JP2003310842A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that extension of another display device, etc., on a front surface panel is difficult and display is not interesting since information of big and internal prize-winning at a conventional game machine is given by an LED at the top of a casing and an informing lamp, etc., provided on the front surface panel. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine is provided with a light source control means comprising a microcomputer 70 and an LED driving circuit 83 for controlling the light emission of a start lever LED 39 provided inside a start lever 35. Information of the kind of an internal prize-winning mode decided by a prize-winning mode deciding means is given by the light emitting mode of the start lever 35 by this light source control means. Further, a player is informed of a reliability of relying the informed kind of the internal prize-winning mode to be the same as the kind of the internal prize-winning mode actually decided inside the machine, by the number of flickering times of the start lever 35. <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 provided with a light source for informing a player of information relating to the internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a gaming machine for informing a player of information related to a game in this manner, there are, for example, those shown in Patent Document 1 below and the slot machine shown in FIG.

The slot machine game is a medal slot 14
It is started when a medal is inserted into the coin, but before the medal is inserted, the medal insertion lamp 9 provided on the front panel 2
Indicates that it is ready to insert medals by lighting “INSERT MEDAL”. In this state, when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 14, the medal insertion lamp 9
Turns off, and the game start display lamp 10 blinks "START". This blinking display indicates that the start lever 3 can be received and the reels 15, 16 and 17 can be rotated.

The activated pay line display lamps 8a to 8e are turned on according to the number of medals inserted into the slot 14. That is, when the number of inserted medals is one, the lamp 8a in the center is
Lights up, indicating that only one medal has been inserted and the central pay line L1 has been activated. Further, when the number of inserted medals is two, the lamps 8b and 8c above and below are additionally lit to indicate that two medals have been inserted and three horizontal pay lines L1, L2A and L2.
Display that B has been activated. Further, when the number of inserted medals is 3, all the lamps 8a to 8e are turned on,
It indicates that three medals have been inserted and that all five pay lines L1, L2A, L2B, L3A and L3B have been activated.

When the player operates the start lever 3, the reels 15 to 17 start to rotate and the game start display lamp 10 is turned off. The player has a spinning reel 15
Stop button 4 while observing the design drawn on ~ 17.
The user operates 6 to try to stop the desired symbol combination on any winning line.

When a predetermined symbol combination is prepared on the activated winning line when the reels 15 to 17 are stopped, a winning occurs, and the winning indicator lamp 11 blinks "WIN" to display the winning occurrence. After that, a payout sound is emitted, a predetermined number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out, and the prize display lamp 11 is turned off. Further, when the reels 15 to 17 are stopped and the symbol combination of the re-play is complete on the activated pay line, the re-play display lamp 13 lights up as "FREE GAME" to display that it is the re-play. When the start lever 3 is operated as a replay and the reels 15 to 17 start rotating, the replay display lamp 13 is turned off.

When one game is finished in a short time and the next game is to be started immediately, the game interval display lamp 12 lights up as "WAIT", and the next game can be started. There is no display, that is, the rotation of the reels 15 to 17 is not operable. This display is lit until a fixed time (usually 4.1 seconds) elapses until the game can be played next time. While the game interval display lamp 12 is on, the operation of the start lever 3 cannot be accepted. The game interval display lamp 12 which has been turned on once goes out when a predetermined game interval (normally 4.1 seconds) elapses, indicating that the game can be started.

The stop positions of the reels 15 to 17 are such that the symbols corresponding to the winning mode determined by the lottery inside the machine are stopped on the activated winning line based on the operation timing of the stop buttons 4 to 6. Stop display is controlled. In other words, when the symbols stopped and displayed according to the operation timings of the stop buttons 4 to 6 are not the symbols corresponding to the winning mode determined by the internal lottery, the symbols in the predetermined range, for example, the subsequent 4 frames If a symbol corresponding to the winning mode is present in the symbols up to the minute, reel pull-in control is performed in which the symbol is pulled up to the winning line and stopped and displayed.

The winning modes include a big hit prize, a medium hit prize, a small hit prize, and the like. The big hit prize and the middle hit prize are generated when a predetermined combination of the symbol "7" or a character symbol is aligned on the activated winning line. . Special games such as a big bonus game (BB game) in the big hit prize and a regular bonus game (RB game) in the middle hit prize can be performed, and a large number of medals can be obtained. In addition, the small hit prize occurs when a predetermined combination of symbols such as "cherry" and "bell" are aligned on any activated pay line, and several medals can be obtained.

When the jackpot winning mode is determined by the internal lottery, the notification lamp 18 provided on the front panel 2 of the slot machine 1 is turned on, and at the same time, the upper decoration lamp 7 on the upper part of the chassis is turned on in a predetermined light emitting mode. The player is informed that the jackpot prize has been internally won. In addition, a special game start sound is output from the speaker 19 when the start lever 3 is operated, so that the player is notified of the internal winning of the jackpot prize. Since the hit request flag of the big hit prize is carried over to the subsequent games, the player can stop the hit jack line on the activated winning line aiming at the big hit prize symbol in the subsequent games.

[0011]

[Patent Document 1] JP-A-5-337254 (paragraphs [0022] to [0029])

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional slot machine 1, the display lamps 8 to 13 including the notification lamp 18 are arranged on the front panel 2, and the space of the panel 2 is equivalent. Occupy a quantity. For this reason, although there are other game machine states and operation guides to be displayed on the front panel 2, it is difficult to add these lamps further, and at present, only limited display items are displayed. Similarly, it is difficult to provide a device other than the display lamp.

Further, the arrangement of the notification lamp 18 and the upper decoration lamp 7 for notifying the big winning internal winning mode is wide angle over the upper and lower sides of the panel 2, and the display by these is performed in quick succession according to the flow of the game. Therefore, it is necessary for the player to frequently move the wide-angle viewpoint in order to confirm these displays while performing a game operation, which causes a feeling of fatigue.

Further, since most of the slot machines for notifying such an internal winning mode display in a display format of similar arrangement, the player has already become chronic and has an interest in displaying the internal winning mode. Is fading.

[0015]

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and starts variable display means for variably displaying a plurality of symbols and variable display of the symbols by the variable display means. Variable display start means, a prize mode determination means for determining the internal prize mode of the game by random number lottery for each game, and a symbol to be stopped and displayed on the variable display means according to the internal prize mode determined by the prize mode determination means In a gaming machine configured to include a stop display control means for controlling the variable display start means, a translucent operation unit,
The operation section is composed of a light source that emits light from the inside, and controls the light emission state of the light source to notify the player of the type of the internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means, and the internal number is determined by the number of times the light source blinks It is characterized by comprising light source control means for notifying the player of the reliability for notifying the type of winning mode.

According to this structure, the player is informed of the type of the internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means by the light emitting mode of the light source, and the player is informed of the type of the internal winning mode. However, it is possible to infer from the number of times the light source blinks that the reliability that is the same as the type of internal winning mode actually determined inside the machine is reliable.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the light source comprises a light emitting diode which emits a plurality of different colors or a plurality of light emitting diodes which emits a different color.

According to such a configuration, as the light emission control of the light source by the light source control means, for example, lighting / blinking control and emission color control are added to increase the number of light emission modes and widen the display range.

Further, the invention is characterized in that the light source control means controls the light emission of the light source when the variable display start means starts the variable display of the variable display means.

According to this structure, the player can know the type of the internal winning mode before the variable display of the variable display means is stopped, so that the player can easily stop the variable display. To be done.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a first embodiment in which a gaming machine according to the present invention is applied to a slot machine will be described.

FIG. 2 shows a slot machine 2 according to this embodiment.
It is a front perspective view of 0.

