JP2002292099A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which can adjust the number of rental balls to be put out according to the policy of a game hall. SOLUTION: As a rental ball number setting switch 40 is provided at a control board C, the rental ball number can be sent to each control board (discharge control board H, lamp control board L and effect sound control board S) as a control command. Thus, the number of rental balls to be put out can be put out for each of the control boards H, L and S, and the number of rental balls to be put out in a pachinko game machine 1 can be notified to players in various ways.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine and a slot machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game in a pachinko machine is performed by a player borrowing a ball from a pachinko hall, in other words, a pachinko hall renting a ball to the player and using the lent ball. The ball lending rate is usually 4 balls per ball
It is a yen, and 100 yen is lent as one unit, so 25 balls are lent to the player for every 100 yen.

[0003]

However, in such a case, since the number of balls to be lent is fixed at 25, the number of balls to be paid out according to the policy of the game hall (hall) for some reason. There was a problem in that the number of balls to be paid out could not be changed even if adjustment was desired.

[0004] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a gaming machine capable of adjusting the number of balls to be paid out.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, a gaming machine according to claim 1 has a main control unit for controlling a game and a predetermined payout instruction based on a payout instruction transmitted from the main control unit. Payout control means for paying out valuable objects having a valuable value, wherein the main control means sets the number of valuable objects to be paid out per unit by the payout control means to two or more types. Means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the payout control means is provided in the main control means, and the payout amount per one unit of the valuable object can be set to two or more. The payout number of one unit of the valuable object to be paid out is set. Valuable objects are paid out from the payout control means according to the set number.

[0007]

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a pachinko machine, which is a kind of a ball-and-ball game machine, is described as an example of a game machine, in particular, a first-type pachinko game machine.
Note that it is naturally possible to use the present invention for a third-type pachinko game machine and other game machines.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board of a pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment. A front frame 2 is provided on the front of the pachinko machine 1, and a substantially short opening 2a is provided at a substantially central portion thereof.
And a metal frame 3 is provided around the inner periphery of the opening 2a. Above the inside of the metal frame 3, a glass door frame 4 on which two glass plates can be mounted is provided so as to be openable and closable, and a game board 5 is arranged behind the glass door frame 4.

A substantially arc-shaped outer rail 6 is provided on the front of the game board 5.
a is erected, and an arc-shaped inner rail 6b is erected at an inner position of the outer rail 6a. A ball-lending number lamp 7 is provided outside the outer rail 6a on the lower left side of the game board 5 in a front view. The number-of-lending balls lamp 7 is a 10
It displays the number of balls lent for 0 yen, and is composed of five lamps 7a to 7e. These lamps 7a to 7e
Numbers of “21” to “25” are written in advance on the front surface of the switch.
Any one of the lamps is turned on based on the set value of 0.

The number-of-lending-balls lamp 7 is provided near a card reading unit 23 described later. For this reason, when the player inserts the card into the card reading unit 23, the number-of-lending-balls lamp 7 is visually recognized by the player. Therefore, in the pachinko machine 1, the player can recognize the number-of-balls-lamp lamp 7 before starting a game (before inserting a card into the card reading unit 23). The number-of-leased-balls lamp 7 is constituted by lamps 7a to 7e on which numerical values of "21" to "25" are displayed, but the present invention is not limited to these numerical values. 40
May be configured to be displayed on the number-of-leased-balls lamp 7 according to the number of paid-out balls (for example, “0” to “31” in this embodiment).

In the front of the game board 5 surrounded by the outer rail 6a and the inner rail 6b, a game area 8 into which a ball is driven is provided.
In the game area 8, there are provided a plurality of normal winning ports 9 in which five to fifteen balls are paid out as prize balls by winning the balls. Gaming area 8
A variable display device 11 including a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, abbreviated as “LCD”) 10 that variably displays a plurality of types of patterns as identification information is provided at a substantially central portion of the variable display device 11. L of the variable display device 11
A center frame 11a also serving as a decorative member is provided around the front side of the CD 10, and the periphery of the LCD 10 is decorated by the center frame 11a. A seven-segment LED 11b, which is a type of display device, is provided in the upper center of the center frame 11a.

Below the variable display device 11, a symbol operation port (first type start port) 12 is provided. When the ball passes through the symbol operating port 12, the first-type starting port switch (various switches 37, see FIG. 2) is turned on, and the variable display device 11 starts to display the variable display and the five balls. Is paid out as a prize ball. Further, a variable winning device 13 is provided below the symbol operating port 12. The variable winning device 13 is provided with a large winning opening 13a, which is a wide and short opening through which two or more balls can pass simultaneously at a substantially central portion thereof.

The big winning opening 13a is connected to the variable display device 11
When the display result after the change of one of the patterns matches one of a predetermined combination of symbols (big hit display), a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses or a predetermined number ( The winning opening is opened until 10 balls are won. This big winning opening 13a
The state in which the opening / closing operation can be performed is a state in which a predetermined game value is provided (special game state). Below the variable winning device 13 and at the lowermost part of the gaming area 8, balls not winning any of the winning ports are placed in the gaming area 8.
An out port 14 for discharging to the outside is formed.

Below the outlet 14, that is, below the glass door frame 4, a front door plate (waist plate) 15 is attached to the metal frame 3 so as to be openable and closable. An upper plate 16 for storing the balls and supplying the balls to a ball launching device (not shown) is disposed on the front surface of the front door plate 15, and below the upper plate 16 is a front frame. A lower plate 17 for storing spheres that could not be stored in the upper plate 16 is provided in a lower portion of 2. In addition, a ball is placed on the right side of the lower plate 17 in the game area 8.
An operation handle 18 operated by a player to drive the ball is provided, and a handle switch 18a for driving a firing motor (not shown) of the ball firing device is built in the operation handle 18. I have.

