JP2003299815A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine in which the load of a main control part is reduced and representation patterns are easily controlled. <P>SOLUTION: A pattern switch 7 is provided to the upper tray of the game machine and connected to an input port 401 of a sub substrate 400. A main control part 208 performs display control of special patterns based on a game specification together with control of the game machine and transmits display information of the special patterns to a sub-control part 402. The sub control part 402 displays patterns based on the game specification in accordance with the pattern information from the main control part 208, and in response to a signal inputted from the pattern switch 7, display of the representation patterns corresponding to the signal is changed by the sub-control part 402. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a gaming machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine capable of reducing the processing load of main control in displaying effect symbols.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a gaming machine in which a variable display of symbols is stopped by a button operation by a player, and when the stopped symbol is a winning symbol, a profit such as a jackpot is given to the player. In such a gaming machine, each player repeats trial and error in order to stop with a winning design, and each player tries to find the timing to stop with a winning design of his own, and the player participates in the game. I was able to enjoy it while having the satisfaction of being there.
However, on the other hand, a situation has arisen in which a player with excellent dynamic visual acuity discriminates the symbols that are variably displayed, stops at the symbol that is the target, and causes a hit.

Therefore, in order to eliminate such unfairness among the players, rather than entrusting the stop of the symbol to the operation of the player, the control program of the gaming machine automatically determines the stop time of the symbol. Became. However, as a result, players who are deprived of the means to participate in the game can only play a monotonous game of simply holding the handle and enduring until a big hit occurs, so the interest of the game cannot be enhanced. is there.

On the other hand, in recent game machines, in order to deal with the monotonous game and enhance the interest of the game, the game specification is complicated and the symbol display device is enlarged to display various symbols. . As a result, the control program for the gaming machine is complicated and sophisticated. Furthermore, the symbols displayed on the symbol display device are also used to enhance the interest of the game.
In addition to the designs based on the game specifications, many designs (production designs) that enhance the effect of production are also used. On the other hand, as shown in the control block diagram of FIG. 7, the control board of the gaming machine has a main control board on which a main control section for performing game control based on game specifications is mounted, and a symbol displayed on the symbol display device. It is composed of a sub-control board on which a sub-control unit for displaying is mounted, and the sub-control unit performs display control of the symbols based on the game specification and the effect symbols under the control of the main control unit.

The gaming machine shown in FIG. 7 is as follows. In FIG. 7, the control board of the game machine is the main board 20.
0, and the sub-control board including the prize ball board 300 and the sub board 400, and the input port 207 of the main board 200.
Includes a symbol control means 7, a special symbol start switch 201,
Ordinary symbol operation switch 202, award winning switch 20
3 and other switches 204 are connected to each other. In addition, the output port 211 of the main board 200 is
The special winning opening operation solenoid 212, the normal electric auditors product operation solenoid 213, the prize ball substrate 300, and the input ports 301 and 401 of the sub substrate 400 are connected to each other.

The main board 200 has an input port 207,
A CPU (hereinafter referred to as a main control unit) 208 including a microprocessor, a ROM 209, a RAM 210, and an output port 211 are mounted. Further, the prize ball substrate 300 has an input port 301 and a CPU 30 which is a microprocessor.
2, ROM 201, RAM 305, and output port 303 are mounted. Further, the input port 4 is provided on the sub board 400.
01, a CPU as a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as a sub-control unit) 402, a ROM 404, a RAM 405, and an output port 403 are mounted.

A prize ball payout device 216 is provided at the output port 303 of the prize ball substrate 300, and a ball launch device 217 is provided at the output thereof.
Are connected to each other. Further, the special symbol display device 102, the normal symbol display device 106, the lamp display device 214, and the sound effect generator 215 are connected to the output port 403 of the sub-board 400, respectively. The symbol control means 7 is, for example, a push button switch provided near the operation handle. The output of the symbol control means 7 is input to the main control unit 208 via the input port 207, and in order to enhance the interest of the game, the symbols that are variably displayed are stopped or the effect symbols are changed.

The special symbol starting switch 201 detects a winning by generating a trigger when the game ball hit by the player and winning the starting winning opening passes through the special symbol starting switch 201. As a result, the main control unit 208 transmits the winning detection signal to the sub-control unit 402 of the sub-board 400, gives the sub-control unit 402 an opportunity to change the special symbol of the special symbol display device 102, and detects the prize. As a trigger, the main control unit 208 performs a lottery by a special symbol hit random number. If the special symbol is a winning symbol, the probability variation determining means (program) (not shown) in the main control unit 208 is activated to perform a random number lottery of the probability variation symbol to determine reach and probability variation. . Also, the main control unit 2
08 passes the determination result of the probability variation determination means to the sub-control unit 402 via the output port 211, and the sub-control unit 402 displays the special symbol display device 102 predetermined special symbol based on the determination result.

