JP2002224333A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change symbols in an irregular manner without increasing the amount of image data and to change the symbols with good visibility, as in specifying a jackpot symbol. SOLUTION: When a symbol is to be divided, the shape of the symbol yet to be divided can be left intact, so the visibility of the symbol is enhanced for players and the players can determine if the symbol being changed is the jackpot symbol even while the symbol is changing. Because each of the masked symbols may become a deformed symbol, the need to create image data especially for the change of the symbols is eliminated and the amount of memory data can be reduced. Further, because the symbols are changed in a way apparently different from conventional methods, unexpected effects can be produced for the players.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lottery which is executed by winning a starting port, and the result of the lottery is determined by changing the pattern of the symbols in a plurality of rows for a predetermined time and the fluctuation pattern stopped after the predetermined time. The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a symbol variation display device for notifying a player in an arrangement state, and capable of setting a gaming state advantageous to the player when the result of the lottery is a hit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a gaming machine, especially a pachinko machine, a lottery is performed by detecting a pachinko ball which has won a start winning prize port (special symbol start prize port). As a result,
There is a pachinko machine that has a function of opening a special winning opening a predetermined number of times for a predetermined period of time and increasing a winning rate of a game ball, thereby making the state advantageous to a player.

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

By the way, as an effect at the time of symbol determination expression on the symbol variation screen, in particular, an effect of stopping and deciding the final symbol after reaching at a predetermined position, the symbol is switched from continuous high-speed rotation to frame feed variation, and thereafter. In general, a method of stopping the rotation or switching to the slow rotation and then stopping the rotation is adopted.

Further, while swinging a plurality of symbols including a hit symbol up, down, left and right, a symbol is specified by determining whether the symbol stops at a predetermined position or not, and a hit symbol and two symbols before and after the hit symbol are specified. While replacing each other, an irregular change such as determining a stop symbol last may be performed.

[0006] In the above-described symbol variation, an effect is produced only by the movement of one reel, and it is difficult to instantly determine which symbol is a hit symbol without looking at the left eye at the time of the determination. , Especially because of reel movement only,
Poor visual surprise.

[0007] As an irregular pattern fluctuation, the pattern is further replaced while being twisted and deformed such as compression and expansion. According to this, visual unexpectedness can be provided, but the amount of image data becomes enormous, making it difficult to cope with a limited amount of memory, and has other adverse effects such as a reduction in processing speed. It is possible.

[0008] For this reason, it has been proposed to divide one hit symbol into a plurality of symbols, randomly swing the symbols, and specify the symbols depending on whether or not they are connected to each other.

However, it is difficult to determine the shape of the original symbol itself in each of the divided symbols alone, and the visibility of the symbol cannot be improved.

[0010] In consideration of the above facts, there is provided a gaming machine capable of realizing irregular symbol fluctuation without increasing the amount of image data and performing symbol fluctuation with good visibility such as identification of a hit symbol. The purpose is to get.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a lottery is executed by winning the starting opening, and the result of the lottery is determined by changing a pattern of a plurality of rows of symbols for a predetermined time and after the predetermined time. A game machine that includes a symbol variation display device that notifies a player in the symbol arrangement state in which the variation pattern has stopped, and in a case where the result of the lottery is a hit, a gaming state that can be set to a gaming state advantageous to the player. There is provided a time lag at the stop time of the symbol fluctuation pattern, and when the arrangement state of the stopped symbols is a hit arrangement, which is a hit arrangement, leaving at least the last stopped row, at least the last stop. Symbol duplicating means for duplicating a symbol, display control means for variably displaying a plurality of the same symbols duplicated by the symbol duplicating means on at least a variation locus having the same stop position, and the symbol duplicating means A mask display means for masking and displaying each of the duplicated symbols, and stopping each of the duplicated hit symbols at a stop position to compensate for each of the mask areas to form a single non-masked state And a symbol stop control means for displaying the symbol.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the symbol that is stopped last is copied by the symbol copying unit that is in the reach state.
The duplicated identical symbols are masked by masking means.