At the center of the upper portion of the upper plate 16, there is provided a balance display 19 composed of three 7-segment LEDs for displaying the balance amount of a card read by a card reading unit 23 described later. This balance display 19
On the right side of the card reading unit 23,
A return button 20 for taking out the card inserted in 4 is provided, while a lending button 21 for starting the lending (lending) of lending balls is provided on the left side of the balance display 19.
Are arranged. A lending button lamp 22 for displaying whether or not a lending ball can be paid out is provided above the lending button 21 on the left side. The lending button lamp 22 is turned on when the lending ball can be paid out (when the lending button 21 is in a state where the lending button 21 can be pressed). On the other hand, when the lending ball cannot be paid out (the lending button 21 cannot be pressed). (When it is in a state of being right).

On the left side of the pachinko machine 1 configured as described above, a rectangular card reading unit 2 which is vertically long in front view is provided.
3 are juxtaposed. The card reading unit 23 is for reading the data of the balance amount recorded on the card, and a card insertion slot for inserting a card having a value equivalent to money is provided at a substantially central portion in the vertical direction. 24 are provided. LE above the card insertion slot 24 and above the card reading unit 23
A card available lamp 25 constituted by D is provided. The card usable lamp 25 is turned on, for example, when a card can be inserted into the card insertion slot 24, and turned off when a card cannot be inserted into the card insertion slot 24, for example.

A portion between the card insertion slot 24 and the card usable lamp 25 and above the card reading unit 23 is used to set a lending amount based on balance amount data recorded on the card. The amount setting button 26 is provided, and when the amount setting button 26 is pressed, the unit of the lending amount is 100 yen, 200 yen, 300 yen.
It can be set to yen or 500 yen. Below the price setting button 26, a fraction display button 27 is provided. The fraction display button 27 is pressed to display the fraction on the balance display 19 when the balance recorded on the card is less than the minimum lending amount (for example, 300 yen). .

Below the fraction display button 27, a pair of upper and lower connecting stand direction display lamps 28 formed in a substantially triangular shape are provided. The pair of connecting stand direction indicating lamps 28 are for indicating the arrangement (parallel) direction of the pachinko machine 1 to which the card reading unit 23 is connected. Therefore, for example, when the card reading unit 23 is connected to the pachinko machine 1 arranged side by side on the right side, the lower L
When the ED is turned on and the card reading unit 23 is connected to a pachinko machine (not shown) arranged on the left side, the upper LED is turned on. This connection stand direction indicator lamp 2
8, a card insertion lamp 29 is provided. The card insertion lamp 29 is turned on when a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 24, and is turned off when a card is not inserted into the card insertion slot 24.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the pachinko machine 1, and in particular, a main control board C for controlling the game contents of the pachinko machine 1, and a payout control of award balls and lending balls. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a payout control board H, a lamp control board L that controls a number-of-lending-balls lamp 7, and the like, and a sound effect control board S that controls sound effects and the like.

The main control board C of the pachinko machine 1 includes an MPU 31 as an arithmetic unit and an RO storing various control programs executed by the MPU 31 and fixed value data.
M32 and RAM 33 used as a work memory or the like
And The program of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the ROM 32.

The RAM 33 of the main control board C is provided with a main control transmission buffer 33a. The main control transmission buffer 33a is a buffer for storing a control command transmitted from the main control board C to each control board (payout control board H, lamp control board L, and sound effect control board S). Since the control command is composed of 2 bytes, the main control transmission buffer 33a is also composed of 2 bytes. The control command set (written) to the main control transmission buffer 33a is transmitted to each of the control boards H, L, and S one byte at a time by a timer interrupt process.

The main control transmission buffer 33a is
The control boards H, L, and S are separately provided corresponding to each of the control boards. For example, when transmitting a control command to the payout control board H, the control command is written into the main control transmission buffer 33a corresponding to the payout control board H, and the control command is transmitted to the payout control board H. It is.

In this embodiment, data on the number of balls to be paid out is transmitted to each of the control boards H, L and S using a control command. However, the data transmission method is not limited to this, and, for example, may be configured to transmit the number of balls to be paid out to each of the control boards H, L and S using one or several signal lines. good.

These MPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 3
3 are interconnected via a bus line 34.
The bus line 34 is also connected to an input / output port 35. The input / output port 35 controls the control boards H, L, and S via buffers (inverter gates) 36, 47, 56, and 66 having fixed inputs and outputs, and the balls that have won the plurality of normal winning openings 9, respectively. Various switches 37 such as a normal winning opening detection switch for detecting a first winning opening switch for detecting a ball winning the symbol operating port 12, a prize ball counting switch 38, another input / output device 39, It is connected to the setting switch 40 and the like.

The prize ball count switch 38 is a switch for counting the number of prize balls paid out by the payout control board H, and its output is inputted to the main control board C and the payout control board H. The prize ball count switch 38 checks whether a prize ball exceeds the original number of prize balls or a prize ball less than the original number of prize balls.

The ball number setting switch 40 is a switch for setting the number of balls to be paid out in units of 100 yen, and is composed of a dip switch having five switches SW1 to SW5. Each switch SW1
One end of the input / output port 35 side of SW5 is connected to a resistor R
Is pulled up to +5 volts, and the other end is connected to 0 volts. Therefore, each of the switches SW1 to SW5 outputs high ("1") to the input / output port 35 when it is off, and outputs low ("0") when it is on. The number of balls to be paid out per lending amount of 100 yen is set by a numerical value represented by the state of each of the switches SW1 to SW5 of the number of balls to be set switch 40. For example, switches SW5, SW4, SW3,
If “11001 (off, off, on, on, off)” is set in the order of SW2 and SW1, the number of balls to be paid out is set to 25 balls, and “11000 (off, off, on, on, on)” ", The number of balls to be paid out is set to 24 balls.

Note that the actual number of rental balls to be paid out is
It is determined based on the premium exchange fee, consumption tax rate, and the policy of the amusement arcade (hall).
Used in the range of "5 balls". Therefore, in the present embodiment, the ball lending number setting switch 40 is provided so that the ball lending number can be set in such a range.

