JP2006181237A - Game machine and article for game - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine and an article for the games which enable the maintenance of the interests of the players without replacing the article for the games. <P>SOLUTION: In the game machine 10, when the emission mode of an LED 21 is changed based on the figure ID stored in an IC chip 34 of a figure 30, the light emitted from an emission part 32b of the figure 30 varies, thereby making the appearance of the figure look different. In other words, the game machine 10 can causes a difference in the appearance of the figure 30 without replacing the figure 30, thereby enabling the sufficient maintenance of the interests of the players. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of playing games using gaming items, and gaming items used for the gaming machines.

Conventionally, a figure (also referred to as a figure) in which information (game information) related to each game is stored and a cartridge with a figure are disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 below. Players of these gaming machines can exchange figures and the like (hereinafter also referred to as gaming items) according to the gaming state, and consideration is given to not bored or bored players. .
JP 2003-230761 A JP 2002-126345 A

  However, the following problems exist in the conventional gaming machine described above. That is, the player side has to prepare several game items by purchasing new game items each time he feels bored or bored. On the other hand, the provider side who sells game items has had a hard time to constantly develop innovative game items that always allow players to feel fresh. Therefore, it is not necessary for the player side and the provider side to prepare a number of new game items, and there is a long-awaited appearance of a gaming machine that can enjoy the game without feeling bored or bored.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a gaming machine and a gaming article that can maintain the interest of the player without exchanging gaming articles. With the goal.

  A gaming machine according to the present invention has a main body portion having an incident portion that guides light incident from the outside to the inside, and an emission portion that emits light incident from the incident portion and transmitted through the inside, and game information related to the game. Reading means for reading game information from a gaming article having a storage section stored therein, and a light emitter that projects light on an incident portion of the gaming article based on the gaming information read by the reading means And a light emission control means for performing light emission control of the light emitter in accordance with the light emission mode determined by the light emission mode determination means.

  In this gaming machine, when the game information is read from the storage unit of the game article by the reading means, the light emission mode determination means determines the light emission mode of the light emitter based on the game information, and the light emission control means The light emission of the light emitter is controlled in accordance with the light emission mode determined by the light emission mode determination means. The light projected from the light emitter to the incident portion of the gaming article is transmitted through the main body portion of the gaming article and emitted from the emitting portion to the outside. Therefore, in this gaming machine, when the light emission mode of the light emitter is changed based on the game information stored in the gaming article, the gaming machine emits the light from the emitting section of the gaming machine article arranged so as to be visible to the player. As the light changes, the appearance of the game item appears to change. That is, the gaming machine according to the present invention can change the appearance of the gaming article without exchanging the gaming article, so that the player's interest is maintained.

  In addition, the light emitter is preferably capable of projecting a plurality of colors of light to the incident portion of the game article. In this case, more diverse light emission modes can be realized.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the game machine is provided with a light emitter. When each player owns a game article, the number of game articles is significantly larger than the number of game machines, so prepare for the case where a light emitter is provided for each game machine article. The number of light emitters can be reduced.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the game article has a light emitter. In this case, for example, a light emitter having a different color or number of colors can be provided for each gaming article, and a different light emission mode can be realized for each gaming article. Furthermore, a variety of light emission modes can be easily realized as compared with the case where the light emitter is provided in the gaming machine.

  Also, a gaming machine for displaying a game image used in a game on an image display means, wherein a player inputs an operation input necessary for progress of an image game using the game image, and a game image is displayed on the image display means. A game progress control means for displaying and advancing the image game; and a communication means for receiving game-related information related to the image game from the outside. The light emission mode determining means includes the game-related information received by the communication means, and a reading means. It is preferable to determine the light emission mode of the light emitter based on the game information read by. In this case, since the light emission mode determination means determines the light emission mode of the light emitter based not only on the game information but also on the external game-related information received by the communication means, it realizes a variety of light emission modes. And it keeps the player's interest.

  In addition, the game mode control has a normal game mode and a special game mode which is given a privilege advantageous to the player as the game mode, and the game mode is shifted from the normal game mode to the special game mode when a predetermined transition condition is established. Preferably further means are provided. The player repeats the game while expecting a transition to the special game mode, but the player's interest is maintained because the player's expectation expands by changing the light emission mode.

  A gaming article according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores game information relating to gaming of a gaming machine, an incident unit that guides light incident from a light emitter, and light that is incident from the incident unit and transmitted through the interior. And a main body having an emission part for emitting the light to the outside.

  In this gaming article, when light is projected from the light emitter to the incident portion of the main body, the light is transmitted through the main body and emitted from the emitting portion to the outside. Therefore, when this gaming machine article is used for a gaming machine capable of changing the light emission mode of the light emitter based on the gaming information stored in the storage unit, for example, it can be visually recognized by the player. The light emitted from the emitting part of the gaming machine article arranged on the board changes, and the appearance of the main body part of the gaming article changes. That is, in the gaming machine using the gaming machine article according to the present invention, the appearance of the gaming article can be changed without exchanging the gaming article, so that the player's interest is maintained.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the game machine and game article which can maintain a player's interest are provided, without exchanging game articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments that are considered to be the best for carrying out a gaming machine and an article for a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same or equivalent element, and the description is abbreviate | omitted when description overlaps.
First Embodiment (Overall Configuration of Game System)

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a game system including a plurality of game machines according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a plurality of game machines and a card vending machine. The game system 1 includes a plurality of store servers 2 (one and two installed in two game stores A and B, respectively), and a plurality of game servers ₁ connected to each other via a dedicated line C ₁ (this embodiment). 8) gaming machines 10 and card vending machines 3, in-store routers 4 installed in game stores A and B, in-store routers 4, communication lines C ₂ and a center server connected via the Internet NT And Group 5.

Each game shops A, in B, with the shop server 2, the gaming machine 10 and the card machine 3 is connected by a dedicated line _{C 1} form a store LAN (Local Area Network), store in the router this store LAN is 4 is connected to the Internet NT.

Each game machine 10 constituting the game system 1 is a gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and each game machine 10 is assigned a machine ID unique to the game machine 10. This machine ID has a server ID unique to each store server 2 and an ID unique to each game machine 10. For example, in the case of each game machine 10 installed in the store A, A01, A02, A03 ... and so on.
(Game machine configuration)

  The game machine 10 includes image display means for displaying a character image indicating a character acting in response to the player's operation as a game image used for the game as a game image used for the game. An image game that causes the character to perform a corresponding action is configured. In the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment, the character moves in the labyrinth along the route selected by the player, while another character (a player character that performs an action in accordance with the selection of another player, a game, You can play a game where you can play against a non-player character that makes the machine move, scramble for the items that the character has, collect all the items, and then defeat the final target character (hereinafter referred to as the “Maze Battle Game”) It has become. In this labyrinth battle game, the score of each character (referred to as “life” in the present embodiment) moves up and down according to the match result and the progress of the game, and the character that has lost the score becomes a loser. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the game machine 10 has a main display 11 including a liquid crystal display device on the front surface of the housing. In addition, the upper portion of the main display 11 has a sub-display 12 that is also provided with a liquid crystal display device, and speakers 13L and 13R that output sounds used for game effects are arranged on the left and right sides thereof.

  The main display 11 displays game images (for example, labyrinth images) according to each stage of the game. The sub display 12 displays an image (for example, a battle image) at a specific stage of the game. Note that the image display means of this embodiment includes a main display 11 and a sub display 12.

  The game machine 10 has an operation panel 14 below the main display 11, and a figure installation unit 15 is disposed on the left side of the operation panel 14. Also, on the right side of the operation panel 14, a coin insertion slot 16 for inserting coins (game media such as coins and game medals) necessary for executing a game, and a card slot 18 for inserting an ID card 17 are inserted. In the vicinity of the center of the operation panel 14, an operation unit 19 having operation buttons and the like is provided.

  Here, the figure installation unit 15 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the figure installation unit 15. The figure installation unit 15 holds the figure 30 so that the figure memory information can be read by the IC chip reader / writer 20 from the figure 30 described later, and a full color LED (light emitting body) 21 that projects light on the held figure 30. And a holder part 24 in which a holding hole 22 for holding the figure 30 is formed, and a light transmission region is formed between the peripheral wall surface 23 a of the holding hole 22 and the LED 21. A chip reader / writer 20 is arranged.

