JP2006051193A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a player from suspecting a fault by keeping connection about an image between a normal figure variation pattern carried out until the time of shortening operation and a shortened variation pattern to be carried out after the shortening operation without regard to the time of the shortening operation to thereby solving unnatural feeling about the figure variation patterns due to the shortening operation. <P>SOLUTION: When the number or direction of variation varies during variation (in the case of developing to normal reach or super reach) as the performance mode of the normal figure variation pattern, the number or direction of variation are sometimes different. Then, the normal figure variation pattern is divided into a plurality of areas, and a plurality of shortened figure variation patterns having connection of the images with the respective areas are stored in advance. Then, based on an area carried out when stop operation occurs, the shortened figure variation pattern is selected and switched. Thus, the player never has the unnatural feeling and never suspects the fault in a pachinko machine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention expresses the start and the sequential stop of the variation of the symbol group in a plurality of rows in the normal gaming state mainly aimed at winning at the starting opening, when the winning / exit lottery is executed in response to the winning at the starting opening. The winning / outside lottery result is notified by the stop symbol arrangement after the normal symbol variation pattern production, and when this winning / outside lottery wins, many prizes are obtained in a shorter period of time than in the normal gaming state. The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of shifting to a special gaming state in which a ball can be acquired for a predetermined period.

  Conventionally, in gaming machines, particularly pachinko machines, a lottery is made by detecting a pachinko ball that has won a start winning opening (special symbol start winning opening). A pachinko machine that has been opened a predetermined number of times (one opening and closing is one round and generally continues for 10 to 16 rounds) and has a function (big hit processing) that increases the winning rate of the game ball and makes it advantageous to the player There is.

  In this type of pachinko machine, a display unit (usually a liquid crystal display screen) is installed at the center of the gauge board of the pachinko machine as an effect for notifying the player of the result of the lottery. This display unit is configured with a plurality of columns (for example, three columns) of symbol variation pattern screens (there is also a background screen), and notifies the presence / absence of the symbol arrangement when stopped after the varying symbol variation pattern presentation. It is like that. By seeing the symbol variation screen, the player is amazed whether it is a hit or miss, so that the player can have a sense of expectation.

  By the way, the symbol variation pattern has a sophisticated design year by year, and its production time tends to be long. In other words, this symbol variation pattern originally informs the player of the result of the lottery / outside lottery, but recently, the design has been devised so that the symbol variation pattern itself can be enjoyed independently.

  Under such a tendency, it is good for the player to enjoy the symbol variation pattern itself, but it is bothersome and uncomfortable for the player who has advanced the game quickly.

  On the other hand, in consideration of such a player, for example, as a bonus after a big hit, a symbol variation pattern effect is executed in a time reduction (short time) mode.

  The short-time mode is a mode in which the time from the start of the design of the pattern variation pattern to the time when the final lottery result is displayed is shorter than usual. It is a mode that has the same effect as advancing quickly, enabling substantially many lotteries within the same time, and increasing the probability.

  As a result, the game progresses quickly, and as a result, the number of lotteries per unit time increases, and a value equivalent to the probability variation can be given.

  However, the time-saving mode is often used only for bonuses or the like, and thus the symbol variation pattern has not been shortened by the player's will.

  For this reason, Patent Document 1 proposes a gaming machine provided with a shortening operation unit that can interrupt the symbol variation pattern effect halfway at the player's will and notify the lottery result at an early stage.

  In Patent Document 1, the shortening operation unit is effective only when the variation time included in the variation pattern is a specific variation pattern (a long variation pattern that takes 30 seconds or more) than the predetermined time. Furthermore, by operating this shortening operation unit only once, it does not take extra fluctuation time until the symbols in all the rows are changed and stopped in sequence. You can see the result of symbol combination.

  According to this Patent Document 1, by operating the shortening operation unit at the player's will, the lottery result is displayed at an early stage, and the progress of the game can be accelerated.

