JP2005144052A - Pattern display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pattern display device capable of providing various representations for enabling a game player to cherish a large expectant feeling and a thrilling feeling. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of pattern data are recorded in a character ROM (read only memory) 306, for example, as object data. Image data of superposing a plurality of patterns is generated by performing processing of superposing the pattern data by an image forming control part 30 under the control of an image control CPU (central processing unit) 303. A display part 309 receives the image data, and displays a pattern image of superposing the plurality of patterns. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a symbol display device used in a pachinko machine, a slot machine, a medal game machine, or other gaming device that produces a winning or winning announcement using a symbol image.

  A so-called pachinko machine (also called a ball game machine) is equipped with an image display device such as a liquid crystal display panel on a part of the game board, and can display multiple design images such as characters and figures. There is something to do. These image display devices are used to simulate a variation display of symbols by a mechanical reel. In recent years, there are many cases in which a complicated performance that cannot be expressed by a mechanical reel is performed and notified to a player.

  Notifications using the image display device include winning notifications, reaching (when the remaining one symbol image is aligned, a winning state), and the like (winning notice). The winning notification is generally provided when the combination of the displayed symbol images becomes a specific combination of the symbol images indicating the winning. Note that the hit generally includes a plurality of hit states such as a normal jackpot and a probability variation jackpot. Normally, a big jackpot opens a lot of winning balls that can be expected to pass (winning), and a probability variation jackpot opens a big winning gate and passes the ball to the starting port (winning) or wins lottery. A lottery table having a high probability of winning a win is selected. An example of the hit notification is as follows. For example, in the case of a pachinko machine, if a combination of symbol images arranged in a horizontal row is a specific combination indicating a hit (for example, “777”), it is a so-called probability variation jackpot, and a sequence of symbol images other than the probability variation jackpot (for example, “555”) is usually a big hit. In some cases, after the fact that it is a normal jackpot, it is developed into a notice effect for a probability variation jackpot.

  The notification of reach is generally provided by a combination of symbol images excluding the symbol image being variably displayed as a specific combination of symbol images indicating a win. For example, among the three symbol images arranged side by side, only the central symbol image is displayed variably, and when the left and right symbol images are stopped, the symbol images displayed on the left and right symbol images are the same (for example, “7 × 7”, In this case, X is reach if the variable display is in progress. When the central symbol image is stopped, if the same image as the left and right symbol images is displayed, it will be “winning”, otherwise it will be “lost”. There may be a case where the notification that the reach is achieved further develops a special reach mode.

  Basically, these notifications simply display the symbol image in a variable manner and stop it, and notify the player whether or not it is a win depending on the combination of symbols in the stopped state. In addition to the change display of the pattern image, effects such as a change in the background image and a movement of a person image may be added. These additional effects also change the effects so that the player can enjoy the game without getting bored. Attempts have been made to make the game enjoyable by providing the player with a variety of effects by changing the display of the pattern image or by adding a background image or the like.

  By the way, the player's concern is how many winnings (passing of the hit ball to the winning hole) can be obtained, and that it becomes a “winning” that brings the open state of the big winning opening where many hitting balls win. expect. Therefore, when the symbol variation display is started, the player concentrates his / her consciousness on the display of the image display device. After a predetermined performance, the player will be satisfied if it hits as expected, and will be discouraged if it is lost. However, no matter what the result, there is no objection that the feeling of expectation and excitement during the variable display is an element that makes the player enjoy and makes the game interesting. This expectation and excitement is also empirically known to be even greater in situations where it is satisfied once discouraged (after betraying expectations). A so-called “reactivation effect” is known as a technique for generating such a situation.

  The restart effect is an effect in which, for example, when it is assumed that the winning is notified at “777”, the symbol is temporarily stopped by the combination of loss as “757”, and then the symbol is variably displayed (restarted) again. Although the player is discouraged when the symbol is stopped due to the combination of loses, the player will have an increased sense of expectation due to the subsequent restart. When it is set to win with a higher probability when it is “restarted” after the display of losing, this expectation will inevitably increase. It is not difficult to imagine that the satisfaction feeling of the player who has received the hit notification in such a situation will be much larger than when the hit is notified by the start and stop of simple symbol variation. It can be said that the restart effect is an excellent effect that skillfully uses the player's psychology.

