JP2003038713A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce load applied to a game control means by performing the determination of the performance of a dramatization independently from the control of the advancing of a game, and at the same time, increase the amusement of the game by performing a new dramatization. SOLUTION: A control circuit is constituted by dividing the control circuit into a control circuit (game controlling means) which controls the advancing of the game, and a control circuit (performance controlling means) which controls the performance of the dramatization. The game controlling means transmits a command indicating a result for which whether a winning is generated or not is internally drawn in advance to the performance controlling means. The determination for a performance to be performed, is performed by the performance controlling means based on the command. The performances which are performed by the performance controlling means are a one-game performance which is completed in the period of one game, and a performance for a plurality of games which is intermittently performed by one stage per game, and is completed in the periods of the plurality of games. Whether respective stages of the performance for the plurality of games are performed or not is determined for each game.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly to control of execution of effects.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a slot machine is provided with a variable display device having a plurality of reels having a plurality of kinds of symbols drawn on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and a valuable value is set according to a display mode when rotation of each reel is stopped. It is to pay out medals. Further, according to the display mode when the rotation of the reel is stopped, it is possible to shift to a game state advantageous to the player.

In other words, it can be said that the advantages and disadvantages in the progress of the game are determined by the display mode appearing on the variable display device, but the display mode with payout of medals and transition to an advantageous game state (hereinafter, prize mode). Is usually only allowed if you have won an internal lottery in advance. Further, the internal lottery is performed for each of a plurality of types of winning modes, but an advantageous game proceeding method varies depending on which mode the winning is won.

Therefore, conventionally, the player is informed of the result of the internal lottery by means of effects such as light, sound and images. Such an effect is generally performed for each game, but as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-58025, the slot machine is adapted to perform the effect over a plurality of games. Is also proposed. In recent years, the contents of the effects on the slot machine, such as the effects over a plurality of games, tend to be complicated.

Therefore, in recent slot machines, a control circuit (production control means) for controlling a production device (lamps, speakers, liquid crystal display, etc.) for performing production by light, sound, image and the like is provided. , There is also one configured separately from a control circuit (game control means) for controlling the progress of the game.

[0006]

However, in the conventional slot machine, the effect control means only controls the effect device, and whether or not the effect is effected and what kind of effect is effected. It was decided by the game control means. In recent years, not only the contents of the effects have become complicated, but also the types of effects tend to increase, so there is the problem that the processing load on the game control means increases with the processing related to determining such effects. It was

Further, in the slot machine described in the above publication, an effect is executed over a plurality of games. However, when it is decided to execute this effect in any of the games, a predetermined pattern is given. The production of was only performed in stages for each game. In this case, the production period was the same as when it was simply lengthened, and it lacked the novelty as a variation of production. For this reason, in the production as in the slot machine described in the above publication, it has not been possible to sufficiently improve the interest of the game.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine in which the load on the game control means is reduced by determining the execution of the effect independently of the control of the progress of the game.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a slot machine that improves the enjoyment of a game by producing a novel effect.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the slot machine of the present invention makes it possible to start a game by setting the number of bets for one game. One game is ended by deriving and displaying, and in a slot machine in which a predetermined prize can be generated according to the display result of the variable display device, it is determined in advance whether or not the prize is allowed to be generated. A decision means, a game control means for controlling the progress of the game and transmitting a pre-determined command indicating the decision result of the pre-determined means, and a pre-determined command transmitted from the game control means, and receiving the pre-determined command. And a production control means for causing the production means to execute the production based on the command, and the production performed by the production control means is one game period. Wherein 1 game presentation and executed in, to include a plurality game presentation to be executed over a period of several games.

In the above slot machine, the effect control means not only controls the execution of the effect, but also determines what kind of effect is to be executed. Therefore, the processing load on the game control means can be reduced. Further, the effects that the effect control means causes the effect means to perform include one game effect and a plurality of game effects, and there are many variations. Therefore, the interest of the game can be improved.

In the above slot machine, it is preferable that the game control means performs a predetermined transmission delay process when transmitting the predetermined command to the effect control means.

The pre-determination by the pre-determination means is normally made when the player performs a game start operation, but at this timing, the variable display of the identification information on the variable display device is also started. By performing the transmission delay process for the pre-determined command, there will be a timing shift between the effect executed on the effect control board side and the variable display of the identification information, so that the timing of the variable stop operation by the player may vary depending on the effect. It can be prevented.

In the above slot machine, the game control means may convert the pre-determined command into a content different from a result determined by the pre-determined means with a predetermined probability and transmit the content to the effect control means. preferable.

In this case, the determination result of the predetermination means itself is not output to the outside of the game control means,
It is possible to prevent the result of the determination by the pre-determination means from being captured from the outside and to prevent fraud in the game.

In the above slot machine, the game control means may transmit the predetermined command to the effect control means in each game.

In this case, since the effect control means can receive the pre-determined command corresponding to each game, it is possible to determine the effect to be executed according to the pre-determined result of each game.

In the above slot machine, the effect control means has a unique random number generation function independent of the pre-determination means and the game control means, and a random number value generated using the random number generation function. The execution of the one game effect and the execution of the plurality of games may be determined according to the pre-determined command received from the game control means.

In this case, since the effect control means can independently generate the random number for determining the effect, the processing load is not imposed on the game control means.

In the above slot machine, the one game effect can be completed within one game period to show the final result of the effect.

[0021] By one game production of such contents,
It is possible to show the result of the effect (for example, information regarding the result of the determination by the pre-determination means) to the player in an easy-to-understand manner.

In the above slot machine, the multi-game effect may be intermittently executed in each game. In addition, the multi-game effect has a plurality of stages divided corresponding to each game, and the second and subsequent stages of the stage show continuations of the previous stage stage. May be. In the case of having such a plurality of stages, an effect showing each stage as a series of series is configured.

Since a plurality of game effects are not continuously performed and are intermittently executed in each game, it is possible to prevent the player from getting bored with the effects for a long time. Further, by showing the production of each stage of the multiple game production as a series of series, the interest of the game can be improved.

Here, the effect control means may determine, for each game, whether or not to execute the effect of each stage of the plurality of game effects.

In this case, the effect control means determines in each game whether to continue the multi-game effect or to stop the multi-game effect on the way. That is, since the multiple game effects may be executed to the end or may be stopped midway, there are many variations of the effects, and the enjoyment of the game can be improved.

The slot machine may further include game state transition means for transitioning the game state to a special game state advantageous to the player when a predetermined special prize is generated. In this case, the plurality of game effects may show in the final result that the pre-determination means allows the special winning.

The multi-game effect is performed for a longer period than the one-game effect. In this case, it is possible to set the effect time until the final notification that the special winning is allowed to occur, and to maintain the player's expectation for a long time. As a result, the enjoyment of the game can be improved.

[0028]

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

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the overall structure of the slot machine according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view showing an internal structure visually recognized with the front door of the slot machine shown in FIG. 1 being opened. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure on the back side of the front door of the slot machine of FIG. The front door of the slot machine 1 can be brought into an open state by inserting a key into the locking device 19 (FIG. 1) and rotating it clockwise.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a variable display device 2 is provided on the upper front side of the slot machine 1. Inside the variable display device 2, a reel unit 3 including three reels 3L, 3C and 3R is provided. The reels 3L, 3C, 3R are rotated / stopped by driving the reel motors 3ML, 3MC, 3MR, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4, "colorless 7", "colored 7", "BAR", "JAC", "watermelon", and "cherry" are provided on the outer peripheral portions of the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R, respectively. , "Bell" are drawn in a predetermined order. The symbols drawn on the outer peripheral portions of the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R are displayed in the upper, middle, and lower three rows on the variable display device 2.
Further, in the reel unit 3, the reels 3L, 3C, 3
For each R, reel sensors 3SL, 3SC, 3SR for detecting the reference position thereof and a reel lamp 3LP for irradiating light from the rear surface are provided.

Various display units are provided around the variable display device 2. Below the variable display device 2, a game number display section 21, a credit display section 22, and a payout display section 23 are provided. The game number display unit 21 is composed of a game number display unit 51 which is a 7-segment display unit, and displays the value of a counter for counting the number of games and the number of winning prizes at the time of a big bonus or a regular bonus described later.

The credit display section 22 is composed of a credit display 52 which is a 7-segment display, and displays the number of credits accumulated as data according to the number of inserted medals and the number of paid-out medals, as described later.
The payout display unit 23 is composed of a payout display 53 which is a 7-segment display and displays the number of medals to be paid out when a winning is achieved.

