JP2004254992A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the time and effort in preparing display data in a game machine to variably display patterns in a display device. <P>SOLUTION: In the game machine, the display device 200a is disposed in a game machine body, and patterns are variably displayed under a prescribed condition in the display device 200a. The game machine comprises a display data preparing means 112 for preparing one basic display datum in a prescribed cycle, a display area setting means 104 for setting a display area within the basic display data for the display cycle prepared by the display data preparing means, and a display data outputting means 116 for outputting display data in the display area set for the display cycle by the display area setting means among the basic display data for the display cycle prepared by the display data preparing means to the display device in each display cycle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

図６中、上記ウィンドウデータによって設定される表示装置２００ａの表示領域は範囲１２２ａであり、表示装置２００ｂの表示領域は範囲１２２ｂであり、表示装置２００ｃの表示領域は範囲１２２ｃである。図から明らかなように、表示装置２００ａの表示領域１２２ａと表示装置２００ｂの表示領域１２２ｂは一部重複し、表示装置２００ａの表示領域１２２ａと表示装置２００ｃの表示領域１２２ｃも一部重複している。
各表示装置に設定された表示領域に含まれる表示データ数は、全て各表示装置の解像度よりも多なっている。このため、各表示装置のＬＣＤドライバ回路２０４ａ〜２０４ｃは、解像度に対する入力された表示データ量の割合を基に実際に表示する表示データ量を圧縮する。例えば、入力された表示データを一定の割合で表示器に表示しないこととする。図８（ａ）には、圧縮された表示データによって液晶表示器１２ａ〜１２ｃに表示される画像を示している。図８（ａ）から明らかなように、液晶表示器１２ａ〜１２ｃには装飾が施された特別図柄「７」が縮小されて表示されている。
【００２８】
一方、図６に示す基本表示データに対して、次に示すウィンドウデータによって表示領域を設定する場合を考える。

上記ウィンドウデータによって設定される表示装置２００ａ〜２００ｃの表示領域と基本表示データとの関係を図７に模式的に示す。図７中、表示装置２００ａの表示領域は範囲１２４ａであり、表示装置２００ｂの表示領域は範囲１２４ｂであり、表示装置２００ｃの表示領域は範囲１２４ｃである。図から明らかなように、図７に示す各表示装置の表示領域に含まれる表示データ数は、全て各表示器の解像度よりも少なくなっている。このため、各表示装置のＬＣＤドライバ回路２０４ａ〜２０４ｃは、解像度に対する入力された表示データ量の割合に基づいて、入力した１ドット分の表示データを隣り合う複数のドットに表示する。図８（ｂ）には、上記ウィンドウデータによって液晶表示器１２ａ〜１２ｃに表示される画像を示している。図８（ｂ）から明らかなように、液晶表示器１２ａ〜１２ｃには装飾が施された特別図柄「７」が拡大されて表示されている。したがって、図８（ａ）に示す状態から図８（ｂ）に示す状態に変化すると、液晶表示器１２ａ〜１２ｃに表示される特別図柄「７」が拡大され、大当りとなったことを遊技者に強調することができる。
【００２９】
上述したことから明らかなように、基本表示データから取り出す表示領域の大きさを変更することによって、表示器に表示される特別図柄等の大きさを拡大したり縮小したりすることができる。例えば、ウィンドウデータによって設定される表示領域の大きさを徐々に拡大していくと、ゆっくりと縮小する動画を得ることができる。また、ウィンドウデータによって設定される表示領域の大きさを徐々に縮小していくと、ゆっくりと拡大する動画を得ることができる。さらに、表示領域の大きさが変化するのに加えて、基本表示データに対する表示領域の位置を変化させると、特別図柄がより複雑な動きをする動画を表示することも可能となる。
【００３０】
本実施例におけるパチンコ機では、複数の表示装置の表示データが１の基本表示データから取り出されるため、表示データ作成（表示プログラム作成）に要する時間と労力を大幅に削減することができる。また、各表示装置に表示される画像は、１の基本表示データから取り出されるため、その表示内容を容易に連動させすることができる。さらに、ウィンドウデータの設定を変えることで基本表示データの中から取り出して使用する表示領域の位置と大きさを変えることができるため、表示される画像を簡易な方法で複雑な動きをさせることが可能となる。
【００３１】
（第２実施例） 次に、本発明の第２実施例に係るパチンコ機について説明する。第１実施例が分配回路１１６によって各表示装置に表示データを分配したのに対して、第２実施例では表示制御装置に設けられた認識信号発生回路によって各表示装置に表示データを分配する点で異なる。また、第２実施例では、特定の図柄変動においては、その図柄変動中に１の基本表示データしか生成しない点で異なる。その他の点については第１実施例と同一構成となるため、第１実施例と異なる点のみを説明し、第１実施例と同一構成のものについては、同一符号を付与することでその説明を省略する。
【００３２】
図９は、第２実施例に係るパチンコ機の表示制御装置１３０の構成を示すブロック図である。図９に示すように、表示制御装置１３０には、第１実施例の分配回路１１６に換えて認識信号発生回路１３４が設けられる。