Behind the front panel 21 of the slot machine 20 are three reels 22, 2 constituting variable display means.
3, 24 are rotatably provided. Each reel 22-
A plurality of types of symbols (hereinafter referred to as symbols) are drawn on the outer peripheral surface of 24. Three of these symbols are respectively observed through the display windows 25, 26, 27 on the front of the slot machine 20.

Each of the reels 22 to 24 is constructed as a rotary reel unit shown in FIG. 3, and is attached to the frame 52 via a bracket 53. Each reel 22
Nos. 24 to 24 are configured by attaching a reel band 55 to the outer periphery of the reel drum 54. The above-mentioned symbol array is drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the reel band 55. Each bracket 53 is provided with a stepping motor 56, and the reels 22 to 24 are driven by the motors 56 to rotate.

The structure of each reel 22 to 24 is shown in FIG. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. A lamp case 57 is provided inside the reel drum 54 behind the reel band 55, and back lamps 58a, 58b, 58c are attached to the three chambers of the lamp case 57, respectively. These back lamps 58a to 58c are shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), it is mounted on a substrate 59, and this substrate 59 is attached behind the lamp case 57. A photo sensor 60 is attached to the bracket 53. This photo sensor 60 is used for the reel drum 5.
It is detected that the shield plate 61 provided on the No. 4 passes the photo sensor 60 as the reel drum 54 rotates.

Lighting of each of the back lamps 58a to 58c is controlled by a lamp drive circuit 81 described later. By lighting each of the back lamps 58a to 58c, among the symbols drawn on the reel band 55, three symbols located at the front part of each of the back lamps 58 are individually illuminated from behind, and the respective display windows 25 to 27 are displayed. Three symbols are projected on each.

Further, in the display windows 25 to 27 shown in FIG.
Three winning lines (horizontal L1 and upper and lower L2A, L2B) and two diagonal lines (diagonal right downward L3A, diagonal right upward L3B) are shown. Prior to the start of the game, when the player inserts one medal into the medal insertion slot 28, the center pay line L1 on each reel 22-24.
Only enabled. Also, insert two medals into the slot 28
When it is thrown in, the winning lines L2A and L2 above and below
B is added, and three horizontal pay lines L1, L2A and L
2B is activated. In addition, the three medals insertion slot 28
All winning lines L1, L2A, L2
B, L3A and L3B are enabled.

On the lower left side of the display windows 25 to 27,
A 1 BET switch 30, a 2 BET switch 31 and a max BET switch 32 are provided. When the medals are credited, instead of inserting the medals into the medal insertion slot 28, these 1BET switches 30, 2B are used.
Each push button operation of the ET switch 31 and the max BET switch 32 causes one piece for each game,
Two and three medals are bet.

Below the BET switches 30 to 32, medals are credited / dispensed (PLAY CREDIT / PAY OU).
Credit / settlement changeover switch (C / P)
Switch) 34 is provided. C / P switch 34
A start lever 35 which constitutes a variable display starting means is provided on the right side of the above, and stop buttons 36, 37 and 38 which constitute a variable display stopping means are provided in the central portion of the equipment on the right side. Start lever 35 and stop button 36-
An LED is embedded in 38 as a light source.

As shown in FIG. 5, the start lever 35
Is a transparent or semi-transparent grip 35 having a hollow spherical shape.
a is formed by being fitted into the cylindrical shaft 35b. LE that emits light of multiple colors is provided inside the grip 35a.
D39 is provided, and is connected to an external power source by an electric wire through the inside of the shaft 35b. Further, a sleeve 40 and a hemisphere 41 are fitted in the shaft 35b, and the outer spherical surface of the hemisphere 41 abuts on a spherical seat 43 of a pedestal 42 attached to the housing of the slot machine 20 to slide.

The start lever 35 is held in the horizontal position by the restoring force of the elastic spring 44, and can be swung by the sliding movement of the hemisphere 41. A start switch 35s is provided near the rear end of the shaft 35b. The start switch 35s detects displacement of the shaft 35b due to the swing of the start lever 35 and outputs a detection signal. In the present embodiment and each of the embodiments described later, the case of using the LED 39 that emits light of a plurality of colors will be described, but the same operational effect can be obtained by using a plurality of LEDs that emit light of different colors. .

By operating the lever of the start lever 35,
The rotation of the reels 22 to 24 simultaneously starts. The stop buttons 36 to 38 constitute variable display stop means for stopping the rotation display of the reels 22 to 24 for each column, and are arranged corresponding to the reels 22 to 24. Each reel 22
When the rotation speed of ~ 24 reaches a constant speed, the operation of each stop button 36-38 is validated, and each stop button 36-38 is activated.
38 is each reel 22 to in response to the push button operation by the player.
Stop rotation of 24.

A sound transmission hole 45 and a medal tray 46 are provided in the lower front portion of the slot machine 20. The sound transmission hole 45 is provided in the speaker 6 which will be described later and is housed inside the device.
The sound generated from 3 is output to the outside. The medal receiving tray 46 is for accumulating medals paid out from the medal payout opening 47. In addition, a payout display section 48 is provided on the upper front portion of the slot machine 20 to show how many medals are paid out for each winning.

FIG. 6 shows the slot machine 20 of this embodiment.
2 shows a circuit configuration including a control unit for controlling the game processing operation in and a peripheral device (actuator) electrically connected to the control unit.

The control unit has a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 70 as a main constituent element, and a circuit for random number sampling is added thereto. The microcomputer 70 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 71 that performs a control operation according to a preset program, a ROM (read-only memory) 72 and a RAM that are storage means.
(Read / write memory) 73 is included.
The CPU 71 includes a clock pulse generation circuit 74 that generates a reference clock pulse and a frequency divider 75, a random number generator 76 that generates a random number in a certain range, and a random number sampling circuit 77 that extracts an arbitrary random number from the generated random numbers.
Are connected.

The main actuator whose operation is controlled by a control signal from the microcomputer 70 is the reel 22.
There are stepping motors 56 that rotationally drive .about.24, a hopper 62 that stores medals, a speaker 63, a back lamp 58, and a start lever LED 39 built in the start lever 35. These are a motor drive circuit 78, a hopper drive circuit 79, a speaker drive circuit 80,
It is driven by the lamp drive circuit 81 and the LED drive circuit 83. These drive circuits 78 to 83 are connected to the microcomputer 7
It is connected to the CPU 71 through the 0 I / O port. Here, the microcomputer 70 and the LED drive circuit 83 constitute a light source control means. Further, each stepping motor 56 is excited by the motor drive circuit 78 in the 1-2 phase, and each of the stepping motors 56 makes one rotation when a drive signal of 400 pulses is supplied.

The main input signal generating means for generating the input signal necessary for the microcomputer 70 to generate the control signal is the start switch 35S for detecting the operation of the start lever 35 and the insertion through the medal insertion slot 28. There are the inserted medal sensor 28S for detecting the medals that have been played and the C / P switch 34 described above. In addition, the photo sensor 60,
There is also a reel position detection circuit 84 which receives the output pulse signal from the photo sensor 60 and detects the rotational position of each reel 22-24.

The photo sensor 60 is provided for each reel 22, 23, 2
The shield plate 61 is detected and a reset pulse is generated each time 4 rotates once. This reset pulse is given to the CPU 71 via the reel position detection circuit 84. The RAM 73 stores the count value corresponding to the rotation position within one rotation range for each of the reels 22 to 24, and C
Upon receiving the reset pulse, the PU 71 clears this count value formed in the RAM 73 to "0". By this clearing process, the deviation generated between the moving display of each symbol and the rotation of each stepping motor 56 is eliminated for each rotation.

