JP2003102990A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which effectively adds a flare picture by devising display control in three-dimensional picture display. SOLUTION: In the game machine, a prescribed value is given when the change display of identifying information to be displayed in a variable display device is stated and the finally derived and displayed change display result is a specified display state. A plurality of three-dimensional objects arranged in a temporary three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual viewpoint is seen through and projected onto a two-dimensional plane and also a two-dimensional picture obtained by the seeing through projection is displayed. In this case, the flare picture is generated based on the position of a light source existing in a visual field viewed from a predetermined viewpoint and on a light amount from the light source and also displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pachinko gaming machine,
The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine, and more particularly, to a gaming machine having a variable display function for variably displaying predetermined identification information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines,
Liquid crystal display device (hereinafter, LCD: Liquid Crys
On a display device such as a tal display), a plurality of types of identification information (hereinafter referred to as display symbols) prepared in advance are displayed in a variable manner, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined game value is given based on the display result. There are many floating display games that enhance the enjoyment of the game.

Some floating display games are played by using the above-mentioned display device mainly as an image display device (hereinafter, a special figure game). In the special figure game, the display symbol is variably displayed with the detection of the game ball passing through the predetermined area, and the derived display mode when the variable display result of the display symbol is derived and displayed is the specific display mode. It is a game of "big hit". When the "big hit" occurs in the special drawing game, a special electric prized object called a special winning opening is operated to open the special winning opening door. As a result, the player is continuously provided with a state in which winning of the game ball is extremely easy for a certain period of time.

The following is a big hit in the special drawing game,
When the special winning opening door is opened, it is extremely easy for the player to win a game ball, which is called a specific game state. In order to be in the specific game state, usually, the derivation display mode of the display symbol displayed on the special symbol display device becomes a predetermined specific display mode (generally,
The condition is that the display symbols displayed on the plurality of variable display portions of the special symbol display device are the same symbol).

As described above, in the special figure game, the player pays the greatest attention to whether or not the stop symbol mode becomes the "big hit" as the specific display mode. For this reason, until the stop symbol mode that can be determined whether or not to be a "big hit" is determined, various effect displays are performed to enhance the enjoyment of the game.

Further, not only the pachinko gaming machine but also a gaming machine such as a slot machine equipped with an image display device such as an LCD can acquire a "bonus game" equivalent to a "big hit" in the pachinko gaming machine. In the process of flag establishment, some LCDs use the LCD to perform the same effect display as a pachinko gaming machine. In a gaming machine that performs such effect display, in order to maintain the expectation that the flag of “big hit” or “bonus game” will be established during effect display, effect display with a higher visual effect is required. Has been done.

[0007]

By the way, in recent years, as one method for enhancing the enjoyment of the game, three-dimensional display target data has been added to the above-described image display device instead of the two-dimensional image display which has been conventionally used. A device for displaying a three-dimensional image composed of data is provided.

In the three-dimensional image display, first, a shape model of an object to be displayed is created and attributes such as colors and patterns are defined. Then, the shape model of this object is arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space, and a virtual viewpoint position, line-of-sight direction, position of a light source, etc. are set. Finally, a display image is obtained by perspective projection of the shape model of the object on the two-dimensional plane based on these setting information.

As described above, since the shape model viewed from an arbitrary viewpoint is accurately displayed on the image display device, the player sees the object arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space as a realistic image. It is possible to display an effect with a high visual effect.

However, in order to display a three-dimensional image, it is necessary to generate a display image in real time from the shape model of the object. Therefore, it is added to the image processing processor more than the conventional game machine for displaying a two-dimensional image. There is a problem that the load of arithmetic processing increases. Further, in order to pursue realism on the display screen, for example, generating a special effect image such as a flare image and adding it to the three-dimensional image display requires troublesome calculation, which further increases the load. It was an invitation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can effectively add flare images by devising display control in three-dimensional image display.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 1) is a variable display device by satisfying a predetermined variation start condition. (For example, the variable display of the identification information displayed on the special symbol display device 4 is started, and when the predetermined variation stop condition is satisfied, the variable display of the identification information is stopped to derive the predetermined variation display result. The variable display control means (for example, the game control section 11 and the display control section 13) to be displayed and the variable display result derived and displayed by the variable display control means can be given a predetermined game value when the display result becomes the specific display mode. Based on the game control means (for example, the game control section 11) and the variation display mode of the identification information by the variation display control means, a plurality of three arranged in the virtual three-dimensional space viewed from the virtual viewpoint. An image display control means (for example, a game control unit 11 and a display control unit 13) that perspectively projects the original object on a two-dimensional plane and displays a two-dimensional image obtained by this perspective projection on a variable display device. The image display control means is configured to generate and display a flare image based on the position of a light source existing in the visual field viewed from a preset viewpoint and the amount of light from the light source.

Further, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect of the present invention (for example, the slot machine 101), the variation display of the identification information displayed on the variable display device (103) by satisfying a predetermined variation start condition. And a variable display control means for deriving and displaying a predetermined variable display result by stopping the variable display of the identification information by satisfying a predetermined variable stop condition, and a variable display derived and displayed by the variable display control means. Arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual viewpoint, based on the game control means that can give a predetermined game value when the result is the specific display mode and the variable display mode of the identification information by the variable display control means. Perspective projection of a plurality of three-dimensional objects to be performed on a two-dimensional plane,
Image display control means for displaying a two-dimensional image obtained by this perspective projection on an image display device (104) provided separately from the variable display device, and the image display control means is provided from a preset viewpoint. The flare image is generated and displayed based on the position of the light source existing in the viewed field and the amount of light from the light source.

