JP2008228894A - Game machine and its computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of flexibly and appropriately controlling a high probability state produced by common symbols. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine includes: a means for drawing at least one symbol out of regular symbols 105b being available as symbols of one type and common symbols 170 available as regular symbols of whole types; a means for arranging a selected common symbol 170 on a prescribed area 101a on a game screen; a means for discriminating satisfaction/non-satisfaction of a prescribed consumption condition; and a means, when the common symbol 170 is arranged in the prescribed area 101a, while reducing a valid range of the common symbol 170 whenever the consumption condition is satisfied, for leaving the common symbol 170 on the prescribed area 101a till its valid range is expired, even if a game chance is newly produced, and for controlling the disposition of the symbols such that, when the valid range is expired, the common symbol 170 disappears from the prescribed area 101a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine that determines whether a winning condition is established based on the types and arrangement of a plurality of symbols displayed on a game screen.

For example, like a slot game machine, each of a plurality of symbols to be arranged in a predetermined positional relationship (for example, a matrix) in a predetermined area on the game screen is randomly selected from a plurality of predetermined symbols. It is well known to have a game machine that draws a lottery and determines a prize when the type and arrangement of symbols form a predetermined winning combination. In this type of game machine, not only a normal symbol that can be used only as one type of symbol for determining whether or not the winning condition is successful, but two or more types (typically) There are some game machines that include common symbols that can be used as normal symbols of all types, and when the predetermined conditions are met, the common symbols are placed in a predetermined area to increase the probability that the winning conditions are met. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-173950 A

  If the common symbols are arranged only for one game opportunity, in other words, only for one winning discrimination opportunity, the player's expectation for winning cannot be sufficiently increased. On the other hand, if the common symbol can be used indefinitely between multiple game opportunities, the high probability state will continue unnecessarily for a long time, and the difference in the winning probability between when the common symbol does not appear and when it appears For example, the high probability state cannot be flexibly and appropriately controlled.

  Therefore, the present invention uses a common symbol to sufficiently increase a player's expectation for winning, and can use the game machine capable of flexibly and appropriately controlling a high probability state caused by the common symbol. The purpose is to provide a program.

  The game machine (1) of the present invention has a game opportunity control means (10) that generates a game opportunity that can satisfy a predetermined winning condition at least once in a predetermined range of games provided to a player in exchange for a game value. And the types of the plurality of symbols (105a, 105b) to be arranged in a predetermined positional relationship in the predetermined area (101a) on the game screen (100) in response to the occurrence of the game opportunity. Symbol placement control means (10) and winning determination means (10) for determining whether or not the winning conditions are satisfied based on the type and arrangement of symbols arranged in the predetermined area, The arrangement control means includes a normal symbol that can be used as only one type of symbol for the winning discrimination of the winning discriminating means, and a predetermined effective value for the winning discrimination A common symbol lottery means for drawing at least one symbol from candidate symbols including a common symbol (170) that can be used as two or more kinds of normal symbols in the box; and the common symbol lottery by the common symbol lottery means A common symbol placement unit arranged in a region, a consumption condition judgment unit for judging whether or not a predetermined consumption condition is established in the game in the predetermined range, and the common symbol arranged in the predetermined region, When the effective range is reduced each time the consumption condition is satisfied, the common symbol remains in the predetermined area even if the game opportunity is newly generated until the effective range is exhausted, and the effective range is exhausted. Is a common symbol control for controlling the arrangement of symbols in the predetermined area so that the common symbol disappears from the predetermined area. It comprises a unit, and to solve the problems described above by.

  According to the gaming machine of the present invention, when the game opportunity control means generates a game opportunity, the symbol arrangement control means determines each type of the plurality of symbols to be arranged in a predetermined area on the game screen. The symbols are arranged in a predetermined area on the game screen in a predetermined positional relationship. Based on the type and arrangement of the symbols, the winning determination means determines whether the winning condition is successful. In the process of determining the symbol type by the symbol placement control means, the common symbol lottery means can be used to draw a common symbol from the symbol candidates and place the lottery common symbol in a predetermined area. When a predetermined consumption condition is satisfied in a state where the common symbol is arranged, the effective range of the common symbol is correspondingly reduced by the common symbol control means. Until the effective range runs out, even if a new game opportunity occurs, the common symbol remains in a predetermined area of the game screen. Since the common symbol is valid as two or more types of normal symbols, the state where the probability that the winning condition is satisfied is continued until the common symbol disappears. Thereby, compared with the case where a common symbol is used only once, a player's sense of expectation for winning can be enhanced. On the other hand, the high probability state caused by the common symbol can be controlled flexibly and appropriately according to the setting of the consumption condition and the effective range.

  In one form of the game machine of the present invention, the effective range is defined by the number of effective times, and the common symbol control means determines that the consumption condition is satisfied each time the common symbol is used to establish the winning condition. Judgment may be made to subtract the effective number one by one. According to this aspect, each time the common symbol is used to establish the winning condition, the effective number is subtracted by one. Therefore, the relationship between the satisfaction of the consumption condition and the remaining effective range of the common symbol is clear and common. It is possible to make the player easily understand how long the high probability state by the symbol continues.

  In one aspect of the gaming machine of the present invention, the winning determination means determines that the winning condition is satisfied when a predetermined number of the same type of symbols arranged in the predetermined area form a predetermined array. May be. According to this aspect, when a common symbol is captured in a predetermined array, any one of the common symbol and two or more types of normal symbols included in a range in which the common symbol can be used. If the regular symbols are arranged in the same array, the winning determination means determines that the predetermined array is formed by the same kind of symbols.

  In one aspect of the gaming machine of the present invention, the game opportunity control means newly generates the game opportunity within the same range of games when the winning condition is satisfied, but the winning condition is not satisfied. In this case, the game in the predetermined range is ended, and the common symbol control means determines that the common symbol is left in the predetermined area when the winning condition is not satisfied and the common symbol remains in the predetermined area. May be extinguished. According to this aspect, when the game opportunity control means ends the game without winning conditions being established, the common symbol disappears from the predetermined area of the game screen even if the valid range remains. Therefore, there is no possibility that the common symbol remains at the time when the player hands over the game value to the game machine and starts the next game, and a state where the probability that the winning condition is satisfied is high from the beginning is not generated.

  The common symbol lottery means performs a lottery of symbols from the symbol candidates at any game opportunity that occurs within the game in the predetermined range, and the common symbol placement means includes the common symbol lottery means When the winning condition is satisfied at a game opportunity at the time when a common symbol is selected, the common symbol may be arranged in the predetermined area at a game opportunity that occurs next time. According to this aspect, the common symbols are arranged in the predetermined area at the next and subsequent game opportunities on the condition that a common symbol is drawn by lots at any game opportunity and a winning condition is established at the game opportunity. Since the requirement that the common symbol is arranged includes the establishment of the winning condition, the high probability state due to the arrangement of the common symbol can be generated as a kind of privilege for the establishment of the winning condition.

  Further, when the common symbol is drawn by the common symbol lottery means, the lottery common symbol is presented to the player as a symbol to be placed in the predetermined area at a game opportunity that occurs after the next time. You may further provide a common symbol presentation means (10). By presenting to the player that the common symbol has been drawn, it is possible to notify the player that if the winning condition is met, the common symbol will be placed at the next game opportunity and a high probability state will occur. . Thereby, a player's expectation can be raised.

  The common symbol lottery means may perform a lottery of symbols from the symbol candidates at a game opportunity that first occurs in the game in the predetermined range. According to this aspect, since the common symbol is drawn at the first game opportunity, the possibility that a high probability state due to the common symbol occurs can be generated without exception in all games. In the game machine of the present invention, the symbol candidates may include a plurality of common symbols having different effective ranges. By differentiating the effective range, the control of the high probability state by the common symbol can be controlled more flexibly and appropriately.

  The computer program of the present invention is a game opportunity that causes the computer (10) provided in the game machine (1) to generate at least one game opportunity within a predetermined range of games provided to the player in exchange for the game value. In response to the occurrence of the game opportunity, the control means determines each type of the plurality of symbols (105a, 105b) to be arranged in a predetermined positional relationship in the predetermined area (101a) on the game screen (100). A computer program that functions as symbol placement control means, and winning determination means that determines whether or not a predetermined winning condition is satisfied based on the type and arrangement of symbols arranged in the predetermined area, The arrangement control unit is a normal system that can be used as only one type of symbol for the winning determination of the winning determining unit. A common symbol lottery means for lottering at least one symbol from a symbol candidate including Bol and a common symbol that can be used as two or more types of normal symbols within a predetermined effective range for the winning determination, and the common symbol lottery means Common symbol placement means for placing common symbols drawn in the predetermined area, consumption condition determination means for determining whether or not a predetermined consumption condition is established in the game in the predetermined range, and the common symbol When arranged in a predetermined area, the effective range is reduced each time the consumption condition is satisfied, and the common symbol remains in the predetermined area even if a new game opportunity occurs until the effective range is exhausted. The symbol type and the symbol so that the common symbol disappears from the predetermined area when the effective range is exhausted. Common symbols control means for controlling the arrangement, by being configured to function as, for solving the above problems.

