JP2007260167A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine capable of enhancing the presentation property and game property by varying the presentation in a game according to a player's active operation. <P>SOLUTION: When a pattern determining means 150 selects a variation pattern to present a ready-to-win state, a first stop symbol selecting means 154 makes the player select a variation pattern to present the ready-to-win state while a presentation display control means 134 is executing the variable display of symbols. At the time, the first stop symbol selecting means 154 makes the player select a symbol, for example, from a plurality of ready-to-win stop symbol candidates. A second stop symbol selecting means 156 selects remaining stop symbols based on the ready-to-win stop symbol selected by the first stop symbol selecting means 154 according to the input from the player, and based on the result of a lottery by a winning/failure lottery means 112. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine, and more particularly to an effect control technique in a ball game machine.

  Various types of pachinko machines are popular as bullet ball machines. Among conventional pachinko gaming machines, when a game ball enters a start port formed on a game board, a lottery value is randomly acquired as a result. The acquired lottery values are temporarily stored, for example, up to four as reserved balls. The reserved balls are sequentially read one by one to determine whether or not they are correct, and a symbol called a special symbol is variably displayed according to the determination result. At this time, there is a case where a design for the purpose of production called a decorative design or a production design is variably displayed in conjunction with the variation display of the special design. And the stop display mode of a special symbol is determined based on the lottery result by the read lottery value.

  When the special symbol is variably displayed and stopped and displayed in a winning manner, the game state shifts to a special game as a so-called “big hit”. A special game is composed of a plurality of unit games. The big prize opening formed on the game board is opened at the start of the unit game. The unit game ends when a predetermined period, for example, 30 seconds elapses from the start of the game, or when, for example, nine or more game balls are won in the big winning opening during the unit game. At this time, the grand prize opening is also temporarily closed. During a unit game, if the game ball passes through a specific area called a V zone provided in the special winning opening, the unit game is continued to the next unit game. At this time, the grand prize opening is opened again. The unit game can be continued up to a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times. In some cases, no V zone is provided in the special winning opening. In this case, a predetermined number of unit games are executed regardless of whether or not a game ball has entered the special winning opening. Then, when the game balls fall into the big winning opening, more game balls than usual are paid out as prize balls.

  A general player plays a game mainly for the purpose of opening a special winning opening in order to obtain a lot of prize balls, that is, shifting a gaming state to a special game. The decorative symbol is variably displayed corresponding to the period during which the special symbol is variably displayed, and the result of the lottery is visually produced. For example, there is a ball game machine in which three rows of symbols simulating a slot machine game are variably displayed. The change display of symbols is stopped after a certain period of time. In the case of a big hit, the symbols in the three columns are usually stopped and displayed in a matching manner (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this way, the player advances the game while continuously performing the act of entering the game ball into the starting port and the action of confirming the stop of the decorative pattern that fluctuates as a result for the purpose of winning the jackpot. This act is monotonous and can be one of the causes of diminished interest in games. Therefore, the player's interest in the game is maintained by making the decorative symbol display variable. For example, the decorative display of variable designs not only displays multiple symbols in a variable manner, but also comes with a so-called reach effect that becomes a big hit if one more symbols are aligned, or the change time is longer than usual during reach effects. The story change is given to the pattern change. In addition, in order to maintain the interest of the player in the game and to improve the expectation level, a specific character or item appears on the screen where the decorative pattern is variably displayed, or a lamp on the game board is produced It is also possible to emit light or drive a movable accessory.
JP 2003-230714 A

  However, any of the above-described effects is executed according to an effect pattern prepared in advance on the side of the ball and ball game machine based on the result of the success / failure lottery. In other words, it is an effect that a player passively receives from a ball game machine, and there is a limit to the effect of improving the sustainability of interest and the effect of improving expectation. Therefore, in recent years, a player-participating bullet ball game machine has been devised, such as allowing a player to select a character at the time of production, or allowing a player to perform repeated hitting input in conjunction with the action of the character. Such a player-participation-type production can greatly contribute to the continued interest and improvement of expectations of the player's game, and the development of a ball-ball game machine that can produce an effect that the player can actively participate in Is desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its main purpose is a ball game that can improve the performance and playability by changing the performance during the game by the player's active operation. Is to provide a machine.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a ball game machine according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with a game board on which a game area is formed, and a predetermined position in the game area. Triggering lottery means for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, and the results of the lottery decision Pattern storage means for holding a plurality of fluctuation patterns that define the mode from the start to the stop of the pattern change for display, pattern determination means for selecting one of the plurality of fluctuation patterns according to the result of the success / failure lottery, and the success / failure lottery Display control means for variably displaying on the symbol display device in accordance with a variation pattern in which a plurality of symbols are selected to indicate the result, and a plurality of symbols are stopped in a winning mode indicating that the result of the lottery is successful When it is provided with a special game control means for executing a special game, a. The pattern determining means selects a variation pattern that produces a reach state in which a combination of symbols in a winning mode is selected from a plurality of variation patterns included in the plurality of variation patterns, and displays control is performed. The means further includes first stop symbol selection means for causing the player to select a combination of reach stop symbols constituting the reach state while the symbol is changing.

  When the pattern determining unit selects a variation pattern that produces a reach state, the first stop symbol selection unit selects a variation pattern that produces a reach state while the display control unit performs symbol variation. Let At this time, the first stop symbol selecting means, for example, selects a symbol desired by the player from among stop symbol candidates indicating a plurality of reach states. In general, the player recognizes that when the symbol variation state reaches a reach state, the player is more likely to win a jackpot. According to this aspect, since the first stop symbol selection means causes the player to select the reach stop symbol that constitutes the reach state, the player uses the reach stop symbol according to the preference or the reach stop symbol according to his / her own hex. And enjoy playing games that win. As a result, it is possible to increase the player's awareness of participation in the game and improve the interest and expectation of the game. When the pattern determining means selects a variation pattern that produces a reach state, it is not always necessary for the player to select a combination of reach stop symbols. For example, a variation with a permission flag that permits selection of a reach stop symbol The first stop symbol selecting means may operate only when a pattern is selected. In this case, it becomes possible to give a premier effect to the operation of the first stop symbol selecting means, and the game performance can be further improved.

  You may further provide the 2nd stop symbol selection means to select the remaining stop symbol based on the reach stop symbol selected by the player by the first stop symbol selection means and the result of the lottery determination. The second stop symbol selection means selects the remaining stop symbols based on the reach stop symbol selected by the first stop symbol selection means in response to an input from the player and the result of the success / failure lottery of the success / failure lottery means. For example, when the result of the lottery determination means is a winning lottery means, the second stop symbol selecting means selects the same stop symbol as the reach stop symbol selected by the first stop symbol selecting means. On the other hand, when the result of the lottery determination is wrong, the second stop symbol selection unit selects a stop symbol different from the reach stop symbol selected by the first stop symbol selection unit. According to this aspect, the reach stop symbol selected by the player can be used as it is, and the result of the winning / losing lottery can be presented to the player, thereby realizing a player-participating ball game machine.

