JP2006000324A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a Pachinko game machine which appropriately performs the time shortening control of a pattern varying operation by judging the case of stable winnings and the case of not being so. <P>SOLUTION: When the number of holding balls is less than 3, variation time determined corresponding to the number of holding balls is set as the next variation time. On the other hand, in the case that a start winning is attained when the number of holding balls is 3 and the number of holding balls reaches an upper limit number (=4), the variation time of the pattern varying operation to be performed by a liquid crystal display part 11 next is selected from a variation time group composed of three kinds of the variation time T4, T5 and T6 of different lengths and set in a variation time memory 52b. Which one of the variation time T4, T5 and T6 is to be set corresponds to the variation time of the pattern varying operation under execution at present. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pachinko gaming machine.

  The most popular pachinko machines currently on the market are the so-called seven machines. In general seven machines, after a central variable display unit performs a symbol change operation for a certain period of time, a big hit is generated when a big win symbol such as “777” is derived and displayed, and a collectable game can be obtained. Has playability. However, the variable display section only displays the result of the internal lottery that determines whether or not the jackpot is won. Actually, the jackpot lottery process is performed at the timing when the ball wins the start winning opening provided in the game area. The decision is made at that time.

  In addition, a big win lottery process will be performed so that if another start-up win occurs during the symbol change operation for one start-up win (the ball wins the start win-win), the start win will not be wasted It is well known that a holding ball storage unit (also referred to as a lottery data storage unit) for storing the lottery data is provided in the seven machine. In general, in order to store lottery data for several start prizes (usually four times) in the reserved ball storage unit, the player can play the ball with peace of mind while the variable display unit is performing symbol movement. You can continue to beat.

However, when the number of lottery data stored in the reserved ball storage unit reaches the upper limit number that can be stored in the reserved ball storage unit, there is a problem that further start winnings become useless balls. is there. In order to solve such a problem, when the upper limit of the number of reserved ball storage units is reached, the time spent for the next symbol variation operation (called variation time) is shortened, or the symbol variation operation currently being performed is forced In other words, control that ends the process, so-called variable time reduction control can be employed (Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).
Japanese Patent No. 3004952 JP 2004-57279 A

  Certainly, if the ball is to be won frequently and stably at the start winning opening, a design that uniformly shortens the variation time is suitable to prevent the player from feeling stress. On the other hand, in the case where a ball wins at the starting winning opening by chance and lottery data is stored up to the upper limit number of the reserved ball storage unit, it is considered that there is no need to shorten the fluctuation time. It is done. This is because, as a result of the shortening, the completion of the symbol variation operation for all start winnings may be quickened, and the player may be given an impression that it is difficult for balls to enter the starting winning opening. It is empirically recognized that even if the number of balls to be awarded at the starting prize opening is exactly the same, the former feels that there are more prizes when the pattern movement is always continuous and when it is interrupted. .

  For this reason, it is considered that it is necessary to devise a method for determining whether there are frequent and stable winnings and when there are consecutive winnings, and not to shorten the variation time according to each case. An object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko gaming machine in which a time reduction control of a symbol variation operation is appropriately performed while determining whether a winning is stable or not.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to solve the above problems, the pachinko machine of the present invention generates a start winning detection signal by detecting a start winning opening provided in a game area where a ball is launched, and a ball winning in the starting winning opening. A predetermined winning lottery means for performing a big hit lottery process for determining whether or not to generate a big hit that is advantageous for the player by acquiring a start winning detection signal from the start winning detector A lottery result storage unit that can store the result of the jackpot lottery process (hereinafter referred to as a lottery result) until the upper limit is reached, and a variable display unit that executes a symbol variation operation based on the lottery result read from the lottery result storage unit; , A jackpot generating means for generating a jackpot when a specific symbol (hereinafter referred to as a jackpot symbol) is displayed on the variable display section, and a new jackpot during one symbol variation operation When the number of lottery results stored in the lottery result storage unit (hereinafter referred to as the number of balls to be held) reaches a specified number after the lottery process is performed once, a new one is executed during the execution of one symbol variation operation. And a variable time setting means for setting a short time as a variable time of the next symbol fluctuation operation as compared with the case where the number of balls to be held reaches the specified number by performing the big jackpot lottery process twice or more. Is the main feature.

  In general, even if the number of balls to be held reaches the same specified number, the number of balls to be held when a new jackpot lottery process is performed once during the execution of one symbol variation operation and when two or more balls are held The method of winning a ball at the start winning opening differs depending on when the number reaches the specified number. In the present invention, the former case is regarded as a state in which the start winning opening is stably won, and the time spent for the next symbol variation operation is shortened. On the other hand, the latter case happens to be considered as having been continuously won, and a longer variation time is set than in the former case. As described above, according to the present invention, based on the increase / decrease state of the number of balls to be held, it is possible to determine fairly accurately when there is a stable start prize and when there is a continuous start prize. It is possible to appropriately perform the time shortening control of the symbol variation operation. As a result, it is possible to make it appear as if it is a table that turns well (= a table with a large number of winnings at the starting winning opening) even if it is difficult for balls to enter the starting winning opening in practice. In addition, for a table that actually turns well, the symbol variation operation can be accelerated so that the player does not feel stress. With such a configuration, a decline in gaming motivation is suppressed, and an improvement in operating rate can be expected.

