JP2002301225A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the amusement of a game by making the variable display of patterns interesting. SOLUTION: In a game machine provided with a display controller 50 for controlling the variable display of a plurality of patterns on a display part, the display controller 50 has multiple display processing means (53, 55. 60, 54, ...) dividing at least one pattern among the plurality of patterns displayed by the part 59 into plurality and displaying them in parallel.

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 display control device for controlling variable display of a plurality of symbols on a display unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a pachinko machine, which is a kind of gaming machine, which can provide a great benefit to a player by shifting to a special game, for example, by opening a variable winning device. . This kind of pachinko machine is usually
It is common to provide a symbol display device and a starting port. The symbol display device is constituted by a liquid crystal display having three display areas on its display unit, and can variably display a plurality of symbols in each display area. The starting port is a trigger for variably displaying the symbol display device, and includes a game ball detection switch.

[0003] In this pachinko machine, when a game ball wins at the starting port, the symbol display device starts variable display upon detection of winning of the game ball by the detection switch. When a predetermined variable time elapses after the symbol display device starts the variable display, the symbols are sequentially stopped and displayed in a predetermined order in the respective display areas. At this time, 3 displayed stopped in each display area
If one symbol is in a predetermined specific mode, for example, if all the symbols are completed, the game becomes a jackpot and shifts to a special game, and the variable winning device which is normally closed is opened. Become like As a result, the number of winnings in the variable winning device becomes large in a short time, and prize balls are paid out for each winning, so that an extremely large profit can be given to the player.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned conventional pachinko machine, the variable display of the symbol on the display section of the symbol display device is almost always caused by the vertical scroll fluctuation of the symbol. For the player, the variable display of the symbol is not interesting at all, and in that respect, the interest as a game is low.

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in view of the above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine in which the variable display of symbols has an interesting feature and can enhance the interest of the game.

[0006]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine having a display control device for controlling variable display of a plurality of symbols on a display unit. The display control device is characterized by having plural display processing means for pluralizing at least one of the plural symbols displayed on the display unit and displaying the plural symbols.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the gaming machine further comprises:
It is advantageous to the player when any of the symbol modes variably displayed and stopped on the display unit and the symbol modes displayed in a plurality by the multiple display processing means are respectively predetermined modes. It shifts to a special game.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the pluralized display processing means is further provided with a variable display on the display unit and a separate symbol. Are superposed to form a plurality.

Further, in the invention according to a fourth aspect, in addition to the configuration according to any one of the first to third aspects, the pluralization display processing means performs a plurality of symbols by raster processing. To do.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, the pluralized display processing means further includes a symbol which is variably displayed on the display unit and which is stopped. When superimposing to make a plurality, perform transmission processing,
It is characterized by:

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, the pluralized display processing means includes a symbol which is variably displayed on the display unit and which is stopped. Is characterized in that a blending process is performed when a plurality is superimposed to form a plurality.

Further, in the invention according to claim 7, in addition to the structure of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the pluralization of the symbols by the pluralization display processing means is performed by a display unit. The operation is performed in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, or both directions.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a gaming machine.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a gaming machine for playing a game using a pachinko ball. The gaming machine 1 has a window on one side of an outer frame 11 and a butterfly which can open and close a frame-shaped front frame 12. A metal frame 13 is mounted on the window, a glass frame 14 with glass is hinged on the upper half side of the metal frame 13, and the game board is viewed from behind, and A panel 22 having an upper plate set 2 having an upper plate 21 for storing a ball is hinged on the half side (lower portion of the window) so as to be openable and closable. Adjustment handle 31 and upper plate 2
A lower plate set 3 provided with a lower plate 32 for storing balls overflowing from 1 is provided.

In the game area 4 surrounded by a guide rail 41 from which a hit ball fired by a player flows, a center accessory 5 provided with a special symbol display device 50 is provided at substantially the center, and this center accessory 5 is provided. A special symbol starting port 6 is provided below, a special winning opening unit 7 having a special winning opening 71 is further provided below, and an out opening 42 is formed at the lowest position.

On the left and right of the center item 5, there are provided ordinary symbol operation gates 8, and when a ball passes through the ordinary symbol operation gate 8, a symbol is displayed on an ordinary symbol display device 72 provided in the special winning opening unit 7. Is displayed. In addition, the center accessory 5 is provided with a start storage indicator light 52 that indicates that up to four balls entering the special symbol start port 6 are stored.

In the game area 4, in addition to the above-mentioned devices, there are provided a windmill 43 and a windmill 44 for converting the downflow direction of the hit ball, a side lamp 45, a general winning opening 46, and the like.
In addition, a number of obstacle nails (not shown) are appropriately planted on the game board surface. In addition, a lamp 33 that is turned on when a prize ball is discharged or when a hitting state occurs in the gaming machine 1 is provided at an upper front portion of the front frame 12.

A speaker 34 is arranged on the back side of the gaming machine 1 to notify a sound effect required for the game (for example, a sound effect at the time of a big hit), and to discharge the number of balls, a prize mode, and lend a ball. Various sounds are generated according to the notification to the player.

