JP2002248225A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of heightening a game player's interest in a game. SOLUTION: A plurality of (nine) variable display devices 5 for making a variable display of patterns are independently arranged in a square matrix on a game board 1. The variable display devices 5 are respectively formed by a display window 7 provided on the game board 1 and a rotary reel 6 having a plurality of patterns displayed n the outer peripheral surface. The rotary reels 6 are independently turned and respectively provided with a motor as a driving source. Each rotary reel 6 turns taking the vertical direction of the game board 1 as an axis of rotation, that is, in the lateral direction to the game player. The respective variable display devices 5 (rotary reels 6) are independently disposed, whereby a space can be provided between the rotary reels 6 so that a game nail 10 or a prize hole 16 is disposed in the space.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine having a plurality of mechanical rotating reels on which a plurality of types of symbols are displayed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a general gaming machine having a plurality of mechanical rotating reels, a plurality of rotating reels are arranged in a horizontal direction of a board surface, and each reel is rotated or stopped and displayed. In some cases, a game state advantageous to the player can be generated depending on the mode of the stopped and displayed reel symbol. As typical examples, there are a pachinko machine which starts the rotation display of the reels when a game ball is won in the start winning opening, a slot machine which starts the rotation display of the reels by operating the start lever, and the like.

[0003] For example, in the case of a pachinko machine, generally, three rotating reels are installed substantially at the center of a game board. A game ball is launched into the game area by a player's steering wheel operation,
It collides with a game nail or the like implanted on a game board and flows downward under the game area while changing its direction. At this time, when the game ball wins the starting winning port provided on the game board surface, the spinning reels simultaneously start the spinning display operation. After the rotation display operation for a predetermined time, the spinning reels are sequentially stopped, and when the pattern of the stopped and displayed symbols is a preset one, for example, when the same symbol is stopped and displayed in three horizontal rows, a big hit state is reached. As a result, a special winning state provided on the game board is opened for a predetermined time, and a large number of prize balls can be obtained in a short time, thereby generating a game state advantageous to the player.

In the case of a slot machine, generally,
Three rotating reels are provided, and three adjacent symbols among the symbols displayed on the outer periphery of each rotating reel, that is, a total of nine symbols are arranged and displayed in a square matrix. After inserting the medals, the spinning reel starts the rotation display operation by the start lever operation of the player. Then, when a certain time has elapsed, or when the player operates the stop button, the rotating reels are sequentially stopped and displayed. When the pattern of the stopped and displayed symbol is a specific symbol in a predetermined hit line, for example, when three symbols of the number 7 are stopped and displayed in the hit line, a special game state occurs, and The winning state can be obtained with a higher probability than the gaming state of, and a large number of medals can be obtained in a short time, which is an advantageous gaming state for the player.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the hit line of the stop symbol in which a game state advantageous to the player occurs occurs when the same symbol is stopped and displayed in a horizontal line in the case of the pachinko machine. In the case of the slot machine, the same symbol is stopped and displayed on a total of five lines in three horizontal rows and a diagonal direction. However, even in the case of a pachinko machine, by providing nine symbol display portions on the game board, hit lines can be provided in a total of five lines in three horizontal rows and diagonal directions as in the case of the slot machine. However, in any case, the maximum value of the hit line is 5
It was a line. This is because the number of rotating reels used is only three, and the symbols stopped and displayed in the vertical direction are:
This is because a vertical hit line cannot be provided because the symbols are on the same rotating reel. Therefore, the number of times the spinning reel is stopped is only three times, which is the same as the number of spinning reels, and the player's sense of expectation for the jackpot from the symbol display to the stop display or the occurrence of the special game state is sufficiently increased. I couldn't do that.

