JP2006167367A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out effective illumination performance by utilizing luminance variation of a light emitting means. <P>SOLUTION: When the light emitting means provided on the front surface of a game machine has luminance property where the variation amount of luminance is reduced with raising of a voltage level to apply, in light emitting control carried out by gradually varying the voltage level to apply the voltage to the light emitting means, the variation amount of the voltage by one step is increased with raising of the voltage level. In the light emitting means whose light emitting is controlled like this, a difference between a luminance variation amount according to gradual voltage variation at a low voltage level and a luminance variation amount according to gradual voltage variation at a high voltage level is suppressed, so that the illumination performance utilizing the luminance variation of the light emitting means can be carried out effectively without regard to the luminance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly, to a gaming machine provided with a light emitting means that produces a production effect by illumination by light emission / non-light emission and a change in a light emission state such as a luminance change.

  In gaming machines such as pachinko machines and pachislot machines, the game is enhanced by outputting sounds (sound effects) as the game progresses and performing effects by lighting, and when the gaming state changes, etc. The player is notified using the sound output and the lighting effect.

  For example, in the case of a pachinko machine, a lot of light emitting means such as lamps and LEDs are provided on a game board, a glass frame, etc., and when a transition from a normal game state to a special game state such as a hit game, or when a reach occurs, By providing lighting effects such as blinking (light emission / non-light emission) of the light emitting means and changing the brightness (luminance), the notification to the player through vision and the interest in the game are enhanced.

In this way, as a technique related to the lighting effect function provided in the gaming machine, the luminance of the light emitting means is adjusted by changing the voltage level applied to the light emitting means (light emitting element) stepwise according to the gaming state. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-219217 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, when voltage applied to the light emitting unit is changed stepwise, voltage control considering the luminance characteristics of the light emitting unit is not performed. There is a problem that the effect of lighting appeal is not fully demonstrated. For example, in the case of using an LED or the like having a characteristic in which the luminance change is not proportional to the change in the applied voltage level, the luminance does not change proportionally even if the applied voltage is changed stepwise at the same level (for example, 1 V step). Therefore, a difference (brightness change variation) occurs between the luminance change amount according to the stepwise voltage change at the low voltage level and the luminance change amount according to the stepwise voltage change at the high voltage level. Lighting effects with high visual effects cannot be given to the player.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can perform an effective lighting effect by using the luminance change of the light emitting means and has improved game playability.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided on the front surface of the gaming machine, changes the luminance with a predetermined luminance characteristic in accordance with the applied voltage level, and emits light including the luminance change. And a light emission control means for performing light emission control by stepwise changing a voltage level applied to the light emission means in accordance with the predetermined luminance characteristic. Yes.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the voltage level applied to the light emitting means provided on the front surface of the gaming machine is changed by the light emission control by the light emission control means, and the light emission, non-light emission and blinking, or the luminance changes. Is done. A player who plays a game located in front of the gaming machine visually recognizes the lighting effect due to the change in the light emission state of the light emitting means, for example, to grasp the change in the game state accompanying the progress of the game or to entertain the game. Will be enhanced.

  In the light emission control by the light emission control means, the voltage level to be applied is changed stepwise according to the predetermined luminance characteristic of the light emission means. For example, the luminance change amount according to the voltage change at the low voltage level is high. The difference (brightness change variation) between the brightness change amount according to the voltage change at the voltage level is suppressed, and a lighting effect with a high visual effect can be provided to the player. Therefore, the gaming performance of the gaming machine can be improved by an effective lighting effect using the luminance change of the light emitting means.