  However, even if it is a restart effect, the effect becomes low when it is assumed that the player restarts in advance. In other words, if it is predicted in advance that the player will be restarted, the player will play the game by incorporating it, so that the player will not have a great sense of expectation on the premise that the player will restart. In addition, after all, the restarting effect simply repeats the start and stop of simple symbol variation, and the player receives only the same stimulus as the simple symbol variation start and stop. . If you get used to the situation of restarting, there is a problem that restarting will no longer be a factor that gives you a great sense of expectation.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a symbol display device that can provide various effects that give a player a great expectation and excitement. Another object of the present invention is to provide a symbol display device capable of realizing an unprecedented symbol display effect.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the symbol display device of the present invention is a symbol display device that is attached to a gaming machine having means for drawing lottery or lose, and produces a hit or hit notice by a variable display of symbols, and includes at least first symbol data and A storage unit for recording design data including the second design data and a program for production; an image generation control unit for generating image data from the design data; a display unit for displaying a design image according to the image data; An arithmetic processing unit that controls the image generation control unit in accordance with the presentation program read from the storage unit, and the presentation program reads the first symbol data from the storage unit, and the read first A procedure for generating first image data from one symbol data, and outputting the first image data to the display unit; A procedure for variably displaying an image; a procedure for reading out the second symbol data from the storage; a procedure for generating second image data from the first symbol data and the second symbol data; and A procedure for outputting two image data and variably displaying a second symbol image, and causing the arithmetic processing unit to execute the second symbol image, wherein the second symbol image corresponds to the first symbol corresponding to the first symbol data and the first symbol The second symbol corresponding to the two symbol data is combined.

  According to such a symbol display device, the first symbol image (first symbol) can be variably displayed to produce, for example, a combination of loses, and then the second symbol image can be variably displayed to produce a hit notification, for example. Here, since the second symbol image is composed of a combination of the first symbol data corresponding to the first symbol image (first symbol) and the other second symbol data, the player can select the second symbol image. In the variation display of the image, a hit notification is received by a portion (second symbol) corresponding to the second symbol data of the second symbol image while being based on the first symbol image (first symbol). In the display of the second symbol image subsequent to the display of the first symbol image, a second symbol image similar to the first symbol image (first symbol) (the second symbol image is a combination of the first symbol data and the second symbol data). Since the second symbol image is similar to the first symbol image), the player has the illusion that he / she is still losing even when the variation display of the second symbol image is started. Arise. Alternatively, if the image corresponding to the second symbol data (second symbol) is configured so as not to stand out (for example, as a back symbol superimposed on the first symbol image), the game can be played even when the variation display of the second symbol image is started. One can create a situation that believes in losing. In such a situation, if the winning is notified with an image (second symbol) corresponding to the second symbol data of the second symbol image, it becomes possible to greatly increase the player's satisfaction, and as a result, the game is interesting, In addition, it becomes possible to increase the enjoyment. Alternatively, if the image corresponding to the second symbol data (second symbol) is configured so as not to stand out, it will give the player an unexpected feeling, and from this point, an element that makes the game interesting and fun is added. it can.

  Here, “winning” refers to a game state in which a large game value can be expected. In the case of a pachinko gaming machine, a state in which a big winning opening is opened can be exemplified. Further, “winning” includes “winning” for obtaining a predetermined game value. For example, in the case of a pachislot machine, a game value can be obtained by aligning predetermined symbols on a winning line, but such a case is also assumed to be “winning”. The player can recognize “win” by displaying a specific combination of symbol images indicating “win” on the display unit. It should be noted that “winning” may include a plurality of hitting modes. For example, the “winning” can include two hitting modes of “normal winning” and “per probability fluctuation”. “Lose” means not winning. A “design” is an arbitrary image that can be represented as an image, such as an arbitrary character, figure, symbol, or the like. In general, a symbol forms an image that can be recognized as one unit, but an overlapping symbol in which two symbols are displayed in an overlapping manner is also a symbol. When the overlapping symbol is displayed, the player recognizes one meaning from one symbol constituting the overlapping symbol, and recognizes another meaning from the other symbol. In other words, multiple meanings can be expressed by overlapping symbols. “Displaying a symbol in a variable manner” refers to displaying a symbol representing a symbol as an image (a symbol image) on the display unit. For example, on the display surface of the display device, the same symbol image is sequentially displayed while changing the display position in a certain direction, or different symbol images are sequentially displayed without changing the display position. Can be realized.

  “Winning notice” refers to a state in which any one of the symbol image combinations indicating the winning is not fixed. This is a state generally called reach. The player can expect the possibility of winning by the combination of other symbol images except for one in the variable display.

