JP2002369941A - Game machine, screen image display method for game machine, storage medium and server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of presenting the ready-for- winning condition of performing a variable display in which the respective patterns are moved round a virtual axis on the virtual circumference, clearly informing a game player of which pattern is put in a designated stop position in the presentation of the ready-for-winning condition, and heightening the player's feeling of expectation, a variable display method for an identification information image in the game machine, a storage medium and a server. SOLUTION: In this game machine, in the ready-for-winning condition, all patterns of the identification information image group having the final variable pattern is continuously displayed like a three-dimensional ring in the direction of depth, and intermittently stopped while being rotated in the circumferential direction. In a designated position for making effective a combination with the patterns of the other previously stopped identification information image groups, the stopped patterns are enlarged and displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine, a method of displaying a screen image of a gaming machine, a storage medium, and a method of displaying a group of identification information images composed of a plurality of images as identification information. It is about the server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional pachinko gaming machine, a plurality of figures and symbols (hereinafter referred to as symbols including characters such as numerals), each of which is displayed in a variable manner and is identification information which can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing. ), There is a gaming machine having a display unit on which a screen image including an identification information image group configured respectively from the above is displayed.

[0003] As an example of a display unit, three identification information image groups each composed of a pattern serving as the identification information are arranged on a screen such as a liquid crystal screen or a CRT. A scroll state is displayed by scrolling or scrolling, and one of the plurality of symbols is stopped and displayed.

In a gaming machine provided with such a display section, when the symbols of the three identification information image groups are stopped at a common combination, for example, as a predetermined specific combination (for example, "7", "7") , "7" or the like), a so-called "big hit" is provided, and a predetermined large winning opening is opened to provide a state where it is easier to win a game ball than usual. In general, a state is created in which the payout amount is increased.

[0005] The above-mentioned gaming machine is designed to add visual interest by changing the design, which is identification information, in a manner such as enlarging, reducing or deforming the design. It is designed to keep the players tired.

In particular, when two of the three identification information image groups, which are the above-mentioned identification information, are stopped at a common symbol, that is, when a symbol that is still fluctuating (final variation symbol) is next aligned with a common symbol, the aforementioned " When a so-called "reach" state of "big hit" occurs, for example, there is a variation display of the final variation symbol in the following manner.

[0007] That is, all the final variation symbols appear in the display unit, and each symbol gradually decreases while moving on the virtual circle around the virtual axis, and finally remains. If the symbol that matches the other two symbols that are already stopped is a big change, or a symbol that stops intermittently at a predetermined position while moving on a virtual circle is the other two sets There was a variation mode in which a complete stop in a state in which the pattern coincided resulted in a big hit.

[0008] In addition to these, various techniques and devices have been devised for the display mode in the display unit of the pachinko gaming machine, especially for the effect display of a plurality of identification information images at the time of reach.

[0009]

However, as described above, the reach effect of performing a variable display in which each symbol moves on a virtual circle around a virtual axis is a variation mode that has been devised. Nevertheless, since each symbol only stops intermittently at a predetermined position on the virtual circle,
There is a problem that it is difficult for a player to know which symbol is at a predetermined stop position. Normally, the center of the screen of the display unit is set at a predetermined stop position. In this case, since a plurality of symbols are connected on a virtual circle, a plurality of symbols are arranged near the center. It is difficult to know which symbol is at a predetermined position.

[0010] In this case, it is not clear whether the game has reached the jackpot or not even if the game has reached the reach, which may give an irritated feeling, and the effect may be adversely affected.

[0011] Further, merely moving the symbol so as to rotate on the virtual circle does not increase the expectation of the player, but as an effect at the time of reach in which the player is most excited and closely watching the trend. Was insufficient, yet monotonous and easy to get tired of.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine, an image screen display method for a gaming machine, a storage medium, and a server which can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0013]

The present invention according to claim 1 includes a plurality of identification information image groups each composed of a plurality of symbols, each of which is variably displayed and can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing. It is a gaming machine having a display unit on which a screen image is displayed, and in the display unit, among the plurality of identification information image groups, an identification information image group having a last changed symbol in which a changed symbol is finally stopped and displayed. At the time of the reach in which the other identification information image groups are stopped in a predetermined arrangement with the same symbol, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction. At the same time, the pattern is stopped intermittently while rotating in the circumferential direction, and at a predetermined position where the combination with the pattern of the other identification information image group stopped earlier is valid, the stopped pattern is displayed in an enlarged manner. It was.

[0014] Therefore, at the time of the reach, the movement of the most noticeable final fluctuation pattern is a movement that has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player, and furthermore, the pattern to stop is clearly confirmed. As a result, it is easy to identify the result, and it is possible to provide a gaming machine that is interesting for the player and that can produce an effect that is easy to recognize.

Further, the present invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the symbols, which are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction, are thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction.

[0016] Therefore, the symbols finally stopped and displayed gradually decrease, and the player who looks at the display unit with a sense of expectation and anxiety as to whether the symbol to be a big hit remains or disappears, This makes it possible to improve the pleasure of the game.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display unit which is provided in a gaming machine and displays a screen image composed of a moving image, a still image, or an image obtained by combining these images, according to the gaming state of the gaming machine. And a control unit for transmitting electronic data to the display unit, wherein the display unit includes a plurality of pieces of identification information composed of a plurality of images each of which is variably displayed and can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing. A screen image display method of a gaming machine for displaying an image including an image group as the screen image, wherein the identification information having a final variation symbol in which the variation symbol is stopped and displayed last among the plurality of identification information image groups. At the time of the reach where the other identification information image groups are stopped in a predetermined arrangement in the same pattern while leaving the image group, all the patterns of the identification information image group having the final variation pattern are three-dimensionally linked in the depth direction. At the predetermined position where the combination with the pattern of the other identification information image group that has been stopped earlier is valid, and the pattern to be stopped is enlarged and displayed. And the step of doing so.

[0018] Therefore, at the time of the reach, the movement of the final variation pattern which is the most noticed is a movement which has a three-dimensional effect and which can give a great sense of expectation to the player. Since it is possible, the result can be easily identified, and an effect that is interesting and easy for the player to visually recognize can be performed.

Further, the present invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the symbols, which are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction, are thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction.

Therefore, the symbols that are finally stopped and displayed gradually decrease, and whether the symbol that makes a big hit remains or disappears, the player watches the display section with a sense of expectation and anxiety, and at the time of reach. It is possible to improve the pleasure of the game by the tingling sensation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a display program for displaying a moving image, a still image, or a screen image obtained by combining the moving image and the static image according to the situation of a game. The display program is a program that displays a screen image including a plurality of identification information image groups each including a plurality of symbols, each of which is variably displayed and can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing, and The reach in which the other identification information image groups are stopped in a predetermined arrangement in the same symbol except for the identification information image group having the last changed symbol in which the changed symbol is finally stopped and displayed among the plurality of identification information image groups. Sometimes, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction, and do not rotate in the circumferential direction. Et intermittently stopped, moreover, at a predetermined position where the combination of the symbols of the other identification information image group stopped earlier is valid, it was decided to enlarge the symbol to be stopped.

Therefore, at the time of the reach, the movement of the most noticeable final variation pattern is a movement that has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player. As a result, it is easy to identify the result, and it is possible to provide a storage medium capable of performing an effect that is interesting for the player and that is easily visible.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server for displaying a game machine image indicating a game machine on each terminal, wherein the server appropriately displays a game machine in the terminal according to a game situation.
A moving image, a still image or a screen image composed of an image obtained by combining these images is displayed, and each of the images is variably displayed,
While performing control on the terminal to display a screen image including a plurality of identification information image groups composed of a plurality of symbols that can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing, and the plurality of identification information image group Of the above, leaving the identification information image group having the last changed symbol in which the changed symbol is finally stopped and displayed, and the other identification information image group having the last changed symbol at the time of the reach to stop in a predetermined arrangement with the same symbol, All the symbols of the identification information image group are displayed continuously in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction, and are stopped intermittently while rotating in the circumferential direction. At a predetermined position where the combination of the symbols is valid, control for enlarging and displaying the symbol to be stopped is performed on the terminal.

Therefore, at the time of the reach, the movement of the most noticeable final variation pattern is a movement that has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player, and furthermore, the pattern to stop is clearly confirmed. Since it is possible, it becomes easy to identify the result, and it is possible to provide a server capable of controlling the terminal to perform an effect that is interesting for the player and that is easily visible.

Here, terms used in the following embodiments and examples of the present invention will be defined.

[Definition of Terms] "Identification information" refers to information that can be visually identified using a pattern (character, symbol, picture, pattern, etc.).

In the case where the symbol as the "variable display" identification information sequentially changes, for example, when the symbol "7" as one identification information is changed to the symbol "8" as another identification information, or when the symbol "9" is changed. In addition to the case of changing from the symbol to another symbol "☆" and displaying the symbol, in the case where the identification information is moved and displayed while one identification information is displayed in the display area where the identification information can be displayed, for example, This concept includes a case where one symbol “7” moves while being displayed in the display area.
Further, when the display mode of the identification information changes, for example, 1
The concept includes a case where one symbol “7” is deformed and displayed horizontally or vertically, a case where the symbol is displayed enlarged or reduced, and the like.

[Big hit] A state in which a game ball is elected to be in a state that is advantageous to the player, that is, a state in which a game ball can easily enter a special winning opening provided in the gaming machine.

In a gaming machine provided with a display unit for displaying the identification information, usually, a symbol serving as the identification information is variably displayed.
Occurs when stop display is performed in a predetermined combination.

"Reach" For example, when an identification information image group consisting of a plurality of symbols, which is the above-described identification information, is displayed on the three-set display unit, the symbols belonging to one set are stopped and displayed at "7", and the other symbols are displayed. The symbols belonging to the set are also stopped and displayed at "7", and the symbols belonging to the remaining sets are in a state of waiting for a stop, that is, the symbols belonging to the last set have a chance to win the jackpot depending on the stop display. Say.

[Normal Screen] This refers to a concept excluding a reach screen as a notice screen for notifying a jackpot of a game and a jackpot effect screen at the time of a jackpot. In addition, the concept also includes an effect screen in which the identification information that has been variably displayed is temporarily stopped, and then the identification information is variably displayed again and displayed until reaching a reach or a jackpot. Further, the concept includes a screen displayed when a game result of the variable display game played on the display unit is lost.

[0032]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, each of them is variably displayed,
A gaming machine having a display unit on which a screen image including a plurality of identification information image groups composed of a plurality of symbols that can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing is displayed. In the information image group, the identification information image group having the last changed symbol in which the changed symbol is stopped and displayed last is left, and at the time of the reach when the other identification information image groups are stopped in a predetermined arrangement in the same symbol, All the symbols of the identification information image group having a fluctuating symbol are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction, and are intermittently stopped while being rotated in the circumferential direction. At a predetermined position where the combination with the symbols of the image group is valid, the symbols to be stopped are enlarged and displayed.