Further, as the above-mentioned input signal generating means,
Reel stop signal circuit 85 and payout completion signal generation circuit 8
There is 7. The reel stop signal circuit 85 includes a stop button 3
When 6, 37, 38 are pressed, the corresponding reel 22,
A signal for stopping 23 and 24 is generated. Further, the medal detection unit 86 counts the number of medals paid out from the hopper 62, and the payout completion signal generation circuit 87 uses the medal count value actually paid out from the medal detection unit 86 as the predetermined payout number data. When it reaches, the CPU 71 outputs a signal notifying that the medal payout is completed.

This slot machine 20 is stored in the ROM 72.
In addition to the sequence of the game processing executed in 1. being stored as a sequence program, a winning probability table, a symbol table, a winning symbol combination table and the like are stored separately.

The winning probability table is based on the sampling circuit 7
It is used to divide the random numbers extracted in 7 into each winning mode, and stores data for partitioning a random number within a certain range generated by the random number generator 76 into each winning mode. Such a winning probability table is configured as shown in FIG. 7, for example. A1 to a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c in FIG.
3, d1 to d3, e1 to e3, f1 to f3, g1 to g3
Is numerical data set in advance, and is used when the random numbers extracted by the sampling circuit 77 are divided into winning modes. This data is “a1 to g1” when the number of inserted medals is 1, “a2 to g2” when the number of medals is 2 and 3
In the case of a sheet, a combination of numerical values of "a3 to g3" is used.

These numerical values are usually "a <b <c <d <e <
The extracted random number value is set to a magnitude relationship of “f <g” and a
If it is less than, it will be a jackpot prize (a big hit) and "BB
(Big bonus) ”The winning flag is set. If the extracted random number value is equal to or greater than a and less than b, a medium-winning prize (medium hit) is determined, and an "RB (regular bonus)" winning flag is set. If the extracted random number value is greater than or equal to b and less than f, a small win is awarded (small hit). In this case, b
If it is less than or equal to c, the "watermelon" winning flag is set, and c
If it is equal to or more than d, a "bell" winning flag is set, if it is d or more and less than e, a "4 cherry" winning flag is set, and if it is e or more and less than f, a "2 cherry" winning flag is set. Further, if the extracted random number value is f or more and less than g, a "replay" winning flag is set, and if it is g or more, a "miss" winning flag without winning is set.

In other words, the winning mode is determined by which numerical value range one sampled random number value belongs to, and is represented by a total of eight types of winning flags including "miss" and "replay". Here, the random number generator 76, the sampling circuit 77, the winning probability table, and the microcomputer 70 constitute winning mode determining means for determining the winning mode of the game by random number lottery.

FIG. 8 shows an example of each value of the numerical value data a3 to g3 which is the hit section data when betting three medals shown in FIG. Here, the random number generator 76 has 0 to 6
It is assumed that a random number in the range of 5534 (= 2 ¹⁶ ) is generated.

According to the numerical data of this winning probability table, if a random number in the range of 0 to 200 is extracted by the sampling circuit 77 at the time of winning determination, the internal lottery result is a big hit and the "BB" winning flag is set. , 201-
If a random number in the range of 380 is selected, the result of the internal selection is medium hit, and the "RB" winning flag is set. Similarly,
If random numbers in the range of 381 to 10000 are extracted,
Small winning prize winning flag of each role is set, 10001-1
If a random number in the range of 8000 is extracted, "replay"
If the winning flag is set and a random number in the range of 18001 to 65534 is extracted, the “miss” winning flag is set.

The symbol table is conceptually shown in FIG. This symbol table is for each reel 22-24
The rotation position and the symbol are associated with each other, and the symbol string is represented by a symbol. In this symbol table, symbol codes corresponding to code numbers are stored for each reel 22 to 24. Code numbers are sequentially assigned at constant rotation pitches of the reels 22 to 24 with reference to the rotation position at which the reset pulse is generated. The symbol code indicates a symbol provided corresponding to each code number.

Further, the winning symbol combination table includes
The symbol code of each winning symbol combination shown on the payout display portion 48, the symbol code of the symbol combination forming the "reach eye" that indicates to the player that the flag for the occurrence of the specific game is established, and each winning are shown. The winning determination code, the number of winning medal dividends, and the like are stored. The winning symbol combination table is referred to when the stop display of the first reel 22, the second reel 23, and the third reel 24 is controlled, and when the winning confirmation after all reels are stopped is confirmed.

Reel position detection circuit 84, reel stop signal circuit 85, motor drive circuit 78, stepping motor 5
6 and the microcomputer 70 constitute stop display control means. The stop display control means includes stop buttons 36 to 38.
Is detected by the reel stop signal circuit 85, and the symbol displayed on the activation line at this operation timing is not the symbol corresponding to the internal winning mode (internal winning combination) but is continuously displayed on the activation line. Followed by 4
When a symbol corresponding to the internal winning mode is present in the symbols for the frames, the control is performed to draw this symbol onto the activation line of the display windows 25 to 27. At this time, while the reel position detection circuit 84 grasps the types of symbols displayed in the display windows 25 to 27, the motor drive circuit 78
The stepping motor 56 is controlled by the microcomputer 70, and the rotation control of the reels 22-24 is performed.

Next, the operation of the gaming machine controlled by the microcomputer 70 in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flowcharts showing the outline of this game process.

First, as a result of the previous game, a replay (replay) occurs, and whether or not there is automatic insertion of medals is determined by the CPU 7
1 (see step 101 in FIG. 10). If there is this automatic insertion, then the game medals for the insertion request are automatically inserted (step 102). On the other hand, when there is no automatic insertion, the player inserts a medal into the medal insertion slot 28 and a detection signal is output from the medal sensor 28s, or the player outputs BE.
The T switches 30, 31, 32 are operated to output signals from these switches (step 103).

Next, by operating the start lever 35,
It is determined whether or not there is a start signal input from the start switch 35S (step 104). If this determination is "Yes", then it is determined whether the time from the start of the previous game to the start of the present game (hereinafter referred to as the game interval) is 4.1 seconds or more (step 105). If the game interval is less than 4.1 seconds, the game start waiting time is consumed until 4.1 seconds have elapsed (step 106). next,
The prize determination is performed by the prize mode determination means. That is, the random number for lottery generated by the random number generator 76 is extracted by the sampling circuit 77 (step 107), and the probability lottery process is performed (step 108).

In the probability lottery process, as described above, it is determined to which prize group one random value specified by the sampling circuit 77 belongs in the prize probability table (see FIG. 7). Done by The internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means is represented by the type of the winning flag, and is “miss”, “replay”, “two cherries”, “four cherries”, “bell”, “watermelon”, "RB" and "BB"
One of the eight winning flags is the RAM 73
Is set in a predetermined area of.

The internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means is notified to the player based on the light emitting mode of the start lever 35. The notification of the internal winning combination is performed by determining which hit section data in the winning probability table shown in FIG. 7 the random number value extracted in step 107 corresponds to, similarly to the winning determination.

First, at step 109, it is judged whether the extracted random number value is less than a, and when it is less than a, a control signal is output from the CPU 71 and the LED drive circuit 83 causes the start lever LED 39 to emit green light. (Step 110). This green light emission of the start lever 35 is a notification of the "BB" internal winning. If the extracted random number value is not less than a, then it is determined whether it is less than b (step 111). When it is less than b, the start lever LED 39 emits blue light to notify the "RB" internal winning (step 112). If both of the steps 109 and 111 result in "No", the start lever LED 39 emits red light (step 113). This red light emission of the start lever 35 is a notification of a small winning prize, or an internal winning of a replay or a loss.