  Further, in this way, in the case of light emission control performed by changing the voltage level applied to the light emitting means stepwise, the voltage level of each step (each step) corresponding to the luminance characteristics is provided in the light emission control means, for example. It can be stored in advance as digital information in a storage means such as a memory, and at the time of light emission control, the stored digital information can be read out and the voltage level of each step can be applied to the light emission means to change the light emission state. Thereby, for example, light emission control becomes easier than in the case where the voltage level is changed continuously (steplessly), and the circuit configuration of the light emission control means can be simplified.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, when the predetermined luminance characteristic is a characteristic in which the amount of change in luminance decreases as the voltage level applied to the light emitting means increases. The light emission control performed by changing the voltage level applied to the light emitting means stepwise is characterized by increasing the amount of voltage change in one step as the voltage level increases.

  In the case of performing light emission control by changing the voltage level applied to the light emitting means stepwise, the light emitting means having a luminance characteristic in which the amount of change in luminance decreases as the applied voltage level is increased As in the described invention, the voltage change amount in one step is increased as the voltage level increases. With such light emission control, in the light emitting means having the above luminance characteristics, the luminance change amount according to the stepwise voltage change at the low voltage level and the luminance change according to the stepwise voltage change at the high voltage level. The difference from the amount can be suppressed, and an illumination effect using the luminance change of the light emitting means can be effectively performed regardless of the luminance level.

  Since the gaming machine of the present invention has the above-described configuration, an effective lighting effect can be performed using the luminance change of the light emitting means, and the gaming property is improved.

  Hereinafter, a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of pachinko machine)
FIG. 1 shows a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an inner frame, a glass frame, and a game board applied to the pachinko machine according to this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 includes a rectangular outer frame 12 that constitutes an outline of the pachinko machine 10 and is installed in an island facility of the pachinko hall. A rectangular frame-shaped inner frame 14 is disposed on the front surface of the outer frame 12 (see FIG. 2), and the inner frame 14 has a pair of hinge portions 16 and 18 provided on the outer frame 12 with a left end portion as an axis. It is supported so that it can be opened and closed. A lower decoration 20 serving as a decorative panel is attached to the lower front portion of the outer frame 12.

  A glass frame 26 having a glass frame 24 fitted with a glass plate 22 in a window portion 25 is disposed on the front upper portion of the inner frame 14, and the left end of the glass frame 26 is pivotally supported by the inner frame 14 to open and close. It is attached as possible. Further, the glass plate 22 mounted on the glass frame 24 has a double structure composed of a pair of glass plates arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval in the depth direction of the paper surface of FIG. A rectangular opening 28 is provided in the upper part of the inner frame 14 on the back side of the glass frame 26 (see FIG. 2). An exchangeable game board 100 is set in the opening 28, and the game board 100 is covered with the glass frame 26 (glass plate 22) with the glass frame 26 closed by the inner frame 14. It has become.

  On the front surface of the glass frame 26, a lighting effect indicator lamp 142 that turns on, turns off, and blinks as the game progresses to produce an effect effect by illumination surrounds the glass plate 22 (the game area 101 of the game board 100). Further, in the upper left corner and the upper right corner, an error indicator lamp 144 for notifying various errors such as a prize ball payout error and a payout state error is provided. In addition, speakers 146L and 146R for outputting game sound effects in stereo are arranged inside each error indicator lamp 144.

  An integrated dish 30 serving as a hitting ball supply dish having functions of a general upper dish and lower dish is disposed at the lower front portion of the inner frame 14. The integrated dish 30 is attached so that the left end of the panel member 32 is pivotally supported by the inner frame 14 and can be opened and closed, and a ball dish part 34 for storing game balls is formed on the front surface of the panel member 32. A ball tray main body 36 is projected.

  The bottom surface of the ball tray 34 is inclined downward from the left side to the right side when viewed from the front, and on the left side, which is the downstream side in the inclination direction, the game balls are arranged in a line and arranged on the back surface of the panel member 32. An alignment passage is provided for feeding to a ball feeding device (not shown). In the upper right portion of the front surface of the panel member 32, a ball discharge port 46 is formed through which a prize ball or a lending ball discharged from a payout device 160 (see FIG. 4) provided in the pachinko machine 10 is discharged. . The prize balls discharged from the ball outlet 46 are stored in the ball tray 34, flow down to the left in the ball tray 34, are aligned in a line by the alignment passage, and are sent to the ball feeder.

