JP2003135724A - Device and method for game - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a game more thrilling and further to improve game property by varying the condition or contents of round continuation. SOLUTION: It is selected whether or not a round is to be continued and when the round is to be continued, a game system for continuing the round is selected. Corresponding to the selected game system, round continuation conditions containing at least a time and the number of balls to be passed to a prescribed area are set and on the basis of the set round continuation conditions, the contents of the round continuation conditions and the contents of the continued game system are changed to control the continuation of the round.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game device and a game method capable of arbitrarily setting / changing conditions for continuing a round such as a big hit or a small hit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, game machines, such as pachinko machines, have been devised so that a big hit can occur continuously many times in order to improve the game.

Generally, in order to continuously generate a big hit, if one round from opening to closing of the special winning opening that causes the big hit, this round needs to be continued. As an example, as a condition for continuing the round, if the closing condition of the first round is 30 seconds or 10 prizes, it seems that there was a prize at the V prize hole during the 1 round. In such a case, move to the next round and continue the round.

[0004]

In the conventional method of continuing a round, sometimes a big hit is generated several tens of times in succession, but the conditions and contents of the continuation of the round are monotonous, and depending on the player, The condition of continuous big hits can be easily predicted, and the thrilling property is lacking.

Further, the continuation of the round mainly relates to a big hit, and there is no change in the game such as a small hit other than the time of the big hit, and the game is lacking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine and a gaming method in which conditions and contents of a round continuation are changed, and the game is more thrilling and rich in game play.

[0007]

The present invention is a device capable of changing the conditions for continuing a round in a predetermined game mode, and the operation is finished without interruption from the time when the operation of the predetermined game mode is started. When the time point is one round, a round continuation selection means for selecting whether or not to continue the round, and a game mode for continuously performing the round when the round is continuously performed Round game form selecting means, a round continuation condition setting device for setting a round continuation condition including at least time and the number of balls passing to a predetermined area, corresponding to the selected game form, and the set round Based on the continuation condition, by changing the contents of the round continuation condition and the contents of the game form that continues, by providing a round continuation changing means for performing continuation control of the round. Te, make up the gaming apparatus.

[0008] Here, informing selection means for selecting whether or not to notify the round continuation condition, and in the case of informing the round continuation condition, a notification period including generation and termination of the notification is set, and a predetermined notification is made. You may further provide the notification condition setting means to notify by a form.

The present invention is a method capable of changing conditions for continuing a round in a predetermined game mode, and one round is from the time when the operation of the predetermined game mode is started to the time when the operation is finished without interruption. When this is done, a step of selecting whether or not to continue the round, and a step of selecting a game mode for continuously performing the round when the round is continuously performed, and the selected game Corresponding to the form, a step of setting a round continuation condition including at least time and the number of balls passing to a predetermined area, and the content and continuation of the round continuation condition based on the set round continuation condition. When changing the content of the game mode, performing a round continuation control, a step of selecting whether or not to notify the round continuation condition, and a case of notifying the round continuation condition, Set the raw and the notification period including the end, by comprising a step of notifying the predetermined notification form, it provides a game method.

[0010]

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

In this example, a pachinko machine will be described as an example of the game device.

<System Configuration> First, a schematic configuration of a pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Substrate Configuration) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 1, a game board (see FIG. 4 which will be described later).
It is provided on the back side of (see).

The pachinko machine 1 is roughly divided into a main board 10, an input side sub-board 20 and an output side sub-board 30. The main board 10 and the sub-boards 20 and 30 are connected to each other via an interface section.

The main board 10 is a game control main controller having a game control function and a command command generation function. On the main board 10, a main control unit (CPU) 11 that performs overall control, a ROM 12 that stores a system program and various control programs, a storage area for various data, and an operation processing operation. RA used as area
The M13 and the round continuation control unit 300 according to the present invention are provided.

The input port 2 is provided on the input side sub-board 20.
Through 1, the special symbol start switch 22, the normal symbol operation switch 23, the special winning opening switch 24 is connected. Further, a power supply circuit 25 for converting the commercial AC power supply 100V into AC 24V and a reset circuit 26 for performing the reset operation of the main program in a predetermined cycle are provided.

