JP2007268191A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arouse the interest of a player in a game by providing a new game property in a pinball game machine. <P>SOLUTION: An operation game determination means 140 decides whether or not to shift one of performance processes in a first ready-to-win variation pattern wherein the plurality of performance processes for making a player expect shifting to a special game by the variable display of decorative patterns are defined to an operation game selectable by an operation by the player. A ready-to-win performance decision means 136 selects one of the plurality of performance processes in the first ready-to-win variation pattern by referring to a ready-to-win level value when a prescribed period elapses in the case that it is shifted to the operation game. <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 a technique for controlling screen display contents in a ball game machine.

Conventionally, among the various ball game machines, a so-called first type pachinko game machine is used while changing a plurality of symbols in a display area such as a liquid crystal display provided substantially at the center of the game board. Display (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol change” or “change display”). This gaming machine shifts to a special game called so-called jackpot where more prize balls can be obtained than a normal game when a combination of symbols when a plurality of rows of symbol variations are stopped becomes a specific mode. It is known as a thing (for example, refer patent document 1). The variable display of symbols in the display area is not only a variable display of multiple symbols, but the time of variable display is usually reduced in a state where it is a big hit if one more symbols are aligned, as in the so-called reach screen. For example, an effect is made to increase the player's expectation, such as making it longer. In addition, the player's expectation can be enhanced by controlling the specific game such as the probability variation that changes the probability of transition to special games by giving the story to the variation display using characters on the images such as symbols Yes.
JP 2003-230714 A

  Some of these ball game machines have an operation button for receiving an operation input from a player. Then, the player can change the effect during the game by operating this operation button. However, since the content of the effect executed for a predetermined operation is usually determined in advance, the operation of the operation button may feel monotonous to the player, and the player's response to the operation Interest may decrease gradually.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and its purpose is to provide a new gameability in a ball game machine and thereby enhance the gameability by arousing the player's interest in the game for a long time. is there.

  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. The winning lottery for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, triggered by the starting winning opening and the entry of the game ball into the starting winning opening Means, a special symbol display device variably displaying a special symbol indicating the result of the success / failure lottery, an effect display device variably displaying a decorative symbol indicating the result of the success / failure lottery, and a special display by the variable display of the decorative symbol Determining whether or not to shift to an operation game in which any one of the production processes in the first reach variation pattern in which a plurality of production processes that cause the player to expect a game transition are defined can be selected by the player's operation Operation game judgment hand A first reach variation pattern, a second reach variation pattern in which an effect process cannot be selected by an operator's operation in an operation game, and a normal variation pattern different from the first reach variation pattern and the second reach variation pattern A variation pattern storage means for storing a plurality of variation patterns including, an effect determination means for selecting one of the plurality of variation patterns according to the result of the lottery determination, and a decoration pattern on the effect display device by the selected variation pattern Effect display control means for variably displaying, an operating device for accepting the player's operation, and the number of operations for counting the player's number of operations in the operating device for a predetermined period during the variably displayed when the operation game is shifted to Counting means and reach level value change holding multiple change rates of reach level values to be changed according to the count value A rate storage means; a reach level value change rate selecting means for selecting a change rate of the reach level value from a plurality of change rates; and a change in the reach level value based on the count value and the change rate of the selected reach level value And a reach effect determining means for selecting one of a plurality of effect processes in the first reach variation pattern with reference to the reach level value when a predetermined period has elapsed when the operation game is shifted to And comprising. When one of a plurality of effect processes in the first reach variation pattern is selected in the operation game, the effect display control means displays the decorative design on the effect display device according to the first reach variation pattern with the selected effect process. Display fluctuation.

  According to this aspect, when a transition is made to an operation game, one of the presentation processes in the first reach variation pattern in which a plurality of presentation processes are defined that cause the player to expect a transition to a special game is selected by the player's operation can do. At that time, since the change rate of the reach level value to be changed according to the count value obtained by counting the number of player operations is selected from a plurality of change rates, even if the count value is the same, the count value is Accordingly, the reach level value to be changed can be varied. As a result, it is possible to provide an unexpected new gameability that the selected production process may be different even if the number of operations is the same. Thereby, it can suppress that a player feels monotonous operation of the operating device at the time of selecting an effect process, and it can arouse the player's interest in the game over a long period of time and can improve the game performance.

