JP2007111350A - Counter inspection apparatus and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To monitor whether a ring counter for changing the game state of a game machine is properly updated or not. <P>SOLUTION: A win/failure lottery means 112 of a Pachinko game machine is provided with a 16-bit ring counter 140 counting a value at 0.2 microsecond interval for changing the game state of the game machine according to the count value when a game ball enters an operation-start hole. A sample extraction means 146 of a counter inspection means 113 extracts an upper 8-digit bit string as a sample bit string. A sample determination means 148 determines whether or not a sample bit string extracted last time is different from a sample bit string extracted this time. When the sample bit strings are accorded with each other many times, an abnormality notification means 150 determines that the ring counter 140 is not functioned correctly and transmits an abnormal detection signal to the win/failure lottery means 112. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a counter inspection technique, and more particularly to a technique for inspecting a counter for generating a pseudo random number in a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine.

  Various types of pachinko machines are popular as bullet ball machines. Some conventional pachinko machines have random lottery values acquired as a result of a game ball falling into a starting port formed on the game board. The acquired lottery value is determined whether or not the winning lottery value is obtained, and a variable display of a symbol called a special symbol is started. A special symbol stop display mode is determined based on the lottery result.

When the special symbol is stopped and displayed in a manner indicating winning after the fluctuation display for a predetermined time, the gaming state shifts to a special game as a so-called jackpot. A special game is composed of a plurality of unit games. The big prize opening formed on the game board is opened at the start of the unit game. The unit game ends when a predetermined period, for example, 30 seconds elapses from the start of the unit game, or when nine or more game balls are won in the big prize opening during the unit game. At this time, the grand prize opening is also temporarily closed. During a unit game, if at least one game ball has entered the special winning opening, the unit game is continued to the next unit game. At this time, the grand prize opening is opened again. The unit game can be continued up to a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times. When the game balls fall into the big prize opening, more game balls than usual are paid out as prize balls.
In order to acquire a lot of prize balls, the player plays a game mainly for the purpose of opening the big prize opening, that is, shifting the gaming state to a special game. It can be said that the transition to the special game is a game condition based on the skill of dropping the game ball into the starting point and a game condition based on the luck that the acquired lottery value is a big hit (for example, Patent Document 1).

In this way, the success or failure of the transition to the special game is determined by a randomly selected lottery value, a so-called random number. In the ball and ball game machine, the game content changes according to random numbers in various game situations other than the success or failure of the transition to the special game. In addition to the ball game machines, there are many game machines where randomness based randomness is an important element of the game.
JP 2003-230714 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-97576

  Various methods have been devised as a method for generating a random number by a computer program. For example, there is a method in which a ring counter is circulated at a constant time interval as a process independent of the gaming process, and the count value when an interruption process from the gaming process occurs is used as a “random number”. In the case of a ball game machine, an interruption occurs when a game ball enters the start port, and the count value at that time is acquired as a “lottery value”.

  When pseudorandom numbers are generated by such simple processing, the ring counter is updated at a very short time interval such as 0.2 microseconds. Therefore, in effect, the player cannot predict the count value at the time of occurrence of the interrupt. The fact that the count value extracted from the ring counter at the time of interrupt occurrence is sufficiently variable is the reason that the count value can be equated with a random number, and if improper control is performed on the update processing of the ring counter, the fairness of the game Can no longer keep.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems recognized as described above, and its main purpose is to provide a technique for monitoring whether the ring counter for changing the gaming state of the gaming machine is normally updated. It is to provide.

One embodiment of the present invention is a counter inspection device.
This device is connected to a ring counter that counts a value of a plurality of bits at a predetermined time interval in order to change the gaming state of the gaming machine according to the count value when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the condition is satisfied An extraction means for extracting a bit string of a predetermined part from the bit string constituting the count value as a sample bit string, a holding means for holding the sample bit string, and a new condition is satisfied after the sample bit string is held. When the sample bit string is extracted again, the determination means for determining whether the held sample bit string is different from the newly extracted sample bit string, and the determination that the sample bit string matches is made a predetermined number of times or more And an abnormality notification means for notifying that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter.