The output port 3 is provided on the output side sub-board 30.
1, through the special symbol display device 100, a mini-digital normal symbol display device 205, a lamp display device 207,
A device in which various game functions such as a sound effect generating device 32 and a prize ball payout device 33 are divided is mounted, and each of these devices includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a command receiving function, and is programmed. . That is, the device on the main substrate 10 side and the device on the sub substrate 30 side have a master-slave relationship.

In addition, although not shown, actual inspection parts, LED lights, lamp lights, various actuators (solenoids, rotary motors), speakers, display devices, etc. are mounted on the sub-board 30.

The output port 31 is connected to a normal electric accessory operating solenoid 34 and a special winning opening operating solenoid 35. The solenoids 34 and 35 are drive-controlled by a solenoid drive circuit.

(Game board) FIG. 4 shows a special symbol display device 10.
The front view of the game board of the pachinko machine provided with 0 is shown.

In the special symbol display device 100, three symbols of a left symbol 110a, a middle symbol 110b, and a right symbol 110c are formed on a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) 110. These patterns are formed by a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional image, and each pattern changes individually.

Reference numeral 200 is a starting winning opening through which the game ball 201 wins. The starting winning opening 200 is an ordinary electric accessory (electric tulip). This starting winning hole 2
00 is opened / closed according to the normal electric accessory operating solenoid 34 which is drive-controlled by the solenoid drive circuit.

Reference numeral 202 denotes a variable winning ball device (attacker) having a special winning opening 203. The special winning opening 203 is provided with a continuous winning area (V zone) 204. This variable winning ball device 202 is opened and closed by driving and controlling the special winning opening operating solenoid 35 by a solenoid drive circuit.

Reference numeral 205 is a mini-digital normal symbol display device. 206 is a normal symbol operation gate (through chucker).

Reference numeral 207 is a lamp display device. 208
Is an out mouth. 209 is a winning opening having a general structure unrelated to winning.

In the game board having such a structure,
Now, when the game ball 201 wins the starting winning opening 200, each symbol of the special symbol display device 100 starts to rotate independently, and stops after a certain period of time to determine the symbol content, whereby a big hit, reach, etc. The game content is determined. In the case of a big hit, the special winning opening 203 opens, and the game ball 201 wins the V zone 204 during this period to continue the round.

In addition, by the game ball 201 passing through the normal symbol operation gate 206, the normal symbol display device 205
Rotates, and then a small hit occurs depending on the content of the stopped value (for example, "7"). In addition, ordinary winning holes 20
By winning the game ball 201 in 9, several game balls 201 are returned.

The main structure of the present invention will be described below.

(Round Continuation Control Unit) FIG.
1 shows a schematic configuration of a round continuation control unit 300 provided in 0. In addition, although the round continuation control unit 300 is configured as a single unit here, the round continuation control unit 300 is not limited thereto, and may be integrally configured within the main control unit 11, or the special symbol display device 100 and the lamp display device on the side of the sub-board 30. 207, the normal symbol display device 205, or the sound effect generation device 32 may be provided.

The round continuation control section 300 includes a round continuation selection section 301 and a round game form selection section 302.
A round continuation condition setting unit 303, a round continuation change unit 304, a notification selection unit 305, and a notification condition setting unit 3
06 and a CPU 307 are provided. In addition, CP
The main control unit 11 may substitute the function of U307.

The round continuation selection unit 301 has a function of selecting whether or not to continue the round.

When a round is continuously played, the round game form selection unit 302 is a game form for continuously performing the round (various games such as big hit, small hit, reach, etc.).
Has the function of selecting.

The round continuation condition setting unit 303 corresponds to the selected game form, and at least the time and the number of passing balls to a predetermined area (for example, the number of winning balls to a predetermined winning opening at the time of a big hit or a small hit, reach) Sometimes it has a function of setting a round continuation condition including a predetermined number of balls passing through the game area mouth and the like).

