JP2007222680A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of providing a different display easy to see for a player paying attention to a variable display, and to resolve monotony until waiting a result of a game performed in variable display devices by performing any display (different display) to the player during the time from the beginning to the end of the performance in the variable display devices for displaying patterns required for the game. <P>SOLUTION: A game machine (1) provides variable display devices (4L, 4C and 4R) for variably displaying a plurality of patterns required for the game and a control means for controlling the variable display. A display unit (6) capable of displaying an arbitrary image is set in the lower side of a variable display position of the variable display devices (4L, 4C and 4R). The image displayed therein is decided in involvement with a variable display control by the control means or another control part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine, a pachislot machine, and other gaming machines that include a variable display device that variably displays a plurality of symbols necessary for a game, and a control means such as a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) that controls the variable display. About.

  For example, a gaming machine called a slot machine or a pachislot machine has a variable display device mechanically configured by arranging a plurality of rotating reels representing a plurality of symbols in a front display window, or a symbol on the screen. In accordance with a player's start operation, the control means drives the variable display device to rotate each reel and automatically or after a certain time When the reels are stopped sequentially by the player's stop operation, when the symbols of each reel appearing in the display window are in a specific combination (winning symbol), a game medium such as coins is paid out. However, in the current mainstream model, when the spinning reels stop, the winning symbols are aligned on the active line of the display, which means that the internal processing of the gaming machine will win the prize. If it is (specifically, when the winning lottery by random extraction of a microcomputer). This is because when the stop pattern is determined only by the player's stop operation (timing), the game result (win / loss) is determined by the player's skill level, and only the player's skill is emphasized. This is to solve the problem that the management of the coin payout rate from the gaming machine becomes difficult for the game store.

  In such a gaming machine, the determination of the symbol to be displayed when the variable display is stopped and the control for stopping the variable display with such a symbol are performed by the microcomputer, but for the player, how is the display mode at the time of the stop? It was difficult to predict what would happen, and only waited for the game results until the variable display actually stopped. Therefore, there has been proposed a gaming machine that compensates for the lack of game by displaying some kind of display in addition to such a game.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-206328 provides a game display that operates in conjunction with the occurrence of a predetermined hit state, and sets the gaming machine to a hit state when the hit state occurs in this game display. Thus, an invention is disclosed in which even after the big hit state of the gaming machine is finished, the reverberation can be enjoyed for a certain period of time and the probability of occurrence of the hitting of the gaming machine is increased.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-10385 discloses a sub display unit in addition to a main display unit that variably displays a plurality of symbols, and performs control to interrupt a set time during which a game can be played without inserting coins. A slot machine for executing a game is disclosed.

  However, in the gaming machine described in the above-mentioned JP-A-8-206328, the game display provided separately from the gaming machine is operated for the time from when the hit state of the gaming machine occurs until the state ends. Since the game indicator does not operate until the game result of the gaming machine itself is obtained, waiting for the result from the start of the game is not different from the conventional one.

  Also, in the slot machine described in JP-A-8-10385, a game on the secondary display unit is played during a service time that occurs after the end of a normal game. Since the sub display unit does not operate when the unit is operating, there is no difference from the conventional point in that there is a monotony of waiting until the result comes out from the start of the game.

  As described above, according to the conventional gaming machine, even if a display means is provided in addition to the variable display device for the game, the player can watch the variably displayed symbols from the start to the end of the original game. It was only there.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a player with some display (separate display) from the start to the end of the operation of the variable display device that displays the symbols necessary for the game, and thereby the result of the game performed on the variable display device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine that can eliminate the monotony until the player waits and can provide another display that is easy to see for a player who is paying attention to the variable display.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, an arbitrary image is displayed in a gaming machine including a variable display device that variably displays a plurality of symbols necessary for a game, and a control unit that controls variable display of the variable display device. An image displayed on the display means is determined in connection with variable display control by the control means, and the display position of the display means is set below the variable display position of the variable display device. It is characterized by.

  As the display means, an electrical display device such as a liquid crystal, a CRT, and an LED, or a mechanical display device having a rotating reel structure used in a conventional slot machine or the like can be used. A display image is distinguished and represented by various characters and figures that can be expressed by such a display device, a moving image, flashing light, or the like. The types of display images include “big hit” sign indication, “big hit” promotion indication, “big hit” indication, “losing” indication, “big hit” expectation display, etc. For example, data can be stored in advance in a storage device of a microcomputer.

