JP2002320704A - Game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable anyone to easily perform button operation in an easy posture in consideration of a player's body form and usability. SOLUTION: A support part 40 is rotatably mounted to a front face frame body 2 of a device body 1, and an operating part 50 with operating buttons for the operation control of rotation of each reel is mounted to the longitudinal tip part of the rotatable support part 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine which can be applied, for example, as a slot machine operation unit structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A slot machine will be described as an example of a conventional operation unit structure of a game machine. On the front face of the game main body, a variable display section for displaying symbols on each reel is provided. An operation console is provided below the variable display unit, and an operation unit for controlling rotation of each reel is provided on the operation console.

[0003] When the player presses a start button or a stop button provided on the operation section, the rotation of the symbol on each reel is controlled.

[0004]

However, in the conventional structure, since the position of the operation unit on the operation table is fixed, some people may be easy to operate depending on the body shape (seat height position) of the player. Conversely, some people find it difficult to operate.

[0005] Particularly, for a person who has difficulty in operating, it is necessary to operate the buttons in an unnatural posture for a long time, so that the shoulders and waist are burdened, and the person becomes very tired.
Eventually, the rate of attracting customers to the gaming machine will also be reduced, and this will have a negative effect on the gaming store management side.

[0006] In the conventional operation unit, all of the start and stop buttons are arranged in a horizontal row in series. If the button interval is wide, an operation error is likely to occur. In addition, since gaming machines are generally designed for right-handed people, button operations arranged in series are advantageous for right-handed people, but are convenient for left-handed people. There is also the problem of being bad.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming device which allows anyone to enjoy a game for a long time in a comfortable posture without fixing the operation section structure in consideration of the body shape of the player. To provide.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to arbitrarily change the button arrangement of the operation unit in consideration of the usability of the player so that mistakes in the button operation can be eliminated, and even a beginner can operate easily. Another object of the present invention is to provide a gaming device.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a gaming machine which uses a plurality of reels on which a plurality of symbols are formed, and shows different prize modes in accordance with the result of combination of the symbols on each reel. A support unit rotatably mounted on the front surface of the unit, and an operation unit provided at a longitudinal end of the rotatable support unit and having an operation button for controlling the operation of rotation of each reel. A game device is constituted by providing the game device.

Here, the support portion may be formed to be extendable and contractible in the longitudinal direction, and the operation portion may further include a button function changing means for arbitrarily changing the function of the operation button.

The operation section may be constituted by a liquid crystal display section for displaying a button operation instruction.

[0012]

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

[First Example] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, a parrot gaming machine having both a pachinko machine function and a slot machine function will be described as an example of the gaming machine. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the parrot gaming device, and can be applied to other gaming devices, for example, slot machines.

(Apparatus Configuration) First, the overall configuration of this apparatus is as follows.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the external structure of a parrot gaming device.

A decorative frame 10 is provided on the front frame 2 of the apparatus body 1.
, Display section 20 and upper plate section 30 located below the display section
A support portion 40 located on the front side of the upper plate portion 30, an operation portion 50 formed at a longitudinal end of the support portion 40,
It is roughly divided into a lower plate portion 60 from which pachinko balls are paid out.

The decoration section 10 is provided with a lamp 11, a symbol explanation section 12 for explaining a combination of winning symbols, and a speaker 13.

The display unit 20 includes three rotating reels 2.
1a to 21c and a total of five lamps (one corresponding to one line) corresponding to the insertion buttons 51 (hereinafter referred to as bet buttons) which are lit according to the number of the hanging lines 22 (one line, three lines, five lines). Lamps 23a, one lamp 23a corresponding to three lines, and two lamps 23b, 5
One lamp 23a and two lamps 2 corresponding to the line
3b, two lamps 23c), and each reel 21a-21
c, stop lamps 24a to 24c indicating the stop, a prize ball number display section 25 for displaying the number of prize balls, a stored number section 26 for displaying the stored number of credited pachinko balls (up to 250), and a pachinko ball. There is provided a number-of-insertion display section 27 for displaying the number of inserted games, and a bonus display section 28 for displaying the number of bonus games.

The upper plate portion 30 has a prize ball opening 31 for supplying a pachinko ball. The support part 40 is the upper plate part 30.
Is rotatable in the vertical direction X.
Various operation buttons for performing operations including starting and stopping the rotation of each of the reels 21a to 21c are arranged at the tip of the operation unit 50.

The operation buttons include a bet button 51 for determining the number of hanging lines 22 per game, and a reel 21a.
Start button 52 to start rotation of ~ 21c
A stop button 53a-53c for determining a stop position of each of the reels 21a-21c, a credit button 54 for crediting (reserving) a certain number of pachinko balls and subtracting according to the game content; A return button 55 for returning the ball is provided.