As described above, the number-of-lending-balls setting switch 40 is set to 5
Since it is constituted by a dip switch having two switches SW1 to SW5, it is possible to arbitrarily set the number of balls to be paid out per lending amount of 100 yen in the range of "0 to 31 balls". Therefore, even if the consumption tax rate or the like or the policy of the game arcade (hall) is changed, the number of balls to be paid out can be adjusted according to the change. Further, since the number-of-leased-balls setting switch 40 is provided on the main control board C, it is possible to transmit the number-of-paid-out-number data of the lent balls to each of the control boards H, L, and S. The number of balls to be paid out can be notified to the player via the speaker 67 or the like.

Further, the main control board C is provided with a ball-lending-number setting switch 40, and the main control board C and the payout control board H are configured to be detachable. Therefore, the payout control board H can be left when the game board 5 of the pachinko machine 1 is switched, and by recycling the remaining payout control board H, the payout control board H is not affected by the change of the consumption tax and the like. H can be shared and used for a long time.

The number of balls to be set switch 40 need not always be a dip switch having five switches SW1 to SW5. For example, five solder balls formed as part of a circuit pattern on the main control board C may be used. It may be composed of points. In this case, one end of the solder point on the side of the input / output port 35 is pulled up to +5 volts, and the other end is connected to 0 volts, similarly to the lending ball number setting switch 40. Therefore, the output of the line with the solder point turned on to the input / output port 35 is low (“0”), and the output of the line with the solder point turned off is high (“1”). Lending amount of lending ball 1 depending on output status to input / output port 35
It is possible to set the number of payouts in units of 00 yen.

Further, it goes without saying that the number-of-leased-balls setting switch 40 may be constituted by a switch other than a dip switch or a solder point, or may be constituted by four or less switches or six or more switches. For example, the number-of-lending balls setting switch 40 may be connected to the analog-to-digital conversion terminal (AD terminal) of the input / output port 35, and the number of lending balls to be paid out may be set according to the voltage value input to the AD terminal. good. Specifically, by changing the resistance value using a variable resistor, the voltage value input to the AD terminal is changed, and the number of balls to be paid out is set in a range from “21 balls” to “25 balls”. Configure as possible. Furthermore, the number of balls to be set switch 4
Only one switch of 0 is provided. Specifically, when the switch is on, the number of balls to be paid out is set to 24 balls,
If it is off, it may be set to 25 balls.

As described above, the main control board C has a fixed input and output buffer (inverter gate).
Each control board H, L via 36, 47, 56 and 66
And S. Therefore, transmission and reception of various data between the main control board C and each of the control boards H, L, and S is performed only in one direction from the main control board C to each of the control boards H, L, and S. , L and S cannot transmit data and the like to the main control board C.

The payout control board H controls the payout of prize balls and rental balls. The payout control board H includes an MPU 41 as an arithmetic unit, a ROM 42 storing a control program executed by the MPU 41, fixed value data, and the like. And a RAM 43 used as a memory or the like. The programs of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 are stored in the ROM 42. Further, the RAM 43 of the payout control board H has a payout control reception buffer 43a,
b, ball lending counter 43c, ball lending flag 4
3d is provided. Payout control receiving buffer 43a
Is a buffer for receiving a control command transmitted from the main control board C. Since the control command is composed of 2 bytes, the payout control reception buffer 43a is also composed of 2 bytes.

The ball-for-sale memory 43b is a memory for storing the number of balls to be paid out in units of 100 yen, and the value thereof is set based on the ball-for-ball number setting switch 40 of the main control board C described above. . The value set in the number-of-lending-balls setting switch 40 is stored as a control command in a portion of the main control board C corresponding to the payout control board H in the main control transmission buffer 33a, and transmitted to the payout control board H. The transmitted control command is received by the payout control board H, written into the payout control reception buffer 43a, and stored in the ballpark number memory 43b. The value of this number-of-lending-balls memory 43b is
Since it is set only when the power of the pachinko machine 1 is turned on, even if the ball lending number setting switch 40 is operated during the game, the value of the ball lending number memory 43b is maintained without being changed, and the ball lending is paid out. The number can be kept constant.

The ball rental payout counter 43c is a counter for storing the number of ball rentals to be paid out. The payout of the lent ball is performed in units of lending amount of 100 yen, and the lent ball is lent out by the number of spheres stored in the above-mentioned lent ball number memory 43b. In other words, when the value of the ball lending counter 43c is "0" and there is a ball lending request, the value stored in the ball lending number memory 43b is changed according to the ball lending request.
3c is written out, and a lending ball for 100 yen is paid out. Thereafter, if the value of the ball lending counter 43c becomes "0" again due to the progress of the ball lending operation, and if there is a ball lending request, the value stored in the ball lending number memory 43b again becomes the ball lending number. Written in the payout counter 43c, the payout of the lending ball for 100 yen is performed. This ball rental counter 4
When the value of 3c is not “0”, the ball-sending motor 49 is driven by the ball-sending motor driving process (see FIG. 6), and the payout of the ball-sending is performed. When the paid-out ball for sale is detected by the ball for sale counter switch 48 described later, the value of the ball for-payout counter 43c is decremented by "1" each time it is detected. The operation of paying out the ball for sale is repeated until the value of the ball for sale counter 43c becomes “0”.

The ball lending payout flag 43d is a flag for indicating that the ball lending operation is being performed, and is turned on at the start of the ball lending operation and turned off at the end of the ball lending operation. By prohibiting the prize ball payout operation while the ball lending payout flag 43d is on, the prize ball payout operation can be prevented from being performed during the ball lending operation.

The MPU 41, ROM 42, RAM 4
3 are interconnected via a bus line 44.
The bus line 44 is also connected to an input / output port 45. This input / output port 45 is connected to a driver circuit 46.
And the main control board C via input and output buffers (inverter gates) 36 and 47 having fixed inputs and outputs.
In addition to these, it is connected to the card reading unit 23, the prize ball count switch 38, the ball lending count switch 48, and the like.