  In the second aspect, the variable display device has a plurality of variable display means arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, and the display is performed below the display position of the specific variable display means controlled to stop at the end by the control means. Means are arranged.

  In the third aspect, the variable display device is controlled so that the fluctuation display means arranged at the center stops last, and the display means is arranged under the display position of the fluctuation display means at the center.

  According to the first aspect, during the game, the control means controls the variable display of the variable display device. The game result appears as a winning or non-winning (so-called “losing”) depending on the symbols displayed when the variable display is stopped. The variable display control by the control means is to determine a symbol to be displayed when the variable display is stopped corresponding to the game result, and to control the variable display so as to stop at the symbol. An image determined in association with this control is displayed on display means provided separately from the variable display device. Thereby, the player can expect or expect the result of the game during the variable display by the variable display device.

  The image determined in connection with the variable display control is a display showing the state of the control performed in accordance with the content of the game result determined by the control means (winning or losing, winning type, etc.) Or it is a display required in order to perform another game mentioned later. Such determination of the display image is performed by the control means. Alternatively, when the display unit itself includes a display control unit that determines a display image in accordance with a display command from the control unit, the display control unit performs the display.

  Since the player must pay attention to the variable display of the variable display device while watching the separate display by the display means, it is desirable that the variable display and the separate display of the variable display device enter the player's field of view almost simultaneously. Since the display position of the display means is set below the variable display position of the variable display device, the display of the display means can be viewed by moving the line of sight of the variable display slightly downward. Further, since the lower part is easier to draw the player's attention and the movement of the line of sight is slight, the player can easily see another display while paying attention to the variable display.

  When the variable display device is composed of variable display means such as a plurality of rotating reels arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, the variable display means controlled to stop last is stopped among the plurality of variable display means. When a specific symbol is displayed, the player pays attention to the variable display of the variable display means that stops at the end when reaching a state (reach) in which a winning display mode is achieved.

  According to the second aspect, since the display means is arranged under the specific fluctuation display means that is controlled to stop at the end, the player can watch the change from the fluctuation display of the noticed fluctuation display means. It becomes easy to see the display of the display means without shifting. Furthermore, since the displayed display image easily enters the player's field of view, the player can recognize the relationship or correspondence between the display image and the stop result of the variable display device.

  According to the third aspect, among the plurality of fluctuation display means arranged in parallel in the lateral direction forming the variable display device, the fluctuation display means located at the center is controlled to stop last and located at the center. Since the display means is arranged under the fluctuation display means, the player's line of sight is deviated to the left and right when the fluctuation display becomes the reach state that becomes the display mode of winning when one more specific symbol is displayed. Even so, the display image located in the center easily enters the player's field of view and is easy to draw attention. In addition, the fact that the noticeable display is located in the center is easy for the player to see and does not require extra eye movement, leading to reduced fatigue.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a slot machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The slot machine 1 is a gaming machine that uses a coin, a medal, a token, or the like as a game medium, and will be described below using a medal.

  Three display windows 3L, 3C, 3R arranged side by side are provided on the front of the cabinet 2 forming the entire slot machine 1, and various display windows 14 at the center of each display window or above and below it are variously arranged. Are displayed (see FIG. 6). These symbols are drawn on the surface of the sheet that forms the circumferential surfaces of the three rotary reels 4L, 4C, 4R arranged inside the cabinet 2 corresponding to the display windows 3L, 3C, 3R. These rotating reels constitute a variable display device. A start lever 5 for rotating the reel by a player's operation is attached to the side surface of the cabinet 2 so as to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range. Further, a liquid crystal display 6 as an example of display means in the present invention is disposed in the lower center of the display window on the front portion of the cabinet 2. The display image will be described later in detail.

  Below the liquid crystal driving circuit 6, a medal slot 7 for inserting a medal of game media, a spin switch 8 for starting the reel by a push button operation separately from the operation of the start lever 5, and a single push button operation 1-BET switch 9 for betting only one of the credited medals on the game, 1 maximum BET switch 10 for betting the maximum number of medals that can be bet on one game, A C / P switch 11 that switches credit / payout of acquired medals by a push button operation is arranged, and a medal paid out from a medal payout opening 12 in the lower front part by switching of the C / P switch 11 is arranged in the lower front part of the cabinet 2. The medal receiving part 13 etc. which accumulate | store are arrange | positioned.