The above-mentioned special symbol starting port 6 is used to start the variation display of the symbol on the special symbol display device 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotating wing piece 601 stands and the hit ball enters. It is composed of the ordinary electric accessory 600 that can be converted into a difficult first state and a second state in which the rotary wing piece 601 is tilted to easily hit a ball.

Then, when the normal symbol display device 72 arranged in parallel with the special winning opening unit 7 displays a predetermined symbol, the ordinary electric accessory 600 becomes a hit and the rotary wing piece 60 becomes a hit.
It is set so that 1 is converted to a second state in which it is easy to enter a ball. The ordinary symbol display device 72 is constituted by a so-called digital display composed of, for example, seven-segment light-emitting diodes, and displays, for example, numbers or alphabets as symbols, and hits when a specific number or alphabet is displayed. .

In the large winning opening 71, a winning count switch 71a is provided before reaching a collecting gutter (not shown).
(FIG. 4) and a continuation switch 71b (FIG. 4). The prize counting switch 71a and the continuation switch 71b are used to electrically detect a game ball that has been won from the large winning opening 71, and to provide each detection result to a main control device 10 described later. The prize counting switch 71a is provided at a position where all of the game balls that have won from the special winning opening 71 pass through.
1b is provided at a position for detecting only a specific one of the game balls won from the special winning opening 71.

The special symbol display device 10 is for variably displaying a plurality of symbols such as numbers, symbols and pictures through a display area to the player. It is performed according to the entry. The special symbol display device 50 of the present embodiment is configured by a liquid crystal LCD panel 59, and has a rectangular shape having three columns of display areas 50a, 50b, and 50c as shown in FIG.
It is possible to individually and variably display symbols in each of these display areas 50a, 50b, 50c. In the present embodiment, numerals from "0" to "9" are applied as symbols variably displayed in the display areas 50a, 50b, and 50c, as shown in FIG.

In the following, for convenience, the symbol displayed on the left display area 50a as viewed from the front in FIG. 1 is a left symbol, the symbol displayed on the center display area 50b is a middle symbol, and the right display area 50c. Will be referred to as the right symbol as appropriate.

On the LCD panel 59, a total of nine symbols are projected in three columns and three rows.
Of the three columns × 3 rows, a total of five hit lines L1, L2,..., L5 are set on each of the upper, middle, and lower rows and on the diagonal line. ,
When three identical symbols such as "7,7" and "1,1,1" are stopped together, a jackpot (special game state) is established, and the big winning opening 71 is opened to give a profit to the player.

In the special game, the special winning opening 71 is continuously opened until, for example, 30 seconds elapse or until the winning counting switch 71a detects ten game balls. This state is defined as one round, and it is possible to update up to 16 rounds each time the continuation switch 71b detects a game ball each time during this round. During this time, an extremely large number of prize balls are paid out to the player in accordance with the ball entering the open special winning opening 71.

Next, a microcomputer system for controlling the operation of the gaming machine 1 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main control unit of the gaming machine. In the figure, a main control device 10 is a device that performs overall control of a game, is provided on the back side of the game area 4, and is configured around a main control unit 100. The main control unit 100 includes a microprocessor 10 having a built-in CPU, and a ROM 10 for storing a control program and control data describing a series of control procedures.
1 and a RAM 102 in which various work areas are formed, and is an integrated one-chip microcomputer. The main control unit 100 includes a special symbol start switch 6 disposed inside the special symbol start port 6 through the input port 103 to detect a winning of the game ball to the special symbol start port 6.
a, a normal symbol operation switch 8a disposed inside the normal symbol operation gate 8 for detecting a game ball passing through the gate, and a prize for detecting a winning of the game ball into the large prize opening 71 disposed inside the special winning opening 71 The count switch 71a and the continuation switch 71b are connected, and the main control unit 100 can receive each detection signal.

The main control unit 100 includes an output port 1
The operation of the special symbol display device 50, the ordinary symbol display device 72, the special winning opening operation solenoid 73 for controlling the opening of the special winning opening 71, and the rotating wing piece 601 of the normal electric accessory 600 via 06. A normal electric accessory actuation solenoid 602 for controlling, a lamp display device 30 for controlling lighting of the lamp 33 and the LED, and a sound effect generating device 35 for controlling output of a sound effect from the speaker 34 are connected to the main control unit 100. Can transmit a control signal for controlling each of these devices.

A power supply circuit 105 for supplying power and a reset circuit 104 for outputting a reset signal every predetermined time are connected to the main control unit 100. A pulse signal generated by the periodic timer counter is input from 100 and a monitor signal for monitoring a current supply state from the power supply circuit 105 is input.

Next, the configuration of the special symbol display device 50 for executing the control of the plural display processing according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of the special symbol display device. In the figure, the special symbol display device 50
Apparatus for displaying two-dimensional video data (2D video data) or three-dimensional video data (3D video data) on a display screen based on display data corresponding to a game mode such as a jackpot, which is output from main controller 10. And is configured around the CPU 53.

The data receiving circuit 51 is a circuit for receiving display data from the main controller 10. The display data includes a control strobe signal, a data command group, and the like.