The display unit can be composed of a liquid crystal display or a CRT, and displays a screen image composed of a moving image, a still image, or an image obtained by combining these images as appropriate according to the gaming situation of the gaming machine. In addition, the gaming machine,
Having a control unit for transmitting electronic data to the display unit,
By the control unit, in the display unit, an image including an identification information image group, for example, a character image or a background image,
It can be displayed as a screen image.

For example, of the three sets of identification information image groups having 1 to 12 symbols, when the two sets are stopped in a predetermined arrangement in the same pattern, the identification information image group having the final variation symbol A step of continuously displaying all the symbols (1 to 12) in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction, a step of intermittently stopping while rotating each symbol in the circumferential direction, and the other identification that has stopped earlier At a predetermined position where the combination with the symbol of the information image group is valid, the control including the step of enlarging and displaying the symbol to be stopped is performed, and the identification information image group having the final variable symbol is displayed in the above-described manner. is there.

That is, in the display section, 1 to 12 are continuously displayed in a ring shape, and are displayed three-dimensionally as if the screen has a depth. The pattern stops intermittently,
In addition, at the predetermined position, the stopped symbol is enlarged and displayed, and it is determined whether or not the combination of the enlarged symbol and the two symbols that have been stopped can make a transition to a gaming state advantageous to the player. I understand.

Therefore, when the game reaches the reach,
The most noticeable final variation pattern is a movement that can give a great sense of expectation to the player due to the rotation in the depth direction, with a three-dimensional effect, and the pattern to stop can be clearly confirmed, so the identification information The result of combining certain symbols can be easily determined, and an effect that is interesting and easy for the player to visually recognize can be performed.

In particular, the identification information image group having the final variation symbol, that is, the symbols successively displayed in a three-dimensional ring shape in the depth direction can be thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction. By doing, it becomes possible to improve the pleasure of the game by the nervous feeling at the time of the reach.

That is, since the symbols finally stopped and displayed gradually decrease, whether a symbol that becomes a big hit remains or not.
Or, the player will watch the display with a sense of expectation and anxiety.

By the way, the three sets of identification information image groups may be arranged in any manner. For example, when they are arranged in a horizontal line, the set having the final variation pattern is located at the center or right end. Or the left end. In short,
At the time of the reach, it is only necessary to stop at a predetermined combination such that two sets of symbols become common.

When the identification information image fluctuates,
It is desirable to display the character image and the background image at the same time to enhance the effect.

The gaming machine described above includes a gaming machine in which a display unit for performing various displays and a control unit for performing various controls are integrally housed in a casing, for example, a pachinko gaming machine. Alternatively, it may be a business or home game machine provided with the display unit and the control unit. Further, software for performing various controls may be installed in a general-purpose computer, a portable terminal device, or the like. In this case, a game can be played through a storage medium storing a display program capable of executing the above-described screen display. Alternatively, the user can download the display program via the Internet or the like and play the game.

In other words, the gaming device may be divided into a server and a terminal device (client).

[0043]

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

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overview of a gaming machine according to the present invention. In addition, in the embodiment described below, a case where the present invention is applied to a pachinko gaming machine is shown as a preferred embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention.
However, the gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to a pachinko gaming machine, but may be applied to a portable game machine, a general-purpose computer on which game software is installed, or a portable terminal connected to a server via a network. In addition, in this specification, the pachinko gaming device 10
This is a concept that includes a pachicon machine.

The pachinko gaming device 10 includes a rectangular frame-shaped main frame 12, a rectangular plate-shaped game board 14 incorporated in the main frame 12, and a main frame 1 provided on the front surface of the game board 14.
2, a lower plate 22, an upper plate 20 and a lower plate 22 provided on the front surface of the main frame 12 below the window frame 16, and a firing handle 26 provided on the right side of the lower plate 22. I have.

A plurality of obstacle nails are driven into the front of the game board 14. It is to be noted that the game board 14 is formed of a resin material, and a metal bar is implanted on the game board 14 of the resin material so as to protrude forward of the game board 14 without using a nail driving mechanism. The present invention can also be applied to the pachinko gaming device 10 (pachi-con machine) configured as described above.

Further, the firing handle 26 is provided rotatably with respect to the main body frame 12, and the player operates the firing handle 26 to fire a game ball onto the game board 14 to advance a pachinko game. You can do it. On the back side of the firing handle 26, a firing motor 28 is provided. When the firing handle 26 is rotated clockwise by a player, power is supplied to the firing motor 28 and stored in the upper plate 20. Game balls are sequentially fired on the game board 14.

The launched game ball is guided by a guide rail 30 provided on the game board 14 and moves to the upper portion of the game board 14, and then changes its traveling direction due to the collision with the plurality of obstacle nails described above. It falls toward the lower part of the game board 14 while changing.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of the game board 14. The components corresponding to the components shown in FIG. 1 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

At substantially the center of the front surface of the game board 14, a display device 32, which is a display unit as described later, is provided. still,
The portion of the display device 32 for displaying an effect image, which will be described later, may be composed of a liquid crystal display panel or a cathode ray tube (CRT). Further, in the above-described example, the case where the display device 32 is provided substantially at the center of the front surface of the gaming board 14 of the pachinko gaming device 10 which is a gaming machine is shown, but in a position where the player can see it. If there is a display device 3 anywhere on the gaming machine
2 may be provided.

Above the display device 32, a small display device 52 is provided. This display device 52 is, for example, 7
It is constituted by a segment display, and a normal symbol, which is display information, is variably displayed so as to repeatedly change and stop.

On the left and right sides of the display device 32, ball passage detectors 55a and 55b are provided. When the ball passage detectors 55a and 55b detect that a game ball has passed in the vicinity thereof, the display device 52 starts to display a variation of a normal symbol on the display device 52, and after a predetermined time has elapsed,
Normally, the fluctuation display of the symbol is stopped.

The ordinary symbol is information composed of numbers, symbols, etc., and is, for example, a number from “0” to “9” or a symbol such as “☆”. This normal symbol is a predetermined symbol, for example, “7”
When the display is stopped and displayed, the movable pieces 58a, 58b provided on the left and right sides of the starting port 44 described later
A current is supplied to a solenoid 57 (see FIG. 4) for driving the movable pieces 58a and 58b so that the game balls can easily enter the starting port 44 so that the starting port 44 is opened. . After opening the starting port 44,
When a predetermined time has elapsed, the movable pieces 58a, 58b
Is driven to close the starting port 44 so that the game ball does not easily enter.

On the left and right sides of the display device 52 described above, 4
There are provided three holding lamps 34a to 34d. In addition, a general winning opening 50 is provided above the display device 52.

At the bottom of the game board 14, a jackpot winning device M is provided. Such a jackpot winning device M
Is a front cover 200 and a rear substrate 201 as shown in FIG.
The shutter 40 is opened and closed freely by a solenoid 48 via a shaft 202 at a large winning opening 38 of the game ball formed on the front cover 200. A guide 207 is provided on the rear surface of the shutter 40 that faces upward when the shutter 40 is opened.
A ball passage hole forming the specific region 203 and a ball passage hole forming the normal region 204 are formed, and a swing plate 206 that is tilted left and right by a solenoid 205 is disposed therebetween, that is, in the rear center of the shutter 40. ing.

The shutter 40 is driven by a solenoid 48 so that the shutter 40 is opened when a jackpot game state is established by a variable display game described later. When the shutter 40 is opened, the game balls enter the special winning opening 38 for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of prize balls, and a required number of prize balls are released, and then the shutter 40 is closed. However, when the shutter 40 is opened, one of them is the guide 2
When entering the specific area 203 along the line 07, the shutter 4
A value of 0 promises to open the next shutter 40 even after a predetermined time has elapsed or after a predetermined number of balls have been entered, thereby realizing a jackpot game state advantageous to a player who can repeat this until a predetermined limit number of times (for example, 16 times). .

When the shutter 40 is opened, the swing plate 206 is tilted to the left so that at least one game ball can easily enter the left specific area 203. When the ball enters the ball, the sensor detects the ball, and the swing plate 206 is tilted to the right by the solenoid 205.
4.

On the left and right sides of the display device 32, general winning openings 54a and 54b are provided as shown in FIG. Further, on both left and right sides of the lower portion of the display device 32, general winning openings 54c and 54d are provided. Further, special prize holes 56a, 5 are provided at the left and right ends of the game board 14, respectively.
6b are provided, and special winning openings 56c and 56d are provided on both left and right sides of the special winning opening 38.

At the lower part of the display device 32, a symbol (identification information image), which is a plurality of, for example, three pieces of identification information displayed on the display device 32 when a variable display game described later is started, is shifted to a variable display state. A starting port 44 having a ball detection sensor 42 that triggers the occurrence is provided. When a game ball wins in the above-mentioned special winning opening 38, the starting opening 44, the general winning opening 54a to 54d, and the special winning opening 56a to 56d, a predetermined number of game balls according to the type of the winning opening are lowered. The plate 22 is paid out.

Further, on both left and right sides of the display device 32, rolling guide members 60a and 60b for guiding the path of the game ball in a predetermined direction are provided. Decorative lamps 36a and 36a are provided on the upper left and upper right sides of the game board 14, respectively.
b is provided.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The above-described firing handle 26 is connected to the control circuit 6
0 is connected to the interface circuit group 62, and the interface circuit group 62 is connected to the input / output bus 64. When the player turns the firing handle 26, an angle signal indicating the turning angle of the firing handle 26 is given by:
After being converted into a predetermined signal by the interface circuit group 62, the signal is supplied to the input / output bus 64. I / O bus 64
Is designed so that a data signal or an address signal is input / output to / from a central processing circuit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 66.

The interface circuit group 6 described above
2 is also connected to a ball detection sensor 42. When a game ball passes through the starting port 44, the ball detection sensor 42
The detection signal is supplied to the interface circuit group 62.

Further, a ball passage detector 55 (55a, 55b) is also connected to the interface circuit group 62. When the ball passage detector 55 detects that a game ball has passed, it outputs a detection signal to the interface circuit group. Group 62
To supply.

The input / output bus 64 has a ROM (Read Only Memory) 68 and a RAM (Random Access Memory).
An access memory 70 is also connected.

The ROM 68 stores a control program for controlling the entire game flow of the pachinko gaming machine. In addition, the ROM 68 stores image data of a pattern that is displayed in a variable or stopped state when a variable display game is executed on the display device 32, character image data of a character such as a moving object displayed as an effect screen, and a display device 32. The background image data and the moving image video image data, the sound data used in the game, the initial data for executing the control program, the program for controlling the blinking operation pattern of the decorative lamp 36, and the like are stored. . The above-described image data of the symbol is used when the symbol is variably displayed on the display device 32 or when the symbol is stopped and displayed, and various display modes such as an enlarged image, a reduced image, and a deformed image are used. And the like. In addition, the character image data, the background image data, and the moving image image data described above are used to produce a game.
This is for displaying a moving image, a still image, or an image combining these as a screen image on the display device 32. Further, the character image data described above includes image data corresponding to each of the motions for displaying the motion of the character, and the sound data is for staging a game. It is used to emit a sound such as a sound.

