JP2003250964A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give excellent acoustic stimulation to both of a player and surrounding people. <P>SOLUTION: Since sidewall speakers 45 and 46 are installed on the inner surfaces of both of sidewalls 43 and 44, respectively, in addition to a lower front wall speaker 41 installed conventionally, sound effect flows from a slot machine 11 toward both of the right and left sides to clearly transmit the sound effect to the surrounding people, thereby these people are alerted. For the player, the sound effect also flows from the speakers 45 and 46 toward both of the right and left sides, thereby soundscape is expanded and presence is increased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slot machine with improved acoustic stimulation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a slot machine, when a game progresses, a speaker emits a sound effect such as an electronic sound or music suitable for the game situation, thereby giving a sound stimulus to the player to improve the game quality. I was doing.

Conventionally, such a speaker is usually provided in the lower part of the front wall in the vicinity of the coin tray because the central part of the front wall of the slot machine is occupied by the reel window, the operation buttons, the explanation of the design, and the like. In order to further improve the acoustic effect, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-276308, in addition to the above-mentioned position, a device installed near the left and right ends of the upper end of the front wall is also proposed.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional slot machine, since all the speakers are arranged only toward the player, spectators and passersby around the slot machine are There is a problem that the sound from the speaker is not heard so much, and as a result, the attention of the people around them cannot be sufficiently attracted and the customer's attraction is lacking. Further, also for the player, when the speakers are arranged as described above, there is not much sense of sound spread, and as a result, sufficient acoustic stimulation cannot be given during the game. .

It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine which can give excellent acoustic stimulation to both the player and the surrounding people.

[0006]

The object is to provide a transparent reel window for visually recognizing a plurality of rotating reels on the front wall, and a pattern drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the reel when the rotation of the reel is stopped. In the slot machine which is arranged to win or lose by the arrangement of, a front wall speaker is provided on the inner surface of the front wall,
This can be achieved by installing sidewall speakers on the inner surfaces of both sidewalls.

According to the present invention, in addition to the front wall speaker that has been conventionally installed, the side wall speakers are installed on the inner surfaces of both side walls of the slot machine, respectively. Sound effects can be played. As a result, the sound effect from the speaker is clearly transmitted to the spectators and passersby around the slot machine, especially on both sides, and as a result, the attention of those around them can be sufficiently aroused and the customer's attraction Can be improved. Also, for the player, since the sound effects flow from the side wall speaker toward the left and right sides, the sound spreads during the game, the sense of presence is increased, and the game is improved. Furthermore, by controlling the magnitude and timing of generation of the sound effect from the front and side wall speakers, it is possible to give the sound effect a sense of movement in the left-right direction, and further increase the sense of presence.

In general, a hall or the like is in a noisy state due to sound effects from game devices installed in the surroundings, human voice, BGM, etc. It is difficult, however, according to the second aspect, since the side wall speaker is located almost in front of the player's face, the sound effect is clearly transmitted to the player, and the game property is improved.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, the side wall speaker and the front wall speaker are installed vertically apart from each other for the player, so that the sound effect has a vertical movement feeling. It can be given and the sense of presence can be further increased. According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the two front wall speakers are located immediately in front of the player's ears, and a clear sound effect can be transmitted to the player.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 11 is a slot machine (pachi-slot machine) installed on a fixed base (not shown). In this slot machine 11, a player sits in front of the slot machine 11 to play a game. I do. The slot machine 11 has a device body 12, and a front wall 13 of the device body 12 is an upper panel extending substantially vertically.
It is composed of a lower panel 15 which is bent in a dogleg shape, and an operation panel 16 which connects the upper and lower panels 14 and 15 with each other and is inclined upward toward the rear.

The upper panel 14 has a display 18 including a dot matrix display, a CRT, a liquid crystal display, etc.
Is installed, and this display 18 is stationary to announce the
A dynamic image and a warning message at the time of failure are displayed. Also the front wall
Three transparent reel windows 20 lined up in the horizontal direction are formed on the operation panel 16 of 13, and on the other hand, explanations of a game method, a winning combination and the like are displayed around these reel windows 20. Reference numeral 21 denotes a plurality of, in this case, three cylindrical reels provided in the apparatus main body 12, and these reels 21 are arranged in a position overlapping with the reel window 20 while maintaining a coaxial relationship. 21 can be seen through the reel window 20.

A plurality of types of patterns 23 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of each reel 21.
The three patterns 23 among these patterns 23 are visually recognized at the same time through the reel window 20. An output shaft of a drive motor (not shown) is connected to the reel 21.
These drive motors are attached to the apparatus main body 12. Then, when the drive motor is operated, the reel 21 rotates and different kinds of patterns 23 appear in the reel window 20 one after another.

