JP2007209696A - Game machine, program, and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a player from holding the feeling of unfairness. <P>SOLUTION: A performance mode lottery is carried out and an initial image according to a performance mode determined in the performance mode lottery is displayed in a liquid crystal panel when a power switch is turned on when the power of a slot machine remains turned off. On the other hand, the performance mode lottery is carried out and the initial image according to the performance mode determined in the performance mode lottery is displayed in the liquid crystal panel when shifting to a game mode when the power is turned on/off in a set change mode in the case of selecting the operation of the set value is carried out during the power of the slot machine is turned on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  In this specification, a pachislot machine is described as an example of one of the gaming machines. Therefore, a description will be given using a medal as a gaming medium for playing a game, but the gaming medium may be other media such as a pachinko ball. Including. In addition, “inserting a medal” includes not only actually inserting a medal into the medal insertion slot but also inserting (betting) a credited medal with a bet button or the like. In addition, a lottery that determines either a loser or multiple types of winning roles is selected as a winning role lottery, and the symbols that make up the winning roles are aligned on the winning line, and the winning role is selected by winning the winning role lottery. The state until winning a prize is an internal winning.

  Slot machines that are installed and used in amusement halls such as pachinko parlors are called pachislot machines, and medals that are used as gaming media are given a certain value, and medals earned through gaming are various prizes. Can be replaced.

  The pachislot machine is set with a plurality of different payout rates, for example, by varying the lottery probability of the winning combination. When the payout rate is changed, the probability that a profit is given to the player varies. Each payout rate is associated with a value called a set value on a one-to-one basis. In the pachislot machine, for example, when the power is turned on / off after the setting key is turned to the on position, the set value can be changed. The keys described above are managed by the game hall employees. This prevents the set value from being changed arbitrarily. And, by changing the set value for each pachislot machine, there is an advantage that it is possible to secure a business profit for the game hall and to play the game fairly for the player. Furthermore, since there is a pleasure for a player to guess a pachislot machine with a set value having a high payout rate, the set value is important in terms of excitement of the game.

By the way, most recent pachislot machines include, for example, a liquid crystal panel, an EL (electroluminescence) display, a display device in which LEDs are arranged in a dot matrix, and the like, and an effect image is displayed during the game (Patent Document 1). ). Since the displayed effect image is determined based on the result of the winning combination lottery, the display of the effect image can increase the player's expectation for the result of the winning combination lottery. Recently, many pachislot machines have been provided in which a plurality of types of effect modes in which effect images having different aspects are displayed are set. And with a pachislot machine that has a production mode set, it is possible to increase the variation of the production image and to add clarity to the game, so that you can prevent getting bored with the game even if you play for a long time, and the operation of the pachislot machine The rate can be increased.
JP 2004-255032 A

  By the way, in the case of a pachislot machine that involves turning the power on and off as described above, for example, when the setting value is changed, the setting value is changed after the setting value is changed, but the setting value is changed. In some cases, the presentation mode is not shifted even when the power is turned on / off. However, since a unique image is displayed for each mode in each production mode, if the type of production mode transferred at the end of the previous day's game is different from the type of production mode transferred to the next day, the setting change What has been done will be perceived by the player. This causes a player who cannot detect that the setting has been changed to be unfair, and has caused such a player to have less interest in gaming.

  In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine, a program, and a recording medium that can prevent a player from feeling unfair.

  In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine of the present invention includes image display means for displaying an effect image based on the result of the winning lottery for determining the winning or losing, and the effect images having different aspects are displayed. In a gaming machine in which a plurality of types of production modes are set, production mode lottery means for determining any one of the plurality of types of production modes by production mode lottery when power is turned on, and the production mode lottery is performed. In response to this, there is provided an effect control means for shifting to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery.

  It is preferable that an initial image corresponding to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery is displayed when the power is turned on. Here, the “initial image” indicates an image that is first displayed in the game mode that has been shifted to after the power is turned on, and is a so-called default display.

  Note that the game machine program of the present invention displays effect images that display effect images based on the results of the winning lottery for determining wins or loses, and effect images that are different from each other when the power is turned on. An effect mode lottery means for determining any one of a plurality of effect modes by effect mode lottery, and a transition to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery in response to the effect mode lottery being performed The computer of the gaming machine is caused to function as effect control means.