認識信号発生回路１３４は、表示制御装置１３０から表示装置２１０ａ〜２１０ｃに出力される表示データが、どの表示装置で使用されるかを指定する認識信号を出力するための回路である。すなわち、本実施例では、基本表示データから取り出された表示データは、３台の表示装置２１０ａ，２１０ｂ，２１０ｃの全てに出力される。ＣＰＵ１３２は、表示データの出力と同時に、この表示データを使用する表示装置に認識信号を出力するよう認識信号発生回路１３２を駆動する。これにより、認識信号発生回路１３２は表示装置２１０ａ〜２１０ｃのうち該当する表示装置に認識信号を出力する。表示装置２１０ａ〜２１０ｃは、認識信号を受信しているときに限り、表示制御装置１３０から出力される表示データを取り込んで画像を表示する。なお、本実施例では、表示装置２１０ｂ，２１０ｃに同一画像を表示する場合（表示装置２１０ｂ，２１０ｃに同一表示データを出力する場合）は、認識信号発生回路１３２から表示装置２１０ｂ，２１０ｃに同時に認識信号が出力される。
【００３３】
図１０には、第２実施例において特定の図柄変動を表示するために用いられる１の基本表示データを示している。図１０に示すように、この基本表示データは特別図柄「１」〜「０」がｎドット間隔で昇順に１０段配置されている。各段には、ｍドット間隔で２個ずつ特別図柄が並置されている。図面左側の特別図柄は水平ｉドット、垂直ｊドットで表示可能であり、図面右側の特別図柄は水平ｍドット、垂直ｎドットで表示可能な大きさととなっている。
なお、図１０に示す基本表示データでは、１段毎に２個の特別図柄が並置されている。これは、表示装置２１０ｂと２１０ｃの解像度が同一であり、両者の表示データを図面右列の特別図柄から切り取ることとしたためである。
【００３４】
この図柄変動中に表示装置２１０ａ〜２１０ｃに出力される表示データは、図１０に示す１の基本表示データより取り出される。すなわち、図柄変動を表示するための各画像毎に、この基本表示データ内にウィンドウデータが設定される。表示装置２１０ａ〜２１０ｃに１画像を表示する表示周期毎に、表示制御装置１３０はウィンドウデータに従って基本表示データから表示データを切り取り、その表示データを各表示装置に出力するようになっている。
【００３５】
上述した説明から明らかなように、本実施例におけるパチンコ機では、１の基本表示データから各表示装置の表示データを取り出すため、表示データ作成に要する時間と労力を削減することができる。特に、左右２つの表示装置が同一解像度であることを利用して、基本表示データの大きさ自体を小さくしている。このことも表示データ作成に要する時間と労力を削減することに寄与している。
【００３６】
以上、本発明の具体例を詳細に説明したが、これらは例示にすぎず、特許請求の範囲を限定するものではない。特許請求の範囲に記載の技術には、以上に例示した具体例を様々に変形、変更したものが含まれる。
例えば、実施例ではＶＤＰと一時記憶装置を別の装置として構成した例について説明したが、ＶＤＰ中のフレームバッファ内のデータを、ＣＰＵが直接アドレス指定して取り出す構成とすることも可能である。また、ＶＤＰが生成する表示データには、数字等の独立したキャラクタを配置する以外にも、背景画のような背景図柄を重ね合わせる等の画像生成技術が適用可能である。さらに、上述した実施例では、本発明に係る技術を、パチンコ機に適用した例を説明したが、他にも、スロットマシン、アレンジホール機、雀球遊技機等に用いることが可能である。
また、本明細書又は図面に説明した技術要素は、単独であるいは各種の組み合わせによって技術的有用性を発揮するものであり、出願時請求項記載の組み合わせに限定されるものではない。また、本明細書または図面に例示した技術は複数の目的を同時に達成するものであり、そのうちの一つの目的を達成すること自体で技術的有用性をもつものである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】第１実施例に係るパチンコ機に装備される遊技盤の正面図。
【図２】第１実施例に係る画像表示システムの構成を示すブロック図。
【図３】第１実施例に係る表示制御装置で生成される基本表示データの一例を示す図。
【図４】図３に示す基本表示データに表示領域が設定されている状態を模式的に示す図。
【図５】第１実施例の表示器に表示される画像の一例を示す図。
【図６】第１実施例に係る表示制御装置で生成される他の基本表示データに表示領域が設定されている状態を模式的に示す図。
【図７】図６と同一の基本表示データに異なる表示領域を設定した状態を模式的に示す図。
【図８】図６と図７に示す表示領域によって表示器に表示される画像を併せて示す図。
【図９】第２実施例に係る画像表示システムの構成を示すブロック図。
【図１０】第２実施例に係る表示制御装置で生成された基本表示データと、その基本表示データに設定された表示領域とを模式的に示す図。
【符号の説明】
２・・遊技盤
１２ａ，１２ｂ，１２ｃ・・液晶表示器
１４・・メイン制御部
１００，１３０・・表示制御装置
１０２，１３２・・ＣＰＵ
１０４・・制御スケジュールＲＯＭ
１０６・・キャラクタＲＯＭ
１０８・・ＶＲＡＭ
１１０・・カラーパレットＲＡＭ
１１２・・ＶＤＰ
１１４・・一時記憶装置
１１６・・分配回路
１３４・・認識信号発生回路
２００ａ，２００ｂ，２００ｃ・・表示装置
２０２ａ，２０２ｂ，２０２ｃ・・ＬＣＤドライバ回路
２０４ａ，２０４ｂ，２０４ｃ・・ＬＣＤドライバ回路[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine provided with a display device for displaying symbols in a variable manner, and more particularly to a technique for efficiently creating display data to be displayed on the display device.
[0002]
2. Description of the Related Art In a gaming machine represented by a pachinko machine, a display device is mounted on a game board, and a symbol is variably displayed on the display device under a predetermined condition. In a game machine of this type, when a symbol that is variably displayed is stopped in a predetermined combination, the game machine transitions to a gaming state advantageous to the player. For this reason, the player's interest concentrates on the symbol variation and the result of the symbol variation (stop symbol), and the fun of the symbol variation determines the fun of the gaming machine. Therefore, a gaming machine has been developed in which a display mode of a symbol that is variably displayed on a display device is improved (for example, Patent Document 1). In the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Literature 1, symbols are gradually reduced and displayed on a display device to change the display mode of the symbols, thereby increasing the player's expectation of the symbol fluctuation. .