  You may further provide the symbol determination means which determines the symbol which shows the result of a lottery determination. If the result of the lottery determination is a win, the second stop symbol selecting means determines the remaining stop symbols according to the reach stop symbol, and the display control means is the first stop symbol selecting means and the second stop symbol. After temporarily displaying the combination of stop symbols of the winning mode determined by the selection means, the symbol determination means may re-display with the combination of stop symbols determined in accordance with the result of the lottery. According to this aspect, since the stop symbol of the winning mode determined by the symbol determining means may indicate the gaming state after the end of the special game, the information can be transmitted to the player by redisplaying. .

  The second stop symbol selection means may select a stop symbol different from the reach stop symbol selected by the first stop symbol selection means when the result of the lottery determination is out of place. According to this aspect, by utilizing the symbol selected by the first stop symbol selecting means, it is possible to easily determine the combination of symbols to be transmitted accurately to the player that it is a failure.

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

  According to the present invention, the player is allowed to select a combination of reach stop symbols constituting the reach state, so that the gameability and performance can be improved by using the bullet ball gaming machine as a player participation type.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic structure on the front side of a pachinko gaming machine.

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

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

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

  The big winning opening 66 is a horizontal rectangular winning opening that is opened as a “big hit” when the special symbol 192 stops in a predetermined manner. The big winning opening 66 is provided above the out opening 58 and the like. The winning detection device 78 of the big winning opening 66 includes a sensor that detects passage of a game ball.

  The special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60 provided substantially in the center of the game area 52 display the variation of the special symbol 192 and the variation of the decorative symbol 190 linked to the special symbol 192 on the respective screens (hereinafter, referred to as “the special symbol display device 61”). Such a display is called “symbol change” or “change display”). The special symbol 192 is a symbol corresponding to the result of a lottery (hereinafter referred to as “winning lottery”) performed when a game ball enters the start port 62. If the symbol pattern when the variable display is stopped is a symbol determined to be a hit, the timing at which the stop symbol is displayed is the hit occurrence timing. The special symbol display device 61 is display means composed of, for example, 7 segment LEDs. The effect display device 60 is a liquid crystal display that displays the decorative symbol 190 in a variable manner in conjunction with the variable symbol display of the special symbol 192. The decorative symbol 190 is a symbol for visually rendering the lottery result display indicated by the special symbol 192. The effect display device 60 displays, as the decorative symbol 190, for example, a plurality of rows of moving images of symbol variation simulating a slot machine game in the central area of the screen. The effect display device 60 is configured by a liquid crystal display in this embodiment, but may be configured by other display means such as a mechanical drum or LED. Since the special symbol 192 does not necessarily have a role of production, in the present embodiment, the special symbol 192 is displayed in an inconspicuous size on the special symbol display device 61 at the lower left of the production display device 60. In the case of adopting a technique in which a decorative role is not displayed and a decorative symbol is not displayed, a special symbol may be displayed on a liquid crystal display such as the effect display device 60. The operation port 68 is provided on the left side position of the game board 50. The operation port 68 includes a passage detection device 69. The passage detection device 69 is a sensor that detects the passage of the game ball to the operation port 68, and generates passage information indicating the passage at the time of passage. The passing of the game ball to the operation port 68 triggers a lottery for expanding the start port 62.

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

  When the game ball falls into the start port 62, the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 are variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60. The variable display of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is stopped after the elapse of the display time determined prior to the display. When the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 at the time of the stop are symbols indicating winning, the game shifts from the normal game to the special game, and the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is started. At this time, the decorative symbol 190 simulating a game of a slot machine is in a display form in which three symbols are matched.

  The special winning opening 66 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds, for example, or after nine or more game balls have been dropped. If at least one game ball falls into a specific area while the big prize opening 66 is open, the big prize opening 66 is opened again. In this way, the opening / closing of the grand prize opening 66 is repeated up to a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times, on condition that at least one game ball falls into the specific area while the big prize opening 66 is opened once. It is. It should be noted that the setting of the specific area of the special winning opening 66 is arbitrary, and when the specific area is not provided, the opening / closing operation of the predetermined winning opening 66 is performed a predetermined number of times regardless of the falling of the game ball. Good.

  When a special game occurs and a predetermined condition such as a lottery is satisfied, a probability variation game is started as a specific game after the special game ends. In the probability variation game, a lottery with a higher win probability than the normal probability state is performed, and a new special game is generated relatively early.

  When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, a symbol called a normal symbol is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 for a predetermined time. The normal symbol display device 59 is provided on the right side of the effect display device 60. The normal symbol display device 59 includes two lamps. The operation in which the respective lamps blink alternately is an operation corresponding to “ordinary symbol fluctuation display”. When the normal symbol variation display is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed, the start port 62 is normally expanded for a predetermined time with a probability of about 50% to 80%. At this time, a predetermined one of the two lamps of the normal symbol display device 59 is turned on. During the execution of the fluctuation shortening game, the fluctuation display time of the normal symbol is shortened, and the time during which the start port 62 is opened is set relatively long.

  A center ornament 64 is provided around the effect display device 60. The center decoration 64 has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60, and decoration. The center decoration 64 is provided with a lottery holding lamp 20 at the upper part thereof and an operation holding lamp 22 at a left side part thereof. The lottery hold lamp 20 is composed of four lamps, and displays the number of lottery holds depending on the number of lights. The number of lottery holdings is the number of winning / successful lottery results won in the starting slot 62 during symbol variation or special game, and indicates the number of winning balls for which symbol variation has not yet been executed. The operation hold lamp 22 is also composed of four lamps, and displays the number of hold of normal symbol fluctuations depending on the number of lights. The number of normal symbol fluctuations held is the number of game balls that have passed through the operation port 68 during the fluctuation of the normal symbol, and indicates the number of normal symbol lotteries for which the fluctuation of the normal symbol has not yet been executed. In addition, a game effect lamp 90 is provided in the game area 52 and plays a role of production by blinking or the like.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic structure on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine.

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

  FIG. 3 shows functional blocks of the pachinko gaming machine in the present embodiment.

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

  The main board 102 includes an incoming ball judging means 110, a winning / failing lottery means 112, a symbol determining means 114, a holding control means 116, a main display control means 118, a special game control means 120, a specific game execution means 122, and an opening / closing control means 124. . The sub-board 104 includes pattern storage means 130, effect determination means 132, effect display control means 134 that functions as display control means, symbol selection means 136, and notification means 140. Each functional block included in the main board 102 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the sub board 104 instead of the main board 102. Similarly, each functional block included in the sub-board 104 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the main board 102 instead of the sub-board 104.

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

  The success / failure lottery means 112 acquires a random number value as a success / failure lottery value in order to determine whether or not to shift from the normal game to the special game when the game ball enters the start port 62. For example, the success / failure lottery value is acquired from a range of 0 to 65535. The “random number” in the present application may not be a mathematically generated random number, but may be a pseudo-random number generated by a hardware random number, a software random number, or the like. The success / failure lottery means 112 holds a plurality of success / failure tables to be referred to in the success / failure determination. In the plurality of success / failure tables, a determination result of winning or losing is associated with a lottery value, and the success / failure probability is determined according to the associated winning range setting.