On the left side of the variable display device 2, there are provided a one bet display section 24, two bet display sections 25 and 26, and three bet display sections 27 and 28. The one-, two-, and three-bet display units 24 to 28 respectively correspond to the lines activated in accordance with the bet number (hereinafter referred to as activated lines),
By turning on the two- and three-bet betting lamps 54 to 58, the effective line in each game is shown to the player. 1
The one-, two-, and three-bet betting display sections 24-28 will be described later when the one-, two-, and three-bet betting lamps 54-58 are in a blinking state when there is a prize for the winning combination described later. The effective line that won the winning role is shown to the player.

On the right side of the variable display device 2, a closing instruction display section 29, a start display section 30, and a weight display section 31.
, Replay display unit 32, and game over display unit 33
And are provided. The insertion instruction display unit 29 indicates that the medals can be inserted by turning on the insertion instruction lamp 59. The start display section 30 indicates that the start lamp 60 is in a lighting state, that is, the start is possible, that is, the operation of the start lever 11 can be accepted.
The weight display unit 31 indicates that a weight, which will be described later, is applied by turning on the weight lamp 61. The replay display section 32 indicates that the replay prize described later has been given by turning on the replay lamp 62. The game over display portion 33 displays the game over lamp 63 in a lighting state, so that the slot machine 1
Indicates that was stopped.

On the upper side of the variable display device 2, there is provided a liquid crystal display 4 as a production means. The liquid crystal display 4 is
Images for various effects according to the game state are displayed. The effect image is composed of, for example, a series of moving images, and depending on the process of the effect and the final screen, it is announced that the internal lottery described below has been won or there is a possibility (the internal lottery A notification that the probability of winning is 100%) or a notice (a notification that the internal lottery may have been won) is given.

Further, on the horizontal surface of the trapezoidal portion provided below the variable display device 2, the medal slot 13 and the one BE.
A T button 14, a MAXBET button 15, and a settlement button 16 are provided. The BET button lamps 70a, 70b which are lit when the bet number can be set from the credits (maximum 50) accumulated as data are displayed on the 1-sheet BET button 14 and the MAX BET button 15, respectively.
(See FIG. 5) is arranged inside.

The player inserts medals into the medal slot 13 from here, and when the insertion of the medal is detected by the inserted medal sensor 44 while the insertion instruction display unit 29 is lit, the bet number is determined. Is set, or credit is accumulated as data. The 1-sheet BET button 14 and the MAX-BET button 15 are buttons that the player operates when setting the bet number (1 and 3 respectively) from the credits accumulated as data, and it has been operated by the player 1 When detected by the bet BET switch 45 (see FIG. 5) or the MAX BET switch 46 (see FIG. 5), the bet amount is set from the credit.
The payment button 16 is a button for instructing the payout of credits, and when an operation is detected by the payment switch 47 (see FIG. 5), medals corresponding to the credits accumulated as data are paid out.

A start lever 11 and stop buttons 12L, 12C and 12R are provided on the vertical surface of the trapezoidal portion. In addition, stop buttons 12L, 12C, 12
The panel covering R is applied as the bonus notification unit 36.

The start lever 11 is operated by the player when starting the game, and when the operation is detected by the start switch 41 (see FIG. 5), the reel motors 3ML, 3MC, 3MR start driving. , Reel 3
L, 3C, and 3R start rotating. Stop button 12L, 1
2C and 12R are buttons that the player operates to stop the rotation of the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R at desired timings, and the operation is a stop switch 42L,
42C and 42R (see FIG. 5), the reel 3
The rotation of L, 3C and 3R is stopped.

The fact that the stop buttons 12L, 12C, 12R can be operated means that the operation effective lamps 63L, 63C, 63R (see FIG. 5) provided therein are turned on, so that the player Shown in. The bonus notification part 36 notifies the player that the bonus notification lamp 66 (see FIG. 5) is turned on, so that a big bonus winning flag or a regular bonus winning flag described later is set with a probability of 100%. To do. Further, on the right side of the stop button 12L, there is provided a medal clogging elimination button 18 which mechanically vibrates the slot machine 1 when a medal is clogged.

A medal payout opening 71 and a medal storage tray 72 are provided on the lower front surface of the slot machine 1. The medal payout opening 71 is for ejecting the medals paid out by the hopper 80 to the outside. The hopper 80 is composed of a hopper motor 82 for paying out medals and a payout sensor 81 for detecting payout of medals. Medal storage plate 72
Is for storing the paid out medals. The front panel on the medal storage tray 72 is illuminated with the light emitted by the fluorescent lamp 6 (see FIG. 5) installed inside. Inside the overflow tank 95 for storing the medals overflowing from the hopper 80, a full tank sensor 90 for detecting that the stored medals are full.
Is provided.

Speakers 7U, 7L, and 7R are provided on the lower front surface side and the upper left front surface of the slot machine 1, respectively, as rendering means. Speakers 7U, 7
L and 7R output sound effects at the time of winning a prize, a big bonus, and a regular bonus, and output an alarm sound at the time of abnormality, and also output various effect sounds according to the gaming state.

Further, on the front side of the slot machine 1,
The game effect display sections 5A to 5 that perform an effect by light by emitting light from the game effect lamps 75A to 75M as effect means so as to surround the variable display device 2 and the liquid crystal display 4.
M is provided. The game effect display portions 5A to 5M are to perform an effect by light in various patterns according to the progress of the game. The emission colors of the game effect display portions 5A to 5M may be monochromatic or plural colors.

In addition, inside the slot machine 1, a setting switch 9 for setting a winning probability for an internal lottery described later.
1, a setting key switch 92 that allows the setting switch 91 to be operated by an unlocking operation, an internal state (RAM 112 (see FIG. 6).
Second reset switch 93 for resetting) and main switch 9 for switching ON / OFF of the power source
A power supply unit 9 comprising 4 is provided. Further, the first reset switch 48 having the same function as the second reset switch 93 is provided at a position corresponding to the locking device 19 on the rear side of the front door.

As a control board for controlling the above-mentioned respective parts, a power supply board 100 arranged on the inner lower side, a game control board 101 arranged on the inner upper side, a reel relay board 103,
Reel lamp relay board 104 and external output board 105,
In addition, an effect control board 102 arranged behind the front door is provided. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the slot machine 1 including the control boards 100 to 105. FIG. 6 is a game control board 101 and an effect control board 1.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing circuit components and signal wirings mounted on 02.

The power supply board 100 transforms an external power supply voltage of AC 100 V and supplies operating power to the game control board 101 and other parts of the slot machine 1. In addition, in FIG. 5, although it is connected only to the game control board 101 and the hopper 80, electric power is also supplied to other parts. Further, the power supply board 100 is connected with a setting switch 91, a setting key switch 92, a second reset switch 93, and a main switch 94, and sends detection signals of these switches to the game control board 101.

The game control board 101 is a slot machine 1
Is a control board on the main side for controlling the overall flow of the game in CPU 111, RAM 112, ROM 1
A control unit 110 including a 1-chip microcomputer including an I / O port 114 and an I / O port 114 is mounted. Further, the random number generation circuit 115, the sampling circuit 116, the buffer circuit 117, the switch circuit 118, the motor circuit 1
19 other circuits are installed.

The CPU 111 has a time counting function and a timer interrupt function, executes a program (described later) stored in the ROM 113, performs processing relating to the progress of the game, and directly controls each part of the control circuit in the slot machine 1. Or indirectly control. The RAM 112 is the CPU 111
Is used as a work area when the program is executed, and various winning flags, various game state flags, or various counter value storage areas to be described later are provided. The ROM 113 stores programs executed by the CPU 111 and fixed data. I / O port 114
Inputs and outputs control signals to and from each circuit connected to the game control board 101.

The random number generating circuit 115 is composed of a counter that counts at a predetermined time interval (for example, 2 milliseconds), and the sampling circuit 116 is a random number generating circuit 11.
Get the number that 5 is occurring. The CPU 111 sends an instruction to the sampling circuit 116 according to the processing to obtain the numerical value indicated by the random number generation circuit 115 as a random number (hereinafter, this function is referred to as a hardware random number function). The CPU 111 transmits various commands to be described later to the effect control board 102 via the I / O port 114 and the buffer circuit 117. The game control board 10
The information is sent from 1 to the effect control board 102 in only one direction, and the information is not sent from the effect control board 102 to the game control board 101.

