JP2004097481A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure coordination of a displayed image and a sound and make improvements including reduction in the number of control boards. <P>SOLUTION: A liquid crystal display device 32 is unidirectionally connected to a display control board 33. A main control board 30 is not connected to a sound and lamp control board 34. A display control board 33 is equipped with two CPUs (central processing units) of CPU 33a and CPU 33b. The CPU 33a allocates basic variation patterns sent from the main control board 30 to display patterns, determines display patterns and sends data showing the kinds of the display patterns allocated to the CPU 33b and the sound and lamp control board 34. A shooting and putting-out control board 31 has a circuit structure that makes it bidirectionally communicate with the main control board 30 and drives and controls a putting-out motor 29b in accordance with a command from the main control board 30 and puts out game balls to the player when a winning has occurred. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball game machine for playing a game by firing a game ball on a game area on a game board, and more particularly, to a configuration of a control board mounted on the ball game machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recent ball game machines are equipped with a security function to check for unauthorized modification of the ROM on the main control board (also called game control board) that controls the progress of the game with the main purpose of countermeasures against fraud. The configuration of the one-way communication circuit that can transmit only to the various control boards is adopted. The reason for adopting the one-way communication circuit configuration is to prevent unauthorized modification such as outputting an incorrect signal from other various control boards to the main control board. These measures have further improved the soundness of ball and ball game machines.
Other various control boards include a display control board for notifying a player that the game will be shifted to a special game such as a jackpot, a payout control board for executing a payout ball payout process, and a launch control for controlling the launch of a game ball. A board, a sound control board for controlling output of sound effects accompanying the progress of the game, a lamp control board for controlling lighting of a lamp and an LED for the progress of the game, and a power board for supplying power to each control board. .
The main control board sequentially transmits control signals from the main control board to the display control board for the purpose of controlling the various control boards and for reducing the processing load on one control board. The so-called "fluctuation pattern method" is used in which the fluctuation time of the symbol and the static symbol used for notifying the occurrence of the jackpot are transmitted at the start of the fluctuation of the symbol without transmitting, and the fluctuation stop signal is transmitted after the fluctuation time elapses. ing. In this fluctuation pattern method, when data indicating the fluctuation time of the symbol and the type of the stationary symbol is transmitted, no signal is output in principle until the fluctuation stop signal is transmitted. This variation pattern method is the same for the sound control board.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Although the above-mentioned conventional ball game machine is effective in countermeasures against fraud, the following problems were considered in control processing. That is, since the fluctuation pattern method is adopted from the main control board to the display control board and the sound control board, during one symbol change, the displayed image and the sound cannot be matched, for example, When a character suddenly appears during a pattern change, the main control board has no way of knowing that, so it is not possible to output the sound effect accompanying the appearance of the character, the number of various control boards other than the main control board is limited. In many cases, the configuration of the ball game machine becomes bulky, the connection between the main control board and various control boards becomes complicated, the number of parts increases, and the cost increases. In the ball game machine, since the prize ball is managed by the main control board and the payout control board, it is necessary to perform the payout detection of the prize ball on both boards because of the one-way communication circuit configuration, It was considered.
[0004]
Means and effects for solving the problem
The ball game machine according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the problem, has a predetermined random value extracted based on a timing at which a game ball fired on a game board enters a starting port. A main control board for executing a special game advantageous to the player due to the presence of the game, a display control board for notifying whether or not to execute the special game, and a payout for controlling a player to pay out a prize ball A ball and ball game machine including at least a control board and a sound control board for controlling a sound effect accompanying the progress of a game, wherein the main control board and the payout control board are bidirectionally communicated, and the main control The board and the display control board are one-way communication that can be transmitted only from the main control board, and can be transmitted from the display control board to the sound control board.
[0005]
Since the main control board and the payout control board are bidirectionally communicated, the payout ball payout detection processing may be performed only by the payout control board or the main control board, and the wiring can be simplified. Because of the two-way communication, data such as the number of unpaid prize balls can be shared, and even if the power failure countermeasures are executed only by the main control board, unpaid prize balls can be paid out after the restoration from the power failure. As a result, it is not necessary to take a countermeasure against power failure of the payout control board. Here, in the case of two-way communication, illegal modification of the payout control board is a problem, but since the payout control board is a board related to the performance of the game, it often has a security function, and the main control board and the payout control board are provided. If security functions are mounted on both control boards, the fear of unauthorized modification is reduced, and if both boards are sealed in so-called "caulking boxes," further countermeasures can be taken.
In addition, since the sound can be directly transmitted from the display control board to the sound control board, it is possible to output a sound effect matching the image.
[0006]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the sound control board and the main control board cannot communicate with each other.
Since the sound control board can only be transmitted from the display control board and cannot communicate with the main control board, and the main control board and the display control board are configured as one-way communication that can be transmitted only from the main control board, the main control board This has the effect of reducing the number of wirings to the board and making it impossible to output an incorrect signal from the display control board or the sound control board to the main control board.
[0007]
The ball game machine according to claim 3, wherein the display control board and the sound control board are bidirectionally communicated with each other. .
Since the display control board and the sound control board are bi-directionally communicated, it is possible to ensure the signal transfer.
[0008]
The ball game machine according to claim 4, wherein the payout control board also performs control for launching the game ball on the game board surface. is there.
Since the payout control board also controls the launch of the game ball, the launch control board can be eliminated to reduce the number of components, simplify wiring, and simplify the ball game machine.
[0009]
The ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sound control board also controls the lighting of a lamp or an LED as the game progresses. It is.
Since the sound control board also controls the lighting of the lamp and the like, the number of components can be reduced, the wiring can be simplified, and the ball game machine can be simplified without using a separate lamp control board.
[0010]
In the invention according to claim 6, the main control board stores and retains the game progress status and unpaid prize balls even in the event of a power outage, and after the power outage returns, continues the game before the power outage in accordance with the stored data and performs unpaid 6. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein a payout control board is instructed to pay out the prize ball.
The main control board stores the game progress status and unpaid prize balls, so there is no need to take countermeasures against power outages of the payout control board, further reducing the number of parts, simplifying wiring, and simplifying ball game machines. Can be achieved.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples in any way, and it goes without saying that various forms can be adopted as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment includes a largely rectangular outer frame 11 and a front frame 12, and a known card reader 13 is provided on the left of the outer frame 11. The front frame 12 is rotatably attached to the outer frame 11 by upper and lower hinges 14 on the left end.
An upper plate 15 is provided below the front frame 12, and a lending button 16, a settlement button 17, and a balance display unit 18 are provided on the upper plate 15. When a prepaid card is inserted into a card slot 19 of a card reader (hereinafter also referred to as a prepaid card unit) 13, the stored balance is displayed on a balance display section 18, and when a lending button 16 is pressed, a game ball is lent. Game balls are discharged from the payout opening of the upper plate 15.