On the other hand, the RAM 70 stores the values of flags and variables used in the above-mentioned programs. For example,
It stores new input data, cumulative reach data indicating the result of calculation by the CPU 66 and the history of the game, the cumulative number of fluctuations, and the cumulative number of jackpots.

Then, the CPU 66 serving as the control unit
An arithmetic process is performed by calling and executing a predetermined program from M68, and character image data, background image data, moving image video image data, design image data, and sound data are transmitted as electronic data based on the result of the arithmetic process. Is performed.

The CPU 66 reads out the image data of the symbol, which is the above-mentioned identification information, and controls the display device 32 so that the symbol is variably displayed. Is the display device 3
In step 2, control is performed so as to stop and display at a predetermined timing.

An interface circuit group 72 is also connected to the input / output bus 64. The interface circuit group 72 includes a display device 32, a speaker 46, a firing motor 28, a solenoid 48, a holding lamp 34, and a decorative lamp. 36 are connected. Then, the interface circuit group 72 supplies a drive signal and drive power to control each of the above-described devices according to the result of the arithmetic processing in the CPU 66.

The display device 32, which is a display unit, includes a variable symbol display unit and an effect screen display unit. Under the control of the CPU 66, both of the screens displayed on these two display units are combined and displayed. The display device 32 is not limited to such a configuration, and may have a configuration having three or more display units. By combining these display units, it is possible to display a design image or an effect image on the display device 32. It may be.

As described above, the screens displayed on the plurality of display units are displayed on the display device 32, so that the variation scene of the symbol displayed on one display unit and the effect screen displayed on the effect screen are displayed. By combining, various display forms are made possible.

The solenoid 48 is for opening and closing the shutter 40 as described above, and the holding lamp 34 is for indicating the accumulation of the number of game balls in the starting port 44, and the decoration lamp 36. Is blinking or lit to indicate to the player when the game has reached a jackpot or reach.

The control unit is constituted by the above-described CPU 66, the display unit is constituted by the display device 32, and the gaming machine is constituted by the pachinko gaming machine 10.

The pachinko gaming device 10 is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below.
In the following description, it is assumed that the pachinko gaming device 10 has been activated, the variables used in the CPU 66 have been initialized to predetermined values, and are operating in a steady state.

First, the pachinko gaming device 10 executes a control program for controlling a pachinko game, and calls and executes a game ball detection routine shown in FIG. 5 at a predetermined timing from the control program.

When the game ball detection routine is executed, FIG.
As shown in (1), first, it is detected whether or not a game ball has entered the winning opening (step S11). This winning opening is, for example,
In the example shown in FIG. 2 described above, there are general winning openings 50 and 54a to 54d and special winning openings 56a to 56d. If it is determined in step S11 that a game ball has entered the winning opening, a process of paying out a predetermined number of game balls according to the type of the winning opening is executed (step S11).
12).

Next, it is determined whether or not a game ball has entered the starting port (step S13). This starting port is, for example, the starting port 44 in the example shown in FIG. 2 described above.
If it is determined in step S13 that a game ball has entered the starting port, a variable display game described later is executed (step S14).

Further, it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed the ball passage detector (step S15). The ball passage detectors are, for example, the ball passage detectors 55a and 55b in the example shown in FIG. In this step S15, when it is determined that the game ball has passed the ball passage detector, as described above, a process of variably displaying the symbols on the display device 52 is executed (step S16).
As described above, when the variation-displayed ordinary symbol comes to a predetermined symbol when stopped, the movable piece 58a, 5
8b is driven to open the starting port 44 so that a game ball can easily enter the starting port 44.

FIG. 6 shows a subroutine for performing the variable display game process called and executed in step S14 described above.

When this subroutine is called, the fixed screen displayed on the display device 32 is switched to the normal screen, and the variable display game is started.

The variable display game is a game imitating a game played in a slot machine.

That is, an identification information image group composed of a plurality of symbols (identification information images) as a plurality of identification information is displayed on the display device 32, and the symbols of the identification information image group are displayed so as to fluctuate. Thereafter, these symbols are displayed so as to stop sequentially at a predetermined timing, and when the combination of the symbols when all the symbols are stopped becomes the predetermined combination, the pachinko game is advantageous to the player, that is, This is a game for shifting to a jackpot game state in which the shutter 40 of the jackpot 38 in the jackpot winning device M is repeatedly opened a plurality of times, and the variable display and the stop display are executed as one process. Here, the identification information refers to visually identifiable information such as characters, symbols, pictures or patterns (patterns).

In such a variable display game, for example,
As a set of symbols consisting of twelve numbers consisting of “1”, “2”,..., “12”, these twelve symbols are sequentially displayed on the display device 32 so that the symbols move. While displaying, the symbol itself is displayed so as to change. For example, in the display device 32, the symbol “1” is displayed on the display device 3.
After scrolling from top to bottom, the symbol "2" is displayed to scroll from top to bottom, and then the symbol "3" is displayed to scroll from top to bottom as well You do it. The symbol "1" to the symbol "1"
After "2" is displayed in such a manner, "1" of the symbol is displayed so as to be scrolled again, and the same display is sequentially repeated. By displaying the symbols on the display device 32 in this manner, from “1” to “2”,
From "2" to "3", the symbols are displayed up to "12" so that the symbols are sequentially changed while being scrolled, and then "1" is displayed again. The manner in which a symbol is displayed such that the symbol itself changes sequentially while moving the position of one symbol in this manner is referred to as variable display. A mode in which a certain symbol is stopped and displayed is referred to as a stop display. When displaying the symbols belonging to one group on the display device 32, the symbols to be displayed are not limited to only one symbol belonging to the group, and a plurality of symbols, for example, two to three symbols are simultaneously displayed. You may do it. For example, when the symbol “5” is variably displayed on the display device 32, a portion or the whole of the symbol “4” is variably displayed below the symbol “5”, and the symbol “6” is displayed above the symbol “5”. May be variably displayed. The symbol set described above is a concept corresponding to the symbol set displayed on one reel used in the slot machine.

Further, when the variable display game is executed on the display device 32, symbols belonging to a plurality of sets are displayed. For example, when each of the symbols belonging to three sets is to be displayed in the horizontal direction, the symbols belonging to one set are displayed on the left side of the display device 32, and the symbols belonging to the other sets are displayed on the display device 32. The symbols which are displayed at the center and belong to the remaining sets are displayed on the right side of the display device 32. By displaying the design that is the identification information in this way, a plurality of identification information is displayed on the display device 32 that is the display unit. For example, when the variable display is performed such that only one of the symbols belonging to one set is always displayed, three symbols are displayed on the display device 32, that is, one symbol is displayed on the left side, One symbol is displayed at the center, and one symbol is displayed at the right side. Further, the number of sets when the variable display game is executed is not limited to three, and may be three.
Symbols belonging to a plurality of groups other than the above may be displayed on the display device 32. By displaying the symbols in this manner, a plurality of symbols, that is, a plurality of pieces of identification information are displayed on the display device 32 which is a display unit. Further, as described above, a plurality of symbols belonging to one group may be displayed. For example, two symbols belonging to one group may be displayed so as to be simultaneously displayed in a variable manner. Is displayed, a total of six symbols are variably displayed on the display device 32.

After variably displaying symbols belonging to a plurality of sets,
When all symbols that have been displayed in a variable manner are stopped or displayed at a predetermined timing sequentially or simultaneously, and when the combination of these symbols is stopped and displayed in accordance with the predetermined combination, it is determined that the variable display game has won a jackpot. The state shifts to a state in which the pachinko game is advantageous to the player, that is, a jackpot game state in which the shutter 40 of the jackpot 38 in the jackpot winning device M is repeatedly opened a plurality of times.

For example, when symbols belonging to three sets are displayed on the display device 32, symbols belonging to one set are stopped and displayed at "7", and symbols belonging to other sets are also stopped and displayed at "7". When the symbols belonging to the remaining sets are also stopped and displayed at “7”, so-called slotted patterns are formed, and the combination of the symbols is determined in advance by the identification information “7” − “7” − “7” of the specific combination. And a state in which the pachinko game is advantageous to the player assuming that the variable display game has won the jackpot, ie, a jackpot game state in which the shutter 40 of the jackpot 38 in the jackpot winning device M is repeatedly opened multiple times. It shifts to.

When the state is changed to a jackpot game state in which the player wins a jackpot, that is, a state in which the shutter 40 of the jackpot 38 in the jackpot winning device M is repeatedly opened a plurality of times, the solenoid 48 described above is used.
To open the shutter 40 of the special winning opening 38 provided on the front of the game board 14 so that the game balls can be
8 to make it easier to enter.

Even in the case of the jackpot big jackpot game state, the identification information of a specific combination, for example, the double eyes of “3”, “3” and “3”, and “7” and “7” When the combination of the identification information of "Zoro" and "7" is obtained, the state is changed to a probability variation state in which the game is shifted to the jackpot gaming state with a high probability again.

Here, the "probability variation state" refers to a control state in which the probability of a jackpot becomes higher than the normal gaming state (for example, the probability is doubled). Display device 52 in the upper center of device 32
For example, the fluctuation time from the change to the stop to the stop is shortened, the time of the open state of the start port 44 is extended, or the display device 3
It indicates a state or the like where the probability that the identification information of No. 2 becomes a double-row becomes high.

Note that when the variable display game is being executed, an effect screen including a background image, a character image, and the like may be displayed on the display device 32 in some cases. In addition, the above-mentioned fixed screen refers to a screen displayed on the display device 32 when only the pachinko game is progressing on the pachinko game device 10 in which the variable display game executed on the display device 32 is not executed. Say. In addition, the normal screen is a period from when the variable display game is started on the display device 32 and the symbols displayed on the display device 32 are variably displayed until the variable display game reaches a reach or a big hit. Means an effect screen displayed on the display device 32.

When the variable display game as described above is started, first, as shown in FIG. 6, an internal lottery process is executed by a calculation process of the CPU 66 (step S21). This internal lottery process is a process of stopping all the symbols belonging to a plurality of groups that have been variably displayed and determining a symbol combination when the symbol is determined.
As described later, the process of changing and displaying symbols is performed so that symbols are stopped and displayed in a combination of symbols determined by the internal lottery process.

After the internal lottery process (step S21) is completed, a background image is displayed on the display device 32 (step S22). For example, in this embodiment, the precincts of the shrine are displayed as a background image as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the locus of rotation of the identification information image is displayed as a background image.

Next, a symbol, which is identification information, is variably displayed (step S23). For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the display device 32 displays a symbol “eight” belonging to one of the three sets on the left side, and a symbol “six” belonging to the other set at the center. , And the symbol "four" belonging to the remaining one set is displayed on the right side, and these are variably displayed. Note that these three symbols “eight”, “six”, and “four” are a plurality of identification information images.