  The level value control means changes the reach level value within the level value range including the first level value range and the second level value range as the reach level value range. Even if the change rate of the reach level value is selected so that the change rate of the reach level value with respect to the count value differs depending on whether the reach level value is in the first level value range or in the second level value range. Good. Thereby, the change rate of the reach level value can be made different between the first level value range and the second level value range, so that the change rate of the reach level value is constant in the entire reach level value range. In comparison, it is possible to prevent the change in the reach level value caused by the player's operation from becoming monotonous. Further, the effect display control means may display a scale image according to the change of the reach level value in the operation game. Thereby, the player's interest in the change of the reach level value in the operation game and the player's expectation for the selected production process can be aroused for a long time.

  Limit reach level value determining means for determining a limit reach level value that can be changed according to the count value, and a level value that stores a change table of level values that change with respect to the count value for each corresponding limit reach level value Change table storage means. The level value control means may change the reach level value within a range not exceeding the limit reach level value with reference to a level value change table corresponding to the determined limit reach level value. As a result, the range in which the reach level value is changed is a range that does not exceed the limit reach level value, and thus a restriction is imposed on the production process selected according to the limit reach level value. Therefore, since it is possible to give variations to the production process that can be selected by the operation in the operation game, it is possible to attract the player's interest in the change in the reach level value by the operation until the production process is selected. Further, since the level value change table corresponding to each determined limit reach level value is stored, it is possible to have many variations in the change of the reach level value. As a result, it is possible to attract the player's interest in the change of the reach level value by the operation for a long time.

  For example, when the limit reach level value is set to be small, the reach level value that is changed according to the count value tends to reach the limit reach level value immediately. In such a case, since the reach level value does not change any more, the player's interest in changing the reach level value due to the operation tends to be lost early. Therefore, the change rate of the reach level value in the change table corresponding to the case where the limit reach level value is set to be small is smaller than the change rate of the reach level value in the change table corresponding to the case where the limit reach level value is set to be large. May be. As a result, the number of operations to reach the limit reach level value is increased by suppressing the change of the reach level value due to the player's operation, and the player's interest in the change of the reach level value due to the operation is attracted for a long time. Can do.

  The level value change rate selection means may select a large change rate from a plurality of change rates with a higher probability when the success / failure lottery is a win than when the success / failure lottery is missed. As a result, when the winning lottery is a win, the increase in the reach level value by the player's operation is greater than when the winning lottery is out, and the player's expectation of winning in the operation game Can also be increased.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, or the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced between methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, data structures, and the like. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the ball game machine of the present invention, it is possible to arouse the player's interest in the game for a long time by providing new gameability, and to improve the gameability.

  The ball game machine described below is an operation game in which one of the production processes in the reach variation pattern in which a plurality of production processes are defined is selected by the player's operation, and there is a variation in the selection of the production process according to the operation. By having it, it can suppress that a player feels monotonous operation of the operating device at the time of selecting a production process.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic structure on the front side of a pachinko gaming machine. Hereinafter, a so-called first type pachinko game machine, which is conventionally called a bullet ball game machine, will be described as an example. 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 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. Furthermore, 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 inside of the special winning opening 66 is divided into a specific area (so-called V zone) and a general area. The winning detection device 78 of the big winning opening 66 includes a sensor that detects passage of a game ball through a specific area and a sensor that detects passage of a general area.

  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 effect image including the decorative symbol 190 linked to the special symbol 192 on each screen. (Hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol change” or “change display”). Here, the special symbol 192 is a symbol corresponding to the result of the lottery performed when the game ball is dropped into the start port 62, and the symbol mode when the change display is stopped is determined to be the winning symbol. When the symbol is a symbol, the timing at which the stop symbol is displayed is the jackpot 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 variably displays the decorative symbol 190 in a manner interlocked with the variation 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 constituted by a liquid crystal display in this embodiment, but may be constituted by a mechanical rotating device such as a drum or other display means such as an LED. Since the special symbol 192 does not necessarily have a role of production, in this 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, the 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 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. 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%.

  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 holds is the number of lottery results won to the start port 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. 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.