[0012]
A window-shaped metal frame 20 is removably attached to the front frame 12. A sheet glass 21 is doubly fitted into the metal frame 20. A game board 22 is housed behind the glass sheet 21.
A lower plate 23 is provided below the front frame 12 of the upper plate 15, and a firing handle 24 is attached to the right side of the lower plate 23. A rotating ring (not shown) is provided on the outer periphery of the firing handle 24, and a game ball can be fired on the game board 22 by rotating clockwise.
The upper plate 15 and the lower plate 23 are connected, and are configured to guide game balls to the lower plate 23 when the upper plate 15 becomes full of game balls.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine 10. As shown in the figure, a mechanism board 26 to which the game board 22 described above is detachably attached is housed in the outer frame 11 described above. A ball tank 27, a guide gutter 28, and a dispensing device 29 are provided on the mechanism board 26 from above. With this configuration, if there is a winning of a game ball in the winning opening on the game board 22, a predetermined number of game balls can be discharged from the ball tank 27 to the above-mentioned upper plate 15 by the payout device 29 through the guiding gutter 28. .
A main control board 30 and a firing / dispensing control board 31 are detachable from the mechanism board 26, and a special symbol / normal symbol liquid crystal display device 32 (hereinafter, referred to as "liquid crystal display device") is provided on the game board 22. External connection terminal boards 50 are attached to the left side of the liquid crystal display device 32, respectively. The structure related to the payout of the game balls and the like centering on the mechanical board 26 is the same as the conventional structure, and therefore the detailed description is omitted.
[0014]
Next, the game board 22 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the game board 22 has an LCD panel unit (hereinafter, referred to as "LCD") 32a constituting the liquid crystal display device 32 in the center, and an ordinary electric accessory 36 as a first type starting port below the LCD panel unit 32a. The normal symbol operation gates 38 and 39 on the left and right of the LCD 32a used for starting the variation of the ordinary symbol included in the liquid crystal display device 32, the large winning port 40 below the ordinary electric accessory 36, the out port 41 at the bottom of the board, etc. Various winning ports, windmills, and game nails (not shown) are provided.
With this configuration, when the above-described firing handle 24 is turned, the firing motor 31a is driven by the firing / dispensing control board 31, and the game balls on the upper plate 15 are fired on the game board 22 via the guide rails. If the launched game ball wins in each winning opening, the game ball is taken in as a safe ball on the back surface of the board, and if not won, it is taken in similarly as an out ball through the out port 41 on the back surface of the board.
[0015]
Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
As shown, the electric circuit of the pachinko machine 10 includes the main control board 30, the emission / dispensing control board 31, the liquid crystal display device 32, the sound / lamp control board 34, and the like. In this circuit diagram, a so-called relay board and a power supply circuit for transferring signals are not described.
[0016]
The main control board 30 is configured as a logical operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer having a built-in ROM which stores a game control program and a RAM which serves as a work area for operations and the like. An external input / output circuit for input / output with various actuators is also provided.
On the input side of the main control board 30, the firing / dispensing control board 31, the first-type starting port switch 36a, the ordinary symbol operation switches 38a and 39a, and the accessory continuous operation switch (hereinafter, simply referred to as "V switch"). 40a, a count switch 40b, other winning opening switches 48, a full tank switch 43, a supply switch 44, a ball ejection switch 47, and the like are connected. On the output side, a special winning opening solenoid 40c, a V solenoid 40d, a normal accessory solenoid 36b and an external connection terminal board 50, a firing / dispensing control board 31, a display control board 33, and the like are connected. The main control board 30 is not connected to the sound / lamp control board 34.
[0017]
The first-type starting port switch 36a is in the ordinary electric accessory 36 on the game board 22, the ordinary symbol operating switches 38a and 39a are in the ordinary symbol operating gates 38 and 39, respectively, and the V switch 40a is in the special winning opening 40. In a specific area, the count switch 40b is attached to the big winning opening 40, the full tank switch 43 is attached to the lower plate 23, and the supply switch 44 is attached to the ball tank 27. Here, the V switch 40a counts that the game ball that has won the special winning opening 40 has passed through the special device operation area (hereinafter, referred to as “special area”), and the count switch 40b wins the special winning opening 40. The full switch 43 fires all game balls, the lower ball 23 indicates that the game balls are full, the supply switch 44 indicates that game balls are present in the ball tank 27, and the touch switch 24a fires. It is built in the handle 24 and detects that the player is touching the firing handle 24, respectively.
The special winning opening solenoid 40c connected to the output side is used for opening and closing the special winning opening 40, the V solenoid 40d is used for opening and closing the special winning area in the special winning opening 40, and the ordinary accessory solenoid 36b is used for opening and closing the ordinary electric accessory 36. Things.
[0018]
The liquid crystal display device 32 is connected to a display control board 33. The display control board 33 is configured as a logic operation circuit centered on an 8-bit one-chip microcomputer similarly to the main control board 30 described above.
The transmission to the display control board 33 is configured as a one-way communication circuit so that it can be transmitted only from the main control board 30.
The output side of the display control board 33 is connected to the sound and lamp control board 34.
The display control board 33 has two CPUs, a CPU 33a and a CPU 33b. The CPUs 33a and 33b are 8-bit one-chip microcomputers as described above, but need not be 8-bit one-chip microcomputers.
The CPU 33a sorts the display pattern from the basic variation pattern transmitted from the main control board 30, determines the display pattern, and outputs a signal corresponding to the display pattern to the CPU 33b. The transmitted data is transmitted to the CPU 33b and the sound / lamp control board 34. Note that the CPU 33a may transmit a control signal to the sound / lamp control board 34 according to the display pattern without transmitting a signal indicating the type of the display pattern to the sound / lamp control board 34.
The CPU 33b performs image processing in accordance with the display pattern, variably displays an image according to the transmitted display pattern, statically displays the instructed still symbol after the lapse of the variance time, and receives the stationary confirmation signal. The display is confirmed at the timing.
The display control board 33 includes, in addition to the two CPUs, a ROM for storing an image control program and image data and the like, a RAM for temporarily storing image data and the like, and a well-known VDP.
The display control board 33 is connected to the sound / lamp control board 34 for one-way communication or two-way communication.
[0019]
The firing / dispensing control board 31 is connected to the card reader 13 so as to be capable of two-way communication. The firing / dispensing control board 31 is connected on the input side to the firing handle 24, the touch switch 24a, the firing stop switch 24b, and the dispensing detection switch 29a, and on the output side to the dispensing motor 29b, the firing motor 31a, and the touch lamp 45. ing.