Next, a predetermined area of the RAM 73 in which the rotational positions of the reels 22 to 24 are written is initialized at the start of reel rotation (step 114), and then the reels 22 to 24 are rotationally driven by the stepping motor 56. To be done. Next, it is determined whether or not any of the stop buttons 36 to 38 has been turned on (step 11).
5). If the ON operation has not been performed, it is determined whether or not the automatic stop timer has reached 0 (step 11).
6). This automatic stop timer is a stop button 36-38
Is for automatically stopping the reels 22 to 24 after a lapse of a predetermined time when no operation is performed for a predetermined time.

When any of the stop buttons 36 to 38 is turned on, or when the automatic stop timer becomes 0, next, a stop display control process according to the game state, the winning request, the number of control frames, the symbol position, etc. Is performed (step 11
7).

The game state is the RAM 7 shown in FIG. 12 (a).
It is stored in a 1-byte area called the game state status 3 and the game state at that time is indicated by the hexadecimal data of 01 to 05. There are five types of gaming states: "RB in operation", "BB in operation", "general game", "BB inside hitting", and "RB inside hitting".

"RB operation in progress" represents a game state during the RB game. In this RB game, a high payout game in which a high payout is awarded can be played once. "BB in operation" represents a game state during a BB game, and in this BB game, a general game and the above high payout game can be set a plurality of times. "In general game" represents a game state in which no winning of BB or RB has occurred.

"Inside BB winning" means that the BB winning flag is set, but a predetermined winning symbol combination is not stopped and displayed on each reel 22 to 24, and a general gaming state in which BB has not occurred yet. ing. Although the RB winning flag is set for “inside RB”, each reel 22 to
A predetermined winning symbol combination is not stopped and displayed on 24, and represents an ordinary gaming state in which no RB has occurred yet.

The winning request is also issued to the RAM 7 shown in FIG. 12 (b).
3 hit request flag storage areas are stored. This area also consists of 1 byte, and the hit request flag is "B
There are 7 types of "B", "RB", "replay", "watermelon", "bell", "4 cherry" and "2 cherry".

The order of symbols for which the stop display control is prioritized is stored in the ROM 72 as a table, as shown in FIG. This figure is a priority table of winning combinations that are preferentially drawn in on the activated winning line during a general game, and the priority order is determined in the order of replay, small hit, and BB / RB game. The number of control frames is the number of frames within the pull-in controllable range by the stop display control means, and in the table, each winning combination is set to 4 frames.

The symbol positions are the reels 22 to 22 written in the area of the RAM 73 initialized in step 114.
24 position data. This symbol position is the data of the symbol currently existing on each activation line, and is stored as the symbol code shown in FIG.

In the stop display control process, first, the current game state is referred to, and the priority table according to the game state is selected. That is, the table shown in FIG. 13 is selected during the normal game. Then the symbol position is referenced,
The current symbol is recognized on the activation line of the first stop reel. If this symbol is not a symbol that corresponds to the winning request, it is determined whether or not there is a symbol that corresponds to the winning request within the range of 4 control frames. If the symbol corresponding to the winning request is within the range of four frames, the number of sliding frames is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 73 so that the first stop reel rotates by the number of frames, and
The stop request flag for the stop reel is set.
The stop display control means stops the rotation of one reel in response to the setting of the stop request flag.

Next, it is determined whether or not all the reels have stopped (FIG. 11, step 118). If the second stop reel and the third stop reel are not yet stopped,
The process returns to step 115, and the above process is repeated.

This step 11 by the stop display control means
The reel stop display control processing of 5 to 118 is performed as follows during a general game, for example.

For example, when the ON operation of the first reel stop button 36 is detected, the first reel stop button 36 is
When is operated by the player, the number of drive pulses supplied to the stepping motor 56 of the first reel 22 is read from the RAM 73 and is associated with the rotational position of the first reel 22. When the rotation position of the first reel 22 is known, the three symbols appearing in the observation window 25 are grasped as symbol codes by comparison with the symbol table (see FIG. 9).

In this case, when the hit flag of the big hit is set, it is checked whether or not there is a symbol constituting the big hit on the activated winning line of the observation window 25. Similarly, when the winning flags for medium hits and small hits are set, it is checked whether or not there are symbols constituting the medium hits and small hits on the activated winning line of the observation window 25. When there is a symbol corresponding to the winning flag on the activated pay line, the CPU 71 immediately stops the first reel 22.

By the above checking process, when the symbol corresponding to the winning flag does not appear on the activated winning line of the observation window 25, what happens when the first reel 22 is further rotated by the number of control frames. Check if a different symbol appears. If there is a symbol corresponding to the winning flag in this, the first position up to that frame position
The reel 22 is rotated and stopped there. This pull-in control process is performed by the second reel 23 and the third reel 23 described below.
The same process is performed during each stop display control process of the reel 24.

Next, when the stop button 37 of the second reel 23 is turned on, a stop display control process of the second reel 23 is performed. In this stop display control process, first, assuming that the 21 symbols of code numbers 0 to 20 are stopped on the pay line L1 in the center of the observation window 26 while the second reel 23 is rotating, it is effective. The combination with the symbol of the first reel 22 which has already stopped on the award winning line is read. The rotation code indicating that the third reel 24 is rotating is read. Although the second reel 23 is also rotating, it is assumed that the second reel 23 will be stopped by the above processing, and thus is not read as a rotation code.

When the symbol code combinations are read in this way, the winning symbol combination table described above is referenced, and the second reel 23 has 21 rotational positions for the symbols determined by stopping the first reel 22. When the game is stopped at, it is sequentially judged what kind of winning may occur on the activated winning line. For example,
If the first reel 22 is stopped as shown in FIG. 14 (a), assuming 21 stop positions of the second reel 23, the symbol combination pattern at that time is checked. For example, as shown in FIG.
If the player stops at the code number “5” in the center of the observation window 26, the pay lines L1, L2A, L2B, L3A,
The symbol combination on L3B is as shown in FIG.

The arrow of the third reel 24 is a rotation code indicating that the third reel 24 is rotating, but depending on the stop position of the third reel 24, a big hit prize "A-A-A" on the pay line L1 There is a possibility that a small hit prize of "EEE" will be generated on the line L2B. Therefore, with respect to the code number "5" of the second reel 23, a prediction flag of a big hit and a prediction flag of a small hit are set as shown in FIG. The presence or absence of such a prediction flag indicates whether the second reel 23
Are checked for all code numbers, and these data are written in the RAM 73.

The predictive flag data written in the RAM 73 in this way is referred to when the stop display of the second reel 23 is controlled. That is, the stop button 3 of the second reel 23
When 7 is operated, the prediction flag corresponding to the code number of the second reel 23 is referred to, and when a big hit is predicted, the big hit symbol is stopped on the activated winning line. The stop display control of the second reel 23 is executed.

Next, when the ON operation of the stop button 38 of the third reel 24 is detected, the stop display control processing of the third reel 24 is performed. In this stop display control process,
Since the first reel 22 and the second reel 23 have already stopped and the symbol combinations thereof have been specified, the possibility of winning a prize is determined for each code number of the third reel 24 with respect to these symbol combinations. The winning prediction flag is set in the same manner as the table shown in FIG.

This prediction flag data is also referred to when the stop button 38 of the third reel 24 is operated, and when a big hit is predicted, the big hit symbol is stopped on the activated pay line. The stop display control of the third reel 24 is executed. During the stop display control process of the third reel 24, the first reel 22, which has already stopped,
The reel stop position is controlled so that not only a winning according to the winning flag is obtained by a combination with the symbol of the second reel 23 but also a winning different from the winning flag is not obtained.

When the reel stop display control processing as described above is completed, the winning retrieval processing is then performed (FIG. 11, step 119). In this winning prize search processing, the kind of symbol combination actually aligned on the activated winning line and the kind of winning flag won by the probability lottery processing are matched. Then, it is determined whether or not the winning flag is normal (step 120). If the determination result is not normal, for example, if the winning symbol is a watermelon flag even though the bell symbol combinations are aligned on the activated winning line, an illegal error is displayed (step 121).

