JP2005204680A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pachinko game machine having a new game property. <P>SOLUTION: This pachinko game machine 10 is provided with big winning ports on two upper and lower parts in a game area 31. A first big winning port 36 is provided above a pattern display device 26 in the game area 31 and a second big winning port 38 is provided below the pattern display device 26 in the game area 31. When a special game is started, the first big winning port 36 is opened in the case of big winning with probability fluctuation and the second big winning port 38 is opened in the case of normal big winning. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine, and more particularly to a technique for providing a new game performance of a ball game machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, on a game board of a ball game machine such as a first type pachinko game machine, a so-called “attacker” has been provided with a special winning opening. This special winning opening is opened during a special game that is executed when the result of the lottery becomes “big hit”, and is configured so that game balls can be more easily dropped than other winning openings. Here, in addition to the big prize opening, a ball game machine provided with another winning device is disclosed (see Patent Document 1). The winning device added to the ball game machine is provided in the vicinity of the exit of the game ball launched into the game area, and when released, all the released game balls flow into the prize device. Has been.
JP 2003-299787 A

  A special game in a conventional pachinko gaming machine is often executed simply to acquire a target number of balls for a big hit, and the content is often monotonous. In particular, depending on how the nail is adjusted, the time required for the special game may become longer. In addition, a winning device is separately added to the pachinko gaming machine of Patent Document 1 described above, but this winning device is provided in place of the big winning opening, or during the game when normal symbols are arranged instead of special symbols. It is provided as a device that is opened. In any case, the winning device operates under a role different from that of the big winning opening, and is not necessarily provided for the purpose of improving the game performance of the special game. Therefore, the present inventor has sought to realize a new prize-winning entrance with a new game by means other than providing such a prize-winning device.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to improve the gameability of a special game by changing the mode of a special winning opening according to the game situation in a ball game machine.

  In order to solve the above problems, a ball game machine according to an aspect of the present invention provides a start winning processing unit that acquires start winning information indicating a drop in a game ball into a start winning opening, and acquires start winning information. A lottery execution unit that executes a lottery as an opportunity, a pattern determination unit that determines a display pattern indicating a variation display process of the symbol based on a result of the lottery executed by the lottery execution unit, and a symbol variation with the determined display pattern Select at least one of the display processing units to be displayed on the display device, the multiple winning awards provided at different positions on the game board, and the multiple winning awards when the lottery result is a big hit And an open / close control unit that opens automatically.

  Here, in the special game, only some of the plurality of large winning holes may be opened, or all of the plurality of large winning holes may be opened simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. According to this aspect, it is possible to avoid the special game from becoming monotonous by providing a plurality of special winning openings in different aspects and selectively opening at least one of them for each special game. In particular, since the path for the game ball to drop differs depending on which of the special winning openings is opened, it is possible to provide a player with different game characteristics for each special game.

  The opening / closing control unit may select at least one of a plurality of large winning prize openings as a big winning opening to be opened according to the mode of the big hit. “Big jackpot” is an element that defines the type and content of the special game and the game content after the special game. For example, the mode may be distinguished according to whether or not the jackpot with probability variation, or the type of jackpot stop symbol The mode may be distinguished by. Depending on the mode of winning the jackpot, it may be preferable to change the game performance of the special game, and the big winning opening to be opened is selected according to such mode. Thereby, the progress of the special game can be adjusted by selecting the special winning opening, and the gameability of the special game suitable for the situation can be provided.

  The plurality of large winning openings may be provided at a plurality of positions where the game ball drop rates differ from each other on the game board. For example, if a large winning opening is provided above and below the game board, the flow of the game ball that falls into the upper large winning opening may be less affected by the nail than the lower large winning opening. In addition, if a big winning opening is provided on the left and right sides on the game board, the right winning opening can be configured so that a game ball can be easily dropped by so-called “right strike”. In this way, the game ball drop rate and the ease of drop depend on the position where the special winning opening is provided. Therefore, it is possible to change the drop rate and the hitting method of the game balls depending on how to select the big winning opening to be opened, and it is possible to bring new game characteristics to the special game.

  You may further provide the probability variation determination part which determines whether it transfers to the probability fluctuation state which is a state where a jackpot probability is higher than usual. The opening / closing control unit may select at least one of the plurality of large winning ports as a large winning port to be opened according to the determination result by the probability variation determining unit. However, as an actual process of the open / close control unit, it is not always necessary to receive a determination result from the probability variation determination unit and make a determination based on the result. For example, a lottery result may be received from the lottery execution unit, and based on the result, at least one of a plurality of large winning ports may be selected as a big winning port to be opened. That is, you may select a special winning opening based on whether it is a lottery result which should become a jackpot with a probability fluctuation. According to this aspect, it is possible to adjust the execution time of the special game to an appropriate length by selecting the special prize opening according to whether or not to shift to the probability variation, and to keep the gameability optimal. Can do.

  The opening / closing control unit may select a special winning opening provided at a position where the drop rate of the game ball is higher when the probability variation determining unit determines to shift to the probability variation state. For example, as a player's psychology at the time when the transition to probability variation is confirmed, it is usual that the special game is quickly digested and the next lottery is to be viewed. In such a case, it is possible to support the special game to be digested at an early stage by opening a big winning opening that makes it easier for game balls to fall and wasteful out balls to be generated. Special games that meet your needs can be realized. However, there is a possibility that the game winning will not be impaired by the big winning opening which is just enough to allow the gaming ball to fall, rather than the big winning opening where all the released game balls are surely dropped.