Next, a character image is displayed on the display device 32 (step S24). For example, in this embodiment, two ninjas are displayed as character images as shown in FIG.

The above steps S23 and S2
The process of No. 4 is repeatedly executed until it is determined that all the symbols belonging to a plurality of sets have been stopped and displayed in step S27 described later. By repeatedly executing the processing in this manner, the symbols can be displayed in a variable manner so as to scroll in a predetermined manner, and the characters can be displayed so as to perform a predetermined operation.

Next, it is determined whether or not it is time to stop and display a symbol belonging to one of a plurality of, for example, three sets (step S25). If it is determined that it is time to stop and display the symbol, the symbol is stopped and displayed (step S26).

In step S25, when it is determined that it is not the timing to stop and display the symbols, or when the process of step S26 is executed, it is determined whether all the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets have been stopped and displayed ( Step S27). If it is determined that all the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets are not stopped and displayed, the process returns to step S23. On the other hand, when it is determined that all the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets have been stopped and displayed, the present subroutine is ended.

Here, the variable display of the identification information image in the variable display game will be specifically described.

As shown in FIG. 8A, in the present embodiment, two ninjas fighting in the shrine are displayed on the upper side of the display device 32, while three digits are displayed on the lower side of the display device 32. A frame that can display the identification information image in a horizontal line is provided, and within the frame,
Three identification information image groups (sets) each composed of Chinese numerals (patterns) from "1" to "12" are arranged in a horizontal line, and the symbols of each identification information image group are scrolled upward. ing.

Then, as the battle between the two ninjas progresses, the left identification information image group and the right identification information image group are sequentially stopped, and as shown in FIG. When the identification information image group stops at the same symbol “seven” and reaches the reach, one ninja falls to the ground and the other ninja whirls around itself on the upper side of the display device 32. To indicate that it is about to disappear from the spot.

In this embodiment, the three-digit identification information images are displayed side by side in a row. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The three-digit identification information images may be displayed vertically, displayed diagonally, or displayed randomly. You may. Further, the pattern of the identification information image group is not limited to a Chinese numeral, but may be an Arabic numeral or a graphic.

Further, in this embodiment, the next screen (FIG. 9A) is associated with the rotation of the whirlwind generated around the ninja.
Then, all the symbols from "1" to "12" of the identification information image group including the central symbol (final variation symbol) are continuously displayed in the depth direction in the center of the display device 32 in a three-dimensional ring. In the meantime, all the symbols are rotated clockwise in the circumferential direction, and the already determined left and right symbols “seven” and “seven” are displayed on the lower left and right sides of the display device 32 so as to overlap with the image of the shuriken. .

Then, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the rotation is temporarily stopped each time the position of each symbol is shifted by one symbol in the circumferential direction by rotation, and the final variable symbol among all the symbols is determined. The symbol stopped in the front center, which is the predetermined position where the combination with the symbol "seven" and "seven" of the other identification information image group stopped earlier is valid, is larger than the symbol stopped in other positions. It is displayed so that the final position of the symbol can be determined.

In parallel with the rotation of the symbol in the circumferential direction and the intermittent stop, as shown in FIG. 10A, the center of each symbol displayed continuously in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction. As shown in FIG. 10 (b), a shuriken jumps out of the space, pierces one symbol “six”, and displays a state in which the symbol “six” is flipped out by its reaction. By repeating such a series of displays a predetermined number of times, the symbols arranged in the first stage (FIG. 9 (a)) from "1" to "12" are gradually thinned out.

Each of the remaining symbols continues to rotate in the circumferential direction, and is stopped intermittently each time one of the symbols reaches the final variable symbol determined position. .

In this embodiment, as described above, the rotation of each symbol is intermittently stopped every time any symbol goes around to the final variable symbol determined position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. , The rotation of each symbol is intermittently stopped every time the position of each symbol is shifted by a predetermined symbol in the circumferential direction, or the rotation of each symbol is intermittently stopped every time each symbol rotates a predetermined number of times. You can also.

FIG. 10B shows a state in which one symbol is flipped out at the same timing as the stop of each symbol. However, a rotating symbol may be flipped out, or one symbol may be flipped out. In addition, a plurality of symbols may be flipped out simultaneously.

The effect of decimating the symbol may be of any kind, and the symbol may be flicked out by the reaction of hitting the ball or an arrow instead of the shuriken. Regardless of this, the design may jump out to itself or disappear on the spot.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the symbols are thinned out until the number of symbols finally becomes about four, and thereafter, as shown in FIG. As a result, the symbols other than "seven" have disappeared.

In this embodiment, the two-digit symbols "seven" and "seven" which have already been determined are displayed on the left and right sides of the lower part of the display device 32 between FIGS. It is displayed continuously. Therefore, when the final change symbol is determined and the other symbols disappear, the three-digit symbols are lined up in the order from the left, such as "seven", "seven", and "seven". It is possible to reliably recognize that the variable display game has reached a big hit by stopping at a predetermined combination.

When the symbols are decimated, for example, the symbols are decimated until there is one remaining symbol, and the remaining one symbol is used as the final fixed symbol, or the symbols are decimated until there are two remaining symbols. The remaining two symbols can be intermittently stopped while rotating alternatively, and then one symbol can be used as the last fixed symbol, and the number of symbols to be thinned can be appropriately selected. .

Next, as described above, when all symbols are stopped in a predetermined combination due to the variable display of the identification information image, the big hit processing routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed.
That is, FIG. 7 relates to a routine after the symbols are stopped in step S27 in FIG. 6, the predetermined combination is reached, and the jackpot game state is established, and the processing is performed in the following order. It should be noted that there is hardly any difference between the "big hit, which is a normal jackpot game state" and the "big hit, which is a jackpot game state in the probability fluctuation state", and therefore the description will be made without distinction.

First, when the jackpot game state is set, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the display of the display device 32 was stopped (step S28-1). The winning number (m ') indicating the total number of game balls that have entered the special winning opening 38 when the shutter 40 is opened once is set to an initial value "0".

Next, the maximum number of times the special winning opening 38 is opened is set to n (for example, 16) (step S28-).
2).

Next, the shutter 40 of the jackpot winning device M
Falls down to the front side to open the special winning opening 38 and enable the winning of the game ball (step S28-3). Since the shutter 40 of the jackpot winning device M normally maintains an upright state (the state shown in the center in FIG. 3), the game ball does not enter the special winning opening 38. However, the state in which the shutter 40 has fallen toward the user (FIG. 3)
By opening the special winning opening 38, the game ball can enter the large winning opening 38, which could not be entered before, for the first time. As described above, when the shutter 40 falls down to the near side, the back surface of the shutter 40 guides the game ball, and the game ball is turned into the special winning opening 38.
However, since the game balls flowing down the game board 14 are given various changes in the flow direction by the obstacle nails, all of the game balls fired toward the top of the game board 14 are large. The ball does not always enter the winning opening 38. This is the same as other winning openings.

Next, it is determined whether or not a game ball has entered (wins) the special winning opening 38 (step S28-4).

Then, in step S28-4, the special winning opening 3
If it is determined that a game ball has entered the ball at 8, the number of winning balls (m ') indicating the total number of game balls that have entered the special winning opening 38 when one shutter 40 is opened is set to "1". The images are added (step S28-5), and then the image corresponding to the winning number (m ') is displayed on the display device 32 (step S28-).
6). When a game ball wins in the special winning opening 38, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out to the upper plate. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S28-4 that no game ball has entered the special winning opening 38, the process proceeds to the next step S28-7.

Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined number (m) (for example, 10) of game balls have been won in the special winning opening 38 (step S28-7). When a predetermined number (m) or more has been won of the special winning opening 38, the process proceeds to step S28-9, which is a step of closing the special winning opening 38. On the other hand, when only a predetermined number (m) or less is won in the special winning opening 38, the process proceeds to the next step S28-8.

Next, it is determined whether or not the opening time of the special winning opening 38 has reached a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) (step S28-8). If it is determined that the opening time has not reached the predetermined time, the process returns to step S28-4. On the other hand, when it is determined that the opening time has reached the predetermined time, the process proceeds to the next step S28-9.

Next, the previous step (step S28-
When it is determined in step 7) that the number of winning game balls has reached the predetermined maximum number, and when it is determined in the previous step (step S28-8) that the opening time has reached the predetermined time. Closes the special winning opening 38 by returning the shutter 40 that has fallen to the front side to the original state, and makes it impossible to win game balls in the special winning opening 38 (step S28-9).

The above-described routine describes the flow for one opening of the shutter 40. When this flow is comprehensively described, the opened shutter 40 reaches a predetermined opening time, or The closing is performed in accordance with one of the conditions for determining whether or not the number of winning balls has reached a predetermined number, which is achieved earlier. Therefore, even if the predetermined time has not elapsed from the opening of the shutter 40, the shutter 40 is closed if a predetermined number of game balls win in the special winning opening 38, and the special winning opening 3
Even if the number of game balls that have won the number 8 does not reach the predetermined number, the shutter 40 is controlled so as to close when the predetermined time has elapsed from the opening of the shutter 40.

Next, the previous step (step S28-
"One time" is subtracted from the maximum number of times (n times) of opening the special winning opening 38 set in 2) (step S28-10). That is, in this processing, the operation from the opening of the winning opening to the closing of the winning opening described above is counted as one opening of the special winning opening 38, and the actual opening from the preset maximum possible number of opening is counted. (N = (n-1)).

Next, during the operation of “winning opening of winning prize opening to closing of winning prize opening” described above, is there a game ball passing the specific area 203 among the game spheres winning in the special winning opening 38? It is determined whether or not it is (step S28-11).

When there is a game ball that has passed the specific area 203, the next step (step S28-1)
Proceed to 2). On the other hand, when it is determined that no game ball has passed the specific area 203 (when it is determined that the game ball has passed only the normal area 204), the big hit game state is ended and the game returns to the normal game.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S28-11 that there is a game ball that has passed the specific area 203,
It is determined whether or not the result (n) obtained by subtracting the actual number of times of opening from the maximum number of times that opening is possible in the previous step (step S28-10) is “0” (step S).
28-12).

In step S28-12, the result of the subtraction (n)
Is not "0", the process returns to the previously described step (step S28-3). On the other hand, when it is determined that the subtraction result (n) is “0”,
When the number of times of opening of the shutter 40 has reached the maximum number of times that the shutter can be opened, the big hit game state is ended and the game returns to the normal game.

The above description is about how many times the shutter 40 is opened in one big hit, and how many times it is opened. If this flow is comprehensively described, one big hit and up to n times Shutter 40 can be opened.
In order for the shutter 40 to be opened again after the opening of the round is completed, any one of the game balls that have entered the special winning opening 38 before the shutter 40 is closed is replaced with the special winning opening 38.
It is necessary to pass through the specific area 203.