The round continuation change unit 304 has a function of changing the contents of the round continuation condition and the contents of the game form which is continuing based on the set round continuation condition, and performing the continuation control of the round.

The notification selection unit 305 has a function of selecting whether or not to notify the round continuation condition.

When notifying the round continuation condition, the notifying condition setting unit 306 has a function of setting a notifying period including generation and termination of the notification and notifying in a predetermined notifying mode.

The round here is defined as one period (one round) from the time when the operation of a predetermined game mode is started to the time when the operation is finished without interruption. The predetermined game form is not limited to a big hit, but refers to other operations such as a small hit, a reach, and a normal game other than a hit. As a result, with the continuation of a round, one round consisting of operations such as a big hit and a small hit is continuously performed twice or more.

<System Operation> Next, the operation of this system will be described.

(Round Continuation Processing) FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the round continuation processing.

In step S1, it is selected whether or not to continue the round. If you choose to continue the round,
Go to step S2. If you do not continue the round,
In step S6, other processes such as blinking of a lamp and generation of a sound effect are performed.

Here, there are the following methods for selecting whether or not to continue the round. (1) Game ball 2
01 is a method to be selected when the winning a prize is given to the starting winning opening 200 or the winning opening 209, (2) the game ball 201 is a method to be selected when passing through the normal symbol operation gate 206, and (3) a certain fixed amount of the game ball 201. How to select when you hit,
(4) A method of selecting when a certain time has elapsed from the time of winning, (5) a method of selecting at the special winning opening 203 or the V zone 204 at the time of winning, (6) a method of selecting according to the result of the reach or the combination of symbols , (7) a method of selecting when a big hit occurs or after the end of a big hit operation, and (8) a method of selecting depending on the number of times the start winning hole 200 or the winning hole 209 is won during a normal game.

Specifically, it is assumed that (2) is used as the first example of the round continuation selection processing. In this case, when the game ball 201 passes through the normal symbol operation gate 206, whether or not to continue the round is determined by a lottery or the like by program control.

As a second example of round continuation selection processing,
(3) is used. In this case, the game ball 201 is set to be forced to continue the round when, for example, 250 balls are continuously hit.

As a third example of round continuation selection processing,
(6) is used. In this case, after the reach has been lost 5 times in a row, at the time of entering the 6th reach, whether or not to continue the round is determined after a certain time has elapsed.

Next, in step S2, a game mode for continuing the round is selected. That is, in order to continuously perform the round, any one game is selected from various game modes such as a big hit, a small hit, and a reach.
For example, if a small hit is selected, the round of the small hit is continued, and if a reach is selected, the reach round is continued. The number of consecutive rounds
You may set arbitrarily according to the selected game content.

As another method of game selection, the round may be continued according to the selected game content. For example, when the selected game is "when a big hit occurs", the big hit round is continued.

Next, in step S3, the content of the "round continuation condition" is set in correspondence with the selected game form. That is, when the game selected in step S2 is a "big hit", the content of the round continuation condition corresponding to the big hit is set, and when the selected game is a "small hit", the small hit is won. Set the content of the corresponding round continuation conditions.

Here, an example of setting the round continuation condition at the time of a big hit will be described. As a condition for continuing the round at the time of a big hit, there is usually a winning in the V zone 204, but as a condition for continuing the round, "the V zone 2 within a certain fixed time
It is assumed that the "number of winning balls to 04" is set. The "time" and the "number of winning balls" can be randomly changed.

Now, assuming that the flag is established when the "time" and the "number of winning balls" reach predetermined values and the round continuation condition is satisfied, the player wants to continue the round, It is necessary to play a game that satisfies the flag satisfaction condition. For example, if the condition for establishing a flag during a big hit is "when the number of winning balls in the V zone 204 exceeds 20 within 30 seconds", the player wins the round by satisfying the condition for establishing a flag. It can be continued.