  In addition, the recording medium of the present invention includes an image display means for displaying an effect image based on the result of the winning lottery for determining the winning or losing, and a plurality of types in which the effect images having different aspects are displayed when the power is turned on Effect mode lottery means for determining one of the effect modes by effect mode lottery, effect control means for shifting to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery in response to the effect mode lottery being performed As a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing the computer of the gaming machine to function.

  According to the present invention, when the power is turned on, any one of a plurality of types of effect modes is determined by the effect mode lottery and is shifted to the effect mode determined by the effect mode lottery. It is possible to change to the production mode at random when it is performed, and in the gaming machine where the power is turned on / off when the setting is changed, the power is turned on / off only when the power is turned on / off The operation can be made the same as the case. Thereby, it can prevent that the setting change was performed and can prevent a player having an unfair feeling.

  In addition, since an initial image corresponding to the production mode determined in the production mode lottery is displayed when the power is turned on, a game machine that is turned on / off when the setting is changed is displayed when the power is turned on. It becomes impossible to identify whether or not the setting change has been performed from the image, and it can be prevented that the setting change has been detected more reliably.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine (game machine) 11 includes a slot machine main body 12 and a front door 13. The slot machine body 12 includes a storage box 12a. The storage box 12a stores various devices such as a reel and a control board for executing a game. The front door 13 is vertically divided into two and includes an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b. The inside of the slot machine body 12 is opened and closed by an upper door 13a and a lower door 13b.

  A display window 14 is provided on the upper door 13a. A first reel 15a, a second reel 15b, and a third reel 15c are provided in the back of the display window 14. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first to third reels 15a to 15c, and three symbols per reel are displayed through the display window 14 when the reels stop. Then, it is displayed whether or not the winning combination is won by the combination of symbols when the first to third reels 15a to 15c are stopped.

  Below the display window 14, there is provided a display device 16 for displaying the number of credited medals and the setting value selected when the setting is changed. A liquid crystal panel (image display means) 17 is provided on the side of the display window 14. An effect image is displayed from the liquid crystal panel 17 during the game. In the slot machine 11, a plurality of types of effect modes having different modes are set, and an effect image corresponding to the effect mode that has been transferred is displayed. The effect mode is shifted when the power of the slot machine 11 is turned on. The liquid crystal panel 17 displays an initial image corresponding to the type of effect mode when the slot machine 11 is turned on.

  The slot machine 11 includes six types of lottery tables used in the winning combination lottery (winning lottery). The lottery tables have different winning probabilities for winning combinations (winning). The ratio of the number of paid-out medals to the number of inserted medals, that is, the payout rate, changes depending on which lottery table is used to perform the winning combination lottery. The payout rate corresponds to each of the lottery tables, and can be changed in a range of 6 levels. Each payout rate is associated with a value called a set value. The set value is composed of six stages of settings 1-6. Settings 1 to 6 are associated with each payout rate so that the payout rate increases in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → setting 3 → setting 4 → setting 5 → setting 6. In order to change the setting, it is necessary to shift from the game mode to the setting change mode by performing an operation described later.

  On the lower door 13b, a start lever 19 that is pressed when starting the rotation of the medal slot 18, the first to third reels 15a to 15c, or confirming the selected set value, and a stop operation of the rotating reel. First to third stop buttons 20a to 20c to be performed are provided.

  A cylinder 21 is provided on the front side of the lower door 13b. When a dedicated door key is inserted into the cylinder 21 and rotated, the locking of the lower door 13b is released. Thereby, the inside of the slot machine main body 12 can be opened by rotating the lower door 13b. Further, when the predetermined operation is performed with the lower portion of the slot machine main body 12 opened to release the engagement between the slot machine main body 12 and the upper door 13a, the upper door 13a can be opened.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a setting selection device 41 is provided in the lower portion of the housing 13a. The setting selection device 41 is exposed to the outside when the lower door 13b is rotated. When a selection operation is performed using the setting selection device 41, one of the six setting values is selected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the setting selection device 41 is formed in a box shape. On the front face of the setting selection device 41, there are provided a setting key switch 41a for switching whether or not to select a setting value, a power switch 41b for switching power on / off, and a setting selection button 41c for selecting a setting value. Yes.

