JP2005131263A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of arousing a player's interest at a maximum by taking account of the merits and demerits of a sound effect emitted from a machine body and a peripheral sound ringing from the circumference of the machine body. <P>SOLUTION: This game machine is provided with a speaker 24 outputting the sound effect according to a game state, a sound collecting microphone 25 recording peripheral sound, a signal processing part 210 generating additional subsound based on the peripheral sound recorded by the sound collecting microphone 25, and a sub CPU 201 controlling the output of the subsound. The sub CPU 201 is so constituted as to change over between a first state where the subsound is output from the speaker 24 and a second state where no subsound is output from the speaker 24, according to the game state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine provided with sound effect output means for outputting sound effects according to the game.

  In general, game machines are provided with sound effect output means for outputting various sound effects according to the game state in order to inspire the player to the game, to raise the feeling, or to appeal to the surroundings. Yes. For example, in a slot machine as a gaming machine that plays a game by rotating a reel, various sound effects are generated according to the character's performance while displaying various characters on a display device such as a liquid crystal display. It is configured. Usually, such sound effect output means is constituted by a speaker having an acoustic effect, and various techniques have been proposed for the acoustic effect of this speaker.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which speakers that emit sound effects are arranged on the front and back surfaces of a slot machine main body (box body), respectively. Insufficient volume and low output are compensated by a speaker on the back of the main body.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-220313

  By the way, the volume output from the slot machine is normally set to a certain level so that it can be heard in the game hall. Then, there arises a problem that it becomes difficult to hear the sound of each slot machine due to surrounding sounds (hereinafter referred to as ambient sounds).

  Such a problem becomes particularly serious in the case where, for example, a sound effect such as a fanfare is generated from the gaming machine itself when a big win is won (during a big bonus game), and the game is further enhanced. . If such special performance sound effects are canceled out by ambient sounds, the current special gaming state such as winnings cannot be impressed well to the player, and the player's expectation and excitement for the game can be reduced. It is difficult to increase.

  On the other hand, the ambient sound in the game hall does not act on the player as mere noise that cancels the sound of the individual slot machines as described above, and also has a function of enhancing the interest of the game. For example, the player can feel the liveliness in the playground with the surrounding sound (that is, he can get a sense of realism), and the game state has an advantage and is immersed in a sense of superiority. It is possible to burn a sense of opposition to the player.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and its purpose is to take into account the interests and demerits of sound effects emitted from the aircraft and ambient sounds reverberating from the surroundings of the aircraft. An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can maximize the game machine.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a gaming machine according to claim 1 is characterized in that a sound effect output means for outputting a sound effect according to a gaming state, an ambient sound recording means for recording ambient sound, and the ambient sound. A secondary sound generating means for generating an additional secondary sound based on the ambient sound recorded by the recording means, a secondary sound output means for outputting the secondary sound generated by the secondary sound generating means, and the secondary sound output Control means for controlling the output of the secondary sound from the means, wherein the control means is a first state in which the secondary sound is output from the secondary sound output means according to the gaming state, and the secondary sound output means. Is switched to the second state in which no secondary sound is output.

  According to the gaming machine described in claim 1, in addition to the sound effect, an additional secondary sound can be output, while the secondary sound is output or output depending on the gaming state. Therefore, the auditory effect given to the player between the first state in which the sound effect and the secondary sound can be heard in duplicate and the second state in which only the sound effect can be heard without hearing the secondary sound. Can make a big disparity. That is, the player can output a relatively loud sound in which the sound effect and the secondary sound are overlapped, and a relatively quiet second state with respect to the first state by removing the secondary sound. In addition to being able to clearly hear the state 2 (the state with only sound effects) by changing the volume, the sound effect can be heard relatively better in the second state than in the first state. As a result, the sound effect is impressed.