  FIG. 2 shows a circuit configuration including a control unit that controls the game processing operation in the slot machine 1 and a peripheral device (actuator) electrically connected thereto.

  In this case, the control means includes the microcomputer 20 as a main component, and is added to a circuit for random number sampling. The microcomputer 20 includes a CPU 21 that performs a control operation according to a preset program, and a ROM 22 and a RAM 23 that are storage means. The CPU 21 is sampled by a clock pulse generation circuit 24 and a frequency divider 25 that generate a reference clock pulse. A random number generator 26 for generating random numbers and a random number sampling circuit 27 are connected. In addition, as a means for random number sampling, you may comprise so that random number sampling may be performed within the microcomputer 20, ie, on the operation program of CPU21. In that case, the random number generator 26 and the random number sampling circuit 27 can be omitted, or can be left as a backup for the random number sampling operation.

  The ROM 22 of the microcomputer 20 stores information and data necessary for executing processing for displaying a plurality of display images, which will be described later, on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6 in addition to game control of the slot machine.

  In the circuit of FIG. 2, as the main actuators whose operation is controlled by a control signal from the microcomputer 20, the stepping motors 15L, 15C, and 15R that respectively rotate the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R, and a game medium medal are used. There is a hopper (including a payout drive unit) 30 to be stored and the above-described display screen, which are connected to the output terminal of the CPU 21 via a motor drive circuit 31, a hopper drive circuit 32, and a liquid crystal drive circuit 16, respectively. Yes. These drive circuits receive control signals such as drive commands output from the CPU 21 and control the operation of each actuator.

  Further, as a main input signal generating means for generating an input signal necessary for the microcomputer 20 to generate a control signal, a medal sensor 7S for detecting a medal inserted into the medal slot 7 and an operation of the start lever 5 are detected. Start pulse 5S, spin switch 8, 1-BET switch 9, maximum BET switch 10, C / P switch 11, and a pulse signal from the reel rotation detector of the variable display device to detect the position of each reel A reel position detection circuit 34 that supplies a signal to the CPU 21 and a medal detection unit 35 that detects medals paid out from the hopper 30 are used to detect completion of medal payout when the count value reaches the specified number of pieces of data. A payout completion signal circuit 36 for supplying a signal to the CPU 21 is connected to the input terminal of the CPU 21.

  In the circuit of FIG. 2, a random number generator 26 generates a random number belonging to a predetermined numerical range, and a sampling circuit 27 samples one random number at an appropriate timing after the start lever 5 is operated. It is determined whether the random number sampled in this way belongs to a predetermined winning area stored in the storage unit in the ROM 22, and if it belongs to the winning area, a “winning request signal” is generated.

  After the rotation of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R is started, the number of drive pulses supplied to each of the stepping motors 15L, 15C, 15R is counted, and the counted value is written in a predetermined area of the RAM 23. From the reels 4L, 4C, 4R, reset pulses are obtained for each rotation, and these pulses are input to the CPU 21 via the reel position detection circuit 35. The CPU 21 clears the drive pulse count value stored in the RAM 23 to “0” by the reset pulse thus obtained. As a result, the RAM 23 stores a count value corresponding to the rotational position within the range of one rotation for each reel 4L, 4C, 4R.

  A symbol table is stored in the ROM 22 in order to associate the rotational positions of the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R with the symbols. The ROM 22 stores a winning symbol combination table. In this winning symbol combination table, a winning symbol combination, a medal payout number for winning, and a winning determination code representing the winning are associated with each other. The winning symbol combination table is referred to when the reels 4L, 4C, 4R are being controlled, and when the winning is confirmed after all reels are stopped.

  Further, the ROM 22 displays a “routine pattern” to be described later on the liquid crystal display 6 before the generation of the “winning request signal”, and executes a process of displaying an “effect pattern” after the generation of the “winning request signal”. And a plurality of display image data including a routine pattern and an effect pattern, and data indicating a criterion for selecting an image to be displayed from these are stored.

  FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure of an operation for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display 6. This process is executed by the CPU 21 of the microcomputer 20 which is the game control means of the slot machine 1, but when the display means such as the liquid crystal display 6 has a CPU as a display control unit, the CPU However, the display image may be determined in accordance with a display command (for example, a display command corresponding to the type of winning or losing) from the CPU 21 as the game control means.