  The setting key switch 41a is composed of a key cylinder. When a setting value selection operation is performed, the setting selection key 42 is inserted into the setting key switch 41a after the lower door 13b is opened. Thereafter, when the setting selection key 42 is turned from the off position to the on position and the power switch 41b is turned on, the game mode in which a game is played shifts to a setting change mode in which a setting value selection operation is performed. When the setting change mode is entered, the operation of the setting selection button 41c is validated. When the operation of the setting selection button 41c is validated, the inserted medal is not accepted, and the operation of the start lever 19 and the stop buttons 20a to 20c is invalidated and it becomes impossible to play a game.

  When the setting selection button 41c is pressed during the setting change mode, the setting value is selected. When the setting selection button 41c is pressed, six stages of setting values are sequentially set in the order of setting 1 → setting 2 → setting 3 → setting 4 → setting 5 → setting 6 → setting 1. It will be selected. When the start lever 19 is pressed after selection of the setting value with the setting selection button 41c is completed, the setting value selected with the setting selection button 41c is confirmed. When the setting selection key 42 is turned to the off position after the setting value is confirmed, the setting change mode is changed to the game mode, and the setting value selection is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation of the slot machine 11 is basically controlled by the control board 60. The control board 60 includes a CPU 60a and a memory 61. The CPU 60 a includes a control unit (production control means) 62, and the control unit 62 controls the operation of the CPU 60 a based on a program stored in the memory 61. In the ROM area of the memory 61, a game execution program for performing a process for executing a game, a setting selection execution program for performing a process for executing a setting value selection operation, and various displays from the liquid crystal panel 17 are displayed. Stores image data to be performed. The control unit 62 reads out these programs and image data from the memory 61 to perform processing related to each operation.

  In addition to the control unit 62, the CPU 60 a determines the winning combination determining unit 64 that determines any of the winning combinations or a plurality of types of winning combination by lottery lottery every time a game is played, and determines the effect mode to be transferred by the effect mode lottery An effect mode lottery section (effect mode lottery means) 65 is provided.

  The medal sensor 66 detects an appropriate medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 18 and inputs a medal detection signal to the control unit 62. The control unit 62 counts the number of inserted 1 to 3 medals based on the detection signal from the medal sensor 66, and determines the number to activate the winning effective line 15a.

  The start signal sensor 67 detects that the start lever 18 has been pressed. When pressing of the start lever 18 is detected, a game start signal is input from the start signal sensor 67 to the control unit 62. The control unit 62 rotates the first to third reels 15a to 15c in response to the game start signal, and starts game processing in accordance with the program stored in the ROM area of the memory 61. The RAM area of the memory 61 is used for temporary storage or rewriting of flags and data used for each game.

  The drive and stop control of each reel is performed by the control unit 62 and the reel drive controller 68. The first to third reels 15a to 15c are attached to the drive shafts of the stepping motors 69a to 69c, respectively. The first to third reels 15a to 15c are controlled by controlling the driving of the stepping motors 69a to 69c.

  The stepping motors 69a to 69c rotate at a rotation angle corresponding to the number of drive pulses supplied from the control unit 62. Therefore, the control unit 62 controls the rotation angle of the first to third reels 15a to 15c by controlling the number of drive pulses supplied to the stepping motors 69a to 69c, and cuts the supply of drive pulses to the reels. Determine the stop position. The first to third reels 15a to 15c are integrally formed with reflection signal portions 70a to 70c at their reference positions. Then, each time the first to third reels 15a to 15c make one rotation, the photosensors 71a to 71c detect the passage of the respective reflected signal portions 70a to 70c. Detection signals from the photosensors 71a to 71c are input to the control unit 62 as a reset signal indicating the reference position of the reel.

  The control unit 62 is provided with a pulse counter that counts the number of drive pulses supplied to each of the stepping motors 69a to 69c. When the reset signal is input from the photosensors 71a to 71c, the control unit 62 clears the count value of the corresponding pulse counter. Therefore, the number of drive pulses corresponding to the rotation angle within one rotation of each reel is stored in each pulse counter while being sequentially updated.

  A symbol table is stored in the ROM area of the memory 61. In the symbol table, the number of drive pulses corresponding to the rotation angle from the reference position of each reel is associated with symbol codes indicating symbols arranged on the first to third reels 15a to 15c. The control unit 62 can identify which symbol has moved on, for example, the middle prize winning line 15a by monitoring the count value of the pulse counter for each reel while referring to this symbol table, Further, it is possible to predict how much the reel is rotated to move the target symbol onto the winning pay line 15a.