As another example, an example of setting the round continuation condition at the time of small hit and reach will be described. As the round continuation condition at the time of a small hit, it is assumed that "the number of balls passing through to the normal symbol operation gate 206 within a certain fixed time" is set.
Thereby, for example, as a flag establishment condition at the time of the small hit, "normal symbol operation gate 206 within 10 seconds"
If the number of balls passing through to exceeds 3 balls, it is possible for the player to continue the round by satisfying the condition that the flag is satisfied.

Similarly, it is assumed that "the number of winning balls to the winning opening 209 on the right side on the board within a certain fixed time" is set as the condition for continuing the round during the reach. As a result, for example, as a flag establishment condition at the time of the reach, "2
The number of winning balls to the normal design operation gate 206 within 5 seconds is 5
If it is "when the ball is crossed", the player can continue the round by satisfying the condition that the flag is satisfied.

In this way, as a condition for establishing the flag, "the number of winning balls to the V zone 204 within a predetermined time at the time of a big hit", "the number of balls passing to the normal symbol operation gate 206 at the time of a small hit", "on the right side of the board at the time of reach" One prize hole 209
It is possible to continue the round by arbitrarily setting "number of winning balls to".

As a condition for continuing the round, "time"
And “the number of winning balls”, “time” and “the number of passing balls” are given as examples, but the contents are not limited to these contents, and the number is not limited to two and may be a combination of three or more.

Next, in step S4, the content of the round continuation condition and the content of the continuing game form are changed based on the set round continuation condition, and the continuation control of the round is performed.

Here, an example of changing the content of the round continuation condition will be described. For example, if it is determined that the condition for continuation of the currently running round is "big hit" and the round is to be continued for too long, set the "time" to be shorter, or "number of winning balls". Set a large number and change to more strict conditions to prevent hits from occurring.

On the contrary, the condition for continuing the round currently being executed is "
If it is determined that the result is a "small hit" and the duration of the round is short, set the "time" to be long or set the "number of winning balls" to be small to loosen the conditions and win. Make it easy.

Also, as a game, when "big hit" has not occurred at all and only "small hit" or "reach" continues for a long time, not only the round continuation condition but also the contents of the game form By forcibly changing itself to a "big hit", this provides the player with an environment in which more hits are likely to occur.

As the change timing of whether or not to change the contents of the round continuation condition as described above, the same contents as those of the round continuation selection methods (1) to (8) in step S2 described above may be used. it can.

Specifically, it is assumed that (5) is used as the first example of the change timing of whether or not to change the round continuation condition. In this case, the game ball 201 is 10 in the V zone 204.
At the time of the second winning, whether or not to change the round continuation condition is determined by a lottery or the like under program control.

It is assumed that (8) is used as the second example of the change timing of whether or not to change the round continuation condition. In this case, during the normal game, when the game ball 201 wins 20 balls in the predetermined winning opening 209 on the right side of the board, the continuation of the round condition is forcibly changed.

Next, in step S5, it is determined whether or not to continue the round continuation process, and if it is to continue, the process returns to step S1.

As described above, the game mode (regular game, reach, small hit, big hit, etc.) and the contents of the round continuation conditions (time, number of winning balls, etc.) when the round is continued.
By giving a change to the game, it is possible to obtain a game rich in game characteristics with more thrilling than ever before.

[Second Example] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The description of the same parts as those in the first example will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be given.

In this example, a specific example of the notification processing relating to the round continuation condition described in the first example will be described.

(Informing Process) FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the informing process of the round continuation condition.

First, in step S11, as shown in FIG.
It is selected whether or not to notify the round continuation condition described in.

As a method of selecting this notification, there are software means such as time setting by a timer and hardware means for adding a selection function to a chucker on the board.

Here, as a notification selecting process, a case where a hardware means is taken as an example and only the notification is independently selected and expressed independently of the game contents will be considered. Now, a lottery function is set as a notification selection function for the chuckers that seem to open and close randomly on the board (for example, the starting winning opening 200, the attacker 202, the through chucker 206, the winning opening 209, etc. in FIG. 4). To do.

