JP2006034556A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a game machine which increases the hope of a game player by enabling a performance using reels and a shutter to be executed. <P>SOLUTION: This game machine 100 is equipped with four reels 106a to 106d which are arranged in a cabinet 102 and can variably display a plurality of symbols required for the game, and a driving means for moving the four reels on a closed rail by respectively driving the closed rail 140 having four, first, second, third and fourth specified positions and the four reels. Respective four reels are constituted in such a manner that the reel at the fourth specified position moves to the first specified position, the reel at the third specified position moves to the fourth specified position, the reel at the second specified position moves to the third specified position, and the reel at the first specified position moves to the second specified position by one movement by moving on the closed rail 140 in the cabinet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a variation display means for variably displaying a plurality of symbols necessary for a game.

  Conventionally, a casing having a front door that can be opened and closed, a reel that is arranged inside the casing and can display a plurality of symbols necessary for a game, and a front that can visually recognize a variable display section A display machine on the front of the door is used, and the display window uses a slot machine (rotating game machine) that displays a part of multiple symbols drawn on the outer peripheral surface for all reels in the housing. It has been.

  In such a conventional slot machine, after a player inserts a predetermined number of medals into the slot machine, when the player operates the start lever, a plurality of reels rotate at the same time. When the player operates the stop switch corresponding to each reel, the rotation of each reel is stopped according to the operation, and a part of the symbol drawn on the reel is displayed in the display window. When the displayed symbols become a predetermined combination, a prize is awarded and medals are paid out.

  In the current mainstream slot machines, the possibility of winning is determined by a lottery using random numbers performed simultaneously with the operation of the start lever. Therefore, in such a slot machine, it is determined whether or not the player may win a prize before operating the stop switch corresponding to each reel. In addition to the possibility of winning (the winning is confirmed internally), the symbol of the reel when each reel stops is a combination of symbols according to the winning. It is determined on the condition that they meet.

  In addition, the current mainstream slot machines have a plurality of types of winnings, and when a specific winning is made, a larger number of winnings can be made after paying out medals a predetermined number of times compared to the normal state. It becomes a state. This state is called a big bonus (BB) or a regular bonus (RB).

In addition, in the current mainstream slot machines, a display is provided at the top of the surface facing the slot machine player in order to produce a game by notifying the player of the progress of the game and the confirmation of internal winnings. The progress of the game is also announced using a light or a liquid crystal display device.
Patent Document 1 discloses a slot machine having four reels.
JP 2000-225229 A

In the conventional slot machine, a game is played by combining the symbols of a plurality of reels, but each reel is always arranged in a display window. Therefore, even if the game progresses, the variation mode of the variation display unit that the player is playing is only the rotation and stop of the reel. Even if the player recognizes the state of the big bonus, the regular bonus, etc. according to the progress of the display device or the game, there is no significant change in the display mode of the reel that is the main game target, and the game performance of the game itself is improved. There is a limit to raising it.
An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the above problems.

  In the present invention, a casing, four reels arranged inside the casing and capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols necessary for a game, and arranged from left to right or from right to left A closed line having four fixed positions of first, second, third, and fourth, and driving means for driving each of the four reels to move on the closed line, Each of the four reels moves on the closed track inside the housing, and the reel at the fourth fixed position moves to the first fixed position by one movement, and the third fixed position A gaming machine is provided in which the first reel moves to the fourth fixed position, the second fixed position reel moves to the third fixed position, and the first fixed position reel moves to the second fixed position. .