  The game machine of this invention can be comprised by running the computer program of this invention with the computer provided in the game machine. The computer program of the present invention may be provided to the user by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, or may be provided to the user through a wired or wireless communication line.

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

  As described above, according to the game machine of the present invention and the computer program thereof, an effective range is set for a common symbol that can be used as two or more types of normal symbols in the determination of success or failure of winning conditions, and the common symbol When placed in a predetermined area on the game screen, every time a predetermined consumption condition is established in the game, the effective range is reduced, and even if a new game opportunity occurs until the effective range is exhausted, a common symbol Is left in the predetermined area of the game screen, so that the player's expectation for winning can be sufficiently increased as compared with the case where the common symbol is used only once. On the other hand, the high probability state caused by the common symbol can be flexibly and appropriately controlled according to the setting of the consumption condition and the effective range.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of a game machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. The game machine 1 has a start button 2, a bet operation button 3, a payout request button 4 as an input device for receiving player operations, a monitor 5 as a display device, and a medal for managing insertion and payout of medals as a game medium. The management apparatus 6 and the control unit 10 which controls a game are provided. The start button 2 outputs a game start signal to the control unit 10 in response to the player's pressing operation. The bet operation button 3 outputs a bet signal to the control unit 10 every time the player presses the bet operation button 3. The payout request button 4 outputs a medal payout request signal to the control unit 10 in response to the pressing operation of the player. The monitor 5 displays a game screen or the like corresponding to the image signal output from the control unit 10. The medal management device 6 outputs a medal insertion signal to the control unit 10 every time it detects the insertion of a medal by the player, and pays out a medal to the player in response to a medal payout signal from the control unit 10.

  The control unit 10 is configured as a computer unit in which a microprocessing unit (MPU) 11 and various peripheral devices such as a main storage device 12 including a ROM and a RAM necessary for the operation of the MPU 11 are combined. An external storage device 13 using a magnetic disk storage device or the like is connected to the control unit 10. Programs and data for controlling the game are stored in the external storage device 13, and these programs and data are appropriately read from the external storage device 13 to the main storage device 12 in accordance with instructions from the MPU 11. The control unit 10 controls the progress of the game by the MPU 11 executing various arithmetic processes and operation controls according to the program read into the main storage device 12. In the game machine of this embodiment, as an example, the buttons 2 to 4, the monitor 5, the medal management device 6, and the control unit 10 are assembled in a housing (not shown), and predetermined in exchange for a game value symbolized by a medal. It is configured as a commercial game machine that provides players with a range of games.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic configuration of a game screen displayed on the monitor 5 based on the control of the control unit 10. The game screen 100 is provided with a slot display unit 101, a line payout display unit 102, and a medal number display unit 103. The slot display section 101 is provided with a main slot 101a and a reserved area 101b as predetermined areas that are targets for determining whether or not the winning conditions are successful. The main slot 101a is provided with nine frames 104 as nine symbol display portions arranged in a matrix of 3 rows and 3 columns. Each frame 104 displays one symbol selected from a plurality of types of symbols. The types of symbols are classified according to visual elements that can be identified by the player, such as pictures, designs, numbers, colors, and shapes. On the game screen 100, the symbols are, for example, various pictures as information for distinguishing the type of symbol, such as a symbol 105a with the numeral “7” and a symbol 105b with a “bell” symbol. , Symbols, numbers, shapes, etc. In the main slot 101a, a total of eight winning lines are set, three in the vertical direction, three in the horizontal direction, and two in the diagonal direction (diagonal direction of the main slot 101a). Regardless of the number of medals bet by the player, the number of winning lines is always set to eight. A line winning combination is completed when the same type of symbol is placed on all three frames 104 on any winning line. That is, a line winning combination is achieved when three identical types of symbols are adjacent (continuous) in one direction without interposing other types of symbols between them. In the reserved area 101b, three symbols that move to the main slot 101a when a predetermined condition is satisfied are displayed in combination with three pay lines and columns in the vertical direction.

  The line payout display unit 102 is provided with an odds display unit 102a and a next odds display unit 102b adjacent above the odds display unit 102a. The odds display unit 102a functions as a payout table in which each line winning combination and odds (payout rate) as payout values are displayed in association with each other at a ratio of 1: 1. On the left side of the odds display portion 102a, a plurality of line winning combinations are displayed side by side in the vertical direction, and on the right side, odds corresponding to these line winning combinations are displayed. The arrangement order of the line winning combinations in the odds display portion 102a is set so that the line winning combinations having a lower probability of being established are closer to the upper end portion of the odds display portion 102a. As a rule, the odds are set higher as the position is higher. However, the same odds may be set for different winning combinations. In the example of FIG. 2, the same odds 1 are set for the bottom “Cherry” winning combination and the second “Orange” winning combination from the bottom. When a plurality of line winning combinations are associated with the same odds, the probabilities that these line winning combinations are established may be equal to each other or may be somewhat different.

  The correspondence between the line winning combination displayed on the odds display unit 102a and the odds is controlled based on the odds candidate data D1 (see FIG. 10A) stored in the main storage device 12 of the control unit 10. The correspondence between the line winning combination and the odds is changed when a predetermined payout changing condition is satisfied in the game. FIG. 2 shows the correspondence in the initial state. The next odds display portion 102b displays the odds to be applied to the top row of the odds display portion 102a when the payout change condition is satisfied. Hereinafter, the odds displayed on the next odds display unit 102b may be expressed as next odds in order to distinguish them from the odds displayed in association with the winning combination on the odds display unit 102a. The details of the odds and next odds display control in the odds display unit 102a and the next odds display unit 102b will be described later.

  In the medal number display portion 103, the bet number (BET), the hit number (WIN), the payout number (PAID), and the credit number (CREDIT) are displayed from left to right on the game screen 100, respectively. The number of bets is the number of medals that the player has betted (betting), the hit number is the number of medals to be paid out to the player, the number of payouts is the number of medals to be paid out to the player, and the number of credits is This is the number of medals that the game machine actually keeps from the player as medals that can bet. The number of medals to be displayed on the medal number display unit 103 is calculated in a timely manner by the MPU 11 of the control unit 10 and stored in the main storage device 12. The MPU 11 increments the number of credits by one each time a medal insertion signal is output from the medal management device 6. On the other hand, every time a bet signal is output from the bet operation button 3, the MPU 11 subtracts the credit number by one while adding the bet number by one. When a payout to the player occurs in the game, the MPU 11 temporarily displays the number of medals to be paid out as a hit number, and then adds the payout number to the credit number at an appropriate timing. The dividend is determined by adding the number of dividends to the number of credits. When the medal payout request signal is output from the payout request button 4, the MPU 11 instructs the medal management device 6 to pay out the medal of the number of credits stored at that time, and the number is displayed as the payout number. The value of the number of credits stored in the main storage device 12 is reset to zero.

  Next, a game process executed by the control unit 10 using the arithmetic function of the MPU 11 will be described. When a game start signal is output from the start button 2 with the number of bets stored in the main storage device 12 of the control unit 10 being 1 or more, the control unit 10 executes the game process of FIG. From the start to the end of this game process is a predetermined range of games provided in exchange for the game value, and this may be referred to as a single game below.

  In the game process of FIG. 3, the control unit 10 first draws whether or not a free symbol or a wild symbol appears in the reserve area 101b in step S1 (hereinafter, this process is referred to as a special symbol lottery). Each of the free symbol and the wild symbol is defined as a special symbol that generates a special game state on condition that the symbol moves from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a. Details will be described later. FIG. 14 shows a process in which the free symbol 160 moves from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a, and FIG. 17 shows how the wild symbol 170 has moved to the main slot 101a. In FIG. 17, the wild symbol 170 is assigned a numerical value “7”, but the numerical value is displayed on the wild symbol 170 as a value indicating the effective number of times of the wild symbol 170. In this specification, a wild symbol to which a numerical value N is attached may be referred to as a wild N symbol. Whether or not to make the special symbol appear is drawn only by the special symbol lottery, and in the other lottery processes, the special symbol is excluded from the lottery target. That is, no special symbol is drawn by lottery other than the special symbol lottery.