  The holder portion 24 has a holding hole 22 inside, a holding member 23 made of a colorless and transparent light-transmitting member such as transparent urethane, a holding frame 26 that holds the holding member 23 from the side and below, and a game machine A base 27 for fixing the holding frame 26 to the ten operation panels 14 is provided.

  The holding member 23 is formed in a generally annular shape having a holding hole 22 on the inside, and has a protruding portion 23b provided on the front side (player side) and a wide width provided on the back side so as to be wide. And a light shielding seal 23f attached to the upper surface (excluding the peripheral wall surface 23a in which the holding hole 22 is formed). In the holding member 23, the lower surface of the protruding portion 23b is assembled to the holding frame 26, and the wide portions 23c and 23c are held between the holding frames 26.

  The holding member 23 includes a circular opening 23d on the side of the base 27 facing the holding hole 22 (a side closed by the mounting portion 26a of the holding frame 26) and a circular open end 23e on the open side. The diameter of the open end 23e is larger than the diameter of the opening 23d, and the peripheral wall surface 23a between the open end 23e and the opening 23d is gradually reduced in diameter from the open end 23e toward the opening 23d. It is a mortar-like inclined surface that connects while. The shape of the opening 23d corresponds to the shape of the bottom of the figure 30 described later, and the bottom can be inserted. By tilting the peripheral wall surface 23a in this way, when the figure 30 is set in the figure installation unit 15, the bottom of the figure 30 reaches the mounting portion 26a while being guided along the peripheral wall surface 23a. 30 can be easily set at the correct reading position of the figure installation unit 15, and troublesomeness in starting a game using the figure 30 is reduced.

  The holding frame 26 is an annular frame 26b that surrounds the holding member 23, is recessed inside the frame 26b, a holding receiving portion 26c that holds the holding member 23, and a light transmission formed on the back surface of the holding receiving portion 26c. A window 26d and a mounting portion 26a that is recessed in a columnar shape with a step at a substantially inner center of the holding receiving portion 26c are provided. The opening of the mounting portion 26 a is a concentric and circular shape corresponding to the shape of the opening 23 d of the holding member 23.

  The IC chip reader / writer 20 is a circuit board corresponding to the reading means of the present invention, and a reading circuit 28 including an antenna 28a and a control circuit 28b is formed on the upper surface 20a. The IC chip reader / writer 20 includes a square portion 20A in which a control circuit 28b and the like are formed, and a protruding portion 20B that protrudes from one side of the square portion 20A and mainly has an antenna 28a. . Then, by the reading circuit 28 formed on the IC chip reader / writer 20, the IC chip reader / writer 20 reads information recorded in the figure 30 (game information in the present invention, hereinafter referred to as figure storage information). Input to the main CPU 42 and write predetermined information to the IC chip 34 in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 42. The IC chip reader / writer 20 can read the figure storage information even from the IC chip 34 at a position about 5 cm away.

  The holding frame 26 and the IC chip reader / writer 20 are screwed to the base 55 in a state where the protruding portion 20B of the IC chip reader / writer 20 and the mounting portion 26a of the holding frame 26 are aligned. The Therefore, the IC chip reader / writer 20 can read and write the figure storage information stored in the IC chip 34 of the figure 30 mounted on the mounting portion 26a using the antenna 28a formed on the protruding portion 20B.

  The LED 21 is disposed on the base 27 located on the back side of the holding frame 26 so as to be separated from the holding frame 26 by a predetermined distance. Since the LED 21 includes a red light emitting element, a blue light emitting element, and a green light emitting element, light of various colors can be emitted by a combination of colors emitted from each element. The LED 16 is disposed at a position corresponding to the light transmission window 26d of the holding frame 26 in a state where it is held by a spacer 29 by a certain gap (about 5 mm) with respect to the holding member 23 exposed from the light transmission window 26d. Has been.

When electric power is supplied to the LED 21 from a light emission control circuit 50 described later, a part of the light emission is incident on the translucent holding member 23 through the light transmission window 26d of the holding frame 26. The The light that has entered the holding member 23 passes through the holding member 23 and is emitted from the peripheral wall surface 23 a of the holding member 23. Here, since the peripheral wall surface 23a is in a position surrounding the set figure 30, the light emitted from the peripheral wall surface 23a of the holding member 23 illuminates the figure 30 set on the figure installation unit 15 from below. Become.
(Figure structure)

  FIG. 5 is an exploded front view showing the configuration of the figure 30. The figure 30 includes a pedestal 31 and a figure main body 32 representing the three-dimensional shape of each character appearing in the labyrinth battle game.

  The pedestal portion 31 is a thick hollow disk having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the mounting portion 26 a of the holding frame 26. The pedestal portion 31 corresponds to a storage portion of the present invention, and includes a bottomed cylindrical pedestal main body portion 33 having a zenith portion 33 a and an IC chip 34. A protrusion 33b is provided at the approximate center of the zenith 33a of the pedestal main body 33, and the IC chip 34 is fitted and fixed in the opening of the pedestal main body 33 so as not to block the opening. Yes.

  The figure memory information described above is stored in the IC chip 34, and the figure memory information includes a figure ID (figure identification information) unique to the character corresponding to the figure main body 32. The figure ID is composed of an English letter and a 4-digit number. The alphabet is a figure type corresponding to the three-dimensional shape of the figure main body 32 (for example, “A” is a wizard, “B” is a warrior, “C” is a villager, etc.) The four-digit number represents unique identification information that distinguishes each figure (identifies itself and others). That is, in the figure 30, the player can distinguish the character type by the three-dimensional shape of the figure main body 32, and the game machine 10 can distinguish each figure by the figure ID. In the case of the figure 30 shown in FIG. 5, the figure ID is “B1001”, “B” is the type, and “1001” is the identification information.

  The figure main body 32 corresponds to the main body of the present invention, and is made of a light transmissive (translucent) material (for example, a transparent material such as crystal glass or transparent plastic). The leg seat portion 36 has a recess 36 a corresponding to the projection portion 33 b of the 31, and a three-dimensional doll portion 37 that stands upright with two legs from the leg seat portion 36. Note that the constituent material of the figure main body 32 may be colorless and transparent or colored as long as it has translucency.

  The figure 30 is assembled by fitting the projection 33b of the pedestal 31 into the recess 36a of the figure main body 32. The size of the figure 30 is such that it can be contained in a capsule (not shown) having a diameter of about 7 cm, and is sold in a vending machine similar to the card vending machine 3 while being accommodated in such a capsule. Since only a small portion of the monster figure is accommodated in each capsule, the monster figure can be used when the figure 30 is used. In addition, even for the same character, the uniqueness of the character is expressed by slightly changing the color to promote the player's desire to collect.

As described above, the figure 30 is distinguished by the player by the appearance of the figure main body 32 and is distinguished by the game machine 10 by the figure ID. This figure ID is unique to a different figure 30 and prohibits multiple registration of the same figure in the game system 1.
(Game machine configuration)

  Next, the internal configuration of the game machine 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the game machine 10 mainly showing the internal configuration. The game machine 10 has a plurality of components centering on the microcomputer 41.

  The microcomputer 41 has a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) 42, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 43, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 44. The main CPU 42 operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 44, and inputs signals from each component provided on the operation panel 14 via the I / O port 49, while receiving signals from other components. Input / output is performed to control the operation of the entire game machine 10. The RAM 43 stores data and programs (application data described later in the present embodiment) used when the main CPU 42 operates. The ROM 44 stores a control program executed by the main CPU 42 and a light emission mode database 44a as shown in FIG. 7, and also stores various permanent data.

  More specifically, the light emission mode database 44a includes the figure ID of the figure storage information stored in each of the IC chips 34 of the figure 30 described above, and each gaming state in the labyrinth battle game (in FIG. 7, the normal state, Two types of states, that is, a battle state, a battle victory state, and a battle defeat state are shown.) Are stored in association with each other. Each light emission mode stored in the light emission mode database 44a is information for determining the light emission mode of the LED 21 of the figure installation unit 15 described above, and includes factors such as the type of light emitting element to emit light, lighting timing, and light emission intensity. It is prescribed by. For example, in “light emission mode 1-A” corresponding to the “normal state” of the figure ID “B1001”, information indicating a light emission mode in which the blue light emitting element of the LED 21 is lit, “light emission mode 1-B” corresponding to “competition state” "Indicates the light emission mode that the red light emitting element of the LED 21 is lit. In" Light emission mode 1-C "corresponding to" Battle victory state ", the red light emitting element and the blue light emitting element of the LED 21 are cycled at 0.5 second intervals. It is information indicating the light emission mode that is alternately turned on, and “light emission mode 1-D” corresponding to “competitive defeat state” indicates a light emission mode in which all the light emitting elements of the LED 21 blink for 10 seconds at intervals of 1 second. It is information.