The driver circuit 46 is a circuit for driving and rotating the ball rental motor 49. This driver circuit 4
When the ball rental motor 49 is driven by 6, the ball rental is paid out. The payout of the rental ball is detected by the rental ball count switch 48.

The lamp control board L includes a number-of-lending-balls lamp 7 and L
It controls the ED57 and the like, and is an arithmetic unit M
It includes a PU 51, a ROM 52 storing a control program executed by the MPU 51, fixed value data, and the like, and a RAM 53 used as a work memory or the like. The program of the flowchart shown in FIG.
52. In addition, R of the lamp control board L
The AM 53 is provided with a ramp control reception buffer 53a.

The ramp control reception buffer 53a is a buffer for receiving a control command transmitted from the main control board C. Since the control command is composed of 2 bytes, the lamp control reception buffer 53a is also composed of 2 bytes. When a control command relating to the number of balls to be paid out is received in the lamp control reception buffer 53a, the corresponding lamps 7a to 7e of the number-of-balls-lamp lamps 7 are turned on according to the value based on the control command.

These MPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 5
3 are mutually connected via a bus line 54.
The bus line 54 is also connected to an input / output port 55. The input / output port 55 includes a buffer (inverter gate) 36 having a fixed input and output,
56, the main control board C, the number-of-lending-balls lamp 7, and the LE
D57 and each of the other lamps 58 and the like.

The ball-for-sale lamp 7 is lit based on a control command relating to the number of balls to be paid out transmitted from the main control board C. As described above, the lamps 7a to 7e are displayed with numerical values of "21" to "25" in advance, and correspond to the corresponding lamps 7a to 7e in accordance with the control command stored in the lamp control reception buffer 53a. 7e
Is configured to be lit.

The sound effect control board S controls the sound effect and the like output from the speaker 67, and stores an MPU 61 as an arithmetic unit, a control program executed by the MPU 61, fixed value data, and the like. ROM62
And a RAM 63 used as a work memory or the like. The program of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9A is stored in the ROM 62. This ROM 62
Include a first message 62a to a fifth message 62e.
(See FIG. 9B) is stored in advance, and these messages 62a to 62e are written to a message memory 63b described later in the initialization processing of the sound effect control board S.

First message 62a to fifth message 6
2e is associated with the number of ball rentals set by the number of ball rentals setting switch 40. For example, the number of balls to be set switch 40
Is set to “11000 (off, off, on, on, on)” and the number of balls to be paid out is set to 24 balls, the control relating to the number of balls to be paid out transmitted from the main control board C The command for use is a command of “24 balls for rent”. In this case, the second message 62b (see FIG. 9B) is written in the message memory 63b.

The RAM 63 of the sound effect control board S has a sound effect control reception buffer 63a and a message memory 63b.
Are provided. Sound effect control reception buffer 63a
Is a buffer for receiving a control command transmitted from the main control board C. Since the control command is composed of 2 bytes, the sound effect control reception buffer 63a is also composed of 2 bytes. When the control command relating to the number of balls to be paid out is received in the sound effect control reception buffer 63a, corresponding messages 62a to 62e are stored in the message memory 6 according to the value based on the control command.
3b.

The messages 62a to 62e written in the message memory 63b are output from the speaker 67 at a predetermined timing. Messages 62a to 62e
Is output as the predetermined timing, for example, LC
In addition to the timing at which the demo screen waiting for the customer at D10 is displayed, the card insertion slot 2 of the card reading unit 23 is displayed.
4, a timing at which a card is inserted, a timing at which the lending button 21 is pressed by the player, and the like are exemplified. By outputting the messages 62a to 62e while the demo screen is being displayed, the number of balls to be paid out by the pachinko machine 1 can be confirmed before the player starts the game (before lending the ball).

The MPU 61, ROM 62, RAM 6
3 are interconnected via a bus line 64.
The bus line 64 is also connected to an input / output port 65. The input / output port 65 is provided with a buffer (inverter gate) 36 whose input and output are fixed,
In addition to being connected to the main control board C via 66, it is also connected to a speaker 67.

Next, the processing performed in the main control board C will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process executed by the main control board C. Pachinko machine 1
Is turned on, the MPU 31 of the main control board C
First, initialization processing such as initializing the values of the RAM 33 and each address and setting initial values is executed (S1). Next, the value of the number-of-lending balls setting switch 40 is read (S2),
The read value is written to the main control transmission buffer 33a (S3). Then, the data stored in the main control transmission buffer 33a is transmitted to each of the control boards H, L, and S (S4). After transmitting the data on the number of balls to be paid out to each of the control boards H, L and S, the main processing (S5) always executed by the main control board C is looped. The main control transmission buffer 33a is provided separately for each of the control boards H, L, and S as described above.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, the processing of paying out lent balls performed by the payout control board H will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the ball-lending-number memory setting process executed when the payout control board H receives a control command relating to the number of balls to be paid out from the main control board C. By this ball-lending-number memory setting process, the number of ball-lendings set by the ball-lending number setting switch 40 is stored in the ball-lending number memory 43b of the payout control board H.

