JP2003038771A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which enables enjoying of games different in playing potentialities without requiring complicated work when altering the playing potentialities of the game machine while achieving lower costs and a saving of resources. SOLUTION: The game machine with at least a main control means 31 for controlling game states is provided with a figure control means 32 having a plurality of figure control patterns for controlling figures as required and a figure control pattern decision switch 36 which can make a selective decision of the figure control patterns. Arbitrary figure control patterns are selectively determined by the operation of the figure control pattern decision switch 36 from the plurality of figure control patterns stored in the figure control means 32 to perform controls of the figures based on the selected figure control patterns.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine configured to control a gaming state in a required game by at least a main control means and a symbol control means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, many pachinko machines, slot machines, and other game machines are familiar to many players. For example, in a pachinko machine, a start winning hole, a special winning hole, etc. are arranged in the game area on the game board, and a plurality of identifiable patterns composed of multiple types of numbers, patterns, etc. are displayed, and as required. There is a device provided with a variable display section that can display the variable accordingly. Then, when a required gaming state occurs when a pachinko ball (also referred to as a game ball) is won in the starting winning opening, the symbol displayed on the variable display unit is a main control means arranged in the pachinko machine or It is normally changed in a predetermined pattern controlled by various control means such as a symbol control means, and for example, the symbol is changed in a predetermined direction by scrolling, or enlarged or reduced to be sequentially changed and changed. At this time, when a part of the symbol being changed on the variable display portion is stopped, the symbol stopped and displayed on the symbol display portion satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, "1, 1, "During change", "7, changing, 7", etc.) becomes so-called "reach", various reach changes controlled by the various control means are performed, and the player is already changing the remaining symbols. It is expected that it will be a so-called "big hit" when it is stopped and displayed with the same symbol as the symbol that is stopped and displayed. When this "big hit" is reached, the variable display section displays the big hit variation controlled by the various control means, and the openable and closable door provided at the special winning opening is opened for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of times. It is released continuously or intermittently until the player can obtain a large number of pachinko balls.

[0003] Normally, the symbol control means stores a control pattern (symbol control pattern) such as a variation time and a variation operation of the symbol in the normal variation, reach variation, big hit variation, etc., and this symbol control The playability of the gaming machine greatly changes depending on the pattern. Further, the symbol control means is controlled by a control command transmitted from a main control means for comprehensively controlling a driving means such as a motor of a gaming machine, a detecting means for winning a game ball and an illuminating means.

[0004]

As described above, the symbols displayed on the variable display section are normally changed, reach changed, or jackpot changed by the symbol control pattern stored in the symbol control means. I am going to enjoy playing games. However, when the gaming machine is controlled by the same symbol control pattern for a long period of time, the gaming nature of the gaming machine gradually becomes tired, and it is strongly desired by the player to introduce a gaming machine having different gaming characteristics. become. However, as shown in FIG. 6, one symbol control pattern is stored in the symbol control means 1, and the main control means 2 for controlling this symbol control means 1 is stored.
One control command is stored in. for that reason,
In order to change the game playability of the gaming machine, each of the symbol control means 1 and the main control means 2 is a symbol control means 1 in which different symbol control patterns are stored and a main control means for controlling this symbol control means 1. Since it is necessary to replace it with 2,
There are problems that the cost of the parts is high and complicated replacement work is required. Furthermore, there is a drawback that the amount of waste and the processing cost associated with the replacement of parts such as the symbol control means 1 and the main control means 2 increase, and a game that can achieve low cost and resource saving when changing the game playability. A machine is strongly desired.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent in the prior art described above, and is proposed in order to suitably solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can enjoy games with different game playability without requiring complicated work, and can achieve low cost and resource saving.

[0006]

In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, a gaming machine according to the present invention is a gaming machine having at least main control means for controlling a gaming state, A symbol control means for storing a plurality of symbol control patterns for performing the required symbol control, and a symbol control pattern determination switch capable of selecting and determining the symbol control pattern are provided, and by the operation of the symbol control pattern determination switch, Any symbol control pattern is selected and determined from the plurality of symbol control patterns stored in the symbol control means,
It is characterized in that symbol control is performed based on the selected symbol control pattern.