With such a configuration, the flare image is generated only by the narrowed information such as the position of the light source and the amount of light from the light source. Specifically, the flare image is displayed by superimposing a predetermined number of unit flare images obtained based on the amount of light from the light source on a virtual straight line set corresponding to the position of the light source. Further, it is preferable that the degree of overlap of the unit flare images is set based on the distance from the center position of the visual field to the position of the light source.

In order to achieve the above object, the image display control method according to the third aspect of the present invention starts the variable display of the identification information displayed on the variable display device by satisfying a predetermined variation start condition. And a variation stop procedure for deriving and displaying a predetermined variation display result by stopping the variation display of the identification information by satisfying a predetermined variation stop condition, and a specific display mode for the derived variation display result. In addition to a value-adding procedure that makes it possible to add a predetermined game value in the case of, and a perspective projection of a plurality of three-dimensional objects arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual viewpoint on a two-dimensional plane, When displaying a two-dimensional image obtained by perspective projection, a flare image is generated based on the position of a light source existing in the visual field viewed from a preset viewpoint and the amount of light from the light source, And a Shimesuru flare image display procedure.

That is, the same effect as that of the gaming machine of the present invention can be obtained by causing a computer device or the like including a game device to execute the procedure according to the above method.
That is, by implementing the processing procedure described above using hardware such as a computer device, the image display technology of the present invention can be easily implemented on the hardware.

In order to achieve the above object, a control program according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a variation that starts variation display of identification information displayed on a variable display device when a predetermined variation start condition is satisfied. A start step, a fluctuation stop step of stopping the variable display of the identification information by satisfying a predetermined fluctuation stop condition and deriving and displaying a predetermined fluctuation display result, and the derived and displayed fluctuation display result is a specific display mode. When a value is added to a predetermined game value, a perspective projection of a plurality of three-dimensional objects arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual viewpoint onto a two-dimensional plane and the perspective projection When displaying a two-dimensional image obtained by, a flare image based on the position of the light source existing in the visual field viewed from a preset viewpoint and the amount of light from the light source. Produced, and a flare image display step of displaying.

That is, the game machine of the present invention can be easily realized by causing a computer or the like to read the program recording the above steps and executing a series of processes. In this case, by forming the program in the form of a program recording medium, it is possible to easily perform production, sale, distribution, etc. as a software product independent of the device. In addition, the game machine according to the present invention can be easily implemented by incorporating this software into hardware such as a computer device in advance.

Further, a program for causing a computer device or the like to execute the above steps is encoded and transmitted as a program code signal superimposed on a carrier wave, and the program code signal superimposed on this carrier wave is received to obtain the original program code signal. The image display technique of the present invention can be easily implemented by decrypting the program and causing the computer or the like to execute the program.

Further, such a program storage medium is
It defines a structural or functional cooperative relationship between computer software and a storage medium for realizing the functions of predetermined computer software on a computer device. In other words, by installing the predetermined computer software on the computer device via the storage medium, the program according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a cooperative action is exerted on the computer device. It is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the gaming machine according to the first and second aspects, or the image display control method according to the third aspect of the present invention.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the reach effect display means that the display symbols other than the display symbol that is the final stop symbol, for example, is in a state of being in agreement with the specific display mode that is a big hit, or a predetermined specific display symbol. In a row, the state of stopping, swinging, scaling or deforming (hereinafter, these states are called temporary stop),
That is, a state in which the update display is continuously stopped for a certain period within a predetermined area, or a state in which the display positions of the display symbols are switched, or a state in which a plurality of display symbols are updated and displayed in synchronization with each other As described above, it means the effect display that apparently increases the possibility that the display result will be the specific display mode before the final result is displayed. The reach display mode refers to a display mode when the reach effect display is performed.

Then, a specific combination of the symbol display area in the special symbol display device is set in advance as an effective line, and when it is decided to give a predetermined game value, a big hit depending on the final stop symbol mode. When notifying that the display symbol has changed, the display symbol that is finally stopped on the activated line is changed to a specific display mode after the display symbol is changed. Therefore, the player can easily recognize whether or not it is a big hit by confirming the display mode on the activated line in the special symbol display device.

As the gaming machine in this embodiment, LC
An example of a first-class pachinko game machine of a card reader (CR: Card Reader) type, which is a game machine that plays a special figure game with an image display device including D and that lends a ball using a prepaid card, will be described. However, the game machine to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and a CRT (Cathode Ray) is used as a variable display device.
Tube), LED (Light Emitting)
Diode), FED (Field Emission)
Display), EL (Electro Lumi)
nescence), PDP (Plasma Disp)
The present invention is also applicable to a game machine using an image display device such as a lay panel), a mechanical display device such as a drum or a belt is used as a variable display device, and the image display device described above for effect display is used. The one used may be used.

