller if the out-of-office symbols are determined completely at random, the reach is made to appear at an appropriate rate higher than that.

Next, the character is changed in accordance with the configuration of the special symbol determined in S109 or S110 (the presence or absence of the reach and the type of the symbol constituting the special symbol) and the type of the character currently used (selected). It is determined whether or not to perform (S111). For example, if the winning symbol determined in S108 is a combination of 3 symbols (with carrots), the reach display of "3? 3" is displayed prior to the hit display (reach hit). Also, if the departure symbol determined in S110 is, for example, “343”, in this case also, “3”
? The reach display of "3" is displayed (out of reach).

In the case of the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment, when such a reach display is performed, it is assumed that a character (for example, a rabbit) highly relevant to a symbol (for example, a carrot) constituting the reach is displayed. , It is set so that a winning symbol is likely to be displayed. (Actually, when a winning symbol is displayed, a character having a high relevance to the symbols constituting the reach is made to appear. ), It is necessary to perform processing to cause a highly relevant character to appear when the character reaches the reach, and to cause a less relevant character to appear when the character is out of the reach.

That is, in S111, the necessity of character change is determined based on these conditions. It should be noted that a character with high relevance is not always made to appear at the time of reaching the reach.
Further, if the currently selected character satisfies the above-described condition, it is not necessary to change the character.

When changing the character, S108
A process for selecting a character based on the relevance with the winning symbol determined in step S110 or the off symbol determined in step S110 is performed (S112). The CPU 70a corresponds to a character selecting means in executing S112.

Next, according to the special symbol determined in S109 or S110 (for example, a distinction between a hit symbol, a probable symbol, an out-of-reach symbol, and an out-of-reach symbol)
A variation pattern is determined (S113). The fluctuation pattern includes the fluctuation time (time from the start of fluctuation to the stop or temporary stop) of each of the three symbols constituting the special symbol, the presence or absence of a reach, the type of a reach action (initial reach) performed at the time of the reach, and the initial reach. , Whether there is a reach action (development reach), the type of development reach, the presence or absence of all rotations that fluctuate simultaneously from the state where the three symbols are temporarily stopped, and the type of hit symbol finally displayed Or not) is determined as a series of variation progress patterns. Therefore, the type of the variation pattern is various depending on, for example, the type of the initial reach and the type of the development reach, and is a design item that can be appropriately set.

After determining the variation pattern, a symbol command including each data for designating each element of the variation pattern (variation time, initial reach, advanced reach, full rotation, special symbol) is generated (S114). When the character is changed by executing S112, a character command is also generated. The generated design command and character command are transmitted to the display control board 90 in a command transmission process (illustration and description omitted) of the main routine.

The display control board 90 (strictly speaking, the CPU 90
The display control of the hit symbol or the off symbol according to a) is shown in FIG.
Is performed in the special symbol control processing shown in FIG. In this process, the display control board 90 first determines whether or not the symbol command from the main control board 70 has been acquired (whether or not the symbol command received in the communication process, not shown and described, is stored in the RAM 90c). Judgment is made (S201), and if the symbol command has not been obtained, this processing is ended. Note that the acquired symbol command is deleted from the RAM 90c when the execution of the process corresponding to the command is completed, so that the processed symbol command is not stored. In addition, commands other than the symbol commands are also transmitted from the main control board 70, but the description of the processing corresponding thereto is omitted.

When a symbol command has been acquired (S
201: Yes), the liquid crystal display device 26 is controlled to start the variable display of symbols (S202). In the case of the present embodiment, three symbol display areas (left symbol area 28a, middle symbol area 28b, right symbol area 28c) are formed on the liquid crystal display panel 26a of the liquid crystal display device 26 as shown in FIG. And each symbol area 28
The symbols including the above-mentioned numbers are scroll-displayed from top to bottom, that is, variably displayed for each of a, 28b, and 28c. Also, as a background image of the symbol areas 28a, 28b, 28c,
A figure 28d indicating the currently selected character (a dog in the example of FIG. 6A) is displayed.

Next, the symbols in the left symbol area 28a are temporarily stopped (S203). Here, the temporary stop is a state in which the fluctuation of the symbol is not completely stopped, for example, a state in which the pattern slightly moves up and down or left and right. Next, similarly, the symbol in the right symbol area 28c is temporarily stopped by the symbol command until the symbol is temporarily stopped, and the symbol in the right symbol area 28c is temporarily stopped (S20).
4).