  In the gaming machine of the present invention, when playing a game by combining the symbols of a plurality of reels, the arrangement of the reels used in the game can be changed. Therefore, the player can clearly know that the specific condition has been achieved by moving the reel. In addition, the variation display mode that the player is playing is diversified, the change in the state of the game is dramatic, compared to the case where there is no movement of the reel, the game is improved, and the player's expectation Can be increased.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the figure, corresponding constituent elements will be described with the same reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the slot machine 100 in the present embodiment. A front door 104 that can be opened and closed is disposed in the housing 102. Inside the housing 102, there is provided a variable display section (or reel) 106 in which reels 106a to 106d capable of variable display of a plurality of symbols necessary for a game are arranged. On the front surface of the front door 104, a display window 108 having a size capable of visually recognizing three of the reels 106a to 106d is provided. In FIG. 1, the reels 106 a to 106 c are arranged in the display window 108.

  The front door 104 is provided with a medal insertion slot 128, a medal payout slot 120, and a tray 122, and accepts insertion of medals by the player and pays out medals to the player. When the player inserts a medal from the medal insertion slot 128, the inserted number display LED 130 is turned on according to the number. When the number of inserted medals reaches a specified number (for example, 3), the player can start a game with the start switch 112. When the player inserts medals exceeding the prescribed number, the medals are stored in a medal storage device (not shown), and the credit display LED 134 displays the number of medals exceeding the prescribed number as a credit.

  When the player operates the start switch 112 after inserting the prescribed number of medals, the reels 106a to 106d that are visible through the display window 108 are simultaneously rotated at a constant rotation speed (for example, 80 rotations / minute). The direction of rotation is the direction in which the symbols visible to the player move from top to bottom. The stop switches 116a to 116c correspond to the reels 106a to 106c in FIG. 1, respectively, and accept an input operation for stopping each corresponding reel from the player. Each of the stop switches 116a to 116c is provided with a plurality of LEDs (not shown) showing different emission colors. Thereby, the player can know whether the stop switch is effective for each of the stop switches 116a to 116c and the corresponding one of the reels 106a to 106c can be stopped.

  FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the slot machine of the present embodiment. The display window 108 is sized so that the player can observe three of the four reels 106a to 106d. The reel (here, the reel 106d) that the player cannot observe is disposed on the back surface of the front door 104.

  FIG. 3 is an internal front view of the slot machine of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the front door 104 of the slot machine 100 is opened. The reels 106a to 106d are rotatably held by reel holders 142a to 142d, respectively. A rail 140 is disposed behind the reel holder 142, and a driving device 148 for driving the reel holder is disposed. In the figure, horizontal moving portions 148B and 148D (two) of the driving device 148 are described.

  The rail 140 has a closed path, and the reel holders 142a to 142d are attached so as to be movable along the rail 140. Stepping motors (not shown) for driving and rotating the reels 106a to 106d are attached to the reel holders 142a to 142d. Since the reel holders are aligned in the left-right direction, the stepping motors are mounted side by side so that the rotation axes are aligned in the left-right direction of the slot machine 100. The reels 106a to 106d are fixed to the respective rotation shafts of the stepping motor. In this way, the reel holders 142a to 142d hold the reels 106a to 106d individually while holding the reels rotatably. In FIG. 3, the reels 106a to 106d are located at first to fourth fixed positions, respectively.