The CPU 53 generates control data necessary for performing display control and performs general control of other circuit units based on the received command.

The ROM 55 stores a program describing the operation procedure of the CPU 53 and a control program relating to the multiple display processing according to the present invention.

The RAM 56 is used as a work area for the CPU 53 and an area for temporarily storing operation data.

An image processing LSI (VDP: Video Display Processor) 54 generates 3D video data and the like by arithmetic processing based on the control data output from the CPU 53, and outputs the data to a display screen.

The video RAM 57 includes an image processing LSI 54
Is temporarily stored as image data, and the image processing LSI 54 converts the image data stored in the video RAM 57 into a video signal and displays it on a display screen.

The character ROM 60 stores 3D image data 61 for generating 3D image data and 2D image data 64 for generating 2D image data. The 3D image data 61 includes a pattern and a background. , A plurality of object data 63 indicating a 3D shape of a character or the like. The symbol group 91 (FIG. 3) used in this embodiment
(A) is also stored in the character ROM 60.

The object data 63 is composed of 3D shape data having X, Y, and Z coordinate axes, and is represented as colorless data indicating a 3D shape polygon. The object data 63 includes a cubic shape such as a cube, a cylinder, a sphere, or the like, or a flat shape such as a band.
It is assumed that dimensional fragment shape data is included.

If a color image is to be created as required, texture data 62 may be provided. The texture data 62 is composed of pallet data composed of 3 bytes for each color of R, B, and G, and bitmap data composed of 1-byte index data indicating the number of the color pallet.

LCD panel interface circuit 58
Is a circuit for receiving image data temporarily stored in the video RAM 57 as a video signal and outputting it to the display surface.

The LCD panel 59 is a display screen for displaying a 3D image or a 2D image pattern based on the video signal output from the LCD panel interface circuit 58. In the present embodiment, as described above, It is assumed that it is composed of three symbols (left symbol, middle symbol, right symbol).

The voltage conversion circuit 52a and the power supply circuit 52b generate a new power supply for the symbol display device based on the power supplied from the external power supply circuit 90.

Next, the overall flow of control performed by the main control device and the special symbol display device will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of the control performed by the main controller in relation to the symbol display.

When a game is started in the gaming machine 1, the main controller 100 of the main controller 10 first checks in step S1 whether a game ball has won the special symbol starting port 6 or not. Proceed to step S2.

Until the game ball wins the special symbol starting port 6, the three symbols displayed on the LCD panel 59 do not change and remain on the initial screen. As the image content displayed on the initial screen, image data for a game stop state or the like stored in advance in the video RAM 57 or the like can be used.

In step S2, the main controller 100 determines the game content based on a predetermined probability in response to the game ball winning the special symbol starting port 6, and then proceeds to the next step S3. .

The game content here means, for example, that a ring-shaped (0 to several hundreds) counter is rotated at a high speed and the value (random number) of the counter when a winning signal is detected is set in a random number counter in advance. When the hit value (random number) matches, a big hit is made.

In step S3, the data of the lottery result indicating the jackpot or the like determined in this way is used as variable image display data information and transmitted to the special symbol display device 50. Thereafter, the flow advances to the next step S4.

The special symbol display device 50 performs a display control process based on the transmitted variable image display data information. That is, when the game ball wins the special symbol start-up port 6, the display control process is started, a plurality of symbols on the LCD panel 59 start to change, and a symbol pattern such as a big hit is based on the variable image display data information. Is finally displayed on the screen. Details of this display control processing will be described later.

In step S4, after a series of normal processing is completed as described above, random number update processing is performed using the remaining time to determine a hit value of a random number counter or the like. move on.

In step S6, it is checked whether or not the processing is to be continued. If the processing is continued, the flow returns to step S1 to repeat the same processing within a predetermined cycle (several msec). This flowchart ends.

Next, a display control process performed by the special symbol display device 50 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display control process in the CPU of the special symbol display device.

In step S11, the special symbol display device 5
0 initialization processing is performed. Further, it executes various processes such as an input port process and an error check of a command input from the main control unit 100.

In the next step S12, the main control unit 100
It is checked whether or not a command has been input. If a command has been input, the process proceeds to step S13; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1.
Proceed to 4.

In step S13, the input command is set. The commands to be input include a fluctuation pattern command (3 bytes) indicating dozens of fluctuation patterns, a stop symbol command (1 byte) indicating a stop symbol such as a big hit, and an end command (1 byte) indicating the end of the pattern. It is assumed that there are five commands, but the present invention is not limited to this.

In steps S14 to S17, parameters corresponding to the input command are set.

That is, in step S14, speed data such as a fluctuation pattern is set. In step S15, a symbol updating process such as reading image data from the character ROM 60 is performed. In step S16, the reel data of the symbol is set. In step S17, the background
Set animation data such as characters.

In step S18, the CPU 53 checks whether or not the output permission flag is set to "1". If the flag has been set to 1, the process proceeds to step S19 to execute the processing according to the present invention. If not, the process returns to step S12.

In step S19, the set data group is output to the VDP 54, and a symbol variation process including a raster process according to the present invention and a transparency process of transparency and blending (assimilation) is executed.