A rotating reel (symbol display section) provided on a game board of a pachinko machine is designed to be larger in order to make the displayed symbols easier for a player to recognize and to enhance the interest of the game. As a result, the number of game nails to be implanted on the game board has been reduced. Therefore, there is a problem that the characteristic of the pachinko machine, in which a game ball collides with a nail and changes its direction, is becoming weaker. In addition, spinning reels are usually
It is designed to rotate in the vertical direction, and there is a drawback that the player's interest in the spinning reel, that is, the visual interest in the method of displaying the symbols in a rotating manner does not increase.

In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a symbol variation display in which a player's expectation of a jackpot is enhanced, and a gaming machine capable of maintaining the original gaming performance of a gaming machine. The purpose is to provide a machine.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a plurality of symbols each based on winning of a game ball to a starting winning device arranged on a game board. Are displayed in a rotating manner, and after a predetermined time, the symbols selected from the plurality of types of symbols are stopped and displayed, respectively, and the combination of the symbols that are stopped and displayed is a predetermined specific symbol. In the case of a combination of symbols, in a reel-type gaming machine that generates a special game state advantageous to a player, the plurality of rotating reels are independently arranged on the game board, and the respective rotating reels are independent. A rotation display or a stop display, and the rotation reels are rotated in the horizontal direction by the motors. And by providing gaming nails or winning opening (the attacker) also between either of the reel is characterized in.

By arranging a plurality of spinning reels independently on a game board and providing a space between the spinning reels, game balls fired on the game board can flow down between the reels. Then, the entire area including the central portion on the game board that has not been used as the flow-down path flows down. In addition, by providing a game nail or a winning opening between rotating reels,
The number of game nails to be planted is increased to increase the contingency of the game, and to increase the player's expectation of winning balls.
Furthermore, by rotating each rotating reel in the lateral direction by an independent motor, the visual amusement for the game is improved. Here, the special game state that is advantageous to the player is a state in which a winning hole in a state in which a game ball is hard to win or does not win (closed state) is easy to win based on a stop display of a specific combination symbol ( (Open state), which means that a large number of game balls (prize balls) can be obtained in a short time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of rotating reels each displaying a plurality of symbols are rotated and displayed by operating a game start means (start lever), and after a predetermined time has elapsed, Or, in a reel-type gaming machine in which each reel is stopped by a manual operation of a player, the reel-type gaming machine has a motor for rotatingly displaying or stopping the respective rotating reels independently, and the respective rotating reels are rotated in the horizontal direction by the motors. It is characterized by the following. By rotating each rotating reel in the lateral direction with an independent motor, the visual amusement for the game is improved.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gaming board 1 of a pachinko machine, which is an embodiment of the gaming machine. The basic operation of this pachinko machine is that the symbols (numbers, pictures, etc.) displayed on the respective display units start to fluctuate based on the fact that a game ball wins a predetermined winning opening (winning device). When the game is stopped and displayed with a specific symbol, the special winning opening is opened, so that a large number of prize balls can be obtained in a short time, and a special game state (big hit state) advantageous to the player is generated. It is.

As shown in the figure, a game board 1 has a game area 2 surrounded by arc-shaped rails.
A game ball fired by a handle (not shown) operation of the player flows down the game area 2. In a substantially central area of the game board 1 (game area 2), three variable displays 5 (9 pieces) are arranged in three rows and three columns for performing variable display of symbols.
The variable display 5 includes a display window 7 provided on the game board 1 and a rotating reel 6 on which a plurality of symbols are displayed on an outer peripheral surface. Each of the rotating reels 6 independently performs a rotating operation, and includes a motor serving as a driving source thereof.

A large number of game nails 10 are implanted in the game area 2 and have a function of changing the direction of a game ball flowing down the game area 2 or a function of guiding the game ball in a predetermined direction. . A start winning opening 11 is provided below the variable display 5, and based on winning of a game ball in the winning opening 11, the rotating reels 5 of the variable display 5 start rotating at the same time. A special winning opening 12 is provided below the starting winning opening 11, and when the stop symbol of the variable display 5 is stopped and displayed with a predetermined specific symbol, the open symbol is kept open for a predetermined time. Become. In addition, the starting winning opening 11
A general winning opening 13 is provided in each of the left and right directions, and a predetermined prize ball is paid out by winning a game ball into the winning opening 13. Below the big winning opening 12, an out opening 14 for collecting a lost ball is provided. Further, on both left and right sides of the variable display 5, there are provided windmills 15 that change the direction and speed of the game ball by making contact.