The payout detection switch 29a is disposed below the payout motor 29b in the payout device 29, and the payout detection switch 29a detects a winning ball discharged to the upper plate 15 by the payout motor 29. The touch lamp 45 is lit while the touch switch 24a detects that the player is touching the firing handle 24. In the present embodiment, the input of the touch switch 24a is input to the firing / dispensing control board 31, and the communication between the main control board 30 and the firing / dispensing control board 31 is bidirectional communication. The detection processing of the touch switch 24a can be transmitted. The same applies to the firing handle 24, the firing stop switch 24b, and the payout detection switch 29a.
The launch / payout control board 31 can bidirectionally communicate with the main control board 30. The main control board 30 outputs a payout request signal based on a winning to the launch / payout control board 31, and the launch / payout control board 31 The payout is controlled by the payout detection switch 29a, and the payout data is transmitted to the main control board 30. Therefore, the prize ball management is performed on each of the main control board 30 and the launch / payout control board 31.
The launch / payout control board 31 drives and controls the payout motor 29b in accordance with a command command from the main control board 30, and pays out a game ball as a prize ball to a player when a prize is won, and the prepaid card unit described above. The control circuit 13 and the CR settlement display board 42 are also controlled, and may be configured as a logical operation circuit using a microcomputer or may be configured as a discrete circuit. The CR settlement display board 42 controls the lending button 16, the settlement button 17, and the balance display unit 18 of the upper plate 15 described above.
[0020]
The firing / payout control board 31 drives and controls the firing motor 31a in accordance with the amount of rotation of the firing handle 24 operated by the player, and also stops firing when the player presses the firing stop switch 24b. The touch lamp 45 is turned on when the touch switch 24a built in the firing handle 24 is turned on.
[0021]
The sound / lamp control board 34 is mainly composed of driving elements such as a transistor, a sound source IC, and an amplifier. Upon receiving a command from the display control board 33, a speaker 46, various kinds of lamps such as a jackpot lamp and an error lamp, and various kinds of LEDs (holding) are provided. This is for driving and controlling the storage display LED and the like.
The sound / lamp control board 34 performs sound effect and illumination control according to the sound data corresponding to the type of the received display pattern. The sound / lamp control board 34 stores sound data and illumination data corresponding to each display pattern.
[0022]
Various power is supplied from a power supply board 55 to the main control board 30, the emission / dispensing control board 31, the display control board 33, the sound / lamp control board 34, and the like. The power supply board 55 is configured to generate a backup power supply of DC32V, DCRV, DC5V, AC24V, GND from a 24V AC power supply and a DC5V by a capacitor, and to supply necessary power supply to each control board. The DC 5 V backup power is supplied only to the main control board 30.
[0023]
The processing executed by the 8-bit one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as “microcomputer”) in the main control board 30 of the pachinko machine 10 having the circuit configuration described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 shows a main process executed by the microcomputer of the main control board 30, and is a process periodically executed by a hard interrupt every about 2 ms. In the present embodiment, each of the processes in steps S100 to S200 is a process that is executed only once in the interrupt process, and is referred to as “main process”, and as long as time is allowed within the time remaining after executing the main process. The processing of steps S210 and S220 repeatedly executed is referred to as “residual processing”.
[0024]
When a hardware interrupt is executed by the microcomputer, it is first determined whether or not the interrupt is a normal interrupt (step S100). This determination process is performed by determining whether the value of a predetermined area of the RAM as a memory is a predetermined value. When the process executed by the microcomputer shifts to this process, the normal process is executed. It is for determining whether or not it is OK. An abnormal case is considered when the power supply is turned on or the microcomputer goes out of control due to noise or the like. However, it is considered that there is almost no runaway of the microcomputer due to improvement in technology in recent years. When the power is turned on, the value of the predetermined area of the RAM is different from the predetermined value.
When it is determined that the symbol is not normal, a predetermined value is written in a predetermined area of the memory, and each initial value is written in a work area of the memory such as a special symbol and a normal symbol as an initial symbol. Step S110), the process proceeds to a residual process.
[0025]
When the affirmative determination is made, the initial random number updating process is executed (step S120). As shown in FIG. 6, this process is an increment process for incrementing the value of the initial random number by 1 each time the process is executed. When the random number value is "249" which is the maximum value, the next processing returns to the initial value "0", and 250 integers from "0" to "249" are repeatedly created in ascending order.
The success / failure random number update process (step S130) subsequent to step S120 is an increment process of incrementing by +1 each time the process is executed, similarly to the initial random number update process. However, as shown in FIG. In the next process, the value of the initial random number at that time is set as an initial value (hereinafter, referred to as an “update initial value”), and the process of adding +1 for each interrupt is continued, and “1” is smaller than the update initial value. When the value reaches a value (hereinafter, referred to as an “update maximum value”), in the next processing, 250 integer values from “0” to “249” are repeatedly created using the value of the initial random number at that time as an initial value. .
[0026]
That is, the value of +1 is incremented every interrupt processing, and the element constituting the random number is set to an integer value from “0” to “249”, which is not different from the initial random number at all. In the interrupt processing of (1), the update initial value at that time is set as an initial value, and +1 is added for each interrupt until the update initial value is reached, and the next update initial value is set as the initial value. As a result, the pass / fail random number is set to 250 integer values from “0” to “249” as elements constituting the random number, and is incremented by one every interruption processing. Since the value is changed to the value determined by the initial random number at that time, the value of the pass / fail random number can be made unpredictable. Also, the components of the random number determined by the update initial value and the update maximum value do not change at all from the same 250 integer values of "0" to "249" as the conventional pass / fail random numbers. Has a uniform appearance rate.
[0027]
The jackpot symbol random number updating process (step S140) is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates 15 integers of “0” to “14”, and is incremented by one every time this process is performed, and the initial value is “0” when the maximum value is exceeded. Return to The fifteen random numbers “0” to “14” are the same three digits “000”, “111”, “222”, “333”, “444”, “555”, “555” displayed on the screen. 666 "," 777 "," 888 "," 999 ", [AAA]," BBB "," CCC "," DDD ", and" EEE ".
The out-of-design symbol random number updating process (step S150) is composed of a left-design symbol random number, a middle-design symbol random number, and a right-design symbol random number, and is used as an out-of-match symbol when there is no big hit. The left symbol random number is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates 15 integers from “0” to “14”, and is incremented by 1 every time this processing is performed, and returns to the initial value “0” when exceeding the maximum value. The medium symbol random number is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates fifteen integers from "0" to "14". When the left symbol random number returns to "0", it is incremented by +1 in this process and when the maximum value exceeds the maximum value, " Return to "0". The right symbol random number is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates 15 integers from "0" to "14". When the medium symbol random number returns to "0", it is set to 1 for each of the processes and exceeds the maximum value. Return to "0".
The normal symbol random number update process (step S160) is configured as a counter that repeatedly generates seven integers from "0" to "6", and is incremented by +1 in this process to return to the initial value "0" when the maximum value is exceeded. Return.