Further, in Patent Document 2, a symbol display device that variably displays several types of symbols and stops the fluctuating symbols, and a variation time shortening button that shortens the variation time when the symbols displayed by the symbol display device vary. It is disclosed that a symbol variation time shortening button is provided on the right side of the gaming machine in the directly facing direction, thereby improving operability.
JP 2002-159589 A JP 2002-336454 A

  However, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, when there is a shortening instruction, the shortened variation pattern is switched to a single pattern regardless of the production style so far. It has become. For this reason, depending on the time when the shortening operation is executed, there may be a case where the effect image is not connected at all before and after switching.

For example, in a three-column symbol variation pattern, if a shortened variation pattern is prepared so that all three columns stop instantaneously after a shortening instruction, the symbols for two of the three columns have already stopped. If there is a shortening instruction in a state where the camera is in a normal state (normal reach, etc.), the image will appear as if the two rows that were stopped have changed.
In addition, if a shortening instruction is given when the direction of change is changed from normal vertical (vertical direction) to left and right (horizontal direction), the change to the left and right will suddenly change up and down and stop. Image.

  Although such an image switching can achieve the purpose of shortening the symbol variation pattern, it feels uncomfortable from a game that is directly looking at the image, and may result in misunderstanding that the game machine may be out of order.

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides an image of the normal symbol variation pattern executed before the shortening operation time and the shortening variation pattern executed after the shortening operation, regardless of the shortening operation timing. It is an object to obtain a gaming machine that maintains a connection, thereby eliminating the sense of incongruity of the symbol variation pattern due to the shortening operation and preventing the player from suspecting a failure.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the normal gaming state mainly for winning at the starting opening, the winning / outside lottery is executed in response to the winning at the starting opening, and the start of the fluctuation of a plurality of symbol groups is started. In addition, the result of the lottery / outside lottery is notified by the stop symbol array after the normal symbol variation pattern effect expressing the sequential stop, and when this lottery / outside lottery wins, it is shorter than the normal gaming state. A gaming machine capable of shifting to a special gaming state in which a large number of prize balls can be acquired in a predetermined period, arranged at a position operable by the player, and the normal symbol variation at the player's will An operation means capable of instructing shortening of a pattern effect, and the normal symbol variation pattern divided into a plurality of regions, and a plurality of types executed following each of the divided regions for one type of normal symbol variation pattern Based on the area determined by the determination means, the storage means for storing the shortened symbol variation pattern image data, the determination means for determining the region produced at the operation time of the operation means, and the region determined by the determination means Selecting means for selecting data, and shortened symbol variation pattern effect control means for switching to the shortened symbol variation pattern image data selected by the selection means and continuing the effect.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a winning is made at the start opening and the lottery / outside lottery is performed, a normal symbol variation pattern effect is executed to notify the player of the result of the lottery / outside lottery. .

  At this time, when the player operates the operation means, the discrimination means discriminates the region of the normal symbol variation pattern produced at the operation time of the operation means.

  The storage means divides the normal symbol variation pattern into a plurality of regions, and stores a plurality of types of shortened symbol variation pattern image data executed following each of the divided regions for one type of normal symbol variation pattern. The selecting means selects the shortened symbol variation pattern image data based on the area determined by the determining means.

  The shortened symbol variation pattern effect control means forcibly ends the normal symbol variation pattern effect and continues the effect of the shortened symbol variation pattern selected by the selection means.

  In other words, the shortened symbol variation pattern is continuously produced by the operation of the operating means, but the shortened symbol variation pattern that is connected in image is selected according to the switching timing from the normal symbol variation pattern, so the player feels uncomfortable. There is no feeling of failure, and there is no doubt about the breakdown of gaming machines.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the normal symbol variation pattern area includes the number of variation columns or the number of stop columns of the stop operation timing by the operation means, and the variation of the variation direction. It is characterized by being classified as an opportunity.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the normal symbol variation pattern expresses the start and the sequential stop of the variation of the symbol groups of a plurality of columns, and the number of variation columns or the number of stop columns varies depending on the stop operation timing. Furthermore, as one of the effects of the variation pattern, when the normal variation direction is the vertical direction, when there is an effect that varies in the horizontal direction, the variation direction varies depending on the stop operation timing.