Here, since the two symbols are temporarily stopped, if they are aligned, the last symbol (here, the middle symbol area 28b
Is a reach that depends on whether it is hit or not. Then, if it is reach (S205: YES), it is determined whether or not a character command has been acquired (whether or not it is stored in the RAM 90c as in the case of the symbol command) (S2).
06) If the character command has been acquired, the liquid crystal display device 26 is controlled to display a character change scene.

More specifically, the display control board 90 controls the liquid crystal display device 26 to display the character "Who is next?" And five doors as shown in FIG. Display the scene where the arrow moves left and right and then stop under one door, then close the door where the arrow stopped and the character selected by the character selection process from there Is displayed (see FIG. 6C). The character that appeared here (rabbit in this example)
Is used as a subsequent character. In this character change scene, the symbol areas 28a to 28c are reduced and displayed at the lower right of the screen. During the movement of the character, as shown in FIG. 6D, a character name 28e is displayed at an appropriate position (for example, at the upper right of the screen) instead of the graphic 28d representing the character.

When a character command has not been received (S206: NO) or when a character change scene (S20)
Following 7), a reach action is displayed (S20).
8). There are various types of actions here, but as a typical example, two articles (articles of the same kind as the articles constituting the pattern in combination with the above numbers) are displayed on the table,
A scene where the character is wondering which to choose is displayed (see FIG. 6D). Note that one of the two articles is the same type as the article of the design that is displayed in the reach display at the temporary stop. For example, in the example of FIG. 6D, a carrot (the same kind as the reach symbol) in combination with the numeral 3 and a meat with a bone in combination with the numeral 2 are displayed on the table. Further, an action such as changing a symbol changing speed is also executed.

Then, the symbols in the middle symbol area 28b are temporarily stopped at the timing designated by the symbol command (S20).
9). At this time, the winning symbol temporarily stops (FIG. 6
In the example of (d), in the case of the symbol 3 and carrot temporarily stopping in the middle symbol area 28b), the character (the rabbit in the example of FIG. 6 (d)) is slightly earlier than the temporary stop. The operation of selecting a highly relevant article (carrot) and hanging the hand (front leg) is displayed, and the symbol is temporarily stopped almost simultaneously with the completion of the operation. That is, since the character has selected a highly-relevant article such as a favorite, the winning symbol appears to be temporarily stopped.

In the case of this embodiment, the probability that the character selects a highly relevant item such as a favorite is set to about 99%, and in most cases, a highly relevant item (a carrot in this example) is selected. And the symbol is temporarily stopped. However, although rare (with a probability of about 1% in the present embodiment), there may be a case where a less-relevant article (meat with bone in this example) is selected. In this case, the symbol containing the article selected by the character (in this example, a symbol combining 2 and bone-in meat) is temporarily stopped in the middle symbol area 28b, that is, the symbol is temporarily stopped.

FIG. 6 illustrates the case where the character is changed. However, as shown in FIG. 7A, for example, the character is not changed until the reach display (S204) (S206:
NO), and may be used as it is (see FIG. 7B). Further, FIG. 6 shows an example in which a character (dog) having a low relevance to the reach display symbol (3 and carrot) is changed to a character (rabbit) having a high relevance. The character (rabbit, FIG. 7 (a)) having a high relevance to the carrot (3 and carrot) may be changed to a character (dog, FIG. 7 (c)) having a low relevance.

In the example shown in FIG. 7C, the reach display is 3
And a carrot pattern, but the displayed character is a dog that is not related to carrots,
According to the principle of selecting an article (such as a favorite) that is highly relevant to the character, it is not expected that the dog character will select an article corresponding to the carrot, that is, the design of the reach, and work with it.

However, although rare (with a probability of about 1% in the present embodiment), there may be a case where a less-relevant article (a carrot in the example shown in FIG. 7C) is selected. A human may be displayed as a character. In the case of humans, for example, tastes for articles such as food are not constant among people (for example, some people like carrots and some people like meat with bones), so that a human as a character selects which article. It is not decided in a straightforward manner. For this reason, in the present embodiment, humans are set to appear as a kind of almighty, and humans as characters are almost certainly (for example, at a rate of 98% or more) the same type as the goods of the pattern that is displayed in reach. This is a setting for selecting the item on the table.

