JP2002301201A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of controlling various production corresponding to the maximum number of combinations of stopping patterns including prize-winning and losing, which is stopped by a player's operation without increasing the storage capacity of a main substrate side. SOLUTION: In a reel type game machine provided with a main substrate having a main control part 508 for controlling game contents concerning aleatory property, a sub substrate having a production control part 519 as a sub function part to be operated one-way control from the main substrate and a picture display device 429 as a variable display part for variably displaying plural patterns to determine the combination of the stopping patterns according to prize-winning or losing, ROM 520 in the part 519 stores a production pattern corresponding to the combination of the stopping pattern and the part 519 controls production according to the corresponding production pattern within the ROM 52 based of the detection result of the stopping patterns.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly, to a spinning-type gaming machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, slot machines, pachislot machines and the like are known as spinning-type gaming machines. In such a spinning-type gaming machine, after a predetermined number of medals are inserted, a start lever is operated. At the same time as a plurality of reels spin, a winning lottery is performed by an internal program. Then, based on the result of the winning lottery, a symbol that can be stopped on a predetermined activated line, which will be described later, is determined, the reel is stopped by a reel rotation stop instruction from the player, and a specific symbol stopped on the activated line is selected. , A predetermined game value is given to the player.

[0003] As documents related to such a spinning-type gaming machine, there are Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 9-313670 and 11-47.
352, JP-A-2000-140206, JP-A-2000-1126370, JP-A-2000-1
JP-A-26369, JP-A-11-29502, JP-A-2000-354, and the like disclose a general mechanical structure of a spinning-type gaming machine.

[0004] The outline of the game mode of a standard pachislot machine as an example of a spinning-type gaming machine will be described below.

Although details will be described later (see FIG. 1), when the player inserts a predetermined number of medals into the medal slot, one of the winning lines on the display window is displayed according to the inserted number. And up to five lines are activated lines. Thereafter, when the player operates the start lever (start lever ON), the reels in the display windows arranged in three horizontal rows in order from the left start rotating downward from the top. At the same time as the rotation of the reels (in response to the start lever ON), a win (winning of a so-called "role") or a losing (unwinning of a role) is determined by a lottery of an internal program.

Each reel has a plurality of symbols drawn on its surface. For example, each reel has a symbol 7, c, b, s, r, z
Are arranged at 21 points on the outer periphery of the reel (example: see FIG. 2).

When the player presses the stop button after operating the start lever, the rotation of the reel stops, and the symbol stops on the pay line.

[0008] Each role can be aligned on the active line 3
It is a combination of symbols in a column. The types of roles include a special prize (hereinafter, referred to as a bonus) in which a player can acquire a large amount of medals by aligning a specific symbol on the activated line, and a small amount such as a line of symbols c on the activated line. There is another prize for paying out the medal (hereinafter referred to as small role).

[0009] The bonuses include, for example, a big bonus (hereinafter referred to as BB) that allows the player to acquire a large amount of medals by aligning the symbol 7 on the activated line, and, for example, by aligning the symbol b on the activated line. Regular bonus (hereinafter referred to as RB) that allows players to acquire a large amount of medals
There is.

Hereinafter, the arrangement of the symbol c on the effective line as described above is referred to as the establishment of the small hand c, and the arrangement of the symbol 7 and the symbol b on the effective line is referred to as the establishment of BB and the establishment of RB, respectively. .

The RB game can usually acquire about 110 medals. In the BB game, 30 bonus games can be consumed, during which RB can be established up to three times. The BB game ends when the RB game is performed three times or the bonus game is exhausted for 30 games.

[0012] A lottery program for a spinning-type gaming machine usually includes:
The small role is set to a higher probability than the bonus. In addition, the lottery program controls flags (default is OFF) corresponding to each of the above combinations, and turns on the combination flag when a combination is won (the combination flag is established). Furthermore, various announcement effects are performed according to the result of the lottery performed in response to the start lever ON. This lottery result includes ON of the bonus flag, and the mode of the notification effect for notifying that the flag has been established is distinguished from other notice effects. These effects include, for example, a reach eye (a specific combination of symbols stops at a specific position in the display window), a flash in the display window, a sound, and a lighting of a notification lamp.

A liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as LCD (Liquor
There is also known a spinning-type gaming machine that notifies and displays the establishment of a bonus flag on an image display device having a variable display device such as an id crystal display). Reels) are also known.

On the other hand, a recent gaming machine is disclosed in
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 47352, the game contents are controlled including the functions related to the gambling of the gaming machine with the aim of facilitating the discovery and inspection of modifications to the gaming function section relating to the gambling of the gaming machine. It is known that a circuit board component (main board) is divided into a circuit board (sub board) including other functions, and each functional component is configured to operate by one-way control from the main board to the sub board. I have.

Therefore, according to this configuration, when the start lever is turned on, the main board performs both the effect lottery and the jackpot lottery, and the lottery result is sent to the sub-board. Then, on the sub-board, various announcement effects are performed according to the lottery result from the main board. Also, in the case of a pachislot machine, only when the stop symbol of the spinning reel is a special combination that becomes a hit, the main board recognizes it and pays out medals, and controls the effect of hitting etc. I was

[0016]

However, in the case of the spinning-type gaming machine as described above, when a symbol operated by the player and stopped is a hit, the symbol can be recognized on the main board side, but the spinning-type gaming machine can be recognized. It is difficult to store all combinations of reel stop symbols on the main board side and control the effects corresponding to each combination on the main board side with the main board having a limited storage capacity of the storage means. In addition, since the storage capacity of the storage unit is limited, it was not possible to specify a chance to generate the notification function. In other words, the variety of the production was limited. Furthermore, by increasing the storage capacity of the main board, storing all combinations of stop symbols of the winding reel on the main board side, and controlling the effects corresponding to each combination on the main board side, it is necessary to inspect the main board. There was also a problem that it was difficult.

An object of the present invention has been made in view of such a problem. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of stopping a game operation by a player without increasing the storage capacity of a main board. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of controlling various effects corresponding to as many combinations of stop symbols as possible, including a deviation.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 includes a main board having a main function section for controlling a game content related to gambling, and one of the main boards. A sub-board having a sub-function unit operated by direction control, variably displaying a plurality of symbols, and including a variable display unit in which a combination of stopped symbols is determined depending on whether or not a winning is achieved; Storage means for storing a plurality of types of effect patterns corresponding to the combination of symbols of the variable display unit,
Detecting means for detecting a stop symbol of the variable display section, and effect control means for controlling an effect according to a corresponding effect pattern in the storage means based on a detection result of the detecting means. .

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Further, the mechanical structure of the spinning-type gaming machine can be the same as the conventional example as shown in the official gazette of the spinning-type gaming machine described in the above-mentioned prior art, and the explanation is related to the present invention. Only the components and their supplements.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of a spinning-type gaming machine according to this embodiment. In FIG. 1, a spinning-type gaming machine 40 of the present embodiment
0 indicates display windows 401, 402, 403, reel 102,
103, 104, medal slot 404, winning line display 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, active line LED (light emitting diode) 410, 411, 41
2, 413, 414, credit (storage) number display device 4
15. Bet buttons 416, 417, 41
8, start lever 419, stop buttons 420, 42
1, 422, number-of-payouts display device 423, medal outlet 42
4, medal tray 425, status lamp 426, speaker 4
27, a settlement button 428, and an image display device 429.

In FIG. 1, the player inserts a medal slot 40
When a predetermined number of medals are inserted into No. 4, one to five of the winning lines 405 to 409 are activated according to the number of inserted medals.

Thereafter, when the player operates the start lever 419 (start lever ON), the reels 102 to 10 in the display windows 401 to 403 arranged in three horizontal rows in order from the left.
4 starts to rotate from top to bottom. Start lever ON
The winning (the so-called "role" winning) or the loss (the non-robbing of the role) is determined by the lottery operation of the lottery program on the main board side in response to the above.