  The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to a success / failure determination table with a low probability in the low probability state (hereinafter referred to as “non-probability change validity determination table”), and in the high probability state, the success / failure determination with a high probability. Refer to a table (hereinafter referred to as a “probability variation determination table”). In the uncertain variation determination table, it is determined that a winning lottery value in the range of 0 to 255 is a win. In the probability variation determination table, it is determined that a winning lottery value in the range of 0 to 2500 is a win. The success / failure lottery means 112 executes the success / failure lottery by referring to any of the plurality of success / failure tables and determining whether or not the success / failure lottery value is a win. The determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 is indicated by the special symbol 192 on the special symbol display device 61 by a variable display. You may make it circulate a number in the range of 0-9 as a fluctuation display of a special symbol. When the special symbol is 0, the result of the lottery determination may be lost, when the special symbol is odd, the chance with probability variation may be determined, and when the special symbol is even, the normal winning may be determined. In addition, a decorative symbol that shows the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 in an effect manner is variably displayed on the effect display device 60.

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

  The symbol determining unit 114 determines a stop symbol and a variation pattern of the special symbol 192 to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61. The symbol determining means 114 determines the variation pattern of the special symbol according to the pattern lottery value generated in the range of 0 to 255. Moreover, the symbol determination means 114 may determine the stop symbol aspect of a special symbol according to the symbol lottery value produced | generated in the range of 0-255. When the winning / losing lottery value is a win, it is determined based on the symbol lottery value whether it is a normal hit or a probable change. Note that if the winning / failing lottery value is off, any one of a plurality of types of off symbols is determined as a stop symbol. The symbol determination unit 114 sends data indicating the variation pattern and stop symbols to the main display control unit 118 and the effect determination unit 132 as a result of the success / failure lottery.

  The symbol determination means 114 also determines the stop symbol of the normal symbol to be displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 by the normal symbol lottery. When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, the symbol determination means 114 acquires a lottery random number for determining the normal symbol, and determines a stop symbol of the normal symbol according to the lottery random number. When the stop symbol of the normal symbol is a specific symbol, the opening / closing control means 124 expands the normal electric accessory at the start port 62 for a predetermined time.

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

  The main display control means 118 causes the special symbol display device 61 to variably display the special symbol. The main display control means 118 transmits the change start command and the change stop command to the effect display control means 134 at the timing of starting and stopping the change display of the special symbol, thereby causing the special display by the main display control means 118 to be displayed. 192 and the variation display of the decorative symbols by the effect display control means 134 are synchronized, and the interlock is maintained. The main display control means 118 displays the normal symbol variation on the normal symbol display device 59.

  The special game control means 120 controls the execution process of the special game when the result of the lottery determination by the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win. The specific game execution means 122 sets the normal game after the special game to a high probability state when the probability change has occurred. At this time, the specific game executing means 122 sets a probability variation appropriateness determination table as the appropriateness determination table to be referred to by the appropriateness lottery means 112 for the appropriateness lottery. In principle, the high-probability state is continued until the next jackpot occurs, and during that time, the probability of the hit determination by the success / failure lottery means 112 is maintained at a high value. If the normal win occurs in the high probability state, the normal game after the end of the special game is in the low probability state. In other words, the specific game executing means 122 sets a non-probability change appropriateness determination table as the appropriateness determination table to be referred to by the appropriateness lottery means 112 for the appropriateness lottery.

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

  The pattern storage unit 130 holds a plurality of types of symbol range tables to be referred to in order to determine the variation pattern and stop symbol of the decorative symbol 190 and pattern tables to be referred to in order to determine the variation pattern. The effect determination means 132 refers to the pattern storage means 130 in accordance with the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the decorative symbol 190 as a result of the lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112, the special symbol stop symbol, the special symbol variation pattern, and the variation time. And decide. Specifically, the effect determining unit 132 includes a pattern determining unit 150 and a decorative symbol determining unit 152 that functions as a symbol determining unit. The pattern determining unit 150 determines a variation pattern of the decorative symbol 190, and the decorative symbol determining unit 152 determines a stop symbol of the decorative symbol 190.

  The stop symbol of the decorative symbol 190 is formed as a combination of three symbols (hereinafter simply referred to as “symbol combination”). For example, when the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates a shift to a special game, a combination of three symbols such as “777” and “111” is selected by the decorative symbol determination means 152. In this case, it is preferable that the same numbers as the special symbols are selected as the numbers to be arranged as the decorative symbols. For example, when the special symbol is “3”, the decorative symbol is “333”. Depending on the special symbol, it may be arranged such that three odd-numbered symbols are matched with probability variation and that three odd-numbered symbols are regular hits. When the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates that the game does not shift to the special game, the decorative symbol determination means 152 selects a combination that does not have three symbols such as “312” and “946”. However, in the case where the determination result is that the game does not shift to the special game, if there are one more symbols to be variably displayed, the variation pattern indicating the detachment with reach that becomes the symbol combination of the hit mode is the pattern determining means. When selected by 150, the decorative symbol determination means 152 selects a combination such as “191” or “727” that does not have only one symbol. Then, the effect determining unit 132 sends information about the stop symbol of the decorative symbol 190 and the variation pattern of the effect image to the effect display control unit 134.

  The effect display control means 134 causes the effect display device 60 to display the decorative symbols in accordance with the selected variation pattern data. The effect display control means 134 also controls effect processing such as lighting and extinguishing of the game effect lamp 90 and voice output from the speaker 18.

  The symbol selecting unit 136 functions when the pattern determining unit 150 selects a specific effect. Specifically, it functions when the pattern determining unit 150 selects a variation pattern that produces a reach state (hereinafter referred to as reach pattern) from among a plurality of variation patterns included in the variation pattern. Select the symbol to be displayed. The symbol selection unit 136 includes a first stop symbol selection unit 154 and a second stop symbol selection unit 156. When the pattern determining unit 150 selects a reach pattern, the first stop symbol selecting unit 154 displays a stop symbol indicating a plurality of reach states (hereinafter, reach stop) while the effect display control unit 134 performs symbol variation. The player's desired symbol is selected from among the symbols). In other words, when the reach production is confirmed, the player is allowed to select which reach stop pattern to win. The first stop symbol selecting means 154 presents a plurality of types of reach stop symbol candidates to the effect display device 60 via the effect display control means 134, for example. The first stop symbol selection means 154 presents, for example, four types of reach stop symbol candidates to the player via the effect display control means 134. The plurality of reach stop symbols presented can be determined by a moving cursor, for example. The first stop symbol selection means 154 sends information on the selected reach stop symbol to the effect display control means 134. The effect display control means 134 executes the reach effect with the symbol selected by the player on the effect display device 60.

  The second stop symbol selection means 156 also determines the remaining stops based on the reach stop symbol selected by the first stop symbol selection means 154 in response to an input from the player and the result of the lottery determination by the success / failure lottery means 112. Select a design. The second stop symbol selecting means 156 sends information on the selected stop symbol to the effect display control means 134 and causes the effect display device 60 to display the combination of stop symbols.

  By the way, if the lottery result of the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win, the decorative symbol determination means 152 determines whether the special symbol stop symbol and the special symbol change regardless of whether the symbol selection means 136 selects the reach stop symbol. The stop symbol is determined according to the pattern and its variation time. Therefore, even when the first stop symbol selection unit 154 and the second stop symbol selection unit 156 display the winning mode in the symbol desired by the player, the effect display control unit 134 finally has the decorative symbol determination unit 152 The hit display can be performed with a predetermined stop symbol.

  When the game display ball enters the start port 62 while the effect display control unit 134 variably displays the symbol for which the result of the success / failure lottery of the success / failure lottery unit 112 is a win, the notification variation 140 A notification process for notifying the player that the vehicle is stopped in the winning mode is performed.