The game control board 101 is connected with a single BET switch 45, a MAXBET switch 46, a start switch 41, stop switches 42L, 42C, 42R, a settlement switch 47, a first reset switch 48, and an inserted medal sensor 44. And the detection signals of these switches / sensors are input. Further, via the reel relay board 103, the reel sensors 3SL, 3SC, 3SR
Detection signal is input. According to the detection signals of these switches / sensors input via the I / O port 114 or the detection signals of various switches input via the power supply board 100 as described above, the CPU 111 on the game control board 101, It is processing.

On the game control board 101, the flow path switching solenoid 49, the game number display 51, the credit display 52, the payout display 53, the insertion instruction lamp 59, the one bet lamp 54, and the two bet lamp 55 are also provided. 5,
6, 3 betting ramps 57, 58, game over ramp 63, start ramp 60, replay ramp 62, BE
T button lamps 70a, 70b, operation effective lamp 63
L, 63C, 63R are connected, and CPU111
Controls these operations according to the progress of the game. Further, the game control board 101, the reel relay board 1
The reel motors 3ML, 3MC, and 3MR are connected via 03, and the CPU 111 performs pull-in control described later via the motor circuit 119 and the reel relay board 103.

The production control board 102 is the slot machine 1.
Is a control board on the sub side that controls execution of effects in the CPU 121, the RAM 122, the ROM 123, and the I.
A control unit 120 including a 1-chip microcomputer including an / O port 124 is mounted. Further, the random number generation circuit 125 and the sampling circuit 126 are mounted, and the CPU 121 obtains the value counted by the random number generation circuit 125 by the sampling circuit 126, and the hardware random number function similar to that of the game control board 101. Is formed.

The CPU 121 executes a program (which will be described later) stored in the ROM 123 to perform a process related to execution of an effect, and at the same time controls each circuit in the effect control board 102 and each circuit connected thereto. Execution of the effect is performed based on the command received from the game control board 101 via the buffer circuit 127 and the I / O port 124. In particular, the announcement effect and the announcement effect are performed based on the winning situation notification command and the acquired random number by referring to the announcement effect determination table or the announcement effect determination table.

The RAM 122 is used as a work area when the CPU 121 executes a program, for example, for temporarily storing a winning situation notification command described later.
The ROM 123 stores programs executed by the CPU 121 and fixed data such as a notification effect determination table and a notice effect determination table. I / O port 12
4 inputs and outputs a control signal with each circuit connected to the effect control board 102.

On the effect control board 102, game effect lamps 75A to 75M, a liquid crystal display 4, speakers 7L and 7R,
7U, a fluorescent lamp 6, a weight lamp 61, a bonus notification lamp 66 are connected, and in order to drive these, a speaker drive circuit 131, a display drive circuit 132, a lamp drive circuit 133 and the like are provided. Further, the reel lamp 3LP is connected via the reel lamp relay board 104. The control unit of the effect control board 102 controls each of these units to perform an effect.

The reel relay board 103 is a game control board 1
01 and the external output board 105 and the reel unit 3 are relayed. A full tank sensor 90 is also connected to the reel relay board 103, and a detection signal thereof is input. The reel lamp relay board 104 relays between the effect control board 102 and the reel unit 3. The external output board 105 is connected to an external device such as a hall management computer, and a big bonus mid signal, a regular bonus mid signal, a reel control signal, and a stop input from the game control board 101 via the reel relay board 103. The switch signal, the medal IN signal, and the medal OUT signal are output to the external device.

Next, the internal lottery will be described. The internal lottery is to determine in advance whether or not to win a prize for each role, which will be described later. The random number obtained by using the hardware random number function, the setting by the setting switch 91, the bet number set by the player, And ROM1 based on the current game state
Refer to the winning judgment table prepared in 13
By U111, the means for such a pre-determination is comprised. When the internal lottery is won, the winning flag corresponding to the winning combination is the RAM of the game control board 101.
It is set to 112. The winning flag is stored in, for example, one word (16 bits) in which the type of winning combination is determined for each bit.

Depending on the result of the above internal lottery, a big bonus winning flag, a regular bonus winning flag, a small winning combination flag (there are a plurality depending on the type of small winning combination),
Replay winning flag, JA in the big bonus
RAM in the game control board 101: CIN winning flag (flag set at substantially the same position as the replay winning flag), JAC winning flag (flag set at substantially the same position as the replay flag) in the regular bonus
It is set to 112. Only one winning flag is newly set in one game, but only the big bonus winning flag and the regular bonus winning flag are carried over to the subsequent games until the actual winning.

Based on the result of this internal lottery, the RAM 11
On the basis of the information regarding the various winning flags set to 2, the CPU 111 generates a winning status notification command with a predetermined header, and sends the winning status notification command from the game control board 101 to the effect control board 102 for each game. However, in order to prevent the result of the internal lottery from being completely output to the outside, the content of the winning situation notification command is converted and transmitted to the effect control board 102 in a predetermined case. The conversion of the contents of the winning status notification command will be described later in detail.

When the various winning flags described above are set in the RAM 112, it is possible to generate a winning combination or a JACIN during a big bonus. That is, when the reels 3L, 3C, 3R are stopped,
It is possible to win a winning symbol on the activated line set according to the number of bets on the variable display device 2. At the time of winning the prize, medals are paid out, and the game state is changed in accordance with the winning. There are three game states controlled by the game control board 101: a normal game state, a big bonus, and a regular bonus. Hereinafter, these "winning roles" that are determined as winning will be described.

On the active line corresponding to the number of bets, for example, "B
When three "AR" are prepared, the game state shifts to the regular bonus. The regular bonus is a game called a regular bonus game a predetermined number of times (for example, 12
It ends by performing only once or winning a predetermined number of times (for example, eight times) (“JAC” is aligned on the activated line). The game control board 101 is provided with a counter for counting the number of regular bonus games and the number of winnings thereof. It should be noted that the state where the regular bonus game has been made, that is, the gaming state in which the regular bonus game is provided is called the first special gaming state,
A regular bonus flag is set in the RAM 112 in the game control board 101.

When, for example, three "colored 7" or three "colorless 7" are lined up on the activated line corresponding to the bet number, the game state shifts to the big bonus. In the big bonus, a game called a small winning game can be played at a maximum of 30 games. In this small role game, there is a relatively high probability that "JAC" will be on the activated line (JA
CIN) and JACIN will provide the regular bonus mentioned above (up to 3 times).

The big bonus ends when 30 small winning games are finished or when the regular bonus based on the third JACIN is finished. The game control board 101 is provided with a counter for counting the number of small winning games, the number of JACINs, the number of regular bonus games and the number of winnings thereof, and the number of medals acquired during the big bonus. The state where the big bonus is transferred is called the second special game state, and the big bonus medium flag is set in the RAM 112 in the game control board 101.

In addition, games other than the regular bonus game (including the case of being offered during the big bonus),
If "Watermelon", "Cherry" or "Bell" are available, a small prize will be awarded. These small wins will not be duplicated in the internal lottery. The winning probability of the small win when the "watermelon" is complete among the small wins is the lowest, which is 1/30. The winning probability of other small wins is 1/10.

Further, except for the small winning combination game and the regular bonus game provided during the big bonus period, when "JAC" are aligned on the activated line, a replay prize is awarded. "Replay" winning probability is 1/7
Is.

The big bonus winning flag and the regular bonus winning flag are not set during the big bonus or the regular bonus. Also, during regular bonus (JAC during big bonus)
The winning combination winning flag (including the case of IN) (JAC
The winning flag is not included) is not set.

In the case where the winning combination described above has been won, the number of medals corresponding to each winning combination is paid out (except when the number of credits reaches 50, except in the case of a replay winning combination). , The number of credits according to the role is accumulated as data, and in this case also the valuable value is paid out in the same manner as the medal). Further, the number of medals to be paid out is 15 in all, except that there are 8 small wins with "watermelon" and 4 small wins with "cherry".

Next, the conversion of the contents of the winning status notification command will be described. The winning status notification command is converted according to the status of various winning flags and the value of the acquired random number by referring to the winning status notification command conversion table provided in the ROM 113 of the game control board 101. Figure 7 shows R
It is a figure which shows the winning condition notification command conversion table provided in OM113.

As a random number for converting the winning status notification command according to these winning status notification command conversion tables, the CPU 111 uses two random numbers for converting the winning status notification command (hereinafter referred to as first and second random numbers). get. The random number here is performed using a software random number function different from the above hardware random number function. This software random number function is generated by a timer interrupt generated in the CPU 111, and a random number register for updating the random number for each application is provided. Also,
The range of random numbers is defined for each application.