[0129] Therefore, the shutter 40 can be opened up to n times in one big hit, but the game ball does not pass through the specific area 203 in the special winning opening 38 while the shutter 40 is opened. As long as the shutter 40 is not opened next time. That is, whether or not the shutter 40 is opened the maximum number of times depends on whether or not a game ball enters the specific area 203 of the special winning opening 38.

The pachinko gaming device 10 according to the present embodiment has
It is configured and operates as described above. In this embodiment, the display device (display unit) displays a screen image including a plurality of identification information image groups each including a plurality of symbols, each of which is variably displayed and can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing. Pachinko game machine (game machine) having 32)
10, in the display device (display unit) 32,
The reach in which the other identification information image groups are stopped in a predetermined arrangement in the same pattern, except for the identification information image group having the last changed symbol in which the changed symbol is finally stopped and displayed among the plurality of identification information image groups. At the time, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are displayed continuously in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction, and are stopped intermittently while rotating in the circumferential direction, and stopped earlier. At a predetermined position where a combination with a symbol of another identification information image group is valid, the symbol to be stopped is configured to be enlarged and displayed.

Therefore, at the time of the reach, the movement of the most noticeable final variation pattern is a movement which has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player, and furthermore, the pattern to stop is clearly confirmed. Since it is possible, it becomes easy to identify the result, and it is possible to provide a pachinko gaming device (gaming machine) 10 that is interesting for the player and capable of producing an effect that is easy to recognize.

Further, since each of the symbols successively displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction is thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction, the symbols finally stopped and displayed gradually decrease. The player will watch the display device (display unit) 32 with a sense of expectation and anxiety, whether the symbol that will be a jackpot will remain or disappear, and the sense of nervous pounding at the time of reach will increase, making the game fun Can be improved.

[Second Embodiment] In the above-described embodiment, a program for controlling a pachinko game, a program for detecting a game ball shown in FIG. 5, and a variable display game shown in FIG. 6 are executed. Although the program and the program for executing the process in the jackpot game state shown in FIG. 7 are stored in the ROM 68 or the RAM 70 of the pachinko gaming device 10, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to configure so that a pachinko game can be played by an operator operating a terminal C communicably connected to the server S via a telecommunication network (network) C such as (LAN). In such a case, the server S and the terminal C have the programs described above and data used in these programs. It may be.

In the case where the server S and the terminal C are configured as described above, the server S includes a program for controlling a pachinko game, a program for detecting a game ball shown in FIG. The program for executing the variable display game shown in FIG. 6 and the program for executing the process in the jackpot game state shown in FIG. 7 are stored in advance, and these programs are transmitted to the terminal C at a predetermined timing. is there. On the other hand, the terminal device C temporarily stores these transmitted programs, and proceeds with the pachinko game by appropriately reading and executing the stored programs. In addition, a program for controlling a pachinko game, FIG.
The server S executes a program for detecting game balls shown in FIG. 6, a program for executing the variable display game shown in FIG. 6, and a program for executing processing in the big hit game state shown in FIG. The command generated according to the execution result may be transmitted to the terminal C as a control signal or control information. In this case, the terminal device C selects or generates an image for performing a pachinko game according to the transmitted control signal or control information, and displays the image on the display unit.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an example of the terminal C having the above configuration (see FIG. 12).

[0136] In the example shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes a general-purpose personal computer.
The input operation of the player is input from the input device 102 (for example, a keyboard) connected to the input device 0. Further, the control unit 130 of the terminal device 100 includes a CPU 108, as described later.
The control unit 130 executes a program for controlling a pachinko game, a program for controlling a variable display game, and a program for executing processing in a jackpot game state. . The control unit 130 also has a communication interface circuit 120 (see FIG. 15).
0 to communicate with a server S, which will be described later,
The control of the pachinko game and the control of the variable display game are performed based on the control signal or control information, the program, and the data transmitted from the PC. In addition, terminal 1
On the display device 116 connected to 00, a game machine image imitating a pachinko game machine is displayed as shown in FIG. 13, and a pachinko game is performed on this game machine image. On the gaming machine image, the display unit 132 on which the above-described variable display game is executed is displayed as an image. On the display unit 132, a symbol image (identification information image) as the identification information as described above is displayed.

Another example of the terminal C is shown in FIG.
The components corresponding to the components shown in FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The example of FIG. 14 shows a portable terminal 140, in which the input device 10 provided in the terminal 140 is provided.
2 (for example, a switch), an input operation of the player is input. Also, a control unit 13 provided inside the terminal device 140 is provided.
0 is the CPU 108, ROM 110, RA
M112 and the like (see FIG. 15).
, A program for controlling a pachinko game or a variable display game is executed. The control unit 130 also has a communication interface circuit 120. The control unit 130 performs communication with a server S described below via the communication interface circuit 120, and transmits a control signal or control information transmitted from the server S, The pachinko game and the variable display game are controlled based on the program and the data. Further, the display device 11 provided on the upper surface of the terminal device 140
6, a liquid crystal display panel, a game machine image imitating a pachinko gaming device is displayed as shown in FIG.
A pachinko game is performed on this gaming machine image. On the gaming machine image, the display unit 132 on which the above-described variable display game is executed is displayed as an image. On the display unit 132, a symbol image (identification information image) as the identification information as described above is displayed.

As described above, the terminal 10 shown in FIG.
0, the display device 116 is configured separately from the control unit 130, and various control signals or control information such as a display control signal transmitted from the server S are transmitted to the terminal device 10.
0, the control unit 130 generates a display signal based on the supplied control signal or control information,
The generated display signal is supplied to the display device 116.

On the other hand, the terminal 140 as shown in FIG.
The display device 116 is configured integrally with the control unit 130, and a control signal or control information such as a display control signal transmitted from the server S is supplied to the control unit 130 of the terminal 140, and the control unit 130 Generates a display signal based on the supplied control signal or control information, and supplies the generated display signal to the display device 116.

The embodiment described below can be applied whether the control section of the terminal and the display device are separate or integrated.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the structure of the terminals 100 and 140 (hereinafter, referred to as pachinko game terminals). FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server 80 connected to the pachinko gaming terminal device via a communication line and supplying various control signals or control information and data to the pachinko gaming terminal device. In the pachinko gaming terminal device shown in FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to components corresponding to the components shown in FIG.

Input device 1 for inputting a player's operation
02 (for example, a keyboard or a switch) is connected to the interface circuit 104 of the pachinko gaming terminal device 100, and the interface circuit 104 is connected to the input / output bus 10
6 is connected.

The input / output bus 106 inputs and outputs a data signal or an address signal to / from a central processing circuit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 108. I / O bus 10
The ROM 6 is also connected to a ROM (read only memory) 110 and a RAM (random access memory) 112. The ROM 110 and the RAM 112 store programs to be described later and image data to be displayed on the display device 116.

Further, an interface circuit group 114 is also connected to the input / output bus 106. The interface circuit group 114 includes a display device 116 and a speaker 11.
8 are connected, and the interface circuit group 114
Supplies a display signal and an audio signal to each of the display device 116 and the speaker 118 according to the result of the arithmetic processing in the CPU 108.

Further, a communication interface circuit 120 is also connected to the input / output bus 106. The communication interface circuit 120 is for communicating with a server 80 to be described later via an electric communication network. is there.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Hard disk drive 88, CPU 82, ROM
84, RAM 86, and communication interface circuit 9
0.

The hard disk drive 88 includes a program for communicating with the pachinko gaming terminal device, a program for receiving information issued from the pachinko gaming terminal device, a program for controlling the pachinko gaming device, and a variable program. A program for controlling the display game is stored.
The communication interface circuit 90 is for communicating with the above-mentioned pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 via a telecommunications network.

In the case of the configuration as described above,
A game machine image imitating a pachinko gaming device as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is displayed on the display device 116 of the pachinko gaming terminal device 100, and a game board surface, a holding lamp, a decoration lamp,
Images indicating devices such as the display unit 132 for performing the variable display game and the display unit 152 for displaying ordinary symbols, and images indicating game balls are displayed on the display device 116. In the display unit 132 for executing the variable display game, when the variable display game is executed, a symbol image serving as identification information is displayed.

The subroutine executed by each of the pachinko gaming terminal device and the server will be described below. In the following description, it is assumed that the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 and the server 80 have been activated in advance and are operating normally. Further, the CPU 1 described above
08 and variables used in the CPU 82 are assumed to be initialized to predetermined values. In addition, winning opening, starting opening,
Devices such as a ball passage detector and game balls are displayed as images on the display device 116.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show various programs stored in a storage medium such as the hard disk drive 88 of the server 80 at a predetermined timing such as when the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 are activated. 8
0 is supplied to the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140,
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine performed in each of the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 and the server 80 when the program supplied in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 is to be executed.

FIG. 17 shows the pachinko gaming terminal device 10.
This subroutine is executed at 0,140 and is called and executed at a predetermined timing from the main routine. It is assumed that the main routine includes a program required for communicating with the server 80, such as a program for determining whether communication with the server 80 is possible or not, in advance.

First, the program for executing the pachinko game and the image data necessary for the progress of the pachinko game in the pachinko game terminal device are downloaded from the server 80 (step S31).

Next, the pachinko game is started by the player operating the input device 102, and the game program is executed (step S32). This game program is a game program that controls pachinko games,
It includes a program for executing the variable display game shown in FIG. 6 described above and a program for executing processing in the jackpot game state shown in FIG. 7, and necessary image data is stored in the pachinko gaming device. This is for displaying an image of a simulated gaming machine image, a background image, a design image, a character image, or the like on the display device 116. When the game program is executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140, it is detected that the player has operated the input device 102. When it is detected that the player has operated the input device 102, as described above, the display device 116 of the pachinko gaming terminal device 100 or 140 displays a game machine image imitating a pachinko gaming device. The display unit 132 that displays the variable display game is also displayed. Further, when the player operates the input device 102 to shoot a game ball, an image of the game ball that can be visually recognized as the game ball moves on the game board surface is displayed on the game machine image.

Next, it is determined whether or not a game ball has entered the winning opening (step S33). The winning openings are image portions corresponding to the above-described general winning openings 50 and 54a to 54d and the special winning openings 56a to 56d shown in FIG. If it is determined that a game ball has entered the winning opening, a process of paying out a number of game balls according to the type of the winning opening is executed (step S34). Note that the processing of step S34 is to store the number of gaming balls in the RAM 112, even if the number of gaming balls is displayed at some position on the display device 116 in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140. It may be.

Next, it is determined whether or not a game ball has entered the starting port (step S35). This start is, for example, an image portion corresponding to the start port 44 shown in FIG. 2 described above.