  Therefore, if the region of the normal symbol variation pattern is segmented in response to the change in the number of variation columns (the number of stop columns) and the variation direction, and a shortened symbol variation pattern that is connected to each of the regions is selected, there is a sense of incongruity. It is possible to achieve the production without any.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the division is managed by the production time of the normal symbol variation pattern, and includes a stop operation time starting from the variation start. The shortened symbol variation pattern image data is selected based on the time zone area to be selected.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, time management is performed starting from the fluctuation start of the normal symbol fluctuation pattern, and the shortened symbol fluctuation pattern image data is selected based on the time zone area including the stop operation timing. Thereby, the control system which discriminate | determines an area | region can be simplified.

  As described above, in the present invention, regardless of the timing of the shortening operation, the image connection between the normal symbol variation pattern executed before the shortening operation timing and the shortening variation pattern performed after the shortening operation is performed. By maintaining the above, it is possible to eliminate the sense of incongruity of the symbol variation pattern due to the shortening operation and to prevent the player from suspected of malfunctioning.

  FIG. 1 shows a pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment. The pachinko machine 10 includes an outer frame 12, and one side portion (left side portion in FIG. 1) of a frame-shaped inner frame 14 having a window portion is attached to the front surface of the outer frame 12 so as to be openable and closable.

  The inner frame 14 is provided with a plurality of indicator lamps 61 and speakers 63. In addition, a window portion is formed at the center of the inner frame 14, and a glass frame in which a pair of glasses 16 (double structure) that are parallel to each other at a predetermined interval in the depth direction of the paper is mounted on the window portion. 20 is provided. A locking device (cylinder) 22 is provided on the right side of FIG.

  An integrated dish 26 having a ball dish part 24 is disposed below the glass frame 20. The ball tray portion 24 of the integrated dish is provided with a communication port 23 that communicates with a ball storage tank (not shown) and allows the pachinko balls in the ball storage tank to flow out to the ball tray portion 24.

  The one side part (left side part of FIG. 1) of the integrated dish 26 is attached to the inner frame 14 so that it can be opened and closed. An ashtray 28 is disposed at the lower left side on the front surface of the integrated dish 26, and a firing handle 30 is provided at the lower right side for adjusting the flight distance of the hit ball launched from the launching device 164 (see FIG. 3).

  In addition, a game board 32 that is exchangeable by being placed on the game board mounting table is installed in the window part of the inner frame 14 so as to correspond to the window part.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the game board 32 has a substantially circular game area 40 surrounded by an outer band 36 and an inner band 38.

  In the game area 40, in addition to the nail 34 and the windmill 35, a center character 42, a display unit 43 provided in the center character 42, a character such as a big prize opening (variable prize winning device) 44, a start opening 46 Game parts such as a passing device 48 and a winning device 49 are attached, and an out port 54 is arranged at the lowest position. In addition, a plurality of electrical decoration members 56 are provided at the periphery of the game area 40, and for example, lighting / extinguishing control is performed in synchronization with winning etc., and an effect by light is executed.

  Further, in the game area 40 of the game board 32, a touch sensor type stop operation portion 64 is provided along the inner peripheral surface of the inner band 38 provided on the left side thereof.

  The stop operation portion 64 is provided with a circular sensor mounting portion 70, and a plurality of light emitting elements (LEDs, etc.) 72 are arranged in a ring shape around the stop operation portion 64.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the sensor mounting portion 70 is provided with a vertically long through hole 74, and a translucent synthetic resin plate 76 having low transmittance is fitted therein. A reflective photoelectric sensor 78 is disposed on the back side of the synthetic resin plate 76.

  The photoelectric sensor 78 is provided with a light projecting unit 78A and a light receiving unit 78B in the vertical direction, and the light irradiated from the light projecting unit is reflected at a predetermined distance so that the light receiving unit can receive the light.