  In the case of this apparatus, even if a multi-bit ring counter is updated, only a part of the bit string need be detected as a sample bit string. Then, by determining whether or not the sample bit string varies, it is possible to easily detect an abnormality of the ring counter in real time. For example, when the sample bit string is 8 bits, the probability that the same sample bit string is extracted continuously is 1/256. When an event that should occur with such a low probability has occurred many times, there is a high possibility that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter. According to such an aspect, it is particularly effective in detecting an illegal act against the ring counter at an early stage.

  The abnormality notification means notifies that an abnormality has occurred on the condition that the ratio of the number of times that the determination that the sample bit strings match with respect to the determination number of the determination means is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio. Also good.

  According to such an aspect, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter when a rare event that the sample bit strings match occurs at a high rate. Also in this manner, it is possible to easily detect an abnormality in the ring counter.

  The abnormality notifying unit may notify that an abnormality has occurred on the condition that the determination that the sample bit strings match is made continuously a predetermined number of times or more.

  According to such an aspect, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter when a rare event that the sample bit strings match is continuously occurring. Also in this manner, it is possible to easily detect an abnormality in the ring counter.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a gaming machine.
This gaming machine includes a ring counter that counts a value of a plurality of bits at a predetermined time interval, a lottery value acquisition unit that acquires a value of the ring counter as a lottery value when the gaming state shifts to a predetermined state, and a predetermined state A game control means for determining a game state to be transferred according to the lottery value, and a counter inspection means for monitoring the operation of the ring counter. Prepare.
The counter checking means includes an extracting means for extracting a bit string of a predetermined portion from the bit string constituting the lottery value as a sample bit string, a holding means for holding the sample bit string, and a new lottery value after the sample bit string is held. When the sample bit string is extracted again by acquisition, determination means for determining whether the held sample bit string is different from the newly extracted sample bit string and the determination that the sample bit string is matched are made a predetermined number of times or more. A failure notification means for notifying that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter.

  The game machine here may be, for example, a ball game machine or a revolving game machine, or a general computer game. According to such an aspect, it is possible to detect in real time whether the ring counter that determines the gaming state is functioning normally. By mounting such an inspection function, a highly reliable gaming machine can be provided.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily monitor whether or not the ring counter for changing the gaming state of the gaming machine is normally updated.

  As a gaming machine of the present embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine will be described as an example. However, the gaming machine to be targeted by the present invention may be a gaming machine whose game content is controlled by a computer program, including a revolving gaming machine such as a so-called slot machine and a computer game.

FIG. 1 shows a basic structure on the front side of a pachinko gaming machine according to the present embodiment.
The pachinko gaming machine 10 is mainly composed of a gaming machine frame and a gaming board. The gaming machine frame of the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 11, a front frame 12, a transparent plate 13, a door 14, an upper ball dish 15, a lower ball dish 16, and a launch handle 17. The outer frame 11 has an opening and is a frame for fixing the pachinko gaming machine 10 to a position where it should be installed. The front frame 12 is a frame body that aligns with the opening portion of the outer frame 11, and is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The front frame 12 includes a mechanism for launching a game ball, a mechanism for detachably storing a game board, a mechanism for guiding or collecting the game ball, and the like.

  The transparent plate 13 is made of glass or the like and is supported by the door 14. The door 14 is attached to the front frame 12 so as to be openable and closable by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The upper ball tray 15 has a mechanism for storing game balls, sending out the game balls to the launch rail, and extracting the game balls to the lower ball tray 16. The lower ball tray 16 has a mechanism for storing and extracting game balls. A speaker 18 is provided between the upper ball tray 15 and the lower ball tray 16, and a sound effect corresponding to the gaming state is output. The operation button 82 is a button operated by the player to input a predetermined instruction on the gaming machine side. The operation button 82 is provided on the outer wall surface near the upper ball tray 15.

