JP2004255132A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems that a player's fatigue increases in playing a game for a long period of time because the player has to continue the pressing of three reel stopping switches after operating a start lever in each game when the player manually operates the whole stopping switches, and that the game lacks in variation because the selection of a method for stopping the reels is not directly related to the progress of the game when the player can select the method for stopping the reels. <P>SOLUTION: In the game machine, the game which can be advanced with simple operation and in which the player can arbitrarily set the reel that the player wants to stop by the manual stopping operation and the game in which the method for stopping the whole reels is set on the game machine side are switched based on a prescribed condition. Accordingly, both situations advantageous to the player and disadvantageous to the player occur in the game, so that the player can enjoy the game full of interest. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a plurality of reels on which symbols are arranged are rotated and displayed, and a winning operation is determined based on a combination of symbols appearing when rotation of all reels is stopped by a player's operation of a reel stop switch. The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by a slot machine in which payout is made.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A gaming machine typified by a conventional slot machine includes three rotating reels in which symbols are arranged on the outer periphery in a display window on the front of the gaming machine, and the symbols arranged on the outer periphery are used by a player during a game. Are illuminated from the back by lamps or LEDs (hereinafter referred to as backlights) provided inside each reel so that the symbols can be easily viewed.
[0003]
When the player inserts a medal into the medal slot and operates the start lever, each reel starts rotating and the game starts. When the reels start rotating at the same time, the symbols move and are displayed on the display window.
[0004]
When the player sequentially operates the three stop switches corresponding to each reel while watching the symbol displayed while being moved, each reel stops and any symbol stops on the activated line.
Five effective lines are provided, and as the number of inserted medals increases to one, two, or three, the number of valid lines increases to one, three, or five. As a result, when a predetermined symbol combination is arranged on the activated line, a winning is achieved, and medals are paid out.
[0005]
Such a symbol combination is determined by a random selection process in the gaming machine after the start lever is operated for each game. As a result of this lottery, if any of the winning combinations are internally won, display lamps and notification lamps provided on the front panel, or sound, lighting and blinking of the backlight of the reel, fluctuation stop control at the time of reel stop, image The display informs the player.
[0006]
When the winning of the winning combination is notified as described above, the player operates the stop switch so that the symbol corresponding to the winning combination is stopped on the activated line.
If the symbols corresponding to the winning combination can be arranged on the activated line, the payout of the number of medals corresponding to the combination can be received. Further, if the symbols corresponding to the combination cannot be arranged, the inserted medals will be lost.
[0007]
In a conventional gaming machine, when a plurality of stop switches are operated by a player, corresponding reels are sequentially controlled to stop. If the player does not perform the stop switch operation, each reel is set to automatically stop after a predetermined time has elapsed. In a gaming machine provided with such two types of reel stopping methods, the game machine includes three selection switches respectively corresponding to the respective reels, and three game type indicators having therein two types of mini lamps of different colors, When any one of these selection switches is pressed, the corresponding reel is automatically stopped, and based on the pressing operation status of the three selection switches, the display corresponding to each reel is turned off when the automatic stop is selected. The first lamp is turned on, and the second lamp is turned on when the manual stop is selected without pressing the selection switch, so that the ratio between the technical intervention and the contingency can be freely set according to the player's request. One that can be set is disclosed in JP-A-6-23094.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional gaming machine, when the player manually operates the stop switch, it is necessary to continue the operation of pressing the three reel stop switches after operating the start lever for each game. However, there is a problem that fatigue increases when playing a game for a long time.
[0009]
When three selection switches are provided as in the prior art described above, a method of stopping each reel can be set by the player according to the player's request or according to the player's preference. Since there is no direct relationship between the act of selecting the stop method of the game and the progress of the game, there is a problem that the change in the playability is poor.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of performing a game with a simple operation and having amusement with amusement.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a plurality of reels having symbols arranged on the outer periphery, a reel driving unit for individually rotating the plurality of reels, and a lottery unit for performing a lottery for each game. The gaming machine further comprises a reel stop control means for stopping and controlling the plurality of reels, wherein the reel stop control means is a single stop switch.
[0013]
Further, the reel stop control means stops the plurality of reels by one stop operation.
[0014]
According to this configuration, the player can stop a plurality of reels by one stop operation, and can provide a gaming machine with less fatigue even when playing a game for a long time.
[0015]
Further, the reel stop control means includes a manual selection means capable of arbitrarily selecting at least one reel from among the plurality of reels to be manually stopped by the player.
[0016]
Further, the reel stop control means includes automatic selection means for selecting, by the gaming machine, a reel to be stopped by the player and a reel to be automatically stopped by the gaming machine.
[0017]
Further, the reel stop control means notifies the player of the stop method selected for each reel by display means provided corresponding to the plurality of reel positions.
[0018]
Further, the reel stop control means includes a selection mode switching means, and switches to a manual selection mode or an automatic selection mode based on a predetermined condition.
[0020]
According to this configuration, the game in which the reel to be stopped by the manual stop operation can be selected by the manual selection means and the game in which the gaming machine sets the stopping method of all the reels are switched based on the predetermined condition. Therefore, there are cases where the player is advantageous and cases where the player is disadvantageous, and the player can enjoy an interesting game.
[0021]
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a control unit of the gaming machine. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are flowcharts showing the game processing.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of an embodiment of the slot machine according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a front panel 2 is attached to a slot machine body 1, and three transparent display windows 7, 8, 9 in the front panel 2 are arranged side by side inside the slot machine body. The individual reels 4, 5, 6 can be observed. For example, 21 symbols are arranged at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of each reel, and the symbols are composed of a big bonus (BB) symbol, a regular bonus (RB) symbol, a small role symbol, a replay symbol, and the like. Each reel has a different symbol arrangement.
[0023]
Each of the reels 4 to 6 is configured as a reel unit (not shown), and a stepping motor (not shown), which is a part of a reel driving means, is connected to each reel. Each reel is driven by the stepping motor. To rotate and display the reels 4 to 6 in the display windows 7 to 9, respectively. Three lamp cases (not shown) are provided inside each of the reels 4 to 6, and a backlight (not shown) is mounted in each lamp case. The lighting of each backlight is individually controlled through a lamp drive circuit (not shown), and three symbols can be illuminated from the back for each reel.
[0024]
In the display windows 7 to 9 of the front panel 2, a total of five effective lines are displayed, three effective lines (L1, L2a, L2b) in the horizontal direction and two effective lines (L3a, L3b) in the oblique direction. It has become. When each reel stops sequentially and a specific symbol is aligned on any of the activated lines, a winning is achieved and a predetermined medal is paid out.
[0025]
The number of valid lines is the number of medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 3 or, if a medal is credited in the credit medal display section 18, a medal insertion set by pressing a BET switch (not shown). The effective number differs depending on the number. For example, when one medal is inserted, the number "1" of the BET display lamp 10 is turned on, one valid line L1 is displayed, and when two medals are inserted, the number "2" is displayed. Lights up, and three effective lines L1, L2a, L2b are displayed. When three medals are inserted, the number "3" lights up, and all five effective lines are displayed.
[0026]
Side lamps 17 and side speakers 11 are provided on both sides of the front panel 2, an upper lamp 14 is provided above, and a liquid crystal display unit 15 is provided above display windows 7 to 9. These are controlled through each drive circuit, and output a general winning notification during a game, a sound effect of a machine operation, an effect sound, and the like, and a display means for notifying a player of various internal lottery results. Is composed. Note that, in addition to the above-described display means, a separate notification display unit may be separately provided to notify the internal winning during the game. In addition, three indicators 16 are provided at corresponding positions below the display windows 7 to 9 to light up and display the stop method selected for each reel.
[0027]
At the center of the front of the slot machine 1, a start lever 12 as variable display starting means for rotating the reels 4 to 6 and one stop switch 13 are provided.
[0028]
The lower part of the front of the slot machine stores medals discharged from a return port (not shown) for returning inserted medals and a medal payout port (not shown) for paying out medals obtained at the time of winning. Is provided.
[0029]
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a game processing control circuit of one embodiment of the slot machine according to the present invention.
[0030]
The control unit includes a main control unit 20 and a sub control unit 21. The main control unit 20 includes a game control unit 22, a random number lottery unit 23, a winning determination unit 24, a game state control unit 25, and a reel stop control unit 26 includes a manual selection unit 27, an automatic selection unit 28 The counting means 31 includes a game number counting means 32, a game time counting means 33, a winning number counting means, and the like. It mainly comprises a transmission timing control circuit 35 for transmitting data to the section 21, a data transmission circuit 36, and the like. The main control unit 20 includes an input port and an output port (not shown), and includes a medal sensor 37, a clock generation circuit 38, a start lever 39, first, second, and third reel indexes 40, a stop switch 41, Peripheral devices such as first, second and third reels 42, first, second and third reel indicators 43, medal block solenoids 44, start lever LEDs 45, and three BET display lamps 46 are electrically connected. Each reel 42 is coaxially connected to a reel motor (not shown), and rotates each reel at a fixed step angle. The reel index 40 detects a reset pulse generated each time each reel makes one rotation, counts a rotation angle from a predetermined reference position as a rotation position of the reel, and the counted value is input to the game control means 22. You.
[0031]
On the other hand, the sub-control unit 21 includes a CPU 47, an audio LSI 48, a data input circuit 49, a clock generation circuit 50, a control ROM 51, a RAM 52, an audio ROM 53, an amplifier circuit 54, and the like. 56, a side lamp 57, a reel backlight 58, a speaker 59 and the like are connected.
[0032]
The game control means 22 outputs a data output timing information signal to the transmission timing control circuit 35 in accordance with the situation of the game, and temporarily stores the output timing information signal. 49.
[0033]
Although not shown, the game control means 22 is provided with a game sequence program executed by a slot machine, and controls the progress of the entire game. The random number lottery means 23 generates a random value for each game at a predetermined timing from a random number generation circuit (not shown), and the winning determination means 24 stores a symbol table, a winning combination table, and a winning probability table (not shown). The presence or absence of a prize is determined by the prize determining means 24 based on the random number value. In the case of a prize, a payout corresponding to the winning combination is paid out. The random number value extracted for the winning determination may be used as a selection mode switching condition other than the winning determination, for example, as a selection mode switching condition in the present invention. May be generated.
[0034]
The game state control means 25 controls the game progress when a special bonus game, a high-probability game state, or a special bonus game state such as an AT game, an ST game, a CT game, or the like occurs as a result of the winning determination. In the embodiment, a function of generating data for switching the selection mode and transmitting the data to the reel stop control means 26 at an appropriate timing when the occurrence of a predetermined game state is set as the condition for switching the selection mode. have.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, for example, when a predetermined random value is used as the selection mode switching condition, the selection mode switching control means 29 has a selection mode switching random value table and a switching condition storage area. Is temporarily set in the switching condition storage area, and this random value is compared with the selection mode switching random value table, and if they match, the mode is switched to either the manual selection mode or the automatic selection mode. The switching control for switching is executed.
[0036]
The selection mode switching condition is not limited to the predetermined game state and the random number value. For example, the number of games, the game time, the number of winnings of a predetermined winning combination, and the like are set as the switching condition, and the plurality of conditions are set. In at least one condition, it is also possible to switch the selection mode upon reaching a predetermined count value. Further, these various conditions may be used in combination.
[0037]
The manual selection means 27 provides selection means for allowing the player to arbitrarily select a reel to be manually stopped and a reel to be automatically stopped when the selection mode switching control means 29 selects the manual selection mode. I do. As the selection means, a dedicated selection switch may be provided, or a selection function may be separately added to an existing device such as a start lever or a stop switch.
[0038]
The automatic selection means 28 has an automatic stop pattern table configured by a predetermined number of stop methods (for example, eight patterns). When the automatic selection mode is selected by the selection mode switching means 29, the automatic stop pattern One stop pattern is selected with reference to the table. In the selection of the stop pattern, the stop pattern may be updated based on a predetermined order set in advance, or it may be controlled to select the stop pattern randomly based on a predetermined condition. is there.
[0039]
The reel stop method storage means 30 has a stop method storage area for temporarily storing, for each reel, whether manual stop or automatic stop is selected by the player or the gaming machine. The reel stop control means 26 executes stop control of each reel based on the stop method for each reel set in the reel stop method storage means 30.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, the mode that can be manually selected and the mode that is automatically selected are switched based on various selection mode switching conditions. In some cases, the method of stopping each reel can be freely selected at a timing desired by the player. In some cases, a stopping method for each reel is forcibly set by the gaming machine.
[0041]
As described above, the symbol arrangement of each reel is different from each other, and for the reason of the symbol arrangement (for example, when a plurality of symbols of the same type are continuously arranged, etc.), the player performs "push". There are reels that are easy to perform and reels that are not. In addition, there are reels that are difficult to recognize as symbols on a reel that is rotating at a high speed with the player's own feeling.
[0042]
Therefore, when the player knows that the winning flag of the bonus combination has been established, or in a specific game state in which a prize is relatively easily generated, the predetermined symbol stop serving as the winning combination is stopped. It is desired that the symbols be surely stopped by a manual stop operation, rather than by an automatic stop caused by an accidental stop timing. In such a situation, it is desirable for the player to be in a manual selection mode in which the player can select a reel that he is good at or a reel stop method that is important for the formation of a winning combination.
[0043]
However, in the present invention, since the automatic selection mode in which the gaming machine determines the stopping method of each reel occurs under a predetermined condition, the reel that the player wants to manually stop is a target of the automatic stop and becomes a winning combination. It is up to the machine to determine whether or not the symbol combination is established, and there is a case where a winning is missed.
[0044]
In the present invention, there are cases where a reel stopping method can be selected according to the player's will during the game, and cases where the reel stopping method cannot be selected, and the stop modes are switched at random, so that the player has no control over the game. You can maintain a sense of tension and enjoy games that are interesting.
[0045]
Next, an outline of the game method of the present invention will be described. The player inserts medals through the medal insertion slot 3 or, if there is a credited medal in the credit display unit, operates a BET switch (not shown) to arbitrarily determine the number of medals to be inserted. The activated lines L1 to L3b are activated according to the number of inserted medals, and the game is started by operating the start lever 12. When the start lever 12 is operated, the reels 4 to 6 start rotating sequentially and then stop in a predetermined reel stop pattern by pressing the stop switch 13 or by automatic stop control on the gaming machine side. When all reels are stopped, if a specific symbol is aligned along any of the five activated lines, a prize is won. The winning combination corresponding to the type of the symbol combination is determined in advance, and the payout is performed according to the combination. When the winning combination is a big bonus (BB) or a regular bonus (RB) symbol, it is possible to shift to a BB game or an RB game, respectively, and a further increase in payout can be expected. When the winning combination is a small winning symbol, a predetermined payout is performed and the game ends, and when the winning combination is a replay symbol, the game can be restarted without inserting a coin.
[0046]
The result of the internal lottery of the winning combination is notified to the player in a plurality of notification forms. For example, one of them is a reach eye notice, and the reach eye is a symbol combination (rolling) in which reels are controlled to stop so as to appear only when a bonus flag is established. There are more than 100 types depending on the model. The skilled player can instantly determine the internal winning of the bonus flag by remembering the reach.
[0047]
Further, as another notification mode, a directing means is provided for notifying the player visually, audibly, or tactilely so that the player can easily determine whether or not the internal winning has occurred. For example, the upper lamp 14, the side lamp 17, a reel backlight (not shown), a dedicated notification lamp (not shown), and the like are turned on and blinking, a specific sound is output from the speaker 11, and furthermore, Is effect-displayed by providing a liquid crystal display device 15 or the like. Furthermore, when the reels 4 to 6 stop rotating, it is possible to control the reels 4 to 6 to perform operations different from the normal rotation, for example, reverse rotation or vibration to stop. Further, by combining these various means, it is possible to notify the player of the occurrence of the internal winning of the winning combination with different probabilities. For example, when a dedicated notification lamp is turned on, the player is notified with a 100% probability that a predetermined winning combination has been internally won, and other information such as a blinking pattern of a backlight of a reel and output from a speaker. Depending on the combination of game sounds, it is possible to display a pseudo effect that a predetermined winning combination may be 100% internally won or may not be internally won (gase).
[0048]
Furthermore, in the liquid crystal display device 15, a plurality of effect patterns using moving images are provided, and the probability of internal winning of a predetermined winning combination is determined based on predetermined selection conditions. An effect can be displayed by selecting a combination.
[0049]
Next, FIGS. 3 and 4 show the outline of the game processing in a flowchart. In FIG. 3, when it is detected that a medal has been inserted or the BET button has been operated (step 101), the start lever is activated, and the start lever 12 is operated by the player (step 102). Next, random number lottery processing is executed (step 103), and a lottery flag corresponding to the lottery result is set (step 104). Subsequently, it is determined whether the reel selection mode switching condition is satisfied based on a predetermined condition (step 105).
[0050]
If the result of step 105 is No, the manual selection mode is executed (step 106), and the reels to be manually stopped are arbitrarily set by the player operating the manual selection means (step 107). If the result is Yes, the automatic selection mode is executed (Step 108). Then, the method of stopping each reel is selected by the control of the gaming machine (step 109).
[0051]
Next, the stop method of each reel selected in step 107 or 109 is input to the reel stop method storage area for each reel (step 110), and the display corresponding to each reel is controlled to be turned on (step 111). ), The stopping method for each reel is notified to the player.
