JP2005224376A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine in which it is difficult to illegally change a set value by displaying a pattern corresponding to the set value in stead of the set value on a display screen. <P>SOLUTION: A state where the set value can be changed occurs when a set value change key inserted into a set value change key cylinder 45 is switched on. A liquid crystal panel 15 displays the set value, an arrow, and a pattern when a first stop button 30 is depressed. The set value displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 is selected when a second stop button 31 is depressed. A pattern on the liquid crystal panel 15 is changed every time when the first stop button 30 is depressed, the image data of a pattern is stored in a memory 87 corresponding to a set value when the second stop button 31 is depressed. Once, a set change key cylinder 45 is switched off. Then, the liquid crystal panel 15 displays a pattern corresponding to a set value in stead of the set value when the set change key cylinder 45 is switched on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine that is installed and used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  A slot machine that is installed and used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor is called a pachislot machine, and given a certain value to medals, the medals earned by the game can be exchanged for various prizes. In this slot machine, various devices such as a reel unit, a hopper device, and a power supply device and a control circuit board for controlling the operation of these devices are incorporated in the housing, and the front surface of the slot machine has a closed position that hides the inside and an inside It is covered with a front door that is movably provided in an open position where it is exposed.

  Such a slot machine is driven and controlled by each control board. Among these, the setting change of the setting value corresponding to the payout probability (payout rate) of medals to be paid out at the time of the game is performed by a setting change device incorporated in the power supply device. This setting change device is constituted by, for example, a setting change button for selecting one of setting values corresponding to six stages of payout rates, a switch for determining whether or not to end at the time of stopping, and the like. Among these, when changing the payout rate, a setting change key serving as a dedicated key is inserted into a key cylinder provided on the front surface of the power supply unit, and the setting change key is set to a position where the operation of the setting change button is enabled. Is rotated in a predetermined direction. Then, by turning on the power to the slot machine and operating the change operation button, the payout rate setting can be changed by performing a predetermined operation. Since the operation key is owned and held by only a predetermined store clerk, the player or the like cannot change the setting.

  By the way, a display screen for displaying the set value is provided in the gaming machine. Normally, when the set value can be changed by inserting and rotating the setting change key into the key cylinder for changing the setting, the display is displayed. The current setting value is displayed on the screen as a number. For example, a plurality of set values are prepared in advance, and the set values are sequentially displayed as numbers by pressing a change operation button. A payout rate is determined corresponding to each set value. Therefore, the gaming machine executes a game at a payout rate corresponding to the set value. A store clerk of a pachinko parlor or the like changes the set value by pressing a change operation button while viewing the display screen before opening the amusement park as necessary.

  However, a player can make a hole in the front door or open the front door illegally to operate the power switch or change operation button, or insert a wire etc. from the gap in the housing or the medal slot or outlet. The setting value set in the gaming machine may be illegally changed by a method of short-circuiting the power supply device or the like. In particular, when a setting change key or its key is inserted into a key cylinder for changing settings and rotated, the setting value is displayed as a number on the display screen. Then, the setting value was changed as expected, and the store side sometimes suffered damage.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent an illegal act in which a setting value is changed as desired by preventing the setting value from being displayed numerically on the display screen when the setting is changed. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine of the present invention controls a game based on a setting value selected from a plurality of setting values having different profit-giving probabilities in the game, and changes the setting value. In a gaming machine equipped with a display screen for starting the operation of displaying a setting value according to a setting change operation for a number, an association means for associating each setting value with a symbol other than a number, and setting by the association means Display control means for displaying a symbol associated with the value on a display screen is provided.

  Further, the present invention is characterized by having a symbol determining operation unit operated to determine a symbol corresponding to the set value.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, the association means for associating each set value with a symbol other than a number, and the display control means for displaying the symbol associated with the set value by the association means on the display screen are provided. Thus, after the symbol other than the number is associated with the set value, the symbol other than the number corresponding to the set value is displayed on the display screen in accordance with the setting change operation. After the symbol is associated with the setting value, the display screen does not display the number indicating the setting value, but the symbol corresponding to the setting value is displayed. It's hard to tell if you are. Therefore, it is possible to provide a gaming machine in which it is difficult for a third party to change the set value as desired.