More specifically, a timer interrupt occurs in the CPU 111 at a cycle of 1.9 milliseconds, for example.
Each time this timer interrupt occurs, the value of each random number register is incremented by 1 and updated. If the upper limit of the range of random numbers is reached, the lower limit is updated next. C
When performing processing to obtain any random number using the software random number function, the PU 111 generates a random number by obtaining the random number stored in the random number register of the random number at that time. I am supposed to.

The range of the value of the first random number is, for example, 1
˜223, and can take 223 values. The range of the value of the second random number is 1 to 227, and can take 227 values. The CPU 111 uses the first and second random numbers to
A total of 223 × 227 = 50621 random numbers can be acquired. Here, the number of values that the first and second random numbers can take is a condition that they are relatively prime, and both are prime numbers. Other numbers may be used as long as they satisfy.

Here, two random numbers, a first random number and a second random number, are provided,
The reason why the number of primes close to the maximum value of 256 that can be acquired by using the software random number function is applied is that the value of the random number acquired by using the software random number function for converting the winning situation notification command is This is because the period of synchronization with the value of the random number obtained by using the software random number function for other purposes (not relevant to the present invention, omitted) is long and the range of the random number is large.

In the normal gaming state, if the value of the random number thus obtained is A, B, C, D or E, a process for converting the winning situation notification command is performed. (However, A, B, C, D, and E are predetermined specific numbers, respectively). Further, at the time of the big bonus (only in the small winning game), when the value of the acquired random number is E, the process for converting the winning situation notification command is performed, and the value of the acquired random number is A, B. , C, D, the process for converting the winning status notification command is not performed. During the regular bonus (including the regular bonus in the big bonus), the process for converting the winning situation notification command is not performed, and it is 100% in the production control board 102 that all winning combinations are lost.
The winning situation notification command that always indicates that all the winning roles are lost so that it cannot be specified with the probability of
02 will be transmitted.

That is, referring to the winning situation notification command conversion table of FIG. 7, when the big bonus or the regular bonus is won (which can only be in the normal gaming state), the contents of the winning situation notification command are displayed. There is no conversion. Although not shown in the figure, when the gaming state is the regular bonus, it is always converted into a winning situation notification command indicating that all winning combinations are lost.

In the winning situation notification command indicating that the big bonus and the regular bonus have been lost (only this kind of thing can happen during the big bonus), the following is performed according to the winning situation of the small role and the value of the acquired random number. The winning status notification command is converted as follows. If all the small wins are missing, the contents of the winning status notification command are not converted.

If the value of the random number is A in the normal game state,
When the watermelon is elected, the big bonus and the command indicating that the watermelon is elected, when the bell is elected, the command indicating that the big bonus and the bell are elected, and when the cherry is elected, the big bonus and the cherry are elected When the replay is won, it is converted into a big bonus and a command indicating that the replay is won.

If the value of the random number is B in the normal game state,
When the watermelon is elected, the regular bonus and the command indicating that the watermelon is elected, when the bell is elected, the regular bonus and the command indicating that the bell is elected, and when the cherry is elected, the regular bonus and the cherry are elected When the replay is won, it is converted into a regular bonus command and a command indicating that the replay is won.

If the value of the random number is C in the normal game state,
Replay with a command that indicates that you have won the big bonus when the watermelon wins, a command that indicates that you win the bell when you win the bell, and a command that indicates that you win the cherry when you win the cherry. At the time of winning, is converted into a command indicating that the player has won the replay. Here, for example, converting to a command indicating that the bell is won when the bell is won means that the contents of the winning status notification command do not change before and after the conversion process, but the conversion process itself is performed. I mean.

If the value of the random number is D in the normal gaming state,
When the watermelon is elected, the command indicating that the regular bonus is won, when the bell is elected, the command indicating that the bell is elected, and when the cherry is elected, the command indicating that the cherry is elected is replayed. At the time of winning, is converted into a command indicating that the player has won the replay.

If the value of the random number is E in the normal gaming state or the big bonus, the command indicating that the watermelon is won when the watermelon is won and the command indicating that the bell is won when the bell is won In addition, in the command showing that all the roles are lost when the cherry is won,
When the replay is won, it is converted into a command indicating that the replay is won.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the probability that the winning situation conversion command will be converted into other contents according to the above winning situation notification command conversion table. FIG. 8A shows the probability in the normal gaming state, (B) shows a thing at the time of a big bonus. The value of the denominator in each column of this table is 50621, which is the same as the type of random number that can be acquired.

As shown in FIG. 8A, in the normal game state, the winning situation notification command generated based on the result of the internal lottery itself (without performing the conversion process) is a bonus. It indicates whether the player is missing, wins the big bonus, or wins the regular bonus. Also, as a small role, all the small roles are lost, a small role of watermelon is won, a small role of Bell is won, a small role of Cherry is won, or a replay is won.

Since the big bonus winning flag and the regular bonus winning flag can be carried over, a winning situation notification indicating that either the big bonus or the small role is won and the regular bonus or the small role is won It may be a command. The winning status notification command indicating that you have won the big bonus or the regular bonus is not converted into the winning status notification command of other contents regardless of the winning status of the small role. Absent. In the winning status notification command indicating that the bonus is missing, the winning status notification command indicating that all the small wins are missing is not converted into a winning status notification command having any other content.

The winning status notification command indicating that the bonus is missed and indicating that the watermelon has won the small winning combination is 1/100 depending on the random number obtained as described above.
With a probability of 50621, it is converted into a winning situation notification command indicating that the big bonus has been won and that all small wins have been lost. With a probability of 1/50621, it is converted into a winning status notification command indicating that a big bonus has been won and a watermelon small win has been won. Furthermore, 1/50
With a probability of 621, the regular bonus is won, and it is converted into a winning situation notification command indicating that all the small wins have been lost. With a probability of 1/50621, it is converted into a winning status notification command indicating that the regular bonus is won and the watermelon small win is won. The remaining 5061
With the probability of 7/50621, it is not converted into the winning status notification command of other contents.

The winning status notification command indicating that the bonus is missed and that Bell is winning the small winning combination is 1/50621 in accordance with the random number obtained as described above.
It is converted into a winning status notification command indicating that the player has won the big bonus and has won the small win of Bell with the probability of. With a probability of 1/50621, it is converted into a winning status notification command indicating that the regular bonus is won and the small win of Bell is won. The rest of 50619/506
With a probability of 21, it is not converted into a winning status notification command of other contents.

The winning status notification command indicating that the bonus is missed and that the cherry is won for the small winning combination is 1/50 according to the random number obtained as described above.
With a probability of 621, the command is converted into a winning situation notification command indicating that the player has won the big bonus and won the small winning combination of cherry. With a probability of 1/50621, it is converted into a winning status notification command indicating that the regular bonus has been won and the small winning combination of cherry has been won. 1/506
With a probability of 21, it is converted into a winning situation notification command indicating that all bonuses and small wins have been lost. 50 remaining
With the probability of 618/50621, it is not converted into the winning status notification command of other contents.

The winning situation notification command indicating that the bonus is missed and indicating the replay winning is that the big bonus is won with a probability of 1/50621 according to the random number obtained as described above, and the replay is won. It is converted into a winning status notification command indicating that the game is being done. 1/5
With a probability of 0621, it is converted into a winning situation notification command indicating that the regular bonus is won and the replay is won. The remaining probability of 50619/50621 is not converted into the winning status notification command of other contents.

Here, it is highly probable that the winning status notification command indicating the winning of the watermelon small win will be converted into the winning status notification command of other contents. This is because the probability of winning a small win of a watermelon is lower than the winning probabilities of other small wins, and the probability that a winning status notification command having a content different from the originally set status of the winning flag is transmitted to the production control board 102. This is because it can be lowered as a whole. Therefore, if there is another small win whose winning probability is lower than that of the watermelon small win, the probability that it will be converted into a winning status notification command of other contents when the small win is won can be increased.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, at the time of the big bonus, all the winning condition notification commands generated based on the result of the internal lottery itself (without performing the conversion process) are The winning role is either lost, winning the watermelon small win, winning the bell small win, winning the cherry small win, or winning the JACIN.
Of these, all winning roles, winning the watermelon minor winning role, winning the bell minor winning role, or winning status notification command indicating JACIN winning will not be converted to other winning status notification command commands. .

In accordance with the winning status notification command indicating that the cherry is won, the random number obtained as described above,
With a probability of 1/50621, it is converted into a winning situation notification command indicating that all winning combinations have been lost. The remaining 50620
With a probability of / 50621, it is not converted into a winning status notification command of other contents.