  The opening / closing control unit may select a special winning opening provided at a position where the drop rate of the game ball is lower when the probability variation determining unit determines to shift to the probability variation state. In other words, in the case of a jackpot with probability fluctuation, the winning hole with a relatively low gaming ball drop rate is opened, and in the case of a normal jackpot, the winning hole with a relatively high game ball drop rate is opened. To do. As a result, the time required for the special game to be digested becomes relatively long only in the case of a jackpot with a probability variation, so that the average number of balls in a unit time can be suppressed to be substantially constant.

  The plurality of big winning holes may have different drop rates depending on the distance from the launch position of the game ball on the game board to the respective installation positions. In other words, the longer the distance from the launch position to the installation position, the more likely it is to be affected by the nail provided in the middle, and the more difficult it is for the game ball to drop into the big prize opening. It is hard to receive, and it is easy for a game ball to fall into the grand prize opening. This makes it possible to make adjustments such as increasing or decreasing the time required for digesting the special game depending on which of the plurality of large winning openings is opened.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, or the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention may be mutually replaced between methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, data structures, etc. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, the gameability of a special game can be enhanced by changing the mode of the special winning opening according to the game situation in the ball game machine.

  The gaming machine in the embodiment of the present invention is a first kind pachinko gaming machine. Two big winning holes are provided on the game board of this pachinko gaming machine, and in the special game, one of the big winning holes is opened according to the mode of winning. The two big winning openings have different game ball drop rates depending on their positions. Accordingly, the progress of the special game, in particular, the game time varies depending on which of the special winning openings is opened, and thus it is possible to adjust whether or not the special game is consumed in a short time. Hereinafter, after giving a general description of the first type pachinko gaming machine, the details of the embodiment will be described.

(General description)
FIG. 1 shows a basic structure on the front side of a pachinko gaming machine. Hereinafter, a so-called first type pachinko gaming machine will be described as an example of a bullet ball gaming machine. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is mainly composed of a gaming machine frame and a gaming board.

  The gaming machine frame of the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 11, a front frame 12, a glass door 13, an upper ball dish 15, a lower ball dish 16, and a launch handle 17. The outer frame 11 is a frame having an opening, and is fixed at a position where the pachinko gaming machine 10 is to be installed. The front frame 12 is a frame body that aligns with the opening of the outer frame 11, and is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to be freely opened and closed. The front frame 12 includes a mechanism for launching a game ball, a mechanism for detachably storing a game board, a mechanism for guiding or collecting the game ball, and the like.

  The glass door 13 is attached to the front frame 12 so as to be freely opened and closed. The upper ball tray 15 has a mechanism for storing game balls, sending out the game balls to the launch rail, and extracting the game balls to the lower ball tray 16. The lower ball tray 16 has a mechanism for storing and extracting game balls. When the player rotates the firing handle 17, the game ball is launched, and when the single shot switch near the launch handle 17 is pressed, the launch of the game ball is temporarily stopped.

  On the game board surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10, a large number of game nails 20, a windmill 21, an outer rail 22 and an inner rail 23, a general winning port 24, an out port 25, a symbol display device 26, a center decoration component 27, A one-type start winning opening (hereinafter referred to as “start opening”) 28, a large winning opening 29, a normal symbol operating port 30, a normal symbol display device 32, and various game effect lamps 34 are provided. A large number of game nails 20 and windmills 21 change the falling direction of the launched game balls. The outer rail 22 guides the launched game ball to the game area 31, and the inner rail 23 defines the game area 31. A game ball dropped into each winning port such as the general winning port 24 is processed as a safe ball, and a game ball flowing into the out port 25 is processed as an out ball. Note that each winning opening includes a gate type through which a game ball passes, and “incoming” in this specification includes “passing”. The various game effect lamps 34 serve as effects or decorations by blinking.

  The symbol display device 26 displays on the screen while changing a symbol called a first type special symbol (hereinafter referred to as “special symbol”) and a decorative symbol linked to the special symbol. Here, the special symbol is a symbol for indicating whether or not to generate a jackpot according to the result of the lottery performed when the game ball falls into the start port 28, and the decorative symbol is the result of the lottery. It is a design for producing visually. The symbol display device 26 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays a plurality of rows of symbol variation moving images simulating a slot machine game as a decorative symbol in the central area of the screen. When displaying a decorative symbol, the special symbol does not need to have an effect role, and is displayed in an inconspicuous area at the corner of the symbol display device 26. The special symbol may take a display form in which the symbols “O” and “X” are repeated during the fluctuation, but in the following, a case in which a display form in which C and the numbers 0 to 9 are repeated is shown. Specifically, the special symbol is displayed in the order of C, 0, 1,..., 8 and 9 during the fluctuation, and takes a display mode in which C to 9 are repeated again. The special symbol stop symbol indicates whether or not it is a jackpot. For example, if the stop symbol is an odd number of “1”, “3”, “5”, “7”, “9”, the jackpot with probability variation is displayed. Further, when “0”, “2”, “4”, “6”, “8” is an even number, a normal jackpot may be indicated, and “C” other than that may indicate a loss. Here, the jackpot with probability variation means a jackpot subject to probability variation. In addition, from the viewpoint of improving the expandability of the production effect in the pachinko gaming machine 10, the numbers used as the special symbols are not limited to 10 numbers from 0 to 9, but for example, 12 numbers from 0 to 11 are used. May be. The twelve types of numbers can be equally divided into three or four, thus providing expansion of production.