  The game machine 10 also includes a random number generator 45, a sampling circuit 46, a clock pulse generation circuit 47, and a frequency divider 48. The random number generator 45 operates in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 42 and generates a certain range of random numbers. The sampling circuit 46 extracts an arbitrary random number from the random numbers generated by the random number generator 45 in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 42 and inputs the extracted random number to the main CPU 42. The clock pulse generation circuit 47 generates a reference clock for operating the main CPU 42, and the frequency divider 48 inputs a signal obtained by dividing the reference clock at a constant period to the main CPU 42.

  Further, the touch panel 11a, the coin sensor 16a, the card reader 18a, the light emission control circuit 50, the figure installation unit 15, the communication control unit 51, and the communication processing unit (communication means) 52 are connected to the I / O port 49 of the game machine 10. In addition, an image control circuit 53 and a sound control circuit 54 are connected.

  The touch panel 11 a is provided so as to cover the display screen of the main display 11, detects the position of the part touched by the player's finger, and inputs a position signal corresponding to the detected position to the main CPU 42. The player uses the touch panel 11a to input an operation for determining the character's movement. For example, in the touch panel 11a, a conductive material is applied to the surface of a rectangular transparent plate, a voltage is applied from the electrodes arranged on the squares of the transparent plate, and a slight current change caused by touching a player's finger is applied to the electrodes. Detect and detect the position of the part touched by the player's finger. The operation means in this embodiment is composed of the touch panel 11a and the operation unit 19.

  The coin sensor 16a detects a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 16, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the detection to the main CPU. The card reader 18a reads card information such as a player ID recorded on the ID card 17 inserted in the card slot 18, and inputs the read card information to the main CPU.

  The light emission control circuit 50 outputs a light emission signal to each light emitting element (red light emitting element, blue light emitting element, green light emitting element) of the LED 21 of the figure installation unit 15 in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 42. That is, the light emission control circuit 50 enables the LED 21 to realize light emission effects in various light emission modes.

  The figure installation unit 15 includes an IC chip reader / writer 20 and an LED 21. Then, the IC chip reader / writer 20 reads the figure storage information from the IC chip 34 of the figure 30 and inputs it to the main CPU 42 as necessary, and writes the information from the main CPU 42 into the IC chip 34 to update the figure storage information. To do. The light emission of the LED 21 is controlled by the light emission control circuit 50 described above.

The communication control unit 51 operates according to an instruction from the main CPU 42 and controls connection and disconnection of a line for communicating with the store server 2. The communication processing unit 52 operates according to an instruction of the communication control unit 51 performs transmission and reception of data performed via a dedicated line C _1.

  The image control circuit 71 controls image display on each of the main display 11 and the sub display 12 to display various images such as an image showing a character on the main display 11 and the sub display 12.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the image control circuit 53 includes an image control CPU 53a, a work RAM 53b, a program ROM 53c, an image ROM 53d, a video RAM 53e, and a VDP (Video Display Processor) 53f. Based on the parameters set by the microcomputer 41, the image control CPU 53a follows the image control program (related to the display on the main display 11 and the sub display 12) stored in advance in the program ROM 53c. Determine the image to be displayed. The work RAM 53b is configured as a temporary storage unit when the image control CPU 53a executes the image control program.

  The program ROM 53c stores an image control program, various selection tables, and the like. The image ROM 53d stores dot data for forming an image. The video RAM 53e is configured as a temporary storage unit when an image is formed by the VDP 53f. The VDP 53f has a control RAM 53g, forms images according to the display contents of the main display 11 and the sub display 12 determined by the image control CPU 53a, and outputs the formed images to the main display 11 and the sub display 12. .

The sound control circuit 54 inputs sound signals for outputting sound from the speakers 13L and 13R to the speakers 13L and 13R. From the speakers 13L and 13R, for example, a sound for exciting the game is output at an appropriate time after the game is started.
(Configuration of store server, card vending machine, in-store router)

As shown in FIG. 9, the store server 2 includes a CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, a communication processing unit 64, a communication control unit 65, and a data storage unit 66 that stores application data. Then, the CPU 61 operates while reading / writing data from / to the RAM 63 according to the program stored in the ROM 62, while the communication control unit 65 operates the communication processing unit 64 according to the instruction of the CPU 61. The store server 2 transmits / receives data to / from each game machine 10 via the dedicated line C ₁ with each game machine 10 installed in each game store A, B, and transmits (downloads) application data to each game machine 10. The data transmission / reception relay between the game machines 10 and the center server group 5 is performed. As application data, various data (game image data) used for execution of a labyrinth battle game performed on the game machine 10 and board data (operation buttons provided in the operation unit 19) are associated with the labyrinth battle game. Configuration program).

  The card vending machine 3 has an operation unit for a player to input personal information and a card issuing unit, and the card issuing unit performs a game unique to each player by a predetermined input operation using the operation unit. The card information including the person ID is stored and the ID card 17 is issued.

Store router 4 is connected with store LAN formed in each game shops A, B, and a LAN that is formed in the center server group 5 via the communication line C ₂ and the Internet NT.
(Configuration of center server group)

The center server group 5 has a plurality of game servers (two game servers 6A and 6B in FIG. 1) and a database server 7 installed corresponding to each game, and each game server has a dedicated line C. ₃ is connected to form a LAN, and the LAN is connected to the Internet NT via a router (not shown).

  The game server 6A is installed to execute a labyrinth battle game, and includes a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, a communication processing unit 74, a communication control unit 75, and a data storage unit 76 as shown in FIG. . In the game server 6A, the CPU 71 operates while reading / writing data from / to the RAM 73 according to a program stored in the ROM 72, while the communication control unit 75 operates the communication processing unit 74 according to an instruction from the CPU 71.

  The game server 6A transmits / receives data to / from each store server 2 via the Internet NT. Then, entry data, which will be described later, transmitted from each game machine 10 is received, and the player's participation (entry) reception in the labyrinth battle game is received and the player's participation information is updated, and the player who becomes the opponent is determined. The result is transmitted to the database server 7.

  The game server 6B is installed to execute a game different from the game provided by the game server 6A. The game server 6B is different from the game server 6A in that the stored data and programs are different. The configuration itself is similar or equivalent.

  The database server 7 includes a CPU 81, a ROM 82, a RAM 83, a communication processing unit 84, a communication control unit 85, and a data storage unit 86. In the database server 7, the CPU 81 operates while reading / writing data from / to the RAM 83 according to the program stored in the ROM 82, while the communication control unit 85 operates the communication processing unit 84 according to the instruction of the CPU 81, Data is transmitted and received through the server 2 and the Internet NT. The data storage unit 86 stores a player ID, a password used for player authentication, a game type, and game data. The player ID is read from the ID card 17 by the game machine 10 and transmitted.

  Further, as described above, each player sets the figure 30 used by the player in the game machine 10 in the figure installation unit 15 and reads the figure ID of the figure storage information, so that the database server 7 reads the figure ID. The figure ID corresponding to the set figure 30 is transmitted from the game machine 10. In the database server 7, an ID management file capable of storing a plurality of corresponding figure IDs in association with one player ID transmitted from the game machine 10 is formed in the data storage unit 86. This ID management file manages the player and the figure used by the player. This ID management file is used for player authentication and figure authentication described later.

The game data is the character-specific data that characterizes each character of multiple characters appearing in the labyrinth battle game (characters including costumes, costume colors, defense parameters, attack parameters, attack ranges, and special abilities for each character) Etc., hereinafter referred to as “figure information”), and data indicating the history of the labyrinth battle game by each player. This game data is transmitted from the database server 7 to the game machine 10 and used in the labyrinth battle game.
(Game machine operation details)

  Next, the operation content of the game machine 10 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. In the following description, a case where four players out of the eight game machines 10 installed in the game store A are operated by the respective players to play the same labyrinth battle game is taken as an example. explain.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the game process from the start to the end of the game in each game machine 10. Note that step is abbreviated as S in FIG. 11 and FIGS. In the following description, one game machine 10 out of four gamers will be described as an example.