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-218915 A
[0004]
By the way, in order to variably display a symbol, a plurality of images must be displayed on a display device. Since one frame of display data is required for each image, a large amount of display data needs to be created to display one symbol variation.
Here, from the recent diversification of symbol fluctuations, when the display mode of the symbols is changed during the symbol fluctuations and the symbol is made to move in a complicated manner, each of the images (display data) displayed continuously. The symbol must be placed at the appropriate position. If the symbols are not arranged at appropriate positions in the display data, the display data must be created again. For this reason, the time and labor required for creating display data (program development) has been dramatically increased.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a technology capable of reducing the labor for creating display data in a gaming machine that displays symbols on a display device.
[0006]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first gaming machine according to the present invention has a display device arranged on a main body of the gaming machine, and the display device has a design which fluctuates a symbol under a predetermined condition. A gaming machine for displaying, wherein display data generating means for generating one basic display data every predetermined cycle, and display in the basic display data for the display cycle generated by the display data generating means every display cycle Display area setting means for setting an area, and, for each display cycle, of the display area set for the display cycle by the display area setting means in the basic display data for the display cycle generated by the display data generating means. Display data output means for outputting display data to a display device.
In this gaming machine, one piece of basic display data is generated, and display data in a display area set in the basic display data is output to a display device. That is, basic display data larger than display data necessary to display one image on the display device is generated, and an image is displayed based on display data of a partial area set in the basic display data. Therefore, the position of the symbol in the image can be adjusted by changing the display area set in the basic display data. For this reason, even when the position of the symbol needs to be adjusted, the same basic display data can be used, so that the time and labor required for creating the display data can be reduced.