  In addition, by having a symbol determination operation unit for determining a symbol corresponding to the set value, the manager of the game hall can freely determine the symbol corresponding to the set value, and the administrator can operate through the operation of the symbol determination unit. The symbol corresponding to the set value can be grasped. In addition, it is possible to prevent other users from knowing the corresponding symbol, and even if the symbol corresponding to the set value is revealed to a third party, it can be changed immediately, further preventing goto action. be able to.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 2 includes a storage box 4 and a front door 5 provided on the front surface of the storage box 4. The front door 5 includes an upper door 6 provided at the upper part and a lower door 7 provided at the lower part. A display window 10 is provided in the upper door 6, and a reel unit having a first reel 11 a, a second reel 11 b, and a third reel 11 c is disposed at the back of the display window 10. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first, second, and third reels 11a, 11b, and 11c. When the reels stop, three symbols per reel are displayed outside through the display window 10, A total of five pay lines, each of which is a combination of one of the symbols of each reel, are set, three on the side and two on the diagonal.

  A liquid crystal display device 13 is provided beside the display window 10 and performs, for example, an effect using animation. Various operation buttons such as a single bet button 25, a MAX bet button 26, and a payout button 27 that are operated at the start of the game are provided on the upper portion of the lower door 7. Near the various operation buttons, a start lever 28 that is operated after the medal bet is placed, and first, second, and stop buttons for stopping the reels that are rotated by the operation of the start lever 28 (design determining operation). Part) 30, 31 and a third stop button 32 are provided, and the first and second stop buttons 30, 31 also function as an operation part for determining a symbol corresponding to the set value. Below the display window 10, a liquid crystal panel (display screen) 15 capable of displaying various symbols such as numerals, specific alphabets, triangles, and quadrangles is provided.

  The lower door 7 is provided with a medal slot 33 for inserting medals when playing a game. A selector (not shown) is incorporated in the back of the medal insertion slot 33, and inappropriate medals are discharged to the medal tray 35 through the medal payout slot 34. In addition, when the medal is inserted at an improper timing such as when the selector is inserted in the middle of the game or with various operation buttons pressed, the selector receives the inserted medal as the medal tray 35. To discharge. In addition, since the number of medals inserted before the start of the game is limited to 1 to 3, medals inserted after the fourth are discharged to the medal tray 35 when the credit function is not used.

  The lower doors 7 are provided with locks for preventing the doors from being opened. The lower door 7 is locked by inserting a dedicated key into the lower keyhole 18 and rotating in one direction, and rotating in the other direction. Unlocks when moved. As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine 2 is provided with a hopper device 40 for receiving medals to the tray 35, a setting change key cylinder 45 for changing a set value, and the like. The hopper device 40 is provided with a storage tank 42 for storing medals, and a storage box 43 for overflow is provided under the storage tank 42. When the lower door key is inserted into the lower keyhole 18 and unlocked and the lower door 7 is opened to the open position, a setting value change key (see FIG. 2), which is a dedicated key, can be inserted into the setting change key cylinder 45 to operate the key. It becomes like this.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the periphery of the setting change key cylinder 45. In the vicinity of the setting change key cylinder 45, a power switch 48 for switching ON / OFF of the main power supply and a change operation button 49 for changing the set value are provided. The installation value is changed every time the change operation button 49 is pressed. The setting value change key 51 inserted in the setting change key cylinder 45 is rotated approximately one-eighth and the key value is changed from the OFF position to the ON position, so that the setting value cannot be changed even if the change operation button 49 is pressed. When the change operation button 49 is pressed, the setting value can be changed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the slot machine 2. The operation of the slot machine 2 is basically controlled by the control unit 60. The control unit 60 includes a CPU (display control means) 61, a ROM 62, and a RAM 64. The ROM 62 stores first to sixth winning tables 63a to 63f, a setting change program 71, a symbol table 80, a payout table 82, and the like. Has been. The payout rate varies depending on each winning table, and each winning table corresponds to a set value from “1” to “6”, and thereby a winning table corresponding to the set value selected when the setting is changed is read out. The game is controlled. In the slot machine 2, in addition to the control unit 60, a throw medal sensor 75, a start switch sensor 76, and the like are provided.