  When any of the reels 106a to 106d is moved to the upper part of the rail 140 and any of the fixed positions is not occupied by the reel, the horizontal driving device 148D having the moving unit 148g is used to It is possible to horizontally move the reel from one fixed position to the third fixed position, or to move the reel from the second fixed position to the fourth fixed position.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the reel holder 142 and the rail 140. The rail 140 has a C-shaped channel-shaped cross section, and includes vertical rails 140a and 140f and horizontal rails 140b to 140e, and constitutes a closed line. Slide guides 142e and 142f, which are slidably held on the channel portion of the rail 140, are attached to the rear surfaces of the reel holders 142a to 142d. In the figure, a slide guide is shown only for the reel holder 142d. The upper slide guide 142e moves on the vertical rail 140a, horizontal rail 140b, vertical rail 140f, and horizontal rail 140d, and the lower slide guide 142f moves on the vertical rail 140a, horizontal rail 140c, vertical rail 140f, and horizontal rail 140e. Moving. Accordingly, each of the reel holders 142a to 142d can move up and down along the right vertical path formed by the vertical rail 140a and the left vertical path formed by the vertical rail 140f, and the horizontal rails 140b and c can move the reel holders 142a to 142d. The upper horizontal path formed and the lower horizontal path formed by the horizontal rails 140d, e can be moved in the left-right direction. Although not shown in FIG. 4, a vertical driving device 148A is disposed on the back surface of the right vertical path, a horizontal driving device 148B is disposed on the upper portion of the upper horizontal path, and a vertical driving device is disposed on the back surface of the left vertical path. A device 148C is disposed, and a horizontal driving device 148D having a moving unit for moving the reel holder 142 is disposed below the lower horizontal path. Also, inside each reel 106a-d, a background illumination 106g for transmitting and illuminating a symbol visually recognized through the display window 108 from the inner surface side of the reel 106a-d is fixed to the reel holder. The background light 106g can be turned on or blinked, and for example, the player can be notified of the pushing order of the reels.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the rail 140 and the reel holder 142 in the slot machine of the present embodiment from the back side. Slide guides 142e and 142f are attached to the rear surfaces of the reel holders 142a to 142d, respectively. Driving slots 140g and 140h are provided on the back of the rails 140 on the back of the vertical rails 140a and 140f, respectively. In the driving slots 140g and 140h, a moving holder 148a of a vertical driving device 148A and a moving holder 148a of a vertical driving device 148C, which will be described later, are arranged. As a result, the rail 140 is configured to hold the slide guides 142e of the reel holders 142a to 142d that move up and down in the vertical rails 140a and 140f and to raise and lower each of the reel holders 142a to 142d. Has been. FIG. 5 shows the middle of the reel holder 142d being raised. In the figure, a moving holder 148a of the vertical driving device 148A is shown. The moving holder 148a of the vertical driving device 148C is similarly arranged on the back surface of the vertical rail 140f, but is not shown in the drawing. The rail 140 is attached to the inner surface of the rear wall of the housing 102 by an attachment portion (not shown).

  FIG. 6 is a side view showing the configuration of the rail 140 and the vertical drive device 148A in the slot machine of the present embodiment. For the sake of explanation, the rail 140 shows a cross section at the center of the vertical rail 140a. The moving holder 148a of the vertical driving device 148A is fixed to a chain belt 148b, and the chain belt 148b is held so as to be movable up and down by a wheel 148c and a driving sprocket 148d. The drive sprocket 148d is directly driven by a motor 148e. The moving holder 148a holds the slide guide 142e of the reel holder 142 through the driving slot 142g on the back surface of the vertical rail 140a. The size of the drive slot 142g and the movable range of the moving holder 148a are determined so that the slide guide 142e can be moved up and down between the height of the horizontal rail 140b and the height of 140d. . FIG. 6 shows a state in which the reel holder 142d is moving on the vertical rail 140a. Although not shown, a vertical drive device 148C having a structure similar to that of the vertical drive device 148A is similarly disposed on the back surface of the rail 140f.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the rail 140 and the horizontal driving device 148B in the slot machine of the present embodiment. Although the description of the reel holder 142 is omitted, FIG. 7 shows a state in which the slide guide 142e is moving on the horizontal rail 140b when any of the reel holders 142a to 142d is moving on the upper horizontal path. Show. The moving lever 148f of the horizontal driving device 148B is disposed on the front surface of the horizontal rail 140b, and is used to move the slide guide 142e along the horizontal rail 140b. The moving lever 148f is fixed to the chain belt 148b, and the chain belt 148b is held by a wheel 148c and a drive sprocket 148d so as to be horizontally movable. The drive sprocket 148d is directly driven by a motor 148e. The movable range of the moving lever 148f is determined so that the slide guide 142e can be moved within the range of the vertical rails 140a and 140f. In the figure, the slide guide 142e moves from the upper end of the vertical rail 140a to the upper end of the vertical rail 140f. However, the positions of the moving lever 148f and the slide guide 142e are reversed, and the vertical rail 140a is moved from the upper end of the vertical rail 140f. It is also possible to move the slide guide 142e to the upper end of.

