JP2007185477A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of executing the auxiliary presentation according to the progress of a game under the cooperation of a main control board and a subordinate control board. <P>SOLUTION: The slot machine has a main control device 131 for supervising the game. Signals from various sensors (such as a start detecting sensor 71a) are input in the main control device 131 to execute processes such as driving a stepping motor 61 based on the input signals. The main control device 131 transmits various commands according to the progress of the game to a display control device 111. The display control device 111 drives/controls an auxiliary display part 15, etc. based on the received commands. The display control device 111 outputs driving data in the display main process, and executes the command interruption process when receives the commands. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine.

  An example of a gaming machine that stops after rotating a plurality of reels is a slot machine. In the slot machine, a plurality of symbols are given to the outer peripheral portion of each reel, and a part of the symbols given to each reel is visible through the display window. Then, an effective line is set according to the number of medals inserted when the player inserts medals, and after that, the player operates the start lever so that a bonus combination, small combination, etc. A lottery for each combination is performed and each reel starts to rotate, and after each reel starts rotating, each reel is sequentially stopped by operating a stop switch or a predetermined time, and one game. Ends. At this time, each reel can be stopped on one of the preset active lines by the combination of symbols won by the internal lottery, or any combination of symbols not won by the internal lottery In order not to stop on the active line, stop control is performed such as stopping after rotating a predetermined number of symbols from the timing when the stop switch is operated. When all the reels stop rotating, the winning combination will be awarded when the winning combination of symbols on the active line is stopped. For example, when a small role winning is established, the player is given a privilege of paying out a predetermined number of medals. When the bonus combination winning is established, the player is given a privilege that the game state shifts to a bonus game (special game state) advantageous to the player such as a big bonus game or a regular bonus game. Further, in recent years, for example, it is common to include an auxiliary effect unit such as a liquid crystal display device or a lamp, and an auxiliary effect is performed according to the progress of the above-described game. Therefore, in order to decentralize the control load, it has a main control board for controlling internal lottery and reel rotation and stop, and a sub control board for controlling the auxiliary effect section, such as commands sent from the main control board. A configuration in which the sub-control board controls the auxiliary effect section based on the control signal is common (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in the case of a configuration including a main control board and a sub control board, the sub control board performs a process of receiving a control signal from the main control board and a process of outputting and changing data to drive the auxiliary effect unit. It becomes necessary to do it in parallel. Therefore, for example, it is confirmed whether or not a control signal is received in a normal process that is started when the power is turned on, and data is output or changed in an interrupt process that is started periodically (for example, every 1.6 msec) by interrupting the normal process. The structure which performs is proposed.

  However, in the case of such a configuration, the present inventors have been concerned about the following. In other words, if the configuration is such that data is output or changed in the interrupt process, if the predetermined interrupt process takes time, for example, due to the process of changing the data, it can be performed across the start timing of the next interrupt process There is sex. This leads to the interrupt process being repeatedly performed a plurality of times, so that the timing for returning to the normal process is delayed. Therefore, if a control signal is transmitted from the main control board under such circumstances, the timing for performing the control signal reception process may be delayed, or the fact that the control signal has been transmitted may not be recognized, and the progress of the game There will be a difference between the auxiliary performance performed in the auxiliary production section.

The above problem is not limited to the slot machine, but other games including a main control board for overall management of the game and a sub control board for controlling the auxiliary effect section based on a control command from the main control board. This is also a problem that applies to machines.
JP 2002-355364 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of performing an auxiliary effect in accordance with the progress of a game under the cooperation of a main control board and a sub control board. To do.

  Hereinafter, effective means for solving the above-described problems will be described while showing effects and the like as necessary. In the following, for easy understanding, the corresponding configuration in the embodiment of the invention is appropriately shown in parentheses, but is not limited to the specific configuration shown in parentheses.

Means 1. Variable display means (variable display means 61L, 61M, 61R and reels 42L, 42M, 42R) for variably displaying the pattern;
Lottery means (lottery processing function of the main control device 131) for lottery of the combination based on the establishment of the start condition;
Display control means for controlling display of the variable display means (reel control processing of the main control device 131) so as to obtain a display result corresponding to the lottery result of the combination when starting variable display of the pattern and ending variable display Function)
When a specific pattern corresponding to the lottery result of the combination stops at an effective position visible from the front of the gaming machine, privilege granting means for granting a privilege to the player (medal payout processing function, bonus game processing function of the main control device 131) Etc.) and
In a gaming machine provided with an auxiliary effect section (upper lamp 13, speaker 14, auxiliary display section 15) that performs an auxiliary effect in accordance with the progress of the game,
A main control board (main control device 131) that has the lottery means and the display control means, and outputs a control signal (command) according to the lottery result of the combination, the variable display status of the variable display means, and the like;
A sub-control board (display control device 111) that performs drive control of the auxiliary effect unit based on the input of the control signal,
The sub-control board is
A series of output processing means (driving data output processing S1905) for performing output processing for outputting a driving signal (driving data) to drive the auxiliary effect section, which is activated when the power is turned on and includes the output processing. First process execution means (display main process) for repeatedly performing the process;
When a control signal output from the main control board is input, second process execution means (command interrupt process) for performing a read process for interrupting the process by the first process execution means and reading the control signal;
Third process execution means (display timer) that periodically updates the value of the storage means (interrupt timer counter) that stores the predetermined value (number of display timer interrupt processes) and interrupts the processing by the first process execution means Interrupt processing),
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first process execution means performs the output process based on a value of the storage means.

  According to the means 1, the main control board that outputs a control signal according to the lottery result of the combination, the variable display status of the variable display means, and the like, and the drive control of the auxiliary effect unit based on the control signal output from the main control board A sub-control board for performing the above is provided. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the concentration of processing loads on the main control board.

  The sub-control board is activated when the control signal is input, and the first process that repeats a series of processes including an output process that outputs the drive signal to drive the auxiliary effect unit while being activated when the power is turned on. A second process for performing a reading process for interrupting one process and reading a control signal; and a third process for performing an updating process for periodically updating the storage means for interrupting the first process and storing a predetermined value. ing. When the control signal is input, the second process is performed by interrupting the first process, so that the process of reading the control signal can be performed with priority over the process of outputting the drive signal. It is possible to suppress a deviation from the auxiliary effect. Further, in the third process that is performed by periodically interrupting the first process, the storage unit is updated, so that even if the third process is periodically interrupted by the first process, the third process can be performed promptly. The process can be terminated and the process can be returned to the first process. Therefore, the third process is continuously performed a plurality of times, and it is possible to suppress a delay in the timing for reading the control signal. In addition, by configuring the drive signal output process based on the value of the storage means that is periodically updated, for example, the output timing of the drive signal is measured, or the auxiliary effect is changed at a predetermined timing. Etc. are possible. Therefore, it is possible to perform drive control in accordance with the progress of the game on the sub control board side without outputting control signals related to these timings from the main control board, and to appropriately distribute the processing load of the main control board. Is possible. As a result, it is possible to perform the process of reading the control signal and the process of outputting the drive signal in parallel on the sub control board, and in accordance with the progress of the game under the cooperation of the main control board and the sub control board. It is possible to perform the auxiliary effect.

  The “auxiliary effect” here refers to, for example, not only a display effect suggesting that a winning lottery has been won, but also an effect of notifying that a start condition is not established or a progress of a game. Production for the purpose. The “drive signal” is not limited to an electrical ON signal or an OFF signal, but also includes drive information such as a command including predetermined bits. The same applies to the following.

  Mean 2. In the means 1, the first process execution means includes auxiliary effect determination means (received command check process S1907) for performing a determination process for determining an auxiliary effect to be performed based on the control signal read by the second process execution means. And the output processing means outputs a drive signal to perform the auxiliary effect determined by the auxiliary effect determination means.

  According to the means 2, the auxiliary effect to be performed is determined not under the second process but under the first process, and a drive signal is output based on the determination result. With this configuration, it is possible to return to the first process while ending the second process in a relatively short time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the opportunity for the timing to perform the third process while interrupting the first process and performing the second process, and to suppress the delay in updating the value of the storage means. Is possible. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform each process in parallel in a suitable form, and it is possible to perform an auxiliary effect according to the progress of the game under the cooperation of the main control board and the sub control board.

  Means 3. In the means 1 or 2, the first process execution means is an update determination means (interrupt timer counter value confirmation process) for determining whether or not the value of the storage means satisfies a predetermined condition (not 0). S1904), and the output processing means performs the output processing when the update determination means determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied.

  According to the means 3, the drive signal is output when the value of the storage means satisfies a predetermined condition. Since the update process is performed periodically, such a configuration makes it possible to output the drive signal periodically while giving priority to the second process when a control signal is input.

  Means 4. In the means 3, the output processing means includes addition processing means (S2101 in the specific time processing) for performing addition processing for adding the value of the storage means to the value of the second storage means (10 msec timer counter), and the second A change determination unit (S2102 in the specific time process) for determining whether or not to change the drive signal to be output based on the value of the storage unit, and a determination to change the drive signal to be output by the change determination unit And a change processing means (S2103 to S2108 in the specific time process) for performing a change process for changing the drive signal.

  According to the means 4, when the output process is performed, the value of the storage means is added to the value of the second storage means. Then, it is determined whether or not to change the drive signal to be output based on the value of the second storage means, and when it is determined to change the drive signal to be output, the drive signal is changed. When the second storage means is provided and the output process is performed, the value of the storage means is added to the value of the second storage means, so that the function of measuring the drive signal change timing can be given to the second storage means. Thus, the program can be simplified. If the drive signal change timing is also measured based on the value of the storage means, in order to determine whether the value of the storage means satisfies a predetermined condition, the value of the storage means when the update determination is performed is This is because it is necessary to store and hold at least until the next update determination, which complicates the program.

  Means 5. In the above means 4, the change determining means determines that the drive signal to be output is changed when the value of the second storage means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (10). Machine.

  According to the means 5, when the value of the second storage means becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, a process for changing the drive signal to be output is performed. With this configuration, when the value of the second storage unit is smaller than the specified value, the time required for the output process can be shortened, and the drive signal can be output periodically. In addition, since it is assumed that the third process is performed a plurality of times after the update determination is performed until the next update determination, the value of the second storage means does not match the specified value when the change determination is performed. Opportunities can also occur. Therefore, by determining that the drive signal to be output is changed when the value of the second storage means becomes equal to or greater than the specified value, the drive signal can be changed almost every time corresponding to the specified value elapses. It becomes.

  Means 6. In the means 4 or 5, the first process execution means includes an initialization means (interrupt timer counter clear process S2008) for returning the value of the storage means to an initial value when the output processing means performs an output process. A gaming machine characterized by having.

  According to the means 6, when the output process is performed, the value of the storage means is returned to the initial value. Accordingly, the update determination means determines whether or not the value of the storage means is an initial value, and if the output process is performed when the value of the storage means is not the initial value, that is, the value of the storage means has been updated, The update determination can be performed without storing the value of the means. Therefore, the program can be simplified and the drive signal can be output periodically. Further, by returning the value of the storage means to the initial value, even when a new control signal is input during the output process, an auxiliary effect based on the new control signal can be obtained with a relatively simple configuration. The drive signal can be output by the output process. As a result, it is possible to suitably suppress the occurrence of a shift between the progress of the game and the auxiliary effect.

  Mean 7 In any one of the above means 1 to 6, second processing prohibiting means for prohibiting interruption of the second process executing means when the third processing executing means is performing update processing (S1701, A gaming machine characterized by comprising S1706).

  According to the means 7, when the process of updating the value of the storage means is being performed, the interruption of the second process is prohibited. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to avoid a multiple interrupt configuration in which the second processing further interrupts while interrupting the first processing and performing the third processing, and the program configuration is relatively simple. At the same time, the increase in the number of debugging steps can be suppressed. As a specific configuration for prohibiting the interruption of the second processing execution means, there are a configuration for prohibiting in software using a program and a configuration for prohibiting in hardware by a circuit of a sub-control board.

  Means 8. In the above means 7, when the control signal is inputted to the sub-control board, the sub-control board holds the input of the control signal at least until the reading process by the second processing execution means is started (signal latch circuit 182). A gaming machine comprising:

  According to the means 8, the sub control board is provided with holding means for holding the input control signal at least until the process of reading the control signal is started. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as invalidation of the input because the control signal is input during the third process.

  Means 9. In any one of the above means 1 to 8, third processing prohibiting means (S1801, S1813 in command interrupt processing) for prohibiting interruption of the third process executing means when the second process executing means is performing read processing. ) Equipped with a).

  According to the means 9, when the process of reading the control signal is being performed, the interruption of the third process is prohibited. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to avoid a multiple interrupt configuration in which the third process interrupts while interrupting the first process and performing the second process, and the program configuration is relatively simple. At the same time, the increase in the number of debugging steps can be suppressed. As a specific configuration for prohibiting the interruption of the third processing execution means, there are a configuration for prohibiting in software using a program and a configuration for prohibiting in hardware by a circuit of a sub-control board.

  Means 10. In any one of the above means 1 to 9, the second process execution means performs only the reading process as the second process.

  According to the means 10, only the reading process for reading the control signal is performed as the second process. With this configuration, the second process can be promptly terminated. As a result, the sub control board can output a drive signal to drive the auxiliary effect section while waiting for the input of the control signal from the main control board, and the main control board and the sub control board can cooperate. It is possible to perform an auxiliary effect in line with the progress of the game below. Note that “only read processing” here includes processing related to normal control signal reading, such as determining whether the read control signal is normal, in addition to reading the control signal. .

  Means 11. In any one of the above means 1 to 10, the third process execution means performs only the update process as the third process.

  According to the means 11, only the process of updating the value of the storage means is performed as the third process. With this configuration, it is possible to quickly end the third process. As a result, the sub control board can output a drive signal to drive the auxiliary effect section while waiting for the input of the control signal from the main control board, and the main control board and the sub control board can cooperate. It is possible to perform an auxiliary effect in line with the progress of the game below.

Means 12. Variable display means (variable display means 61L, 61M, 61R and reels 42L, 42M, 42R) for variably displaying the pattern;
Lottery means (lottery processing function of the main control device 131) for lottery of the combination based on the establishment of the start condition;
Display control means for controlling display of the variable display means (reel control processing of the main control device 131) so as to obtain a display result corresponding to the lottery result of the combination when starting variable display of the pattern and ending variable display Function)
When a specific pattern corresponding to the lottery result of the combination stops at an effective position visible from the front of the gaming machine, privilege granting means for granting a privilege to the player (medal payout processing function, bonus game processing function of the main control device 131) Etc.) and
In a gaming machine provided with an auxiliary effect section (upper lamp 13, speaker 14, auxiliary display section 15) that performs an auxiliary effect in accordance with the progress of the game,
A main control board (main control device 131) that has the lottery means and the display control means, and outputs a control signal (command) according to the lottery result of the combination, the variable display status of the variable display means, and the like;
A sub-control board (display control device 111) that performs drive control of the auxiliary effect unit based on the input of the control signal,
The sub-control board is
As a process execution means for performing a process related to the drive control of the auxiliary effect section,
A first process execution means (display main process) that starts with power-on and repeats a series of processes;
When a control signal output from the main control board is input, second process execution means (command interrupt process) for performing a read process for interrupting the process by the first process execution means and reading the control signal;
A third process execution means (display timer interrupt process) for periodically interrupting the process by the first process execution means and performing the process;
The second process execution means performs the second process execution means so that the sum of the time required for the second process execution means and the time required for the third process execution means is equal to or less than the shortest output interval of the control signal. A gaming machine in which a process and a process to be performed by the third process execution means are set.

  According to the means 12, the main control board that outputs a control signal according to the lottery result of the combination, the variable display status of the variable display means, and the like, and the drive control of the auxiliary effect unit based on the control signal output from the main control board A sub-control board for performing the above is provided. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the concentration of processing loads on the main control board.

  In addition, the sub-control board starts with power-on and repeats a series of processes, and a second process for reading the control signal by interrupting the first process when a control signal is input. And a third process for periodically interrupting the first process and performing the process. The second process and the third process are set so that the total time required for each process is less than or equal to the shortest output interval of the control signals. By adopting such a configuration, even when a control signal is periodically input, it is possible to quickly shift to the second process for reading the control signal, and there is a difference between the progress of the game and the auxiliary effect. Can be prevented from occurring. This is because even if the second process and the third process are performed after the control signal is input, these processes can be completed and the process can be returned to the first process before the next control signal is input. Therefore, while waiting for the input of the control signal from the main control board, it is possible to repeat the series of the first processing during that time, and the auxiliary effect according to the progress of the game under the cooperation of the main control board and the sub control board. Can be performed.

  Means 13. In the means 12, the first process execution means includes auxiliary effect determination means (received command check process S1907) for performing a determination process for determining an auxiliary effect to be performed based on the control signal read by the second process execution means. A gaming machine characterized by having.

  According to the means 13, the determination of the auxiliary effect to be performed is performed not under the second process but under the first process. With this configuration, it is possible to return to the first process while ending the second process in a relatively short time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the opportunity for the timing to perform the third process while interrupting the first process and performing the second process. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform each process in parallel in a suitable form, and it is possible to perform an auxiliary effect according to the progress of the game under the cooperation of the main control board and the sub control board.

  Means 14. In the means 12 or 13, the third process execution means performs an update process for updating a value of a storage means (interrupt timer counter) for storing a predetermined value (display timer interrupt processing count), and executes the first process. The means includes output processing means (drive data output processing S1905) for performing output processing for outputting a drive signal (drive data) to drive the auxiliary effect section based on the value of the storage means. Gaming machine.

  According to the means 14, in the third process, an update process for updating the value of the storage means for storing the predetermined value is performed, and in the first process, the auxiliary effect section is driven based on the value of the storage means. An output process for outputting a drive signal is performed. In the third process that is performed by periodically interrupting the first process, the update process of the storage unit is performed, so that even if the third process is interrupted regularly, the third process is performed promptly. The process can be terminated and returned to the first process. Therefore, the third process is continuously performed a plurality of times, and it is possible to suppress a delay in the timing for reading the control signal. In addition, by configuring the drive signal output process based on the value of the storage means that is periodically updated, for example, the output timing of the drive signal is measured, or the auxiliary effect is changed at a predetermined timing. Etc. are possible. Therefore, it is possible to perform drive control in accordance with the progress of the game on the sub control board side without outputting control signals related to these timings from the main control board, and to appropriately distribute the processing load of the main control board. Is possible. As a result, it is possible to perform the process of reading the control signal and the process of outputting the drive signal in parallel on the sub control board, and in accordance with the progress of the game under the cooperation of the main control board and the sub control board. It is possible to perform the auxiliary effect.

  Means 15. In the above means 14, the third process execution means performs only the update process as the third process.

  According to the means 15, only the process of updating the value of the storage means is performed as the third process. With this configuration, it is possible to quickly end the third process. As a result, the sub control board can output a drive signal to drive the auxiliary effect section while waiting for the input of the control signal from the main control board, and the main control board and the sub control board can cooperate. It is possible to perform an auxiliary effect in line with the progress of the game below.

  Means 16. In the above means 14 or 15, the second process execution means performs only the reading process as the second process.

  According to the means 16, only the reading process for reading the control signal is performed as the second process. With this configuration, the second process can be promptly terminated. As a result, the sub control board can output a drive signal to drive the auxiliary effect section while waiting for the input of the control signal from the main control board, and the main control board and the sub control board can cooperate. It is possible to perform an auxiliary effect in line with the progress of the game below. Note that “only read processing” here includes processing related to normal control signal reading, such as determining whether the read control signal is normal, in addition to reading the control signal. .

  The characteristic configurations of the means 3 to 9 can also be applied to the characteristic configurations of the means 13 to 16, and a synergistic effect can be expected in that case.

