JP2008183233A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine which allows anybody to play at a prescribed amount of money and for a prescribed period of time and to feel joy of excitement and expectation. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine, which pays out prize balls by the game balls shot entering a winning hole, is provided with a first control means 7 that makes the machine in a jackpot state in which the difference between out and safe balls increases, a second control means 8 that makes the machine in a state either a first normal state where the difference decreases and the rate of decrease in the difference is low or a second normal state where the rate of decrease in the difference is higher than that of the first normal state, and a determination means which determines whether there is the possibility that the difference drops below the lower value in the second normal state. When the determination means determines that there is the possibility that the difference drops below the lower value, the second control means switches to the first normal state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine installed in a game arcade.

Many gaming machines installed in the game hall have two states, a jackpot state that is advantageous to the player when a specific condition is satisfied, and a normal state other than that, and generates the above jackpot It is known that whether or not is determined by lottery using random numbers.
In the jackpot state, for example, a state where the pachinko ball is easy to win continues for a certain period of time, and the number of acquired balls to be paid out in accordance with the win increases. On the other hand, in a normal state other than such a big win state, the number of winnings is small, the number of payouts per winning is small, and the number of held balls is set to decrease. In other words, unless the jackpot is generated, the player cannot acquire many pachinko balls.

As a normal gaming machine having two types of states, such as a jackpot state and a normal state, for example, the gaming board surface 1 of the gaming machine shown in FIG. The winning holes 2 and 3 from which the number of balls are paid out, the balls are paid out by winning, and the start opening 4 where the jackpot lottery is performed, and the symbols are changed by winning the winning opening 4 A symbol display unit 5 for displaying a lottery result as a symbol, and a big prize opening 6 that opens when a big win is provided.
A control unit (not shown) of the gaming machine controls the probability that the jackpot will occur after starting the change of the symbol, the number of balls paid out by winning, and the like. In addition, the payout rate, which is the ratio of the number of payouts to the number of shot balls, is controlled by the number of payout of balls by winning and the ease of winning a prize at the winning opening.
JP-A-8-318041 JP 2000-317110 A

Then, there are the following differences for the player between a gaming machine with a small play rate in a normal state other than the big hit state and a large gaming machine. When the ball appearance rate in the normal state is small, the decrease rate of the difference ball in the normal state is large, and when the ball appearance rate in the normal state is large, the decrease rate of the difference ball in the normal state is small. Become.
The difference ball is a difference obtained by subtracting the number of fired balls from the number of prize balls.
Further, “out” used in the following description is a fireball, and “safe” is a prize ball paid out by winning. That is, the difference ball is {safe-out}, and the payout rate is {safe / out}.

  Therefore, when the rate of decrease of the difference ball in the normal state is increased, for example, when it is difficult to win a prize opening, it becomes difficult to win a start opening for starting a big win lottery, but once a big hit occurs When you do, set so that a lot of balls are paid out. In this way, when a big hit occurs, a lot of balls can be obtained. However, since a big hit does not occur easily, the ball is lost in a short time only in the normal state. Therefore, when a big hit does not occur, the player consumes balls in a short time, and there is a possibility that the amount of money used will increase.

  The following gaming machines are considered as such gaming machines. For example, if the number of outs per minute is 100, and the number of unit startings, which is the number of times to win the starting port in the meantime, is 5.8 times (referred to as the unit starting number), and 5 prizes are paid out when winning to the starting port 4 To do. Further, it is assumed that the winning openings 2 and 3 other than the starting opening 4 are won 1.1 times with respect to the number of outs 100, and 5 are paid out for each winning prize. The payout rate in such a normal state is {safe number ÷ out number × 100} = 35%.

  In addition, the symbol fluctuates due to winning at the start port 4 and stops after a certain time, and the lottery result is displayed, but the jackpot probability for one start number is 1/200. Furthermore, when a big win occurs and the big win state is reached, the big winning opening 6 opens, and when there are ten winnings, the operation of closing once and opening again is repeated 16 times, and the 16th big winning opening The end of the jackpot state is when the opening of 6 is closed. And if there are 15 prize balls for winning a prize at the big prize opening 6, the number of safes by the big prize opening 6 will be 2400 with one big hit, winning at any other prize opening or winning anywhere In consideration of the fireballs that do not, the number of outs in the jackpot state is 244 and the number of safes is 2485. Such an operation specification is referred to as a specification 1.

Using a gaming machine with the above specification 1, a case where a 4-yen ball is borrowed in units of 500 yen and played for 2 hours is simulated 10,000 times using random numbers based on the state transition diagram shown in FIG. The results are shown in the graph of FIG.
In the graph of FIG. 12, the horizontal axis is the difference, and this difference is calculated by converting the possession amount at the end of the two-hour game. From this graph, it can be seen that in the above operation specification 1, when a two-hour game is played 10,000 times, there are 600 or more prizes worth 20,000 yen or more, and 1300 yen or more are used. .
The simulation is performed based on the method disclosed in Patent Document 2.