  In FIG. 3, when the gaming machine (slot machine 1) is first turned on (step ST1), the CPU as the control means displays a “routine pattern” on the display screen 6 (ST2). When the player performs a predetermined operation, that is, when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 7 and the 1-BET switch 9 or the maximum BET switch 10 is operated and then the start lever 5 or the spin switch 8 is operated, the reel 4L, 4C and 4R rotate to start variable display (ST3). At this time, the winning / non-winning determination is performed based on the random number extracted by random number sampling (ST4). Then, it is determined whether or not a “winning request signal” is generated (ST5), and a display image is determined according to the determination result. That is, if the “winning request signal” is not generated, a specific effect pattern is selected from the “lost” effect pattern group (ST6). When the “winning request signal” is generated, it is determined whether or not the “winning request signal” corresponds to “big hit” (ST7). If “NO”, the effect pattern group for “small win” is selected. An effect pattern for a specific “small hit” is selected from within (ST8), and if “YES”, an effect pattern for a specific “big hit” is selected from a group of effect patterns for “big hit” (ST9). ). Here, each of the above-mentioned effect pattern groups (“losing” effect pattern group, “hit” effect pattern group, “big hit” effect pattern group) is formed with a plurality of effect patterns and stored in the ROM 22. ing. Then, the pattern selected in this way is displayed on the liquid crystal display 6 (ST10), and the stop reels 4L, 4C, 4R are rotated according to the winning request signal (ST11), and the process ends.

  In the above processing, the variable display of ST3 is realized by the CPU 21 sending a drive signal to the motor drive circuit 31 to drive the stepping motors 15L, 15C, 15R to rotate the reels 4L, 4C, 4R. The winning determination in ST4 is realized by sampling a random number from the random number generator 26 at an appropriate timing and determining to which group the extracted random number value belongs in the winning probability table. When it is determined that a winning is made, the CPU 21 sends a signal for controlling the reels 4L, 4C, 4R to stop at the symbol display position corresponding to the type of winning. Thereby, the stop control of ST11 is realized.

  The CPU 21 sends to the liquid crystal drive circuit 16 an operation of sending a reel stop control signal based on the winning determination to the motor drive circuit 31 and a pattern display signal based on the selection of “effect pattern” for displaying a screen on the liquid crystal display 6. Simultaneous operation. Therefore, the effect pattern is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6 while the rotation reel is controlled to stop. The “production pattern” will be described in detail later.

  If the CPU 21 determines that a prize has been won, it supplies a medal payout command signal corresponding to the type of win to the hopper drive circuit 32 to pay out a predetermined number of medals from the hopper 30. At that time, the medal detection unit 35 counts the number of medals to be paid out from the hopper 30, and when the count value reaches the designated number data, the payout completion signal circuit 36 inputs a payout completion signal to the CPU 21. . As a result, the CPU 21 stops the driving of the hopper 30 via the hopper driving circuit 32 and ends the medal payout process.

  As described above, in the slot machine 1 of the embodiment, the CPU as the control means determines the occurrence of the “winning request signal”, and the “big hit” or “small hit” predetermined for the winning line is determined according to the result. The reels 4L, 4C, and 4R are controlled so that the symbols are aligned or the “losing” symbols are arranged, and the player can predict the occurrence of “big hit”, “small hit”, or “lost”. The display of the liquid crystal display 6 is controlled so as to display.

  On the other hand, when the liquid crystal display 6 itself is provided with a CPU as a display control unit, the CPU 21 as the game control means, when performing the reel stop control described above, the player can play “big hit”, “small hit” or A command for causing the liquid crystal display 6 to display an effect pattern that can predict the occurrence of “losing” is sent to the CPU of the liquid crystal display 6. In response to this, the CPU of the liquid crystal display 6 determines a display image and displays it on the screen.

  Next, “routine pattern” and “effect pattern” displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 6 will be described with examples.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the display state on the display windows 3L, 3C, 3R and the display image of the liquid crystal display 6 before the reels 4L, 4C, 4R rotate. Here, “game title” as an example of a routine pattern is displayed on the liquid crystal display 6. Examples of other routine patterns include “game description”, “explanation when reach occurs”, and the like. When the routine pattern has a plurality of these images, they may be sequentially displayed at a predetermined time interval.