The normal symbol actuation switch 202 is a game ball that has been hit by the player and passed through the normal symbol display device actuation gate and the ordinary symbol display device actuation gate, and a trigger is generated when the ordinary symbol actuation switch 202 is passed,
Ordinary symbol display device 106 gives a trigger of the normal symbol variation. The big winning ball switch 203 detects the winning of a ball to the variable winning ball device when a win occurs. Further, the input port 207 takes in a signal from the other switch 204 and transfers it to the main control unit 208.

The main control unit 208 is a CPU (processing device) that controls the entire gaming machine, and includes a ROM (read only memory) 209 and a RAM (random access memory).
Even if you use a 1-chip CPU with a built-in 210, ROM
209 and RAM 210 with externally connected bus
U may be used. The ROM 209 is the main control unit 208.
A program for controlling the gaming machine using is stored. Specifically, the content of the game control process performed by the CPU of the main control unit 208 is defined, and the game state parameter changed by the signal input from the symbol control means 7 and the game operating according to the parameter. Stores the control program. The ROM 209 further stores various parameters for controlling the gaming machine. RA
M210 temporarily stores input / output data to / from the main control unit 208, data for arithmetic processing, various counters such as a random number counter related to games, and the like, a holding ball display means (not shown), a normal symbol It is a random access memory for recording the information of the holding ball displayed on the holding lamp.

The output port 211 outputs the signal from the main control unit 208 and transfers the signal to each unit. The special winning opening operating solenoid 212 opens the big winning opening on the front surface of the variable winning ball device when it hits. The normal electric accessory operating solenoid 213 opens the normal electric accessory when the normal symbol display device 106 stops and displays a specific symbol. The lamp display device 214 is a display device of lamps related to the game, and selectively turns on / off a plurality of lamps according to an instruction from the sub control unit 402. As a result, the holding ball display means (not shown) and the normal symbol holding lamp are turned on as information is recorded in the holding memory on the RAM 210,
The lights are extinguished as the holding balls are used up. The sound effect generator 215 generates a sound related to the game. The prize ball payout device 216 pays out prize balls when a prize detection is detected by the special symbol start switch 201, the big prize winning switch 203, and the other switches 204. The ball launcher 217 is
When the player's ball launching motion is detected, the ball is launched into the game area.

[0012]

However, the above-mentioned gaming machine has the following problems. That is, the main controller 20
In addition to controlling the entire game, 8 also controls the design and effect design based on the game specification, and sends the result to the sub-control unit 402 of the sub-board 400, where the special design display device 102 or the normal design Display control of the symbols of the display device 106 is performed and the symbols are displayed on the symbol display device. As a result, the symbol control means 7 operated by the player is stopped even in the gaming machine in which the symbols variably displayed by the player's operation of the symbol control means 7 are stopped or the effect symbols are changed.
The signal of always passes through the main control board, and not only the control for stopping the symbols displayed in a variable manner, but also the control that is originally unrelated to the game specification, such as simply changing the effect design, is performed by the main control unit 208. I was doing.

Therefore, the program of the main control unit 208 is more complicated and enormous. Then, the program of the main control unit 208 needs to be changed not only by changing the game specification but also by changing the effect design, which requires development cost and prolongs the development period.
Further, as the program of the main control unit 208 becomes complicated and huge, the processing speed decreases, which requires a microprocessor with a high processing speed, which hinders the price reduction of the gaming machine.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and reduce the load on the main controller, and to provide a gaming machine in which the effect symbols can be easily controlled.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gaming machine according to claim 1, in which a main control unit is provided which is equipped with a main control section for performing gaming control based on a gaming specification of the gaming machine. In a gaming machine equipped with a substrate, a symbol display device, and a sub-control substrate on which a sub-control unit for displaying the symbol displayed on the symbol display device is mounted, the sub-control unit is a symbol provided on the gaming machine. While directly receiving the symbol control means signal sent from the control means, the game specification symbol related to the game specifications transmitted from the main control unit and other effect symbols and effect symbols corresponding to the symbol control means signal are displayed as the symbol. It is characterized by being displayed on the device.