When it is determined in step S35 that a game ball has entered the starting port, a variable display game processing routine similar to the above-described subroutine shown in FIG. 6 is called and executed (step S36). Note that, when the variable display game processing routine is executed, the display unit 132 shown in FIGS.
11 to 11. A background image, a design image, and a character image as shown in FIGS. For example, when it is determined that it is the timing to stop and display one symbol when processing step S25 in FIG. 6, the symbol is stopped and displayed on the display unit 132 by processing step S26 in FIG. 6. .

If all symbols are stopped in a predetermined combination in step S27 of the subroutine shown in FIG. 6, the big hit processing routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

Further, it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed the ball passage detector (step S37). This ball passage detector is, for example, the ball passage detector 55 shown in FIG.
a, an image portion corresponding to 55b. This step S
In 37, when it is determined that the game ball has passed the ball passage detector, a process of variably displaying a normal symbol on the display device 52 is executed (step S38). As described above, when the fluctuation-displayed normal symbol comes to a predetermined symbol when stopped, the movable pieces 58a and 58b are driven to display an image that can be visually recognized so that the starting port 44 is opened. Thus, processing is performed so that a game ball can easily enter the starting port 44.

Next, it is determined whether or not the game has been completed (step S39). To determine whether the game has ended,
It is determined that the game has ended when it is detected that the player has operated the input device 102 to end the game, or when it is determined that a predetermined number of game balls have been fired on the game board surface. It is. If it is determined that the game is not over, the process returns to step S32 described above.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the game has ended, a game result indicating the number of game balls fired or the number of game balls refunded,
The game end information indicating that the game has ended is transmitted to the server 80 (step S40), and the present subroutine ends.

FIG. 18 shows a subroutine executed in the server 80 corresponding to the terminal-side processing routine executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 shown in FIG.

First, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
It is determined whether or not 140 has been activated and communication is possible (step S51).

Then, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
If it is determined that 140 has not been activated, the process returns to step S51.

On the other hand, the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100, 1
When it is determined that the terminal 40 has been activated, various programs and various image data are transmitted to the pachinko gaming terminal device 1.
00, 140 (step S52). The processing in step S52 is the same as the processing in step S31 in FIG.
This corresponds to the processing of.

As described above, the programs transmitted to the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 in step S52 include a game program for controlling a pachinko game and a program for executing the above-described variable display game shown in FIG. , A program for executing processing in the jackpot game state shown in FIG. 7, and various image data include a game machine image imitating a pachinko gaming device, a background image, a design image, and a character. This is for displaying an image or the like on the display device 116.

Next, the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100, 1
It is determined whether or not the game result or information indicating that the game is over has been transmitted from 40 (step S53). This step S53 corresponds to step S40 in FIG. 17 described above.

In step S53, the game result and the game end information are displayed in the pachinko game terminal device 100, 1
If it is determined that the data has not been transmitted from 40, the process returns to step S53. In addition, the pachinko gaming terminal device 1
In steps 00 and 140, step S32 shown in FIG.
While the processing of steps S39 to S39 is being executed, the processing of step S53 described above is repeatedly executed in the server 80.

On the other hand, in step S53, the game result and the game end information are displayed in the pachinko game terminal devices 100 and 14.
When it is determined that the transmission is started from 0, the game result and the game end information are received (step S54), and the present subroutine is ended.

In the case of the above-described configuration, a program for executing a pachinko game and various image data are constantly transmitted from the server 80 before the game is started in the pachinko game terminal devices 100 and 140. Therefore, when the program or the image data is updated in the server 80, the player can always enjoy the latest game.

In the above-described embodiment, as in the above-described embodiment, at the time of the reach, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction. Since the pattern is stopped intermittently while rotating in the direction, and at a predetermined position where the combination with the pattern of the other identification information image group that has stopped earlier is valid, the pattern to be stopped is enlarged and displayed. In, the trend of the final fluctuation pattern, which is the most noticeable, is a movement that has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player, and furthermore, the pattern to be stopped can be clearly confirmed, so that the identification of the result can be It becomes easy, and it is possible for the player to produce an effect that is interesting and easy to recognize.

Further, since the symbols successively displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction are thinned out while rotating in the circumferential direction, the symbols finally stopped and displayed gradually decrease. The player will watch the display device (display unit) 32 with a sense of expectation and anxiety, whether the symbol that will be a jackpot will remain or disappear, and the sense of nervous pounding at the time of reach will increase, making the game fun Can be improved.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a program for controlling a pachinko game and a program for executing a variable display game are stored in the pachinko game terminal devices 100 and 14.
0 is stored in advance in the ROM 110, and only various image data required as the pachinko game progresses is appropriately transmitted from the server 80.
Pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 and server 8
The subroutine executed at 0 is shown in FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIG.

FIG. 19 shows a pachinko gaming terminal device 10.
This subroutine is executed at 0, 140. In the following description, it is assumed that the subroutine is read from the ROM 110 at a predetermined timing from the main routine and executed. It is assumed that the main routine includes a program required for communicating with the server 80, such as a program for determining whether communication with the server 80 is possible or not, in advance. The flowchart shown in FIG. 19 is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 17 except for step S31, and the steps that perform the same processing are denoted by the same reference numerals.

First, a pachinko game is started by a player's operation, and a game program is executed (step S32). This game program includes a game program for controlling a pachinko game, a program for executing a variable display game to be described later (see FIG. 20), and a program for executing processing in the jackpot game state shown in FIG. And the required image data is
It is for displaying a game machine image imitating a pachinko gaming device, a background image, a design image, a character image, and the like on the display device 116. In addition, the pachinko gaming terminal device 1
When the game program is executed at 00, 140, it is detected that the player has operated the input device 102. When detecting that the player has operated the input device 102, as described above, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
On the display device 140, a game machine image imitating a pachinko game machine is displayed, and a display unit 132 for displaying a variable display game is also displayed on the game machine image. Further, when the player operates the input device 102 to shoot a game ball, an image of the game ball that can be visually recognized as the game ball moves on the game board surface is displayed on the game machine image.

Next, it is determined whether or not a game ball has entered the winning opening (step S33). The winning openings are image portions corresponding to the above-described general winning openings 50 and 54a to 54d and the special winning openings 56a to 56d shown in FIG. If it is determined that a game ball has entered the winning opening, a process of paying out a number of game balls according to the type of the winning opening is executed (step S34). Note that the processing of step S34 is to store the number of gaming balls in the RAM 112, even if the number of gaming balls is displayed at some position on the display device 116 in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140. It may be.

Next, it is determined whether a game ball has entered the starting port (step S35). This starting port is, for example, an image portion corresponding to the starting port 44 shown in FIG. 2 described above. If it is determined in step S35 that a game ball has entered the starting port, a variable display game processing routine described later is called and executed (step S36). still,
In this case, when the variable display game processing routine is executed, the display unit 132 shown in FIGS.
When a background image, an image of a design, or a character image is displayed and it is determined that it is time to stop and display one design, the design is stopped and displayed on the display unit 132.

Further, it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed the ball passage detector (step S37). This ball passage detector is, for example, the ball passage detector 55a shown in FIG.
And image parts corresponding to 55b and 55b. This step S
In 37, when it is determined that the game ball has passed the ball passage detector, a process of variably displaying a normal symbol on the display device 52 is executed (step S38). In addition, as described above, when the variably displayed normal symbol comes to a predetermined symbol when stopped, the movable pieces 58a and 58b are driven to display an image that can be visually recognized so that the starting port 44 is opened. Thus, a game ball is easily inserted into the starting port 44.

Next, it is determined whether or not the game has been completed (step S39). To determine whether the game has ended,
It is determined that the game has ended when it is detected that the player has operated the input device 102 to end the game, or when it is determined that a predetermined number of game balls have been fired on the game board surface. It is. If it is determined that the game is not over, the process returns to step S32 described above.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the game has ended, a game result indicating the number of game balls fired or the number of game balls refunded,
The game end information indicating that the game has ended is transmitted to the server 80 (step S40), and the present subroutine ends.

FIG. 20 shows a subroutine for processing the variable display game called and executed in step S36 described above. Note that, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 20, steps that perform the same processing as the steps in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

First, information indicating that this subroutine has been called and the execution of the variable display game has been started is stored in the server 8.
0 (step S61).

Next, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100, 1
An internal lottery process is executed by the arithmetic process of the CPU 108 of Step 40 (Step S21). The internal lottery process is a process in which all symbols belonging to a plurality of groups that are variably displayed are stopped and displayed, and a symbol combination when the symbol is determined is determined in advance. The CPU 108 determines the symbol combination by the internal lottery process as described later. The process of changing and displaying the symbols is performed so that the symbols are stopped and displayed on the display unit 132 in the combination of the symbols thus displayed.

Next, data of a design image, a background image, and a character image, which are identification information images required in the variable display game, are received from the server 80 (step S62). Next, the background image is displayed on the display unit 132 displayed on the display device 116 (step S22), the design as the identification information is variably displayed (step S23), and the character image is displayed (step S24). By executing the above-described steps S22 to S24, the image shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 is displayed on the display unit 132 displayed on the display device 116.
By executing step S23, the symbols belonging to each of a plurality of, for example, three sets are displayed on the display unit 132 as described with reference to FIG.

Next, it is determined whether or not it is time to stop and display a symbol belonging to a plurality of sets, for example, one of three sets (step S25). If it is determined that it is time to stop and display the symbol, the symbol is stopped and displayed (step S26).

If it is determined in step S25 that it is not time to stop and display the symbol, or if the process of step S26 is executed, information indicating the progress of the variable display game is transmitted to the server 80 (step S63). .

Next, it is determined whether all the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets have been stopped and displayed (step S27).

If it is determined that all the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets are not stopped and displayed, the process returns to step S62. On the other hand, when it is determined that all of the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets have been stopped and displayed, information indicating that the variable display game has ended and information on the result of the variable display game are transmitted to the server 80 (step S64). To end.

Here, when symbols belonging to a plurality of sets are stopped in a predetermined combination, the big hit processing routine shown in FIG. 7 described above is executed.

FIG. 21 shows a subroutine executed in the server 80 in correspondence with the terminal-side processing routine executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 as shown in FIG. The server 80 has been activated in advance, and the subroutine shown in FIG. 21 is called from a previously executed main routine and executed.

First, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
At 140, it is determined whether or not information indicating that the variable display game has been started has been received (step S71). When it is determined that the information indicating that the variable display game has started has not been received, this subroutine is immediately ended. On the other hand, when it is determined that the information indicating that the variable display game has started has been received, the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 need a symbol image, which is an identification information image, a background image, or a character image. The data is transmitted to the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 (step S72). This step S72 is the same as that in FIG.
This corresponds to the process of step S62 shown in FIG.