  5 to 8 show examples of “effect patterns” that are sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 6. At the same time as the reels 4L, 4C, 4R start to rotate, a “cowboy straddling a horse” as shown in FIG. 5 appears on the liquid crystal display 6.

  Here, immediately after the reels 4L, 4C, and 4R start to rotate, the background color may be changed without erasing the routine pattern of the liquid crystal display 6 to produce an effect representing the start of the game.

  Further, no image may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 6 for a predetermined time after the rotation of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R is started until the display of the effect pattern on the liquid crystal display 6 is started. In this case, it is useful as an effect that enhances the tension at the start of the game.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation of the left and right reels 4L and 4R is stopped, and the display in the display window is aligned with a specific winning symbol (in FIG. 6, “WILD RODEO” symbol) (reach) ), The display image on the liquid crystal display 6 becomes a display of “a cowboy is struggling with a rampage horse”.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 7, when the display when the central reel is stopped does not become a specific winning symbol (combination), the display image on the liquid crystal display 6 is “the cowboy was shaken off from the horse”. The player loses the prize.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the display when all reels are stopped becomes a specific winning symbol (in FIG. 8, three “WILD RODEO” symbols are aligned), the liquid crystal display The display image 6 is displayed as “a cowboy takes a victory pose from a horse riding state”, and the player acquires a profit corresponding to the winning.

  By displaying the effect pattern as a moving image on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6, the player feels that the cowboy is not shaken off from the rampage horse leads to a prize. Therefore, until all the reels stop, the player looks at the screen of the liquid crystal display 6 and hopes that the cowboy will not be shaken off from the rampage. I feel I did it. In this way, the player plays the game while being tense with the effect pattern appearing on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6 and the expectation for his / her game result, so that the monotony of the conventional game is eliminated.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 8, the liquid crystal display 6 is provided below the central reel 4C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation of the left and right reels 4L and 4R is stopped, and the display in the display window is in a state (reach) in which the “WILD RODEO” symbol which is a specific winning symbol is aligned on the left and right. After that, since the player has already recognized the left and right stop symbols, it is only necessary to pay attention to the display of the central reel 4C in which the variable display continues, and it is below that without shifting the line of sight. The display image on the liquid crystal display 6 can be viewed simultaneously. As a result, the concentration of the player until the end of the game is not reduced and the movement of the line of sight is minimal, so that fatigue does not increase. Furthermore, it is easier for a player who pays attention to the display in the display window to move the line of sight downward than to move the line of sight upward. Further, when reaching, the player pays attention to the display on the central reel 4C while watching the screen of the liquid crystal display 6 in the hope that the cowboy will not be shaken off from the rampage horse, and then when the central reel 4C stops. Since the game result displayed on the display window and the image corresponding to the game result jump into the field of view simultaneously from the central reel 4C and the liquid crystal display 6 located therebelow, the game result on the display window and the liquid crystal display It is possible to produce a correspondence or a sense of unity between the display images of the device 6.

  In addition, when a game opportunity that does not require insertion or consumption of medals is given to a player as a service game or a bonus game after the reel rotation has stopped, FIG. An image as shown in the figure may be displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6, and the subsequent moving image may be displayed until the end of the game. When such a sign display is performed, the player feels that he / she anticipated the start of the service game or the bonus game from the display image on the liquid crystal display 6 and gained.

  In the above embodiment, a liquid crystal display is provided as a display means. Instead of the liquid crystal display, an image display device such as a CRT, an electric display device in which a large number of point displays such as LEDs are arranged, or a rotating reel structure. As described above, even with a mechanical display device that stops and displays an arbitrary picture among a plurality of pictures, an effect similar to that of the display image of the above embodiment can be performed. Further, a display image for recognizing a smooth game state or a dangerous state for the player may be realized by an abstract display other than characters or pictures (for example, blinking of a lamp).

  In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal display 6 displays the variable display control state corresponding to the result of the original game, but the liquid crystal display 6 displays an image capable of another game. It may be. In that case, display image data and an execution program for another game are stored in the ROM 22 of the microcomputer 20. And CPU21 performs the process shown in FIG.9 and FIG.10.

  In FIG. 9, when the gaming machine is first turned on (ST21), the CPU as the control means displays a “routine pattern” on the liquid crystal display 6 (ST22). When the player performs a predetermined operation, that is, when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot 7 and the 1-BET switch 9 or the maximum BET switch 10 is operated and then the start lever 5 or the spin switch 8 is operated, the reel 4L, 4C and 4R rotate to start variable display (ST23). At this time, the winning / non-winning determination is performed based on the random number extracted by random number sampling (ST24). Then, it is determined whether or not a “winning request signal” is generated (ST25), and the display mode of winning or non-winning is determined according to the determination result, as in the process of FIG.