  Further, an ashtray 38 is provided at the lower left portion on the front surface of the panel member 32, and a firing handle 39 for adjusting the firing force (flying distance) of the hit ball is attached to the lower right portion.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a launching device 40 is disposed at the lower left side of the game board 100 on the back side of the integrated dish 30 at the lower front surface of the inner frame 14, and is positioned behind the ball dish main body 36. A ball storage tank 42 detachably attached to 14 is attached by two plastic fasteners 43. The launching device 40 and the storage tank 42 are covered with the integrated tray 30 when the integrated tray 30 is closed by the inner frame 14.

  The storage tank 42 has a box shape with an open top surface, and a bottom surface 44 is inclined downward from the left side to the right side in a front view. A tank inlet (not shown) is formed on the left side of the storage tank 42 on the upstream side in the tilt direction of the bottom surface 44, and the panel member of the integrated dish 30 is formed on the right side of the front surface of the storage tank 42 on the downstream side in the tilt direction. A tank outlet 45 is formed at a position corresponding to the ball discharge port 46 provided at 32. Therefore, in a state where the integrated dish 30 is closed by the inner frame 14, the storage tank 42 and the ball tray portion 34 of the integrated dish 30 are communicated with each other via the tank outlet 45 and the ball outlet 46.

  In addition, a shutter plate that is movable in the vertical direction is provided at a lower position of the ball outlet 46 on the back surface of the panel member 32 of the integrated dish 30 and a lower position of the tank outlet 45 on the lower right side of the front surface of the inner frame 14. (Only the shutter plate 50 on the inner frame 14 side is shown in FIG. 2). These shutter plates move downward when the integrated plate 30 is closed (position of the shutter plate 50 shown in FIG. 2), and the tank outlet 45 and the ball discharge port 46 communicate with each other. When opened, the shutter plate 50 on the inner frame 14 side is configured to block the lower edge side of the tank outlet 45, and the shutter plate on the side of the integrated dish 30 is configured to block the lower edge side of the ball discharge port 46. . The shutter plate prevents the game ball (prize ball) from flowing out of the ball storage tank 42 and the ball tray portion 34 when the integrated dish 30 is opened.

  A locking device 52 extending in the vertical direction is attached to the left end (the right end in front view) of the back surface of the inner frame 14. A cylinder lock (lock) 54 is provided at the lower portion of the locking device 52, and the key hole 56 of the cylinder lock 54 is exposed from a pedestal 55 provided at the lower right portion of the front surface of the inner frame 14.

  A pair of inner frame fixing hooks 60 </ b> A and 60 </ b> B protruding rearward are provided in the vicinity of the upper and lower end portions on the back surface side of the locking device 52. A pair of glass frame fixing hooks 62A and 62B are provided at positions corresponding to the glass frame 26 on the front surface side of the locking device 52. The glass frame fixing hooks 62A and 62B are provided on the right side of the front surface of the inner frame 14. It protrudes forward through slits 64A and 64B formed at the ends. In addition, a pair of integrated dish fixing key receiving members 66A and 66B that slide in the vertical direction are provided at positions corresponding to the integrated dish 30 on the front side of the locking device 52.

  As a result, when the inner frame 14 is closed to the outer frame 12, the inner frame fixing hooks 60A and 60B of the locking device 52 are engaged with a pair of key receiving portions (not shown) provided on the right inner surface in front view of the outer frame 12. The inner frame 14 is held by the outer frame 12. When the glass frame 26 is closed to the inner frame 14, a pair of key receiving portions 70 </ b> A and 70 </ b> B provided on the glass frame reinforcing plate 68 attached to the right end of the rear surface of the glass frame 26 are used for fixing the glass frame of the locking device 52. The glass frame 26 is held by the inner frame 14 by engaging with the hooks 62A and 62B. When the integrated dish 30 is closed by the inner frame 14, a pair of hooks (not shown) attached to the right end of the back surface of the integrated dish 30 are engaged with the integrated dish fixing key receiving members 66 </ b> A and 66 </ b> B of the locking device 52. The integrated dish 30 is held by the inner frame 14.