  When the game machine 10 is turned on, it sends a download request for application data to the store server 2 (step 100 to be described later). On the other hand, when the store server 2 receives the download request, it sends the download request to the game machine 10 that has sent the download request. Application data is transmitted (see FIG. 14).

  When the game machine 10 receives the application data, the game machine 10 stores the application data in the RAM 43. In the game machine 10, when the main CPU 42 reads the application data, the labyrinth battle game is advanced according to the operation input of the player. At this time, the main CPU 42 of each game machine 10 displays a game image on the main display 11 while synchronizing with each other via the store server 2 and the center server group 5.

  At this time, when the game process is started, each game machine 10 proceeds to step 10 and performs a game start process described later including coin insertion, ID card insertion, and character generation process. In step 11, it is determined whether or not predetermined data is set in the figure present flag (set present) from the result of the game start process, and the process branches to steps 12 and 13 according to the determination result. (If the figure present flag is set, step 12; otherwise, step 13). If any figure is processed and the figure present flag is cleared in step 14 following step 12, the process proceeds to step 15, and the competition results, etc. On the other hand, in order to update the game data in the database server 7, post-processing is performed to transmit the data indicating the competition results to the database server 7 via the store server 2, and the processing ends.

As described above, the game machine 10 can play the labyrinth battle game in any mode with or without the figure. However, in the mode with the figure, the game content is more beneficial to the player than in the mode without the figure (game start processing).

  The game start process of step 1 is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the game start process, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the character generation process.

  When the main CPU 42 starts the game start process, the main CPU 42 proceeds to step 20, performs a message output process, instructs the image control circuit 53, and sends a predetermined message (coin insertion request, ID card insertion request, and password input request) to the main display 11. ) Is displayed. Subsequently, steps 21 and 22 are executed.

  In order to start the game, the player inserts a coin from the coin insertion slot 16, inserts the ID card 17 into the card slot 18, and inputs a password using the operation unit 19. Then, a detection signal of the inserted coin is input from the coin sensor 16a to the main CPU 42, and card information stored in the ID card 17 is input from the card reader 18a. Further, when the password is input from the operation unit 19 and all these inputs are made, the process proceeds to step 22 where the main CPU 42 instructs the communication control unit 51 to operate the communication processing unit 52 and the read card information and the input are made. The password is transmitted to the store server 2.

  In step 23, the process waits until the response signal from the store server 2 is received. When the response signal is received, the presence / absence of the figure can be distinguished from the response signal to select whether it has been authenticated (registered) or not. In order to display the selection screen for selecting any of various characters on the main display 11, an instruction is given in the next step 24. In the following step 25, the touch panel 11a is waited until touched. Proceeding to step 26, it is determined whether or not the figure is selected at step 24. If the figure is selected, the process proceeds to step 27, and if not, the process proceeds to step 28. In step 27, a character generation process to be described later is performed. In step 28, character generation instruction (non-figure character generation instruction) data by non-use of the figure is set in entry data to be described later, and both proceed to the subsequent step 29. . Specifically, in step 26, when the figure is used for the first time and there is an already certified figure, and when a figure different from the certified figure is used, the player selects that the figure is present. Proceeding to step 27, character generation processing is performed. Further, when the figure is not used from the beginning and when there is an already authenticated figure and the figure is not used, the process proceeds to step 28 when the player selects no figure.

  In step 27, the main CPU 42 performs character generation processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. When this process is started, the process proceeds to step 30 to perform a figure set request message output process. Here, the main CPU 42 instructs the image control circuit 53 to attach the figure 30 to the figure installation unit 15 on the main display 11 and to request a setting for reading the figure ID (for example, “Figure pedestal on the operation panel When the figure certification starts, the figure installation unit will light up brightly, so do not remove the figure until the light goes off. ”) Is displayed. Wait until reading is complete. When the figure 30 is set in the figure installation unit 15 in accordance with the message displayed by the player, the figure installation unit 15 reads the figure ID stored in the IC chip 34 of the figure 30 and inputs it to the main CPU 42. In step 32, the character generation instruction data including the figure ID read by the main CPU 42 is set in the entry data. In the next step 33, the figure ID of the figure 30 is read (figure setting). When predetermined data ("1" in the present embodiment) is set in the figure flag shown, and this step 33 is executed, the character generation process ends.

  As described above, the game machine 10 sets predetermined data in the figure presence flag when the figure is set. Once the figure is set, the entry data including the character generation instruction data is transmitted to the database server 7 via the store server 2, and the player ID unique to the player who has set the figure ID in the database server 7. It is stored in the ID management file in association with the ID, and is used to determine whether or not the figure has been authenticated. Further, the determination result of whether or not the figure is authenticated by the ID management file is transmitted from the database server 7 as a response signal, so that the player can select a character corresponding to the authenticated figure and play the labyrinth battle game. . However, if the figure is not set, the figure flag is not set. Therefore, even if the figure is already authenticated, the figure 30 is set in the figure installation unit 15 in order to play the labyrinth battle game in the figure equipped mode. Therefore, it is necessary to read the figure ID. When the setting is performed, the figure information corresponding to the read figure ID is generated by the database server 7, and the labyrinth battle game can be played without repeating the setting of the figure 30.

  When the process proceeds to step 27 of the game start process, the main CPU 42 instructs the communication control unit 51 to operate the communication processing unit 52 and transmits entry data to the store server 2. When this step 27 ends, the game start process ends.

  On the other hand, in the game machine 10, the store server 2, and the center server group 5, processing is executed in the order shown in FIG. 14 corresponding to the above-described processing. FIG. 14 is a sequence chart showing an operation sequence performed between the game machine 10, the store server 2, and the center server group 5.

  In the game machine 10, in step 100, a download request is transmitted to the store server 2 to download application data, and card information and the like are transmitted in step 22 as described above. Then, in the center server group 5, the process proceeds to step 300, where the CPU 81 in the database server 7 refers to the ID management file using the card information and password transmitted from the game machine 10, and the player and the figure are registered. An authentication process is performed to determine whether or not it has been registered. If it has been registered, the process proceeds to step 301 as being authenticated, and a response signal indicating the authentication result is transmitted to the game machine 10. In this case, the database server 7 performs the same authentication process for eight game machines 10 installed in each store A and B.

Further, the game machine 10 transmits the entry data shown in step 29 described above. Then, in the center server group 5, the process proceeds to step 302, and the game server 6A receives entry of the player using the entry data from each game machine 10. Further, in the subsequent step 303, the figure ID corresponding to the update of the player's participation information and the character generation instruction data (both the figure ID that has not been authenticated and the figure that has been authenticated and is re-authenticated). The figure is registered or updated in the ID management file and the figure information is generated or updated, and in step 304, the players who are opponents (four players in this embodiment) To decide. In step 305, the database server 7 extracts game data of each player who becomes an opponent, proceeds to step 306, and transmits the extracted game data to the store server 2. When the store server 2 receives the game data, it transmits it to each game machine 10.
(Light emission mode of LED)

  While the figure-with-game process (step 12) described above is being performed, LED light emission corresponding to the gaming state of the labyrinth battle game is performed based on the figure ID read in step 31.

  That is, during the game process with the figure, the main CPU 42 operates as a game progress control means for proceeding with the labyrinth battle game (image game), and from time to time the game state (normal state, battle state, etc.) of its own machine, LED 21 emits light based on game-related information (competition result, opponent information, etc.) received from the center server group 5 or the store server 2 via the communication processing unit 52 and the light emission mode database 44 a stored in the ROM 44. It operates as a light emission mode determining means for determining the mode.

  More specifically, referring to FIG. 7, the main CPU 42 that operates as the light emission mode determining means is configured to display the LED 21 when the figure 30 with the figure ID “B1001” is set in the figure installation unit 15 and not in the battle state. The light emission mode is determined as “light emission mode 1-A”, and when in the battle state, it is determined as “light emission mode 1-B”. And when the information regarding the battle result is sent from the store server 2, based on the information, the main CPU 42 "light emission mode 1-C" which is the battle victory state or "light emission mode 1" which is the battle defeat state. -D "determines the light emission mode.