  However, in the process of FIG. 9, the display image of the liquid crystal display 6 has a pattern in which a plurality of games can be executed as separate games. That is, if the “winning request signal” is not generated in the determination of ST25, the CPU selects the pattern for “game 1” (ST26), and when the “winning request signal” is generated, It is determined whether or not “signal” corresponds to “big hit” (ST27). If “NO”, a pattern for “game 2” is selected (ST28), and if “YES”, “game 3” is selected. Pattern is selected (ST29). “Game 1”, “Game 2”, and “Game 3” are different in advance, such as a game that has the same design but a different winning probability on the display unit 6, or a game that has a different winning probability and a different appearance. Is set.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the conditions for starting the game selected as described above are satisfied (ST30). As a start condition, for example, an arbitrary one such as stop of one reel, stop of two reels, stop of all reels, elapse of a predetermined time, or the like is determined in advance. When the start condition is other than “stop all reels”, the game displayed on the liquid crystal display 6 is started during the rotation of the reels, and the original game and another game on the liquid crystal display 6 are performed simultaneously. It will be.

  If the start condition is satisfied in the above determination, as shown in FIG. 10, a process for displaying the selected game pattern on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6 is performed (ST31), and the game is executed accordingly. . Then, the winning determination of this game is performed (ST32). This winning determination may be a determination of winning or non-winning by random sampling and determination of the type of winning as in the original game, but a special winning determination may be prepared for this game.

  When it is determined that a prize is won, a winning process is performed (ST33). In addition to displaying a specific winning mode on the liquid crystal display 6, this is the same as or different from the processing when the specific symbols of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R are aligned on the winning line 14 as described above. Any of the processes may be used. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no winning, a non-winning process is performed (ST34). That is, a specific non-winning mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display 6. Thereafter, stop control is performed on the rotating reels 4L, 4C, and 4R (ST35), and the process ends.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a display image of another game performed on the liquid crystal display 6 in association with a game by the reels 4L, 4C, 4R. In this example, on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6, three moving symbol strings 6L, 6C, 6R that perform variable display of a plurality of types of symbols in the same manner as the three reels 4L, 4C, 4R that perform variable display of the original game. Is displayed.

  Another game in this example is a “bonus game” started when symbols arranged along the winning line 14 are arranged in a specific winning mode when the rotation of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R is stopped. At this time, a predetermined number of medals are paid out to the player as a predetermined profit corresponding to the winning mode. Then, by starting the “bonus game”, the three symbol columns 6L, 6C, 6R are variably displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6, and the movement of the symbol columns 6L, 6C, 6R stops when a predetermined time has elapsed. . At this time, when a specific symbol “DOUBLE” is positioned on the center line 14 ′, a predetermined number of medals are again paid out to the player. Therefore, the player is given an opportunity to double the profits gained by winning the original game by the “bonus game”.

  Another example of another game is a “lottery game” which is started when symbols arranged along the winning line 14 are arranged in a specific winning mode when the rotation of the reels 4L, 4C, 4R is stopped. The center when the three symbol columns 6L, 6C, and 6R that are variably displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6 are stopped in the same manner as the above “bonus game” without determining the profit dividend in advance corresponding to the winning mode. Symbols (numbers) located on the line 14 'represent profit dividends, and a predetermined number of medals are paid out based on the determined profit dividends.

  As described above, the liquid crystal display 6 as an example of the display means in the present invention displays the display of the variable display control state of the original game or the display image for another game. In addition to these displays, A history of past game results, that is, an image indicating the number of occurrences or the occurrence rate of winnings or losing in the already digested game may be displayed. For this reason, a display switching button is provided at an appropriate location in front of the slot machine of FIG. 1 (for example, the side of the liquid crystal display 6), and when the player presses it at any time during the game, the liquid crystal display The screen of the device 6 is switched to the display of the number of occurrences or the rate of occurrence of winning or losing, and when the player presses the button again, the screen returns to the previous screen. From the above history display, the player can determine whether or not the gaming machine about to start a game is easy to win.