[0007]

In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the symbol control means stores a plurality of selectable symbol control patterns, and is provided with a symbol control pattern determination switch capable of selecting and determining the symbol control patterns. Then, based on the selection determination of the symbol control pattern by operating the symbol control pattern determination switch, the symbol control means selects and determines the symbol control pattern to be executed. That is, when the symbol control pattern determination switch is switched, the symbol control pattern selected and determined by the symbol control means is changed, and the game playability of the game changes, so that different games can be enjoyed. At this time, it is not necessary to newly replace the main control means, the symbol control means, and the like, and it is possible to reduce the cost of parts and reduce waste to save resources.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to preferred embodiments. In addition, as a gaming machine of the present embodiment, a case of being implemented in a general pachinko machine will be described.

Therefore, first, the pachinko machine of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In the pachinko machine P of this embodiment, as a basic schematic configuration thereof, the front frame B is attached to the front side of the opening of the outer frame A so as to be attachable / detachable and openable / closable by using the connection support means and the locking means. ing. Then, the front frame B is set on the front side of a window frame C to which a laterally opening type glass door D is attached, and an opening / closing set plate which is attached to the window frame C at a lower portion of the glass door D so as to be detachably attached and openable / closable. Upper ball dish E which can store game balls and an electric ball feeder (not shown) set on the rear side, and a game which is arranged at the lower stage of these and cannot be accommodated in the upper ball dish E A lower ball plate F that stores balls, a ball-striking launcher H that shoots game balls into the game area I, and a mechanism set board G that is located on the rear side are provided, while a front frame B and a rear housing frame. A game board J, which constitutes a required game area I, is detachably set inside the front surface of the body.

As shown in FIG. 5, the game board J is arranged at a slightly lower center in the front side of the game area I surrounded by the rail 10 which is curved in a substantially circular shape, and a ball is detected by a switch. Starting winning a prize opening 11 and this starting winning a prize opening 1
1. A large decorative component N, which is arranged immediately above 1 and in which a variable display portion K, which will be described later, is aligned, and which has a visible display window 21 formed by plating the inner wall surface, is also called a windmill. Illuminated guide vehicle 12 and normal guide vehicle 13 that change the direction of flow down, a large electric prize winning device L installed immediately below the starting winning opening 11, and the irradiation pattern is controlled to be changed according to the gaming state. The lighting device 14 and the like are provided. Further, on the rear side of the game board J, as shown in FIG. 4, a game ball guide member 15 for guiding the game ball through the mechanism set board G side is mounted. In addition, reference numeral 16 in FIG. 5 indicates an outlet, and the game ball is discharged.

A switch (not shown) provided in the starting winning opening 11 turns on the variable display portion K for each detection of each game ball.
It is used as a starting input means for starting to change each time. Further, the winning device L is a large winning device L to which the opening operation condition is given as a special game state when the big hit of the variable display section K is established, and as shown in FIG. The door-shaped open / close plate 18 installed opposite to
Based on the set drive conditions related to the electromagnetic solenoid on the rear side,
The normal closed state is changed to the open state. In addition, the regular winning openings 1 are provided on the left and right sides of the winning device L.
9 and 19 are provided.

The variable display section K comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) is disposed on the rear side of the visible display window 21 so that the outer circumference of the variable display section K is aligned with the outer circumference of the visible display window 21. Set. In the variable display section K,
Three symbol display positions of left symbol display position 22, middle symbol display position 24, and right symbol display position 26 are provided, and numbers, characters, and patterns can be identified at these symbol display positions 22, 24, and 26. It is designed to display various designs. In addition, these symbol display positions 22, 24, and 26 are displayed in a state of being arranged in the horizontal direction in the variable display portion K. Then, when a game ball wins the starting winning opening 11, the symbol display position 2 of the variable display section K is controlled based on the control of the main control means 31 and the symbol control means 32 which will be described later.
The symbols displayed on 2, 24, 26 are adapted to be changed / stopped. In addition, when the variable display section K is changing or when it is a "big hit", the game ball starts the winning hole 11
In the case of winning the prize, the information normally obtained when the game ball wins the starting winning opening 11 is started and stored up to a maximum of four winnings, and the stored display number is lit and displayed by the memory display unit M. Then, when the variable display portion K becomes variable, the variation of the symbols is started based on the number of starting memories, the starting memory is consumed one, and the memory display portion M is turned off. It is supposed to be done.

A main control means for comprehensively controlling various controls such as a symbol control means 32 for controlling the symbols and the like displayed on the variable display portion K, a game ball winning detection means and a lighting means in the pachinko machine P. Reference numeral 31 denotes a required circuit pattern formed to mount various electronic components such as a CPU, an IC, a transformer and a regulator, and the symbol control means 32 and the main control means 31 are always housed in a substrate case 34. There is. Further, the symbol control means 32 and the main control means 31 are connected via a connector or the like not shown, and by sending various signals (commands) from the main control means 31 to the symbol control means 32, the symbol control means Is configured to control 32.