  The game board 50 has an out port 58, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, and a start winning port (hereinafter referred to as “start port”) 62 on a game area 52 defined by the outer rail 54 and the inner rail 56. , A center ornament 64, a grand prize opening 66, an operation opening 68, and a general prize opening 72. Further, in the game area 52, a plurality of mechanisms such as a game nail and a windmill (not shown) are installed. The start opening 62 includes a start winning detection device 74 for detecting the entrance of a game ball and a normal electric accessory solenoid 76 for expanding the normal electric accessory at the start opening. The start winning detection device 74 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the start port 62, and generates start win information indicating the winning at the time of entering. The general winning opening 72 includes a general winning detecting device 73 for detecting the entering of a game ball. The general winning detection device 73 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the general winning opening 72, and generates general winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning. The special winning opening 66 includes a winning detection device 78 for detecting the entry of a game ball and a special winning opening solenoid 80 for expanding the special winning opening 66. The winning detection device 78 generates large winning opening winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning.

  The special symbol display device 61 provided substantially at the center of the game area 52 displays the special symbol 192 in a variably manner (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol variation” or “variable display”). The special symbol 192 is a symbol corresponding to the result of a lottery (hereinafter referred to as “special symbol lottery”) that is triggered by the entry of a game ball into the start port 62. If the symbol pattern when the variable display is stopped is a symbol determined to be a hit, the timing at which the stop symbol is displayed is the hit occurrence timing.

  The effect display device 60 is a liquid crystal display that displays the effect image 190 as a moving image in conjunction with the change display of the special symbol 192. The effect image 190 is an image displayed for the effect purpose in order to evoke a player's expectation for winning.

  The operation port 68 is provided on the left side position of the game board 50. The operation port 68 includes a passage detection device 69. The passage detection device 69 is a sensor that detects the passage of the game ball to the operation port 68, and generates passage information indicating the passage at the time of passage. The passing of the game ball to the operation port 68 triggers a lottery (hereinafter referred to as “normal symbol lottery”) for expanding the start port 62.

  When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, a symbol called a normal symbol is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 for a predetermined time. The normal symbol display device 59 is provided on the right side of the effect display device 60. The normal symbol display device 59 includes two lamps. The operation in which the respective lamps blink alternately is an operation corresponding to “ordinary symbol fluctuation display”. Usually, the normal symbol lottery is won with a probability of 50% to 80%. When the normal symbol lottery is won, after the normal symbol change display is stopped, one of the two lamps of the normal symbol display device 59 is lit up. Then, the start port 62 is expanded for a predetermined time.

  A center ornament 64 is provided around the effect display device 60. The center decoration 64 has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60, and decoration. The center decoration 64 is provided with a lottery holding lamp 20 at the upper part thereof and an operation holding lamp 22 at a left side part thereof. The lottery hold lamp 20 is composed of four lamps, and displays the number of special symbol lottery hold depending on the number of lights. The operation hold lamp 22 is also composed of four lamps, and displays the number of hold of normal symbol fluctuations depending on the number of lights.

  When the player turns the launch handle 17 by hand, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 15 are guided one by one to the inner rail 56 and the outer rail 54 with a strength corresponding to the turning angle, thereby playing the game area. To 52. When the player fixes the rotation position of the firing handle 17 by hand, the game ball is repeatedly fired at regular time intervals. The game ball launched to the upper part of the game area 52 falls in a direction according to the way of hitting while hitting a plurality of game nails and windmills. When a game ball is dropped into each of the general winning port 72, the start port 62, and the big winning port 66, the winning ball corresponding to the type of the winning port is paid out to the upper ball plate 15 or the lower ball plate 16. A game ball dropped into each winning hole such as the general winning hole 72 is processed as a safe ball, and a game ball dropped into the out hole 58 is processed as an out ball. Each winning opening includes a gate type through which a game ball passes. In this application, “incoming”, “entering”, and “winning” include “passing”.

  When the game ball falls into the start port 62, the special symbol 192 is variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61. In conjunction with this, the moving image display of the effect image 190 starts. When the special symbol lottery executed at the start of the change is won and the special symbol 192 is stopped and displayed at the symbol indicating the win, the game shifts from the normal game to the special game, and the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is started. At this time, the effect image 190 is also stopped and displayed in a manner indicating a win.