Further, even a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, if it has an image display device, for example,
Pachinko gaming machines classified into the second or third type,
It may be a general electric machine, or a ball game machine with a probability setting function called Pachikon. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a CR-type pachinko gaming machine that lends a ball using a prepaid card (in the future, a value medium that also includes an IC coin or the like), but also to a pachinko gaming machine that lends a ball by cash. That is, any form may be used as long as it is a game machine having an image display device such as an LCD and capable of displaying a three-dimensional image.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine in this embodiment, showing a layout of main members.
The pachinko gaming machine (gaming machine) 1 is roughly divided into a gaming board (gauge board) 2 that constitutes a gaming board surface, and a gaming machine frame (underframe) 3 that supports and fixes the gaming board 2. The game board 2 is formed with a substantially circular game area surrounded by guide rails, and a special symbol display device 4 as an image display device is provided at a substantially central position of the game area.

At the lower position of the special symbol display device 4, a special symbol starting port (start chucker) 6 which also serves as an electric tulip type accessory (ordinary electric accessory) 6 and a solenoid or the like when a big hit occurs are driven. The special winning opening (first-class special electric accessory) 7 that performs the opening operation is arranged vertically. The special winning opening 7 performs the opening operation of the special winning opening door 7a provided on the front surface when the special drawing game is played based on the winning timing of the special symbol starting opening 6 and the result is a big hit. Further, speakers 8L and 8R for reproducing and outputting a sound effect and the like are provided at upper and left positions of the gaming machine frame 3, and a lamp 9 and a lamp 9 are provided in a peripheral portion of the game area.
, ... Are provided.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine in this embodiment, showing the layout of the main boards.
The pachinko gaming machine 1 has a power supply board (power supply section 10), a main control board (game control section 11), as will be described later in detail.
Symbol control board (display control section 13), voice control board (voice control section 14), lamp control board (lamp control section 1)
5), a payout control board (payout control section 16), and an external terminal board (information output section 17), which are arranged at appropriate positions.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example centering on the game control unit. The pachinko gaming machine 1 in the present embodiment mainly includes a power supply unit (power supply board) 10
, Game control unit (main control board) 11, input / output unit 12
, A display control unit (symbol control board) 13, a voice control section (voice control board) 14, a lamp control section (lamp control board) 15, a payout control section (payout control board) 16, and an information output section ( External terminal board) 17.

The power supply unit 10 supplies a predetermined power supply voltage to each circuit in the pachinko gaming machine 1. The game control unit 11 is composed of various circuits provided in the game control board, and has a function of generating random numbers used in the special figure game, a function of inputting / outputting a signal through the input / output unit 12, and a display control unit. 13, the voice control unit 14, the lamp control unit 15, and the payout control unit 16 each have a function of outputting a control command signal and a function of outputting various information to a hall management computer.

The input / output unit 12 is for detecting a game ball and opening / closing the accessory. The display control unit 13, the voice control unit 14, and the lamp control unit 15 respectively perform special figure display control, voice output control, and lamp display control in the special figure game based on the control command signal transmitted from the game control unit 11. It is executed independently of the game control unit 11. The payout control unit 16 controls the payout of game balls and the payout of prize balls. The information output unit 17 is for outputting various game-related information to the outside.

Here, the temporary stop timing and the variation time of the display symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 4 are uniquely determined according to the variable display pattern command described later. That is, the display control unit 13, the voice control unit 14, and the lamp control unit 15 change the display symbol on the special symbol display device 4, the voice output from the speakers 8L and 8R, and the lamp from the timing when the variable display pattern command is received. The control is performed so that the blinking display of 9 is performed together.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of the display controller. The display control unit 13 is composed of various circuits provided in the symbol control board, and performs display control for image processing in the special figure game independently of the game control unit 11. The display control unit 13 displays an image used in the special figure game on the special symbol display device 4 based on the display control command data output from the game control unit 11.

For this reason, the display control unit 13 controls the oscillation circuit 2
1, a reset circuit 22, a display control CPU (Ce
general processing unit) 23
And ROM (Read Only Memory) 24
And RAM (Random Access Memory)
y) 25 and a graphics data generation processor (GTE: Geometric Engine) 26
And a video display processor (hereinafter VDP: V
video display processor) 27
A character ROM 28 and an LCD drive circuit 29.

The oscillator circuit 21 includes a CPU 23 and a GTE 26.
And VDP27, and the reset circuit 22 outputs a reset signal for resetting the CPU 23, the GTE 26, and the VDP 27. When the display control command data is input from the game control unit 11, the CPU 23 reads the control data for display control from the ROM 24 while using the RAM 25 as a work area. Further, the CPU 23 outputs a control signal to the VDP 27 based on the read control data. The ROM 24 is a semiconductor memory that stores various control programs used by the CPU 23.
The AM 25 is a semiconductor memory used as a work area by the CPU 23.

The GTE 26 operates as a coprocessor of the CPU 23 and executes coordinate conversion and light source calculation, which are indispensable for three-dimensional graphics, such as fixed-point matrix and vector operations, at high speed by a parallel processing mechanism. Specifically, the GTE 26 is an address on the display area of the processing target image based on the coordinate data of each vertex, the movement amount data and the rotation amount data in the two-dimensional or three-dimensional plane of the image data supplied from the CPU 23. Is calculated and the calculated address data is returned to the CPU 23 again, and the brightness of the image according to the distance and angle from the virtually set light source is calculated. Further, the calculation result can be directly embedded in a drawing command to the VDP 27 described later.