Needless to say, in the control process, the character does not select (do not select) a highly-related article such as a favorite item, but does not temporarily stop the hit symbol (outlier symbol), Since it has been decided to temporarily stop the symbol (outlier symbol), a scene where the character selects (does not select) a highly relevant article such as a favorite item is displayed.

On the other hand, the off symbol temporarily stops (FIG. 6 (d)).
In the example of FIG. 6, if the symbols other than 3 and carrot temporarily stop in the middle symbol area 28b, the character (the rabbit in the example of FIG. 6D) is slightly earlier than the temporary stop. Thin or unrelated items (Fig. 6 (d)
In this example, the action of selecting the meat with bones) and displaying the hand is displayed, and almost simultaneously with the completion of the action, the symbol is temporarily stopped. That is, since the character did not select a highly-relevant article such as a favorite, the off-looking symbol appears to be temporarily stopped.

Even if the characters are different, the operation of taking a highly relevant item when a winning symbol is displayed, for example, and taking a less relevant item with a missed symbol is the same as each other. If it is not reach (S205: NO), the symbol in the middle symbol area 28b is temporarily stopped without any character change or reach action (S205).
209).

Next, the presence or absence of full rotation is determined based on the symbol command (S210). If there is full rotation (S210:
YES), the three symbols temporarily stopped are scrolled all at once (S211), and then the three symbol areas 28a, 28
b and 28c, one symbol is fixed and stopped (S21)
2). If there is no full rotation (S210: NO), three temporarily stopped symbols are fixed and stopped as they are (S2).
12).

Here, when the winning symbol is confirmed and displayed, a special game is started subsequently. The special game itself executed in the present embodiment is the same as that of a known pachinko machine of the type called the first type. However, in this embodiment, character selection is performed at the final stage of the special game. Will be explained.

In the special game processing, the main control board 70
Determines whether or not the hit flag F1 is set to 1 (S301), and if the determination is negative, no substantial processing is performed (the special game is not executed). If an affirmative determination is made in S301, a jackpot opening command is sent to the display control board 90 to display a jackpot fanfare screen and notify the start of the special game. After that, solenoid 3
6b is controlled to open and close the special winning opening 40, the number of rounds of opening the special winning opening 40 (number of rounds) is displayed on the display control board 90 by the round number display command, and the big hit screen is displayed by the big hit symbol display command. The special game, such as displaying the winning number (so-called count number) in the special winning opening 40 by the winning number command, displaying the passing of the specific area by the specific area passing display command, and displaying the interval screen by the interval command. Various processes are performed (S302). By opening and closing the special winning opening 40, the CPU 70a functions as an advantageous game executing means in cooperation with the special winning device 36.

Then, when the opening of the special winning opening 40 reaches the upper limit number (16th round in this embodiment) (S303:
YES), a character selecting process is executed (S30).
4). The CPU 70a corresponds to a character selecting means in performing the character selecting process. Note that the content of the character selection processing here is different from that of S112 (FIG. 4) described above.

The details of the character selection processing are as shown in FIG. 9. First, the value (character random number) of the counter 70f is read (S401). Then, a character to be used next time is selected based on the random number of the character (S
402). This selection method may be set as appropriate. In the case of the present embodiment, the character random number is divided by 5, and if it is divisible, the rabbit is the remainder, the dog is the remainder 1, the panda is the remainder 2, and the remainder is 3.
In this case, a cat is selected, and if it is 4, a human is selected.

Subsequently, the CPU 70a stores the character determined in S402 in, for example, the RAM 70c (S40).
3) Instruct the display control board 90 to display a character replacement scene in which the character is selected (S40).
4). When the display control board 90 receives the display command of this character replacement scene, it controls the liquid crystal display device 26 to display five doors as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b). A scene in which the player stops moving under one door after moving left and right is displayed. At this time, 16R characters indicating the number of rounds are displayed at the upper left of the screen, and at the lower right,
The winning pattern that triggered this special game is "33
3 "is displayed.

When the moving arrow stops (the second door from the left in FIG. 10A and the center door in FIG. 10B), the door is closed up and character selection processing is performed from there. A scene where the selected character appears (FIGS. 10C and 10D) is displayed. The character appearing here is displayed along with the symbol change display as described above.