  In particular, during special game conditions such as big wins (for example, during big bonus games or regular bonus games, or when these are won internally), special sound effects that further enhance fanfare games are output. In such a situation, the second state is set and the other normal games are set to the first state so that the player can clearly hear the sound effect in a special gaming state. If this is done, the player's sense of expectation and excitement can be effectively increased with sound effects, which is very beneficial.

  Further, in the above configuration, since the secondary sound is generated based on the ambient sound, the player considers the advantages and disadvantages of the sound effect emitted from the aircraft and the ambient sound reverberating from the surroundings of the aircraft. It is also possible to maximize the interest of

  In the above configuration, the sound effect output means is, of course, a separate means from the sub sound output means, but these means may be realized by, for example, one device (for example, a common speaker) (that is, the effect). The sound output means may also serve as the secondary sound output means).

  The gaming machine according to claim 2 is the gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the secondary sound is an amplified sound generated by amplifying the ambient sound.

  According to the gaming machine described in claim 2, since the same effect as the gaming machine described in claim 1 can be obtained, and the secondary sound is generated by amplifying the ambient sound, In the first state, the advantage of the ambient sound can be utilized to the maximum, and in the second state, the defect of the ambient sound can be canceled to the maximum. That is, in the first state, by amplifying the ambient sound, for example, the player can feel the vigor in the game hall with the skin (that is, give a sense of realism), or the game state is advantageous. In the second state, it is possible to cause the player to have a sense of opposition to other players who are immersed in a sense of superiority, and to take advantage of the ambient sound well, It is possible to eliminate the adverse effect that the sound effect cannot be heard due to the ambient sound by stopping the output of the secondary sound as the ambient sound.

  In particular, in this configuration that directly associates ambient sounds with sub-sounds, the first state is a normal gaming state, and the second state is a special gaming state (a state in which a game that is more advantageous than the normal gaming state is possible). By doing so, it is possible to draw out the advantages and disadvantages of ambient sounds and sound effects.

  Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 3, in the gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, the secondary sound output means generates a suppression sound that cancels the ambient sound in the second state. It is output in place of the sub sound.

  According to the gaming machine described in claim 3, the same effect as the gaming machine described in claim 1 or 2 can be obtained, and the ambient sound emitted from the surrounding gaming machine can be obtained by suppressing the sound. Since it can be positively canceled, the player can clearly hear the sound effect in the second state.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to maximize the interest of the player in consideration of the interests of the sound effect emitted from the machine and the ambient sound reverberating from around the machine.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a slot machine as a gaming machine according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the slot machine 1 includes a front door 3 that is opened and closed with respect to a box housing a game device, a lighting device, an audio device, and the like for executing a game. A display area 5 having reel display windows 4a, 4b, 4c is provided. In the display area 5, for example, an image display unit 13 (for example, a liquid crystal display, a CRT display, a dot matrix display, etc.) that displays various game information as still image information and moving image information, and an effective line display that displays a winning line. And various game display lamps are also provided. In the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the entire display area 5 is described as being formed by the image display unit 13 (see FIG. 2).

  On the lower side of the display area 5 of the front door 3, a game medium slot 6 for inserting game media (medals, coins, etc.), and a rotating reel arranged in the display area 5 are started on condition that the game medium is inserted. There are provided a start switch 7, a stop button 8 for stopping the rotation of each reel, a changeover switch 9a and a bet switch 9b for switching whether the game medium is credited or paid out.

  Further, a tray 10 for receiving game media to be paid out as a prize and a game media discharge port 10a are provided at the lower portion of the front door 3 so as to open toward the tray 10. Furthermore, speakers 24 constituting sound effect output means for outputting various sound effects are disposed at the left and right symmetrical positions of the front door 3.

  Such a speaker 24 plays an important role in appealing to the surroundings of a game played in the display area 5, such as an enthusiasm of the player, an uplifting feeling, or a visitor who has entered the game hall. Various sound effects are generated according to the gaming state performed in the display area 5. In the present embodiment, the speaker 24 also serves as a secondary sound output means for outputting a secondary sound to be described later.