  A center decorative component 27 is provided around the symbol display device 26, and has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the symbol display device 26, and decoration. One or a plurality of start ports 28 are provided at a position such as below the center decorative component 27, for example. The big winning opening 29 is a horizontal rectangular winning opening that is opened as a “big hit” when the special symbol stops in a specific manner, and is provided, for example, above the out opening 25. The inside of the special winning opening 29 is divided into a specific area (so-called V zone) and a general area. On the normal symbol display device 32, symbols such as numbers are variably displayed as normal symbols. The normal symbol variation display is started when a game ball enters the normal symbol operating port 30. The normal symbol display device 32 is composed of, for example, a 7-segment display.

  When the player turns the launch handle 17 by hand, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 15 are launched one by one into the game area 31 with the strength corresponding to the turning angle, and the player launches the launch handle 17. When the rotation position is fixed by hand, the game ball is repeatedly fired at a constant time interval. The game ball launched to the upper part of the game area 31 falls in a direction according to the way of hitting while hitting the plurality of game nails 20, and when it falls into each prize opening such as the general prize opening 24 and the start opening 28, the prize is given. A prize ball corresponding to the type of mouth is paid out to the upper ball tray 15. When the game ball falls into the start opening 28, the special symbol and the decorative symbol are variably displayed on the symbol display device 26. The change display of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is stopped after a lapse of a certain time, and when the special symbol at the time of stoppage is a number from “0” to “9”, the opening / closing operation of the big winning opening 29 is started as a so-called “hit” . At this time, the decorative pattern imitating the game of the slot machine takes a display mode in which the three patterns are matched.

  The special winning opening 29 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after 10 or more game balls are dropped. If at least one game ball falls into the specific area while the big prize opening 29 is open, the big prize opening 29 is opened again. In this way, the opening / closing of the big prize opening 29 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times, on condition that at least one or more game balls drop into the specific area while the big prize opening 29 is opened once.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic structure on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine. The power switch 40 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main board 41 controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and processes all game operations such as a lottery when a winning is made to the start opening 28 in particular. The sub board 49 includes a liquid crystal unit 42, controls display contents on the symbol display device 26, and changes display contents according to a lottery result by the main board 41 in particular. The set board 14 includes a prize ball tank 44, a flow path for prize balls, a payout unit 43 for delivering prize balls. The payout unit 43 pays out the game balls supplied from the winning ball tank 44 to the upper ball tray 15 in accordance with winning in each winning opening. The payout control board 45 controls the payout operation by the payout unit 43. The launching device 46 launches the stored balls in the upper ball tray 15 to the game area 31 one by one. The launch control board 47 controls the launch operation of the launch device 46. The power supply unit 48 supplies power to each part of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  FIG. 3 is a basic functional block diagram focusing on a configuration for controlling a game in the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main control unit 70 corresponds to the function of the main board 41 in FIG. 2, and mainly controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and the basic operation of the game. The sub-control unit 80 corresponds to the function of the sub-board 49 in FIG. 2 and mainly controls staging operations such as decorative display variation display and lighting around the pachinko gaming machine 10. Instruction signals relating to various controls are sent from the main control unit 70 to the sub control unit 80, but feedback information or signals are not sent from the sub control unit 80 to the main control unit 70. To one-way communication to the sub-control unit 80. The main control unit 70 and the sub control unit 80 include elements such as a ROM for storing data and programs and a CPU used for arithmetic processing in terms of hardware. In this figure, the various functions are divided into the main control unit 70 and the sub control unit 80, but the division method is not limited to the illustrated example. Further, the main control unit 70 and the sub control unit 80 may be configured integrally.

  The general winning detection unit 50 is a sensor provided in the general winning opening 24, detects the falling of a game ball into the general winning opening 24, and displays the general winning information indicating that there has been a general winning. The data is sent to the processing unit 55. When receiving the general winning information from the general winning detection unit 50, the general winning processing unit 55 sends a payout instruction such as the number of prize balls to the payout control unit 79 of the payout control board 45.

  The start winning detection unit 51 is a sensor provided in the start opening 28, detects a drop of a game ball into the start opening 28, and indicates start win information indicating that the drop has occurred. Send to 56. Upon receiving the start winning information from the start winning detection unit 51, the start winning processing unit 56 sends a payout instruction such as the number of prize balls to the payout control unit 79, and also to a special symbol lottery execution unit 60 that executes a lottery for the start win. Send lottery instructions.

  The special symbol lottery execution unit 60 receives the start winning information, and specifically receives a lottery instruction from the start winning detection unit 51 and then executes the lottery. The special symbol lottery execution unit 60 generates a random number for the start winning and determines a random number determination unit 72, acquires a random number to determine whether or not the lottery is successful, and determines whether the lottery is successful or not. A special symbol determining unit 62 that determines a stop symbol and a special symbol pattern determining unit 73 that determines a display pattern of the special symbol are included. The special symbol may be composed of, for example, numbers, letters, symbols, marks, and the like. In this embodiment, the special symbol is composed of letters “C” and numbers “0” to “9”. Each time the random number determination unit 72 receives a lottery instruction from the start winning processing unit 56, the random number determination unit 72 generates a count value in a predetermined count range, for example, a range from 0 to 65535, as a random number, and stores the random number in the special symbol hold storage unit 63 To do. The special symbol hold storage unit 63 has a storage area that can store a predetermined number, for example, a maximum of four random numbers, as an upper limit of the number of holds, and when the reserved number is stored, a random number larger than that until a free area is generated Do not remember. If the symbol variation is not performed at the time of determining the random number, the random number determination unit 72 sends the random number to the success / failure determination unit 61 without storing the random number in the special symbol hold storage unit 63.