  In addition, the variation time setting means described above can change the reach symbol in which the lottery result read out to execute the next symbol variation operation among the lottery results stored in the lottery result storage unit is a jackpot symbol or a jackpot symbol It is desirable that the processing is performed so as not to correspond to the derived display on the display unit, and to set a short time as the variation time. It goes without saying that the symbol variation operation to be performed next derives and displays the jackpot symbol, and the symbol variation operation for deriving and displaying the reach symbol cannot be expected to have a sufficient effect if it is terminated early. Therefore, when the next symbol variation operation is jackpot or reach, it is desirable to design such that a unique variation time is normally selected at the jackpot or reach.

  Also, the variation time setting means, when a new jackpot lottery process is performed twice or more during execution of one symbol variation operation and the number of balls to be held reaches a specified number, the symbol variation operation being executed at that time If the symbol is a bonanza symbol or reach symbol derived and displayed, the variation time of the next symbol variation behavior is compared to the case where the symbol variation behavior being executed at that time does not derive or display the jackpot symbol or reach symbol. It is desirable that a short time be set. The fluctuation time at the time of jackpot or reach is basically longer than that at the time of normal loss. As in the present invention, when the number of reserved balls is the upper limit at the time of jackpot end or reach lose, if the next symbol variation operation is finished early, the game is not likely to become redundant.

  The variable time setting means is configured to perform processing for setting a short time as the variable time both when the specified number is the upper limit number and when the specified number is (the upper limit number −1). It is good to be. When the number of balls to be held reaches the upper limit number, T is the longest time that can be set by the variable time setting means, and when the number of balls to be held reaches (upper limit value -1), the variable time setting means is used. When T ′ is the shortest time that can be set, it is preferable that (T′−T) ≧ 0 is satisfied. Assuming now that (T′−T) <0 is set, balls are continuously placed at the start winning opening from the state where the number of lottery data stored in the reserved ball storage unit is (upper limit number −2). Consider the case of winning a prize. In this case, there is a possibility that unnatural motion control is performed such that the next symbol variation operation ends earlier than the next symbol variation operation. Conversely, as in the present invention, such a problem does not occur if (T′−T) ≧ 0.

  In another aspect, in order to solve the problem, the second configuration of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention detects the start winning opening provided in the game area where the ball is launched and that the ball has won the starting winning opening. A start winning detector for generating a start winning detection signal, and a jackpot lottery process for determining whether or not to generate a big hit in the pachinko gaming machine by acquiring the start winning detection signal from the start winning detector Based on the lottery lottery means, the lottery result storage unit capable of storing the result of the big hit lottery process until a predetermined upper limit is reached, and the lottery result read out from the lottery result storage unit, the results of the jackpot lottery process change When the number of lottery results stored in the lottery result storage unit (hereinafter referred to as the number of balls to be held) is less than a threshold, a ball is awarded at the start winning opening and newly displayed. When the winning lottery process is performed and the number of balls to be held is increased by 1, the variation time determined corresponding to the number of balls to be held is set as the variation time to be spent on the symbol variation operation to be performed next on the variable display unit On the other hand, when the number of balls to be held is (upper limit number -1), a ball is won at the start winning opening and a new jackpot lottery process is performed. The variation time setting means for selecting and setting one variation time group composed of a plurality of variation times having different lengths, and the variation time setting means selected for the variation time spent on the symbol variation operation to be performed by the display unit The selected variation time or alternative identification data is stored so that the symbol variation operation can be performed at the variation time, and the variation time required for the symbol variation operation can be identified during the execution of the symbol variation operation. A variable time storage unit, and the variable time setting means refers to the variable time storage unit when performing a process of selecting a variable time from the variable time group and storing and setting it in the variable time storage unit, (1) If the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed at that time constitutes the variation time group and is not the shortest of the variation time groups, select a shorter variation time from the variation time group. While setting in the variation time storage unit as the symbol variation operation to be performed next, (2) when the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed at that time does not constitute a variation time group, the longest variation The main feature is that the time is selected from the variable time group and is set in the variable time storage unit as that of the symbol changing operation to be performed next.

  In the present invention, when the so-called number of balls to be held changes from (the upper limit number-1) to the upper limit number, the process of selecting the change time from the change time group is executed. In this case, the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed is confirmed by the variation time storage unit, and the variation time of the next symbol variation operation is selected according to the confirmation result. As described in (1) above, when the symbol variation operation being performed constitutes a variation time group, this consumes one reserved ball (lottery data) after the number of reserved balls reaches the upper limit. This means that the symbol changing operation is being performed, that is, the number of balls to be held is going back and forth between the upper limit number and (upper limit number -1). In the present invention, such a situation is regarded as “a state where the start winning opening is stably won”, and the time spent for the next symbol variation operation is shortened. On the other hand, in (2), since the fluctuation time of the currently executing symbol fluctuation operation does not constitute a fluctuation time group, this is started continuously from a state where there is at least two or more spaces in the reserved ball storage unit. This is a case where there is a prize and the number of reserved balls reaches the upper limit. In other words, since there is a high possibility that the start winning event happens continuously, in this case, the longest variation time is selected from the variation time group.