  The inner frame fixing hooks 60A and 60B and the glass frame fixing hooks 62A and 62B are released from the engaged state by inserting a key (not shown) into the key hole 56 of the cylinder lock 54 and turning it in a predetermined direction. It has come to be unlocked. The integrated dish fixing key receiving members 66A, 66B are pushed down by releasing the release lever 72 of the locking device 52 that is exposed when the glass frame 26 is opened, so that the integrated dish fixing key receiving members 66A, 66B slide downward. The engaged state with each hook of the plate 30 is released.

  By this locking device 52, the inner frame 14 is locked to the outer frame 12 and the glass frame 26 is locked to the inner frame 14, and the integrated dish 30 is locked to the inner frame 14 and fixed in a closed state.

(Game board configuration)
The game board 100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a resin sheet-like cell attached to a plywood board serving as a substrate, and the surface of the cell is a board surface 100A. In the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the board surface 100A, An arc-shaped outer rail 102 and an inner rail 104 are attached. In the circular area surrounded by the outer rail 102 and the inner rail 104, the game ball PB launched and driven from the launching device 40 can be moved by its own weight fall, and this area is a game area 101 where the game is played. It is said that.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the game area 101 of the game board 100, a center accessory 105 having a large center and a rectangular opening at the center is arranged, and a special symbol is displayed on the display screen in the opening. There is provided an effect display device 178 composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying images of lottery and various effects.

  A special symbol display device 106 for displaying a special symbol lottery (change and stop) and a passing gate (through-chucker) 118L as a normal symbol start winning opening are arranged at the left end of the game area 101, and the right side. A normal symbol display device 107 that displays a lottery (fluctuation and stop) of normal symbols and a passing gate (through chucker) 118R as a normal symbol start winning opening are arranged at the ends.

  Directly below the center accessory 105, an upper start opening 108 as a special symbol start winning opening (start chucker) and a lower start opening 110 as a winning opening relating to an ordinary electric accessory (electric tulip) are arranged. Further below that, a variable winning device (special electric accessory) 112 is arranged near the lower end of the game area 101.

  The variable winning device 112 is provided with a rectangular large winning opening (attacker) 114 whose longitudinal direction is the left-right width direction, and in this large winning opening 114 is a continuous name called “V zone” according to game specifications. An accessory operating port (not shown) may be provided. The special winning opening 114 is opened or closed by opening or closing the opening / closing door 116. When the opening / closing door 116 is opened, the game ball dropped on the opening / closing door 116 is guided to the opening / closing door 116. Win a prize at the big prize opening 114.

  In addition, the game area 101 is provided with side decorations 120L and 120R at the lower left and lower right, and a number of game nails are provided for guiding the windmill 122 and the game balls that fall under the game area 101 to a predetermined route. In the lowermost position, an out port 124 for discharging the off-ball to the back side of the game board 100 is provided. Furthermore, the center part 105 provided in the game area 101, decorative parts such as side decorations 120L and 120R, and electric parts such as the variable prize device 112 are turned on and off according to the progress of the game. A large number of light emitting elements 126 (see FIG. 4) for lighting effects that flash and produce the effect of illumination are provided.

(Control system configuration)
Next, the control system of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control system of the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment is configured around a 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 an upper start winning sensor (first start opening winning sensor) 180 for detecting a winning ball to the upper starting opening 108, a lower starting winning sensor 182 for detecting a winning ball to the lower starting opening 110, Passing gate winning sensors 184L and 184R that detect winning balls to the passing gates 118L and 118R, which are normal symbol starting openings, a big winning opening sensor 186 that detects winning balls to the big winning opening 114, and a big winning according to game specifications V zone sensors 188 for detecting a winning ball in the V zone provided in the mouth 114 are connected to each other, and each of these sensors outputs a detection signal to the main control unit 150 when a winning ball is detected.