Normally, the player does not know the notification selection function set for the chucker, and therefore aiming at a certain chucker has no effect on the payout. However, when the lottery with the content of “notify” is won, the predetermined notification content (for example, the round continuation condition including “time” and “number of winning balls”) is notified to the liquid crystal display panel 110 on the board. . At the stage when this notification is made for the first time, the player can increase the number of balls thrown out by making an effort to satisfy the informed condition contents.

Next, in step S12, when it is determined that the round continuation condition is to be notified, a notification period including "occurrence" and "end" of the notification is set, and notification is performed in a predetermined notification form. Here, the conditions for "generating" the notification and the notification period conditions for "ending" the notification are as follows. For example, (A) game ball 20
1 is a method of generating or terminating the notification by a software means such as time control by a program on the main board 10 side when a prize is won in the starting winning opening 200, and (B) the same on the main board 10 side after a big hit A method of generating or terminating the notification by a soft means, (C) a method of providing or terminating the notification when the switch and the sensor are provided on the board surface, and (D) a certain fixed amount of the game ball 201. A method of detecting the time of hitting and generating or terminating the notification, (E) a method of generating or terminating the notification when a certain period of time e.g. during winning or reaching, (F) starting winning opening 200, a big winning Mouth 20
3, or a method of generating or ending the notification at the time of winning the V zone 204, (G) a method of generating or ending the notification according to the combination of the symbols, (H) a notification after the big hit occurs or the big hit operation ends Method of occurrence or termination, (I)
There is a method of generating or terminating the notification depending on the number of winnings in the starting winning opening 200 or the winning opening 209 during the normal game.

Also, in the notification period thus set, various notification modes such as a normal game, a reach, a big hit, and a small hit are available as the notification form, and the notification is given during these games.

As a first example of the notification processing, it is assumed that the notification time is (D), the notification end time is (F), and the normal game is selected as the notification mode. In this case, during the normal game, the notification is generated at the time of hitting 150 game balls 201, and the notification is ended at the time of winning the start winning opening 200.

As a second example of the notification processing, it is assumed that the notification occurrence time is (A), the notification end time is (C), and the small hit is selected as the notification form. In this case, during the small hit, the notification is generated 10 seconds after the game ball 201 wins the starting winning opening 200, and the notification is ended when the game ball 201 passes through the through chucker 206 on the board surface.

In the above description, an example in which the notification process is expressed by "independently" regardless of the game content has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the first example described above (FIG. 2).
It may be associated with the round continuation process shown in (see) and added as a pre-process or a post-process of the round continuation process according to the game content.

For example, consider a case where the game content is reach and the notification process of FIG. 5 is associated with the round continuation process of FIG. In this case, when the processing of step S4 is completed as post-processing of the round continuation processing of FIG. 2, the game content is determined, and if the game is a reach, the notification processing of FIG. 5 is continued. Can be set.

[Third Example] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The description of the same parts as those in the above-described examples will be omitted and the same reference numerals will be given.

In this example, an application example based on the round continuation process (see FIG. 2) and the notification process (see FIG. 5) so far will be described.

Here, the contents of the big hit are "super big (big hit)" and "normal big (small hit)".
An example of the round notification processing in which a notification is provided during super big and no notification is provided during normal big is provided.

(Round Notification Processing) FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the round notification processing.

In step S21, it is determined whether or not the game ball 201 has won the starting winning opening 200. If a prize has been won, the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, a big hit lottery is carried out. If a big hit occurs, the process proceeds to step S23. If not, the process jumps to step S27.

In step S23, it is determined whether the contents of the big hit are "super big" or "normal big". If it is "super big", the process proceeds to step S24, and if it is "normal big", the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S24, "super big"
The process of is executed. The "super big" processing includes both round continuation processing (see FIG. 2) and notification processing (see FIG. 5).

In this super big game, a large amount of coins can be secured by playing the game according to the notification. However, if the round continuation conditions are not met, the payout will be reduced as in the case of the normal big process.

In step S25, "normal big"
The process of is executed. The "normal big" is to execute only the round continuation process without including the notification process.