  The setting change program 71 is a program used when changing the payout rate, and the power switch 48 is turned on while the setting change key 51 inserted into the setting change key cylinder 45 is turned from the OFF position to the ON position. If it is read. When the setting change key 51 is turned from ON to OFF and pulled out from the setting change key cylinder 45, the execution of the setting change program 71 is completed. The RAM 64 is temporarily used when the control program and the setting change program 71 are read from the ROM 62.

  The inserted medal sensor 75 is provided inside the selector, and detects an appropriate medal distributed by the selector among medals inserted from the medal slot 33. A detection signal output from the inserted medal sensor 75 is input to the CPU 61, and the CPU 61 detects the number of inserted medals.

  When the 1 bet button 25 and the MAX bet button 26 are pressed, a pressing signal is input to the CPU 61. The CPU 61 inputs the number of 1 to 3 medals inserted prior to the start of the game by detecting a detection signal from the inserted medal sensor 75 or pressing one of the 1 bet button 25 and the MAX bet button 26. It counts based on the pressing signal to perform, and thereby determines the number of activated pay lines. Further, the bet number of medals inserted at the start of the game is added up and counted by a counter provided in the CPU 61.

  The start switch sensor 76 is turned on when the start lever 28 is operated, and inputs a game start signal to the CPU 61. The CPU 61 that has received the game start signal rotates the first, second, and third reels 11 a, 11 b, and 11 c based on the game execution program stored in the ROM 62 and operates the electronic lottery unit 77. The electronic lottery unit 77 includes a random number generation unit and a random number extraction unit, and extracts one random value every time the game is started.

  The winning combination determining unit 78 operates in response to the extraction of random numbers from the electronic lottery unit 77, and determines whether the extracted random number is lost or a plurality of types of winning combinations with reference to the winning table in the ROM 62. . Note that the lottery includes a step of extracting a random number in the electronic lottery unit 77 and a step of determining whether the winning combination determining unit 78 is a loser or a plurality of types of winning combinations.

  Driving and stopping control of the first, second, and third reels 11a, 11b, and 11c is performed by the symbol drive control unit 79. The first, second, and third reels 11a, 11b, and 11c are fixed to the drive shaft of the stepping motor 80, respectively, and the symbol drive control unit 79 controls the driving of each stepping motor to control the reels 11a, 11b, and 11c. Control the rotation. The liquid crystal display device 13 is controlled by a liquid crystal screen controller 81, whereby the liquid crystal display device 13 displays an animation or the like. The CPU 61 detects one rotation of each reel 11a, 11b, 11c based on a signal input from the photosensor 82.

  The CPU 61 is provided with a pulse counter for each stepping motor, and counts the number of drive pulses supplied to each stepping motor. When the reset signal is input from the photo sensor 82, the count value of the corresponding pulse counter is cleared. Therefore, the number of drive pulses corresponding to the rotation angle within one rotation of each reel is stored in each pulse counter while being sequentially updated.

  The ROM 62 stores a display symbol table 80. The display symbol table 80 stores the number of drive pulses corresponding to the rotation angle from the reference position of each reel and the respective symbols arranged on each reel at a constant pitch. The symbol code shown is associated. As a result, by monitoring the count value of the pulse counter for each reel, it is possible to identify which symbol has moved on a predetermined winning line, and how much the reel is rotated will show the target symbol. It is possible to predict whether it will move on the winning line.

  When the first, second, and third stop buttons 30, 31, and 32 are pressed, a stop signal for stopping the reel drive is input to the CPU 61. Note that the rotation of the reel is started by operating the start lever 28, and the operation of each stop button becomes effective when the rotation of the reel reaches a certain speed.

  The hopper device 40 pays out to the medal tray 35 the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination determined by the winning combination determining unit 78 as a payout medal. The hopper device 40 is driven based on the payout table 82 stored in the ROM 62. When the hopper device 40 is driven, the CPU 61 reads the payout table and drives the hopper device 40 based on the read-out table.

  In response to the setting change key 51 being inserted into the setting change key cylinder 45 and the setting change key 51 being turned from the OFF position to the ON position, the setting change key cylinder 45 changes the setting value. Is input to the CPU 61. Normally, the slot machine 2 is in a state where the set value cannot be changed. When a change permission signal is input to the CPU 61, the set value can be changed in accordance with the pressing of the change operation button 49, and the liquid crystal panel In 15, a set value is displayed as a number. The set values on the liquid crystal panel 15 are “2”, “3”, “4” when preset values “1” to “6” are set in advance in accordance with the pressing operation of the change operation button 49, for example. And so on.

