JP2006314475A - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a slot machine where amusement of a game is improved by preventing a player from losing feeling of tension even in a special state such as a replay time. <P>SOLUTION: The slot machine provided with a special state generation means which generates the replay time according to forming of a prescribed condition is provided with an advantage differentiating means which varies an advantage of a player by varying probability of rushing into the next replay time to be high or low according to the number of games in which a bonus occurs during the replay time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine.

  As a conventional slot machine, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a type capable of generating a replay time (RT) with an increased replay lottery probability that allows the next game to be played without newly inserting medals is known. Yes. When the replay time is entered, replay occurs frequently, and the medal is hardly reduced, so that it is possible to give the player a sense of relief.

JP 2001-137430 A

  However, in such a slot machine, there is a problem that during the replay time, the player temporarily loses tension and the interest is lowered. In particular, when the replay time is continued until a bonus occurs, the above tendency is remarkable. Such a problem is not limited to the replay time. For example, in the case of a challenge time (CT), during the CT, the reels stop at the timing when the player performs a stop operation for some or all of the reels. If the timing to stop the reels is accurate, the symbols can be aligned one after another. In the case of assist time (AT), the player is notified of the order in which the reels are stopped and the type of internal winning combination. Usually, it is easy to align symbols that are difficult to align because the reel stop operation is not appropriate. The reduction of interest by losing tension in all special states such as CT and AT as described above is a common problem.

  The present invention has been made based on the above-described background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine that can enhance the interest of a game without losing a sense of tension even in a special state such as a replay time.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to solve the above problems, the slot machine of the present invention includes a lottery means for executing a lottery for determining a winning combination in accordance with the start of the game,
Variable display means for variably displaying a plurality of identification information according to the start of the game;
A symbol stop operating means operated by the player to stop the operation of the variable display means;
Bonus generating means for generating a bonus when the identification information that the variable display means stops in response to the operation of the symbol stop operating means results in a predetermined bonus display;
Special state generating means for generating a special state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state in response to establishment of the predetermined condition;
Profit disparity giving means for changing the amount of profit to be given to the player according to the time when the bonus occurs when a bonus occurs during the special state;
It is characterized by providing.

  The slot machine of the present invention includes special state generating means for generating a special state (for example, replay time; replay high probability state) that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In addition, it is provided with a profit disparity giving means for changing the magnitude of the profit to be given to the player according to the time when the bonus occurs in the special state, and the magnitude of the profit can be changed according to the time when the bonus occurs. Can do. For example, it is possible to change the magnitude of the profit by increasing or decreasing the probability of entering the replay high probability state according to the time when the bonus is generated. As a result, the player not only wishes for the bonus, but also pays attention to the timing of the bonus, so he can concentrate on the game without losing tension even in a special state, and enjoy the fun of the game. It can be improved. The predetermined condition can be established when the bonus generated by the bonus generating means ends.

  At that time, it is possible to provide a game number counting means for counting the number of games played from the start of the special state. The profit disparity giving means can change the magnitude of the profit to be given to the player according to the number of games when the bonus is generated, which is counted by the game number counting means. In this way, depending on the number of games, for example, when a bonus is generated early with a small number of games from the start of a special state, or when a bonus is generated late with a large number of games, the amount of profit given to the player is changed. And can enhance the fun of the game.

  Further, at that time, the profit disparity giving means can be configured to change the probability that the predetermined condition for the occurrence of the special state is satisfied according to the time when the bonus occurs. Thus, for example, according to the time (number of games) in which the bonus occurs during the special state, the rush probability in the replay high probability state can be increased or decreased. Thereby, based on the time when the bonus is generated in the special state, the rush probability of the re-gaming high probability state is changed, and the interest received by the player is changed thereafter, and the interest of the game can be enhanced.