Means 17. Variable display means (variable display means 61L, 61M, 61R and reels 42L, 42M, 42R) for variably displaying the pattern;
Lottery means (lottery processing function of the main control device 131) for lottery of the combination based on the establishment of the start condition;
Display control means for controlling display of the variable display means (reel control processing of the main control device 131) so as to obtain a display result corresponding to the lottery result of the combination when starting variable display of the pattern and ending variable display Function)
When a specific pattern corresponding to the lottery result of the combination stops at an effective position visible from the front of the gaming machine, privilege granting means for granting a privilege to the player (medal payout processing function, bonus game processing function of the main control device 131) Etc.) and
In a gaming machine provided with an auxiliary effect section (upper lamp 13, speaker 14, auxiliary display section 15) that performs an auxiliary effect in accordance with the progress of the game,
A main control board (main control device 131) that has the lottery means and the display control means, and outputs a control signal (command) according to the lottery result of the combination, the variable display status of the variable display means, and the like;
A sub-control board (display control device 111) that performs drive control of the auxiliary effect unit based on the input of the control signal,
The sub-control board is
A first process execution means (display main process) that starts with power-on and repeats a series of processes;
When a control signal output from the main control board is input, second process execution means (command interrupt process) for performing a read process for interrupting the process by the first process execution means and reading the control signal;
Third process execution means (display timer) that periodically updates the value of the storage means (interrupt timer counter) that stores the predetermined value (number of display timer interrupt processes) and interrupts the processing by the first process execution means Interrupt processing),
The first process execution means includes:
Auxiliary effect determination means (received command check process S1907) for performing a determination process for determining an auxiliary effect to be performed based on the control signal read by the second process execution means;
An output processing means (drive data output process S1905) for performing an output process for outputting a drive signal (drive data) to drive the auxiliary effect section based on the value of the storage means. .

  According to the means 17, the main control board that outputs a control signal according to the lottery result of the combination, the variable display status of the variable display means, and the like, and the drive control of the auxiliary effect unit based on the control signal output from the main control board A sub-control board for performing the above is provided. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the concentration of processing loads on the main control board.

  In addition, the sub-control board starts with power-on and repeats a series of processes, and a second process for reading the control signal by interrupting the first process when a control signal is input. And a third process for performing an update process for periodically updating the value of the storage means for interrupting the first process and storing a predetermined value. In the first process, a determination signal for determining an auxiliary effect to be performed based on the control signal read by the second process execution unit and a drive signal for driving the auxiliary effect unit based on the value of the storage unit are output. Output processing. When the control signal is input, the second process is performed by interrupting the first process, so that the process of reading the control signal can be performed with priority over the process of outputting the drive signal. It is possible to suppress a deviation from the auxiliary effect. Further, in the third process that is performed by periodically interrupting the first process, the storage unit is updated, so that even if the third process is periodically interrupted by the first process, the third process can be performed promptly. The process can be terminated and the process can be returned to the first process. Therefore, the third process is continuously performed a plurality of times, and it is possible to suppress a delay in the timing for reading the control signal. In addition, by configuring the drive signal output process based on the value of the storage means that is periodically updated, for example, the output timing of the drive signal is measured, or the auxiliary effect is changed at a predetermined timing. Etc. are possible. Therefore, it is possible to perform drive control in accordance with the progress of the game on the sub control board side without outputting control signals related to these timings from the main control board, and to appropriately distribute the processing load of the main control board. Is possible. As a result, it is possible to perform the process of reading the control signal and the process of outputting the drive signal in parallel on the sub control board, and in accordance with the progress of the game under the cooperation of the main control board and the sub control board. It is possible to perform the auxiliary effect.

  Note that the characteristic configurations of the means 3 to 11 can be applied to the characteristic configuration of the means 17, and in that case, a synergistic effect can be expected.

Means 18. In any one of the above means 1 to 17, a plurality of circulation display means (reels 42L, 42M, 42R and stepping motors 61L, 61M, 61R) as the variable display means for cyclically displaying a plurality of types of patterns in a predetermined direction; ,
Start operation means (start lever 71) operated to start circulation display of each circulation display means;
Starting condition determining means (starting condition determining functions S605 to S606 of the main control device 131) for determining whether or not the starting condition is satisfied based on the operation of the starting operation means;
A plurality of stop operation means (stop switches 72 to 74) operated to individually stop the circulation display of each circulation display means;
The circulation display of each circulation display means is started based on the operation of the start operation means, the circulation display of the corresponding circulation display means is stopped based on the operation of each stop operation means, and When the lottery is won, the display control is performed so that each of the circulation display means is cyclically controlled so that a combination of a pattern corresponding to the winning combination can be formed at an effective position (effective line) visible from the front of the gaming machine. Circulation display control means (reel control processing function of the main control device 131) as means,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the bonus granting unit grants a bonus to the player when a combination of pictures corresponding to the winning combination is formed at the effective position after the cyclic display of each cyclic display unit is stopped. .

  As described in the means 18, the present invention can be applied to a slot machine. In the case of a slot machine, the game progresses based on the operation of the start operation means and the stop operation means by the player. Therefore, even when the same auxiliary effect is performed, the change timing and end timing are in accordance with the player's operation. Will fluctuate. In other words, since the timing at which the control signal is transmitted from the main control board varies each time, if the sub control board fails to receive the control signal at an appropriate timing, there will be a difference between the progress of the game and the auxiliary effect. Can possibly occur. Therefore, by applying each of the above-described means to the slot machine, it is possible to suitably perform an auxiliary effect in accordance with the progress of the game under the cooperation of the main control board and the sub control board.

  In addition, as a gaming machine to which each of the above means can be applied, “a picture row made up of a plurality of pictures (specifically, a reel to which a picture is attached) is variably displayed (specifically, the reel is rotated). Variable display means (specifically a reel unit) for confirming and stopping display of the columns is provided, and the variation of the picture is started due to the operation of the start operation means (specifically the start lever), and the stop operation means ( Specifically, a special game that is advantageous to the player on the condition that the change of the picture is stopped due to the operation of the stop button) or after the elapse of a predetermined time, and the confirmed picture at the time of the stop is a specific picture A privilege such as occurrence of a state (bonus game, etc.) is given, a ball receiving tray (top plate, etc.) is provided, a charging device for performing a loading process for taking in a game ball from the ball receiving plate, and a game on the ball receiving plate Paying out a ball A game machine in which a slot machine and a pachinko machine are fused, such as a game machine configured such that the operation of the starting operation means is made effective when a game ball is thrown in by a throw-in device. Also mentioned.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in the case of application to a spinning cylinder type gaming machine, which is a kind of gaming machine, specifically, a slot machine will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view of the slot machine 10, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slot machine 10 with the front door 12 closed, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slot machine 10 with the front door 12 opened, and FIG. 5 is a rear view of the door 12, and FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the slot machine 10 includes a housing 11 that forms an outer shell thereof. The casing 11 includes a top plate 11a, a bottom plate 11b, a back plate 11c, a left plate 11d, and a right plate 11e formed in a wooden plate shape, and the adjacent plates 11a to 11e are fixed by a fixing means such as adhesion. Thus, it is formed in a box shape with the front surface opened as a whole. In addition, each board 11a-11e may be comprised with a synthetic resin panel or a metal panel other than being comprised with a wooden panel, or it is comprised by forming in the box shape integral with a synthetic resin material or a metal material. May be. The casing 11 configured as described above is attached by, for example, driving nails against a so-called island facility at the time of installation in the game hall.

  A front door 12 as a front open / close door is attached to the front side of the housing 11 so as to be openable and closable. In other words, the left side plate 11d of the housing 11 is provided with a pair of upper and lower support shafts 25a and 25b. Each of the support shafts 25a and 25b includes a tapered shaft portion that protrudes upward. On the other hand, the front door 12 is provided with support fittings 26a and 26b having insertion holes into which the shaft portions of the support shafts 25a and 25b are inserted corresponding to the support shafts 25a and 25b. Then, the support brackets 26a and 26b are arranged above the support shafts 25a and 25b, and the front door 12 is lowered, whereby the shaft portions of the support shafts 25a and 25b are inserted into the insertion holes of the support brackets 26a and 26b. It is assumed that it was done. As a result, the front door 12 is supported so as to be rotatable about an opening / closing axis extending in the vertical direction connecting the both support shafts 25a and 25b to the housing 11, and the front opening side of the housing 11 is opened by the rotation. It can be closed or closed.

  The front door 12 is brought into a locked state that cannot be opened by a locking device provided on the rear surface. Further, a key cylinder 20 serving as an unlocking operation unit is provided at the upper right side of the front door 12. The key cylinder 20 is integrated with a locking device, and is configured such that the locked state is released by a predetermined key operation on the key cylinder 20. Therefore, an outline of the lock mechanism including the locking device will be described.

  On the right end side of the front door 12, that is, on the opposite side of the opening / closing axis of the front door 12, a locking device is provided on the back surface. The locking device extends vertically and is fixed to the front door 12, a key cylinder 20 provided so as to extend from the upper part of the base frame to the front of the front door 12, and moves vertically with respect to the base frame. It is provided with a long interlocking rod 21 assembled as possible. And only the key cylinder 20 is provided in the state which protruded ahead of the front door 12 among the locking devices. The position where the key cylinder 20 is provided is the thin upper portion of the front door 12, and as a result, a versatile key cylinder 20 having a short overall length can be employed. In the present embodiment, Omlock (trade name) having a high function of preventing unauthorized unlocking is used as the key cylinder 20. The interlocking rod 21 is moved downward by operating the key inserted into the key cylinder 20 clockwise. The interlocking saddle 21 is provided with a pair of upper and lower saddle fittings 22 having a bowl shape. When the front door 12 is closed with respect to the casing 11, the saddle fitting 22 is supported on the casing 11 side. Is locked. In addition, the urging member 22 is provided with an urging member such as a coil spring for urging to the side maintaining the locked state. When the key is operated clockwise with respect to the key cylinder 20, the interlocking rod 21 moves downward, and the saddle fitting 22 is moved against the biasing force of the biasing member. The locked state with the support fitting 23 is released, and the locked state of the front door 12 with respect to the housing 11 is released.

  A game panel 30 for notifying the player of the game state is provided above the center of the front door 12. In the game panel 30, three vertically long display windows 31L, 31M, 31R are formed side by side. The display windows 31L, 31M, 31R are made of a transparent or semi-transparent material, and the inside of the slot machine 10 is visible through the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R. The display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R may be combined into a single display window.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inside of the housing 11 is vertically divided into two by a partition plate 40, and a reel unit 41 constituting variable display means is attached to the upper portion of the partition plate 40. The reel unit 41 includes a left reel 42L, a middle reel 42M, and a right reel 42R each formed in a cylindrical shape (annular shape). The reels 42L, 42M, and 42R may be configured as at least an endless belt, and are not limited to a cylindrical shape (annular shape). Each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is rotatably supported so that the central axis thereof is the rotation axis of the reel. The rotation axes of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are arranged on the same axis extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R correspond to the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R on a one-to-one basis. . Accordingly, a part of the surface of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R is visible through the corresponding display windows 31L, 31M, 31R. Further, when the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are rotated forward, the surfaces of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are projected as if moving from top to bottom through the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R.

  Each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is connected to the stepping motors 61L, 61M, and 61R, and each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is individually, that is, independently, driven by the stepping motors 61L, 61M, and 61R. Thus, it can be rotationally driven. Since these reels 42L, 42M, and 42R have the same configuration, the left reel 42L will be described as an example here with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the left reel 42L.

  The left reel 42L includes a cylindrical skeleton member 50 that forms a cylindrical cage, and a belt-like belt wound endlessly on the outer peripheral surface thereof. And it is affixed on the cylindrical skeleton member 50 through a pair of seal parts formed along the both sides of the long side of the belt so as to maintain the wound state. A large number of symbols as identification information are printed at equal intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the belt. A boss 51 is formed at the center of the cylindrical skeleton member 50, and is attached to the drive shaft of the left reel stepping motor 61L via a disc-shaped boss reinforcing plate 52. Accordingly, when the drive shaft of the left reel stepping motor 61L rotates, the cylindrical skeleton member 50 rotates around the drive shaft, and the left reel 42L circulates along the annular reel surface. It has become.

  The left reel stepping motor 61L is fixed to the side surface of the motor plate 53 arranged in an upright state in the reel unit 41 (FIG. 3) with screws 54. The motor plate 53 is provided with a reel index sensor (rotational position detection sensor) 55 in which a light emitting element 55a and a light receiving element 55b are held at a predetermined interval. On the other hand, the base end portion 56b of the sensor cut bun 56 extending in the radial direction is fixed to the boss reinforcing plate 52 integrated with the left reel 42L with a screw 57. The front end portion 56a of the sensor cut bun 56 is bent at a substantially right angle and is positioned so as to pass between both elements 55a and 55b of the reel index sensor 55. Each time the left reel 42L makes one rotation, the reel index sensor 55 detects the passage of the front end portion 56a of the sensor cut bun 56, and a detection signal is output to the main controller 131 described later each time the detection is made. Therefore, main controller 131 can confirm and correct the angular position of left reel 42L for each rotation based on this detection signal.

  The stepping motor 61L is set to rotate once by giving, for example, a drive signal of 504 pulses (also referred to as an excitation signal or an excitation pulse; the same applies hereinafter), and the rotation position of the stepping motor 61L, that is, left The rotational position of the reel 42L is controlled.

  On each belt of each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, a plurality, specifically 21 symbols are drawn in the long side direction (circumferential direction). Therefore, 24 pulses (= 504 pulses / 21 symbols) are required to switch from one symbol to the next symbol at a predetermined position. Based on the number of pulses from when the detection signal of the reel index sensor 55 is output, it is recognized which symbols are visible from the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R, and arbitrary symbols are displayed on the display window. Control to make it visible from 31L, 31M, 31R can be performed.

  Of the symbols attached to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, the number of symbols that can be visually recognized through the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R is mainly determined by the vertical lengths of the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R. Is limited to a predetermined number. In this embodiment, three reels are provided. For this reason, when all the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are stopped, 3 × 3 = 9 symbols are visible to the player.

  Here, the symbols attached to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R will be described. FIG. 7 shows a symbol arrangement drawn on the belt wound around each of the left reel 42L, the middle reel 42M, and the right reel 42R. As shown in the figure, each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is provided with 21 symbols in a row. In addition, numbers 0 to 20 are assigned to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, and these numbers are used for the main controller 131 to recognize the symbols that are visible from the display window. It is a number and is not actually attached to the reels 42L, 42M, 42R. However, in the following description, the number is used for explanation.

  The symbols include “Replay” symbol (for example, left belt 20th), “Bell” symbol (for example, left belt 19th), “Youth” symbol (for example, left belt 18th), “7” symbol (for example, (Left belt 17th), “Cherry” design (eg, left belt 13th), “Chance” design (eg, left belt 12th), “Watermelon” design (eg, left belt 9th), “Reach” design ( For example, there are nine types: 6th left belt) and “Lucky” designs (eg 1st left belt). As shown in FIG. 7, the number of various symbols and the arrangement order are completely different in the belt wound around each reel 42L, 42M, 42R.

  Each reel 42L, 42M, 42R of the reel unit 41 is an example of variable display means for variably displaying the identification information, and constitutes a main display unit. However, the variable display means may have a configuration other than this as long as the symbol is variably displayed in the circumferential direction. For example, other mechanical reel configurations such as a type in which the belt is rotated instead of rotating may be used. In addition to the mechanical reel configuration, an electric display such as a liquid crystal display or a dot matrix display may be used. A device for variably displaying the identification information may be provided, and in this case, it is possible to give abundant variations in the display form.

  A total of five combination lines are attached to the game panel 30 so as to connect the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R, three in parallel in the horizontal direction and two in the diagonal direction. Of course, the maximum number of combination lines may be 6 or more, or less than 5, and the maximum number of combination lines may be changed according to a predetermined condition. Corresponding to these combination lines, effective line display sections 32, 33, and 34 are provided on the left side when viewed from the front of the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R. The first effective line display unit 32 is notified by lighting or the like when the central horizontal line (middle line) of the combination lines is activated. When the upper and lower horizontal lines (upper line and lower line) of the combination lines are activated, the second effective line display unit 33 is displayed and notified by lighting or the like. The third effective line display unit 34 is notified by lighting or the like when a pair of diagonal lines (downward right line and upward right line) of the combination lines is activated. And, when the combination line that has been activated, that is, the symbol has been stopped in a predetermined combination on the activated line, a prize is awarded, and a payout process for a predetermined medal number or a bonus game such as a BB game that is in a special gaming state is awarded. Migration processing etc. are executed.

  FIG. 8 shows a combination of symbols for winning and the number of medals to be paid out when winning.

  Small prizes for which medals are paid out include a watermelon prize, a bell prize, and a cherry prize. If you stop alongside the “Watermelon” symbol, “Watermelon” symbol, and “Watermelon” symbol from the left on the active line, 15 medals will be paid out as a watermelon prize, and “Bell” symbol from the left on the active line, “Bell” In the case of stopping alongside the symbol and the “bell” symbol, eleven medals are paid out as a bell prize. Further, when the “cherry” symbol on the left reel 42L stops on the active line, two medals are paid out as a cherry prize. That is, in the case of a cherry winning, any symbol that stops on the active line of the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R may be any symbol. Therefore, when the “cherry” symbol stops at the position where the plurality of effective lines of the left reel 42L overlap (specifically, the upper stage or the lower stage), a cherry winning is established on each active line, and the overlapping effective The medal payout is made by multiplying the number of lines. As a result, in this embodiment, four medals are paid out.

  Further, there is a BB winning as a state transition winning in which the gaming state shifts. When the “7” symbol, “7” symbol, and “7” symbol are stopped from the left on the active line, the game state shifts to the BB game where the gaming state is the special gaming state as a BB winning. However, even if the “7” symbol stops along the left, middle and right on the active line, the medal payout is not performed. That is, when the combination of the “7” symbols is established on the active line, only the BB game is entered. In other words, it can be said that the “7” symbol is a state transition symbol for shifting the gaming state to the BB game.

  Furthermore, when the “replay” symbol, “replay” symbol, and “replay” symbol are stopped along the active line from the left, a re-game win is awarded. When the re-game winning is established, the medal payout and the state transition are not performed, but the player can play the next game without reducing the medal possessed and without inserting the medal.

  In addition, only when the gaming state is an RB game, which will be described later, when stopped alongside the “Replay” symbol, “Replay” symbol, “Chance” symbol from the left on the active line, and from the left on the active line When the “replay” symbol, “replay” symbol, and “lucky” symbol are stopped alongside, 15 medals are paid out as a JAC prize.

  In other cases, that is, when the “cherry” symbol of the left reel 42L does not stop on the active line and the combination of the symbols described above does not stop on the active line, the medal payout, the transition of the gaming state, etc. Not done at all. That is, the “chance” symbol and “lucky” symbol of the left reel 42L, the “cherry” symbol of the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R, the “youth” symbol and the “reach” symbol of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R Not involved at all. In other words, it can be said that each of the above-mentioned symbols is a no-benefits symbol unrelated to the privilege given to the player. As described above, each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is provided with a bonus symbol related to winning such as a “bell” symbol and a non-privileged symbol unrelated to winning such as a “young” symbol, for example. In the following, a combination of symbols corresponding to each prize is also referred to as a combination of winning symbols. For example, the BB symbol combination is a symbol BB winning combination, that is, a combination of “7” symbol, “7” symbol, and “7” symbol.

  On the lower left side of the game panel 30 is provided a start lever 71 that is operated to start rotation of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R all at once (not necessarily simultaneously). The start lever 71 constitutes start operation means or start operation means operated to start rotation of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, that is, to start variable display of symbols. The start lever 71 is a lever that is pushed by the hand when the player starts the game, and automatically returns to the original position after the hand is released. When the start lever 52 is operated when a predetermined number of medals are inserted, the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R start to rotate all at once.

  On the right side of the start lever 71, button-like stop switches 72, 73, 74 that are operated to individually stop the rotating reels 42L, 42M, 42R are provided. Each of the stop switches 72, 73, 74 is arranged directly below the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R corresponding to the reels 42L, 42M, 42R to be stopped. That is, when the left stop switch 72 is operated, the rotation of the left reel 42L is stopped. When the middle stop switch 73 is operated, the rotation of the middle reel 42M is stopped and the right stop switch 74 is operated. In this case, the rotation of the right reel 42R is stopped. The stop switches 72, 73, 74 constitute stop operation means operated to stop the variable display of symbols based on the rotation of the reels 42L, 42M, 42R. Each of the stop switches 72, 73, 74 can be stopped when a predetermined time elapses after the left reel 42L starts rotating, and is stopped by lighting a lamp (not shown) during such a state. It is notified that the operation is possible, and is turned off when the rotation stops.

