JP2006014842A - Rotary-body-type game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fair game in a rotary-body-type game machine by eliminating such an advantageous situation that an opportunity of winning is increased by appropriately operating the auto-stop according to patterns displayed before the start of the game. <P>SOLUTION: When rotating reels 101a, 101b and 101c are automatically stopped in a prescribed period of time after the start of rotation of the reels by a start lever 75 in the rotary-body-type game machine, patterns on the reels 101a, 101b and 101c are stopped at positions displaced by the distance of 1/4-3/4 of each pattern in the direction of rotation of the patterns from the positions of the patterns stopped by the operation of a stop button. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a swivel-type gaming machine that displays symbols variably by rotating a reel and presents a game result in accordance with a combination of stop symbols.

  Conventionally, a slot machine is known as a revolving game machine. In a general slot machine, three rows of reels in a housing are visually observed through a transparent display window formed in a front door. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged and drawn on the peripheral surface of each reel, and the symbols related to winning or losing a game are variably displayed by rotating the reels. In addition, the slot machine is provided with a start lever for rotating the reels all at once and a stop button for individually stopping the rotating reels. In response to the pressing operation, the brake is applied and the operation stops. When the combination of symbols displayed on each reel becomes a combination of symbols related to the winning combination and is aligned on the active line, the winning is confirmed, and the number of game media (medals) corresponding to the combination of the winning symbols is paid out. The

  When the above-mentioned start lever is tilted, a winning combination lottery using a random number called an internal lottery is performed. That is, when a slot machine wins a winning combination by an internal lottery, the slot machine stores the symbol related to the winning combination, and the symbol is displayed within a predetermined time (for example, 190 milliseconds) from the time when the stop button is pressed. When it is possible to stop on the effective line, the rotation of the reel is controlled to stop the symbol related to the winning on the effective line (such reel control is referred to as “pull-in control”). As a result, the factors that determine the winning or losing of the slot machine largely depend on the internal lottery using random numbers, and it becomes possible to perform fair games by eliminating technical intervention of games by skilled players. ing.

  On the other hand, an automatic stop control is performed on a rotating reel that is not stopped by a stop button for a certain period of time (for example, 40 seconds) from when the start lever is tilted (for example, see Patent Document 1). That is, in the conventional slot machine, when the reels are automatically stopped, the stop operation by the above-described stop button is considered to be performed when a certain time has elapsed from the start of the reel rotation, and the reel stop control is performed. That is, when the game has been internally won for a certain winning combination by the internal lottery, the above-described pull-in control is performed, and the winning of the winning combination may be confirmed.

JP 2002-153596 A (pages 5 to 13 of the specification, FIGS. 1 and 4)

  By the way, according to the above-described conventional slot machine, the acceleration at the time of starting the rotation of the reel and the rotation speed at the constant speed are controlled under the same conditions in each game. When the automatic stop is activated, the display symbol in the game depends on the display symbol before the game starts. In other words, if the automatic stop is intentionally activated based on the display pattern before the game starts, there is a problem that the probability of winning is higher and the game is not fair compared to the stop operation by the stop button. It was.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and eliminates the effect depending on the display pattern before the game starts, or eliminates the advantage of intentional automatic stop, thereby eliminating the fairness of the game. The purpose of this is to provide a swivel-type game machine that secures the thickness.

The present invention provides a plurality of reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on a peripheral surface, a start lever for performing a rotation start operation of the plurality of reels, and an operation for stopping the rotation of each reel. And a stop button and automatic stop means for stopping the rotating reels after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of rotation of the reels by the start lever. When the plurality of reels are stopped, they are arranged in an effective line of the display window of the reels. It is a swing type game machine in which a dividend is determined by a combination of symbols,
The stop position of the symbol by the automatic stop means is a rotating type gaming machine set at a position shifted by a predetermined distance in the rotation direction of the symbol from the stop position of the symbol by the operation of the stop button.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the symbol stop position by the automatic stop means is ¼ to ¾ of the symbol frame length in the symbol rotation direction with respect to the symbol stop position by operating the stop button. This is a spinning machine that is set to be in a different position.

  According to the rotating type gaming machine of the present invention, with respect to a reel that is automatically stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of rotation of the reel by the start lever, with respect to the symbol stop position by the operation of the stop button, The game is set to stop at a position shifted by 1/4 to 3/4 of the length of one symbol, and the game for which the automatic stop control is executed is not performed. . This eliminates the advantage of automatically operating the automatic stop according to the display pattern before the game is started to increase the chance of winning a prize, and provides a fair game.

  Hereinafter, a slot machine will be described as an example of a preferred embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing the external structure of the slot machine 1, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the internal structure of the slot machine 1 with the front door 3 opened.

  In FIG. 1, a slot machine 1 includes a housing 2 that is a substantially rectangular box, and a front door 3 that is attached to the housing 2 and can be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism. The front side of the front door 3 is roughly divided into an upper panel portion 4 and a lower panel portion 5, which are integrally formed of hard plastic as a so-called decorative board designed to enhance the visual effect. Further, below the lower panel portion 5, there is provided a tray unit 6 in which a tray portion 6a for storing medals (game media) to be paid out at the time of winning is integrally formed.

  In addition, an operation console 7 is integrally formed between the upper panel portion 4 and the lower panel portion 5 so as to protrude toward the player side and in which switches for performing a game operation are arranged. In addition, the upper panel part 4, the console 7, the lower panel part 5, and the saucer unit 6 face the player side, and these constitute a "front panel part".