  When the light emission mode is determined by the main CPU 42 in this way, the light emission control circuit (light emission control means) 50 performs light emission control of the LED 21 according to the determined light emission mode.

  When the light according to the light emission mode is emitted from the LED 21, the emitted light passes through the inside of the holding member 23 of the figure installation unit 15, and moves down the figure 30 from the peripheral wall surface 23a as shown in FIG. Illuminate from the side. Therefore, a part of the light emitted from the peripheral wall surface 23 a of the holding member 23 corresponds to the incident portion of the figure main body portion 32 of the figure 30 (for example, the leg portion 32 a of the figure main body portion 32). Here, since the figure main body portion 32 of the figure 30 is made of a light-transmitting material as described above, a part of the light hitting the incident portion 32a of the figure main body portion 32 of the figure 30 is The light is incident on the inside of the figure main body 32 from the portion, is transmitted through the figure main body 32 while repeating reflection and refraction as appropriate, and is emitted from the emission portion (for example, the trunk portion 32b of the figure main body 32).

  Then, in addition to the reflected light on the surface of the figure main body part 32, whether the color of the figure 30 itself arranged so as to be visible to the player is changed by the emitted light from the emission part 32b of the figure main body part 32. Such visual effects can be given to the player.

  As described in detail above, in the game machine 10, when the figure memory information is read from the IC chip 34 included in the pedestal 31 of the figure 30 by the IC chip reader / writer 20 of the figure installation unit 15, the main CPU 42 The light emission mode of the LED 21 is determined based on the light emission mode database 44a based on the figure ID included in the figure storage information, the game state of the own device, and the information received from the outside via the communication processing unit 52, and the light emission The control circuit 50 performs light emission control of the LED 21 in accordance with the light emission mode determined by the main CPU 42. Then, the light reaching from the LED 21 to the incident part 32a of the figure main body part 32 of the figure 30 is transmitted through the figure main body part 32 of the figure 30 and emitted from the emission part 32b to the outside. Therefore, in this game machine 10, when the light emission mode of the LED 21 is changed based on the figure ID stored in the IC chip 34 of the figure 30, the light emitted from the emission part 32 b of the figure 30 changes, and the figure 30 Appearance changes. That is, since the game machine 10 can change the appearance of the figure 30 without exchanging the figure 30, the player's interest is sufficiently maintained. In particular, the use of the full-color LED 21 capable of projecting a plurality of colors of light as the light emitter realizes a light emission mode with more diversity.

  Further, the main CPU 42 that operates as the light emission mode determining means determines the light emission mode of the LED 21 based not only on the figure ID included in the figure storage information but also on the information from the store server 2 received by the communication processing unit 52. Therefore, it is possible to realize a variety of light emission modes, thereby maintaining the interest of the player.

  Further, since the figure 30 described above is assumed to be owned by each player, the number of the figure 30 is significantly larger than the number of the game machines 10, but the LED 21 is attached to the game machine 10. Thus, the number of LEDs 21 to be prepared can be reduced as compared with the case where the LEDs 21 are provided in each figure 30. Further, since the game machine 10 determines the color of the light incident on the figure 30, the same light emission control can be easily realized in the same gaming state without depending on the figure storage information such as the figure ID. Furthermore, since the figure 30 does not need to incorporate the LED 21, it can be manufactured at low cost.

  Note that the light emission mode does not necessarily have to be changed only by the above-described four types of game state changes. For example, the light emission mode may be changed in various game states such as level up, acquisition of a specific item, or the appearance of a specific character. be able to. In the first embodiment described above, the figure using the figure ID of the figure storage information is shown as the game information. For example, as the figure storage information, the game match history, ability value, degree of growth, etc. are stored in the IC chip 34. The information may be stored directly and used as game information.

  In the first embodiment described above, the emitted light from one full color LED 21 provided at the lower part of the figure installation unit 15 enters the incident part 32a of the figure 30 through the holding member 23. Although an aspect was shown, the number of installations and installation positions of light emitters, such as LED, can be changed suitably.

  For example, the above-described figure installation unit 15 can be appropriately changed to a figure installation unit 15A as shown in FIGS.

  This figure installation unit 15A is mainly described in that it has a rear transmission panel 90, a rear plate 91, and an LED support plate 92 disposed between the rear transmission panel 90 and the rear plate 91. Different from the figure installation unit 15.

The rear transmissive panel 90 is a transmissive panel installed so as to stand upright in a flat plate shape on the rear side portion of the holding member 23 in the frame body 26 b of the holding frame 26. Further, the back plate 91 is a part of the base 27, and stands up behind the back transmission panel 90. Further, the LED support plate 92 includes a lower light emitter 21A composed of LEDs 21 arranged in a horizontal row at a height corresponding to the LED 21 described above, and 3 horizontal rows × 8 vertical columns arranged above the lower light emitter 21A. A side light emitter 21B composed of a total of 24 LEDs 21 in a row is attached. That is, as shown in FIG. 16, the side light emitter 21 </ b> B is configured by arranging three LED 21 groups of LEDs _{1 to 8 in} order from the left side.

In a gaming machine equipped with such a figure installation unit 15A, each LED 21 of the lower light emitter 21A and the side light emitter 21B corresponds to the light emitter in the present invention, and each LED 21 is controlled by the light emission control circuit 50 described above. The Here, FIG. 17 shows a circuit diagram showing the light emission control circuit 50 and the LED circuit 93 in which the LEDs _{1 to 8} constituting the side light emitter 21B are connected in parallel. As shown in FIG. 17, the light emission control circuit 50 independently turns on the LED common lines that output signals common to the LEDs _{1 to 8} that constitute the side light emitter 21 </ b> B, and the LEDs _{1 to 8.} LED signal line ₁ to LED signal line ₈ for outputting a signal for generating the signal. LED circuit 93, the _LED 1 ～LED ₈ to a common line connected to the LED common line are connected in parallel, each _LED 1 ～LED _8, to the LED signal line ₁ ～LED signal line _8, the resistor Three LEDs are connected in series via each other. Furthermore, it also has an LED signal line _L that outputs a signal for lighting the lower light emitter 21A.

Further, when operating as the light emission mode determination means, the main CPU 42 preferably uses a database equivalent to the light emission mode database 44a shown in FIG. 7, but for each LED _{1 to} LED ₈ in each gaming state. The light emission mode may be defined, or the light emission mode may be defined for each individual LED 21. In this case, since various light emission modes can be realized as compared with the case where one light emitter is used, the interest of the game is further improved.

  In the light emission state of the LED 21 in the figure installation unit 15A described above, as shown in FIG. 18, the figure 30 is irradiated with the irradiation light α from below and the irradiation light β from behind. That is, the light emitted from the lower light emitter 21A passes through the holding member 23, emits light α from the peripheral wall surface 23a of the holding member 23, and illuminates the figure 30 from below. Further, the light β emitted from the side light emitter 21B passes through the rear transmission panel 90 and illuminates the figure 30 from the rear. Therefore, a part of the irradiation light α and the irradiation light β hits the incident part of the figure main body part 32 of the figure 30 (for example, the leg part 32a and the back part 32c of the figure main body part 32), as in the above-described embodiment. The light passes through the main body 32 and is emitted from the emission portion (for example, the trunk portion 32b of the figure main body 32).

  That is, in the game machine using the figure installation unit 15A, the color of the figure 30 itself arranged so as to be visible to the player changes as in the game machine 10 using the figure installation unit 15 described above. It is possible to give the player a visual effect as if he did. Particularly, in the case of such a figure installation unit 15A, the irradiation light α and β is irradiated on the figure 30 from a plurality of directions, so that a more complicated visual effect can be achieved.

  In order to achieve a visual effect equivalent to the above-described effect, it is possible to use a figure 30A in which an LED 21 as shown in FIG. 19 is incorporated. In other words, the figure 30A has a point that six LEDs 21 are provided at the zenith 33a of the pedestal 31, a terminal 94 to which an electric signal to the LEDs 21 is input is provided at the pedestal 31, and a protrusion 33b. Is different in that it is provided at the end of the zenith 33a of the pedestal 31. When such a figure 30A is employed, it is not necessary for the gaming machine itself to have the LED 21 as in the game machine 10, and an electric signal from the light emission control circuit 50 is directly sent to the figure 30A. That is, in a game machine to which the figure 30A is applied, an electrical signal for the LED 21 of the figure 30A is sent from the light emission control circuit 50 to the figure 30A via the terminal 94 in accordance with the light emission form determined by the main CPU 42 as the light emission form determining means. The LED 21 of the figure 30A emits light. That is, the LED 21 of the figure 30 </ b> A is controlled by the light emission control circuit 50.