Next, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100, 1
It is determined whether or not information indicating the progress of the variable display game has been received from 40 (step S73). The process in step S73 is a process corresponding to step S63 in FIG. 20 described above. If it is determined that the information indicating the progress of the variable display game has not been received, the process returns to step S73. On the other hand, when it is determined that the information indicating the progress of the variable display game has been received, it is determined whether a new image needs to be transmitted based on the received progress of the variable display game (step S74). If it is determined that a new image needs to be transmitted, the process returns to step S72 described above. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no need to transmit a new image, it is determined whether or not information indicating that the variable display game has been completed has been received (step S75). The processing in step S75 is processing corresponding to the processing in step S64 in FIG. 20 described above. If it is determined in step S75 that information indicating that the variable display game has ended has not been received, the process returns to step S73. On the other hand, when it is determined that the information indicating that the variable display game has ended has been received, the present subroutine ends.

In the above embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, at the time of the reach, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction, and the peripheral image is displayed. Since the pattern is stopped intermittently while rotating in the direction, and at a predetermined position where the combination with the pattern of the other identification information image group that has stopped earlier is valid, the pattern to be stopped is enlarged and displayed. In, the trend of the final fluctuation pattern, which is the most noticeable, is a movement that has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player, and furthermore, the pattern to be stopped can be clearly confirmed, so that the identification of the result can be It becomes easy, and it is possible for the player to produce an effect that is interesting and easy to recognize.

Further, since the symbols successively displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction are thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction, the symbols finally stopped and displayed gradually decrease. The player will watch the display device (display unit) 32 with a sense of expectation and anxiety, whether the symbol that will be a jackpot will remain or disappear, and the sense of nervous pounding at the time of reach will increase, making the game fun Can be improved.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, only a game program for controlling a pachinko game and a program for executing a variable display game are transmitted from the server, and a symbol image,
The data of the background image and the character image are stored in the ROM 110 of the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 in advance, and when the required image data is read from the ROM 110 as appropriate, the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 And the subroutine executed in the server 80 are shown in FIGS.

FIG. 22 shows a subroutine executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 in the above-described configuration. Note that the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 are activated in advance, and the above-described subroutine shown in FIG. 19 is read out from the ROM 110 at a predetermined timing from the main routine and executed, and the subroutine shown in FIG. Step S in FIG.
It is assumed that it is read from the ROM 110 and executed at 36. In the subroutine shown in FIG. 22, steps that perform the same processes as those of the subroutine shown in FIGS. 6 and 20 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

First, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
140 transmits information indicating that the variable display game has been started to the server 80 (step S61). Next, a program such as a game program for controlling a pachinko game or a program for executing a variable display game is received from the server 80, and the received program is executed (step S81).

Next, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
An internal lottery process is executed by the arithmetic process of the CPU 108 at 140 (step S21). The internal lottery process is a process in which all symbols belonging to a plurality of groups that are variably displayed are stopped and displayed, and a symbol combination when the symbol is determined is determined in advance. The CPU 108 determines the symbol combination by the internal lottery process as described later. The process of changing and displaying the symbols is performed so that the symbols are stopped and displayed on the display unit 132 in the combination of the symbols thus displayed.

Next, the display unit 1 displayed on the display device 116
At 32, a background image is displayed (Step S22), a design as identification information is variably displayed (Step S23), and a character image is displayed (Step S24). By executing steps S22 to S24 described above, the display device 1
16 is displayed on the display 132 shown in FIG.
The image as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. In step S23, as described with reference to FIG. 6, symbols belonging to a plurality of sets, for example, three sets, are displayed on the display unit 1.
32.

Next, it is determined whether or not it is time to stop and display a symbol belonging to a plurality of sets, for example, one of three sets (step S25). If it is determined that it is time to stop and display the symbol, the symbol is stopped and displayed (step S26).

If it is determined in step S26 that it is not time to stop and display the symbols, or if the process of step S26 is executed, information indicating the progress of the variable display game is transmitted to the server 80 (step S63). .

Next, it is determined whether or not all the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets have been stopped and displayed (step S27). If it is determined that all the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets are not stopped and displayed, the process returns to step S62. On the other hand, when it is determined that all of the symbols belonging to the plurality of sets have been stopped and displayed, information indicating that the variable display game has ended and information on the result of the variable display game are transmitted to the server 80 (step S64). To end.

FIG. 23 shows a subroutine executed in server 80 in correspondence with the variable display game processing routine executed in pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 shown in FIG.

The server 80 has been started in advance, and
The subroutine shown in FIG. 3 is called from a previously executed main routine and executed. Note that, in the subroutine shown in FIG. 23, steps that perform the same processing as the processing of the subroutine shown in FIG. 21 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

First, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
At 140, it is determined whether or not information indicating that the variable display game has been started has been received (step S71). The processing in step S71 is processing corresponding to step S61 shown in FIG. 22 described above. When it is determined that the information indicating that the variable display game has started has not been received, this subroutine is immediately ended. On the other hand, when it is determined that information indicating that the variable display game has been started has been received, a game program for controlling the pachinko game and a program for executing the variable display game, such as the pachinko game terminal device 100, It transmits to 140 (step S91). This step S91 corresponds to the process of step S81 shown in FIG. 22 described above.

Next, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100, 1
It is determined whether or not information indicating the progress of the variable display game has been received from 40 (step S73). The process in step S73 is a process corresponding to step S63 in FIG. 22 described above. If it is determined that the information indicating the progress of the variable display game has not been received, the process returns to step S73. On the other hand, when it is determined that the information indicating the progress of the variable display game has been received, it is determined whether or not the information indicating that the variable display game has been completed has been received (step S75). The process in step S75 is a process corresponding to the process in step S64 in FIG. 22 described above. If it is determined in step S75 that information indicating that the variable display game has ended has not been received, the process returns to step S73. On the other hand, when it is determined that the information indicating that the variable display game has ended has been received, the present subroutine ends.

Also in the present embodiment, when symbols belonging to a plurality of sets are stopped in a predetermined combination in the variable display game, the above-described big hit processing routine shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

In the above embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, at the time of the reach, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction, and at the same time, are displayed. Since the pattern is stopped intermittently while rotating in the direction, and at a predetermined position where the combination with the pattern of the other identification information image group that has stopped earlier is valid, the pattern to be stopped is enlarged and displayed. In, the trend of the final fluctuation pattern, which is the most noticeable, is a movement that has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player, and furthermore, the pattern to be stopped can be clearly confirmed, so that the identification of the result can be It becomes easy, and it is possible for the player to produce an effect that is interesting and easy to recognize.

[0207] Further, since the symbols successively displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction are thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction, the symbols finally stopped and displayed gradually decrease. The player will watch the display device (display unit) 32 with a sense of expectation and anxiety, whether the symbol that will be a jackpot will remain or disappear, and the sense of nervous pounding at the time of reach will increase, making the game fun Can be improved.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, the server stores programs such as a program for controlling a pachinko game, a program for executing a variable display game, and a program for executing processing in a jackpot processing state. The case where image data required for a pachinko game or a variable display game is stored in the ROM 110 of the pachinko game terminal devices 100 and 140 will be described below. In the case of such a configuration, the progress of the pachinko game is performed by the server 80, and the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 transmit control signals or control information transmitted according to the progress of the pachinko game performed in the server 80. An image is selected accordingly, and the selected image is displayed on the display device 116. In such a configuration, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
The subroutine executed in 140 and server 80 is shown in FIGS.

FIG. 24 shows the pachinko gaming terminal device 10.
0, 140, and in the following description, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
A main routine (not shown) is executed when 140 is started, and after confirming that communication with the server 80 is possible in this main routine, this subroutine is called and executed. I do.

First, the image data transmitted from the server 80 is received (step S101). Note that the image data in this case is image data not only relating to a variable display game to be described later, but also relating to pachinko games such as a game board and a game ball. In the case where these image data are stored in the ROM 110 of the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 in advance, the processing in step S101 may be omitted.

Next, it is determined whether or not the player has operated the input device 102 (step S102). When it is determined that the player has operated the input device 102, operation information corresponding to the operation of the player is transmitted to the server 80 (step S103). After executing the processing of step S103, or when it is determined that the player has not operated the input device 102, it is determined whether or not the command information has been issued from the server 80 (step S104). When it is determined that the command information has been issued from the server 80, the command information is received, and it is determined whether or not the command information is the end command information (step S105). When it is determined that the command information is not the end command information, an image corresponding to the received command information is selected, and the selected image is displayed on the display device 116 (step S106). After this process, the process returns to step S102 described above. In addition, when it is determined in step S104 that the command information has not been issued from the server 80, the process returns to step S102 described above.

When it is determined in step S105 that the received command information is the end command information, the present subroutine is terminated.

The instruction information received in step S104 described above corresponds to steps S122 and S122 in FIG.
128, various types of information generated in S130, S132 and S134, and the pachinko gaming terminal device 10
0, 140 selects and reads desired image data from the ROM 110 according to the information, and displays the read image data on the display device 116 as an image.

FIG. 25 shows a subroutine executed in server 80 in correspondence with the above-described subroutine of FIG. It is assumed that server 80 has been activated in advance, and the subroutine shown in FIG. 25 is called from a previously executed main routine and executed.

First, image data is transmitted to the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 as terminals (step S111). This step is the same as step S101 described above.
As described above, this image data is image data not only relating to a variable display game but also relating to a pachinko game such as a game board or a game ball.

Next, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100, 1
Receiving the operation information issued from the control unit 40 (step S1)
12). This step is processing corresponding to step S103 shown in FIG. 24 described above. When the operation information issued from the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 is received, it is determined whether or not the received operation information is the game ball launch operation information (step S113). When it is determined that the operation information is the game ball launch operation information, a pachinko game process described later is executed (step S11).
4). In step S112 described above, when the operation information issued from the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 is not received, the process of step S114 is immediately executed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S113 that the operation information is not game ball launch operation information, or if the process of step S114 is executed, step S1 is executed.
The instruction information generated by the pachinko game processing executed in 14 is transmitted to the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140.
(Step S115). This step S11
The processing in step 5 is performed in step S104 shown in FIG.
This is processing corresponding to. Next, it is determined whether the transmitted command information is end command information (step S11).
6). When it is determined that the transmitted command information is not the end command information, the process returns to step S112 described above.

FIG. 26 shows a subroutine of the pachinko game process called in step S114 described above.

First, it is determined whether or not the image of the game ball is moved and displayed (step S121). When it is determined that the image of the game ball is moved and displayed, the position of the destination of the image of the game ball is calculated to display the image of the game ball so that the image of the game ball can be visually recognized as moving, and the position is calculated. It is generated as position information (step S122).

Next, it is determined whether or not the game ball has entered the winning opening, that is, whether or not the position of the image of the game ball calculated in step S121 is near the position of the image indicating the winning opening (step S121). Step S123). The winning openings are image portions corresponding to the above-described general winning openings 50 and 54a to 54d and the special winning openings 56a to 56d shown in FIG. When it is determined that the calculated position is near the position of the winning opening, a process of paying out game balls is executed (step S124). The process of paying out the game balls is performed by storing the number of game balls predetermined according to the type of the winning opening in the RAM 86.
This is a process of generating game ball number information indicating the number of game balls to be transmitted to the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140.