(Structure of Circuit Unit) FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure of an electric circuit unit of the parrot gaming device.

The circuit section of the apparatus comprises a reel control device 100 (sub-board side) for controlling the driving of the reels 21a to 21c formed of drums or belts, and a main control device comprising a CPU for performing overall control of the game. 200 (main substrate side) and a power supply device 300 for supplying power.

The input side of the main controller 200 is connected to a group of switches, that is, the various operation buttons 51 to 55 of the operation unit 50 via an input port. Further, a reel control device 100 is connected to an output side of the main control device 200 via an output port.

On the output side of the main control device 200, in addition to the reel control device 100, a credit number display device for calculating and displaying the number of credits (storage) and the number of payouts of pachinko balls, Various output devices such as a payout number display device that displays the number of pachinko balls to be paid out, a hopper control device that releases pachinko balls in excess of a certain number of credits or pachinko balls for credit settlement, a lamp display device, and the like. Is connected, but the description here is omitted.

Hereinafter, the configuration of each unit will be described.

The main control device 200 has a function of generating a random number based on a predetermined probability set in advance, and a jackpot information, a loss information, a jackpot information in a variable image display game, based on an input signal from a switch group of the operation unit 50. Various control signals such as scroll information, various reach pattern information, etc.
It has a function of outputting to the reel control device 100 which is an output device.

The reel control device 100 includes a main control device 20
The rotation of the reels 21a to 21c is controlled based on various types of reel control information such as small hits and big hits output from 0.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a data receiving circuit for receiving display data (ie, a control strobe signal, a data command group, and the like) from the main controller 200. Reference numeral 102 denotes a power supply circuit that is supplied with power from an external power supply device 300 and supplies power to the CPU 103 and the motor. Reference numeral 103 denotes a CPU that generates a control signal necessary for controlling the rotation of the drum reel 108 based on the received command, and performs overall control of each unit based on various control programs. 104 is CPU1
This is a program ROM for recording a program describing the operation procedure of No. 03 and various control programs according to the present invention (see the flowchart of FIG. 4 described later). 105 is
This is a RAM used as a work area of the CPU 103 and an area for temporarily storing operation data.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a motor control unit that outputs motor control signals 107a, 107b, and 107c for motor drive control based on the control signal A output from the CPU 103. Reference numeral 108 denotes a reel drive unit that is connected to the motor control unit 106 and controls the rotation of the reels 21a to 21c. The reel drive unit 108 is provided with three stepping motors 109a, 109b, 109c, and is driven and controlled based on motor control signals 107a to 107c.

The display unit 20 is connected to the reel drive unit 108, and has three reels 21a to 21c of a rotating drum type. The reel 21a has a left symbol, the reel 21b has a middle symbol, and the reel 21c has a right symbol.

In this case, the three reels 21a to 21c
Are separately driven and rotated by the stepping motors 109a to 109c. These stepping motors 1
In order to separately control the driving of the motors 09a to 109c, three types of motor control signals 107a, 107a, 1
07b and 107c are output independently. Note that the number of reels is not limited to three.

Numeral 112 designates, according to the reach pattern form,
A notification unit that performs notification by sound, light, or the like. A detailed description of this reach pattern form will be omitted.

Each of the reels 21a to 21c is constituted by 21 symbols. In the display unit 20,
Three symbols constituting each of the reels 21a to 21c are displayed, and a total of nine symbols are simultaneously displayed on the display screen. Then, among the nine symbols displayed on the display screen, a plurality of symbols of the same pattern are arranged on the hanging line 22 set at an arbitrary position in the horizontal direction, the diagonal direction, and the V-shaped direction, so that a big hit is achieved. Or reach state.

(Apparatus operation) Next, the game processing of this apparatus is
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Before playing the game of the present apparatus, the player pulls down the T-shaped operation section 50 at the tip of the support section 40 which can be rotated up and down, and lowers the inclination angle to the desired inclination angle. Set to θ. The inclination angle θ is, for example, 45 ° or 60 °
The structure can be changed to a simple two-step angle, or can be changed to a multi-step minute angle.