  As described above, according to the present invention, based on the increase / decrease state of the number of balls to be held, it is possible to determine fairly accurately when there is a stable start prize and when there is a continuous start prize. It is possible to appropriately perform the time shortening control of the symbol variation operation. As a result, it is possible to make it appear as if it is a table that turns well (= a table with a large number of winnings at the starting winning opening) even if it is difficult for balls to enter the starting winning opening in practice. In addition, for a table that actually turns well, the symbol variation operation can be accelerated so that the player does not feel stress. With such a configuration, a decline in gaming motivation is suppressed, and an improvement in operating rate can be expected.

  In addition, when the number of lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit is less than the threshold value, a fixed variable time determined in accordance with the number of lottery data stored in the variable display unit is to be performed next. It is set as the variable time for variable operation. This is because when the number of balls to be held is less than the threshold, there is no need to quickly end the symbol variation operation.

  Further, the above-described variation time setting means is configured such that when the ball wins the start winning opening, the big hit lottery process is performed, and lottery data is newly stored in the retention ball storage unit, The lottery data related to the past jackpot lottery processing among the lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit with reference to the storage unit does not correspond to deriving and displaying the jackpot symbol or the reach symbol that is a precursor to the jackpot And it is good to be comprised so that the process of above-mentioned (2) may be performed after confirming that the number of reservation balls is not less than a threshold value. Regardless of the case where the next symbol variation operation is to derive and display the jackpot symbol, if the symbol variation operation for deriving and displaying the reach symbol is finished earlier, a sufficient effect cannot be expected. Therefore, when the next symbol variation operation is jackpot or reach, it is desirable to design such that a unique variation time is normally selected at the jackpot or reach.

  Also, in (2) above, when the symbol variation operation being executed at that time derives and displays a jackpot symbol or reach symbol, the shortest variation time is selected from the variation time group and the symbol variation to be performed next is performed. It may be set in the variable time storage unit as an operation. The fluctuation time at the time of jackpot or reach is basically longer than that at the time of normal loss. As in the present invention, when the number of reserved balls is the upper limit at the time of jackpot end or reach lose, if the next symbol variation operation is finished early, the game is not likely to become redundant.

  Further, it is preferable to set the threshold to (upper limit number −2). At the same time, the fluctuation time setting means is a lottery lottery in which a ball wins a winning prize opening during a symbol fluctuation operation performed in response to the number of held balls being further reduced from (the upper limit number -1). Even when the processing is performed and the number of balls to be held reaches (the upper limit number −1) again, the variation time spent for the symbol variation operation to be performed next on the variable display section is changed to a plurality of variation times having different lengths. The process which selects one from the 2nd fluctuation | variation time group which consists of can be comprised. And, when T is the longest variation time among the variation times when the number of balls to be held reaches the upper limit number, and T ′ is the shortest variation time among the variation times constituting the second variation time group, (T ′ It is preferable that the length of the variation time forming each variation time group is adjusted so as to satisfy −T) ≧ 0. Assuming now that (T′−T) <0 is set, balls are continuously placed at the start winning opening from the state where the number of lottery data stored in the reserved ball storage unit is (upper limit number −2). Consider the case of winning a prize. In this case, there is a possibility that unnatural motion control is performed such that the next symbol variation operation ends earlier than the next symbol variation operation. Conversely, as in the present invention, such a problem does not occur if (T′−T) ≧ 0.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the present invention. The pachinko gaming machine 1 has a front glass door 5 attached to the underframe and a game board 3 that is arranged inside the underframe and is covered by the glass door 5. The game board 3 forms a circular game area. Below the game board 3, a ball supply tray 6 is provided. The game balls (pachinko balls) prepared on the ball supply tray 6 are fired toward the game board 3 by a launching device including a handle 7 and the like. The game balls that have reached the game board 3 through the rails jump out of the hitting ball launcher and fall by their own weight while being played by a number of nails drilled in the game board 3.

  A liquid crystal display unit 11 (variable display unit) is disposed at substantially the center of the game area formed by the game board 3. A display device using a light emitting diode instead of a liquid crystal or a reel type display device can also be adopted. Three characters (multiple digits) such as Arabic numerals are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 11. Below the liquid crystal display unit 11, a holding ball lamp 23, a start winning opening 17 (start winning gate), and a big winning device 19 are provided. The holding ball lamp 23 includes four segments, and corresponds to the number of lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a of the RAM 52 (details will be described later). The number of lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a is often referred to as the number of holding balls. The holding ball lamp 23 is configured by an LED capable of emitting a plurality of colors, but may be shared by the liquid crystal display unit 11. The big winning device 19 is configured as a variable winning device in which a movable door is opened and closed, and is opened when a big hit occurs when a big hit symbol is derived and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 11. An out ball collection port 15 for collecting out balls is provided at the lowermost center of the game board 3.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the game control device 300 of the pachinko gaming machine 1. The game control device 300 is arranged on the back side of the game board 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the game control device 300 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes a main control board 100 (main control part), a display control board 105 (display control part), a voice control board 106 (voice control part), and lamp control. It is configured to include a substrate 107 (lamp control unit), a payout control substrate 108 (prize ball control unit), and a firing control substrate 109 (launch control unit). A configuration in which each substrate individually includes a CPU and a memory is common, but is omitted in FIG. Each substrate is supplied with a predetermined voltage of power generated by the power supply circuit unit 110.