  In addition, a bonus means that it will be in the state where the appearance rate has increased remarkably. In addition, bonuses have a relatively long period of time in which the payout rate has increased for a relatively long time, and there are many BIG bonuses that can be acquired, and there are short periods of time in which the output rate has increased compared to the BIG bonus, which can be acquired. It is divided into few REG bonuses. Hereinafter, it may be simply referred to as BIG or REG.

(Example)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine. The slot machine 1 has a casing, and three reels that are rotationally driven by a stepping motor are accommodated in the casing. On the left, middle and right reels, 21 symbols (identification information) shown in FIG. 3 are drawn at equal intervals. The three symbols of each reel can be visually recognized from the display window 10 provided in the center, thereby forming the symbol display areas of the left, middle, and right symbol display portions 11L, 11C, and 11R (variable display means). Has been.

  At the bottom of the display window 10, there are provided a medal insertion slot 12, a credit insertion button 13 that is operated when the player plays a game using the credit function, and a credit checkout button 14 that the player operates to release the credit. It has been. Furthermore, in the lower part, a start lever (start switch) 15 for starting a game, left, middle, right, left, middle, and right, which are operated by a player for stopping the symbol variation of the symbol display portions 11L, 11C, 11R, Right stop buttons 16L, 16C, and 16R (design stop operation means) are provided. At the bottom, a medal payout port 17 and a medal storage tray 18 are provided. The right side of the display window 10 displays a credit display unit 19 for storing and displaying up to 50 medals inserted and paid out, and displays the number of medals to be paid out when a symbol indicates a predetermined combination. A payout number display unit 20 is provided.

  When a game is played using the credit function, 50 or more medals are stored up to 50. The stored medal number is displayed on the credit display unit 19. Then, by operating the credit insertion button 13, medals corresponding to the set number are inserted, and a one-bet game, a two-bet game, or a three-bet game is possible.

  Speakers 21 and 21 functioning as a notification device for providing voice information to the player are provided in a paired manner on the upper portion of the housing. In addition, a liquid crystal display unit 22 is provided in the vicinity of the speakers 21 and 21, and also functions as a notification device that provides the player with game effects as image information. By these notification devices, information relating to the game is provided to the player in one of images, colors and sounds, or a combination thereof.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the slot machine 1. The main board 30 which is a control unit of the slot machine 1 is a CPU 31 which is an arithmetic device, a ROM 32 which is a read-only storage device in which various programs and a lottery determination table are stored in advance, a readable / writable main storage device and a work piece A RAM 33 used as an area and an input / output interface (I / O) 34 are mainly configured. These devices are connected to each other by a bus not shown in the figure. The slot machine 1 is controlled by a control program 61, an RT lottery process program 62, and an RT entry process program 63 that control the entire slot machine 1 stored in the ROM 32.

  An operation signal from the operation unit is input to the main board 30 via the input / output interface 34. A signal input to the main board 30 is input to the CPU 31. Each operation unit includes a start lever 15, left, middle, and right stop buttons 16L, 16C, and 16R, a inserted medal detection unit 12a, a credit insertion button 13, a credit settlement button 14, a power switch, and the like. During the game process, the control program 61 and the like stored in the ROM 32 are sequentially read out by the CPU 31, stored in the RAM 33, and executed in accordance with the progress of the game. The execution result of the processing is output from the CPU 31 to each operation unit (reel driving unit 41, medal paying unit 42, decorative lamps 43) via the input / output interface 34.

  The liquid crystal display unit 22 and the audio output unit 45 are electrically connected to the CPU 31 via the input / output interface 34. The ROM 32 stores an image display program, image data, an audio output program, audio data, and the like, and is read by the CPU 31 according to the operation of the slot machine 1. As the program is executed, an image data signal and an audio data signal are output to the liquid crystal display unit 22 and the audio output unit 45, respectively. The speaker 21 is controlled via the audio output unit 45.