In the process of setting the number of balls for rental memory, first, it is confirmed whether or not data (control command) newly received from the main control board C is stored in the payout control reception buffer 43a (S11). As a result of the confirmation, if data is stored in the payout control reception buffer 43a (S11: Ye
s) It is checked whether or not the data in the payout control reception buffer 43a is the number-of-lending-balls data (data relating to the number of lending balls to be paid out) (S12). If the data in the payout control reception buffer 43a is the data on the number of ball rentals (S12: Yes), the data on the number of ball rentals in the payment control reception buffer 43a is written into the number of ball rentals memory 43b (S13). The setting process ends. In the case where the newly received data is not stored in the payout control receiving buffer 43a in the processing of S11 (S11: No), or in the case where the data in the payout control receiving buffer 43a is not the data of the number of loaned balls in the processing of S12, (S12: No), the process for setting the number-of-lending-balls memory is ended.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the ball lending operation process executed by the payout control board H. In the ball lending operation process, first, it is confirmed whether or not the ball lending operation is being performed based on whether or not the ball lending payout flag 43d is turned on (S21). If the lending ball payout flag 43d is off (S21: off), the ball lending operation is not being performed, and in this case, it is checked whether the lending button 21 is pressed and there is a ball lending request (S22). ). If there is no ball lending request (S22: No), the ball lending operation process is terminated as it is, while if there is a ball lending request (S22: Yes),
It is confirmed whether or not a prize ball is being paid out (S23). If the prize ball is being paid out (S23: Yes), the ball lending operation cannot be performed, and the ball lending operation process is also terminated in this case.

If there is a ball lending request (S22: Yes) and the prize balls are not being paid out (S23: No), the number of lending balls corresponding to the lending amount of 100 yen stored in the lending ball number memory 43b Is written into the rental ball payout counter 43c (S2
4). Then, the ball lending payout flag 43d is turned on (S
25), the ball lending operation process ends. By writing a numerical value other than "0" to the ball rental counter 43c,
Payout of the ball to be loaned is started by a ball to ball motor process described later (see FIG. 6).

On the other hand, in the process of S21, if the ball lending payout flag 43d is turned on (S21: on), the ball lending operation is in progress. In this case, the value of the ball lending payout counter 43c is set to ""0" (S2).
6). If the value of the ball lending counter 43c is not "0" (S26: No), the ball lending for the previous ball lending request has not yet been paid out (because the previous ball lending has not been paid out yet). ) In this case, the ball lending operation process is terminated.

If the value of the ball lending payout counter 43c is "0" (S26: Yes), the ball lending for the previous ball lending request has already been paid out (the previous ball lending payout has already been completed). It is checked whether there is a new ball lending request (S27). If there is a new ball lending request (S
27: Yes), the process proceeds to S24, and the value of the lending ball number memory 43b that stores the lending ball number corresponding to the lending amount of 100 yen is written in the value of the lending ball payout counter 43c (S24). Turn on the lending ball payout flag 43d (S2
5), the ball lending operation process ends. On the other hand, in the process of S27, if there is no new ball lending request (S27:
No), the ball lending payout flag 43d is turned off (S2).
8), the ball lending operation process ends.

In this embodiment, the operation of paying out a ball to be paid and the operation of paying out a prize ball are controlled separately. However, the present invention is not limited to this method. The operation and the prize ball payout operation may be performed simultaneously or in parallel.

FIG. 6 shows that the payout control board H
It is a flowchart of the ball-lending motor drive process performed by the interval interruption process which occurs every ms. The ball rental motor 49 is rotated by the ball rental motor drive processing,
Payout of the rental ball is performed. Note that the number of paid-out ball rentals is determined by a ball-counting switch read processing (to be described later) (FIG. 7).
Counted by.

In the ball-lending motor driving process, first, it is checked whether or not the value of the ball-lending payout counter 43c is "0" (S31). If the value of the ball-for-payout counter 43c is not "0" (S31: No), the ball-for-payout motor 49 is rotated to pay out the ball-for-payout (S32). On the other hand, ball rental counter 43
If the value of c is "0" (S31: Yes), the payout of the ball-lending is completed, and in this case, the ball-lending motor 49 is stopped, and the ball-lending motor driving process ends. (S33).

FIG. 7 shows the state of the payout control board H for 2 ms.
It is a flowchart of the ball rental count switch reading process performed by the interval interruption process generated every time.
The actual number of balls to be paid out is counted by the ball for sale count switch interrupt processing. First, it is confirmed whether or not the ball-for-sale counter switch 48 detects a ball-for-sale (S
41) If a lending ball has been detected (S41: Yes), “1” is subtracted from the value of the lending ball payout counter 43c (S4).
2). On the other hand, if the ball-for-sale counter switch 48 does not detect a ball for sale (S41: No), the process of S42 is skipped and the process for reading the ball-for-sale counter is terminated.

As described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 7, according to the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, the number of balls to be paid out in units of 100 yen is determined when the pachinko machine 1 is powered on. Since the number is determined according to the state of the number switch 40, the number of balls to be paid out in units of 100 yen can be adjusted according to a tax rate such as a consumption tax. In addition, since the setting of the number of paid-out balls is performed only when the power of the pachinko machine 1 is turned on, even if the number-of-leased balls setting switch 40 is operated during the game, the number of paid-out balls is not changed. It can be kept constant.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, the lamp control board L
Will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the ball-lending-number lamp lighting process. This ball-lending-number lamp lighting process is executed after the power of the pachinko machine 1 is turned on, and the ball-lending number lamp 7 of the ball-lending number lamps 7 is controlled based on a control command regarding the number of balls to be paid out transmitted from the main control board C. This is a process of turning on the lamps 7a to 7e corresponding to the number of lent balls set by the number setting switch 40.

In the lamp lighting process, first, it is checked whether or not data (control command) newly received from the main control board C is stored in the lamp control reception buffer 53a (S51). If the data is stored in the reception buffer 53a (S51: Yes), it is checked whether the data in the ramp control reception buffer 53a is the number-of-lending-balls data (data relating to the number of lending balls to be paid out) (S52). . As a result of the confirmation, if the data is the number of rental balls (S5
2: Yes), the lamps 7a to 7 corresponding to the number-of-sold-ball data
e is turned on (S53), and the ball-lending-number lamp lighting process ends. In the process of S51, if no data is stored in the lamp control reception buffer 53a, or (S51
51: No), if the data stored in the lamp control reception buffer 53a is not the ball lending count data in the process of S52 (S52: No), the ball lending count lamp lighting process is terminated.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, the sound effect control board S
Will be described.
FIG. 9A is a flowchart of the number-of-ball-leaves sound effect setting process. This sound effect for setting the number of balls to be loaned is executed after the power of the pachinko machine 1 is turned on, and based on a control command transmitted from the main control board C and related to the number of balls to be paid out, the RO.
This is a process of writing the corresponding message among the first message 62a to the fifth message 62e stored in M62 to the message memory 63b.