  The success / failure determination unit 61 determines whether the lottery result is “big hit” or “out” according to the random number value stored in the special symbol hold storage unit 63 or according to the random number value directly sent from the random number determination unit 72. Which of the following is determined. These results are respectively defined in the form of numerical ranges in the success / failure table of the success / failure determination unit 61. In the success / failure table, for example, the range from 0 to 207 is the jackpot value range, and the range from 208 to 65535 is the outlier range. A part of the jackpot value range from 0 to 207 may be set as a jackpot range with probability variation. The special symbol determination unit 62 determines the symbol number of the stop symbol of the special symbol according to the lottery result by the success / failure determination unit 61. When the special symbol display mode is to repeatedly display C and symbols from 0 to 9 during symbol variation, if the lottery result is a normal jackpot, “0”, “2”, “4”, If “6”, “8” are jackpots with probability variation, “1”, “3”, “5”, “7”, “9” are determined, and if they are off, “C” is determined as the stop symbol. . Therefore, in this case, in the success / failure table, the range of the jackpot value from 0 to 207 is further divided into 10 ranges and associated with the numbers of the special symbols, and the special symbol determination unit 62 determines the random number value. The special symbol stop symbol is determined accordingly.

  The special symbol pattern determination unit 73 determines a display pattern of the special symbol, for example, determines a variation time of the special symbol. The determination of the success / failure by the determination unit 61, the determination of the special symbol stoppage by the special symbol determination unit 62, and the determination of the special symbol display pattern by the special symbol pattern determination unit 73, the symbol variation based on the previous lottery result ends. This is performed when the effect display based on the current lottery result is started. Note that the execution timing of these processes may be performed when the random number determination unit 72 determines a random number. The number of random numbers held by the special symbol storage unit 63, the success / failure result by the success / failure determination unit 61, the symbol number of the stop symbol by the special symbol determination unit 62, and the display pattern number of the special symbol by the special symbol pattern determination unit 73 are sub-control units. 80.

  The display processing unit 74 displays a special symbol in the lower left corner of the symbol display device 26 according to the determined special symbol display pattern and stop symbol. Specifically, as the display pattern of the special symbol, it is determined that the variation time of the special symbol is 60 seconds, the stop symbol is “3”, and the stop symbol is displayed in the last 2 seconds of the variation time. If it is determined, the display processing unit 74 cyclically displays C and the numbers from 0 to 9 until 58 seconds have elapsed from the start of fluctuation, and 60 seconds after 58 seconds have elapsed. “3” is displayed as a stop symbol until the time elapses. Note that the special symbol may be displayed in another place in the symbol display device 26 or may be displayed on a display unit provided other than the symbol display device 26. Further, the display processing unit 74 displays the number of reserved special symbols on the screen of the symbol display device 26, that is, up to four random numbers that have not yet been subjected to the special symbol variation display. Note that the number of holds may also be displayed on a display unit other than the symbol display device 26.

  The sub-control unit 80 includes a decorative symbol determination unit 82, a decorative symbol pattern determination unit 84, a decorative symbol pattern storage unit 86, and a display processing unit 92. The decorative symbol determination unit 82 determines stop symbols of the decorative symbols of a plurality of columns to be displayed on the symbol display device 26 based on the result of the success / failure determination unit 61. The decorative symbol determination unit 82 may determine a plurality of decorative symbols, generally three columns, based on the special symbol stop symbol number determined by the special symbol determination unit 62. The decorative symbol determination unit 82 has a table in which the result of the determination or the symbol number of the special symbol is associated with the symbol number of the decorative symbol, and determines the stop symbol of the decorative symbol based on this table. In the table below, the correspondence of the jackpot stop symbol of the decorative symbol associated with the jackpot stop symbol of the special symbol is shown.

  The jackpot stop symbol of the decorative symbol is a display mode in which three symbols of the left symbol, the central symbol, and the right symbol are aligned. When the lottery result is a jackpot, when the special symbol determining unit 62 determines the special symbol jackpot stop symbol, the decorative symbol determining unit 82 determines the jackpot stop symbol of the decorative symbol based on the correspondence in the above table. To do. The odd symbols of “111”, “333”, “555”, “777”, and “999” indicate that the player is a jackpot with probability variation, and “000” “222” “444” “666” “888” An even number symbol indicates that it is a normal jackpot.

  On the other hand, when the lottery result is out, the decorative symbol determination unit 82 determines each symbol number so that at least one of the left symbol, the central symbol, and the right symbol does not match the other symbols. Note that there is no need for one-to-one correspondence between special symbols and decorative symbols, and a plurality of decorative symbol images may be associated with symbol numbers of special symbols. In this case, the decorative symbol determination unit 82 may select and determine any one of the plurality of associated decorative symbols.

  As described above, a table in which special symbols and decorative symbols are associated with each other may be prepared in advance. However, when three rows of stopped symbols are displayed as decorative symbols on the screen of the symbol display device 26, the decoration is displayed. The symbol determination unit 82 may select each symbol number of the left symbol, the central symbol, and the right symbol at random within a predetermined symbol number range. However, the decorative symbol determination unit 82 determines each symbol number so that the left symbol, the central symbol, and the right symbol are the same when the stop symbol number of the special symbol indicates “big hit”, and further stops the special symbol. When the number indicates “big hit with probability variation”, in order to present to the player that the jackpot is with probability variation, the odd symbol numbers that are all arranged are determined. On the other hand, when the result of the success / failure indicates “off” or when the stop symbol number of the special symbol indicates “out”, the decorative symbol determination unit 82 has at least one of the left symbol, the central symbol, and the right symbol as another symbol. Each symbol number is determined so as not to match.