  A panel surface 41 formed of a hard plastic plate or the like is provided at the center of the upper panel portion 4. A substantially rectangular transparent display window 42 is formed substantially at the center of the panel surface 41, and the three reels 101a, 101b, 101c of the reel unit 100 provided in the housing 2 are viewed through the display window 42. .

  Here, in the reel unit 100 installed in the housing 2, cylindrical reels 101a, 101b, and 101c are arranged in the rotation axis direction, respectively, and the outer circumferential surfaces of the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c are arranged in the circumferential direction. A plurality of types of symbols are drawn along. The player can visually recognize three symbols in the vertical direction drawn on three rows of reels through the display window 42.

  Further, by turning on a lamp (not shown) provided on the back surface side on the panel surface 41, for example, a game state display unit 43 that produces and displays information related to the game state such as internal winning for a winning combination, and a plurality of Dot matrix display unit 44 for effecting display of dot images by turning on light-emitting diodes, information such as the number of medals credited (stored) in the slot machine 1, the number of medals earned by winning, or the number of winning winning combinations Are displayed around the display window 42, respectively.

  On the upper part of the upper panel part 4, there are arranged an effect lighting part 46 incorporating lamps such as high-intensity light emitting diodes and an effect sound emitting part 47a, 47b containing a speaker for generating sound effects relating to the game. Has been.

  In addition, a liquid crystal display unit 48 is disposed between the production sound emitting portions 47a and 47b so as to face the display window 42 formed by fitting a transparent hard plastic plate or the like. Note that the liquid crystal display unit 48 mainly displays images related to game effects.

  On the side of the upper panel portion 4 are provided lighting units 49a and 49b for production made of fluorescent lamps or high-intensity light emitting diodes. The plurality of effect lighting units 46, 49a, 49b and the like described above are turned on or blinking in accordance with the progress of the game, so that the visual effect in the game is enhanced.

  On the upper right side of the console 7, a medal insertion part 71 having an insertion slot for inserting medals is provided. Further, on the left side of the upper surface, three bet buttons 72, 73, 74 which are push button switches are provided.

  The bet buttons 72, 73, and 74 are button switches for presenting the number of medals to bet on one game of the slot machine. When the game is started, the bet button 72 is pressed, so that one medal is bet on the game from the stored medals. Similarly, when the bet button 73 is pressed, two medals are bet, and when the bet button 74 is pressed, three medals are bet on the game. The bet button 74 is particularly called a “max bet button” because it bets the maximum number of medals.

  On the left side of the front surface of the console 7, a start lever 75 for instructing the start of rotation of the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c is provided. The start lever 75 is provided with a swingable operation rod having a spherical operation knob at the tip, and is turned on when the operation rod is tilted, and automatically when the hand is released from the operation rod by the biasing force of the spring. It is formed of a switch unit that returns to a position and is turned off.

  In the center of the console 7, stop buttons 76a, 76b, and 76c for instructing to stop the rotation of the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c are arranged in parallel corresponding to the arrangement of the reels.

  A key hole 77 into which a key for unlocking the front door 3 is inserted is provided on the right side of the front surface of the console 7. When an administrator or the like of the slot machine 1 inserts a predetermined key into the key hole 77 and performs an unlocking operation, the front door 3 attached to the housing 2 can be opened forward by a hinge mechanism, and the front door 3 can be opened. These are automatically locked when closed to the housing 2 side.

  The lower panel 5 is provided with a panel 51 for displaying a picture of an appearing character and the like so that the player can recognize the model type of the slot machine 1. The saucer unit 6 disposed below the lower panel part 5 includes a medal payout opening 61 for discharging medals at the time of winning a prize, a saucer part 6a for storing the paid-out medals, and a speaker for generating an effect sound. Built-in production sound emitting units 62 are respectively arranged.

  Next, the internal structure of the housing 2 and the back surface structure of the front door 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a main control board 20 having a CPU (microcomputer) for centrally controlling the entire operation of the slot machine 1 and housed in a hard plastic case is attached to the upper part of the housing 2.

  A reel unit 100 including reels 101a, 101b, and 101c is provided in the center of the housing 2. The reel unit 100 is positioned and attached to a predetermined frame so that the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c face the display window 42 of the front door 3 when the front door 3 is closed to the housing 2 side. Note that each of the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c is rotationally driven by a built-in stepping motor.

  Further, on the upper part of the reel unit 100, a rotating device substrate (not shown) for sending a four-phase drive pulse signal to the stepping motor that rotationally drives each reel is attached, and the main control substrate 20 rotates. The rotation, braking, and stop of each reel are controlled by sending spinning drum drive (excitation) pulse data to the drum apparatus substrate.

  Below the reel unit 100, a hopper device 21, an auxiliary storage unit 22 for storing medals overflowing from the hopper device 21, and a main power supply device 23 are provided. On the side surface of the main power supply device 23, a power supply device substrate 24 corresponding to a so-called switchboard is provided. Further, an external concentration terminal board 25 that can be connected to a management computer called a “hall computer” installed in the game hall is attached to the inner wall on the upper right side of the housing 2.

  Next, a plurality of high-intensity light-emitting diodes 31 that are light sources of the effect illumination unit 46 are arranged on the upper surface on the back side of the front door 3, and the speaker faces the effect sound emission units 47a and 47b. 32a and 32b are attached. Although not shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal display unit 48 is attached between the speakers 32a and 32b. Further, a sub-control board 30 formed of an electric circuit board is attached to the back side of the liquid crystal display unit 48.