If the winning flag is normal, then it is determined whether the number of winning coins is 0 or not (step 122). If the winning number is not 0, the game medals are stored or paid out depending on the state at that time (step 12).
3). In other words, when the game is played with credits, the number of credits is increased by the number of medals obtained by winning, and when the game is being played by inserting medals into the medal slot 28, it is won by winning. The selected number of medals are paid out to the medal tray 46.

Next, it is judged whether or not the internal winning mode is the re-game winning (step 124), and in the case of the re-game winning,
An automatic loading request is set (step 125). Then, next, initialization at the end of one game, for example, the area of the RAM 73 used in the game is initialized (step 12
6) One game ends.

In the present embodiment as described above, step 10
The type of the internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means by the processing of 9 to step 113 is the start lever 35.
The player is informed by the light emission mode of the start lever LED 39 provided in the. Therefore, unlike the conventional slot machine 1, a space for installing the notification lamp 13 on the front panel 2 is unnecessary, and the slot machine 2 of the present embodiment is not required.
0, other devices can be provided in this space on the front panel 21. In addition, since the display is highly visible because it is displayed at a unique position away from other display devices, it is a display that is not in the conventional slot machine, and thus it can be differentiated from other models. In addition, since it is displayed on the start lever 35, the display can be confirmed without making a large movement of the viewpoint.

In this embodiment, the light source control means changes the emission color of the start lever LED 39 to notify the player of the type of internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means. It is also possible to change the blinking speed of the LED 39 to inform the player of the type of the internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means.

In this embodiment, the start lever 3
The light source of No. 5 is controlled to emit light, and the winning combination internally won is informed by the light emission mode. Next, the start lever LED3
A second embodiment will be described in which light emission is controlled in synchronism with the game start sound, and the internal winning combination is notified visually or auditorily.

The slot machine 20 according to the present embodiment,
A plurality of types of start sounds (game start sounds) are provided, and a start sound corresponding to the internal winning mode is output when the start lever 35 is operated to notify the internal winning combination, and is synchronized with the output of the start sound. The start lever LED 39 is controlled to emit light, and the internal winning combination is notified according to the manner of light emission. The slot machine 2 according to the present embodiment
0, the slot machine 2 according to the first embodiment
Since the structure is the same as that of 0, the description of the structure will be omitted and the operation controlled by the microcomputer 70 will be described.
It should be noted that the same or corresponding portions as those of the slot machine 20 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and described.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the outline of this game processing.

First, the automatic loading or the player's loading port 28
It is determined whether or not a medal has been inserted into (step 130). If a medal has been inserted, it is next determined whether or not the start lever 35 has been operated (step 131). When the operation of the start lever 35 is recognized, an internal lottery is carried out by the prize mode determining means and an internal winning combination is determined (step 132). When the internal winning combination is determined, the start sound corresponding to this is selected (step 133).

FIG. 17A is a diagram showing an example of a start sound corresponding to each winning combination, and start sounds 1 to 4 are set corresponding to each winning combination. The start sound 1 is sounded only when "BB (big bonus)" is internally won, and the start sound 2 is sounded when "BB" or "replay" is internally won. Similarly, start sound 3 is output when "RB (regular bonus)" or "watermelon" is internally elected, and start sound 4 is output when "RB", "bell", or "miss" is internally elected. Is sounded. When "BB" and "RB" are internally won, there are two types of start sounds that are output.
A lottery for selecting which start sound is further performed.

When the start sound is selected and determined, the start sound is then output (step 134). The start sound is output when the speaker drive circuit 80 drives the speaker 63 according to the control signal output from the CPU 71. The microcomputer 70, the speaker drive circuit 80, and the speaker 63 form a game sound generating means.

Next, in synchronization with the sounds of the start sounds 1 to 4, the start lever LED 39 is controlled to emit light of the corresponding emission color (step 135). An example of the emission color of the start lever LED 39 corresponding to the start sounds 1 to 4 is shown in FIG. When the start sound 1 is emitted, the start lever 35 emits red light, and when the start sound 2 is emitted, the start lever 35 emits green light. Similarly, when the start sound 3 is output, the start lever 35 emits orange light, and when the start sound 4 is output, the start lever 35 does not emit light.

Start sounds 1 to 4 and start lever 3
When the internal winning combination is notified by the light emitting mode of 5, the reels 22 to 24 start to rotate (step 13).
6) The operation waits for the stop buttons 36 to 38 (step 137). Any of the stop buttons 36-38
Is operated, the rotation of the reels 22 to 24 corresponding to the stop buttons 36 to 38 is stopped by the stop display control means described above (step 138). After that, until all reels 22-24 are stopped, each reel 22-2
4, the reel stop control process is performed by the stop display control means (step 139), and when all reels stop, the start lever 35 turned on in step 135 is turned off (step 140).

Next, it is determined whether or not a prize has been generated (step 141). If no prize has been generated, one game is over and the process returns to the initial step 130. If a winning has occurred, a predetermined number of medals corresponding to the winning mode are paid out (step 14).
2). When it is recognized that the predetermined number of medals have been paid out (step 143), one game ends and the process returns to the initial step 130. However, when the generated winning is a bonus winning, the process returns to step 130 after the end of each bonus game.

In the slot machine 20 according to the present embodiment as described above, the start lever 35 is caused to emit light in synchronization with the start sounds 1 to 4, and the start sounds 1 to 4 and the start lever 35 emit light. The internal winning combination has been announced. Therefore, the inside of the game hall is noisy,
Even when the auditory recognition of the notification is difficult due to the volume of the game sound being reduced, the start lever 35
By emitting the light, it is possible to visually recognize the notification. As a result, it is possible to reduce the chance of losing the prize without being able to recognize the internal winning combination informed.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in which the internal winning combination is notified by a light emitting mode in which the light emitting mode of the start lever 35 and the light emitting modes of the stop buttons 33 to 38 are combined.

The slot machine 20 according to the present embodiment,
The other structures are the first except that the LEDs inside the stop buttons 36 to 38 are controlled to emit light by the light source control means.
Since the structure is the same as that of the slot machine 20 according to the embodiment, the description of the structure will be omitted, and the operation controlled by the microcomputer 70 will be described. It should be noted that the same or corresponding portions as those of the slot machine 20 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and described.

FIG. 18 shows the microcomputer 7 in this embodiment.
It is the flowchart which shows the outline of the game processing of the slot machine 20 which is controlled by 0.

First, the automatic loading or the player's loading port 28
It is determined whether or not a medal has been inserted into (step 150). If a medal has been inserted, it is next determined whether or not the start lever 35 has been operated (step 151). When the operation of the start lever 35 is recognized, an internal lottery is performed by the prize mode determining means, and an internal winning combination is determined (step 152). When the internal winning combination is determined, the light emission mode of the notification effect that is predetermined corresponding to each internal winning combination is selected (step 153).

19 (a) to 19 (d) show a start lever 35 and a stop button 3 for providing an information effect of an internal winning combination.
It is the figure which showed an example of the light emission mode of 6-38. The light emitting mode of the effect A shown in FIG.
When is operated, the start lever 35 is first turned on and then turned off immediately, and then the stop button 36 is turned on and immediately turned off. Further, subsequently, the stop button 37 is turned on and turned off immediately, and finally the stop button 38 is turned on and turned off immediately. By this series of light emission control, it seems that the light emitted from the start lever 35 flows to the right and then flows to the stop button 38 via the stop buttons 36 and 37.