Since the variable display devices 5 are provided independently of each other, the variable display devices 5 can be arranged on the game board 1 with a certain space (interval) between the variable display devices 5. . A gaming nail 10 or a winning opening 16 (for example, an attacker that opens for a certain period of time when a hit state occurs) is provided in a space between the respective variable displays 5. By providing a space between the variable displays 5, the game balls can flow down to the center of the game board 1 where a large display device is conventionally arranged. In addition, the display window 7 constituting each variable display 5 is formed in a bay window shape to prevent a game ball flowing down on the game board 1 from colliding with the rotating reel 6 and affecting a rotating operation. I have.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show the rotating reel 6 and a motor 20 (for example, a stepping motor) which is a driving source of the rotating reel 6. The drive shaft 21 of the motor 20 is
It is inserted into an axial hole 22 formed in the center of the rotating reel 6. The rotating reel 6 fixed to the motor 20
It is arranged in each variable display 5 (display window 7) and is connected to a control device (not shown) provided on the back side of the game board 1. Since a separate motor 20 is provided for each rotating reel 6, each rotating reel 6 can perform an independent rotating operation based on a control signal from a control device. Various symbol variation modes can be realized. In addition, the rotation speed of each rotating reel 6 can be freely controlled, and the symbol variation mode is further increased. A plurality of symbols (including numbers or symbols) are continuously displayed on the outer peripheral surface of each reel 6, and one symbol among these symbols is displayed on the display window 7 when the reel 6 is stopped. Is displayed.

Each of the rotary reels 6 disposed in each of the variable indicators 5 is rotated in the direction of an arrow 26 with respect to the axis 25 of the rotary reel 6 by the rotation of the motor 20 (or in a direction opposite to the arrow 26). To rotate. That is, in FIG.
The game board 1 is rotated in the horizontal direction about the vertical direction (vertical direction in the figure). By changing the symbol in a direction different from the direction of the game ball flowing down the game area 2, the movement of the line of sight of a single player during the game is changed, and the visual interest in the game is enhanced.

By independently providing nine rotating reels 6 in a square matrix, it is possible to increase the number of combinations of stop symbols that cause a big hit. The jackpot symbol mode is a case where three identical symbols are stopped and displayed side by side in a predetermined direction. The stop display mode is defined as three vertical lines, three horizontal lines, and two diagonal lines.
It can be a case where three same symbols are stopped and displayed on the line. That is, the stop symbol line where a big hit occurs can be set to a maximum of eight lines. The stop symbol of the variable indicator 5 shown in FIG. 1 shows a state in which the same symbol “7” is stopped and displayed on the middle line in the horizontal direction, and a big hit has occurred.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a rotating reel of a slot machine which is another form of the gaming machine. The basic operation of the slot machine shown in this embodiment is as follows. Nine symbols are arranged and displayed in a square matrix, and after a medal is inserted, the spinning reel starts a spinning display operation by a player's operation of a start lever, and for a certain period of time. Has elapsed, or when the player operates the stop button, the rotating reels are sequentially stopped and displayed, and detailed description of the same operation as that of a general slot machine is omitted.

In the symbol display section 30 of the slot machine, 3
A total of nine rotating reels 3 in a square matrix with three rows and three columns
1 is provided. Each of the rotating reels 31 includes a motor serving as a driving source, and performs a rotating operation independently. The drive shaft of the motor is inserted into an axial hole formed at the center of the rotating reel 31. The motor is the symbol display unit 30
And is driven based on a control signal from the control device.
1 performs a rotation operation. Various symbol variation modes can be realized by the combination of the rotating operations by these nine rotating reels 31.