  The “symbol display device” is a device that displays a symbol on the display unit as an image. The image includes a still image and a moving image. A still image is an image whose display position and display content do not change over time, and a moving image is an image whose display position or display content changes over time. In general, a moving image expresses continuous motion by continuously displaying still images in a short time. The display frame frequency is generally 33 Hz or more. Therefore, the still image and the moving image differ only in the display time and interval, and there is no essential difference.

  The “symbol data” is image data that is the basis of the symbol image displayed on the display unit. The symbol data is input to the predetermined input of the image generation control unit, and the symbol image is displayed on the display unit. The symbol data may be defined by a unique format, but generally, bitmap format (BMP), JPEG format, etc. are known. In the case of MPEG, which is a standard compression format for moving images, symbol data is grasped as an object.

  The “production program” is a combination of instructions to the electronic computer, and is an arrangement of instructions so that a hit, advance notice or other effects can be performed. The effect program may be a program component describing an effect function related to winning or winning notice. The “storage unit” is a component of the symbol display device that stores digital data. For example, semiconductor memory devices such as RAM, ROM, and EEPROM can be exemplified.

  “Image data” is data for image display output from the image generation control unit to the display unit. The image data is output corresponding to the pixels of the display unit. In the simplest case, one bit is assigned to one pixel. That is, it is a so-called monochrome image in which black is displayed when the image data (pixel data) for each pixel is “1” and white is displayed when it is “0”. When performing color display, for example, 2 bits are allocated to each of RGB colors (R is red, G is green, and B is blue), and one pixel can be expressed by 6-bit data. In order to improve contrast, one pixel may be expressed by four elements obtained by adding black to RGB. In this case, if 2 bits are assigned to each element, one pixel is composed of 8 bits. Note that the color elements constituting one pixel are arbitrary, and the number of bits constituting each color element is also arbitrary. However, these image data must be adapted to the pixel configuration of the display unit.

  The “symbol image” is a symbol image displayed on the display unit. An image is grasped as a set of pixels or a set of light emitting points. The “display unit” is a component of the symbol display device, and displays an image on its display surface. As the display unit, a liquid crystal display panel, an EL (electroluminescence) display panel, a dot matrix display panel, a plasma display panel, an FED (field emission display), or the like can be used.

  The “image generation control unit” receives symbol data under the control of the arithmetic processing unit, and generates image data based on the received symbol data. Also, control is performed to output the generated image data to the display unit. As described above, the symbol data is data formatted (or compressed) in a predetermined format (BMP format or MPEG format), and the data is converted into a format suitable for the pixels of the display unit such as RBG output. When the image data is moving image data, it is necessary to regularly rewrite the normal display unit, and the regular rewriting of these data is controlled. Usually, the image generation control unit has a VRAM (video RAM or video memory), and data (pixel data) is written in each memory area of the VRAM to realize display on a display. The VRAM has a pixel data storage area corresponding to the pixels of the display unit, and display control of the pixels of the display unit is performed according to data written in the pixel data storage area. Here, “generation” in the case of “generating image data from symbol data” includes a case where symbol data is output as image data as it is. For example, when the symbol data is composed of pixel data that can be directly output to the display unit, the symbol data can be used as image data. The output of the symbol data via the image generation control unit in such a case is included in the concept of “generation”.

  The “arithmetic processing unit” is an arithmetic unit that controls the image generation control unit in accordance with the effect program. Usually, a microcomputer or a central processing unit (CPU) is used. The arithmetic processing unit may use a dedicated CPU dedicated to image control, or may be a general-purpose CPU. The arithmetic processing unit may control input / output of the symbol display device together with control of the image generation control unit, and is dedicated to performing only image processing separately from input / output control of the symbol display device. May be.

  “First image data” is image data generated from the first symbol data, and “second image data” is image data generated from the first symbol data and the second symbol data. In this specification, an image generated from the first symbol data is referred to as a first symbol, and an image generated from the second symbol data is referred to as a second symbol. Therefore, the image (first symbol image) when the first image data is displayed on the display unit is the first symbol, and the image (second symbol image) when the second image data is displayed on the display unit is the first symbol. It is the image which combined the 2nd design with the 1 design.

  Examples of “combination” include displaying the second symbol superimposed on the first symbol, and replacing a part of the first symbol with the second symbol. In the case of overlapping display, the transparency of the image (second symbol) displayed in the foreground can be adjusted so that the overlapping portion of the first symbol can be seen through the second symbol.