Light emitted from the LED 21 incorporated in the figure 30A enters the figure main body 32 from a leg seat (incident part) 36 of the figure main body 32. Then, the light passes through the figure main body portion 32 and is emitted from the emission portion (for example, the doll portion 37 of the figure main body portion 32). The emitted light from the emitting portion 37 can give the player a visual effect as if the color of the figure 30A itself arranged so as to be visible to the player has changed. As with, the player's interest is fully maintained. In particular, in the case of such a figure 30A, the number of LEDs 21 and the type of the light emitting element built in the LED 21 can be changed for each figure 30A, so that the electric signal from the light emission control circuit 50 is uniform. Even so, various light emission modes can be realized for each figure 30A. In addition, as compared with the case where the LED 21 is provided in the game machine 10, it is possible to easily realize the light emission mode according to the type (group) or strength of the figure 30 </ b> A.
Second embodiment

Next, a pachislot machine that is a gaming machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the pachislot machine 101 according to the second embodiment. The pachislot machine 101 has variable display means for variably displaying a plurality of symbols in a plurality of columns, and the variable display means performs variable display of a plurality of reels so that a game (hereinafter also referred to as “game”) can be performed. It is configured.
(Pachislot machine overall configuration)

  The pachi-slot machine 101 has an image display unit 120 on the front surface of the housing 102, and three mechanical reels 3L, 3C, 3R are horizontally rotated on the back side of the image display unit 120 inside the housing 102. Arranged in a row. Each reel 3L, 3C, 3R is visible from the outside. Each reel 3L, 3C, 3R constitutes a rotatable variable display means in which a symbol row having 21 types of symbols is drawn on each outer peripheral surface, and each symbol is variably displayed.

  The pachi-slot machine 101 has a substantially horizontal pedestal 104 below the image display unit 120, and a BET switch for performing a setting for betting coins credited by a push button operation on the left side of the pedestal 104. 105 and a coin insertion slot 106 for a player to insert coins on the right side. The coin insertion slot 106 has an insertion coin sensor 106a (see FIG. 21) that outputs a signal indicating the insertion of coins.

  Further, the pachislot machine 101 has a C / P switch 108 and a start switch 109 for switching the credit / payout of coins acquired by the player in the game in order from the left side on the front surface of the base portion 104. Three stop buttons 7L, 7C, and 7R are provided at the front center of the section 104. The start switch 109 is a switch for the player to perform a variable display start operation (game start operation) by rotating the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R. The stop buttons 7L, 7C, 7R are provided as stop operation means for the player to stop the rotation (scroll display) of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R.

  The pachi-slot machine 101 has a figure installation unit 15 similar to that of the first embodiment, a coin payout opening 110, and a coin receiving portion 111 for storing paid out coins at the bottom of the housing 102. Speakers 112L and 112R are respectively provided on the left and right sides above the image display unit 120 of the body 102, and a payout display panel 113 is provided between the speakers 112L and 112R.

  FIG. 21 is a block diagram of the pachi-slot machine 101 centering on the internal configuration. The pachi-slot machine 101 has a plurality of components around a main control board 171 including a microcomputer 131. The main control board 171 includes a microcomputer 131, a random number generator 135, a sampling circuit 136, a clock pulse generation circuit 137, and a frequency divider 138, and includes a lamp driving circuit 159, a hopper driving circuit 163, and a payout completion signal circuit 165. The display unit driving circuit 167 and the light emission control circuit 50 are provided.

  The microcomputer 131 includes a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) 132, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 133, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) 134. The main CPU 132 operates according to a program stored in the ROM 134, inputs / outputs signals to / from other components via the I / O port 39, and controls the operation of the entire pachislot machine 101. The main CPU 132 constitutes game mode control means in the present invention. That is, the main CPU 132 shifts the game mode from a normal game (normal game mode) to a bonus game (special game mode) where a player can expect a lot of payout medals when a predetermined condition such as a stop symbol arrangement result is established. Transition.

  The RAM 133 stores data and programs used when the main CPU 132 operates. For example, random numbers sampled by a sampling circuit 136 described later are temporarily held after the game starts, and the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R are also stored. Code number and design number are stored. The ROM 134 stores a program executed by the main CPU 132 and permanent data. In the case of the pachislot machine 101, the ROM 134 stores a light emission mode database 134a shown in FIG. That is, the light emission mode database 134a stores, for each figure ID, a light emission mode during the normal game and a light emission mode during the bonus game.

  The random number generator 135 operates according to an instruction from the main CPU 132 to generate a certain range of random numbers. The sampling circuit 136 extracts an arbitrary random number from the random numbers generated by the random number generator 135 in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 132, and inputs the extracted random number to the main CPU 132. The clock pulse generation circuit 137 generates a reference clock for operating the main CPU 132, and the frequency divider 138 inputs a signal obtained by dividing the reference clock at a constant period to the main CPU 132.

  Further, a reel drive unit 150 and a reel stop signal circuit 153 are connected to the main control board 171. The reel drive unit 150 inputs drive signals to a reel position detection circuit 151 that detects the positions of the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R, and motors M1, M2, and M3 for rotating the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R. A motor drive circuit 152 is provided. When a drive signal is input from the motor drive circuit 152, the motors M1, M2, and M3 are operated, and each of them rotates the reels 3L, 3C, and 3R. The reel stop signal circuit 153 outputs a stop signal corresponding to the stop operation of each stop button 7L, 7C, 7R, and inputs it to the microcomputer 131 via the I / O port 139. In addition, the main control board 171 is connected to the start switch 109, the BET switch 105, the C / P switch 108, and the inserted coin sensor 106a, and a signal is input from each of them.

  The lamp driving circuit 159 outputs signals for lighting various lamps (BET lamps 117a, 117b, and 117c). The hopper drive circuit 163 drives the hopper 164 under the control of the main CPU 132, and the hopper 164 performs an operation for paying out coins, and pays out coins from the coin payout exit 110. The payout completion signal circuit 165 inputs coin number value data from the connected coin detection unit 166, and outputs a signal for notifying completion of coin payout when the number value reaches a set number value. Input to the CPU 132. The coin detection unit 166 measures the number of coins paid out by the hopper 164 and inputs data of the measured number value to the payout completion signal circuit 165. The display unit drive circuit 167 controls the display operation of each display unit (the payout display unit 118, the credit display unit 119, and the bonus game information display unit 116).

  The light emission control circuit 50 outputs a light emission signal to each light emitting element (red light emitting element, blue light emitting element, green light emitting element) of the LED 21 of the figure installation unit 15 in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 132. Further, the IC chip reader / writer 20 connected to the I / O port 139 reads the figure storage information from the IC chip 34 of the figure 30 and inputs it to the main CPU 132 as necessary, and the information from the main CPU 132 is inputted to the IC chip. The information stored in FIG. 34 is updated.

  Further, a sub control board 172 is connected to the main control board 171. The sub-control board 172 inputs a control command (command) from the main control board 171, and the liquid crystal display device 141 (the liquid crystal display device 141 constitutes the image display unit 120 and is arranged on the front surface of the reels 3L, 3C, 3R. , Part of which is transparently displayed) and sound output control by the speakers 112L and 112R. The sub-control board 172 is formed on a circuit board different from the circuit board constituting the main control board 171, and includes a microcomputer (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as “sub-microcomputer”) as a main component, and the speakers 112L and 112R. A sound source IC that controls output sound, a power amplifier as an amplifier, and an image control circuit that operates as display control means of the liquid crystal display device 141 are provided.