  Further, sound collecting microphones 25 as ambient sound recording means for recording sounds around the slot machine 1 are arranged on both sides of the display area 5 of the front door 3. As will be described later, the sound picked up by the sound collecting microphone 25 is used to generate the additional sub sound added to the sound effect.

  In addition, about the speaker 24 and the sound collection microphone 25, arrangement | positioning position, a number, a magnitude | size, etc. are arbitrary, and although it is not limited to the structure shown in figure, the arrangement position of the sound collection microphone 25 is the slot machine 1. It is preferable to provide the sound effect output from the speaker 24 at a position where it is not directly picked up according to the game mode. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively detect only the ambient sound of the slot machine 1 without generating howling sound in the speaker 24.

  Although not shown in detail, the front door 3 is provided with a decorative lamp that blinks in accordance with the gaming state at a position above the display area 5 or the like.

  Regarding the game operation in the display area of the slot machine 1 configured as described above, the payout of game media, the output of sound effects and secondary sounds, the flashing of the decoration lamp, etc., as the control means provided inside the box It is controlled by the control device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control device includes a main control board 100, a sub control board 200, and an image control board 300. In the main control board 100, a main game operation in the slot machine is performed. Based on the control of the main control board 100, the sub-control board 200 controls the generation of sound effects and sub-sounds, and sends a signal related to image effect control to the image control board 300. It has become.

  The main control board 100 stores, as a sequence program, a main CPU that controls various operations in the slot machine, a processing procedure in the slot machine game, a winning probability table for determining a lottery probability and the like, an internal winning combination A ROM that stores various game data, such as a stop control table for performing reel stop control according to the gaming state, is provided, and the main CPU operates based on a sequence program stored in the ROM. Thus, the game in the slot machine 1 is controlled.

  In addition, the plurality of I / O ports provided in the main CPU include a start switch 7 described above, a stop button 8 for stopping the rotation of each reel, and switching for switching whether to credit or pay out the game medium. A switch 9a, a bet switch 9b, a sensor for detecting game media loaded from the game media slot 6, a motor drive circuit for driving each reel, a reel position detection circuit, a reel stop signal circuit, a decorative lamp drive circuit, a game A medium payout circuit or the like is connected, and the operation of each unit is controlled based on these input / output signals and a control table stored in the ROM.

Next, the sub control board 200 will be described.
The sub-control board 200 controls the generation of sound effects and sub-sounds based on the control of the main control board 100 and sends a signal related to image effect control to the image control board 300.

  A sub CPU 201, a program ROM 202, and a control RAM 203 are mounted on the sub control board 200, and the sub CPU 201 receives a signal from the main control board 100 via the input port 204. Further, the sub CPU 201 determines various effect images based on the data received from the main control board 100 and a selection table stored in the program ROM 202, and sends a signal to the image control board 300 via the output port 205. Send. The sub-control board 200 is equipped with a sound source IC 206, and an audio signal output from the sound source IC 206 is amplified by an audio amplifier (AMP) 207 to generate sound effects and the like from the speaker 24.

  The sub CPU 201 in the present embodiment has a reception function for managing reception of various 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 board 300. A sound effect control function for performing specific sound effect sequence control based on the selected effect type, and a function for controlling the output of the secondary sound from the speaker 24 in accordance with the gaming state (this will be described later). I have.

  The image control board 300 is configured to control specific image display in the image display unit disposed in the display area 5 based on the control of the sub-control board 200. The image control board 300 includes, for example, an image control CPU 301, a program ROM 302, a control RAM 303, an image control IC 304, a character ROM 305, a video RAM 306, and the like, and receives signals from the sub control board 200 via the input port 307. Then, a drive signal is transmitted to the image control IC 304. Further, under the control of the image control CPU 301, the image control IC 304 receives signal inputs from the character ROM 305 and the video RAM 306 and controls the image display unit (liquid crystal panel or the like) to display an image.