The pattern control means 32 is a pattern pattern which is information (for example, a pattern such as "dog", "cat", "rabbit") which is a subject which is variably displayed on the variable display section K. , The fluctuation pattern of information that determines the fluctuation time (the length of time that any symbol performs a predetermined action) of the symbol that is displayed in a variable manner. It is possible to determine the playability of the pachinko machine P, which is composed of operation patterns, which are information for determining the operation to be performed, for example, “run fast”, “run slowly”, “fly”, “shine”, etc. A symbol control pattern is stored. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, among the various types of information constituting the symbol control pattern, at least one or more types of different first symbol control pattern, second symbol control pattern, and third symbol control pattern 3
A symbol control pattern of which types can be selected is stored in the symbol control means 32, and as shown in FIG. 1, corresponds to each of first to third symbol control positions of a symbol control pattern determination switch 36 described later. It has become. in this way,
By configuring one of the first to third symbol control patterns with different information, if one of the patterns is selected, the respective game playability
It is possible to develop different games (normal fluctuation, reach fluctuation, jackpot fluctuation, etc.). At this time, the first
~ Each of the third symbol control pattern can be configured with similar information, and can be a series of three types of similar game features, and further configured with completely different information, each having a new game feature You can also

Further, the symbol control means 32 is provided with a symbol control pattern determination switch 36 which can be switched to the first to third symbol control positions, and as shown in FIG. The 3 symbol control positions correspond to the first to third symbol control patterns, respectively. Then, by switching the symbol control pattern determination switch 36 to the first to third symbol control positions, each of the first to third symbol control patterns stored in the symbol control means 32 can be selected and determined. It has become. The symbol control pattern determination switch 36 is always housed together with the symbol control means 32 in the substrate case 34, and the switching operation of the switch 36 is performed by removing the substrate case 34. It is like this.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the main control means 31 for comprehensively controlling the pachinko machine P includes the first to the first.
Common to each of the third symbol control patterns, various common commands for specifically executing this symbol control pattern are stored. For example, this common command is composed of a fluctuation start command, a left symbol designation command, a middle symbol designation command, a right symbol designation command, an all symbol designation command, and the like. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the symbol control means 32 is operated by switching the symbol control pattern determination switch 36.
After the symbol control pattern to be executed is selected and decided to enter the game start standby state, the symbol control means 32 is controlled by transmitting this common command.

Next, a control mode of the pachinko machine P by the main control means 31 and the pattern control means 32 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the symbol control means 32 determines the symbol control pattern to be executed based on the symbol control position selected and determined by the switching operation of the symbol control pattern determination switch 36. Here, a case where the symbol control pattern determination switch 36 is switched to the first symbol control position will be described. Thereby, the variable display portion K
The symbols, background, etc. are displayed on the basis of the first symbol control pattern, and the pachinko machine P is in a game start standby state.

When the game balls hit on the game board J satisfy a predetermined condition (for example, winning at the starting winning hole), various detection signals are transmitted to the main control means 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the main control means 31 has
Select and determine the command corresponding to this detection signal from the common commands common to all of the third symbol control pattern,
It transmits to the symbol control means 32. For example, when the variation start command constituting the common command is transmitted to the symbol control means 32, as shown in FIG. 1, the symbol control means 32 corresponds to the variation start command received in the first symbol control pattern, The variable display section K is caused to start changing based on various information such as a changing time or a changing operation. Similarly, even when the symbol control means 32 receives other common commands, in the first symbol control pattern, the variable corresponding to the received common command, based on various information such as symbols, variation time or variation operation The display section K is changed or stopped. That is, the main control means 31
Based on the information of the first symbol control pattern corresponding to the common command transmitted from, various normal variation, reach variation or jackpot variation will be performed.

By the switching operation of the symbol control pattern determination switch 36, even if the second or third symbol control position is set, a common command is transmitted to the symbol control means 32 to transmit the symbol control means 32. To control.