In the light emitting mode of the effect B shown in FIG. 13B, the light emitting control of the effect A in which the light flows to the right direction is added to the light emitting control of the light to flow in the opposite left direction. Light emitted from the lever 35 to the right end of the stop button 38 to the right flows leftward from the right end of the stop button 38 to the left end of the start lever 35. In the light emission mode of the effect C shown in FIG. 7C, the light emission control of the effect A is controlled in the opposite direction, and the light emitted from the stop button 38 at the right end flows to the left to cause the start lever 35 at the left end to flow. It is a light emission mode that reaches the end. The light emitting mode of the effect D shown in FIG.
Does not emit light, and only the stop buttons 36 to 38 are illuminated.

The light emitting modes of these effects A to D are the CPU 7
The control signal output from the LED drive circuit 83 to the start lever LED 39 and the stop button 36
The light emission control is performed by the LEDs provided inside the ~ 38.

The effects A to D are selected according to the winning mode internally won by referring to the notification effect table stored in the ROM 72. FIG. 20 shows an example of the effect table, and the effect A is selected when the internal winning combination is "watermelon" or "bell" of the small winning combination. The effect B is selected when the internal winning combination is “BB” or “RB” or the small winning combination “watermelon”. In the production C, the internal winning role is “B
It is selected in the case of "B" or "replay". The effect D is selected when the internal winning combination is “RB”, the small role “bell”, or “miss”. If there are a plurality of effect options for one internal winning combination, the effect is further determined by lottery.

When the type of effect is determined according to the internal winning combination, the internal winning combination is notified by the light emitting mode of the effect (step 154). The player can predict to some extent the winning mode that is internally won by the displayed light emitting mode.

Next, following the notification of the internal winning combination, the rotation of the reels 22 to 24 is started (step 155) and the operation of the stop buttons 36 to 38 is awaited (step 15).
6). When one of the stop buttons 36 to 38 is operated, the rotation of the reels 22 to 24 corresponding to the stop button 36 to 38 is stopped by the stop display control means (step 157). After that, all reels 22-2
The reel stop control is performed on each reel until the reel 4 is stopped (step 158), and when all the reels 22 to 24 are stopped, it is determined whether or not a winning is generated (step 159).

If no winning has occurred, one game ends and the process returns to the first step 150. If a winning has occurred, a predetermined number of medals according to the winning mode is paid out. (Step 160). After that, when it is recognized that a predetermined number of medals have been paid out (step 161), one game ends and the process returns to the initial step 150. However, when the generated winning is a bonus winning, the process returns to step 150 after the end of each bonus game.

In the slot machine 20 according to the present embodiment as described above, the notification of the internal winning combination is performed by the light emission mode of the start lever 35 and the stop buttons 36 to 38. Therefore, since the notification is displayed at a peculiar position distant from the other display, the display has a high visual effect, and since it is a display of a format that the conventional slot machine does not have, it can be differentiated from other models. Further, since the information is displayed on the start lever 35 and the stop buttons 36 to 38, it is possible to confirm the notification display without moving the viewpoint during the game operation.

Further, according to this structure, the start lever 3
5 and a plurality of light sources of the stop buttons 36 to 38 can be combined to control light emission in various light emission modes, so that one internal winning mode can be notified based on a plurality of light emission modes, and the range of notification performance Spreads.

Further, since the internal winning mode is notified in the lighting modes of the performances A to D selected from the predetermined lighting modes, the winning mode determining means determines by comparing the lighting modes corresponding to the respective internal winning modes. It is possible to predict what kind of internal winning mode the player has won.

Further, in this embodiment, the start lever 35 is used.
The rotation of the reels 22 to 24 is started by the stop button 36 to 38, and the rotation of the reels 22 to 24 is stopped by the stop button 36 to 38. Each light source is controlled to emit light. Therefore, the player can know the type of the internal winning mode before the stop buttons 36 to 38 are stopped, so that the player can easily stop the stop buttons 36 to 38.

Next, the slot machine 20 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention for notifying the type of the internal winning combination and notifying the reliability of the notification by the light emission mode of the start lever 35 will be described.

The slot machine 20 according to this embodiment also
Since the structure is the same as that of the slot machine 20 according to the first embodiment, the description of the structure is omitted and the microcomputer 70
The operation controlled by will be described. Further, the same or corresponding parts as those of the slot machine 20 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals for description.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing the outline of the game processing of the slot machine 20 according to the present embodiment.

First, the automatic insertion or the player's input port 28
It is determined whether or not a medal has been inserted into (step 170). If a medal has been inserted, it is next determined whether or not the start lever 35 has been operated (step 171). When the operation of the start lever 35 is recognized, an internal lottery is carried out by the prize mode determining means to determine an internal winning combination (step 172). When the internal winning combination is determined, the number of blinks of the start lever 35 corresponding to this is selected (step 173).

FIG. 20 shows an example of the correspondence relationship between the internal winning combination and the corresponding number of times the start lever 35 blinks. When the internal winning combination is "BB", the blinking number of the start lever 35 is controlled to 10 times or 9 times.
Also, if the internal winning combination is “RB”, 9 times or 8
In the case of "replay", the number of times is controlled to 8 or 2 times. Similarly, 8 times or 6 for small role "watermelon"
In the case of “bell”, the number of times is controlled to 7 or 3 times, and in the case of “miss”, the number of times is controlled to 0 (no blinking).

In a winning combination having a plurality of blinking number options, one of the blinking numbers is further selected at a predetermined ratio. For example, “BB” may be blinked 9 times or 10 times, but if these selection ratios are set to 1: 3, the blinking frequency is 9 times at a rate of 1 in 4 times. The notification display of "BB" is displayed, and the notification display of "BB" of 10 times of blinking is performed every four times. The notification display of 10 blinks is only "BB". Therefore, when this notification display is made, the player is "BB".
You can know that is confirmed. Further, since the notification display with 9 blinks may be "BB" or "RB", if this notification display is made, the player is expected to win "BB" or "RB". You can know that there is. The selection ratios are appropriately set for other winning combinations as well, and the number of blinks to be notified and displayed is selected under this selection ratio.

When the number of times the start lever 35 blinks according to the internal winning combination is determined, the start lever LED 39 of the start lever 35 is controlled to blink by that number of times (step 174), and the notification display relating to the internal winning combination is displayed. Done. The higher the number of times the start lever 35 blinks, the higher the expectation for a big win.

Next, when the notification display is completed, the reels 22 to 22
24 starts rotating (step 175) and waits for operation of the stop buttons 36 to 38 (step 176). When one of the stop buttons 36 to 38 is operated, the reels 22 to 2 corresponding to the stop button 36 to 38 are operated.
The rotation of No. 4 is stopped by the stop display control means (step 177). After that, the reel stop control of the reels 22 to 24 is performed by the stop display control means until all the reels 22 to 24 are stopped (step 178). When all the reels are stopped, it is determined whether or not a winning is generated. It is determined (step 179). If no winning has occurred, one game is over and the process is the first step 17
Returning to 0, when a winning is generated, a predetermined number of medals corresponding to the winning mode are paid out (step 180). After that, when it is recognized that the predetermined number of medals have been paid out (step 181), one game ends and the process returns to the initial step 170. However,
If the generated prize is a bonus prize, the process returns to step 170 after the end of each bonus game.

In this embodiment as described above, step 17
Through the processing of 3,174, the light source control means changes the number of times the start lever LED 39 blinks to notify the player of the type of internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means. Therefore, the type of the internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means is notified to the player by the flashing speed of the start lever LED 39.

Further, in this embodiment, the light source control means is
The reliability of notifying the type of the internal winning mode is notified to the player by the number of times the start lever LED 39 blinks. For example, when the number of blinks is 10, the internal winning mode of "BB" to be notified is confirmed, and the reliability of the notification is 100%.
Is notified to the player. The number of blinks is 9
In the case of times, there may be an internal winning mode of "BB",
In some cases, the internal winning mode of "RB" may occur, and the reliability of the internal winning mode notification is a predetermined ratio. Therefore, the player is
From the number of times the start lever LED 39 blinks, it is possible to estimate the reliability that the notified type of internal winning mode is the same as the type of internal winning mode actually determined inside the machine.