  The display control board 105 executes a process for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display unit 11 in accordance with a display control signal input from the main control board 100. The display control board 105 and the liquid crystal display unit 11 constitute a display device. The sound control board 106 outputs sound from the speaker 116 according to the input sound control signal. The lamp control board 107 controls lighting / extinguishing of the holding ball lamp 23 according to the input lamp control signal. The payout control board 108 controls the payout device 118 according to the input prize ball signal. Thereby, a predetermined amount of prize balls are paid out to the player. The launch control board 109 activates the launch device 119 provided corresponding to the handle 7 in response to the player operating the handle 7 (operation unit). Depending on the amount of operation of the handle 7, it is possible to adjust the ball launching strength (ball flight distance). The main control board 100 includes a CPU 50, a ROM 51 for storing a program, a RAM 52 to which a work area and various counters are assigned, and an input / output interface 53, which communicate with each other via a bus. It has become.

  The main control board 100 is electrically connected to a start winning detector 170 provided in the start winning opening 17 and a large winning detector 190 provided in the large winning device 19 via the input / output interface 53. . Each detector is constituted by a contact type or non-contact type sensor. Further, the opening / closing of the door of the big winning device 19 configured as a variable winning device is energized by the solenoid 191 for the big winning device connected to the main control board 100 via the input / output interface 53 and a drive circuit (not shown). / De-excitation is performed by switching.

  When a ball wins the start winning opening 17, the start winning detector 170 provided along with the ball detects the passage of the ball, and a start winning signal is generated. Similarly, when a ball is won in the big winning device 19, the big winning detector 190 generates a big winning signal. These winning signals are input to the main control board 100. The CPU 50 of the main control board 100 acquires a start winning signal from the start winning detector 170, and executes predetermined electrical processing according to the signal acquisition timing (input timing). The electrical processing includes a jackpot lottery process for determining whether or not to generate a jackpot in the pachinko gaming machine 1, and a display process for deriving and displaying the lottery result of the jackpot lottery process on the liquid crystal display unit 11. Including.

  The CPU 50 of the main control board 100 serves as a main body that executes a lottery process for determining whether or not to generate a jackpot (a jackpot lottery means). Further, the CPU 50 receives a result of the big hit lottery process and determines a symbol to be derived and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 11. Then, a display control signal (control command) based on the determination is output to the display control board 105. The display control board 105 displays a design, a background, etc. on the liquid crystal display unit 11 according to the input display control signal. When it is determined that a big hit will be generated by the big win lottery process, the big win symbol (for example, a doublet such as “777”) is finally derived and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 11 through screen scrolling for a predetermined time. Similarly, each control board performs control based on a control signal (control command) sent from the main control board 100 for voice output and blinking of the lamp. A program for performing such control is stored in the ROM 51 of the main control board 100 and the ROM (not shown) of each control board.

  The procedure of the jackpot lottery process will be described. In the game control device 300 (specifically, the main control board 100) of the pachinko gaming machine 1, the CPU 50 acquires a random number value from the random number generation means in accordance with the timing at which the ball wins the start winning opening 17, and the random value Jackpot lottery is performed by determining whether or not matches the jackpot random number. A technique related to such a lottery method is well known, and usually a jackpot lottery counter is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 52 and used as a random number generating means. The “random number value” described in the present specification refers to a value that is extracted with an equal probability from the number in a predetermined range.

  The jackpot lottery counter indicates any integer value within a certain numerical range such as “0 to 360”, for example, and is updated every time the CPU 50 receives a timer interrupt (specifically, “+1”). ) After reaching “360”, it is counted up again from “0”. In this way, the jackpot lottery counter is defined as a counter in which a random value that can be taken changes cyclically within a certain numerical range. In a normal gaming state, a ball is won at the start winning opening 17, and a random value is acquired from the jackpot winning lottery counter according to the winning, and the random number value matches a predetermined jackpot random number, for example, “7”. In this case, a jackpot will be generated (CPU 50: jackpot generating means). The timer interrupt of the CPU 50 can be set to occur approximately every 2 msec using a counter / timer circuit unit (not shown) provided on the main control board 100. In response to the timer interrupt, an interrupt program for controlling the operation of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is called.