  As an image showing such a game history, for example, the remaining rate of winning or losing after starting the game (for example,% of the number of winning or losing expected to occur in 10,000 games) is shown in FIGS. Can be displayed in analog form, such as a bar graph as shown in FIG. 14, a pie chart as shown in FIG. 14, or digitally displayed as numbers as shown in FIG. These calculations for display are performed by the microcomputer of the slot machine 1 or the CPU (if any) of the liquid crystal display 6 itself.

  Specifically, in the example of FIG. 12, “7”, “BAR”, “Bell” (figure), and “cherry” (figure) are shown as symbols (symbols) constituting the winning symbol combination. Remaining rates of the other symbols (symbols that become “losing”) are displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 6. The bar graph representing the remaining rate (%) for each symbol is 100% when the slot machine 1 is turned on or reset, as shown in FIG. Each time the game is repeated (FIG. 13A), the symbol combination when the three rotating reels 4L, 4C, 4R are stopped becomes a big hit of “7-7-7” every time the game is repeated. Every 10%, the lighting or bright part decreases (FIGS. 13B to 13D). Also, in the pie chart of FIG. 14, the lighting or emphasizing portion representing the remaining rate (%) for each symbol decreases every time a jackpot occurs. The same applies to other symbols. In the digital display of FIG. 15, the number representing the remaining rate (%) changes for each symbol.

  Further, the arrangement of the liquid crystal display 6 as an example of the display means is not limited to the lower side of the display window 3C as shown in FIG. 1, but for example, as shown in FIG. 16, the entire lower side of the display windows 3L, 3C, 3R, It may be provided below the left display window 3L or below the right display window 3R.

  Further, a gaming machine including a variable display device in which three or more symbols are displayed on each display window and a plurality of winning lines are enabled under predetermined conditions may be used.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the slot machine of the Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration used in the slot machine of FIG. 1. The flowchart which shows a part of control operation of an Example. The figure which shows the example of the display state before the variable display start of an Example, and the display image of a liquid crystal display. The figure which shows the display state after a variable display start, and the display image of a liquid crystal display. The figure which shows the display image of a liquid crystal display at that time when a variable display displays a reach state. The figure which shows the display image of the liquid crystal display at the time of displaying the symbol which becomes "losing" when variable display stops. The figure which shows the display image of the liquid crystal display at the time of displaying the symbol which becomes "big hit" when variable display stops. The flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of displaying another game on the liquid crystal display of an Example. The flowchart following FIG. The figure which shows the example of the display image of another game performed with the liquid crystal display of an Example. The figure which shows the state which is displaying the residual rate of each symbol with the bar graph with the liquid crystal display of an Example. The figure which shows the example of a change of a bar graph display about one symbol of FIG. The figure which shows the case where the residual rate of one symbol is displayed with the pie chart. The figure which shows the state which displays the residual rate of each symbol with the number with the liquid crystal display of an Example. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the slot machine of another Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine, 2 ... Cabinet, 3L, 3C, 3R ... Display window, 4L, 4C, 4R ... Reel, 5 ... Start lever, 6 ... Liquid crystal display, 7 ... Medal slot, 8 ... Spin switch, 9 ... 1-BET switch 9, 10 ... maximum BET switch, 11 ... C / P switch, 12 ... medal payout port, 13 ... medal receiving part, 14 ... winning line, 15L, 15C, 15R ... stepping motor, 16 ... liquid crystal drive circuit , 20 ... microcomputer, 21 ... CPU, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... RAM, 24 ... clock pulse generation circuit, 25 ... frequency divider, 26 ... random number generator, 27 ... random number sampling circuit, 30 ... hopper, 31 ... motor Drive circuit 32 hopper drive circuit 34 reel position detection circuit 35 medal detection unit 36 payout completion signal circuit

Claims (3)

  In a gaming machine comprising a variable display device that variably displays a plurality of symbols required for a game, and a control means that controls variable display of the variable display device, the game machine comprises display means capable of displaying an arbitrary image, The image displayed on the display means is determined in association with variable display control by the control means, and the display position of the display means is set below the variable display position of the variable display device. Gaming machine.   2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the variable display device includes a plurality of variable display units arranged in parallel in a horizontal direction, and the display position of a specific variable display unit that is controlled so that the control unit stops last. A gaming machine, wherein the display means is disposed below.   3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the specific fluctuation display means is a fluctuation display means arranged at the center of the variable display device.

Images