In step S1, the bet button 51 is pressed, and a pachinko ball is thrown into the upper plate 30. In this case, when the bet button 51 is pressed once, five pachinko balls are thrown in, the lamp 23a is turned on, and a single horizontal horizontal line 22 is displayed. By pressing the bet button 51 twice,
Ten pachinko balls are inserted, and three lamps (one lamp 23a and two lamps 23b) are turned on, and the upper, middle, and
A lower horizontal three hanging line 22 is displayed. When the bet button 51 is pressed three times, 15 pachinko balls are inserted,
All five lamps (one lamp 23a, two lamps 23b, and two lamps 23c) are turned on, and three upper, middle, and lower horizontal lines and two diagonal lines are used for a total of five hanging lines 22. Is displayed. In this example, it is assumed that five hanging lines 22 are displayed, and the inserted pachinko balls are displayed on the inserted number display unit 27 and determined.

At this time, the credit button 5
4 is turned on, and the credit function is activated.

In step S2, the start button 52 is pressed. Thus, each of the reels 21a to 21c starts rotating.

In step S3, each of the reels 21a to 21a
Press stop buttons 53a-53c corresponding to c,
Each symbol in the display unit 20 is stopped. As a result, a hit or a miss is determined according to the symbol contents aligned on any of the five hanging lines 22. For example, when the symbols described in the symbol explanation unit 12 are arranged, a big hit is achieved.

In step S4, a pachinko ball is paid out according to the contents of the symbol determined by stopping the rotation. However, in this case, since the credit button 54 is in the ON state, the pachinko ball is not directly paid out from the lower plate portion 60, and a credit (storage) calculation process is performed, and the calculation result is displayed on the stored number display portion 26. Is done. Here, since the initial number of credits (the number of deposits) is 0,
The number of spheres corresponding to one time, for example, 25 balls is displayed. The maximum number of stored credits per credit is 25.
Although the number is set to 0, the stored number may be changed by continuously performing button operations.

In step S5, by pressing the return button 55, a pachinko ball corresponding to the number of credits up to the present time displayed on the stored number display section 26 is paid out.

As described above, the player operates the operation unit 51.
Can be set to any angle, which eliminates the need to perform button operations in an unreasonable posture that does not fit the sitting height as in the past. No, not tired.

[Second Example] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same parts as those in the first example is omitted, and the same reference numerals are given.

This embodiment is an example in which the configurations of the support unit 40 and the operation unit 50 are changed, and the other configurations are the same as those of the above-described parrot gaming machine of the first example (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of a parrot gaming device. FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration example of the support unit 40 and the operation unit 50.

The support section 40 is rotatable in the vertical direction X and is extendable and contractible in the longitudinal direction Z.

The operation unit 50 has a flat plate shape similar to a driving handle and has a bet button 51 along the left vertical direction.
And a start button 52 are arranged, and stop buttons 53a to 53c are arranged along the right vertical direction. Holes 70 are formed at two locations on the left and right sides of the flat plate, each having a size into which four fingers can be inserted. Thereby, the player can play while holding the operation unit 50 with both hands and enjoying the operation as if it were a driving handle.

In this case, the stop buttons 53a to 53
53c may be arranged, and a bet button 51 and a start button 52 button may be arranged on the right side. Further, the button arrangement may be changed by making the inner cylindrical portion 41 constituting the support portion 40 rotatable 360 °. Furthermore, certain buttons, such as a return button 5
5, a button function changing means is added, and the return button 55 is continuously pressed twice to enter a mode setting state in which the button function is changed. The function may be set.

As described above, the button arrangement in the operation unit 50 is not linear and is freely set for each function, so that not only right-handed persons but also left-handed persons can easily operate the buttons. Structure.

FIG. 7 shows a state of the operation unit 50 before playing a game. As described above, the inner cylindrical portion 41 of the support portion 40 is pushed in to reduce the length to the minimum, and the operation portion 50 is stored in a state of being rotated upward, so that a compact configuration can be achieved.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional configuration of the support section 40 and the operation section 50. The operation section 50 is connected to the inner cylindrical section 41 constituting the support section 40. The inner cylindrical portion 41 is movable along the longitudinal direction Z in the outer cylindrical portion 42 and is rotatable along the rotation axis P.

(Modification) FIG. 9 shows a modification of the operation unit 50.

The operation unit 50 has an H-shaped flat plate shape. Stop buttons 53a to 53c are arranged in a horizontal row at the upper part, a credit button 54 and a return button 55 are newly arranged at the center part, and a lower part. Have a bet button 51 and a start button 52 at both ends.

As described above, all the buttons are arranged in the operation unit 50 (the credit button 54 and the return button 55 are added).
By doing so, it is not necessary to provide a button function on the apparatus main body 1 side, so that the operation is simplified and a simple structure can be achieved.

[Third Example] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same parts as those in the first example is omitted, and the same reference numerals are given.