Further, in this embodiment, the light source control means is
When the start lever 35 starts rotating the reels 22 to 24, the start lever LED 39 is controlled to emit light. According to such a configuration, the player has the reels 22-
Since it is possible to know the type of internal winning mode before the operation of stopping the rotation of 24, the operation of stopping the reels 22 to 24 by the player is facilitated.

In this embodiment, the start lever 3 is used as a light emitting mode indicating the reliability of the internal winning mode notification.
Although 5 is controlled to blink and the number of times of blinking is changed, the emission color may be controlled instead of the blink control to indicate the reliability of the internal winning mode notification. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the more the number of times the start lever 35 blinks, the higher the expectation for the jackpot winning, but, for example, a warm color system such as red is displayed with a high jackpot occurrence expectation, and a cold color system such as blue. Is set to a display close to a loss, and the emission color is changed from red to blue according to the winning combination. In this case, the process in step 173 of FIG. 17 is the process of selecting the emission color of the start lever 35 corresponding to the winning combination. Further, the processing of step 174 is processing for controlling the light emission of the start lever 35 to the selected light emission color. Even in such a case, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment in which the light emission mode is changed by the blink control can be obtained.

Next, the start lever 35 is caused to emit light at a timing when the symbols corresponding to the internal winning mode can be stopped on the activated winning line by the stop display control means, and the operation timing of the stop buttons 36 to 38 is set by the player. The fifth embodiment for notifying the user will be described.

The slot machine 20 according to this embodiment also
Since the structure is the same as that of the slot machine 20 according to the first embodiment, the description of the structure is omitted and the microcomputer 70
The operation controlled by will be described. It should be noted that the same or corresponding portions as those of the slot machine 20 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and described.

FIG. 23 shows the microcomputer 7 in this embodiment.
It is the flowchart which shows the outline of the game processing of the slot machine 20 which is controlled by 0.

First, the automatic insertion or the player's input port 28
It is determined whether or not a medal has been inserted into (step 190). If a medal has been inserted, it is next determined whether or not the start lever 35 has been operated (step 191). When the operation of the start lever 35 is recognized, an internal lottery is carried out by the prize mode determining means and an internal winning combination is determined (step 192). When the internal winning combination is determined, the reels 22 to 24 start to rotate (step 193).

When the reels 22 to 24 start to rotate, the symbols positioned on the activated pay line of the reels 22 to 24 are grasped, and further four subsequent frames for which stop display control processing (reel pull-in control) is possible. The symbols are grasped and the pressing support range is checked (step 194). The check processing result is written in a predetermined area of the RAM 73 and is constantly updated as the reels 22 to 24 rotate. Next, it is determined whether or not the symbol corresponding to the internal winning combination exists in the symbols grasped in the processing of step 194, and it is determined whether or not the symbol corresponding to the internal winning combination exists within the push-down support range. (Step 195). If it exists, the start lever LED 39 in the start lever 35 is turned on (step 196). The processing operations from step 194 to step 196 are repeated until the operation of any of the stop buttons 36 to 38 is recognized in step 197.

On the other hand, when the symbol corresponding to the internal winning combination does not exist in the reel pull-in controllable range and is out of the support range, “No” in step 195.
It is determined that the start lever L in the start lever 35
The ED 39 is turned off (step 198). That is, while the reels 22 to 24 are rotating, the start lever 35 lights up at the timing when the symbol corresponding to the internal winning combination can be stopped on the activated pay line by the reel pull-in control, and when the timing passes. The start lever 35 is turned off. Therefore, the reel 22
The start lever 35 repeats lighting and extinguishing in response to the above-mentioned timing that occurs repeatedly with the rotation of .about.24. If the start lever 35 is to be illuminated all day long, the light emission brightness may be controlled to be high or low instead of being turned on or off.

Next, any of the stop buttons 36 to 3
When 8 is operated, the corresponding reel is stopped according to the operation timing (step 199), and then it is determined whether all reels 22 to 24 are stopped (step 200). When all the reels 22 to 24 are not stopped, the processing returns to step 194, and the start lever 35 at the timing when the processing for checking the symbol support range and the reel pull-in control as described above for the continuously rotating reels is possible. The lighting process of is repeatedly performed.

After that, when all the reels 22 to 24 are stopped, the light emission control of the start lever 35 is stopped (step 201), and subsequently it is determined whether or not a winning is generated (step 202). If no winning has occurred, one game ends and the process returns to the first step 190. If a winning has occurred, a predetermined number of medals according to the winning mode is paid out (step Two
03). Thereafter, when it is recognized that the predetermined number of medals have been paid out (step 204), one game ends and the process returns to the initial step 190. However, if the generated winning is a bonus winning, the process returns to step 190 after the end of each bonus game.

In the slot machine 20 according to the present embodiment as described above, the start lever 35 lights up at the timing when the symbol corresponding to the internal winning combination can be stopped on the activated pay line, and the stop button 36 is turned on.
The player is notified of the operation timings of ~ 38. Therefore, referring to this display, the stop buttons 36-3
Even a beginner in the game, who is unfamiliar with how to set the stop operation timing of 8, can easily stop and display the desired symbol. This is especially effective when stopping "BB" and "RB" symbols, which have a small number in the symbol string, and quickly win without losing the "BB" or "RB" that has been internally won. Can be generated.

When the specific condition is met, the stop display control is interrupted for some reels, that is, for some reels, a so-called CT, which is a slot machine provided with a period in which reel-in control for the subsequent four frames is not performed, is performed. Also in the (challenge time) machine, it is effective to notify the operation timing of the stop buttons 36 to 38 by lighting the start lever 35 as in the above embodiment. That is, since the skill of the player is directly reflected in the game result during the period when the reel pull-in control is not performed, the beginner of the game can support the game skill by the above notification and can enjoy the CT machine.

Next, each time the number of games played after the end of the "BB" game reaches a predetermined number, the start lever 35 is controlled to emit light, and the light emission mode gives an indication of the number of games played from the end of the "BB" game to the present. A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The slot machine 20 according to this embodiment also
Since the structure is the same as that of the slot machine 20 according to the first embodiment, the description of the structure is omitted and the microcomputer 70
The operation controlled by will be described. It should be noted that the same or corresponding portions as those of the slot machine 20 according to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and described.

FIG. 24 shows the microcomputer 7 in this embodiment.
It is the flowchart which shows the outline of the game processing of the slot machine 20 which is controlled by 0.

First, if the slot machine 20 has just been powered on, the game counter is set to 0 in step 210.
After being initialized to step 211, the process proceeds to step 211. Step two
At 11, it is determined whether or not the game number counter has a value within the range of 0 to 299. This judgment is “Yes”
In this case, the CPU 71 outputs a control signal to the LED drive circuit 83, and the LED drive circuit 83 controls the emission of the start lever LED 39 to start the start lever 35.
Lights up in green (step 212). After the start lever 35 is lit, the medal insertion waiting process (step 217)
Becomes

If the determination in step 211 is "No", then it is determined whether or not the game number counter is within the range of 300 to 599 (step 213). If this determination is "Yes", the start lever 35 is lit in orange (step 214), and in step 217 the medal insertion waiting state is set. On the other hand, the determination in step 213 is “N
In the case of "o", the game number counter is 600 to 899.
It is determined whether the value is within the range (step 215).
If this determination is “Yes”, the start lever 35 is lit in red (step 216), and in step 217 the medal insertion waiting state is set. If the determination in step 215 is “No”, it is determined that the game number counter is 900, the process returns to step 210 and the game number counter is initialized to 0.