  The operation of the reel drive unit 41 is controlled by a drive pulse signal output from the CPU 31. The left, middle, and right reels 41L, 41C, and 41R are detected by the stop position detection unit 47 for each rotation, and a reel reference position signal is input to the CPU 31. The reel is controlled based on this information.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of symbols drawn on the left, middle, and right reels 41L, 41C, and 41R. The relationship between the symbol number given to the left side of the symbol in FIG. 3 and the left, middle and right reels 41L, 41C, 41R is stored in the ROM 32 as a data table. By referring to this data table, the type of symbol can be specified if the reel and the symbol number are determined.

  FIG. 4 shows a combination of symbols constituting a combination and the number of medals to be paid out corresponding to the combination. For example, as a special combination, a BIG bonus and a REG bonus, and 2 to 15 small combinations and a replay combination are set. These roles are pre-programmed roles. Note that the bonus-in and jack-in shown in FIG. 4 are valid only during the BIG or REG bonus game.

  Next, a specific control procedure will be described with reference to a flowchart. The RT lottery processing program 62 stored in the ROM 32 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The control program 61 stored in the ROM 32 is responsible for overall control of the slot machine 1, and after the power to the slot machine 1 is turned on, initialization processing such as interrupt mode setting and RAM check, and completion of initialization processing are performed. This is a well-known content for performing lottery processing, reel drive processing, bonus processing, and the like later. First, only the main points of the operation mechanism of the slot machine 1 will be described. When a medal is directly inserted into the medal insertion slot 12 or when the credit insertion button 13 is operated, a medal is inserted and preparation for playing a game is completed. In the control unit 30, winning lines 51, 52, 53 (see FIG. 1) are activated according to the insertion of medals, lamps corresponding to the respective lines are turned on, and a game start signal is input from the start lever 15. In response to this, a lottery process for determining which of a plurality of predetermined combinations such as a bonus (also called a big hit) or a small combination is won is executed. Then, the winning combination flag is established. Such a lottery process is performed by sampling a random number generated by the control unit 30 and determining which of a plurality of types of winning combination is lost based on the sampling random number. That is, the CPU 31 of the control unit 30 functions as a lottery means.

  In the present embodiment, the probability of winning each winning combination (lottery probability) is set as follows. For example, the 15-piece combination is set to 1/100, the 8-piece combination is set to 8/100, the 3-piece combination is set to 3/100, and the 2-piece combination is set to 1/100. The replay combination is set to 14/100 in the normal state and 63/100 during the replay time. During the replay time, the winning probability of the replay role is set higher than in the normal state.

  Further, the winning probabilities for the BIG bonus and the REG bonus are set as follows according to the set values. The set value is a value for setting a probability of occurrence of a bonus in the slot machine, and the amusement shop changes this set value outside business hours. There are six setting values, for example, from 1 to 6, and as the setting value increases from 1 to 6, the probability of releasing a BIG bonus or a REG bonus increases, so a bonus occurs. It becomes easier and the appearance rate increases. In this example, when the setting value is 1, BIG is set to 1/315 and REG is set to 1/655. Similarly, when the set value is 2, BIG is 1/298, REG is 1/655, when the set value is 3, BIG is 1/271, REG is 1/608, and when the set value is 4, BIG is 1/264. When REG is 1/512 and the setting value is 5, BIG is 1/256, REG is 1/468, and when the setting value is 6, BIG is 1/240 and REG is 1/360.

  In S1 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not BIG has been won by lottery. If BIG has not been won, the process returns. If BIG has been won, a replay time (also referred to as RT) determination random number is acquired. (S2).