  On the lower right side of the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R, there is provided a medal slot 75 for inserting a medal as an investment value. The medal slot 75 constitutes an input means for inputting the investment value. Further, if attention is paid to the point that the medal insertion slot 75 is accompanied by the operation of directly inserting the medal by the player, it can be said that the medal insertion slot 75 constitutes a direct input means for directly inputting the investment value.

  The medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 75 are guided to either the storage passage 81 or the discharge passage 82 by the selector 84 as passage switching means provided on the back surface of the front door 12. That is, the selector 84 is provided with a medal path switching solenoid 83, which is set to the discharge path 82 side when the medal path switching solenoid 83 is not excited, and switched to the storage path 81 side when excited. The medal guided to the storage passage 81 is guided to the hopper device 91 housed in the housing 11. On the other hand, the medal guided to the discharge passage 82 is guided to the medal tray 18 from the medal discharge port 17 provided in the lower front portion of the front door 12 and returned to the player.

  The hopper device 91 as a payout means for giving a medal to the player is configured by a storage tank 92 for storing the medal and a payout device 93 for paying out the medal to the player. The payout device 93 rotates a medal payout rotating plate (not shown) to discharge the medal to the opening 94 provided in the central right portion of the discharge passage 82 and to the medal tray 18 through the discharge passage 82. To come out. In addition, a reserve tank 95 is provided on the right side of the hopper device 91 to avoid storing a predetermined amount or more of medals in the storage tank 92. A guide plate 96 for discharging medals from the storage tank 92 to the reserve tank 95 is provided inside the storage tank 92 of the hopper device 91. Therefore, when medals are stored more than the height at which the guide plate 96 is provided, the medals are stored in the reserve tank 95.

  A button-like return switch 76 is provided below the medal slot 75. The return switch 76 is a switch that is pressed when a medal inserted into the medal slot 75 is jammed in the selector 84. When this switch is pressed, the selector 84 is mechanically operated to operate the selector 84. The medals packed in 84 are returned from the medal discharge port 17.

  On the lower left side of the display windows 31L, 31M, 31R, there is provided a button-like first credit insertion switch 77 for inserting three virtual medals credited as investment values at a time. Further, on the left side of the first credit insertion switch 77, a second credit insertion switch 78 and a third credit insertion switch 79 are provided as button switches smaller than the switch 77. The second credit insertion switch 78 is for inserting two credited virtual medals at a time, and the third credit insertion switch 79 is for inserting one virtual medal. Each of the credit insertion switches 77 to 79 constitutes an input means for inputting an investment value together with the medal insertion slot 75. Further, if the medal insertion slot 75 is accompanied by an operation of directly inserting a medal by the player, each credit insertion switch 77 to 79 is only accompanied by an operation of inserting a virtual medal based on the storage memory. It can be said that it constitutes an indirect input means for indirectly inputting the investment value.

  The first credit insertion switch 77 has a built-in lamp as a light emitting member (not shown) to urge that the maximum number of medals that can be inserted per game (three) has not been reached. The lamp is turned on when the switch operation of the first credit insertion switch 77 is valid and prompts the operation of the switch 77. However, when there is no credited virtual medal, or three medals have already been inserted. It is turned off under certain circumstances. Here, instead of the above-mentioned lighting, the player may make it easier for the player to understand the prompt to insert a medal.

  On the left side of the start lever 71, a button-like settlement switch 80 is provided. That is, the slot machine 10 has a credit function for storing and storing surplus inserted medals up to a predetermined maximum value (for 50 medals) and winning medals as virtual medals. The virtual medal is paid out as an actual medal when the settlement switch 80 is pressed while stored and stored. In this case, if paying attention to the function of paying out the credited virtual medal as an actual medal, it can be said that the checkout switch 80 constitutes a checkout operation means for actually paying out the stored game value.

  It should be noted that the surplus inserted medals up to a predetermined maximum value (for example, 50 medals) and the “credit mode” set to store and memorize the winning medals as virtual medals, the surplus inserted medals, In the case of a slot machine that can be switched to “direct mode” set so that the winning medal at the time of winning is paid out as an actual medal, the settlement switch 80 has a function as a changeover switch for mode switching. May be added. In this case, the settlement switch (changeover switch) 80 is turned on when pressed once, turned off when pressed again, and switched on / off every time a pressing operation is performed. When the settlement switch 80 is on, the credit mode is selected. When the settlement switch 80 is off, the direct mode is selected. If there are virtual medals when the credit mode is switched to the direct mode, the virtual medals corresponding to the virtual medals are paid out as real medals. Thereby, the player can execute the game in a format according to his / her preference by switching between the credit mode and the direct mode. The settlement switch 80 constitutes a switching operation means for switching the input value and game value handling formats.

  Below the display windows 31L, 31M, and 31R of the game panel 30, a credit display unit 35 that displays the number of virtual medals stored and stored, and the remaining number of acquired medals that displays the number of remaining medals that can be acquired before the BB game is over. A display unit 36 and an acquired number display unit 37 for displaying the number of medals acquired at the time of winning are provided. Although these display parts 35-37 are comprised by the 7 segment display, it is naturally possible to substitute by a liquid crystal display etc. FIG.

  Here, a procedure for betting medals will be described. If a medal is inserted from the medal slot 75 at the start of the game, a bet is placed.

  That is, when the first medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 75, the first effective line display section 32 is turned on, and the corresponding middle line becomes the effective line, and the second medal is the medal insertion slot. When the number 75 is inserted, the second effective line display section 33 is turned on, and a total of three combination lines including the upper line and the lower line corresponding to the second effective line display section 33 become effective lines, respectively, and the third medal is a medal. When it is inserted into the insertion port 75, the third effective line display unit 34 is further turned on, and a total of five combination lines including a pair of diagonal lines corresponding thereto become effective lines.

  When four or more medals are inserted into the medal slot 75, surplus medals exceeding three are stored inside the slot machine if the number of virtual medals stored and stored at that time is less than 50. At the same time, the number of virtual medals on the credit display unit 35 is added and displayed. On the other hand, when the number of virtual medals is 50 or reaches 50, the selector 84 switches from the storage passage 81 to the discharge passage 82, and the surplus medals are returned from the medal discharge port 17 to the medal tray 18. Is done.

  Further, when the stored number is displayed on the credit display unit 35, a virtual medal is inserted even when any of the first to third credit insertion switches 77 to 79 is pressed, and a bet is made. .

  When the third credit insertion switch 79 is pressed, one numerical value displayed on the credit display unit 35 is subtracted as one virtual medal is inserted, and the first effective line display unit 32 is lit. The middle line becomes the active line. When the second credit insertion switch 78 is pressed, two numerical values displayed on the credit display unit 35 as two virtual medals are inserted are subtracted, and the first valid line display unit 32 and the second The effective line display unit 33 is turned on, and a total of three combination lines become effective lines. When the first credit insertion switch 77 is pressed, three numerical values displayed on the credit display unit 35 are subtracted as three virtual medals are inserted, and all the effective line display units 32 to 34 are displayed. Illuminates and a total of 5 combination lines become effective lines.

  In addition, when the virtual medal to be inserted when any of the first to third credit insertion switches 77 to 79 is pressed is not stored, for example, when the display of the credit display unit 35 is 2, the first credit For example, when the insertion switch 77 is pressed, all the numerical values in the credit display unit 35 are subtracted to 0, and a bet is placed for the virtual medal that can be inserted.

  On the upper part of the front door 12, there are an upper lamp 13 that lights up or flashes as the game progresses, and a pair of left and right sounds that make various sound effects as the game progresses and inform the player of the game state Speaker 14 and an auxiliary display unit 15 for giving various information to the player. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary display unit 15 is configured by a liquid crystal display for the purpose of diversifying display contents and increasing the display effect. However, other displays such as a dot matrix display may be used. Good. The auxiliary display unit 15 is for executing various display effects as the game progresses, and it can be considered that the game by the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is caused by the main display unit. This is called the auxiliary display unit 15. On the back surface of the auxiliary display unit 15, an upper lamp 13, a speaker 14, and a display control device 111 for driving the auxiliary display unit 15 are provided. The positions and numbers of the upper lamp 13 and the speakers 14 are not limited to those described above.

  A lower plate 16 on which a model name, a character related to a game, and the like are displayed is mounted above the medal tray 18. In addition, an ashtray 19 that can be reversed to the lower side on the front side is provided on the left side of the medal tray 18.

  A power supply box 121 is provided on the left side of the hopper device 91 inside the housing 11. The power box 121 includes a power switch 122, a reset switch 123, a setting key insertion hole 124, and the like. The power switch 122 is a start switch for supplying power to each unit including the main controller 131. The reset switch 123 is a switch for resetting an error state of the slot machine 10. Further, the setting key insertion hole 124 is used by a hole manager or the like to adjust the medal appearance. That is, the hall manager or the like can set the winning probability of the slot machine 10 by inserting the setting key into the setting key insertion hole 124 and performing an ON operation. The reset switch 123 is operated not only when resetting the error state but also when changing the winning probability of the slot machine 10.

  A main controller 131 is attached to the back plate 11 c of the housing 11 above the reel unit 41. The main control device 131 includes a CPU that controls the main control, a ROM that stores a game program, a RAM that temporarily stores necessary data according to the progress of the game, a port that communicates with various devices, time counting and synchronization. A main board including a clock circuit and the like used in the case of planning is provided, and the main board is accommodated in a board box as an encapsulating means made of a transparent resin material or the like. The board box includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box base and a box cover that covers an opening of the box base. The box base and the box cover are connected to each other so as not to be opened by a sealing unit as a sealing means, whereby the substrate box is sealed. In addition, it is good also as a structure which connects a box base and a box cover so that opening is impossible using a key member.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the slot machine 10 will be described based on the block diagram of FIG.

  The main control device 131 is equipped with a microcomputer centering on a CPU 151 as arithmetic processing means. In addition to the power supply device 161 provided in the power supply box 121, the CPU 151 is connected to a clock circuit 154 that outputs a rectangular wave having a predetermined frequency, an input / output port 155, and the like via an internal bus. The main control device 131 functions as a main base incorporated in the slot machine 10.

  On the input side of the main controller 131, there are a start detection sensor 71a that detects the operation of the start lever 71, stop detection sensors 72a, 73a, and 74a that individually detect the operations of the stop switches 72, 73, and 74, and a medal slot. An inserted medal detection sensor 75a for detecting a medal inserted from 75, credit insertion detection sensors 77a, 78a, 79a for individually detecting operations of the respective credit insertion switches 77, 78, 79, and a settlement for detecting an operation of the settlement switch 80. Detection sensor 80a, reel index sensor 55 that individually detects the rotational position (origin position) of each reel 42, payout detection sensor 91a that detects medals paid out from the hopper device 91, and reset detection sensor that detects the operation of the reset switch 123 123a, set to setting key insertion hole 124 Various sensors such as a setting key detection sensor 124a for detecting that a key is inserted and turned on are connected, and signals from these various sensors are output to the CPU 151 via the input / output port 155. ing.

  The inserted medal detection sensor 75a is actually composed of a plurality of sensors. That is, the storage passage 81 extending from the medal insertion slot 75 to the hopper device 91 is configured so that medals can pass in one row. The storage passage 81 is provided with a first sensor, and the second sensor and the third sensor are close to each other on the downstream side more than the width of the medal. The inserted medal detection sensor 75a is constituted by each of the first to third sensors. The main control device 131 monitors the time from the first sensor to the second sensor, and if the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time, the main control device 131 considers that there has been a medal clogging or fraud and makes an error. When an error occurs, an error notification is performed and an operation by the player until the error is canceled is invalidated. The main controller 131 also monitors the order in which the second sensor and the third sensor are turned on and off, both the second and third sensors are off, only the second sensor is on, and both the second and third sensors are on. Only when the third sensor is turned on, both the second and third sensors are turned off, and when the time for switching to each on / off switching is within a predetermined time, it is determined that the medal has been normally taken in. Otherwise, it is an error. The reason for this is to prevent injustice that the medal is reciprocated in the vicinity of the inserted medal detection sensor 75a and misidentified as the medal inserted in addition to the clogging of the medal in the storage passage 81.

  Further, a power supply device 161 is connected to the input side of the main control device 131 via an input / output port 155. The power supply device 161 includes a power supply unit 161 a that supplies driving power to the electronic devices of the slot machine 10 including the main control device 131 and a power failure monitoring circuit 161 b.

  The power failure monitoring circuit 161b is for monitoring the power-off state and generating a power failure signal not only at the time of power failure but also at the time of power-off by the power switch 122. Therefore, the power failure monitoring circuit 161b monitors the stabilized drive voltage of 12 volts DC in this example output from the power supply unit 161a, and determines that the power supply is shut off when the drive voltage drops below, for example, 10 volts. Power outage signal is output. The power failure signal is supplied to each of the CPU 151 and the input / output port 155, and the CPU 151 recognizes this power failure signal and executes a power failure process described later. Although details will be described later, the power failure signal is also supplied to the display control device 111.

  The power supply unit 161a is configured to output a stabilized voltage of 5 volts that is used as a drive voltage in a control system such as the main controller 131 even when the output voltage drops below 10 volts. As a time for outputting the stabilization voltage, a time sufficient for executing the power failure process by the main controller 131 is secured.

  On the output side of the main control device 131, each of the effective line display units 32, 33, 34, the credit display unit 35, the remaining acquired number display unit 36, the acquired number display unit 37, and the reels 42L, 42M, 42R is rotated. Stepping motors 61 (61L, 61M, 61R), a medal passage switching solenoid 83 provided in the selector 84, a hopper device 91, a display control device 111, an external concentration terminal plate 171 capable of transmitting information to a hall management device (not shown), etc. Are connected via the input / output port 155.

  The display control device 111 is a control device for driving the upper lamp 13, the speaker 14, and the auxiliary display unit 15, and includes a substrate in which a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like for driving these are integrated. Then, after receiving a signal from the main control device 131, the display control device 111 independently drives and controls the upper lamp 13, the speaker 14, and the auxiliary display unit 15. Therefore, the display control device 111 is a sub-base that executes auxiliary control in relation to the main control device 131 that is a main base that manages and manages games. In other words, the sub-base is provided for voice, lamp, and display related to indirect games, thereby reducing the burden on the main base. In addition, it is good also as a structure which the display control apparatus 111 controls the various display parts 32-37.

  The CPU 151 described above stores various control programs executed by the CPU 151 and ROM 152 storing fixed value data, and temporarily stores various data when executing the control program stored in the ROM 152. In addition to the RAM 153 for securing the area, although not shown, various processing circuits necessary for the slot machine 10 such as an interrupt circuit, a timer circuit, and a data transmission / reception circuit, as well known, and a credit counter for counting the number of credits are known. Various counters such as are built-in. The ROM 152 and the RAM 153 constitute a main memory as a storage unit, and a program for executing various processes shown in the flowcharts of FIG. 10 and subsequent figures is stored in the ROM 152 described above as a part of the control program.

  The RAM 153 is configured to hold (backup) data by being supplied with a backup voltage from the power supply device 161 provided in the power supply box 121 even after the power of the slot machine 10 is cut off. The RAM 153 stores a memory for temporarily storing various data, a setting information storage area 153a used when setting a winning probability, a game state such as a BB game, and various data used during a BB game. In addition to a BB information storage area 153b for playing, a game information storage area 153c for storing various data used in each game, a backup area is provided.

  The backup area is an area for storing the value of the stack pointer when the power is shut down due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like (including power shutdown by operating the power switch 122; the same applies hereinafter). Yes, when the power failure is resolved (including power-on by operating the power switch 122; the same applies hereinafter), the slot machine 10 can be restored to the state before power-off based on the backup area information. . Writing to the backup area is executed when the power is cut off by the power failure process (see FIG. 12), and the restoration of each value written in the backup area is executed in the main process (see FIG. 13) when the power is turned on. Note that a power failure signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 161b is input to the NMI terminal (non-maskable interrupt terminal) of the CPU 151 when the power is interrupted due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. NMI interrupt processing as flag generation processing is immediately executed.

  Subsequently, each control process executed by the CPU 151 in the main controller 131 will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIGS. The processing of the CPU 151 is broadly divided into a main processing that is started when the power is turned on, a timer interrupt processing that is started periodically (in a cycle of 1.49 msec in the present embodiment), and an NMI terminal (non-maskable terminal). For convenience of explanation, the NMI interrupt process and the timer interrupt process will be described first, and then the main process will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the NMI interrupt process. When the power is shut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, the power failure monitoring circuit 161b of the power supply device 161 generates a power failure signal and outputs it to the main controller 131. In the main controller 131 that has received the power failure signal via the NMI terminal, NMI interrupt processing is executed.

  In the NMI interrupt processing, first, in step S101, the data of the used register provided in the CPU 151 is saved in the backup area provided in the RAM 153. Subsequently, in step S102, a power failure flag is set in a power failure flag storage area provided in the RAM 153. Thereafter, the data saved in the backup area of the RAM 153 in step S103 is restored to the use register of the CPU 151 again. With this return processing, the NMI interrupt processing ends. If the power failure flag can be set without destroying the data in the register used by the CPU 151, the save and restore processing to the backup area can be omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of timer interrupt processing periodically executed by the main control device 131. A timer interrupt is generated by the CPU 151 of the main control device 131 every 1.49 msec, for example.

  First, in the register saving process shown in step S201, the values of all the registers in the CPU 151 used in the normal process described later are saved in the backup area of the RAM 153. In step S202, it is confirmed whether or not a power failure flag is set. If the power failure flag is set, the process proceeds to step S203, and a power failure process is executed.

  Here, the power failure process will be described with reference to FIG. Since the power failure process is performed immediately after the register saving process in the timer interrupt process, other interrupt processes can be executed without interruption. Therefore, for example, during the process of transmitting various commands, during the process of reading the switch state (on / off), the process at the time of power failure is not executed by interrupting each process. It is no longer necessary to create a power failure processing program that also takes into account This simplifies the processing program for power failure processing and reduces the program capacity. This also applies to a processing program for power recovery processing described later.

  In step S301, it is determined whether command transmission has been completed. If the transmission has not been completed, this process is terminated and the process returns to the timer interrupt process to terminate the command transmission. In this way, it is determined whether or not the command transmission is completed at the initial stage of the power failure process, and when the transmission is not completed, the transmission process is given priority, and the power failure process is executed after the unit command transmission process is completed. By doing so, it is not necessary to construct a power failure processing program that takes into account that power failure processing is executed during command transmission. As a result, the power failure processing program can be simplified and the ROM 152 can be reduced in capacity.

  If step S301 is YES, that is, if the command transmission is completed, the process proceeds to step S302, and the value of the stack pointer of the CPU 151 is stored in the backup area in the RAM 153. Thereafter, in step S303, a RAM determination value, which will be described later, is cleared as a stop process and the output state of the output port in the input / output port 155 is cleared, and all actuators (not shown) are turned off. In step S304, a RAM determination value is calculated and stored in the backup area. The RAM determination value is specifically a 2's complement of the checksum at the work area address of the RAM 153. By storing the RAM determination value in the backup area, the checksum of the RAM 153 becomes zero. By setting the checksum of the RAM 153 to 0, subsequent RAM access is prohibited in step S305. After that, an infinite loop is entered in preparation for the case where the power supply is completely shut down and processing cannot be executed. In consideration of, for example, a case where the power failure flag is erroneously set due to noise or the like, it is confirmed whether or not a power failure signal is output until the infinite loop is entered. If the power failure signal is not output, the power failure state is restored, so that writing to the RAM 153 is permitted, the power failure flag is reset, and the process returns to the timer interrupt process. If the power outage signal is continuously output, the infinite loop is entered. Incidentally, although a detailed description is omitted, it is confirmed whether or not a power failure signal is output even under an infinite loop.

  The power supply unit 161a of the power supply device 161 holds the output of the stabilization voltage (5 volts) used as the drive voltage for the control system for a time sufficient to execute the above-described NMI interrupt processing and power failure processing. It is comprised so that. In the present embodiment, the drive voltage is continuously output for 30 msec.