[0007]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a second gaming machine according to the present application is a gaming machine in which a plurality of display devices are arranged in a gaming machine main body, and a symbol is variably displayed on the plurality of display devices under predetermined conditions. Display data generation means for generating one basic display data for each cycle, and display area setting for setting a display area in the basic display data for the display cycle generated by the display data generation means for each display cycle display device Means for displaying the display data in the display area set for the display device of the display cycle in the basic display data for the display cycle generated by the display data generation means for each display device for each display cycle. Display data output means for outputting to a device.
Also in this gaming machine, one basic display data is generated. Each display device outputs display data in a display area set in one generated basic display data. Each display device displays an image using the display data output for the display device. Therefore, since display data used in each display device is cut out from one piece of basic display data, it is easy to link images of each display device. This makes it possible to easily adjust the display data between the display devices, and reduce the time and labor required to create the display data.
[0008]
In the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine, the “display cycle” refers to a cycle in which one image (one frame) is displayed on the display device. The “predetermined cycle” for generating the display data may be the same as the display cycle, or may be a cycle longer than the display cycle (for example, one basic display data is generated every two display cycles). . In this case, one basic display data generated by the display data generating means is used over a plurality of display cycles.
[0009]
The display area set by the display area setting means is preferably such that at least one of a relative position with respect to the basic display data and a size with respect to the basic display data can be changed for each display cycle.
According to such a configuration, the position of the symbol in the image can be changed by changing the relative position and size of the display area with respect to the basic display data.
[0010]
In the second gaming machine, it is preferable that at least a part of the display area of one display device set by the display area setting means can be overlapped with the display area of another display device. .
According to such a configuration, since a part of the images displayed on the display devices overlaps, the sense of interlocking of the images displayed on each display device can be improved.
[0011]
It is preferable that the display area setting means is constituted by, for example, window data for designating a display area in basic display data. When the display area is set by the window data, the relative position and the size of the display area with respect to the basic display data can be easily changed by changing the window data.
[0012]
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The gaming machine described above can be suitably implemented in the following forms.
(Mode 1) Each display device is connected to one display control device. The display control device includes a CPU, a video display processor (hereinafter, referred to as VDP), a control schedule storage device, a temporary storage device, and a display data distribution circuit.
(Mode 2) The VDP of Mode 1 generates basic display data that includes all the images displayed on each display device and that constitutes one image as a whole. The generated basic display data is stored in the temporary storage device.
(Mode 3) The control schedule storage device according to mode 1 is a scheduler data defining the contents of the basic display data generated by the VDP, and a window defining the range used by each display device from the basic display data generated by the VDP. Two types of data are stored.
(Mode 4) The CPU of mode 1 instructs the VDP to create basic display data based on the scheduler data. In addition, display data used by the display device is extracted from the basic display data stored in the temporary storage device for each display device, and output to the distribution circuit. The output display data is output to a display device using the display data by the distribution circuit.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a pachinko machine which is a kind of a game machine will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board mounted on a pachinko machine according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a substantially circular rail 6 is provided on the surface of the game board 2. In the center of the game area 4 surrounded by the rail 6, a liquid crystal display 12a having m horizontal resolution and n vertical resolution is arranged. Liquid crystal displays 12b and 12c having a horizontal resolution of i dots (i <m) and a vertical resolution of j dots (j <n) smaller than the liquid crystal display 12a are arranged on both sides of the liquid table display 12a. Special symbols are variably displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, and 12c under predetermined conditions. The special symbol displayed in a variable manner allows the player to recognize whether or not to shift to the big hit game state depending on the combination of the symbols at the time of the fluctuation stop. The symbols used as the special symbols include letters (alphanumeric characters, kanji, etc.), symbols, figures, pictures, and the like. In this embodiment, numerals (0 to 9) are used.
[0014]
In the gaming area 4, various gaming machines such as a start winning port 8, a large winning port 10, and the like are arranged in addition to the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, and 12c. The starting winning port 8 has a starting port sensor (typically a proximity switch). When a pachinko ball is detected by the starting port sensor, a special symbol is variably displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, and 12c. When a pachinko ball wins in the starting winning opening 8, a prize ball (prize ball) is paid out.