  The replay time is generated when a predetermined condition is satisfied. In this embodiment, after the BIG bonus ends, the replay time (special state) is entered with a predetermined probability. In other words, the replay time entry probability (replay high), which is the ratio of entering the replay time (high replay probability state) in which the winning probability of the replay role that can be played in the next game without newly inserting medals is higher than the normal state A plurality of probability state entry probabilities) are set in advance in association with the time when the BIG bonus occurs during the replay time. The time of occurrence of BIG during RT is based on the number of games when winning internally. In this example, a plurality of RT entry probabilities are set in association with the number of games when the BIG bonus is won. The CPU 31 counts the number of games played since the start of RT. The CPU 31 functions as game number counting means.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of setting the replay time entry probability. As shown in FIG. 5, in the case of a BIG in a normal state (non-RT state), the RT entry probability is set to 50%. When the number of games when a BIG occurs during RT is within 10 games from the start of RT, the RT entry probability is set to 100%. Similarly, when the number of games is 11 to 50, the RT entry probability is 80%, when the number of games is 51 to 100 games, the RT entry probability is 60%, and when the number of games is 101 to 200 games, RT entry When the probability is 50% and the number of games is 201 games or more, the RT entry probability is set to 30%. That is, when BIG occurs early with a small number of games from the start of RT, the RT entry probability is set high. Then, based on the number of games when the bonus is won, it is determined by lottery whether or not to enter the RT using the RT entry probability associated with the number of games. The RT is set to continue after the rush until the next BIG bonus is generated.

  Thereafter, in S3 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the RT flag is ON. If the RT flag is not ON, it is checked against the winning random number table in the normal state (S4), and the RT determination random number is selected. It is determined whether or not it matches the random number (S5). If the RT determination random number does not match the winning random number, the process returns. On the other hand, if the RT determining random number matches the winning random number, the RT winning flag is turned ON (S6).

  In S3, if the RT flag is ON, the RT random number table corresponding to the current number of games is checked (S7), and the RT flag is turned OFF (S8). Subsequently, as described above, it is determined whether or not the RT determination random number matches the winning random number (S5). If the RT determining random number does not match the winning random number, the process returns, while the RT determining random number is selected. If it matches the random number, the RT winning flag is turned ON (S6).

  Based on the number of games when the bonus is won as counted by the game number counting means as described above, whether or not to enter the next RT is determined by lottery using a predetermined RT entry probability. For example, if a bonus is won within 10 games from the start of RT, the RT entry probability is set as high as 75%, the amount of profit given to the player is large, and for example, if the number of games is 201 games or more, it will be a bonus When winning, the RT entry probability is set as low as 30%, and the amount of profit given to the player is small. In this embodiment, according to the time when the bonus is generated (the number of games when the bonus is won), it is determined whether or not to enter the next RT with a predetermined RT entry probability, and the profit to be given to the player is large. The processing step for changing the length and the CPU 31 that executes the processing step constitute the profit disparity giving means.

  Next, driving and stopping of the reel will be described. When the game is started and a lottery process for determining a winning combination is executed, the reels are driven, and the player operates the left, middle, and right stop buttons 16L, 16C, and 16R (design stop operation means), the corresponding left, middle The right reels 41L, 41C and 41R are stopped based on the internal winning flag. When the symbols corresponding to the winning combination are displayed on the left, middle, and right symbol display portions 11L, 11C, and 11R (variable display means) when the left, middle, and right reels 41L, 41C, and 41R are stopped, medals are paid out. put out. The left, middle, and right reels 41L, 41C, and 41R are controlled to draw in a maximum of 4 symbols, so that symbols corresponding to winning flags are drawn or symbols corresponding to non-winning roles are not aligned. . The CPU 31 functions as a stop control unit.

  The left, middle, and right reels 41L, 41C, and 41R are stopped, and the results are displayed on the left, middle, and right symbol display portions 11L, 11C, and 11R. A bonus is generated when a predetermined bonus display result is obtained in the left, middle, and right symbol display portions 11L, 11C, and 11R. An example of the bonus is a BIG bonus game. In the BIG bonus game, for example, at least one bonus game that has a very high winning probability and is advantageous to the player can be played multiple times, and the winning probability of a small role is much higher than that in the normal game It is possible to play the small role game that is high at least once or more. The CPU 31 functions as a bonus generation unit.