  Here, the predetermined distance is set to the outermost surface of the glass 16 provided in front of the game board 32 (a surface directly facing the player). That is, normally, the light from the light projecting unit passes through the glass 16 (see FIG. 1) and travels straight as it is, so there is no light reception by the light receiving unit 78B. However, when the player holds his / her hand over the outermost surface of the glass 16 facing the photoelectric sensor 78 (synthetic resin plate 74), the light from the light projecting portion 78A is reflected by the player's hand to the light receiving portion 78B. It is the composition which leads to.

  The stop operation unit 64 is applied when the effect is ended by the player's intervention after the normal symbol variation pattern effect described later is started.

  FIG. 3 shows an outline of a control system for controlling the pachinko machine 10. The control system is configured around the main control unit 150. The main control unit 150 stores a basic program relating to games, and the operation of each unit is controlled based on a command signal from the main control unit 150.

  The main control unit 150 includes a start winning sensor 168 provided at the start port 46, a passing sensor 171 that detects a pachinko ball that has passed through the passing device 48, a winning sensor 172 that detects a pachinko ball winning in the winning device 49, and A big prize opening sensor 173 that detects a pachinko ball that won the big prize opening 44 is connected. The special winning opening 44 is provided with a V zone for continuing the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening, and a V zone sensor 177 is also provided in this V zone and is connected to the main control unit 150. ing.

  The main control unit 150 is connected to the photoelectric sensor 78 of the stop operation unit 64, and receives a signal indicating the light receiving state of the light receiving unit 78B.

  Furthermore, a solenoid 174 for opening and closing an electric tulip 47 (see FIG. 2) provided at the start port 46 and a solenoid 175 for opening and closing the special winning port 44 are connected to the main control unit 150.

  The main controller 150 outputs information indicating the progress of the game to the hall computer via the board external terminal 200.

  On the other hand, an effect control unit 152 and a payout control unit 154 are connected to the main control unit 150.

  The effect control unit 152 is connected to the speaker 63 and the display unit (LCD) 43 of the center accessory 42 via the symbol / sound control unit 156. In addition, the effect control unit 152 turns on / off the plurality of indicator lamps 61 attached to the glass frame 20 of the pachinko machine 10, turns on / off the electric decoration component 56 on the game board, and surrounds the stop operation unit 64. The light-emitting element 72 disposed on is controlled to be turned on / off. The electrical decoration component 56 also includes four holding lamps 202 provided on the center accessory 42.

  Note that the hold lamp 202 may be controlled to notify the hold state on the display unit 43. Also, the number is not limited to four. The number of lighting of the holding lamp 202 corresponds to the number of storage of a holding memory (not shown), and the holding lamp 202 can visually notify the number of storage in the holding memory that the player does not know.

  Next, a payout device 206 for paying out pachinko balls is connected to the payout control unit 154 connected to the main control unit 150.

  In addition, a launch control unit 158 is connected to the payout control unit 154, and the launch control unit 158 controls the launch device 164 to launch a pachinko ball according to the operation of the handle 30 by the player.

  Furthermore, the payout control unit 154 sends payout information to the hall computer installed in the hall via the frame external terminal 208.

  In the main control unit 150, a special symbol or a normal symbol is selected / extracted, the display content (normal symbol variation pattern) on the display unit 43 is selected based on the lottery result, and the symbol is displayed via the effect control unit 152. Output a command signal to the voice control unit 156.

  Here, the special symbol winning / outside lottery is a major winning lottery in which the big winning opening 44 is opened and many pachinko balls can be led to the winning when it is won, while the normal symbol winning lottery is selected. / Outside lottery means that the electric tulip 47 provided at the start port 46 is opened when it is a win, increasing the probability of winning the start port 46, and as a result, increasing the chance of winning / extracting special symbols. It is an auxiliary lottery that you can win. In addition, in the regular symbol winning / external lottery, the opening rate will increase depending on the time required.

  In the effect control unit 152, data of different display contents (normal symbol variation patterns) based on a plurality of types of command signals are stored in advance, and the data is selected based on the command signals and activated. . Note that the design / sound control unit 156 may perform the control.