  Further, the main control unit 150 includes a normal prize for opening / closing the normal electric accessory solenoid 174 for operating the electric tulip provided in the lower start opening (start winning prize apparatus) 110 and the opening / closing door 116 of the big winning opening 114. A solenoid 175, a holding lamp 176, a special symbol display device 106, and a normal symbol display device 107 are connected to each other, and these electric components and display devices are directly controlled by a port output from the main control unit 150.

  Here, when the game balls pass through the passing gates 118L and 118R, the lottery of winning / defeating the normal symbol is executed by the main control unit 150 by detecting this with the passing gate winning sensors 184L and 184R, and the lottery result In the case of winning, the main control unit 150 drives and controls the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 174 to open the lower start port 110 (electric tulip) for a predetermined time.

  Further, when a game ball wins the upper start opening 108, the main control unit performs a lottery of winning or losing a special symbol (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "special drawing lottery") by detecting this with the upper start winning sensor 180. If the result of the special drawing lottery is a win, the main control unit 150 controls the game state to shift from the normal game state to the special game state. As for this hit, there are provided a normal hit and a probability change hit in which the next hit probability is increased after the special gaming state ends.

  Also, information (start winning signal, jackpot signal, symbol determination number signal) indicating the progress of the game is transmitted from the main control unit 150 to the hall computer via the board external terminal 190.

  Furthermore, an effect control unit 152 and a payout control unit 154 are connected to the main control unit 150, and these control units are controlled by command transmission from the main control unit 150.

  An effect display device (LCD) 178 of the center accessory 105 is connected to the effect control unit 152 via the symbol control unit 156. In addition, the effect control unit 152 is a light-emitting element 126 for lighting effects provided in various game parts of the game board 100, a display lamp 142 for lighting effects and a display lamp 144 for errors provided in the glass frame 26. Is turned on, off, and blinking, and the speakers 146L and 146R provided on the front surface of the glass frame 26 are operated to control the output of sound effects and the like.

  On the effect display device 178 controlled by the effect control unit 152, an effect image of the symbol variation pattern for notifying the result of the special symbol lottery is displayed, and BGM at the time of the symbol variation pattern effect is displayed from the speakers 146L and 146R. Is output. Thereby, the player can enjoy the production | presentation by the design symbol corresponding to the result of special drawing lottery through vision and hearing. The display contents by the normal symbol display device 107 and the hold lamp 176 may be displayed by the effect display device 178.

  There are two types of symbol variation patterns: special symbol variation patterns and production symbol variation patterns, both of which notify the result of special symbol lottery, but the special symbol variation pattern performs a predetermined variation and stop and special symbol lottery While the result of the form is officially notified after a lapse of a predetermined time, the directing pattern variation pattern takes effect into the process of notifying the result of the special drawing lottery, and makes it awkward whether it is a hit or miss. However, it is of the nature to notify.

  Therefore, in the pachinko machine 10 of the present embodiment, the effect symbol variation pattern is displayed on the entire screen of the effect display device 178, and the special symbol variation pattern is formally displayed on the special symbol display device 106.

  Here, when the result of the special drawing lottery becomes “winning” and the fact is notified by the symbol variation pattern effect on the effect display device 178 and the BGM output from the speakers 146L and 146R, the big hit process which is a special gaming state is performed. Executed.

  In this jackpot process, the big winning opening 114 is opened a predetermined number of times (rounds), and the opening time of one round is about 30 seconds, during which a maximum of 10 game balls can be won. In other words, if one of 30 seconds, which is the time limit, or 10 numbers, which is the number limit, is satisfied first, the round ends, and in the case of a game specification with a V zone, the current round is If there is a winning in the V zone in the big winning opening 114 during the game, it is promised to move to the next round. If the game specification omits the V zone, a predetermined number of winnings are simply counted and the next round is entered.