  As an example, the special symbol lottery is performed using the special symbol lottery table TB1 of FIG. The special symbol lottery table TB1 associates a random number of a predetermined number of digits with a special symbol and a normal symbol as symbol candidates to be selected as a lottery option, and is stored in the external storage device 13 in advance and controlled. The data is read into the main storage device 12 of the unit 10. The normal symbol in the table TB1 of FIG. 4 is a generic name of symbols obtained by removing special symbols from all symbols that can appear in the slot display unit 101, and means symbols having a specific design other than the special symbols. is not. A number of random numbers corresponding to the target appearance probability is assigned in advance to each of the special symbol and the normal symbol. In other words, since the probability that random numbers are generated is equal, the probability that each symbol appears is determined by the number of random numbers assigned to each symbol. Since three symbols are displayed in the reserve area 101b, random numbers are assigned to the free symbols when the number of appearance is one, two, and three, respectively. The larger the number of appearances, the smaller the number of random numbers. Accordingly, the greater the number of free symbols that appear, the lower the probability. On the other hand, regarding the wild symbol, the number of appearances in the reserved area 101b is limited to one. However, the number of random numbers assigned to each of the wild symbols is differentiated so that the appearance probability decreases as the numerical value N (= 3, 5, 10,...) Increases.

  In the special symbol lottery in step S1, one of the random numbers written in the special symbol lottery table TB1 is drawn, the symbol associated with the selected random number is specified from the special symbol lottery table TB1, and the symbol appears. Determined as a symbol. When a free symbol or a wild symbol is selected, the position where the special symbol should appear on the reserved area 101b is also determined by an appropriate method. When three free symbols appear, the position need not be determined.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the description will be continued. When the special symbol lottery is completed, the control unit 10 proceeds to the next step S2, and determines whether or not the symbol selected in the special symbol lottery is a free symbol. If the selected symbol is a free symbol, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S3 and starts the production when the free symbol appears. The production is performed by a method of displaying an animation in which various symbols are sequentially replaced at a position where a special symbol should appear in the reserved area 101b, and finally ending the animation with a free symbol appearing. . After starting the production, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S4, and executes a free game process (FIG. 12) as a subroutine process corresponding to the appearance of the free symbol. Waiting for the end of the subroutine processing in step S4, the control unit 10 ends the current game processing.

  If it is determined in step S2 that the symbol is not a free symbol, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S5 and determines whether or not the selected symbol is a wild symbol. If the selected symbol is a wild symbol, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S6 and starts an effect for causing the wild symbol to appear. The production may be performed in the same manner as in step S3. After starting the production, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S7, and executes a wild symbol process (FIG. 16) as a subroutine process corresponding to the appearance of the wild symbol. Waiting for the end of the subroutine processing in step S7, the control unit 10 ends the current game processing.

  If it is determined in step S5 that the symbol is not a wild symbol, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S8 and executes a normal game process (FIG. 5) as a subroutine process corresponding to the case where the normal symbol is selected. When proceeding to the normal game process, only the normal symbols are displayed in the reserve area 101b. In this case, if only normal symbols appear in the reserve area 101b at the end of the previous game, the display of those symbols may be continued. When the previous game is over with a special symbol appearing in the reserved area 101b, one of the normal symbols appears instead of the special symbol. Alternatively, regardless of the state of the reserve area 101b at the end of the previous game, the three symbols that should appear in the reserve area 101b may be drawn from the normal symbols and the selected symbols may appear. If lottery of normal symbols is necessary, lottery may be performed using random numbers in the same manner as lottery of special symbols. When the process proceeds to step S8, the control unit 10 waits for the end of the normal game process and ends the current game process. When three symbols that should appear in the reserve area 101b are determined in the game process of FIG. 3, the control unit 10 stores reserve area data for specifying the arrangement of symbols in the reserve area 101b in the main storage device 12. Write to.

  Next, the normal game process will be described with reference to FIG. In the normal game process, the control unit 10 first draws symbols to appear in the nine frames 104 (see FIG. 2) of the main slot 101a in step S11 (hereinafter, this process is referred to as a main slot lottery). As an example, the main slot lottery is performed with reference to the main slot lottery table TB2 shown in FIG. The main slot lottery table TB2 associates each of a plurality of symbols collectively referred to as normal symbols with a random number of a predetermined number of digits, and is stored in advance in the external storage device 13 and read into the main storage device 12. It is. In the main slot lottery table TB2, the number of random numbers assigned to each symbol is adjusted according to the appearance probability of the symbol. Assuming that the order of line winning combinations in the odds display portion 102a of FIG. 2 is set according to the probability that each line winning combination is established, “7” that constitutes the line winning combination “777” having the lowest probability is established. "Is the lowest probability of appearance, and the number of random numbers assigned thereto is set to the minimum value. A larger number of random numbers are assigned to the “bell” symbols that make up the “bell” line winning combination that has a higher probability of being established.

  In the main slot lottery in step S11, one of the random numbers written in the main slot lottery table TB2 is drawn for each of the nine frames 104 of the main slot 101a. Subsequently, symbols respectively associated with the selected random numbers are specified from the main slot lottery table TB2, and these symbols are determined as symbols to appear in each frame 104. Note that in step S11, the lottery of the frames 104 is performed independently of each other. The lottery result regarding any frame 104 does not affect the lottery of other frames 104. When the symbol of each frame 104 is determined, the control unit 10 causes each selected symbol to appear while giving a predetermined effect to the main slot 101a. For the effect, for example, an appropriate technique such as displaying an animation in which symbols are sequentially replaced in each frame 104 may be used. Further, the control unit 10 writes the symbol arrangement data for specifying the symbol arrangement in the main slot 101 a, that is, which symbol is displayed on each frame 104, into the main storage device 12.

  In the next step S12, the control unit 10 examines the symbol arrangement data to determine whether or not a winning combination is established on the main slot 101a, in other words, whether or not a winning condition is established. In this case, the winning combination to be determined includes not only the above-described line winning combination but also other winning combinations. FIG. 7 shows an example in which a connect bonus winning combination 111 is established as another winning combination in addition to the line winning combination 110. The connect bonus winning combination 111 is established when three or more symbols of the same type are consecutive except for the winning line. That is, when a symbol of one frame is considered, a connect bonus winning combination is established when symbols of the same type are arranged one by one in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction with reference to the symbol. A part of the symbols forming the connect bonus winning combination 111 may be included in the line winning combination 110. In step S12 of FIG. 5, if at least one of the line winning combination and the connect bonus winning combination is established, it is determined that the winning combination is established. If the winning combination is not established in step S12, the control unit 10 ends the normal game process and returns to the game process of FIG.

  If a winning combination is established in step S12 of FIG. 5, the control unit 10 proceeds to the next step S13, and gives a player a payout according to the established winning combination. When the line winning combination is established, the number of medals obtained by multiplying the bet number by the odds associated with the established line winning combination is awarded as a payout. The correspondence between the line winning combination and the odds is as displayed on the odds display portion 102a in FIG. 2 when the winning combination is established. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the line winning combination 110 is formed by the symbol of “bell”, the odds of “bell” is 5 in the odds display portion 102a of FIG. Medals are awarded as dividends.

  When the connect bonus winning combination is established in step S12, the number of medals obtained by multiplying the bet number by the odds associated with the established connect bonus winning combination is awarded as a payout. The correspondence between the connect bonus winning combination and the odds is set as shown in the number dividend table 120 shown in FIG. 8, for example. The number payout table 120 is configured as a table in which symbols are arranged in the row direction (horizontal direction) and the number of symbols forming a connect bonus winning combination in the column direction (vertical direction). The odds associated with the connect bonus winning combination are the symbols forming the connect bonus winning combination and the odds corresponding to the number of the symbols arranged. In the external storage device 13, a data table describing the correspondence relationship of the number dividend table 120 in FIG. 8 is stored in advance, and the data table is also appropriately read into the main storage device 12. The control unit 10, more specifically, the MPU 11, refers to the data table, identifies the odds associated with the connect bonus winning combination, and calculates the payout to the player. In the example of FIG. 7, since the connect bonus winning combination 111 is established by the four symbols with the “orange” symbol, “1” is identified as the odds corresponding to the “orange” symbol and the number 4 The same number of medals as the bet number is awarded as a payout. When a line winning combination is established at the same time as a connect bonus winning combination, a total of dividends corresponding to both winning combinations is awarded as a dividend. The control unit 10 realizes a payout to the player by adding the number of medals calculated in step S13 to the target number.