The VDP 27 has a display device control function for displaying an image and a high speed polygon drawing function for the frame buffer 30, and operates according to a polygon drawing command from the CPU 23. Further, it has a two-dimensional address space independent of the CPU 23, and the frame buffer 30 is mapped therein. Character ROM 28
Is character image data that is frequently used among the images displayed on the special symbol display device 4, specifically, a person,
It is for storing animals, characters, figures, symbols, etc. in advance. It also stores shape models of various objects, texture images, and color palette data.

As shown in FIG. 4, the VDP 27 has a frame buffer 30, a CPU interface 31, an attribute table 32, a sprite arithmetic unit 33, and CGROM interfaces 34, 35.
A color bus controller 36, a palette table 37, a DAC conversion table 38, a D / A converter 39, and a synchronization timing controller 40.

The frame buffer 30 is an image memory managed by the VDP 27, and is for expanding the image data generated by the VDP 27. Further, the dual port configuration is adopted so that the drawing access can be executed even for the area being displayed. The LCD drive circuit 29 converts the image data input from the VDP 27 into
It is converted into a video signal composed of a color signal and a synchronization signal, and is output to the special symbol display device 4.

The CPU interface 31 is the CPU 2
It is for fetching the drawing command from 3. The attribute table 32 stores attributes for each image data to be displayed, for example, a function that defines the size, the moving direction, and the moving amount, and attributes such as the priority set for each sprite data. The sprite arithmetic unit 33 is for performing arithmetic processing such as position calculation for scanning and developing the sprite data. CGROM interface 34
Is an interface for reading out the character image data stored in the character ROM 28.
The ROM interface 35 is the frame buffer 30.
Is an interface for inputting / outputting data to / from.

The color bus controller 36 is for inputting / outputting a color code or a palette code. The palette table 37 determines the color of the image data based on the palette code set by the color bus controller 36. The DAC conversion table 38 is for applying gamma correction or the like so that the color determined by the palette table 37 is correctly displayed in accordance with the display characteristics of the LCD used in the special symbol display device 4. The D / A converter 39 converts the digital signal corrected by the DAC conversion table 38 into an analog signal. The synchronization timing controller 40 outputs a synchronization signal (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, clock signal) to be supplied to the LCD drive circuit 29 based on the clock signal from the oscillation circuit 21 and the reset signal from the reset circuit 22. Is.

Next, the operation (action) of this embodiment will be described.

First, the outline of the game flow in the pachinko gaming machine of this embodiment will be described. By rotating the handle provided at the lower right position of the pachinko gaming machine 1, a game ball is launched into the game area. In the game control unit 11, the presence or absence of an input such as a special symbol start switch in the input / output unit 12 is monitored, and the game ball has a special symbol start port 6
When winning the prize, the winning of the game ball is detected by the special symbol start switch. Further, when the winning of the game ball is detected at the special symbol starting port 6, the number of winning game balls and the random number lottery value at the time of winning are stored in the special symbol determining bank. Then, the special symbol game is started on the special symbol display device 4 based on the stored data.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the main processing executed by the CPU in the game control section 11. When the power to the gaming machine is turned on, in the main process, C
The PU performs necessary initialization processing.

In the initialization process, the CPU first
Set the interrupt mode to the interrupt disabled state (step S1
01: Hereinafter, simply referred to as S101), subsequently, the interrupt mode is set to the interrupt mode 2 (S102), and the stack pointer designated address is set to the stack pointer (S103). Next, after setting the built-in device registers, that is, initialization (S104), and after setting the built-in devices, CTC (counter / timer) and PIO (parallel input / output port), that is, initialization (S10).
5) Set the RAM in the accessible state (S10)
6).

The CPU in the game control unit 11 used in this embodiment has a maskable interrupt (I
The following three types of modes are prepared as NT) modes. When a maskable interrupt occurs, the CPU in the game control unit 11 automatically sets the interrupt disabled state and saves the contents of the program counter in the stack.

Interrupt mode 0: The built-in device that has made an interrupt request sends an RST instruction (1 byte) or a CALL instruction (3 bytes) to the internal data bus of the CPU.
Therefore, the CPU executes the instruction at the address corresponding to the RST instruction or the address specified by the CALL instruction.
At reset, the CPU automatically enters interrupt mode 0, so if you want to set interrupt mode 1 or interrupt mode 2, you need to perform processing to set interrupt mode 1 or interrupt mode 2 in the initialization process. There is.

Interrupt mode 1: When an interrupt is accepted, the mode is always to jump to the address 0038 (h).

Interrupt mode 2: A mode in which an address composed of a value (1 byte) of a specific register (I register) of the CPU and an interrupt vector (1 byte: least significant bit 0) output from an internal device indicates an interrupt address. Is.
That is, the interrupt address is an address indicated by 2 bytes in which the upper address is the value of the specific register and the lower address is the interrupt vector. Therefore, interrupt processing can be provided at arbitrary even addresses, although they are scattered. Each built-in device has a function of sending an interrupt vector when making an interrupt request.