At step 217, it is determined whether or not automatic insertion or insertion of medals into the player's insertion slot 28 is performed. If it is determined that medals have been inserted, then the start lever 35 is operated. It is determined whether or not (step 218). When the operation of the start lever 35 is recognized, an internal lottery is carried out by the prize mode determining means to determine an internal winning combination (step 219). After that, the reels 22 to 24 start to rotate (step 22
0), the operation waits for the stop buttons 36 to 38 (step 221). Any of the stop buttons 36-38
Is operated, the rotation of the reel corresponding to the stop button is stopped by the stop display control means (step 222), and thereafter, the reels are stopped by the stop display control means for each reel until all the reels 22 to 24 are stopped. Control is performed (steps 221-223).

When all the reels 22 to 24 are stopped, 1 is added to the game number counter to be updated (step 2
24) Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a winning is generated (step 225). If no winning has occurred, one game ends and the process returns to step 211.
If a winning has occurred, a predetermined number of medals corresponding to the winning mode are paid out (step 22).
6). Thereafter, when it is recognized that the predetermined number of medals have been paid out (step 227), it is determined whether "BB" has occurred (step 228). "BB"
When the “BB game” is continuously executed (step 229) and the “BB game” ends, the process returns to the first step 210 and the game number counter is initialized to 0. If "BB" has not occurred in step 228, it is next determined whether "RB" has occurred (step 230). When "RB" has occurred, the "RB game" is subsequently played (step 231), and the process returns to step 211. Also,
When "RB" has not occurred, one game ends, and the process returns to step 211.

In the slot machine 20 according to the present embodiment as described above, the player is informed by the light emitting mode of the start lever 35 how many times the general game has been played without the occurrence of the "BB" which is a big win. . That is, the number of games played since the end of the BB game is 0 to
In the range of 299 times, the start lever 35 lights in green in steps 211 and 212, and in the range of 300 times to 599 times, lights in orange in steps 213 and 214.
In the range of 00 to 899 times, the light is turned on in red in steps 215 and 216, so that the player can know the approximate number of times of games by identifying these colors. Therefore, the player refers to these emission colors of the start lever 35 to grasp how much game has been played on the gaming table since the last BB game was finished, and the next BB game is about to occur. The fun of guessing whether or not is obtained, and the fun of the game is increased.

Further, conventionally, there is a game store in which a number display is provided near the calling lamp of the game machine island facility in addition to the slot machine casing to display the number of games played since the end of the BB game. On the other hand, however, some game stores do not display the same display at all, and there is not much uniformity among the game stores regarding the display of the number of games played since the end of the BB game. However, by installing the slot machine 20 having the function of displaying the number of games in the housing portion as in this embodiment,
It is possible to display the number of games even at a game store where the game machine island facility is not provided with a display. Therefore, the slot itself can be differentiated from other slot machines that do not have a function of displaying the number of games, and the display format is the start lever 3.
This is a novel format that is based on the light emitting mode of 5, so that it can attract the player's interest.

In this embodiment, the number of games played is 9
When the number of games exceeds 00, the game number counter is initialized to 0, but the emission color of the corresponding start lever LED 39 may be increased and a notification display may be displayed as a guide for the number of games over 900. Also, the start lever LED3
The emission color of 9 may be further increased, or the emission control may be changed to further increase the number of emission modes, and the range of the number of games announced and displayed by one emission mode may be narrowed and displayed more finely. With such a configuration, it is possible to perform notification display as a guide for the number of games that is more accurate and closer to the actual number.

As described above, according to the present invention, the type of the internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means is notified by the light emitting state of the light source provided in the variable display starting means of the gaming machine, and the notified internal winning mode is given. The reliability that the type of the mode is the same as the type of the internal winning mode actually determined inside the machine is notified by the number of blinks of the light source provided in the variable display starting means of the gaming machine. Therefore, the player can be informed that the type of the internal winning mode is informed by the light emitting mode of the light source, and the type of the notified internal winning mode is the same as the type of the internal winning mode actually determined inside the machine. The reliability can be estimated from the number of times the light source blinks. Further, it is possible to omit the notification lamp and the like displayed on the front panel as in the past, and it is possible to provide another device or the like in the empty area.

Further, since the notification format is based on the light emission mode of the light source provided in the variable display starting means, it is a format that has not been found in general game machines up to now, and it is possible to provide a display effect with a high visual effect. . Further, since each display is made on the variable display starting means, the display can be confirmed without moving the viewpoint during the game.

[0140]

According to the present invention, the player is informed of the type of the internal winning mode by the light emitting mode of the light source, and the type of the notified internal winning mode is actually determined inside the machine. It can be estimated from the number of times the light source blinks that the reliability that is the same as the type can be estimated. Also,
It is possible to omit the notification lamp and the like displayed on the front panel as in the past, and to provide other equipment or the like in the empty area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a conventional general slot machine.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a rotary reel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of reels constituting a rotary reel unit of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the start lever of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main control circuit configuration of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a winning probability table used in the game processing of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of hit section data of a winning probability table used in the game processing of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a symbol table used for game processing of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a first flowchart showing a game process of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a second flowchart showing a game process of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the contents of a storage area secured in the RAM of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a attraction priority table used in the game processing of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a relation of symbol codes assigned to and read from each rotating reel in the game processing of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a hit prediction flag table used for game processing of the slot machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a game process of the slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a game start sound assigned to each winning combination in the game processing of the slot machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and a light emission color of the game start lever assigned to each game start sound.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a game process of the slot machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a production example of a light emitting mode of a game start lever and a stop button for notifying an internal winning combination in the game of the slot machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing effects assigned to each winning combination in the game processing of the slot machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing game processing of the slot machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the number of blinks of the game start lever assigned to each winning combination in the game processing of the slot machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a game process of the slot machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing game processing of the slot machine according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 ... Slot machine 21 ... Front panel 22, 23, 24 ... First reel, second reel, third reel 25, 26, 27 ... Display window 28 ... Medal insertion slot 30, 31, 32 ... BET switch 33 ... Credit number Display unit 34 ... Credit / payment changeover switch 35 ... Start levers 36, 37, 38 ... Stop button 39 ... Start lever LED 45 ... Sound transmission hole 46 ... Medal tray 47 ... Medal payout port 48 ... Payout display unit 50 ... Payout number of medals Display sections L1, L2A, L2B, L3A, L3B ... Winning line 70 ... Microcomputer 71 ... CPU (central processing unit) 72 ... ROM (read only memory) 73 ... RAM (readable / writable memory) 83 ... LED drive circuit

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yuki Inamura             25, 3-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Kazuyuki Yanagi             25, 3-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Tamio Abe             25, 3-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Shingo Matsuda             25, 3-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Masaka             25, 3-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Rie Aoki             25, 3-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A variable display means for variably displaying a plurality of symbols, a variable display start means for starting variable display of the symbols by the variable display means, and a prize for determining an internal winning mode of the game by random number lottery for each game. In the gaming machine configured to include a mode determination means and a stop display control means for controlling a symbol to be stopped and displayed on the variable display means according to the internal winning mode determined by the prize mode determination means, the variable display The starting means is composed of a translucent operating portion and a light source for causing the operating portion to emit light from the inside. By controlling the light emitting state of the light source, the type of the internal winning mode determined by the winning mode determining means is played. A gaming machine provided with a light source control means for notifying the player of the type of the internal winning mode by the number of times the light source blinks. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode that emits a plurality of different colors or a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit a different color. 3. The light source control means controls the light emission of the light source when the variable display starting means starts the variable display of the variable display means.
Alternatively, the gaming machine according to claim 2. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine.