JP2005095413A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine capable of giving a great excitement and expectation to a player by performing an effective and clear presentation.
A slot machine according to the present invention has frame regions 22L, 22C, and 22R surrounding the display regions 21L, 21C, and 21R of the image display device in a frame shape, and has a predetermined effect on the image display device. Is performed using the frame regions 22L, 22C, and 22R.
[Selection] Figure 14

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine, and more particularly to a slot machine that enhances a player's expectation level and excitement level by performing an effect during a game.

Some of the recent slot machines perform productions that increase the expectation and excitement of the player's game, and one such production is known to be performed in response to the internal winning of the slot machine. It has been. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a game is started, when an internal winning is performed in a probability lottery process performed immediately after the start lever is operated, a backlight provided inside the reel drum according to the winning combination There is known a slot machine that performs various effects in accordance with the game and informs the player of the internal winning.
JP 2000-135306 A

  Normally, winning in the probability lottery process is interesting for the player, but it is visually monotonous (the production display is monotonous) only by the notification by the backlight performed in the middle of a series of games. It is difficult for the player to understand and lacks the impact and fun on the player. In particular, it is of great interest for the player to win a special game state such as a bonus game where a large amount of game media (medals) can be obtained in a short time. If this is achieved, it is considered that a greater excitement and expectation can be given to the player.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an effective and clear effect to give the player a greater excitement and expectation. It is to provide a slot machine that can.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 displays a plurality of variation display devices for variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information necessary for a game, and the identification information of the variation display device. An image display device for displaying various effects during the game, a game control means for controlling the progress of the game, and the image display device according to a control signal from the game control means A slot machine including an effect control means for controlling various effects displayed above, wherein the image display device has a frame area surrounding the display area in a frame shape, and the game The control means or the effect control means is characterized in that, before a predetermined effect is performed on the image display device, an effect notice for notifying the effect is performed using the frame area.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, before the predetermined effect is performed on the image display device, the effect notice for notifying the effect is performed using the frame area. The advance notice in the frame area is watched with excitement with expectation, and the fun of the game is further improved. In particular, the frame area is an area that is provided in an image display device for displaying an image and surrounds the display area for displaying the identification information of the variable display device. Since it is an area to be watched, the performance notice performed using this frame area can give the player an easy-to-understand understanding of the effect to be performed from now on, and is given as a very effective and clear sub-effect, Greater excitement and expectation can be given to the player. In particular, if the advance notice is performed according to the display mode of the frame area (changes in the color, pattern, shape, etc. of the frame area), the effect notice can be more clearly recognized by the player.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the invention described in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of variable display stop means for individually stopping the plurality of variable display devices, and the change by the variable display stop means. It is characterized in that an advance notice is provided by the frame area when the display device is stopped.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 can be obtained, and the effect by the frame region can be achieved by the change display device being stopped by the change display stop means. Since the advance notice is performed, the game operation and the production advance notice are associated with each other, and a great impact can be given to the player who performs the game operation.

  The invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the effect notice includes a sound notice.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 or claim 2 can be obtained, and a sound notice is also performed together with a production notice in the frame area. The person can surely recognize the production to be performed with a great impact.

  According to the slot machine of the present invention, it is possible to provide an effective and clear effect, and to give a greater excitement and expectation to the player.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a slot machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a slot machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a gaming area of the slot machine.

  The slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a box 3 having a door (front door) 2 that can be opened and closed on the front surface. The door 2 is provided with a panel display portion 2a, a liquid crystal display portion 2b constituting an image display device for performing various effect displays, and a fixed display portion 2c, which are substantially above the center of the front surface. Inside the front door 2 (the back side of the liquid crystal display unit 2b), there are three variable display devices (here, composed of three rotating reels that mechanically rotate; hereinafter referred to as reels) 3L, 3C and 3R are rotatably arranged in a horizontal row, and a symbol row composed of a plurality of types of symbols is drawn on the outer peripheral surface of each of the reels 3L, 3C and 3R. The symbols formed on the reels 3L, 3C, 3R are visible through the rectangular symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R, and each reel 3L, 3C, 3R rotates at a constant speed (for example, 80 rotations). / Min) is possible.

  A substantially horizontal plane pedestal 4 is formed below the panel display 2a, the liquid crystal display 2b, and the fixed display 2c. A maximum BET button 5c for betting a medal as a game medium credited by a push button operation is provided on the left side of the pedestal portion 4, and similarly above the 1-BET button 5a and A 2-BET button 5b is provided. Also, an insertion slot 6 for inserting medals is provided on the right side of the pedestal unit 4, and on the left side of the front part is a C / C that switches the credit / payout of medals acquired by the player by a push button operation. A P button 7 is provided. By switching the C / P button 7, medals are paid out from the medal payout port 8 at the lower front, and the paid-out medals are stored in the medal receiving portion 9.

  On the right side of the C / P button 7, the reels 3L, 3C, 3R are rotated by the player's operation, and start of symbol variation in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R is started (game is started). A lever 10 is rotatably attached within a predetermined angle range. In addition, on the right side of the start lever 10 at the center of the front surface of the pedestal 4, there are three stop buttons (stop buttons for stopping the rotation of the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R, respectively, by an operation by the player). Fluctuation display stopping means (11L, 11C, 11R for stopping fluctuation of each reel) are provided.

  Speakers 12L and 12R are provided on the left and right above the door 2, and a payout table panel 13 for displaying a combination of winning symbols, a payout number of medals, and the like is provided for the questions of the two speakers 12L and 12R. ing.

  The panel display unit 2a includes a bonus game information display unit 16, BET lamps 17a to 17c, a payout display unit 18, a credit display unit 19, and the like. The bonus game information display unit 16 is composed of 7-segment LEDs and displays game information during the bonus game. The 1-BET lamp 17a, the 2-BET lamp 17b, and the maximum BET lamp 17c are turned on according to the number of medals bet for performing the game. The 1-BET lamp 17a has a BET number of “1”. The 2-BET lamp 17b is lit when the BET number is “2”, and the maximum BET lamp 17c is lit when the BET number is “3”. The payout display unit 18 and the credit display unit 19 are each composed of a 7-segment LED, and display the number of medals paid out and the number of stored medals when a winning is established. In addition to this, for example, a lamp for displaying a game operation, a display unit for displaying the number of operations of an accessory, and the like may be provided.

  As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display unit 2b includes symbol display areas (display areas) 21L, 21C, and 21R, and window frame display areas (frame areas) 22L, 22C, and 22R provided so as to surround them. The window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R represent the frame of the display window of the symbols arranged on the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R.

  The fixed display unit 2c is a region for displaying a predetermined image, and a single still image or moving image can be displayed by the image displayed on the fixed display unit 2c and the image displayed on the effect display region 23. It has become.

  The liquid crystal display unit 2b is composed of a protective glass, a display plate, a liquid crystal panel, a light guide plate, a reflective film, a fluorescent lamp, and a table carrier package (TCP) on which an IC for driving the liquid crystal panel is mounted. It is composed of a transmission type liquid crystal display device provided with a flexible substrate to be connected.

  The display mode of the liquid crystal panel is set to normally white, and even if a situation in which the liquid crystal cannot be driven occurs, the symbols arranged on the reels 3L, 3C, 3R through the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R are displayed. It can be seen and the game can be continued. When the liquid crystal in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, and 21R is not driven, the symbols on the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R can be visually recognized, and the liquid crystal in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, and 21R is driven. It is possible to visually recognize the image displayed by.

  The symbols arranged on the reels 3L, 3C, 3R have a configuration as shown in FIG. 3, for example. In this figure, a symbol row in which 21 types of symbols represented on each reel 3L, 3C, 3R are arranged is shown. Each symbol is assigned a code number “00” to “20”, and is stored as a data table in a ROM described later. Further, these symbol rows are rotationally driven so as to move in the direction of the arrow when each reel is rotationally driven.

Here, the transmissive liquid crystal display device 31 constituting the liquid crystal display unit 2b will be described with reference to FIG.
The transmissive liquid crystal display device 31 mainly includes a protective glass 32, a display plate 33, a liquid crystal panel 34, a light guide plate 35, a reflective film 36, and light sources 37a and 37b. In addition to this, there is a flexible substrate including a table carrier package (TCP) on which an IC for driving a liquid crystal panel is mounted. However, since it has the same configuration as that used in a general liquid crystal display device, in FIG. Are omitted for simplicity of explanation.

  The light guide plate 35 and the light sources 37a and 37b constitute a so-called backlight, and the light sources 37a and 37b are arranged along the upper and lower end surfaces of the rectangular light guide plate 35 having the size of the liquid crystal display unit 2b. ing. Light emitted from the light sources 37 a and 37 b is incident on the end surface of the light guide plate 35, and the traveling direction is changed by reflection in the light guide plate 35, and the light is emitted from the main surface of the light guide plate 35. As the light sources 37a and 37b, fluorescent lamps or LEDs may be used. Moreover, as a material of the light guide plate 35, a light-transmitting material such as an acrylic resin can be used.