Therefore, when the interrupt mode 2 is set,
It becomes possible to easily process an interrupt request from each built-in device, and it is possible to provide an interrupt process at an arbitrary position in the program. Furthermore, unlike the interrupt mode 1, it is easy to prepare each interrupt process for each interrupt generation factor. Because of such features, in the present embodiment, the CPU in the game control unit 11 sets the interrupt mode 2 in S102 of the initial setting process.

Next, it is determined whether or not the clear switch provided in the gaming machine is turned on (S10).
7). Here, if the clear switch is on (S107; YES), the process proceeds to S110, which will be described later.
On the other hand, if the clear switch is not turned on (S1
07; NO), and it is determined whether or not data protection processing of the backup RAM area, such as addition of parity data, is performed when the power is turned off (S108). In this embodiment, in the event of an unexpected power failure, the backup RA
Processing for protecting the data in the M area is performed. Therefore, it is determined that there is a backup when the data protection process has been performed. Then, when it is determined that there is no backup, the CPU executes the initialization process of S110 and later described later.

When it is determined that there is a backup in the determination process of S108, the CPU sets the internal state of the game control unit 11 and the control states of the respective control units such as the display control unit 13 and the payout control unit 16 to the states before the power is turned off. Perform recovery processing to return (S1
09). Then, the saved value of the program counter stored in the backup RAM area is reset to the program counter and restored to that address.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a power-off process executed by the CPU in the game control unit 11. In the power-off process, when it is detected that the voltage has dropped below the predetermined voltage value, the RAM checksum operation is performed (S203) after saving the register (S201) and the stack pointer (S202). Next, the RAM is set to the access prohibited state (S204) and the output port is cleared (S205). When it is ready to be inoperable, it waits in this state.

Returning to FIG. 5, when it is determined that there is no backup in the determination processing of S108, the CPU executes the initialization processing. That is, first, while performing a RAM clear process (S110), a predetermined work area (for example, a random symbol for normal symbol determination, a normal symbol determination buffer, a special symbol left middle right symbol buffer, a payout command storage pointer, etc.)
An initial value setting process for setting an initial value to is also performed. next,
Processing for initializing sub boards such as a pattern control board, a sound control board, a lamp control board, and a payout control board is executed (S111).

As the process of initializing the sub-board, for example, a process of sending an initial setting command is performed. As the initial setting command, when the payout is possible, the payout control unit 1
6, a payable state designation command to be output, or a payout stop state designation command to be output to the payout control unit 16 when the payout is impossible, and the like. The undeliverable state includes, for example, a state in which a ball out switch or a full tank switch (both not shown) is turned on.

That is, the CPU sends a payout stop state designating command to the payout control unit 16 if the out-of-ball switch or the full-tank switch is turned on, and otherwise sends a payable state designating command. The payable state designation command or the payout stop state designation command is S1.
It may be output also in the game state recovery processing of 09.

Then, the CTC register provided in the CPU is set so that the timer interrupt is applied periodically (every 2 milliseconds) (S112). That is, a value corresponding to 2 ms as an initial value is set in a predetermined register (time constant register). After that, after setting the interrupt disabled state (S113), the display symbol random number updating process for updating the count value of the counter for generating the display random number is executed (S114), and the initial value determining random number updating process is executed. (S115), the process of setting the interrupt enabled state is performed (S116). Hereinafter, S113 to S1
The processing of 16 is repeatedly executed.

The interrupt disabled state is realized by issuing an interrupt disabled instruction, setting the register for interrupt disabled to disabled, and setting a mask register. The interrupt enabled state issues an interrupt enabled instruction. Or
It is realized by setting the register for interrupt prohibition to enable or resetting the mask register. Also,
The initial value determination random number is a random number for determining the initial value of the big hit determination random number.

Display symbol random number update processing in S114,
The random number updating process for initial value determination in S115 and S115 is executed in the interrupt disabled state. Therefore, when the numerical value updating process is being executed, a maskable interrupt such as a timer interrupt is not applied, and the numerical value updating process is executed without being interrupted by the interrupt process.

In this embodiment, the built-in CTC of the CPU is set to repeatedly generate the timer interrupt.
Then, the repetition cycle is set to 2 milliseconds. Then, when a timer interrupt occurs, timer interrupt processing as described later is executed.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the timer interrupt processing executed by the CPU in the game control section 11. In the timer interrupt process, the CPU first executes a register save process (S301), and then S3 described below.
Each game control process of 02 to S314 is sequentially executed. When these game control processes are completed, register restoration processing is performed (S315), and the interrupt enabled state is set (S31).
6).

In the game control processing, the CPU inputs the states of switches such as a gate switch, a start opening switch, a count switch, and a winning opening switch through a switch circuit (not shown) in the input / output unit 12, Those states are determined (switch process: S302). Next, various abnormality diagnosis processing is performed by the self-diagnosis function provided inside the pachinko gaming machine 1, and an alarm is issued if necessary according to the result (error processing: S3
03).

Next, a random number updating process for updating each counter showing each judgment random number such as a big hit judgment random number used for game control is carried out (S304). The CPU further performs an initial value determination random number updating process (S305) and a display symbol random number updating process (S306). Note that S305 and S3
The content of the processing of 06 is the same as the processing of S115 and S114 described above.