The winning status notification command is issued at substantially the timing when the internal lottery is performed, that is, the start lever 1
It is transmitted from the game control board 101 to the effect control board 102 at the timing when 1 is operated. On the side of the game control board 101, the reels 3L, 3C, 3R are started to rotate on the basis of the operation of the start lever 11. On the other hand, on the side of the effect control board 102, the effect is started based on the reception of the winning situation notification command. Therefore, if the winning situation notification command is transmitted at the same timing after the internal lottery, the rotation of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R and the progress of the effect will be synchronized, and the player may reel 3L, depending on the content of the effect. This will assist the stop operation of 3C and 3R, that is, the pressing operation.

Therefore, the CPU 11 of the game control board 101
1 uses a hardware random number function to extract a random number (delay processing random number) for delaying the transmission timing of the winning situation notification command, and a delay time table (random number value According to a table in which the time to delay the transmission of the command is stored in association with each other, the transmission of the winning situation notification command to the effect control board 102 is delayed by, for example, a random period in the range of 0.1 seconds to 0.8 seconds. I am letting you. As a result, the reels 3L, 3
Timing of rotation start of C, 3R, and effect control board 10
The start timing of the production controlled on the 2 side is randomly deviated, and the two are not synchronized.

Next, an effect performed on the effect control board 102 side will be described. CPU1 of production control board 102
21 is a speaker drive circuit 131 and a display drive circuit 132.
And the lamp driving circuit 133 to drive the speaker 7L,
7R, 7U outputs the sound, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 4, or the effect of light emitted by the game effect lamps 75A to 75M. In addition to the announcement that will be given at the time of winning the prize, the announcement effect that announces that you have won the regular bonus or the big bonus based on the notification command of the winning situation, the announcement effect that announces the possibility of winning There is.

In the slot machine 1, the notice effect and the notice effect include one game effect completed in one game period and three game effects completed intermittently in three game periods. Completion of the three-game production has the meaning of notifying that the big bonus or the regular bonus has been won. 3 game production,
Although it is divided into three, first, second, and third, whether to execute the effect of each stage is determined for each game,
It may end without completing to the end.

The ROM 123 of the effect control board 102 is C
An effect selection table (described later) for determining what kind of effect the PU 121 performs for each game (each time the winning situation notification command is received) is stored in advance. Further, in order to determine the effect to be executed according to the effect selection table, the CPU 121 uses the hardware random number function composed of the random number generation circuit 125 and the sampling circuit 126 to take a value in the range of 0 to 99 for effect selection. Is being extracted. Further, a RAM 122 is provided as an effect counter for counting how many stages of the three game effects have been executed.
It is formed by using.

FIG. 9 shows an effect selection table stored in the ROM 123. The production selection table is
What is applied differs depending on whether the value of the production counter is 0 or not, and whether or not the latest winning situation notification command received indicates winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus.

When the value of the effect counter is 0, that is, when no stage of the three game effects has been performed in the previous game or the process has been completed up to the third stage, the latest winning situation notification command is big. FIG. 9A shows an effect selection table applied when the bonus or the regular bonus is shown. As shown in the figure, if the value of the effect selection random number is 0 to 19, no effect is executed. Random effect selection random value is 2
If it is 0 to 34, the notice effect as one game effect is executed. If the value of the random number for effect selection is 35 to 39, the notification effect as one game effect is executed. If the value of the effect selection random number is 40 to 99, 3
It is assumed that the first stage of game production is executed.

FIG. 9B shows an effect selection table applied when the latest winning situation notification command does not indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus even if the value of the effect counter is 0. As shown,
If the value of the effect selection random number is 0 to 97, none of the effects is executed. If the value of the random number for effect selection is 98, the notice effect as one game effect is executed. If the value of the effect selection random number is 99, the first stage of the three-game effect is executed.

When the value of the effect counter is not 0, that is, when the first stage or the second stage of the three-game effect is executed in the previous game, the latest winning situation notification command indicates a big bonus or regular bonus. The effect selection table applied when the winning is shown is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, if the value of the effect selection random number is 0 to 39, none of the effects are executed. If the value of the effect selection random number is 40 to 99, the next stage of the 3 game effects is executed.

Further, FIG. 9D shows an effect selection table applied when the value of the effect counter is not 0 and the latest winning condition notification command does not indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus. As shown in the figure, if the value of the effect selection random number is 0 to 98, none of the effects is executed. The random number value for effect selection is 9
If it is 9, the next stage of the 3 game production is executed.

The execution time of the notice effect and the notice effect, which are one game effect, and the execution time of each stage of the three game effect are all 3.0 seconds or less. This is 4.1 seconds which is the minimum value of the time count of the 1-game timer (the timer which counts from the start of rotation of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R in each game) to the maximum value of the delay time of the winning situation notification command of 0 It is shorter than 3.3 seconds, which is less than 0.8 seconds. By setting such a length, all the stages of the announcement effect, the notice effect, and the three-game effect are completed within the period of one game, regardless of the game progressing method of the player. The three-game effect is temporarily interrupted when the first or second stage ends, and the second or third-stage effect is restarted during the next game period. The steps are intermittent.

The game operation in the slot machine 1 according to this embodiment will be described below. In the following description, the term "game" includes a series of steps from setting the bet number to rotating / stopping the reels 3L, 3C, 3R. Furthermore, reel 3
When some processing (for example, payout of medals or transition of gaming state) is performed after the rotation of L, 3C, and 3R is stopped, this is also included as the processing in one game.

FIG. 10 shows the CPU 1 of the game control board 101.
11 is a flowchart showing the processing for one game executed by 11. When the processing of one game is started, first, the initial processing is performed (step S1). If the game is normally in progress, nothing is done as the initial process.
That is, this initial process is to check the settings and restore the backed up information when the power is turned on or when the error is recovered.

Next, the 1-sheet BET button 14 or MAX
The bet number is set by operating the BET button 15 or by inserting a medal from the medal insertion slot 13, and by operating the start lever 11, a BET process for instructing the substantial start of the game is performed ( Step S2).

When the number of bets is set by the BET process and the start lever 11 is operated, a lottery process for deciding whether or not to allow the winning of each winning combination described above is carried out (step S3). Based on the lottery result in the lottery process, various winning flag commands are set in the RAM 112, and a winning situation notification command indicating a winning situation for each winning combination is sent to the effect control board 102. The details of the lottery process will be described later.

When the lottery process is completed, a reel fluctuation start process is next carried out (step S4). In the reel variation start processing, the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R start reels on the condition that a predetermined time (for example, 4.1 seconds) has elapsed since the start of rotation of the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R. Drive the motors 3ML, 3MC, 3MR to the left,
Start rotation of all the middle and right reels 3L, 3C, 3R. Thereby, the symbols are variably displayed on the variable display device 2. When the predetermined time has not elapsed since the start of rotation in the previous game, the start of rotation is awaited, and the weight display section 31 notifies the fact by turning on the weight lamp 61. The order of starting the rotation of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R may be changed according to the states of various flags set in the RAM 112. At the start of rotation, the reel stop timer and the one game timer for the next game are started.

Thereafter, reel fluctuation stop processing is performed (step S5). In the reel fluctuation stop processing, after a predetermined condition (detecting the reference position by the reel sensors 3SL, 3SC, 3SR after the rotation speed reaches a constant speed) is established from the start of rotation of the reel, the stop button 12L,
The operation of 12C and 12R is enabled, and the reel motors 3ML and 3M are operated by the player.
C and 3MR are stopped and the reels 3L, 3C and 3R are stopped from rotating. At this time, based on the various winning flags and the game state set in the RAM 112, the reel 3
The stop symbol is selected by the pull-in control that controls the drive stop of L, 3C, and 3R. Further, when the time measured by the reel stop timer has passed a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds), the drive of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R is forcibly stopped.

When the driving of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R is stopped, in the display mode at the time of stopping, any of the above-mentioned winning symbols is arranged on the activated line corresponding to the bet number set in the BET processing of step S2. A winning determination process for determining whether or not the winning is performed is performed (step S6). When it is determined in this winning determination process that one of the winning combinations has won, the game control board 101 performs various settings according to the type of winning and sends a winning information command to the effect control board 102. In addition, when the big bonus ends, a big bonus end command is sent to the effect control board 102. The details of the winning determination process will be described later.

When the prize determination process is completed, the payout process is performed, and the credit is increased by the number of medals to be paid out set in the prize determination process. However, when the number of credits accumulated as data reaches 50, the hopper motor 82 is driven to pay out the excess number of medals from the medal payout opening 71 (step S7). Then, the process for one game ends, and the process for the next game starts. If the number of medals to be paid out is not set in the winning determination process, no medal payout process is performed.