  A reflection film 36 is disposed on the back surface of the light guide plate 35. The reflective film 36 is provided with a reflective area 36A and light transmissive areas 36BL, 36BC, and 36BR. The reflection film 36 is, for example, a white polyester film or an aluminum thin film provided with a silver vapor deposition film. The light transmission regions 36BL, 36BC, and 36BR are formed by removing the reflection film 36. can do. The reflective film 36 may be selectively provided with a film made of a reflective metal only on the reflective region 36A on the transparent substrate. The size and position of the light transmission regions 36BL, 36BC, and 36BR are set so as to substantially coincide with the symbol display regions 21L, 21C, and 21R. By this reflection film 36, the light emitted from the main surface of the light guide plate 35 to the back side can be reflected and directed to the front side (player side).

  A liquid crystal panel 34 is disposed on the front side (player side) of the light guide plate 35. The liquid crystal panel 34 is composed of a pair of transparent substrates (for example, glass substrates) and a liquid crystal material sandwiched therebetween. The liquid crystal panel 34 may be a passive liquid crystal display device or an active matrix liquid crystal display device. Further, the display mode of the liquid crystal panel 34 is preferably set to a normally white mode in which white display is performed when no voltage is applied. As a result, the symbols in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, and 21R can be viewed from the front side without applying a voltage to the liquid crystal panel 34, and the player can continue the game.

  On the front side of the liquid crystal panel 34, a display board 33 and a protective glass 32 on which various symbols are displayed are sequentially arranged.

  The operation of the liquid crystal display device 31 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, light sources 38a, 38b for the symbol display area are arranged on the back side of the liquid crystal display device 31, and the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R are irradiated from the front side. As the light sources 38a and 38b, for example, fluorescent lamps can be used. Further, inside the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R (3R in the drawing), an LED accommodating portion 24 that accommodates an LED as a light source that illuminates the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, and 21R from the inside is disposed.

  In the above configuration, when the liquid crystal in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, and 21R is not driven, the light sources 38a and 38b for the symbol display area are displayed from the front side as shown in FIG. The areas 21L, 21C, and 21R are illuminated. At this time, the light is reflected by the reels 3L, 3C, 3R and changes its direction. Moreover, LED in LED accommodating part 24 illuminates symbol display area 21L, 21C, 21R from an inner side. These lights pass through the liquid crystal display device 31 and travel toward the front side. The light passes through the light transmission regions 36BL, 36BC, and 36BR of the reflective film 36, and passes through the liquid crystal panel 34 to which no voltage is applied, thereby passing through the liquid crystal display device 31. Since the reflective film 36 is provided with the light transmissive areas 36BL, 36BC, and 36BR, the player visually recognizes the symbols in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, and 21R through the light transmissive areas 36BL, 36BC, and 36BR. Can do. On the other hand, the light emitted from the light sources 37a and 37b is directed from the light guide plate 35 toward the liquid crystal panel 34 and is transmitted through the liquid crystal display device 31 by passing through the liquid crystal panel 34 to which no voltage is applied. This light functions as illumination means for the area of the liquid crystal panel 34 corresponding to the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, 22R and the effect display area 23.

  On the other hand, when driving the liquid crystal in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R, as shown in FIG. 5B, the light emitted from the light sources 37a, 37b is directed from the light guide plate 35 to the liquid crystal panel 34 side. Directed. At this time, since a voltage is applied to a predetermined region of the liquid crystal panel 34, the light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 34 is displayed as a pixel. The player can visually recognize the pixel display (effect display or the like). In the present invention, the pixel display areas are the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, and 21R and the surrounding area (effect display area 23).

  Moreover, the light sources 38a, 38b for the symbol display area illuminate the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R from the front side. At this time, the light is reflected by the reels 3L, 3C, 3R and changes its direction. Moreover, LED in LED accommodating part 24 illuminates symbol display area 21L, 21C, 21R from an inner side. These lights pass through the liquid crystal display device 31 and travel toward the front side. Since the reflective film 36 is provided with the light transmissive areas 36BL, 36BC, and 36BR, the player visually recognizes the symbols in the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, and 21R through the light transmissive areas 36BL, 36BC, and 36BR. Can do. The light from the light sources 38a, 38b for the symbol display area functions as illumination means for the symbols arranged on the reels 3L, 3C, 3R and the areas of the symbol display areas 21L, 21C, 21R that are not liquid crystal driven. .