On the other hand, as an operation specification 2 of the gaming machine using the gaming board surface of FIG. 10 and having a high payout rate in a normal state, for example, the unit start number is 14 times, and the start port 4 If the number of payouts for winning a prize is 6, the number of winnings for the other winning openings 2 and 3 is 1.1, the same as in the above specification 1, and the number of payouts for winning is 5, the payout rate in the normal state is 90. %become. That is, in this operation specification 2, the decrease rate of the difference ball in the normal state becomes small.
On the other hand, the jackpot probability is 1/200, and the big winning opening 6 opened in the big hit state is closed with ten winnings and is not opened again. If the other conditions are the same as those in the above specification 1, the number of outs during the jackpot is 19 and the number of safes is 162.

In such a game machine of operation specification 2, a case where a game is played for 500 hours in units of 500 yen is simulated 10,000 times based on the state transition diagram shown in FIG. 13 using random numbers, and the result is shown in FIG. Shown in the graph.
From the results shown in FIG. 14, it can be seen that in specification 2, if a 2-hour game is played 10,000 times, no more than 5000 yen is used, in other words, it can be played for 5000 hours for 2 hours. However, in the gaming machine according to the specification 2, there is little possibility that a prize of 5000 yen or more can be obtained, and the excitement and excitement cannot be enjoyed.
In addition, the said simulation also uses the method of patent document 2 similarly to the previous thing.

  Further, Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine that performs control so that a game result in a certain time is within a certain range. However, in such a gaming machine, the number of safes within the game time is limited, and there is no possibility of acquiring many prizes, so it is difficult to obtain a thrilling feeling.

In other words, if the conventional gaming machine limits the amount of money used per fixed time to a predetermined range, the amount of prizes that can be acquired is limited by that restriction, and only the joyfulness is suppressed, The feeling of expectation was not enough.
An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine in which anyone can play a game for a certain amount of time with a predetermined amount of money, and can enjoy the excitement and expectation.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a gaming machine in which a prize ball is paid out when a game ball that has been launched wins a prize opening, the above-mentioned launch from the prize ball acquired by the launch ball when a predetermined jackpot condition is satisfied A first control means for making a jackpot state in which a difference ball obtained by subtracting a ball is increased; and a first normal state in which the difference ball is decreased and the decrease rate of the difference ball is low; or the first normal state The second control means for setting the normal state to any one of the second normal state in which the rate of decrease of the difference ball is higher than that, and determining whether or not the difference ball may fall below the lower limit value in the second normal state The second control unit switches to the first normal state when the determination unit determines that there is a possibility that the difference ball is below the lower limit value.

The second invention is premised on the first invention, and is characterized in that the second control means switches to the second normal state when the jackpot state generated in the first normal state ends.
3rd invention presupposes the said 1st or 2nd invention, and the 1st control means has the characteristics in the point which controls the jackpot probability in a 2nd normal state higher than the jackpot probability in the said 1st normal state .

  4th invention presupposes the said 1st-3rd invention, The 1st control means is the said 2nd normal state from the payout number of the prize ball in the 1st big hit state which generate | occur | produced in the said 1st normal state This is characterized in that the number of prize balls to be paid out in the second big hit state generated in step 2 is controlled.

  The fifth invention is based on the second to fourth inventions, and the determination means is consumed in the second normal state in which the number of balls in the jackpot state generated in the first normal state is switched after the jackpot is finished. As a result, the timing for switching to the first normal state is determined so as to make the second normal state as long as possible on condition that the difference is not less than the difference when the big hit does not occur in the first normal state. Has characteristics.

  The sixth invention is based on the second to fifth inventions, and in the game result in the second normal state, the number of times that the lottery result due to winning at the starting port is continuously deviated is determined by the determination means. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not there is a possibility that the difference ball will fall below the lower limit value depending on whether or not the preset number of times has been reached.

  The seventh invention is based on the second to sixth inventions, and there are a plurality of game modes for controlling the operation so as to be in the normal state and the jackpot state, and the payout rate in each game mode is approximately It is characterized in that the operation is controlled to be the same.

  The eighth invention is premised on the second to seventh inventions, and is characterized in that manual operation means for making a transition from the second normal state to the first normal state during the game in the second normal state is provided. .

  The ninth invention is based on the eighth invention, and only when the operation means makes a transition from the second normal state to the first normal state, during the game in the first normal state, It is characterized in that it is provided with manual operation means that enables transition to a normal state.

  In this invention, the normal state is defined as a state in which the difference ball decreases, but in reality, the prize ball is paid out for each winning prize, so the difference ball may increase in a short period of time. . However, here, it is considered that the difference ball will decrease as a result from the start to the end of the normal state, and for example, it is very rare, for example, when winning consecutively from the start of the game and immediately hit a big hit Even if the difference ball generated in the game increases, the difference ball decreases if the game is continuously played on the same gaming machine.