  Here, when the normal symbol variation pattern effect is executed in the symbol / sound control unit 156 by the command signal (command) from the effect control unit 152, the player moves his hand so as to face the stop operation unit 64. Is held (expression of the will of stop by the player), the normal symbol variation pattern effect is immediately stopped, and control for displaying the final stop symbol is executed.

  That is, by holding the hand, the light from the light emitting portion 78A of the photoelectric sensor 78 is reflected to the light receiving portion 78B, and the signal is inverted (off → on). This signal is sent to the main control unit 150, the effect control unit 152, and the symbol / voice control unit 156, and the normal symbol variation pattern effect is canceled due to the player's intention to stop.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment, regardless of the various time fluctuation patterns of the above-mentioned production symbols, it is immediately at the player's will between the normal design variation pattern production start and the end. It has a forced stop function that displays the final stop symbol.

  By the way, the time when the hand is held over the stop operation unit 64 is in the normal symbol variation pattern production. Conventionally, the normal symbol variation pattern production is stopped and stored in advance regardless of the contents of the normal symbol variation pattern production. It was switched to the shortened symbol variation pattern.

  On the other hand, the normal symbol variation pattern effect is roughly divided into the normal variation (see FIG. 4 (A)) in which all the three symbol variation sequences are changing, and two of the three symbol variation sequences. There is a time of reach change that stops at the winning symbol. In addition, the reach fluctuation indicates the expected value by the difference in the fluctuation form, and the normal fluctuation (see FIG. 4B) in which the symbol fluctuation string fluctuates in the vertical direction (up and down) as in the normal fluctuation, Super reach (see FIG. 4C) in which the symbol variation row varies in the horizontal direction (left and right) is set.

  In such a control that switches from a state with a different variation form to a single shortened symbol variation pattern (for example, a pattern in which three symbol variation columns stop simultaneously from the vertical scroll state), a stop operation unit during reach variation If the hand is held at 64 and this is detected by the photoelectric sensor 78, the number of fluctuations and the fluctuation direction are lost, and the player feels uncomfortable.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, for each normal symbol variation pattern type, if necessary, it is divided into regions for each production mode, and a different shortened symbol variation pattern is prepared for each region, and a stop operation is detected. Based on the time, the short symbol variation pattern was selected and switched.

  That is, in the normal symbol variation pattern, when the three symbol variation sequences start to vary all at once and stop simultaneously, a single shortened symbol variation pattern is prepared (stored).

  On the other hand, in the case of a form with three stages of production, from normal fluctuation to normal reach to super reach, normal fluctuation, normal reach, and super reach are divided into regions (FIGS. 4A to 4C are respectively divided). 3 types of shortened symbol variation patterns are prepared (stored) corresponding to the respective regions, and are selected based on the time when the stop operation is detected.

  As a result, if there is a stop operation during the production of the area of FIG. 4A, as shown in FIG. 4D, the shortened design of the production form in which the three symbol variation rows fall simultaneously from the screen. A variation pattern is selected.

  If there is a stop operation during the production of the area of FIG. 4B, only the changing symbol variation sequence (here, the central symbol variation sequence) falls off the screen as shown in FIG. 4E. The shortening variation pattern of the coming production form is selected.

  If there is a stop operation during the production of the area of FIG. 4C, only the changing symbol variation sequence (here, the central symbol variation sequence) is moved from the right side of the screen as shown in FIG. 4F. The shortening variation pattern of the effect form to come is selected.

  FIG. 5 shows a control block diagram of the effect control unit 152 mainly composed of the operation of the stop operation unit 64, the selection of the shortened symbol variation pattern type according to the operation timing, and the shortened symbol variation pattern effect control.

  The command sent from the main control unit 150 is received by the command input unit 250, and the command analysis unit 252 analyzes the command. The command analysis unit 252 extracts a normal symbol variation pattern designation signal, a touch sensor operation signal, and a winning / external lottery result signal. The touch sensor operation signal is a signal (command) that is input to the command input unit 250 when the player performs a touch operation (actually holding up a hand) while the stop operation unit 64 is in an operation enabled state.