  After the start of the special game, the special winning opening 66 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after 9 or more game balls are dropped. If at least one game ball falls into the big prize opening 66 while the big prize opening 66 is open, the big prize opening 66 is opened again. In this way, the opening / closing of the big prize opening 66 is repeated up to a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times, on condition that at least one game ball is dropped while the big prize opening 66 is opened once.

FIG. 2 shows a basic structure on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine.
The power switch 40 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main board 102 controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and processes all game operations such as special symbol lottery when winning the start port 62 in particular. The sub board 104 includes a liquid crystal unit 42, controls display contents on the effect display device 60, and changes display contents according to a lottery result by the main board 102 in particular. The main board 102 and the sub board 104 constitute a game control device 100. The set base 39 includes a prize ball tank 44, a flow path for prize balls, a payout unit 43 for delivering prize balls. The payout unit 43 pays out the game balls supplied from the winning ball tank 44 to the upper ball tray 15 in accordance with winning in each winning opening. The payout control board 45 controls the payout operation by the payout unit 43. The launching device 46 launches the stored balls in the upper ball tray 15 to the game area 52 one by one. The launch control board 47 controls the launch operation of the launch device 46. The power supply unit 48 supplies power to each part of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

FIG. 3 shows functional blocks of the pachinko gaming machine in this embodiment.
In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the game control device 100 includes a start port 62, a big winning port 66, a general winning port 72, an operating port 68, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, a normal symbol display device 59, and operation buttons 82. The speaker 18 and the game effect lamp 90 are electrically connected to each other, and can transmit and receive various control signals. The game control apparatus 100 controls not only the basic operation of the game, but also staging operations such as symbol variation display and electrical decoration. The game control device 100 is configured in such a manner that functions are shared between a main board 102 that controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 including basic operations of the game, and a sub board 104 that controls design effects and the like. The game control device 100 is configured by hardware including elements such as a ROM and a RAM for storing data and programs, and a CPU used for arithmetic processing.

  The main board 102 includes a ball entering determination unit 110, a winning / failing lottery unit 112, a counter inspection unit 113, a symbol determination unit 114, a holding control unit 116, a main display control unit 118, a special game control unit 120, and an opening / closing control unit 124. The sub-board 104 includes a pattern storage unit 130, an effect determination unit 132, and an effect display control unit 134. Each functional block included in the main board 102 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the sub board 104 instead of the main board 102. Similarly, each functional block included in the sub-board 104 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the main board 102 instead of the sub-board 104.

  The entrance determination means 110 determines whether or not a game ball has entered each winning opening. When receiving the start winning information, the winning determination means 110 determines that the game ball has won the start opening 62, and when receiving the big winning opening winning information, determines that the game ball has won the big winning opening 66, and the general winning is obtained. When the information is received, it is determined that the game ball has won the general winning opening 72. When receiving the passage information, the ball entering determination unit 110 determines that the game ball has passed through the operation port 68.

  The success / failure lottery means 112 acquires a random number value as a success / failure lottery value in order to determine whether or not to shift from the normal game to the special game when the game ball enters the start port 62. As will be described in detail later, the success / failure lottery means 112 includes a ring counter that circulates in the range of 0 to 65535. The success / failure lottery means 112 acquires the count value of the ring counter when a game ball enters the start port 62 as the success / failure lottery value. The success / failure lottery means 112 holds a success / failure table.

  In the success / failure determination table according to the present embodiment, the success / failure lottery value in the range of 0 to 255 is determined to be winning. The success / failure lottery means 112 executes the special symbol lottery by referring to the success / failure table and determining whether or not the acquired success / failure lottery value is a win. The counter inspection means 113 monitors whether the ring counter of the success / failure lottery means 112 is operating normally. The counter inspection means 113 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The symbol determining means 114 determines a special symbol stop symbol and a display pattern to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61. The symbol determining unit 114 determines a special symbol display pattern according to a pattern lottery value generated in the range of 0 to 255. Moreover, the symbol determination means 114 determines the stop symbol aspect of a special symbol according to the symbol lottery value produced | generated in the range of 0-255.