At the right end of the operation panel 16, just below the reel window 20, there is provided an insertion slot 25 for inserting medals.
Then, when a medal is inserted into the insertion slot 25, the control means 26 housed and fixed in the apparatus main body 12 stores the number of inserted medals as a credit. 27 and 28 are bet buttons provided on the operation panel 16 on the side of the slot 25. When the bet button 27 is pressed, one medal is bet, and when the bet button 28 is pressed, 3 medals are bet. You can bet on medals.

After inserting the medals into the slot 25, one of these bet buttons 27 and 28 is pressed to determine the bet number of medals, and then the start lever 30 provided on the upper end of the lower panel 15 is pressed. When is operated, the above-mentioned drive motors are operated and the reels 21 are synchronously rotated in the same direction at a constant speed.

Reference numerals 32, 33 and 34 denote three stop buttons provided on the lower panel 15 on the right side of the start lever 30 so as to correspond to the reels 21.
When 33, 34 are pressed, the operation of the drive motor is stopped and the rotation of the corresponding reel 21 is stopped. And all reels
The pattern that appeared on the reel window 20 when the rotation of 21 stopped 23
Is in a predetermined arrangement state, for example, one of the patterns 23
If the cards are arranged in a horizontal row or in a diagonal row, the winning state is achieved and the player wins. In this case,
The control means 26 pays out the number of medals (the number multiplied by the multiplication rate) to the upper tray 35 installed at the lower end of the upper panel 14.

Further, when the specific pattern 23 is in a specific arrangement state, a big bonus or a regular bonus state is established, and in this bonus state, the pattern 23 is always in a predetermined arrangement for a short time and is in a winning state. .
On the other hand, when the pattern 23 is not in the predetermined arrangement state, the player loses, and in this case, the control means 26 subtracts the multiplication number from the credit number and stores it again as the current possession number. . In this way, the winning or losing is decided by the arrangement of the patterns 23 when the rotation of the reel 21 is stopped.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a payout button provided on the lower panel 15 on the left side of the start lever 30. When the payout button 36 is pressed, the control means 26 pays out the stored number of holdings (shown in the figure). No.) and pay out the number of medals to the upper tray 35. Further, a lower tray 38 is installed on the lower panel 15 below the stop buttons 32, 33, 34, and a player opens a passage (not shown) in the lower tray 38 as needed. By that,
The medals in the upper tray 35 are moved.

On the inner surface of the lower end portion of the front wall 13, more specifically, on the inner surface of the rear wall of the lower tray 38, one lower front wall speaker 41 having a large diameter is attached as in the conventional case.
Receives a signal from the control means 26 and produces a low- and mid-range sound effect
For example, electronic sounds, music, etc. are generated. However, if only one lower front wall speaker 41 is arranged toward the player in this way, the spectators and passersby around the slot machine 11 will not hear much sound from the lower front speaker 41. In addition, the player does not have a wide sense of sound spread and cannot provide sufficient acoustic stimulation.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in addition to the lower front wall speaker 41 that has been conventionally installed, side wall speakers 45 and 46 connected to the control means 26 on the inner surfaces of both side walls 43 and 44 of the apparatus main body 12. Each of them is installed, and the sound effect is made to flow from the both side walls 43 and 44 of the slot machine 11 to the left and right sides respectively. As a result, the sound effect from the speaker is clearly transmitted to the spectators and passersby around the slot machine 11, especially on both sides, and as a result, it is possible to sufficiently draw the attention of those around them and attract customers. You can improve your strength. Also, for the player, since the sound effects flow from the side wall speakers 45 and 46 toward the left and right sides, the sound spreads, the sense of presence is increased, and the game is improved.

Then, by controlling the magnitude and timing of generation of the sound effect from the lower front wall speaker 41 and the side wall speakers 45, 46 by the control means 26, it is possible to give the sound effect a lateral movement feeling. The sense of presence can be further increased. Further, as the above-mentioned side wall speakers 45 and 46, either a large-diameter speaker for middle and low tones or a small-diameter speaker for medium and high tones and treble is selected depending on the installation location of the slot machine 11, the type of sound effect, etc. do it.

Here, in general, the hall or the like in which the slot machine 11 is installed is in a noisy state due to sound effects from the game devices installed in the surroundings, human voice, BGM, etc. Going Slot Machine 11
It is hard to hear the sound effect from. For this reason, in this embodiment, the side wall speakers 45 and 46 are provided on the side wall and the plane L (the plane including the pupils of both eyes of the player and the rotation axis of the reel 21) including the sight lines of both eyes of the player during the game. 43, 44
It was placed near the line of intersection with. As a result, the speakers 45, 46 on both side walls are located substantially in front of the player's face, and the sound effects are clearly transmitted to the player, improving the game.