[0028]
By the above-described random number updating processing (steps S120 to S160), the initial random number, the success / failure random number, the jackpot symbol random number, the out-of-design symbol random number, and the ordinary symbol random number are updated, respectively. Then, the input processing of each switch connected to the main control board 30 is executed. In this embodiment, the full tank switch 43, the replenishment switch 44, the touch switch 24a, the first-type start-up switch 36a, the V switch 40a, the count switch 40b, the normal symbol operation switches 38a and 39a, the other winning opening switch 48, etc. Is performed to check the operation status of each switch.
If there is an input to the first-type starting port switch 36a by this input processing, it means that the game ball has won the ordinary electric accessory 36 as a starting port, and the value of the random number at the time of this interrupt processing is extracted. Is compared with the pass / fail judgment value.
[0029]
The pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment is configured as a probability varying machine, and the pass / fail judgment value is “1” at the time of normal probability, and is “1”, “3”, “5”, “7”, “7” at the time of high probability. 9 ". As described above, the appearance rate of each of the 250 integer values “0” to “249” constituting the random number is uniform, and is extracted at the timing when the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as a starting port. The value of the random number is randomly extracted because the winning timing cannot be adjusted in minute time units when compared with the hard interrupt minute time of 2 ms, and the random number functions as a complete random number. Therefore, the probability that the value of the extracted success / failure random number matches the success / failure determination value and becomes a big hit is 1/250 at a normal probability and 1/50 (= 5/250) at a high probability. The reason why the probability of generating the big hit shifts from the low-probability state to the high-probability state is that, in the present embodiment, the value of the above-mentioned big hit symbol random number in the interrupt processing when the big hit occurs is “1,” “3”, “ 5 "," 7 "," 9 "," 11 ", and" 13 "(hereinafter, referred to as" high-probability random number "), and the probability is high with a probability of 7/15 when a jackpot occurs. Transition. Then, during the high probability, if the value of the big hit symbol random number when the big hit is generated again is a high probability random value, the high probability state continues. That is, there is a possibility that the high probability will continue at a probability of 7/15 every time the high probability state is entered.
When the success / failure determination process (Step S180) ends, an image output process (Step S190) is subsequently performed. This image output processing will be described later in detail.
[0030]
In the subsequent output processing (step S200), the main control board 30 performs output processing on various solenoids such as the firing / payout control board 31, the display control board 33, and the special winning opening solenoid 40c according to the progress of the game. Execute. That is, when it is detected by each of the input processes (step S170) that there is a winning of a game ball at each winning opening on the surface of the game board 22, the launch / payout control board 31 sends out the game ball as a prize ball. The processing of outputting the prize ball data, the processing of outputting an error signal to the display control board 33 to notify that the pachinko machine 10 is in error when there is an abnormality, and the processing of a big hit when a big hit occurs, Execute.
[0031]
The remaining process subsequent to the above-described process includes an out-of-design symbol random number updating process (step S210) and an initial random number updating process (step S220), which are exactly the same as the above-described steps S150 and S120, respectively. These two processes form an infinite loop and are repeatedly executed as long as time permits until the next interrupt is executed. The time required to execute the main processing of steps S100 to S200 described above differs for each interruption depending on whether or not to execute the jackpot processing, a difference in a special symbol display mode, and the like. As a result, the number of times the residual process is executed also differs for each interrupt, and the updated (added) values of the out-of-design symbol random number and the initial random number are not uniform by executing the interrupt process shown in FIG. 5 once. Disappears. This eliminates the possibility that the initial random number and the out-of-design symbol random number are synchronized with the pass / fail random number. In this embodiment, since the update of the random number is changed by the value of the initial random number, there is no possibility of synchronization. Also, the above-described ordinary symbol random number updating process (step S160) may be configured to be executed in the remaining process.
[0032]
By executing each process described above, the pachinko machine 10 performs the following operation.
A game ball is fired on the game board 22 by the firing motor 31a in accordance with the amount of rotation of the firing handle 24 operated by the player, and the fired game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as a first type starting port. Then, it is detected by the first-type start-up switch 36a, and the special symbols are displayed in the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c (see FIG. 8) on the screen of the LCD 32a of the liquid crystal display device 32 in such a manner that the special symbols are fluctuated for a predetermined time and then displayed statically. . When the special symbol that has been statically displayed displays a predetermined specific symbol, for example, the same three-digit symbol such as "777", a game state that is advantageous to the player is provided as a big hit state. Whether or not the big hit state is determined is based on whether or not the value of the random number determined when the game ball is detected by the first-type start-up switch 36a is a predetermined value.
[0033]
When the jackpot state is reached, the special winning opening 40 is opened for about 30 seconds or until the count switch 40b detects that 10 game balls have been won, whichever comes earlier, and at this time, the special winning opening 40 is won. When the V-switch 40a detects that the game ball has passed through the special area, the special winning opening 40 is closed and then opened again, and this opening operation is repeated up to 16 times. Usually, 15 game balls are paid out as a prize ball for one game ball winning. Therefore, when one big hit state occurs, about 2400 (= 15 × 10 × 16) pieces are obtained. Game balls can be obtained as prize balls. This prize ball discharging operation is executed by the launch / payout control board 31. The V solenoid 40d for opening and closing the special area of the special winning opening 40 is for closing the special area when one game ball passes through the special area.
In addition, the normal electric accessory 36, the game ball wins even in the normal state, but when the value of the normal symbol random number extracted at the timing when the game ball passes the normal symbol operation gate 38 or 39 is a predetermined value, Entrance is enlarged and winning is easy. The time required for the ordinary electric accessory 36 to expand is 0.3 seconds in the normal state and 1.5 seconds in the case of the high probability described above. Further, the fluctuation time of the normal symbol from the time when the game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gate 38 or 39 to the time when the game ball is changed and displayed and stands still is 20 seconds in a normal state, and is 5 seconds to 6 seconds in a high probability. . Accordingly, when the probability is high, the number of times of holding and storing is reduced, and the number of times of deriving the determination result as to whether or not to enlarge the ordinary electric accessory 36 by the ordinary symbol can be made larger than that in the normal state.
[0034]
Here, the above-described image output processing (step S190) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The command code shown in FIG. 9 is a code transmitted from the main control board 30 to the display control board 33.
As shown in FIG. 9, transmission command codes of the main control board 30 and the display control board 33 of this embodiment are as follows. 1. When power is turned on. 2. Customer waiting demo; 3. While the design is changing. 4. At the start of the jackpot During the jackpot, 6. At the end of the jackpot, 7. At the time of abnormal operation, it can be roughly classified into seven types.
[0035]
1. At power-on
The power-on command is a command code transmitted from the main control board 30 to the display control board 33 when the power of the pachinko machine 10 is turned on, and is composed of a 2-byte instruction of an operation number of 10H and an identification number of 01H. Have been. When the display control board 33 receives this command, a demo screen at the time of power-on is displayed on the screen of the LCD 32a in accordance with the control program written in the ROM.