Next, whether or not a game ball has entered the starting port,
That is, it is determined whether or not the position of the image of the game ball calculated in step S121 is near the position of the image indicating the starting port (step S125). In addition, this starting port is
For example, it is an image portion corresponding to the starting port 44 shown in FIG. 2 described above. When it is determined that the calculated position is near the position of the starting port, a process of starting a variable display game described later is executed (step S126). In the process of starting the variable display game, an internal lottery process for determining a combination of identification information to be displayed on the display unit 132 when a symbol, which is identification information, is determined is executed.
The variable display game process shown in FIG.

Next, it is determined whether or not the game ball has passed the ball passage detector, that is, whether or not the position of the image of the game ball calculated in step S121 is near the position of the image indicating the ball passage detector. (Step S127). The ball passage detector is, for example, an image portion corresponding to the ball passage detectors 55a and 55b shown in FIG. In step S127, when it is determined that the game ball has passed near the ball passage detector, an image of a normal symbol to be fluctuated and displayed on the display device 152 displayed on the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 is selected and selected. The selected image information indicating the image thus generated is generated (step S128).

Next, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
It is determined whether or not the normal symbol displayed on the display unit 152 displayed at 140 has stopped at a predetermined symbol (step S129). When it is determined that the normal symbol has stopped at the predetermined symbol, the image of the movable piece is selected so that the image in which the above-described opening is opened is displayed, and selected image information indicating the selected image is generated. (Step S13
0). The selected image information is transmitted to the pachinko gaming terminal device 10.
When it is emitted to 0,140, the display device 116 of the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,140 displays an image that can be visually recognized as if the movable piece is open. The movable piece is, for example, an image portion corresponding to the movable pieces 58a and 58b shown in FIG.

Next, it is determined whether to display the decorative lamp on or off (step S131). When it is determined that the decorative lamp is to be turned on or off, an image corresponding to each state is selected, and selected image information indicating the selected image is generated (step S).
132). This decorative lamp is, for example, an image portion corresponding to the decorative lamps 36a and 36b shown in FIG. When the above-mentioned selected image information is issued to the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140, the display device 116
In the image portions of the decorative lamps 36a and 36b displayed in the above, an image that can be visually recognized as being turned on or an image that can be visually recognized as being turned off is displayed.

Next, it is determined whether or not the game has been completed (step S133). When it is determined that the game has ended, game end information is generated (step S134), and this subroutine ends. In addition, whether or not the game has ended is determined when the player operating the pachinko gaming terminal device 100 or 140 performs an operation to end the game, or when the number of game balls fired on the game board surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. When it has become, it is determined that the game is over.

FIG. 27 shows a subroutine for processing the variable display game called and executed in step S126 described above.

First, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
A background image, a design image, and a character image to be displayed on the display unit 132 of the display device 116 are selected (steps S141, S142, and S143). Next, it is determined whether or not it is time to stop and display the symbol which is one piece of identification information (step S144). If it is determined that it is time to stop and display, the position to be stopped and displayed is calculated, and an image to be stopped and displayed is selected (step S145).

Next, steps S141 and S14 described above are performed.
2. Generate selected image information indicating the image selected in S143 and S145 (step S146), and generate position information indicating a position where the selected image should be displayed (step S146).
147). The server 80 uses the selected image information and the position information generated in steps S146 and S147 described above as instruction information in step S115 in FIG.
Send to 0. On the other hand, the pachinko gaming terminal device 100,
140 receives the command information transmitted from the server 80 in the above-described step S104 in FIG. 24, reads out the image data indicated by the received command information from the ROM 110 or the RAM 112 in step S106,
The read image (the image as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 described above) is displayed on the display unit 132 of the display device 116. By doing so, when the server 80 determines that it is time to stop and display the symbol that is the identification information, the pachinko gaming terminal device 10 that is the terminal device
The server 80 can control the display of the symbol on the display unit 132 of 0,140.

Next, it is determined whether or not all symbols have stopped (step S148). When it is determined that all the symbols have stopped, variable display game end information is generated (step S149), and this subroutine ends.

Note that the subroutine shown in FIG.
It is called not only when the variable display game start process of step S126 of FIG. 26 is executed, but also at a predetermined timing during the period from the start to the end of the variable display game.

In the above embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, at the time of the reach, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are continuously displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction, and at the same time, are displayed. Since the pattern is stopped intermittently while rotating in the direction, and at a predetermined position where the combination with the pattern of the other identification information image group that has stopped earlier is valid, the pattern to be stopped is enlarged and displayed. In, the trend of the final fluctuation pattern, which is the most noticeable, is a movement that has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player, and furthermore, the pattern to be stopped can be clearly confirmed, so that the identification of the result can be It becomes easy, and it is possible for the player to produce an effect that is interesting and easy to recognize.

Further, since the symbols successively displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction are thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction, the symbols finally stopped and displayed gradually decrease. The player will watch the display device (display unit) 32 with a sense of expectation and anxiety, whether the symbol that will be a jackpot will remain or disappear, and the sense of nervous pounding at the time of reach will increase, making the game fun Can be improved.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 27 described above, the display unit 1 displayed on the image of a game machine simulating a pachinko game machine displayed on the display device 116 is displayed.
Although the case where the design image, the background image, and the character image are displayed only at 32 is shown, the design image, the background image, and the character image may be displayed on the entire surface of the display device 116.

[0234]

According to the present invention, at the time of the reach, the movement of the most noticeable final variation pattern is a movement that has a three-dimensional effect and can give a great sense of expectation to the player. Since the symbol to be played can be clearly confirmed, the result can be easily identified, and an effect that is interesting and easy for the player to visually recognize can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overview of a pachinko gaming device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a game board surface of the pachinko gaming device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded explanatory view of a variable winning device in the pachinko gaming device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the pachinko gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of processing for detecting a game ball executed in the pachinko gaming device.

FIG. 6 is a step S14 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5;
9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a variable display game process called and executed in FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a process after a jackpot in the subroutine of the variable display game process shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing an aspect of a variable display of an identification information image in a variable display game.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing an aspect of a variable display of an identification information image in a variable display game.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing an aspect of a variable display of an identification information image in a variable display game.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing a mode of the stop display of the identification information image in the variable display game.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a server and a terminal communicably connected via an electric communication network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN).

FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing an example of a terminal for pachinko gaming.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing another example of a terminal for a pachinko game.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the pachinko gaming terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the server according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a subroutine executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates a server 80 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine to be executed.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a subroutine executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for performing processing of a variable display game executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140.

FIG. 21 illustrates a server 80 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine to be executed.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for performing processing of a variable display game executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140.

FIG. 23 illustrates a server 80 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine to be executed.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a subroutine executed in the pachinko gaming terminal devices 100 and 140.

FIG. 25: In the server 80 according to the embodiment of the present invention,
9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine to be executed.

FIG. 26 is a step S114 in the flowchart of FIG. 25;
3 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a pachinko game process called in FIG.

FIG. 27 is a step S126 in the flowchart of FIG. 26;
3 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a pachinko game process called in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M jackpot winning device 10 pachinko gaming device (gaming machine) 32 display device (display unit) 38 special winning opening 40 shutter 60 control circuit 66 CPU (control unit) 64 input / output bus 68 ROM 70 RAM 80 server 100 pachinko gaming terminal device (Terminal) 132 Display unit 140 Pachinko gaming terminal device (Terminal)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Yasuaki Uenoyama 1-6 Enomachi, Suita-shi, Osaka S-NKK Corporation F-term (reference) 2C088 AA33 AA35 AA36 AA37 AA39 AA42 CA02 CA19

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A gaming machine having a display unit for displaying a screen image including a plurality of identification information image groups each including a plurality of symbols, each of which is variably displayed and can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing. Yes, in the display unit, among the plurality of identification information image groups, leaving the identification information image group having the last changed symbol in which the changed symbol is finally stopped and displayed, the other identification information image group is the same symbol. At the time of the reach stopped in a predetermined arrangement, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are
While displaying continuously in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction,
It is intermittently stopped while being rotated in the circumferential direction, and at a predetermined position where the combination with the pattern of another previously stopped identification information image group is valid, the stopped pattern is enlarged and displayed. A gaming machine. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein said symbols successively displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction are thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction. 3. A display unit provided on the gaming machine, and a display unit for displaying a screen image composed of a moving image, a still image, or an image obtained by combining these images as appropriate according to the gaming state of the gaming machine; Having a control unit for transmitting electronic data, in the display unit, an image including a plurality of identification information image group composed of a plurality of images that can be individually displayed at a predetermined timing and variably displayed, A screen image display method for a gaming machine to be displayed as the screen image, wherein, among the plurality of identification information image groups, an identification information image group having a last changed symbol in which a changed symbol is finally stopped and displayed is left. When the reach of the identification information image group of the same pattern stopped in a predetermined arrangement in the same symbol, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol,
A predetermined position where a combination of a step of continuously displaying a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction and an intermittent stop while rotating in the circumferential direction, and a combination of the pattern of another identification information image group stopped earlier is valid. And a step of enlarging and displaying the symbols to be stopped. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said symbols successively displayed in a three-dimensional annular shape in the depth direction are thinned out while being rotated in the circumferential direction. 5. A computer-readable storage medium storing a display program for displaying a moving image, a still image, or a screen image combining these images as appropriate according to a game situation, wherein the display program comprises: A program for displaying a screen image including a plurality of identification information image groups composed of a plurality of symbols each of which is variably displayed and can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing, and the plurality of identification information image groups Of the symbols, the remaining symbols have the last variation symbol, and the other symbols have the final variation symbol at the time of reaching the same symbol and stop in a predetermined arrangement. All the symbols of the identification information image group are displayed continuously in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction, and are intermittently stopped while being rotated in the circumferential direction. Also, in the predetermined position in which the combination of the symbols of other identifying information images having stopped earlier is effective, computer-readable storage medium characterized thereby enlarge the symbol to be stopped. 6. A server for displaying, on each terminal, a gaming machine image indicating a gaming machine, wherein a moving image, a still image, or an image obtained by combining the moving images, a static image, and the like as appropriate in accordance with a situation of a game performed in the terminal. Controlling the display of a screen image including a plurality of identification information image groups composed of a plurality of symbols, each of which is variably displayed and can be individually stopped at a predetermined timing. Performed on the terminal, and, among the plurality of identification information image groups, other identification information image groups are the same symbol, except for the identification information image group having the last changed symbol in which the changed symbol is finally stopped and displayed. At the time of the reach to stop in a predetermined arrangement, all the symbols of the identification information image group having the final variation symbol are displayed continuously in a three-dimensional ring in the depth direction, and are rotated in the circumferential direction. At the predetermined position where the combination with the symbol of the other identification information image group that has stopped earlier is valid, the control to enlarge and display the symbol to be stopped is performed on the terminal. A server characterized by the above-mentioned.