  In the present embodiment, the reels 106a to 106d can move from the arrangement (FIG. 3) at the first to fourth fixed positions. The procedure will be described below. First, the vertical drive device 148A raises the reel 106d along the vertical rail 140a (FIGS. 5 and 6). When the slide guide 142e on the back surface of the reel holder 142d that holds the reel 106d reaches the height of the horizontal rail 140b at the upper end of the vertical rail 140a, the horizontal driving device 148B moves the slide guide 142e to the vertical rail 140f by the moving lever 148f. Move to the top of. Meanwhile, the left horizontal driving device 148D (FIG. 2) pushes the reel 106a in the first fixed position to move it to the second fixed position. At this time, the reel 106b in the second fixed position and the reel 106c in the third fixed position are pushed and moved to the third fixed position and the fourth fixed position, respectively. When the horizontal driving device 148D returns the moving unit to the original position, the first fixed position can receive the reel 106d. Then, the slide guide 142e of the reel 106d on the vertical rail 140f is received and lowered by the moving holder 148a of the vertical drive device 148C, and the reel 106d is arranged at the first fixed position. During this time, in the display window 108 viewed by the player, the reels 106a to 106c can be initially observed, and the reel 106c is hidden on the right side of the display window 108 by the horizontal drive device 148D moving the reel to the right. Observed, and thereafter, it can be seen that the reel 106d descends from the top to the first fixed position. In the present invention, it is not particularly limited to which position the fixed position is. For example, the first to third fixed positions may be determined at the positions of the reels 106a to 106c in FIG. 3, and the fourth fixed position may be determined above the reel 106a. In this way, immediately after moving the reel visible to the player to the right, the next reel can be moved from the fourth fixed position to the first fixed position where the reel no longer exists.

  Further, in the present embodiment, contrary to the direction of the movement, the reel at the first fixed position is raised along the vertical rail 140f by the vertical driving device 148B, so that the second to fourth fixed positions are raised. The reel can be moved to the left by the horizontal driving device D on the right side, and the reel can be moved to the fourth fixed position by the vertical driving device A. At this time, in the display window 108 viewed by the player, the reels 106a to 106c can be initially observed, and it can be seen that the reel 106a is lifted by the vertical driving device 148B, and then a new one is displayed from the right side of the display window 108. A reel appears to appear. The slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment can produce a game in cooperation with the movement of the reel.

  The operation of the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment when the game progresses will be described with reference to FIG. 1 again. An effective line (not shown) is set in the display window 108. This effective line is a line for determining whether or not a combination of reel symbols visible from the display window is a predetermined combination. For example, three effective lines are set as an upper line, a center line, and a lower line. In addition, the effective lines are further set to two lines, a diagonal direction in the upper right and lower left and a diagonal direction in the upper left and lower right. This active line may be increased or decreased depending on the number of medals to be played.

  When the symbols of the reels 106 from the first fixed position to the third fixed position in the active line are in a predetermined combination, a winning state is entered, and the player acquires medals according to the combination. Depending on the combination, the player can play the game again without inserting medals. On the other hand, when there is no active line in a predetermined combination, medals for the game are collected. Even when the combination of reel symbols in a plurality of active lines becomes a predetermined one, there may be an upper limit on the number of medals that a player can acquire (for example, a maximum of 15 medals).