  Hereinafter, the effects of the pachinko gaming machine 10 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the image diagrams of FIGS.

  FIGS. 4A and 4B are examples of screens displayed on the effect display device 60 when the symbol selection unit 136 causes the player to select a reach stop symbol. As described above, when the pattern determining unit 150 of the effect determining unit 132 selects the reach pattern based on the result of the success / failure lottery 112, the first stop symbol selecting unit 154 puts it on the effect display device 60. Reach stop symbols 194 candidates are displayed. In the case of FIG. 4A, four reach stop symbols 194 candidates are displayed above the changing decorative symbol 190. The type of reach stop symbol 194 displayed at this time is arbitrary, but in order to increase the player's expectation, reach stop symbol 194 with probability variation, for example, “1”, “3”, “5” , “7” or the like is preferably displayed. A cursor 196 is superimposed on one of the reach stop symbols 194. The cursor 196 moves on the reach stop symbol 194 at a constant speed, for example, and the player can select one reach stop symbol 194 by pressing the operation button 82 at a desired timing. For example, the cursor 196 may be moved over the reach stop symbol 194 candidate by pressing the operation button 82. The selection of the reach stop symbol 194 by the player needs to be executed before the first decoration symbol 190 is stopped. If the first stop symbol selection means 154 presents the reach stop symbol 194 candidates to the effect display device 60, but the selection is not executed before the first decoration symbol 190 is stopped, the first stop symbol selection means 154 In step 154, the cursor may be automatically stopped at an arbitrary position. For example, when the selection operation by the operation button 82 is not performed within 10 seconds after the reach stop symbol 194 is displayed, the first stop symbol selection means 154 itself selects one reach stop symbol 194. In this case, the first stop symbol selecting means 154 may always select the default reach stop symbol 194.

  FIG. 4B shows a state in which the player operates the operation button 82 and selects “5” as a desired reach stop symbol 194 from among a plurality of reach stop symbol candidates 194 displayed, and the reach is confirmed. Show. In this way, by allowing the player to select the reach stop symbol 194, the player plays a game that wins a hit using the reach stop symbol 194 that suits the taste or the reach stop symbol 194 according to his / her own hex. be able to. If a candidate for the reach stop symbol 194 is presented on the effect display device 60 and the selection is made by the operation button 82 before the predetermined time has elapsed, the first stop symbol selection means 154 immediately selects the reach stop symbol 194 selected. Is displayed on the effect display device 60 as a reach pattern. When the reach stop symbol 194 is confirmed, the second stop symbol selection means 156 determines the reach stop symbol 194 selected by the first stop symbol selection means 154 in response to an input from the player and the result of the pass / fail lottery of the pass / fail lottery means 112. Based on, the remaining stop symbols (decorative symbols 191) are selected. For example, when the lottery result of the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win, the second stop symbol selecting unit 156 selects the same decorative symbol 191 as the reach stop symbol 194 selected by the player as the stop symbol. In the case of FIG. 4B, “5” is selected as the stop symbol to be stopped last. Then, the effect display control means 134 displays on the effect display device 60 the combination of stop symbols in the hit mode based on the reach stop symbol selected by the player. On the other hand, when the lottery result of the success / failure lottery means 112 is off, the second stop symbol selecting unit 156 selects a decorative symbol 191 different from the reach stop symbol 194 selected by the player as a stop symbol to be finally stopped. In the case of FIG. 4B, a decorative symbol 191 other than “5” is selected as a stop symbol to be stopped last. Then, the effect display control means 134 displays on the effect display device 60 the combination of the stop symbols in the detachment mode based on the reach stop symbols selected by the player. In this way, the symbol selection means 136 can utilize the reach stop symbol 194 selected by the player as it is to present the result of the lottery determination to the player, and the player participation type pachinko gaming machine 10 can be realized. Further, by using the reach stop symbol 194 selected by the first stop symbol selecting means 154, it is possible to easily determine a combination of out symbols that accurately conveys to the player that it is out.

  When the pattern determining unit 150 selects the reach pattern as the variation pattern, the symbol selecting unit 136 may always operate to select the reach stop symbol 194. Further, the variation pattern selected by the pattern determining means 150 may include a pattern with a permission flag that permits selection of the reach stop symbol 194. In this case, it is possible to provide the gameability that the reach stop symbol 194 cannot always be selected even if the reach pattern is selected. As a result, it is possible to give a premier effect to the effect of selecting the reach stop symbol 194, which can contribute to an improvement in game play.

  The operation state of the symbol selection means 136 changes according to the lottery result of the success / failure lottery means 112 and the variation pattern determination result of the pattern determination means 150, and as a result, the display operation of the effect display control means 134 also changes. Specifically, when the pattern determining unit 150 does not select the reach pattern when selecting the variation pattern, for example, when the result of the lottery determination is out of reach without the reach, the symbol display unit 136 does not operate and the effect display control is performed. The means 134 displays the stop symbol determined by the decorative symbol determining means 152 according to the variation pattern determined by the pattern determining means 150. In addition, although the lottery result by the success / failure lottery means 112 is not good, there is a case where the pattern determining means 150 selects a reach pattern and the pattern does not permit selection of the reach stop symbol 194. Also in this case, the symbol selection unit 136 does not operate, and the effect display control unit 134 displays the stop symbol in the detachable manner determined by the decorative symbol determination unit 152 according to the variation pattern determined by the pattern determination unit 150. On the other hand, although the result of the lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112 is out of place, the pattern determining means 150 may select a reach pattern, and the pattern may be a pattern that allows the player to select the reach stop symbol 194. In this case, the symbol selection unit 136 operates, and the variation determined by the pattern determination unit 150 determines the stop symbol of the detachment mode based on the reach stop symbol selected by the first stop symbol selection unit 154 and the second stop symbol selection unit 156. The effect display control means 134 is displayed according to the pattern. In this case, the second stop symbol selecting means 156 selects a symbol other than the reach stop symbol selected by the player as the stop symbol. For example, the second stop symbol selecting means 156 may select the symbol displayed next to the reach stop symbol in the symbol variation or the symbol displayed immediately before the reach stop symbol as the stop symbol. In addition, there is a case where the result of the lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win, the pattern determining means 150 selects the reach pattern, and the player does not select the reach stop symbol 194. In this case, the effect display control unit 134 displays the stop symbol with the reach with the reach determined by the decorative design determining unit 152 according to the variation pattern determined by the pattern determining unit 150 without the symbol selecting unit 136 operating. In addition, there may be a case where the result of the lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win, the pattern determining means 150 selects a reach pattern, and the pattern causes the player to select the reach stop symbol 194. In this case, the symbol selection unit 136 operates, and the pattern determination unit 150 determines the stop pattern of the hit mode based on the reach stop symbol selected by the first stop symbol selection unit 154 and the second stop symbol selection unit 156. Display according to the pattern.