[0036]
2. Demo waiting for customers
The customer waiting demonstration command is a command transmitted after the power-on demonstration screen ends or when it is determined that the player has not touched the firing handle 24 for a predetermined time (usually about 3 minutes), It consists of a 2-byte instruction with an operation number of 20H and an identification number of 01H. When the display control board 33 receives this command, it displays a customer waiting demonstration screen on the screen of the LCD 32a in accordance with the control program written in the ROM. For example, all the variation patterns of the special symbols that are variably displayed on the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c shown in FIG. 8 are sequentially displayed. In addition, the hold storage display sections 51a to 51d are sequentially lit and displayed. At this time, a background image and a character corresponding to each variation pattern are displayed on the background screen 52. The customer waiting demonstration screen displays all the fluctuation patterns in order until the player operates the firing handle 24, makes one round, and then repeatedly displays it. Note that whether or not the player is touching the firing handle 24 can be detected by the input of the touch switch 24a. This means that any or all of the winning ports have no winning for a predetermined time, or that a switch is not provided for a predetermined time and a switch is provided at an out port 41 on the surface of the game board 22 so that the player does not execute a game. to decide.
[0037]
3. During symbol change
The symbol changing command is a command transmitted when the special symbol is changed. As shown in FIG. 9, (1) basic changing pattern code, (2) left still symbol design code, (3) middle still symbol design code, ( 4) Right command symbol design code, which is classified into four types of command codes (hereinafter, these four command codes may be collectively referred to as "image display command").
[0038]
(1) Basic fluctuation pattern code
The basic variation pattern code is configured as nine types of two-byte instructions from a one-byte instruction of 30H as an operation number and nine types of one-byte instructions of 01H to 09H as identification numbers. The nine types of 1-byte instructions will be described later in detail.
(2) Left stationary symbol designating code
The left stationary symbol designating code is an instruction code including an operation number of 31H and 15 types of identification numbers of 01H to 0FH. When the identification number is 01H, it is "0" as the left stationary symbol, and when it is 02H, it is "1". , "2" for 03H, "3" for 04H, "4" for 05H, "5" for 06H, "6" for 07H, "7" for 08H, “09”, “8”, 0AH, “9”, 0BH, “A”, 0CH, “B”, 0DH, “C”, 0EH, “D”, 0FH At this time, the character "E" is displayed in the special symbol display area 50a as a special symbol.
[0039]
(3) Middle stationary design designation code
The middle stationary design designation code is an instruction code consisting of an operation number of 32H and 15 types of identification numbers of 01H to 0FH. The identification number has the same meaning as the identification number of the left still design designation code, and is designated by each. The character to be displayed is displayed in the special symbol display area 50b as a special symbol.
(4) Right stationary design designation code
The right stationary design designation code is an instruction code composed of an operation number of 33H and 15 types of identification numbers of 01H to 0FH. The identification number has the same meaning as the identification number of the left still design designation code, and is designated by each. The displayed character is displayed in the special symbol display area 50c as a special symbol.
This variable time code, left, middle and right stationary symbol designating code is a command code that is transmitted almost simultaneously by two bytes at a time when a game ball fired on the game board 22 wins the ordinary electric accessory 36 as a starting port. And its contents are determined as follows.
[0040]
As described above, when the gaming ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36, the value of the winning / failing random number, the value of the jackpot symbol random number, the value of the out-of-control symbol random number, and the value of the ordinary symbol random number are extracted. The extracted random number value is compared with the determination value “1” at the time of normal probability, and the determination value “1”, “3”, “5”, “7”, “9” and “11” at the time of high probability. If a match is found, a jackpot is generated, and if not, a hit occurs. At the time of occurrence of a big hit, a +1 is added to the extracted random number of the big hit symbol, and this value is used as the identification number of the left, middle and right still symbol designating code. That is, the identification numbers of the left, middle, and right still symbol designating codes are the same. If they do not match and are out, the left, middle, and right stationary symbols are specified by adding +1 to each of the left symbol, the middle symbol, and the right symbol random values of the extracted symbol symbols. Code identification number. At this time, if the three identification numbers coincide with each other by accident, a process of setting the value of the identification number of the right stationary symbol designating code to a value different by the value “1” is performed.
[0041]
4. Big hit start
The big hit start demonstration command code indicates that a big hit has occurred between the time when the left, middle and right special symbols displayed in the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c display the same symbol and before the big hit operation is started. This command is used to display an image that appeals to the player, and is composed of an operation number of 40H and an identification number of 01H. When this instruction code is received by the display control board 33, characters such as “big hit” are displayed on the screen of the LCD 32 a to display an image that makes the character happy, and the sound / lamp control board 34 outputs a sound effect. .
[0042]
5. Medium hit
The big hit commands are classified into five commands: a code before opening, a code during opening, a 10-count winning code, a V-pass code, and a round display code.
(1) The pre-open code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 01H. When the display control board 33 inputs this instruction code, an image notifying the player that the special winning opening 40 will be opened is displayed on the background screen. The processing displayed on 52 is executed.
(2) The open code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 02H. When the display control board 33 inputs this command code, an image that informs the player that the special winning opening 40 is open is displayed. Execute the process to be displayed.
(3) The 10-count winning code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 03H, and the main control board 30 detects that a game ball has entered the special winning port 40 by the count switch 40b or the V switch 40a. This instruction code is transmitted every time. When the display control board 33 inputs this command code, the value is incremented and the value is displayed on the background screen 52 every time the command code is input. As a result, the number from zero to ten is displayed on the screen each time a game ball wins in the special winning opening 40.
[0043]
(4) The V pass code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 04H. When the main control board 30 detects that the game ball has passed the special area in the special winning opening 40 by the V switch 40a, this command is issued. Submit the code. When the display control board 33 inputs this command code, the character "V" is displayed in a large size on the screen to inform the player that the special winning opening 40 is closed and then opened again.
(5) The round display code is composed of an operation number of 50H and an identification number of 05H, and the main control board 30 transmits this instruction code every time the special winning opening 40 is opened again after the opening operation is completed. When the display control board 33 inputs this command code, the value is incremented and the value is displayed on the background screen 52 every time the command code is input. Thereby, the player is notified of the number of times the special winning opening 40 has been opened.
[0044]
6. Big hit end
The big hit end command includes a big hit end demonstration command code and a high probability shift command code.
The jackpot end demonstration command code indicates that the game ball does not pass through the special area when the jackpot operation is finished, that is, when the big winning opening 40 has finished opening 16 times, or even if it is not opened up to 16 times. This is an instruction code transmitted when an operation is performed, and is composed of an operation number of 60H and an identification number of 01H. When the display control board 33 inputs this command code, a message is displayed to inform the player that the big hit has ended.