  According to the 1st to 9th inventions, if the game is played in the second normal state where the rate of decrease of the difference ball is high, it is possible to enjoy a sense of throbbing and the difference ball is below the lower limit value in the second normal state. When there is a possibility, since the transition to the first normal state where the rate of decrease of the difference ball is low, the difference ball does not fall below the lower limit value within a certain time. Therefore, a predetermined amount of money can be played for a certain time.

According to the second invention, when a big hit is made, it is possible to shift to the second normal state and enjoy a sense of throbbing.
According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, it is possible to further increase the pounding feeling and expectation of the player in the second normal state.

In the fifth invention, the game time in the second normal state in which the change of the difference ball becomes large is lengthened, and accordingly, the difference ball as the game result is likely to vary, thereby increasing the player's expectation. Can do.
In the sixth invention, since the transition condition from the second normal state to the first normal state is set by the number of start times, the determination means has a time measurement function and a function for specifying the number of shot balls (out number). There is no need to prepare.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, a combination of a plurality of game modes consisting of a normal state and a jackpot state provides a feeling of pounding and expectation, and even if a jackpot does not occur, a predetermined amount of time for a game Can be able to. Further, by controlling the payout rate in each game mode to be substantially the same, the payout rate as a whole game does not depend on which game mode the game mode is in. For this reason, it is possible to obtain data on the payout rate that does not depend on the game mode, and it is easy to adjust the nails of the gaming machine based on these data.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the game machine can be switched to the first normal state at the start of a new game without having the function of detecting the change of the player. For example, when a game is ended in the second normal state and the next player starts playing continuously, the game machine starts from the second normal state unless the game machine recognizes the start of a new game. If the state can be switched by the manual operation means, it is always possible to start from the first normal state. Also, depending on the player's circumstances and preferences, there may be a case where it is desired to play the game without reducing them when a certain amount of difference is obtained. In such a case, the game mode can be switched by manual operation means such as a switching button, and the player's request can be met.

According to the ninth aspect, when the manual operation means has erroneously shifted to the first normal state, the second normal state can be restored. However, since the transition to the second normal state is enabled only when the transition is made to the first normal state by manual steering, it is possible to prevent a game from being played only in the second normal state where the rate of reduction of the difference ball is high. be able to.
If manual switching to the second normal state is possible at any time, it is assumed that the player will play the game only in the second normal state. In that case, the difference ball at a certain time becomes large, and it becomes impossible to play for a certain amount of time with a predetermined amount of money, but this can be prevented in the present invention.

1st Embodiment of this invention is described using FIGS.
The gaming machine of the first embodiment has a gaming board surface similar to the conventional one shown in FIG. 10, but operates differently from the conventional one, and FIG. 1 controls the operation of this gaming machine. It is the block diagram which showed the control mechanism for this.
As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine includes a first control means 7 for bringing the gaming machine into a big hit state, a second control means 8 for bringing the gaming machine into a normal state, and a big hit normal switching for switching between the first and second control means. Means 9 and normal state switching means 10 are provided on the control board 11. The control board 11 receives a prize winning detection means 12 for detecting that a ball has won a prize winning opening 6 (see FIG. 10) that opens in the big hit state, and a prize for the start opening 4. The start opening winning detection means 13 to be detected is connected to other winning opening winning detection means 14 for detecting a winning at a winning opening other than the winning opening such as the winning openings 2 and 3 and the starting opening, and detecting these winnings. A winning detection signal is input from the means.

The control board 11 is connected to a large winning opening / closing means 15 such as an actuator for opening / closing the large winning opening 6 and a payout means 16 for paying out prizes according to the winning. .
In FIG. 1, the constituent elements other than the control board 11 are elements provided at predetermined locations of the gaming machine. For example, each of the winning detection means 12, 13, and 14 is a sensor that is installed in the vicinity of the corresponding winning opening and detects the passage of a ball.

The second control means 8 is a control means for controlling the normal state. However, in the first embodiment, two types of first and second normal states having different payout rates are set as the normal state, and the constant state is constant. Depending on the condition, the first normal state or the second normal state is set. The normal state switching means 10 switches between the normal state of the first and second normal states. The normal state switching means 10 serves as the determination means of the present invention.
As shown in the table of FIG. 2, the two types of normal states are a first normal state with a payout rate of 90% and a second normal state with 45%. Since the ball payout rate is a normal ball payout rate, if the jackpot is not generated, that is, if the normal state continues, the difference ball will decrease at a rate corresponding to the ball payout rate. That is, the first normal state with a high payout rate is the first normal state of the present invention with a low difference ball reduction rate, and the second normal state with a low payout rate has a high difference ball decrease rate with this invention. This is the second normal state.

In the first normal state, the number of payouts to be paid out for each winning in the normal state is six, and in the second normal state is three. The jackpot probability is 1/200 in the first normal state, and the jackpot probability is 1/100 in the second normal state. However, the unit starting number 14 and the number of payouts 15 in the jackpot state × 10 times are both normal states. Both are the same.
In the gaming machine provided with the second control means 8 set to such two normal states, as shown in FIG. 3, the second normal state is changed from the first normal state to the big hit state, and the second big hit state is terminated. When a transition is made to the normal state, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the second normal state, the transition is made to the first normal state.

This state transition control will be described below.
First, when the game is started, the second control means 8 starts control to enter the first normal state. The second control means 8 outputs a payout command so as to pay out six prize balls to the payout means 16 based on detection signals from the start opening winning detection means 13 and other winning opening winning detection means 14. In this state, if the big hit does not occur, the state where the payout rate is 90% continues, so that the difference ball continuously decreases as shown in FIG. However, since the number of outs per minute is 100 here, the number of outs when playing for 2 hours is 12000, and the difference ball at this time is -1200. In other words, if you borrow these 1200 balls for 4 yen, you can play for 4 hours with 4800 yen balls.

On the other hand, when the second control means 8 is controlling to the first normal state, when the start opening 4 is won, the start opening winning detection means 13 detects the winning to the start opening 4 and the winning detection signal is Input to the control board 11. In response to the input of the winning detection signal, the second control means 8 controls the first normal state, and the payout command corresponding to the winning is input from the control board 11 to the payout means 16 as described above. The Further, in response to the input of the winning detection signal, the second control means 8 determines whether or not to win a jackpot. Specifically, the symbol on the symbol display unit 5 is changed, a lottery with a probability of 1/200 is performed by a random number or the like, and a symbol corresponding to the lottery result is displayed on the symbol display unit 5 after a certain time. This control is performed on display means (not shown). The fact that the lottery result is a jackpot is the establishment of the jackpot condition of the present invention.
Then, when the lottery result in the second control means is a big hit, the big hit normal switching means 9 switches to the control from the second control means 8 to the first control means 7. The first control means 7 controls the special prize opening / closing means 15 to open the special prize opening 6 (see FIG. 10).

  When the first control means 7 controls the special prize opening / closing means 15 based on the lottery result and opens the special prize opening 6, the state of the gaming machine has transitioned to the jackpot state shown in FIG. Become. In the big win state, the first control means 7 outputs a payout command corresponding to the winning to the payout means 16 every time the big winning opening winning detection means 12 detects a winning to the open big winning opening 6. . Further, the first control means 7 controls the big prize opening / closing means 15 to close the big prize opening 6 when the number of winning prizes to the big prize opening 6 reaches a preset number, and ends the big hit state. Let

  When the first control means 7 finishes the big hit state, the big hit normal switching means 9 switches to the control of the second control means 8 to make the second normal state. That is, the second control means 8 pays out a payout command for paying out three prize balls as the payout number in the second normal state when a winning at the winning openings 2 and 3 and the start opening 4 is detected. Output to means 16. In the second normal state and the first normal state, the situation on the game board surface is the same, so the winning probability to the winning opening is the same. Even if the winning probability is the same, the number of payouts due to winning is controlled less in the second normal state, so that the payout rate in the second normal state is as low as 45% and the second normal state continues. The difference ball will decrease rapidly.

  When the second control means is in the second normal state with a payout rate of 45%, the normal state switching means 10 continues the second normal state, and no big hit occurs in the first normal state. It is determined whether there is a possibility of falling below the difference ball in the case, and when it is determined that there is the possibility, the normal state switching means 10 switches the control of the second control means 8 to the second normal state The control is switched to the control in the first normal state.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, when the big hit occurs in the first normal state, the gaming state of the gaming machine transitions to the second normal state at the end thereof, and in the second normal state, Control is performed so as to transition to the first normal state according to the determination result of the normal state switching means 10.
The determination procedure of the normal state switching means 10 at this time will be described using the difference ball change graph shown in FIG.

In the first normal state, it is assumed that the difference ball decreases as shown in the slope graph (1) corresponding to the payout rate of 90%, a jackpot is generated at a certain time A, and the jackpot is ended at a time B. Due to this one big hit, the difference ball {safe number-out number} increases by S1, and the out number increases by O1. The difference ball S1 is the difference between the safe number and the out number in the jackpot state. For example, in the case of the first embodiment, the safe number 162-out number 19 = 143 in the jackpot state shown in FIG. O1 = 19.
As shown in FIG. 5, the difference ball that has decreased from the jackpot occurrence time A to the end time C of the second normal state is S2, and the out number in the second normal state is O2.

  When the big hit ends at time B, the control of the second control means 8 to the second normal state starts. In the second normal state, since the payout rate is low, the difference ball decreases rapidly as shown in the graph (2). In this embodiment, since the payout rate in the second normal state is 45%, the difference ball with respect to the out number 100 is 45-100 = −55. If the second normal state is continued in this state, the difference ball becomes smaller and the amount of money to be used becomes larger than the case where the game is continued in the first normal state as indicated by the dashed line in the graph (2) of FIG. End up.

  Therefore, the control of the normal state by the second control means 8 is performed until point C, which is the intersection of the graph (2) in which the second normal state continues and the graph (1) in the case where the first normal state continues. If the second normal state is switched to the first normal state, the difference ball will not decrease compared to the case where the first normal state continues even if there is no big hit. In other words, the second normal state is switched to the first normal state so as not to fall below the graph (1), which is a change in the difference when the first normal state continues. Is the lower limit of the present invention.

A specific procedure for specifying the point C is as follows.
If a jackpot does not occur and a game is played from the point A to the point C in the first normal state with a payout rate of 90%, the safe number is 90% with respect to the out number 100, and the difference ball is- 10 That is, the decrease rate of the difference ball with respect to the out number 1 is 0.1. Therefore, S2 ÷ (19 + O2) = 0.1 (a) is established.
Further, it is assumed that a game is played from point B to point C in the second normal state. In this case, since the payout rate is 45%, the safe number is 45 and the difference ball is -55 with respect to the out number 100. That is, the decrease rate of the difference ball with respect to the out number is 1 is 0.55. Therefore, (143 + S2) ÷ O2 = 0.55 (b) is established.

Next, when O2 and S2 are obtained using the above equations (a) and (b) as simultaneous equations, O2 = 322 and S2 = 341.
That is, when determining the timing C at which the transition from the second normal state to the first normal state is based on the number of outs, from the point B that is the start point of the second normal state, before the number of outs reaches 322 (= O2). To the first normal state.
Similarly, when judging with the difference ball, since the time point when the difference ball decreases by 484 (= 143 + S2) from the point B can be regarded as C, the transition to the first normal state is made before that. To do.

Furthermore, the time when the safe number from the point B becomes (143 + S2) may be determined as the point C. Similarly, the time when the safe number becomes 162 (= 484-322) may be set as the point C. Absent.
As described above, the normal state switching means 10 specifies the point C from the jackpot end time B from the first normal state based on the out number and the safe number, and at the time or just before that, the lower limit value is specified. Judging that there is a possibility that Based on this determination result, the control of the second control means 8 is switched from the control in the second normal state to the control in the first normal state. Thereby, at the point C, the gaming machine transits from the second normal state to the first normal state.

  In addition, about the detection method of out number and safe number, the method currently disclosed by patent document 2 etc. can be used. However, if it is assumed that the number of outs is determined per time, the normal state switching means 10 measures the time corresponding to the number of outs from the occurrence of jackpot A or end B, and determines the time C. It can also be specified.

Further, when the second normal state continues, the time C or the number of outs may be estimated from the average number of starts within that time, and the time point C may be specified.
For example, in the second normal state of this embodiment, since the unit start number is 14, the start number corresponding to the out number 322 in the second normal state is 45 times (= 14 ÷ 100 × 322). . In other words, in the second normal state, when the number of start-ups in a state where a big hit is not reached reaches 45 times continuously, if the transition is made to the first normal state, a difference due to a game for a certain time, for example, 2 hours It is possible to prevent the ball from falling below a lower limit value (for example, −1250).
Note that the normal state switching means 10 can specify the number of starts based on the detection signal from the start opening winning detection means 13. Similarly, the time point C may be specified based on the number of winnings in other winning ports instead of the starting port winning. In this way, it is possible to specify the time point C without measuring the number of shots, the difference ball, the time, etc., and thereby it is possible to switch from the control in the second normal state to the control in the first normal state. .

  In any case, in the gaming machine of the first embodiment, in addition to the big hit state, there are two types of normal states with different payout rates, and when no big hit occurs, the payout rate is high, that is, the difference In the first normal state where the rate of decrease of balls is low, the game can be continued for a predetermined time within a certain amount of money, and if a big hit occurs, the rate of appearance in the normal state is low, but it is easy to make a big hit You can also get a feeling of thrill and expectation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a game board surface of the gaming machine of the second embodiment.
The game board surface of FIG. 6 is provided with a normal winning port 2, a starting port 4, a symbol display unit 5, and a big winning port 6 in the same manner as in FIG. A sub start port 21 and a sub symbol display unit 22 are provided. The tulip 20 makes it easy to win a prize to the start port 4 by opening it. In addition, the sub start opening 21 is a start opening that triggers a lottery in which the symbols of the sub symbol display section 22 are changed at a predetermined probability and the symbols are aligned with a predetermined probability. In such a case, the tulip 20 is opened.

  The lottery related to the opening and closing of the tulip 20 and the control means for controlling the tulip actuator are not shown, but other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In other words, when a big hit occurs in the first normal state where the rate of decrease of the difference ball is small, and when it is finished, the transition is made to the second normal state where the rate of decrease of the difference ball is high. When there is a possibility of falling below, the first normal state is switched.

However, the gaming machine of the second embodiment does not change the decrease rate of the difference ball in the first normal state and the decrease rate of the difference ball in the second normal state by the number of payouts in the normal state, but the start port 4 This is done by changing the winning percentage. That is, the winning probability in the lottery for determining whether or not to open the tulip 20 by winning the sub start port 21 is set higher in the first normal state than in the second normal state, so that it is easy to win the start port 4.
Moreover, in this 2nd Embodiment, the winning probability to the start port 4 used as the trigger of the big hit lottery is changed by the tulip, and the difference between the decrease rate of the difference balls in the first normal state and the second normal state is different. However, it is also possible to change the rate of decrease of the difference ball in the same manner by providing the tulip 20 in a normal winning opening other than the starting opening.

  FIG. 7 is a state transition diagram of the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the first normal state with a high payout rate and the second normal state with a low payout rate are the same as in the first embodiment, but occur from the first normal state. There is a feature that there are two jackpot states, a jackpot state 1 and a jackpot state 2 generated from the second normal state. And the group of each normal state and jackpot state is represented as game modes 1 and 2, respectively.

  The gaming machine of the third embodiment also includes the control mechanism shown in FIG. 1, and the big hit normal switching means 9 switches between the first control means 7 and the second control means 8, and the normal state switching means 10 is the first control means 10. 2 The control of the control means 8 is switched to control the special prize opening opening / closing means 15 and the payout means 16 in accordance with the game mode, thereby bringing the gaming machine into each state. Then, the first control means 7 controls the first and second big hit states, and the second control means controls the first and second normal states.

  In addition, although the payout rate and the unit start number in the first and second normal states, the out number and the safe number in the first and second big hit states are as illustrated, in the third embodiment, the first number Compared to the big hit state, the number of safes in the second big hit state is large, and the difference ball is greatly increased in the second big hit state.

On the other hand, as a transition condition from the normal state to the jackpot state, the jackpot probability is the same at 1/200 in both game modes, but the unit start is 14 in the first normal state and 5.8 in the second normal state. Therefore, the probability of jackpot with respect to the out number 100 is 14/200 in the game mode 1 and 5.8 / 200 in the game mode 2.
That is, the game mode 1 has a lower decrease rate of the difference ball in the normal state and a higher jackpot occurrence rate than the game mode 2 as compared to the game mode 2, but the difference ball increased by the jackpot is smaller. It is set. And in the game mode 1, even if the 1st normal state which does not generate | occur | produce a jackpot continues for a fixed time, the decreasing rate of a difference ball is determined so that it may not fall below a lower limit.

On the other hand, in the game mode 2, if the big hit does not occur, the difference ball decreases rapidly, and it is difficult for the big hit to occur. However, if the big hit occurs, the difference ball is greatly increased. That is, in the game mode 2, the variation of the difference ball becomes large, and a game with a high feeling of thrill is possible.
The operation procedure of the gaming machine realized by combining these two gaming modes is as follows.

  First, the second control means 8 starts a game in the game mode 1 as the first normal state. When the big hit condition is established in the first normal state, the first big hit state is transitioned to and the first control means 7 controls the first big hit state, and the big winning opening / closing means 15 and the payout means 16 are controlled. When the first jackpot state is completed, the jackpot normal switching means 9 switches from the first control means 7 to the second control means 8, and the second control means performs control in the second normal state. In the second normal state, when there is a winning at the start port 4 (see FIG. 10) and the jackpot condition is satisfied, the first control means 7 controls to control the big winning opening / closing means 15 and the payout means 16. Then, it is set as the 2nd big hit state. When the second big hit state is finished, the second control means 8 performs control to set the second normal state.

While the second normal state continues, the normal state switching means 10 determines whether there is a possibility that a difference due to a game within a certain period may fall below a lower limit value, as in the first embodiment. To do. And when the said normal state switching means 10 judges that a difference ball may be less than a lower limit, the 2nd control means 8 switches from a 2nd normal state to a 1st normal state. As a result, the state of the gaming machine transitions to the first normal state, and the difference ball reduction rate is low.
And in this 3rd Embodiment, it is judged based on the elapsed time from the time of switching to the 2nd normal state whether there is a possibility that a difference ball may fall below a lower limit in the 2nd normal state of game mode 2. Like that. The normal state switching unit 10 may directly measure the elapsed time, but since the elapsed time can be considered to be proportional to the number of outs, the switching timing can also be determined based on the number of outs. Further, since the number of outs can be specified from the number of starts in the normal state, here, an example is shown in which the transition condition is determined using the number of starts as a parameter and the number of starts is 14 times.

  The value of the number of start times of 14 is determined in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, the transition from the first normal state to the second normal state via the first big hit state, and the result of consuming the balls acquired in the previous first big hit state in the second normal state where the rate of decrease of the difference ball is high However, this corresponds to the longest time that satisfies the condition of not falling below the difference when the game is continued without generating a big hit in the first normal state. The method for specifying the transition timing from the second normal state to the first normal state is the same as the method of the first embodiment.

Specifically, the number of balls in the first jackpot state in the game mode 1 in this third embodiment is 143 (= 162-19), so the first jackpot has increased by 143 difference balls since the jackpot occurred. In the first embodiment, the number of starts corresponding to the time that does not fall below the lower limit value when the second normal state with a payout rate of 35% continues without occurrence of jackpot from the end of the state. According to the calculation procedure, the number of startings is 14 times.
In such a third embodiment, two game modes can be combined to play a game within a certain time without falling below the lower limit value, as well as the first embodiment. In addition, a large increase in the difference ball can be expected, and the probability of jackpot is low, the difference ball may decrease sharply, and a thrilling feeling can also be experienced.

  In the third embodiment, after the transition to the second normal state, for example, the transition to the first normal state is made on the condition that a certain time elapses such as starting 14 times. That is, in the game mode 2, regardless of whether or not the big hit has occurred, it is a condition that the second normal state has continued for a certain period of time. For example, a transition from the first jackpot state to the second normal state does not result in a jackpot state even once, and when the time corresponding to a certain number of start times of 14 times has elapsed, and from the second jackpot state again, The situation of the difference ball at the time of transition to the first normal state is different from the case where the predetermined time has elapsed from that point when the two big hit state is reached.

In the third embodiment, the transition condition from the game mode 2 to the game mode 1 is determined regardless of whether or not the game mode 2 is in the second jackpot state, but when the second jackpot state occurs Of the ball is {safe 2485-out 244} = 2241, and the difference ball greatly increases in this second big hit state, so in the second normal state for a long time compared to the case where the second big hit state does not occur. Even if the game is played, it is possible to satisfy a condition that does not fall below the difference ball when the first normal state continues.
Therefore, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the normal state 2a that transitions at the end of the first jackpot state and the normal state 2b that returns at the end of the second jackpot state are set as the second normal state. And in game mode 2, the transition condition to the 1st normal state of game mode 1 is changed with the case where the 2nd jackpot state has not occurred, and the case where the 2nd jackpot state has occurred.

In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, in the game mode 2, when the game in the second normal state is continued without generating a big hit, the normal state switching means 10 shown in FIG. The number of consecutive startings is counted without occurrence of big hits, and the time is determined as the limit at which the difference ball does not fall below the lower limit, and the second control means 8 changes from the second normal state to the first normal state. Control to switch to.
On the other hand, when a big hit occurs in the game mode 2 and transitions to the normal state 2b by the end, the normal state switching means 10 counts the number of start 227 times, at which point the second control means 8 Switch to the second normal state.
The number of starts 227 is the number of starts when the second big hit state in the second mode occurs and the difference ball increased by the ball 2241 is consumed in the second normal state.

The normal state 2a and the normal state 2b are the same in the payout rate and the unit start number, but are set in the second control means 8 by changing the transition condition to the first normal state.
Also in the fourth embodiment, the transition condition from the second normal state to the first normal state may be set not by the start number but by the out number or time.
Then, by combining the game mode 1 and the game mode 2 set in this way, as in the other embodiments, it is possible to play for a certain amount of time with a predetermined amount even if it is not a big win. If you get a big hit, you can also feel the throbbing feeling.

In addition, based on the transition diagram shown in FIG. 8, a simulation was performed 10,000 times using random numbers under the condition that a 4-yen ball was borrowed in units of 500 yen and the game was continued for 2 hours. Is shown in FIG. This simulation is also performed by the same method as the simulation of the conventional example.
From the graph of FIG. 9, in the gaming machine of this fourth embodiment, when a two-hour game is played 10,000 times, it will not be used more than 5000 yen, and when acquiring prizes, the amount will vary, 55000 yen or more It can be seen that there are times when you can get a free gift. In other words, it is possible to play for 2 hours at 5000 yen, and it is possible to obtain a high-priced prize, and it is possible to increase the sense of expectation.

  In the fourth embodiment, in the game mode 2, two transition conditions to the first normal state are set depending on whether or not a big hit has occurred, but these transition conditions are not fixed. Depending on the actual jackpot occurrence situation, it may be changed. For example, in the second normal state, if a big hit occurs before the number of starts set as the transition condition to the first normal state is reached, depending on how many starts the big hit has occurred, It is also possible to carry over the remaining number of balls acquired and increase the number of start times of the transition condition to the first normal state by an amount corresponding to the carry-over amount.

For example, in the normal state 2b, when the big hit is the 50th time, 177 times (= 227-50) are carried over to the next time, and the transition condition from the normal state 2 to the normal state 1 after the big hit ends is set as the start number. Can be 404 times (= 227 + 177). As described above, the game time in the game mode 2 in which the variation of the difference ball becomes large can be made as long as possible on condition that the difference ball does not fall below when the game in the game mode 1 continues.
In this way, if the game time in the second normal state becomes long, the game time in the game mode 2 in which the variation of the difference ball is increased, and the variation in the game result can be increased. This will increase the excitement and excitement.

In the above embodiment, the state transition between the first normal state and the second normal state is controlled by the second control unit 8, but the control of the second control unit 8 can be switched manually. A manual operation means such as a button that can be operated may be provided so that a player or a game hall employee can switch the state as necessary.
For example, when a game is newly started on a gaming machine in which the game has ended in the second normal state, it can be switched to the first normal state by the manual operation means.
Also, depending on the situation and preferences, some players may want to play the game without reducing them when a certain amount of difference is obtained. In such a case, if the game mode can be switched by manual operation means such as a switching button, the player's request can be met.

  Further, when such a manual operation means is provided, an operation for returning to the original state when a player or employee accidentally switches to the first normal state during the game in the second normal state. Means may be provided. However, if the transition from the first normal state to the second normal state can be manually performed at any time, it is assumed that the player will only play in the second normal state where the rate of decrease of the difference ball is high. The In this way, if the game is always performed in the second normal state, the difference ball in a certain time becomes large, and it becomes impossible to play the game for a certain time with a predetermined amount. In order to prevent such a situation, the manual operation means for switching from the first normal state to the second normal state can be switched only when the manual operation means transits from the second normal state to the first normal state. To do.

  In addition, when a plurality of game modes are provided as in the third and fourth embodiments described above, if the play rate in each game mode is controlled to be substantially equal, the proportion of each mode will be included in the overall game. The appearance rate is not dependent. For example, if the game mode 1 is 90% and the game mode 2 is 110%, the longer the game mode 2 is, the higher the overall game rate of this gaming machine is. Become. In such a gaming machine, the overall payout rate depends on the ratio between the game mode 1 and the game mode 2, but the ratio between the game mode 1 and the game mode 2 is a jackpot determined by a random number. As a result, the results vary from day to day. However, if the game mode 1 and the game mode 2 have almost the same play rate, the game mode 1 and the game mode 2 have almost no influence on the play rate, and the game rate does not depend on the game mode. This makes it easy to adjust the nails of gaming machines based on these data.

It is a block diagram of the control mechanism of 1st Embodiment. It is the table | surface which showed use of the normal state of 1st Embodiment. It is a state transition diagram of a 1st embodiment. It is the graph which showed the change of the difference ball when the 1st normal state of 1st Embodiment continues. It is the graph which showed the change of the difference ball accompanying the state transition of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the game board surface of 2nd Embodiment. It is a state transition diagram of a 3rd embodiment. It is a state transition diagram of a 4th embodiment. It is the graph which showed the simulation result of the game of a 4th embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the game board surface of the gaming machine in the conventional example. It is a state transition diagram of the gaming machine of specification 1 in the conventional example. It is the graph which showed the simulation result of the game based on the state transition diagram of FIG. It is a state transition diagram of the gaming machine of specification 2 in the conventional example. It is the graph which showed the simulation result of the game based on the state transition diagram of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game board surface 2 Winning port 4 Starting port 5 Symbol display part 6 Large winning port 7 1st control means 8 2nd control means 9 Big hit normal switching means 10 Normal state switching means

Claims (9)

  In a gaming machine in which a prize ball is paid out when a game ball that has been launched wins a prize opening, a difference ball obtained by subtracting the above-mentioned launch ball from the prize ball obtained when the predetermined jackpot condition is met The first control means for making a big hit state, which is a state where the difference is increased, and a state where the difference ball is reduced, and the decrease rate of the difference ball is low, or the difference ball is reduced more than the first normal state A second control means for setting the normal state to any one of the second normal states having a high rate; and a determination means for determining whether or not the difference ball may fall below a lower limit value in the second normal state. When the determination means determines that the difference ball may fall below a lower limit, the second control means switches to the first normal state.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the second control means switches to the second normal state when the jackpot state generated in the first normal state ends.   The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first control means controls the jackpot probability in the second normal state to be higher than the jackpot probability in the first normal state.   The first control means controls the number of prize balls to be paid out in the second jackpot state generated in the second normal state more than the number of prize balls to be paid out in the first jackpot state generated in the first normal state. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   In the case where the number of balls in the jackpot state generated in the first normal state is consumed in the second normal state switched after the jackpot, and the jackpot does not occur in the first normal state. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the switching timing to the first normal state is determined so as to make the second normal state as long as possible on condition that the difference ball is not fallen below.   In the game result in the second normal state, the determination means determines whether or not the difference ball has a lower limit depending on whether the number of consecutive lottery results due to winning at the start port has reached a preset number of times. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein it is determined whether or not there is a possibility of being less than a predetermined value.   The game according to claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of game modes in which operation control is performed so that the normal state and the jackpot state are formed, and the operation control is performed so that a payout rate in each game mode is substantially the same. Machine.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising manual operation means for transitioning from the second normal state to the first normal state during a game in the second normal state.   Manual operation means for enabling transition to the second normal state during a game in the first normal state only when the operation means makes a transition from the second normal state to the first normal state. The gaming machine according to claim 8.

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