  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 a big hit, the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, and the opening / closing operation of the big prize opening 66 is started. At this time, the decorative pattern 190 simulating the game of the slot machine takes a display mode in which the three patterns are matched. In the special game, the grand prize winning slot 66 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after 9 or more game balls are dropped. Such opening / closing of the big prize opening 66 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times.

  When a special game occurs and the winning stop symbol at that time is in a specific mode, the probability variation game and the variation shortening game are started as the specific game after the special game is finished. 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. 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.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic structure on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine. The power switch 40 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main board 102 controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and processes all game operations such as a lottery when a winning is made to 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 10 in this embodiment. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the game control device 100 includes a start port 62, a big winning port 66, a general winning port 72, an operating port 68, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, a normal symbol display device 59, and operation buttons 82. The speaker 18 and the game effect lamp 90 are electrically connected to each other, and can transmit and receive various control signals. The game control apparatus 100 controls not only the basic operation of the game, but also staging operations such as symbol variation display and electrical decoration. The game control device 100 is configured in such a manner that functions are shared 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.

  In the present embodiment, the main board 102 is a ball determination unit 110, a winning / failing lottery unit 112, a symbol determination unit 114, a hold control unit 116, a main display control unit 118, a special game control unit 120, a specific game execution unit 122, and an opening / closing control. Means 124 are provided. The sub-board 104 in this embodiment includes a pattern storage unit 130, an effect determination unit 132, and an effect display control unit 134. Each functional block included in the main board 102 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the sub board 104 instead of the main board 102. Similarly, each functional block included in the sub-board 104 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the main board 102 instead of the sub-board 104.

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

  The success / failure lottery means 112 accepts a random number value to determine whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game when the game ball enters the start port 62. Get as a value. For example, the success / failure lottery value is acquired from a value range from “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 table for determination of success / failure based on a normal probability in normal times, and refers to a success / failure table in which the winning probability is higher than the normal probability when the probability changes. The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to any of the plurality of success / failure tables and determines whether or not the success / failure lottery value is a win. The determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 is variably displayed in a special symbol form on the special symbol display device 61. 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 determining unit 114 determines the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbol to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60 according to the lottery result by the success / failure lottery unit 112. Moreover, the symbol determination means 114 determines the stop symbol of the normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 by lottery. The stop symbol is a symbol to be displayed at the end of symbol variation. The symbol determination unit 114 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a special symbol or a stop symbol of a normal symbol, or a pattern determination table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

  The symbol determination means 114 acquires a symbol determination lottery value for determining a special symbol, and determines the stop symbol of the special symbol according to the determination result of the success / failure lottery means 112 and the symbol determination lottery value. The symbol determination unit 114 selects one of a plurality of variation patterns in accordance with the determination result of the success / failure lottery unit 112. The symbol determination unit 114 sends data indicating the determined stop symbol and variation pattern to the main display control unit 118, the effect determination unit 132, and the operation game determination unit 140.

  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 display 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 display time elapses.

  The symbol determining means 114 acquires a lottery random number for determining a normal symbol when the game ball passes through the operation port 68, 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 main display control means 118 causes the special symbol display device 61 to display the lottery result by the success / failure lottery means 112 as a special symbol variation display according to the variation pattern determined by the symbol determination unit 114. 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, so that the main display control means 118 and the effect display are displayed. The fluctuation display by the control means 134 is synchronized and interlocked. 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 special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is continuously continued a plurality of times, and is constituted by one or a plurality of unit games with one opening / closing as a unit. The unit game is repeated up to 15 times, for example, and the grand prize opening 66 is opened for about 30 seconds in one unit game. The special game control means 120 determines whether or not to continue the unit game, that is, whether or not to start the next unit game, based on the number of continuations of the unit game and the presence / absence of the passage detection of the special winning opening 66 to the specific area. Determine. If the continuation condition for starting the next unit game is not satisfied, or if the upper limit number of unit games is exhausted, the special game is terminated.

  The specific game execution means 122 controls the game in the probability variation state. The specific game executing means 122 shifts the game state after the special game to the probability variation state when the winning / failing lottery value is a value to be transferred to the specific game. In principle, the probability variation 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.