  Next, the RT entry processing program 63 stored in the ROM 32 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the BIG bonus has ended (S11). If the BIG bonus has not ended, the process returns. On the other hand, if the BIG bonus has ended, it is determined whether or not the RT winning flag is ON (S12). ). If the RT winning flag is not ON, the process returns. On the other hand, if the RT winning flag is ON, the RT winning flag is turned OFF (S13), and then the RT flag is turned ON (S14). In this way, after the end of the BIG bonus, when a lottery for deciding whether to enter RT is won or not, RT (special state) is entered. The CPU 31 functions as a special state generating unit.

  Thus, after the BIG bonus is over, the replay time (special state) is entered with a predetermined probability. The probability of entering the next replay time is increased or decreased depending on the time when the bonus occurs during the replay time (the number of games when the bonus is won). It is possible to change the amount of profit received by the. Players not only wish for bonuses, but also pay attention to the timing of bonuses, so even during the replay time, they can concentrate on the game and improve the fun of the game without losing tension. . For example, if a bonus occurs with a small number of games since the start of the replay time, the probability of entering the next replay time will be increased. On the other hand, if a bonus occurs with a large number of games since the start of the replay time, Can make a difference in the profits received, and enhance the interest of the game.

Further, the following modifications may be added to the present embodiment.
(1) The replay time (RT) is generated with the BIG bonus as an opportunity, but may be generated in a normal state regardless of the bonus.
(2) The RT is continued until the next BIG bonus is generated after entering, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be terminated under other conditions. For example, it may be continued until the number of fixed games (for example, 100 games after the end of the BIG bonus) is consumed.

(3) When the bonus generation time during RT is early, for example, the next RT entry probability is increased to increase the player's profit, but conversely, when the bonus generation time is late, The RT entry probability may be increased to increase the player's profit.

(4) Although the rush probability of the next RT is changed according to the bonus occurrence time during RT, other game conditions may be changed to change the amount of profit given to the player. . For example, on the basis of the time when a bonus occurs during RT (special state), the winning probability of the small role in the BIG bonus is increased or decreased to change the number of BIG bonus acquired. It may be.

(5) Although the replay time (RT) is set as the special state, it is not limited to this. For example, the player is informed of the challenge time (CT), which is advantageous for the player compared to the normal state, and the reels stop at the player's stop operation timing and the symbols are easier to align than the normal state, and the type of the internal winning combination Thus, assist time (AT) or the like in which symbols can be more easily aligned than in the normal state may be used.

The front view of the slot machine of this invention. The block diagram which shows the electrical constitution of a slot machine. The figure which shows the design drawn on each reel. The figure which shows the combination of the symbol which comprises a combination, and the payout number of medals. The figure which shows the example of a setting of a replay time rush probability. The flowchart of RT lottery processing. The flowchart of RT entry processing.

Explanation of symbols

1 Slot machine 11L, 11C, 11R Left, middle, right symbol display (variable display means)
16L, 16C, 16R Left, middle, right stop button (design stop operation means)
31 CPU (bonus generating means, special state generating means, profit disparity giving means, game number counting means)

Claims (3)

Lottery means for executing a lottery for determining a winning combination in response to the start of the game;
Variable display means for variably displaying a plurality of identification information according to the start of the game;
A symbol stop operating means operated by the player to stop the operation of the variable display means;
Bonus generating means for generating a bonus when the identification information that the variable display means stops in response to the operation of the symbol stop operating means results in a predetermined bonus display;
Special state generating means for generating a special state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state in response to establishment of the predetermined condition;
When a bonus occurs during the special state, the profit disparity giving means for changing the magnitude of the profit to be given to the player according to the time when the bonus occurs,
A slot machine comprising: Game number counting means for counting the number of games played from the start of the special state,
2. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the profit disparity giving means changes the amount of profit to be given to the player according to the number of games when the bonus is generated, which is counted by the game number counting means. . 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein the profit disparity giving unit changes a probability that the predetermined condition for the occurrence of the special state is satisfied according to a time when the bonus is generated.

Images