Next, control means for controlling the progress of the slot machine game will be described.
As described above, the slot machine of the present embodiment incorporates an image display device (transmission type liquid crystal display device) for enhancing the production effect on the front side of the variable display device. In addition to controlling image display on the display device, it is necessary to control audio data for generating complex sound effects accordingly. For this reason, in this embodiment, a control means (game control means) for controlling the progress of the game is provided exclusively on the board (main control board) for controlling the game processing operation, and other processes are controlled. Control means (production control means for controlling image display control, sound control, etc.) is provided on a sub-control board that is divided from the main control board and is executed by receiving various commands from the main control board.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the main control board.
The main control board 100 includes a main control circuit 81 that controls game processing operations in the slot machine 1. The main control circuit 81 includes a microcomputer 40 disposed on a circuit board as a main component, and is added to a circuit for random number sampling. The microcomputer 40 includes a main CPU (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 41 that performs a control operation according to a preset program, a program ROM (hereinafter referred to as ROM) 42 and a control RAM (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 43 serving as storage means.

  Connected to the CPU 41 are a clock pulse generation circuit 44 and a frequency divider 45 for generating a reference clock pulse, and a random number generator 46 and a sampling circuit 47 for generating a random number to be sampled. As a means for random number sampling, the random number sampling may be executed in the microcomputer 40, that is, on the operation program of the CPU 41. In this case, the random number generator 46 and the sampling circuit 47 can be omitted, or can be left as a backup for the random number sampling operation.

  The ROM 42 of the microcomputer 40 has a probability lottery table used for determination of random number sampling performed every time the start lever 10 is operated (start operation), and a stop for determining a reel stop mode according to the operation of the stop button. The control table, various control commands (commands) to be transmitted to the sub control circuit 82 of the sub control board 200 described later, and the like are stored. These commands include, for example, “demo display command”, “start command”, “stop-out command”, “bonus gaming state change instruction command”, “winning combination command (winning combination determination command)”, and the like. The sub control circuit 82 does not input commands, information, or the like to the main control circuit 81, and communication is performed in one direction from the main control circuit 81 to the sub control circuit 82.

  A peripheral device (actuator) is electrically connected to the main control circuit 81. The operation of these peripheral devices is controlled by a control signal from the microcomputer 40. As main peripheral devices, various lamps (for example, a 1-BET lamp 17a, a 2-BET lamp 17b, and a maximum) are used. BET lamp 17c, WIN lamp 17, game medal insertion lamp 24, game start display lamp 25, game operation display lamp 26, etc.) and various display units (payout display unit 18, credit display unit 19, and accessory operation frequency display unit 20) ), A hopper (including a payout driving unit) 50 as a game value giving means for storing medals and paying out a predetermined number of medals according to a command from the hopper driving circuit 51, and rotating the reels 3L, 3C, 3R There are stepping motors 59L, 59C, 59R for driving.

  Furthermore, a motor drive circuit 49 for driving and controlling the stepping motors 59L, 59C and 59R, a hopper drive circuit 51 for driving and controlling the hopper 50, a lamp drive circuit 55 for driving and controlling various lamps, and a display unit for driving and controlling various display units A drive circuit 58 is connected to the output unit of the CPU 41 via the I / O port 48. Each of these drive circuits receives a control signal such as a drive command output from the CPU 41 and controls the operation of each actuator. The main input signal generating means for generating an input signal necessary for the microcomputer 40 to generate a control command includes a start switch 10a, a 1-BET switch 5a ′, a 2-BET switch 5b ′, and a maximum BET switch. 5c ′, stored medal settlement switch 14, inserted medal sensor 22S, reel stop signal circuit 56, reel position detection circuit 60, payout completion signal circuit 61, and the like. These are also connected to the CPU 41 via the I / O port 48.

  The start switch 10a, 1-BET switch 5a ', 2-BET switch 5b' and maximum BET switch 5c 'detect the operation of the start lever 10, 1-BET button 5a, 2-BET button 5b and maximum BET button 5c, respectively. To do. The inserted medal sensor 22S detects a medal inserted into the medal slot 6. The reel stop signal circuit 56 generates a stop signal in response to the operation of each stop button 11L, 11C, 11R. The reel position detection circuit 60 receives the pulse signal from the reel rotation sensor and supplies a signal for detecting the position of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R to the CPU 41. The payout completion signal circuit 61 generates a signal for detecting completion of medal payout when the count value of the medal detection unit 50S (the number of medals paid out from the hopper 50) reaches the designated number data.

  The random number generator 46 generates random numbers belonging to a certain numerical range, and the sampling circuit 47 samples one random number at an appropriate timing after the start lever 10 is operated. The internal winning combination is determined based on the random numbers sampled in this way and the probability lottery table stored in the ROM 42. After the internal winning combination is determined, random number sampling is performed again to select the “stop control table”.