  Here, the invention is specified by paying attention only to the first symbol and the second symbol, but the third symbol is superimposed on the actual display screen in addition to the first symbol and the second symbol. Alternatively, a background image may be displayed.

  In the symbol display device, the effect program further generates a third image data based on the second symbol data, outputs the third image data to the display unit, and the second symbol data. And a procedure for variably displaying the third symbol image corresponding to the above-described calculation processing unit. In this case, after the hit notification by the second symbol image, the third symbol image generated from the second symbol data is displayed in a large size, and an effect can be obtained in which the winning decision is expressed prominently. When the second symbol (an image based on the second symbol data) in the second symbol image is displayed in a small or inconspicuous manner, it is effective to express the second symbol large by the third symbol image. Further, it is possible to produce an effect in which a state in which the winning is not yet determined (for example, a winning notice) is displayed at the stage where the second symbol image is displayed, and the winning is notified by the third symbol image.

  In the symbol display device, the procedure for generating the second image data may be an overlay process of a first object corresponding to the first symbol data and a second object corresponding to the second symbol data. . In general, if you use an object-oriented program, which is a programming language that can handle objects grasped by "state" and "motion", the symbol data can be used to express the "state" such as the shape and color of the symbol and the movement of the symbol. It can be grasped as an object that can be described by such “motion”. The image output to the display unit is realized by the symbol data grasped as such an “object”. By handling the symbol data as an object, the overlay process can be easily performed. “First symbol data” and “second symbol data” are arbitrary symbol data included in a set of symbol data. The first symbol data and the second symbol data may be the same. The superimposition process may further perform a trimming process on the second object at the outline of the first object. By performing the trimming process, the second symbol can be displayed within the display range of the first symbol, and a display mode in which the second symbol is a back symbol hidden in the first symbol can be realized.

  Here, the “superimposition process” refers to a process in which the first object and the second object are arranged in different image layers and the image layers are superimposed. By performing this superimposition process, it is possible to display the objects in a simple manner. The “trimming process” is a process for deleting and correcting the outer shape of the image to be processed that is beyond the contour of the action image. The “action image” is an image for determining the trimming process range by being superimposed on the image to be trimmed, and the “processed image” is an image to be trimmed. Here, the first object is an action image, and the second object is a processed image.

  In the symbol display device, the display unit includes a plurality of pixels, and the image generation control unit includes a first video memory and a second video memory each having a pixel data storage area corresponding to the pixels, The procedure for generating the second image data includes the first pixel data written in the pixel data recording area of the first video memory and the second pixel data written in the pixel data recording area of the second video memory. A predetermined calculation between the second image data and the second image data may be performed on the pixel. By providing the second video memory in addition to the first video memory, the combination operation of the first symbol and the second symbol can be facilitated.

  Here, the “first video memory” and the “second video memory” are storage devices similar to the video memory provided in the above-described image generation control unit. The “pixel data recording area” is a recording area of the video memory corresponding to the pixels of the display unit, and pixel data for each pixel of the display unit is recorded in the pixel data recording area. The pixel data is as described above.

  The “predetermined calculation” is an operation for generating pixel correspondence data of the second image data to be sent to the display unit so that the first symbol and the second symbol are combined and displayed on the display unit. Examples of the predetermined calculation include calculation for adding and normalizing the first pixel data and the second pixel data for each color element of the pixel. The “pixel color element” is a color element when the pixel or the pixel data is monochrome. When the pixel or the pixel data is color, RGB or black of the pixel data corresponds to each color element. By adding the first pixel data and the second pixel data for each color element, the color of the pixel data is mixed, and the color of the second design is superimposed on the color of the first design in each pixel. Note that “normalization” refers to normalizing the values of other color elements with the maximum color element value so that the color element data in each pixel does not exceed the maximum value.

  As another example of the predetermined calculation, an operation of replacing the first pixel data with the second pixel data can be exemplified. In this case, the color of the first symbol is replaced with the second symbol. These predetermined calculations can be executed only for pixels in which corresponding pixel data of the first symbol data exists. That is, the calculation is not executed when there is no pixel data in the first symbol data. In other words, this is an operation of overlapping or replacing the color of the second symbol only for the area (pixel) where the first symbol is displayed, and is equivalent to an operation of trimming the second symbol with the first symbol.