  The decorative symbol pattern determining unit 84 determines at least a display pattern of symbol variation of the decorative symbol based on the lottery result. Specifically, the decorative symbol display pattern mainly represents a decorative symbol image, a decorative symbol variation pattern, and a variation display effect pattern. The variation pattern defines the variation process of the decorative pattern. The effect pattern defines how the display process including the decorative symbol change display and the reach operation proceeds or is effected. The decorative symbol pattern determining unit 84 determines a decorative symbol image, a decorative symbol variation pattern, and a variation display effect pattern based on the special symbol display pattern number determined by the special symbol pattern determining unit 73. The decorative symbol pattern storage unit 86 stores various images such as a decorative symbol image, a background image, and a character image, and in what display form these images are changed in the screen of the symbol display device 26. Are stored, and a plurality of effect patterns are stored. The variation pattern and the effect pattern are associated with a special symbol display pattern determined by the special symbol pattern determination unit 73. Note that the variation pattern and the effect pattern are determined so that the overall effect time including the change display of the decorative symbol and the reach operation is equal to the change time of the special symbol. The display processing unit 92 causes the symbol display device 26 to display the symbol variation of the decorative symbol with the variation pattern and the effect pattern of the decorative symbol determined by the decorative symbol pattern determining unit 84, and the decorative symbol determining unit 82 determines the variation after the change. The stop symbol of the decorated decoration is displayed.

  The decorative symbol pattern determining unit 84 refers to the effect pattern table and determines the effect pattern corresponding to the display pattern number received from the special symbol pattern determining unit 73. In the effect pattern table, the correspondence between the display pattern number and the effect pattern is defined.

  In the main control unit 70, when the display processing unit 74 starts to display the variation of the special symbol, the display processing unit 74 sends a variation start instruction to the display processing unit 92 of the sub-control unit 80 to count the display time of the symbol variation. When the display processing unit 92 of the sub-control unit 80 receives the change start instruction, the display processing unit 92 starts to display the decorative symbol change display. The display processing unit 74 displays the special symbol stop symbol on the symbol display device 26 at the timing when the special symbol variation time ends, and sends a variable display stop instruction to the sub-control unit 80. Upon receiving the variable display stop instruction, the display processing unit 92 displays the decorative symbol stop symbol on the symbol display device 26. Thereby, the display process by one lottery result is complete | finished.

  When the random number value read from the special symbol hold storage unit 63 is a jackpot value, the success / failure determination unit 61 sends a special game start instruction to the special game execution unit 64 after the stop symbol is displayed. The special game execution unit 64 includes a special game processing unit 65, a continuation determination unit 66, and a probability variation determination unit 67. The special game processing unit 65 sends an instruction to open the big prize opening to the big prize processing unit 58. The special prize processing unit 58 opens the special prize opening 29 based on the opening instruction received from the special game processing unit 65. The game ball that falls into the opened big winning opening 29 is detected by the big winning detecting unit 53 that is a sensor provided in the big winning opening 29, and when the gaming ball falls into the big winning opening 29, the big winning prize is obtained. The processing unit 58 sends a payout instruction such as the number of prize balls to the payout control unit 79 and counts the number of game balls falling in one open of the big winning opening 29. The big prize processing unit 58 temporarily closes the big prize opening 29 when an opening period of about 30 seconds elapses or when ten game balls drop into the big prize opening 29 reach.

  The area passage detection unit 54 is a sensor that detects the passage of a game ball to a specific area (V zone) provided in the special winning opening 29, and specific area passage information indicating that a game ball has passed. Is sent to the region passage processing unit 59. The region passage processing unit 59 receives the specific region passage information from the region passage detection unit 54 and sends it to the continuation determination unit 66 of the special game execution unit 64. The continuation determination unit 66 instructs the special game processing unit 65 to perform the next opening when the passing of one or more balls to the specific area is detected in the opening of the one big winning opening 29. The special game processing unit 65 repeats the special winning opening 29 up to 15 times in the open state under the continuation condition that the continuation determination unit 66 has determined passage of the specific area. The probability variation determination unit 67 determines whether the game after the jackpot is a normal game or a probability variation game with a high probability of hitting according to the random number value or the stop pattern of the special symbol, and the determination result is reliably varied. The data is sent to the execution unit 68. The probability variation determination unit 67 determines that the next game should be transferred to the probability variation game when the stop symbol is a specific symbol.

  When the probability change execution unit 68 receives a determination from the probability change determination unit 67 that it should shift to the probability variation game, the probability change execution unit 68 changes the success / failure table of the success / failure determination unit 61 to the probability variation game. For example, the range of the jackpot value in the normal game is from 0 to 207, while the range of the jackpot value in the probability variation game is from 0 to 1093. Thereby, the jackpot probability at the time of the probability variation game becomes larger than that at the time of the normal game.