Next, the symbol change process (display control process) according to the present invention, which is executed by the special symbol display device 50 in step S19, will be described.

FIG. 8 shows the display control processing according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a first example of display control involving raster processing,
(A)-(d) have shown the time-series change of the fluctuating symbol.

In FIG. 8 (a), the symbol on the LCD panel 59 starts to change based on the winning of the game ball into the special symbol opening 6, and the symbols on the left become 0, 1, 2 from the bottom. It is assumed that the pattern is stopped, and the middle symbol is stopped in the order of 1, 2, 3 from the bottom, and immediately before or immediately after the right symbol is stopped.

Next, in FIG. 8B, the symbol "7" in the middle of the right symbol is subjected to raster processing to be divided into two, and is overlaid on the symbol "2" in the middle of the middle symbol. The raster processing refers to a method of moving a scanning line covering an image surface according to a pattern specified in advance, and dividing the image. This FIG.
In (b), every other scanning line covering the image surface 59a of “7” of the right symbol is the image surface 5 of “2” of the middle symbol next to it.
9b, and as a result, the number of scanning lines is “2” for the middle symbol, “7” for the right symbol, and “7” overlapping the middle symbol, and the number of scanning lines is reduced to half and the display is thin. I have.

Subsequently, in FIG. 8 (c), the right symbol "7"
Is further subjected to a raster processing to be divided into three, and is superimposed on the symbol "2" in the middle symbol of the middle symbol and the symbol "1" in the middle symbol of the left symbol.
Here, every two scanning lines covering the right symbol “7” image surface 59a are adjacent to the middle symbol “2” image surface 59a.
b, and every other two lines are moved to the image surface 59c of the left symbol “1”, thereby sharing the symbol “7”. As a result, “1” of the left symbol, “2” of the middle symbol, “7” of the right symbol, “7” overlapping the left symbol and “7” overlapping the middle symbol are all lower than the normal display. It is displayed faint. In FIG. 8 (c), although three symbols "7" are arranged along the hit line L2 in the middle part of the screen, they are displayed lightly. Therefore, in this embodiment, the display mode according to the display mode which is a big hit in the present embodiment,
That is, it is handled as a reach mode.

In FIG. 8D, the three symbols "7" arranged along the hit line L2 in the middle of the screen are switched to the normal dark display or blinking display, whereby the symbol "7" becomes 3 Inform the player that the big hit has been achieved.

As described above, in the first example of the display control involving the raster processing, one of the right symbols moves to the left at the same time as the right symbol stops, or before and after the right symbol, and is divided into a plurality. In the case of the pattern change due to the vertical scroll change, the pattern change in the horizontal direction, and for this reason, for the player, the variable display of the pattern is interesting, and at that point the interest as a game is greatly increased. Can be improved.

Further, in a normal symbol variation pattern,
When the left symbol and the middle symbol are not aligned, regardless of the case of "losing" at this point, in the display control involving this raster processing, one of the right symbols moves to the left and separates into a plurality, In the conventional vertical scroll fluctuation, it was definitely "losing", and when giving up, it became a new development due to the pluralization in the horizontal direction, there was a possibility that a big reversal came and a big hit, and from this point The fun and interest of the game can be greatly improved.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a first example of display control involving the above-described raster processing. In this flowchart, the CPU 53 of the special symbol display device 50 executes the image processing L
The image processing LSI 54 instructs the SI (VDP) 54 to execute the pattern data stored in the character ROM 60 based on the raster processing parameters stored in the program ROM 55 in accordance with the instruction from the CPU 53. Generate 3D video data using
Outputting to the display screen.

First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the symbol variation is a plurality of symbols by raster processing. If the plurality of symbols is rasterized, the program proceeds to step S32, otherwise, the program is terminated.

In step S32, the right symbol is changed using raster processing. Layer on the middle pattern.

In step S33, the right symbol is divided and the middle symbol and the left symbol are overlapped using raster processing.

In step S34, it is determined whether or not the current symbol variation display is a big hit. If the current symbol variation display is a big hit, the process proceeds to step S35, and if not, the process proceeds to step S36.

In step S35, the left, middle, and right symbols, which are alternately displayed by the raster processing, are highlighted and displayed, and then the program is terminated.

In step S36, the display control based on the current raster processing is ended, the display is shifted to the normal display control, and the program is ended as it is.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a second example of the symbol change accompanied by the raster processing in the display control process according to the present invention. FIGS. 10A to 10E show the time-series change of the changing symbol. ing. Here, a total of six symbols are projected on the LCD panel 59 in a manner divided into 3 columns × 2 rows, and the upper and lower rows of the 3 columns × 2 rows are hit by the lines L1, L2.
Description will be made assuming that L2 is set.

In FIG. 10 (a), the symbol on the LCD panel 59 starts to change based on the winning of the game ball into the special symbol starting port 6, and the lower symbol of the left symbol is “2” and the upper symbol is “3”. And the middle symbol is "2" in the lower row and "3" in the upper row.
Suppose that it is just before the right symbol stops or immediately after it stops. In this symbol mode, both the hit lines L1 and L2 are in a reach state, which is a so-called double reach.