  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 variation pattern data as the variation pattern of the effect image including the decorative design. The effect determining unit 132 determines the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the decorative symbol in accordance with the result of the lottery by the success / failure lottery unit 112, according to the stop symbol of the special symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbol. The effect determining unit 132 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a stop symbol of a decorative symbol and a pattern table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

  The stop symbol of the decorative symbol is formed as a combination of three symbols. For example, when the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates the transition to the special game, three symbols such as “777” and “111” are arranged. A combination is selected. In this case, it is preferable that the same numbers as the special symbols are selected as the numbers arranged as the decorative symbols. For example, when the special symbol is “3”, the decorative symbol is “333”. In the case where the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates that the game does not shift to the special game, a combination that does not have three symbols such as “312” and “946” is selected. However, if the determination result is that the game does not shift to a special game, and a variation pattern of a special symbol indicating a loss with reach is selected, only one such as “191” or “727” is selected. Select a combination that does not have the symbols. The effect determining unit 132 sends information about the stop symbol of the decorative symbol and the variation pattern of the effect image to the effect display control unit 134.

  The variation pattern of the effect image defines the variation display mode of the effect image, that is, the effect process from the start of variation of the effect image to the stop of variation. The fluctuation pattern includes a normal fluctuation pattern when displaying a normal out symbol, a pattern when displaying an out symbol through a reach state that will be a big win if one more symbols are aligned, and a jackpot symbol through a reach state. The pattern to be displayed is included. In particular, the reach variation pattern in the reach state includes patterns having various variation times. As the reach variation pattern in the present embodiment, a plurality of performance processes that define the transition to a special game by the display of decorative symbols are defined, and any one of the performance processes is selected by the player's operation. The first reach variation pattern that can be played, and the second reach variation pattern that cannot select an effect process by the player's operation. Each variation pattern has a variation time for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the symbol variation is stopped when the variation time elapses. The effect determining means 132 selects the variation pattern of the effect image having the same variation time as that of the special symbol according to the variation pattern of the special symbol.

  The effect display control unit 134 causes the effect display device 60 to display the effect image on the effect display device 60 in accordance with the selected variation pattern data. The effect display control means 134 further controls effect processing such as lighting and extinguishing of the game effect lamp 90 and sound output from the speaker 18.

(Operation game)
The operation game control means 138 controls the operation game to be transferred when the effect determination means 132 selects the first reach variation pattern described above. The reach effect determining unit 136 selects one of a plurality of effect processes in the first reach variation pattern according to the content of the operation performed during the operation game when the operation game is shifted to. The effect display control means 134 displays a scale image corresponding to the content of the operation in the operation game.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the operation game control means 138 shown in FIG. The operation game control means 138 includes operation game determination means 140, operation frequency counting means 142, change rate storage means 144, change rate selection means 146, level value control means 148, limit reach level value determination means 150, and level value change table storage. Means 152 are provided. The operation game determination means 140 determines whether or not the selected variation pattern is the first reach variation pattern, and determines whether or not to shift to the operation game according to the result.

  The operation number counting means 142 counts, as a count value, the number of times the operation button 82 is pressed down by the player during a predetermined period during the variable display when the operation game is entered. The change rate storage unit 144 stores a plurality of change rates of reach level values to be changed according to the counted value. Here, the reach level value is a value that the reach effect determining unit 136 refers to when selecting any effect process in the first reach variation pattern in which a plurality of effect processes are defined. The change rate of the reach level value can be defined as a change amount of the reach level value that is changed when the count value is increased by a predetermined amount. For example, when the rate of change is 1/3, the reach level value increases by 1 when the count value increases by 3, and when the rate of change is 2/3, the reach level value increases by 2 when the count value increases by 3. If the rate of change is 3/3, when the count value increases by 3, the reach level value increases by 3.

  The change rate selection unit 146 randomly selects a change rate of the reach level value from a plurality of change rates stored in the change rate storage unit 144. The level value control means 148 controls the change of the reach level value based on the count value and the change rate of the selected reach level value. For example, when 1/3 is selected as the change rate of the reach level value, the level value control means 148 controls the reach level value to increase by 1 every time the player presses the operation button 82 three times. Then, the reach effect determining means 136 selects the effect process in the first reach variation pattern with reference to the reach level value when a predetermined period has elapsed after the count value is started.