  The operation detection unit 52 is a sensor provided inside the normal symbol operation port 30, detects the ingress of the game ball into the normal symbol operation port 30, and displays the normal symbol operation information indicating that the intrusion has occurred. This is sent to the operation processing unit 57. When receiving the normal symbol operation information from the operation detection unit 52, the operation processing unit 57 sends a normal symbol lottery instruction to the normal symbol lottery execution unit 69. When the normal symbol lottery execution unit 69 receives the lottery instruction, the normal symbol lottery execution unit 69 acquires a random number as the lottery result and stores the random number in the normal symbol holding storage unit 71. The normal symbol lottery execution unit 69 acquires a count value in the range from 0 to 9, for example, as a random number for the normal symbol lottery. The normal symbol holding storage unit 71 has a storage area for storing a predetermined number of random numbers, for example, a maximum of four random numbers as the normal symbol lottery results. The normal symbol lottery execution unit 69 reads a random number from the normal symbol hold storage unit 71 and determines whether or not the lottery is appropriate. For example, 7 is defined as a winning value and a value other than 7 is defined as an outlier in the success / failure table of the normal symbol lottery execution unit 69. The normal symbol lottery execution unit 69 determines whether or not the normal symbol lottery is successful based on whether the read random number is a winning value or an outlier. The determination result is sent to the display processing unit 74 and the operation processing unit 57. The display processing unit 74 causes the normal symbol display device 32 to display the symbol variation of the normal symbol having the received random value as the stop symbol. When the operation processing unit 57 receives the winning determination result from the normal symbol lottery execution unit 69, the operation processing unit 57 operates the movable pieces (so-called electric tulips) provided on both sides of the predetermined winning port, for example, the start port 28 for a certain period of time. The game ball is more likely to fall into the start port 28 than in the normal state.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of shifting from a normal game to a special game. First, when the start winning detection unit 51 detects the drop of the game ball into the start port 28 (Y in S10), the random number determination unit 72 determines whether or not the symbol is changing (S12). If the symbol is not changing (N in S12), the random number determination unit 72 determines a random number (S14), and the winning / not determining unit 61 determines whether or not the lottery is appropriate based on the random number (S28). On the other hand, if the symbol is changing (Y in S12), the random number determination unit 72 determines the random number (S16), and determines whether the random number can be stored in the special symbol storage unit 63 (S18). ). For example, if four random numbers are held in the special symbol hold storage unit 63 during the symbol variation, no more random numbers can be held (N in S18), so the special symbol hold storage unit 63 stores the random number. Do not get. Note that when the determination that the random number cannot be suspended is made before the random number is determined, the random number determination unit 72 may not ignore the winning and not generate the random number itself. On the other hand, if the number of reserved random numbers is within three, the random number determination unit 72 determines that the storage area for storing random numbers is free (Y in S18). In this case, the random number determination unit 72 stores the random number in an empty area of the special symbol reservation storage unit 63 (S20).

  In S10, if there is no winning at the starting port 28 (N in S10), the success / failure determination unit 61 determines whether or not a random number is stored in the special symbol storage unit 63 (S22). If it is not held (N in S22), this flow is ended, and if it is held (Y in S22), it waits for the end of the symbol variation performed at that time. Note that the case where the random number is held indicates a state in which a winning has occurred before and the symbol variation of the winning lottery result has not yet been performed. At this time, in the symbol display device 26, the special symbol and the decorative symbol are displayed in a variable manner for the winning lottery result before the holding ball. Note that the symbol variation in S12 and the symbol variation displayed at the time of determination in S22 are referred to as “previous symbol variation” in this flow for convenience of explanation, and the symbol variation following this is referred to as “the current symbol variation”. This will be called “variation”.

  When the previous symbol variation is completed, the success / failure determination unit 61 reads out the random number stored first as the lottery result among the lottery results held in the special symbol hold storage unit 63 and erases the stored content (S24). If random numbers of lottery results are stored in the second and subsequent areas, they are each shifted to the previous storage area (S26). The success / failure determination unit 61 determines whether or not the lottery is successful based on the read random number (S28), and subsequently the display content of the symbol variation is determined. The display processing unit 74 and the display processing unit 92 variably display the special symbol and the decorative symbol of the current time on the symbol display device 26 (S30). If the random number is a jackpot value as a result of the success / failure determination in S28 (Y in S32), the game shifts to a special game (S34), and if the random number in the lottery result is an outlier (N in S32). , S34 is skipped.

  When the current symbol variation ends, the success / failure determination unit 61 determines whether or not a random number is reserved in the special symbol storage unit 63 (S38). If it is held (Y in S38), the steps from S24 to S34 are repeated for the next change, and if it is not held (N in S38), this flow is terminated.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing in detail the process for determining whether or not the lottery is successful in S28 of FIG. Below, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are used to show the determination of whether or not the lottery is successful and the determination of the display content of the subsequent symbol variation. FIG. 5 shows processing S28a in the main control unit 70, and FIG. 6 shows processing S28b in the sub-control unit 80.