The big winning opening 10 has an opening / closing lid 11, and the flat lid 11 is driven to open and close by a solenoid (not shown). The opening / closing lid 11 is opened on the condition that the symbol change displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, 12c stops at a predetermined combination (for example, at 7.7.7, etc.). When the opening / closing lid 11 is opened, a pachinko ball can enter the large winning opening 10. The period during which the opening / closing lid 11 is opened ends with a predetermined number of pachinko balls (generally 10) winning in the special winning opening 10 or until 30 seconds have elapsed after opening, whichever comes first. .
[0015]
Here, the pachinko game performed by the pachinko machine of the present embodiment will be briefly described. By operating a handle (not shown) provided below the game board 2, the player drives a firing device (not shown) to fire a pachinko ball. The fired pachinko balls are supplied above the game area 4 along the rails 6 and flow down the game area 4. When the pachinko balls flowing down the game area 4 win various prize devices, the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, 12c and the large winning opening 10 are activated. For example, when a pachinko ball wins in the starting winning opening 8, a special symbol is variably displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b and 12c. When the special symbols displayed in a variable manner stop in a predetermined combination, the special winning opening 10 is opened and closed.
[0016]
Next, the configuration of a display control device that controls the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, and 12c that variably display special symbols will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the display control device. As shown in FIG. 2, three display devices 200a, 200b, and 200c are connected to the display control device 100. The display control device 100 includes a control schedule ROM 104, a character ROM 106, a VRAM 108, a color palette RAM, a VDP 112, a primary storage device 114, and a distribution circuit 116, with a CPU 102 at the center.
[0017]
The CPU 102 is connected to the main control unit 14 that controls the entire pachinko machine when the machine is mounted on the pachinko machine. The main control unit 14 outputs to the CPU 102 command data defining the contents of the symbol fluctuation. Upon receiving the command data from the main control unit 14, the CPU 102 outputs a control signal to the VDP 112 according to scheduler data stored in the control schedule ROM 104. Specifically, the scheduler data corresponding to the received command data is read from the scheduler data stored in the control schedule ROM 104. Next, the read scheduler data is sequentially decoded, converted into a control signal that can be handled by the VDP 112, and the converted control signal is output to the VDP 112. Therefore, a plurality of control signals are output from the CPU 102 to the VDP 112 by sequentially decoding one scheduler data.
[0018]
The VDP 112 is a known VDP of a frame buffer system. The VDP 112 receives a control signal output from the CPU 102 and generates one basic display data for each control signal. The basic display data forms one image as a whole, and includes all display data for displaying one image (one frame) on the display devices 200a to 200c.
The basic display data is generated from each data stored in the character ROM 106, the color pallet RAM 110, and the VRAM 108. The character ROM 106 stores display data (data that defines colors and shapes) of display characters (such as numbers constituting special symbols). The color pallet RAM 110 stores a conversion code for converting a color defined by the display data into display data represented by R (red), G (green), and B (blue) luminances that can be recognized by the display device. Have been. The VRAM 108 stores data for specifying which display character is to be arranged at which position in the image.
When one control signal is input from the CPU 102, the VDP 112 performs the following processing according to the control signal. That is, the VDP 112 arranges the display data of the corresponding display character stored in the character ROM 106 at a predetermined position in the image creation area based on the data stored in the VRAM 108. Next, using the conversion code of the color palette RAM 110, the display data arranged in the image creation area is converted into display data in units of one dot that can be recognized by the display device. Thereby, one basic display data is generated. The generated basic display data is stored in the temporary storage device 114.
[0019]
FIG. 3 schematically shows an image when the basic display data is displayed in a virtual display area (a virtual display area in which all the basic display data can be displayed). In the basic display data shown in FIG. 3, three special symbols (0 to 9) are horizontally arranged at m dot intervals in the upper row, and a special symbol obtained by adding 1 to the upper special symbol is horizontally arranged in the lower row. Three are arranged at m dot intervals. The size of the special symbols arranged is such that the central special symbol can be displayed with horizontal m dots and vertical n dots, and the left and right special symbols have a size that can be displayed with horizontal i dots and vertical j dots. Has become. The basic display data of this embodiment has a horizontal resolution of 3 m dots and a vertical resolution of 2 n dots.
[0020]
In the basic display data described above, a display area is set for each of the display devices 200a to 200c. Each display area of the display devices 200a to 200c is set by window data stored in the control schedule ROM 104. That is, window data is stored in the control schedule ROM 104 for each basic display data for each display device.