Each of the rotating reels 31 provided on the symbol display section 30 is a shaft 3 of the rotating reel 31 in FIG.
It rotates in the direction of arrow 33 (or the direction opposite to arrow 33) with respect to the two directions. That is, the symbol display unit 30 is rotated in the horizontal direction about the vertical direction (vertical direction in the figure). A plurality of symbols (including numbers or symbols) are continuously displayed on the outer peripheral surface of each rotating reel 31. The rotating reels 31 of the symbol display section 30 shown in FIG. 3 show a state in which symbols “1” to “9” are stopped and displayed on the respective rotating reels 31.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a so-called reach line. Here, the "reach eye" means that three predetermined symbols are stopped and displayed in a line on a nine-rotation reel arranged in a square matrix, and a special game state (normal during a certain period of time) is displayed. In the game content that generates a winning state with a higher probability than the gaming state), it refers to the linear line on which the symbol that can generate the special gaming state is stopped and displayed. By rotating and displaying the nine rotating reels independently, reach eyes can be provided from a total of eight lines of "reach eyes 1" to "reach eyes 8" indicated by straight lines. The number of reach eyes varies depending on the number of medals to be inserted. For example, if one medal is inserted, the number of reach eyes becomes one line, and if two medals are inserted, the number of reach eyes becomes three lines.
Generally, when three medals are inserted, the number of reach eyes becomes five lines, but the number of reach eyes can be set to a maximum of eight lines.

[0022]

According to the gaming machine of the present invention, by changing the rotation direction of the rotating reel for performing the variable display of the symbol to the horizontal direction with respect to the player, the variable display of the symbol which has not existed in the past can be achieved. An effect can be performed, and the player's interest in the game can be enhanced. In addition, by providing a plurality of (e.g., nine) rotating reels and rotating them independently of each other, it is possible to produce a symbol variation that has not been achieved by a combination of the rotating operations of the respective rotating reels. Expectations can be increased.

Further, in a pachinko machine which is an embodiment of a gaming machine, each rotating reel is independently disposed and a space is provided between each rotating reel, so that a game ball can flow down between the rotating reels. It is possible to cause the game balls to flow down to the center of the game board, which has not been used as a flow path for the game balls. Also, by implanting the game nails in the space between the rotating reels, it is possible to increase the number of game nails provided on the game board,
It is possible to provide a game in which the original game ball of the pachinko machine flows down while colliding with the game nail while maintaining the game property. Further, by providing a winning port in the space between the spinning reels, it is possible to make the player expect to obtain more prize balls, and to enhance the interest in the game.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a rotating reel and a motor that is a driving source of the rotating reel according to the present invention. (B)
FIG. 2 is a top view showing a rotating reel according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a rotating reel of the slot machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a so-called reach line of the slot machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gaming board 2 Gaming area 5 Variable display 6 Rotating reel 7 Display window 10 Gaming nail 11 Starting winning port 16 Winning port (attacker) 20 Motor 21 Drive shaft 22 Hole 25 Axis

Claims (2)

[Claims] A plurality of reels each displaying a plurality of symbols are rotated and displayed based on a prize of a game ball to a start prize device arranged on a game board, and after a predetermined time, the plurality of reels are displayed. The symbols selected from among the symbols are stopped and displayed, and when the combination of the stopped and displayed symbols is a combination of predetermined specific symbols, a reel that generates a special game state advantageous to the player. In the gaming machine, a plurality of rotating reels are independently arranged on the gaming board, and a motor is provided for rotating and stopping each of the rotating reels independently. That the game nail or the winning opening is provided between at least any one of the plurality of independently arranged reels. Reel-type gaming machine according to symptoms. 2. A plurality of rotating reels each displaying a plurality of kinds of symbols are rotated and displayed by operation of a game start means, and each reel is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed or by a manual operation of a player. A reel-type gaming machine, comprising: a motor for independently rotating or stopping and displaying each of said rotating reels, wherein said motor rotates each of said rotating reels in a lateral direction.