In the pachislot machine 101 having the above-described configuration, the reels 3L, 3C, 3R are rotated according to the operation of the start lever 109 by the player, and the symbols are variably displayed, and the stop button 7L, 7C, Each reel 3L, 3C, 3R stops according to the operation of 7R. At this time, in the symbol display areas 121L, 121C, 121R in the image display unit 120, when a symbol stopped and displayed on a predetermined active line becomes a specific symbol, a medium (such as a medal or a coin) used in a game ( The main CPU 132 operates as a game mode control means, and BB (Big Bonus) or RB (Regular Bonus) that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game state is performed. The game state is shifted to the specific game state.
(Operation contents of pachislot machine)

Next, among the operation contents of the pachi-slot machine 101, the procedure of the control processing by the main control board 171 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of effect control processing executed by the main control board 171 in the pachi-slot machine 101. 23 and 24, step is abbreviated as S.
(Operation procedure of production control process)

  When the main CPU 132 starts the effect control process, steps 401 to 405 are sequentially executed, and an initialization process, a display control process, a sound control process, a light emission control process, and a game medium payout process are sequentially executed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to a repeating routine for sequentially executing Steps 402 to 405.

  In the display control process of step 402, the main CPU 132 instructs the sub control board 172 to display an image on the liquid crystal display device 141. In the subsequent audio control process in step 403, the main CPU 132 instructs the sub control board 172 to output audio from the speakers 112L and 112R.

  Further, in step 404, a light emission control process is performed. This light emission control process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when the light emission control process is started, the process proceeds to step 411, where the figure ID reading process from the IC chip reader / writer 20 is performed. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step 412, where the main CPU 132 operates as a light emission mode determination means, determines whether the current game state is a normal game state or a bonus game state, and emits light based on the figure ID read by the IC chip reader / writer 20. The light emission mode of the LED 21 is determined from the mode database 134a. When the main CPU 132 determines the light emission mode, in step 413, the light emission control circuit 50 controls the light emission of the LED 21 according to the determined light emission mode.

Therefore, also in this pachislot machine 101, when the figure 30 shown in FIG. 5 is set in the figure installation unit 15, the light emitted from the LED 21 to the incident part 32 a of the figure main body 32 of the figure 30 is changed. 30 is transmitted through the figure main body 32 and emitted from the emitting part 32b to the outside. Therefore, also in this pachislot machine 101, the appearance of the figure 30 can be changed by changing the light emission mode of the LED 21 based on the figure ID stored in the IC chip 34 of the figure 30. Therefore, like the game machine 10 shown in the first embodiment, the player's interest is sufficiently maintained in the pachislot machine 101. In addition, the player repeats the game while expecting a transition to the bonus game, but the player's expectation increases by changing the light emission mode from time to time, so the player's interest can be maintained and further improved. it can.
Third embodiment

Next, a pachinko gaming machine that is a gaming machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a pachinko gaming machine 201 according to the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine 201 is a digital pachinko gaming machine (referred to as a digital pachinko or first type pachinko gaming machine).
(Overall configuration of pachinko machines)

  A pachinko gaming machine 201 shown in FIG. 25 includes an outer frame 202 that is housed and installed in a predetermined installation frame of a game hall (hall). A base door (inner frame) 203 is provided on the front side of the outer frame 202 so as to be rotatable with respect to the outer frame 202, and a game board (not shown) is incorporated in the base door 203. . A front door 205 is provided in front of the outer frame 202. The front door 205 covers the front of the game board and is rotatably installed on the front side of the base door 203.

  In addition, the pachinko gaming machine 201 is adjacently provided with a card unit configured such that when a prepaid card or the like is inserted, game balls are lent out according to the balance of the prepaid card.

  The front door 205 is provided with a glass plate 205a in an almost entire area of the center thereof so that a game board inside thereof can be visually recognized. Below the front door 205, a ball lending operation panel 228 having a ball lending operation related button for performing a card return operation of the card unit, a lending (ball lending) operation of a game ball, and the like is provided. Further, the ball lending operation panel 228 is provided with a determination button 220a and selection buttons 220b and 220c for performing a predetermined operation.

  A dish panel 206 that can be opened and closed with respect to the outer frame 202 is installed below the front door 205. On the front side of the plate panel 206, there are an upper plate 206a for receiving a game ball lent out by the card unit and a game ball to be paid out when entering a winning port described later, and a ball outlet 206d when the upper plate 206a is full. A lower plate 206b that catches the game ball overflowing inward of the ball and a firing handle 206c provided on the right side of the lower plate 206b are arranged.

  The launch handle 206c is for launching a game ball received by the upper plate 206a, and is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the plate panel 206. The player operates the launch handle 206c to play a pachinko game. You can proceed. When the firing handle 206c is gripped by the player and is turned clockwise, power is supplied to the firing motor provided on the back side of the firing handle 206c according to the turning angle. Then, game balls are sequentially fired onto the game board.

  Further, the above-described figure installation unit 15 is provided in the installation part 206e on the left side of the lower plate 206b.

  FIG. 26 is a block configuration diagram mainly showing the internal configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 201. The pachinko gaming machine 201 has a plurality of components, mainly a main control circuit 230, a payout / launch control circuit 280, and a power supply unit 224. The power supply unit 224 includes the main control circuit 230 and a payout / launch control circuit. 280 is connected to each 280 and can supply power to each. The main control circuit 230 has a main CPU (Central Processing Unit) 231, a main ROM (Read Only Memory) 232, and a main RAM (Random Access Memory) 233 which are constituted by a one-chip microcomputer, and an initial reset circuit 234. An image control circuit 250, an audio control circuit 260, a lamp control circuit 270, and a light emission control circuit 50.

  The main CPU 231 inputs a detection signal of a game ball from a V count switch 211S or the like which will be described later, and operates according to a control program stored in the main ROM 232 to perform a big hit lottery or a prize ball discharge in the pachinko gaming machine 201. It controls the operation of the entire pachinko gaming machine 201. The main CPU 231 constitutes game mode control means in the present invention. That is, the main CPU 231 shifts the game mode from the normal game mode to the special game mode (big hit) where a lot of balls can be expected for the player by the establishment of predetermined conditions such as the result of the big win lottery and the digestion of the game state. Let me. In the pachinko gaming machine 201, there are a normal gaming state, a probability variation gaming state, and a big hit (big hit gaming state) as gaming modes (gaming states).

  The main ROM 232 stores a control program executed by the main CPU 231 and permanent data. In the case of the pachinko gaming machine 201, the main ROM 232 stores a light emission mode database 232a shown in FIG. That is, the light emission mode database 232a stores, for each figure ID, a light emission mode in the normal gaming state, a light emission mode in the probability variation gaming state, and a light emission mode in the big hit gaming state.

  The main RAM 33 temporarily stores data and programs used when the main CPU 231 operates. The initial reset circuit 234 periodically outputs a reset signal to the main CPU 231. With this reset signal, the main CPU 231 executes processing from the beginning of the control program.

  Further, the main control circuit 230 is connected to each switch including the V count switch 211S. The V count switch 211S measures the number of game balls that have passed through the V zone provided in the special winning opening 211, and outputs a detection signal indicating the measurement result to the main control circuit 230. The count switch 211CS measures the number of game balls won in the big winning opening 211 and outputs a detection signal indicating the measurement result to the main control circuit 230.

  The general winning opening switch 212 </ b> S outputs a detection signal of a game ball won to each of the general winning openings 212 a to 212 d to the main control circuit 230. The operation gate switch 210 </ b> S outputs a detection signal of the game ball passing through the normal symbol operation gate 210 to the main control circuit 230. The start winning port switch 209 </ b> S outputs a detection signal of a game ball won in the start winning port 209 to the main control circuit 230.

  The start opening solenoid 209L opens and closes a pair of blades 209a and 209a provided in the start winning opening 209, and the large winning opening solenoid 211L opens and closes the shutter of the large winning opening 211. The seesaw solenoid 211M drives a seesaw (not shown) of the special winning opening 211. The backup clear switch 226 clears backup data in the event of a power interruption or the like according to the operation of the operator.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 201, when the start winning port switch 209S detects winning of a game ball and outputs a detection signal, random number extraction is performed, and a lottery process using the extracted random number is performed. Based on the lottery result, a liquid crystal display The decorative design in the device 215 is determined.

  The main CPU 231 opens the big prize opening 211 by outputting a drive signal to the big prize opening solenoid 211L when the big hit is made. Also, when the special winning opening 211 is opened, the game is closed on the condition that a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls have been won or a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) has passed. The main CPU 231 controls the power supply unit 224 in accordance with signals from the selection buttons 220b and 220c and the determination button 220a.