  After the rotation of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R is started, the number of drive pulses supplied to each of the stepping motors 59L, 59C, 59R is counted, and the counted value is written in a predetermined area of the RAM 43. From the reels 3L, 3C, 3R, reset pulses are obtained for each rotation, and these pulses are input to the CPU 41 via the reel position detection circuit 60. The count value of the drive pulse counted in the RAM 43 is cleared to “0” by the reset pulse thus obtained. As a result, the RAM 43 stores a count value corresponding to the rotational position within the range of one rotation for each of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R. In order to associate the rotational positions of the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R with the symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface of the reel, the symbol table described above is stored in the ROM. In this symbol table, with reference to the rotational position where the reset pulse is generated as described above, a code number (see FIG. 3) that is sequentially given for each fixed rotation pitch of each reel 3L, 3C, 3R, and each code number Is associated with a symbol code indicating a symbol provided corresponding to.

  Further, a winning symbol combination table is stored in the ROM 42. In this winning symbol combination table, a winning symbol combination, a winning medal dividend number, and a winning determination code representing the winning are associated with each other. The winning symbol combination table is referred to when the left reel 3L, the central reel 3C, and the right reel 3R are stopped and when a winning confirmation is made after all reels are stopped.

  When an internal winning is made by a lottery process (probability lottery process) based on the random number sampling, the CPU 41 receives an operation signal sent from the reel stop signal circuit 56 at a timing when the player operates the stop buttons 11L, 11C, and 11R, and Based on the selected “stop control table”, a signal for controlling to stop the reels 3L, 3C, 3R is sent to the motor drive circuit 49.

  If the stop mode indicates that the winning combination of the winning combination is established, the CPU 41 supplies a payout command signal to the hopper driving circuit 51 and pays out a predetermined number of medals from the hopper 50. At this time, the medal detection unit 50S counts the number of medals to be paid out from the hopper 50, and when the count value reaches a designated number, a medal payout completion signal is input to the CPU 41. As a result, the CPU 41 stops driving the hopper 50 via the hopper driving circuit 51 and ends the “medal payout process”.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the sub-control board.
The sub-control board 200 includes a sub-control circuit 82. The sub-control circuit 82 controls the display control in the liquid crystal display unit 2b and the speakers 12L and 12R based on a control command (command) from the main control circuit 81. Controls sound output. The sub-control circuit 82 is configured on a circuit board different from the circuit board constituting the main control circuit 81, and includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “sub-microcomputer”) 83 as a main component, and a liquid crystal display unit 2b includes an image control circuit 91 as display control means 2b, a sound source IC 88 for controlling sounds output from the speakers 12L and 12R, and a power amplifier 89 as an amplifier.

  The sub microcomputer 83 includes a sub CPU 84 that performs a control operation in accordance with a control command transmitted from the main control circuit 81, a program ROM 85 as a storage means, and a work RAM 86. The sub-control circuit 82 does not include a clock pulse generation circuit, a frequency divider, a random number generator, and a sampling circuit, but the lottery process is performed to determine whether or not to execute a variable effect on the operation program of the sub CPU 84. It is configured.

  As functions of the sub CPU 84, a reception function for managing reception of commands from the main control board 100, an effect selection function for selecting and determining various effects, and a transmission function for transmitting the selected effect type to the image control circuit 91 are selected. There is a sound effect control function for performing specific sound effect sequence control based on the effect type.

  The program ROM 85 stores a control program executed by the sub CPU 84. The program ROM 85 stores control commands (commands) for causing the liquid crystal display unit 2b to display various effect images for an image control CPU 92 of the image control circuit 91 described later. This command is executed in the main control liquid crystal display unit 2b based on the winning combination command transmitted from the main control board side and the lottery processing result in the sub CPU 84 after the lottery processing on the main control circuit side. A variation effect image instruction command for determining a variation effect image is included.

  The work RAM 86 has a function as temporary storage means when the control program is executed by the sub CPU 84.

  The image control circuit 91 includes an image control CPU 92, an image control work RAM 93, an image control program ROM 94, an image ROM 96, a video RAM 97, and an image control IC 98. Based on the parameters set by the sub-microcomputer 83, the image control CPU 92 determines the display contents on the liquid crystal display unit 2b according to the image control program stored in the image control program ROM 94.

  The image control program ROM 94 stores various selection tables such as an image control program related to display on the liquid crystal display unit 2b and various effect patterns according to commands transmitted from the main control board side. The image control work RAM 93 is configured as temporary storage means when the image control CPU 92 executes the image control program, and the image control IC 98 forms an image corresponding to the display content determined by the image control CPU 92. To the liquid crystal display unit 2b. The image ROM 96 stores dot data for forming an image, and the video RAM 97 is configured as a temporary storage means for forming an image with the image control IC 98.

