JP2003033467A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably provide the mass graphic software used for a game machine at low cost and without causing any read error. SOLUTION: When a machine is turned on, a disc drive device 11 built-in the machine starts and graphic data for graphics, script stored in set CD-ROM disc are read out. The data are transferred and stored in a memory module 18. After that, the disc drive device 11 stops and the game machine becomes ready to be played. The graphic data for the graphics stored in the memory module 18 are used for all graphics displayed on a liquid crystal display of the game machine during the game.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine, and more particularly to a technique effective when applied to image software used for pachi-slots, pachinko machines and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As game machines, for example, pachi-slots (rotating drum game machines) and pachinko machines are widely known. Such a game machine is generally provided with game software and image software.

The game software is a program for advancing the game in response to a user's operation, and the image software is video data and a program for producing an effect by a video when the game is in progress.

These software programs are stored in a plurality of EPROMs (EROMs) provided in an electronic system provided inside the gaming machine.
rasable and Programmable
It is stored in a non-volatile memory such as a Read Only Memory).

[0005]

However, the present inventor has found that the above-mentioned gaming machine has the following problems.

As the diversification and expansion of gaming machines proceed,
Higher performances have come to be produced by liquid crystal displays and the like, and the capacity of image software tends to increase.

However, since the memory capacity of the EPROM is limited, the image software is also limited, so that it is possible to realize highly complete software and create software with a view to future expandability. It can be difficult.

Further, when the capacity of the image software is increased, the number of EPROMs must be increased, which causes a problem that the cost of the game machine is significantly increased.

Further, when changing the specifications of a game machine, all EPROMs mounted on a printed wiring board such as a main board must be replaced, resulting in a significant increase in cost and man-hours. There is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a large-capacity image software at a low cost and with stable supply without causing a reading error or the like, so that the product cost can be greatly reduced. To provide.

[0011]

A gaming machine of the present invention includes a display section for displaying an image, a recording medium drive for reading out a recording medium in which software used for image display on the display section is recorded, and the recording medium. And a memory unit for storing the software read by the drive, storing the software read by the recording medium drive in the memory unit,
The image is displayed on the display unit using software stored in the memory unit.

Further, the game machine of the present invention is characterized in that the software recorded on the recording medium comprises graphic data for video and a script.

Further, the gaming machine of the present invention is characterized in that the memory section is a memory module composed of a plurality of volatile memories.

Further, the gaming machine of the present invention is characterized in that the recording medium reproduced by the recording medium drive is either an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk.

Further, the gaming machine of the present invention is a recording medium drive for reading a recording medium on which a display unit for displaying an image, image graphic data used for the image display on the display unit, and software including a script are recorded. And a memory module including a plurality of volatile memories and storing the software read by the recording medium drive. When displaying an image on the display unit, the recording medium drive stores the software recorded on the recording medium. Is read out and stored in a memory module, and software stored in the memory module is used.

Also, in the gaming machine of the present invention, the recording medium is a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-RO).
M), or DVD-ROM (Digital Ver)
Satile Disk-ROM).

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic system provided in the gaming machine of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an electronic system of FIG. It is a flow chart up to the start of playing on the gaming machine.

In the present embodiment, the gaming machine 1 is a rotating-body type gaming machine, a so-called pachi-slot. The gaming machine 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, a large liquid crystal display (display unit) 2 is provided above the front surface. Liquid crystal display 2
Displays various images.

Below the liquid crystal display 2, a reel 3 on which various symbols are displayed is provided. Below the reel 3, a start lever 4 and a reel stop button 5 are provided from the left side to the right side.

The start lever 4 is a lever for starting the rotation of the reel 3, and the reel stop button 5
Is a button for stopping the rotation of the reel 3.

Below the start lever 4 and the reel stop button 5, a medal payout portion 6, a speaker 7 and the like are provided.

Further, the gaming machine 1 has an electronic system 8 built therein for operating the gaming machine 1 to progress the game. As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic system 8 includes a main control unit 9, a liquid crystal control unit 10, and a disc drive device (recording medium drive, optical disc drive) 11.

The main control section 9 comprises a main control section 12, a RAM 13, a ROM 14, an I / O section 15 and the like. The main controller 12 has a RAM 1
3, ROM 14, and I / O unit 15 are connected to each other, and various signals such as control signals and data are input and output through the I / O unit 15.

The main controller 12 is, for example, a CPU
(Central Processing Unit)
It is composed of various peripheral circuits such as a processor and a driver. Take charge.

The RAM 13 is a memory that can be read / written at any time, and temporarily stores data necessary for the progress of the game. The ROM 14 is a read-only memory in which a game program is stored. Main control unit 1
2 controls the progress of the game based on the game program stored in the ROM 14.

The liquid crystal control unit 10 includes a control unit 16,
It comprises a ROM 17, a memory module (memory unit) 18, a liquid crystal driver 19, and an I / O unit 20. Further, the liquid crystal control unit 10 is, for example, DO
S / V compatible configuration. Thereby, expandability with other gaming machines 1 can be easily ensured.

The control unit 16 comprises a processor such as a CPU, and the control unit 16 is connected to a ROM 17, a memory module 18, and a liquid crystal driver 19.

The I / O unit 20 is the main control unit 9
Connected to the I / O unit 15 and the disk drive device 11, and various signals such as control signals and data are input to and output from the control unit 16 via the I / O unit 20.