Reference numerals 48 and 49 denote a pair of upper front wall speakers different from the lower front wall speaker 41.
Are attached to the inner surface of the front wall 13 immediately above the reel window 20, specifically, to the inner surfaces of the lower end portions at both widthwise ends of the upper panel 14. Thus, in this embodiment the front wall 13
Although a total of three speakers are installed in the above, four or more speakers may be installed.

Of these front wall speakers, two front wall speakers, here upper front wall speakers 48, 49,
As described above, if the speakers are installed directly above the reel window 20 on both sides thereof, the two upper front wall speakers 48 and 49 are located immediately in front of the player's ears, and a clear sound effect is produced. Can be transmitted to the player. Here, as the upper side wall speakers 48, 49, small-diameter speakers for middle and high frequencies are usually used because the installation place is small.

Of the above-mentioned front speakers, at least one front speaker, in this embodiment, the lower front speaker 41 is placed below the plane L (foot side) while
Upper front side speakers 48, 49 above the plane L (top of the head)
Are separated from each other. By doing so, the side wall speakers 45, 46 and the front wall speakers 41, 48, 49 are installed vertically apart from each other for the player, so that the effect sound can be given a feeling of vertical movement. It is possible to further enhance the sense of presence.

The slot machine 11 is provided with measuring means for measuring the volume level and range in the hall, and the control means 26 controls the front wall speakers 41, 48, 49 on the basis of the result measured by the measuring means. The volume of the sound effect generated by the side wall speakers 45, 46 is controlled according to the volume level in the hall, or the sound range of the sound effect is adjusted to the sound range in the hall for effective production. It may be controlled. Alternatively, the side wall speakers 45 and 46 generate sound of an inverse waveform that interferes with the sound in the hall, and the slot machine
It may be possible to cancel the noise in the vicinity of 11 to cancel the noise.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. When playing a game using the slot machine 11 as described above, first, one or more medals are inserted into the insertion slot 25. At this time, the control means 26 stores the number of inserted medals as credits. Next, when one of the bet buttons 27 and 28 is pressed to determine the number of bets for medals, when the start lever 30 is operated, the drive motor operates and all reels 21 rotate synchronously in the same direction at the same speed. After that, when the player presses the stop buttons 32, 33, 34 one after another at an appropriate timing, the operation of the corresponding drive motor is stopped, whereby the rotation of the corresponding reel 21 is reduced to 1
Stop one after another.

At this time, if the patterns 23 visually recognized through the reel window 20 are in a predetermined arrangement state, the player is in a winning state and the player wins. At this time, however, the payout means is output by the control means 26. Is activated, and the medals of the winning number are paid out to the upper tray 35. On the other hand, if the pattern 23 is in a state other than the predetermined arrangement state, the player loses, and in this case, the control means 26 subtracts the bet number from the stored number and stores it again as the number. During such a game, sound effects suitable for the progress of the game are played from the front wall speakers 41, 48, 49 and the side wall speakers 45, 46, and effective acoustic stimulation is provided to the player, the spectators in the vicinity, and passersby. Is given.

Further, when the specific pattern 23 is in a specific arrangement state, it is in a big bonus or regular bonus state. In this bonus state, the pattern 23 is for a short time.
Will always be in a predetermined array and will be in a hit state. And
In such a bonus state, the front wall speakers 41, 4
8, 49 and sidewall speakers 45, 46 emit exciting sound effects to arouse the excitement of the player and the surrounding people.

When the game is to be ended after repeating such a game, the payout button 36 is pressed. At this time, the control means 26 outputs the stored number of holdings to the payout means, Receive the number of medals in the upper tray 35
To pay out.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, excellent acoustic stimulation can be given to both the player and the surrounding people.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway right side view thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Slot machine 13 ... Front wall 20 ... Reel window 21 ... Reel 23 ... Design 41, 48, 49 ... Front wall speaker 43, 44 ... Side wall 45, 46 ... Side wall speaker

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A slot in which a transparent reel window for visually recognizing a plurality of rotating reels is provided on a front wall, and a winning or losing is determined by an arrangement of patterns drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the reel when the reel stops rotating. In the machine, a front wall speaker is installed on the inner surface of the front wall, and side wall speakers are installed on the inner surfaces of both side walls. 2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the side wall speaker is arranged in the vicinity of a line of intersection between the side wall and a plane L including the sight lines of both eyes of the player during the game. 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein two or more front wall speakers are installed and are separated from at least one front wall speaker and a plane L including the line of sight. 4. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein three or more front wall speakers are installed, and two front wall speakers of the front wall speakers are arranged directly above the reel window on both sides thereof.