  FIG. 5 is a data structure diagram schematically showing the relationship between the reach level value and the selected production process. The reach effect determining means 136 refers to this table and selects any reach effect process as the effect process in the first reach variation pattern. When the operation game is executed and the effect process in the first reach variation pattern is selected, the effect display control means 134 displays the decorative design on the effect display device 60 in a variable manner using the first reach variation pattern with the selected effect process. Let

  As described above, the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment can select any production process in the first reach variation pattern by the player's operation when the operation game is shifted to. At that time, the change rate selecting unit 146 stores the change rate of the reach level value that is changed according to the count value obtained by the operation number counting unit 142 counting the number of player operations, in the change rate storage unit 144. Since the change rate is selected from a plurality of change rates, the level value control unit 148 can change the reach level value to be changed according to the count value even when the count values are the same. As a result, it is possible to provide an unexpected new gameability that the selected production process may be different even if the number of operations is the same. As a result, the pachinko gaming machine 10 can suppress the player's feeling of monotonous operation of the operation button 82 when selecting the production process, and can arouse the player's interest in the game for a long time. Can be increased.

  The change rate selection unit 146 stores the change rate in each range of reach level values 1 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 15, 16 to 20, and 21 to 25 in the change rate storage unit 144. You may make it select from each of several change rates. Then, the level value control means 148 changes the reach level value in each range of the reach level value according to each selected change rate. Thereby, compared with the case where the change rate of reach level value is constant in the whole range of reach level value, it can prevent that the change of reach level value by a player's operation becomes monotonous.

  Further, the effect display control means 134 can display a scale image according to the change in the reach level value in the operation game, so that the player can visually grasp the reach level value. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scale image that changes in accordance with the reach level value. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a case where the reach level value is 14. In FIG. Therefore, the player can feel the process in which the reach level value increases by his / her own operation, and is interested in the operation performed for selecting the production process for a long time. Thereby, the pachinko gaming machine 10 can evoke the player's interest in the reach level value change in the operation game and the player's expectation for the selected production process over a long period of time.

  The limit reach level value determining means 150 is a limit reach level value as a limit value of the reach level value that can be changed according to the count value before the operation count counting means 142 counts the number of player operations as the count value. To decide. As a result, the range of reach level values that can be changed by increasing the count value is a range that does not exceed the limit reach level value, so that the production process that can be selected according to the limit reach level value is limited. Can do. For example, when the limit reach level value determining means 150 selects 15 as the limit reach level value, there are three effect processes from the first reach effect process to the third reach effect process shown in FIG.

  Therefore, since it is possible to provide a variation in the combination of the production processes that can be selected by the operation in the operation game, it is possible to attract the player's interest in the change of the reach level value by the operation until the production process is selected.

  The level value change table storage unit 152 stores a level value change table that changes with respect to the count value for each corresponding limit reach level value. The level value control means 148 changes the reach level value within a range not exceeding the limit reach level value with reference to the level value change table corresponding to the determined limit reach level value.

  FIG. 6 is a data structure diagram schematically showing the relationship between the limit reach level value and the corresponding table. The level value change table storage unit 152 holds a plurality of level value change tables corresponding to the limit reach level values. Thereby, even when the limit reach level value determined by the limit reach level value determining means 150 is the same, the change table referred to by the level value control means 148 is one of a plurality of change tables, so the reach level value for the count value Many variations can be given to the change of. As a result, it is possible to attract the player's interest in the change of the reach level value by the operation for a long time.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the change in the reach level value with respect to the count value in the change table. The line LE1 shown in FIG. 7 shows the change in the reach level value in the table E1 that can be selected when the limit reach level value is 25, and the rate of change is set to 1 in the entire range of the reach level value. Yes. On the other hand, the line LB1 shown in FIG. 7 shows a change in the table B1 that can be selected when the limit reach level value is 10, and the change rate is 1 in the range of the reach level value from 1 to 10. / 3, and the rate of change is set to 0 in the range from 11 to 25. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the level value control means 148 refers to such a table, and even if the limit reach level value is a small value, the number of player operations required to reach the limit reach level value is determined. Can be increased. As a result, it is possible to attract the player's interest in the change of the reach level value by the operation for a long time.