Next, in FIG. 10 (b), the symbol "1" at the lower right of the symbol is subjected to raster processing to be divided into two, and is overlaid on the symbol "2" at the lower of the middle symbol. As a result, “2” of the middle symbol, “1” of the right symbol, and “1” overlapping the middle symbol all have half the number of scanning lines as usual and are displayed thinly.

Subsequently, in FIG. 10 (c), the right symbol "1" is further subjected to a raster processing to be divided into three, and the middle symbol lower symbol "2" and the left symbol lower symbol "2". Layer on. As a result, “2” of the left symbol, “2” of the middle symbol, “1” of the right symbol, “1” overlapping the left symbol and “1” overlapping the middle symbol are all smaller than the normal display. It is displayed faint. In FIG. 10 (c), although three symbols "1" are arranged along the hit line L2 at the lower part of the screen, they are displayed lightly and are in a reach state. As described above, in FIG. 10C, a new reach has occurred in the hit line L2 at the lower part of the screen, and a new double reach has been made together with the hit line L1 at the upper part of the screen.

In FIG. 10D, the hit line L
The three symbols "1" arranged along 2 are switched to a normal dark display or blinking display, thereby notifying the player that all three symbols "1" have become a big hit.

In the second example of the display control involving the raster processing, the same effect as in the first example described above is exhibited. That is, at the same time as the right symbol stops, or before or after it, one of the right symbols moves to the left and separates into multiple,
Conventionally, in most cases, the design change due to vertical scroll change, but the design change in the horizontal direction, for this reason,
For the player, the variable display of the symbols is interesting, and in that respect, the interest as a game can be greatly improved.

Further, in a normal symbol variation pattern,
When the left symbol and the middle symbol are not aligned, regardless of the case of "losing" at this point, in the display control involving this raster processing, one of the right symbols moves to the left and separates into a plurality, In the conventional vertical scroll fluctuation, it was definitely "losing", and when giving up, it became a new development due to the pluralization in the horizontal direction, there was a possibility that a big reversal came and a big hit, and from this point The fun and interest of the game can be greatly improved.

Further, in the second example, a novel double reach which has not been achieved in the past can be made to appear. That is,
In the conventional gaming machine, when the design reaches the double reach as shown in FIG. 10A using the patterns 0 to 9 arranged as shown in FIG. When "3" is aligned in L1 and a big hit is reached, "2" is always aligned in the lower hit line L2, and a big hit occurs in the two hit lines L1 and L2 at the same time. That is, the reach in each hit line is not independent, and if any one hits, the other always hits. In such a case, a lottery game or the like is performed to determine which winning line is a big hit. On the other hand, in the second example according to the present invention, one of the right symbols moves to the left and separates into a plurality of symbols, so that the hit lines L1 and L2 become independent as shown in FIG. A unique hit can be formed for each hit line,
Therefore, this is an unprecedented double reach, which makes it possible to enhance the interest and to speed up the development of the game.

Also, in the conventional double-reach game machine, when trying to give independence to each hit line, for example, the left symbol and the middle symbol are arranged as shown in FIG. It is necessary to use a symbol group 91 of 1,..., 8, 9 and a symbol group 92 of 9, 8,. Therefore, at least two series of symbol groups 9
1, 92 need to be stored in the character ROM 60, which leads to an increase in the capacity of the character ROM 60 and an increase in cost. On the other hand, in the second example according to the present invention, independence can be given to each hit line by using only the symbol group 91, and therefore, the size and cost of the character ROM 60 can be reduced. .

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an example of display control by transmission processing in the display control processing according to the present invention.
(A)-(f) have shown the time series change of the fluctuating design.

In FIG. 11A, the symbol on the LCD panel 59 starts to change based on the winning of the game ball into the special symbol opening 6, and the symbols on the left become 0, 1, 2 in order from the bottom. It is assumed that the pattern is stopped, and the middle symbol is stopped in the order of 1, 2, 3 from the bottom, and immediately before or immediately after the right symbol is stopped.

Next, in FIG. 11 (b), the same symbol "7" as the right symbol middle symbol is superimposed on the middle symbol middle symbol "2" and displayed. This superimposed display can be executed by normal superimposed display processing on the middle symbol image surface 59b, and by this superimposed display processing, “7” is displayed behind “2”.

Subsequently, in FIG. 11C, a transmission process is performed on the image surface 59b in the middle stage of the middle symbol so that the symbol "2" is transmitted so that the entire background "7" can be seen through. .

In FIG. 11D and FIG. 11E, the image plane 59c in the middle stage of the left pattern is
The same processing (overlay display processing and transmission processing) as performed in (b) and (c) is performed, and the image surface 59c in the middle stage of the left symbol is displayed.
In, the original symbol “1” is transmitted so that the entire background “7” can be seen through. As a result, FIG.
In (d), all of the left symbol “7” and the middle symbol “7” can be seen through, and the right symbol “7” can be seen through.
Will be in the same state for the time being. This FIG.
In (e), although three symbols "7" are arranged along the hit line L2 in the middle of the screen, it is not clear display, and this state is treated as a reach mode in the present embodiment.

