JP2008125994A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To establish a display form of varied display information without forcing a player to make troublesome operations, imposing a burden on a control system, and making the player feel fatigue. <P>SOLUTION: Since priorities of superposing display layers on top of another (layer structure) are set to ensure that image data to be naturally positioned ahead is displayed, a perspective image can be formed by a simple control. A clear image (beautiful image) can be obtained in an area (background area 216) which is displayed for long hours and is more likely to be gazed at by a player, by using a large memory capacity, and thereby reducing a feeling of fatigue in the player's eyes in proportion to its "beautifulness". <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is provided with a display device that informs a player of information with an effect image, fires a game ball on the game board surface, and progresses the game mainly by moving the game ball along the game board surface. The present invention relates to a gaming machine controlled by game control means.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in gaming machines, for example, pachinko machines, there is a model provided with a display device (generally, an LCD (liquid crystal display device) is applied), and information is displayed to a player. . When this information is displayed, various effects are applied and the device is devised to enhance the player's preference.

  For example, on the LCD, three symbol variation columns are scroll-displayed, and the winning or winning of the start winning lottery is notified by the symbol arrangement when each column finally stops. There are many Arabic numerals as symbols, but there are also cases where characters that match the theme of Chinese numerals, alphabets, or pachinko machines are used.

  With regard to the effect at the time of displaying the information, there are a technique for switching an image display area by a switch operation (see Patent Document 1), a technique for switching an image display area size (see Patent Document 2), and a design display area. A technique (see Patent Document 3) for moving by one digit in an image display area has been proposed.

For example, in Patent Document 2, the symbol is composed of a combination of identification information and an identification code, the combined identification information and the identification code are regarded as the same, and for each, for example, a number is assigned to the identification information. On the other hand, an animal is assigned to an identification code, and weighted according to the strength of power according to the type of animal. In addition, only the identification information, only the identification code, and the combination of the identification information and the identification code can be used to visually represent the winning / losing lottery result of the winning combination. It is configured to be recognized through.
JP 11-3192449 A JP 2003-265771 A JP 2003-199933 A

  However, in the prior art, particularly in Patent Document 1, the player needs to perform another operation in addition to performing a steering operation (firing instruction operation), so the work of switching the image area during the game is troublesome. After all, there is a high possibility that the switching operation will not be executed. Therefore, the function cannot be sufficiently exhibited.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, compared with the conventional image display control, the combination of visual information handled by the control system is diversified, the load on the control system tends to be excessive, the storage capacity is reduced in the progress of the original game, There is a risk that the control processing speed will decrease.

  Furthermore, in Patent Document 3, although the symbol moves depending on the correlation with other effect characters and can add a visual change, moving an important symbol for displaying the lottery result within the image display area Therefore, there is a possibility that the player's optic nerve is easily fatigued, which may cause a decrease in game motivation.

  In consideration of the above-mentioned facts, the present invention establishes a display form of display information that is rich in change without causing the player to perform complicated operations, overloading the control system, and giving the player a feeling of fatigue. The object is to obtain a gaming machine that can be used.

  The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a display device that informs the player of the information with an effect image, launches a game ball on the game board surface, and mainly moves the game ball along the game board surface. A game machine for controlling the progress of the played game by means of game control means, wherein a display screen layer having a multi-layer structure is artificially controlled along the line-of-sight direction of the player with respect to the display area of the display device. Set, the display screen layer that is the foreground layer relatively closest to the player is the foreground image display screen layer that displays the foreground image, and the display screen layer that is the last layer relatively far from the player is A background image display screen layer for displaying a background image, and a display screen layer between the foreground image display screen layer and the background image display screen layer is displayed as a notification image for visually informing the player of information. Notification image display screen with at least two layers Display control means for displaying images, and foreground image area changing means for changing the display area of the foreground image in the foreground image display screen layer, wherein the display control means is based on the foreground image area changing means. A notification image is displayed in an area of the notification image display screen layer that is concealed by the foreground image and is then canceled by executing region change.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the display device notifies the player of the information with the effect image.

  The game control means launches a game ball on the game board surface and controls the progress of the game mainly based on the movement of the game ball along the game board surface.

  The display control means artificially sets a display screen layer having a multi-layer structure on the display area of the display device along the direction of the player's line of sight.

  At this time, the display screen layer that is the foreground layer closest to the player is the foreground image display screen layer that displays the foreground image.

  The display screen layer that is the last layer relatively farthest from the player is a background image display screen layer that displays a background image.

  Further, a display screen layer between the foreground image display screen layer and the background image display screen layer includes at least two notification image display screen layers for displaying a notification image for visually informing the player of information. To do.

  The display control means displays an image on each display screen layer.

  The foreground image area changing means changes the display area of the foreground image in the foreground image display screen layer.