  When winning and acquiring medals, a predetermined number of medals are stored in the medal storage device, and the acquired number is displayed on the acquired number display LED 132 and the credit display LED 134 provided on the front door 104. The acquired number display LED 132 displays the number of medals acquired by the player in the game, and is reset to 0 when a medal is inserted for the next game. When the display number of the credit display LED 134 indicates one or more, the stored number of medals is paid out from the medal payout slot 120 to the tray 122 when the settlement button 126 is operated. A predetermined number (for example, 50) of medals can be stored in the medal storage device, and when the number of credited medals exceeds the predetermined number, the medals are paid out from the medal payout port 120 to the tray 122.

  Also, below the display window 108 on the front surface of the front door 104, a bet switch 114a for inserting medals to be used one by one within the credited range and a game used for the game within the credited range. A max bet switch 114b is provided for inserting medals up to the maximum allowable multiplier (for example, 3).

  Although not shown, a card unit is attached to the slot machine 100, and a gaming medium medal lending operation can be performed by inserting a valuable medium such as a prepaid card. In this case, the card-type slot machine 100 can be credited to the credit unit in the same manner as a game medal is inserted into the slot machine 100. Also, a card unit attached to the slot machine 100 is provided, and a hopper (not shown) of the main body of the slot machine 100 is operated by a gaming medal lending operation so that a predetermined number of medals are lent to the tray 122. The slot machine 100 may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the front door 104 is provided with punching portions 124 a and 124 b so that sound effects are emitted from a speaker 124 (FIG. 8) provided inside the front door 104. In addition, a display device 118 for notifying the player of the state of the game is provided on the front upper portion of the front door 104. The display device 118 is further used for displaying the number of medals paid for winning, navigating the subsequent game state, and displaying for assisting (assisting) the game. Inside the housing 102, a hopper for paying out game medals as a prize is disposed at a position communicating with the medal payout opening 120. In addition, a control device 150 (FIG. 8) for electrically controlling the slot machine 100 is provided inside the housing 102.

  FIG. 8 shows a block of a circuit that controls the gaming operation of the slot machine 100. The control device 150 is provided in the housing 102. As shown in FIG. 8, the control device 150 includes a CPU 170, a ROM 174, a RAM 172, and a random number generator 162 for setting the bonus game occurrence probability.

  The ROM 174 stores a program for determining the procedure of the game and associated processing, data such as a winning probability table for determining a lottery probability, and data used for display on the display device 118. The processing program is a sequence program, and the CPU 170 operates together with the RAM 172, drives each element of the slot machine through various necessary circuits, and receives input from the player through various switches and sensors, The game of the slot machine 100 proceeds.

  Connected to the CPU 170 are switches such as a bet switch 114a, a max bet switch 114b, a start switch 112, a medal insertion sensor 128b, a settlement switch 126, and a setting key switch 160.

  The setting key switch 160 is used to switch the operation mode of the slot machine 100 between a game mode in which a game is possible and a setting mode in which a setting for changing the number of payout medals for the game is changed. The random number generator 162 generates hardware-like pseudo-random numbers. The random number generator 162 generates a random number clock signal as a crystal oscillator clock, and counts up the clock pulses generated by the random number clock generator 164 to a certain value. A counter register (not shown) to be reset, and a sampling circuit 166 that performs sampling based on the operation of the player's start switch 112 based on the value of the register and transmits the sample to the CPU 170 are provided. The random number generator 162 generates a pseudo-random number by sampling the counter value that repeats counting up and reset at a moment when the start switch 112 is activated, and returns it to the CPU 170. The CPU 170 refers to the winning probability table stored in the RAM 172 using this random number.

  Further, the CPU 170 has a selector 128a for selecting whether to accept the medal inserted from the medal slot 128 of the front door 104 as it is or to eject it from the medal payout slot 120, and the inserted medal. A medal insertion sensor 128b to be detected individually is connected. A hopper driving circuit 152 for the hopper motor 154 is connected to the CPU 170. The hopper motor 154 manages medals, and discharges medals paid out from a hopper that pays out medals acquired by the player based on a command from the CPU 170. The discharged medals are paid out from the medal payout port 120 to the tray 122. The hopper is also provided with a medal payout sensor 158 for counting the actual medal payout number. The medal payout sensor 158 is connected to the CPU 170 and sends a signal to the CPU 170 that detects the actual medal payout. . The CPU 170 is connected with an inserted number display LED 130, an acquired number display LED 132, and a credit display LED 134 via an LED drive circuit 136, and a speaker 124 that forms a production sound is connected via a speaker drive circuit 124C.