[0052]
Thereafter, a reel rotation process is executed (step 112), and after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of rotation of the reel, it is confirmed whether or not a stop switch for stopping the reel has been operated (step 113). The stop of the reel to which the manual stop is set is controlled in accordance with the operation timing of the stop switch (step 114). Next, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the reels set to be automatically stopped are automatically stopped (step 115). The order of stopping the reels to be manually stopped and automatically stopped is not limited to this, and the reels may be automatically stopped first, or a predetermined reel stopping order may be set in advance and stopped according to the order. Is also possible. Returning to step 113, in the case of No, the processing from step 112 is repeated.
[0053]
Next, it is confirmed whether or not all reels have stopped (step 116), and in the case of Yes, a winning determination process is executed for the stopped symbol combination (step 117). In the case of No at step 116, the processing from step 113 is repeated.
[0054]
The winning determination process will be described with reference to FIG. When all the reels have stopped, it is determined whether or not the symbol displayed on the display window is a winning symbol combination by referring to a winning symbol combination table (not shown). First, it is determined whether the combination is an RB symbol combination (step 118). If No, it is determined whether the combination is a BB symbol combination (step 119). In the case of No here, it is determined next whether it is a small combination (step 120), and in the case of No, it is next determined whether it is a replay (step 121). When it is determined that it is not a replay, that is, in the case of No, the game is lost, the set lottery flag is released (step 122), and the game ends.
[0055]
Returning to step 121, when the replay symbols are completed, that is, in the case of Yes, the replay lottery flag is released (step 123), and the process returns to step 102 to execute the game again.
[0056]
Similarly, returning to step 118, if the determination result is Yes, medals are paid out according to the winning symbol combination of RB (step 124), and the lottery flag of RB is released (step 125). The RB game is executed (Step 126).
[0057]
If YES in step 119, medals are paid out in accordance with the BB symbol combination (step 127), the BB lottery flag is released (step 128), and the process proceeds to the BB game (step 129).
[0058]
Returning to step 120, if the determination result is Yes and the small winning combination symbols are completed, the small combination lottery flag is released (step 130), and a medal payout according to the small combination symbol combination is performed (step 130). Step 131) The game ends.
[0059]
In the present embodiment, the random number value extracted by the random number lottery process in step 3 is used for both the winning determination and the reel stop pattern selection. However, random numbers are generated individually, and different random numbers are used. Thus, the selection mode switching condition may be set.
[0060]
In addition, as the selection mode switching condition, at least one counting means for counting the game state, the number of games, the game continuation time, the number of winnings, the game time, etc. is provided without using a random number value, and the count value is set to a predetermined value. The selection mode may be changed on condition that it has been reached.
【The invention's effect】
[0061]
In this embodiment, since the player can stop the reel by one stop operation, the stop operation of the reel is easy, and the fatigue of the arms and the like can be reduced even when playing for a long time.
[0062]
Further, according to the present configuration, the game in which the reel to be stopped by the manual stop operation can be selected by the manual stop selection means and the game in which the gaming machine sets the stop method of all the reels satisfy the predetermined conditions. Since the switching is performed based on this, there are cases where the player has an advantage and cases where the player is disadvantageous, and the player can enjoy a game that is rich in interest.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control unit of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a game process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a determination process in a game process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Slot machine
2. Front panel
3 ... Medal slot
4, 5, 6 ... first, second, third reel
7, 8, 9 ... display window
10 BET lamp
11 ... Speaker
12 ... Start lever
13 ... Stop switch
14. Top lamp
15 ... Liquid crystal display device
16 1st, 2nd, 3rd reel display
17 ... Side lamp
18 ... Credit display
19… Medal tray

Claims (6)

In a gaming machine having a plurality of reels in which symbols are arranged on the outer periphery, a reel driving means for individually rotating the plurality of reels, and a lottery means for performing a lottery for each game,
A gaming machine, comprising: reel stop control means for stopping and controlling the plurality of reels, wherein the reel stop control means is a single stop switch. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the reel stop control means stops the plurality of reels by one stop operation. 2. The reel stopping control means further comprises a manual selecting means capable of arbitrarily selecting at least one reel from among the plurality of reels to be manually stopped by a player. A gaming machine according to claim 1. 2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the reel stop control means includes an automatic selection means on the gaming machine side to select a reel to be stopped by the player and a reel to be automatically stopped by the gaming machine side. Machine. 3. The reel stop control unit notifies a player of a stop method selected for each reel by a display unit provided corresponding to each of the plurality of reel positions. 4. The gaming machine according to 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the reel stop control unit includes a selection mode switching unit, and switches the mode to a manual selection mode or an automatic selection mode based on a predetermined condition.

Images