  For this reason, in the special gaming state, more winnings are expected in a shorter time than in the normal gaming state, and a gaming state advantageous to the player can be achieved.

  Further, as described above, in the effect display device 178, when a new winning is made at the upper start opening 108 during execution of the symbol variation pattern effect, and when the upper start opening 108 is won during the jackpot process, the holding lamp 176 The number of lights increases up to 4 according to the number of winnings.

  On the other hand, when the previous symbol variation pattern effect ends or the jackpot process ends, the effect display device 178 starts a new symbol variation pattern effect in order to notify the reserved special symbol lottery result. Along with this, one hold lamp 176 is extinguished, and the player is informed of the digestion of the hold.

  Further, the payout control unit 154 is connected to the payout device 160 and the launch control unit 164, and the launch control unit 164 is connected to the launch device 40. The payout control unit 154 operates the payout device 160 provided in the pachinko machine 10 to control the payout and lending ball payout and stop operations and the number of payouts. In addition, the launch control unit 164 operates the launch device 40 by operating the launch handle 39 by the player, and controls the launch force of the game ball and the launch force according to the operation amount of the launch handle 39.

  Further, the payout control unit 154 transmits payout information to the hall computer installed in the hall via the frame external terminal 191.

(Light emission control of light emitting means for lighting effect)
As described above, the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of indicator lamps 142 on the glass frame 26 for lighting effects that produce a lighting effect according to the progress of the game. A large number of light emitting elements 126 are provided in the various game parts. Hereinafter, light emission control of the indicator lamp 142 and the light emitting elements 126 will be described.

  The indicator lamp 142 and the light emitting element 126 of this embodiment use LEDs as light sources. This LED emits light (turns on), does not emit light (turns off), and switches (flashes) by changing the applied voltage level at a predetermined timing in the light emission control by the effect control unit 152 described above. The light emission state is changed by changing the luminance.

  The luminance characteristics of this LED have characteristics as shown in the graph of FIG. In FIG. 5A, the applied voltage is changed from 0 V to 10 V with the luminance when applying a voltage of 10 V applied to the LED as 100%. In that case, the LED is in a low voltage range from about 0 V to 2 V. The luminance changes abruptly, and in a voltage range higher than that, the characteristic represented by a graph of a quadratic curve as shown in the figure is shown in which the amount of change in luminance gradually decreases as the applied voltage level increases.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), when the applied voltage is changed in 10 steps in 1V steps in the range of 0V to 10V, the luminance is proportional. Therefore, there is a difference between a luminance change amount corresponding to a stepped voltage change at a low voltage level and a luminance change amount corresponding to a stepped voltage change at a high voltage level. That is, as can be seen from FIG. 5B, the luminance changes by 33% between 0V and 1V, the luminance changes by 14% between 1V and 2V, and the luminance changes by 10% between 2V and 3V. On the other hand, the luminance changes only about 5% at each stage of 6V or more. Therefore, even if such light emission control is performed to change the luminance of the LED, it is not possible to perform an illumination effect with a high visual effect on the player.

  Therefore, in the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, the effect control unit 152 performs the light emission control of the LED by changing the applied voltage so that the change in luminance is easily grasped. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (B), the effect control unit 152 changes the applied voltage in 10 steps within the range of 0V to 10V. In this embodiment, 0V, 0.2V in order from the lowest voltage level. 0.4V, 0.8V, 1.4V, 2.3V, 3.3V, 4.6V, 6.1V, 7.8V, and 10V. That is, the amount of voltage change in each step is 0.2V, 0.2V, 0.4V, 0.6V, 0.9V, 1.0V, 1.3V, 1.5V, in order from the lowest voltage level. The voltage change is set to 1.7V and 2.2V, and the voltage change amount in one step increases as the voltage level increases. That is, the above-mentioned contents are set in consideration of the plurality of types of light emission patterns.