  Further, the CPU 170 includes a reel driving circuit 106e for driving each stepping motor that rotates and supports the four reels 106a to 106d, and a reel rotation detection circuit 106f that generates a rotation pulse indicating the rotation of the reel. Is connected. Furthermore, a stop button control circuit 116e that performs control for changing the emission color of the internal illumination LED of the button corresponding to the stop switch 116a-c depending on whether the stop switch 116a-c is enabled or disabled, and the stop switch 116 The CPU 170 is connected to a stop signal generation circuit 116f that generates a stop signal for each of the stop switches 116a to 116c in response to an operation by the player when is valid. Further, an actuator drive circuit 148b for driving drive devices 148A to 148D that control the movement of the reel holder 142 is further connected to the CPU 170.

  The reel driving circuit 106e is connected to a stepping motor for driving the reels 106a to 106d to rotate. The control device 150 supplies driving pulses to each stepping motor based on the control of the CPU 170 or stops the supply. As a result, the reels 106a to 106d are rotated or stopped. The rotation pulse generated by the reel rotation detection circuit 106f is generated as one pulse when the reel rotated by the motor is in a predetermined direction. This rotation pulse is used to reset an internal counter that counts drive step pulses sent to the stepping motor and increments the value. As a result, the actual reel rotation is synchronized with the reset timing of the internal counter. After the reel starts to rotate and once the rotation pulse is synchronized with the internal counter, the control device 150 refers to the internal counter to determine the rotational position of the reel.

  In the slot machine 100, the CPU 170 of the control device 150 controls the driving device 148 in accordance with a program, thereby selecting a reel to be shown to the player from the display window 108 from among the reels 106a to 106d. In the slot machine 100, the reels at the first to third fixed positions are visible to the player, and the reels at the fourth fixed position are not visible to the player. Therefore, the reels shown to the player among the reels 106 are combinations of reels 106a, b, c, reels 106d, a, b, reels 106c, d, a, reels 106b, c, d. It becomes a combination.

  On the outer surface of each reel, a symbol that can be observed by the player is printed. The figure has patterns such as watermelon pattern, “BAR” character string, bell pattern, cherry pattern, “Replay” character string, “7” character, “JAC” character, etc. It is variously colored and is arranged in the circumferential direction at a certain angle, and is described on each reel, for example, 21 symbols in a direction that the player can read when the reel is stopped.

  The slot machine 100 idles the reel for a short period of time (for example, a maximum of 0.19 seconds) from the timing when the stop switches 116a to 116c are operated, idles the reel by a predetermined number of symbols, and then stops. be able to. By this idling, the stop positions of the reels 106 can be adjusted, for example, in a maximum of 4 symbol fields. This stop position is controlled by a method using a table stored in the ROM 174. The slot machine 100 can adjust the deviation between the timing at which the stop switch is operated and the actual reel stop timing, and at this time, the table can be used to combine the reel symbols into a specific combination ( It is possible to control so as not to make a specific combination (so-called “slip” control).