This embodiment is an example in which the configuration of the operation unit 50 of the second embodiment is changed. 10, the operation unit 50 includes an operation panel 80, an L-shaped handle 81a formed on the left side of the panel, and a handle 81b formed on the right side of the panel. in this case,
An end button 82 is provided at the tip of the handle 81a, and a select button 83 is provided at the handle 81b. The operation panel 80 is arranged at a position that is easy for the player to see.

The confirm button 82 is used to select the bet line 22 of the bet button 51, the start function of the start button 52, and the stop buttons 53a to 53c.
With a stop function.

The select button 83 is the bet button 51
And a button selection function of selecting any one of the stop buttons 53a to 53c.

The operation panel 80 includes a closing lamp 85a.
, A start lamp 85b, and left, middle, and right stop lamps 85c to 85e (corresponding to the positions of the left, middle, and right symbols). The insertion lamp 85a is the bet button 51, and the start lamp 85b is the start button 5.
2. Stop lamps 85c to 85e are 5 stop buttons
3a to 53c respectively.

In this case, every time the select button 83 is pressed once, the display lamp moves in the order of the insertion lamp 85a → the start lamp 85b → the left stop lamp 85c → the middle stop lamp 85d →→ the right stop lamp 85e. .

Note that the confirmation button 82 may further include the function of the credit button 54 and the function of the return button 55.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the button operation processing of the operation unit 50.

At step S11, the purchase lamp 85a is turned on by purchasing a ball from the ball lending machine.

In step S12, the number of the hanging lines 22 is set. In this case, when the bet button 51 is pressed once, five pachinko balls are taken into the upper plate portion 30 from the prize ball opening 31 shown in FIG. 5 described above, whereby a single horizontal horizontal line hanging line 22 is displayed. Is done. Similarly, when the bet button 51 is pressed twice, ten pachinko balls are taken in, and three horizontal lines are displayed. Bet button 5
When 1 is pressed three times, 15 pachinko balls are taken in, and a horizontal line and five oblique lines 22 are displayed.

In this example, if it is assumed that three hanging lines 22 are to be selected, the selection button 8 is selected after the line is selected.
Press 3 to confirm the line.

The method of taking in pachinko balls is not limited to the above method. For example, a method of taking in up to 15 pachinko balls by pressing the confirm button 82 once may be used. In this case, when the number of pachinko balls is 13 by automatic insertion, 10 pieces are taken in, and when the number of pachinko balls is 6 by automatic insertion, 5 pieces are taken.

In step S13, after the number of lines to be multiplied is determined, the start lamp 85b is turned on. After this light is turned on, the select button 83 is pressed and each reel 21a is pressed.
To 21c.

In step S14, each of the reels 21a to 21a
1c is stopped. In this case, first, select button 8
Press 3 to select and light one of the stop lamps 85c to 85e. Next, when the enter button 82 is pressed while the selected stop lamp is lit, the symbol of the reel corresponding to the lit position is stopped. For example, the stop lamp 85c is turned on, and the enter button 82
When the button is pressed, the symbol on the left reel 21a stops. Similarly, the middle and right reels 21b and 21c can be similarly stopped.

As described above, the operation panel 80 is provided in the operation section 50.
Is provided, and the number of operation buttons is set to two, so that the operation is simplified and the structure can be further simplified.

(Modification) FIG. 12 shows a modification of the operation unit 50.

The operation section 50 is formed by making the handle 81b on the right side of the operation panel 80 shown in FIG.
It has a bilaterally symmetric configuration. As a result, it is possible to play with both hands while having fun as if by a driving handle.

[Fourth Example] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The description of the same parts as those in the first example is omitted, and the same reference numerals are given.

This example is an example in which the configuration of the operation unit 50 of the third example is changed.

In FIG. 13, the operation unit 50 is constituted by a liquid crystal display panel 90. In this case, as the contents of the liquid crystal display, first, when a pachinko ball is taken in, an instruction for line selection is displayed, 2) an instruction for starting the symbol rotation is displayed, and 3) an instruction for stopping the symbol is displayed. . In addition, a notification display (character display, roulette display, display based on a change in background color, and the like) is performed as necessary.

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display example will be described.

(Liquid Crystal Display Example 1) FIG. 14 shows an example in which characters are displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 90.

In step S21, when the power is turned on,
"Welcome!" Is displayed.

In step S22, when the pachinko ball is taken in, a message "Press the left button" is displayed.

In step S23, when the enter button 82 is pressed, "1 line: 5, 3 lines: 10, 5 lines: 15" is displayed.

In the step S24, the enter button 82 is set to 1
When the number of lines to be pressed is selected by pressing in the range of ~ 3 times, "Press the right button" is displayed. This allows
By pressing the select button 83, the number of hanging lines is determined.