  When the rotation of the first to third reels 15a to 15c is started and the rotation speed of the first to third reels 15a to 15c reaches a steady speed, the control unit 62 validates the operation of the stop buttons 20a to 20c. . When the stop button 20a-20c is pressed and a stop signal is input, the controller 62 and the reel drive controller 68, based on the winning combination lottery result, the first to third reels 15a corresponding to the stop buttons 20a-20c. ˜15c stop control is performed. A plurality of stop tables are stored in the ROM area of the memory 61. The type of symbol to be stopped is determined with reference to a stop table corresponding to the winning combination lottery result.

  The control unit 62 operates the winning combination determining unit 64 in response to the start lever 19 being pressed. The winning combination determination unit 64 includes a random number generator and a random number sampling circuit, and extracts one random value every time a game is started.

  The winning combination determining unit 64 is provided with first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f. In the first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f, all random numbers generated by the random number generator of the winning combination determining unit 64 are grouped into a plurality of numerical ranges, and winning combinations or loses are assigned to the respective groups. Yes. Then, the type of lost or winning combination is determined depending on which group the extracted random number value belongs to.

  Each of the first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f is associated with six levels of setting values. In the first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f, the numerical ranges of the grouped random numbers are different from each other, and thus the winning probabilities of the winning combinations are different from each other. For this reason, the payout rate of the slot machine 11 changes depending on which of the first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f the random number value sampled by the winning combination determining unit 64 is checked.

  Of the first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f, the first setting table 72a has the lowest payout rate, and the winning is such that the payout rate increases in the order of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth setting tables. The winning probability of the role is set. When setting 1 is selected, the first setting table 72a is selected. When setting value 2 is selected, the second setting table 72b is selected. When setting value 3 is selected, the third setting table 72c and setting value 4 are selected. Sometimes the fourth setting table 72d, the fifth setting table 72e when the setting value 5 is selected, and the sixth setting table 72f when the setting value 6 is selected are used.

  The controller 62 receives operation signals from the setting key switch 41a, the power switch 41b, and the setting selection button 41c. The control unit 62 shifts from the gaming mode to the setting change mode when receiving both the ON signal of the power switch 41b and the ON signal of the setting key switch 41a, and ends the setting change mode when receiving the OFF signal of the setting key switch 41a. To enter the game mode.

  When the setting selection button 41c is operated and the operation signal is input in the setting change mode, the control unit 62 causes the display device 16 to display the setting value selected by the setting selection button 41c. For example, the setting value is “−1−” when setting 1 is set, “−2” when setting 2 is set, and “−3−3” when setting 3 is set. “−4” when setting 4 is set, “−5−” when setting 5 is set, “−6−” when setting 6 is set, and so on. (Set value) — ”is displayed from the display device 16. Each time the setting selection button 41c is pressed, the control unit 62 displays these indications as “−1−” → “−2” → “−3−3” → “−4” → “−5-” → Switch in the order of “−6” → “−1−” →. When the start lever 19 is pressed and the selected set value is confirmed, the control unit 62 displays the confirmed set value from the display device 16 in the form of “(set value)” (− is not displayed). Display.

  In response to the operation signal of the setting selection button 41c, the control unit 62 identifies the first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f corresponding to the setting values selected by the setting selection button 41c. When the start lever 19 is pressed, the types of the selected first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f are written in the RAM area of the memory 61, and the set value is confirmed. Thereby, the selection of the set value is completed. When a game is played, the control unit 62 refers to the RAM area of the memory 61 and identifies the type of setting table for collating the random value sampled by the winning combination determining unit 64. Then, the winning combination lottery is performed using the identified first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f.

  The effect mode lottery unit 65 is activated when the power switch 41b is turned on and the slot machine 11 is turned on. In the effect mode lottery unit 65, one of a plurality of effect modes is determined by effect mode lottery. The result of the effect mode lottery is fed back to the control unit 62, and in response to this, the control unit 62 reads out image data corresponding to the result of the lottery from the memory 61 and displays an initial image corresponding to the effect mode from the liquid crystal panel 17. .

  In each effect mode, an effect lottery is performed each time a game is performed to determine whether or not to display an effect image. The effect lottery is performed using either a table used when winning the winning combination in the winning combination lottery or a table used when lost in the winning combination lottery. In these tables, the probabilities that the effect images are displayed are different from each other. Thus, the effect image is displayed based on the winning combination lottery result.