In the number-of-ball-leaves sound effect processing, first, it is confirmed whether or not data (control command) newly received from the main control board C is stored in the sound effect control reception buffer 63a (S61). If the data is stored in the sound control reception buffer 63a (S61: Yes), it is confirmed whether the data in the sound effect control reception buffer 63a is the number-of-lending-balls data (data related to the number of lending balls to be paid out). (S62). As a result of the confirmation, the sound effect control reception buffer 63
If the number-of-lending-balls data is stored in a (S62: Ye
s), messages 62a to 62 corresponding to the number-of-sold-ball data.
e is written into the message memory 63b (S63), and the number-of-ball-leaves-number-sound-effect sound setting process ends. In the case where the data newly received from the main control board C in the processing of S61 is not stored in the sound effect control reception buffer 63a (S61: No), the data in the sound effect control reception buffer 63a is not stored in the processing of S62. If the data is not the number-of-lending-balls data (S62: No), the processing for setting the number-of-lending-balls sound effect is ended.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing an example of the messages 62 a to 62 e stored in the ROM 62. These messages 62a-62e are 100
This is for telling the player how many balls to pay out per yen. For example, in the case of the first message 62a,
The message "This game machine will be rented for 25 balls per 100 yen" is output from the speaker 67.
Accordingly, by outputting the messages 62a to 62e from the speaker 67, the number of balls to be paid out can be recognized directly by the hearing of the player, and the number of balls to be paid out of the pachinko machine 1 can be confirmed. The timing at which the message is output from the speaker 67 is, for example, the timing at which the demonstration screen is displayed on the LCD 10.

As described above, according to the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, the ball-lending-number setting switch 40 is provided on the main control board C.
Is provided, it is possible to transmit the number-of-ball-lending data to each control board (payout control board H, lamp control board L, and sound effect control board S) as a control command. Therefore, the number of balls to be paid out can be output for each of the control boards H, L, and S, and the number of balls to be paid out in the pachinko machine 1 can be notified to the player by various methods. In the present embodiment, a method of informing the number of payable balls has been described. However, it is not always necessary to implement all of them, and at least one may be implemented.

Next, referring to FIG. 10 and FIG.
An example will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the number of balls to be paid out of the pachinko machine 1 is notified to the player by turning on the number-of-balls-lamp lamp 7 or outputting messages 62a to 62e from the speaker 67. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, instead of the number-of-lending-balls lamp 7, between the balance display 19 of the upper plate 16 and the return button 20, two sets of the number of lending balls to be paid out in units of 100 yen are displayed. A number-of-lending-balls indicator 71 composed of 7-segment LEDs is provided to display the number of balls to be paid out of the pachinko machine 1. Since the number of balls to be paid out in units of 100 yen is set in the range of “0 to 31” by the number of balls for rental setting switch 40, the number of balls for rental indicator 71 is set to 2 so that “0 to 31” can be displayed. It is composed of 7-segment LED of the digit. Hereinafter, the same portions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
Only different parts will be described.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the pachinko machine 1 according to the second embodiment. As described above, the number-of-sold-balls indicator 71
A balance display 19 connected to the input / output port 47 of the payout control board H and displaying the card balance of the upper plate 16
And a return button 20 for the card, and a lending button 21 for starting the lending of the lending ball. Therefore, since the player who performs the payout operation of the lending ball is arranged at a position that is easy to see, the operability of the lending operation by the player can be improved.

FIG. 11 shows a process of setting the number-of-lending-balls memory in the second embodiment. In this process, after writing the number-of-ball-lending data in the payout control reception buffer 43a in S13 into the number-of-ball-lending memory 43b, the value of the number-of-ball-lending data is displayed on the number-of-lending-ball indicator 71 (S71).

It is not always necessary to arrange the number-of-balls indicator 71 on the upper plate 16 alongside the balance indicator 19 and the like, and the card reading unit 23, the front frame 2, the game board 5
It may be provided on a surface or the like. Furthermore, it may be provided in an island management device that manages a plurality of pachinko machines 1.

The rental ball number display 71 does not necessarily need to be constituted by a 2-digit 7-segment LED. For example,
If the number of balls to be paid out is set to only two types of 24 balls and 25 balls, one LED (or lamp) is provided, and if the number of balls to be paid out is set to 24 balls, the LED is used. May be lit, and if set to 25 balls, the LED may be turned off to indicate the number of balls to be paid out. Similarly,
If the number of balls to be paid out can be set to three types, four types, or the like, an LED corresponding to the number is provided, and the number of balls to be paid out set according to the lighting state of the LED is displayed. May be. Furthermore, instead of directly displaying the number of balls to be paid out, for example, a lending of 24 balls for 100 yen is referred to as “a lending with tax”, and a lending of 25 balls is referred to as a “loan without tax”. As described above, the number of balls to be paid out may be suggested according to the mode of lending. In addition, the display of the number of payouts is not always required to be in units of 100 yen, and the number of payouts may be displayed in units of, for example, 500 yen.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-described first embodiment, the number-of-lending balls lamp 7
Alternatively, messages 62a-62 output from speaker 67
Using 62e, the number of balls to be paid out set by the number of balls to be set switch 40 is notified to the player. Instead of this, in the third embodiment, an LCD for displaying a symbol
The number of balls to be paid out is displayed at a predetermined timing on a part of 10. Hereinafter, the same portions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only different portions will be described.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged front view of the LCD 10, showing a state where the demonstration screen is displayed. In this state, a lending ball number display unit 10a for displaying the number of lending balls to be paid out is provided at the upper left of the screen of the LCD 10. Here, a numerical value of “24” is displayed, and this numerical value is the number of balls to be paid out. Note that the demo screen is an LCD screen when a certain period of time elapses without the player playing the game.
10 is a screen displayed on the screen.