By doing so, it is not necessary to change the program of the main control unit to change the effect design, and the program of the main control unit can be simplified. As a result, a microprocessor with a high processing speed is not required. It is possible to reduce the price of gaming machines. Further, by directly controlling the symbol control means signal by the sub-control unit, various symbols that enhance the interest of the game can be produced.

In the gaming machine according to claim 2, in the gaming machine according to claim 1, the effect symbol is in accordance with the effect symbol according to the effect symbol command transmitted from the main control section and the symbol control means signal. It is characterized in that the effect design according to the symbol control means signal is preferentially displayed. As a result, the player can select an effect design that the player likes from the effect patterns that are fixedly displayed in advance.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the following terms are defined and used. "Definition""Design" All images displayed on the design display. "Game specification symbol" A symbol that is displayed based on the game specification, in which the display timing and the display symbol are managed by the main control unit. "Production symbol" is a symbol that can be independently displayed by the sub-control unit without being managed by the main control unit, and also includes a symbol that is displayed in association with the game specification symbol.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of the game machine according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 1, the symbol control means 7 is connected to the input port 401 of the sub-board 400. The symbol control means 7 is, for example, a switch 7 provided on the upper plate 3 of the gaming machine 1 as shown in FIG. 2, a push button switch provided near the operation handle, or a simple keyboard capable of inputting numbers and characters. Is. The symbol control means 7 may be, for example, a toggle switch, a key switch, a rotary switch, a slide switch, etc. provided on the back surface of the symbol display device. In such a case, the player does not operate the game and the game is played. It is operated by the place manager. The game machine 1 is provided with a well-known game board 2, an upper plate 3 below the game plate 2, and a lower plate 4 and an operation handle 5 below the upper plate 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the output of the symbol control means 7 is in a pulse form, is input to the sub control unit 402 via the input port 401, and the sub control unit 402 changes the effect symbol. The output of the symbol control means 7 may be other than pulsed, and may be cleared every time the sub-control unit 402 inputs the data of the input port 401. The sub-control unit 402 is a CPU (processing device) that controls display of lamps and the like and generation of sound effects in addition to special symbols and ordinary symbols, and ROM (read only memory) 404 and RAM (random access memory). ) Even if a 1-chip CPU with a built-in 405 is used, R
A CPU in which the OM 404 and the RAM 405 are externally connected to the bus may be used.

The ROM 404 stores a program used by the sub-control unit 402 to perform the control. Specifically, commands and parameters (hereinafter, referred to as symbol data) of special symbols and normal symbols displayed according to the contents of the game control process transmitted from the main control unit 208, and the operation according to the symbol data. Along with the display control program, the effect symbols displayed by the signal input from the symbol control means 7 are stored. The ROM 404 further stores various parameters for display control of lamps and the like and generation control of sound effects. The RAM 405 is a random access memory that stores information such as the symbol data of the special symbol and the normal symbol transmitted from the main control unit 208.

Next, the control operation performed by the sub control unit 402 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The series of game control processing executed by the main control unit 208 is the same as that of a known game machine, and a description thereof will be omitted. The detection signal output by the special symbol starting switch 201, the normal symbol actuating switch 202, and the big prize winning switch 203 is read into a register (not shown) in the main control unit 208 via the input port 207, and the main control unit 208 detects the detection signal. The input process of is executed. And
The symbol data required for the control of the sub-control unit 402 is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 210 according to the detection signal.

Further, external information processing for outputting various game data to a gaming machine management device (not shown), a lamp display device 2
Display light control processing for storing a command for controlling 14 in correspondence with the game state, and sound effect processing for storing a command for controlling the sound effect generation device 215 in accordance with the game state are executed respectively in predetermined areas of the RAM 210. Each of the symbol data is stored.

Next, the data stored in the RAM 210 in each of the above-mentioned processes is controlled by the main control unit 208 via the output port 211, or the corresponding device or prize ball substrate 300 and sub-substrate 400.
Is output (port output processing), and the special winning opening operating solenoid 212, the ordinary electric auditors operating solenoid 213 or the prize ball substrate 300, the sub-substrate 400, which have received this, perform corresponding control operations. That is, the data of the symbol data stored in the RAM 210 is transmitted to the sub control unit 402. As a result, the symbol data is the main control unit 208.
It is transmitted from the sub-control unit 402 from, the normal symbol display device 106 and the special symbol display device 102 display the symbol under the control of the sub-control unit 402 as follows. When the power is turned on, the symbols displayed on the normal symbol display device 106 and the special symbol display device 102 are predetermined symbols according to the symbol data transmitted to the sub control unit 402 by the initialization process of the main control unit 208. Is displayed.