  In the slot machine 2, the set value displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 can be changed to a symbol other than a number corresponding to the set value. For example, when the setting change key cylinder 45 is operated to the ON position and the setting value can be changed, when the first stop button 30 is pressed, the CPU 61 detects a pressing signal from the first stop button 30. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4A, the liquid crystal panel 15 switches to a symbol setting mode for displaying a set value, an arrow pointing to the right, and a symbol. The symbols on the liquid crystal panel 15 are displayed based on the symbol data 85 stored in the ROM 62, and the symbol data 85 has image data for displaying a plurality of types of symbols. When the first stop button 30 is further pressed, the set value is switched to “2” as shown in FIG. 4B, and the set value is sequentially switched and displayed every time the first stop button 30 is pressed. When the second stop button 31 is pressed in this state, “2” is selected. Next, when the first stop button 30 is pressed, the symbols are switched as shown in FIG. The symbols are displayed based on the symbol data 85 stored in the ROM 62, and the symbols are switched and displayed each time the first stop button 30 is pressed. When the second stop button 31 is pressed, a triangle symbol is selected as a symbol corresponding to the set value, and the symbol corresponding to “2” is determined to be a triangle. At this time, a pressing signal is input to the CPU 61 in response to the pressing of the second stop button 31, and the CPU 61 stores the symbol image data and the set values converted into data (hereinafter referred to as setting value data) in response to this. (Corresponding means) 87. In the memory 87, set value data and image data are stored in one data file in accordance with a predetermined data format. The first stop button 30 and the second stop button 31 are pressed, and the selection of the setting value and the determination of the symbol corresponding to the setting value are repeated, so that the symbol corresponds to each setting value. Can do.

  After the setting value data and the corresponding image data are stored in one data file in the memory 87, once the setting change key cylinder 45 is operated to the OFF position, the setting change key cylinder 45 is turned ON thereafter. When the key is operated to the position, symbols other than the numbers associated with the set values are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 instead of the set values. When the setting change key cylinder 45 is operated to the ON position and a change permission signal is input from the setting change key cylinder 45 to the CPU 61, the CPU 61 sets this setting based on the setting value data of the currently set setting value. Image data is read from the data file in the memory 87 in which the value data is stored and input to the liquid crystal control unit 90. The liquid crystal control unit 90 displays the symbols on the liquid crystal panel 15 based on the inputted symbol data. The operation of the CPU 61 when reading the design image data from the data file in the memory 87 based on the set value data is controlled based on the read program 88 stored in the ROM 62. Further, when the setting change key cylinder 45 is keyed to the ON position, the set value data stored in the memory 87 can be stored by simultaneously pressing the first, second and third stop buttons 30, 31 and 32. The image data corresponding to this can be erased, and thereafter, the liquid crystal panel 15 displays the set value.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described using the flowchart of FIG. When the setting change key 51 inserted into the setting change key cylinder 45 is operated to the ON position by an administrator such as a store clerk, the setting value can be changed by pressing the change operation button 49. At this time, when the first stop button 30 is pressed by the administrator, a set value, a right-pointing arrow, and a symbol are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15, and the set value is blinked. At this time, every time the first stop button 30 is pressed, the set values are switched in order, and when the second stop button 31 is pressed, the set values displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 are set values that change the display mode on the liquid crystal panel 15. Selected.