In this case, since there is no notification, free strike,
Or, the player will play based on his intuition, it will be difficult to meet all the conditions for continuing the round, and in some cases, the continuation of the round will not occur at all, and as a result, the player may be abandoned. obtain.

Therefore, if the round continuation condition is not satisfied, for example, the number of continuation rounds is decreased, or in the next round that does not satisfy the round continuation condition, "quasi notification" is generated with the minimum number of winning balls, that is, " By controlling so as to forcibly continue the next round with fewer balls than the super big, it is possible to give the player a sense of expectation and enhance the playability.

The game device is not limited to the pachinko machine 1, and the processing program according to the present invention can be executed in another game device.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When one round is from the time when the operation of the predetermined game mode is started to the time when the operation is finished without interruption, it is selected whether or not to continue the round. A game form for continuously performing a round is selected, a round continuation condition including at least time and the number of passing balls to a predetermined area is set corresponding to the selected game form, and the set round continuation condition is set. Based on the above, since the contents of the round continuation condition and the contents of the continuing game form are changed to perform the continuation control of the round, the game form (regular game, reach, (Small hits, big hits, etc.) and the content of the round continuation conditions (time, number of winning balls, etc.) can be changed, which makes the game more thrilling and game-like. It can be made've got.

Further, according to the present invention, whether or not to notify the round continuation condition is selected, and when notifying the round continuation condition, a predetermined notification is set by setting a notification period including generation and termination of the notification. Since the notification is made according to the form, the player can know the condition for continuing the round by the notification, and can make the game more interesting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration in a main board of a pachinko machine, which is a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a round continuation process.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a control circuit of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a configuration example of a game board.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a notification process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a round notification process according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Pachinko machine 10 Main board 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 20 sub board 21 Input port 22 Special symbol start switch 23 Normal pattern operation switch 24 Winning prize switch 25 power supply circuit 36 Reset circuit 30 sub-board 31 output ports 32 sound effect generator 33 Prize Ball Dispensing Device 100 special symbol display device 200 starting prize hole 201 game ball 202 Variable winning ball device 203 Grand Prize Winner 204 V zone 205 Mini Digital Normal Design Display 206 Normal design operation gate 207 Lamp display device 208 Out mouth 209 prize holes 300 round continuation control unit 301 Round continuation selection section 302 Round game form selection unit 303 Round continuation condition setting section 304 Round Continue Change Section 305 Notification selection unit 306 Notification condition setting unit 307 CPU

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A device capable of changing a condition for continuing a round in a predetermined game mode, wherein one round is from a time point when an operation of the predetermined game mode is started to a time point when the operation is finished without interruption. , A round continuation selection means for selecting whether or not to continue the round, and a round game mode selection means for selecting a game mode for continuously performing the round when the round is continuously executed, Round continuation condition setting means for setting a round continuation condition including at least time and the number of balls passing to a predetermined area, corresponding to the selected game form, and the round based on the set round continuation condition. A game device characterized by comprising round continuation changing means for performing continuation control of a round by changing contents of a continuation condition and contents of a continuing game form. 2. A notification selecting means for selecting whether or not to notify the round continuation condition, and when notifying the round continuation condition, a notification period including generation and termination of the notification is set, and a predetermined notification form is set. 2. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising notification condition setting means for notifying by. 3. A method capable of changing conditions for continuing a round in a predetermined game mode, wherein one round is from the time when the motion of the predetermined game mode starts to the time when the motion ends without interruption. , A step of selecting whether or not to continue the round, and a step of selecting a game mode for continuously performing the round in the case of continuously performing the round, and a step of selecting the game mode Correspondingly, the step of setting the round continuation condition including at least the time and the number of balls passing to the predetermined area, and the content of the round continuation condition and the ongoing game form based on the set round continuation condition. Change the contents of the, to perform the continuation control of the round, the step of selecting whether or not to notify the round continuation condition, when notifying the round continuation condition, the occurrence of the notification Set the broadcast period including the preliminary completion, the game method characterized by equipped with a step of informing by the predetermined notification form.