A plurality of symbols are drawn on the surface of the reel, an example of which is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows display windows 401 to 4.
Left, middle, and right reels 102 to 104 that rotate within 03
This is an example in which is expanded. On each reel, for example, symbols 7, c, b, s, r, and z are arranged at 21 points on the outer circumference of the reel or at points before and after the number.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a symbol number corresponding to 21 arrangement points. As the reels rotate, the symbol numbers 1, 2, 3,...
.. Pass through the display windows 401 to 403 in the order of 0, 21, 1, 2,. The rotation and stop of each reel are controlled by a reel control device 512 (described later).

When a medal is inserted by the player, a medal insertion switch 505 inside the medal insertion port 404 is provided.
The medal insertion is detected by the occurrence of a trigger (described later), and the activated line LEDs 410, 411, 412, 413, and 414 are detected.
Is turned on, and the number of credits displayed by the credit number display device 415 is displayed. Winning line display 405, 406, 407, 4
Reference numerals 08 and 409 denote five lines that are provided across the display windows 401, 402, and 403, and may be effective lines for stopping symbols.

The activated line LED 410 is used to insert the first medal into the medal slot 404 or to enter the bet button 4
When the first medal is inserted from the credited medals by the operation 16, the light is turned on, and the winning line display 405 is set as an effective line. The activated line LEDs 411 and 412 are turned on by inserting the second medal into the medal insertion slot 404 or inserting the second medal from the credited medals by operating one of the bet buttons 416 and 417. The line displays 406 and 407 are set as effective lines. The activated line LEDs 413 and 414 are used to insert the third medal into the medal insertion slot 404 or to enter the bet buttons 416 and
By inserting the third medal from the credited medals by one of the operations 17 and 418, the medals are turned on, and the winning line displays 408 and 409 are set as active lines.

The credit number display device 415 is a 7-segment LED or the like, and is turned on to indicate the validity of the credit, while the valid line LEDs 410, 411, 412, 413, and 414 are displayed.
Are added and the number of inserted medals when the medals are inserted from the medal insertion slot 404 or the number of paid-out medals to be paid out corresponding to the combination is displayed. Credit and display up to 50 cards.

The bet button 416 generates a trigger of a bet button switch 502 (to be described later) once, and inserts one medal from the credited credit, thereby reducing the count display of the credit number display device 415 by one, and setting an active line. LE
D410, 411, 412, 413, and 414 are turned on. The bet button 417 generates a trigger of the bet button switch 502 twice, inserts two medals from credits, reduces the count display of the credit amount display device 415 by two, and activates the line LED 41.
0, 411, 412, 413, and 414 are triggered. The bet button 418 is connected to the bet button switch 5
02 is generated three times and three of the medals in credit are inserted, whereby the credit number display device 415 is displayed.
Count display of 3 is reduced, the effective line LED 410, 41
An opportunity for lighting of 1, 412, 413, 414 is given.

When the start lever 419 is operated by the player, an internal reel start switch 501 (described later) is provided.
Detects the start of the game, gives an opportunity for the reel control device 512 to rotate the reels, and
01 in the ROM in the main control unit 508 described later
A lottery process is executed by a lottery program stored in 509, and a prize (winning of a so-called "role") or a losing (unwinning of a role) is performed by a lottery operation of the lottery program.
Is determined.

The stop button 420 detects the start of the stop operation of the rotating reel 102 by the trigger of an internal stop button switch 503 (described later), and
The opportunity to stop 12 reels is given. Stop button 421
Detects the start of the stop operation of the rotating reel 103 in response to the trigger of the internal stop button switch 503, and gives an opportunity to stop the reel of the reel control device 512. The stop button 422 detects the start of the stop operation of the spinning reel 104 when a trigger of the internal stop button switch 503 is generated, and provides an opportunity for the reel control unit 512 to stop the reel.

The number-of-payouts display device 423 is a 7-segment L
The number of medals paid out corresponding to the combination is displayed by ED or the like. The medal discharge port 424 is a medal for excess credit when there is a medal insertion or medal payout exceeding 50 credits, or a clearing button 428.
The credit clearing medal is released by the operation of. The medal tray 425 is a plate for storing medals discharged from the medal discharge port 424.