  When the change in the applied voltage is represented by a graph, as shown in FIG. 6A, the graph is a quadratic curve that is inverted from the graph of the luminance characteristics shown in FIG. The luminance of the LED whose emission is controlled by this voltage change changes substantially in proportion as shown in the figure.

(Game specifications for pachinko machines)
In the game using the pachinko machine 10, when the player operates the launch handle 39, the game balls stored in the ball tray portion 34 of the integrated dish 30 are supplied to the launch device 40 one by one by the ball feeding device. (See FIG. 2). The launched game ball PB is driven into the game area 101 of the game board 100 along the outer rail 102 and falls in the game area 101 while changing the direction by hitting the game nail. Then, the game ball that has reached the lower end of the game area 101 without winning a prize is collected into the pachinko machine 10 from the out port 124.

  When the game balls pass through the passing gates 118L and 118R, the main control unit 150 executes a lottery process for hitting / losing the normal symbol, and the lottery result is displayed on the normal symbol display device 107 as a two-digit normal symbol. It is changed and is displayed by the combination of stop symbols after the change.

  When the normal symbol lottery result is “winning”, the lower start port 110 (electric tulip) is opened for a predetermined time, and the game ball is likely to win the lower start port 110 easily.

  Further, when winning at the upper start port 108, the main control unit 150 executes a lottery process for winning / losing the special symbol, and the lottery result is displayed on the special symbol display device 106 and the center accessory 105. On the display screen of the device 178, a plurality of special symbols arranged are displayed in a predetermined pattern and displayed as a combination of stop symbols that have passed through the variation pattern. It should be noted that the effect image of this symbol variation pattern displayed on the effect display device 178 has various effects and preferences, such as, for example, display of a winning symbol through reach, display of a missing symbol, or display of a symbol without reach. Numerous patterns are prepared, and the player observes the lottery results of special symbols with expectation in response to these effects.

  When the lottery result of the special symbol is “winning”, a predetermined combination of predetermined winning symbols such as “555” is displayed on the display screen of the effect display device 178 through, for example, reach action. In addition, the player is notified that the jackpot has occurred by adding effects such as blinking of the indicator lamp 142 for lighting effects and the output of sound effects from the speakers 146L and 146R, and executes a predetermined jackpot operation.

  As the jackpot operation, the opening / closing operation of the door 116 opens the grand prize opening 114, for example, 10 counts (the number of winning prizes) or a maximum of 30 seconds (one opening time) / up to 16 rounds (continuous number of times), and a big winning prize. In the case of a game specification in which a V zone is provided in the mouth 114, an operation of continuing the next round by performing winning in the V zone when the one big winning opening 114 is opened is performed. Thus, the player can easily win a large number of prize balls by, for example, receiving 15 payouts per prize, for example, by winning the launched game balls to the big prize opening 114. At this time, the payout device 160 operates to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls, and the payout prize balls are discharged from the ball discharge port 46 to the ball tray portion 34 of the integrated dish 30.

  In addition, when the winning symbol is a combination of predetermined specific symbols such as “777”, for example, the “probability changing function” in which the next jackpot probability is increased after the above-described jackpot operation ends, or Although the jackpot probability does not change, an additional function such as a “short-time function” that shortens the fluctuation time of the normal symbol display device 107 and makes the lower start port 110 easy to open and improves the ball holding time is advantageous for the player. The state is expanded.

  Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment described above will be described.

  As described above, the voltage level applied to the indicator lamp 142 and the light emitting element 126 provided on the front surface of the pachinko machine 10 for lighting effects is changed by the light emission control by the effect control unit 152, and the light emission, non-light emission, and Flashing or brightness is changed. A player who plays a game located in front of the pachinko machine 10 grasps a change in the game state accompanying the progress of the game by visually recognizing the lighting effect due to the change in the light emission state of the indicator lamp 142 and the light emitting element 126. And interest in games will be enhanced.