  The result of the jackpot lottery process is temporarily stored in the reserved ball storage unit 52a assigned to a predetermined area of the RAM 52 as shown in FIG. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the liquid crystal display unit 11 can perform a new symbol variation operation. This is because the symbol changing operation related to the subsequent jackpot lottery process cannot be performed while the symbol changing operation related to the previous jackpot lottery process is being performed. That is, when the symbol variation operation related to the previous jackpot lottery process has been completed, a display control signal for starting the symbol variation operation is transmitted to the display control board 105. On the other hand, when the symbol variation operation related to the previous jackpot lottery process is continuing, the lottery data indicating the result of the jackpot lottery process is held in the holding ball storage unit 52a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the holding ball storage unit 52 a is designed to store lottery data related to the big hit lottery process for a plurality of times, specifically four times. The number of lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a (referred to as the number of holding balls) matches the number of lighting of the holding ball lamp 23 shown in FIG. The contents of the lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a include a random number acquired from the jackpot lottery counter, identification data indicating whether the acquired random number is a jackpot random number or a lost random number, and if the jackpot is a random hit or a normal jackpot This is identification data or the like. In addition, when the number of balls to be held matches the upper limit (in this embodiment, four times of jackpot lottery), even if a ball wins the start winning opening 17, the jackpot lottery process is not performed. The lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a is sequentially read out from the jackpot lottery process performed most recently, and the symbol variation operation according to the read lottery data is executed. In addition, in order to identify how many reserved balls, this reserved ball storage unit 52 may be referred to directly, or only the number of reserved balls may be stored in a separate storage unit. .

  The symbol variation operation will be described. An image processor (not shown) of the display control board 105 creates an RGB signal or a sync signal based on a control signal sent from the main control board 100 and sends it to the liquid crystal display unit 11. Specifically, scrolling of the screen is started by a variation pattern designation signal (variation start signal), and a left character designation signal, a right character designation signal, a middle character designation signal, and a variation stop signal are transmitted, whereby the liquid crystal display unit The symbol is derived and displayed at 11, and the symbol variation operation ends. For this reason, after the change of the liquid crystal display unit 11 is started, the time until the next change can be started is a one-time symbol change operation.

  However, since the display control board 105 does not notify the main control board 100 of the progress of the symbol changing operation, the CPU 50 of the main control board 100 has completed the symbol changing operation executed by the display control board 105. It is recognized by the timer that it manages. The variation time spent for the symbol variation operation is not always constant, and is determined in advance on the main control board 100 side before the variation of the liquid crystal display unit 11 is started. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a portion for storing the variation time is provided as a variation time storage unit 52 b in the RAM 52. The variation time storage unit 52b refers to the variation time storage unit 52b, thereby varying the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed by the display control board 105 ("present" in FIG. 4) and the symbol variation to be executed next. In order to be able to identify the fluctuation time of the operation (“next time” in FIG. 4), the fluctuation time or the fluctuation time data in place of them is stored. The symbol variation operation to be executed next is based on the lottery data related to the past jackpot lottery process among the lottery data stored in the reserved ball storage unit 52a.

  The next processing for setting the variation time of the symbol variation operation (referred to as variation time setting processing) is executed in addition to the jackpot lottery processing. However, if the symbol variation operation to be performed next is to derive and display the jackpot symbol or the reach symbol that is a precursor to the jackpot, a dedicated variation time is set at the time of jackpot or reach. On the other hand, as shown in the list of FIG. For example, when the first holding ball lamp is turned off at the start of the next symbol variation, that is, when there is a lottery data when no lottery data is stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a, the variation time has T1. Is set. When one or more lottery data is stored in the reserved ball storage unit 52a, if the ball wins the start winning opening 17 and a new jackpot lottery process is executed, the next fluctuation time is already set. However, the stored contents may be rewritten to change this to a variable time of another length.

  When the number of balls to be held is less than 3 (less than the threshold value), if the ball wins the start winning opening 17 and the jackpot lottery process is performed and lottery data is newly stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a, the ball is held. The variation time T1, T2 or T3 determined in a one-to-one correspondence with the number of balls is set as the variation time of the next symbol variation operation. That is, how many reserved ball lamps are turned off when performing the next symbol variation operation, in other words, when one lottery data stored in the reserved ball storage unit 52a is consumed, the lottery stored. When the data is zero, the fluctuation time is set as T1, when it is one, T2 when it is two, and T3 when it is two. A shorter variation time is set when the number of remaining balls is larger. With such a configuration, even if the ball is easy to win at the start winning opening, it will be possible to finish a single symbol change operation quickly, so the player must stop to prevent useless balls. You do n’t have to. In the present embodiment, T1 and T2 have the same variation time. However, if T1> T2> T3, the variation time may be positively stepped.

  On the other hand, when the number of balls to be held is three or more, when a ball wins the start winning opening 17 and a big hit lottery process is performed and lottery data is newly stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a, that is, the next symbol variation Only when the fourth holding ball lamp is extinguished at the start, one of three fluctuation times T4, T5, and T6 having different lengths is set as the fluctuation time of the symbol fluctuation operation for the extinction. . These variable time groups composed of three variable times are used for control to shorten the variable time when the number of balls to be held becomes four. In the variation time setting process in which one variation time is selected from the variation time group and stored in the variation time storage unit 52b, the short variation times T5 and T6 are easily set when there is a stable winning. When the number of balls to be held reaches the upper limit number (= 4), a long variation time T4 is easily set. This variable time setting process will be described below.