  Here, the display control means specifies the display area of the notification image. The specific area is an area of the notification image display screen layer that is concealed by the foreground image by the area change execution by the foreground image area changing unit and is subsequently released.

  As a result, since the notification image is not simply displayed but displayed during the region change period between the foreground image and the background image by the region changing means, the player feels the display information display indirectly (through the region change). Therefore, the display information can be reliably recognized.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, important information display for displaying important information having the highest importance for the player on the side closer to the player than the foreground image display layer. A screen layer is provided.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the display screen layer is usually a three-layer structure, but when there is information (important information) that is always displayed in front of the player's line of sight, the important information is displayed. If the important information display screen layer for displaying is set closer to the player than the foreground image display layer, the important information is surely notified.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the important information is output when the detection means provided on the accessory provided on the game board surface detects the game ball. It is the number-of-holds information when the lottery executed based on the starting signal is put on hold.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the number-of-holds information is one of very important information for the player, and the progress of the game may be changed depending on the number of the holds. This hold information is displayed so as to be always visible.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display resolution for each display layer of the foreground image display layer, the background image display layer, and the notification image display layer according to any one of the first to third aspects. Is set independently.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the images displayed on the display device are classified, the images are classified into images that are displayed for a long time and images that are displayed in a short time, or the player's line of sight matches. Images that are stared at the camera, or images that are within the range of the field of view but are not aligned.

  At this time, by making the resolution different for the classified images, it is possible to make a difference in image quality even with the same image memory capacity.

  Using this difference in resolution, for example, a “beautiful image” can be psychologically impressed on the player.

  The means for varying the resolution includes image information that is relatively easy to draw attention, such as drawing materials for so-called reach effects, jackpot / reach indication effects, and character materials (personifications) related to this type of effect. Display material for presentation information that may be advantageous to the player, such as display animals, special characters, symbols, etc.), and store it in a memory such as a ROM with a relatively higher resolution than the others. .

  On the other hand, the background image, the foreground image, the change / stop pattern image, etc. are stored in a memory such as a ROM with a relatively small value for the drawing resolution, and the occupation ratio according to the relative resolution difference at the time of drawing The drawing memory (RAM) is utilized.

  Although the rendering resolution is classified in units of images classified as described above, if the resolution is determined for each display layer, the resolution can be systematically changed, so that the addition of rendering control can be reduced.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the notification image display screen layer has a two-layer structure, and each includes at least a character image, a still image, and a moving image. Is composed of at least one or a combination of two or more, one of which is a symbol variation pattern effect image for notifying the result of the lottery executed based on the start signal, and the other is information irregularly to the player The feature is that it is a notification image for notifying.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a wide variety of effects can be constructed by using at least one of a character image, a still image, a moving image, or a combination of two or more images displayed on the notification image display screen layer. can do.

  Further, the notification image display screen layer has a two-layer structure, one is a symbol variation pattern effect image for notifying the result of the lottery executed based on the start signal, and the other is information irregularly to the player. This is a notification image for notification. By using these properly, the variation of production can be increased.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the display device includes a game ball passage area that is a main part of the game board surface in the direction of the player's line of sight. It is characterized by being stacked and arranged.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the display area of the display device is overlapped with the game area, the moving real image of the game ball and the image such as the effect can be viewed in the same field of view.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a display form of display information rich in change is established without causing the player to perform complicated operations, placing a burden on the control system, or causing the player to feel tired. It has an excellent effect of being able to.

(Configuration of pachinko machine)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lower decoration 12 serving as a decorative panel is attached to the lower front portion of the pachinko machine 10.

  Further, a glass frame 16 fitted with a glass plate 14 is arranged on the upper part of the undergarment 12 of the pachinko machine 10, and the glass frame 16 is attached so that it can be opened and closed with its left end portion pivotally supported. On the back side of the glass frame 16, a rectangular opening is provided, and a game board 100 that can be replaced is set. The game board 100 is attached to the glass plate 14 with the glass frame 16 closed. It comes to oppose.

  Around the glass plate 14 in the glass frame 16, an indicator lamp 20 for lighting effect is generated to produce an effect effect by lighting by turning on, turning off and flashing according to the progress of the game. Medium / high sound speakers 22L and 22R for stereo-outputting sound effects, BGM, audio and the like are arranged.

  An integrated dish 24 is disposed below the glass frame 16. A firing handle 26 for adjusting the firing force (flying distance) of the hit ball is attached to the lower right portion of the integrated dish 24. The integrated plate 24 incorporates a speaker 22W (see FIG. 5) for bass that forms a 2.1 surround system together with the speakers 22L and 22R.

(Game board configuration)
FIG. 3 shows a game board 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The game board 100 is hereinafter referred to as a transparent game board 100 because a transparent flat synthetic resin material is applied as a substrate.