  Note that the overall operation of the slot machine 1 is comprehensively controlled by the main control board 20 provided on the housing 2 side, and the sub control board 30 controls the display of effect video by the liquid crystal display unit 48 and effect lighting. Control mainly related to game effects, such as illumination control using the parts 46, 49a, 49b, and effect sound effect control using the effect sound emitting parts 47a, 47b, 62, is performed.

  Below the sub-control board 30, a panel plate having a transparent display window 42 for visually observing the reels 101a, 101b, 101c is disposed. Below the display window 42, a start lever 75 on the front side and A central display board 33 that functions as a relay board for transferring output signals of operation switches such as stop buttons 76a, 76b, 76c to the main control board 20 is provided.

  A medal sorting device 34 is attached below the central display substrate 33. The medal sorting device 34 is a device that determines and distributes the suitability of medals inserted into the medal insertion unit 71. Further, the medal sorting device 34 has a built-in medal sensor, and when a normal medal is inserted in a standby state of the game or the like, and the medal sensor detects this medal, a signal indicating acceptance of medal insertion is sent to the main control board. 20 to send.

  Below the medal sorting device 34, a guide member 35 that guides the regular medals sorted by the medal sorting device 34 to the hopper device 21 provided in the housing 2, and medals removed by the medal sorting device 34. A guide member 36 for guiding (or foreign matter) to the medal discharge port 61 is provided. In addition, a guide member 37 that guides medals discharged from the hopper device 21 to the medal discharge port 61 is provided at the lower part on the back side of the front door 3. Further, a speaker 38 is attached adjacent to the medal discharge port 61 so as to face the above-described effect sound emitting unit 62.

  Next, the structure of the reel unit 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 3A is an exploded plan view of the reel 101a provided in the reel unit 100, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the reel unit 101a. The reel unit 100 is assembled with three reels 101a, 101b, and 101c arranged in the direction of the rotation axis. Here, the structure of one reel 101a will be described as a representative.

  The reel 101a is connected to a boss portion 102 having a shaft hole into which the rotation shaft of the stepping motor 110a is inserted, a plurality of arm portions 103 extending radially around the boss portion 102, and a tip portion of the arm portion 103. A first ring portion 104 formed concentrically from the center of the boss portion 102, and a second ring portion 105 having the same diameter as the first ring portion 104 and positioned parallel to the first ring portion 104 at a predetermined interval. The first ring portion 104 and the second ring portion 105 are composed of rod-shaped connecting portions 106 that connect at a plurality of locations, and these are integrally formed of relatively light plastic as a framework. In addition, a tongue-shaped light shielding piece 107 extending inward is formed on one arm portion 103. A reel tape 108, which is a long plastic sheet on which a plurality of types of symbols to be described later are printed, is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical reel 101a.

  By fixing the boss portion 102 of the reel 101a to the drive shaft of the stepping motor 110a, the reel 101a can be driven to rotate by the stepping motor 110a. The stepping motor 110a is fixed to the plate-shaped base frame 111 with bolts 112.

  The back lamp unit 113 attached to the base frame body 111 is provided with three back lamps 114, 115, and 116 in the vertical direction. The back lamp unit 113 is housed inside the reel 101a, and the lamps 114, 115, and 116 irradiate the back surface of the reel tape 108 so that the three symbols drawn on the reel tape 108 are displayed brightly. Yes.

Further, a reference position sensor 120a is attached to the base frame 111 via the back lamp unit 113, and the light shielding piece 107 formed on the arm portion 103 of the reel 101a is replaced with the reference position sensor 120a every time the reel 101a rotates once. Is turned on with light shielded. Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, 21 symbols are drawn on the reel tape 108, the reel 101a rotates, and the first symbol (symbol number [0]) is moved to the effective line at the center of the display window 42. At the same time, the output signal of the reference position sensor 120a rises with the position at which the last symbol (symbol number [20] described later) exceeds the effective line as the reference position.
The reel unit 100 is assembled by arranging three reels 101a, 101b, and 101c having such a configuration.

Next, a control system provided in the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
In addition to the CPU 201, the main control board 20 is provided with a storage unit 203 composed of a semiconductor memory such as a ROM and a RAM. The CPU 201 executes arithmetic processing according to a system program 204 for a slot machine game stored in advance here. Thus, the overall operation of the slot machine 1 is comprehensively controlled. Operation switches such as bet buttons 72, 73 and 74, start lever 75, stop buttons 76a, 76b and 76c, and detection switches such as a medal sensor 34a of the medal sorting device 34 are connected to the main control board 20 with a wiring cable. Then, an operation related to the game is detected by output signals from these switches.

  Further, the main control board 20 inputs detection signals from the reference position sensors 120a, 120b, and 120c provided on the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c, and grasps the rotation position serving as the reference of each reel, while rotating the rotating apparatus board. Predetermined cylinder drive pulse data is sent to 130. The rotating device substrate 130 rotates and stops the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c by rotating and driving the stepping motors 110a, 110b, and 110c in accordance with the rotating drive pulse data from the main control substrate 20. Yes. The details of the rotation and stop control of each reel 101a, 101b, 101c by the main control board 20 will be described later.

  In addition, a medal payout device such as a hopper device 21 and a sub control board 30 are connected to the main control board 20 by wiring cables. When winning is determined, the main control board 20 controls the hopper device 21 to pay out a predetermined number of medals to the tray 6a. The sub-control board 30 controls and drives the liquid crystal display unit 48, the effect lighting units 46, 49a, 49b, and the effect sound emitting units 47a, 47b, 62 based on the control signal from the main control board 20. Productions that appeal to the visual and auditory sense of the person are performed as the game progresses.