  Returning to the description of the timer interrupt process, if the power failure flag is not set in step S202, various processes after step S204 are performed.

  That is, in step S204, a watchdog timer clearing process for initializing the value of the watchdog timer for monitoring the occurrence of malfunction is performed. In step S205, an interrupt end declaration process is performed to enable the next timer interrupt to be set for the CPU 151 itself. In step S206, in order to rotate the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R, a stepping motor control process for driving the stepping motors 61L to 61R, which are the respective rotary drive motors, is performed. In step S207, sensor monitoring processing for reading the states of various sensors (see FIG. 9) such as the inserted medal detection sensor 75a and the payout detection sensor 91a connected to the input / output port 155 and monitoring whether the read result is normal or not. I do. In step S208, timer calculation processing for subtracting the value of each counter or timer is performed. In step S209, a counter process for outputting the bet number of medals and the result of counting the number of payouts to the external concentration terminal board 171 is performed.

  In step S210, command output processing for transmitting various commands such as a start command and a status command to be described later to the display control device 111 is performed. In step S211, segment data setting processing for setting segment data to be displayed on the credit display unit 35, the remaining acquired number display unit 36, and the acquired number display unit 37 is performed. In step S212, segment data set processing in the segment data setting processing is supplied to the display units 35 to 37, and segment data display processing for displaying corresponding numbers, symbols, and the like is performed. In step S213, port output processing for outputting data corresponding to the I / O device from the input / output port 155 is performed. In step S214, the value of each register saved in the backup area in the previous step S201 is restored to the corresponding register in the CPU 151. Thereafter, in step S215, an interrupt permission process for permitting the next timer interrupt is performed, and this series of timer interrupt processes is terminated.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a main process in the main controller 131 that is executed after the power is turned on. The main process is executed when the power is turned on by recovery from a power failure or by turning on the power switch 122.

  First, in step S401, as initialization processing, the value of the stack pointer is set in the CPU 151, and an interrupt mode that permits interrupt processing is set. And so on.

  When these initialization processes are completed, in step S402, whether or not the setting key is inserted into the setting key insertion hole 124 and is turned ON, more specifically, whether or not the ON signal is received from the setting key detection sensor 124a. Determine. If the setting key has been turned ON, the process proceeds to step S403, and all data stored in the RAM 153 is cleared as a forced RAM clear process. In the subsequent step S404, a winning probability setting process is performed.

  Here, the winning probability setting process will be described with reference to FIG. The slot machine 10 is prepared in advance with six stages of winning probabilities from “Setting 1” to “Setting 6”, and the winning probability setting process sets which of the winning probabilities is used to execute internal processing. It is a process to do.

  In step S501, the next timer interrupt is permitted. Thereafter, the current set value is read in step S502, and the current set value is displayed on the credit display unit 35 in step S503. However, in the process immediately after the setting key is inserted and turned ON, the data in the RAM 153 is cleared by the previous forced RAM clear process, so the set value displayed on the credit display unit 35 is “1”. is there.

  In step S504, it is determined whether or not the start lever 71 is operated. If the start lever 71 is not operated, setting update processing shown in steps S505 to S506 is performed. In step S505, it is determined whether or not the reset switch 123 has been operated. If the reset switch 123 is not operated, the process directly returns to step S503. If the reset switch 123 is operated, the set value is updated by 1 in step S506, and then the process returns to step S503. That is, in the setting update process, every time the reset switch 123 is operated, the setting value is updated by 1, and the updated setting value is displayed on the credit display unit 35. When the reset switch 123 is operated when the set value is “6”, the set value is updated to “1”.

  If the start lever 71 is operated in step S504, it is determined in step S507 whether or not the setting key is continuously turned on. If the ON operation of the setting key is continued, the process waits as it is, and if the ON operation is ended, the next timer interruption is prohibited in step S508. Thereafter, the set value is stored in step S509, data other than the set value stored in the RAM 153 is cleared in step S510, and this process is terminated.

  Returning to the description of the main process, after performing the winning probability setting process in step S404, a normal process for performing main control relating to the game is executed in step S405.

  On the other hand, when the setting key is not inserted in step S402, power recovery processing shown in step S406 and subsequent steps is performed. The power recovery process is a process for restoring the state of the slot machine 10 to the state before the power is shut off. Therefore, in the power recovery process, it is necessary to first check whether the data in the RAM 153 is normal.

  Therefore, in step S406, it is determined whether or not the set value is normal. Specifically, when the set value is any one of 1 to 6, it is determined to be normal, and when it is 0 or 7 or more, it is determined to be abnormal. If the set value is normal, it is confirmed in step S407 whether or not a power failure flag is set. If the power failure flag is set, it is further confirmed in step S408 whether or not the RAM determination value is normal. Specifically, the checksum value of the RAM 153 is checked to check whether the value is normal, that is, whether the checksum value including the RAM determination value is 0 or not. If the checksum value including the RAM determination value is 0, it is determined that the data in the RAM 153 is normal.

  If it is determined in step S408 that the RAM determination value is normal, the process proceeds to step S409, where the stack pointer value stored in the backup area is written into the stack pointer of the CPU 151, and the stack state before the power is shut off. Return to the state. Next, in step S <b> 410, a power recovery command that tells execution of power recovery processing is transmitted to the display control device 111. After that, in step S411, the game state is stopped and automatic settlement setting storage processing is performed, and in step S412, various sensors such as the start detection sensor 71a are initialized. After the above processing is completed, the power failure flag is reset in step S413, and the processing returns to the address before the power is shut off. Specifically, the process returns to the timer interrupt process described above, and the watchdog timer clear process (step S204) is executed.

  On the other hand, if any of step S406 to step S408 is NO, that is, the set value is abnormal, the power failure flag that is set when the power is shut off is not set, or the RAM determination value is abnormal, There is a high possibility that the data in the RAM 153 has been destroyed. In such a case, the operation prohibiting process shown in steps S414 to S416 is performed. As the operation prohibition process, first, the next timer interrupt process is prohibited in step S414, and in step S415, all output ports in the input / output port 155 are cleared, so that all actuators connected to the input / output port 155 are removed. Control to off state. Thereafter, in step S416, an error notification process for notifying the occurrence of an error to the hall manager or the like using the upper lamp 13 or the like is performed. This operation prohibition state is maintained until the above-described winning probability setting process is performed.

  Next, normal processing for performing main control related to the game will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S601, an interrupt permission process for permitting the next timer interrupt is performed. In step S602, a pre-start process for enabling a game is performed. In the pre-start process, the setting state of stopping and automatic checkout is stored in the RAM 153 and waits until the display control device 111 and the like finish initialization. When initialization of the display control device 111 and the like is completed, game management processing shown in steps S603 to S612 is performed.

  As the game management process, in step S603, data stored in the game information storage area 153c of the RAM 153 (for example, a random value used in the previous game) is cleared, and in step S604, a start waiting process is performed.

  In the start waiting process, it is determined whether or not a re-game winning is established in the previous game. If a re-game winning is established, an automatic insertion process for automatically inserting the same number of virtual medals as the previous bet number is performed, and an insertion completion command is set to end the start waiting process. Here, the insertion completion command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 so as to grasp the completion of the automatic insertion. In the automatic insertion process, virtual medals are inserted without reducing the number of virtual medals displayed on the credit display unit 35. That is, when a re-game winning is established in the previous game, the player can play the current game without reducing the number of medals owned and without inserting medals. If the re-game winning is not established, a sensor abnormality confirmation process is performed to check whether an abnormality has occurred in the sensor reading result of the sensor monitoring process step S207 of the timer interruption process. If the error has occurred, the slot machine 10 is put into an error state and an abnormality occurrence process for notifying the occurrence of the error is performed. Although details will be described later, such an error state is maintained until the reset switch 123 is operated. If the sensor reading result is normal, it is determined whether or not the settlement switch 80 has been operated. If the settlement switch 80 has been operated, a medal return process for paying out the same number of medals as the credited virtual medals And set the checkout command. Here, the settlement command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 so as to grasp that the credited virtual medal is being returned. After completion of the medal return process or when the settlement switch 80 is not operated, it is determined whether or not a medal insertion or credit insertion switch 77 to 79 has been operated. A medal insertion process for setting an effective line is performed, and an insertion command is set to end the start waiting process. Here, the insertion command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 in order to grasp that a betting operation has been performed.

  After the completion of the start waiting process, it is determined in step S605 whether or not the bet number of medals has reached a specified number (3 in the present embodiment). It is determined whether 71 is operated and a start command is generated. If the bet number has not reached the specified number or if no start command has been issued, the process returns to the start wait process in step S604, and the processes after the sensor abnormality confirmation process are performed.

  If a start command is generated, the process proceeds to step S607, where the medal path switching solenoid 83 is switched to a non-excited state to prohibit bet reception, and a start command is set in the subsequent step S608. Here, the start command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 in order to grasp that a start command has been generated. Thereafter, the lottery process in step S609, the reel control process in step S610, the medal payout process in step S611, and the bonus game process in step S612 are executed in order, and the process returns to step S603.

  In the normal process, various commands such as the input completion command are only set in the ring buffer, and the command is not transmitted to the display control device 111. The command transmission to the display control device 111 is performed in the command output process S210 of the timer interrupt process described above.

  Next, the lottery process of step S609 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S701, a random number used when determining whether or not a winning combination is made is created. In this slot machine 10, when the start lever 71 is operated, the hardware latches the value of the free-run counter at that time. After confirming the operation of the start lever 71, the CPU 151 stores the value latched by the hardware in the game information storage area 153c of the RAM 153. With this configuration, it is possible to quickly generate a random number at the timing when the start lever 71 is operated, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of problems such as synchronization. The hardware of the slot machine 10 is configured to latch the value of the free run counter each time the start lever 71 is operated.

  In step S702, a lottery table for determination of success / failure is selected based on the current setting state, gaming state, and the like of the slot machine 10. Here, the setting state of the slot machine 10 is any one of “Setting 1” to “Setting 6”. When “Setting 1” is selected, the lottery table having the lowest BB winning probability is selected, and when “Setting 6” is selected. The lottery table with the highest BB winning probability is selected. Here, the lottery table will be briefly described. FIG. 17 is a lottery table selected under the normal state of “Setting 1”. In the lottery table, the same number of index values IV as the number of winning combinations is set. That is, under the normal state, five types of winnings of replay, cherry, bell, watermelon, and BB can occur (see FIG. 8), so five index values IV of 1 to 5 are set. Each index value IV is uniquely associated with a winning combination, and a point value PV is set. In each lottery table in the slot machine 10, the point value PV corresponding to the BB combination is set to be larger for the lottery table having a higher setting value.

  In step S703, the index value IV is set to 1, and in the subsequent step S704, a determination value DV used for determining whether or not the winning combination is determined is set. In the determination value setting process, a new determination value DV is set by adding a point value PV corresponding to the current index value IV to the current determination value DV. In the initial determination value setting process, the random value created in step S701 is set as the current determination value DV, and a point value PV corresponding to 1 that is the current index value IV is added to the random value to obtain a new value. The determination value is DV.

  Thereafter, in step S705, whether or not the combination corresponding to the index value IV is determined. In the determination of whether or not a winning combination is made, it is determined whether or not the determination value DV exceeds 65535. If the determining value DV exceeds 65535, the winning flag corresponding to the index value IV at that time is set in step S706. Incidentally, when the winning flag is a small role winning flag or a re-game winning flag, these winning flags are reset after the game in which the corresponding winning flag is set (see S603 of the normal process). On the other hand, when the winning flag is the BB winning flag, the BB winning flag is reset as one of the conditions that the combination of the BB symbols is established on the active line. That is, the BB winning flag may be valid over a plurality of games. In addition, in the success / failure determination of the winning combination after the next game carrying over the BB winning flag, whether or not the small combination or replay is determined is determined, but the determination of whether or not the BB is related is not performed.

  If the determination value DV does not exceed 65535 in step S705, it means that the combination corresponding to the index value IV is lost. In such a case, 1 is added to the index value IV in step S707, and in the subsequent step S708, it is determined whether or not there is a role corresponding to the index value IV, that is, whether or not there is a role to be determined. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the index value IV added by 1 exceeds the maximum value of the index values IV set in the lottery table. If there is a winning combination to be determined, the process returns to step S704 to continue the determination of winning combination. At this time, in step S704, the point value PV corresponding to the current index value IV is added to the determination value DV (that is, the current determination value DV) used for the determination of whether or not the previous combination is a correct determination value DV, In step S <b> 705, the winning combination determination is performed based on the determination value DV. Incidentally, when the lottery table shown in FIG. 17 is selected, the BB winning probability is about 1/300. On the other hand, the replay and small role winning probabilities are set higher than the BB winning probability, the replay winning probability is about 7.3, the bell winning probability is about 7.0, Cherry and watermelon winning The probability is 1/128.

  After the winning flag is set in step S706, or when it is determined in step S708 that there is no winning combination to be determined, it means that the winning determination of the winning combination is finished. In such a case, a set value command and a lottery result command are set in steps S709 and S710. Here, the set value command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 in order to grasp the current set value, and the lottery result command is a display control device in order to grasp the result of the combination determination. 111 is a command transmitted to 111.

  Thereafter, in step S711, a slip table setting process for setting a slip table (stop table) for reel stop control is performed, and this process is terminated. Here, the slip table is a table in which it is determined how much the reel is slid (rotated) and stopped after the stop switches 72 to 74 are pressed. In other words, the slip table is a symbol that reaches the base point position (on the lower line in this embodiment) when the stop switches 72 to 74 are pressed, and a stop symbol that actually stops at the base point position. This is a stop data group with a defined relationship.

  Since this embodiment has a feature in the data structure related to the sliding table, this point will be described.

  In the slot machine 10, when the stop switches 72 to 74 are operated, when the reaching symbol is stopped as it is, when the corresponding reel is stopped after sliding for one symbol, it is stopped after sliding for two symbols. In this case, five patterns are prepared as a reel stop mode when the slider is stopped after being slid by three symbols and when the slider is stopped after being slid by four symbols. This closely matches the timing at which the player operates the stop switches 72 to 74 and the symbol arrangement (hereinafter referred to as “stop appearance”) that stops in a visible range from each display window 32L, 32M, 32R. It is a device for associating. That is, by stopping the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R until the specified time (190 msec) has elapsed from the timing at which the stop switches 72 to 74 are operated, it is as if the stop outcome has been determined by the player's operation. It is possible to make a player have a good impression. In addition, by making it possible to slide up to 4 symbols, it becomes possible to stop combinations of symbols corresponding to the winning combination in the lottery on the active line as much as possible within the specified time. .

  There are five types of stop data related to such a stop mode (no slip, one frame slip, two frames slip, three frames slip, four frames slip), five types for the middle reel 42M, and five types for the right reel 42R. is necessary. In this case, if the stop data related to each reel 42L, 42M, 42R is allocated in units of bits, 3 bits of stop data are required for each reel 42L, 42M, 42R, and cannot be stored in one byte.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, since five types of stop data are required, the compressed data is created assuming that the stop data is collectively a hexadecimal number. That is, the stop data is configured as “(data of the left reel 42L) × 36 + (data of the middle reel 42M) × 6 + (data of the right reel 42R)”. In this case, the maximum number of stop data that can be prepared for each reel 42L, 42M, and 42R is six, and there are 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 combination patterns for the stop data as a whole. The maximum value that can be expressed is 256 or less. As a result, the stop data for all the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R can be stored in one byte even though there are five types of stop data for each reel 42L, 42M, and 42R. Each reel 42L, 42M, 42R has 21 symbols, so one slide table can be composed of 21 bytes, and the storage capacity of the main controller 131 can be reduced. It becomes. Incidentally, in this embodiment, approximately 60 types of 21-byte sliding tables are stored in the ROM 152 in advance.

  Further, in the slot machine 10 that stores each piece of stop data as compressed data, a predetermined decompression process is performed when each piece of stop data is used. Specifically, the compressed data corresponding to the symbol number of the reaching symbol is divided by “36” (= 6 × 6), and the obtained quotient is grasped as stop data of the left reel 42L. Further, the remainder obtained by the division is divided by “6”, and the obtained quotient is grasped as stop data for the middle reel 42M, and the remainder is grasped as stop data for the right reel 42R.

  Through the processing described above, the CPU 151 can grasp the stop data of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R as decompressed data. The stop data for all the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R may be configured so as to be accommodated in one byte. For example, the stop data may be combined into a quintic number to create compressed data. . As a condition for stopping data to fall within 1 byte, a value obtained by multiplying the maximum number that can be prepared as stop data for each reel 42L, 42M, 42R may be 256 or less. Therefore, the maximum number of stop data that can be prepared for each reel 42L, 42M, 42R is not necessarily the same. For example, even when 6 types of stop data can be prepared for the left reel 42L, 8 types for the middle reel 42M, and 4 types of stop data for the right reel 42R, the combination pattern of the entire stop data is 6 × 8 × 4 = 192. Since the maximum value is 256 or less that can be expressed in 1 byte, stop data for all reels 42L, 42M, and 42R can be stored in 1 byte. Incidentally, in such a case, the compressed data is “(data of the right reel 42R) × 48 + (data of the middle reel 42M) × 6 + (data of the left reel 42L)”, and the decompression process corresponds to the symbol number of the reaching symbol. The quotient obtained by dividing the compressed data to be divided by “48” is used as stop data for the right reel 42R, and the quotient obtained by dividing the remainder obtained by dividing by “6” is the stop for the middle reel 42M. The remaining data is grasped as stop data of the left reel 42L.

  FIG. 18 is an example of a sliding table that is set when the watermelon symbol is stopped on the active line. The symbol having the number of slips of 0 is a symbol that actually stops on the lower line. For example, if the left stop switch 72 is pressed while the “bell” symbol which is the seventh symbol of the left reel 42L has reached the lower line, the left reel 42L stops without slipping and becomes the ninth symbol. The “watermelon” symbol stops on the upper line. In addition, a symbol with a number whose slip number is not 0 means that the reel slides by the number of symbols described. For example, when the left stop switch 72 is pressed while the “replay” symbol which is the eighth symbol of the left reel 42L has reached the lower line, the left reel 42L slides by one symbol and becomes the ninth symbol. The “watermelon” symbol stops on the lower line. That is, if a stop switch is pressed when a symbol with a number of non-slip numbers reaches the lower line, the corresponding reel slides until a symbol with a zero slip number reaches the lower line. Stop. Thus, in the sliding table, the number of slips when the stop switches 72 to 74 are pressed at the timing when the symbols attached to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R reach the lower line is set for each symbol number. Yes. For example, stop data with a left slip number of 2, a middle slip number of 0, and a right slip number of 3 for symbol number 0 is defined as 1-byte compressed data. The table is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 19, in the slip table setting process, first, in step S801, it is determined whether or not the BB winning flag is set. If the BB winning flag is not set, the process proceeds to step S802, and the first winning number uniquely corresponding to the winning flag is set in the winning number storage area provided in the game information storage area 153c. The winning number is a number used to set the slip table. When the first winning number is set, the winning flag is not set or only one winning flag is set. Means. In the subsequent step S803, a sliding table uniquely determined from the value of the first winning number is set in the sliding table storage area provided in the game information storage area 153c, and this process ends. At this time, in the slot machine 10, the symbol corresponding to the winning flag of the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R is medium so that the symbol corresponding to the winning flag of the left reel 42L stops at either the upper line or the lower line. Set the slide table set to stop on the line. If the winning flag is not set, a slip table in which no winning mode is established is set.