Each masked symbol is variably displayed on its trajectory, but the stop position is the same for each symbol.

For this reason, when the symbol stop control means executes the stop control for the fluctuation of each symbol, each symbol becomes
Stop at the same stop position. Thus, the masking regions are filled together and a single unmasked (completed)
A symbol can be displayed.

As described above, by performing the masking by the mask means, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of different designs or to prepare a huge amount of data for transforming the designs, and the limited amount of memory is required. Within the range, a surprising pattern change can be realized, and a state of high visibility can be maintained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the mask means completely masks different areas between the respective symbols and maintains the expression as each symbol. , Is characterized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the masking area by the mask means is a different area between the respective symbols, the mask areas can be always supplemented by overlapping each other. In addition, since the masked symbol can express the original symbol by itself, the visibility is not impaired.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the mask means includes:
It is characterized by being constituted by a mask screen including vertical stripes, horizontal stripes, and lattice stripes of total transmission and total opacity.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the masking by the masking means is a mask screen that is totally transparent and totally opaque, and particularly if vertical stripes, horizontal stripes, and lattice stripes are used, the original pattern is sufficiently expressed. be able to.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, the masking means comprises:
The transmissivity of the symbol is changed, and each of the duplicated symbols is constituted by a transmissive screen that becomes fully transparent when stopped at a predetermined stop position.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the mask means is a screen that transmits each symbol at a predetermined transmittance, and by overlapping these symbols, it is possible to obtain a transmission density equivalent to the total transmission. .

[0022]

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

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

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

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

A special winning opening 128 is disposed further below the special symbol starting winning opening 126. An opening / closing member 129 for opening and closing the special winning opening 128 is connected to the electric accessory unit 12
2 is opened for a predetermined time in a so-called hit display state so that a large amount of pachinko balls can be won.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The symbol display control board 160 is provided on the display unit 1.
24 is connected via a display driver 166, and executes a display that provides a predetermined effect based on a command signal from the main control board 150. The symbol display control board 160 also controls the ordinary symbol display unit 132.

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

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

On the main control board 150, a lottery of a special symbol or a normal symbol is made, and the display contents on the display unit 124 based on the lottery result are selected.
To output the command signal. That is, the symbol display control board 1
In 60, data of different display contents based on a plurality of types of command signals is stored in advance, and data is selected based on the command signals and activated.

Here, in the symbol display control board 160 of the present embodiment, when the display content based on the command of the main control board 150 is a reach display including a hit, the final stop symbol after the reach is copied. Then, each is masked, and a surprising fluctuating effect is executed. FIG. 3 shows a control block diagram for a variable effect by this masking.

As shown in FIG. 3, a variable symbol data capturing section 210 captures data of a final stop symbol. As for the symbol data, a predetermined number of symbol data set in advance is copied in the symbol data copying unit 212. In this embodiment, only one symbol data is copied.
Two pieces of symbol data are sent to the masking symbol generation unit 214 based on the original symbol data.

A masking data memory 216 is connected to the masking symbol generation unit 214, and the same number of masking data as the number of symbol data is read.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, masks 220 and 222 of horizontal stripes are prepared for two images 216 and 218 of symbol data.
The masks 220 and 222 are white for total transmission and black for total non-transmission. These masks 220 and 222 have a form in which black and white are inverted from each other. Therefore, this 2
Masks 220 and 222 are the images 21 of the respective design data.
The non-overlapping different areas at 6, 218 will be masked.

On the other hand, masking with such masks 220 and 222 results in unfinished images 224 and 226, however, since the shape of the entire design is almost unchanged, the visibility does not decrease.

For this reason, if the symbol is a hit symbol, the player can quickly recognize the symbol and give a sense of expectation to the effect until the symbol stops at a predetermined position and is fixed. Can be.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of (two) masking images 2 generated by the masking symbol generation unit 214
The symbol data 24, 226 (see FIG. 4) is sent to the masking symbol variation controller 228, and predetermined variation control is executed.