  In the present embodiment, the sub control board 200 is provided with a signal processing unit 210 as a sub sound generating means for generating an additional sub sound based on the ambient sound recorded by the sound collecting microphone 25. Specifically, the signal processing unit 210 of the present embodiment amplifies the ambient sound recorded by the sound collection microphone 25 and outputs the amplified sound via the speaker 24. In this case, it is preferable that the signal processing unit 210 amplifies the secondary sound in accordance with the sound level in the game hall. Specifically, when the ambient sound is loud, by setting the secondary sound output from the speaker 24 accordingly, it is possible to effectively give the player the vigor in the game hall, that is, the presence. In addition, when the ambient sound is low, such as when there are few players, it is possible to prevent the player from making the player uncomfortable by setting the secondary sound output from the speaker 24 accordingly.

  The signal processing unit 210 preferably performs control so that the volume of the secondary sound does not exceed a certain value when the level of the ambient sound recorded by the sound collecting microphone 25 reaches a predetermined value (the level of the ambient sound is Even if it becomes larger than a certain value, the secondary sound is controlled so that it does not increase any more. With this configuration, the sub-volume can be prevented from increasing infinitely, the speaker 24 can be prevented from being damaged, and the player can be prevented from feeling uncomfortable due to the increased volume. .

  In the present embodiment, the output of the secondary sound from the speaker 24 by the signal processing unit 210 is controlled by the sub CPU 201 according to the gaming state. Specifically, the sub CPU 201 is based on the information regarding the current gaming state sent from the main control board 100 side, and the first state where the sub sound is output from the speaker 24 and the second state where the sub sound is not output from the speaker 24. Switch between 2 states. More specifically, the sub CPU 201 has a special gaming state in which the internal winning combination determined by the internal lottery on the side of the main control board 100 becomes a big bonus, a regular bonus or the like (a game advantageous in comparison with the normal gaming state). The signal processing unit 201 is set so that the sub sound is not output from the speaker 24 when the state is ready to be performed (second state) and the sub sound is output from the speaker 24 in the other state (first state). Control. A specific flowchart in that case is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, first, a signal based on a game start operation generated by the player operating the start switch 7 of the slot machine 1 is transferred and output to the main control board 100, whereby the game is played. It starts (S10). At this time, the signal processing unit 210 collects ambient sound through the sound collection microphone 25 and outputs amplified sound obtained by amplifying the ambient sound with a predetermined amplification rate from the speaker 24 (S12). Then, during the game, when the sub CPU 201 receives a signal indicating that the big bonus or regular bonus has been internally won on the main control board 100 side (S14), the sub CPU 201 controls the signal processing unit 210 to control the ambient sound. The sub-tone that is the amplified sound is prevented from being output from the speaker 24 (S16).

  As described above, the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, in addition to outputting sound effects according to the gaming state, the sound collection microphone 25 as ambient sound recording means for recording ambient sounds, and the sound collection microphone 25 A signal processing unit 210 as a sub sound generating means for generating an additional sub sound based on the ambient sound recorded by the first sound state, a second state in which the sub sound is output, and a second state in which the sub sound is not output. Can be switched according to the gaming state. As described above, an additional sub sound can be output separately from the sound effect. On the other hand, if the sub sound is output or not output depending on the gaming state, the sound effect and the sub sound are generated. A large disparity can be made in the auditory effect given to the player between the first state in which the sound is heard in duplicate and the second state in which only the sound effect is heard without hearing the secondary sound. That is, the player can output a relatively loud sound in which the sound effect and the secondary sound are overlapped, and a relatively quiet second state with respect to the first state by removing the secondary sound. In addition to being able to clearly hear the state 2 (the state with only sound effects) by changing the volume, the sound effect can be heard relatively better in the second state than in the first state. As a result, the sound effect is impressed.