  Next, an example of the control operation of the CPU 41 in the main control circuit 81 of the main control board 100 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, the CPU 41 clears the RAM 43 at the end of the game (ST1). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is a request for automatic insertion of medals (ST2). The case where there is a request for automatic insertion is a case where a re-game winning is established in the previous game. When there is a request for automatic insertion of medals, medals for the insertion request are automatically inserted (ST3), a game medal insertion command is transmitted to the sub-control circuit 82, and then the process proceeds to ST6. When there is no request for automatic insertion of medals, insertion of medals from the medal insertion slot and the bet button is accepted (ST5), and the process proceeds to ST6.

  In the process of ST6, it is determined whether or not the start lever 10 is “ON”. If the start lever is “ON”, it is determined whether or not 4.1 seconds have elapsed since the previous game (ST7). Specifically, the determination is made based on the value of one game monitoring timer set in the processing of ST10 described later. If 4.1 seconds have not elapsed since the previous game, the game start waiting time is consumed (ST8), and the process proceeds to ST9.

  In the process of ST9, the CPU 41 extracts a random number for lottery. Specifically, random numbers are extracted from the range of 0 to 16383. Subsequently, a game monitoring timer is set (ST10). Next, a probability lottery process is performed (ST11). In this probability lottery process, an internal winning combination is determined based on the random value extracted in the process of ST9 and the probability lottery table corresponding to the current gaming state determined in the gaming state monitoring process. In the probability lottery table, random numbers for internal winning are determined in advance for each winning combination.

  Next, the CPU 41 performs a notification lamp lighting lottery process (ST12), and performs a stop control table selection process by an internal winning combination (ST13). Then, as a transmission process at the start of the game, a start command is transmitted to the sub-control circuit (ST14), and is initialized for starting reel rotation (ST15).

  Next, the CPU 41 determines whether or not the stop buttons 11L, 11C, and 11R are “ON” (ST16). If the stop buttons 11L, 11C, and 11R are “ON”, the process proceeds to ST18. When the stop buttons 11L, 11C, and 11R are “OFF”, the process proceeds to ST17. In the process of ST17, it is determined whether or not the value of the automatic stop timer is “0”. If the value of the automatic stop timer is “0”, the process proceeds to ST18, and the value of the automatic stop timer is “0”. If not, the process proceeds to ST16. In the process of ST18, the number of sliding symbols is determined from the winning request (internal winning combination), the symbol position (reel rotation position at the time of stop operation), the selected stop control table, and the like.

  Then, the reels 3L, 3C, 3R are rotated by the number of sliding frames determined in the process of ST18 (ST19). Next, the reel stop request is set (ST20), and a reel stop command is transmitted to the sub-control circuit (ST21). It is determined whether or not all the reels are stopped (ST22). When all the reels are stopped, the process moves to an effect process at the end of the game as described later, and when all the reels are not stopped, The process proceeds to ST16. Then, after performing the effect process at the end of the game (may be performed together with the effect process), a winning search is performed (ST23).

  After the winning search, it is determined whether or not the winning flag is normal (ST24). If the winning flag is normal, the process proceeds to ST26. If the winning flag is not normal, an illegal error is displayed. (ST25), the process is interrupted.

  In ST26, it is determined whether or not the number of winning prizes is zero. Specifically, it is determined whether or not any winning combination (excluding replay) has been established. When a winning is established, medals are stored or paid out according to the state (whether the bonus game is operating) and the winning combination (ST27).

  Next, processing in the sub control circuit 82 after the reel stop command is transmitted to the sub control circuit 82 in ST21 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 will be described using FIG. 12 and FIG.

  First, the sub control circuit 82 determines whether or not a reel stop command has been received (ST31). This reel stop command is transmitted after a stop request is set for each of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R as described above. When the reel stop command is received, it is determined whether or not to give an effect notice. Judgment is made (ST32). Here, the effect announcement is to notify the player in advance of the effect to be performed in the liquid crystal display unit 2b, and in this embodiment, as will be described later, the window frame display area shown in FIGS. This includes performing predetermined display on 22L, 22C, and 22R, or outputting sound from the speakers 12L and 12R together with this display.