  According to the symbol display device of the present invention, after the first symbol (first symbol image) is variably displayed on the display surface of the display unit, the second symbol image in which the second symbol is superimposed on the first symbol can be variably displayed. . When, for example, losing is produced by the variation display of the first symbol image and, for example, a win is produced by the variation display of the second symbol image, the player can make the second symbol smaller or less noticeable than the first symbol. It is possible to give an unexpected feeling to the player and to notify the player who has been disappointed once with a surprise. The gaming device of the present invention has a configuration capable of producing such a situation, and can give the player great joy as well as an unexpected feeling.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different modes and should not be interpreted as being limited to the description of the present embodiment. In principle, the same number is assigned to the same element throughout the embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pachinko machine using a symbol display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. On the game surface of the pachinko machine 101, a game board 102, a decoration lamp 103, a hit ball supply unit 104, a surplus hit ball storage unit 105, a hit ball operation unit 106, a card unit 107, and the like are provided. The game board 102 is provided with winning ports 108 a to 108 d, a starting port 109, and a big winning port 110, and a display unit 111 that displays a graphic image in a variable manner is provided at the center of the gaming board 102. In the first embodiment, a liquid crystal display panel is exemplified as the display unit 111.

  When a hit ball enters the winning holes 108 a to 108 d, a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out to the hit ball supply unit 104. When it is detected that the hit ball has entered the starting port 109, a big hit lottery (a lottery by a known random number extraction or the like) is performed, and the presence or absence of the big hit is determined. When it is determined that the jackpot has been won, a jackpot presentation is performed for the player. The jackpot effect is visually performed by the display variation of the design image on the display unit 111. In addition to the effect, the effect using blinking of the decorative lamp 103 or the like or an audio device (not shown) is used. You may also perform the effect etc. which were used.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the main control board in the pachinko machine. The main control board 201 includes an input port 202, a basic circuit 203, an output port 204, a reset circuit 205, and a power supply circuit 206. The configuration of the main control board 201 shown here is merely an example, and a known configuration can be adopted. Regardless of the configuration of the main control board 201, the symbol display device of the present invention can be applied as long as it has a function of finally outputting a signal indicating whether or not it is a big hit.

  The basic circuit 203 includes an arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 207, a ROM (read only memory) 208, and a RAM (random access memory) 209 that control the entire gaming device. The ROM 208 stores a program for controlling the entire gaming device and various parameters. The RAM 209 holds temporary storage data such as input / output data and a random number counter, and functions as a work memory for operating the program. The CPU 207, ROM 208, and RAM 209 may be integrated into a single chip, or may be interconnected using bus wiring.

  The reset circuit 205 is a circuit that generates a signal for resetting the basic circuit 203 when power is turned on and a signal for resetting periodically during a game. The power supply circuit 206 is a circuit for supplying power to the basic circuit 203, the reset circuit 205, and other circuits.

  The winning port sensor 210, the starting port sensor 211, and the big winning port sensor 212 correspond to sensors for detecting hitting balls provided in the winning ports 108a to 108d, the starting port 109, and the big winning port 110, respectively. The other sensors 213 can include, for example, a sensor that detects a hitting operation (rotation of the handle) of the hitting operation unit 106. The input port 202 receives the output signals of the sensors 210 to 213. The signal received at the input port 202 is processed by the basic circuit 203 according to a predetermined program and transmitted to the output port 204. A signal transmitted from the output port 204 is sent to the symbol display device 214, the game operation control device 215, and the other control device 216. The symbol display device 214 will be described later.

  The game operation control device 215 is a device that controls basic operations performed during a game and operations associated with various effects, such as award ball payout operation, output operation of an audio device, lighting operation of a decoration lamp, solenoid operation of an electric accessory, etc. It is. The other control device 216 is a device that controls operations other than the above game operations, such as a warning signal generation operation for reporting an illegal act by a player to an external administrator. Of course, the game operation control device 215 and the other control device 216 are not limited to those exemplified here, and may include other control devices according to the needs of the practitioner.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the symbol display device of the present embodiment. This corresponds to the symbol display device 214 of FIG. Examples of the signal received from the output port 204 of the main control board 201 include a power signal, a control code signal, and a reset signal. The control code signal includes a signal that gives an opportunity to start a jackpot or jackpot announcement. For example, it includes a “signal indicating whether or not the jackpot has been output” that is output as a result of the jackpot lottery on the main control board 201. The “whether or not big hit” can be determined by assigning the “big hit” case to a binary signal “0” or “1” in advance.

  The symbol display device 214 of this embodiment includes an I / O control CPU 301, an I / O control ROM 302, an image control CPU 303, an image control ROM 304, an image generation control unit 305, a character ROM 306, a video RAM 307, and a display unit 309. The power supply circuit 310 is included. In addition, although it has a general purpose I / O port and a suitable interface as an input port and an output port of the symbol display device 214, since these may use a publicly known technique, explanation is omitted.