  In the light emission control by the effect control unit 152, the voltage level to be applied is changed according to the luminance characteristics of the LEDs provided in the indicator lamp 142 and the light emitting element 126. Therefore, the luminance according to the voltage change at a low voltage level. The difference (brightness change variation) between the change amount and the luminance change amount according to the voltage change at a high voltage level is suppressed, and a lighting effect with a high visual effect can be performed for the player. . Therefore, the playability of the pachinko machine 10 can be improved by an effective lighting effect using the luminance change of the LED.

  In addition, as described above, if the light emission control is performed by changing the voltage level applied to the LED stepwise (in this embodiment, 10 steps), the applied voltage data at each step (each step) according to the luminance characteristics. That is, a plurality of types of light emission patterns are set for each of the indicator lamp 142 provided on the glass frame 26 and the light emitting element 126 provided on the game board 100 for lighting effects, and the control data thereof is, for example, the effect control unit 152. Are stored in advance in a random access memory (RAM), and at the time of light emission control, a control command is received from the main control unit 150, the production control unit 152 selects and determines from the plurality of light emission patterns, and the indicator lamp 142 It is also possible to perform light emission control using the applied voltage data for each light emitting element 126. Thereby, for example, light emission control becomes easier than in the case where the voltage level is changed continuously (steplessly), and the circuit configuration of the effect control unit 152 can be simplified.

  Further, the LED of this embodiment has a luminance characteristic in which the amount of change in luminance decreases as the applied voltage level increases, and light emission control is performed by gradually changing the voltage level applied to the LED. In this embodiment, the voltage change amount in one step is set to increase as the voltage level increases.

  With this light emission control, in an LED having the above-described luminance characteristics, a luminance change amount corresponding to a stepped voltage change at a low voltage level and a luminance change amount corresponding to a stepped voltage change at a high voltage level are obtained. The difference is suppressed. Thereby, the illumination effect using the luminance change of the LED can be effectively performed regardless of the luminance level.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail by the specific embodiment mentioned above, this invention is not limited to it, Various other forms can be implemented within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the light emitting unit (LED) has been described by way of example of a luminance characteristic in which the amount of change in luminance decreases as the applied voltage level increases. Not limited to the above, by performing the light emission control that changes the voltage level to be applied according to the luminance characteristic even for the luminance characteristic light emitting means in which the amount of change in luminance increases as the applied voltage level increases. The same operation and effect as the embodiment can be obtained.

  The present invention can be applied not only to pachinko machines but also to other gaming machines such as pachislot machines.

It is a front view which shows the pachinko machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the front side which shows the inner frame, glass frame, and game board in the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a front view which shows the game board which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the control system of the pachinko machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a graph showing the luminance characteristics of the light emitting means according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (B) is a change in luminance when the voltage level applied to the light emitting means of (A) is changed stepwise. FIG. (A) is a graph which shows the luminance change of the light emission means at the time of performing the light emission control which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, (B) is applied to a light emission means, when performing the light emission control of (A). It is a table | surface figure which shows the luminance change at the time of changing a voltage level in steps.

Explanation of symbols

10 Pachinko machines (game machines)
26 Glass frame (front of gaming machine)
100 gaming board (front of gaming machine)
101 gaming area 126 light emitting element (light emitting means)
142 Indicator light (light emitting means)
152 Production control unit (light emission control means)

Claims (2)

A light emitting means provided on the front surface of the gaming machine, which changes the luminance with a predetermined luminance characteristic according to the voltage level to be applied, and produces an effect effect by illumination by a change in the light emission state including the luminance change,
Light emission control means for performing light emission control by gradually changing a voltage level applied to the light emission means according to the predetermined luminance characteristic;
A gaming machine characterized by comprising:   If the predetermined luminance characteristic is such that the amount of change in luminance decreases as the voltage level applied to the light emitting means increases, the light emission control is performed by changing the voltage level applied to the light emitting means stepwise. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the voltage change amount in one step is increased as the voltage level is increased.

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