Next, the lottery process in step S3 described above will be described in detail. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing in detail the lottery process executed by the CPU 111 in step S3.

First, the sampling circuit 116 samples the random number generated by the random number generation circuit 115 and acquires it, and the value of the acquired random number is temporarily stored in the RAM 112 (step S101). Next, the start operation notification command indicating that the start lever 11 has been operated is RA
It is temporarily set in a predetermined area of M112 (step S10).
2). Then, set the start operation notification command,
It is transmitted from the I / O port 114 to the effect control board 102 (step S103).

Next, the random number temporarily stored in the RAM 112 at step S101, the probability setting by the setting switch 91, the bet number set at the BET processing at step S2, and the current gaming state (normal, big bonus, and regular bonus). The table is compared with the winning determination table corresponding to (middle) (step S104). Then, as a result, it is determined whether or not one of the winning combinations has been won (step S
105). When one of the winning combinations has been won, a winning flag corresponding to the winning combination is set in the RAM 112 (step S106), and the process proceeds to step S107. On the other hand, when none of the winning combinations has been won, the process directly proceeds to step S107.

In step S107, a winning situation notification command is generated according to the lottery result (no winning or each winning type), and is temporarily set in a predetermined area of the RAM 112. Then, after the set winning situation notification command is converted into a command having a content different from the original winning situation with a predetermined probability as described later, it is delayed by a random period and transmitted to the production control board 102 (step S10
8). Then, the lottery process ends.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing in detail the command transmission process of step S108. First, it is determined whether or not the command to be transmitted is a winning status notification command (step S201). If the command to be transmitted is the winning status notification command, it is determined whether the current gaming state is a regular bonus based on the state of the regular bonus flag set in the RAM 112 (step S202).
If it is during the regular bonus, it is converted into a winning situation notification command indicating that all the winning combinations are lost (step S203). Then, the process proceeds to step S208.

If the regular bonus is not in progress, the software random number function is used to obtain the above-mentioned first and second random numbers (step S204). And further R
Based on the big bonus flag set in AM112, it is checked whether it is in the normal gaming state or in the big bonus (step S205), and based on the check result and the value of the random number acquired in step S204,
It is determined whether or not the conversion of the winning status notification command should be performed (step S206). That is, in the normal game state, the command is converted when the random number value is A, B, C, D, E, and when the big bonus is generated, the command is converted when the random number value is E. It will be done.

When the winning status notification command should be converted, the winning status notification command conversion table shown in FIG. 7 is referred to according to the value of the random number obtained in step S204, and the winning status set in the RAM 112 is obtained according to the reference result. Convert the status notification command (step S207),
Then, the process proceeds to step S208. If the conversion of the winning status notification command is not performed, step S208 is directly performed.
Go to processing.

In step S208, a random number for delay processing is extracted using the hardware random number function. Further, the delay time corresponding to the extracted random number is read from the delay time table, and the processing wait state is set for the read delay time (step S209). Then, after the delay time ends, R
The winning status notification command set in AM112
It is transmitted from the I / O port 114 to the effect control board 102 (step S210). Then, the command transmission process is ended, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

If the command to be transmitted in step S201 is not the winning status notification command,
The command to be transmitted is transmitted from the I / O port 114 to the effect control board 102 (step S211).
Then, the command transmission process is terminated and the process returns to the process of FIG.

In repeating the above game,
The CPU 111 of the game control board 101 shifts the game state between the normal game state, the regular bonus and the big bonus, and sends a command to the effect control board 102 according to the progress of the game. On the other hand, the CPU 121 of the effect control board 102 performs an effect by its own processing based on the command received from the game control board 101.

FIG. 13 shows the CPU 1 of the effect control board 102.
21 is a flowchart showing a command receiving process executed by 21. On the production control board 102 side, the game control board 10
It is determined whether or not the reception of the command sent from 1 has been received (step S301). Until the command is received, the process of step S301 is repeated, and the reception of the command is on standby.

When any command is received from the game control board 101, it is determined what kind of command is received (step S302). If the received command type is the winning information command sent when winning any one of the winning combinations, the winning process described below is executed (step S303). After the winning process is completed, the process returns to step S301.

The type of command received is step S20.
If it is the winning status notification command sent in 6,
The winning status notification command is saved in the RAM 122.
Here, up to three winning status notification commands are saved, so if three are already saved, the oldest one (however, the internal status notification command indicating that the bonus has been won and the small win has not been won) Is stored in the RAM 122 and the newly received winning situation notification command does not indicate that the bonus is won, it is overwritten and saved in the second oldest one (step S30).
4). Then, based on the three winning situation notification commands stored in the RAM 122, an effect for notifying or notifying the bonus winning is executed (step S30).
5). This effect process will be described later. When the effect is completed, the process returns to step S301.

If the type of the received command is another command, a process corresponding to the type of each command (details are omitted because it is not related to the present invention) is executed (step S306). After that, step S301
Return to processing.

14 to 16 are flow charts showing the effect process of step S305 in detail. In the effect process, first, a hardware random number function on the effect control board 102 side is used to obtain any value in the range of 0 to 99 as the effect selection random number (step S401). next,
It is determined whether the latest one of the winning situation notification commands stored in the RAM 122 in step S304 indicates that the big bonus or the regular bonus is won (step S402).

When the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus is shown, it is determined whether or not the value of the effect counter is 1 (step S403). If the value of the effect counter is 1, the effect lottery is performed by referring to the effect selection table of FIG. 9C according to the value of the effect selection random number acquired in step S401 (step S404).
As a result of the effect lottery, it is determined whether or not the execution of the three game effects has been won (step S405).

When the player wins the execution of the three game effects,
The speaker drive circuit 131, the display drive circuit 132, and the lamp drive circuit 133 are controlled, and the speakers 7L, 7R, and 7U are controlled.
To output sound, display an image on the liquid crystal display 4,
By causing the game effect lamps 75A to 75M to emit light, the second stage of the three-game effect is executed (step S4).
06). When the execution of the second stage of the three-game production ends,
The value of the effect counter is incremented to 2 (step S407). Then, the effect process is ended, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

When the value of the effect counter is not 1 in the determination of step S403, it is further determined whether the value of the effect counter is 2 (step S40).
8). If the value of the effect counter is 2, as in the case where the value of the effect counter is 1, referring to the effect selection table of FIG. 9 (c) according to the value of the effect selection random number acquired in step S401. A lottery is conducted (step S40)
9). As a result of this effect lottery, it is determined whether or not the execution of the three game effects has been won (step S410).

If the player wins the execution of the three game effects,
Here, it is further determined whether or not all the winning situation notification commands for the past three times stored in the RAM 122 indicate that the big bonus or the regular bonus has been won (step S411). If all the winning situation notification commands for the past three times indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, the third stage of the three game effects is executed (step S412). When the third stage of 3 game production is completed, the value of the production counter is set to 0.
Is cleared (step S413). Then, the effect process is ended, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

If the execution of the three game effects has not been won in the determinations in steps S405 and S410, or in the determination in step S411, the big bonus or regular bonus is won in the winning situation notification commands for the past three times. The case where the one that does not indicate that it is included is the case where the three-game effect has not been executed in this game. In these cases, the value of the effect counter is cleared to 0 (step S413), the effect process is terminated, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

When the value of the effect counter is not 2 in the determination of step S408, the value of the effect counter is 0, and the three game effects have not been executed in the previous game period. In this case, step S40
According to the value of the random number for effect acquired in 1, the effect lottery is performed with reference to the effect selection table of FIG. 9A (step S4).
14). As a result of this effect lottery, it is determined whether or not the execution of the three game effects has been won (step S415).

If the player wins the execution of the three game effects,
The first stage of the three-game production is executed (step S41).
6). When the first stage of the 3 game effect is completed, the value of the effect counter is incremented to 1 (step S4).
17). Then, the effect process is ended, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

If the player has not won the execution of the three-game effect, it is determined as a result of the effect lottery in step S414 whether or not the player has won the notification effect (step S418). If you were elected to execute the announcement production,
Further, it is determined whether or not all the winning situation notification commands for the past three times stored in the RAM 122 indicate that the big bonus or the regular bonus has been won (step S419).

When all the winning situation notification commands for the past three times indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, the notification effect is executed (step S4).
20). When the execution of the notification effect ends, the effect process ends and the process returns to the process in FIG. 13. If the winning situation notification commands for the past three times include those that do not indicate that the big bonus or the regular bonus has been won, the effect process is terminated and the process returns to the process of FIG.