  The main control board 20 is provided with a random number lottery unit 202, and a winning lottery table 205 is stored in the storage unit 203. For example, the CPU 201 activates the random number lottery unit 202 when the start lever 75 is operated, acquires a random number value, and refers to the winning lottery table 205 to thereby determine the winning combination or loser assigned to the obtained random number value. Lottery. If there is a winning combination corresponding to the random value, it is won as a winning combination of the game and stored in the internal lottery flag 206 of the storage unit 203. Here, the lottery method of winning combination is called “internal lottery”.

  The storage unit 203 stores non-rewritable reference data tables such as symbol arrangement data 207, reel stop position search table 208, and reel stop position selection table 209, and further includes a reel stop frame flag 210, a reel control flag 211, and the like. A rewritable data flag memory area is secured. These reference data table and data flag are used in the rotation and stop control of the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c, and details will be described later.

  Further, the main control board 20 has a timer 212 for measuring the time until starting automatic stop control described later, and a pulse signal (rotating cylinder) for controlling the stepping motors 110a, 110b, 110c of the reels 101a, 101b, 101c. A timer interrupt generation unit 213 for synchronizing the drive pulse data) is provided.

Next, an outline of the game operation in the slot machine 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
The slot machine 1 enters a standby state when a prize is won in a previous game and a medal payout is completed, or when a loss is confirmed in the previous game. In this standby state, a standby mode effect is presented that suggests the state to the player and prompts a game operation (step S101). When a player inserts a medal into the medal insertion unit 71 and presses one of the bet buttons 72, 73, 74, a predetermined number of medals are bet on the game from the medal (credit) stored inside, and the game is played. Preparation is made (step S102: YES).

  When the start lever 75 is tilted and the game is started in the game preparation state (step S103: YES), the main control board 20 starts to rotate the three reels 101a, 101b, 101c all at once (step S104). At the same time, the internal lottery described above is executed (step S105). The result of the internal lottery is stored in the internal lottery flag 206.

  Next, when one of the stop buttons 76a, 76b, and 76c is pressed by the player and the main control board 20 detects a reel stop operation (step S106: YES), the stop button is pressed. Control to stop the corresponding reel is performed (step S107). When it is detected that all the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c have stopped (step S108: YES), the combination of the symbols displayed on each reel and the symbol related to the winning combination corresponding to the internal lottery flag 206 is one. It is determined whether it is correct (step S109).

  In the winning determination in step S109, for example, when three medals are bet on the game by pressing the bet button 74, as shown in FIG. Among the symbols, three sets of symbols arranged in three horizontal rows along the upper, middle, and lower lines L1, L2, and L3, and diagonal lines along diagonal lines L4 that descend to the right and diagonal lines L5 that descend to the left Two sets of symbols arranged in three rows above are examined, and it is determined whether any one of the symbols matches the combination of symbols related to the winning combination corresponding to the internal lottery flag 206. The effective lines at this time are L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5. Further, when the bet button 73 is pressed and two medals are bet, only the upper, middle, and lower lines L1, L2, and L3 are determined as the effective lines for determining the combination of symbols related to the winning combination. Further, when the bet button 72 is pressed and one medal is bet on the game, the combination of symbols relating to the winning combination is determined with only the center (middle) line L1 as the effective line.

  When winning a winning combination is confirmed (step S109: YES), a medal with a predetermined number of payouts according to the type of the winning combination is paid out to the tray 6a (step S110). Alternatively, medals for the number of payouts may be added to the number of credits stored internally.

  The main control board 20 activates the timer 212 when detecting a game start operation by the start lever 75 in step S102, and any reel is rotating when the timer 212 indicates, for example, a predetermined time of 40 seconds. In such a case (step S111), automatic stop control for automatically stopping the reel is performed (step S112). As for the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c that are automatically stopped, as will be described later in detail, the positions of the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c are shifted by a predetermined distance in the symbol rotation direction with respect to the symbol stop position by the stop button operation. Stop. Further, for a game for which automatic stop control has been executed, the game is ended without performing the winning determination in step S109. That is, the player starts the game by operating the start lever 75, but does not make a winning determination for a game in which any reel stop operation is not performed even after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the game is It is determined to be.

  Next, an example of a winning pattern in the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the names and arrangement of symbols drawn on the reel tape 108 mounted on the outer periphery of each reel 101a (left reel), 101b (center reel), 101c (right reel). For the sake of explanation, symbols and the like for the names of the symbols are added. Further, FIG. 8 illustrates a winning pattern in the slot machine 1 using a combination of symbols displayed in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, seven types of 21 symbols are drawn in an appropriate order on the reel tape 108 of each reel 101a, 101b, and 101c, and symbol numbers from [0] to [20] are sequentially consecutive to each symbol. Assigned. In the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment, each reel is rotated in the direction in which the symbol displayed through the display window 42 moves from top to bottom. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7, each symbol is displayed variably in the order of symbol numbers (ascending order). Further, in this embodiment, a stepping motor having 400 steps (minimum movable unit is 360 degrees / 400) is used as a driving source of the reel. For this reason, a step corresponding to the size of each symbol and occupied on the outer periphery of the reel As the number, only the symbol of symbol number 0 is assigned [20] as the step number, and the symbols of other symbol numbers 1 to 20 are assigned the step number [19]. The allocation of the number of steps is common to each reel.