  The main CPU 231 performs control necessary for effects such as variable display of decorative symbols, reach effects, and notice effects using the liquid crystal display device 215, while operating the image control circuit 250 to display a predetermined image on the liquid crystal display device 215. To display. Further, the main CPU 231 operates the audio control circuit 260 and the lamp control circuit 270 to perform control necessary for the effect by the sound output using the speakers 217L and 217R and the effect by the blinking display of the decoration lamps 218L and 218R.

  The image control circuit 250 includes a VDP (Video Display Processor) 251, a D / A converter 252, an initial reset circuit 253, and image data ROMs (image storage means) 254a and 254b. The VDP 251 forms an image according to the content to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device 215 determined by the main CPU 231, and outputs the formed image to the D / A converter 252. The D / A converter 252 D / A converts the image data output from the VDP 251 and outputs an analog signal obtained by the conversion to the liquid crystal display device 215 to display an image. The initial reset circuit 253 receives the reset command from the main CPU 231 and executes processing for returning the VDP 251 to the initial state. Image data ROM 254a stores image data (image data) indicating decorative symbols, special symbols, characters, backgrounds, and the like, and image data ROM 254b stores image data for displaying various image data on the liquid crystal display device 215. It is remembered.

  The audio control circuit 260 includes a sound source IC 261 that generates an audio signal, an AMP 262 that amplifies the generated audio signal, and an audio data ROM 263 that stores audio data used for various effects.

  The lamp control circuit 270 uses the decoration data ROM 271 that stores decoration data indicating the blinking pattern of the decoration lamps 218L and 218R, and the decoration lamp 218L using the decoration data stored in the decoration data ROM 271 in accordance with an instruction from the main CPU 231. And a drive circuit 272 for blinking 218R.

  The payout / launch control circuit 280 operates the payout device 281 according to the control of the main control circuit 230 to pay out a predetermined number of game balls as prize balls, and when the game balls win the big prize opening 211, the prize balls Pay out. The payout / firing control circuit 280 operates the firing handle 206c and the launching device 282 having a launching motor, and causes the launching device 282 to launch a game ball toward a game area on the game board.

The power supply unit 224 supplies power to the main control circuit 230 and the payout / launch control circuit 280 according to the control of the main control circuit 230, and supplies power to the payout / launch control circuit 280 and the main control circuit 230. Restrict.
(Operation details of pachinko machines)

  Among the operation contents of the pachinko gaming machine 201, the procedure of the control processing by the main control circuit 230 is performed in the same manner as the control processing (see FIGS. 23 and 24) by the main control board 171 of the pachislot machine 101 described above. That is, when the main CPU 231 starts the effect control process, the initialization process, the display control process, the sound control process, the light emission control process, and the game medium payout process are sequentially executed as in the pachislot machine 101, and the display control process to the game medium payout process. Are repeated routines executed sequentially.

  In the display control process, the main CPU 231 instructs the image control circuit 250 to display an image on the liquid crystal display device 215. In the subsequent audio control process, the main CPU 231 instructs the audio control circuit 260 to output audio from the speakers 217L and 217R.

  Further, the light emission control processing is performed in the same manner as the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, when the light emission control process is started, the figure ID reading process from the IC chip reader / writer 20 is performed. Subsequently, the main CPU 231 operates as the light emission mode determination means, determines the current game mode, and determines the light emission mode of the LED 21 from the light emission mode database 232a based on the figure ID read by the IC chip reader / writer 20. When the main CPU 231 determines the light emission mode, the light emission control circuit 50 controls the light emission of the LED 21 according to the determined light emission mode.

  Therefore, also in this pachinko gaming machine 201, when the figure 30 shown in FIG. 5 is set in the figure installation unit 15, the light emitted from the LED 21 to the incident part 32a of the figure main body part 32 of the figure 30 is The light passes through the figure main body 32 of the figure 30 and is emitted from the emission part 32b to the outside. Therefore, also in this pachinko gaming machine 201, the appearance of the figure 30 can be changed by changing the light emission mode of the LED 21 based on the figure ID stored in the IC chip 34 of the figure 30. Therefore, like the gaming machine 10 shown in the first embodiment and the pachislot machine 101 shown in the second embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine 201 can sufficiently maintain the player's interest.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the figure is described as an example of a game article, but for example, a three-dimensional article such as a cassette or a cartridge may be used instead of a three-dimensional article such as a figure.

  Further, as a gaming machine, a game machine capable of playing a labyrinth battle game has been described as an example, but it can also be applied to a gaming machine capable of performing other image games. For example, in a game in which a plurality of players such as baseball and soccer appear, a game machine that can simulate team play using a figure or cassette corresponding to each player.

  Further, the reading means is not limited to a non-contact type IC chip reader, and may be a contact type. Further, the reading means is not limited to the case of reading the figure ID (identification information), but may be a read / writer type, that is, a structure in which information can be written in a recording device such as an IC chip. In the pachislot machine and the pachinko gaming machine in the above embodiment, the main control board is provided with elements such as the light emission mode determining means, the light emission control means, and the light emission aspect database, but a sub control board is provided separately. The sub-control board may be modified so that part or all of the above elements are provided.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a game system including a plurality of game machines according to the present invention. It is a perspective view showing a plurality of game machines and a card vending machine. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of a game machine. It is a disassembled perspective view of the figure installation unit of the game machine of FIG. It is a front exploded view which shows the structure of a figure. It is a block diagram of the game machine which mainly shows an internal structure. It is the figure which showed an example of the light emission mode database. It is a block diagram which shows an example of an internal structure of an image control circuit. It is a block diagram which shows a store server. It is a block diagram which shows a game server and a database server. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the game process from the start of a game in a game machine to completion | finish. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of a game start process. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of a character production | generation process. It is a sequence chart which shows the operation | movement sequence performed among a game machine, a shop server, and a center server. It is the figure which showed the light emission state of the figure installation unit. It is the front view which showed the figure installation unit of the aspect different from FIG. It is a circuit diagram regarding LED integrated in the figure installation unit of FIG. It is the figure which showed the light emission state of the figure installation unit of FIG. It is a front exploded view which shows the structure of the figure of the aspect different from FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the whole structure of the pachislot machine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a pachislot machine mainly showing an internal configuration. It is the figure which showed an example of the light emission mode database. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of effect control processing. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of light emission control processing. It is a perspective view which shows the pachinko game machine which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the front side. It is a block diagram of a pachinko gaming machine mainly showing the internal configuration It is the figure which showed an example of the light emission mode database.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Game machine, 11 ... Main display, 12 ... Sub display, 11a ... Touch panel, 19 ... Operation unit, 20 ... IC chip reader / writer, 21, 21A, 21B ... LED, 30, 30A ... Fig. 31, 31 ... Base part, 32 ... Fig. Main body part, 34 ... IC chip, 42, 132, 231 ... Main CPU, 50 ... Light emission control circuit, 101 ... Pachi-slot machine, 201 ... Pachinko machine.

Claims (7)

A main body having an incident part for guiding light incident from the outside to the inside, and an emission part for emitting light incident from the incident part and transmitted through the inside, and a storage part for storing game information relating to the game; Reading means for reading the gaming information from a gaming article comprising:
Based on the game information read by the reading means, a light emission mode determining means for determining a light emission mode of a light emitter that projects on the incident portion of the game article;
A gaming machine comprising: a light emission control unit that performs light emission control of the light emitter according to the light emission mode determined by the light emission mode determination unit.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the light emitter is capable of projecting a plurality of colors of light to the incident portion of the gaming article.   The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light emitter is provided.   The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gaming article has the light emitter. A gaming machine that displays a game image used in a game on an image display means,
An operation means for a player to perform an operation input necessary for the progress of the image game using the game image;
A game progress control means for displaying the game image on the image display means to advance the image game;
Communication means for receiving game-related information related to the image game from the outside,
The light emission mode determination unit determines a light emission mode of the light emitter based on the game-related information received by the communication unit and the game information read by the reading unit. A gaming machine according to claim 1.   A game mode in which a normal game mode and a special game mode in which a privilege advantageous to the player is given are provided as game modes, and the game mode is shifted from the normal game mode to the special game mode by establishment of a predetermined transition condition. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a control means. A storage unit for storing game information relating to gaming of the gaming machine;
A game article comprising: an incident portion that guides light incident from a light emitter to the inside; and a main body portion having an emission portion that emits light incident from the incident portion and transmitted through the interior.

Images