If the announcement production has not been won, it is determined whether or not the announcement production has been won as a result of the production lottery in step S414 (step S421). If you were elected to execute the notice production,
The notice effect is executed (step S422). When the execution of the notice production is finished, the production process is finished and the process returns to the process of FIG. If you have not won the notice production,
As a result of the effect lottery in step S414, there is no effect, and the effect process is ended as it is and the process returns to the process of FIG.

When the latest winning situation notification command does not indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus in the determination of step S402, it is determined whether the value of the effect counter is 1 (step S4).
23). If the value of the effect counter is 1, step S4
9 (d) in accordance with the value of the effect selection random number acquired in 01.
The production lottery is performed by referring to the production selection table (step S424). As a result of this effect lottery, it is determined whether or not the execution of the three game effects has been won (step S42).
5).

When the player wins the execution of the three game effects,
The second stage of the three-game production is executed (step S42).
6). When the execution of the second stage of the 3 game effect is completed, the value of the effect counter is incremented to 2 (step S427). Then, the effect process is ended, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

When the value of the effect counter is not 1 in the determination of step S423, it is further determined whether the value of the effect counter is 2 (step S42).
8). If the value of the effect counter is 2, the value of the effect counter is cleared to 0 without executing the third stage of the 3 game effect (step S429). Also, in the case of not winning the 3 game effect in the determination of step S425,
The effect counter value is cleared to 0 (step S42).
9). Then, the effect process is ended, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

When the value of the effect counter is not 2 in the determination of step S428, the value of the effect counter is 0, and the 3 game effects have not been executed in the previous game period. In this case, step S40
According to the value of the random number for effect acquired in 1, the effect lottery is performed by referring to the effect selection table of FIG. 9B (step S4).
30). As a result of this effect lottery, it is determined whether or not the execution of the three game effects has been won (step S431).

If the player wins the execution of the three game effects,
The first stage of the three-game production is executed (step S43).
2). When the first stage of the 3 game effect is completed, the value of the effect counter is incremented to 1 (step S4).
33). Then, the effect process is ended, and the process returns to the process of FIG.

If the player has not won the execution of the three-game effect, it is determined as a result of the effect lottery in step S430 whether or not the player has won the notice effect (step S4).
34). If the player has won the notice effect, the notice effect is executed (step S435). When the execution of the notice production is finished, the production process is finished and the process returns to the process of FIG. When the preliminary announcement effect is not won, it means that there is no effect as a result of the effect lottery in step S430, and the effect process is terminated and the process returns to the process of FIG.

The execution of the effect in the slot machine 1 according to this embodiment will be specifically described below.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the relationship between the content of the winning situation notification command and the effect to be executed. Here, what kind of effect is produced in each game within the period of 3 games from the game finished without effect (one stage of 3 game effects)
Whether the winning status notification command received is
The explanation will be divided into cases where a big bonus or regular bonus is shown and cases where it is not.

When the winning situation notification command received after the game without the effect indicates that the big bonus or the regular bonus has been won, there is a probability of 6/10 for 3 games as the effect of the game (first game). The first stage of production is executed. In addition, there is no effect with a probability of 2/10, and there is a probability of a notice effect of 1/20 with a probability of 3/20.
Produce with the probability of (However, if 3 is set in RAM122
Only if all the winning status notification commands indicate winning) is executed. If there is no effect, or if the notice effect or the announcement effect is executed, the effect of the next game can be considered in the same manner.

When the winning situation notification command received after the game in which the first stage of the three-game effect is executed indicates the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, there is a probability of 6/10 as the effect of the game. The second stage of the three-game effect is executed. With the remaining 4/10 probability, there is no performance. That is, the probability that the 3 game effects will be stopped in the first stage is 24/100. In addition,
The effect of the next game when there is no effect here can be considered in the same manner as the first game.

When the winning situation notification command received after the game in which the second stage of the three-game production is executed indicates the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, there is a probability of 6/10 of the three-game production. The third stage is executed, and there is no effect in the remaining 4/10 probability. That is, the probability that the three-game effect is executed and completed up to the third stage is 216/1000, and the probability that it is stopped in the second stage is 144/1000.

When the winning situation notification command received after the game without the effect does not indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, the effect of the game (first game) has a probability of 1/100. The first stage of the three-game production is executed. Also, 9/100
There is no effect at a probability of 8, and the notice effect is executed at a probability of 1/100. If there is no effect or the notice effect is executed here, the effect of the next game can be considered in the same way.

When the winning situation notification command received after the game in which the first stage of the three-game effect is executed does not indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, there is a probability of 1/100 as the effect of the game. In 3
The second stage of game production is executed. With the remaining 99/100 probability, there is no effect. That is, the probability that the 3 game effects will be stopped in the first stage is 99 / 10,000. The effect of the next game when there is no effect here can be considered in the same manner as the first game.

When the winning situation notification command received after the game in which the second stage of the three-game production is executed does not indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, the production is not executed in the game. . That is, the probability that the 3 game effects will be stopped in the second stage is 1/10000.

As described above, since the first stage and the second stage of the three-game effect are executed regardless of whether or not the winning situation notification command indicates the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, it is used as a notice effect. It also has meaning. The third stage of the three-game effect is executed only when the winning situation notification command indicates the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, and therefore has a meaning as a notification effect. Here, the ratio of the case where the winning situation notification command does not indicate the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus when the first and second stages of the three-game production are executed is smaller in the second stage. Therefore, the second stage of the three-game effect has a meaning as a more reliable notice effect than the first stage.

The first stage or the second stage of the three-game production
At the end of the stage, the winning status notification command may change from not showing the big bonus or regular bonus to showing the winning, but such cases are very few, so 3 games It can be almost ignored when considering the reliability as the notice production in the first stage or the second stage of the production.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of executing one game effect and three game effects. Here, only the effect by the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 4 is taken as an example, and only the final result of the one game effect or the final result of each stage of the three game effect is shown. Notice production as one game production,
Completed within one game period from the start, and the final result is
For example, as shown in FIG. 18 (a), "This is suspicious"
Is displayed. Similarly, the notification effect as one game effect is completed within one game period from the start, and the final result is displayed as "bonus confirmed" as shown in FIG. 18B, for example.

On the other hand, the effect of the three games is finished up to one stage within one game period from the start. At the end of the first stage, as shown in Fig. 18 (c), "Isn't this awkward? Let's see a little more."
Is displayed, further indicating that this effect continues. Further, at the end of the second stage, as shown in, for example, FIG. 18 (d), "Isn't that awkward? Let's see a little more" is displayed, and it is shown that this effect continues further. And when the third stage is completed, 3
As the final result of the game effect, for example, as shown in FIG. 18 (e), "As expected! After all, the bonus is confirmed!" Is displayed.

As described above, in the slot machine 1 according to this embodiment, the CP of the game control board 101
U111 also determines whether or not to execute the effect, and further what kind of effect is to be executed, by simply transmitting to the effect control board 102 a winning situation notification command indicating the result of the internal lottery in each game. Absent. This determination can be made independently by the CPU 121 of the effect control board 102 for each game based on the winning situation notification command received from the game control board 101.
Therefore, the game control board 10 for determining the execution of the effect
No processing load is applied to the CPU 111 and other circuits on the first side. The random number for determining the execution of the effect is also generated by using the hardware random number function that the effect control board 102 side originally has, so that a processing load may be applied to the circuit on the game control board 101 side. Absent.

Further, the winning situation notification command transmitted from the game control board 101 to the effect control board 102 has been modified so as to show a content different from the original internal lottery result with a predetermined probability. This can prevent the result of the internal lottery from being captured from the outside. Further, since the transmission timing of the winning situation notification command to the effect control board 102 is delayed by a random period, the reel 3L,
The rotations of 3C and 3R are not synchronized with the effect executed on the effect control board 102 side, and the content of the effect does not suggest the stop operation timing (so-called push-timing timing) to the player.

The effects executed on the effect control means 102 side include one game effect which is completed in one game period.
There are 3 game effects that are completed within the period of 3 games, and there are many variations of effects. Moreover, since each game decides whether or not to execute each stage of the three-game effect, the three-game effect may be stopped midway, and there are many variations of the effect. As a result, the enjoyment of the game can be improved.

Here, one game effect is completed in one game period, and the final result of the effect (whether to announce the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus or to give a notice) is shown. The result of the production is easy for the player to understand.

On the other hand, the three-game effect is completed in the period of three games, but each stage of the effect is intermittently performed corresponding to each game. In this way, since the production is not performed for a long period of time, the player is not bored. Moreover, since each stage forms a series of series, the contents of the production can be made uniform and the enjoyment of the game can be improved. Then, since the final stage of the three-game production is the announcement of the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus, performing the production for a long time will result in improving the interest of the game.