The operation of the sub-control unit 402 which receives the symbol data will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S1, the sub-control unit 402 sets its own stack pointer, initializes the RAM 405, initializes itself such as register clear, and the like. In step S2, if it is determined that the symbol data is input by determining whether the symbol data is input to the input port 401 (Yes)
In step S4, it is determined whether or not the symbol data is effect symbol data. In other cases (No), the process proceeds to step S3 and it is determined whether or not the symbol control means signal is input. The determination process may be an interrupt process or a well-known polling process that reads the input port 401 at a predetermined cycle.

If it is determined in step S3 that the symbol control means signal has been input (Yes), step S7
If not (No), the process returns to step S2 to determine whether a new command has been input from the main control unit 208. Then, in step S4, if the symbol data is the symbol data for displaying the effect symbol (Yes), the process proceeds to step S5, and it is determined whether or not the symbol control means signal is input. In other cases (No), step S6.
Move to.

If it is determined in step S5 that the symbol control means signal is input, the process proceeds to step 7, otherwise the process proceeds to step 6, and in step S6, the input port 401 receives the signal. The symbol data and the symbol control means signal are copied to the RAM 405. That is, the symbol control unit signal transmitted from the symbol control unit 7 has a higher priority than the effect symbol transmitted from the main control unit 208.
This determination is made by the sub-control unit 402 determining the priority of signals input to the input port 401 during the polling process.

Alternatively, the input process of the symbol data and the symbol control means signal received by the input port 401 may be performed by an interrupt process. In such a case, the interrupt level of the symbol control means signal from the main control unit 208. It should be placed higher than the effect design sent. The symbol control means signal may be changed from the initially displayed effect symbol to another type of effect symbol when the symbol control means signal is input, or a plurality of types as described later. The effect symbols may be sequentially displayed. In such a case, the process of step S6 is changed as described later.

Next, in step S7, the address of the ROM 404 in which the data to be displayed on the special symbol display device 102 is stored is obtained on the basis of the symbol data set in the RAM 405 in step S6, and the RAM 405 is obtained.
, And shift to step 8. In step 8,
It is determined whether the output permission flag indicating that the effect symbol can be updated to the special symbol display device 102 is "1". Such a determination is, for example, that the output permission flag becomes “0” and the effect symbol cannot be updated to the special symbol display device 102 when the symbol representing the probability variation among the special symbols is being variably displayed. Of course, other conditions may be used.

If the output permission flag is not "1" (No), the process returns to step S2 to repeat the series of processes. On the other hand, if the output permission flag is "1" (Yes), the data stored in the address of the ROM 404 for output to the special symbol display device 102 is output to the output port 403 in step S9. The output port 403
The data sent to is stored in a video memory (not shown) in the special symbol display device 102, and the effect symbol is displayed by the data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining display of effect symbols in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 (a) shows effect symbols 11A and 11B when the symbol control means 7 is operated by the player. Displayed figure, FIG. 4 (b) is the effect design 12A, 12B and the game specification design 10A, 10B by the command transmission of the main control unit 208 when the power is turned on or after a predetermined time has passed after the player releases the operation handle. 10,
It is a figure where C is displayed. Also, FIG. 4 (c) and FIG. 4 (d)
Is a diagram in which effect symbols 13A and 13B are sequentially displayed when the symbol control means 7 is operated by the player a plurality of times.
The effect symbol is described as being displayed on the special symbol display device 102, but in addition to this, the normal symbol display device 106.
May be displayed in.

Further, as for the effect design, a predetermined effect design is displayed at the time of turning on the power and after a lapse of a predetermined time from the player releasing the operation handle, and then a signal from the design control means 7 is displayed. When input, the symbol control means 7
It is changed to the production design corresponding to. The predetermined effect design is displayed after the lapse of a predetermined time because the main control unit 208 determines that the predetermined time has passed since the player released the operation handle, and sends the control signal to the sub control unit 402. It is done by doing.

5 and 6 show the relationship between the above-mentioned symbol data (commands and parameters of special symbols and ordinary symbols) of each symbol displayed in FIG. 4 and the symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 102. It is the figure shown, and it is the sub-control part 40.
It is stored in advance in the second RAM 405 or ROM 404. In FIG. 5, each time the symbol control means 7 is operated, the effect symbols 12A and 12B shown by the parameters 12a and 12b that are displayed first and the other effect symbols 11A and 11B corresponding to the symbol control means 7 alternate. It is a figure when it is changed and displayed. 6, each time the symbol control means 7 is operated, the effect symbols 12A and 12B first displayed by the parameters 12a and 12b are sequentially changed to a plurality of types of effect symbols 13A and 13B corresponding to the symbol control means 7. It is a figure when it is displayed.