The control unit 16 includes the liquid crystal control unit 10,
It controls the memory module 18 and the disk drive device 11. The ROM 17 is a read-only memory, and is a BIOS (Basic Input / Output).
ut System, OS (Operating S)
A basic program such as system) and a display-related program including various effects and script reading processing applications are stored.

The memory module 18 is a so-called DIMM (Dual Inline Memory M) in which a plurality of memories that can be read / written at any time are mounted (for example, about eight) on both sides of a printed wiring board.
and has a storage capacity of about 256 Mbits. Here, the storage capacity of about 256 Mbits is an example, and the storage capacity of the memory module 18 can be increased or decreased according to the specifications of the gaming machine 1.

The memory module 18 temporarily stores video graphic data, which is video software read by the disk drive device 11, and a script. The control unit 13 controls the liquid crystal driver 19 based on the data read by the disk drive device 11.

The liquid crystal driver 19 drives the liquid crystal display 2 according to the control of the control unit 13 to display various images on the liquid crystal display 2.

The disc drive device 11 reads out information on the optical disc. Examples of the optical disc are, for example, a CD-ROM disc, a DVD-ROM disc, and the like.
It is assumed that a D-ROM disc is set. The CD-ROM disc set in the disc drive device 11 stores the above-mentioned video graphic data and scripts.

Next, the operation of the gaming machine 1 in the present embodiment until the game is started will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, when the game machine 1 is powered on (step S101), the controller 1 of the liquid crystal controller 10
The disc drive device 11 is started under the control of step 6 (step S102), and the set CD-ROM is set.
Video graphics data stored on the disc,
And the script is read (step S10)
3).

The video graphic data and the script read by the disk drive device 11 are I / O.
It is stored in the memory module 18 via the O unit 20 (step S104). At this time, the liquid crystal display 2
On the display, characters such as "loading" are displayed so that the operator can recognize that the data is being stored.

When all the data stored in the CD-ROM disc is transferred to and stored in the memory module 18 (step S105), the disc drive device 11 is stopped (step S10).
6) The game machine 1 is ready for play (step S1)
07).

The video graphic data stored in the memory module 18 is used for all the video images displayed on the liquid crystal display 2 while the game machine 1 is playing.

Therefore, when the game is played by the game machine 1, since the image is displayed by using the graphic data for the image stored in the memory module 18 and the script, the reading error due to the vibration during the play is surely performed. Can be prevented.

Further, by using the disk drive device 11, the graphic data for video is stored.
The PROM can be eliminated and the cost of the electronic system 8 can be reduced.

Further, since the data capacity can be increased, the image on the liquid crystal display 2 can be displayed in high precision and in detail, so that a high performance effect can be achieved and a play effect can be achieved. It can increase the attractiveness.

Further, it is possible to easily change the specifications of the gaming machine 1 simply by exchanging the CD-ROM disk set in the disk drive device 11, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost and man-hours due to the specification change. it can.

As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the game of the gaming machine 1 using the large-capacity video graphic data at low cost and efficiently.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the optical disk is used as the recording medium set in the disk drive device has been described. However, as the recording medium, other than the optical disk, MO (Magneto Optical) is used.
It may be a magneto-optical disk such as l).

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the pachi-slot has been described, but the present invention can be applied to various game machines such as pachinko machines, slot machines and arrange balls. ,
It is possible to greatly enhance the effect of production during play.

[0048]

(1) According to the present invention, since a dedicated memory such as an EPROM for storing software is unnecessary, it is possible to increase the capacity of software while suppressing the cost of the gaming machine.

(2) Further, according to the present invention, by displaying the video from the recording medium drive using the software stored in the memory section, it is possible to prevent a data read error or the like.

(3) Further, in the present invention, the effects of the image displayed on the display section can be significantly improved by the above (1) and (2), and the recording set in the recording medium drive can be performed. Since the specifications can be easily changed only by exchanging the medium, the running cost of the gaming machine can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

2 is a block diagram of an electronic system provided in the gaming machine of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart up to the start of playing a game machine by the electronic system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 gaming machine 2 liquid crystal display (display section) 3 reel 4 start lever 5 reel stop button 6 medal payout section 7 speaker 8 electronic system 9 main control section 10 liquid crystal control section 11 disk drive device (recording medium drive, optical disk drive) 12 main Control unit 13 RAM 14 ROM 15 I / O unit 16 Control unit 17 ROM 18 Memory module (memory unit) 19 Liquid crystal driver 20 I / O unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A display unit for displaying an image, a recording medium drive for reading out a recording medium in which software used for image display on the display unit is stored, and a memory for storing the software read out by the recording medium drive. And a unit for storing the software read by the recording medium drive in the memory unit and displaying an image on the display unit using the software stored in the memory unit. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the software recorded on the recording medium comprises video graphic data and a script. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the memory unit is a memory module including a plurality of volatile memories. 4. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium reproduced by the recording medium drive is an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk. Machine. 5. A display unit for displaying an image, a recording medium drive for reading out a recording medium on which software consisting of an image graphic data used for image display on the display unit and a script is read, and a plurality of volatile memories. And a memory module that stores software read by the recording medium drive, wherein the recording medium drive reads the software recorded in the recording medium when displaying an image on the display unit. A game machine characterized by using the software stored in the memory module and using the software stored in the memory module. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the recording medium is a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.