  First, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of main processing executed by the main control board 100. After the power to the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on, known initialization processing such as interrupt mode setting and RAM check is executed (S1). After the timer interruption in S3, interruption processing (S5) is executed. In addition, the non-constant speed counter addition process (S2) is executed using the remaining time of the interrupt process. A typical example of this non-constant speed counter is a counter used for determining a symbol (big hit symbol, lost symbol) to be derived and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 11. If a timer interrupt is confirmed, the timer interrupt flag that was turned on when the timer interrupt occurred is cleared (S4).

  Next, FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of selecting a variation time of a symbol variation operation and setting it in the variation time storage unit 52b among interrupt processes divided into several subroutines. First, when a winning of a ball in the start winning opening 17 is detected and a start winning signal is acquired, the CPU 50 performs a process (S11) for paying out a predetermined number of prize balls. Subsequently, referring to the reserved ball storage unit 52a in S12 and confirming that the number of reserved balls is three or less, a process (S13) for lighting the next reserved ball lamp, that is, the fourth segment, The jackpot lottery process (S14) is performed. Then, the result of the jackpot lottery process is stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a in the form of lottery data (S15).

  Next, the lottery data relating to the past jackpot lottery process among the lottery data stored in the reserved ball storage unit 52a is read out from the reserved ball storage unit 52a (S16). The lottery data relating to the past jackpot lottery process corresponds to the symbol variation operation to be performed next. In S17, it is determined whether or not the read lottery data is a normal loss, that is, a big hit or a reach. If the read lottery data corresponds to the derivation and display of the jackpot symbol or the reach symbol which is a precursor to the jackpot, the process proceeds to S18 and the jackpot variation time or reach variation time (TA Or any one of TD).

  In the present embodiment, there are two types of super-reach jackpot (TA) and reach jackpot (TB) as the jackpot fluctuation time, and two types of super-reach loser (TC) and reach loser (TD) as the jackpot fluctuation time. Depending on whether it is reach or not, one is selected and set from these plural fluctuation times. Note that the reach state means that two of the three displayed characters are of the same type (for example, 7 and 7), and the remaining one character changes at a slower speed than usual, and the player's response to the jackpot occurrence It is a state that is controlled to increase the sense of expectation. If all the characters are the same from the reach state, it is a jackpot symbol, but otherwise, it is a reach symbol (reach lose symbol).

  If the symbol variation operation to be performed next is a normal loss symbol, it is determined in S19 whether or not the number N of reserved balls matches the upper limit number (= 4) by referring to the reserved ball storage unit 52a. To do. When the number N of reserved balls is not the upper limit number, as shown in FIG. 3, the variation times T1 to T3 are set according to each case of the number of reserved balls 1 to 3 (S20). In the case where the number of reserved balls is stored in a storage unit provided separately from the reserved ball storage unit 52a, the current reserved number of balls is identified by referring to the storage unit instead of the reserved ball storage unit 52a. You may make it do. The normal losing symbol is a losing symbol derived and displayed without going through the reach state.

  When the number N of retained balls is the upper limit number (= 4), the process proceeds to S21, and the fluctuation time storage unit 52b shown in FIG. 4 is read. If the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed at that time is set to T1 to T3, the longest variation among the three variation times forming the variation time group when the number of balls to be held is four Time T4 is set in the fluctuation time storage unit 52b as the next fluctuation time (S22). Although the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed is set to T1 to T3, it is considered that the number of reserved balls has reached the upper limit number as follows. For example, it is assumed that the symbol changing operation is performed with one or two reserved balls. The fluctuation time at this time is always one of T1 to T3. Then, if there are two or three start winnings in succession before the ongoing symbol variation operation ends, the number of reserved balls reaches the upper limit. In the present invention, such a situation is regarded as a case where the start winnings are consecutive, and the longest fluctuation time T4 is set as the next fluctuation time among the fluctuation times when the number of balls to be held becomes four.

  On the other hand, when the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed is not T1 to T3, it is determined whether or not it is T4 (S23). If the current fluctuation time is T4, T5 is set as the next fluctuation time (S24). Although the variation time T4 constitutes the variation time group shown in FIG. 3, since it is not the shortest variation time, the variation time T5 shorter by one step than T4 is selected and the symbol variation to be performed next is performed. The variable time memory 52b is set as the operation. If the current variation time is not T4, that is, if it is T5 or T6, T6 is set as the next variation time (S25). Which of the fluctuation times T4, T5, and T6 is set when the number of balls to be held becomes four depends on the fluctuation time of the symbol fluctuation operation being executed at that time. When the number of reserved balls reaches the upper limit at least once, and when the number of reserved balls is consumed from that state and the symbol variation operation is executed, the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed is T4, T5 or T6 It becomes. As described above, according to the present invention, when a start winning is made during the symbol variation operation performed in response to the number of balls to be held decreased by one from the upper limit number (= 4), this situation is stably stabilized. Is assumed to occur, and the next fluctuation time is set to shorter fluctuation times T5 and T6. Of course, since the current variation time may be the shortest variation time T6, in this case, the next variation time is also T6. As described above, the shorter the time between the situation where the number of balls is held = 3 and the situation where the number of balls is = 4, the shorter the variation time is set.