  The normal symbol variation pattern designation signal is sent from the command analysis unit 252 to the symbol variation pattern image data reading unit 254, and the symbol variation pattern image data reading unit 254 receives the normal symbol variation pattern designation signal from the first image data memory 256. Is read out and sent to the symbol variation pattern effect control unit 258.

  The normal symbol variation pattern production control unit 258 sends the normal symbol variation pattern image data to the symbol / sound control unit 156 at a predetermined timing, and the symbol / sound control unit 156 controls the display unit 43, A normal symbol variation pattern effect is executed.

  Further, the winning / external lottery result signal is sent to the jackpot processing effect data reading unit 260. When the winning / exit lottery result signal is a signal indicating winning, the jackpot processing effect data reading unit 260 reads the jackpot processing effect pattern image data from the image data memory 256 and sends it to the jackpot processing effect control unit 262. The jackpot processing effect control unit 262 sends the jackpot processing effect pattern image data to the symbol / voice control unit 156 at a predetermined timing, and controls the display unit 43 to display the jackpot effect pattern during the jackpot processing.

  Further, the touch sensor operation signal is input to the fluctuation region determination unit 259. The variation area determination unit 259 is connected to the symbol variation pattern effect control unit 258, and when a touch sensor operation signal is input, the variation pattern type signal of the normal symbol variation pattern that is currently varied, and the variation start. The elapsed time is entered.

  In other words, the fluctuation area determination unit 259 determines the normal symbol fluctuation pattern type that is currently changing and the area that is changing based on the elapsed time from the start of the fluctuation.

  The variation area determination unit 259 is connected to the shortened symbol variation pattern selection unit 261, and sends the determined normal symbol variation pattern type data and region data to the shortened symbol variation pattern selection unit 261. The shortened symbol variation pattern selection unit 261 selects an optimum shortened symbol variation pattern type based on the determined normal symbol variation pattern type and region, and sends a type designation signal to the symbol variation pattern image data reading unit 254. .

  A second image data memory 263 is connected to the symbol variation pattern image data reading unit 254. The second image data memory 263 stores shortened symbol variation pattern data. In the second image data memory 263, as shown in Table 1, 1 to 3 kinds of shortened symbol variation pattern data (patterns) corresponding to the respective normal symbol variation patterns (outliers 1 to 5 and 1 to 5 per one). 1-17) are stored.

  When the symbol variation pattern image data reading unit 254 receives the type designation signal, the symbol variation pattern image data reading unit 258 reads the corresponding type of shortened symbol variation pattern data from the second image data memory 263 and sends it to the symbol variation pattern effect control unit 258. As a result, the symbol variation pattern effect control unit 258 forcibly ends the effect of the normal symbol variation pattern that is currently changing, and the effect is executed based on the read shortened symbol variation pattern data.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

  First, the flow of the normal game will be described according to the main routine in the main control unit 150 shown in FIG.

  When the player holds the handle 30 and performs an operation for launching, a pachinko ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the handle operation amount (rotation amount).

  When the pachinko ball is launched, it is guided by the outer band 36 and the inner band 38 and abuts against the nail 34, the windmill 35, etc. of the board surface 32 and falls while moving unpredictably. Here, when the pachinko ball wins at the starting port 46 (affirmative determination at step 400), the routine proceeds to step 402, where it is determined whether or not the number M of holding is 4 (that is, whether or not the holding is full). If not, the process proceeds to step 404, a random number is acquired from the random number counter, and the process proceeds to step 406.

  If the determination in step 402 is affirmative, there is no lottery right, and the winning ball is paid out to the start port 46, and the process ends.

  In step 406, it is determined whether or not the normal symbol variation pattern is currently being produced (in variation). If the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 408, where the random number obtained is stored in the holding memory M, and then step 410 is performed. Then, the holding number M is incremented (M ← M + 1), and this routine ends.

  If a negative determination is made in step 406, the process proceeds to step 412 to execute the lottery / outside lottery based on the acquired random number.

  Here, if a negative determination is made in step 400 and the process proceeds to step 414 and it is determined that there is a hold (positive determination), the first stored random number is read from the hold memory (step 416), and then the number of holds M is decremented (step 418), and the process proceeds to step 412. Also in this case, in step 412, the lottery / outside lottery is executed based on the read random number.

  When the winning / exit lottery at step 412 is completed, the routine proceeds to step 420 where a variation pattern is set.

  In the next step 424, data such as winning / exit lottery result, normal symbol variation pattern type, prize ball payout number set in advance based on winning is transmitted to the effect control unit 152 or the payout control unit 154 as a command signal (command Transmission), and the process proceeds to step 426.

  In step 426, it is determined whether or not the winning / extracting lottery result is a win. If the lottery result is a win, a jackpot process of a preset number of rounds (for example, 15 rounds) is executed (step 428). . During the jackpot process, since the big prize opening 44 is almost open, it can be put in an advantageous state by the player. When the jackpot processing for a predetermined round is completed, the game returns to the normal game.

  Further, during execution of the main routine, the interrupt routine of FIG. 6B is executed.

  That is, the interrupt routine is a routine for determining the operation state of the stop operation unit 64, and there has been a touch sensor operation. That is, the light from the light projecting unit 78A enters the light receiving unit 78B of the photoelectric sensor 78, and the signal Is recognized (turned on), this interrupt routine is executed, and when it is determined that the state is changing in step 429, a touch sensor operation signal (command) indicating that a stop operation has been performed in step 430 is effect-controlled. To the unit 152.

  Here, in the present embodiment, when the effect control unit 152 receives the touch sensor operation signal, the normal symbol variation pattern is forcibly terminated, and the effect is continued by switching to the previously prepared shortened symbol variation pattern. In addition, the final stop symbol (the current / outside lottery result) can be notified early.

  By the way, such a change pattern shortening instruction (stop operation) based on the player's will can be dealt with at any time during the normal symbol change pattern production (based on the interruption in FIG. 6B). For this reason, if only a single shortened symbol variation pattern is prepared, it is not always an effect that is connected to the effect form of the normal symbol variation pattern during the stop operation.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, for a normal symbol variation pattern in which the effect form changes in the middle of the effect, it is divided into a plurality of regions, and a shortened symbol variation pattern in which an image is connected to the effect form for each region. Was recorded in association with each other.

  In the following, the shortened symbol variation pattern selection control routine (starting up when the touch sensor operation signal is sent in step 430 of FIG. 6B) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step 450, the type of the normal symbol variation pattern that is currently fluctuating and the elapsed time from the start of variation are read, and then the process proceeds to step 452, where the variation of the normal symbol variation pattern is determined from the elapsed time from the start of variation. Determine the middle area.

  In the next step 454, a shortened symbol variation pattern is selected from the normal symbol variation pattern type and the changing region based on Table 1, and the process proceeds to step 456.

  In step 456, a designation signal for designating the selected shortened symbol variation pattern is sent to the symbol variation pattern image data reading unit 254 (see FIG. 5), and then in step 458 from the second image data memory 263 (see FIG. 5). The designated shortened symbol variation pattern is read out, and the process proceeds to step 460.

  In step 460, the effect of the normal symbol variation pattern that is being changed is forcibly terminated, and then the process proceeds to step 462 for selection, and the abbreviated symbol variation pattern read out is switched to execute the effect.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the normal symbol variation pattern type at the time of the stop operation is “5 per hit” in Table 1, the stop operation is in the region of timing 1 (from the start of the change to 14 seconds). (During all-column variation shown in FIG. 4A), the shortened symbol variation pattern 15 (effect that falls from the screen at the same time in three columns in FIG. 4D) is executed.

  In addition, when the stop operation is in the region of timing 2 in FIG. 8 (from the change start 14 seconds to 20 seconds) (only the central one row shown in FIG. 4B is changing), the shortened symbol change pattern 16 ( (Effect where only one central row in FIG. 4E falls from the screen) is executed.