The high-probability transition command code includes an operation number of 61H and identification numbers of 01H to 02H. When the identification number is 01H, the high-probability state continues, and when the identification number is 02H, the high-probability state does not continue. This high-probability transition command code may be configured to be transmitted from the main control board 30 as in the present embodiment, or may be configured to be determined by the display control board 33 based on the value of the image display command described above.
[0045]
7. When operation is abnormal
The operation abnormality command is an instruction command transmitted when an abnormality occurs in the pachinko machine 10, and in this specific example, is composed of an E1 error code of 70H01H, an E2 error code of 70H02H, and an E3 error code of 70H03H. I have. In this specific example, the E1 error code is a ten-count abnormal error and is output when no game ball is detected when the special winning opening 40 is opened, and the E2 error code is a switch when the lower plate 23 is full and the tank is full. The E3 error code is output when the supply switch 44 is turned on. The error message displayed by transmitting these abnormal-time commands is erased by the 70H04H error release code transmitted when the abnormality is cleared.
[0046]
Next, a process of variably displaying a special symbol on the screen of the LCD 32a using the above-described command code will be described with reference to FIGS.
Here, first, a process of determining (selecting) the basic variation pattern according to FIGS. 10 and 11 will be described.
The microcomputer of the main control board 30 reads the result of the determination of success / failure in step S180 of the main routine (step S300 in FIG. 10), reads the presence / absence of reach (step S310), reads the presence / absence of working hours (step S320), and displays the stationary symbol. Reading is performed (step S330).
The presence or absence of the reach is determined by whether or not the left stationary symbol and the middle stationary symbol match, even when displaying the out-of-position symbol, but when the random number value extracted using the reach random number is a predetermined value, the reach is determined. It is good also as a structure which determines whether display is performed.
The time saving means that in the high probability state described above, the fluctuation time of the left, middle and right special symbols variably displayed in the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c is shortened as compared with the normal state. As described above, at the time of a high probability, the opening time of the ordinary electric accessory 36 is extended, and the number of determination results of the ordinary symbol can be increased. As a result, at the time of a high probability, the winning number of the ordinary electric accessory 36 is increased, and the fluctuation time of the special symbol is also shortened. The derivation of the symbol determination result can be increased.
[0047]
By executing the processes of steps S300 to S330, when the result of the determination as to whether or not there is a reach, whether or not there is a time saving, and each stationary symbol is read, in a subsequent process, a basic variation pattern is determined according to the read data. Is performed (step S340), and the process exits the return.
As shown in FIG. 11, when the process proceeds to step S340 (STP1), the basic variation pattern is first determined to be a jackpot (STP2) or a miss (STP3) according to the result of the hit / fail determination (step S340). In the case of departure, it is further assigned to reach (STP4) or no reach (STP5).
If the distribution is made to one of the reach (STP4) or the absence of the reach (STP5) of the jackpot (STP2), the release (STP3), the distribution is made depending on whether or not there is a time reduction (STP6 to STP11).
[0048]
The time-saving (STP6) of the jackpot (STP2) is further sorted according to whether or not the specific symbol, which is the high-probability symbol, by a stationary symbol (STP12 to STP13). Similarly, the time-saving of the big hit (STP2) (STP7) is further sorted by the stationary symbol depending on whether or not the specific symbol is the high-probability symbol (STP14 to STP15).
The absence (STP9) of reach (STP4) and reach (STP4) of the departure (STP3) is further divided into two (STP16 to STP17) depending on whether or not the symbol is before or after the big hit symbol. Here, the symbols before and after the big hit refer to symbols whose right stationary symbol is close to the left and middle stationary symbols.
[0049]
STP12 is the basic pattern 1 (STP18), STP13 is the basic pattern 2 (STP19), STP14 is the basic pattern 3 (STP20), STP15 is the basic pattern 4 (STP21), and STP8 is the basic pattern 5 that has been distributed by the above-described distribution processing. (STP22), STP16 corresponds to the basic pattern 6 (STP23), STP17 corresponds to the basic pattern 7 (STP24), STP10 corresponds to the basic pattern 8 (STP25), and STP11 corresponds to the basic pattern 9 (STP26).
The basic pattern 1 (STP18) has a variation time of 10 seconds from the start of the change of the special symbol until each symbol stops and the special symbol is determined. Similarly, basic pattern 2 (STP19) is 7 seconds, basic pattern 3 (STP20) is 30 seconds, basic pattern 4 (STP21) is 25 seconds, basic pattern 5 (STP22) is 8 seconds, and basic pattern 6 (STP23) is The basic pattern 7 (STP24) is set to 28 seconds, the basic pattern 8 (STP25) is set to 7 seconds, and the basic pattern 9 (STP26) is set to 15 seconds.
Note that these fluctuation times can be changed as appropriate.
[0050]
The display control board 33 that has received the image display command including the basic variation pattern executes a “display pattern selection routine” shown in FIG.
When the CPU 33a of the display control board 33 determines that the image display command is transmitted from the main control board 30 (step S400), the CPU 33a reads the basic variation pattern and each static symbol from the command code (steps S410 to S420) and reads. The display pattern is allocated from the data (step S430), and the process returns to the return. If no image display command has been transmitted from the main control board 30 in step S400, the process returns to the return. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in which each of the nine basic patterns of the basic variation pattern is divided into two or more display patterns.
[0051]
FIG. 14 specifically shows a configuration in which the basic variation patterns 1 to 9 composed of nine basic patterns are allocated to two or more display patterns. Each of the basic patterns 1 to 9 has a display pattern, and the variation time of the last stop symbol (here, the right symbol) is set to be common (same) within the same variation pattern. The same time is set to 10 seconds in the fluctuation pattern 1, 7 seconds in the basic fluctuation pattern,..., 15 seconds in the basic fluctuation pattern 9.
The basic pattern 1 is for displaying a jackpot specific symbol, that is, “111”, “333”, “555”, “777”, “999”, “BBB” or “DDD”, and there is a time limit. It is. In this basic pattern 1, the time of variable display on each of the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c is simultaneously set on each display area when the static symbol of each special symbol determined according to the static symbol designation code is "1". After the change is started, the display is scrolled and displayed for 4 seconds on the display area 50a and stopped at the symbol "1", and the display is scrolled and displayed for 6 seconds on the display area 50b and stopped at the symbol "1". On 50c, the display is scrolled and displayed for 10 seconds and stopped at the symbol of "1".
[0052]
When the static symbol of each special symbol is "D", the symbol starts to change simultaneously on each display area, and then scrolls and scrolls on the display area 50a for 4 seconds to stop at the symbol "D", and the display area 50b On the upper side, the display is scrolled and displayed for 7 seconds, and the display area 50c is displayed on the display area 50c.