  In the transparent gaming board 100, an arc-shaped outer rail 102, a backflow prevention valve 103, and an inner rail 104 are attached in the vicinity of the outer peripheral end portion. A circular region surrounded by the outer rail 102, the backflow prevention valve 103 and the inner rail 104 is fired from a launching device (not shown) and jumps out of the discharge port 105 partitioned by the backflow prevention valve 103. The played game ball PB can be moved by its own weight drop, and this area is a game area 101 in which a game is played.

  On the back side of the transparent gaming board 100, a large liquid crystal display device (LCD) 200 having a display surface facing at least substantially the entire game area 101 is disposed. That is, the game area 101 is the display area 201 of the LCD 200, and almost the entire field of view of the player is covered.

  In the game area 101, a passing gate (through chucker) 118 is arranged on the left side of FIG. In addition, a special symbol start winning opening (start chucker) 108 is arranged at the lower part of FIG. 3, and further below the special symbol starting winning opening 108 is located near the lower end of the game area 101. Thus, an attacker 112 is arranged.

  The attacker 112 is provided with an opening / closing door 116, which opens or closes when the opening / closing door 116 is opened or closed. When the open / close door 116 is opened, the game ball dropped on the open / close door 116 is guided by the open / close door 116 and wins the attacker 112.

  In addition, the game area 101 is provided with a windmill 122 and a large number of game nails 123 that guide a game ball that falls by itself in the game area 101 to a predetermined route.

  Further, below the center of the transparent gaming board 100, a stage 124 is provided in which a path for the game ball PB is provided in the back side passage and the front side passage of the transparent gaming board 100. The game ball PB is a windmill 122. It is guided on the stage 124 by the game nail 123 or the like. The game ball PB guided on the stage 124 can easily win the special symbol start winning opening 108.

  In addition, an out port 124 through which the dislodged ball is discharged to the back side of the transparent game board 100 is provided at the lowest position of the transparent game board 100.

(Control system configuration)
Next, the control system of the pachinko machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the control system of the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment is configured around a main control unit 150. The main control unit 150 stores a basic program relating to games, and the operation of each unit is controlled based on a command signal from the main control unit 150.

  The main control unit 150 includes a start winning sensor 180 for detecting a winning ball to the special symbol starting winning port 108, a passing gate winning sensor 184 for detecting a winning ball to the passing gate 118 which is a normal symbol starting port, and a special game state. A large winning sensor 186 for detecting a winning ball to the attacker 112 that is opened at the time of the winning is connected to each of the sensors, and each of these sensors outputs a detection signal to the main control unit 150 when the winning ball is detected. If necessary, if there is a V zone in the attacker 112 that triggers the round of big hit processing, a V zone sensor 188 that detects that the V zone has been passed is arranged. Established.

  Further, a solenoid 174 for operating the electric tulip 110, a solenoid 175 for opening / closing the door 116 of the attacker 112, and a holding lamp 176 are connected to the main controller 150, respectively.

  Here, when the game ball PB passes through the passing gate 118, the winning symbol winning sensor 184 detects this and the lottery of winning or losing the normal symbol (hereinafter referred to as “normal drawing lottery”) is sent to the main control unit 150. The lottery result is notified using the LCD 200, and when the winning is achieved, the main control unit 150 drives and controls the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 174 to open the electric tulip 110 for a predetermined time.

  Further, when the game ball PB wins the special symbol start winning port 108, the main winning part winning / losing lottery (special symbol lottery) is executed by the main control unit 150 by detecting this with the start winning sensor 180. The special drawing lottery is notified using the LCD 200, and in the case of winning, the main control unit 150 controls the game state to shift from the normal game state to the special game state as a big hit process.

  The special game state is a game state that is repeated for a plurality of rounds (generally 15 rounds) when the attacker 112 opens for a predetermined time (generally 30 seconds) and then closes the operation for one round. Many game balls PB win the attacker 112, and a lot of winnings can be expected. Normally, the maximum number of winnings in one round is limited to 10. During the jackpot process (special gaming state), the LCD 200 is used to execute an image effect having a series of stories that spans a plurality of rounds.

  Information (start winning signal, jackpot signal, symbol determination signal) indicating the progress of the game is transmitted from the main control unit 150 to the hall computer via the board external terminal 190.

  Furthermore, an effect control unit 152 and a payout control unit 154 are respectively connected to the main control unit 150, and these control units are controlled by command transmission from the main control unit 150.

  The LCD 200 is connected to the effect control unit 152 via the symbol control unit 156. Further, the effect control unit 152 controls lighting, extinction, and blinking of the light emitting elements 126 for lighting effects provided in various game components of the game board 100 and the indicator lamp 20 provided in the glass frame 16, Furthermore, the output of a sound effect etc. is controlled by operating the speakers 22L, 22R, 22W provided on the front surface of the glass frame 16.

  On the LCD 200 controlled by the effect control unit 152, an effect video of a symbol variation pattern for informing the result of the special symbol lottery is displayed, and the BGM at the time of the symbol variation pattern effect is displayed from the speakers 22L, 22R, and 22W. Is output. Thereby, the player can enjoy the production | presentation by the design symbol corresponding to the result of special drawing lottery through vision and hearing. The contents displayed by the hold lamp 176 are displayed on the LCD 200.

  Further, the payout control unit 154 is connected to the payout device 160 and the launch control unit 164, and the launch control unit 164 is connected to the launch device 40. The payout control unit 154 operates the payout device 160 provided in the pachinko machine 10 to control the payout and lending ball payout and stop operations and the number of payouts. Further, the launch control unit 164 activates the launch device 40 by operating the launch handle 26 (see FIG. 1) by the player to start launching the game ball PB and launch force according to the operation amount of the launch handle 39. To control.

  Further, the payout control unit 154 transmits payout information to the hall computer installed in the hall via the frame external terminal 191.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in order to effectively and functionally use the display area 201 of the LCD 200 capable of displaying game information over almost the same area as the game area 101, as shown in FIG. Symbol variation pattern effect image 210 for notifying each lottery result, number-of-holds information image 212 for notifying the number of holds, and notice information image (notification image) 214 appearing irregularly according to the progress of the game Display control is performed in accordance with the gaming state at that time, such as (see FIG. 6).

  Further, during the jackpot processing, an image effect during the jackpot processing is performed on the display area 201 of the LCD 200.

(Layer structure of display screen layer)
Here, in the display control by the symbol control unit 156 in accordance with the gaming state, the display area 201 of the LCD 200 is controlled by the background image display screen layer 216 and the foreground image display screen layer 218 as shown in FIG. Are classified into a first notification image display screen layer 220, a second notification image display screen layer 222, and an important information display screen layer 224 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “display layer 226”).

  Each display layer 226 is an image in which an image is displayed in a necessary region on a transparent base plate. Of the display layers 226, the important information display screen layer 224 is a peculiar display screen layer, and will be described separately from the other three display layer screen layers.

  The background image display screen layer 216 is positioned on the farthest side when a sense of depth (a feeling of depth) is given to the display image of the display area 201.

  The foreground image display screen layer 218 is positioned in the foreground when a sense of depth (a feeling of depth) is given to the display image in the display area 201.

  In addition, the first notification image display screen layer 220 and the second notification image display screen layer 222 are positioned between the background image display screen layer 216 and the foreground image display screen layer 218, and are images of design variation pattern effects, respectively. A notice information image regarding information to be notified to the player irregularly, such as reach confirmation, is displayed. For this reason, when viewed from the player, it is superimposed on the background image and is hidden by the foreground image. In the present embodiment, the first notification image display screen layer 220 is in the relative position on the back side, and the second notification image display screen layer 222 is in the front side.

  Here, the display area of the foreground image is changed (the area of the transparent base plate portion is changed) (see FIG. 6). If the foreground image changes, the appearance of the background image changes accordingly.

  Using the foreground image and the background image area variation, it is possible to produce the appearance of the notice image 214 displayed on the second notification image display screen layer 222 shown in FIG.

  That is, as viewed from the player, the area of the foreground image display screen layer 218 is gradually enlarged (at this time, the area of the background image display screen layer 216 is reduced), and then the area of the foreground image display screen layer 218 is reduced. (At this time, the area of the background image display screen layer 216 is enlarged).

  At this time, the second notification image display screen layer is as if it had existed before on the far side of the foreground image display screen layer 218 that was first enlarged (the laborious side of the reduced background image display screen layer 216). A preview image 214 is displayed at 222. Thereafter, as the foreground image display screen layer 218 shrinks, the notice image 214 is gradually exposed (notification effect).

  On the other hand, the important information display screen layer 224 is a display layer arranged on the player side further than the foreground image display screen layer 218 described above as the forefront side of the player's line of sight. The information image 212 is limited.

  The reserved number information image 212 is a part of the foreground image, and is a maximum of four substantially circular images displayed on the upper edge portion of the display area 201 of the LCD 200, and the display number is 0 depending on the reserved number. Change to ~ 4. Basically, it does not affect the display content in the design variation pattern production or the like, but is always displayed in the forefront.

  In the means for varying the resolution, image information that is relatively easy to draw attention, such as drawing materials for so-called reach effects, jackpot / reach indication effects, and character materials related to this kind of effects (personified) (Including animals, special persons, symbols, etc.), that is, display materials for presentation information that seems to be advantageous to the player are stored in a memory such as a ROM with a relatively higher resolution than others.

  On the other hand, the background image, the foreground image, the change / stop pattern image, etc. are stored in a memory such as a ROM with a relatively small value for the drawing resolution, and the occupation ratio according to the relative resolution difference at the time of drawing The drawing memory (RAM) is utilized.

  Although the rendering resolution is classified in units of images classified as described above, if the resolution is determined for each display layer, the resolution can be systematically changed, so that the addition of rendering control can be reduced.

(Notification production)
In the symbol variation pattern effect screen shown in FIG. 5, when reaching the reach state, one reach effect selected from a plurality of types of reach effects is executed. FIG. 6 shows one of the reach effects, and executes the reach effect in which the image displayed on the periphery of the display area 201 of the LCD 200 changes.

  That is, the foreground image display screen layer 218 displayed at the periphery of the display area 201 is an image in which two warriors 218L and 218R face each other in a cross-armed state. It gradually protrudes from the state of (A) to the center of the display area 201 (see FIG. 6B → FIG. 6C → FIG. 6D).

  At this time, an area (secondary area) in which the notification image 214 can be concealed is formed on the back of the warriors 218L and 218R in the state of FIG. 6 (D), as shown in FIGS. 6 (E) to 6 (F). As described above, when the warped warrior 218R moves backward, the notification image 214 is displayed in the secondary area of the display area 201.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram functionally showing image display control on the display area 201 of the LCD 200 in the symbol control unit 156. Note that this block diagram does not limit the hardware configuration but is functionally classified.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the command signal from the effect control unit 152 is input to the command analysis unit 254.

  The command analysis unit 254 analyzes the input command signal. In FIG. 8, a display command such as a background image and a foreground image that are simultaneously displayed before and after the symbol variation pattern image, the notification effect image, the reserved number image, and especially the symbol variation pattern image is input.

  The analysis result of the command is sent to the image data reading unit 256. In the image data reading unit 256, the background image data reading unit 258, the foreground image data reading unit 260, the variation pattern image data reading unit 262, the notification image data reading unit 264, the reserved number image data, respectively, according to the type of image to be read. A reading unit 266 is provided, and each accesses the image data memory 268 to read out desired image data.

  The image data reading unit 256 is connected to the display layer assignment unit 270.

  When the read image data is input, the display layer assigning unit 270 assigns it to each of the five display screen layers. Each assigned display screen layer is sent to the display section 10 272.

  The display execution unit 272 arranges the display screen layers sent from the display layer allocation unit 270 in a predetermined order and displays them on the LCD 200 via the LCD driver 278. At this time, the display image is preferentially displayed on the display screen layer relatively positioned on the front side.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

(Game flow of pachinko machine 10)
In the game using the pachinko machine 10, when the player operates the launch handle 26, the ball is supplied to the launch device 40 (see FIG. 4) one by one and is launched upward by the launch device 40. The launched game ball PB is driven into the game area 101 of the game board 100 along the outer rail 102 and falls in the game area 101 while changing the direction by hitting the game nail 123. Then, the game ball PB that has reached the lower end of the game area 101 without winning a prize is collected into the pachinko machine 10 from the out port 124.

  Here, when the special symbol start winning slot 108 is won, the main control unit 150 executes the special symbol lottery winning / losing lottery (special symbol lottery processing), and the special symbol lottery result is displayed on the LCD 200 for production. The special symbol 250 is changed in a predetermined pattern, and is stopped and displayed through the changed pattern.

(Big jackpot processing)
In the special symbol lottery, as a notification of the lottery result, a predetermined combination of predetermined jackpot symbols such as “444” and “777”, for example, is displayed in the display area of the LCD 200, and an indicator lamp for lighting effects The player is notified that the jackpot has occurred by adding effects such as blinking 20 and sound effect output from the speakers 22L, 22R, and 22W, and executes predetermined jackpot processing.

  As the jackpot process, the attacker 112 is opened by, for example, 10 counts (winning number) or a maximum of 30 seconds (one open time) / up to 15 or 16 rounds by opening and closing the opening / closing door 116.

  In the case of a game specification in which a V zone is provided in the attacker 112, an operation of continuing the next round by performing winning in the V zone when the attacker 112 is released once is performed.

  Accordingly, the player can easily win a lot of prize balls by, for example, receiving 15 payouts per winning prize, for example, by making the released gaming balls PB win the attacker 112 easily.

  Here, during the above-described symbol variation pattern production, there is a case where a notice production is performed in order to give a sense of expectation that the result of the special drawing lottery is winning, that is, a big win has occurred. There are various types of notice effects, among them, “In the image area where the pattern variation pattern effect is executed, the background area and the foreground area change, and the notice image appears by multiplying this change. There is a notice production that says “Make it happen”. In this case, since the occupied area of the display area 201 of the LCD 200 changes (changes) along the time axis, the arbitration work of the image display area becomes complicated.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the context based on the player's line of sight in each image data is set in advance by the layer structure.

  FIG. 9 shows the flow of image display control in the symbol control unit 156.

  In step 300, it is determined whether or not a command is input from the effect control unit 152. If the determination is negative, the routine ends. If an affirmative determination is made in step 300, the process proceeds to step 302 to analyze the command.

  In the next step 304, the background image data is read from the image data memory 268 based on the result of command analysis (designated command), and the process proceeds to step 306.

  In the next step 306, foreground image data is read from the image data memory 268 based on the result of command analysis (designated command), and the process proceeds to step 308.

  In the next step 308, the fluctuation pattern image data is read from the image data memory 268 based on the result of command analysis (designated command), and the process proceeds to step 310.

  In the next step 310, the notification image data is read from the image data memory 268 based on the result of command analysis (designated command), and the process proceeds to step 312.

  In the next step 312, the pending number image data is read from the image data memory 268 based on the result of command analysis (designated command), and the process proceeds to step 314.

  In step 314, the image data is sent to the display execution unit 272 and the initial display area setting unit 270, and then each image data read in step 316 is assigned to each display layer. Then, in step 318, the display layers are played in a predetermined order. Are arranged so as to overlap in the direction of the person's line of sight (on control), and the process proceeds to step 322. In step 322, display on the display area 201 of the LCD 200 is started.

  In the next step 326, it is determined whether the image display is completed. If the determination in step 326 is affirmative, this routine ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, for each of the images classified into several displayed in the display area 201 of the LCD 200, the display layer is preliminarily determined based on the context based on the player's line of sight. The priority order of superimposition (layer structure) is set, and when the display area overlaps, the image data that is necessarily positioned on the front side is displayed, so it is easy to display on a flat display screen. An image with a sense of perspective can be formed by the control. In addition, the resolution can be easily changed for each image area. Accordingly, in the display area 201 of the 20-inch LCD 200 as in the present embodiment, the resolution of the periphery (foreground image), which is a relatively insignificant image area, is reduced, and the screen, which is a relatively important image area, is displayed. It is easy to increase the resolution of the central portion (background image). Therefore, it is possible to obtain a clear image (clean image) by spending a lot of memory capacity in an area that is displayed for a long time and is easily watched by the player, and the image is proportional to the “cleanness”. The feeling of eye fatigue can be reduced.

(Resolution of the image displayed in the display area 201 of the LCD 200)
Hereinafter, the resolution of an image (hereinafter collectively referred to as “material”) including a background image, a foreground image, a symbol variation pattern image, a notification image, and a reserved number image will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the material is created separately for SVGA display (800 × 600 pixel resolution) and XGA display (1024 × 768 pixel resolution). There are 256 colors and 65536 colors according to the standards described later.

  Note that the display performance of the LCD 200 is 16777216 colors, but 65536 colors are used as the upper limit. The reason is to save the memory capacity of the pachinko machine 10. The image memory in the pachinko machine 10 is a ROM with an upper limit of 4 Gbit, and the color of the image is limited because the image material (moving image / still image) and the image control program are stored. Yes.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the LCD 200 of the pachinko machine 10 has a display resolution (that is, a beautiful display resolution) for a material (display image) that may be displayed for a relatively long time during business hours (that is, a display resolution). XGA) is applied and others are saving memory capacity based on the idea of applying lower resolution (ie SVGA) than XGA.

  As a result, even if the preview image is displayed with a relatively low resolution image with a low display frequency, the resolution of the symbol variation pattern image displayed for a long time is higher, so the overall impression of the pachinko machine 10 is “beautiful. It can make a strong psychological impression as an “image”.

  For example, a notice image for a notice effect has a lower display frequency, and can create an image that can withstand pure viewing with 256 depiction colors. Therefore, when drawing with 6536 colors is considered to be a waste of memory capacity, it is possible to save memory by adopting 256 colors.

  On the other hand, in the case where a subtle hue is expressed, such as a symbol variation pattern image that is frequently displayed during normal games, it is preferable to draw with 65536 colors.

(About video)
Usually, means for reducing the memory capacity by subtracting colors is used for image compression. That is, the memory capacity is reduced by using the same number of dots with slightly different gradations for the same color. For example, 256 colors can be expressed in 1 byte, 65536 colors in 2 bytes, and the memory capacity can be halved by compression.

  However, human vision has a difference in sensibility, and depending on the color reduction procedure (dedicated color reduction application program), a color (color development) different from the original movie image may be felt when visually observed.

  For this reason, movie data having 65536 colors is applied to a moving image.

  By the way, when the moving image is displayed on the display area 201 of the LCD 200 for production, a long material is created in advance, and “in point” to “out point” suitable for the moving image production are extracted. Or edit and create material.

  In the present embodiment, a relatively short next loop moving image material is created, and a moving image loop is displayed as a part of the background image to reduce the storage memory capacity of the material.

  When the moving image material (loop) is adopted as the background image, once the moving image is reproduced, the control system only loops the reproduction of the moving image, so that the program capacity is reduced.

  Based on the above, in the pachinko machine 10 to which the 20-inch size LCD 200 is applied as in the present embodiment, the resolution and the number of colors of the background image, foreground image, symbol variation pattern image, preview image, and reserved number image are set. By doing so, it is possible to give a strong psychological impression of “beautiful images”.

  As an example, in the display area 201 of the LCD 200 shown in FIG. 5, the background area 216 has a high resolution, the foreground area 218 has a low resolution, the symbol variation pattern image 210 has a low resolution during variation, and has a high resolution after stopping. The low resolution and the reserved number image 212 have a high resolution, so that a “beautiful image” can be impressed as a whole.

  Although not described in detail in the present embodiment, the pachinko machine 10 according to the present embodiment has the following characteristics (there is some overlap with the present embodiment).

  (1-1) Demonstration symbol displayed so as to move outside the symbol display region by providing a partition image (foreground region 218) for visually clearly partitioning the symbol display region and the background region (background region 216). In an image display of a gaming machine in which display control is performed such that (special symbol 250) disappears while being displayed so as to pass behind the partition image (foreground region 218) at the display position of the partition image (foreground region 218). The position or shape of the (foreground region 218) changes according to the effect, and the demo image (special symbol) in which a part of the partition image (foreground region 218) is deformed and changed while the demo symbol (special symbol 250) changes. 250) is partially blocked.

  A more varied image display effect can be realized.

  (1-2) In (1-1), at least part of the images of the opposing partition images (foreground areas 218) are deformed and contacted within the fluctuation area of the demo symbol (special symbol 250). To do.

  (1-3) In (1-1) or (1-2), the partition image (foreground region 218) is drawn in the vertical direction on the display screen, and a pair of partitions that partition the symbol display region in the vertical direction with respect to the entire screen. A vertical partition image (foreground region 218) and a pair of horizontal partition images (foreground region 218) drawn in the horizontal direction and partitioning the symbol display region horizontally with respect to the entire screen are provided. When a part of the demo symbol (special symbol 250) that is fluctuating in the symbol display region is blocked by deformation, or when the opposing vertical partition image (foreground region 218) comes into contact with the demo symbol (special symbol 250), It is characterized by contacting with.

  (2) A partition image (foreground region 218) for visually clearly partitioning the symbol display region and the background region (background region 216) is provided, and a demo symbol (special) displayed so as to move outside the symbol display region In an image display of a gaming machine in which display control is performed such that the symbol 250) is displayed so as to pass behind the partition image (foreground region 218) at the display position of the partition image (foreground region 218), the partition image (foreground) is displayed. The position or shape of the area 218) changes according to the effect, and part of the partition image (foreground area 218) is deformed while the demo pattern (special pattern 250) changes, and part of the partition image (foreground area 218). Or it changes so that the whole may vibrate with a predetermined period.

  (3-1) The notice image is displayed by blocking almost the entire display area of the changing demo symbol (special symbol 250).

  It is possible to produce an effect that gives the player a strong expectation with respect to the result of the symbol variation.

  (3-2) In (3-1), the preview image is also displayed by blocking at least a part of the vertical partition image (foreground region 218) that partitions the symbol display region in the vertical direction with respect to the entire screen.

(3-3) In (3-1) or (3-2), the notice image includes a region where a board surface component such as a nail of a transparent game board (transparent game board 100) is disposed. And
(4-1) Each time a multi-row demo symbol (special symbol 250) stops changing, the demo symbol (special symbol 250) irrelevant to the winning / losing confirmation of the lottery in relation to other symbol columns is It is displayed lighter than the demo symbol (special symbol 250) that can be related to the failure confirmation, and the symbol related to the winning / failing confirmation of the lottery is made conspicuous.

  It becomes easier for the player to check the symbols related to the winning / failing.

  (4-2) In (4-1), when all the demo symbols (special symbol 250) in a plurality of columns are stopped, it is irrelevant to the winning / losing confirmation of each symbol column remaining in the symbol display area. The demo symbol (special symbol 250) is displayed lighter than the demo symbol (special symbol 250) related to the winning / losing confirmation, and the symbols and symbol strings relating to the winning / losing confirmation of the lottery are conspicuous.

  (5) The notice image is displayed between the partition image (foreground area 218) and the display area of the changing demo symbol (special symbol 250).

  It is possible to produce an effect that gives the player a sense of expectation for the result of symbol variation.

  (6) The preview image is displayed between the vertical partition image (foreground region 218) displayed in the vertical (vertical) direction and the horizontal partition image (foreground region 218) displayed in the horizontal (horizontal) direction. Features.

  It is possible to produce an effect that gives the player a sense of expectation for the result of symbol variation.

  (7-1) The vertical partition image (foreground region 218) displayed in the vertical (vertical) direction and the horizontal partition image (foreground region 218) displayed in the horizontal (horizontal) direction move separately. .

  It is possible to change the image production.

  (7-2) In (7-1), each partition image (foreground area 218) moves in the flow of the notice effect.

  (8-1) In the image effect, the vertical partition image (foreground area 218) displayed in the vertical (vertical) direction disappears, and the horizontal partition image (foreground area 218) displayed in the horizontal (horizontal) direction disappears. Is displayed.

  It is possible to produce an effect that gives the player a sense of expectation for the result of symbol variation.

  (8-2) In (8-1), the image display appears in a super reach production.

  (9-1) A feature in which a demonstration ball (a special symbol 250) temporarily stopped at the time of reach production is displayed by providing an area through which a game ball does not pass in the lower right of the stage of the transparent game board (transparent game board 100). To do.

  It is possible to effectively use the image area for reaching the demonstration symbol (special symbol 250).

  (9-2) In (9-1), displaying the special figure which is changing in the area where the game ball provided at the lower right of the stage does not pass during the reach performance together with the design temporarily stopped in the reach state. Features.

  (10-1) When the reach state is reached due to normal fluctuations, the symbol in the reach state of the symbol row is displayed brightly, and the other symbols are displayed relatively darkly.

  Reach symbols are displayed in a particularly conspicuous way, giving players a sense of expectation for jackpots.

  (10-2) In (10-1), the image of the changing symbol sequence is displayed brighter than the temporary stop symbol irrelevant to the reach of the symbol sequence having the reach symbol and varies.

It is a front view which shows the pachinko machine which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the pachinko machine concerning this Embodiment. It is a front view which shows the game board which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the control system of the pachinko machine concerning this Embodiment. It is a front view (symbol variation pattern effect screen) of the display area of LCD. It is a front view of the display area of LCD (appearance screen of notice production). It is the perspective view which modeled the layer structure on control of the display area of LCD. It is the block diagram which showed the image display functionally in the symbol control part. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the image display control which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

PB game ball 10 Pachinko machine (game machine)
100 game board 200 LCD (display device)
108 Start winning opening 112 Attacker 150 Main control unit (game control means)
152 Effect Control Unit 156 Symbol Control Unit 180 Start Prize Sensor 201 Display Area 254 Command Analysis Unit 256 Image Data Reading Unit 258 Background Image Data Reading Unit 260 Foreground Image Data Reading Unit 262 Fluctuation Pattern Image Data Reading Unit 264 Notification Image Data Reading Unit 266 Reservation number image data reading unit 268 Image data memory 270 Display layer allocation unit 272 Display execution unit 278 LCD driver

Claims (6)

Provided with a display device that informs the player of the information with an effect image, launches a game ball on the game board surface, and progress of the game mainly by the movement of the game ball along the game board surface by the game control means A gaming machine to control,
For the display area of the display device, a display screen layer having a multi-layer structure is set in a pseudo manner in the control along the player's line of sight, and the display becomes the foremost layer relatively closest to the player. The screen layer is a foreground image display screen layer that displays a foreground image, the display screen layer that is the last layer relatively far from the player is a background image display screen layer that displays a background image, and the foreground image display screen The display screen layer between the display layer and the background image display screen layer is displayed as at least two notification image display screen layers for displaying a notification image for visually informing the player of information. Display control means;
Foreground image area changing means for changing the display area of the foreground image in the foreground image display screen layer,
The display control unit displays a notification image in an area of the notification image display screen layer that is concealed by the foreground image by the region change execution by the foreground image region changing unit and then the concealment is released. A gaming machine.   2. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein an important information display screen layer for displaying important information having the highest importance for the player is provided on a side closer to the player than the foreground image display layer.   Reservation number information in the case where the important information is a lottery executed based on a start signal output when a detecting means provided on an accessory provided on the game board surface detects the game ball. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein:   4. The game according to claim 1, wherein a display resolution is set independently for each of the foreground image display layer, the background image display layer, and the notification image display layer. Machine.   The notification image display screen layer has a two-layer structure, each of which is composed of at least one of a character image, a still image, and a moving image, or a combination of two or more, one of which is executed based on a start signal. 5. The symbol variation pattern effect image for notifying a result, and the other is a notification image for notifying a player of information irregularly. Game machines.   The game according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the display device is arranged so as to overlap with a main game ball passage region on the game board surface in a direction of a player's line of sight. Machine.