  After the payout is awarded in step S13 in FIG. 5, the control unit 10 proceeds to the next step S14, where the symbols forming the winning combination are deleted from the main slot 101a, The symbol arrangement data on the main storage device 12 is updated so that the symbol of the frame 104 adjacent above it moves. As the symbol arrangement data is updated, the control unit 10 displays a state in which the symbols are deleted or moved on the main slot 101a. In the example of FIG. 7, the “bell” symbol and the “orange” symbol are deleted, and the “7” symbol 112 and the “plum” symbol 113 are moved one line at a time below the main slot 101a. The arrangement of symbols in the main slot 101a is changed.

  When the above-described symbol erasure and movement are performed, a blank frame 104 remains in the main slot 101a. In order to fill the blank, the control unit 10 updates the symbol arrangement data so that the symbol displayed in the reserved area 101b moves to the blank frame 104 in the next step S15, and the main unit from the reserved area 101b. The movement of the symbol to the slot 101a is displayed. For example, in FIG. 7, the frames 104 in the first and second columns from the left are blank. For the first column, the “bell” symbol 114 moves from the reserved area 101b to the frame 104 in the third row (bottom row), and the “plum” symbol 115 also moves to the third column in the second column. Move to the next frame 104. In the third column, the “Plum” symbol 116 moves from the reserved area 101b to the blank frame 104 in the first row. Note that the reserve area data is also updated with the movement of the symbols from the reserve area 101b to the main slot 101a.

  When a symbol moves from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a, a blank is generated in the reserved area 101b. Therefore, the control unit 10 draws a symbol to be displayed in the blank portion of the reserve area 101b in the next step S16 (hereinafter referred to as reserve area lottery). The reserve area lottery may be performed using random numbers in the same manner as the main slot lottery. In the reserve area lottery, only normal symbols are subject to lottery, and special symbols are excluded from the lottery. That is, no special symbol is drawn in the reserve area lottery. The reserve area data is also updated with the reserve area lottery.

  In the next step S17, the control unit 10 determines whether or not symbols are arranged in all frames 104 of the main slot 101a based on the symbol arrangement data. That is, it is determined whether or not there is no blank frame 104 due to the movement of the symbol from the reserved area 101b. If there are still frames 104 in which no symbols are arranged, the control unit 10 repeats the processes of steps S15 to S17 until all blank frames 104 are filled with symbols. By repeating the process, symbols sequentially move from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a, and new symbols are allocated to the reserved area 101b. The symbol arrangement data and reserved area data are updated to contents corresponding to the arrangement of the symbols after movement.

  If it is determined in step S17 that symbols have been placed on all the frames 104, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S18. In other words, after the symbols are not moved on the slot display unit 101 and the symbols of both the main slot 101a and the reserved area 101b are determined, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the control unit 10 determines whether or not a winning combination is established in the main slot 101a by examining the symbol arrangement data. In this process, as in the process of step S13, it is determined whether or not a line winning combination and a connect bonus winning combination are established. However, the process of step S18 differs from the process of step S12 in that the determination target is the main slot 101a in which symbols are rearranged by the processes of steps S14 to S17.

  An example in which a winning combination is newly formed by rearrangement of symbols is shown in FIG. The slot display unit 101A on the left side of FIG. 9 is in a state at the time when the winning combination is erased in step S14, and the slot display unit 101B on the right side of FIG. 9 shows that the symbol rearrangement is completed when step S17 is affirmed. Each state is shown. In the slot display portion 101A of FIG. 9, the three frames 104 on the left column are blank. In this case, the “bell” symbol 130 arranged at the left end of the reserve area 101 b moves to the frame 104 at the lowest level. Further, symbols are sequentially arranged on the frames 104 in the second row and the first row by the reserve area lottery in step S16. In the slot display portion 101B of FIG. 9, the “plum” symbol is arranged in the second row, and the “orange” symbol is arranged in the first row. In the slot display portion 101B after the symbol rearrangement, the “bell” line winning combination 110B is established in the third row. The success or failure of the winning after such symbol rearrangement is determined in step S18.

  If a winning combination is established in step S18, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S19, and awards a payout according to the established winning combination to the player. This process may be the same as the process of step S13. In the subsequent step S20, the control unit 10 changes the correspondence relationship between the line winning combination and the odds so that the odds row displayed in the odds display portion 102a is shifted downward by one step. That is, the control unit 10 changes the correspondence relationship between the line winning combination and the odds assuming that the payout changing condition is satisfied when the winning combination is formed after the symbol rearrangement. Hereinafter, an example of the correspondence control method will be described.

  Odd candidate data D1 shown in FIG. 10A is stored in advance as dividend candidate data in the external storage device 13 as a kind of data to be referred to in the control of the correspondence between line winning combinations and odds. The odds candidate data D1 has a data structure in which a predetermined number of odds candidate values (corresponding to dividend candidate values) are arranged in a predetermined order. The number of odds candidate values is sufficiently larger than the number of line winning combinations displayed on the odds display portion 102a. As a general rule, the order in which the odds candidate values are arranged is set such that the odds candidate values become larger (higher) from the head (left end in FIG. 10A) to the tail of the odds candidate data D1. However, a plurality of the same values may continue. In the example of FIG. 10A, the first and next odds candidate values are both set to 1. In the control of odds, a set of a series of odds candidate values, which is one more than the number of winning combinations per line for the odds candidate data D1, is set as a selected odds group (corresponding to a selected payout value group) by the control unit 10. Selected. A series of odds candidate values equal in number to the winning combination from the leading odds value of the selected odds group toward the end are selected as odds corresponding to the line winning combination, and the odds candidate located at the end of the selected odds group The value is selected as the next odds.

  The correspondence between each of the odds candidate values included in the selected odds group and the line winning combination is the order of the line winning combinations when the lowest stage of the odds display portion 102a is the head, and the odds candidate value in the odds candidate data D1. It is determined that the order of arrangement matches. As a result, higher odds are set for line winning combinations with lower probability of establishment. For example, the top odds candidate value of the selected odds group becomes the odds for the “Cherry” line winning combination displayed at the bottom of the odds display portion 102a, and the second odds candidate value from the top is for the “Orange” line winning combination. The odds corresponding to the line winning combination in which the second odds candidate value from the end of the selected odds group is “7”. Then, odds for each of the line winning combinations are displayed on the odds display portion 102a according to these correspondences. The next odds display portion 102b displays the next odds, that is, the odds candidate value at the end of the selected odds group.

  To change the correspondence between line winning combinations and odds, the range of the selected odds group set on the odds candidate data D1 is shifted by one odds candidate value in the direction of increasing odds every time the payout change condition is satisfied. Is realized. This increases the expected value of the payout every time the payout change condition is satisfied. The expected value here is the sum of products of the probability that each line winning combination is established and odds, and means the number of medals that can be expected by the player when one bet is placed.

  One method for changing the range of the selected odds group will be described below. After the normal game process of FIG. 5 is started, a state in which the payout changing condition has not been satisfied yet is set as an initial state, and a variable i for determining the number of times the payout forming condition is satisfied from the initial state is set as a main variable i. Stored in the storage device 12. However, the initial state is a variable i = 0, and 1 is added to the variable i every time the payout changing condition is satisfied. Then, the setting range of the selected odds group on the odds candidate data D1 is changed so that the i-th odds candidate value from the odds candidate data D1 becomes the first value of the selected odds group. According to this method, in the initial state (i = 0), as shown in FIG. 10A, from the top of the odds candidate data D1, one more odds candidate value than the number of line winning combinations is selected as the selected odds group. If the payout change condition is satisfied once, the variable i = 1, and the range of the selected odds group is shifted, that is, shifted by one odds candidate value from the beginning to the end of the odds candidate data D1. Similarly, the range of the selected odds group is shifted one by one every time the payout changing condition is satisfied. That is, the range of the selected odds group may be determined by using the variable i as the shift amount of the selected odds group from the head of the odds candidate data D1. Since the odds candidate value at the end of the odds candidate data D1 is displayed only on the next odds display unit 102b, it may be dummy data. The dummy data may be a character string indicating that the odds shift has reached the upper limit.