The state lamp 426 indicates during the bonus game,
Lights up when a condition such as an error has occurred or when other effects are to be produced.
The speaker 427 generates various sound effects. The clearing button 428 is operated by operating a toggle type clearing switch 504 (described later) to turn on the credit number display device 415 to enable credits, and to turn off the credit number display device 415 to disable credits. Then, the medal that has been credited is released from the medal discharge port 424 as a credit clearing medal.

The image display device 429 has a variable display device such as an LCD or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display. The image display device 429 variably displays a plurality of images, such as numbers and figures, and performs a notice of a combination flag and other announcement effects. For example, the image display device 429 can display an image such as a background and each of a plurality of figures as a moving image.

FIG. 3 is a spinning-type game including a main board having a main function section for controlling game contents related to gambling and a sub-board having a sub-function section operated by one-way control from the main board. 2 shows a control circuit configuration of the machine. In FIG. 3, the control circuit configuration of the spinning-type gaming machine of this embodiment includes a reel start switch 501, a bet button switch 502, a stop button switch 503, a clearing switch 504, a medal sensor switch 505, a reset circuit 517, and a power supply circuit 51.
8, input port 507, main control unit 508, ROM 50
9, RAM 510, output port 511, reel control device 512, payout number display device 423, credit number display device 415, LED display device 513, lamp display device 51
4. It has a sound effect generator 515, a hopper controller 516, other switches 506, an image display device 429, and an effect controller 519. The main control unit 508 is provided on the main board, and the effect control unit 519 is provided on the sub board.

The reel start switch 501 detects the start of the game and gives an opportunity for the reel control device 512 to rotate the reels. The bet button switch 502 generates a trigger n times (n = 1, 2, 3) and inserts n medals from credits, thereby reducing the count display of the credit number display device 415 by n, and the LED display device. 513 active line LEDs 410, 411, 412, 413, 4
An opportunity to light 14 is given.

The stop button switch 503 detects the start of the stop operation of the corresponding reel to be rotated upon occurrence of a trigger,
An opportunity to stop the reel by the reel control device 512 is given. The reel control device 512 detects a detection piece provided at a predetermined position on each reel by a sensor on the main body side while the reel is rotating, and outputs a detection signal to the main control unit 508 and the effect control unit 519. The main control unit 508 and the effect control unit 519 monitor the stop position of each reel based on the detection signal.

The clearing switch 504 is a toggle type switch. The credit number display device 415 is turned on to make the credit valid. Conversely, the credit number display device 415 is turned off to make the credit invalid and the credit is given. An opportunity is given to the hopper control device 516 to release the earned medals as credit settlement medals.

The medal sensor switch 505 generates a trigger when a player inserts a medal, and the LED display 51
3 active line LEDs 410, 411, 412, 41
Lighting of 3, 414 and count display of the credit amount display device 415 are given. The reset circuit 517 sets the main control unit 508 in an initial state. The power supply circuit 518 supplies power to the entire circuit of FIG. The input port 507 fetches a signal from each unit and transfers it to the main control unit 508.

The output port 511 outputs a signal to each unit and transfers the signal from the main control unit 508. The reel control device 512 includes a stepping motor that rotates each reel, a drive circuit that drives the motor in response to an instruction from the main control unit 508, and a detection circuit that feeds back the reel position to the main control unit 508.

The LED display device 513 is a display device for LEDs related to a game, and selectively turns on / off a plurality of LEDs according to an instruction from the main control unit 508. Thereby, the effective line LEDs 410, 411, 412, 413, 41
4 also lights up according to the number of inserted medals. The lamp display device 514 is a display device for lamps related to the game,
A plurality of lamps are selectively turned on / off according to an instruction from the main control unit 508 and / or the effect control unit 519. As a result, the state lamp 426 is also turned on during notification of a state such as occurrence of an error during the bonus game and other effects.

The sound effect generator 515 includes a main controller 508
And / or a notice effect,
Sound related to the game including the announcement effect etc.
Arising from The hopper control unit 516 displays a medal that exceeds the credit when there is a medal insertion or a medal payout exceeding 50 credits, or a clearing button 4
The credit clearing medal by the operation of 28 is discharged from the medal discharge port 424.

The main control unit 508 is a CPU for controlling the whole spinning-type gaming machine, and includes a ROM 509 and a RAM 51.
Even if a one-chip CPU with a built-in
9 and a RAM 510 connected externally to a bus may be used.