  A line LE2 shown in FIG. 7 indicates a change in the reach level value in the table E2 that can be selected when the limit reach level value is 25, and the change rate is in the range of the reach level value of 1 to 5. 1. The rate of change is set to 1/3 when the reach level value is 6 to 20, and the rate of change is set to 5 when the reach level value is 21 to 25. For this reason, even if the limit reach level value is the same, the change table referred to by the level value control means 148 may be different, so that there can be many variations in the change of the reach level value with respect to the count value. As a result, it is possible to attract the player's interest in the change of the reach level value by the operation for a long time.

  As a modification, the reach level value increased according to the count value may be decreased at every predetermined elapsed time. For example, the increased reach level value may be decreased by one level every few seconds. As a result, when the operation is stopped after reaching a certain reach level value, the reach level value decreases, and therefore the player is prompted to maintain the reach level value until the production process is determined. it can. As a result, it is possible to attract the player's interest in the change of the reach level value by the operation for a long time.

  Furthermore, as a modification, the reach level value may be changed according to the count value of the unit time immediately before the operation is performed, instead of the accumulated count value within a predetermined time after the start of the variable display. As a result, when the count value of a certain unit time is small, it is possible to decrease the reach level value accordingly, and to the player to maintain the reach level value until the production process is determined. It can prompt quick operation. As a result, it is possible to attract the player's interest in the change of the reach level value by the operation for a long time.

(Pachinko machine operating process)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a basic operation process in the pachinko gaming machine. First, processing is performed when the game ball has won the start port 62, the general winning port 72, the big winning port 66, or when the game ball has passed through the operation port 68 (S10). (N in S12), control processing for normal games such as winning / failing lottery is executed (S14), and if a special game is in progress (Y in S12), control processing for special game is executed (S16), from S10 to S16 In step S18, prize ball payout corresponding to various winnings is processed.

  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 effect image 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 success / failure determination process of S34 in FIG. First, the success / failure lottery means 112 reads the success / failure lottery value held by the hold control means 116 (S42), determines whether or not the success / failure lottery value is a win (S44), and depending on the determination result The determination unit 114 determines the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbol (S46), and the effect determination unit 132 displays the variation pattern of the decoration symbol as a result of the lottery by the success / failure lottery unit 112 as a result of the special symbol stop symbol and the special symbol. Selection is made according to the variation pattern (S48).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing in detail the variation display process of S40 in FIG. This figure illustrates the decorative symbol variation display process. First, the decoration pattern to be drawn is displayed (S54), and when the selected variation pattern is the first reach variation pattern (Y in S56), the effect display control means 134 displays the reach state (S58). Then, the operation game process is started (S60). The effect display control means 134 displays the effect process selected in the operation game process on the effect display device 60, and then stops the variable display of the decorative symbols (S66). When the selected variation pattern is not the first reach variation pattern but the second reach variation pattern (N in S56, Y in S62), the effect display control means 134 displays the reach state (S64). Then, the variation display of the decorative symbols is stopped (S66). When the selected variation pattern is not the first reach variation pattern but the normal variation pattern that is not the second reach variation pattern (N in S56, N in S62), the effect display control means 134 passes the predetermined time. Later, the decorative symbol variation display is stopped (S66).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail the operation game process of S60 in FIG. When the operation game process is started, first, the limit reach level value determining means 150 determines the limit reach level value (S161), and the change rate selecting means 146 responds to the count value at least in the range up to the limit reach level value. The change rate of the reach level value to be changed is determined for each level value (S162). At this time, the effect display control means 134 notifies the player of the start of the game operation using the effect display device 60, the speaker 18, the game effect lamp 90, etc., and prompts the player to press the operation button 82 (S163). ).

  Then, the operation number counting means 142 counts the number of player operations during a predetermined period as a count value (S164), and the level value control means 148 reaches the reach based on the count value and the change rate of the selected reach level value. Control changes in level values. Then, the reach effect determining means 136 refers to the reach level value when a predetermined period has elapsed (S165), and determines the effect process executed with the first reach variation pattern (S166). The effect display control means 134 starts the reach effect by causing the effect display device 60 to variably display the decorative symbols according to the selected effect process (S167).