  As described above, when the lottery result of the success / failure lotter 112 is a win, the decorative symbol determination unit 152 determines whether the symbol selection unit 136 selects a reach stop symbol or not. The stop symbol is determined according to the symbol variation pattern and the variation time. When the selection processing of the reach stop symbol is performed by the symbol selection unit 136 and the winning effect is performed with the symbol desired by the player, the symbol determination unit 114 combines the stop symbol combination of the hit mode according to the reach stop symbol selected by the player Is temporarily displayed. In this case, the stop symbol pattern based on the determination result of the symbol determination unit 114 is different from the actual display symbol pattern, and the display control of the symbol becomes complicated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the effect display control unit 134 performs re-display to display the combination of stop symbols corresponding to the result determined by the symbol determining unit 114 after the temporary display by the decorative symbol determining unit 152. At this time, after temporarily stopping at “555”, it may be further changed in the form of re-lottery. In such a case, after the reach effect, the pattern determining means 150 temporarily stops at the winning symbol, and further selects a variation pattern for performing variation by re-lottery. In the case of FIG. 4C, instead of the combination of the hit mode of “5” which is the reach stop symbol 194, the combination of the hit mode of “7” is redisplayed. By performing such re-display processing, it is possible to stabilize the effect using the stop pattern of the hit mode determined by the decorative symbol determining unit 152 regardless of the presence or absence of the reach selection effect by the symbol selecting unit 136. . Moreover, since the stop symbol of the winning mode determined by the decorative symbol determining means 152 may indicate the gaming state after the end of the special game, the information can be transmitted to the player by redisplaying. It is possible to give the player an impression that the winning is based on the reach stop symbol selected by the player. Few.

  In this way, when performing a fluctuating effect on the decorative symbol 190, the player's operation is reflected in the reach symbol that reflects the player's preference, thereby increasing the player's awareness of participation in the game. You can improve your interests and expectations.

  FIG. 4A shows an example in which the reach stop symbol 194 candidate is displayed on a part of the effect display device 60. However, the reach stop symbol 194 candidate is displayed in another place or other display device. The same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained. Further, the number of reach stop symbols 194 to be displayed and the display form are arbitrary, and the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained as long as the reach stop symbol 194 is selected by the player.

  FIG. 5 is an image diagram for explaining the operation of the notification unit 140. When the lottery result of the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win, the notifying means 140 notifies that the change is a hit by the game ball launched by the player's launch operation entering the start port 62. Is performed during the change of the symbol. In the case of the present embodiment, the player can receive a notification that suggests whether or not the game ball is hit by causing the game ball to enter the start port 62 during the variation of the decorative symbol 190. The notifying means 140 receives start winning information via the start winning detecting device 74 indicating that the lottery result of the success / failure lotter means 112 is a win and that a game ball has entered the start opening 62 from the winning determination means 110. For example, a notification sound is output through the speaker 18. The notification sound may be a bell sound or an impact sound, but is preferably a characteristic sound such as “Juan!” That is not output in a normal game play. By checking this notification sound, the player can recognize at an early stage that the symbol variation stops in a winning manner. As a result, after recognizing that it is a win, the player can enjoy the effect of the decorative symbol 190 that stops in a win mode.

  The notification process executed by the notification unit 140 can be performed for the first and subsequent entrances of the game ball to the start port 62 after the start of the variation of the symbol that stops in the hit mode. In this case, the player can recognize at an early stage whether the variation stops in the hit mode or stops in the off mode by causing the game ball to enter the start port 62. In other words, if the player wants to receive a notification as to whether or not the symbol will stop in the winning mode, the player will start continuously even if the symbol is changing or the number of held balls has reached the holding limit. It is necessary to perform a launching operation aiming at entering the mouth 62. As a result, it is possible to suppress the hitting at the time of symbol variation, especially at the time of reach variation or when the upper limit of the holding ball is reached. In addition, the notifying unit 140 may enter the game ball into the start port 62 only for the first time or enter the start port 62 multiple times according to the stop symbol determined by the symbol determination unit 114. The notification process may be performed on the sphere. For example, when the symbol determined by the symbol determining means 114 is a big hit without probability variation, the notification process is performed only for the first entry, and the notification process is not performed for the entry from the second ball. Can do. In addition, when the symbol determined by the symbol determining means 114 is a big hit with probability variation, the notification process can be performed for the second and subsequent balls following the first ball. In this case, the player can recognize whether or not the fluctuation is a big hit with probability fluctuation by checking the notification sound after the second ball. Note that the notification unit 140 may change the notification mode according to the symbol determined by the symbol determination unit 114. For example, the type and quality of the notification sound may be changed according to the presence / absence of the probability variation and the number of unit games to be continued. For example, the tone of the generated sound may be changed, or the type of generated sound may be changed. Note that the notification means 140 can easily present the winning type to the player by combining the notification process and the change in the notification mode for the second and subsequent balls.

  The notification means 140 can also perform notification visually using, for example, blinking of the game effect lamp 90 or a change in the light emission color in addition to sound means such as the speaker 18 as means for outputting the notification. In addition, the player may be notified by the action of a movable accessory (not shown) or by vibration means built in the launch handle 17 or a chair on which the player sits. Moreover, you may utilize suitably combining an audio | voice means, a visual means, and a vibration means. In this case, more effective notification can be performed to the player.

  Thus, the player himself selects whether or not he / she wants to receive a notification indicating whether or not the change is stopped in a hit mode depending on the player's operation, that is, whether or not the game ball is inserted into the starting port. Can be made. As a result, like a conventional pachinko machine, a player who is changing the symbol must not only passively wait for the result of whether the symbol stops in a hit state, but also actively acquire the result of the change. As a result, a new game form can be provided to the player, and the performance and game performance can be improved.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the effect display control means 134 uses a plurality of types of display intervals to display a plurality of stop candidate symbols to be displayed as candidates for the decorative symbol 190 to be stopped before the decorative symbol 190 is stopped and displayed. Displayed at unequal intervals. FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C schematically show the contents of the pattern table of the decorative design 190 held by the pattern storage unit 130. FIG. That is, FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C illustrate a plurality of stop candidate symbols 198 to be displayed as the symbol candidates and their display intervals until the effect display control means 134 stops displaying the decorative symbols 190. It is explanatory drawing. 6A shows the stop candidate symbol 198 of the decorative symbol 190a displayed on the left side in the effect display device 60 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6B shows the center of the effect display device 60 of FIG. The stop candidate symbol 198 of the decorative symbol 190b to be displayed is shown. Moreover, FIG.6 (c) shows the stop candidate symbol 198 of the decoration symbol 190c displayed on the right side in the effect display apparatus 60 of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the decorative symbol 190a and the decorative symbol 190c are such that each stop candidate symbol 198 appears at regular intervals of the interval a. Each stop candidate symbol 198 is non-equally spaced, such as a distance a, a distance b, a distance c, and a distance d. That is, the stop candidate symbol 198 of the decorative symbol 190a and the stop candidate symbol 198 of the decorative symbol 190c appear to be variably displayed at the same appearance pace, but the stop candidate symbol 198 of the decorative symbol 190b is the decorative symbol 190a or the decorative symbol 190c. Fluctuating display with different appearance pace. As a result, the change display pattern can be changed. In particular, when the decorative symbol 190 changes in the reach mode, the decorative symbol 190b that stops last is an important symbol that determines whether or not the player stops in the big hit mode. By displaying the stop candidate symbols 198 at non-uniform intervals, the next stop candidate symbol 198 appears irregularly and makes it difficult for the player to predict the stop. Then, until the decorative symbol 190 is completely stopped, it is possible to focus attention on the variation effect of the symbol, and the interest and expectation degree for the game can be maintained. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the stop candidate symbols 198 are displayed at non-equal intervals, the appearance order of the stop candidate symbols 198 is regularly arranged as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C. Not lined up. In this respect as well, it is difficult for the player to make a stop prediction, and attention is paid to the symbol variation effect until the decorative symbol 190 is completely stopped. As a result, the interest and expectation for the game are maintained. In addition, since the intervals of the stop candidate symbols 198 are non-uniform, even if the appearance order of the stop candidate symbols 198 is irregular, there is no great sense of incongruity, and conversely, “7 is next!” As described above, it is possible to contribute to further increasing the expectation of the stop candidate symbol 198 that appears.