  In this embodiment, CPUs (central processing units) are distinguished such as an I / O control CPU 301 and an image control CPU 303. However, one CPU performs all the processes or uses three or more CPUs. It is also possible to do. That is, the symbol display device shown in the present embodiment includes an arithmetic processing unit including one or more CPUs, and the arithmetic processing unit controls an image generation control unit described later.

  In this embodiment, the I / O control CPU 301 has a built-in RAM, but a RAM may be provided separately from the CPU. Similarly for ROM and RAM, a plurality of ROMs or RAMs may be used for each function, or only one ROM or RAM may be used if capacity is allowed. That is, the symbol display device shown in the present embodiment includes a storage unit including one or a plurality of ROMs or RAMs, and the storage unit has a configuration in which symbol data and a program for presentation are recorded. Of course, in addition to the design data, it is also possible to store image data corresponding to each image constituting the effect image, such as a background image or a person image.

  The I / O control CPU 301 receives a control code signal from the main control board 201, reads out an effect program stored in the I / O control ROM 302, and executes processing in accordance therewith. A plurality of effect programs are prepared depending on the effect contents, and an effect program to be executed by lottery using random number extraction or the like can be determined. As a method for determining the effect program, the effect program corresponding to the extracted random number may be determined with reference to a table in which random numbers are associated with the effect programs. Since such a lottery method for content of production is a known technique, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The image control CPU 303 receives an instruction from the I / O control CPU 301, reads the image control program stored in the image control ROM 304, and executes processing according to the program. A plurality of image control programs are prepared depending on the contents of the effects, and it can be said that the programs constitute a part of the effects programs selected by the I / O control CPU 301. The image control CPU 303 also has a configuration in which a work area RAM is incorporated, but a configuration in which a RAM is provided separately from the CPU may be employed.

  In response to a command from the image control CPU 303, the image generation control unit 305 generates image data of an image (effect image) necessary for the effect. Specifically, a plurality of, typically two symbol data are read from the character ROM 306, and a process of combining (typically overlapping) the plurality of symbol data is performed. The symbol data can be recorded in the character ROM 306 as an object in advance. The object can describe the state of the outer shape, color, and the like, and the operation such as movement as attributes, and can control the overlap between objects by specifying a layer. Commands for handling these objects depend on a program running on the image control CPU 303 and an OS (operating system), and a known object-oriented program and OS can be used. For example, Java (registered trademark) or C ++ can be used as the program. It should be noted that the layer designation described above can be used for the overlapping control of the object which is the symbol data.

  The image generation control unit 305 can also receive a background image or the like from the character ROM 306 and perform a process of superimposing the above-described object pattern data on the background image. Image data generated by the image generation control unit 305 is temporarily recorded in the video RAM 307 and transmitted to the display unit 309.

  The video RAM 307 is a dedicated storage device for image display. The storage area of the video RAM 307 is formatted as a pixel data area corresponding to the pixels of the display unit 309, and the resolution is defined by the size of the storage area per pixel. For example, when an 8-bit data area is assigned to each pixel, one pixel can be expressed with 256 colors. In the case of 1 bit, a so-called monochrome image is obtained. The pixel data area of the video RAM 307 and the pixels of the display unit 309 are generally associated with each other, and the pixel data in a predetermined frame area of the video RAM 307 is displayed on the display unit 309. That is, the pixels in the video RAM 307 are displayed through a window called a frame.

  The display unit 309 displays a design image and other effect images. In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display panel is illustrated as the display portion 309, but an EL (electroluminescence) display panel, a dot matrix display panel, a plasma display panel, an FED (field emission display), or the like may be used. .

  The power supply circuit 310 is a circuit that supplies power for ensuring the operation of the symbol display device 214. The power supply circuit 310 can have a function of receiving a power supply signal from the outside and performing appropriate voltage conversion or the like. There is no need for a special power supply circuit, and a known power supply circuit may be used.

  The reset signal is a signal for resetting the I / O control CPU 301, the image control CPU 303, and the image generation control unit 305. In this embodiment, the reset signal received from the main control board 201 is combined with the watchdog reset signal generated by detecting the runaway of each CPU for I / O control and image control to reset the entire system. Signal.