Further, the CPU performs a special symbol process process which will be described in detail later (S307). In this special symbol process process, as will be described later in detail, the corresponding process is executed according to the special symbol process flag for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 in a predetermined order according to the gaming state.
The value of the special symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the game state. Further, the CPU normally performs a symbol process process (S308). In the normal pattern process processing,
The corresponding process is executed according to the normal symbol process flag for controlling the lighting of the variable display 18 by the pair of left and right LEDs in a predetermined manner. The value of the normal symbol process flag is also updated during each process according to the game state.

Next, the CPU performs a process of sending a display control command by setting a display control command for the special symbol in a predetermined area of the RAM (special symbol command control process: S309), and a display control command for the ordinary symbol. A process of sending a display control command by setting it in a predetermined area of the RAM is performed (normal symbol command control process: S31
0). Further, the CPU performs, for example, information output processing for outputting data such as big hit information, start information, and probability variation information supplied to the hall management computer (S31).
1).

Further, the CPU has a solenoid circuit (not shown) in the input / output unit 12 when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
A drive command is issued to (S312). The solenoid circuit drives the solenoid according to the drive command, and the special symbol starting port 6
Alternatively, the special winning opening door 7a is opened or closed. Then, the CPU executes prize ball processing for setting the number of prize balls based on the detection output of the switch for detecting the winning of each prize hole (S313). Specifically, the payout control command is output to the payout control unit 16 in response to the winning detection. A payout control CPU (not shown) mounted on the payout control unit 16 drives a ball payout device (not shown) in response to the payout control command.

By the above control processing, in the present embodiment, the game control processing is activated every 2 milliseconds. Also, until all of the game control processing is executed, it is not in the interrupt enabled state, so other interrupts or the next timer interrupt will not occur, and all the processing during the game control processing is executed reliably. Complete.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example of a program for special symbol process processing executed by the CPU. The special symbol process process shown in FIG. 8 is a specific process of S307 in the flowchart of FIG. CP
U, when performing the special symbol process process, performs a variation reduction timer subtraction process (S401), and then determines whether or not the switch of the special symbol starting port 6 (first type starting port switch) is on. (S402). When the first-type starting opening switch is in the ON state (S402; YES), if the number of memory for winning the winning prize is not full, the number of memory for winning the winning prize is incremented by 1 and a random number for jackpot determination is extracted. A starting opening switch passage process is performed (S403). On the other hand, when the first-type starting opening switch is not in the on state (S402; N
O), without performing the processing of S403, one of the processing of S404 to S412 is directly performed according to the internal state (special figure flag information). The fluctuation reduction timer is a timer for setting the fluctuation time when the fluctuation time of the special symbol is shortened. The value of the special figure flag information is updated during each process according to the game state.

When the value of the special figure flag information is "00H",
It is determined whether or not the random number value selected in the special drawing game matches the jackpot value, and the "special symbol normal processing" in the normal gaming state such as the processing of notifying it to the outside is executed (S404). When the value of the special symbol flag information is “01H”, the “special symbol stop symbol setting process” for setting the stop symbol in the special symbol game performed on the special symbol display device 4 is executed (S405). The value of special map flag information is "02
When "H", "variable display pattern setting process" for setting the variable display pattern of the symbol of the special figure game performed on the special symbol display device 4 is executed (S406).

When the value of the special figure flag information is "03H",
The "special symbol variation process" for performing the variation process in the special symbol game is executed on the special symbol display device 4 (S40).
7). When the value of the special symbol flag information is "04H", the "special symbol stop process" for decelerating and stopping the special symbol is executed (S408). When the value of the special figure flag information is "05H", the "special winning opening opening preprocessing" for performing the initialization processing for the big hit operation is executed (S409).

When the value of the special figure flag information is "06H",
Various processing relating to the big hit operation and the "large winning opening opening processing" for checking the opening time of the single big winning opening 7 are executed (S410). When the value of the special figure flag information is "07H", the passage of the game ball to the specific area switch is monitored, and "specific area effective time processing" for determining whether or not the special symbol process is executed is executed (S41).
1). When the value of the special figure flag information is "08H", it is determined whether or not the special symbol process is finished, and if it is finished, the demo display (screen during big hit) flag is cleared, the big hit display pattern is cleared, and the big hit end display is displayed. "Big hit end processing" for clearing and clearing information during big hit is executed (S4
12).

Incidentally, each process executed in the special symbol process process is not limited to the above-mentioned process, but may be replaced with another process or further another process may be added. Also, when the processing contents of each processing branched by the value of the special figure flag information are complicated and the processing cannot be completed within the timer interrupt time,
You may make it add several same processes.

In the special figure game, when the game ball passes through the special symbol starting port 6, the special symbol big hit is determined by the value of the random number for determination, and the loss is determined. As a result of the determination, when a big hit is displayed, a combination of special symbols corresponding to the value of the random number for determination is displayed on the special symbol display device 4. On the other hand, in the case of losing, a special symbol corresponding to the value of the display symbol random number is displayed.