  In particular, as in the present embodiment, in a special gaming state such as a big winning prize (for example, during a big bonus game or a regular bonus game, or when these are won internally), a game such as a fanfare is further increased. The situation where a special sound effect to be raised is output is set to the second state, and the other normal game is set to the first state, and the sound effect is given to the player in the special game state. If it is made to listen clearly, the expectation and excitement degree of the player's game can be effectively increased by the sound effect, which is very beneficial.

  In the present embodiment, since the secondary sound is generated by amplifying the ambient sound, in the first state, the advantage of the ambient sound can be utilized to the maximum, and the second In the state, the disadvantages of ambient sounds can be canceled to the maximum. That is, in the first state, by amplifying the ambient sound, for example, the player can feel the vigor in the game hall with the skin (that is, give a sense of realism), or the game state is advantageous. In the second state, it is possible to cause the player to have a sense of opposition to other players who are immersed in a sense of superiority, and to take advantage of the ambient sound well, It is possible to eliminate the adverse effect that the sound effect cannot be heard due to the ambient sound by stopping the output of the secondary sound as the ambient sound. In particular, in the configuration in which the ambient sound is directly associated with the secondary sound as in the present embodiment, the first state is set as a normal gaming state, and the second state is set as a special gaming state (advantageous over the normal gaming state). By making it possible to play a game), it is possible to draw out the advantages and disadvantages of ambient sounds and sound effects.

  In the present embodiment, the speaker 24 outputs both the sound effect and the sub sound, but a speaker that outputs the sound effect and a speaker that outputs the sub sound may be provided separately.

  4 to 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the signal processing unit 210 generates a suppression sound that cancels the ambient sound based on the sound effect from the sound source IC 206 and the ambient sound from the sound collection microphone 25. Suppressed sound can be output through the speaker 24.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the sound effects and ambient sounds recorded from the sound collection microphone 25 are converted into electrical signals to the sound extraction means 40 of the signal processing unit 210 in a state where those sound waves are synthesized. Sent. In the sound extraction means 40, the sound effect is removed from the synthesized sound wave of the normal effect sound and the ambient sound, and only the ambient sound is extracted and extracted. Here, in order to remove the sound effect, the sound effect information stored in the ROM 202 and output from the sound source IC 206 is sent to the sound extraction means 40, and the sound wave waveform of the sound effect output in advance is converted into the sound extraction means 40. Can recognize only sound effects. There are two methods for removing sound effects: a method of forming sound waves having waveforms opposite to those of sound effects and synthesizing them, and a method of removing sound wave waveforms of sound effects by digital signal processing.

  The ambient sound extracted by the sound extraction means 40 in this way is transmitted to the signal processing circuit 36 and the filter 32.

  The signal processing circuit 36 generates a suppression sound that suppresses the ambient sound extracted by the sound extraction means 40. The generation of the suppression sound is shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 6A, the signal processing circuit 36 has an input unit 36a that receives an electric signal from the sound extraction means 40, and the same amplitude as the electric signal based on the electric signal input to the input unit 36a. A phase difference adjustment unit 36b that generates a signal having an opposite phase (phase difference 180 degrees) and an output unit 36c that outputs the signal generated by the phase difference adjustment unit 36b to the speaker 24 are provided.

  The phase difference adjustment unit 36b has a built-in amplification circuit including a phase inverting circuit and a variable resistor composed of a digital filter or the like, and has the same amplitude and phase difference as the electric signal input from the input unit 36a. Produces a 180 degree signal.

  Then, the suppression sound related to the electrical signal generated by the phase difference adjustment unit 36b is output by the sound wave related to the electrical signal from the sound extraction means 40, that is, the slot machine around it that is recorded by the sound collecting microphone 25. Ambient sounds can be suppressed. As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the sound with the same sound pressure as the sound effect output by the peripheral slot machine of the self and the phase that is 180 degrees out of phase is the opposite of the sound pressure. And the sound pressure becomes zero.