  When the random number read by the success / failure determination unit 61 in S24 or the random number determined in S14 corresponds to the jackpot value (0 to 207) (Y in S50), the random number is a jackpot value with probability variation. Is determined (S51). In the case of the jackpot value with probability variation (Y in S51), the special symbol determination unit 62 determines the stop symbol of the special symbol for probability variation, and the special symbol pattern determination unit 73 determines the special symbol for probability variation. A display pattern is determined (S52). When it is not a jackpot value with probability variation (N in S51), the special symbol determination unit 62 determines a stop symbol of a special symbol for normal winning, and the special symbol pattern determination unit 73 displays a special symbol for normal winning. A pattern is determined (S53). In S50, when the random number is an outlier (208 to 65535) (N in S50), the special symbol determination unit 62 determines a stop symbol of the special symbol for removal, and the special symbol pattern determination unit 73 Then, the display pattern of the special symbol for detachment is determined (S54). As a result of the determination, the special symbol stop symbol and the display pattern number are sent to the sub-control unit 80.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the decorative symbol determination process. The decorative symbol determination unit 82 determines the stop symbol of the decorative symbol based on the result of the determination or the stop symbol of the special symbol (S60). Subsequently, the decorative symbol pattern determining unit 84 determines whether or not to reach the decorative symbol based on the display pattern of the special symbol (S61). This determination may be made based on the display pattern number of the special symbol. For example, when the display pattern number of the special symbol indicates a display pattern to be reached (Y in S61) and further indicates a display pattern to be effected in a super reach (Y in S62), the decorative symbol pattern determining unit 84 is Then, the display pattern of the decorative pattern for super reach is determined (S63). When a display pattern that produces a reach that is not super-reach is shown (N in S62), the decorative design pattern determining unit 84 determines a display pattern of a decorative design for normal reach (S64). In S61, when the display pattern number of the special symbol indicates a display pattern that does not reach (N in S61), the decorative symbol pattern determination unit 84 determines the display pattern of the decorative symbol without reach (S65). In addition, when the winning / losing result or the special symbol stop symbol indicates that the lottery result is a big hit, the display pattern for the reach effect is always determined. In addition, the decoration symbol stop design determination in S60 may be performed simultaneously with the display pattern determination in S63, S64, and S65, or may be performed after the display pattern determination.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing in detail the operation of the special game in S34 of FIG. When the special game starts, the big prize processing unit 58 opens the big prize opening 29 (S70), and when the big prize detection unit 53 detects the drop of the game ball into the big prize opening 29 (Y in S71), the big prize winning unit 29 opens. The winning processing unit 58 counts the number of balls (S72), and when the region passing detection unit 54 detects that the game ball dropped into the big winning opening 29 has passed the specific region (Y in S73), the region passing The processing unit 59 turns on the passage flag (S74). If no drop of the game ball to the special winning opening 29 is detected (N in S71), S72 to S74 are skipped. When the game ball dropped into the special winning opening 29 does not pass through the specific area (N in S73), S74 is skipped, and the area passage processing unit 59 leaves the passage flag as it is. The processing from S71 to S74 is repeated until the count value of the number of dropped balls to the big winning opening 29 reaches 10 balls or more, or until the opening time of the big winning opening 29 reaches 30 seconds (N in S75). When any one of these conditions is reached (Y in S75), the big prize processing unit 58 temporarily closes the big prize opening 29 (S76). Here, if the passing flag is on (Y of S77), the passing flag and the count value of the number of falling balls are reset as having passed to the specific area (S78), and the number of rounds of the special game is set. Increment (S79) and repeat the processing from S70 to S79 until the number of rounds reaches 15 (N in S80). When the number of rounds reaches 15 (Y in S80), or when the passing flag is not turned on (N in S77), the special game is terminated. The above is a general description of pachinko machines.

(Example 1)
The pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment has one big winning opening at each of two upper and lower portions in the game area 31. That is, the plurality of large winning openings are respectively provided at a plurality of positions with different game ball drop rates on the game board. If the lottery result is a jackpot with probability fluctuation, the upper big prize opening is opened. If the lottery result is a normal jackpot without probability fluctuation, the lower big prize opening is opened. In the case of a jackpot with probability fluctuation, the player's psychology often wants to digest the special game quickly and see the next jackpot, but in this case, the game ball is relatively easy to fall in this example The special game is ended at an early stage by opening the upper prize-winning opening, and the gameability is maintained high. The pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment further has the following configuration and functions in addition to the configuration and functions of the general pachinko gaming machine described above.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a basic structure on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine according to the first embodiment. In the game area 31, a first grand prize winning port 36 and a second grand prize winning port 38 are provided at two locations above and below the symbol display device 26. The first grand prize winning port 36 and the second grand prize winning port 38 are prize winning ports that operate basically in the same manner as the big prize winning port 29 in FIG. 1, and either one is selectively opened during the special game. . The first big prize opening 36 is relatively close to the exit of the game balls launched along the outer rail 22 and the inner rail 23. Further, since the number of game nails 20 around the upper portion of the first grand prize winning port 36 is small, the flow of game balls toward the first big prize winning port 36 is less affected by the game nail 20, so the first grand prize winning port It is easy for game balls to fall into 36. On the other hand, the second grand prize opening 38 is provided at the same position as the big prize opening 29 in FIG. 1, and the influence of the game nail 20 on the distance from the exit of the launched game ball and the flow of the game ball is general. It is the same as Napachinko machines.

  Note that the first grand prize opening 36 is installed below some of the game nails 20, and the influence of the game nail 20 on the drop of the game ball into the first big prize opening 36 is not zero. Therefore, not all the game balls that have been fired fall into the first grand prize opening 36, and the game balls to the first big prize opening 36 according to the magnitude and luck of the launch intensity through the operation of the launch handle 17. It is determined whether or not the game will be lost, and the gameability of the special game will not be impaired.

  FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram centering on a configuration for controlling a game in the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment. The configurations denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3 have the same or similar functions as the configurations described in FIG. As a configuration added to FIG. 3, the big prize processing unit 58 includes an opening / closing control unit 75. The open / close control unit 75 selectively opens at least one of the first big prize winning port 36 and the second big prize winning port 38 when the result of the lottery is determined to be a big win by the success / failure determining unit 61. The selection of the big winning opening to be opened is determined according to the mode of jackpot. The mode of jackpot here is distinguished according to whether or not it is jackpot with probability fluctuation. The opening / closing control unit 75 selects the first big winning opening 36 provided at a position where the game ball can be easily dropped when the probability variation determining unit 67 determines that it is a big hit with probability variation.