  The symbol determination unit 114 stores a plurality of types of display patterns in which a variation mode from the start to the stop when the special symbol is variably displayed is determined. The plural types of display patterns have various fluctuation times. That is, for each display pattern, a variation time is defined for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the variation of the special symbol is stopped when the variation time elapses.

  When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, the symbol determination means 114 acquires a lottery random number for determining the normal symbol, and determines a stop symbol of the normal symbol according to the lottery random number. When the stop symbol of the normal symbol is a specific symbol, the opening / closing control means 124 expands the normal electric accessory at the start port 62 for a predetermined time. The symbol determination unit 114 sends the data indicating the display pattern and the stop symbol to the main display control unit 118 and the effect determination unit 132 as a result of the special symbol lottery.

  The hold control means 116 holds the winning / losing lottery value acquired by the winning / failing lottery means 112 as a holding ball. The success / failure lottery value is accumulated until the number of holds reaches a predetermined upper limit. The upper limit of the number of holds is 4. The hold control means 116 holds the upper limit of four as a result of the normal symbol lottery.

  The main display control means 118 causes the special symbol display device 61 to variably display the special symbol. The main display control means 118 transmits the change start command and the change stop command to the effect display control means 134 at the timing of starting and stopping the change display of the special symbol, thereby causing the special display by the main display control means 118 to be displayed. And the animation display of the effect image 190 by the effect display control means 134 are synchronized, and the interlocking is maintained. The main display control means 118 displays the normal symbol variation on the normal symbol display device 59.

  The special game control means 120 controls the execution process of the special game when the special symbol lottery is won.

  The opening / closing control means 124 controls the opening / closing of the ordinary electric accessory at the start opening 62 and the special winning opening 66. When the normal symbol is stopped at a specific symbol, the opening / closing control unit 124 sends an opening instruction to the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 76 to open the start port 62. Further, the opening / closing control means 124 sends an opening instruction to the special winning opening solenoid 80 during the special game, and opens the special winning opening 66.

  The pattern storage means 130 of the sub-board 104 holds a plurality of types of effect patterns indicating the moving image reproduction process of effect images. In each effect pattern, a moving image display time is set for each pattern as an end condition of the moving image display, and the moving image display is stopped when the moving image display time elapses. The effect determining unit 132 selects the effect pattern and the effect image at the time of stop according to the variation time determined by the symbol determining unit 114, the stop symbol, and the result of the special symbol lottery.

  The effect display control means 134 displays the effect image as a moving image in accordance with the selected effect pattern. The effect display control means 134 also controls effect processing such as lighting and extinguishing of the game effect lamp 90 and voice output from the speaker 18.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the success / failure lottery value and its inspection method.
The success / failure lottery means 112 in this embodiment includes a 16-bit ring counter. The ring counter cyclically updates the count value in the range of 0 to 65535 at an extremely short time interval of 0.2 microseconds. The game ball falls into the start opening 62, and the count value when the start winning detection device 74 detects the drop is acquired as the winning / losing lottery value. The counter checking means 113 extracts the upper 8 bits as a sample bit string from the 16-bit winning lottery value.

  Since the ring counter is updated at high speed, the winning / raising lottery values vary statistically uniformly. Therefore, it can be said that the probability that the same success / failure lottery value is continuously acquired is an extremely low probability of 1/65536. The counter inspection means 113 determines whether or not the ring counter is functioning normally by acquiring the winning / failing lottery value and monitoring whether the winning / failing lottery value is constantly changing. However, if the change of the 16-bit success / failure lottery value is constantly monitored, the processing load of the counter checking means 113 is large. Therefore, the counter checking means 113 in the present embodiment sets only the upper 8 bits of the winning lottery value to be checked. The probability that the previously extracted sample bit string matches the sample bit string extracted next is 1/256, and it is also unlikely to occur sufficiently. The counter checking means 113 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter when such a rare event occurs frequently. That is, the counter checking means 113 determines whether or not the ring counter is operating normally based on the number of occurrences of the event that the sample bit strings match. Thereby, it is possible to easily monitor the operation of the ring counter while suppressing the processing load on the counter inspection means 113.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the counter inspection means and the success / failure lottery means.
The success / failure lottery means 112 includes a ring counter 140. The ring counter 140 includes an 8-bit first counter 142 and an 8-bit second counter 144. The first counter 142 and the second counter 144 are formed as separate IC (Integrated Circuit) chips.

  The second counter 144 counts up a numerical value in the range of 0 to 255. Next to 255, it returns to 0. When returning to 0, the value of the first counter 142 is counted up by 1 as a carry. The ring counter 140 as a whole reaches 256 × 256, that is, 65535, and then returns to 0. By 0.2 (microseconds) × 65536 = 13.1 (milliseconds), the ring counter 140 makes one revolution every 13.1 milliseconds.

The counter inspection unit 113 includes a sample extraction unit 146, a sample determination unit 148, an abnormality notification unit 150, and a sample holding unit 152.
The sample extraction unit 146 acquires the 8-bit bit string of the first counter 142 as the sample bit string when acquiring the winning / failing lottery value. The sample extraction unit 146 records the acquired sample bit string in the sample holding unit 152. The sample determination unit 148 determines whether the sample bit string previously extracted and held in the sample holding unit 152 matches the newly extracted sample bit string. Hereinafter, such determination processing is referred to as “comparison determination processing”. In addition, detection of a match between sample bit strings as a result of the comparison determination process is referred to as “match determination”.

  When the coincidence determination is made, the abnormality notification unit 150 determines whether an abnormality detection condition described later is satisfied. When the abnormality detection condition is satisfied, the abnormality notification unit 150 transmits an abnormality detection signal to the success / failure lottery unit 112. When receiving the abnormality detection signal, the success / failure lottery means 112 fixes the value of the ring counter to a value that deviates, for example, 65535, and stops updating the ring counter. For this reason, when an abnormality in the ring counter 140 is detected, the game is immediately stopped so that a big hit does not occur. The abnormality notification unit 150 may transmit an abnormality detection signal to an external so-called hall computer. The abnormality notification unit 150 may notify the occurrence of an error by an image, a lamp, sound, vibration, or the like instead of transmitting the abnormality detection signal.

The abnormality detection conditions in the present embodiment are the following three.
A match determination is continuously made 1.3 times or more.
2. Of the 20 most recent comparison determination processes, a match determination is made three or more times.
3. Since the pachinko gaming machine 10 has been powered on, a match determination has been made 50 times or more.
When any one of these three conditions is satisfied, it is determined that the abnormality detection condition is satisfied. As described above, when an event that cannot normally occur in the sample bit string is detected, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter 140.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a count value inspection process.
The sample extraction means 146 extracts a sample bit string from the winning / failing lottery value (S10). The sample determination unit 148 executes a comparison determination process (S12). If no match determination is made (N in S12), the process proceeds to S18. When the coincidence determination is made (Y in S12), the abnormality notifying unit 150 determines whether the above-described abnormality detection condition is satisfied (S14). When the abnormality detection condition is not satisfied (N in S14), the process skips to S18. When the abnormality detection condition is satisfied (Y in S14), the abnormality notification unit 150 transmits an abnormality detection signal to the success / failure lottery unit 112 (S16). Thereby, the game is forcibly stopped. The sample extraction unit 146 records the sample bit string extracted in S10 in the sample holding unit 152 (S18).

  As described above, according to the pachinko gaming machine 10 shown in the present embodiment, it is possible to detect in real time during the game whether the update processing of the count value that determines the gaming state is normally performed. Since only a predetermined bit string is monitored, the process is simple, and the monitoring load of the counter checking means 113 can be suppressed. By mounting such counter inspection means 113, it is possible to detect illegal control and failure of the gaming machine at an early stage and improve the reliability of the game.

Note that the function of the lottery value acquisition unit described in the claims is realized by the success / failure lottery unit 112 in this embodiment. Further, the functions of the game control means described in the claims are also realized by the main board 102 with the success / failure lottery means 112 as a main component in this embodiment.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the functions to be fulfilled by the constituent elements described in the claims are realized by a single function block or a combination of the functional blocks shown in the present embodiment.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the present embodiment, it has been described that the upper 8 bits of the 16-bit validity lottery value are inspected as a sample bit string, but the setting of the number of bits is not limited thereto. For example, when the sample bit string is 3 bits, the probability that the match determination is made is 1/8, but the probability that the match determination is made 8 times in succession is an extremely small probability of 1/67721616. In such a case, the abnormality detection condition may be satisfied when the coincidence determination is made eight times in succession. By adjusting both or one of the number of coincidence determinations and the data amount of the sample bit string, an abnormality detection condition corresponding to the gaming machine may be set.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of the pachinko game machine in a present Example. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the pachinko game machine in a present Example. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating a success / failure lottery value and its inspection method. It is a functional block diagram of a counter inspection means and a success / failure lottery means. It is a flowchart which shows the inspection process process of a count value.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Pachinko machines, 50 game boards, 52 game areas, 58 out ports, 59 normal symbol display devices, 60 production display devices, 61 special symbol display devices, 62 start ports, 64 center decorations, 66 big prize openings, 68 operation ports 69 Pass detection device, 72 General winning opening, 73 General winning detection device, 74 Start winning detection device, 76 Normal electric accessory solenoid, 78 Winning detection device, 80 Large winning opening solenoid, 90 Game effect lamp, 100 Game control device , 102 main board, 104 sub-board, 110 entrance determination means, 112 pass / fail lottery means, 113 counter inspection means, 114 symbol determination means, 116 hold control means, 118 main display control means, 120 special game control means, 124 open / close control Means, 130 patterns Down storage means, 132 effect determination unit, 134 effect display control means, 140 ring counter, 142 a first counter, 144 a second counter, 146 sample extracting means 148 samples the determination unit, 150 abnormality notification unit, 152 sample holding means.

Claims (4)

In order to change the gaming state of the gaming machine according to the count value when a predetermined condition is satisfied, it is connected to a ring counter that counts a value of a plurality of bits at a predetermined time interval, and when the condition is satisfied Extraction means for extracting a predetermined part of the bit string from the bit string constituting the count value as a sample bit string;
Holding means for holding the sample bit string;
Judgment to determine whether the held sample bit string is different from the newly extracted sample bit string when the condition is newly satisfied and the sample bit string is extracted again after the sample bit string is held Means,
An abnormality notification means for notifying that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter when the determination that the sample bit strings match is made a predetermined number of times or more;
A counter inspection apparatus comprising:   The abnormality notifying unit notifies that an abnormality has occurred on the condition that the ratio of the number of times that the sample bit string is determined to be equal to the number of determinations of the determination unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio. The counter inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   3. The abnormality notification unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the abnormality notification means notifies that abnormality has occurred on the condition that the determination that the sample bit strings match each other is made continuously a predetermined number of times or more. Counter inspection device. A ring counter that counts a value of multiple bits at a predetermined time interval;
Lottery value acquisition means for acquiring the value of the ring counter as a lottery value when the gaming state shifts to a predetermined state;
Game control means for determining a gaming state to be transferred according to the lottery value with reference to a table in which the gaming state that can be shifted from the predetermined state is associated with the lottery value;
Counter inspection means for monitoring the operation of the ring counter,
The counter inspection means includes
Extraction means for extracting a predetermined part of the bit string from the bit string constituting the lottery value as a sample bit string;
Holding means for holding the sample bit string;
Determination means for determining whether the held sample bit string is different from the newly extracted sample bit string when the sample bit string is extracted again by acquiring a new lottery value after the sample bit string is held. When,
An abnormality notification means for notifying that an abnormality has occurred in the ring counter when the determination that the sample bit strings match is made a predetermined number of times or more;
A gaming machine characterized by including:

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