  A specific example of the winning form of the slot machine 1 having the symbol arrangement and name shown in FIG. 7, that is, the combination of symbols relating to the winning combination will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A shows a combination of symbols related to a winning combination in a general game, the number of medal dividends, and the like. In general games, winnings include a small part that pays out a predetermined number of medals at the time of winning, an accessory continuous device (regular bonus: described as “RB”), or an accessory continuous increase device (big bonus: described as “BB”), etc. It is roughly divided into big hits to operate the condition equipment.

  8A is a winning combination that gives a player the right to re-game while maintaining the number of medals inserted in the previous game.

  FIG. 8B shows a winning pattern when the accessory continuation device (RB) is activated. When this RB is activated, the player can play a high-payout gaming state (special gaming state) with a predetermined number of times or This can be done until the predetermined number of winnings is reached.

  Further, FIG. 8 (c) shows a winning pattern when the accessory continuous increase device (BB) is activated. In this BB, the special game state is further given to the player a predetermined number of times. It is done.

  Next, details of the rotation and stop control of the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c executed by the main control board 20 in the slot machine 1 having the above-described winning form will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing means for controlling the rotation and stop of the reels 101a, 101b, and 101c provided in the main control board 20 using the hardware resources of the slot machine 1 shown in FIG.

  First, the main control board 20 is provided with an internal lottery means 250. As described above, the internal lottery means 250 activates the random number lottery unit 202 when the start lever 75 is operated, acquires a random number value, and assigns the random number value obtained by referring to the winning lottery table 205. The winning prizes or losers will be drawn. The internal lottery result is stored in the internal lottery flag 206.

  The reel constant speed drive means 251 starts the rotation of all the reels 101a, 101b, 101c with the operation of the start lever 75, and performs control to rotate each reel at a constant speed. Here, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the reel control flag 211 shared by the reel constant speed driving means 251 and other means related to the rotation control of the reels. A reel control flag 211 is provided separately for each reel 101a, 101b, 101c.

  The reel control flag 211 further includes a reel status flag RF1, a sensor passage flag RF2, a symbol step flag RF3, a passage symbol number flag RF4, a stop symbol number flag RF5, and a step counter flag RF6, each of which is assigned a predetermined number of bytes. It has been.

  The reel status flag RF1 stores the status of the reel. For example, a value such as [0] is set when the reel is stopped, [1] is set during rotation acceleration, and [2] is set during constant speed operation. The The sensor passing flag RF2 is set to [FFh] (h code is expressed in hexadecimal) when the reel passes the reference position during constant speed operation and the reference position sensor sends a detection signal.

  In the symbol step flag RF3, the position of the symbol passing through the center line L1 of the display window 42 is set and expressed by the above-mentioned number of steps assigned to each symbol. For example, when the symbol of symbol number [1] shown in FIG. 7 reaches the line L1, the number of steps [19] assigned to the symbol is set. As the reel rotates, the symbol step flag RF3 decreases every time the unit step of the stepping motor passes, and when the symbol center is on the line L1, the symbol step flag RF3 indicates the number of steps of [10]. It will be.

  In the passing symbol number flag RF4, the symbol number of the symbol currently passing on the line L1 is set. In the stop symbol number flag RF5, a symbol number of a symbol to be stopped on the reel is set. The stop symbol number flag RF5 is set in accordance with a predetermined stop symbol selection procedure when a winning symbol drawing control described later is performed. When such pull-in control is not performed, [FFh] is set as a default.

  The step counter flag RF6 is incremented every time the main control board 20 operates the stepping motor by a unit step while the reel is operating at a constant speed. Note that the main control board 20 updates the reel control flag 211 for each interrupt (for example, 1.87 msec) from the timer interrupt generation unit 213, and for the stepping motor that drives the reel, the interrupt signal That is, a pulse signal (excitation data) that advances the rotation operation by a unit step in synchronization with the update of the reel control flag 211 is sent to the spinning device substrate 130.

  FIG. 11 is a time chart showing an example of transition of the reel control flag 211 during the constant speed operation of the reel. According to the figure, the symbol step flag RF3 is subtracted (decremented) in synchronism with the rotation of the reel by the unit step, and when this value becomes [1] or less, the next symbol number is added to the passing symbol number flag RF4. Is set. Further, when the reference position sensor is turned on during the constant speed operation and the rising edge of the output signal is detected, [FFh] is set to the sensor passing flag RF2, and the passing symbol number flag RF4 is set to the symbol number [0]. The symbol step flag RF3 is set to [20] which is the number of steps assigned to the symbol of symbol number [0].

  The reel constant speed driving means 251 of the main control board 20 updates the reel control flag 211 one by one so that the type of symbol (symbol number) displayed on the center line L1 and the rotational position of the reel can be accurately grasped. The reel can be controlled to rotate at a constant speed.

  Next, the stop operation stop control means 260 provided in the main control board 20 shown in FIG. 9 will be described. The stop operation stop control means 260 stops the rotation of the reels corresponding to the stop buttons 76a, 76b, 76c according to the pressing operation. The reel braking means 262 of the stop operation stop control means 260 indicates that the symbol step flag RF3 of the reel control flag 211 shows a value (number of steps) equal to or greater than [17] when the stop operation by the stop button is detected. For example, it is designed so that the symbol can be stopped on the center line L1.