In FIG. 11 (f), the three symbols "7" arranged along the hit line L2 in the middle of the screen are switched to a normal dark display or blinking display, whereby the symbol "7" is changed to three. Inform the player that the big hit has been achieved.

As described above, in the display control involving the superimposed display processing and the transmission processing, as in the case of the display control by the raster processing, one of the right symbols is stopped at the same time as the right symbol is stopped or before or after the right symbol is stopped. Moving to the left side to make a plurality of symbols, the pattern change in the past in most cases was caused by the vertical scroll change, but the pattern change in the horizontal direction. Therefore, for the player, the variable display of the pattern is interesting. , And in that respect, the interest as a game can be greatly improved.

Further, in a normal symbol variation pattern,
If the left symbol and the middle symbol are not aligned, one of the right symbols will move to the left and become multiple, regardless of the case of "losing" at this point, so in the conventional vertical scroll fluctuation,
It is definitely "losing", and if you give up, there is a possibility that it will be a new development due to pluralization in the horizontal direction, a big reversal may occur and a big hit, and from this point the fun and interest of the game Performance can be greatly improved.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the display control by the above-described transmission processing. This flowchart is similar to the case of the raster processing described above.
The PU 53 instructs and executes an image processing LSI (VDP) 54.

First, in step S41, it is determined whether or not the symbol variation is a plurality of symbols by the transmission process. If the symbol variation is a plurality of symbols by the transmission process, the process proceeds to step S42.

In step S42, the same symbol as the right symbol is displayed in a thin layer behind the middle symbol, and then the process proceeds to the next step S43.

In step S43, using the transmission process,
The middle symbol on the front is made transparent so that the same symbol as the right symbol behind can be seen through, and then the process proceeds to the next step S44.

In steps S44 and S45, the above-mentioned steps S42 and S
The same process as in step 43 is performed to allow the left symbol on the front to be transparent so that the entire symbol identical to the right symbol behind can be seen through, and then the process proceeds to the next step S46.

In step S46, it is determined whether or not the current symbol variation display should be a big hit. If the current symbol variation display is a big hit, the process proceeds to step S47, and if not, the process proceeds to step S48.

In step S47, each of the left and middle symbols displayed by the transparency processing and the right symbol displayed in the normal state are highlighted and displayed, and then this program is terminated.

In step S48, the display control based on the current transmission processing is ended, the display is shifted to the normal display control, and the program is ended as it is.

In the display control based on the transmission processing, a new double reach which has not been available can be made to appear, as in the case of the display control involving the raster processing, and one of the right symbols moves to the left. To be pluralized,
The two hit lines in the reach state become independent, and a unique hit can be formed for each hit line,
Therefore, it is an unprecedented double reach, and the interest can be improved. In addition, it is not necessary to perform a lottery game or the like in a case where two hit lines are hit at the same time, and the game can be quickly developed. Also, by using only one symbol group 91 (FIG. 3A), independence can be given to each hit line, and therefore, the size and cost of the character ROM 60 can be reduced.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an example of display control by blending processing in the display control processing according to the present invention.
(A)-(f) have shown the time series change of the fluctuating design.

In FIG. 13 (a), the symbol on the LCD panel 59 starts to fluctuate based on the winning of the game ball into the special symbol starting port 6, and the symbols on the left become 0, 1, 2 from the bottom. It is assumed that the pattern is stopped, and the middle symbols are stopped in the order of 1, 2, 3 from the bottom, and immediately before the right symbol is stopped or immediately after the right symbol is stopped. A background G is drawn on the LCD panel 59, and each symbol is displayed on the background.

Next, in FIG. 13B, the same symbol "7" as the middle symbol in the right symbol is superimposed and displayed on the symbol "2" in the middle symbol in the middle symbol in the same manner as in the above-described transmission processing. . This superimposed display can be executed by normal superimposed display processing on the middle symbol image surface 59b, and by this superimposed display processing, “7” is displayed behind “2”.

Subsequently, in FIG. 13C, a blending process is performed on the image surface 59b in the middle stage of the middle symbol, and the symbol "7" is displayed.
Is blended (assimilated) with the background G. By this blending process, the entire outline of the background “7” becomes visible, and this “7” appears to be melted into the background G, so that the player can surely recognize the existence of the “7”. .

[0108] Note that the blend here means the RGB color palette (R, G, B) = (0 to 255, 0 to 25).
5, 0-255), such as a palette capable of expressing 256 colors of the third power, for example, black (R, G, B) =
When (0, 0, 0) is set as the background, is it possible to merge the drawn palette with the pattern “7” into the background G by making it as close as possible to the color of the background G? Means to express something like

In FIGS. 13 (d) and 13 (e), the image plane 59c in the middle stage of the left symbol shown in FIG.
The same processing (overlay display processing and blending processing) as in (b) and (c) is performed, and “7” behind the original symbol “1” is blended with the background G on the image surface 59c in the middle of the left symbol. By doing so, the whole of the outline is made visible, and this “7” is made to appear to be melted into the background G. Thereby, the player can surely recognize the existence of 7.