  In the game of the slot machine 100, the game proceeds to a bonus game in which a predetermined symbol arrangement (small role) for paying out medals and the like, and the number of medals to be paid out by the slot machine 100 are increased to allow the player to acquire more medals. There are predetermined symbol arrangements. The bonus game includes, for example, a regular bonus game and a big bonus game. In these games, there is a specific arrangement (combination) that leads to the payout of medals. Whether or not these small roles or roles are actually formed is not necessarily determined by the player's skill, but the possibility of forming a role is determined by the lottery function of the slot machine, and when there is a possibility of the formation, Then, the combination of the combination of the symbols on the reel establishes the combination. When there is no possibility of a winning combination due to the lottery function, the slot machine 100 does not allow the player to operate the stop switch 116 at any timing so that the winning combination is not performed using the slip control. Stop. In addition, when there is a possibility that a winning combination can be established by the lottery function, if the operation timing of the stop switch 116 of the player is within a certain range, the reel is stopped at a position where the winning combination is achieved using the pull-in control. You can also. The slot machine 100 is configured to balance the consumption and acquisition of medals by a game by using a stochastic operation such as a lottery and these controls, so that the player can be entertained moderately.

  For example, in the case of an operation that uses all four reels of the reels 106a to 106d, the reel 106a is “cherry” and the other reels 106b to 106d are arbitrary as combinations that become small roles. There are combinations in which all of the reels 106a to 106d are "watermelons" and all of the reels 106a to 106d are "bells". There is also a combination in which all of the reels 106a to 106d are “replayed” and the game can be played again without requiring a medal. In this embodiment using three rows of reels, these roles are such that the left reel is a cherry, and the other reels are arbitrary with respect to the left, center, and right reels that can be visually recognized by the player. Such as a combination where all left, middle and right reels become watermelons, a combination where all left, middle and right reels become bells, etc. All of the reels can be replayed and a small role that can be played again without requiring a medal can be used.

  The combination for shifting to the regular bonus game can be, for example, a combination in which three “BARs” are arranged in an active line. In the regular bonus game, for example, even when the max bet switch 114b is pressed, the number of medals is one. The medals are paid out when “replay” character strings are arranged on all the reels visible to the player, and only 15 medals are paid out each time. Regular bonus games are limited to 12 games and can be played continuously until the “replay” character strings are arranged 8 times. During this time, the reels are pulled in and controlled so that “replay” characters are aligned. In order to enable such an operation, a winning probability table used for a lottery performed by operating a start switch can be used for a regular bonus.

  For example, the combination for shifting to the big bonus game can be a combination of three “7” s arranged in an active line. In the big bonus game, for example, a game called a small role game in which the probability of a small role is higher than a normal game can be played up to 30 times. Then, of the 30 small-combination games, the game is shifted to a game (jack game) similar to the regular bonus game by using a combination in which “replay” characters are aligned on all reels visible to the player. In the jack game, as in the regular bonus game, even when the max bet switch 114b is pressed, the number of medals is one, and 15 medals are paid out when all the reels visible to the player have “replay” character strings. . If the jack game is the first or second time in the big bonus game, even if the jack game ends, the game returns to the small role game again and maintains the big bonus game. The big bonus game continues until the 30 small role games are finished or until the third jack game is finished. In the big bonus game, the reels are controlled so that “replay” characters are aligned, as in the regular bonus game.

  In the slot machine 100 of the present embodiment, another aspect can be adopted as the aspect of the big bonus game. As an example of this mode, if the player presses the stop switch 116a-c in the order in which the stop switches 116a-c are pushed, and the player operates the stop switch 116a-c according to this notification, for example, the symbol "bell" is displayed on the player. It is possible to perform control to assist the player so that a predetermined number (for example, 15) of medals are paid out on all the visible reels. The assist and jack game can be combined to make a big bonus game.

  Which three reels 106 of the reels 106 of the slot machine 100 of the present embodiment are used for the game can be switched when these regular bonus games and big bonus games are made. In this embodiment, a predesignated condition for controlling the movement of the reel is that a regular bonus or a big bonus flag is established.