  The process in ST32, that is, the determination (determination) as to whether or not to make an advance notice is performed every time a reel stop command is received, that is, every time each reel 3L, 3C, 3R is stopped. Specifically, for example, the sub-CPU 84, for example, the internal winning combination (a loss is also included) included in the transmission process (signal sent from the main control board 100) at the start of the game performed in ST14 of FIG. In accordance with (including)), it is decided whether or not to produce an effect in the game, and when making a decision to produce an effect, it decides to give an effect notice and decides not to produce an effect. In such a case, it is decided not to make a performance notice. In addition, if the advance notice has already been performed by the one or more reel stop commands received in advance, it may be determined that the advance notice is not performed. In addition, the sub CPU 84 may determine whether or not to make a presentation notice using a unique random number counter (for example, when a random number counter of 0 to 255 is provided and a random number of 0 to 127 is extracted). Is determined to perform the advance notice, and if random numbers of 128 to 255 are extracted, it is determined that the advance notice is not performed).

  In the process at ST32, if it is determined not to perform the advance notice, the process returns to ST31. That is, it waits for transmission of the next reel stop command. On the other hand, if it is determined that the production notice is to be performed, the process proceeds to production notice processing (ST33).

  In the effect notice process, first, an effect content recognition process for recognizing what an effect will be performed in the liquid crystal display unit 2b is performed (ST34). In this process, for example, the sub CPU 84 determines and recognizes what kind of effect has been determined by itself in response to the transmission process at the start of the game performed in ST14 of FIG.

  Next, when the effect content is recognized in the process of ST34, a notice display corresponding to the recognized effect content is made in the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, 22R (ST35). For example, if a certain effect A is recognized in ST34, a window frame corresponding to the received reel stop command (corresponding to the reels 3L, 3C, 3R stopped by the player) according to the contents of the effect A. The display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R change to a predetermined color. Alternatively, the shape of the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, 22R may change, or a predetermined pattern may be displayed on the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, 22R. If another effect B is recognized in ST34, the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R corresponding to the received reel stop command differ from the color at the time of effect A according to the contents of the effect B. Change to color. Alternatively, the shape of the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R changes to a different shape from that of the effect A, or a pattern different from the pattern at the time of the effect A is displayed in the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R.

  FIG. 14 shows an example of the series of effect notices described above in stages. First, in the state of FIG. 14A in which all the three reels 3L, 3C, 3R are rotating during the game, the player selects any one of the three stop buttons 11L, 11C, 11R, For example, when the left stop button 11L is pressed, a reel stop command associated therewith is sent to the sub-control circuit 82 as described above. At this time, on the sub-control circuit 82 side, as described above, it is determined whether or not to make an effect notice. Here, for example, when a regular bonus is won internally by the internal lottery process, an effect notice corresponding to the regular bonus (regular bonus effect to be performed in the liquid crystal display unit 2b) is made by the effect notice process described above. The That is, as shown in FIG. 14B, the window frame display area 22L corresponding to the left stop button 11L (left reel 3L) changes to a predetermined color A (red, blue, yellow, etc.). Alternatively, the predetermined pattern A is displayed in the window frame display area 22L.

  Next, when the player presses the center stop button 11C, a reel stop command associated therewith is sent again to the sub-control circuit 82, and it is determined whether or not to make an effect notice on the sub-control circuit 82 side. Here, since the advance notice has already been given by the reel stop command associated with the left reel 3L received earlier, if there is no need to make the advance notice again, the center and right reels will be used in this game thereafter. There will be no advance notice in conjunction with the stoppage. However, in the present embodiment, the talk will be proceeded on the assumption that the production notice is made for all reels.

  As described above, when a reel stop command is sent to the sub-control circuit 82 in accordance with the pressing operation of the center stop button 11C, in this example in which the regular bonus is internally won, as shown in FIG. As shown, the window frame display area 22C corresponding to the center stop button 11C (center reel 3C) changes to the same color A as the window frame display area 22L. Alternatively, the same pattern as the window frame display area 22L is displayed in the window frame display area 22C. In FIG. 14C, the colors or patterns of the two window frame display areas 22L and 22C are different, but such a form is also included in the scope of the present invention.

  Finally, when the player presses the right stop button 11R, a reel stop command associated therewith is also sent to the sub-control circuit 82, and corresponds to the right stop button 11R (right reel 3R) by the effect notice process described above. The window frame display area 22R changes to the same color A as the window frame display areas 22L and 22C. Alternatively, the same pattern as the window frame display regions 22L and 22C is displayed in the window frame display region 22R (see FIG. 14D). Also in this case, in FIG. 14D, the colors or patterns of the three window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R are different, but such forms are also included in the scope of the present invention.

  In the production announcement, not only the colors and patterns are displayed in the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R as described above, but also the shapes of the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R change with these displays. You may do it. An example is shown in FIG. The example of FIG. 15 corresponds to the stage of the effect notice in the example of FIG. 14, and the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R vibrate together with the display of colors and patterns in the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R. Do (sway in a wave).