Below, from the game control section 11 to the display control section 13
The image display processing performed by the display control unit 13 based on the display control command data output to will be described in detail. In addition, in the image display processing by the display control unit 13, if similar image display is apparently performed, it is not always necessary to execute the processing procedure according to the flowchart described below.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a series of flows in the display control process. The display control unit 13
First, it is determined whether or not a variation display pattern command is input from the game control unit 11 (S501). In the determination process of S501, if a variable display pattern command is input (S501; YES), a random number extraction process is performed to extract a random number that determines the type of advance notice effect accompanying the variable display (S502). Next, it is determined whether or not there is an apparent reach effect included in the specified variable display pattern command (S503).

Here, when the reach effect is performed in the determination processing of S503 (S503; YES), it is determined whether or not the reach effect type is super reach (S50).
4) If not super reach (S504; N
O), after performing the normal reach effect display processing for displaying the image for the normal reach effect on the special symbol display device 4 (S).
505), and returns to the main flow. On the other hand, if it is a super reach in the determination processing of S504 (S50
4; YES), after performing the super reach production display processing for displaying the image for super reach production on the special symbol display device 4 (S506), the process returns to the main flow.

Further, when it is determined that the reach effect is not performed in the determination processing of S503 (S503; NO), it is determined whether or not there is a pending memory for changing the symbol (S50).
7) If there is a pending storage (S507; YES), the process directly returns to the main flow. On the other hand, if there is no pending storage in the determination process of S507 (S507; NO), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the symbol variation stopped (S508), and the predetermined time has not elapsed. In the case (S508; NO), the process directly returns to the main flow. Then, when a certain time has elapsed (S50
8; YES), after performing the demo display process for displaying the demo display image on the special symbol display device 4 (S509), the process returns to the main flow.

When the variable display pattern command is not input in S501 (S501; NO), it is subsequently determined whether or not the big hit is in progress (S510), and when it is not in the big hit (S510; NO). , And proceeds to S507. On the other hand, if the big hit in the determination process of S510 (S510; YES), the special symbol display device 4
Information related to jackpots (number of rounds and jackpot patterns, etc.)
After performing the big hit display processing for displaying the image of (S
511), and returns to the main flow.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the principle of three-dimensional image display in this embodiment. As shown in the figure, based on an instruction from the CPU 23, the display target object OB formed by polygons is displayed in a virtual three-dimensional (X,
Y, Z) are arranged in the space, an image IM obtained by projecting them on the virtual screen SC is obtained by arithmetic processing, and this image is controlled by the LCD drive circuit 29 to the special symbol display device (variable display device) 4. Display it.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a flare image. As shown in the figure, in the special symbol display device 4 in the present embodiment, a background image for the special symbol (left symbol) T1, the special symbol (middle symbol) T2, and the special symbol (right symbol) T3 that are identification information. The three-dimensional image (not shown) described above is displayed. In this state, if a light source such as the sun S enters the preset field of view,
The flare image F is displayed in the display area in order to pursue the realism of the display image.

The generation and display of flare images in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.

12 to 15 are views for explaining the procedure for generating a flare image in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, the flare image F is generated by the position S1 of the light source S and the light source S existing in the visual field viewed from the preset visual point.
It is generated based on the amount of light from. That is, first, the virtual straight line L1 is drawn from the position S1 of the light source S with respect to the line-of-sight position P viewed from a preset viewpoint.

Next, based on the amount of light from the light source S, a predetermined number of unit flare images F1 to F3 are generated. This is for generating 1 to 7 unit flare images stepwise according to the amount of light, and in the example shown in FIG. 12, three unit flare images F1 to F3 are generated. That is, when the amount of light from the light source S is large, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, seven unit flare images F1 to F7 are generated. The setting of the number of unit flare images generated based on the amount of light is not limited to this embodiment, and can be set arbitrarily.

The degree of overlap of the unit flare images F1 to F3 is set based on the distance from the line-of-sight position P to the position S1 of the light source S. That is, as shown in FIG.
When the distance of the virtual straight line L1 is relatively long, the intervals between the unit flare images F1 to F3 also become wide, and as shown in FIG. 13, when the distance of the virtual straight line L2 is shorter than L1, the intervals between the unit flare images F1 to F3. Also becomes narrower. The setting of the interval in this case is not limited to this embodiment, and can be set arbitrarily.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, when the position of the light source S moves, the virtual straight line L is based on the movement of the light source S.
The direction and length of 1 also change. In this case, the number of unit flare images and the degree of overlap of unit flare images also change in accordance with the change. By generating the flare image in this way, it is possible to effectively generate and display the flare image without imposing a heavy load on the arithmetic processing.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of a flare image. In the examples shown in FIGS. 11 to 15, the shape of the unit flare image is a hexagon, but the shape of the unit flare image can be set arbitrarily. That is, in FIG.
As shown in (a), it may be circular or elliptical, trapezoidal as shown in FIG. 16 (b), triangular as shown in (c), and quadrangular as shown in (d). Good.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a slot machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. The slot machine (gaming machine) 101 includes a variable display device 103, an image display device 104, a coin slot 105, a MaxBET button 106a, and one BET provided on the front surface of a housing 102.
Button 106b, start lever 107, stop buttons 108L, 108C, 108R, and speaker 10
9L, 109R, 109D.

The variable display device 103 variably displays the identification information by driving the three reels to which the identification information is attached.
The variable display of the identification information is started based on the operation of 7, and stop buttons 108L, 108C, 1 to be described later are started.
The variable display of the identification information is stopped based on the operation of 08R. The image display device 104 is composed of a display device such as an LCD, and displays various effects according to the game state.