  Furthermore, when the stop operation is in the region of timing 3 in FIG. 8 (after 30 seconds from the start of fluctuation) (only the central one row shown in FIG. 4C is fluctuating in the horizontal direction), the shortened symbol fluctuation pattern 17 (effect in which only one central column in FIG. 4F moves from the right side of the screen) is executed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as the effect form of the normal symbol variation pattern, when the number of variations and the variation direction change during the variation (particularly in the case of a symbol variation pattern that develops to normal reach or super reach). Depending on the stop operation timing, the number of fluctuations and the fluctuation direction may differ. Therefore, the normal symbol variation pattern is divided into a plurality of regions, a plurality of shortened symbol variation patterns having images connected to each region are stored, and the region that is executed when there is a stop operation is stored. Based on this, a shortened symbol variation pattern was selected and switched. As a result, the player does not feel uncomfortable and does not raise any doubt that the pachinko machine is out of order.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine concerning this embodiment. (A) is a front view of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIB-IIB of FIG. 2 (A). It is a block diagram of the control system in the pachinko machine concerning this embodiment. Front of the display unit showing the rendering state (D) to (F) of the shortened symbol variation pattern corresponding to each of the normal symbol variation patterns (A) to (C) in which the effect form changes to normal variation, normal reach, and super reach FIG. It is a control block diagram of an effect control unit mainly composed of shortened symbol variation pattern effect control according to the present embodiment. (A) is a control flowchart which shows the main routine in a main control part, (B) is a flowchart which shows the interruption routine at the time of a forced stop operation. It is a flowchart which shows the switching control routine to the shortened symbol fluctuation pattern by the touch sensor operation started at the time of touch sensor operation. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between a fluctuation | variation area | region and the shortened symbol fluctuation | variation pattern selected by taking "5 per hit" of Table 1 as an example.

Explanation of symbols

10 Pachinko machines (game machines)
32 game board 43 display unit 44 grand prize opening 46 start port 64 stop operation unit (operation means)
150 main control unit 152 presentation control unit 154 payout control unit 156 symbol / voice control unit 250 command input unit 252 command analysis unit 254 normal symbol variation pattern image data reading unit (short symbol variation pattern effect control means)
256 Image data memory (storage means)
258 Normal symbol variation pattern effect control unit (shortened symbol variation pattern effect control means)
259 delay unit (shortened symbol variation pattern effect control means)
260 jackpot processing effect data reading unit 262 jackpot processing effect control unit

Claims (3)

In the normal gaming state with the main purpose of winning at the starting opening, the winning / exit lottery is executed in response to the winning at the starting opening, and the normal symbol variation that expresses the start and stop of the variation of the multiple rows of symbol groups The result of the lottery / outside lottery is notified by the stop symbol arrangement after pattern production, and when this lottery / outside lottery is won, more prize balls are obtained in a shorter period than the normal gaming state. A gaming machine capable of shifting to a special gaming state for a predetermined period of time,
An operating means disposed at a position operable by a player, and capable of instructing the player to reduce the normal symbol variation pattern effect at the will of the player;
Storage means for dividing the normal symbol variation pattern into a plurality of regions, and storing a plurality of types of shortened symbol variation pattern image data executed subsequent to each of the divided regions for one type of normal symbol variation pattern; ,
A discriminating means for discriminating the area being produced at the operation time of the operating means;
Selection means for selecting shortened symbol variation pattern image data based on the area determined by the determination means;
A shortened symbol variation pattern effect control means for switching to the shortened symbol variation pattern image data selected by the selection means and continuing the effect;
A gaming machine having.   2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the area of the normal symbol variation pattern is divided in response to a change in the number of stop sequences or the number of stop sequences and a change in the change direction of the stop operation timing by the operation means.   The division is managed by the presentation time of the normal symbol variation pattern, and the shortened symbol variation pattern image data is selected based on a time zone region including a stop operation time starting from the variation start. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2.

Images