  The stop operation stop control means 260 will be described as an operation for stopping the rotation of the reel immediately after the stop operation, which is referred to as eye-push control. FIG. 12 is a time chart showing a transition example of the reel control flag 211 in the reel stop operation. According to FIG. 12, the stop operation by the stop button is detected while the symbol number [9] indicated by the passing symbol number flag RF4 passes through the line L1, and at this time, the symbol step flag RF3 indicates [19]. The stop operation stop control means 260 (reel stop position selection means 261) sets the symbol number [9] in the stop symbol number flag RF5 in the next update of the reel control flag 211. Then, the stop operation stop control means 260 (reel braking means 262) generates excitation data for turning on all the four-phase drive pulse signals to the stepping motor when the step flag RF3 becomes [16]. The reel is braked by sending it to 130. As a result, the symbol of symbol number [9] stops at the center of the line L1.

  Next, FIG. 13 is a time chart showing a transition example of the reel control flag 211 in the reel stop operation when the symbol step flag RF3 shows a value smaller than [17] when the stop operation is performed by the stop button. is there. According to FIG. 13, the stop button is operated while the symbol number [9] indicated by the passing symbol number flag RF4 passes through the line L1, and at this time the symbol step flag RF3 indicates [16]. The selection means 261 sets the next number [10] of the symbol in the stop symbol number flag RF5. The reel braking means 262 slides the symbol of symbol number [9] by not braking the reel until the symbol of symbol number [10] reaches the line L1. Then, when the symbol of symbol number [10] reaches the line L1 and the step flag RF3 becomes [16], braking to the stepping motor is performed. As a result, the symbol of symbol number [10] stops at the center of the line L1.

  Next, reel braking control called pull-in control for stopping a specific symbol on the line L1 will be described. FIG. 14 is a time chart showing a transition example of the reel control flag 211 in the pull-in control. For example, when the stop button is operated while the symbol number [9] indicated by the passing symbol number flag RF4 is passing through the line L1, the reel position selecting means 261 checks the internal lottery flag 206, and tentatively wins one winning combination. If the symbol related to the winning combination is in a symbol arranged a predetermined number of sliding frames (for example, five frames) ahead of the symbol passing through the line L1, the symbol number of the symbol, for example, [13] is set. The stop symbol number flag RF5 is set. The reel braking means 262 does not brake the reel until the symbol of the symbol number [13] related to winning reaches the line L1, and slides the symbol between them. Then, when the symbol of the symbol number [13] reaches the line L1 and the step flag RF3 becomes [16], the stepping motor is braked. As a result, the winning symbol stops at the center of the line L1.

  The operation in which the reel stop position selection means 261 selects a symbol to be stopped based on the internal lottery flag 206 will be further described. The reel stop position selection unit 261 sets and updates the reel stop frame flag 210 as shown in FIG. 15 every time each symbol reaches the line L1. Here, the reel stop frame flag 210 is formed from the sum of the symbols on the line L1 and the number of frames for which slip control is performed, that is, a bit arrangement of 6 frames (6 bits) in this embodiment. The reel stop position selection means 261 displays a stop bit [1] for a symbol to be stopped and a kick bit [0] for a symbol that should not be stopped for each symbol that can be controlled for sliding, including the display symbol on the current line L1. ] Is set to the bit of each symbol. When the stop button is operated, the reel stop frame flag 210 is referred to, and the symbol number of the symbol closest to the display symbol currently on the line L1 among the symbols for which the stop bit is set is set in the stop symbol number flag RF5. is doing.

  Based on FIG. 15, for example, a setting example of the reel stop frame flag 210 set by the reel stop position selection means 261 during the internal winning of BB will be described. This example shows a case where the pull-in control is performed so that the “red seven” symbol stops on any of the lines L1 to L5. Further, the example shown in FIG. 15 is an excerpt of the reel stop frame flag 210 in a state where all the reels are in a rotating state and waiting for a reel stop operation for the first throw. For example, the case where the symbol “Replay” SB10 of the rotating central reel 101b passes on the line L1 will be described. The reel stop position selection means 261 indicates that the symbols from the state up to five frames ahead are on the line L1. Each case is assumed, and in each case, it is checked with reference to the symbol array data 207 whether the symbol “red seven” relating to BB is displayed on any of the lines L1, L2, and L3. In each case, when there is no symbol “Red Seven” on each line, since the symbol pull-in control cannot be performed, all bits of the reel stop frame flag 210 are set to the stop bit [1]. In this case, if the stop operation by the stop button 76b is performed while the symbol “Replay” SB10 passes through the line L1, the latest symbol, that is, the “Replay” SB10 or the “Bell” SB9 stops on the line L1. Become.

  Further, for example, a case where the symbol “Bell” SB9 of the central reel 101b passes on the line L1 will be described. As in the above-described example, the reel stop position selecting unit 261 starts from this state up to five frames ahead. Each case where the symbol is on the line L1 is assumed, and in each case, it is checked from the reel symbol arrangement whether the symbol “red seven” relating to BB is displayed on any of the lines L1, L2, and L3. In this example, if the symbol “BAR” SB4, which is five frames ahead of the symbol “Bell” SB9, is controlled to slide on the line L1, the symbol “Red Seven” SB3 related to the winning will come on the line L2, so the reel stops. The fifth frame bit of the frame flag 210 is set to the stop bit [1]. The other bits of the reel stop frame flag 210 are set to the kicking bit [0]. In this case, when the stop operation by the stop button 76b is performed while the symbol “Bell” SB9 is passing through the line L1, the symbols for five frames are controlled to slip, and the symbol “BAR” SB4 is stopped on the line L1, “Red Seven” SB3 related to winning is controlled to be drawn onto the line L2.