The ROM 509 stores a program for controlling the spinning-type gaming machine for the main control unit 508. Specifically, it stores a game control program (not shown) that defines the contents of control including control processing related to gambling performed by the CPU of the main control unit 508 except for effect control. ROM
509 further stores values of various parameters for controlling the spinning-type gaming machine. RAM 510 is
It temporarily stores input / output data for the main control unit 508, data for arithmetic processing, various counters such as a random number counter related to the game, and the like.

The production control unit 519 is means for executing various productions by the spinning-type gaming machine, that is, the LED display device 513, the lamp display device 514, and the sound effect generator 51.
5. A CPU that controls the image display device 429;
One-chip CPU incorporating M520 and RAM 521
Or a CPU in which the ROM 520 and the RAM 521 are externally connected to a bus. ROM 52
0 indicates the effect information (pattern) corresponding to all (or specific) combinations of the stop symbols of the three reels 102, 103, and 104, and the effect executed by the CPU of the effect control unit 519 based on the effect information. The control program is stored. This production information includes three reels 102,
Each one of all combinations of stop symbols of 103 and 104
May correspond individually to each other, may correspond to each of several combinations, and may further exclude only specific, for example, jackpot effect information (in this case, the main board side The main control unit 508 performs a jackpot effect control). The RAM 521 provides a primary storage area for data processing executed by the CPU of the effect control unit 519.

The production control unit 519 receives the signal indicating the lottery result from the main control unit 508 and the detection signal of the reel stop position from the position detection means in the reel control unit 512, and responds to the input to produce the production. Is controlled, and an effect is performed. That is, for example, when the flag of each combination is established (the flag of the combination is ON), the effect corresponding to the combination is executed. For example, when the bonus flag is ON, the reel control unit 512 is controlled to stop the reach, the lamp display unit 514 is controlled to flash the display window, and the sound effect generation unit 515 is controlled to generate a specific sound. Or let it go out.

When input other than the ON of the flag of the hand, that is, when the detection signal of the reel stop position is input from the position detecting means in the reel control unit 512, the effect information in the ROM 520 corresponding to the combination of the stop symbols. The means for executing the corresponding effect is controlled based on. Therefore, in this case, for example, an individual effect corresponding to the combination of the stop symbols can be executed, and a variety of notice effects that have not been obtained in the past can be obtained.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Without increasing the storage capacity on the main board side, it is possible to control various effects corresponding to as many combinations of stop symbols as possible, including hits and stops that the player has operated and stopped.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of a spinning-type gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which left, middle, and right reels rotating in a display window are developed.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a control circuit configuration of the spinning-type gaming machine of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Designation number 102, 103, 104 Reel 105 Reel rotation direction 400 times Body-type gaming machine 401, 402, 403 Display window 404 Medal slot 405, 406, 407, 408, 409 Winning line display 410, 411, 412, 413, 414 Active line LED 415 Credit number display device 416, 417, 418 Bet button 419 Start lever 420, 421, 422 Stop button 423 Number of payouts display device 424 Medal outlet 425 Medal tray 426 Status lamp 427 Speaker 428 Clearing button 429 Image Display device 501 Reel start switch 502 Bet button switch 503 Stop button switch 504 Clearing switch 505 Medal sensor switch 506 Other switches 507 Input port 508 Main control Parts 509,520 ROM 510,521 RAM 511 output port 512 the reel controller 513 LED display device 514 lamp display device 515 sound effect producing apparatus 516 hopper controller 517 resets circuit 518 power source circuit 519 effect control unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A main board having a main function section for controlling game contents related to gambling, a sub board having a sub function section operated by one-way control from the main board, and a plurality of symbols variably displayed. A variable display unit in which a combination of stopped symbols is determined according to whether or not a winning is achieved, wherein the sub-function unit stores a plurality of types of effect patterns corresponding to the combination of symbols in the variable display unit. Detecting means for detecting a stop symbol of the variable display portion,
A gaming machine comprising: an effect control unit that controls an effect according to a corresponding effect pattern in the storage unit based on a detection result of the detection unit.