  As described above, by shifting the setting range of the selected odds group, the odds display unit 102a moves (shifts) the odds downward by one step each time the payout changing condition is satisfied. The next odds displayed on the next odds display part 102b are the new odds in the blank field generated at the top of the odds display part 102a due to the movement, that is, in the odds field to be associated with the line winning of “777”. Appropriated. Further, the odds candidate value newly taken into the selected odds group is displayed as new next odds on the next odds display portion 102b. FIG. 11 shows an example of display change of the line payout display unit 102. The line payout display portion 102A shown on the left side of FIG. 11 includes an odds display portion 102a and a next odds display portion 102b in the initial state. When the payout change condition is satisfied from this state, the odds row is shifted downward by one line as in the line payout display portion 102B shown on the right side of the figure, and the next odds 50 displayed on the next odds display portion 102b is displayed as odds. It moves to the odds of the line winning combination “7” at the top of the section 102a. Then, 100 is displayed as new next odds on the next odds display portion 102b. When the range of the selected odds group reaches the odds candidate value at the end of the odds candidate data D1, the variable i is returned to the initial value 0.

  The odds candidate data D1 and the variable i described above also function as data for specifying the odds corresponding to the established line winning combination when calculating the payout for the establishment of the line winning combination. That is, when any line winning combination is established, the sum obtained by adding the variable i to the rank from the lowest level in the odds display portion 102a of the established line winning combination is a discrimination value indicating the position of the corresponding odds in the odds candidate data D1. What is necessary is just to specify the odds candidate value located in the jth from the head of the odds candidate data D1 as the odds corresponding to the established line winning combination. As an example, let us consider a case where an “orange” line winning combination is established in a state where the dividend change condition is established once from the initial state (i = 1). Since the ranking in the odds display portion 102a of the line winning combination of “orange” is 2, the discriminant value j is 3, and the third odds candidate value 2 from the head of the odds candidate data D1 is “orange” at that time. It is specified as the odds corresponding to the line winning combination. A dividend can be obtained by multiplying the identified odds 2 by the number of medals bet. As described above, the odds candidate data D1 and the variable i function as payout data that defines the correspondence between the line winning combination and the payout.

  After specifying the range of the selected odds group using the odds candidate data D1 and the variable i, as shown in FIG. 10B, a payout table TB3 in which line winning combinations and odds are described in association with each other is generated and It may be held in the storage device 12 and the display of the odds display unit 102a may be controlled with reference to the payout table TB3 and the odds at the time of payout calculation may be specified. In this case, the table TB3 functions as payout data. In the example of FIG. 10B, the next odds and corresponding odds candidate values are also described in the payout table TB3, and the display of the next odds display unit 102b can be controlled by referring to the table TB3. However, the next odds value may be held in the main storage device 12 as data different from the table TB3.

  Returning to FIG. 5, the description of the normal game process is continued. After shifting the odds in step S20, the control unit 10 returns to step S14 and performs the processing from step S14 to step S18 again. If the winning combination is satisfied again in step S18, the payout changing condition is satisfied again, a payout is added in step S19, and the correspondence relationship between the line winning combination and odds is changed in step S20. Processing is returned to. By repeating this, the odds displayed on the odds display portion 102a are sequentially shifted downward, and the expected value of the payout to the player is relatively increased. If it is determined in step S18 that the winning combination has not been established, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S21, initializes the odds displayed on the odds display unit 102a, that is, the correspondence relationship between the line winning combination and the odds is described above. Reset to the initial state. In short, if the winning combination is not established even after erasing the symbols forming the winning combination and rearranging the symbols accompanying the erasing, the odds shift is completed and returned to the initial state. After the initialization in step S21, the control unit 10 ends the normal game process and returns to the game process of FIG.

  In the above-described normal game process, when a winning combination is formed in the main slot lottery in step S11, the process of steps S14 to S17 is executed, so that the symbol that formed the winning combination is deleted, and is generated along with the deletion. The symbols move from the top to the bottom so as to fill the blank frame 104, and the blank frame 104 remaining after the movement is newly assigned a symbol from the reserved area 101b, so that nine symbols are re-applied to the main slot 101a. Be placed. When a winning combination is formed by the rearrangement, the payout changing condition is satisfied, the odds row of the odds display portion 102a is shifted downward by one step, and the odds displayed at the bottom row of the odds display portion 102a are deleted. The next odds displayed in the next odds display part 102b are assigned as new odds to the blank generated in the top row of the odds display part 102a. Then, the odds candidate value newly taken into the selected odds group is displayed as the next odds on the next odds display portion 102b. Even if the row of odds is shifted by one step, the regularity or order of the odds change set between the odds before the shift is between the odds from the lowest level of the odds display portion 102a to the previous level of the uppermost level. It is maintained as it is. Therefore, the player can easily understand how the odds change. Further, since the odds allocated to the top row of the odds display portion 102a are displayed in advance in the next odds display portion 102b before the shift, which of the “77” line winning combinations with the lowest probability is determined in the next shift. The player can easily understand whether or not such odds are set. For this reason, there is no possibility of unnecessary confusion caused by the change in odds.

  Further, since the expected value of the dividend increases as the odds shift, the player's interest can be sufficiently attracted to the change in the odds. Furthermore, since the odds for each line winning combination are changed to a high value by shifting the odds step by step, the odds can be finely controlled as compared with the case where the odds are simply multiplied by an integer. In the example of FIG. 2, when the odds are uniformly doubled, the odds set for the line winning combination of “777” with a large number of payouts increase from “30” to “60”. According to the form, it increases only from “30” to “50”, and a sudden increase in odds can be suppressed. On the other hand, for the “orange” line winning combination, the odds can be increased from “1” to “2” to sufficiently increase the number of payouts for the winning combination with a high probability. That is, by finely marking the amount of change or rate of change between odds, the change in odds before and after the shift can be finely controlled.

  Next, free game processing will be described with reference to FIG. The free game process in FIG. 12 corresponds to the subroutine process executed in step S4 in FIG. That is, when at least one free symbol appears in the reserved area 101b as a result of the special symbol lottery, the free game process of FIG. 12 is executed. In the free game processing, the control unit 10 first sets the value of the number of free games held in the main storage device 12 to the initial value 0 in step S31. The subsequent processing from step S32 to step S36 is the same as that from step S11 to step S15 in the normal game processing in FIG. However, in step S35, additional processing may occur for step S14, which will be described later.

  After performing the process for moving the symbol from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a in step S36, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S37 and determines whether or not the free symbol has moved from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a. to decide. Whether or not the free symbol has moved can be determined by referring to the symbol arrangement data updated with the movement of the symbol or the reserve area data immediately before the movement.

  If it is determined in step S37 that the free symbol has moved, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S38, where the number of free games held in the main storage device 12 corresponds to the number of free symbols moved to the main slot 101a. Is added. The number of moved free symbols can be specified by referring to updated symbol arrangement data or reserved area data immediately before symbol movement. For the correspondence between the number of free symbols moved and the number of free games, the discrimination table TB4 shown in FIG. 13 is prepared in the external storage device 13 in advance and is read into the main storage device 12 and referred to by the control unit 10. Can be specified. A table TB4 in FIG. 13 describes the number of free symbols moved from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a and the number of free games added in association with the movement.

  When a positive determination is made in step S37 and the number of free games is added in step S38, a free game as one of special game states is started. When the free game is started, the main slot lottery and various lottery results corresponding to the lottery result are not necessary until the player newly bets a medal until the value of the number of free games held in the main storage device 12 becomes zero. The process is repeated. When the free game is started, on the game screen 100, as shown in FIG. 14, the free symbol 160 existing in the reserved area 101b of the slot display unit 101 moves to the main slot 101a, and the characters “FREE”, etc. The start of the free game is emphasized by performing an effect that emphasizes. Note that the free symbol moved to the main slot 101a is changed to any normal symbol by the processing of the control unit 10. A random lottery or the like can be used for the change.

  After the number of free games is added, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S39. If the free symbol has not moved in step S37, the control unit 10 skips step S38 and proceeds to step S39. Steps S39 to S42 are the same as steps S16 to S19 of the normal game process in FIG. 5, and a description thereof will be omitted. The process of step S43 is similar to step S20 of FIG. 5 in that the correspondence between the line winning combination and the odds is changed to shift the odds of the odds display unit 102a. However, in step S43, if the range of the selected odds group shown in FIG. 10A reaches the odds candidate value at the end of the odds candidate data D1, resetting the variable i to the initial value 0 is prohibited and the variable i is maximum. Held in value. That is, when the odds associated with the line winning combination reach the maximum value during the free game, resetting the odds to the initial state is prohibited. If the winning combination is not established in step S41, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S44, and determines whether or not the number of free games held in the main storage device 12 is zero. Note that the process proceeds to step S44 also when a winning combination is not formed in step S33. If the current free game is the last time, or if the free game has not been started, the number of free games is zero. If the number of free games is one or more, the control unit 10 subtracts one free game number in step S45, and then proceeds to step S46.