In this embodiment, a variation is performed in which one moves from the top to the bottom of the screen of the display unit 124 and the other moves from the bottom to the top of the screen of the display unit 124 (see FIG. 5). .

Here, the masking symbol change control unit 228
Is supplied with a stop position passage timing signal from the synchronization control unit 230, and is controlled to pass through the stop position at the same time. For this reason, when the unfinished symbols moving from the top and bottom of the screen reach the stop positions, the regions that have been masked with each other are compensated for, and the complete symbols are displayed at the stop position.

When the symbols are determined, each symbol is controlled to stop at this stop position.
When the fluctuation continues, the symbols moving from above are controlled to move continuously below the stop position, and the symbols moving from below are controlled to move continuously to the stop position.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described below.

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

By this detection, the main control board 150
Ordinary symbol lottery starts. That is, a number from 0 to 9 is randomly selected with a predetermined probability using a random number counter.
If the result of the lottery is off, there is no particular change in the gaming state. On the other hand, when the lottery results in a win (for example, a win number of 7 is drawn), the main control board 150 controls the electric tulip 13 provided in the special symbol starting winning opening 126.
The solenoid 174 is energized so that the solenoid 4 is opened. As a result, a high probability state in which the pachinko ball easily enters the special symbol starting winning opening can be achieved.

When a pachinko ball wins in the special symbol starting winning opening 126, a big hit lottery is started on the main control board 150 with a predetermined establishment using a random number counter. As a result of the jackpot lottery, when a win / miss is determined, a symbol variation pattern (symbol variation pattern) prepared in advance is selected (or may be selected by a random number counter) in each case.
A command signal is sent to a control board related to the effect including the symbol display control board 160.

The symbol display control board 160 displays a symbol variation pattern on the display unit 124 via the display driver 166 based on the received command signal. In this pattern variation pattern, there are various effects such as hitting via reach, outreach, off without reach, etc.
The player can wait for the lottery result with a sense of expectation.

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

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

Here, in the present embodiment, the pattern fluctuation at the time of the above-mentioned reach effect is given a further effect to stimulate the gambling of the player. Hereinafter, the symbol variation control of the reach effect will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 300, it is determined whether or not a reach effect is produced. If the result is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 302, in which the variable symbol data in the last row is fetched.
Move to 04.

In step 304, a copy of the captured design data is generated. In the present embodiment, the number of symbol data to be copied is one, and a total of two identical symbol data including the original symbol data are generated.

In the next step 306, the masking data is read from the masking data memory 216.
This masking data is read out based on the number of copies (the total number of symbol data). In the present embodiment, two horizontal stripes of masking data are read out. Masking images 220 and 22 based on these two masking data
2 has a pattern in which black and white are inverted from each other as shown in FIG. Note that white indicates total transmission and black indicates total non-transmission.

In step 308, masking processing of each symbol data is executed based on the masking data. That is, in each symbol data, different non-overlapping areas are respectively masked (see masking images 224 and 226 in FIG. 4).

Next, at step 310, the fluctuation is separately controlled based on each of the masked design data. Here, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5B, a masking image 224 of one masked design data
Moves from the top of the screen of the display unit 124 to the bottom. In addition, the image 226 of the other masked design data
Moves from the bottom of the screen of the display unit 124 to the top.

During this symbol change, it is determined whether or not it is time to pass the stop position (step 31).
2) If a positive determination is made, each masking image 224, 22
6 reaches a predetermined stop position (step 3
14). For this reason, the masked images 224 and 226 are supplemented by the masked area, and become an image 216 (or 218) showing a complete symbol (see FIG. 5C).

When all the images reach the stop position, the background image may be used to give an accent.

In step 316, it is determined whether or not the symbol that has reached the stop position is the final stop symbol. If the determination is affirmative, the symbol is determined. In addition, in the case of FIG. 5 (C), since the winning symbol is a winning symbol, three symbols are aligned and a winning is achieved. In the case of a deviation, a negative determination is made in step 316,
The process returns to step 302 to execute the same control for the next variable symbol.