  In this embodiment, there are three variation times T4, T5, and T6 when the fourth holding ball lamp is consumed. However, the variation time may be two or more than three. However, if the variation time is longer and shorter than two steps, the variation time is required when the control in which the number of balls to be held is reduced by one from the upper limit number and the control to reach the upper limit number again are repeated. Will be shortened over several steps. By performing such control, it is possible to moderately suppress an extreme change in the variation time, so that an effect of preventing the player from feeling uncomfortable can be expected. In addition, in a stand where balls frequently win at the start winning opening 17, it is easy to set a shorter fluctuation time, so it becomes possible to provide a game full of swiftness, and an improvement in interest can be expected.

  Moreover, when performing the variable time setting process of S16-S25 and the big hit lottery process of S14 as a subroutine of the main process of FIG. 6, except when one or more lottery data is stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a, These processes need to be performed in the order described in the flowchart. This is because if there is no lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a, the big hit lottery process is performed first, and the fluctuation pattern such as the big hit, reach, lose, etc. is determined. This is because there is no way to set it.

  Further, according to the flowchart of FIG. 7, when the symbol changing operation being executed is to derive and display a jackpot symbol or a reach symbol, and when the number of reserved balls reaches the upper limit, the process proceeds to S25, and the number of reserved balls Among the fluctuation times in the case of = 4, the shortest fluctuation time T6 is set as the fluctuation time of the next symbol fluctuation operation. The fluctuation time at the time of jackpot or reach is basically longer than that at the time of normal loss. Therefore, it is preferable from the viewpoint of maintaining the quickness of the game progress to finish the next symbol variation operation early and balance the whole.

(Second embodiment)
In the embodiment described in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the variation time is shortened stepwise only when the number of lottery data stored in the holding ball storage unit 52a continues to be four (that is, the upper limit number). I was controlling to go. This control can also be applied when the number of balls to be held increases from two to three. FIG. 8 is a flowchart in that case, and the form as shown in FIG. 5 can be shown as the variation time that can be set as the variation time of the next symbol variation operation. The second variation time group when the number of balls to be held becomes three is composed of two variation times t3 and t4. The first variation time group for when the number of balls to be held becomes four, as in the previous embodiment, is composed of three variation times t5, t6, and t7.

  The processes of S30 to S38 in the flowchart of FIG. 8 are the same as those in the previous embodiment. Therefore, the process from S39 will be described. The difference is the part of the variable time setting process (S41 to S43) when the number of balls to be held shifts to three. After performing the big hit lottery process in S34 and S35 to increase the number of balls to be held by one, if the current number N of balls to be held is less than three, t1 or t2 is set as the next fluctuation time.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S41 that the current number of reserved balls is three, the process proceeds to S42, and the current fluctuation time is read from the fluctuation time storage unit 52b. If the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed at that time is set to t1 or t2, the longer variation time t3 of the variation times t3 and t4 forming the second variation time group is changed to the next variation. The time is set in the fluctuation time storage unit 52b (S43). Otherwise, the shorter variation time t4 is set in the variation time storage unit 52b as the next variation time (S44). As described above, in this embodiment, the winning prize is performed during the symbol change operation performed in response to the decrease in the number of balls to be held from one of the three states, and the jackpot lottery process is performed. In this case, the process of selecting one of the following symbol variation operation variation times from the second variation time group consisting of a plurality of variation times t3 and t4 having different lengths is executed. Further, the control for shortening the fluctuation time when the number of balls to be held reaches the upper limit is performed in the same manner as the procedure described in FIG. 7 as shown in S45 to S49.

  In this way, when a new jackpot lottery process is performed once during the execution of one symbol variation operation and the number of reserved balls reaches the upper limit number (specified number), one symbol variation operation is performed. Compared to the case where the new jackpot lottery process is performed twice or more during execution and the number of reserved balls reaches the upper limit, a shorter time is set as the variation time of the next symbol variation operation. Even if the number of balls to be held is less than the upper limit number, the length of variation time is selected according to the start winning situation, so it is more appropriate when the number of balls to be held reaches the upper limit number It is possible to set a variable time.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the longest fluctuation time t5 among the fluctuation times when the number of balls on hold reaches four, and the shortest fluctuation time t4 among the fluctuation times when the number of balls on hold reaches three. Are compared, the length of the variation time forming each variation time group is adjusted so that (t4−t5) ≧ 0 is satisfied. According to this, there is no possibility of unnatural motion control that the next symbol variation operation ends earlier than the next symbol variation operation, and the player is given the impression that the variation time changes extremely naturally. I can.