  In step S46, the control unit 10 inspects the symbol arrangement data and determines whether or not the coalescence condition is satisfied with respect to the symbol arrangement on the main slot 101a. In this case, when symbols of the same type are arranged on two adjacent frames 104 on the winning line, it is determined that the coalescing condition is satisfied. That is, the union condition is satisfied when two identical types of symbols are adjacent (continuous) to each other in one direction without sandwiching other types of symbols between them. The process of step S46 is executed when a negative determination is made in step S41, that is, when a winning combination is not formed. Therefore, the symbols that are the targets for determining whether or not the coalescence condition is successful do not include symbols that have won a winning combination as a winning condition. If the coalescing condition is satisfied in step S46, the control unit 10 proceeds to the next step S47, and the two types of symbols in which the symbols satisfying the coalescing condition are arranged are of the same type at the next lottery opportunity. It is set as a united frame 104a (see FIG. 15) where a symbol is to be arranged. For example, a united frame is set by a method such as setting a flag for identifying a united frame in a portion to be treated as a united frame on the symbol arrangement data. These merged frames are handled as special positions in the next and subsequent symbol lotteries. If the coalescence condition is not satisfied in step S46, step S47 is skipped.

  In subsequent step S48, the control unit 10 determines whether or not a frame set as a combined frame is present in the main slot 101a. If there is a combined piece, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S49, and executes a main slot lottery (hereinafter referred to as a combined piece lottery) that is applied only when a combined piece is set. In the combined frame lottery, symbols that should appear in each frame 104 are drawn using the main slot lottery table TB2 in the same manner as in the main slot lottery. The lottery is controlled so that the symbols of the same type are uniquely drawn for the other frames. One representative frame may be a frame whose drawing order is earlier in the main slot lottery, for example. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 15, at the time of the combined frame lottery, the mode of the symbols is changed so that the symbols on the combined frame 104 a are connected to each other. The symbol rotates on 104a (middle stage in the figure), and finally, as shown in the lower stage, an effect is given in which the lottery symbols appear in a connected state. If there is no united piece in step S48, the control unit 10 returns to step S32 and again executes the processing after the main slot lottery.

  If the number of free games is 0 in step S44, that is, if the free symbol is not moved to the main slot 101a and the free game is not started, or the free game is ended, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S50. The initialization of odds, that is, the correspondence between the line winning combination and the odds is reset to the correspondence in the initial state described above. In step S50, if there is a free symbol in the reserved area 101b, the control unit 10 updates the reserved area data so that the free symbol existing in the reserved area 101b is changed to a normal symbol. In this case, the normal symbols that should appear in the reserved area may be drawn using random numbers. Further, when there is a united piece in the main slot 101a during the process of step S50, the control unit 10 cancels the setting of the united piece. That is, the setting as a special position of the merged frame is canceled. When the process of step S50 is completed, the control unit 10 ends the free game process and returns to the game process of FIG. If a symbol placed in the combined piece is used for forming a winning combination in a state where the combined piece is set, step S33 or step S41 is affirmed and the symbol arranged in the combined piece is determined in step S35. Erased. In this case, in step S35, the control unit 10 cancels the setting as a special position of the combined frame in association with the deletion of the symbol of the combined frame.

  According to the above free game process, in the state where the free game has not yet started and the free symbol has appeared in the reserve area 101b, a winning combination is established in the main slot lottery in step S32, and the symbol is erased and moved. Accordingly, when the free symbol moves from the reserve area 101b to the main slot 101a, the number of free games is set according to the number of the moved free symbols, and the free game is started. When the free game is started, the symbol of each frame 104 of the main slot 101a is drawn by the processing of step S32 or S49 until the number of free games is determined to be 0 in step S44, and each time a winning combination is established. A dividend is awarded to the player. In other words, in the normal game process of FIG. 5, the game ends if no winning combination is established, whereas when the free game is started, the player bets medals even if the winning combination is not established. Even if not, the lottery of the main slot 101a is repeated, and the player is given an opportunity to win a dividend. Thereby, it is possible to give the player a sense of expectation to win more dividends compared to the normal game, and to enhance the interest of the game.

  In addition, during the free game, even if a winning combination is not established, if the same type of symbol is arranged in two adjacent frames 104, the process proceeds with steps S46, S47, S48, and S49. At the next main slot lottery, symbols of the same type are always placed on the combined frames. Therefore, the probability that a line winning combination or a connect bonus winning combination is established increases, and the player's expectation for winning a dividend can be further increased. Further, after the change of the correspondence between the line winning combination and the odds is repeated and the odds change to the maximum value, the odds are not reset to the initial state but are held at the maximum value. Therefore, the player can expect more dividends, and the expectation further increases as the number of free games increases. This can also enhance the interest of the game.

  Next, the wild symbol process will be described with reference to FIG. The wild symbol process in FIG. 16 corresponds to the subroutine process executed in step S7 in FIG. That is, when a wild N symbol appears in the reserved area 101b as a result of the special symbol lottery, the wild symbol process of FIG. 16 is executed. Note that the wild symbol functions as a common symbol that can be used as any normal symbol in determining whether or not the winning combination is successful in the main slot 101a. The number of effective times set for the wild symbol is a value obtained by quantifying the effective range in which the wild symbol can be used as all normal symbols.

  In the first step S61 of the wild symbol process, the control unit 10 sets the initial value 0 to the value of the number of wild times stored in the main storage device 12. The number of times of wild means the number of times that a wild symbol is used as a part of a symbol group forming a winning combination in the main slot 101a. The winning combination here may be either a line winning combination or a connect bonus winning combination. Subsequent steps S62 to S66 are the same as steps S11 to S15 in the normal game process of FIG. 5, and a description thereof will be omitted. However, in erasing the winning symbol executed in step S65, the wild symbol is not erased unless the number of wild times is zero. After performing the processing for moving the symbol from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a in step S66, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S67 and determines whether or not the wild symbol has moved from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a. to decide. Whether or not the wild symbol has moved can be determined by referring to the symbol arrangement data updated with the movement of the symbol or the reserve area data immediately before the movement.

  If it is determined in step S67 that the wild symbol has moved, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S68, and uses the numerical value N indicating the valid number of times of the moved wild symbol as the initial value of the wild number held in the main storage device 12. set. Thereafter, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S69. If it is determined in step S67 that the wild symbol has not moved, step S68 is skipped.

  Steps S69 to S70 are the same as steps S16 to S17 of the normal game process in FIG. 5, and a description thereof will be omitted. The processing in step S71 is the same as step S18 in FIG. 5 in that it is determined whether or not a winning combination is established on the main slot 101a by examining the symbol arrangement data. However, in step S71, processing different from step S18 is performed in that it is determined whether or not the winning combination is successful, assuming that the wild symbol corresponds to any of the normal symbols. That is, when determining whether or not a line winning combination is successful, it is determined that a line winning combination has been established if two symbols excluding the wild symbol match on any winning line including the wild symbol. . Also, frames that are adjacent in the vertical direction, the left-right direction, and the diagonal direction with respect to the frame where the wild symbol is arranged are determined as the frames to be inspected, and the symbols arranged in those frames are discriminated, and two frames that are adjacent to each other are determined. If there is a place where the same type of symbol exists, it can be determined that the connect bonus winning combination is established by the symbol and the wild symbol arranged in those frames.

  FIG. 17 shows an example of the state of the slot display unit 101 when a winning combination using a wild symbol is established. In this example, a wild symbol 170 is arranged at the center of the main slot 101a. A line winning combination is formed by the wild symbol 170 and the “orange” symbols arranged at the upper left and lower right. Further, a connect bonus winning combination is formed by the wild symbol 170 and the “bell” symbols arranged on the left and lower left thereof.

  As is clear from FIG. 17, when the wild symbol 170 is arranged in the center of the main slot 101 a, the winning lines that can win a line including the wild symbol 170 are vertically centered around the wild symbol 170. , One each on the left and right, and two in the diagonal direction, for a total of four. Further, with respect to the wild symbol 170, the symbols of eight frames adjacent in the vertical and horizontal directions and the diagonal direction may include the wild symbol 170 to form a connect bonus winning combination. When the wild symbol 170 is arranged at the center of any one of the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side of the main slot 101a, the winning line that can include a line winning combination including the wild symbol 170 is the vertical and horizontal directions. As for the connect bonus winning combination, the symbols of five frames around the wild symbol 170 may include the wild symbol 170 to form the connect bonus winning combination. When the wild symbol 170 is arranged at any corner of the main slot 101a, the winning line where the line winning combination can be established is one diagonal line including the corner where the wild symbol is arranged, There are three in total, one in each direction.

  Further, for the connect bonus winning combination, only the symbols of the three frames adjacent to the wild symbol 170 are targeted. As is clear from the above, when the wild symbol is located in the center of the main slot 101a, the chance that the wild symbol is used for forming a winning combination is the greatest, and the probability that the winning combination is established is increased accordingly. Since the movement of symbols from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a is limited in the vertical direction, in order for the wild symbol to be arranged at the center of the main slot 101a, the wild symbol is assumed to be at the center of the reserved area 101b. Need to be deployed. Therefore, when the position where the wild symbol should appear in the reserve area lottery is determined, the probability that the wild symbol appears in the center may be set smaller than both ends of the reserve area 101b.

  Returning to FIG. 16, the description will be continued. If a winning combination is established in step S71, the control unit 10 proceeds to the next step S72, and determines whether or not a wild symbol is used for forming a winning combination. If the wild symbol is used, the control unit 10 considers that the consumption condition relating to the effective number of wild symbols is satisfied, and proceeds to step S73 to use the winning combination from the value of the wild number held in the main storage device 12. Subtract the number of times. Thereafter, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S74. The number of uses is counted as one for each winning combination. In the example of FIG. 17, since the wild symbol 170 is used for one line winning combination and one connect bonus winning combination, the number of uses is two. Therefore, in this case, the number of wild times is subtracted by 2. If the number of wild times is subtracted in step S73, the control unit 10 updates the numerical value N of the wild symbol 170 displayed in the main slot 101a to the value after subtraction.

  In step S74, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the number of wild times is zero. If the number of wild times is 0, the control unit 10 proceeds to the next step S75, and instructs to erase the wild symbols 170 from the main slot 101a. In response to this instruction, the wild symbol 170 is erased from the main slot 101a in the process of step S65 executed thereafter. If the number of times of wild use is not 0 in step S74, the control unit 10 skips step S75 and proceeds to step S76. Steps S76 and S77 are the same as steps S19, S20, and S21 in the normal game process of FIG. 5, and a description thereof will be omitted. After the odds are initialized in step S77, the process returns to step S65. When a winning combination is not formed in step S71, the control unit 10 proceeds to step S78 and initializes odds as in step S21 of FIG. At this time, if a wild symbol remains in the reserved area 101b, the wild symbol is eliminated and changed to a normal symbol. In this case, a random number can be used for lottery of normal symbols. When the odds are initialized in step S78, the control unit 10 finishes the process of FIG. 16 and returns to the game process of FIG.

  According to the above wild symbol processing, the probability that a winning combination is established increases as the wild symbol moves from the reserved area 101b to the main slot 101a. Therefore, it is possible to give the player a sense of expectation for obtaining a larger amount of payout compared to the normal game, and to enhance the interest of the game. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the effective number N is set for the wild symbol, and the effective number is subtracted by one every time the wild symbol is used for forming the winning combination, until the wild number becomes zero, that is, the wild symbol. Until the effective number of times is consumed, the probability of winning is maintained high. Therefore, compared with the case where the wild symbol can be used only once for the establishment of a winning combination, it is possible to enhance the player's expectation for winning or winning a game and further enhance the interest of the game. In addition, there is no possibility that the high probability state is unnecessarily prolonged as compared to the case where the effective number is not set for the wild symbol and the winning symbol is not established and the wild symbol is continuously continued until the medal needs to be inserted next. Accordingly, it is possible to flexibly and appropriately control the winning probability control by the common symbol or the expected payout value control. By setting the probability that a wild symbol appears in the reserved area 101b as the wild symbol effective count N increases, the probability change due to the wild symbol can be more appropriately controlled.

  In the above embodiment, the control unit 10 executes the game process of FIG. 3 and the wild symbol process of FIG. 16 as its subroutine process, thereby allowing game opportunity control means, symbol arrangement control means, winning determination means, common symbol lottery means. , Functioning as common symbol placement means, consumption condition determination means, common symbol control means, and common symbol presentation means. Specifically, the control unit 10 responds to the game start signal from the start button 2 and proceeds to step S62 in FIG. 16 through steps S1, S2, S5, and S6 in FIG. It functions as a game opportunity control means for generating an opportunity, and functions as a game opportunity control means for generating a new game opportunity or a subsequent game opportunity in the same range game by executing the process of step S65 of FIG. In response to the negative determination in step S71 of FIG. 16, the process of FIG. 16 is terminated, thereby functioning as a game opportunity control means for ending a predetermined range of games. Further, the control unit 10 functions as a symbol arrangement control unit by executing the processing in step S1 in FIG. 3, the processing in step S62 in FIG. 16, and the processing in steps S66 to S70. In particular, the control unit 10 functions as a common symbol lottery means by executing the process of step S1 of FIG. 3, and functions as a common symbol arrangement means by executing the process of step S66 of FIG. By executing the process, it functions as a consumption condition determination unit, and functions as a common symbol control unit by eliminating the wild symbol in the processes of steps S73 to S75 and step S78. Furthermore, the control unit 10 functions as a common symbol presenting means by executing the process of step S6 of FIG.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described form and can be implemented in various forms. In the above embodiment, the game process from the start to the end of FIG. 3 is set as a predetermined range of game, the first game opportunity is given in the game, and the reserve area lottery (step S1) is executed at the game opportunity. This provides an opportunity for lottery of wild symbols as common symbols. When a symbol is placed in the main slot 101a as a predetermined area and a winning combination is formed at the first game opportunity, that is, when a winning condition is satisfied, the symbol that formed the winning combination is deleted (step S65). Then, a new game opportunity is generated by the method of rearranging the symbols (steps S66 to S70), and the game opportunity is repeatedly generated until the winning condition is not satisfied at the new game opportunity. After the wild symbol is arranged in the main slot 101a and the wild symbol is arranged in the main slot 101a, it is assumed that the consumption condition is satisfied every time the wild symbol is used to establish the winning condition. When the effective number is decremented by one (step S73) and the effective number is exhausted And extinguished wild symbols from the main slot 101a (step S74, S75). However, various processes such as lottery of common symbols, arrangement of common symbols selected, reduction of the effective range of common symbols and disappearance of the common symbols, control of occurrence of game opportunities, and types and arrangement of symbols in a predetermined area are appropriately performed. Can be changed.

  The common symbol lottery is not limited to an example that is executed only for the first game opportunity, and at least one symbol is selected from a symbol candidate including a normal symbol and a common symbol in a predetermined area every time a game opportunity occurs. A change such as lottery as a symbol to be arranged is possible. For example, you may include a wild symbol in the candidate for lottery by the reserve area lottery of step S69 of FIG. Alternatively, instead of the process of moving a symbol from the reserved area 101b to the frame 104 that has become blank in the main slot 101a, a symbol to be newly placed in the blank frame 104 is randomly selected from a symbol candidate that includes a wild symbol. Etc. may be used for lottery.

  The arrangement of the common symbols is not limited to an example in which wild symbols are moved from the reserved area 101b to the blank frame 104. For example, when a common symbol is drawn at a specific game opportunity, the common symbol may be unconditionally arranged in a predetermined area at the specific game opportunity. The common symbol may be arranged so as to replace the normal symbol remaining in the predetermined area, without being limited to an example in which the common symbol is newly moved to the blank frame 104.

  The reduction in the number of effective times of the common symbol is not limited to an example in which the number of effective times is decreased by one assuming that the consumption condition is satisfied every time the common symbol is used for establishing the winning condition. For example, the number of valid times may be reduced regardless of whether or not the winning condition is satisfied, assuming that the consumption condition is satisfied each time a game opportunity occurs. The amount of decrease in the number of effective times when the consumption condition is satisfied once may be changed, for example, the amount of decrease in the number of effective times is increased as the payout corresponding to the winning condition established using the common symbol is larger. The effective range of the common symbol is not limited to the example defined by the effective number of times. The effective range of the common symbol may be defined by time, and the effective range (in this case, the remaining time) may be subtracted every time a predetermined unit time elapses after the common symbol is arranged in the predetermined area. The effective range may be decreased by using two or more elements such as the number of times and time.