In FIG. 4B, the special symbol display device 1
In 02, the effect symbols 12A and 12B are displayed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the power was turned on or the player released the operation handle. When the game is started and the variable display such as a special symbol is started by a well-known method, the effect symbol 12A, 1
In front of 2B, the game specification symbols 10A, 10B, 10C are variably displayed, and then stopped and displayed. In such a case, the main control unit 208 transmits the command shown in FIG. 5 to the input port 401 of the sub-board 400 as follows. That is, when the power is turned on or a predetermined time has elapsed after the player releases the operation handle, the main control unit 208 sets the effect symbol command 5
0b and 50c and parameters 12a and 12b are transmitted, respectively. The sub-control unit 402 reads the symbol data 52 corresponding to the received effect symbol commands 50b and 50c and the parameters 12a and 12b from the ROM 404 and displays it on the special symbol display device 102.

Next, when the game is started, the result of internal lottery of the main control unit 208 by a well-known method, when performing variable display of special symbols and the like, the main control unit 208 causes the production symbol commands 50b and 50c and parameters. 12a and 12b are transmitted to the sub control unit 402, respectively. The sub-control unit 402 stores in the ROM 40 the symbol data 52 corresponding to the received effect symbol commands 50b and 50c and the parameters 12a and 12b.
4 is read out and displayed on the special symbol display device 102.
Then, the player operates the symbol control means 7,
As described above, when the signal is directly input to the sub control unit 402 via the input port 401 of the sub substrate 400, the sub control unit 402 follows the procedure shown in FIG.
It is determined that the symbol signal 50a has been input.

The parameters 11a and 11b corresponding to the symbol signal 50a of the symbol control means 7 are predetermined and R
It is stored in the OM 404 or the RAM 405, and the sub control unit 402 reads the symbol data 52 corresponding to the received parameters 11a and 11b from the ROM 404 and displays it on the special symbol display device 102. As a result,
The effect symbols 12A and 12B shown in (b) are changed and displayed as effect symbols 11A and 11B as shown in FIG. 4 (a).

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the symbol control means 7
Parameter 12 displayed first every time is operated
Production symbols 11A and 11 of a plurality of types corresponding to the symbol control means 7 from the production symbols 12A and 12B shown by a and 12b.
B may be sequentially displayed. In this case, the game specification symbol 10 transmitted from the main control unit 208
Although A, 10B, and 10C are the same as described above, the process of step S6 of the symbol signal obtained from the symbol control means 7 in the sub-control unit 402 is different as follows. That is, the number of symbol signals obtained from the symbol control means 7 is the sub-control unit 40.
A counter (not shown) provided in 2 determines the parameter corresponding to the symbol control means by the value of the counter.

In FIG. 6, when the counter counts from 0 to 2, it returns to 0 again. The main control unit 208 when a predetermined time has elapsed after the power was turned on or the player released the operation handle.
The value of the counter is set to 0 when a command to reset the counter is transmitted from, or when the symbol control means 7 is operated three times. First, the value of the counter is set to 0. In such a case, when the symbol control means 7 is operated once, the value of the counter becomes 1, and the sub-control unit 402 determines that the first time the symbol control means has been operated as described above, and in FIG. According to the procedure shown, it is determined that the first symbol signal 53a of the symbol control means 7 shown in FIG. 6 has been input.

The parameter 13a corresponding to the symbol signal 53a of the symbol control means 7 is predetermined and is stored in the ROM 40.
4 or the RAM 405, the sub-control unit 402
Reads the symbol data 52 corresponding to the received parameter 13a from the ROM 404 and displays the special symbol display device 1
Displayed as 02. As a result, the effect symbols 12A and 12B shown in FIG. 4B are effect symbols 1 as shown in FIG. 4C.
It is changed to 3A and displayed.

Next, when the symbol control means 7 is further operated once, the value of the counter becomes 2, and the sub-control unit 402 judges that the symbol control means for the second time has been operated as described above, According to the procedure shown in FIG. 3, it is determined that the second symbol signal 53b of the symbol control means 7 shown in FIG. 6 has been input. The parameter 13b corresponding to the symbol signal 5ba of the symbol control means 7 is predetermined, and is ROM
404 or the RAM 405, and the sub-control unit 4
02 reads the symbol data 52 corresponding to the received parameter 13b from the ROM 404 and displays it on the special symbol display device 102. As a result, FIG. 4 (d) in which the effect design 13B is added to the effect design 13A shown in FIG. 4 (c).
As shown in, the effect symbols 13A and 13B are changed and displayed.