  In addition, as described in the description of FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, an example in which the game operation control device 215 is provided separately from the symbol display device 214 is shown. Alternatively, control of solenoid operation may be included in the symbol display device 214.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of symbols that can be displayed by the symbol display device of the present embodiment. (A) is a symbol corresponding to one symbol data, and (b) is a symbol obtained by performing a process of superimposing two symbol data. (C) shows another example when two symbols are overlapped. (A) to (c) exemplify the symbol “nine” or “five”, but other Chinese numerals, Arabic numerals, characters, figures and the like may be used. In addition, the standard size is specified for the size of the pattern when it is recorded in the character ROM 306, but the size of the object is specified by the processing in the image generation control unit 305, and is enlarged or reduced in a similar manner. It is optional to do. (B) illustrates a pattern in which a small “five” is superimposed on a large “nine”. Since two symbols can be displayed at the same time, a small “five” can be used as a jackpot or jackpot notice. The notification mode will be described later. (C) shows a mode in which a small “five” is displayed as hidden behind a large “nine”. The small “5” can be made inconspicuous as shown in the figure, and a general player is informed of a losing, for example, by a conspicuous “nine”, and is actually a big hit by an inconspicuous “five” It becomes possible to receive. As a result, it is possible to produce an effect that gives the player a big joy as well as an unexpected sensation.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which three symbols are displayed on the display unit 309. The following can be illustrated as an aspect of the design display effect. First, after receiving a signal indicating that it is a big hit, three symbols are displayed in a variable manner. After that, as shown in FIG. 5A, the symbol variation display is temporarily stopped in the sequence of “929”. At this stage, the player will recognize that he has lost. After that, as shown in FIG. 5B, the symbol “5” is displayed so as to overlap the symbol of FIG. Examples of the display of the symbol “5” include a display mode in which the position is changed and then stopped, and a mode in which the symbol “5” is displayed so as to gradually appear like a fade-in. At this stage, the player who believed to be lost will recognize the display with an unexpected sense of “Oh?”. If the player recognizes that it was a hit after an unexpected sensation, the joy of the jackpot will be greater than when the jackpot notification is received just after being discouraged, and the joy of the game will be effectively given to the player. It becomes possible to give. In addition, in order to clearly recognize the arrangement of “505,” it is possible to display this large at the end of a series of displays as shown in FIG. In addition, here, an example is shown in which a single symbol sequence (“929”) is displayed as the first step, and then the superimposed symbol sequence is displayed as the second step. It is also possible to display the superimposed symbol arrangement shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, a symbol to be displayed in a small size (here, “five” is exemplified) can be displayed over a large symbol.

  In addition, the above-described display effects are merely examples, and as long as a symbol in which a plurality of symbols are superimposed is used, the manner in which the symbol effects are performed is arbitrary.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another example of the symbol display device. Here, a configuration including a plurality of video RAMs 307a and 307b is illustrated. In the symbol display device of FIG. 7, the symbol data recorded in the character ROM 306 does not need to be an object, and may be any data recorded in a format such as a bitmap. Under the control of the image control CPU 303, the image generation control unit 305 writes first image data based on the first symbol data read from the character ROM 306 into the video RAM 307a. Then, the second image data based on the second symbol data read from the character ROM 306 is written into the video RAM 307b. The image generation control unit 305 further performs a predetermined calculation on each pixel data of the video RAMs 307a and 307b. As the predetermined calculation, for example, a calculation for adding and normalizing the first pixel data and the second pixel data for each color element of the pixel can be exemplified. For example, when the pixel data is composed of 9 bits and is composed of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) in order of 3 bits from the upper bit, the pixel data “00100001” of the video RAM 307a is added to the video RAM 307b. The pixel data “100100100” is added for each color element. In this case, the addition result is “101101101”. This is equivalent to superimposing two pixel data for each color element, and the calculated image corresponds to superimposing the colors of the images in each video RAM. That is, a light color is displayed darkly by superposition. When each color element exceeds the maximum value “111” by the addition process, the values of the other color elements are normalized by the value of the maximum color element. Thereby, saturation of pixel data due to color superposition can be avoided, and natural superposition can be expressed.

  As another example of the predetermined calculation, an operation of replacing the first pixel data with the second pixel data can be exemplified. In this case, the color of the first symbol is replaced with the second symbol.

  As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the first to fifth embodiments of the invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and does not depart from the gist thereof. Various changes can be made.