  When the second stop button is pressed to select a set value, the blinking display of the symbol is started, and the symbol displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 is switched every time the first stop button 30 is pressed. When the second stop button 31 is pressed, the symbol displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 is associated with the selected set value. For example, if the current set value is “3”, the liquid crystal panel 15 displays “3” when the setting change key 51 is operated to the ON position, and the liquid crystal panel is displayed each time the first stop button 30 is pressed. The set value displayed by is sequentially switched to “4”, “5”, “6”, and “1”. When the second stop button 31 is pressed by the administrator when the liquid crystal panel 15 displays “6”, “6” is selected. When the first stop button 30 is pressed, the symbols on the liquid crystal panel 15 are switched, and when the second stop button 31 is pressed, the symbols displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 are associated with the set values. When the administrator repeats the above operation, the symbol corresponds to each set value, and the administrator can grasp the symbol corresponding to the set value while performing these operations. When the administrator changes the setting change key 51 from the ON position to the OFF position, the setting value can no longer be changed, and the next time the setting change key cylinder 45 is operated to the ON position, The liquid crystal panel 15 displays a symbol corresponding to the set value instead of the set value. Even when the liquid crystal panel 15 displays a symbol corresponding to the set value, the set value can be changed by pressing the change operation button 49. At this time, depending on the pressing of the change operation button 49, The liquid crystal panel 15 displays a pattern corresponding to the set value. Once the symbol corresponding to the set value is determined, the first, second, and third stop buttons 30, 31, and 32 are simultaneously pressed when the setting change key cylinder 45 is operated to the ON position to store the memory. Unless the data file stored in 87 is deleted, when the setting change key cylinder 45 is operated to the ON position, the liquid crystal panel 15 displays a symbol corresponding to the set value instead of the set value.

  After the administrator associates the symbol with the set value, a third party opens the lower door 7 in an unauthorized manner, further operates the setting change key cylinder 45 in an unauthorized manner, and moves the setting change key cylinder 45 to the ON position. In this case, the CPU 61 refers to the memory 87 and displays a symbol corresponding to the set value on the liquid crystal panel 15 instead of the set value. The third party does not know what the symbol means, and even if it knows that the symbol is associated with the set value, it is difficult to grasp the set value to which the symbol corresponds. A third party cannot change the setting value as desired.

  In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 15 is used as a display device for displaying set values and symbols. However, the display device is not limited to this. For example, a 14-segment display device or the like can be used as a display device if a CRT display, a plasma display, or the like is used, or if only the graphic corresponding to the set value is a simple graphic.

  In the above embodiment, the setting value displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 is switched by pressing the first stop button 30, and the setting value displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 is selected by pressing the second stop button 31. Thereafter, the symbol corresponding to the set value selected by pressing the first stop button 30 is switched, and then the symbol displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 is correlated with the set value by pressing the second stop button. The method for determining the symbol corresponding to the set value is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, random numbers extracted by the electronic lottery unit 77 are assigned in advance to a plurality of image data included in the symbol data 85, and the second stop button 31 is pressed to display on the liquid crystal panel 15. In response to the selection of the displayed set value, the electronic lottery unit 77 performs a random number extraction process. The symbol determining unit 92 reads image data from the symbol data 85 based on the extracted random numbers, and inputs the read image data to the memory 87. The image data input to the memory 87 is stored in one data file together with the set value data. When the image data is read out to the symbol determining unit 92, the image data is input from the symbol determining unit 92 to the liquid crystal control unit 90, and the set value and the corresponding symbol are displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15. Thus, the administrator can grasp the symbol corresponding to the set value. In this way, the random number is assigned to the image data of the symbol in advance, and the symbol corresponding to the set value is determined by the symbol determining unit 92 based on the random number extracted when the set value is selected. Compared with the case where the symbol is selected and determined using the stop button 30 and the second stop button 31, the symbol corresponding to the set value can be easily determined.

It is a perspective view which shows the slot machine of this invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective sectional view partially showing the inside of the slot machine. It is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the slot machine of the present invention. It is a top view of the liquid crystal panel which displayed the set value, the arrow, and the symbol. It is a flowchart which shows the effect | action of this invention. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a slot machine that determines a symbol corresponding to a set value based on a random number that has been extracted.

Explanation of symbols

2 Slot machines (game machines)
15 LCD panel (display screen)
30 1st stop button (design determination operation part)
31 Second stop button (design determining operation part)
32 Third stop button 45 Setting change key cylinder 49 Change operation button 61 CPU (display control means)
62 ROM
77 Electronic lottery section 87 Memory (association means)
90 LCD controller

Claims (2)

A game is controlled based on a setting value selected from a plurality of setting values having different profit-giving probabilities in the game, and a setting value corresponding to a setting change operation for changing the setting value is displayed as a number. In a gaming machine with a display screen that starts operation,
A gaming machine comprising: association means for associating each set value with a symbol other than a number; and display control means for displaying a symbol associated with the set value by the association means on a display screen.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising a symbol determination operation unit for determining the symbol corresponding to the set value.

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