The front schematic diagram of the pachinko game machine of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the pachinko gaming machine of FIG. Setting form of the variation time spent for symbol variation operation. The conceptual diagram of a holding ball memory | storage part and a fluctuation time memory | storage part. Other setting forms of the variation time spent for the symbol variation operation. The flowchart of the main process performed with a main control board. The flowchart of a change time setting process. The flowchart of the change time setting process of 2nd embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Pachinko machine 3 Game board 11 Liquid crystal display (variable display)
17 Start winning opening 50 CPU (Big hit lottery means, big hit generation means, variable time setting means)
52 RAM
52a Reservation Ball Storage Unit 52b Fluctuation Time Storage Unit 100 Main Control Board 105 Display Control Board 170 Start Prize Detector 300 Game Control Device

Claims (5)

A start winning opening provided in a game area where balls are fired,
A start winning detector that detects that a ball has won at the start winning opening and generates a start winning detection signal;
A jackpot lottery means for performing a jackpot lottery process for determining whether or not to generate a jackpot advantageous for a player by acquiring the start prize detection signal from the start prize detector;
A lottery result storage unit capable of storing the result of the jackpot lottery process (hereinafter referred to as a lottery result) until a predetermined upper limit is reached;
A variable display unit that executes a symbol variation operation based on the lottery result read from the lottery result storage unit;
Jackpot generating means for generating the jackpot when a specific symbol (hereinafter referred to as jackpot symbol) is displayed on the variable display section;
The number of lottery results stored in the lottery result storage unit after the new jackpot lottery process is performed once during the execution of the symbol variation operation once (hereinafter referred to as the number of balls to be held) becomes a specified number. In the case where the number of reserved balls has been reached, the new jackpot lottery process is performed twice or more during the execution of the symbol variation operation once, and the number of the reserved balls reaches the specified number compared to the following symbols. A variable time setting means for setting a short time as a variable time of the variable operation;
A pachinko gaming machine characterized by comprising:   The variation time setting means is a reach in which the lottery result read out to execute the next symbol variation operation among the lottery results stored in the lottery result storage unit is the jackpot symbol or the jackpot sign The pachinko according to claim 1, wherein the pachinko is configured to perform a process of setting a short time as the variation time by confirming that the symbol does not correspond to the derivation display on the variable display unit. Gaming machine.   The variation time setting means is executed when the new jackpot lottery process is performed twice or more during the execution of one symbol variation operation and the number of reserved balls reaches the specified number. When the symbol variation operation is to derive and display the jackpot symbol or the reach symbol, compared to the case where the symbol variation operation being executed at that time does not derive and display the jackpot symbol or the reach symbol. The pachinko gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a short time is set as a variation time of the next symbol variation operation. The variable time setting means performs a process of setting a short time as the variable time both when the specified number is the upper limit number and when the specified number is (the upper limit number −1). Composed of
When the number of reserved balls reaches the upper limit number, T is the longest time that can be set by the variable time setting means, and when the number of reserved balls reaches (the upper limit value -1), the fluctuation occurs. 4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein (T′−T) ≧ 0 is satisfied, where T ′ is the shortest time that can be set by the time setting means. 5. The pachinko gaming machine according to item 1. A start winning opening provided in a game area where balls are fired,
A start winning detector that detects that a ball has won at the start winning opening and generates a start winning detection signal;
A jackpot lottery means for performing a jackpot lottery process for determining whether or not to generate the jackpot in the pachinko gaming machine by acquiring the start prize detection signal from the start prize detector;
A lottery result storage unit capable of storing the result of the jackpot lottery process until a predetermined upper limit is reached;
Based on the lottery result read from the lottery result storage unit, a variable display unit that derives and displays the result of the jackpot lottery process at the end of the symbol variation operation;
When the number of lottery results stored in the lottery result storage unit (hereinafter referred to as the number of balls to be held) is less than a threshold value, a ball wins the start winning opening and the jackpot lottery process is newly performed, and the holding In the case of increasing the number of balls by one, while setting the variation time determined corresponding to the number of balls to be held as the variation time to be spent on the symbol variation operation to be performed next to the variable display unit, When the number of reserved balls is (the upper limit number -1), a ball is won in the start winning opening and the jackpot lottery process is newly performed. When the number of held balls reaches the upper limit number, A variation time setting means for selecting and setting one variation time group composed of a plurality of variation times having different lengths from the variation time spent on the symbol variation operation to be performed by the variable display unit;
The selected variation time or identification data in place of the variation time is stored so that the symbol variation operation is performed at the variation time selected by the variation time setting means, and the symbol variation is also performed during the execution of the symbol variation operation. A variable time storage unit that makes it possible to identify the variable time required for operation;
The variation time setting means refers to the variation time storage unit when performing the process of selecting the variation time from the variation time group and storing and setting it in the variation time storage unit, and the symbol variation being executed at that time When the variation time of the operation constitutes the variation time group and is not the shortest time among the variation time groups, the shorter variation time is selected from the variation time group and then performed. If the variation time of the symbol variation operation being executed at that time does not constitute the variation time group while being set in the variation time storage unit as that of the scheduled symbol variation operation, the longest variation time The pachinko gaming machine is configured to select the symbol from the variation time group and set it in the variation time storage unit as the symbol variation operation scheduled to be performed next.

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