  Next, the automatic stop control means 270 provided on the main control board 20 shown in the block diagram of FIG. 9 according to the present invention will be described. The automatic stop control means 270 includes a reel stop position setting means 271 for setting a symbol to be stopped in the reel control flag 211, and a reel braking means 272 for similarly braking the reel using the reel control flag 211. Have.

  The operation of the automatic stop control means 270 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. As described above, the automatic stop control is performed on a rotating reel that has not been stopped by the stop button after a predetermined time (for example, 40 seconds) has elapsed since the start lever 75 was operated. This refers to rotation stop control. According to FIG. 16, the automatic stop control means 270 performs the automatic stop control shown in FIG. 17 on the reels rotating in the order of the left reel 101a, the center reel 101b, and the right reel 101c.

  That is, the automatic stop control means 270 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed since the start lever 75 was operated (step S201: YES), and if the left reel 101a is rotating (step S202: YES), the left A subroutine for automatic stop control for the reel 101a is started (step S203). Then, for example, about 200 msec is waited from the start of the automatic stop control, and time adjustment is performed (step S204).

  If the left reel 101a is stopped (step S202: NO), or after the left reel 101a is automatically stopped and adjusted for time, it is checked whether the central reel 101b is rotating. If the central reel 101b is rotating (step) S205: YES), an automatic stop control subroutine for the central reel 101b is started (step S206), and similarly, for example, about 200 msec is waited from the start to adjust the time (step S207).

  When the central reel 101b is stopped (step S205: NO), or after the central reel 101b is automatically stopped and adjusted for time, it is checked whether the right reel 101c is rotating. If the right reel 101c is rotating (step) S208: YES), an automatic stop control subroutine for the right reel 101c is started (step S209).

  In the processing of steps S203, S206, and S209, which are subroutines of the automatic stop control described above, the “reeling control” by the stop operation stop control unit 260 described above is used to rotate a reel that is not stopped. Stop control can be performed. In other words, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start lever 75 was operated, the rotating reel that has not been stopped by the stop button is controlled to be stopped on the assumption that the stop button has been pressed. To do.

  Hereinafter, the automatic stop control will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 17 as an example of the control procedure when the left reel 101a is stopped by the player's stop button operation and the rotating central reel 101b is automatically stopped. . The reel automatic stop control is executed according to the control of the reel stop position setting means 271 and the reel braking means 272.

(Step S301)
Each time the interrupt from the timer interrupt generation unit 213 is generated, the reel stop position setting unit 271 has a value of the number of steps stored in the symbol step flag RF3 of the reel control flag 211 equal to or greater than [17], for example, [ 18] is checked.

(Step S302)
At the next update timing of the reel control flag RF3, the symbol number indicated by the passing symbol number flag RF4 is set in the stop symbol number flag 5.

(Step S303)
When the value of the symbol step flag RF3 reaches [10], the reel braking means 272 sends excitation data for turning on all the four-phase drive pulse signals to the stepping motor to the spinning device substrate 130 to send it to the central reel. 101b is braked. As shown in FIG. 18A, the “symbol B2” can be stopped at a position shifted from the line L1 by a predetermined distance d. That is, “symbol B2” displayed by the central reel 101b is stopped in a state where it has been overrun by a distance d with respect to “symbol A2” displayed by the left reel 101a stopped by the player operating the stop button. Similarly, when the automatic stop control is executed for the right reel 101c using the processes in steps S301 to S303 described above, the “symbol C2” displayed on the display window 42 when the right reel 101c stops is the left reel. It can be stopped in a state where it has been overrun by a distance d with respect to “symbol A2” displayed by 101a.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 18 (a), the automatically stopped symbol is shifted by a predetermined distance d in the rotation direction of the symbol from the stop position of the symbol stopped by the player's stop button operation. It stops at the position. This shift amount d (the shift amount d from the line L1, or the line L2, the line L3) is such that when the player looks at the display window 42, the automatically stopped symbol shifts from the lines L1, L2, L3 and stops. In order to recognize that the frame is stopped, it is stopped at a position shifted by 1/4 to 3/4, preferably 1 / 2k or approximately 1 / 2k of the frame length k in the rotation direction of one symbol. To do. In this way, when the symbol that has been automatically stopped is stopped at a position that is shifted by about 1/2 frame or approximately 1/2 frame from the stop position of the symbol that has been stopped by operating the player's stop button, Can visually recognize that the automatically stopped symbol is shifted from the symbol stopped by the operation of the stop button, and the balance of the symbols displayed on the display window 42 is improved.

  FIG. 18B shows a display example of symbols on the display window 42 when the three reels 101a, 101b, and 101c are automatically stopped. The amount of shift d, which is shifted by a predetermined distance in the symbol rotation direction with respect to the symbol stop position by the operation of the stop button, is stopped every time an interrupt from the timer interrupt generation unit 213 occurs in the processing of step S303. The value stored in the symbol step flag RF3 is monitored, and when this value becomes an appropriate value, excitation data for turning on all the four-phase drive pulse signals to the stepping motor is supplied to the spinning device substrate 130. The reels that are sent out and automatically stopped are braked.