As described above, by displaying the number of balls to be paid out on a part of the LCD 10, the player can check the number-of-balls-displayed portion 10a before starting the game. The set value of the number of payable balls of the machine 1 can be notified. Also, by providing the number-of-balls-displayed portion 10a on the demonstration screen, the set value of the number of balls to be paid out of the pachinko machine 1 can be notified before the player requests ball lending, so that the player can understand. Then, the rental ball whose payment number has been adjusted can be lent.

The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Can easily be inferred.

For example, in the third embodiment, the LCD
While the demonstration screen of 10 was displayed, a number-of-lending-balls display unit 10a was provided in a part of the display unit to notify the number of balls to be paid out.
Instead, the number-of-lending-balls display unit 10a may be displayed while the symbol is changing.

The present invention may be applied to a pachinko machine of a different type from the above embodiment. For example, once a jackpot is hit, a pachinko machine (commonly known as a twice-rights item or a three-times rights item) that increases the jackpot expectation value until a jackpot condition occurs a plurality of times (for example, two or three times) including that. ). Further, the pachinko machine may be implemented as a pachinko machine which enters a special game state on condition that a ball is won in a predetermined area after the big hit symbol is displayed. Furthermore, in addition to the pachinko machine, the present invention may be implemented as various game machines such as areaches, sparrow balls, slot machines, so-called game machines in which a so-called pachinko machine and a slot machine are combined.

In the slot machine, the symbol is changed by operating the operation lever in a state where the symbol valid line is determined by inserting a coin, for example, and the symbol is stopped and determined by operating the stop button. Is well known. Therefore, the basic concept of the slot machine is as follows: "variable display means for variably displaying a symbol row composed of a plurality of symbols and then confirming and displaying the symbols is provided, and the symbol is caused by the operation of the starting operation means (for example, the operation lever). Of the symbol is started, and the variation of the symbol is stopped due to the operation of the stopping operation means (for example, the stop button) or after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the fixed symbol at the time of the stop is the specific symbol. And a special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player "as a necessary condition. In this case, coins and medals are typical examples of game media.

Further, as a specific example of a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are combined, a variable display means for variably displaying a symbol row composed of a plurality of symbols and then confirming and displaying the symbols is provided. Not equipped with a handle. In this case, a predetermined operation (button operation)
After the predetermined amount of balls is thrown based on, for example, the fluctuation of the symbol starts due to the operation of the operation lever, and the fluctuation of the symbol, for example, due to the operation of the stop button or after a predetermined time elapses, It is stopped, and a jackpot state advantageous to the player is generated on condition that the final symbol at the time of the stop is a so-called jackpot symbol, and a large amount of balls are paid out to the lower saucer to the player. .

Hereinafter, modified examples of the present invention will be described. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the valuable object is a lending ball, and the lending number setting means sets the lending number of the lending ball (lending ball number data) to a prize exchange fee, a consumption tax rate, or a policy of a game arcade. A gaming machine 1 characterized in that it can be changed as needed. Conventionally, a game in a pachinko machine is performed by a player borrowing a ball from a pachinko hall, in other words, a pachinko hall renting a ball to a player and using the lent ball. Normally, one ball is lent for 4 yen, and 100 yen is lent as one unit. Therefore, 25 balls are lent to the player for every 100 yen without considering a consumption tax or the like. On the other hand, at the time of prize exchange after the end of the game, the prize exchange is performed with or without considering the prize exchange fee and the consumption tax. When borrowing a ball, lend the ball without considering the consumption tax, etc. On the other hand, if you exchange the prize considering the consumption tax only at the time of prize exchange, the player who won the game will bear the consumption tax etc. However, the player who loses the game does not have to pay the consumption tax and the like, and the existence of the consumption tax and the like becomes unequal. In this case,
Pachinko halls must pay the consumption tax for the loser. On the other hand, in consideration of the consumption tax and the like, it is possible to set the number of balls to be paid out per 100 yen, but when the tax rate such as the consumption tax is changed,
If you want to lend a ball in a pachinko hall without considering the consumption tax, etc., this method cannot be used. Therefore, by providing the lending number setting means in the main control means, the ball lending can be performed in accordance with the policy of the game hall (hall) such as a premium exchange fee, a tax rate of a consumption tax, and whether or not to add a consumption tax to the lending ball. Can be adjusted.

[0080] In the gaming machine or the gaming machine 1 according to the first aspect, the number-of-ball-lending setting means has a switch means, and one unit of the lending ball by the payout control means based on the setting of the switch means. A gaming machine 2 for setting the number of payouts. As the switch means,
For example, a dip switch, a solder point directly formed on a substrate, and the like are exemplified. If the dip switch or solder point has five switches (or five solder points), the five switches can be used to set a value from "0 to 31".
Based on the switch, the number of units to be paid out of the lending ball is set to “0”.
~ 31 "can be arbitrarily set.

[0081] In the gaming machine or the gaming machine 1 according to the first aspect, the lending number setting means includes a switch means capable of switching between at least two states, and the payout control means in association with the states of the switch means. A gaming machine 3 comprising: a number-of-lending-balls storage means for respectively storing values relating to the number of units of lending to be paid out. For example, when a switch that switches between two states, ON and OFF, is used as the switch means, when the switch is ON, the first number is paid; The number can be set.

[0082] In any one of the gaming machines and the gaming machines 1 to 3, the main control means may notify the number of lent balls per unit set by the number of rented pieces setting means to notify the number of rented balls. A gaming machine 4 connected to the means. Since the main control means is provided with the number-of-lending-balls setting means, the number of balls to be paid out is transmitted to the number-of-lending-notification means connected to the main control means, and the number of balls to be paid out to the player by the number-of-lending-notification means. Can be reported.
In addition, a lamp, a speaker, etc. are illustrated as a lending number notification means.