As a result, in FIG. 13 (e), both the whole of the left symbol “7” and the whole of the middle symbol “7” can be recognized, and the same symbol as the right symbol “7” can be recognized. It will be in a state of uniformity. In FIG. 13 (e), although three symbols "7" are aligned along the hit line L2 in the middle of the screen, they are not clearly displayed, and this state is treated as a reach mode in the present embodiment. ing.

In FIG. 13 (f), the three symbols "7" arranged along the hit line L2 in the middle of the screen are switched to a normal dark display or blinking display, whereby the symbol "7" is changed to three. Inform the player that the big hit has been achieved.

As described above, in the display control involving the overlapping display processing and the blending processing, as in the case of the display control by the above-described raster processing, one of the right symbols is stopped at the same time as the right symbol is stopped, or before and after the right symbol is stopped. Moving to the left side to make a plurality of symbols, the pattern change in the past in most cases was caused by the vertical scroll change, but the pattern change in the horizontal direction. For this reason, the variable display of the symbol is interesting for the player. , And in that respect, the interest as a game can be greatly improved.

Further, in a normal symbol variation pattern,
If the left symbol and the middle symbol are not aligned, one of the right symbols will move to the left and become multiple, regardless of the case of "losing" at this point, so in the conventional vertical scroll fluctuation,
It is definitely a "losing", and when you give up, there is a possibility that it will be a new development due to pluralization in the horizontal direction, a big reversal may occur and a big hit, and from this point the fun and interest of the game Performance can be greatly improved.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of display control by the above-described blending process. This flowchart is similar to the case of the above-described raster processing.
CPU 53 instructs and executes an image processing LSI (VDP) 54.

First, in step S51, it is determined whether or not the symbol variation is a plurality of symbols by the blending process.
If there is a plurality by blending, the process proceeds to step S52.
If not, the program ends.

In step S52, the same symbol as the right symbol is displayed in a thin layer behind the middle symbol, and then the flow advances to the next step S53.

In step S53, using the blending process, the same symbol as the right symbol behind the middle symbol is blended (assimilated) with the background G so that the entire outline of the symbol behind the symbol can be seen. To the background, and make sure the player recognizes the presence of the symbol.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S54.

In steps S54 and S55, the above-mentioned steps S52 and S
The same process as 53 is performed, and the same symbol as the right symbol behind the left symbol is blended (assimilated) with the background G so that the entire outline of the symbol behind can be seen, and this symbol is merged with the background. To make the player aware of the presence of the symbol. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S56.

In step S56, it is determined whether or not the current symbol variation display should be a big hit. If the current symbol variation display is a big hit, the process proceeds to step S57, and if not, the process proceeds to step S58.

In step S57, each of the left and middle symbols displayed by the blending process and the right symbol displayed in the normal state are emphasized and displayed, and then this program is terminated.

In step S58, the display control based on the current blending process is terminated, and the process proceeds to normal display control.
Exit this program.

In the display control by the blending process, as in the case of the display control involving the raster processing and the transparency processing, a new double reach which has not been available can be made to appear. Since it moves to the left and is pluralized, the two hit lines in the reach state become independent, and a unique hit can be formed for each hit line, and therefore, it is an unprecedented double reach, Interestingness can be improved. In addition, it is not necessary to perform a lottery game or the like in a case where two hit lines are hit at the same time, and the game can be quickly developed. Also, one symbol group 91 (FIG. 3)
By using only (a)), independence can be given to each hit line, so that the size and cost of the character ROM 60 can be reduced.

In the above description, when the symbols are pluralized, the right symbol is pluralized. However, not the right symbol but either the left symbol or the middle symbol is pluralized. It is also possible to arbitrarily set which symbol is to be pluralized.

The right symbol is first displayed in plural in the middle symbol next to it, and then the left symbol is displayed in plural. However, first, the left symbol is displayed in plural, and then the middle symbol is displayed in plural. The order of the multiple display may be arbitrarily set.

[0125] Further, the plural symbols are displayed until the same symbols are aligned. However, a configuration in which only two symbols are aligned by at least one multiple display may be used. Can be set arbitrarily.

Although the plural symbols are arranged in the horizontal direction, the symbols may be arranged in the vertical direction. In this case, the case where the symbols are aligned in the vertical direction is a hit,
The vertical direction may be set as a hit line. The conventional hit line is a horizontal direction or a diagonal direction, and by setting the hit line to a vertical direction, it becomes a new setting, a game is changed, and the taste can be improved.

Furthermore, in the above description, the LCD panel 5
9 is divided into 3 columns × 3 rows or 3 columns × 2 rows, and a pattern is displayed in each section. This section is arbitrary, for example, 3 columns × 1 row, 4 columns × 3 rows. , 5 columns × 5 rows, 6 columns × 4 rows, etc. Next, the case of dividing into 5 columns and 5 rows will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example when the LCD panel is divided into 5 columns × 5 rows. In FIG. 15A,
The symbol on the LCD panel 59 is the special symbol starting port 6 for the game ball.
The first row symbol 91, the second row symbol 92, the third row symbol 93, and the fourth column symbol 94 are all 8, 9, 9, 0, 1, 2 in order from the bottom. Stopped
It is assumed that the fifth-row symbol 95 is just before stopping or just after stopping.