  Next, a processing procedure of the slot machine 100 will be described. First, the slot machine 100 that is not playing checks whether or not a prescribed number of medals are multiplied. When the prescribed number of medals are being applied, the input of the start switch 112 can be accepted. When receiving the operation input of the start switch 112, the control device 150 commands the random number generator 162 (FIG. 8) to perform sampling. The random number generator generates a random number at that timing and transmits the random number to the control device 150. Then, control device 150 checks whether any flag is established at that time. In the present embodiment, the flag refers to information in the storage unit indicating what state the game is in, and is stored as a truth value in a flag register provided in the CPU 170 or a flag memory in the RAM 172. ing. After the established flag can be determined, the control device 150 uses the table corresponding to the flag among the winning probability tables stored in the ROM 174 to call the data of the table referred to by the generated random number. The winning probability table stored in the ROM 174 stores, as a table, information indicating which winning state the random number has generated over the range of values that can be generated by the random number generator 162 and whether or not the winning has been won. When this table data indicates a winning state, the control device 150 establishes a flag indicating the winning state or sets a flag that has already been established if the flag can be established through appropriate prohibition processing. Processing such as failure is performed.

  This flag determines the subsequent processing of the slot machine by lottery. After the lottery, the slot machine 100 makes necessary notifications to the player through the display device 118 according to the state of the game, controls the rotation of the reel 106, controls the left and right positions of the reel 106, and produces effects by the speaker 124. Performs processing to emit sound. For example, when the flag indicating the winning combination for the small role is not established, the reel 106 is controlled so as to prevent the player from stopping the combination of symbols that become the small role on the active line. When the flag indicating the winning of the game is established, the reel 106 is controlled so as to allow the player to stop the combination of symbols serving as the small role on the active line by the stop switch, or the pull-in control is actively performed. Do. Further, when the flag for the bonus game is established, the reels are controlled so that a special symbol arrangement (reach eyes) is possible, or the pull-in control is actively performed, and the player is flagged through the display device 118. Announcement according to the establishment of. Even if a bonus game flag is established, it will not be reset by one game, the number of games after the flag is established, the number of games after the start of the bonus game, the number of games in which a combination with payout during the bonus game is established With reference to the value of the memory for the counter that counts, etc., it remains established until a predetermined number of games elapses. On the other hand, in a game that is not a bonus game, the small role flag is reset when all of the reels 106 are stopped and the game ends, and is not established.

  In addition, the slot machine 100 does not perform stop control based on the random number lottery of the reels 106 used in the game, except when the active line and the lottery result permit the replay and the big bonus game winning. Therefore, during the challenge time game, a player who can make full use of the so-called push technique can obtain many medals.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications, changes and combinations can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention. .

  For example, in another embodiment, the rail moving path is changed from the upper part to the lower part so that the fourth reel moves below the three reels visually recognized by the player to change the order. Can be moved to. In still another embodiment, the rail is installed parallel to the horizontal plane, and the fourth reel moves behind the three reels that are visible to the player so that the order is changed. can do.

The perspective view which shows the structure of the slot machine of embodiment of this invention. The partial front view of the slot machine of this Embodiment. The internal front view of the slot machine of this Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the reel holder and rail in the slot machine of this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the rail and reel holder in the slot machine of this Embodiment from the back. It is a side view which shows the structure of the rail and the vertical drive device in the slot machine of this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the rail in the slot machine of this Embodiment, and a horizontal drive device. The block diagram of the circuit which controls the game operation of the slot machine of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Slot machine 102 Case 104 Front door 106 Reel 108 Display window 112 Start switch 118 Display apparatus 140 Rail 148 Drive apparatus (drive means)

Claims (1)

A housing,
Four reels arranged inside the housing and capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols necessary for the game;
Closed lines having four fixed positions, first, second, third and fourth, arranged from left to right or from right to left;
Driving means for driving each of the four reels to move on the closed track;
Each of the four reels moves on the closed track inside the casing, and the reel at the fourth fixed position moves to the first fixed position by one movement, and the third fixed position moves. A gaming machine in which the reel at the position moves to the fourth fixed position, the reel at the second fixed position moves to the third fixed position, and the reel at the first fixed position moves to the second fixed position.

Images