The window data (the range of the basic display data used by the display device) is the display data at the upper left corner of the display area taken out from the virtual plane in a two-dimensionally arranged 2n × 3m display data constituting the basic display data. (X, y) and the number of elements n1, m1 in the x and y directions. For example, the window data of the display devices 200a to 200c can be set as follows.
Display area of the display device 200a
First element: (1, m + 1)
Number of elements used: n × m
-Display area of the display device 200b
Leading element: {(n−j) × (）), (mi) × (｝)}
Number of elements used: j × i
・ Display area of display device 200c
Leading element: {(n−j) × (１ ／), 2m + (mi) × (１ ／)}
Element range to use: j × i
FIG. 4 schematically shows the relationship between the display areas of the display devices 200a to 200c set by the window data and the basic display data. In FIG. 4, a display area of the display device 200a (a range used by the display device 200a) is a hatched range 120a, and a display area of the display device 200b (a range used by the display device 200b) is a range 120b surrounded by a dotted line. The display area of the display device 200c (the range used by the display device 200c) is a range 120c surrounded by a broken line.
[0021]
The processing of cutting out the display area used in each display device from the basic display data described above is performed by the CPU 102. That is, first, the CPU 102 outputs one control signal to the VDP 112 to cause the VDP 112 to generate one basic display data, and causes the temporary storage device 114 to store the basic display data. Next, window data of the display devices 200a to 200c corresponding to the basic display data (that is, one control signal output to the VDP 112) is read from the control schedule ROM 104. Then, display data of each display device is extracted from the basic display data stored in the temporary storage device 114 according to the read window data.
The display data extracted by the CPU 102 is sent to the distribution circuit 116 in order with an identification flag indicating which display device is to be output at the beginning of the data. The distribution circuit 116 selects an output destination of the display data from the three display devices 200a, 200b, and 200c according to the identification flag sent together with the display data, and outputs the display data only to the selected display device.
[0022]
The display device 200a includes a liquid crystal display 12a and an LCD driver circuit 202a that outputs a drive signal to the liquid crystal display 12a to display an image. Display data input from the distribution circuit 116 to the display device 200a is recognized as RGB data by the LCD driver circuit 202a and displayed as an image on the liquid crystal display 12a.
The display devices 200b and 200c have basically the same configuration as the display device 200a, and the LCD driver circuits 202b and 202c display the display data input from the distribution circuit 116 as images on the liquid crystal displays 12b and 12c. .
[0023]
As is apparent from the above description, when command data is output from the main control unit 14 to the CPU 102 of the display control device 100, the CPU 102 reads scheduler data corresponding to the command data from the control schedule ROM 104. The read scheduler data is sequentially decoded, and a control signal is sequentially output from the CPU 102 to the VDP 112.
The VDP 112 generates one basic display data based on one control signal input from the CPU 102, and stores the generated basic display data in the temporary storage device 114. The CPU 102 cuts out the display data for each display device from the basic display data stored in the temporary storage device 114, and the cut-out display data is output to one display device by the distribution circuit 116. An image corresponding to the input display data is displayed on each of the display devices of the display devices 200a to 200c.
The processing from generation of basic display data by the VDP 112 to display of one image on the display devices 200a to 200c is performed every time one control signal is output from the CPU 102 to the VDP 112. For this reason, a series of images (variations in special symbols) are displayed on the indicators 12a, 12b, and 12c.
[0024]
Note that the image displayed on each display device is determined by the display area set in the basic display data. Therefore, by setting different display areas for each display device, different images are displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, and 12c, respectively, even when the same basic display data is used. FIG. 5A shows an image displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, and 12c when the display area is set as shown in FIG.
[0025]
Also, by changing the relative position of the display area of each display device with respect to the same basic display data, a visual effect such as a movement of a special symbol displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, 12c is obtained. Can play. For example, window data is set as shown below for the basic display data shown in FIG.
Display area of the display device 200a
First element: (n / 2 + 1, m + 1)
Number of elements used: n × m
-Display area of the display device 200b
Leading element: {(n−j) × (1/2) + n / 2, (mi) × (1/2)}
Number of elements used: j × i
・ Display area of display device 200c
Top element: {(n−j) × (1/2) + n / 2, 2m + (mi) × (1/2)}
Element range to use: j × i
In the window data described above, the display areas of the display devices 200a to 200c are respectively moved downward by n / 2 lines from the display area shown in FIG. When the CPU 102 extracts the display data of each display device from the basic display data (shown in FIG. 3) according to the above window data, the images displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b and 12c of each display device are shown in FIG. (B). When the images of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are displayed successively, the player who sees the images of the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, and 12c is asked whether the numbers move upward from the bottom. Such a visual effect as can be given. As described above, by using one basic display data and a plurality of window data, the same basic display data can be used over a plurality of display cycles. Therefore, the VDP 112 can be programmed to generate one basic display data for each of a plurality of display cycles (however, in this embodiment, the generation cycle of the basic display data of the VDP 112 and the display cycle of the image are the same). Has become.).
[0026]
Also, by changing the size of the display area of each display device with respect to the same basic display data, a visual effect such that the special symbols displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a, 12b, and 12c are enlarged or reduced. Can play.
This will be specifically described using an example of the basic display data shown in FIG. The basic display data shown in FIG. 6 is basic display data used when a hit is determined from a so-called reach state. In this basic display data, a special symbol "6" is arranged at the center of the upper row, and a special symbol "7" is arranged at both ends. In the lower row, a number of special symbols “7” decorated to enhance the visual effect are arranged. The special symbol arranged at the center has a size that can be displayed by horizontal m dots and vertical n dots, and the left and right special symbols have a size that can be displayed by horizontal i dots and vertical j dots.
[0027]
Consider a case where a display area is set by the following window data with respect to the basic display data shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, the display area of the display device 200a set by the window data is the range 122a, the display area of the display device 200b is the range 122b, and the display area of the display device 200c is the range 122c. As is clear from the figure, the display area 122a of the display device 200a and the display area 122b of the display device 200b partially overlap, and the display area 122a of the display device 200a and the display area 122c of the display device 200c also partially overlap. .
The number of display data included in the display area set for each display device is all greater than the resolution of each display device. Therefore, the LCD driver circuits 204a to 204c of each display device compress the display data amount to be actually displayed based on the ratio of the input display data amount to the resolution. For example, the input display data is not displayed on the display at a fixed rate. FIG. 8A shows an image displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a to 12c by the compressed display data. As is clear from FIG. 8A, the special symbol "7" with a decoration is reduced and displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a to 12c.
[0028]
On the other hand, consider the case where a display area is set by the following window data with respect to the basic display data shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the relationship between the display areas of the display devices 200a to 200c set by the window data and the basic display data. In FIG. 7, the display area of the display device 200a is the range 124a, the display area of the display device 200b is the range 124b, and the display area of the display device 200c is the range 124c. As is clear from the figure, the number of display data items included in the display area of each display device shown in FIG. 7 is smaller than the resolution of each display device. For this reason, the LCD driver circuits 204a to 204c of each display device display the input display data for one dot on a plurality of adjacent dots based on the ratio of the input display data amount to the resolution. FIG. 8B shows images displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a to 12c by the window data. As is clear from FIG. 8B, the special symbol “7” with decoration is displayed in an enlarged manner on the liquid crystal displays 12a to 12c. Therefore, when the state shown in FIG. 8 (a) changes to the state shown in FIG. 8 (b), the special symbol "7" displayed on the liquid crystal displays 12a to 12c is enlarged, and it is determined that the big hit has occurred. Can be emphasized.
[0029]
As is clear from the above description, by changing the size of the display area extracted from the basic display data, the size of a special symbol or the like displayed on the display can be enlarged or reduced. For example, when the size of the display area set by the window data is gradually enlarged, a moving image that is slowly reduced can be obtained. Also, when the size of the display area set by the window data is gradually reduced, a moving image that slowly expands can be obtained. Further, when the position of the display area with respect to the basic display data is changed in addition to the change in the size of the display area, it is possible to display a moving image in which the special symbol moves more complicatedly.
[0030]
In the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment, the display data of the plurality of display devices is extracted from one basic display data, so that the time and labor required for creating the display data (creating the display program) can be greatly reduced. Further, since the image displayed on each display device is extracted from one piece of basic display data, the display content can be easily linked. Further, by changing the setting of the window data, the position and size of the display area to be taken out from the basic display data and used can be changed, so that the displayed image can be complicatedly moved by a simple method. It becomes possible.
[0031]
Second Embodiment Next, a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. While the first embodiment distributes display data to each display device by the distribution circuit 116, the second embodiment distributes display data to each display device by the recognition signal generation circuit provided in the display control device. Different. Further, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that only one basic display data is generated during a particular symbol change. The other points are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, only the points different from the first embodiment will be described, and those having the same structures as those of the first embodiment will be described by giving the same reference numerals. Omitted.