  The sliding table shown in FIG. 18 is a sliding table that is set based on the first winning number when the watermelon winning flag is set. In other words, it can be said that this is the sliding table that is set first when the watermelon winning flag is set. In such a sliding table, for example, when the middle stop switch 73 is pressed while the “cherry” symbol, which is the fourth symbol of the middle reel 42M, has reached the lower line, the middle reel 42M stops without slipping, The “Watermelon” symbol which is No. 5 symbol stops on the middle line. Also, when the middle stop switch 73 is pressed while the “watermelon” symbol, which is the fifth symbol of the middle reel 42M, has reached the lower line, the middle reel 42M slides by three symbols and becomes the eighth symbol. The “reach” symbol stops on the lower line, and the “watermelon” symbol, the ninth symbol, stops on the middle line. The same applies to the right reel 42R. For example, when the right stop switch 74 is pressed while the “watermelon” symbol, which is the fourth symbol of the right reel 42R, has reached the lower line, the right reel 42R has three symbols. The “reach” symbol as the 7th symbol stops on the lower line, and the “watermelon” symbol as the 8th symbol stops on the middle line. As described above, the “watermelon” symbol is set to stop on the middle line for the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R.

  However, the left reel 42L is set so that the “watermelon” symbol stops on either the upper line or the lower line. That is, if the left stop switch 72 is pressed while the 7th “bell” symbol is on the lower line, the 9th “watermelon” symbol stops on the upper line and the 8th “replay” If the left stop switch 72 is pressed while the symbol or the number 9 “watermelon” symbol reaches the lower line, the number 9 “watermelon” symbol stops on the lower line. This is a device for diversifying the stop output in consideration of the fact that the stop switches 72 to 74 are generally operated to stop the rotation in the order of the left reel 42L → the middle reel 42M → the right reel 42R. .

  Even when the sliding table is set for the first time, depending on the timing when the stop switch is pressed, the “watermelon” symbol may not stop on the effective line, and so-called missing may occur. This is because the range that can be slid is pre-determined within 190 msec (maximum of 4 symbols) from the timing of pressing the stop switch, and then reaches the lower line from the “watermelon” symbol that has reached the lower line. This is because a section is set in which the interval to the “watermelon” symbol is 5 symbols or more. For example, in the case of the middle reel 42M, from the “Watermelon” symbol of No. 5 to the “Watermelon” symbol of No. 9 is only 3 symbols separated, from the “Watermelon” symbol of No. 9 to the “Watermelon” symbol of No. 5 Are separated by 16 symbols. For this reason, for example, if the middle stop switch 73 is pressed when the 11th “replay” symbol of the middle reel 42M reaches the lower line, even if the middle reel 42M is slid by four symbols, the “watermelon” "The symbol cannot be stopped on the active line." In the slot machine 10, in addition to the “watermelon” symbol, the “7” symbol and the “cherry” symbol are set at intervals of five symbols or more. That is, in the case of a watermelon prize, a BB prize, or a cherry prize, a failure may occur due to the timing when the stop switch is pressed.

  Here, the arrangement order of the symbols attached to the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R will be described with reference to the left reel 42L in FIG.

  The “Bell” symbol that forms a combination of symbols that will be a small part winning prize, and the “Replay” symbol that forms a combination of symbols that will become a replay winning prize are the symbols that arrive first on the lower line and the symbol that reaches the next. It arrange | positions so that between may become 4 symbols or less. For example, the number 7 “Bell” design and the number 10 “Bell” design are separated by 2 designs, and the number 10 “Bell” design and the number 15 “Bell” design are separated by 4 designs. It is arranged like that. As described above, the “bell” symbol and the “replay” symbol are arranged such that the interval between the symbols of the same kind is 4 symbols or less. Since the left reel 42L can be stopped after sliding up to four symbols from the timing when the left stop switch 72 is operated, such a symbol arrangement allows the left stop switch 72 to be operated at any timing. Even so, if the bell winning flag or the replay winning flag is set, the “bell” symbol and the “replay” symbol can be stopped on the active line. Specifically, even when the stop switch 72 is operated at the timing when the “replay” symbol of No. 11 reaches the lower line, that is, after the “bell” symbol passes on the lower line, By sliding the left reel 42L for 4 symbols, the 15th “bell” symbol can be stopped on the lower line.

  On the other hand, only one “watermelon” symbol, which forms a combination of symbols for winning a small role, is arranged at the 9th position. Accordingly, it is necessary for the left reel 42L to rotate by 20 symbols from the time when the “watermelon” symbol reaches the lower line to the time when it reaches the lower line next time. That is, in the case of the left reel 42L, it is necessary that the same “watermelon” symbol, that is, the “watermelon” symbol of No. 9 symbol, reaches the lower line. However, since the left reel 42L can only slide up to 4 symbols, the “watermelon” symbol is valid when the left stop switch 72 is operated at the timing after the “watermelon” symbol passes over the lower line. It cannot be stopped on the line. In other words, the left reel 42L rotates from the 10th “bell” design so that the “watermelon” design can be stopped on the active line only when the left stop switch 72 is operated at a predetermined timing. It can be said that a non-arranged section in which no “watermelon” symbol is arranged is formed between the “replay” symbol No. 8 toward the side. By the way, in order to stop the “Watermelon” symbol on the active line, the time from the third “Replay” symbol reaching the lower line until the ninth “Watermelon” symbol reaching the lower line. It is necessary to operate the left stop switch 72 at the same time. In order to stop the “watermelon” symbol on the lower line, the time from the fifth “cherry” symbol reaching the lower line until the ninth “watermelon” symbol reaches the lower line. The left stop switch 72 must be operated at the same time. However, in a configuration in which three symbols are visible from the display window 32L and an effective line is set for each position, the third “replay” symbol is Even if the left stop switch 72 is operated at the timing of reaching the line, the 9th “watermelon” symbol can be stopped on the upper line.

  “Cherry” symbols are placed in two locations, No. 5 and No. 13. Accordingly, the left reel 42L needs to rotate by 8 symbols after the 5th “cherry” symbol reaches the lower line until the 13th “cherry” symbol reaches the lower line. . Similarly, it is necessary for the left reel 42L to rotate by 13 symbols after the 13th “cherry” symbol reaches the lower line until the 5th “cherry” symbol reaches the lower line. is there. However, since the left reel 42L can only slide up to 4 symbols, if the left stop switch 72 is operated at the timing after the “cherry” symbol passes the lower line, the “cherry” symbol is valid. It cannot be stopped on the line. In other words, the “cherry” symbol from the 6th “reach” symbol to the 12th “chance” so that the “cherry” symbol can be stopped on the active line only when the left stop switch 72 is operated at a predetermined timing. A non-arranged section in which no “cherry” symbol is arranged is formed between the symbol and the “young” symbol of No. 14 to the “chance” symbol of No. 4 toward the rotating side of the left reel 42L. I can say that. By the way, in order to stop the “Cherry” design on the active line, the time from the 20th “Replay” design reaching the bottom line until the 5th “Cherry” design reaching the bottom line. Alternatively, it is necessary to operate the left stop switch 72 after the 7th “bell” symbol reaches the lower line until the 13th “cherry” symbol reaches the lower line.

  Further, the “cherry” symbol and the “watermelon” symbol are arranged so as to be separated from each other by three symbols. That is, the “cherry” symbol and the “watermelon” symbol are arranged within a range of five symbols. This is a device for setting a position that can accommodate all of the small role winning and the replay winning in the slot machine 10 having five patterns as the reel stop mode, and further limits the operation timing of the left stop switch 72. It is a device for. In other words, between the 5th “cherry” design and the 9th “watermelon” design, and between the 9th “watermelon” design and the 13th “cherry” design, the small role winning and replaying It can be said that the section which can stop the winning symbol on the active line is formed. In this configuration, when one of the “cherry” symbol and the “watermelon” symbol stops on the active line, the other symbol does not stop on the active line. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the combination of “watermelon” and “cherry” symbols that do not stop on the active line unless the left stop switch 72 is operated at a predetermined timing, and reduce the number of slide tables prepared in advance. And the storage capacity of the main controller 131 can be reduced. When the “watermelon” symbol and the “cherry” symbol are both arranged on the active line, for example, when the stop switch other than the left stop switch 72 is operated first, a combination of combinations is not generated. This is because it is necessary to control such as limiting a plurality of sliding tables in advance. Here, the combination of a combination means that, for example, when a “watermelon” symbol is arranged on the upper line, a “cherry” symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the lower line, and a plurality of winnings are simultaneously made. When it occurs.

  In addition, a “chance” symbol, a “reach” symbol, and a “young” symbol are arranged above and below the “cherry” symbol as a no-benefits symbol that is not related to winning. This is a contrivance for suppressing the occurrence of a combination of a combination of a combination of symbols such as a “bell” symbol and a “cherry” symbol in which a winning is achieved by the left reel 42L alone. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of slide tables prepared in advance and reduce the storage capacity of the main controller 131. When a stop switch other than the left stop switch 72 is first operated in a state where all the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are rotating, a combination symbol such as a “bell” symbol is stopped in order to avoid the combination of the symbols. Although it is necessary to limit the effective line, it is possible to suppress the restriction on the position to be stopped because the “cherry” symbol is separated from at least one symbol, and the number of sliding tables prepared in advance can be suppressed. This is because the increase can be suppressed. In addition, a “Youth” symbol is placed upstream of the “7” symbol, and “Lucky” as a no-reward symbol between the “Replay” symbol of No. 20 and the “Bell” symbol of No. 2. The pattern is arranged. These non-privileged symbols are contrivances for preventing the stop appearance from becoming monotonous. If it is assumed that the symbol array is composed only of symbols related to the privilege, only five types of symbols can be arranged on each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R in this embodiment, and the stoppage may be monotonized. Because. Incidentally, when all nine types of symbols are related to the benefits, there is a concern that the frequency of occurrence of overshooting increases while the number of slips of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R is determined in advance.

  As described above, the “bell” symbol and the “replay” symbol can be stopped on the active line even when the left stop switch 72 is operated at any timing. If the left stop switch 72 is operated between the time when the third “Replay” symbol reaches the lower line and the time when the ninth “watermelon” symbol reaches the lower line, It can be stopped on the active line. The “Cherry” symbol is from the 20th “Replay” symbol on the lower line to the 5th “Cherry” symbol on the lower line, or the 7th “Bell” symbol is below If the left stop switch 72 is operated during the period from reaching the line until the 13th “cherry” symbol reaches the lower line, it can be stopped on the active line. In other words, in order to stop each of the small winning and replay winning symbols on the active line, the third “Replay” symbol reaches the lower line and then the fifth “Cherry” symbol lowers the line. Operate the left stop switch 72 until it reaches the top or after the number 7 “bell” symbol reaches the bottom line until the number 9 “watermelon” symbol reaches the bottom line There is a need. In other words, if the left stop switch 72 is operated while the No. 5 “Cherry” symbol or the No. 9 “Watermelon” symbol reaches the active line, each of the small winning prizes and the re-game winning prizes will be obtained. It can also be said that the symbol can be stopped on the active line.

  Only one “7” symbol as the state transition symbol is arranged at the 17th position. Therefore, for example, the left reel 42L needs to rotate 20 symbols after the “7” symbol arrives on the lower line and then reaches the lower line. That is, in the case of the left reel 42L, in order for the “7” symbol to reach the lower line, the same “7” symbol, that is, the “7” symbol that is the 17th symbol, needs to reach the lower line. However, since the left reel 42L can only slide up to a maximum of 4 symbols, if the stop switch 72 is operated at a timing after the “7” symbol has passed on the lower line, the “7” symbol is set to the effective line. It cannot be stopped up. In order to stop the “7” symbol on the active line, the left of the 11th “Replay” symbol on the lower line until the 17th “7” symbol reaches the lower line. It is necessary to operate the stop switch 72. On the other hand, in order to stop each symbol that becomes a small role winning prize and replay winning prize on the active line, while the No. 5 “Cherry” symbol or the No. 9 “Watermelon” symbol reaches the active line, It is necessary to operate the left stop switch 72. In other words, if the left stop switch 72 is operated to stop each symbol that will be a small prize winning and replay winning on the active line, the “7” symbol does not stop on the active line, and the “7” symbol is valid. When the left stop switch 72 is operated so as to stop on the line, any of the symbols for the small role winning and the replay winning does not stop on the active line. The “7” symbol is separated from the No. 5 “Cherry” symbol by 11 symbols on the upstream side of the left reel 42 </ b> L and 8 symbols on the downstream side. This is because 7 symbols are separated on the upstream side and 12 symbols are separated on the downstream side.

  It can also be said that the “7” symbol is arranged in the non-arranged section of the “watermelon” symbol and the “cherry” symbol. Specifically, the “7” symbol is 3 symbols separated from the 13th “cherry” symbol, 7 symbols from the 9th “watermelon” symbol, and the 5th “cherry” symbol. 11 symbols are separated. In addition, the fifth “cherry” symbol is separated from the “7” symbol by eight symbols. Therefore, when the “7” symbol stops on the active line, the “watermelon” symbol and the “cherry” symbol do not stop on the active line. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to avoid occurrence of a combination of “watermelon” symbols or “cherry” symbols and “7” symbols that do not stop on the active line unless the left stop switch 72 is operated at a predetermined timing In addition, the number of sliding tables prepared in advance can be reduced, and the storage capacity of the main controller 131 can be reduced.

  For the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R, when the stop switches 73 and 74 are operated to stop the symbols for the small role winning and the replay winning on the effective line, the symbol “7” is on the effective line. If the stop switches 73 and 74 are operated to stop the “7” symbol on the active line without stopping at any time, the symbol that does not stop on the active line will be one of the symbols that will become the small role winning prize or the replay winning prize. It is an array. However, for the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R, since the “cherry” symbol is a non-benefits symbol that does not relate to winning, it is necessary to operate the stop switches 73 and 74 at a predetermined timing in order to stop on the active line. The symbols are “Watermelon” symbol and “7” symbol.

  Returning to the description of the slip table setting process, if it is determined in step S801 that the BB winning flag is set, it is further determined in step S804 whether another winning flag is set. If no other winning flag is set, it means that only the BB winning flag is set. Therefore, the processing from step S802 to step S803 described above is performed, and this processing is terminated. On the other hand, when another winning flag is set, it means that the player has won a small role or replay with the BB winning flag carried over. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S805, and the second winning number uniquely corresponding to the set winning flag is set in the winning number storage area of the game information storage area 153c. When the second winning number is set, it means that the BB winning flag and the small role winning flag or the replay winning flag are set. In the subsequent step S806, a sliding table uniquely determined from the value of the second winning number is set in the sliding table storage area of the game information storage area 153c, and this process ends. At this time, the slot machine 10 sets a sliding table set so that a symbol corresponding to at least one of the BB winning flag and the other winning flag stops on any one of the active lines. More specifically, when the other winning flag is a re-game winning flag, a sliding table is set so that the “replay” symbol has priority over the “7” symbol and stops on the active line. On the other hand, when the other winning flag is the small role winning flag, the “7” symbol is preferentially stopped on the active line, and the “7” symbol cannot be stopped on the active line. A sliding table set so that the symbol corresponding to the winning flag stops on the active line is set. Furthermore, when the other winning flag is a bell winning flag which is a small role winning flag, in addition to the above-described setting, both the “7” symbol and the “Bell” symbol can be stopped on the active line. If there is, a sliding table set so that both the “7” symbol and the “bell” symbol stop on the active line is set.

  Next, the reel control processing in step S610 will be described based on the flowchart in FIG. In order to facilitate understanding, the description will be made in accordance with the progress of the actual game and will be described with reference to the symbol arrangement of FIG. 7 as appropriate.

  In the reel control process, first, in step S901, a rotation start process for starting rotation of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is performed.

  In the rotation start process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 21, it is confirmed in step S1001 whether or not a predetermined wait time (eg, 4.1 seconds) has elapsed since the reel started rotating in the previous game. To do. If not, in step S1002, a wait wait command is set and waits until the wait time elapses. Here, the wait wait command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 so as to make it possible to grasp that the wait time has not elapsed. If the wait time has elapsed, the wait time for the next game is reset in step S1003. Thereafter, in step S1004, a wait end command is set, and in the subsequent step S1005, the bet number of medals to be output to the external concentration terminal board 171 is set in the counter process S209 of the timer interrupt process. Here, the wait end command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 in order to grasp that the wait time has elapsed. In step S1006, a motor control initialization process is performed for setting rotation start information in the motor control storage area provided in the game information storage area 153c. By performing this process, the acceleration process of the stepping motors 61L to 61R is started in the stepping motor control process S206 of the timer interrupt process, and the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R start to rotate. For this reason, even if the player bets a specified number of medals and operates the start lever 71, the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R may not immediately start rotating.

  In step S1007, a rotation information command is set. Here, the rotation information command is a command transmitted to cause the display control device 111 to grasp the rotation state of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R. In step S1008, it is determined whether or not each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R rotates at a constant speed at a predetermined rotation speed. If the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R do not rotate at a constant speed, the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R rotate at a constant speed. Wait until. Thereafter, when each of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R is rotated at a constant speed, the process proceeds to step S1009, a constant speed rotation command is set, and this process is terminated. Here, the constant speed rotation command is a command transmitted to cause the display control device 111 to grasp that the rotation speeds of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are constant. In addition, when the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are rotated at a constant speed, the CPU 151 indicates that the stop operation can be performed by lighting up lamps (not shown) of the stop switches 72 to 74. To inform.

  Returning to the description of the reel control process, in step S902, it is determined whether or not any of the stop switches 72 to 74 is operated to generate a reel stop command, more specifically, an ON signal from the stop detection sensors 72a to 74a. Is received, and if no stop command has been generated, the system waits until a stop command is generated.

  If any of the stop switches 72 to 74 is operated in step S902 and a stop command is generated, the process proceeds to step S903, and whether or not the current stop command is the third stop command, that is, only one reel rotates. It is determined whether or not the stop switch has been operated during the operation. If any of the stop switches 72 to 74 is operated while all the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are rotating, it means that the current stop command is the first stop command. In such a case, a negative determination is made in step S903, and a first smooth table change process is performed in step S904. The first sliding table changing process is a changing process of the sliding table that is performed before the reels are stopped based on the generation of the stop command.

  In the first change process of the slip table, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 22, it is determined in step S1101 whether or not the current stop command is the first stop command. Since the current stop command is the first stop command, the first stop change process shown in steps S1102 to S1108 is performed. In the first stop change process, it is confirmed which stop switch is operated in step S1102, and in step S1103, it is determined whether the operated stop switch is the left stop switch 72 or not. If the left stop switch 72 has been operated, the present process is terminated without changing the sliding table. This is because the slip table is set on the assumption that the left stop switch 72 is operated first in the previous slip table setting process (see FIG. 19).

  On the other hand, when a stop switch other than the left stop switch 72 is operated, the stop switches are operated in an order different from the assumed order (that is, the order of the left stop switch 72 → the middle stop switch 73 → the right stop switch 74). Means. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S1104, and the winning number set in the winning number storage area of the game information storage area 153c is confirmed. In the subsequent step S1105, it is determined whether or not the re-game is won from the confirmed winning number. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the confirmed winning number is a first winning number meaning a re-game winning or a second winning number meaning a re-game winning and a BB winning. If replay is won, the process proceeds to step S1106, and the slide table set in the slide table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is changed to a winning confirmation slide table for establishing a replay winning. This process ends. Here, the winning confirmation sliding table is a sliding table for avoiding the occurrence of so-called omission that a winning corresponding to the set winning flag is not established.

  FIG. 23 is a winning confirmation slide table that is set when the re-game is won. In such a slip table, the “replay” symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the upper line, the “replay” symbol of the middle reel 42M stops on the middle line, and the “replay” symbol of the right reel 42R on the lower line. It is set to stop. In other words, the winning confirmation sliding table at the time of re-game winning is set so that the re-game winning is established on the lower right line. This is a device for establishing a replay prize while avoiding the occurrence of a combination of combinations. Since the “cherry” symbol on the left reel 42L is a symbol that can be awarded by the symbol alone, if the left stop switch 72 is not operated for the first time, a winning combination may be made according to a combination of symbols such as a replay prize. A combination of winning combinations may occur between what is established and the cherry winning where the left reel 42L alone is awarded. Specifically, when the “replay” symbol of the left reel 42L is stopped on the lower line in a situation where the “replay” symbol of the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R is stopped on the lower line. Since the “cherry” symbol, which is the fifth symbol, stops on the upper line, a combination of a combination in which a re-game winning and a cherry winning are simultaneously formed occurs. However, since both the re-game and the cherry are not won in the previous lottery process, it is necessary to avoid the contradiction that the combination of the combinations occurs. Therefore, when a stop switch other than the left stop switch 72 is first operated, a replay game is performed while avoiding the combination of the winning combinations by setting a winning decision sliding table on the right-down line so that the replay winning is established. Winnings can be established.