When the stationary symbol of each special symbol is "3", the symbol starts to change simultaneously on each display region, and then scrolls and scrolls on the display region 50a for 5 seconds to stand still at the symbol "3", and the display region 50b Above, the display is scrolled and displayed for 7 seconds and stopped at the symbol of "3". On the display area 50c, the display is scrolled and displayed for 10 seconds and stopped at the symbol of "3".
[0053]
When the static symbol of each special symbol is "7", the variation is simultaneously started on each display area, and then the full-rotation variation, that is, the scroll variation is displayed with the same three-digit symbol, and "7" is simultaneously displayed after 10 seconds. Stand still with the design.
That is, in the basic pattern 1, while the start of the change and the change time on the display area 50c are the same, the change time on the display areas 50a and 50b is different depending on the type of the same three-digit specific symbol. Is set. As a result, in the basic variation pattern 1, the display patterns are divided into seven types according to the seven types of stationary symbols.
[0054]
The basic pattern 2 is for displaying a jackpot non-specific symbol, that is, “000”, “222”, “444”, “666”, “888”, “AAA”, “CCC” or “EEE”. In addition, this is a case where time is short. In this basic pattern 1, the time of variable display on each of the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c is simultaneously set on each display area when the static symbol of each special symbol determined according to the static symbol designation code is "0". After the start of the change, the display is scrolled and displayed for 4 seconds on the display area 50a and stopped at the symbol "0", and the display is scrolled and displayed for 5 seconds on the display area 50b and stopped at the symbol "0". On 50c, the display is scrolled and displayed for 7 seconds and stops at the symbol of "0".
[0055]
When the static symbol of each special symbol is “E”, the symbol starts to change simultaneously on each display area, and then scrolls and scrolls on the display area 50a for 4 seconds to stop at the symbol “E”, and the display area 50b On the upper side, the display is scrolled and displayed for 6 seconds, and the display area 50c is stopped at the symbol "E". On the display area 50c, the display is scrolled and displayed for 7 seconds and the display is stopped with the symbol "E".
When the static symbol of each special symbol is “2”, the symbol starts to change simultaneously on each display region, and then is scroll-variably displayed on the display region 50a for 5 seconds and stops at the symbol of “2”, and the display region 50b On the upper side, the display is scrolled and displayed for 6 seconds, and the display area 50c is displayed on the display area 50c.
[0056]
When the static symbol of each special symbol is "8", the variation is started simultaneously on each display area, and then the full rotation variation, that is, the scroll variation is displayed with the same three-digit symbol, and "8" is displayed simultaneously after seven seconds. Stand still with the design.
That is, in the basic pattern 2, the change start time and the change time on the display area 50c are made the same, and the change time on the display areas 50a and 50b is changed by the eight types of non-specific symbols having the same three digits. It is set to be different. Thus, in the basic variation pattern 2, the display patterns are divided into eight types according to the eight types of stationary symbols.
[0057]
By the same processing as that of the basic patterns 1 and 2, the basic patterns 3 to 9 also have the same fluctuation start time and the fluctuation time on the display area 50c, but also have different static symbols on the display areas 50a and 50b. The display patterns can be divided into two or more so that the fluctuation times are different.
[0058]
The CPU 33a of the display control board 33 sorts the display pattern from the basic variation pattern transmitted from the main control board 30, determines the display pattern, and sends data indicating the type of the sorted display pattern to the CPU 33b and the sound / lamp control. This is transmitted to the substrate 34. The CPU 33a may transmit a control signal to the sound / lamp control board 34 according to the display pattern without transmitting a signal indicating the type of the display pattern to the sound / lamp control board 34. For example, in accordance with the content of the determined display pattern, the CPU 33a instructs to output a sound effect at a timing at which the left stop symbol, the middle stop symbol, and the right stop symbol are stopped, or outputs a sound effect at a timing at which a character appears. It is conceivable to instruct.
The CPU 33b performs image processing in accordance with the display pattern, variably displays an image in accordance with the transmitted display pattern on the liquid crystal display device 32, and statically displays a stationary symbol designated after the lapse of the fluctuation time. The confirmation display is performed when the confirmation signal is received.
[0059]
The sound / lamp control board 34 is mainly composed of a driving element such as a transistor. Upon receiving a command from the display control board 33, the liquid crystal display 32, lamps such as jackpot lamps and error lamps, and various lamps such as LEDs. Is lit. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, the sound / lamp control board 34 stores sound data and illumination data corresponding to each display pattern, and the sound / lamp control board 34 determines the type of display pattern received from the CPU 33a. The sound effect and the illumination are controlled according to the corresponding sound data and illumination data.
[0060]
According to the specific example described in detail above, since the main control board 30 and the launch / payout control board 31 are bidirectionally communicated, payout of the prize ball is executed only by the launch / payout control board 31 or the main control board 30. It is possible to simplify the wiring, and to share data such as the number of unpaid prize balls. You can pay out the ball. This eliminates the need for taking measures against power failure on the firing / dispensing control board 31 side. Here, in the case of two-way communication, unauthorized modification of the launch / payout control board 31 is a problem, but since the launch / payout control board 31 is a board related to game performance, it may be equipped with a security function. In many cases, if security functions are mounted on both the main control board 30 and the firing / dispensing control board 31, the fear of tampering is reduced, and if both boards are sealed in so-called "caulking boxes", further countermeasures against fraud are achieved. I can do it.
The main control board 30 and the display control board 33 are one-way communication that can be transmitted only from the main control board 30 and can be transmitted from the display control board 33 to the sound / lamp control board 34. Since the sound can be directly transmitted to the sound / lamp control board 34, a sound effect matching the image can be output.
[0061]
When the sound control board / lamp control board 34 and the main control board 30 cannot communicate with each other, the sound / lamp control board 34 can transmit only from the display control board 33 and cannot communicate with the main control board 30. Since the control board 30 and the display control board 33 are configured as one-way communication that can be transmitted only from the main control board 30, the wiring to the main control board 30 can be reduced, and the display control board 33 or the sound / lamp control can be performed. This has the effect of making it impossible to output an illegal signal from the board 34 to the main control board 30.
[0062]
When the display control board 33 and the sound / lamp control board 34 are used for two-way communication, it is possible to provide certainty in signal transfer.
[0063]
Since the launch / payout control board 31 also controls the launch of game balls on the game board surface, the launch / payout control board 31 also controls the launch of game balls, thus eliminating the launch control board and reducing the number of components. In addition, the wiring can be simplified, and the ball and ball game machine can be simplified.
[0064]
The sound / lamp control board 34 also controls the lighting of the lamp or LED as the game progresses, so that the number of parts can be reduced, the wiring can be simplified, and the Simplification can be achieved.