According to the above embodiment, when a symbol is divided, the shape of the symbol before division can be left, so that the visibility to the player is improved, and even if the symbol is being changed, It can be determined whether or not the symbol is a hit symbol.

Also, since each masked symbol can be a deformed symbol, it is not necessary to create new image data due to fluctuations, and the memory data can be reduced.

Further, since the variation pattern is clearly different from the conventional symbol variation, it is possible to realize a surprising effect for the player.

In the present embodiment, two variable symbols are used, and regions that do not overlap each other are masked by the respective horizontal stripe masks 220 and 222.
The number of the variable symbols may be three (two duplicate symbols are generated). In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, three masks 232, 234, and 236 are required.

The masking pattern is not limited to horizontal stripes, but also vertical stripes, and a masking image 23 having a spot pattern as shown in FIG.
8, 240, or a checker pattern masking image 242, 244 shown in FIG.

Further, the fluctuation pattern is not limited to the vertical movement of the screen of the display unit 124, and may be a swing that combines left and right or up and down and left and right.

In the above description, the fluctuation symbol in the last row at the time of the reach is targeted. However, the above-described masking means is used for producing a symbol non-deterministic expression conventionally expressed by shaking or the like. Memory data for swinging each symbol can be reduced.

Although the masking image applied in the present embodiment is a combination of all the transparent areas and all the non-transparent areas, the masking image is given a predetermined transparency and the original image is used. By overlapping, for example, 50%
Two images with a transmittance of -50% may be generated and varied. In this case, 100
%, 30% -70%, 20% -3
Various combinations such as 0% -50% are possible.

Further, the number of images copied for masking (or the number including the original image) may be changed so as to be synchronized with the hit probability. For example,
A visual notification function may be provided such that the higher the probability of hitting, the greater the number of copies.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an irregular pattern change without increasing the amount of image data and to perform a pattern change with good visibility such as identification of a hit symbol. Has excellent effects.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing functions for copying and masking an image.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state of an image until masking is performed.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a display unit showing a display state of a masking image.

FIG. 6 is a masking image variation display control flowchart.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a first modified example of a masking image.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a second modification of the masking image.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a third modification of the masking image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 Pachinko machine (gaming machine) 114 Gauge unit 122 Electric accessory unit 124 Display unit 126 Special symbol start winning prize 150 Main control board 160 Symbol display control board 168 Special symbol winning sensor 210 Variable symbol data capturing unit 212 Symbol data duplication unit 214 Masking symbol generation unit 216, 218 Image 220, 222 Mask 224, 226 Masking image 228 Masking symbol fluctuation control unit 230 Synchronization control unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lottery is executed by winning in a starting opening, and the result of the lottery is determined by a pattern change pattern of a plurality of rows for a predetermined time and a pattern arrangement in which the change pattern is stopped after the predetermined time. A game variation display device that informs the player of the game, and when the result of the lottery is a hit, a gaming machine that can be set to a gaming state advantageous to the player, wherein a time lag occurs when the symbol variation pattern is stopped. Provided, when the arrangement state of the symbols stopped while leaving the last stop row becomes a hit state which is a winning arrangement, at least the symbol duplication means for duplicating the last stopped symbols, the symbol duplication means Display control means for variably displaying a plurality of identical symbols duplicated in at least a variation trajectory having the same stop position; and a mask for each symbol duplicated by the symbol duplicate means. And a mask display means for displaying each of the duplicated hit symbols at a stop position, and supplementing the respective mask areas to display a single non-masked symbol. And a game machine. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the masking means completely masks different areas between the respective symbols and maintains the expression as each symbol. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said mask means is constituted by a mask screen including vertical stripes, horizontal stripes, and lattice stripes of total transmission and total opacity. 4. The mask means comprises a screen having a transmittance that changes the transmittance of the symbol and becomes fully transparent when each of the duplicated symbols stops at a predetermined stop position. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein