JP2007275140A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine in which first and second game media are supplied to a play field part, the game machine being able to motivate a player to continue a game even when the number of the second game media decreases. <P>SOLUTION: In the game machine, a token M as the first game medium and a ball B as the second game medium are supplied to the play field part 12 on the basis of an operation by a player, a basic game is executed in relation to the movement of the tokens M, an allotment corresponding to the game result of the basic game is imparted to the player, and the opportunity of allotment acquisition is imparted to the player when the ball B is eliminated from the play field part 12 by the movement of the ball B linked with the movement of the token M. The game machine is characterized in that the number of the game media of the balls B existing in the game field part 12 is detected and the privilege to be led to the putout of the allotment to the player is imparted in accordance with the decrease in the number of the balls B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine that supplies a first game medium and a second game medium to a play field section.

  As a type of game machine that uses game media, the medals entered by the player are dropped into the play field section where a large number of medals are stored, and the dropped medals are pushed out by the pusher table to change the arrangement of the medals. A so-called medal pusher game machine that pays out a medal that has fallen from a predetermined range of the play field portion to the player in accordance with the change is well known. In addition, as a pusher game machine of this type, a second game medium (for example, a ball) of a different type from the medal as the first game medium is supplied to the play field unit, and the second game medium is used as the pusher game machine. There is also provided a game machine that is moved together with a medal, executes a lottery process on condition that the second game medium has fallen from the play field portion, and gives a player a payout according to the lottery result. According to such a game machine, the second game medium is supplied to the play field unit in addition to the first game medium, and the second game medium is pushed out in association with the first game medium to play. By being excluded from the field part, the player is given an opportunity to win a dividend. Since the movement of medals and other gaming media is governed by the laws of physics, if an opportunity to win dividends is given according to the movement of those gaming media, it eliminates the impression that the artificial operation of the game machine intervenes. Compared with a game machine using a single type of game medium, the player can be expected to win further dividends.

  In the game machine described above, the greater the number of second game media existing in the play field portion, the higher the player's expectation regarding the acquisition of a dividend. Therefore, if the number of second game media existing in the play field portion decreases, there is a possibility that the player recognizes a disadvantageous situation regarding the acquisition of the payout and loses the willingness to continue the game. In particular, if the second game medium does not exist in the play field portion, the tendency increases. When such a situation occurs in a game machine that is used for commercial purposes, there arises a disadvantage such as an operating rate of the game machine or a decrease in profit.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a game machine that supplies not only the first game medium but also the second game medium to the play field portion, even if the number of second game media existing in the play field portion decreases. An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine capable of giving motivation to continue the game.

  The present invention provides a first game medium supply means (13) for supplying a first game medium (M) to the play field unit (12) based on a player's operation, and the first game medium supplied to the play field unit. A basic game is executed in association with the operation of one game medium, and a basic game execution means (ST) for giving a player a payout according to the game result of the basic game, and a predetermined state has occurred in the basic game A second game medium supply means (50A, 50B, 40, 14) for supplying a second game medium (B) of a type different from the first game medium to the play field unit, and A payout opportunity granting hand for giving a player an opportunity to win a payout when the second game medium is excluded from the play field portion by the operation of the second game medium linked to the operation of the one game medium. (SA, 150), a medium number detecting means (150) for detecting the number of the second game media existing in the game field section, and the medium number detecting means. By providing a privilege granting means (150) for granting a privilege related to the payout of the dividend to the player when the number of the detected second game media decreases below a predetermined number, the above-mentioned problem is achieved. Resolve.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, when the number of second game media existing in the play field portion is reduced below a predetermined number, a privilege associated with paying out a dividend to the player is correspondingly provided by the privilege granting means. Is granted. Therefore, even if the number of second game media decreases, the player can be expected to receive a payout through a newly granted privilege. Thereby, motivation regarding the continuation of the game can be given to the player, and the operating rate and profitability of the game machine can be improved.

  In the game machine of the present invention, the basic game may be any game as long as the game opportunity is guaranteed to the player based on the insertion of the first game medium, and the range of the basic game can be set as appropriate. The payment of the payout in the basic game may be to pay out the first game medium itself to the player, or to give the player a game value exchangeable with the first game medium. . When paying out the first game medium, the mode may be to pay out the first game medium directly to the player, or to the player by paying out the first game medium to the play field portion. The first game medium may be paid out indirectly. The second game medium may be used as a medium for executing lottery and other various processes executed to pay out a dividend to the player, or the second game medium itself may be used as a dividend to the player. You may be paid out. The privilege granted by the privilege granting unit may be anything that leads to payout of a dividend. For example, in addition to the decrease in the second game medium, such as giving a lottery opportunity for determining a dividend to the player, an advantage is given that the dividend is paid out when some additional condition is satisfied. May be given to the player. Alternatively, the payout of the payout itself may be given as a privilege. Furthermore, the game machine of the present invention can include the following modes.

  One form of the game machine of this invention WHEREIN: The said privilege provision means may provide the said privilege by performing the process which raises the probability that the said predetermined state will be materialized in the said basic game. According to this aspect, the probability that a predetermined state is established in the basic game and the second game medium is supplied to the play field portion increases. For this reason, when the number of second game media decreases, it is possible to shorten the time required until the next second game media is supplied. Thereby, it is possible to give the player motivation to continue the game.

  In one form of the game machine of the present invention, the basic game executing means, as the game included in the basic game, the first game medium has passed a predetermined position (24a, 24b, 24c) of the play field portion. A lottery game in which a lottery process for generating a winning combination is performed while controlling the probability of winning according to a predetermined control rule, and a payout is paid directly or indirectly to a player when the winning combination is established And the privilege granting means performs at least one of a process of increasing the probability that the winning combination is established in the lottery game and a process of increasing the payout amount when the winning combination is established. You may give the said privilege by performing. According to this aspect, when the number of second game media decreases, the probability that a winning combination is established in a lottery game executed as a kind of basic game is increased, or a dividend amount when the winning combination is established Will increase. Therefore, even when the number of second game media decreases, it is possible to give the player a sense of expectation of winning a larger amount of payout than usual through the lottery game. For this reason, the player can be motivated to continue the game.

  In one form of the game machine according to the present invention, the first game medium is a medal, and the basic game executing means is a pusher that reciprocates a group of medals stored in the play field unit in the play field unit. A pusher game in which a medal discharged from a predetermined range of the play field portion is pushed out to the player as a payout while being pushed out by the table (22, 23), and the medal is a predetermined position (24a, 24b, 24c) of the play field portion If a winning combination is generated according to a predetermined control law, the winning combination is generated, and when the winning combination is established, the medal is directly or indirectly given to the player. A lottery game to be paid out as a payout as a game included in the basic game, and the second game medium The supply means considers that the predetermined state has occurred in the basic game when a predetermined game medium payout combination is established in the lottery game, supplies the second game medium, and The granting means is a process for increasing the probability that the game medium payout combination will be established in the lottery game, a process for increasing the probability that the winning combination will be established in the lottery game, and the medal of the medal when the winning combination is established The privilege may be granted by executing at least one of the processes for increasing the number of payouts.

  According to this aspect, the lottery game is executed when the medals are discharged from the predetermined range of the play field portion in the pusher game, and when the winning combination is established in the lottery game, the medals are paid out as a payout. Further, when the game medium payout combination is established in the lottery game, the second game medium is supplied to the play field unit, and the second game medium is excluded from the play field unit, so that the player has an opportunity to win a dividend. Is granted. When the number of second game media in the play field portion decreases, as a privilege, the probability that a game medium payout combination will be established increases, the probability that a winning combination will be established, or the establishment of a winning combination The number of medals to be paid out increases. Therefore, even if the number of second game media in the play field portion decreases, the player can have a sense of expectation for obtaining a further payout. For this reason, the player can be motivated to continue the game.

  One form of the game machine of this invention WHEREIN: The said privilege provision means may provide the said privilege, when the state in which the said 2nd game medium does not exist in the said play field part is detected. According to this aspect, even when the second game medium does not exist in the play field portion, the player is given a sense of expectation for a new payout by giving a privilege, and motivates the game to continue. be able to.

  In one form of the game machine of the present invention, the payout opportunity giving means takes in the second game medium excluded from the play field unit, and gives a physical action to the second game medium to give a plurality of options. May be provided with a physical lottery mechanism (SA) for lottering at least one option, and controlling the payout of a dividend to the player in association with the lottery result of the physical lottery mechanism. In the game machine of this form, the second game medium is positioned as a lottery medium by the physical lottery mechanism, and payout of a dividend to the player is controlled in association with the result of the physical lottery. The physical lottery mechanism has an advantage that it is easy to increase the player's expectation for winning a dividend because the lottery result depends on the physical operation of the medium, and the game machine's maneuverability is difficult to intervene with respect to the lottery result. On the other hand, if the number of second game media in the play field part decreases, the chance of lottery by the physical lottery mechanism also decreases, and the advantage of the physical lottery mechanism cannot be fully exhibited, and the player continues the game. There is a risk that willingness will be lost. On the other hand, if a privilege is given to the decrease in the number of second game media, the player is motivated to continue the game until the number of second game media increases. Can be given.

  In addition, in the above description, in order to make an understanding of this invention easy, the reference sign of the accompanying drawing was attached in parenthesis, but this invention is not limited to the form of illustration by it.

  As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, when the number of second game media is reduced below a predetermined number, the player is given a privilege related to the awarding of the payout, thereby increasing the expectation of the payout. The player can be motivated, thereby providing the player with the motivation for the continuation of the game and improving the operating rate and profitability of the game machine.

  The outline of the configuration of the game machine G of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a game machine G according to one embodiment of the present invention. The game machine G has a center unit CN, four satellite units SA, and 16 station units ST. Each satellite unit SA is arranged to surround the center unit CN below the center unit CN, and four station units ST are arranged around each satellite unit SA. That is, the game machine G has a configuration in which four satellite units SA are arranged around the center unit CN, and four station units ST are arranged around each satellite unit SA. In the station unit ST, a so-called pusher game using medals as game media and a digital lottery game associated with the pusher game are executed as basic games. In the satellite unit SA, the satellite lottery is executed in association with the game result of the digital lottery game in the station unit ST. In the center unit CN, a center lottery or a grand slot lottery is performed as a center game in association with the game result of the digital lottery game in the station unit ST or the lottery result of the satellite lottery in the satellite unit SA.

  FIG. 2 shows one satellite unit SA and one station unit ST combined therewith. The station unit ST includes a pair of left and right operation units 10 for a player to perform operations related to the game, a play field unit 12 in which a medal pusher game is executed, and a medal M as a first game medium. 12, a medal supply unit 13 for supplying the ball 12, a ball insertion unit 14 for inputting the ball B as the second game medium into the play field unit 12, and a ball transport unit for sending the ball B to the satellite unit SA 15 and a station monitor 16 for displaying a game screen or the like. The play field unit 12 includes a main table 20 and a sub table 21 that store medals M, and further includes pusher tables 22 and 23 that slide back and forth on the tables 20 and 21. In the main table 20 and the sub table 21, medals M are stored so as to be spread. The play field portion 12 is shielded from the outside by being surrounded by a partition such as a transparent plate.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the outline of the flow of medals M in the station unit ST will be described. When the player inserts a medal M from a medal insertion slot (not shown) provided in the operation unit 10, the medal M falls to one of the medal hoppers 13 a of the medal supply unit 13 via the medal chute 17. From the medal hopper 13a, the medal M is paid out to the respective medal discharge units 18 arranged on the left and right of the station unit ST prior to the player's medal insertion, and these medals M are sent to the play field unit 12. Each is held in the medal discharge unit 18 in preparation for insertion. The medal M held in the medal discharging unit 18 is sent out to the medal chute 19 at a timing synchronized with the insertion of the medal M by the player, and the medal M is inserted on the sub table 21 from the chute 19. The direction of the chute 19 can be changed in the left-right direction by operating the lever 10a provided on the left and right of the operation unit 10.

  The medals M inserted into the play field unit 12 fall on the sub-table 21 and are stored there, or roll from the sub-table 21 to the main table 20. When the group of medals M stored on the sub-table 21 is pushed forward (the side where the player is located, the same applies hereinafter) by the reciprocating motion of the pusher table 23, the medals M are pushed out from the front end of the sub-table 21, The pushed medal M slides down the inclined portion 24 and moves to the main table 20 and is stored there. When the group of medals M stored on the main table 20 is pushed forward by the reciprocating motion of the pusher table 22, the medals M fall around the main table 20. The dropped medal M is collected by the lift-up hopper 25 shown in FIG. Then, the same number of medals M as the medals M dropped from the front end of the main table 20 are paid out from the lift-up hopper 25 to the medal paying unit 11 between the operation units 10 as medals acquired by the player. The medal payout unit 11 is located outside the partition covering the play field unit 12, and the medal M paid out there can be received by the player.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the inclined portion 24 is provided with a plurality of openings 24 a, 24 b, and 24 c as checkers that allow the medal M to pass (drop). When the medal M in the middle of sliding down the inclined portion 24 falls into one of the openings 24a, 24b, 24c, the passage of the medal M is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the detection signal is used as a trigger on the station monitor 16. A lottery game is started. The digital lottery game is a type of slot game in which a combination of three symbols (pictures, symbols, numbers, etc.) displayed side by side on the station monitor 16 matches a predetermined winning combination. "Ball" is prepared as one of the winning features of the digital lottery game. For example, when three ball patterns are arranged, the winning combination of “ball” is won. When this combination is won, the ball B is thrown into the main table 20 from the ball throwing unit 14. The supply of the ball B to the ball insertion unit 14 will be described later. In this embodiment, different types of normal balls B1 and special balls B2 are provided as the balls B. However, when there is no need to distinguish between these balls, they are referred to as balls B.

  The ball B thrown on the main table 20 is gradually pushed forward together with the medal M toward the front of the main table 20 by the reciprocating motion of the pusher table 22. When the ball B falls from the front end of the main table 20, the dropped ball B is transported to the satellite unit SA by the ball transport unit 15. FIG. 4 shows a transportation route of the ball B by the ball transportation unit 15. The ball B dropped from the main table 20 is taken into the ball lifter 27 via the ball duct 26. The ball lifter 27 conveys the captured ball B to the end (upper end) of the slope 28 while ascending along the slope 28. In the satellite unit SA, the satellite lottery is executed using the ball B that has been transported to the end of the slope 28.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the satellite unit SA includes a bingo stage 30, a ball carrier 40 provided on the outer periphery of the bingo stage 30, and a pair of ball supply mechanisms 50 </ b> A and 50 </ b> B disposed around the bingo stage 30. And a pair of ball throwing mechanisms 60A and 60B disposed on opposite sides of the ball supply mechanisms 50A and 50B with the bingo stage 30 interposed therebetween. The bingo stage 30 is rotationally driven in one direction around a vertical axis by a drive mechanism (not shown). The upper surface of the bingo stage 30 is divided into an outer peripheral portion 32A and an inner peripheral portion 32B by a ring-shaped fence 31. Each of the portions 32A and 32B is provided with circular winning pockets 32a and 33a having a diameter that allows the ball B to pass through the bingo stage 30. The outer peripheral portion 32A is provided with ten winning pockets 32a, and the inner peripheral portion 32B is provided with five winning pockets 33a. Each of the winning pockets 32a and 33a is assigned a number or a pattern that is an option in the satellite lottery. A numerical value of 1 to 9 and a letter “JP chance” are alternatively assigned to the winning pocket 32a of the outer peripheral portion 32A. In the present specification, “JP” is used as an abbreviation for jackpot, that is, jackpot. On the other hand, three numerical values 1 to 9 are assigned to the three winning pockets 33a of the inner peripheral portion 32B in appropriate combinations, and the letters “JP chance” are assigned to the remaining two winning pockets 33a.

  The ball carrier 40 is movable along the outer periphery of the bingo stage 30. The ball carrier 40 conveys the ball B from the ball supply mechanisms 50A and 50B to the ball throwing portion 14 of each station unit ST, and carries the ball B from the ball carrying portion 15 of each station unit ST to the ball throwing mechanisms 60A and 60B. Are executed respectively. Under the ball supply mechanisms 50A and 50B, the ball B that has passed through the winning pockets 32a and 33a of the bingo stage 30 is selectively guided according to the type. As an example, the normal ball B1 is guided to the ball supply mechanism 50A, and the special ball B2 is guided to the ball supply mechanism 50B. The ball supply mechanisms 50 </ b> A and 50 </ b> B take the guided balls B into the screw feeder 51 and transfer them upward, and pay out the balls B reaching the upper end of the screw feeder 51 from the discharge unit 52 one by one. The ball carrier 40 is moved directly below the discharge portion 52 in conjunction with the payout of the ball B from the discharge portion 52, so that the ball B discharged from the ball discharge portion 52 is delivered to the fork 41 of the ball carrier 40. The ball carrier 40 that has received the ball B from the ball supply mechanisms 50A and 50B moves along the outer periphery of the bingo stage 30 to the ball insertion portion 14 of the station unit ST to which the ball B is to be transported. The ball B is paid out to the upper end of the slope 14a of the ball throwing portion 14 by tilting it to the right. The dispensed ball B slides down the slope 14a and is thrown into an arbitrary position of the main table 20 via the throw position selection mechanism 14b.

  On the other hand, when the ball B is carried out to the ball transport unit 15 of the station unit ST, the ball carrier 40 moves to the inside of the slope 28 of the ball transport unit 15 from which the ball B is carried out and receives the ball B from the slope 28. Thereafter, the ball B is transported to the position of the ball throwing mechanism 60A or 60B. Whether the ball carrier 40 transports the ball B to any of the ball throwing mechanisms 60A and 60B is related to the type of the ball B. For example, in the case of the normal ball B1, the ball carrier 40 carries the ball B1 to the ball throwing mechanism 60A, while in the case of the special ball B2, the ball carrier 40 carries the ball B2 to the ball throwing mechanism 60B.

  Each of the ball throwing mechanisms 60A and 60B includes a ball lifter 61 and a ball guide 62. The ball lifter 61 can reciprocate in the vertical direction. When the normal ball B1 is transported from the ball carrier 40 to the ball throwing mechanism 60A, the ball lifter 61 of the ball throwing mechanism 60A is lowered, and then, the fork 41 of the ball carrier 40 is tilted toward the ball lifter 61 side. The ball B1 is delivered to the ball lifter 61. The ball lifter 61 that has received the ball B <b> 1 rises to the upper end of the ball guide 62, and then tilts toward the ball guide 62 so as to form a downward gradient. As a result, the normal ball B1 is transferred to the ball guide 62. The normal ball B1 passed to the ball guide 62 is thrown into the outer peripheral portion 32 of the bingo stage 30 from the tip of the ball guide 62. When the special ball B2 is transported from the ball carrier 40 to the ball throwing mechanism 60B, the ball lifter 61 of the ball throwing mechanism 60B is lowered to transfer the ball B2 from the ball carrier 40 to the ball lifter 61. By operating in the same manner as the ball throwing mechanism 60A, the special ball B2 is transferred to the ball guide 62 of the ball throwing mechanism 60B. The special ball B2 passed to the ball guide 62 is thrown into the inner peripheral portion 33 of the bingo stage 30 from the tip of the ball guide 62.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the center unit CN includes a center monitor 70, a large roulette 71, and a large ball throwing mechanism 72. The large roulette 71 is rotationally driven in one direction at a predetermined speed by a drive mechanism (not shown). Around the large roulette 71, a plurality of winning pockets 71a are provided. Each winning pocket 71a is assigned with the number (or multiple) of medals M or various game modes as winning combinations. When the center game is started, a large ball 73 for large roulette is thrown into the outer periphery of the large roulette 71 from the ball throwing mechanism 72. The large ball 73 swings around the large roulette 71 as the large roulette 71 rotates, and enters one of the winning pockets 71a. A privilege corresponding to the winning pocket 71a containing the large ball 73 is given to the player.

  Note that each of the station unit ST, the satellite unit SA, and the center unit CN is provided with an electric decoration device and an audio device as an effect device for raising the atmosphere of the game. As an illumination device, for example, a station is provided with a plurality of LEDs along a movement path from when a medal M is inserted to when it is discharged to the play field unit 12. The satellite unit SA is provided with a lamp so that a ring-shaped illumination centering on the rotation axis of the bingo stage 30 can be obtained from below the bingo stage 30. The winning pocket 71a of the large roulette 71 of the center unit CN is bordered by a plurality of LEDs. A speaker is provided as the acoustic device, and sound effects and BGM are appropriately output from the speaker. As shown in FIG. 1, a spacer SP is provided between the satellite units SA of the game machine G. Under each spacer SP, a moving light L and a showtime speaker are provided.

  Next, the configuration of the control system of the game machine G will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the game machine G includes a host control unit 100, a host PC (PC is an abbreviation of a personal computer, the same applies hereinafter) 110 as a computer unit for controlling the operation of the game machine G, and a center. A PC 120, a center control unit 130, a satellite control unit 140, and a station control unit 150 are provided. One satellite control unit 140 is provided for each satellite unit SA as a component of the satellite unit SA, and one station control unit 150 is provided for each station unit ST as a component of the station unit ST. That is, in the entire game machine G, four satellite control units 140 and 16 station control units 150 are provided. These units 110 to 150 are mutually connected via a LAN line 160, so that various games or information necessary for controlling lottery can be exchanged with each other. The LAN line 160 may be a so-called star connection in which a hub is interposed at an appropriate position.

  The host control unit 100 is responsible for overall management, integrated control, and the like of the game machine G, and the host PC 110 controls the operation of the main body rendering unit 111 of the game machine G. The main body effect section 111 includes, for example, an effect device that does not belong to any of the center unit CN, the satellite unit SA, and the station unit ST, such as the moving light L or the speaker on the spacer SP described above. . The center PC 120 is in charge of display control of the center monitor 70.

  The center control unit 130 operates the center driving unit 132 and the center effect unit 133 based on the state of the center unit CN detected by the sensor group 131, thereby performing the center game and the effect on the game using the center unit CN. Control each one. The sensor group 131 includes a winning sensor that detects whether or not the large ball 73 has won a prize in each winning pocket 71 a of the large roulette 71. For example, a proximity switch, a reflection type or a transmission type optical sensor can be used as the winning sensor. The center drive unit 132 includes a drive device such as a motor for rotationally driving the large roulette 71, an actuator for driving the large ball throwing mechanism 72, and the like. The center production unit 133 includes production devices such as lamps and speakers unique to the center unit CN.

  The satellite control unit 140 operates the satellite drive unit 142 and the satellite effect unit 143 based on the state of the satellite unit SA detected by the sensor group 141, thereby executing the satellite lottery, transporting the ball B, and the satellite unit SA. Each of the effects on the game using is controlled. The sensor group 141 includes a winning sensor that detects whether or not the ball B has passed in each of the winning pockets 32 a and 33 a of the bingo stage 30, and a carrier position sensor that detects the circumferential position of the ball carrier 40. As the winning sensor, for example, a proximity switch or a transmissive or reflective optical sensor can be used. The satellite drive unit 142 includes a drive device such as a motor that rotates the bingo stage 30, an actuator that drives the ball carrier 40 along the outer periphery of the bingo stage 30, an actuator that operates the fork 41 of the ball carrier 40, and a ball supply mechanism An actuator that drives the screw feeder 51 and the ball discharge unit 52 of 50A and 50B, an actuator that drives the ball lifter 61 of the ball throwing mechanisms 60A and 60B up and down, and the like are included. The satellite production unit 143 includes production devices such as lamps and speakers unique to the satellite unit SA.

  The station control unit 150 operates the station drive unit 152 and the station effect unit 153 based on the state of the station unit ST detected by the sensor group 151, thereby performing a pusher game and digital lottery to be executed in the station unit ST. The game and the effects on the game using the station unit ST are controlled. The station control unit 150 is also responsible for display control of the station monitor 16. The sensor group 151 includes a medal sensor group related to the detection of the medal M, a ball sensor group related to the detection of the ball B, and a position sensor group that detects the positions of the movable parts such as the lever 10 a and the pusher tables 22 and 23.

  The medal sensor group includes a medal insertion sensor that detects insertion of the medal M from the medal insertion slot, a medal discharge sensor that detects discharge of the medal M from the medal discharge unit 18, and medals to the openings 24a to 24c as checkers. A checker sensor that detects the fall of M, a fall medal sensor that detects a medal M that falls from the front end of the main table 20, a medal payout sensor that detects a medal M paid out from the lift-up hopper 25 to the medal payout unit 11, and the like. . As these sensors, proximity switches, optical sensors, microswitches, and the like may be used in the same manner as the medal sensors of known medal game machines. The ball sensor group includes a ball insertion sensor that detects the insertion of the ball B from the ball insertion unit 14, a ball drop sensor that detects the ball B that is dropped from the main table 20 and passed to the ball transport unit 15, and the like. It is. The ball drop sensor also functions as a sensor that determines the type of the ball B, that is, whether the dropped ball B corresponds to the normal ball B1 or the special ball B2. The type of the ball B can be determined by using a sensor that outputs a different signal according to the difference between the balls B1 and B2 as the ball drop sensor. For example, when one of the balls B1 and B2 is made of resin and the other is made of metal, the type of the balls B1 and B2 can be determined using a metal sensor. When the reflectances of the balls B1 and B2 are different, a reflection type optical sensor may be used as a ball drop sensor, and the type of the ball B may be determined according to the intensity of the output signal at the center. By discriminating the type of the ball B with the ball drop sensor, the ball throwing mechanisms 60A and 60B to which the ball carrier 40 should transport the ball B can be specified.

  The station driving unit 152 includes driving devices for the medal hopper 13a and the lift-up hopper 25, actuators for realizing the medal discharging operation of the medal discharging unit 18, driving devices such as a motor for reciprocating the pusher tables 22 and 23, and ball insertion An actuator for operating the insertion position selection mechanism 14b of the unit 14, a driving device for driving the ball lifter 27 of the ball transport unit 15, and the like are included. The station effect unit 153 includes effect devices such as lamps and speakers unique to the station unit ST.

  Next, various processes executed by the game machine G will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the management of the payout rate in the game machine G will be described. In the game machine G of this embodiment, each station control unit 150 counts the number of inserted medals M and the number of paid-out medals of each station unit ST, and calculates a payout rate for each station unit ST at an appropriate cycle. When the number of inserted medals M detected by the medal insertion sensor within a predetermined calculation period is NSTin and the number of medals M detected by the medal payout sensor during the same period is NSTout, the value obtained by dividing the latter by the former NSTout / By obtaining the percentage of NSTin, the current payout rate POst of the station unit ST within the calculation period can be specified. However, the number of medals M deposited from the player is held as a credit number, and in exchange for deduction from the credit number, the medal M is inserted from the medal discharge unit 18 into the play field unit 12, and the payout of the medal M is converted to the credit number. When the game machine G has a function of processing by addition, it is necessary to obtain the payout rate POst by adding the amount subtracted from the credit number to the inserted number NSTin and the amount added to the credit number to the payout number NSTout. is there.

  In the game machine G of this embodiment, the processing shown in FIG. 7 is executed in cooperation with each other in the host control unit 100 and each station control unit 150 so that the payout rate POst in each station unit ST is appropriately uniform. The That is, the host control unit 100 executes the entire payout rate management routine at an appropriate period, and each station control unit 150 executes the individual payout rate management routine in synchronization with this. When these routines are started, the station control unit 150 first notifies the host control unit 100 of the payout rate POst calculated by itself in step S11. In response to this, the host control unit 100 acquires the payout rate POst of each station unit ST in step S21, calculates the overall payout rate POall in subsequent step S22, and notifies each station control unit 150 of the calculation result. . As an example, the overall payout rate POall may be a simple average of the payout rates POst of each station unit ST.

  In step S12, the station control unit 150 acquires the payout rate POall from the host control unit 100, and in the subsequent step S13, based on the difference between its own payout rate POst and the overall payout rate POall, the target payout in its own station unit ST. Determine the rate POstttgt. In each station control unit 150, a standard target payout rate POstttgt is set as an initial value in advance. Each station control unit 150 appropriately adjusts the winning probability (probability of winning a winning combination) of the digital lottery game so that the payout rate POst calculated by itself is controlled toward the initial target payout rate POstgtt. To do. Furthermore, when the difference between the payout rate POst of the station and the overall payout rate POall exceeds the allowable range in step S13, the station control unit 150 sets the target payout rate POstttgt so that the difference decreases. Correct it. For example, when the own payout rate POst is higher than the overall payout rate POall, the target payout rate POstttgt is set lower than the initial value. By changing the target payout rate POstttgt in this way, it is possible to suppress variations in the payout rate POst between the station units ST.

  Next, game control in the station unit ST will be described with reference to FIG. In each station unit ST, the pusher tables 22 and 23 are reciprocated at a predetermined cycle, and the medal M is inserted into the play field unit 12 in response to the insertion of the medal M from the medal insertion slot. Executed. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a game basic control routine executed by the station control unit 150 in response to detection of insertion of the medal M from the medal insertion slot. In the game basic control routine of FIG. 8, the station control unit 150 first executes a process necessary for inserting the medal M into the play field unit 12 in step S101. The flow of the medal M at this time is as described with reference to FIG.

  In the next step S102, the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the medal M has entered any of the openings 24a to 24c as checkers. If it is in the checker, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S103 and starts slot lottery in the digital lottery game. That is, the station control unit 150 displays the game screen 200 shown in FIG. 9 on the station monitor 16, and the images to be displayed on each of the variable display portions 201a, 201b, and 201c arranged side by side on the game screen 200. Lottery using random numbers. The picture determination procedure may be performed based on a control rule similar to that of a normal slot machine. The lottery pattern is displayed while giving a predetermined effect (such as animation) to each of the variable display portions 201a, 201b, and 201c. The game screen 200 is also provided with a bingo game unit 210, which will be described later.

  After the end of the slot lottery, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S104, determines whether or not the combination of the three pictures determined by the slot lottery is an outlier, and if it is an outlier, ends the current routine. On the other hand, if the winning combination is not determined in step S104, that is, if a winning combination is established in the slot lottery, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S105 and the subsequent steps and executes processing corresponding to the type of winning combination. That is, the station control unit 150 first determines in step S105 whether or not a “ball” winning combination has been established. If the “ball” combination has been established, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S106, and pays out (injects) the normal ball B1 to the play field unit 12. That is, the satellite control unit 140 is requested to pay out the normal ball B1. In response to the request, the satellite control unit 140 discharges the normal ball B1 from the ball supply mechanism 50A and pays it out to the slope 14a of the ball insertion portion 14 of the station unit ST by the ball carrier 40. In synchronization with the payout of the normal ball B1, the station control unit 150 operates the throwing position selection mechanism 14b of the ball throwing portion 14 to throw the normal ball B1 into an appropriate position in the play field portion 12. When the insertion of the normal ball B1 is completed, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine.

  If the "ball" winning combination is not established in step S105, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S107 and determines whether or not the "normal pattern" winning combination is established in the slot lottery. In the case of a “normal design” winning combination, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S108 and executes a process of supplying the number of medals M associated with the “normal design” winning combination from the medal supply unit 13 to the play field unit 12. To do. In the following, the payout of the medal M means payout of the medal M from the lift-up hopper 25 to the medal payout unit 11, and the supply of the medal M means supply of the medal M from the medal supply unit 13 to the play field unit 12. To do. The supply of the medal M from the medal supply unit 13 may be only via the route via the medal discharge unit 18 and the medal chute 19, but when supplying a large amount of medals M to the play field unit 12 at a time, the route may be via another route. Then, the medal M may be supplied.

  In the following step S109, the station control unit 150 sets the slot lottery mode to the normal mode, and then ends the current routine. The slot lottery mode will be described later. If the “normal pattern” winning combination is not established in step S107, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S110 and determines whether or not the “probability changing pattern” winning combination is established. When the winning combination of the “probability variation pattern” is established, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S111 and supplies the play field unit 12 with the number of medals M associated with the “probability variation pattern”. In the following step S112, the station control unit 150 sets the slot lottery mode to the probability variation mode, and then ends the current routine. The probability variation mode is a mode in which the probability that a winning combination is established in the slot lottery is higher than that in the normal mode. That is, if the winning combination of the “probability variation pattern” is established, the probability variation mode is started in step S112, or the same mode is continued. Then, when the winning of “normal pattern” is established during the probability variation mode, the probability variation mode is terminated by the processing of step S109.

  When the winning combination of the “probability variation pattern” is not established in step S110, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S113, and determines whether or not the winning combination of “bingo feature” is established. If the winning combination of “bingo feature” is established, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S114 and executes bingo card feature setting processing. The bingo card feature setting process changes the player's privilege in the bingo game executed by combining the satellite lottery executed in the satellite unit SA and the bingo card 211 displayed in the bingo game unit 210 of FIG. Thus, the player's expected value regarding the number of medals M to be paid out is changed. Hereinafter, this point will be described.

  FIG. 10 shows the bingo game unit 210 in an enlarged manner. A bingo card 211 is displayed in the bingo game unit 210. The bingo card 211 has a configuration in which nine squares are arranged in a matrix of 3 rows and 3 columns, and numerical values 1 to 9 are appropriately arranged in each square. These numerical values correspond to the numerical values attached to the winning pockets 32a and 33a of the bingo stage 30 of the satellite unit SA. When the ball B falls in either of the winning pockets 32a or 33a in the satellite lottery, the numerical values assigned to the winning pockets 32a and 33a become valid. By arranging three valid numerical values in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, or the diagonal direction of the bingo card 211, bingo is established, and the number of medals displayed in the odds display area 212 is supplied to the play field unit 12. Bingo feature display areas 213 are provided on the left and lower sides of the bingo card 211. In the bingo feature display area 213, feature display portions 214a to 214h are provided in association with the horizontal line, the vertical line, and the diagonal line of the bingo card 211, respectively. In these feature display portions 214a to 214h, bingo is established on the corresponding line, that is, when three valid numerical values are arranged, in addition to the supply of the number of medals M displayed in the odds display area 212, A picture corresponding to the privilege to be given to the player is displayed. All of these benefits are directly or indirectly linked to the payout of medals to the player, and the effects of these privileges on the payout rate are different from each other. In this embodiment, as bonuses, the addition of the bonus number to the number of medals displayed in the odds display area 212, the insertion of the normal ball B1 or the special ball B2 into the play field unit 12, the provision of “JP chance”, etc. are prepared. Yes. In the example of FIG. 10, a pattern indicating the insertion of the special ball B2 is displayed on the feature display units 214a and 214e, and a pattern indicating the insertion of the normal ball B1 is displayed on the feature display units 214b, 214d, 214f and 214h. Each of the patterns indicating the grant of “JP chance” appears. Therefore, for example, when three valid numerical values are arranged in the horizontal direction in the top row of the bingo card 211, the special ball B2 is thrown into the play field unit 12 as bingo is established.

  In the bingo card feature setting process in step S114 of FIG. 8, a bonus that a player acquires when bingo is established by newly adding or modifying a pattern (privilege) that should appear in any of the feature display units 214a to 214h. To change. Thereby, the payout rate of medals can be controlled. For example, when the actual payout rate POst is lower than the target payout rate POstttgt, among a plurality of prepared benefits, benefits that have a greater effect on the direction of increasing the payout rate, in other words, paying out more medals By preferentially selecting the benefits associated with the other benefits, the payout rate POst can be converged faster than the target payout rate POstgt. On the other hand, when the actual payout rate POst is higher than the target payout rate POstttgt, a privilege that has a smaller influence on the direction of increasing the payout rate among a plurality of privileges prepared in advance, in other words, the medal payout amount is The payout rate POst can be converged earlier to the target payout rate POstttgt by preferentially selecting relatively less privileges than other privileges. These benefits are selected by, for example, previously quantifying the impact of each benefit on the payout rate, and basically setting the probability that each benefit will be selected according to the quantified value to increase the payout rate. If you want to control in the direction, but have a higher impact on the payout rate (however, the effect on the direction to increase) is higher than the basic setting, select the payout rate to lower the payout rate What is necessary is just to make it raise the selection probability of the privilege whose influence on is smaller than a basic setting. When the feature setting process is completed in step S114, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine.

  If the winning combination of “bingo feature” is not established in step S113 of FIG. 8, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S115 and determines whether or not the winning combination of “direct satellite” is established. If the winning of “direct satellite” is established, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S123. On the other hand, if the “direct satellite” winning combination is not established, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S116 and identifies that the “direct center” winning combination is established. In subsequent step S123, the station control unit 150 requests the center control unit 130 to execute center lottery, and thereafter ends the current routine. In this case, since the ball B is not carried out to the ball transporting portion 15, the ball B1 is paid out from the ball supply mechanism 50A to the ball carrier 40, and the ball B1 is conveyed to the ball throwing mechanism 60A to execute the satellite lottery. .

  If the medal M is not in the checker in step S102 of FIG. 8, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S120 and determines whether or not the ball B has dropped from the main table 20. If the ball B has not dropped, the current routine is terminated. On the other hand, if the ball B has dropped, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S121, and determines whether or not the dropped ball B is the special ball B2. The type of the ball B is determined as described with respect to the sensor group 151 in FIG. When the dropped ball B is the special ball B2, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S122, and determines that the satellite lottery should be executed in the inner peripheral portion 33 of the bingo stage 30. On the other hand, if the dropped ball B is not the special ball B2, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S123 and determines that the satellite lottery should be executed on the outer peripheral portion 32 of the bingo stage 30. After determining the area where the satellite lottery is to be executed, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S124 and requests the satellite control unit 140 to perform the satellite lottery. In this case, the station control unit 150 also provides the satellite control unit 140 with information specifying whether the satellite lottery should be executed in the outer peripheral portion 32 or the inner peripheral portion 33. After requesting the satellite lottery, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine. In conjunction with the satellite lottery request, the station control unit 150 controls the operation of the ball transport unit 15 so that the dropped ball B is transported to the end of the slope 28.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a satellite lottery routine executed by the satellite control unit 140 in response to a satellite lottery request from the station control unit 150. In the satellite lottery routine, the satellite control unit 140 first determines in step S201 whether the satellite lottery should be executed in the outer peripheral portion 32 or the inner peripheral portion 33 based on the information provided from the station control unit 150. If it is to be executed at the outer peripheral portion 32, the satellite control unit 140 proceeds to step S202, and the ball B (in this case, the normal ball B1) transported by the ball transport portion 15 of the station unit ST is the ball throwing mechanism. The operations of the ball carrier 40 and the ball throwing mechanism 60A are controlled so as to be thrown into the outer peripheral portion 32 from 60A. On the other hand, when the satellite lottery is to be executed in the inner peripheral portion 33, the satellite control unit 140 proceeds to step S203, and the ball B (in this case, the special ball B2) transported by the ball transport portion 15 of the station unit ST. .) Is controlled so that the operation of the ball carrier 40 and the ball input mechanism 60B is controlled.

  After the ball B is thrown in, the satellite control unit 140 proceeds to step S204, and which winning pocket 32a (or 33a) the thrown ball B has fallen into is based on the detection signal of the winning sensor included in the sensor group 141. Read. In the subsequent step S205, the satellite control unit 140 determines whether or not the winning pocket 32a (or 33a) where the ball B has dropped is a JP chance pocket, that is, a winning pocket with a letter “JP chance”. If it is the JP chance pocket, the satellite control unit 140 proceeds to step S206 and requests the center control unit 130 to perform center lottery. If the winning pocket is not a JP chance pocket, step S206 is skipped.

  In the next step S207, the satellite control unit 140 makes the winning pocket 32a (or the ball B dropped) against the host control unit 100 and the station control unit 150 (however, the station control unit 150 that requested the satellite lottery). The number or character of 33a) is notified. After the notification, the satellite control unit 140 ends the satellite lottery routine.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a winning probability determination routine executed by the host control unit 100 in response to a notification of a winning pocket number or character (hereinafter, represented by a number) from the satellite control unit 140. In this routine, the probability of the drop of the ball B in each winning pocket 32a, 33a of the bingo stage 30 (ease of entering the ball B) is not uniform due to the influence of a mechanical error or the like. It is executed to reflect the game control. In this routine, the host control unit 100 first updates the winning count data in response to the winning pocket number notification from the satellite control unit 140 in step S301. The number-of-wins data includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the numbers of the prize pockets (numbers 1 to 9 and “JP”) assigned to the prize pockets 32a and 33a, Is stored in association with each other. The number of winnings is within an appropriate sampling period (for example, the past 1000 lottery times). For example, when receiving a notification that the ball B1 has won a prize pocket 32a numbered 1 in the satellite lottery, 1 is added to the winning number N1 of the pocket number 1, and the oldest lottery opportunity within the sampling period 1 is subtracted from the winning number Nx of the pocket number x (x is 1 to 9 or JP) corresponding to.

  Next, the host control unit 100 calculates a winning probability for each pocket number in step S302. The calculation is a value obtained by dividing the winning numbers N1 to N9 and Njp for each pocket number by the number of lotteries in the sampling period. The calculation of the winning probability of the pocket number JP corresponding to “JP chance” may be omitted. In step S302, the host control unit 100 notifies the station control unit 150 of the winning probability for each calculated pocket number, and then ends the current routine. Note that the station control unit 150 that is the notification destination in step S303 is the control unit 150 of the four station units ST combined with the satellite unit SA including the satellite control unit 140 that has notified the result of the satellite lottery. That is, the winning probability determination routine is executed separately for each unit with the satellite unit SA and the four station units ST combined therewith as one unit.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a bingo game routine executed when the station control unit 150 is notified of the winning pocket number from the satellite control unit 140. In the bingo game routine, the station control unit 150 first activates on the bingo card 211 the same numerical value as the number of the winning pocket 32a or 33a notified from the satellite control unit 140 in step S131. However, if the winning pocket is “JP Chance”, the validation is not performed.

  In subsequent step S132, the station control unit 150 determines whether or not bingo is established by the bingo card 211, that is, whether or not three valid numerical values are arranged in a line. If the bingo is established, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S133, and supplies the play field unit 12 with the total number of medals M of the bingo WIN number and the repeat WIN number as a reward for the bingo establishment. Here, the number of bingo WIN is the number displayed in the odds display area 212 of FIG. The repeat WIN number is the number displayed on the repeat number display unit 215 of FIG. The number of repeat wins will be described later. Further, in step S133, the station control unit 150 displays the row or column in which the bingo is established among the feature display units 214a to 214h of the bingo game unit 210 in FIG. The player is given a privilege corresponding to the pattern that appears on the screen. In this embodiment, for example, privileges such as addition of the number of paid-out medals, insertion of the ball B, and provision of “JP chance” are given. The grant of “JP chance” is a request for center lottery, as in the case where the process proceeds from step S205 to step S206 in FIG.

  In the next step S135, the station control unit 150 resets the feature on the winning line, that is, extinguishes the privilege associated with the winning line. Thereafter, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S136, and acquires the winning probability of each pocket number notified from the host control unit 100. In the following step S137, the station control unit 150 executes rearrangement of numerical values on the winning line while referring to the winning probability of the pocket number and the difference between the payout rate POst and the target payout rate POstttgt. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the middle row of the bingo card is a winning line, the numbers on the winning line are 7, 6, and 4, and the winning probabilities P7, P6, Let us consider a case where a magnitude relationship of P7> P6> P4 exists in P4. In the rearrangement process in step S137, the arrangement order of the three numerical values arranged on the winning line is reset. The central square of the bingo card is a square that can be included in any of the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines. If a numerical value with a high winning probability is placed here, a numerical value with a low winning probability is placed. In comparison with the case where it is done, the probability that bingo will be established becomes relatively high. Therefore, in the rearrangement in step S137, when the target payout rate POstttgt is sufficiently higher than the actual payout rate POst, 7 that is the numerical value having the highest winning probability is arranged in the central square, and the other numerical values are Allocate to squares. Thereby, the probability of bingo establishment is raised. On the other hand, when the target payout rate POstttgt is sufficiently lower than the actual payout rate POst, 4 which is the numerical value having the lowest winning probability is arranged in the central cell, and other numerical values are allocated to the left and right cells. Thereby, the probability of bingo establishment is reduced. In this way, by changing the probability of bingo formation by rearranging numerical values according to the winning probability, the payout rate POst can be changed more quickly toward the target payout rate POstttgt.

  Returning to FIG. 14, the description will be continued. After rearranging the numerical values of the winning lines, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine. In addition, each numerical value of the winning line after the rearrangement is in an invalidated initial state. On the other hand, if bingo is not established in step S132, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S140 and determines whether or not the winning pocket number is a repeat. When the numerical value notified by the satellite lottery has already been validated on the bingo card 211, it is determined to be repeat. If it is determined to be repeat, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S141 and increments the repeat step by one step. That is, the repeat WIN sheet number displayed on the repeat sheet number display unit 215 in FIG. 10 is changed to a value larger by one step. In the example of FIG. 10, the number of repeat WINs gradually increases to 10 when the number of repeats is 1, 20 when 2 and 40 when 3 times. When the bingo is established, medals of the number of repeat wins corresponding to the number of repeats are supplied to the play field unit 12 (see step S133).

  In subsequent step S142, the station control unit 150 executes payout of the normal ball B1 to the play field unit 12. This process may be the same as step S106 in FIG. After paying out the normal ball B1, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine. If it is not a repeat in step S140, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S143 to supply a predetermined number of medals M, and thereafter ends the current routine.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a center lottery routine executed by the center control unit 130 in response to a center lottery request. The center lottery is requested in step S117 in FIG. 8 or step S206 in FIG. 11, and is also required when the bingo feature given in step S133 in FIG. 14 is “JP chance”. In the center lottery routine, the center control unit 130 first executes center lottery in step S401. That is, the large ball 73 is thrown from the large ball throwing mechanism 72 while rotating the large roulette 71. In subsequent step S402, the center control unit 130 determines whether or not the large ball 73 has entered the winning pocket 71a defined as the JP acquisition pocket. When a considerable time is required from the insertion of the large ball 73 until the ball enters, the processing is temporarily interrupted by the insertion of the large ball 73 and the large ball 73 is placed in any winning pocket 71a of the large roulette 71. The process of FIG. 16 may be resumed with the detection of capture as a trigger.

  If it is determined in step S402 that the large ball 73 has been taken into the JP acquisition pocket, the center control unit 130 proceeds to step S403 and plays the number of medals corresponding to the JP winning for the station control unit 150 that has requested center lottery. The supply to the field unit 12 is instructed. After the medal supply instruction, the current routine is terminated. When the center lottery is requested from the satellite control unit 140, the station control unit 150 that has requested the satellite lottery for the satellite control unit 140 becomes the notification destination of the medal supply instruction. On the other hand, if the big ball 73 has not been taken into the JP acquisition pocket in step S402, the center control unit 130 proceeds to step S404 and determines whether or not the big ball 73 has been taken into the winning pocket 71a defined as the grand slot pocket. To do. When the large ball 73 is taken into the ground slot pocket, the center control unit 130 proceeds to step S405, requests the host control unit 100 to execute the grand slot lottery, and thereafter ends the current routine.

  If the large ball 73 is not taken into the ground slot pocket in step S404, the center control unit 130 proceeds to step S406, and supplies the number of medals M associated with the center lottery to the play field unit 12 to the station control unit. 150. In this case, the number of sheets supplied is sufficiently smaller than the number specified in step S403. Different numbers may be designated according to the type of winning pocket 71a into which the large ball 73 is taken. The notification destination of the medal supply instruction is the same as in step S403. After the medal supply instruction, the center control unit 130 ends the current routine.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a grand slot lottery routine executed by the host control unit 100 in response to a grand slot lottery request from the center control unit 130 (step S405 in FIG. 16). In the grand slot lottery routine, the host control unit 100 first executes a grand slot lottery in step S501. The grand slot lottery is a slot lottery in which a winning combination is achieved by a combination of three pictures, as in the digital lottery game executed on the station monitor 16 of the station unit ST. It is displayed on the monitor 70. In determining the pattern combination in the grand slot lottery, in other words, determining the winning probability in the grand slot lottery, the entire payout rate POall calculated in the process of FIG. 7 may be referred to.

  After the grand slot lottery is executed, the host control unit 100 proceeds to step S502, and determines whether or not the “premium mode” winning combination is established in the grand slot lottery. When the winning combination of “premium mode” is established, the host control unit 100 proceeds to step S503 and requests the station control unit 150 to shift to the premium mode. The request destination in this case is the station control unit 150 that has requested the center lottery for the center lottery that triggered the ground slot lottery request in step S405 of FIG. After requesting the transition to the premium mode, the host control unit 100 ends the current routine.

  If the winning combination of “Premium Mode” is not established in step S502, the host control unit 100 proceeds to step S504 and determines whether or not the winning combination of “satellite game” is established. When the winning combination of “satellite game” is established, the host control unit 100 proceeds to step S505, and requests the satellite control unit 140 that has requested center lottery to execute a predetermined center game. After the request, the host control unit 100 ends the current routine. The satellite control unit 140 requested to execute the satellite game executes the satellite game according to a predetermined procedure, and supplies the medal M corresponding to the game result to the station control unit 150 (same as the request destination in step S503). Instruct.

  When the winning combination of “satellite game” is not established in step S504, the host control unit 100 proceeds to step S506, and determines whether or not the winning combination of “medal WIN” is established. When the winning combination of “medal WIN” is established, the host control unit 100 proceeds to step S507, and the station control unit 150 is given a JP number (the supplied number instructed in step S403 in FIG. 16). The station control unit 150 is instructed to supply the number of medals obtained by adding the number associated with the winning combination of “medal WIN”. The instruction destination in this case is the same as in step S503. After requesting medal supply, the host control unit 100 ends the current routine.

  If the winning combination of “medal WIN” is not established in step S506, the host control unit 100 proceeds to step S508 and requests the center control unit 130 to re-execute center lottery. In response to this, the center control unit 130 executes the center lottery of FIG. 16 again. After requesting re-execution of the center lottery, the host control unit 100 ends the current routine.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a premium mode routine executed by the station control unit 150 when the host control unit 100 is requested to shift to the premium mode (step S503 in FIG. 17). This routine is executed instead of the game basic control routine of FIG. 8 when the insertion of the medal M into the play field unit 12 is detected. That is, the game control based on the game basic control routine is not executed when the premium mode is executed. When the premium mode is executed, a game screen 220 shown in FIG. 19 is displayed on the station monitor 16 instead of the game screen 200 shown in FIG. The game screen 220 is common to the game screen 200 of FIG. 9 in that three variable display portions 201a, 201b, and 201c are provided in the horizontal direction, but the continuation condition display portion 221 is replaced with the bingo game portion 210 at the top of the screen. Is different in that it is provided. On the continuation condition display unit 221, the numerical values 1 to 9 are displayed side by side in a horizontal row, and these numerical values are displayed in different modes depending on whether the premium mode is valid or invalid. In FIG. 19, valid numerical values are marked with a circle, and invalid numerical values are marked with a cross.

  In the premium mode routine, the station control unit 150 first executes a medal insertion process in step S151, and then determines in step S152 whether or not the medal M has won the checker. When the medal M enters the checker, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S153, and executes a slot lottery as a digital lottery game executed on the station monitor 16. The winning combination at this time is limited to the case where three identical numerical values are arranged. Further, the winning probability is set higher than that in step S103 in FIG. In subsequent step S154, the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the combination of the patterns obtained by the slot lottery is an outlier, and if it is an outlier, ends the current routine.

  On the other hand, if the winning combination is not a winning combination in step S154, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S155, and supplies the play field unit 12 with the number of medals M corresponding to the winning combination established in the slot lottery. In the following step S156, the station control unit 150 switches between valid and invalid with respect to the winning number, that is, three numerical values. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, when the winning combination is established with three numerical values 3, the numerical value 3 is switched between valid and invalid. For example, in FIG. 19, the numerical value 3 is valid by adding a circle to the numerical value 3 in the continuation condition display unit 221, and therefore when the three numerical values 3 are arranged, the numerical value 3 is effective. Accordingly, the numerical value 3 displayed on the continuation condition display unit 221 is switched from a mode with a circle to a mode with a cross. After switching between valid and invalid, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine.

  On the other hand, if no medal M has entered the checker in step S152, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S160 and determines whether or not the ball B has dropped from the main table 20. If the ball B has not dropped, the current routine is terminated. On the other hand, if the ball B has dropped, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S161, and determines whether or not the dropped ball B is the special ball B2. The type of the ball B is determined as described with respect to the sensor group 151 in FIG. If the dropped ball B is the special ball B2, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S162 and determines that the satellite lottery should be executed on the inner peripheral portion 33 of the bingo stage 30. On the other hand, if the dropped ball B is not the special ball B2, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S163 and determines that the satellite lottery should be executed on the outer peripheral portion 32 of the bingo stage 30. After determining the area where the satellite lottery is to be executed, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S164 and requests the satellite control unit 140 to perform the satellite lottery. In this case, the station control unit 150 also provides the satellite control unit 140 with information specifying whether the satellite lottery should be executed in the outer peripheral portion 32 or the inner peripheral portion 33. After requesting the satellite lottery, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine. In conjunction with the satellite lottery request, the station control unit 150 controls the operation of the ball transport unit 15 so that the dropped ball B is transported to the end of the slope 28.

  The satellite control unit 140 for which the satellite lottery is requested by the process of step S164 in FIG. 18 executes the satellite lottery according to the procedure in FIG. The station control unit 150 receives the result of the satellite lottery and executes a premium mode end control routine shown in FIG. This routine is for controlling the continuation or termination of the premium mode. In the first step S171, the station control unit 150 obtains the winning pocket number notified from the satellite control unit 140. In the next step S172, the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the winning pocket number acquired in step S171 is “JP”, that is, whether or not the ball B has entered the JP chance pocket. If the winning pocket number is “JP”, the process proceeds to step S173 to end the premium mode, and the process returns to the basic game control shown in FIG. Thereafter, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine. Here, only the premium mode is terminated, and if a “JP chance” occurs in the satellite lottery, the process proceeds to the center lottery or lower in FIG.

  When the winning pocket number is not “JP” in step S172 of FIG. 20, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S174 and determines whether or not the winning pocket number is an invalid value. The invalid numerical value here is a numerical value marked with an X in the continuation condition display unit 221 of the game screen 220 in FIG. If the winning pocket number matches the invalid value, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S173. If the winning pocket number is not an invalid value, the station control unit 150 skips step S173 and ends the current process. According to the above routine, when the ball B falls into the winning pocket number corresponding to the invalid value in the satellite lottery, or when the JP chance occurs in the satellite lottery and the processing advances to the center lottery, the premium mode Ends. Therefore, the premium mode continues when the winning pocket number where the ball B has dropped in the satellite lottery matches the valid value.

  The station control unit 150 further has a function of changing the game content of the station unit ST based on the number of balls B present in the play field unit 12. Specifically, when the number of balls B existing in the play field unit 12 is zero, that is, when the ball B does not exist in the play field unit 12, the station control unit 150 performs processing for increasing the expected value for the player's medal acquisition. Execute. Hereinafter, the contents of the processing will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a ball count processing routine executed by the station control unit 150 in order to detect the number of balls B existing in the play field section 12. The station control unit 150 repeatedly executes the routine of FIG. 21 at a predetermined cycle while the medal game is being executed in the station unit ST. In the ball count processing routine, the station control unit 150 first determines whether or not the ball B has been thrown into the play field unit 12 in step S181. The determination can be made using a ball throwing sensor of the ball sensor group included in the sensor group 151. However, whether or not the ball B has been instructed without using the sensor, that is, between the previous execution of the routine of FIG. 21 and the execution of the current routine, step S106 of FIG. Whether or not the ball B is thrown in may be determined based on whether or not step S142 of step 14 is executed.

  If it is determined in step S181 that the ball B has been inserted, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S182, and adds 1 to the count value of the ball counter for storing the number of balls B. Thereafter, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine. The ball counter may be a virtual counter secured in the RAM or the like of the station control unit 150. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S181 that the ball B is not thrown in, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S183 and determines whether or not the fall of the ball B from the play field unit 12 is detected. The determination can be made using a ball drop sensor of the ball sensor group included in the sensor group 151. If it is determined that the ball B has not fallen, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine. On the other hand, if it is determined that the ball B has dropped, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S184 and subtracts 1 from the count value of the ball counter. In next step S185, the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the number of balls B stored in the ball counter is zero. If the number of balls B is 0, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S186 to instruct the start of the empty mode, and thereafter ends the current routine. When the empty mode is started, a special screen may be displayed on the station monitor 16 to notify the player of the start of the empty mode. On the other hand, if the number of balls B is not 0, the station control unit 150 skips step S186 and ends the current routine.

  When the start of the empty mode is instructed in step S186 of FIG. 21, the station control unit 150 executes the empty mode routine of FIG. 22 instead of the game basic control routine of FIG. That is, when the insertion of the medal M into the play field unit 12 is detected, the station control unit 150 executes the routine of FIG. 22 instead of the game basic control routine of FIG.

  In the empty mode routine of FIG. 22, the station control unit 150 first executes a medal insertion process in step S191, and determines whether or not the medal M has won the checker in a subsequent step S192. When the medal M enters the checker, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S193 and executes slot lottery as a digital lottery game executed on the station monitor 16. However, in the slot lottery, the winning combination is set to two types per “ball” meaning the insertion of the ball B or “medal” meaning the supply of the medal M to the play field unit 12. The probability of winning the winning combination of “ball” is set higher than the winning probability of winning the “ball” when the slot lottery is executed according to the game basic control routine of FIG. Further, the probability of winning the “medal” winning combination is set higher than the probability of winning the “normal picture” in the slot lottery executed according to the game basic control routine of FIG. In short, the winning probability is controlled so that the expected value for the player's medal acquisition is higher than the throttle lottery performed under the game basic control routine.

  In subsequent step S194, the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the winning combination of “ball” is won in the slot lottery. If the “ball” is won, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S195 and requests the satellite control unit 140 to pay out the normal ball B1. In response to the request, the satellite control unit 140 discharges the normal ball B1 from the ball supply mechanism 50A and pays it out to the slope 14a of the ball insertion portion 14 of the station unit ST by the ball carrier 40. In synchronization with the payout of the normal ball B1, the station control unit 150 operates the throwing position selection mechanism 14b of the ball throwing portion 14 to throw the normal ball B1 into an appropriate position in the play field portion 12. When the insertion of the normal ball B1 is completed, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S196 and ends the empty mode. That is, the empty mode is terminated with the payout of the normal ball B1. Thereby, the station control unit 150 returns to the game basic control routine of FIG. After execution of step S196, the station control unit 150 ends the current routine.

  If the winning combination of “ball” is not won in step S194 in FIG. 22, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S197 and determines whether or not the winning combination of “medal” is won in the slot lottery. If the “medal” is won, the station control unit 150 proceeds to step S198, and executes a process of supplying a predetermined number of medals M from the medal supply unit 13 to the play field unit 12. In this case, the number of medals M supplied may be the same as that in step S108 in FIG. 8, but a larger number of medals M may be supplied to the play field unit 12. When the supply of the medal M is completed, the station control unit 150 returns to step S191. If a negative determination is made in step S192 or a negative determination is made in step S197, the station control unit 150 returns to step S191.

  According to the above empty mode, when the ball B does not exist in the play field unit 12, the “ball” winning combination is established with a higher probability than the probability that the normal ball B1 is thrown in the game basic control routine, and the normal ball B1. Is input to the play field section 12. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the duration of the state where the ball B is not present in the play field unit 12 as compared with the execution of the game basic control routine. In addition, the probability of winning the “medal” win is also increased, and the expected value for medal acquisition itself is higher than the control state by the game basic control routine. Thereby, even if the ball B no longer exists in the play field unit 12, the player can be motivated to continue the game, thereby improving the operating rate and profitability of the game machine G.

  In the above embodiment, the medal supply unit 13 of the station unit ST plays the ball B as the first game medium supply means, the configuration for executing the pusher game and the digital lottery game of the station unit ST as the basic game execution means. A satellite lottery using the ball B as the second game medium supply means by the ball supply mechanism 50A, 50B and the carrier 40 of the satellite unit SA and the ball insertion unit 14 of the station unit ST to be inserted into the field unit 12. In addition, the ball transport unit 15, the satellite unit SA, and the station control unit 150 of the station unit ST for executing the bingo game corresponding to the lottery result respectively correspond to the payout opportunity giving means. Further, the station control unit 150 functions as medium number detection means by executing the routine of FIG. 21, and also functions as privilege provision means by executing the routine of FIG. Further, the satellite unit SA corresponds to a physical lottery mechanism.

  This invention is not limited to the form mentioned above, It can implement with a various form. The privilege given by the privilege grant means can be changed or added as appropriate as illustrated below. When the ball B does not exist, a privilege may be given by executing a slot lottery in the probability variation mode. You may give a privilege by changing the medal movement path | route of the play field part 12 so that the medal M may enter easily with respect to opening part 24a, 24b, 24c as a checker. Some privilege may be generated for the bingo feature. When a “ball” winning combination is established in the slot lottery, a bonus may be given by paying out the special ball B2 to the play field unit 12 instead of the normal ball B1.

  The basic game is not limited to the combination of the pusher game and the slot lottery, and can be variously changed as long as the game is executed in association with the operation of the first game medium. For example, a pinball or the like may be executed as a basic game. The payout opportunity given when the second game medium is removed from the play field portion can be variously changed. For example, in response to the removal of the second game medium from the play field portion, a payout may be paid out without further lottery processing such as satellite lottery. A prize may be built in the second game medium and paid out as a dividend to the player.

  In the above embodiment, a privilege is given when it is detected that the ball B does not exist in the play field unit 12, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. For example, when the number of the balls B decreases beyond a predetermined number of 2 or more, some privilege may be given even if the balls B remain in the play field unit 12. By setting a plurality of values as a predetermined number that serves as a reference for granting a privilege, the privilege may be granted in stages according to a decrease in the number of balls B. In this case, you may change a privilege into a more advantageous thing, so that the number decreases. Further, the predetermined number serving as a reference for granting a privilege, such as changing the predetermined number according to the game situation, for example, the magnitude of the payout rate, may be variable.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the game machine which concerns on one form of this invention. The perspective view which shows a satellite unit and one station unit combined with this. The figure which shows the flow of the medal in a station unit. The figure which shows the flow of the ball | bowl in a station unit. The perspective view of a center unit. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the control system of a game machine. The flowchart which shows the process which a host control unit and a station control unit perform for payout rate management. The flowchart which shows the game basic control routine which a station control unit performs in response to insertion of a medal. The figure which shows the game screen displayed on the monitor of a station unit. The figure which shows the detail of the bingo game part provided in the game screen of FIG. The flowchart which shows the satellite lottery routine which a satellite control unit performs. The flowchart which shows the winning probability determination routine which a host control unit performs. The figure which shows the winning frequency data which a host control unit hold | maintains. The flowchart which shows the bingo game routine which a station control unit performs in response to the notification of the result of a satellite lottery. The figure for demonstrating the rearrangement method of the numerical value on the winning line in a bingo game. The flowchart which shows the center lottery routine which a center control unit performs. The flowchart which shows the grand slot lottery routine which a host control unit performs. The flowchart which shows the premium mode routine which a station control unit performs instead of a game basic control routine. The figure which shows the outline of the game screen displayed on the monitor of a station at the time of premium mode. The flowchart which shows the premium mode completion | finish control routine which a station control unit performs for the completion | finish determination of premium mode. The flowchart which shows the ball count processing routine which a station control unit performs. The flowchart which shows the empty mode routine which a station control unit performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Play field part 13 Medal supply part 13a Medal hopper 14 Ball insertion part 15 Ball transport part 16 Station monitor 18 Medal discharge part 20 Main table 21 Sub table 22, 23 Pusher table 24a, 24b, 24c Opening part 25 Lift up hopper 30 Bingo stage 32a, 33a Prize pocket 40 Ball carrier 50A, 50B Ball supply mechanism 60A, 60B Ball insertion mechanism 70 Center monitor 71 Large roulette 71a Prize pocket 72 Large ball insertion mechanism 73 Large ball 100 Host control unit 110 Host PC
120 center PC
130 center control unit 140 satellite control unit 150 station control unit 200 game screen 201a, 201b, 201c variable display section 210 bingo game section 211 bingo card 212 odds display area 213 bingo feature display area 214a-214h feature display section 220 game screen 221 continuation Condition display section B Ball (second game medium)
B1 normal ball B2 special ball CN center unit G game machine M medal (first game medium)
SA satellite unit ST station unit

Claims (6)

A first game medium supply means for supplying a first game medium to the play field unit based on a player's operation;
Basic game execution means for executing a basic game in association with the operation of the first game medium input to the play field portion, and giving a player a payout according to the game result of the basic game;
A second game medium supply means for supplying a second game medium of a different type from the first game medium to the play field unit when a predetermined state occurs in the basic game;
A payout opportunity giving means for giving a player an opportunity to win a payout when the second game medium is excluded from the play field portion by the action of the second game medium linked to the action of the first game medium; ,
In game machines equipped with
Medium number detecting means for detecting the number of the second game media existing in the game field portion;
A privilege granting unit for granting a privilege associated with paying out the dividend to the player when the number of the second game media detected by the media number detection unit is less than a predetermined number;
A game machine characterized by comprising:   The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the privilege granting unit grants the privilege by executing a process for increasing a probability that the predetermined state is established in the basic game. The basic game executing means, as a game included in the basic game, plays a winning combination while controlling a winning probability according to a predetermined control rule when the first game medium passes a predetermined position of the play field unit. Perform a lottery process to be generated and execute a lottery game in which a payout is paid directly or indirectly to a player when the winning combination is established;
The privilege granting means executes at least one of processing for increasing the probability that the winning combination is established in the lottery game and processing for increasing the payout amount when the winning combination is established. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the privilege is given. The first game medium is a medal, and the basic game executing means pushes a group of medals stored in the play field portion by a pusher table that reciprocates in the play field portion, and determines a predetermined value in the play field portion. A pusher game in which medals discharged from a range are paid out to a player as a dividend, and a lottery that generates a winning combination while controlling a winning probability according to a predetermined control law when the medals pass a predetermined position of the play field portion When the winning combination is established, a lottery game for directly or indirectly paying out the medal as a payout is executed as a game included in the basic game,
The second game medium supply means considers that the predetermined state has occurred in the basic game when a predetermined game medium payout combination is established in the lottery game, and supplies the second game medium. Run
The privilege granting means is a process for increasing the probability that the game medium payout combination is established in the lottery game, a process for increasing the probability that the winning combination is established in the lottery game, and the winning combination when the winning combination is established. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the bonus is given by executing at least one of the processes for increasing the number of medals.   The said privilege provision means provides the said privilege, when the state where the said 2nd game medium does not exist in the said play field part is detected, The said privilege is provided. Game machine.   The payout opportunity giving means takes in the second game medium excluded from the play field section, and gives a physical action to the second game medium to randomly draw at least one option from a plurality of options The game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a lottery mechanism, wherein payout of a dividend to the player is controlled in association with a lottery result obtained by the physical lottery mechanism.

Images