In FIG. 15B, the hit line L
The fifth row symbol “4” of 55 is pluralized in the horizontal direction, and in the hit line L55, the first column symbol 91 to the fourth column symbol 94 are the original symbol “8”, and the symbol that has been pluralized this time. Both "4" are displayed, and the original symbol "4" is displayed in the fifth column symbol 95. And
At the next stage, if all of the symbols "4" are displayed in an emphasized manner, a big hit will occur.

As described above, the plural display processing according to the present invention can be performed in the above-described three columns.times.
It can be applied in the same manner as in the case of three rows, and can exhibit various effects such as an improvement in the interest as a game due to a variation in the design in the horizontal direction, and the appearance of a novel double reach which has not been achieved in the past. .

[0131]

Since the present invention has the above-described configuration,
The following effects can be obtained.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of symbols displayed on the display unit is divided into a plurality of symbols and displayed in a plurality of symbols. The pattern change caused by the scroll change becomes the pattern change in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction regardless of the scroll, and for this reason, for the player, the variable display of the pattern is interesting, and in that respect, the taste as a game at that point Properties can be greatly improved.

Further, in a normal symbol variation pattern,
In spite of the case where the symbols are not aligned and clearly "losing" is expected, one symbol is pluralized, so in the conventional vertical scroll fluctuation, it was definitely "losing", It is a new development, there is a possibility that it will be a big hit and a big hit, and from this point the fun of the game,
In addition, the taste can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a gaming machine.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a screen of an LCD panel.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a symbol group.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main control device of the gaming machine.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a special symbol display device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of control performed by a main control device in connection with symbol display.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display control process in a CPU of the special symbol display device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a first example of display control involving raster processing in the display control processing according to the present invention;
(D) shows a time-series change of a fluctuating symbol.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a first example of display control involving raster processing.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a second example of a symbol change accompanied by a raster process in the display control process according to the present invention;
(D) shows the time-series change of the changing symbol.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are explanatory diagrams of an example of display control by transmission processing in the display control processing according to the present invention, and FIGS. 11A to 11F show time-series changes of a fluctuating symbol.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of display control by a transmission process.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an example of display control by blending processing in the display control processing according to the present invention;
(F) shows a time-series change of a fluctuating symbol.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of display control by blend processing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example when the LCD panel is divided into 5 columns × 5 rows.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gaming machine 2 Upper plate set 3 Lower plate set 4 Gaming area 5 Center thing 6 Special design start port 6a Special design start switch 7 Big winning opening unit 8 Normal design operation gate 8a Normal design operation switch 10 Main control device 10 Special design Display device 11 Outer frame 12 Front frame 13 Metal frame 14 Glass frame 21 Upper plate 22 Panel 30 Lamp display device 31 Operation handle 32 Lower plate 33 Lamp 34 Speaker 35 Sound effect generator 41 Guide rail 42 Out opening 43 Lamp windmill 44 Windmill 45 Side lamp 46 General winning opening 50 Special symbol display device 50a, 50b, 50c Display area 51 Data receiving circuit 52 Start memory indicator 52a Voltage conversion circuit 52b Power supply circuit 53 CPU 54 Image processing LSI (VDP) 55 Program ROM 56 RAM 57 Video RAM 5 8 Interface circuit for panel 59 LCD panel 59a Image surface of LCD panel 59b Image surface of LCD panel 59c Image surface of LCD panel 60 Character ROM 61 3D image data 62 Texture data 63 Object data 64 2D image data 71 Winning opening 71a Winning count Switch 71b Continuous switch 72 Normal symbol display device 73 Big winning opening operation solenoid 81, 82 Symbol group 90 Power supply circuit 91 First column symbol 92 Second column symbol 93 Third column symbol 94 Fourth column symbol 95 Fifth column symbol 100 Main Control unit 101 ROM 102 RAM 103 Input port 104 Reset circuit 105 Power supply circuit 106 Output port 600 Ordinary electric accessory 601 Rotating wing piece 602 Ordinary electric accessory operating solenoid G Background L1-L5, L55 Line per hit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine comprising a display control device for controlling variable display of a plurality of symbols on a display unit, wherein the display control device comprises at least one symbol among the plurality of symbols displayed on the display unit. A plurality of display processing means for displaying a plurality of game machines. 2. In the gaming machine, one of a symbol form variably displayed on the display unit and stopped, and a symbol form displayed in a plurality by the plural display processing means are predetermined. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game shifts to a special game advantageous to the player when the mode is set. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of display processing means superimposes another symbol on the stopped symbol which is variably displayed on the display unit. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of display processing means performs a plurality of symbols by raster processing. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of display processing means performs a transmission process when a plurality of symbols are superimposed on another symbol variably displayed on the display unit and stopped. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of display processing means performs a blending process when a plurality of symbols are superimposed on a stopped symbol variably displayed on the display unit to form a plurality of symbols. 7. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the pluralization of the symbols by the pluralization display processing means is performed in a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, or both directions of the display unit.