[0065]
The main control board 30 stores the game progress status and the unpaid prize balls even in the event of a power failure, and after returning to the power failure, continues the game before the power failure according to the stored data and fires to pay out the unpaid prize balls. Since the payout control board 31 is instructed, the main control board 30 stores and stores the game progress status and unpaid prize balls, so that it is not necessary to take a power failure countermeasure for the firing / payout control board 31, and the number of parts can be further reduced. Reduction, simplification of wiring, and simplification of a ball game machine can be achieved.
[0066]
Then, in the same basic pattern, the fluctuations on the display areas 50a and 50b are the same while the fluctuation time from the start of the fluctuation of the special symbols on the special symbol display areas 50a to 50c until all the special symbols are stopped and fixed is the same. The time can be assigned to two or more display patterns having different fluctuation times according to the stationary symbols. Thereby, while reducing the number of basic variation patterns created on the main control board 30 to reduce the processing load, the number of display patterns in which the special symbols fluctuate on the screen of the LCD panel 32a is increased to display the special symbols. Can be varied in various ways.
In addition, the display patterns belonging to the same basic pattern have the same time from the start of the change of the special symbol to the determination of the special symbol. Therefore, when checking the performance of the machine based on the concept of the change time of the special symbol, the number of the basic change patterns is limited. Only has to be checked, which has the effect that the test time can be reduced. The CPU 33a of the display control board 33 selects a display pattern from one of the basic patterns 1 to 9, and outputs data indicating the selected display pattern to the sound / lamp control board 34. Alternatively, the output of the sound effect is instructed to the sound / lamp control board 34 in accordance with the display pattern, so that the display and the effect sound can be matched.
[0067]
Next, a second specific example will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the second specific example, the “display pattern selection routine” shown in FIG. 16 is used in place of the “display pattern selection routine” shown in FIG. 12 used in the first specific example, and FIG. 17 is used instead of the chart in FIG. The other configurations are substantially the same as those of the first specific example.
In the second specific example, when an image display command is transmitted from the main control board 30 (step S500), the CPU 33a reads the basic variation pattern (step S510), and then extracts the value of the distribution random number FRND. (Step S520), the display pattern is sorted from the extracted random number value (Step S530), and the process returns to the return. If no image display command has been transmitted from the main control board 30 in step S500, the process returns to the return. The distribution random number FRND is configured as a counter that increments by 1 every minute time and returns to “0” next time when it reaches the maximum value “99”, and repeatedly creates 100 integers from “0” to “99”, When the processing executed by the microcomputer of the display control board 33 shifts to this processing, the value is extracted. The timing at which the image display command is transmitted from the main control board 30 is unpredictable timing because it is related to the timing at which the gaming ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 36. Therefore, the distribution random number FRND, which is a counter, literally functions as a random number.
[0068]
Upon extracting the value of the sorting random number FRND, the CPU 33a selects a display pattern according to the chart shown in FIG. The CPU 33b displays an image on the liquid crystal display device 32 according to the selected display pattern.
If the display patterns shown in FIG. 17 belong to the same basic pattern, the fluctuation time from the start of the fluctuation until all the special symbols are determined is the same, but the fluctuation display on the display areas 50a and 50c is different. This distribution is performed according to the value of the extracted distribution random number FRND. At this time, if the value of the extracted distribution random number FRND is a predetermined value, a jackpot announcement is performed. The jackpot notice refers to giving advance notice of displaying the jackpot symbol before the special symbol is determined with the same three digits. This jackpot notice is executed with a certain probability even in the case of a miss. Further, it is also possible to configure so that the reach announcement is executed based on the value of the random number FRND. The reach announcement refers to an advance notice of a reach state before the symbol in the display area 50b stops and is fixed. This reach announcement is also performed with a certain probability even when the reach is not actually reached.
[0069]
The sound / lamp control board 34 controls the sound effect and the illumination according to the sound data and the illumination data corresponding to the type of the display pattern received from the CPU 33a, as in the first specific example. At this time, if there is the jackpot announcement data, the data is transmitted from the CPU 33a, so that the sound output can be performed by the sound data corresponding to the jackpot announcement. A similar sound can be output for the reach announcement.
[0070]
In the second specific example, the distribution of the display patterns is performed based on the value of the random number FRND. As a result, in addition to the effect similar to that of the first specific example, the consistency between the image display and the sound output for the jackpot notice or the reach notice is enhanced. Also, there is an effect that the display patterns can be made different even if the display mode of the three static symbols is the same, without the display pattern being fixed by the static symbols. In addition, there is an effect that the jackpot notice and the reach notice can be instructed and executed by the display control board 33 based on the value of the random number FRND.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a pachinko machine 10 employing the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko machine 10 as viewed from the back.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a game board 22 of the pachinko machine 10;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 10.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of a “main routine” executed by a main control board 30.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a process of updating an initial random number created by a “main routine”.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process of updating a pass / fail random number created in a “main routine”;
FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating an image on the screen of the LCD panel unit 32a.
9 is a chart showing command codes transmitted from the main control board 30. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a “basic variation pattern determination routine”.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing distribution to basic patterns 1 to 9;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing of a “display pattern selection routine”.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing distribution to display patterns.
FIG. 14 is a chart showing a variation time of a display pattern.
FIG. 15 is a table showing the correspondence between display patterns, sound data, and illumination data.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a process of a “display pattern selection routine” of the second specific example.
FIG. 17 is a table showing distribution of display patterns according to the value of a distribution random number FRND in a specific example.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Pachinko machine 22 ... Game board 24 ... Launch handle
24a: Touch switch 30: Main control board
31: launch / dispensing control board 32: liquid crystal display
32a LCD panel unit (LCD)
33: display control board 34: sound / lamp control board
36: Normal electric accessory (starting port) 36a: Class 1 starting port switch
40 ... Grand prize opening 40a ... Accessory continuous operation switch (VSW)
40b: Count switch (count SW)
50a, 50b, 50c ... special symbol display area 52 ... background screen

Claims (6)

A main control board that executes a special game advantageous to the player due to the random number value extracted based on the timing at which the game ball fired on the game board enters the starting port is a predetermined value,
A display control board that informs whether or not to execute the special game;
A payout control board for controlling a payout ball to a player,
A sound control board that controls sound effects accompanying the progress of the game,
A ball game machine including at least
The main control board and the payout control board are two-way communication,
The main control board and the display control board are one-way communication that can be transmitted only from the main control board,
It is possible to transmit from the display control board to the sound control board,
Ball game machine characterized by that. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the sound control board and the main control board cannot communicate with each other. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the display control board and the sound control board are configured to perform two-way communication. 4. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout control board also performs control for launching a game ball on a game board surface. 5. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the sound control board also controls lighting of a lamp or an LED as a game progresses. The main control board stores and stores the game progress status and unpaid prize balls even at the time of power failure, and after returning from the power failure, continues the game before the power failure according to the stored data and pays out the unpaid prize balls. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein an instruction is given to a payout control board.

Images