  Next, the flow of processing executed when the effect mode in the slot machine 11 configured as described above is shifted will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the power of the slot machine 11 is turned off, the lower door 13b is opened and the power switch 41b is turned on to turn on the power. When the power switch 41b is turned on, the control unit 62 operates the effect mode lottery unit 65. The production mode lottery unit 65 performs the production mode lottery, and the lottery result is fed back to the control unit 62. The control unit 62 reads out image data corresponding to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery from the memory 61 and causes the liquid crystal panel 17 to display an initial image based on the read image data.

  On the other hand, when a setting value selection operation is performed while the slot machine 11 is powered on, an operator who performs the selection operation opens the lower door 13b. After the lower door 13b is opened, the setting selection key 42 is inserted into the setting key switch 41a, the setting selection key 42 is turned to the ON position, and when the power switch 41b is turned OFF and then turned ON, the control unit 62 reads the setting selection execution program from the memory 61 and shifts to the setting change mode. At this time, the production mode lottery unit 65 performs the production mode lottery, and the control unit 62 writes the lottery result in the RAM area of the memory 61.

  When the setting selection button 41c is pressed after shifting to the setting change mode, the control unit 62 identifies the first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f corresponding to the setting value selected at this time. When the start lever 19 is pressed after selection of the setting value is completed, the control unit 62 writes the first to sixth setting tables 72a to 72f corresponding to the selected setting value in the RAM area of the memory 61. Thereby, the selected set value is confirmed. Thereafter, when the setting selection key 42 is turned from the on position to the off position to shift from the setting change mode to the game mode, the control unit 62 reads the result of the effect mode lottery from the memory 61. Then, image data corresponding to the read result is read from the memory 61, and an initial image based on the read image data is displayed from the liquid crystal panel 17.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which a recording medium (CD, flexible disk, IC memory, MO, etc.) 100 is installed in the slot machine 10, and the recording medium 100 has means as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 61, and a program to be realized by the computer 101 is stored. In this case, for example, among image display means for displaying an effect image based on the result of the winning lottery for determining the winning or losing, among the plural types of effect modes in which effect images having different aspects are displayed when the power is turned on The computer 101 functions as an effect mode lottery means for determining one of the effects mode lottery and an effect control means for shifting to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery in response to the effect mode lottery being performed. The program for making it record is recorded on the recording medium 100. Then, the recording medium 100 is loaded into the reading device 102 and the program is installed in the slot machine 11.

  The program can be distributed to the slot machine 11 using the Internet instead of being installed via the recording medium 100. It is also possible to install the distributed program of the present invention or the program of the present invention read from the recording medium 100 in a personal computer and play a slot machine game on a monitor.

  In the above embodiment, the operation processing of the slot machine 11 is performed by the control board 60. For example, the board that performs display control of the liquid crystal panel 17 and the board that performs the winning combination lottery and reel stop control are separated. The substrate for controlling the operation of the slot machine 11 may be appropriately configured.

  In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the slot machine 11 that drives the reel. For example, the slot machine that rotates the reel displayed by the liquid crystal panel (the display of variable display of symbols), and the pachinko ball as the game medium. The present invention may be applied to other gaming machines such as slot machines and pachinko machines.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of a slot machine. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a slot machine. It is the perspective view which showed the front surface of the setting selection apparatus. It is a block diagram showing an outline of an electrical configuration of the slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the slot machine at the time of transfer of production mode. FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram when a recording medium storing a program is installed in a slot machine.

Explanation of symbols

11 Slot machines (gaming machines)
12 Slot machine body 17 Liquid crystal panel (image display means)
62 Control unit (image display control means)
65 production mode lottery section (production mode lottery means)

Claims (4)

In a gaming machine comprising image display means for displaying an effect image based on the result of a winning lottery for determining a win or a lose, and a plurality of types of effect modes in which the effect images having different aspects are displayed,
Production mode lottery means for determining any of the plurality of types of production modes by production mode lottery when power is turned on;
An amusement machine comprising: an effect control means for shifting to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery in response to the effect mode lottery being performed.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein an initial image corresponding to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery is displayed when the power is turned on. Image display means for displaying an effect image based on the result of the winning lottery for determining the winning or losing;
Production mode lottery means for determining one of a plurality of types of production modes in which production images having different aspects are displayed by turning on the power, by production mode lottery,
A program for causing a computer of a gaming machine to function as an effect control means for shifting to the effect mode determined in the effect mode lottery in response to the effect mode lottery being performed.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 3 is recorded.

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