At step S25, "Press the left button." Is displayed. Thereby, the confirmation button 82
Pressing starts the rotation of the symbol.

In step S26, "select with right button,
Stop with left button "is displayed. Thus, the user presses the select button 83 to select the reel to be stopped, and then presses the enter button 82 to stop the rotation of the selected reel.

In the step S27, "Please press the left button" is displayed. Thereby, the confirmation button 82 is pressed, and the reel is rotated again.

In step S28, when a hit is made, "hit symbols and number of winning balls" are displayed.

(Liquid Crystal Display Example 2) FIG. 15 shows an example in which a character is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 90.

In step S31, when the power is turned on,
The display is like "Welcome!"

In step S32, when the pachinko ball is taken in, the panel position and the arrow are displayed as "Press the left button."

In step S33, when the enter button 82 is pressed, the number of multiplied lines is displayed as "Now, one line."

In step S34, when the enter button 82 is appropriately pressed to select the number of lines to be multiplied, a panel position and an arrow are displayed such as "Press the button when determined." Thus, by pressing the select button 83, the number of multiplied lines is determined.

In step S35, the panel position and the arrow are displayed as "reel rotation when start button is pressed". Thus, when the confirm button 82 is pressed,
The rotation of the symbol starts.

In step S36, a panel position and an arrow are displayed, such as a "stop button and a selection button", and the movement position is displayed by a lamp so that it is possible to recognize which of the left and right is selected. Thus, the user presses the select button 83 to select the reel to be stopped, and then presses the enter button 82 to stop the rotation of the selected reel.

In the step S37, the "start button"
The panel position and the arrow are displayed. Thus, the user presses the enter button 82 to rotate the reel again.

In step S38, a "hit symbol" is displayed to indicate that a hit has occurred.

By displaying the liquid crystal in this manner, even if the player is a beginner, the displayed "character content" is displayed.
Alternatively, the “description using a character” enables easy operation, and anyone can easily enjoy the operation.

The present invention can also be realized by supplying a control program stored in a storage medium (for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a hard disk, or the like) to an apparatus or a system and executing the control program by a computer. Thus, the effects of the present invention can be enjoyed.

[0097]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the support portion is rotatably mounted on the front surface of the game main body portion, and the operation portion having the operation button for controlling the operation of the rotation of each reel is mounted on the longitudinal end portion of the rotatable support portion, The position of the operation unit can be changed in accordance with the body shape (seat height) of the player, so that anyone can enjoy the game for a long time in a comfortable posture.

Further, according to the present invention, the support portion is formed so as to be extendable and contractible in the longitudinal direction, and the button function changing means for arbitrarily changing the function of the operation button is further provided. Thus, it is possible to arbitrarily change and set the button arrangement of the operation unit, and it is possible to eliminate mistakes in button operation.

Further, according to the present invention, since the operation section is constituted by the liquid crystal display section for explaining a button operation instruction, even a beginner can easily operate the buttons.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a parrot gaming device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a configuration of a main body front portion of the parrot gaming device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electric circuit unit of the parrot gaming device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a parrot game process.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a parrot gaming device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which an operation unit is stored before a game is started.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the operation unit.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an operation unit of a parrot gaming device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating button operation processing of an operation unit.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a modification of the operation unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an operation unit including a liquid crystal display panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a liquid crystal display example 1.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a liquid crystal display example 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2 Front frame 10 Decorative part 11 Lamp 12 Symbol description part 13 Speaker 20 Display part 21a-21c Reel 22 Hanging line 23a-23c Lamp 24a-24c Stop lamp 25 Prize ball number display part 26 Storage number part 27 Number of insertions Display part 30 Upper plate part 31 Prize ball opening 40 Support part 41 Inner cylinder 42 Outer cylinder 50 Operation part 51 Bet button 52 Start button 53a-53c Stop button 54 Credit button 55 Return button 60 Lower plate part 80 Operation panel 81a, 81b Handle Section 82 Enter button 83 Select button 90 Liquid crystal display panel

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine which uses a plurality of reels on which a plurality of symbols are formed, and shows a different prize mode according to a combination result of the symbols on the respective reels, wherein the reel is rotatably mounted on a front surface of a game main body. Attached support portion, provided at the longitudinal end of the rotatable support portion,
A game device comprising an operation unit having an operation button for performing operation control of rotation of each reel. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the support portion is formed to be extendable and contractible along a longitudinal direction, and the operation portion further includes a button function changing means for arbitrarily changing a function of the operation button. Item 3. The gaming device according to Item 1. 3. The gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit includes a liquid crystal display unit that displays a button operation instruction.