  FIG. 7 shows a non-candidate symbol 200 that is not the stop candidate symbol 198 between the two candidate symbols 198 whose intervals are larger than usual in FIG. 6B, and the intervals between the symbols are substantially equal. This is an example of spacing. In addition, the substantially equal interval means that the appearance interval of the changing stop candidate symbol 198 is a completely equal interval, and includes a case where it is substantially equivalent, and does not feel a non-uniform interval visually. including. In FIG. 6B, the non-candidate symbols 200 are displayed between the interval b, the interval c, and the interval d, so that the stop candidate symbols 198 and the non-candidate symbols 200 as a whole are substantially equally spaced (interval a). ing. As described above, the non-candidate symbol 200 is not a stop candidate symbol, and does not have a role of displaying the result of the success / failure lottery means 112. By causing the non-candidate symbols 200 to appear between the stop candidate symbols 198, it can be displayed like the decorative symbol 190a or the decorative symbol 190c in which the stop candidate symbols 198 appear at regular intervals. As in the case of b), the next stop candidate symbol 198 appears irregularly, making it difficult for the player to make a stop prediction. As a result, it is possible to pay attention to the variation effect of the symbols until the decorative symbols 190 are completely stopped, and it is possible to maintain interest and expectation for the game.

  The non-candidate symbol 200 can be a notice symbol that suggests that a combination of symbols to be stopped may stop in a winning manner. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a notice that a specific character appears in a background image while the decorative symbol 190 is variably displayed on the effect display device 60, thereby predicting that the variation is likely to be a hit. However, in many cases, a player who concentrates on the variation of the decorative symbol 190 cannot recognize the notice symbol that appears in the background image. In particular, in the effect display device 60 that uses the majority of the display area for the variation of the decorative symbol 190, when a preview symbol is to be displayed on the background image, the display size is limited, and thus it becomes more difficult to recognize. On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, the non-candidate symbols 200 displayed together with the stop candidate symbols 198 displayed relatively large as the decorative symbols 190 are easily recognized by the player. In addition, a non-candidate symbol 200 can be made to attract attention by causing a player who concentrates on the variation of the decorative symbol 190 to appear in the decorative symbol 190 so that the non-candidate symbol 200 irrelevant to the result is determined. As a result, the function as the notice symbol of the non-candidate symbol 200 can be sufficiently exhibited. The non-candidate symbol 200 may be one type or a plurality of types as shown in FIG. When a plurality of types of non-candidate symbols 200 are used, the degree of expectation for winning may be changed according to the symbols. The degree of expectation may be changed according to the number of consecutive appearances of the non-candidate symbols 200. In this way, by mixing the stop candidate symbol 198 and the non-candidate symbol 200 that becomes the notice symbol, the player waits for the stop candidate symbol 198 to stop in a winning manner, and a notice that suggests a hit. You can enjoy the way of waiting for the appearance of the symbol. Note that not all of the non-candidate symbols 200 need to be used as the notice symbols, and only some of the non-candidate symbols 200 may be used as the notice symbols. Even when the non-candidate symbols 200 are arranged, it is not necessary to set all the intervals to the interval a, and the presence / absence of arrangement of the non-candidate symbols 200 may be appropriately selected.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a basic operation process in the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment.

  The process shown in the figure is a process repeatedly executed as a loop process. First, a winning process is executed when a game ball wins the starting port 62, the general winning port 72, the big winning port 66, etc., or when the game ball passes through the operation port 68 (S10), and it must be in a special game. If the special game lottery is executed (S14), the special game control process is executed (S14). If the special game is in progress (Y of S12), the special game control process is executed (S16). Award ball payout according to various winnings in the processing up to S16 is processed (S18).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. In the normal game control process, if the winning / losing lottery value is on hold (Y in S30) and the symbol variation is not being displayed (N in S32), the winning / losing lottery means 112 executes the determining process. (S34). In accordance with the determination result, the main display control means 118 starts changing display, transmits a change start command to the effect display control means 134, and the effect display control means 134 that receives the command displays the decorative symbol 190 according to the change pattern data. The fluctuation display is started (S36).

  If the winning or failing lottery value is not held in S30 (N in S30), the processing from S32 to S36 is skipped, and if the symbol variation is being displayed in S32 (Y in S32), S34 and S36 Is skipped. Subsequently, if the symbol variation display has already started (Y in S38), the symbol variation display process is executed (S40). If the symbol variation display has not started (N in S38), S40 is skipped. .

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail the special game control process in S16 of FIG. First, if the big prize opening 66 has not been opened (N in S70), the effect display control means 134 starts the special game effect processing (S72), and the open / close control means 124 opens the special prize opening 66 (S72). . If the big winning opening 66 has been opened, S72 and S74 are skipped (Y in S70). When the predetermined opening time has elapsed since the grand prize opening 66 was opened (Y in S76), or the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76), there are nine or more game balls to the big winning opening 66 When the player has entered the ball (Y in S78), the opening / closing control means 124 closes the special winning opening 66 (S80). If the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76) and the number of balls entered into the grand prize winning opening 66 has not reached nine or more (N in S78), the processing after S80 is skipped and the flow of S16 Exit.

  If the number of rounds of the unit game has reached 15 after closing the special winning opening 66 in S80 (Y in S82), the effect display control means 134 ends the effect processing of the special game (S84), and the special game control means 120 ends the special game (S86). If the number of rounds has not reached 15 (N in S82), 1 is added to the number of rounds and the flow in S112 is terminated (S90).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the case where the player selects the reach stop symbol 194 by the symbol selecting means 136 described in FIG. When the main display control means 118 transmits a change start command to the effect display control means 134 in S36 of the flowchart of FIG. 9, the effect display control means 134 starts the change process. At this time, the change start command is also provided to the effect determining means 132. When the effect determination means 132 acquires the change start command (Y in S100), the pattern determination means 150 changes the decoration symbol 190 in accordance with the success / failure result of the success / failure lottery means 112 and the special symbol 192 determined by the symbol determination means 114. Select a pattern. When the pattern determining means 150 selects a reach pattern from the plurality of variation patterns (Y in S102) and the reach pattern is a reach with selection that permits selection of the reach stop symbol 194 (Y in S104), the first stop symbol The selection means 154 causes the effect display device 60 to display a selection image of the reach stop symbol 194 as shown in FIG. 4A via the effect display control means 134. The effect display control means 134 displays a selection image composed of a plurality of reach stop symbols 194 and a cursor 196 for selecting the reach stop symbols 194 based on an instruction from the first stop symbol selection means 154 (S106). The first stop symbol selecting means 154 displays the selected image of the reach stop symbol 194, and then the player uses the operation button 82 within a predetermined time, for example, within 10 seconds, to reach the reach stop symbol 194 from among a plurality of candidates. Monitor whether the selection is completed. When the selection of the reach stop symbol 194 is completed within a predetermined time (N in S108), the first stop symbol selecting means 154 selects the reach based on the selected reach stop symbol 194 as shown in FIG. 4B. The symbol is displayed on the effect display device 60 via the effect display control means 134 (S110). Subsequently, when the lottery result of the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win, the second stop symbol selection means 156 stops the decorative symbol 191 that is the same as the reach stop symbol 194 when the lottery result of the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win. The combination of stop symbols in the hit mode is temporarily displayed on the effect display device 60 via the effect display control means 134 (S114). When the effect display control unit 134 temporarily displays the combination of stop symbols in the hit state on the effect display device 60, the decorative symbol determining unit 152 effects the stop symbol in the hit mode based on the special symbol 192 determined by the symbol determining unit 114. Information is sent to the effect display control means 134 for display on the device 60. Then, the effect display control means 134 redisplays the combination of the final stop symbols of the hit mode on the effect display device 60 (S116). This re-display operation may be performed in an effect called re-lottery. And this flow is complete | finished and the special game control of S16 is performed in the flow of FIG.

  On the other hand, if the lottery result of the success / failure lottery means 112 is out in S112 (N of S112), the second stop symbol selecting means 156 uses the decorative symbols 191 other than the reach stop symbol 194 displayed in S110 as the stop symbols. select. Then, the effect display control means 134 displays the combination of stop symbols in the off mode on the effect display device 60 (S118). And this flow is complete | finished and the flow of FIG. 8 is performed, without shifting a game state to a special game.

  In S108, when the reach stop symbol 194 is not selected from the displayed reach stop symbol 194 candidates within a predetermined time (N in S108), the first stop symbol selecting means 154 has passed the predetermined time. The reach stop symbol 194 at which the cursor 196 was positioned is automatically selected. Then, the first stop symbol selecting means 154 displays the selected reach stop symbol 194 on the effect display device 60 via the effect display control means 134 (S120), and the process proceeds to S112 and the above-described processing is performed.

  In S104, when the reach pattern selected by the pattern determining unit 150 is not a reach with selection (N in S104), the decorative symbol determining unit 152 displays the determined reach symbol determined as a result of the lottery on the effect display device 60. Therefore, it is sent to the effect display control means 134, and the effect display control means 134 displays the determined reach symbol on the effect display device 60 (S122). Then, when the result of the success / failure lottery of the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win (Y in S124), the decorative symbol determination means 152 sends the combination of stop symbols in the winning mode to the effect display control means 134, and the effect display control means 134 The effect is displayed on the effect display device 60 (S126). In addition, when the combination of the stop pattern of a winning aspect is displayed on the production | presentation display apparatus 60, a lottery may be implemented on production. If the variation pattern selected by the pattern determining means 150 is a variation pattern with re-lottery (Y in S128), the decorative design determining means 152 sends the final stop symbol combination to the effect display control means 134 to display the effect. The control means 134 displays the final combination of stop symbols on the effect display device 60 in the form of redisplay (S130). And this flow is complete | finished and the special game control of S16 is performed in the flow of FIG. In S128, when the variation pattern selected by the pattern determining means 150 is not a variation pattern involving re-lottery (N in S128), this flow ends, and the special game control in S16 is executed in the flow of FIG.

  In S124, the decoration symbol determination means 152 determines the combination of stop symbols in the detachment mode and sends it to the effect display control means 134 when the result of the success / failure lottery of the success / failure lottery 112 is out (N in S124). The control means 134 displays on the effect display device 60 (S132). And this flow is complete | finished and the flow of FIG. 8 is performed, without shifting a game state to a special game.

  In S102, when the variation pattern selected by the pattern determining unit 150 is not a reach pattern (N in S102), the decorative symbol determining unit 152 determines a combination of stop symbols in the out-of-phase state and sends the combination to the effect display control unit 134. The display control means 134 displays on the effect display device 60 (S134). And this flow is complete | finished and the flow of FIG. 8 is performed, without shifting a game state to a special game.

  In S100, when the start start command cannot be acquired (N in S100), this flow ends, and the special game control in S16 is executed in the flow of FIG.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the notification process of the notification unit 140 that is executed when the decorative symbol 190 changes. When the main display control means 118 transmits a change start command to the effect display control means 134 in S36 of the flowchart of FIG. 9, the effect display control means 134 starts the change process. At this time, the change start command is also provided to the notification unit 140, and the notification unit 140 acquires the change start command (Y in S200). If the current variation of the decorative design 190 is not the variation of the hit mode (N in S202), the notification unit 140 ends this flow. The notification means 140 indicates that the game ball has entered the start port 62 when the current variation of the decorative pattern 190 is a variation in the hit mode (Y in S202) and a variation without a probability variation (N in S204). It waits for information from the entrance determination means 110. The notification unit 140 acquires information indicating the entrance to the start port 62 from the entrance determination unit 110 (Y in S206), and after the start of the variation of the decorative symbol 190 in which the entrance is stopped in a hit state, the first entrance is performed. If it is a sphere (Y in S208), the first notification process is performed (S210). The first notification process is, for example, a notification sound that is output via the speaker 18, and is preferably a sound that is not output during a normal game, such as “Juan!”. After the notification process, when the variation of the decorative symbol 190 is stopped (Y in S212), the notification unit 140 ends this flow. And the special game control of S16 is performed in the flow of FIG. In S212, when the variation of the decorative symbol 190 has not ended (N in S212), the process returns to S202 and this flow is continued.

  In S208, when the entry to the starting port 62 is not the first entry after the hit fluctuation start (N in S208), that is, in the case of the second or later entry, the processing of S210 and S212 is skipped, and notification is made. The means 140 ends this flow, and after the change ends, the special game control of S16 is executed in the flow of FIG. In other words, the player can hear the notification sound only for the first time during the symbol variation, and can determine that the variation is a variation of the hit mode without the probability variation during the symbol variation. In S206, when there is no ball entering the start port 62 (N in S206), the processing in S208 and S210 is skipped. That is, the player can play in a new game form in which the player aims to enter the starting port 62 during the change of the symbol in order to obtain the notification sound.

  In S204, when the hit variation is a hit with probability variation (Y in S204), when the notifying unit 140 acquires information indicating the entry from the entry determining unit 110 to the start port 62 (Y in S214), In the case of the first entry after the start of the variation of the decorative pattern 190 where the entry stops in a winning manner (Y in S216), the first notification process is performed (S218). The first notification process is, for example, a notification sound output via the speaker 18 as in the first notification process of S210, and can be a sound that is not output during normal games, such as “Juan!”. After the notification process, when the variation of the decorative symbol 190 is stopped, the notification unit 140 ends this flow. Then, the gaming state shifts to a special game, and S16 in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is executed. In S212, when the change of the decorative symbol 190 has not ended (N in S212), the process returns to S202 and this flow is continued.