Returning to FIG. 8, when a negative determination is made in S303 or subsequent to S304, the CPU 70a determines whether or not the special game is to be ended (S305). In this embodiment, 1
At the end of round 6, the special game is over. Also, 16
Even if the round has not been reached, if the game ball does not pass through the specific area during that round, the next round is not started and the special game ends. Therefore, in this S305, the end of 16 rounds and the presence / absence of passage of the specific area are determined. When the special game ends (S305:
YES), resets the hit flag F1 (S30)
6).

In the present embodiment, such a special game is performed when a jackpot lottery is won. However, the form of the special game executed on condition that the player wins the jackpot lottery is not limited to this. Further, the timing of changing the character is not limited to the last round (the 16th round in the embodiment) of the special game exemplified above, and may be performed, for example, when a reach occurs, or may be performed every time a symbol changes. Good.

As described above, in the pachinko machine 10, when the main control board 70 (CPU 70a) selects one character from among a plurality of types of characters by the character selection processing, the display control board 90 (CPU 90a) is selected. Since the displayed character is used for display on the liquid crystal display device 26, a plurality of types of characters such as character A → character B → character C → character D can be replaced. Therefore, there was not in the conventional ball game machine that only appeared definitive characters,
Bring freshness.

In the variable display of the symbol, the character is selected when the display of the symbol becomes the reach display which is a kind of a specific mode. Therefore, the character at the time of the reach display can be changed. In particular, when a winning symbol is displayed, in the character change process associated with the reach, a character having a high relevance to a symbol (which is also a reach symbol) constituting the winning symbol is selected and displayed prior to the final display of the winning symbol. Therefore, it is possible for the player to foresee the display of the symbol and expect it. Also, the winning symbol is displayed by the action of the character, so that the player can enjoy the game.

In the internal processing, when a winning symbol is displayed, the winning symbol is displayed with a symbol having a high relevance to the character selected when the winning symbol is determined and displayed. Thus, the effect of entertaining the player as described above can be exhibited.

When a character is selected, a change scene of the character is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 26, so that the change of the character can be clearly understood by the player.
You can enjoy what character changes in the changing scene. In particular, if the character change scene is displayed at the time of the reach, the possibility of a hit pattern is increased or decreased depending on the character after the change, so the fun is increased.

Even if the character is changed from a rabbit to a dog, for example, the action of the character is common irrespective of the type of the character, so that it is not necessary to set individual actions for each character. In addition, this eliminates the need for the player to care about the unique movement of each character, and the player can watch the character with confidence.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and may be variously implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board of the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a lottery process executed by a CPU of a main control board in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a special symbol control process executed by the CPU of the display control board in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a reach scene and a character change in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between a reach scene and a character in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a special game process executed by the CPU of the main control board in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a character selection process executed by a CPU of a main control board as a subroutine of a special game process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a scene displaying a result of the character selection processing of FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 Pachinko machine 22 Game board 26 Liquid crystal display device (image display means) 36 Big win device (advantageous game execution means) 70 Main control board (lottery means, advantageous game execution means, character selection means) 70a CPU (lottery means, advantageous game) Execution means, character selection means) 90 display control board (display control means) 90a CPU (display control means)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yumiko Soejima 1-3-3 Taiheidori, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Takaonai F-term (reference) 2C088 AA35 AA36 AA39 BC22 CA27 EB55

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A lottery means for performing a lottery process for determining a hit or a failure due to establishment of a lottery condition;
After controlling the image display means to change and display the symbols, the symbols are fixedly displayed in a mode showing the lottery result, and the characters are displayed in a part or all of the period from the start of the change of the symbols to the fixed display. In a ball game machine comprising display control means and advantageous game execution means for executing a game advantageous to a player on condition that the lottery has been won, one character is selected from a plurality of types of the characters. And a character selection unit for displaying the character selected by the character selection unit. 2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the character selection means selects the character when or when the display of the symbol is in a specific mode. A ball game machine characterized by the above. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the character selecting means determines whether the symbol is displayed in a winning manner indicating that the lottery result was a hit. A ball game machine, wherein the character having a high relevance to the symbol displayed in a hitting mode is selected, and the display control means displays the character prior to the final display of the hit mode. 4. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein when the symbol is displayed in a specific mode, the specific mode is displayed in the symbol having high relevance to the selected character. A ball game machine characterized by the above. 5. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the display control means causes the image display means to display a change scene of the character when the character is selected. A ball game machine characterized by the following. 6. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the action of the character under the same situation is common regardless of the type of the character. .