[0032]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the display control device 130 of the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the display control device 130 is provided with a recognition signal generation circuit 134 instead of the distribution circuit 116 of the first embodiment.
The recognition signal generating circuit 134 is a circuit for outputting a recognition signal for specifying which display device uses the display data output from the display control device 130 to the display devices 210a to 210c. That is, in the present embodiment, the display data extracted from the basic display data is output to all of the three display devices 210a, 210b, 210c. The CPU 132 drives the recognition signal generation circuit 132 so as to output a recognition signal to a display device using the display data simultaneously with the output of the display data. As a result, the recognition signal generation circuit 132 outputs a recognition signal to a corresponding one of the display devices 210a to 210c. The display devices 210a to 210c capture display data output from the display control device 130 and display images only when receiving the recognition signal. In the present embodiment, when the same image is displayed on the display devices 210b and 210c (when the same display data is output to the display devices 210b and 210c), the recognition signal generation circuit 132 simultaneously recognizes the display devices 210b and 210c. A signal is output.
[0033]
FIG. 10 shows one basic display data used for displaying a specific symbol variation in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, in the basic display data, ten special symbols "1" to "0" are arranged in ascending order at n-dot intervals. In each row, two special symbols are juxtaposed at m dot intervals. The special symbol on the left side of the drawing can be displayed with horizontal i dots and vertical j dots, and the special symbol on the right side of the drawing has a size that can be displayed with horizontal m dots and vertical n dots.
In the basic display data shown in FIG. 10, two special symbols are juxtaposed for each row. This is because the resolutions of the display devices 210b and 210c are the same, and the display data of both are cut from the special symbol in the right column of the drawing.
[0034]
The display data output to the display devices 210a to 210c during the symbol change is extracted from one basic display data shown in FIG. That is, window data is set in the basic display data for each image for displaying the symbol variation. In each display cycle in which one image is displayed on the display devices 210a to 210c, the display control device 130 cuts out display data from basic display data in accordance with window data and outputs the display data to each display device.
[0035]
As is clear from the above description, in the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment, since the display data of each display device is extracted from one basic display data, the time and labor required for creating the display data can be reduced. In particular, the size of the basic display data itself is reduced by utilizing the fact that the two left and right display devices have the same resolution. This also contributes to reducing the time and labor required for creating display data.
[0036]
As mentioned above, although the specific example of this invention was demonstrated in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and alterations of the specific examples illustrated above.
For example, in the embodiment, an example has been described in which the VDP and the temporary storage device are configured as separate devices. However, a configuration in which the CPU directly designates and retrieves data in the frame buffer in the VDP is also possible. In addition to the display data generated by the VDP, an image generation technique such as superimposing a background pattern such as a background image can be applied in addition to arranging independent characters such as numbers. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the technology according to the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a slot machine, an arrangement hall machine, a sparrow ball game machine, and the like.
Further, the technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. The technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings simultaneously achieves a plurality of objects, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board mounted on a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image display system according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of basic display data generated by the display control device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a display area is set in the basic display data shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display device of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a display area is set in another basic display data generated by the display control device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which different display areas are set in the same basic display data as in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view additionally showing images displayed on a display device by the display areas shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image display system according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing basic display data generated by a display control device according to a second embodiment, and a display area set in the basic display data.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ・ ・ Game board
12a, 12b, 12c ··· Liquid crystal display
14. Main control unit
100, 130 ··· display control device
102, 132 CPU
104 Control ROM
106 Character ROM
108 VRAM
110 color RAM
112 VDP
114 .. Temporary storage device
116 ··· Distribution circuit
134 ·· Recognition signal generation circuit
200a, 200b, 200c-display device
202a, 202b, 202c ··· LCD driver circuit
204a, 204b, 204c LCD driver circuit

Claims (1)

A display device is disposed on the gaming machine main body, and a game device that variably displays a symbol under predetermined conditions on the display device,
Display data generating means for generating one basic display data every predetermined period;
Display area setting means for setting a display area in the basic display data for the display cycle generated by the display data generation means for each display cycle;
Display data for outputting, to the display device, display data in the display area set for the display cycle by the display area setting means out of the basic display data for the display cycle generated by the display data generation means for each display cycle Output means;
Game machine with.

Images