  If it is determined in step S1105 that the re-game is not won, it is determined whether or not only the bell win is made in step S1107. Specifically, the winning number confirmed in step S1104 is the first winning number indicating the bell winning. To see if it matches. If only the bell has been won, the process proceeds to step S1106 described above, and the slide table set in the slide table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is changed to a winning decision slide table for establishing a bell winning. Then, this process ends. Although a detailed description is omitted, the winning decision sliding table at the time of winning the bell is set so that the bell winning is established on the middle line. This is a contrivance for establishing a bell prize while avoiding the occurrence of a combination of combinations. For example, when the “bell” symbol of the seventh reel of the left reel 42L is stopped on the upper line in a situation where the “bell” symbols of the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R are stopped on the upper line, the lower line Since the “Cherry” symbol, which is the fifth symbol, stops, a combination of a combination in which a Bell prize and a Cherry prize are established at the same time occurs. However, since both the bell and cherry are not won in the previous lottery process, it is necessary to avoid the contradiction in which the combination of combinations occurs. Therefore, when a stop switch other than the left stop switch 72 is operated for the first time, a bell winning combination is established while avoiding compounding of the combination by setting a winning decision sliding table on the middle line. It becomes possible to make it.

  If a negative determination is made in step S1107, that is, if a re-game such as BB is won and a role other than the bell is won, or if any role is not won, the process proceeds to step S1108, and the game information storage area 153c The slip table set in the slip table storage area is changed to an irregular push slip table that uniquely corresponds to the winning number and the operated stop switch, and the process is terminated. In the slot machine 10, as with the slip table set in the slip table setting process, the slide table in which a plurality of positions where the symbol corresponding to the winning flag can be stopped is set for the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R, respectively. It is prepared. When a stop switch other than the left stop switch 72 is first operated, the stop switch operated from the slide table in which a plurality of positions where the symbol corresponding to the winning flag can be stopped is set on the left reel 42L. Change to a slide table that has been set multiple times for the corresponding reel. This is a contrivance for reducing the frequency of occurrence of missing items. The slip table shown in FIG. 18 will be described as an example. For example, when the middle stop switch 73 is operated at the timing when the “watermelon” symbol as the ninth symbol of the middle reel 42M reaches the lower line, No. 12 “Youth” symbol stops on the lower line and “Watermelon” symbol does not stop on the active line. That is, when the middle reel 42M is stopped based on the sliding table shown in FIG. 18, the middle stop switch 73 is operated at a timing at which the “watermelon” symbol can be stopped on the effective line. You will miss the watermelon prize. Therefore, in order to suppress the occurrence of such a problem, when a stop switch other than the left stop switch 72 is operated for the first time, the irregular push sliding table is changed.

  After the first change process of the slip table is completed, in step S905, the symbol number of the symbol that has reached the lower line at this timing is confirmed. Specifically, the symbol number of the reaching symbol reaching the lower line is confirmed by the number of pulses from the time when the detection signal of the reel index sensor 55 is output. In the following step S906, the slip amount of the reel to be stopped this time is calculated from the compressed data of the symbol number corresponding to the reaching symbol among the slip tables set in the slip table storage area of the game information storage area 153c, and the process proceeds to step S907. Determine the symbol number of the symbol to actually stop on the lower line. In step S908, it is determined whether or not the symbol number of the reaching symbol of the reel to be stopped this time is equal to the symbol number of the stop symbol. If they are equal, a reel stop process for stopping the rotation of the reel is performed in step S909. Do. Thereafter, in step S910, a rotation information command is set so that the display controller 111 can grasp the current rotation state of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R, and in step S911, a stop symbol command is set. Here, the stop symbol command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 so as to grasp a symbol stopped in a range (upper, middle, lower) visible from the display window. In step S912, it is determined whether all reels have stopped. In the case where the processing in steps S903 to S911 described above is performed based on the first stop command, the two reels are still rotating. In such a case, a negative determination is made in step S912, and a second smooth table changing process is performed in subsequent step S913. The sliding table second changing process is a sliding table changing process performed after the reels are stopped.

  Here, the slip table second changing process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the second change process of the slide table, it is determined in step S1201 whether or not the currently set slide table is a winning decision sliding table. If the winning table is a winning decision sliding table, the process is terminated. If it is not the winning confirmation slide table, the process proceeds to step S1202, and the winning number set in the winning number storage area of the game information storage area 153c is confirmed. In the following step S1203, it is determined whether or not the confirmed winning number is the second winning number. If it is determined that the winning number is not the second winning number, the stopped symbol stopped on the lower line of the reel currently stopped in step S1204. Confirm the symbol number of. In step S1205, it is determined whether or not the symbol number of the stop symbol matches the symbol number of the changed symbol that is uniquely derived from the currently set slip table. This process is terminated without change. If the symbol number of the stop symbol matches the symbol number of the changed symbol, the process proceeds to step S1206, and the slip table set in the slip table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is changed to the slip table for line change. To end this process. In the slot machine 10, as with the slip table set in the slip table setting process, the slide table in which a plurality of positions where the symbol corresponding to the winning flag can be stopped is set for the middle reel 42M and the right reel 42R, respectively. It is prepared. Then, according to the stop symbol of the reel that has been stopped based on the first stop command, the position where the symbol corresponding to the winning flag can be stopped is changed to a slide table in which a plurality of other reels that are rotating are set. This is a contrivance for suppressing monotonization of the symbol arrangement (hereinafter referred to as “stopping appearance”) that stops in a visible range from each display window 32L, 32M, 32R.

  For example, when the left reel 42L and the middle reel 42M are configured to stop based on the sliding table shown in FIG. 18, the “watermelon” symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the upper line or the lower line, while the “ The “watermelon” symbol only stops on the middle line. However, when the “watermelon” symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the upper line, there remains room for a watermelon winning even if the “watermelon” symbol of the middle reel 42M stops on the upper line instead of the middle line. Similarly, when the “watermelon” symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the lower line, there remains room for a watermelon winning even if the “watermelon” symbol of the middle reel 42M stops on the lower line instead of the middle line. That is, when the left reel 42L and the middle reel 42M are stopped based on the sliding table shown in FIG. 18, the stopping appearance of the middle reel 42M is excessively restricted. Therefore, in the present slot machine 10, the stopped symbol of the stopped reel is confirmed, and the line changing slide table is changed according to the confirmation result. Specifically, if the “bell” symbol on the left reel 42L stops on the lower line and the “watermelon” symbol on the ninth reel stops on the upper line, the center on the upper or middle line The reel 42M is changed to a sliding table set to stop the "watermelon" symbol on the reel 42M. In addition, when the “watermelon” symbol which is the ninth symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the lower line, the slide table is set so that the “watermelon” symbol of the middle reel 42M stops on the middle line or the lower line. .

  Incidentally, in the slot machine 10, when the stop symbol and the changed symbol match, the slot table is changed to the following slip table. When the left reel 42L is stopped, the position where the symbol corresponding to the winning flag can be stopped is changed to a plurality of slide tables set for the middle reel 42M, and when the middle reel 42M is stopped, it corresponds to the winning flag. When the position where the symbol to be stopped can be changed to the slide table set for the right reel 42R and the right reel 42R is stopped, the position where the symbol corresponding to the winning flag can be stopped is set for the left reel 42L. Change to the completed slide table.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S1203, that is, if the confirmed winning number is the second winning number, in step S1207, it is determined whether or not the winning other than BB is a replay, and it is a replay. In this case, the processing from step S1204 to step S1206 described above is performed, and this processing is terminated. On the other hand, if the winning other than BB is the small winning combination, the processing at the second winning number is performed in step S1208, and this processing is terminated.

  In the second winning number processing, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 25, it is determined in step S1301 whether or not the winning other than BB is the bell winning. If it is a bell win, the process proceeds to step S1302, and it is determined whether there is a possibility that both a BB winning and a bell winning are established. Specifically, check the symbol number of the stopped symbol on the lower line of the currently stopped reel, and determine whether both the “7” symbol and the “Bell” symbol are stopped on the active line. To do. For example, when the “bell” symbol as the 15th symbol of the left reel 42L is stopped on the lower line based on the first stop command, the “7” symbol as the 17th symbol is stopped on the upper line. Therefore, at the stage where the left reel 42L stops based on the first stop command, there is a possibility that both the BB winning and the bell winning are established. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S1303, and the slide table set in the slide table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is set so that both the “7” symbol and the “bell” symbol can be stopped on the active line. This processing is terminated after changing to the simultaneous establishment sliding table. Specifically, when the “bell” symbol of the 15th symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the lower line based on the first stop command, the “bell” symbol of the 14th symbol of the middle reel 42M is on the lower line. When the “bell” symbol, which is the 14th symbol of the middle reel 42M, is stopped on the lower line based on the first stop command, the slide table set to stop is changed to the 15th symbol of the left reel 42L. The “bell” symbol is changed to a sliding table set to stop on the lower line. In addition, when both the “7” symbol and the “bell” symbol cannot be stopped on the active line, the “seven” symbol table further stops the “7” symbol on the active line. If it is impossible to stop the “7” symbol on the active line, the “bell” symbol is set to stop on the active line.

  If a negative determination is made in step S1302, it is determined in subsequent step S1304 whether or not there is a possibility that a BB winning will be established, that is, whether or not the “7” symbol is stopped on the active line. If the “7” symbol is stopped on the active line, the process proceeds to step S1305, and the “7” symbol is stopped on the active line for the smooth table set in the smooth table storage area of the game information storage area 153c. The processing is terminated after changing to the BB winning slide table set as described above. If it is determined in step S1304 that there is no possibility that a BB winning will be established, the process proceeds to step S1306, and the slip table set in the slip table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is displayed with a “bell” symbol. The process is terminated after changing to the bell winning slide table set to stop on the active line.

  If the winning combination other than the BB winning combination is not a bell in step S1301, it means that the winning combination is watermelon or cherry. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S1307, and it is determined whether or not there is a possibility that a BB winning will be established, that is, whether or not the “7” symbol is stopped on the active line. If the “7” symbol is stopped on the active line, the process proceeds to step S1308, and the “7” symbol is stopped on the active line for the smooth table set in the smooth table storage area of the game information storage area 153c. The processing is terminated after changing to the BB winning slide table set as described above. If it is determined in step S1307 that there is no possibility that a BB winning will be established, the process proceeds to step S1309, and the sliding table set in the sliding table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is selected as a winning combination other than BB. The symbol corresponding to (the “watermelon” symbol or the “cherry” symbol) is changed to the small winning prize sliding table set to stop on the active line, and this processing is terminated.

  As described above, when the corresponding reel is stopped based on the first stop command and the sliding table second change process is performed, the process returns to step S902, and one of the stop switches corresponding to the rotating reel is operated. Wait until the next stop command occurs.

  If any stop switch corresponding to the rotating reel is operated in step S902 and a stop command is generated, the process proceeds to step S903 to determine whether or not the current stop command is the third stop command. If the stop switch is operated when any one of the reels is stopped, it means that the current stop command is the second stop command. In such a case, a negative determination is made in step S903, and a first smooth table change process is performed in step S904.

  In the first change process of the slip table, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 22, it is determined in step S1101 whether or not the current stop command is the first stop command. Since the current stop command is the second stop command, the second stop change process shown in steps S1109 to S1114 is performed. In the second stop change process, it is determined in step S1109 whether or not the currently set slip table is a winning confirmation sliding table. If the winning table is a winning confirmation sliding table, the present process is terminated. If it is not the winning confirmation sliding table, the process proceeds to step S1110, and it is confirmed in which order the first stop command and the second stop command are issued to which stop switch 72-74. In subsequent step S1111, it is determined whether or not the confirmation result is a forward push operation operated in the order of the left stop switch 72 → the middle stop switch 73. If the confirmation result is the forward push operation, the slide table is not changed. This process ends. This is because in the previous second change process of the slide table, when the left stop switch 72 is operated first, it is changed to a slide table that assumes that the middle stop switch 73 will be operated next. Even if the slip table has not been changed in the slip table second change process, the slip table in which the symbol corresponding to the winning flag of the middle reel 42M stops on the middle line in the previous slip table setting process is set. Because it is.

  If it is determined in step S1111 that the operation is not a forward pressing operation, the process proceeds to step S1112 to check the symbol number of the stopped symbol stopped on the lower line of the reel stopped based on the first stop command. In step S1113, it is determined whether or not the symbol number of the stop symbol matches the symbol number of the changed symbol that is uniquely derived from the currently set slip table. If not, the slip table is changed. The process is terminated without any processing. If the symbol number of the stop symbol matches the symbol number of the changed symbol, the process proceeds to step S1114, and the slip table set in the slip table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is changed to the slip table for line change. The process ends. Specifically, in accordance with the stop symbols of the reels stopped based on the first stop command, a plurality of positions where the symbols corresponding to the winning flags can be stopped are set for the reels to be stopped based on the second stop command. Change to the sliding table. For example, when the right stop switch 74 is operated as the second stop command in a situation where the watermelon winning flag is set and the “watermelon” symbol of the left reel 42L is stopped on the upper line, the watermelon winning is established. The “watermelon” symbol of the right reel 42R may be stopped on the upper line or the lower line. Therefore, when the stop switch is operated in the order of the left stop switch 72 → the right stop switch 74, the “watermelon” symbol of the right reel 42R is changed to a sliding table set to stop on the upper line or the lower line. To do.

  After the first change process of the slip table is completed, in step S905, the symbol number of the symbol that has reached the lower line at this timing is confirmed. In the following step S906, the slip amount of the reel to be stopped this time is calculated from the compressed data of the symbol number corresponding to the reaching symbol among the slip tables set in the slip table storage area of the game information storage area 153c, and the process proceeds to step S907. Determine the symbol number of the symbol to actually stop on the lower line. In step S908, it is determined whether or not the symbol number of the reaching symbol of the reel to be stopped this time is equal to the symbol number of the stop symbol. If they are equal, a reel stop process for stopping the rotation of the reel is performed in step S909. Do. Thereafter, in step S910, a rotation information command is set so that the display control device 111 can grasp the current rotation state of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R, and in step S911, it can be visually recognized from the display window by this reel stop processing. A stop symbol command is set in order to grasp a symbol stopped in the range. In step S912, it is determined whether all reels have stopped. When the above-described processing of steps S903 to S911 is performed based on the second stop command, one reel is still rotating. In such a case, a negative determination is made in step S912, and a second smooth table changing process is performed in subsequent step S913.

  Here, the slip table second changing process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the second change process of the slide table, it is determined in step S1201 whether or not the currently set slide table is a winning decision sliding table. If the winning table is a winning decision sliding table, the process is terminated. If it is not the winning confirmation slide table, the process proceeds to step S1202, and the winning number set in the winning number storage area of the game information storage area 153c is confirmed. In the following step S1203, it is determined whether or not the confirmed winning number is the second winning number. If it is determined that the winning number is not the second winning number, it is stopped on the lower line of the two reels currently stopped in step S1204. Check the symbol number of the stop symbol. In step S1205, it is determined whether or not the symbol number of each stopped symbol matches the symbol number of the changed symbol uniquely derived from the currently set slip table, and at least one of them does not match In this case, this process is terminated without changing the sliding table. If the symbol number of each stop symbol and the symbol number of each changed symbol coincide with each other, the process proceeds to step S1206, and the slip table set in the slip table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is changed to the slip table for line change. Then, this process ends. For example, when the watermelon winning flag is set and the “watermelon” symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the upper line and the “watermelon” symbol of the middle reel 42M stops on the middle line, “watermelon” of the right reel 42R. Change to a sliding table where the symbol stops on the lower line.

  On the other hand, if an affirmative determination is made in step S1203, that is, if the confirmed winning number is the second winning number, in step S1207, it is determined whether or not the winning other than BB is a replay, and it is a replay. In this case, the processing from step S1204 to step S1206 described above is performed, and this processing is terminated. On the other hand, if the winning other than BB is the small winning combination, the processing at the second winning number is performed in step S1208, and this processing is terminated.

  In the second winning number processing, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 25, it is determined in step S1301 whether or not the winning other than BB is the bell winning. If it is a bell win, the process proceeds to step S1302, and it is determined whether there is a possibility that both a BB winning and a bell winning are established. Specifically, confirm the symbol number of each stopped symbol on the lower line of the two reels that are currently stopped, and stop the “7” symbol and “Bell” symbol together on the active line. It is determined whether or not. In the present embodiment, it is determined whether the “bell” symbol as the 15th symbol of the left reel 42L and the “bell” symbol as the 14th symbol of the middle reel 42M are stopped on the lower line. When these symbols are stopped on the lower line, the “bell” symbol is stopped side by side on the lower line, and the “7” symbol is stopped side by side on the upper line. Depending on the stop result, there is a possibility that both BB winning and Bell winning may be established. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S1303, and if the slide table set in the slide table storage area of the game information storage area 153c can be stopped on the upper line, the symbol “7” is displayed. If it is impossible to stop on the upper line, and if it is impossible to stop, the “bell” symbol is changed to a sliding table for simultaneous establishment that is set to stop on the lower line, and this process is terminated. .

  If a negative determination is made in step S1302, it is determined in the subsequent step S1304 whether there is a possibility that a BB winning will be established, that is, whether “7” symbols are stopped side by side on the active line. If the “7” symbols are stopped side by side on the active line, the process advances to step S1305 to change to the BB winning slide table set so that the BB winning is achieved, and the process is terminated. If it is determined in step S1304 that there is no possibility that a BB prize will be established, the process proceeds to step S1306, where the bell winning slide table set so that a bell prize is established is changed and the process is terminated. To do.

  If the winning combination other than the BB winning combination is not a bell in step S1301, it means that the winning combination is watermelon or cherry. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S1307, and it is determined whether or not there is a possibility that a BB winning will be established, that is, whether or not “7” symbols are stopped side by side on the active line. If “7” symbols are stopped side by side on the active line, the process proceeds to step S1308, and the slide table set in the slide table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is set so that a BB winning is established. The processing is terminated after changing to the BB winning slide table. If it is determined in step S1307 that there is no possibility that a BB winning will be established, the process proceeds to step S1309, and the sliding table set in the sliding table storage area of the game information storage area 153c is selected as a winning combination other than BB. And change to the small table winning slide table that is set so that the corresponding winning is established, and this processing is terminated.

  As described above, when the corresponding reel is stopped based on the second stop command and the slide table second change process is performed, the process returns to step S902, and the stop switch corresponding to the rotating reel is operated to perform the next stop. Wait until the command is issued.

  In step S902, when a stop command corresponding to the rotating reel is operated and a stop command is generated, the process proceeds to step S903, and it is determined whether or not the current stop command is a third stop command. If the stop switch is operated when two reels are stopped, it means that the current stop command is the third stop command. In such a case, an affirmative determination is made in step S903, and the flow advances to step S905 without performing the first change process of the slip table.

  In step S905, the symbol number of the symbol that has reached the lower line at this timing is confirmed. In the following step S906, the slip amount of the reel to be stopped this time is calculated from the compressed data of the symbol number corresponding to the reaching symbol among the slip tables set in the slip table storage area of the game information storage area 153c, and the process proceeds to step S907. Determine the symbol number of the symbol to actually stop on the lower line. In step S908, it is determined whether or not the symbol number of the reaching symbol of the reel to be stopped this time is equal to the symbol number of the stop symbol. If they are equal, a reel stop process for stopping the rotation of the reel is performed in step S909. Do. In step S912, it is determined whether all reels have stopped. When the above-described processing of steps S903 to S911 is performed based on the third stop command, all reels have stopped rotating. In such a case, an affirmative determination is made in step S912, a payout determination process is performed in step S914, and this process ends. The payout determination process is a process of setting the number of medals to be paid out as one of the conditions that a combination of winning symbols is arranged on an active line.

  In the payout determination process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 26, the active line is confirmed based on the current gaming state in step S1401. Although details will be described later, this is because the active line is changed from 5 lines to 1 line (medium line) when the game state shifts to the BB game. In step S1402, a combination of symbols on the predetermined effective line is derived from the symbol number of the stopped symbols stopped on the lower line of each reel 42L, 42M, 42R, and it is determined whether or not a winning is achieved in step S1403. To do. If a win has been established, the process proceeds to step S1404, and it is determined whether or not the winning combination matches the winning flag set in the lottery process. If the winning combination combination does not match the winning flag, the process proceeds to step S1405, and the slot machine 10 is put into an error state and an abnormality occurrence process for notifying the occurrence of an error is performed. Thereafter, in step S1406, it is determined whether or not the reset switch 123 has been operated, and waits until the reset switch 123 is operated. When the reset switch 123 is operated, the process returns from the error state and the subsequent processing is started. That is, if the reset switch 123 is operated or if the winning combination combination matches the winning flag in step S1404, the winning combination combination is set in step S1407 and the game information storage area in step S1408. The number of payouts corresponding to the winning combination is set in the planned payout number storage area 153c. Thereafter, in step S1409, it is determined whether or not the payout determination has been completed for all active lines. If not, the process returns to step S1402. That is, in this embodiment, when three medals are bet and five effective lines are set, it is sequentially determined whether or not a winning is achieved for each effective line.

  For example, when the “cherry” symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the upper line, 2 is set as the number of payouts in the processes of steps S1402 to S1408 related to the upper line, and steps S1402 to S1408 related to the lower right line. In the process, 2 is set again as the scheduled number of payouts. As a result, when the “cherry” symbol of the left reel 42L stops on the upper line, 4 is set as the expected payout number, and four medal payouts are performed in the medal payout process described later.

  When the payout determination is completed for all active lines, a pay command is set in step S1410 and a pay line command is set in step S1411, and this process is terminated. Here, the winning command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 for grasping which winning has been established, and the winning line command is which active line the winning has been established. This is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 for grasping.

  Next, the medal payout process in step S611 will be described based on the flowchart in FIG.

  In the medal payout process, first, in step S1501, it is determined whether or not the planned payout number stored in the payout number storage area is zero. If the planned payout number is 0, it means that it has been determined in the previous payout determination process S914 that a small winning combination has not been established. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S1502, and it is determined whether or not a re-game winning is established based on the winning combination set in the payout determination process. If the re-game winning is not established, the process is terminated as it is. If the re-game winning is established, a re-game setting process for changing the gaming state to the re-gaming state is performed in step S1503. In step S1504, a replay command is set, and this process ends. Here, the replay command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 so as to grasp that the next game is a replay. In the start waiting process S604 described above, the automatic insertion process is performed when it is determined that the current gaming state is the re-gaming state.

  If the number of payouts is not 0 in step S1501, a payout start command is set in step S1505. Here, the payout start command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 so as to grasp that the medal payout has started. In step S1506, it is determined whether the number of payouts counted by the payout number counter matches the planned payout number stored in the payout number storage area. If the number of payouts does not match the planned payout number, it is determined in step S1507 whether the count value of the credit counter has reached the upper limit (the number of stored medals is 50). If the upper limit has not been reached, 1 is added to each of the count value of the credit counter and the number of payouts in steps S1508 and S1510. Thereafter, in step S1511, display unit change processing is performed in which the credit display unit 35 and the acquired number display unit 37 are each incremented by one.

  On the other hand, when the count value of the credit counter reaches the upper limit in step S1507, the medal payout rotating plate is driven in step S1509 to pay the medal from the hopper device 91 to the medal tray 18 through the medal discharge port 17. put out. In subsequent step S1510, 1 is added to the number of payouts according to the medal detection signal of the payout detection sensor 91a attached to the hopper device 91. After that, in step S1511, display unit change processing for adding 1 to the number of acquired number display unit 37 is performed.

  After performing a display part change process in step S1511, it returns to step S1506 again. When the number of payouts matches the planned number of payouts in step S1506, a payout end command is set in step S1512. Here, the payout end command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 in order to grasp that the medal payout has ended. In step S1513, it is determined whether or not the current gaming state is a bonus game. If the current gaming state is a bonus game, in step S1514, the payout number is subtracted from the count value of a remaining acquisition number counter, which will be described later, and the number of remaining acquisition number display section 36 is subtracted. The process ends. Note that the process of subtracting the number of remaining acquisition number display part 36 may be performed in the display part changing process of step S1511.

  Next, the bonus game process of step S612 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  Prior to the description of the bonus game process, the bonus game will be described. The BB game is composed of a plurality of RB games. The RB game is composed of 12 JAC games. A JAC game is a game in which only one bet is allowed, and is a game with a very high probability that a combination of JAC symbols will be aligned on an active line, that is, a probability that a JAC winning will be established. That is, in the JAC game, in step S605 of the normal process described above, if the bet number is 1, an affirmative determination is made that the number is a specified number. When a JAC winning is established in the RB game, the maximum number (15 in this case) of medals is paid out. When the JAC winning is established 8 times, the RB game is ended even before the JAC game is played 12 times. Also, the BB game ends when the number of medals paid out reaches a predetermined number (specifically, 400). When the number of medals paid out reaches a predetermined number during the RB game, not only the BB game but also the RB game is ended. This is a contrivance for suppressing the player's euphoria by giving an upper limit to the number of medals to be paid out during the BB game, and ensuring the soundness of the game. Further, in the present embodiment, a combination of symbols to be transferred to the RB game is not set, and the structure is set to shift to the RB game immediately after the shift to the BB game and immediately after the RB game ends. Therefore, it can be said that the BB game is a game that continuously shifts to the RB game until a predetermined number of medals are paid out.

  In the bonus game process, first, in step S1601, it is determined whether or not the gaming state is a bonus game. When it is not during the bonus game, bonus symbol determination processing shown in steps S1602 to S1606 is performed.

  In this bonus symbol determination process, first, in step S1602, it is determined whether or not the BB winning flag is set. When the BB winning flag is set, the process proceeds to step S1603, and it is determined whether or not a BB winning is achieved based on the winning combination set in the payout determination process S914. When a BB winning is established, a BB start process is performed in step S1604. In the BB start process, the BB winning flag is reset and the BB setting flag is set in the BB information storage area 153b to obtain a BB game which is a kind of bonus game. In addition, 400 is set in the remaining acquisition number counter for counting the number of remaining medals that can be paid out during the BB game, and a process of displaying 400 on the remaining acquisition number display unit 36 is performed. Incidentally, whether or not the current gaming state is a bonus game is determined based on whether or not the BB setting flag is set. In subsequent step S1605, RB start processing is performed. In the RB start process, 8 is set in the remaining JAC winning counter for counting the number of possible JAC winnings, and 12 is set in the remaining JAC game counter for counting the remaining number of JAC games. Each counter such as a remaining acquisition number counter and a remaining JAC winning counter is provided in the BB information storage area 153b. After performing the RB start process, in step S1606, an RB command transmitted to the display control device 111 is set in order to grasp that the RB game is started.

  In step S1607, a status command is set. Here, the state command is a command transmitted to the display control device 111 in order to grasp the current gaming state. That is, if it is determined in step S1602 that the BB winning flag is not set, a state command indicating that the game is a normal game is set. If it is determined in step S1603 that a BB winning is not established, BB is set. A state command indicating that the game is a carryover game is set. If the RB command is set in step S1606, a state command indicating that the game is a BB game is set. In the subsequent step S1608, a game number display process is performed, and this process is terminated. In the game number display process, when the current game state is not a BB game (RB game), a process of clearing the display of the remaining acquired number display unit 36, the acquired number display unit 37, and the like is performed.

  If the gaming state is a bonus game in step S1601, the process proceeds to step S1609, and it is determined whether or not a JAC winning has been established based on the winning combination set in the payout determination processing S914. If a JAC winning is established, the value of the remaining JAC winning counter is decremented by 1 in step S1610. After that, or when a JAC winning is not established in step S1609, one JAC game has been consumed. In step S1611, the value of the remaining JAC game counter is decremented by one. Subsequently, in step S1612, it is determined whether either the remaining JAC winning counter or the remaining JAC game counter has become zero. If any of them is 0, that is, if the JAC winning is established 8 times or the JAC game is digested 12 times, it means that the RB game end condition is established. RB end processing is performed to reset the counter and the remaining JAC game counter values. In a succeeding step S1614, it is confirmed whether or not the count value of the remaining acquisition number counter is zero. If it is not 0, it means that the number of medals paid out during the BB game has not reached the predetermined number and the BB game end condition is not satisfied, so the RB start process described above in step S1615. In step S1616, an RB command is set. Thereafter, a state command indicating that the game is a BB game is set in step S1607, and the number-of-games display process is performed in step S1608, and this process ends.

  If neither the remaining JAC winning counter nor the remaining JAC game counter is 0 in step S1612, that is, if the JAC winning is not yet established 8 times and the JAC game is not consumed 12 times, step Proceeding to S1617, it is confirmed whether or not the count value of the remaining acquisition number counter is zero. If it is not 0, it means that the number of medals paid out during the BB game has not reached the predetermined number and the end condition for the BB game is not satisfied. Is set, a game number display process is performed in step S1608, and the process ends. On the other hand, if the count value of the remaining acquisition number counter is 0, it means that the BB game end condition is satisfied, and therefore, the special game state end process shown in steps S1618 to S1619 is performed. In the special game state end process, first, in step S1618, the above-described RB end process is performed. Thereafter, in step S1619, BB end processing for clearing data in the BB information storage area 153b is performed. In addition, when the count value of the remaining acquisition number counter is 0 in step S1614, it means that the BB game end condition is satisfied, and therefore the BB end process is performed in step S1619. After the BB end process is performed, a state command indicating that the game is a normal game is set in step S1607, and a game number display process is performed in step S1608, and this process ends.

  Next, prior to describing each control process executed by the display control device 111, the electrical configuration of the display control device 111 will be described based on the block diagram of FIG.

  The display control device 111 is a control device for driving the upper lamp 13, the speaker 14, and the auxiliary display unit 15, and is equipped with a microcomputer centering on a CPU 181 that is arithmetic processing means.

  The CPU 181 executes a signal latch circuit 182 that latches a control signal such as a command transmitted from the main control device 131, a latch circuit 184 that latches a clock signal generated from the clock circuit 183 every 1 msec, and the CPU 181. ROM 185 storing various control programs and fixed value data for driving upper lamp 13 and the like, and a work area for temporarily storing various data when executing the control program stored in ROM 185 A RAM 186 for securing is connected. Further, the CPU 181 is connected to a power supply device 161 via an input port 187, and is configured to receive a power failure signal when the drive voltage drops to, for example, less than 10 volts. The CPU 181 performs various control processes based on various commands transmitted from the main control device 131, and executes drive control of the upper lamp 13, the speaker 14, and the auxiliary display unit 15. Hereinafter, the upper lamp 13, the speaker 14, and the auxiliary display unit 15 are collectively referred to as an auxiliary effect unit. Note that a one-chip microcomputer in which the above-described ROM 185, RAM 186, signal latch circuit 182 and clock circuit 183 are incorporated in the CPU may be used as the CPU.

  Subsequently, each control process executed by the CPU 181 in the display control apparatus 111 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The processing of the CPU is roughly divided into a display main process that is started when the power is turned on, a display timer interrupt process that is started periodically (in this embodiment, at a cycle of 1 msec), and a control from the main controller 131. There is a command interruption process activated based on the input of a signal. Here, for convenience of explanation, display timer interrupt processing and command interrupt processing will be described first, and then display main processing will be described.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart of a display timer interrupt process that is periodically executed by the display control device 111. Based on the clock signal generated from the clock circuit 183, the CPU 181 of the display control device 111 executes display timer interruption processing, for example, every 1 msec.

  In the display timer interruption process, first, the next command interruption is prohibited in step S1701, and the interruption flag is read in step S1702. In step S1703, it is determined whether or not the read interrupt flag is valid. If the interrupt flag is not valid, the process is terminated. If the interrupt flag is valid, 1 is added to the interrupt timer counter in step S1704, and the interrupt flag is cleared in step S1705. Here, the interrupt timer counter is a counter for storing the number of times the display timer interrupt processing has been performed. Since the timer interrupt is generated every 1 msec, for example, a predetermined process is performed based on the counter value. The elapsed time of can be grasped. If the interrupt flag is not valid, or after the value of the interrupt timer counter has been updated, the next command interrupt is permitted in step S1706, and this process ends.

  FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing command interruption processing. As described above, the main control device 131 transmits various commands to the display control device 111 according to the current game state, the progress of the game, and the like. The display control device 111 immediately executes command interrupt processing based on the reception of the command transmitted from the main control device 131, more specifically, based on the signal input from the signal latch circuit 182.

  In the command interrupt process, the next timer interrupt is prohibited in step S1801, and it is determined in step S1802 whether the strobe signal is normal. The strobe signal is a signal transmitted together with the command from the main controller 131, and the CPU 181 starts command interrupt processing based on the reception of this strobe signal. If the strobe signal is normal, command data is acquired in step S1803, and it is determined whether the command data acquired in step S1804 is normal. If the command data is normal, command reception processing is performed to determine which command is received in step S1805, and the maximum number is set in the retry counter in step S1806. If the command data is not normal, the retry counter value is incremented by 1 in step S1807. On the other hand, if the strobe signal is not normal in step S1802, it is determined that there is some malfunction, and the maximum number is set in the retry counter in step S1808.

  In step S1809, it is determined whether the value of the retry counter is the maximum value. When the value of the retry counter is the maximum value, the command from the main controller 131 has been normally received, or there is some abnormality in the command from the main controller 131, and command interruption processing is performed for the allowable number of retries. This means that the command could not be received normally. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S1810, and an interrupt flag is read. Thereafter, the value of the retry counter is cleared in step S1811, and the interrupt flag is cleared in step S1812.

  If the retry counter value is the maximum value in step S1809, or if the interrupt flag is cleared in step S1812, the next timer interrupt is permitted in step S1813, and the process ends.

  When a command is received from the main controller 131 during the display timer interrupt process, this command is latched by the signal latch circuit 182 and the command interrupt process is executed immediately after the display timer interrupt process is completed. Similarly, when the display timer interrupt processing timing comes during the command interrupt processing, the clock signal is latched by the latch circuit 184, and the display timer interrupt processing is executed immediately after the command interrupt processing ends. . That is, the slot machine 10 is configured such that multiple interrupts do not occur between the display timer interrupt process and the command interrupt process.

  FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a display main process of the CPU 181 executed after the power is turned on. The display main process is executed when power is turned on by recovery from a power failure or by turning on the power switch 122.

  First, in step S1901, as an initialization process, the value of the stack pointer is set in the CPU 181 and an interrupt mode for permitting a command interrupt process and a display timer interrupt process is set. Thereafter, a register group in the CPU 181 and an I / O Make various settings for the device.

  When the initialization process ends, in step S1902, it is determined whether or not the system state is a voltage drop state, that is, whether or not the drive voltage has dropped to a predetermined voltage (less than 10 volts in the present embodiment). If the system state is a voltage drop state, it is determined that the power supply has been cut off, and a power failure process is performed in step S1903.

  If the system state is not a voltage drop state, it is checked in step S1904 whether the value of the interrupt timer counter is zero. If the value of the interrupt timer counter is not 0, it means that the interrupt timer counter value has been updated in the display timer interrupt process described above. In such a case, the process proceeds to step S1905, and a drive data output process for outputting drive data to drive the auxiliary effect section is performed. Details of this drive data output processing will be described later.

  When the value of the interrupt timer counter is 0, or after the drive data output process is completed, whether or not a command is received from the main controller 131 in step S1906, more specifically, the command is received by the command interrupt process. Check if it is.

  If a command has been received, a received command check process is performed in step S1907. In the received command check process, it is determined which command was received in the previous command interruption process, and a process of determining an auxiliary effect to be performed based on the type of the received command is performed. The process performed in the received command check process includes a stop symbol command process performed based on reception of a stop symbol command, a status command process performed based on reception of a status command, and a lottery result command performed based on reception of a lottery result command There are a process, a winning command process performed based on receiving a winning command, a winning line command process performed based on receiving a winning line command, a rotation information command process performed based on receiving a rotation information command, and the like. Specifically, for example, when the received command is a lottery result command meaning BB winning, whether or not to perform an auxiliary effect suggesting BB winning, and what kind of auxiliary effect is to be performed A process of determining a specific aspect of the auxiliary effect to be performed is performed, such as whether to perform the auxiliary effect or at which stop command generation timing the BB winning is suggested. In addition, when a rotation information command or a stop symbol command is received, it is determined whether or not it is a suggestion timing of BB winning determined at the time of receiving the lottery result command. Set. That is, in the received command check process, the drive control content of the auxiliary effect section is determined based on the command data received from the main control device 131.

  If no command has been received or after the received command check process has been completed, the process advances to step S1908 to perform update processing of a random value used when selecting an auxiliary effect, and the process returns to step S1902.

  Here, the drive data output processing in step S1905 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The drive data output process is a process for outputting drive data to drive the auxiliary effect section. That is, in the slot machine 10, command data from the main control device 131 is acquired by the command interrupt process, an auxiliary effect is determined based on the command data acquired by the received command check process, and the drive data output process is performed. The auxiliary production unit is driven.

  In the drive data output process, first, in step S2001, the value of the watchdog timer for monitoring the occurrence of malfunction is reset. In step S2002, a startup command check process is performed. As described above, when the power is turned on, a power recovery command is transmitted from the main control device 131 to the display control device 111 (step S410). Therefore, if a power recovery command is not received within a predetermined time (within 2 seconds in the present embodiment) after the power is turned on, the drive control of the auxiliary effect section is executed in the startup command check process, and an error is generated. Inform. In step S2003, device control processing is performed. Although details will be described later, when various commands are received from the main control device 131, an auxiliary effect to be performed by the auxiliary effect unit is determined based on the received command. In the device control process, a process of outputting the corresponding drive data to the auxiliary effect unit to perform the determined auxiliary effect is performed. By performing such a process, for example, an auxiliary effect such that the upper lamp 13 is lit in a predetermined color or a predetermined character is displayed on the auxiliary display unit 15 is performed. In step S2004, a system state change process is performed. The system state includes a voltage drop state, an initialization state, and a normal state, and the auxiliary display unit 15 is initialized according to the system state each time. In step S2005, a voltage drop check process is performed. In the voltage drop check process, the power failure signal supplied from the input port 187 is monitored, and when the power failure signal is switched from the OFF state to the ON state, the system state is changed from the normal state to the voltage drop state. In step S2006, a specific time process is performed. The specific time process is a process periodically performed every predetermined specific time (10 msec in the present embodiment). For example, the output data buffer is updated by the LED data table for driving the upper lamp 13, and the speaker 14. This is a process for changing the volume of the musical sound output from.

  Here, the specific time processing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S2101, processing for updating the value of the 10 msec timer counter is performed. Specifically, a process of adding the current interrupt timer counter value to the 10 msec timer counter value is performed. In the subsequent step S2102, it is determined whether or not the value of the 10 msec timer counter is 10 or more. On the other hand, when the value of the 10 msec timer counter is 10 or more, it means that the specific time has elapsed. In such a case, the value of the 10 msec timer counter is decremented by 10 in step S2103, the drive data change process shown in steps S2104 to S2108 is performed, and this process ends.

  In the drive data change process, in step S2104, an LED data change process for setting data from the LED data table to the output data buffer is performed. In step S2105, an auxiliary effect synchronization check process for synchronizing the BGM and the LED effect in the bonus game is performed. In step S2106, when left unattended during BGM playback, fade-out processing is performed to decrease the volume of the BGM after 30 seconds. In step S2107, if left unattended, a demonstration start check process for starting a demonstration effect after 60 seconds is performed. In step S2108, the value of the volume knob is checked, and a volume check process is performed to change the audio volume.

  Returning to the description of the drive data output process, after the specific time process is completed, a drive data switching process is performed in step S2007. The drive data switching process is a process of switching drive data according to the passage of time, gaming state, etc., except when receiving a command from the main controller 131. In the drive data switching processing, for example, processing such as switching of the color for lighting the upper lamp 13 and switching of the display scene displayed on the auxiliary display unit 15 is performed. That is, the drive data change process is a process for changing the auxiliary effect with time, unlike the above-described specific time process.

  In step S2008, the value of the interrupt timer counter is cleared. In step S2009, it is confirmed again whether the system state is a voltage drop state. If the system state is a voltage drop state, a power failure process is performed. If the system state is not a voltage drop state, this process is terminated.

  According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following excellent effects are obtained.

  The main control device 131 is configured to output various commands from the main control device 131 according to the gaming state and the progress of the game, and to drive the auxiliary effect unit based on the command received by the display control device 111. It is possible to suppress the concentration of processing load on the network.

  The display control device 111 performs a drive data output process in a display main process activated upon power-on, and interrupts the display main process when a command is input from the main control device 131 to perform a command reception process. By doing so, it is possible to perform the command reception process with priority over the process of driving the auxiliary effect section. Therefore, since the process of driving the auxiliary effect part is performed, the timing of performing the command reception process is delayed, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a shift between the progress of the game and the auxiliary effect.

  In the display timer interrupt process, only the process of updating the value of the interrupt timer counter is performed, so that the display timer interrupt process can be completed in a short time and returned to the display main process. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems such as a delay in the timing of shifting to the command reception process because the display timer interrupt process is continuously performed a plurality of times. Moreover, when it is set as the structure which outputs drive data in a display main process, the method to synchronize an auxiliary effect temporally becomes a problem. Drive data output processing can be output almost regularly if it is configured to perform display timer interrupt processing, while drive data output processing is performed if drive data output processing is configured to perform display main processing. This is because the time required from the start to the next drive data output process may vary. In view of this, the display timer interrupt process performs the process of updating the value of the interrupt timer counter, and the drive data output process is performed based on the value of the interrupt timer counter, so that the auxiliary effect is synchronized from the main controller 131. The display control device 111 can perform drive control of the auxiliary rendering unit in accordance with the progress of the game without outputting a command for causing the processing load of the main control device 131 to be suitably distributed. It becomes. More specifically, as a method of performing an auxiliary effect in accordance with the progress of the game in cooperation with the main control device 131 and the display control device 111, the drive data output processing is performed by display timer interrupt processing, and the display timer interrupt processing is performed. It is certainly possible to adopt a configuration that shifts to a command reception process when a command is input during the process, that is, a configuration that allows multiple interrupts. However, in the case of such a configuration, it is necessary to create a program on the assumption of the timing at which the command reception process is interrupted in advance, and there is a concern that the number of debugging steps increases due to the complexity of the program.

  By configuring the auxiliary effect to be performed in the received command check process in the display main process, it is possible to return to the display main process while ending the command interrupt process in a relatively short time. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the opportunity for the display timer interrupt processing timing while interrupting the display main processing and executing the command reception processing, thereby suppressing the delay of the interrupt timer counter update processing timing. It becomes possible to do. As a result, it becomes possible to perform each process in parallel in a suitable form, and it is possible to perform an auxiliary effect according to the progress of the game in cooperation with the main control device 111 and the display control device 131. .

  The main control device 131 transmits various commands to the display control device 111 in the command output processing S210 of the timer interrupt processing. Since the timer interrupt process of the main controller 131 is a process performed every 1.49 msec, various commands are transmitted to the display controller 111 at intervals of 1.49 msec. Therefore, if the display control device 111 is configured to finish the display timer interrupt process and the command interrupt process within 1.49 msec, it is possible to increase the chance of receiving a command under the display main process and receive the command. When it is done, it becomes possible to shift to command interruption processing promptly. Therefore, in the display timer interrupt process, the time required for the display timer interrupt process can be shortened by adopting a configuration in which only the update process of the interrupt timer counter is performed without performing the drive data output process. The command interrupt process can be completed within 1.49 msec. In addition, only the process of determining which command is received in the command interrupt process is performed, and the specific determination of the auxiliary effect is performed under the display main process, thereby reducing the time required for the command interrupt process. Can be made. Incidentally, the total processing time required for the display timer interrupt process and the command interrupt process in such a configuration is about 100 μsec, which is sufficiently shorter than 1.49 msec. Therefore, since any interrupt processing is performed, the timing of performing the command reception processing is delayed, and it is possible to suitably suppress the occurrence of a shift between the game progress status and the auxiliary performance.

  The display main process loops by performing the drive data output process and the received command check process. When a command is input or when 1 msec elapses, the display main process interrupts the display main process and performs the command interrupt process and the display timer interrupt process. With the configuration, it is possible to output the latest driving data of the auxiliary effect determined based on the command input from the main control device 131 to the auxiliary effect unit. For example, when the drive data is output in the display timer interrupt process, the command reception process is performed after the timer interrupt process is completed, that is, after the drive data output process is completed. However, if the timer interrupt process is not completed within 1 msec, the timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed a plurality of times, and the command reception process is delayed accordingly. This leads to repetitive output of drive data for performing an auxiliary effect that was determined before the change in the progress of the game. On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment, it is possible to shift to the command interrupt process even during the drive data output process, and after the drive data output process is completed, the received command check is performed based on the received command. Processing can be performed. That is, in the next drive data output process, the latest drive data for performing the auxiliary effect determined in the received command check process can be output. Therefore, it is possible to perform an auxiliary effect according to the progress of the game.

  When the value of the interrupt timer counter is not 0, that is, when the display timer interrupt process is performed, the drive data output process is performed, so that the drive data can be output periodically. This is because the display timer interrupt process is performed periodically (every 1 msec). Further, when the value of the interrupt timer counter is 0, the drive data output process is not performed, so that it is possible to promptly confirm the presence or absence of the received command. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time required for the processing (S1902 to S1908) performed in the loop in the display main processing, and it is possible to perform an auxiliary effect according to the progress of the game.

  In the drive data output process, a process of adding the value of the interrupt timer counter to the value of the 10 msec timer counter is performed, and the drive data change process is performed when the value of the 10 msec timer counter becomes 10 or more. The function of measuring the data change timing can be given to the 10 msec counter, and the centralization of the function of measuring the timing of performing the drive data output processing to the interrupt timer counter and the function of measuring the change timing of the drive data occurs. It can be avoided. Therefore, the program can be simplified. If it is configured to determine whether or not 10 msec has elapsed based on the value of the interrupt timer counter, in order to configure the drive data output process when the interrupt timer counter is updated, This is because the value of the confirmed interrupt timer counter needs to be stored, and the program becomes complicated. In the case of a configuration in which the drive data output process is performed in the display main process, the drive data output process or the received command check process takes time after the interrupt timer counter value is confirmed until the next interrupt timer counter value is confirmed. Display timer interrupt processing may be performed multiple times. Therefore, by adopting a configuration in which the drive data change process is performed when the value of the 10 msec timer counter becomes 10 or more, the drive data change process can be performed every time approximately 10 msec elapses. Furthermore, since the process shifts to the next process without performing the drive data change process under the condition where 10 msec has not elapsed, it is possible to reduce the processing time required for one loop in the display main process. Furthermore, in the drive data change process, a drive data output process for outputting drive data to perform an auxiliary effect is performed in order to perform a drive data change process assuming that the player has left the game without proceeding. In general, a slight fluctuation in time is allowed. Therefore, by adopting a configuration in which the drive data change process is performed when the value of the 10 msec timer counter becomes 10 or more, the drive data change process can be performed periodically and efficiently.

  In the drive data output process, the interrupt timer counter value is cleared after the drive data switching process, so that the interrupt timer counter value is 0 when determining whether to perform the drive data output process. It is not necessary to store the value of the interrupt timer counter at the previous processing. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the program and to periodically output drive data. Also, even when the value of the interrupt timer counter is updated a plurality of times during the drive data output process and the received command check process, the drive data output process is performed for the number of times the interrupt timer counter is updated. Event does not occur. Therefore, since the timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed a plurality of times, there is no problem that the transition to the command interrupt process is delayed. That is, even when the value of the interrupt timer counter is updated in plural, the latest drive data for performing the auxiliary effect determined in the reception command check process can be output at the next drive data output process. As a result of the above, it is possible to perform an auxiliary effect according to the progress of the game.

  Display timer interrupt processing is disabled during command interrupt processing, and display interrupt processing is disabled during display timer interrupt processing. It is possible to avoid the multiple interrupt configuration in which one interrupt processing is interrupted and the other interrupt processing interrupts, thereby making the program configuration relatively simple and increasing the debug man-hours. It becomes possible to suppress. Furthermore, if the multiple interrupt configuration is avoided, there is a concern that the timing for reading command data may be delayed as described above. However, in the case of the present embodiment, the display timer interrupt process only involves updating the interrupt timer counter, so the above-mentioned concerns can be minimized.

  In the display timer interrupt process, only the process of updating the value of the interrupt timer counter is performed, so that the display control device 111 can wait for command input while outputting drive data to the auxiliary effect unit. If there is, it is possible to promptly shift to command reception processing. Therefore, it is possible to suitably suppress the occurrence of a shift between the game progress status and the auxiliary effect.

  In the case of a slot machine, the game progresses based on the player's operation of the start lever 71 and stop switches 72 to 74. Therefore, even when the same auxiliary effect is performed, the change timing and end timing are determined by the player's operation. It will fluctuate accordingly. That is, the timing at which the command is transmitted from the main control device 131 fluctuates each time. Therefore, if the display control device 111 cannot receive the command at an appropriate timing, there is a difference between the progress of the game and the auxiliary effect. Can possibly occur. Therefore, the driving data output process is performed in the display main process, and only the update process of the interrupt timer counter is performed in the display timer interrupt process, so that the game is performed in cooperation with the main controller 131 and the display controller 111. Thus, it is possible to suitably perform an auxiliary effect in accordance with the progress of

  In addition, it is not limited to the description content of embodiment mentioned above, For example, you may implement as follows.

  (A) In the above embodiment, the command interrupt processing is prohibited when the display timer interrupt processing is performed, and the display timer interrupt processing is prohibited when the command interrupt processing is performed. In some cases, it may be configured to allow multiple interrupts to permit other interrupt processing. However, in such a case, there is a concern about an increase in the number of debugging steps accompanying the complexity of the program.

  (B) In the above embodiment, when the display timer interrupt process is being performed, the command interrupt process is prohibited. However, a control signal from the main controller 131 is input to the NMI terminal of the display controller 111. The command interrupt processing may be executed immediately when a control signal is input.

  (C) In the above-described embodiment, the reception command check process is performed after the drive data output process is completed in the display main process. However, the drive data output process may be performed after the reception command check process. . Since the display main process has a configuration in which the processes in steps S1902 to S1908 are looped, this configuration can provide the same operational effects as the above embodiment.

  (D) In the above-described embodiment, the reception command check process for determining the auxiliary effect is performed under the display main process. However, the reception command check process may be performed under the command interrupt process. However, with such a configuration, there is a possibility that the time required for command interrupt processing will be long, and there is a concern that display timer interrupt processing may not be performed periodically.

  (E) In the above embodiment, the interrupt timer counter value is cleared after the end of the drive data change process. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and if it is after the update process of the 10 msec timer counter, The timing for clearing the value of the interrupt timer counter is arbitrary.

  (F) In the above embodiment, the display control device 111 is configured to drive and control the upper lamp 13, the speaker 14, and the auxiliary display unit 15. However, in addition to this, various display units 32-37 and stop switches 72- It may be configured to drive and control 74 lamps and the like. That is, the main control device 131 is configured to drive and control devices related to the player's interest such as the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R and the hopper device 91, and the devices related to the auxiliary effects such as the upper lamp 13 and the auxiliary display unit 15. The display control device 111 may be configured to drive and control the type.

  (G) In the above embodiment, when the game state is a normal game, it is determined whether or not a start command is issued after three medals have been betted. It goes without saying that it may be configured to determine whether or not a start command has been issued even after betting one sheet. However, in the case of such a configuration, it is necessary to store a lottery table corresponding to the betting situation in advance.

  (H) In the above embodiment, the drive data changing process is performed when the value of the 10 msec timer counter is 10 or more. However, a plurality of timer counters are provided, and the drive data is based on the values of these timer counters. Needless to say, the change processing may be configured. For example, in step S2106, when left unattended during BGM playback, fade-out processing is performed to decrease the volume of the BGM after 30 seconds. Therefore, a 30s timer counter for fade-out processing is provided, and the value of the 30s timer counter is incremented by 1 every time the drive data change processing is performed. With this configuration, it means that 30 seconds have elapsed when the value of the 30s timer counter reaches 300, so the volume of the BGM can be reduced based on the value of the 30s timer counter.

  (I) In the above embodiment, the command timer is prohibited and permitted in the display timer interrupt processing by the program, that is, the command interrupt is prohibited and permitted using software. It is also possible to use a configuration in which the command interruption is prohibited and permitted using hardware. With such a configuration, only the update process of the interrupt timer counter can be performed in the display timer interrupt process, and the processing time required for the display timer interrupt process can be suitably shortened.

  (J) In the above-described embodiment, it is configured to give a privilege of paying out medals when a small role winning is established, but is not limited to such a configuration, and a configuration in which some privilege is given to a player If it is. For example, a configuration in which prizes other than medals are paid out when a small winning combination is established. Further, in a slot machine that does not have an actual medal insertion or medal payout function and manages credits owned by a player, an increase in credited medals corresponds to provision of a privilege.

  (K) In the above embodiment, the belt on which the design is printed is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical skeleton member 50. However, the cylindrical skeleton member and the belt are integrally formed, and the design is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the belt. It is good also as a structure which sticks separately. In such a case, the integrally formed outer peripheral surface corresponds to an endless belt.

  (L) In the above embodiment, the medal payout is not performed when the “7” symbols as the state transition symbols are aligned on the active line. However, the medal payout may be configured.

  (M) In the above embodiment, a slot machine having three reels arranged in parallel and having five lines as effective lines has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, five reels arranged in parallel It may be a slot machine provided or a slot machine having seven effective lines.

  (N) In the above embodiment, a so-called A type slot machine has been described. However, a B type, a C type, a combined type of A type and C type, a combined type of B type and C type, and further a CT game are provided. The present invention may be applied to any type of slot machine such as the above type, and it is clear that the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained in any case. In addition, examples of bonus winning in each type include BB winning, RB winning, SB winning, CT winning and the like.

  (O) The symbols of the reels 42L, 42M, and 42R are not limited to pictures, numbers, characters, and the like, but may be geometric lines or figures. In addition, the design can be configured by light, color, or the like, the design can be configured by a three-dimensional shape or the like, and the design can be configured by combining these. That is, it is sufficient that the symbol has a function as identification information (identification information).

  (P) In the above embodiment, the slot machine 10 in which the number of valid lines set according to the number of medals bet has been described, but a fixed number (for example, five) regardless of the number of medals bet. You may apply to the slot machine which sets an effective line. Even when the present invention is applied to such a slot machine, it is clear that the same operational effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

  (Q) In the above embodiment, an example in which the slot machine 10 is embodied has been described. That is, in the slot machine, instead of the medal insertion and medal payout functions, a gaming machine having a ball insertion and ball payout function such as a pachinko machine may be used. If such a gaming machine is used in place of a slot machine, only a ball can be handled as a gaming value in the gaming hall. Therefore, the gaming value seen in the current gaming hall in which pachinko machines and slot machines are mixed is used. Problems such as the burden on equipment due to the separate handling of medals and balls and restrictions on the location of the gaming machine can be solved.

  It is also possible to apply the present invention to a pachinko machine. In the case of a pachinko machine, the gaming machine main body is mounted on the outer frame, and a door member is provided on the front side of the gaming machine main body. The game machine body is provided with a game board in which a game area as a game ball flight area is formed and an operation port and a liquid crystal display device are installed, and the game area and liquid crystal are provided by a visual window provided on the door member. The display device is visible. Then, as the game ball launched by the game ball launching device wins the operating opening, an internal lottery is performed and a variable display of the pattern is performed on the liquid crystal display device. Even when the configuration of the main control device and the display control device of the above-described embodiment is applied to such a pachinko machine, it is apparent that the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. Some pachinko machines output a 2-byte control signal in one command output process. In such a case, the time interval from the output of the first byte command to the output of the second byte command is very short, but the command received in the command interrupt processing as in the above embodiment is If only the reading process is performed and only the process of updating the value of the interrupt timer counter in the display timer interrupt process is performed, the total time required for these interrupt processes may be shorter than the output interval of the command. It is possible to expect the same effect as the above embodiment.

The front view of the slot machine in one embodiment. The perspective view of the slot machine which shows the state which closed the front door. The perspective view of the slot machine which shows the state which opened the front door. The rear view of a front door. The front view of a housing | casing. The assembly perspective view of a left reel. FIG. 3 is a development view of a belt-like belt constituting each reel. Explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between a winning mode and a medal payout number. The block circuit diagram of a slot machine. The flowchart which shows a NMI interruption process. The flowchart which shows a timer interruption process. The flowchart which shows the process at the time of a power failure. The flowchart which shows a main process. The flowchart which shows a winning probability setting process. The flowchart which shows a normal process. The flowchart which shows a lottery process. The figure which shows an example of a lottery table. The figure which shows an example of a slip table. The flowchart which shows a slip table setting process. The flowchart which shows a reel control process. The flowchart which shows a rotation start process. The flowchart which shows a sliding table 1st change process. The figure which shows an example of the sliding confirmation table for winning. The flowchart which shows a sliding table 2nd change process. The flowchart which shows the process at the time of the 2nd winning number. The flowchart which shows payout determination processing. The flowchart which shows medal payout processing. The flowchart which shows a bonus game process. The block circuit diagram of a display control apparatus. The flowchart which shows a display timer interruption process. The flowchart which shows command interruption processing. The flowchart which shows a display main process. The flowchart which shows a drive data output process. The flowchart which shows a specific time process.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Slot machine as a gaming machine, 11 ... Housing which comprises a part of gaming machine body, 12 ... Front door which constitutes a part of gaming machine body or opening / closing member of gaming machine body, 13 ... Auxiliary effect part An upper lamp constituting 14, a speaker constituting an auxiliary effect part, 15 an auxiliary display part constituting an auxiliary effect part, 31 a display window, 42 constituting a circulation display means and a reel as a circulating body or an endless belt 61 ... a stepping motor which constitutes a circulation display means and as a drive means, 71 ... a start lever as a start operation means, 72 to 74 ... a stop switch as a stop operation means, 111 ... a display control device as a sub control board, 131... Main control device as main control board, 151... CPU constituting various control means such as main control means, 152, 153. Of ROM, RAM, 161 ... power supply.

Claims (5)

Variable display means for variably displaying the pattern;
Lottery means for drawing a role based on the establishment of the start condition;
Display control means for controlling display of the variable display means so as to obtain a display result according to the lottery result of the combination when starting variable display of the pattern and ending variable display;
When a specific pattern corresponding to the lottery result of the combination stops at an effective position visible from the front of the gaming machine, a privilege granting unit for granting a privilege to the player;
In a gaming machine equipped with an auxiliary production unit that performs an auxiliary production in line with the progress of the game,
A main control board that has the lottery means and the display control means, and outputs a control signal according to the lottery result of the combination, the variable display status of the variable display means, and the like;
A sub-control board that performs drive control of the auxiliary effect unit based on the input of the control signal,
The sub-control board is
As a process execution means for performing a process related to the drive control of the auxiliary effect section,
A first process execution means for starting up upon power-on and repeatedly performing a series of processes;
A second process execution means for performing a read process for reading the control signal by interrupting the process by the first process execution means when the control signal output from the main control board is input;
A third process execution means for periodically interrupting the process by the first process execution means and performing the process;
The second process execution means performs the second process execution means so that the sum of the time required for the second process execution means and the time required for the third process execution means is equal to or less than the shortest output interval of the control signal. A gaming machine in which a process and a process to be performed by the third process execution means are set.   2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the first process execution means includes auxiliary effect determination means for performing a determination process for determining an auxiliary effect to be performed based on a control signal read by the second process execution means. Machine.   The third process execution means performs an update process for updating a value of a storage means for storing a predetermined value, and the first process execution means drives the auxiliary effect section based on the value of the storage means. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising output processing means for performing an output process for outputting a drive signal.   The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the third process execution unit performs only the update process as the third process.   The gaming machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second process execution means performs only the reading process as the second process.

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