  With regard to the disappearance of common symbols, it is indispensable to disappear when the effective range is exhausted, but the common symbols disappear when one game, that is, a predetermined range of games provided in exchange for game value is completed. You may leave a common symbol in the next game without making it. In other words, the present invention is not limited to a mode in which a plurality of game opportunities are generated in a predetermined range of games and a common symbol is left in a predetermined area only for those game opportunities until the effective range runs out. It is also possible to carry out the game in such a manner that at least one game opportunity is generated in each of them, and the common symbols are left in a predetermined area until the effective range is exhausted. If the common symbol is to be extinguished at the end of the game provided in exchange for the game value, the common symbol remains when the next game starts, and the probability that the winning condition is satisfied is high from the beginning. There is no risk of accidental occurrence. On the other hand, when the common symbol is left until the next game, the presence of the common symbol can give the player the motivation to start the next game.

  Regarding the occurrence of a game opportunity, in the above embodiment, in addition to the game opportunity being given in step S62 in which all symbols to be placed on all the pieces 104 are selected, a game opportunity is also generated by erasing the symbol in step S65. When the winning condition is satisfied at the game opportunity (steps S66 to S70), the game opportunity is generated again with the processing of steps S72 to S77, and thereafter, as long as the winning condition is satisfied, the game opportunity is repeatedly generated. However, the present invention is not limited to an example in which a game opportunity is generated by such a method. Conditions for newly generating a game opportunity are not limited to winning conditions, and may be changed as appropriate. For example, a game different from the game using the main slot 101a may be executed as a game in the same range, and a new game opportunity may be generated when a predetermined result is obtained in the other game.

  Further, in the above embodiment, at the first game opportunity, the types of symbols to be arranged in all the pieces 104 are determined by random numbers, and the next and subsequent game opportunities, that is, the second and subsequent games generated when the winning conditions are established. At the opportunity, the type of the symbol in the main slot 101a as the predetermined area is determined by moving the symbol to the blank frame 104 and the reserved area lottery. However, various changes can be made regarding the determination of the type of symbol at each game opportunity. For example, the reserve area 101b may be omitted, and at each game opportunity, the type of symbol to be placed in the frame 104 that has become blank due to the disappearance of the symbol may be drawn by random numbers or the like. Alternatively, every time a game opportunity occurs, all the pieces 104 may be drawn by random numbers or the like. In this case, the common symbols for which the effective count remains may be left as an exception in any frame 104 of the main slot 101a.

  In the present invention, the common symbol is not limited to an example that can be used as all normal symbols, but may be any symbol that can be used as two or more types of normal symbols. Not only an example in which a plurality of common symbols having different effective ranges are prepared in advance, the initial value of the effective range of the common symbols may be fixed to a constant value. The positional relationship of the symbols in the predetermined area on the game screen is not limited to a relationship in which the same number is arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and various changes can be made. For example, a positional relationship in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a horizontal row may be set. The winning combination as the winning condition is not limited to the line winning combination and the connect bonus winning combination in the above-described form. The type and arrangement (arrangement) of the symbols that establish the winning conditions may be changed as appropriate. The game value is not limited to an example symbolized by medals, but may be symbolized by various game media such as currency and tokens, or may be symbolized by electronic information such as frequency recorded in a storage medium. The payout is not limited to an example realized by paying out medals, but may be generated in various modes such as giving points that can be used in currency, games, and the like. Furthermore, some privilege may be generated as a payout on the game when winning conditions are established.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the game machine which concerns on one form of this invention. The figure which shows the basic composition of a game screen. The flowchart which shows a game process. The figure which shows a special symbol lottery table. The flowchart which shows a normal game process. The figure which shows the main slot lottery table. The figure which shows an example of the game screen when a winning combination is established. The figure which shows a number dividend table. The figure which shows a mode that a symbol is rearranged by establishment of a winning combination. The figure which shows odds candidate data and the selection odds group set to the data. The figure which shows an example of the payout table produced | generated based on odds candidate data. The figure which shows a mode that the row | line | column of odds shifts below in an odds display part. The flowchart which shows free game processing. The figure which shows the free game frequency discrimination table which matched the number of free symbols and the free game frequency. The figure which shows an example of a screen change when a free game is started. The figure which shows an example of the change of the symbol on a union | combination top. The flowchart which shows a wild symbol process. The figure which shows a mode that the wild symbol is moving to the main slot.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 5 Monitor 10 Control unit 12 Main memory 100 Game screen 101, 101A, 101B Slot display part 101a Main slot 101b Reserve area 102 Odds display part 102, 102A, 102B Line payout display part 102a Odds display part 102b Next odds display Part 103 Medals number display part 104 pieces 104a Combined pieces 105a, 105b Symbol 110 Line winning combination 111 Connect bonus combination 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 Symbol 120 Number distribution table 130 Symbol 160 Free symbol 170 Wild symbol D1 Odds candidate data TB1 Special Symbol lottery table TB2 Main slot lottery table TB3 Dividend table TB4 Free game number discrimination table

Claims (9)

Game opportunity control means for generating a game opportunity that can satisfy a predetermined winning condition within a predetermined range of games provided to a player in exchange for a game value, at least once;
In response to the occurrence of the game opportunity, symbol placement control means for determining each type of a plurality of symbols to be placed in a predetermined position on a game screen in a predetermined positional relationship;
Winning determination means for determining whether or not the winning condition is satisfied based on the type and arrangement of symbols arranged in the predetermined area,
The symbol arrangement control means includes:
At least from symbol candidates including a normal symbol that can be used only as one type of symbol for the winning determination of the winning determination means, and a common symbol that can be used as two or more types of normal symbols within a predetermined effective range for the winning determination. A common symbol lottery means for drawing one symbol;
Common symbol placement means for placing common symbols drawn by the common symbol lottery means in the predetermined area;
Consumption condition determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined consumption condition is established in the game in the predetermined range;
When the common symbol is arranged in the predetermined area, the effective range is reduced every time the consumption condition is satisfied, and the common symbol is not generated even if the game opportunity is newly generated until the effective range is exhausted. Common symbol control means for controlling the arrangement of symbols in the predetermined area so that the common symbol disappears from the predetermined area when the effective range runs out in the predetermined area;
With
A game machine characterized by that.   The effective range is defined by the number of effective times, and the common symbol control means determines that the consumption condition is satisfied each time the common symbol is used for establishing the winning condition, and subtracts the effective number by one. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein:   3. The winning determination unit determines that the winning condition is satisfied when a predetermined number of the same type of symbols arranged in the predetermined area form a predetermined array. The game machine as described in. The game opportunity control means newly generates the game opportunity within the same range of games when the winning conditions are satisfied, and ends the predetermined range of games when the winning conditions are not satisfied. Let
The common symbol control means, if the common symbol is left in the predetermined area when the winning condition is not satisfied, the common symbol is extinguished from the predetermined area;
The game machine as described in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The common symbol lottery means performs a lottery of symbols from the symbol candidates at any game opportunity that occurs in the predetermined range of games,
The common symbol placement unit is configured to place the common symbol in the predetermined area at a game opportunity that occurs next time or later when the winning condition is satisfied at a game opportunity at the time when the common symbol lottery unit draws the common symbol. To place in the
The game machine according to claim 4.   When the common symbol is drawn by the common symbol lottery means, the common symbol that is presented to the player as a symbol to be placed in the predetermined area at a game opportunity that occurs after the next time The game machine according to claim 5, further comprising a presentation unit.   7. The game machine according to claim 5, wherein the common symbol lottery means performs a lottery of symbols from the symbol candidates at a game opportunity that first occurs in the game in the predetermined range.   The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the symbol candidate includes a plurality of common symbols having different effective ranges. The computer installed in the game console
Game opportunity control means for generating at least one game opportunity within a predetermined range of games provided to the player in exchange for game value;
Symbol arrangement control means for determining the type of each of a plurality of symbols to be arranged in a predetermined positional relationship in a predetermined area on the game screen in response to the occurrence of the game opportunity, and symbols arranged in the predetermined area A winning discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a predetermined winning condition is established based on the type and arrangement of
A computer program that functions as
The symbol arrangement control means;
At least from symbol candidates including a normal symbol that can be used only as one type of symbol for the winning determination of the winning determination means, and a common symbol that can be used as two or more types of normal symbols within a predetermined effective range for the winning determination. Common symbol lottery means to draw one symbol,
Common symbol placement means for placing the common symbols drawn by the common symbol lottery means in the predetermined area;
Consumption condition determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined consumption condition is established in the game in the predetermined range; and
When the common symbol is arranged in the predetermined area, the effective range is reduced every time the consumption condition is satisfied, and the common symbol is not generated even if the game opportunity is newly generated until the effective range is exhausted. Common symbol control means for controlling the arrangement of symbols in the predetermined region so that the common symbol disappears from the predetermined region when the effective range runs out in the predetermined region;
A computer program configured to function as a computer program.

Images