  For example, in the above-described example, a process in which two symbols are simply overlapped is illustrated, but trimming can be performed on one symbol. In the case of the object data illustrated in FIG. 3, the trimming can be easily performed by the process of designating the transmittance of the image layer. Further, in the case of the calculation process on the pixel data between the two video RAMs illustrated in FIG. 7, it can be realized by executing the calculation only for the pixels in which the corresponding pixel data of the first symbol data exists. That is, the calculation is not executed when there is no pixel data in the first symbol data. In other words, this is an operation of overlapping or replacing the color of the second symbol only for the area (pixel) where the first symbol is displayed, and is equivalent to an operation of trimming the second symbol with the first symbol.

  Further, in the above example, an example in which the effect is performed when the control code signal is a signal indicating a big hit is shown, but the above-described effect may also be performed when the signal is not a big hit. Furthermore, notification of the loss may be performed with an image to be superimposed (in the above example, a “five” symbol displayed in a small size). In this case, it is possible to prevent the player from getting used to the notification of winning the jackpot when a small symbol that is not conspicuous is displayed.

It is a figure which shows an example of the pachinko machine using the symbol display apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the main control board in a pachinko machine. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the symbol display apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the symbol which can be displayed with the symbol display apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed an example of the display mode of a symbol. It is the figure which showed the other example of the display mode of a symbol. It is a block diagram which shows the other example of a symbol display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Pachinko machine, 102 ... Game board, 103 ... Decoration lamp, 104 ... Hitting ball supply part, 105 ... Surplus hit ball storage part, 106 ... Hitting ball operation part, 107 ... Card unit, 108a-108d ... Winning hole, 109 ... Starting hole DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Grand prize opening, 111 ... Display part, 201 ... Main control board, 202 ... Input port, 203 ... Basic circuit, 204 ... Output port, 205 ... Reset circuit, 206 ... Power supply circuit, 207 ... Arithmetic processing part (CPU) ), 208... ROM, 209... RAM, 210... Winning prize sensor, 211... Starting prize sensor, 212 .. winning prize sensor, 213 ... sensor, 214 ... symbol display device, 215 ... game operation control device, 216. Device: 301 ... CPU for I / O control, 302 ... ROM for I / O control, 303 ... CPU for image control, 304 ... ROM for image control, 30 ... image generation control unit, 306 ... character ROM, 307 ... video RAM, 307a ... video RAM, 307b ... video RAM, 309 ... display unit, 310 ... power supply circuit.

Claims (7)

A symbol display device that is attached to a gaming machine having means for lottery winning or winning, and that produces a winning or winning notice by a variable display of symbols,
A storage unit that records at least symbol data including first symbol data and second symbol data and a program for production, an image generation control unit that generates image data from the symbol data, and a symbol image corresponding to the image data are displayed. A display unit that performs control, and an arithmetic processing unit that controls the image generation control unit in accordance with the presentation program read from the storage unit,
The effect program outputs the first image data to the display unit, a procedure for reading the first symbol data from the storage unit, a procedure for generating first image data from the read first symbol data, and the display unit. , A procedure for variably displaying the first symbol image, a procedure for reading the second symbol data from the storage unit, a procedure for generating second image data from the first symbol data and the second symbol data, and the display Outputting the second image data to a part and causing the arithmetic processing part to execute a procedure for variably displaying the second symbol image,
The symbol image display device is a combination of a symbol symbol corresponding to the first symbol data and a symbol symbol corresponding to the second symbol data.   The production program further generates a third image data based on the second symbol data, outputs the third image data to the display unit, and a third symbol corresponding to the second symbol data. The symbol display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic processing unit is configured to execute a procedure for displaying an image in a variable manner.   3. The symbol display according to claim 1, wherein the procedure of generating the second image data is a superimposition process of a first object corresponding to the first symbol data and a second object corresponding to the second symbol data. apparatus.   The symbol display device according to claim 3, wherein the superimposing process further performs a trimming process on the second object with an outline of the first object.   The display unit includes a plurality of pixels, and the image generation control unit includes a first video memory and a second video memory each having a pixel data storage area corresponding to the pixels, and the second image data is stored in the display unit. The generating procedure is a predetermined process between the first pixel data written in the pixel data recording area of the first video memory and the second pixel data written in the pixel data recording area of the second video memory. The symbol display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a calculation is performed on the pixels, and the calculation result is used as pixel correspondence data of the second image data.   The symbol display device according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined calculation is an operation of adding and normalizing the first pixel data and the second pixel data for each color element of the pixel. The symbol display device according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined calculation is an operation of replacing the first pixel data with the second pixel data.

Images