  Since the first big prize opening 36 is easier to drop game balls than the second big prize opening 38, it is difficult to generate useless game balls that do not fall into the first big prize opening 36 and become out balls. Therefore, the game balls gather with high probability at the first grand prize opening 36, and the time for the special game is shortened. As a result, it is preferable to shorten the digestion time of a special game, such as a big hit with probability fluctuations. A special game that meets the demands of the player.

(Example 2)
The pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment also has two large winning openings in the game area 31. In the first embodiment, the two large winning openings are provided at two places above and below, but in this embodiment. It differs in that it is provided at two locations on the left and right. Also in this case, the falling rate of the game ball is different between the left side and the right side, and it is possible to improve the gameability of the pachinko gaming machine by selectively opening either one according to the jackpot mode.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a basic structure on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine according to the second embodiment. In the game area 31, below the symbol display device 26, a first big prize opening 37 is provided on the left side, and a second big prize opening 39 is provided on the right side. The open / close control unit 75 in the present embodiment opens the second big winning opening 39 when the probability variation determining section 67 determines that the jackpot with the probability variation, and the first big winning opening when it is determined that the normal big hit is determined. 37 is opened. When the second big prize opening 39 is opened, the player can easily drop the game ball into the second big prize opening 39 simply by turning the firing handle 17 to the maximum position and performing the so-called “right-handed”. Can do. On the other hand, when the first big prize opening 37 is opened, the player needs to adjust the launch intensity of the game ball through the operation of the launch handle 17 so that the game ball flows to the left side of the game area 31.

  In this way, in the case of a big hit with probability fluctuation, the next lottery as expected by the player is achieved by opening the second big prize opening 39 where the game ball can be easily dropped and reducing the time of the special game. It is possible to proceed quickly to the game without sacrificing game play.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to each component and combination of processing processes, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. Hereinafter, modifications will be described.

  In each embodiment, the two big winning holes are provided in the game board, but in a modified example, three or more big winning holes may be provided. In that case, you may comprise so that the fall rate of the game ball with respect to at least any one of three or more big winning holes may differ from other big winning holes.

  In each of the embodiments, in the case of a jackpot with a probability variation, the big winning opening where a game ball can be easily dropped is opened. In the modified example, in the case of a big hit with a probability variation, the big winning opening that is relatively easy to enter the game ball is opened, and in the case of a normal big win, the big winning opening that is easy to get the game ball is opened. It is good also as a structure which opens. In this case, it is possible to keep the average number of balls in a unit time almost constant.

  In each embodiment, the configuration in which only one of a plurality of large winning openings is opened has been described. In a modification, it is good also as a structure which opens simultaneously any two or more big winning holes among several large winning holes. For example, the second big prize opening 38 is opened while the first big prize opening 36 in the first embodiment is opened, and game balls that have not fallen into the first big prize opening 36 fall into the second big prize opening 38. It is also possible to enter the game, and it is possible to provide the player with the game characteristics of a different special game.

  In each of the embodiments, the configuration in which which big winning a prize opening should be opened according to the mode of jackpot has been described. In a modified example, a random number for determining which of the big winning mouths should be opened may be acquired, and the big winning mouth may be selected according to the random value. Further, it may be determined according to a value such as a random number which special winning opening should be opened for each unit game constituting the special game. Furthermore, it is good also as a structure which further improves game property by switching the some big prize opening which should be open | released in one unit game.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a basic functional block diagram centering on the structure which controls the game in a pachinko gaming machine. It is a flowchart which shows the process which transfers to a special game from a normal game. 5 is a flowchart showing in detail a process for determining whether or not a lottery is successful in S28 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the determination process of a decoration symbol. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the special game in S34 of FIG. 4 in detail. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of the pachinko game machine in Example 1. FIG. It is a functional block diagram centering on the structure which controls the game in the pachinko game machine of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of the pachinko game machine in Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

29 grand prize opening, 36 1st grand prize opening, 37 1st grand prize opening, 38 2nd grand prize opening, 39 2nd grand prize opening, 56 start winning processing section, 67 probability change determination section, 74 display processing section, 75 An opening / closing control unit, 92 a display processing unit.

Claims (7)

A start winning processing unit for acquiring start winning information indicating a drop in the start winning opening of a game ball;
A lottery execution unit that executes a lottery with the acquisition of the start prize information;
A pattern determining unit that determines a display pattern indicating a variation display process of a symbol based on a result of the lottery executed by the lottery executing unit;
A display processing unit that displays a symbol variation on the display device in the determined display pattern;
A plurality of big prize openings provided at different positions on the game board,
An open / close control unit that selectively opens at least one of the plurality of winning prizes when the result of the lottery is a big hit;
A ball game machine characterized by comprising:   2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing control unit selects at least one of the plurality of prize winning openings as a prize winning opening to be opened according to the mode of the jackpot.   The ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of large winning holes are respectively provided at a plurality of positions having different drop rates of game balls on the game board. It further includes a probability change determination unit that determines whether or not to shift to a probability variation state in which the jackpot probability is higher than normal,
The open / close control unit selects at least one of the plurality of large winning ports as a large winning port to be opened according to a determination result by the probability variation determining unit. The ball game machine described in 1.   The opening / closing control unit selects a big winning opening provided at a position where a drop rate of a game ball is higher when the probability variation determining unit determines to shift to a probability variation state. Item 5. A ball game machine according to item 4.   The opening / closing control unit selects a special winning opening provided at a position where a drop rate of a game ball is lower when the probability variation determining unit determines to shift to a probability variation state. Item 5. A ball game machine according to item 4.   The ball according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the plurality of big winning holes have different drop rates depending on the distance from the launch position of the game ball to each installation position on the game board. Gaming machine.

Images