  Regarding the braking of the reels to be automatically stopped, as described above, the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment uses a stepping motor of 400 steps (minimum movable unit is 360 degrees / 400) as a driving source of the reels. Therefore, as the number of steps corresponding to the size of each symbol and occupying the outer circumference of the reel, [20] is the number of steps only for the symbol number 0, and the number of steps is [19] for the symbols of other symbol numbers 1 to 20. Assigned. This step number allocation is common to each reel.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the symbols to be automatically stopped are the number of steps for one symbol in order to stop at a position shifted by about 1/2 frame from the stop position of the symbol that the player stops by operating the stop button. The symbol number 0 may be controlled to overrun and stop for a distance d corresponding to a rotation angle of 9 or 10 steps, which is half of [20] steps, and the other symbol numbers are [19] steps). . The symbol to be automatically stopped is stored in the symbol step flag RF3 in order to shift the symbol by a rotation angle corresponding to the number of 9 or 10 steps from the symbol stop position that the player stops by operating the stop button. When the value of the step number reaches [9] or [10], if stop braking is applied to the rotating reel, as described above, one symbol half frame (1 / 2k) or approximately half frame It becomes possible to stop at a slipped position.

  Similarly, the symbol stop position by the automatic stop means is set in the direction of symbol rotation from the symbol stop position by operating the stop button, and is about 1/4 to 3/4 of the frame length of one symbol in the symbol rotation direction. In order to stop at a predetermined position shifted, the stop reel is braked when the value of the number of steps stored in the symbol step flag RF3 becomes a predetermined appropriate value. It becomes possible.

In the present invention, as a control method for stopping the automatically stopped symbol at a position shifted by a predetermined distance d in the rotation direction of the symbol from the stop position of the symbol stopped by the player's operation of the stop button, This method can also be adopted.
In other words, the rotating reel is stopped using the above-described method for controlling the pushing. Then, the central part in the rotation direction of a certain symbol stops on the line L1. At the same time that the reel is stopped, as a pulse for driving the stepping motor of the reel, for example, a pulse signal for rotating the number of steps by 10 steps is continuously sent to the spinning device substrate 130. Thus, the automatically stopped symbol can be stopped at a position shifted by 1/2 k (frame) in the symbol rotation direction from the symbol stop position stopped by the player's stop button operation.

  In the present invention, as described above, when the rotating reel is automatically stopped, the winning determination process (the process of step S109 shown in FIG. 5) is not performed. As a result, the game has no chance of winning, and when the automatically stopped symbol is displayed on the display window 42, it is not necessary to determine the winning symbol based on the combination of the stopped symbols. There is also an effect that it is not necessary to add a new process. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, an example has been described in which, when the player stops the rotation of the reel by operating the stop button, a pattern of 3 rows and 3 columns is displayed in the vertical and horizontal directions of the display window. The present invention can also be applied to a slot machine that displays a symbol such as 4 rows and 3 columns on a display window.

It is a perspective view showing the appearance structure of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the internal structure of the slot machine by embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2A is a plan view illustrating a structure of one reel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a block diagram showing the control system of the slot machine by embodiment of this invention. 21 is a flowchart showing an outline of a game operation in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the symbol displayed on the display window of the slot machine by embodiment of this invention, and the effective line used for determination of a game result. It is the table | surface which added the symbol arrangement | sequence of the reel by embodiment of this invention, and the name and code | symbol of each symbol. It is a table | surface which illustrates the winning form in the slot machine by embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing means related to reel rotation operation control provided in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure showing the structure of the reel control flag by embodiment of this invention. 6 is a time chart showing an example of transition of a reel control flag during a constant speed operation of a reel in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. 12 is a time chart showing an example of transition of a reel control flag in a reel stop operation after receiving a stop button in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. 12 is a time chart showing another example of the transition of the reel control flag in the reel stop operation after receiving the stop button in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. 12 is a time chart showing a transition example of a reel control flag in the pull-in control after receiving the stop button in the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a table exemplifying contents set in a reel stop frame flag when the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is in an internal winning operation of an accessory continuous increase device. It is a flowchart showing the automatic stop operation | movement of a reel by embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the operation | movement of the automatic stop control with respect to the reel by embodiment of this invention. 4A and 4B show examples of symbols displayed on a display window of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A shows a case where a central reel and a right reel are automatically stopped, and FIG. 5B shows a left reel, a central reel and a right reel. Indicates when is automatically controlled.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine 20 ... Main control board 30 ... Sub control board 42 ... Display window 72, 73, 74 ... Bet button 75 ... Start lever 76a, 76b, 76c ... Stop button 100 ... Reel unit 101a, 101b, 101c ... Reel 110a 110b, 110c ... Stepping motors 120a, 120b, 120c ... Reference position sensor 130 ... Rotating device substrate 201 ... CPU
202 ... random number lottery unit 203 ... storage unit 204 ... system program 205 ... winning lottery table 206 ... internal lottery flag 207 ... symbol arrangement data 210 ... reel stop frame flag 211 ... reel control flag 212 ... timer 213 ... timer interrupt generation unit 250 ... Internal lottery means 251 ... Reel constant speed drive means 260 ... Stop operation stop control means 261 ... Reel stop position selection means 262 ... Reel brake means 270 ... Automatic stop control means 271 ... Reel stop position setting means 272 ... Reel brake means

Claims (2)

A plurality of reels having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the peripheral surface, a start lever for performing a rotation start operation of the plurality of reels, a stop button for performing an operation of stopping the rotation of each reel, A combination of symbols arranged on an effective line of the display window of the reels when automatic stop means is provided for stopping the reels being rotated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of rotation of the reels by the start lever. A game machine with a payout determined by
The spinning-type gaming machine is characterized in that the symbol stop position by the automatic stop means is set at a position shifted by a predetermined distance in the symbol rotation direction from the symbol stop position by the operation of the stop button.   2. The rotary gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is set to ¼ to ¾ of a frame length of one symbol in the rotation direction of the symbol.

Images