Although the winning situation notification command may show a content different from the result of the internal lottery, the big step or the regular bonus is won to execute the final stage of the announcement effect or the three game effects. Only when the winning status notification command indicating that the winning situation is received is received three times in succession. The probability that the winning status notification command will be sent to indicate the winning is very small, even though you did not originally win the big bonus or regular bonus,
The probability of continuing three times is infinitely close to zero. Even if there are three consecutive times, the number of cases in which the final stage of the announcement effect or the three-game effect is executed is even smaller. In other words, the probability that the final stage of the announcement effect or the 3 game effects is executed even if you did not originally win the big bonus or regular bonus is very small compared to the probability that other errors occur, and in practice The problem of does not occur.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications and applications are possible. Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment applicable to the present invention will be described.

In the above-described embodiment, as the notice effect or notice effect, there are one game effect completed in one game period and three game effects completed intermittently in three game periods. However, the effect completed in the period of a plurality of games is not necessarily limited to three games,
The effect can be completed in an arbitrary period of two or more games. Further, although each stage of the three-game production has been fixed, it can be dynamically changed for each game.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another execution example of the three-game effect. In this example, there is only one pattern as the first stage, and at the end of that, for example, FIG.
As shown in (a), "Isn't this awkward? Let's see a little more" is displayed, indicating that this effect will continue.

In the period of the next game in which the first stage is executed, if the lottery for the three-game effect is won, the second stage will be executed, but as the second stage, three patterns are provided. Has been. As shown in FIG. 19B, the first pattern of the second stage is only shown as "What !? Bonus is confirmed!", And it is not shown that this effect continues further. The second pattern is, as shown in FIG.
The message “Ah, isn't it awkward? Let's see a little more” is displayed, indicating that the production will continue here. The third pattern is, as shown in FIG.
"What's wrong, I'm sorry!" Is shown, and there is no indication that this production will continue.

In the period of the next game in which the second stage is executed in the second pattern, if the lottery for the three-game effect is won, the third stage will be executed. Street patterns are provided. As shown in FIG. 19 (e), the first pattern in the third stage shows only "as expected! After all, the bonus is confirmed!".
As shown in FIG. 19 (f), the second pattern is displayed as "I'm sorry but ... I don't know!".
As shown in FIG. 19D, the third pattern is displayed as "Is it wrong? Really sorry!" In the third pattern, neither of these effects is shown to continue.

In the three-game production in this execution example, the second pattern of the first stage, the second stage, and the second pattern of the third stage have the meaning as the notice production. In addition, the first pattern of the second stage and the first pattern of the third stage have a meaning as a notification effect. By performing the three game effects in such a manner, it is possible to further increase the variations of the effects and improve the enjoyment of the game.

In the above embodiment, each stage of the three-game effect is performed intermittently corresponding to each game, but each stage may be continuous.
Since the effects of each stage are performed continuously, after the first stage or the second stage of the three game effects is completed, the idle state is maintained until the next effect is determined (for example, shaking the screen or continuously changing colors). It can be made to stand by in a state where it is changed. Alternatively, the presentation at each stage may be of a patrol content.

In the above embodiment, the game control board 10
The content of the winning situation notification command transmitted from 1 to the effect control board 102 has been converted into a content different from the result of the internal lottery with a predetermined probability. However, the winning situation notification command may directly notify the effect control board 102 of the result of the internal lottery in any case. In this case, even if you receive the command indicating the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus only once,
The final stage of game production can be executed.

If the probability that the content of the winning situation notification command is converted is low, if the command indicating the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus is received twice in succession, the final stage of the notification effect and the three game effects is executed. If there is a high probability that the contents of the winning situation notification command will be converted, the notification effect and the notification effect will only be given when the command indicating the winning of the big bonus or the regular bonus is received more times in a row. It is possible to execute the final stage of the three-game production.

In the above embodiment, the slot machine 1
In addition to the normal game state, there were only a big bonus and a regular bonus. On the other hand, AT (which informs the type of the winning small win), CT (which makes the reel stop uncontrolled),
Other advantages such as RT (one that makes the probability of replay winning higher than usual), ST (one that includes AT and RT), and push order navigation (one that indicates the order in which stop buttons 12L, 12C, 12R are operated) It may include a specific game state.

In the above embodiment, the variable display device 2 is used.
Is provided with three reels 3L, 3C, 3R in which a plurality of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral portion in a predetermined order.
The symbols are variably displayed by the rotational drive of L, 3C, and 3R. However, what variably displays symbols on a display device such as a liquid crystal display device may be used instead of the variable display device 2 as described above.

[0171]

According to the invention of claim 1, not only the effect execution control but also the effect control is determined by the effect control means, so that the load on the game control means can be reduced.
In addition, the variation of the production is increased, and the enjoyment of the game can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the timing of the stop operation of the variable display device from being set by the effect executed based on the predetermined command.

According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to prevent the determination result of the predetermination means from being captured from the outside.

According to the invention of claim 4, the effect control means can determine the effect to be executed for each game.

According to the invention of claim 5, the processing load of random number generation for determining the effect is not imposed on the game control means.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is possible to execute an effect which shows the result to the player in an easy-to-understand manner.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to prevent the player from getting tired of playing for a long time.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the entertainment of each game can be improved by showing the production of each stage as a series of series.

According to the invention of claim 9, it is determined for each game whether to continue or stop each stage of the multi-game effect, and the effect variations are increased.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, it is possible to notify the acceptance of the special winning by completing the production for a long period of time, and it is possible to improve the enjoyment of the game.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overall structure of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an internal structure visually recognized with the front door of the slot machine of FIG. 1 being opened.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a structure on the back side of a front door of the slot machine of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement of symbols on each reel which constitutes the variable display device.

5 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a control circuit of the slot machine of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing circuit components and signal wirings mounted on the game control board and the effect control board.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a winning situation notification command conversion table stored in a ROM in the game control board.

8 is a diagram showing the probability that a winning situation conversion command will be converted to another content according to the winning situation notification command conversion table of FIG.

It is the figure which shows the production selection table which is housed in ROM inside the production control board.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by a control unit in the game control board for each game.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the lottery process of FIG. 10 in detail.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the command transmission process of FIG. 11 in detail.

It is the flowchart which shows the command reception waiting processing which the control section inside the production control board executes.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the effect process of FIG. 13 in detail.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the effect process of FIG. 13 in detail.

16 is a flowchart showing the effect process of FIG. 13 in detail.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a relationship between the content of the winning situation notification command and the effect to be executed.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of execution of one game effect and three game effects.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another example of execution of three game effects.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 slot machine 2 variable display 4 liquid crystal display 101 game control board 102 Production control board 125 random number generator

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A game can be started by setting the number of bets for one game, and one game ends when the display result of the variable display device is derived and displayed. In a slot machine in which a predetermined prize can be generated according to a display result, a pre-determination unit that determines in advance whether or not to allow the generation of the prize, and controls the progress of the game and The game control means for transmitting the pre-determined command indicating the determination result, and the production control means for receiving the pre-determined command transmitted from the game control means and causing the production means to execute the production based on the received command , The effect that the effect control means causes the effect means to execute,
A slot machine characterized by including one game effect executed within a period of one game and a plurality of game effects executed over a period of a plurality of games. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the game control means performs a predetermined transmission delay process when the predetermination command is transmitted to the effect control means. 3. The game control means converts the pre-determined command into a content different from a result determined by the pre-determined means with a predetermined probability and transmits the content to the effect control means. The slot machine according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the game control means transmits the predetermined command to the effect control means in each game. 5. The effect control means has a unique random number generation function independent of the pre-determination means and the game control means, and the value of a random number generated using the random number generation function and the game control. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein execution of the one game effect and execution of the plurality of games are determined according to a pre-determined command received from the means. 6. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the one game effect is completed within a period of one game and a final result of the effect is shown. . 7. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of game effects are intermittently executed in each game. 8. The multi-game effect has a plurality of stages divided corresponding to each game, and the second and subsequent stages of the stage show continuation of the previous stage stage. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the slot machine is a slot machine. 9. The slot machine according to claim 8, wherein the effect control means determines, for each game, whether or not to execute the effect of each stage of the plurality of game effects. 10. A game state transition means for transitioning a game state to a special game state advantageous to a player when a predetermined special prize is generated, further comprising: a plurality of game effects; 10. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the final result shows that the means allows the special winning.