  Here, if the sound pressure does not become zero due to the superposition of the suppression sound and the ambient sound, the error sound recording means 30 records the error sound. The error sound recorded by the error sound recording means 30 is controlled by the signal processing circuit 36 by the LMS 34 so that the error sound becomes as small as possible. Note that the LMS 34 uses the active noise control algorithm based on the LMS (Least Mean Square) method to receive ambient sound that has passed through the filter 32, and the filter 32 has the same characteristics as the speaker 24. Characteristics are estimated.

  Note that the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment is intended to suppress high-frequency sound waves such as ambient sounds, and therefore is used to adjust sound deviation and sound volume deviation for each fixed frequency range. A filter is provided in the signal processing circuit 36. In this case, by performing flattening so that the frequency cut by the filter is the same at the center and both ends so that the input sound and the output sound of the signal processing circuit 36 have opposite waveforms, the ambient sound can be reduced. It can be reduced satisfactorily. For example, an analog filter can be filtered into a frequency strike component by passing ambient sound mixed with many frequencies through the filter, and the filtered noise is directly amplified by the signal processing circuit 36 having an amplitude / phase flat circuit. Suppression sound is generated with the same but the mountain and valley shapes reversed.

  In the present embodiment, the suppression sound generated in this way is output in place of the sub sound only in the second state. A specific flowchart in that case is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, first, a signal based on a game start operation generated by the player operating the start switch 7 of the slot machine 1 is transferred and output to the main control board 100, so that the game is executed. It is started (S20). At this time, the signal processing unit 210 collects ambient sound through the sound collection microphone 25 and outputs amplified sound obtained by amplifying the ambient sound with a predetermined amplification rate from the speaker 24 (S22). During the game, when the sub CPU 201 receives a signal indicating that the big bonus or the regular bonus has been internally won on the main control board 100 side (S24), the sub CPU 201 controls the signal processing unit 210 to control the ambient sound. At the same time, the suppression sound is output from the speaker 24 (S26).

  As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, in the second state, the output of the secondary sound is stopped, and at the same time, the suppression sound that cancels the ambient sound is output instead of the secondary sound, so that the surrounding gaming machine The ambient sound emitted from the player can be positively canceled by the suppression sound, and the player can hear the sound effect more clearly in the second state.

  The present invention can be applied to various gaming machines that output sound effects, such as a pachinko machine, in addition to the slot machines described in the above-described embodiments.

It is a front view of the slot machine as the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device that controls a gaming operation of the slot machine of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a control mode of sub sound output of the slot machine of FIG. 1. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control apparatus which controls the game operation | movement of the slot machine as a gaming machine which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a circuit for generating a suppressed sound that suppresses ambient sounds in the slot machine of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the signal processing circuit of FIG. 5. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a control mode of sub sound output of the slot machine of FIG. 4.

Explanation of symbols

1 slot machine 24 speaker (sound effect output means; secondary sound output means)
25 Sound collecting microphone (Ambient sound recording means)
200 Sub-control board (control means)
201 Sub CPU (control means)
210 Signal processing unit (secondary sound generating means)

Claims (3)

Sound effect output means for outputting sound effects according to the gaming state;
Ambient sound recording means for recording ambient sounds,
A secondary sound generating means for generating an additional secondary sound based on the ambient sound recorded by the ambient sound recording means;
A secondary sound output means for outputting the secondary sound generated by the secondary sound generation means;
Control means for controlling the output of the secondary sound from the secondary sound output means;
With
The control means switches between a first state in which a secondary sound is output from the secondary sound output means and a second state in which a secondary sound is not output from the secondary sound output means, depending on the gaming state. A gaming machine.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the secondary sound is an amplified sound generated by amplifying the ambient sound.   3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the secondary sound output unit outputs a suppression sound that cancels the ambient sound in place of the secondary sound in the second state. 4.

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