In the gaming machine 4, the rented number notifying means is provided in a gaming board for playing a game. The game board confirms the content of the game each time the player plays the game, in order to confirm the content of the game. By providing the loaned number notification means in the game board for playing a game, it is possible to make it easier for the player to recognize the number of loaned balls.

In the gaming machine 4 or 5, the lending number notifying means includes a display device for displaying identification information and a dynamic display of the identification information by the display device based on a control command transmitted from the main control means. And a display control means for performing the following. The display control means controls the display device on the basis of the number-of-balls-for-lending data (the number-of-paid-out units of lending balls) transmitted from the main control means. A gaming machine 6 for displaying the number of balls to be paid out. By displaying the number of balls to be paid out on the display device, the player can visually recognize the number of balls to be paid out of the gaming machine, so that the player can easily understand the number of balls to be paid out.

In the gaming machine 6, the timing at which the number of balls to be paid out is displayed on the display device is that the demonstration screen is being displayed. Display the number of balls to be paid out on the demo screen. Therefore, the player can check the number of balls to be paid out of the gaming machine before starting the game (before lending the ball). Note that the demonstration screen is a screen displayed on the display device when a certain time has elapsed without a game being played by the player.

In the gaming machine 4 or 5, the lending number notification means includes a speaker for notifying the sound effect of the dynamic display and the like, and a sound effect control means for controlling the speaker. The means notifies the number of balls to be paid out by a sound using the speaker, based on the number-of-balls-to-send data (the number of balls to be paid out per unit) transmitted from the main control means. Gaming machine 8. The number of balls to be paid out can be recognized by the hearing of the player.

In the gaming machine 4 or 5, the number-of-lending-balls notifying means includes a lamp on which the number of balls to be paid out is displayed in advance, and lamp control means for controlling the display of the lamps. Illuminates the lamp on which the number of balls to be paid is displayed based on the number-of-balls-to-be-sent data (number of balls to be paid out) transmitted from the main control means to notify the number of balls to be paid out. A gaming machine 9 characterized by the following. By lighting a lamp indicating the number of balls to be paid out, the player can easily be notified of the number of balls to be paid out.

[0088] In the gaming machine 4 or 5, the lending number notifying means is a display, and the display is provided on an upper plate member for storing balls, such as lending balls. 10. By providing an indicator, which is means for notifying the number of lent balls, to the upper plate member for storing balls, such as lent balls, when a player checks the number of remaining balls, the player pays out the lent balls before checking the number of remaining balls. The number can be easily recognized.

A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said payout control means is configured to be detachable from said main control means. The payout control means is configured to be detachable from the main control means. Therefore, when the gaming machine is replaced, the payout control means can be left and used by attaching it to a new gaming machine. Accordingly, by setting the number of balls to be paid out by the main control means, the payout control means can be reused without being affected by changes in consumption tax and the like, so that the payout control means can be shared and used for a long time. . Therefore, the cost of the pachinko machine can be reduced.

The gaming machine (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said gaming machine is a pachinko machine. Above all, the pachinko machine has an operation handle as a basic configuration, and fires a ball to a predetermined game area in response to operation of the operation handle, and the ball wins an operation port arranged at a predetermined position in the game area. (Or pass through the operating port) is a condition in which the identification information variably displayed on the display device is fixedly stopped after a predetermined time. In addition, when a special game state occurs, a variable winning device (specific winning opening) disposed at a predetermined position in the game area is opened in a predetermined mode so that a ball can be won, and a value corresponding to the winning number is obtained. Value (including data written on magnetic cards as well as prize balls)
Is given.

The gaming machine 13 according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said gaming machine is a slot machine. Above all, the basic configuration of the slot machine is as follows: "variable display means for variably displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of pieces of identification information and then confirming and displaying the identification information is used. Alternatively, or after a lapse of a predetermined time, the change of the identification information is stopped, and a condition that the fixed identification information at the time of the stop is the specific identification information is a necessary condition.
A game machine having special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player. In this case, coins and medals are typical examples of the game medium.

The gaming machine 14 according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said gaming machine is a combination of a pachinko machine and a slot machine. Among them, the basic configuration of the integrated gaming machine is as follows. The change of the identification information is started due to the operation, and the change of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation means (for example, the stop button) or after a predetermined time elapses. A special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player on condition that the fixed identification information is the specific identification information, using a ball as a game medium, In such a case, a predetermined number of balls are required, and when a special game state occurs, many balls are paid out.

[0093]

According to the gaming machine of the present invention, the number of valuable units to be paid out by the payout device can be set to two or more types by the lending number setting means provided in the main control means. There is an effect that the number of valuable objects to be paid out can be adjusted according to the policy of the hall (hall).

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process executed by a main control board.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a ballpark number memory setting process executed by a payout control board.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a ball lending operation process executed by a payout control board.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a ball-lending motor drive process executed by a payout control board.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a ball-counting switch read processing executed by the payout control board.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a ball-lending-number lamp lighting process executed by the lamp control board.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a number-of-ball-leaves effect sound setting process executed by the sound effect control board.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the game board of the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a ball-lending-number memory setting process executed by the payout control board according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged front view of the LCD of the pachinko machine according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pachinko machine (game machine) 40 Number of balls to be set switch (rental number setting means) C Main control board (main control means) H Payout control board (payout control means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tatsunori Takemi 7-49 Haruoka-dori, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya F-term (reference) 2C088 BA17 BA37 BA88 BB31 BC05 BC18 CA27 EA10

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine comprising: main control means for controlling a game; A gaming machine, characterized in that the main control means includes a lending number setting means capable of setting the number of valuable objects to be paid out per unit by the payout control means to two or more kinds.