  In addition, in the advance notice, not only the change in color, shape, and pattern in the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R, but also from the speakers 12L and 12R with or without these changes. Audio corresponding to the notice may be output. Further, in the present embodiment, the effect announcement is performed in accordance with the operation of the stop buttons 11L, 11C, and 11R. However, the effect announcement in the window frame display areas 22L, 22C, and 22R is performed by the stop buttons 11L, 11C, and 11R. It may be performed independently of the operation. In the present embodiment, the effect notice process is performed on the sub-control board 200 side, but the effect notice process may be performed on the main control board 100 side.

  As described above, the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment has the frame regions 22L, 22C, and 22R surrounding the display regions 21L, 21C, and 21R in the image display device in a frame shape. Before a predetermined effect is performed, an effect notice for notifying the effect is performed using the frame regions 22L, 22C, and 22R. Therefore, the player becomes excited and gazes at the performance announcement performed in the frame regions 22L, 22C, and 22R with expectation, and the fun of the game is further improved. In particular, the frame regions 22L, 22C, and 22R are provided in an image display device for displaying images, and are regions that surround the display regions 21L, 21C, and 21R for displaying the symbols of the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R. Therefore, since this is an area that the player always watches during the game, the effect announcement performed using the frame regions 22L, 22C, and 22R makes it possible for the player to recognize the effect to be performed in an easy-to-understand manner. At the same time, it is given as a very effective and clear sub-production, which can give a greater excitement and expectation to the player. In particular, if the effect notice is performed according to the display mode of the frame areas 21L, 21C, and 21R (changes in the color, pattern, shape, etc. of the frame areas) as in this embodiment, the effect notice is more clearly indicated to the player. Can be recognized.

  The slot machine 1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of stop buttons 11L, 11C, and 11R that individually stop the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R. An advance notice is provided by 21C and 21R. Therefore, the game operation and the effect notice are associated with each other, and a great impact can be given to the player who performs the game operation.

  Further, in the present embodiment, if the effect notice includes a sound notice, the player can surely recognize the effect to be performed with a large impact.

  The present invention can be applied to other gaming machines such as a pachinko gaming machine as well as the slot machine described in this embodiment. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a game program in which such an operation of the gaming machine is simulated for a personal computer or a home game machine. In that case, any recording medium such as a DVD, CD-ROM, or FD (flexible disk) can be used as a recording medium for recording the game program, or such a program can be stored on the Internet or a satellite communication line. It may be distributed in a network environment such as.

The perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the slot machine which concerns on this invention. The figure which expands and shows the game area | region of the slot machine shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the reel belt | band | zone used for this slot machine. The exploded perspective view which shows the structure of the liquid crystal display device in this slot machine. FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 4 including (a) and (b). The block diagram which shows the structure of the main control board which controls the game operation | movement of this slot machine. The block diagram which shows the structure of the sub control board which controls the game operation | movement of this slot machine. The flowchart for demonstrating the control action of the main control board in this slot machine (the 1). Flowchart for explaining the control operation of the main control board in the slot machine (No. 2). Flowchart for explaining the control operation of the main control board in the slot machine (No. 3). Flowchart for explaining the control operation of the main control board in the slot machine (No. 4). The flowchart (the 1) which shows the flow of the production notice process of the sub control board in this slot machine. The flowchart (the 2) which shows the flow of the production | presentation notice process of the sub control board in this slot machine. The schematic diagram which showed (a)-(d) and showed an example of a series of presentation notices in steps, respectively. The schematic diagram which showed (a)-(d) and showed each other example of a series of presentation notices in steps.

Explanation of symbols

1 Slot machine 2b Liquid crystal display (image display device)
3L, 3C, 3R reel (variable display device)
21L, 21C, 21R Symbol display area (display area)
22L, 22C, 22R Window frame display area (frame area)
100 Main control board (game control board)
200 Sub-control board (production control board)

Claims (3)

A plurality of variable display devices for variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information necessary for a game;
An image display device that includes a display area for displaying the identification information of the variable display device, and that displays various effects during a game,
Game control means for controlling the progress of the game;
Effect control means for controlling various effects displayed on the image display device in response to a control signal from the game control means;
With
The image display device has a frame region surrounding the display region in a frame shape,
The slot machine characterized in that the game control means or the effect control means performs an effect notice for notifying the effect before the predetermined effect is performed on the image display device using the frame area.   A plurality of variation display stop means for individually stopping the plurality of variation display devices is provided, and an effect announcement is performed by the frame region when the variation display device is stopped by the variation display stop means. Item 2. The slot machine according to Item 1.   The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the performance notice includes a sound notice.

Images