Next, when the symbol control means 7 is operated once more, the value of the counter becomes 0, and the sub-control unit 402 judges that the symbol control means has been operated for the third time as described above, According to the procedure shown in FIG. 3, it is determined that the third symbol signal of the symbol control means 7 shown in FIG. 6 has been input. In this case, the sub-control unit 402 performs the same process as when receiving the effect symbol commands 50b and 50c and the parameters 12a and 12b, and the effect symbol command 50.
b, 50c and the symbol data 52 corresponding to the parameters 12a, 12b are read from the ROM 404 and displayed on the special symbol display device 102. As a result, the effect symbols 12A and 12B as shown in FIG. 4B are displayed.

By operating the symbol control means 7 a plurality of times, in addition to changing the effect symbol as described above, its display position, size, etc. may be changed. Alternatively, the symbol control means 7 may be used as a character input key so that the player's name or the like can be displayed on the display device as an effect symbol. Alternatively, the symbol control means 7 may be an analog volume, and the position of the effect symbol may be changed according to the position value of the volume.

Further, the symbol control means 7 may be provided in the game board, and the symbol control means may detect the passage of the game ball to change the operation of the symbol control means 7 by the player as described above. . Furthermore, each time the symbol control means 7 provided in the game board detects a game ball, the number is counted and converted into points, and when the points reach a predetermined value, the hall manager provides merchandise, etc. Preferential treatment may be provided. In this case, the value of the points may be set to zero when the pachinko machine plays a predetermined game mode, for example, a big hit, so that the interest of the game may be enhanced. In addition, during a predetermined period, for example, during a big hit, the design symbols are sequentially changed every time the symbol control means 7 provided in the game board detects a game ball so that the design symbols have a storyline. Good.

[0044]

According to the gaming machine of the first aspect, the sub-control unit directly receives the symbol control means signal sent from the symbol control means provided in the gaming machine, and the game transmitted from the main control unit. By displaying the game design symbol related to the specification and the effect symbol other than that and the effect symbol according to the symbol control means signal on the symbol display device, it is not necessary to change the program of the main control unit to change the effect symbol, The program of the main control unit can be simplified, and as a result, a microprocessor with a high processing speed is not required, and the price of the game machine can be reduced. Further, by directly controlling the symbol control means signal by the sub control unit, it is possible to produce various symbols that enhance the interest of the game only by changing the sub control unit.

According to the gaming machine of claim 2, the effect symbol is composed of an effect symbol according to the effect symbol command transmitted from the main control section and an effect symbol according to the symbol control means signal, By preferentially displaying the effect symbol according to the symbol control means signal, the player can select an effect symbol desired by the player from the effect symbol fixedly displayed in advance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective external view of a gaming machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a control operation performed by a sub control unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining display of effect symbols in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 (a) is a diagram in which effect symbols are displayed when the symbol control means is operated by the player;
FIG. 4B is a diagram in which the effect symbol and the game specification symbol are displayed by the command transmission of the main control unit. Also, FIG.
(C), FIG. 4 (d) is a diagram in which the effect symbols are sequentially displayed when the player operates the symbol control means a plurality of times.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between symbol data and symbols displayed on a special symbol display device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the symbol data and the symbol displayed on the special symbol display device in another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of a conventional game machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 game machine 2 game board 3 plate 5 operation handle 7 Design control means 102 Special symbol display device 106 Ordinary symbol display device 200 Main board 300 award ball substrate 400 Sub board

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A main control board on which a main control unit for performing game control based on a game specification of a gaming machine is mounted, a symbol display device, and a sub-control unit for displaying the symbol displayed on the symbol display device. In a gaming machine having a sub-control board mounted therein, the sub-control unit directly receives the symbol control means signal sent from the symbol control means provided in the gaming machine, and the game transmitted from the main control section. A gaming machine characterized by displaying a game specification symbol related to specifications, a performance symbol other than that, and a performance symbol corresponding to the symbol control means signal on the symbol display device. 2. The production design, the production design which responds to the production design command which is transmitted from the main control section and the production design which responds to the design control means signal, the production design which responds to the design control means signal 2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein is displayed with priority.