[0020]

Operation of the Embodiment Next, the operation of the pachinko machine P according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, when the symbol control position of the symbol control pattern determination switch 36 is switched, the symbol control means 32
Selects and determines the symbol control pattern corresponding to the symbol control position, and the player can play a game controlled by the symbol control pattern selected and determined. In this way, the design control pattern executed by the design control means 32 is determined by the switching operation of the design control pattern determination switch 36, so that the design control pattern is changed without replacing the main control means 31 and the design control means 32. You can In other words, the symbol control pattern is changed, and it becomes possible to enjoy games with different game playability, while effectively reducing waste, its processing cost or replacement parts cost when changing playability. obtain. Further, by disposing the symbol control pattern determination switch 36 in the symbol control means 32, it is not necessary to provide a new member such as a communication line connecting the symbol control pattern determination switch 36 and the symbol control means 32. The symbol control pattern determination switch 3
By selecting and determining the symbol control pattern by the switching operation of the symbol control position in 6, the symbol control pattern is not changed during the game and the player is not confused.
The player can enjoy a normal game.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the main control means 31 controls the symbol control means 32 in common with the first to third symbol control patterns stored in the symbol control means 32. The game state can be controlled by transmitting a common command that can be performed. In this way, by making it possible to control all the symbol control patterns stored in the symbol control means 32 by the same common command, the main control even when a plurality of symbol control patterns are stored. It is not necessary to store a plurality of control commands for executing the symbol control pattern in the means 31, and the main control means 31 can be operated efficiently.

In this embodiment, the symbol control means 32
It was made to store three kinds of symbol control patterns, but two or four or more symbol control patterns are stored, and each of the stored symbol control patterns is switched to the symbol control position in the symbol control pattern determination switch 36. It may be possible to select and determine by operation. Further, the information that constitutes the symbol control pattern to be stored in the symbol control means 32 is not limited to the symbol pattern, the variation pattern, the operation pattern, etc., and for example, the information such as the background pattern which is the information for displaying the background. It is comprised of various information that is included and can be displayed and controlled on the variable display section K. Further, the symbol control pattern determination switch 36 is arranged in the symbol control means 32, but the invention is not limited to this, and may be arranged in the main control means 31 or the like, for example, in a place where the player cannot directly operate. It should be installed.

Further, in the embodiment, the case of implementing it on a pachinko machine is shown, but it is not limited to this, and it can be any gaming machine controlled by at least the main control means and the symbol control means. Can also be implemented. Further, although the variable display portion including the LCD is provided with the three symbol display portions, two or four or more symbol display portions may be configured. Further, the variable display section may be any one capable of displaying a symbol arbitrarily selected from a plurality of symbols, for example, a synthetic resin is formed in a cylindrical shape and rotated, and a plurality of symbols are displayed on the surface thereof. Various other methods such as a rotating drum type and a dot display type in which a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged and various patterns are represented by the light emission can be adopted.

[0024]

As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, the symbol control pattern executed by the symbol control means in which a plurality of selectable symbol control patterns capable of controlling the gaming state of the game are stored. , By making it possible to select and determine by the switching operation of the symbol control pattern determination switch, it becomes possible to change the symbol control pattern, and by changing the symbol control pattern determination switch as necessary, different game characteristics You can enjoy the game. At this time,
Since it is not necessary to replace the main control means and the symbol control means, it is possible to reduce the cost of parts and effectively reduce the discharged waste and the processing cost thereof. Further, by disposing the symbol control pattern determination switch in the symbol control means, there is no need to provide a new member such as a communication line connecting the symbol control pattern determination switch and the symbol control means, and the construction process is increased. Can be prevented. Further, by storing a common control command in the main control means and enabling common control of a plurality of symbol control patterns stored in the symbol control means, the load on the main control means is reduced and the efficiency is improved. Will be able to operate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main control unit, a symbol control unit, and a symbol control pattern determination switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the symbol control pattern determination switch and the symbol control means according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a game board of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of main control means and symbol control means of a gaming machine according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

31 Main control means 32 symbol control means 36 Design control pattern decision switch

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game machine having at least a main control means (31) for controlling a game state, wherein a symbol control means (32) storing a plurality of symbol control patterns for performing a required symbol control, It is provided with a symbol control pattern determination switch (36) capable of making a selection determination of the symbol control pattern, and by the operation of the symbol control pattern determination switch (36),
Any symbol control pattern is selected and determined from the plurality of symbol control patterns stored in the symbol control means (32),
A gaming machine characterized by performing symbol control based on the selected symbol control pattern. 2. The symbol control pattern determination switch (36)
The game machine according to claim 1, wherein is provided in the symbol control means (32). 3. The main control means (31) stores a control command common to all the symbol control patterns stored in the symbol control means (32), and the symbol control pattern determination switch (36). 3. The game machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after the symbol control pattern is selected and determined, a common control command is transmitted from the main control means (31) to the symbol control means (32) for symbol control.