The coin insertion slot 105 is for inserting coins as a game medium, and up to 50 coins can be credited. Max
The BET button 106a is for setting the maximum number of bets from the credited coins according to the gaming state, and the one BET button 106b is for setting the bet number one by one regardless of the gaming state. It is for.

The start lever 107 starts a variable display of the identification information displayed on the variable display device 103 by driving the reel according to the operation of the player in a state where a predetermined number of bets has been set. It is for making it. The stop buttons 108L, 108C, 108R are
This is for stopping each reel which is changing by the operation of the player. Here, when the player does not operate, after a lapse of a predetermined time, for example, the game is stopped in the order of left, middle, and right.

Speakers 109L, 109R, 109D
Is a start lever 107 and a stop button 108
This is for outputting various effect sounds according to the game state, such as sound effects at the time of operating L, 108C, and 108R, at the time of winning a prize, at the start of a bonus game, and an alarm sound at the time of abnormality.

In the above configuration, first, by inserting a predetermined number of coins (three coins in a normal case) into the coin insertion slot 105, or if there is sufficient credit left, Ma
xBET button 106a or single BET button 106
A predetermined number of bets is set by pressing b. After the betting number is set, the reel is driven by operating the start lever 107, and the variable display device 103
The variable display of the identification information is started above.

On the image display device 104, effect display is performed in each game or in any game. For example, if a bonus flag or a predetermined small winning combination is internally established at the time when the start lever 107 is operated, an effect display is performed in order to notify the established bonus flag or small winning combination. Here, this slot machine 101
Has a bonus flag or two-dimensional image data for each small winning combination, and when performing a bonus flag or a small winning combination effect display, an effect display of the established winning combination image is performed. The same effect display as in the case of the pachinko gaming machine described above may be added to the image display device 104 having such a configuration.

In the above embodiment, the slot machine using coins as the game medium is explained.
In addition, a slot machine that uses a pachinko ball as a game medium or a slot machine that plays a game based on an electronic information medium such as an IC card or an IC medal may be used.

The game machine of the present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are made without departing from the scope of the invention. It can be applied. For example, FIGS.
The block configuration shown in can be arbitrarily changed and modified.

A program storage medium used for installing the communication control program in a computer device and making it executable by the computer device is, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD: Floppy Disk), CD-ROM (C
ompact Disk-Read Only Mem
ory), DVD (Digital Versatil)
e Disk) or the like, and may be realized by a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like in which the program is temporarily or permanently stored. Further, as means for storing the program in these program storage media,
Local Area Network (LAN: Local A)
For example, wired or wireless communication means such as a rea network), the Internet, or a digital communication satellite may be used, and various communication devices such as a modem and a router may be interposed and stored.

[0096]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The flare image can be effectively added without imposing a large load on the arithmetic processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example centering on a game control unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of a display control unit in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main process in the game control unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing power-off processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing timer interrupt processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a special symbol process process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a series of flows in a display control process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the principle of three-dimensional image display in this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of a flare image.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a flare image generation procedure in the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a flare image generation procedure in the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for generating a flare image according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for generating a flare image according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a shape example of a flare image.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a slot machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Pachinko gaming machine (gaming machine) 4 Special symbol display device (variable display device) 11 Game control unit (game control means, variable display control means,
Image display control means) 13 Display control unit (variable display control means, image display control means) 101 Slot machine (gaming machine) 103 Variable display device 104 Image display device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A variable display of the identification information displayed on the variable display device is started when a predetermined fluctuation start condition is satisfied, and a variable display of the identification information is stopped when a predetermined fluctuation stop condition is satisfied. Variable display control means for deriving and displaying a predetermined variable display result, and game control means for enabling a predetermined game value to be given when the variable display result derived and displayed by the variable display control means is in a specific display mode. A plurality of three-dimensional objects arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual viewpoint are perspective-projected onto a two-dimensional plane based on the variable display mode of the identification information by the variable display control means, Image display control means for displaying a two-dimensional image obtained by projection on the variable display device, wherein the image display control means is a preset visual display device. A gaming machine having a function of generating and displaying a flare image based on the position of a light source existing in the field of view viewed from a point and the amount of light from the light source. 2. The variable display of the identification information displayed on the variable display device is started by satisfying a predetermined variation start condition, and the variable display of the identification information is stopped by satisfying a predetermined variation stop condition. Variable display control means for deriving and displaying a predetermined variable display result, and game control means for enabling a predetermined game value to be given when the variable display result derived and displayed by the variable display control means is in a specific display mode. A plurality of three-dimensional objects arranged in a virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a virtual viewpoint are perspective-projected onto a two-dimensional plane based on the variable display mode of the identification information by the variable display control means, Image display control means for displaying a two-dimensional image obtained by projection on an image display device provided separately from the variable display device. The display control means has a function of generating and displaying a flare image based on the position of a light source existing in the field of view viewed from a preset viewpoint and the amount of light from the light source. 3. The flare image is displayed by superposing a predetermined number of unit flare images obtained based on the amount of light from the light source on a virtual straight line set corresponding to the position of the light source. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a gaming machine. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the degree of overlap of the unit flare images is set based on the distance from the center position of the visual field to the position of the light source.