  In S216, if the entrance into the starting port 62 is not the first entry after the start of the variation of the decorative pattern 190 that stops in the hit state (N in S216), that is, the entry after the second, A notification process is performed (S220). In the second notification process, for example, the characteristic notification sound output in the first notification process can be output again via the speaker 18, or a different type of notification sound or sound quality can be output. The player can recognize that the symbol variation is a variation with a probability variation by obtaining the notification sound based on the second notification process before the variation is stopped. As a result, the player's excitement can be increased during the game. After the second notification process is executed, when the variation of the decorative symbol 190 is stopped (Y in S212), the notification unit 140 ends this flow. And the special game control of S16 is performed in the flow of FIG. In S212, when the variation of the decorative symbol 190 has not ended (N in S212), the process returns to S202 and this flow is continued. In S214, when it is not possible to confirm that a game ball has entered the start port 62 (N in S214), the process proceeds to S212, and the flow in FIG. 12 is processed again. In S202, if the change is not a symbol variation of the hit mode (N in S202), if a change start command cannot be acquired in S200 (N in S200), all the processes in this flow are skipped and the notification process is performed. To end the flow.

  Note that the second notification process in S218 may be performed only when the second game ball enters the start port 62. In this case, after the second notification process is completed, this flow is ended, and after the decorative symbol 190 is stopped from changing, the special game control of S16 is executed in the flow of FIG. In addition, the second notification process in S218 is performed every time a second or subsequent game ball enters, or at a predetermined number of times or an arbitrary number of times, for example, when a third ball or a fourth ball enters. You may go. Furthermore, the second notification process in S218 may include “no notification” in the concept of notification. For example, “silence” may be notified as the second notification process for the second ball and the notification sound may be used for the third ball. In this way, by performing the second notification process at the timing after the second ball, a game form in which more game balls try to enter the start port 62 is generated even during symbol variation, and the game performance is improved. be able to. Further, the effect of suppressing the hitting can be improved.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a case where the notification process illustrated in FIG. 12 is provided with an operation restriction based on the number of reserved balls. The notifying means 140 determines that the fluctuation is a hit fluctuation (Y in S300), the current number of held balls is the maximum (four) (Y in S302), and there is a ball in the starting port 62 (Y in S304). ), Notification processing is executed (S306). If the change is not a hit change (N in S300), the notification unit 140 skips the processes in S302 to S306 and ends this flow. Further, when the number of reserved balls is not the maximum (N in S302), the notification unit 140 skips the processes of S304 and S306 and ends this flow. In this case, even if the number of held balls is maximum before the start of fluctuation, the number of held balls becomes -1 at the maximum due to the start of the fluctuation. Therefore, if no new ball enters the start port 62 during the fluctuation, S302 is Not affirmed. Further, the notification means 140 skips the processing of S306 and terminates this flow when there is no game ball entering the starting port 62 after the current number of held balls reaches the maximum (N in S304). To do.

  In this way, by adopting a configuration that allows notification processing only when the number of held balls reaches the maximum, it is possible to suppress the “stop hit” that the player tends to perform when the number of held balls is maximum. become. By suppressing the stop hitting, the bullet ball game machine 10 performs smooth bullets at a substantially constant interval, which can contribute to prevention of mechanical problems such as clogging. Moreover, it can contribute to the improvement of the operation rate of the pachinko gaming machine 10 by suppressing the stop hitting.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the concept of operation restriction based on the number of reserved balls in the notification process. Therefore, when performing the notification process, as in the flow shown in FIG. 12, whether or not the fluctuation is a hit with probability fluctuation or whether or not it is the first pitch after the number of reserved balls is maximized. Depending on, the processing form may be changed.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. is there.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the pachinko game machine in this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the display screen at the time of the selection process of the reach stop symbol of the pachinko game machine in this embodiment. FIG. 4A is a screen on which reach stop symbol selection candidates are displayed, FIG. 4B is a screen on which the selected reach pattern is displayed, and FIG. It is a screen when it is performed. It is an image figure explaining the alerting | reporting process of the pachinko game machine in this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed typically the content of the pattern table of the decoration pattern of the pachinko game machine in this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the case where a non-candidate design is contained in the pattern table of the decoration design of the pachinko gaming machine in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement process in a pachinko game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. 8 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the special game control process in S16 of FIG. 8 in detail. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of reach stop symbol selection processing of FIG. 4 performed in response to the fluctuation start processing of S36 of FIG. 9; It is a flowchart explaining a procedure in the alerting | reporting process of FIG. 5 implemented in response to the fluctuation | variation start process of S36 of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the case where the alerting | reporting process of FIG. 12 receives a restriction | limiting by the number of reservation balls.

Explanation of symbols

10 Pachinko machines, 17 Launch handles, 18 Speakers, 20 Lottery hold lamps, 50 Game boards, 52 Game areas, 60 Production display devices, 61 Special symbol display devices, 62 Start ports, 64 Center decorations, 66 Grand prize ports, 74 Start winning detection device, 82 operation buttons, 90 game effect lamp, 100 game control device, 102 main board, 104 sub-board, 110 entry determination means, 112 winning / failing lottery means, 114 symbol determining means, 116 holding control means, 118 main Display control means, 120 Special game control means, 122 Specific game execution means, 124 Open / close control means, 130 Pattern storage means, 132 Production determination means, 134 Production display control means, 136 Symbol selection means, 140 Notification means, 150 Pattern determination means 152 Decorative design determining means, 15 4 first stop symbol selection means, 156 second stop symbol selection means, 190 decoration symbol, 191 decoration symbol, 192 special symbol, 194 reach stop symbol, 196 cursor, 198 stop candidate symbol, 200 non-candidate symbol.

Claims (4)

A game board in which a game area is formed;
A starting port provided at a predetermined position in the gaming area, and the entrance of the gaming ball is a chance of lottery;
Triggering lottery means for executing a lottery for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, triggered by entering the starting port,
Pattern storage means for holding a plurality of variation patterns defining aspects from the variation start to the stop of the symbol for indicating the result of the success / failure lottery;
Pattern determining means for selecting any one of the plurality of variation patterns according to the result of the success / failure lottery;
Display control means for variably displaying on the symbol display device according to a variation pattern in which a plurality of symbols are selected in order to indicate the result of the success / failure lottery;
Special game control means for executing the special game when the plurality of symbols are stopped and displayed in a winning manner indicating that the result of the winning / failing lottery has been won,
With
The pattern determining means selects a variation pattern that produces a reach state that becomes a symbol combination of a hit mode if a plurality of symbols to be variably displayed are aligned among the variation patterns included in the plurality of variation patterns, A bullet ball game characterized in that the display control means further comprises first stop symbol selection means for allowing the player to select a combination of reach stop symbols constituting the reach state while the symbol is changing. Machine.   A reach stop symbol selected by the player by the first stop symbol selection means and a second stop symbol selection means for selecting the remaining stop symbols based on the result of the winning / failing lottery. Item 1. A ball game machine according to item 1. It further comprises a symbol determining means for determining a symbol indicating the result of the lottery determination,
When the result of the lottery determination is a win, the second stop symbol selecting means determines the remaining stop symbols according to the reach stop symbol,
The display control means temporarily displays a combination of stop symbols of the hit mode determined by the first stop symbol selection means and the second stop symbol selection means, and then the symbol determination means according to the result of the lottery determination 3. The bullet ball game machine according to claim 2, wherein the ball game machine is re-displayed with the determined combination of stop symbols.   The said 2nd stop symbol selection means selects the stop symbol different from the said reach stop symbol selected by the said 1st stop symbol selection means, when the result of the said success / failure lottery is off. Ball game machine.

Images