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing in detail the special game control process of S16 in FIG. First, if the big prize opening 66 has not been opened (N in S70), the production display control means 134 starts the special game production process (S72), and the open / close control means 124 opens the special prize opening 66 (S74). ). 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 of S16 is terminated (S90).

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

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 a present Example. It is a functional block diagram of the operation game control means shown in FIG. It is a data structure figure which shows typically the relationship between a reach level value and the production process selected. It is a data structure figure which shows typically the relationship between a limit reach level value and a corresponding table. It is a figure which shows an example of the change of the reach level value with respect to the count value in a change table. 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. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail the success / failure determination process of S34 in FIG. 9. It is a flowchart which shows the fluctuation | variation display process of S40 in FIG. 9 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the operation game process of S60 in FIG. 11 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the special game control process of S16 in FIG. 8 in detail. It is a figure which shows an example of the scale image which changes according to a reach level value.

Explanation of symbols

10 Pachinko machines, 50 game boards, 52 game areas, 60 effect display devices, 61 special symbol display devices, 62 start ports, 82 operation buttons, 100 game control devices, 112 winning / failing lottery means, 114 symbol determining means, 116 hold control Means, 118 main display control means, 120 special game control means, 122 specific game execution means, 130 pattern storage means, 132 effect determination means, 134 effect display control means, 136 reach effect determination means, 138 operation game control means, 140 operation Game determining means, 142 operation count counting means, 144 change rate storage means, 146 change rate selection means, 148 level value control means, 150 limit reach level value determination means, 152 level value change table storage means.

Claims (4)

A game board in which a game area is formed;
A start winning opening provided at a predetermined position in the game area, and a game ball entering is a lottery opportunity;
A winning / failing lottery means for executing a winning / closure 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 the entry of the game ball into the starting winning opening;
A special symbol display device in which a special symbol indicating the result of the success / failure lottery is variably displayed;
An effect display device in which a decorative symbol showing the result of the winning / failing lottery is displayed variably,
An operation game in which any one of the production processes in the first reach variation pattern in which a plurality of production processes for expecting the player to shift to the special game is defined by the variation display of the decorative symbols can be selected by the player's operation. Operation game determination means for determining whether or not to move to,
The first reach variation pattern, the second reach variation pattern in which an effect process cannot be selected by the operation of the operator in the operation game, and the normal variation different from the first reach variation pattern and the second reach variation pattern Variation pattern storage means for storing a plurality of variation patterns including a pattern;
Production determination means for selecting one of the plurality of variation patterns according to the result of the success / failure lottery,
Effect display control means for causing the effect display device to variably display the decorative design according to the selected variation pattern;
An operating device for receiving a player's operation;
An operation number counting means for counting, as a count value, the number of operations of the player in the operation device during a predetermined period when the display is changed to the operation game;
Reach level value change rate storage means for holding a plurality of change rates of reach level values to be changed according to the count value;
Reach level value change rate selection means for selecting a change rate of the reach level value from a plurality of the change rates;
Level value control means for controlling the change of the reach level value based on the count value and the change rate of the selected reach level value;
Reach effect determining means for selecting one of a plurality of effect processes in the first reach variation pattern with reference to the reach level value at the time of elapse of the predetermined period when transitioning to the operation game,
The effect display control means, when any one of a plurality of effect processes in the first reach variation pattern is selected in the operation game, the effect display according to the first reach variation pattern with the selected effect process. A bullet ball game machine characterized in that the decorative design is displayed in a variable manner on a device. The level value control means changes the reach level value in a level value range including a first level value range and a second level value range as the reach level value range,
The level value change rate selection means has different reach level value change rates with respect to the count value depending on whether the reach level value is in the first level value range or the second level value range. 2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein a change rate of the reach level value is selected as described above. Limit reach level value determining means for determining a limit reach level value that can be changed according to the count value;
Level value change table storage means for storing a change table of level values that change with respect to the count value for each of the corresponding limit reach level values;
Further comprising
The level value control means changes the reach level value within a range not exceeding the limit reach level value by referring to a level value change table corresponding to the determined limit reach level value. Item 3. A ball game machine according to item 1 or 2.   The level value change rate selection means selects a large change rate from a plurality of change rates with a higher probability when the success / failure lottery is a win than when the success / failure lottery is missed. The bullet ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images