JP2008237776A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase a player's interest further in a pinball game machine for shifting to a variation time shortening game under a prescribed condition after a special game. <P>SOLUTION: In a pachinko machine, a game that a player can participate in is presented by an operation input via an operation button during a special game is played. The game is constituted as a plurality of times of mini-games in the form of selecting either a right or left door and a result for each mini-game and a result as the entire game are displayed by points taken or the level of a meter 205. The level is lighted and displayed stepwise, and accordingly, the meter 205 simply suggests approximate value of the number of variation time shortening game continuation times. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine, and more particularly to a technique for improving the playability of a ball game machine.

  As a ball game machine, the first type pachinko game machine and the second type pachinko game machine which are conventionally known are widely used. In the first type pachinko gaming machine, a lottery is executed in response to a ball entering the start winning opening, and a special symbol variation display for indicating the result is performed. When the lottery is won and the special symbol is stopped in a predetermined winning manner, the special winning opening is opened and the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game. On the other hand, in the second type pachinko gaming machine, the big winning opening is temporarily opened by entering the ordinary electric role entrance, and the first stage of the special game is started. Then, when the game ball that has entered the special winning opening passes through a specific area inside, the second stage of the special game is started and the special game is continued.

In recent years, a pachinko gaming machine has also been proposed that combines such first-type pachinko gaming machines and second-type pachinko gaming machines to provide a special game in a plurality of forms (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). In this pachinko gaming machine, the first lottery is executed in response to a ball entering the start winning opening, and a special symbol variation display for indicating the result is performed. When the first lottery is won and the special symbol is stopped in a predetermined winning manner, the first big prize opening is opened and the game shifts to the first special game. On the other hand, when there is a ball entering the ordinary electronic role entrance, the second big prize opening is temporarily opened and the first stage of the second special game is started. Then, when the game ball that has entered the second grand prize opening passes through the specific area inside, the second stage of the second special game is started, and the second special game is continued.
JP 2000-33141 A

  By the way, when the special game is finished in the first type pachinko gaming machine, there is a case where the game shifts to a specific game called a so-called variable time shortening game (hereinafter referred to as “short time”). The short time continues after the special game ends until the number of times the special symbol fluctuates reaches a predetermined number of times (hereinafter referred to as “the number of continuations”). At this time, in general, the ease of entering a normal electric role entrance is enhanced, so that a winning ball is easily obtained. In other words, there is a merit that the game can be continued without reducing the number of balls in general during the short time. If such a short time is applied to a gaming machine in which the first kind pachinko gaming machine and the second kind pachinko gaming machine are mixed, the ease of entering the normal electric service entrance entrance is enhanced during the time shortening. Therefore, the possibility that the second special game will occur is also increased. That is, since the ease of entering the normal electric role entrance depends on whether the time is short or not, how long the short time state continues greatly affects the continuity of the subsequent special game. For this reason, in any pachinko gaming machine, the number of short-time continuations after the end of the special game (the number of fluctuations in the special symbol that defines the short-term continuation time limit) is a serious concern for the player. The inventors have come up with the idea that the interest of the player can be further enhanced by devising the notification of the number of continuations of the short time scheduled after the end of the special game to the effect during the special game.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to further enhance the interest of a player in a ball game machine that shifts to a shorter time under a predetermined condition after a special game.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a bullet ball game machine according to an aspect of the present invention includes a game board in which a game area is formed, a start port provided at a predetermined position in the game area and into which a game ball can enter, In order to show the result of the lottery means and the lottery for executing the lottery for determining whether or not to shift to the special game which is more advantageous to the player than the normal game when the ball enters the starting port A display device capable of displaying a predetermined effect image including a variation display of a plurality of symbols as a moving image, and a plurality of variation patterns including a plurality of variation patterns in which a variation process from variation start to stop in the variation display of the plurality of symbols is defined. An effect display unit that stores an effect pattern of an effect image, an effect determining means that selects one of a plurality of effect patterns according to the progress of the game, and an effect image corresponding to the selected effect pattern in the effect display device display A special game control means for executing a special game when a plurality of symbols are stopped and displayed in a winning mode indicating that the result of winning or failing lottery is a win, and an end of the special game The game state is shifted to a specific game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, and the specific game is controlled until the number of fluctuations of a plurality of symbols reaches a predetermined number of times after the transition, and the player An operation input device that accepts an operation input by.

  The display control means displays an effect image of a game in which a player can participate by an operation input via the operation input device during execution of the special game, and after the special game ends based on the result of the game An effect image suggesting the number of continuations is displayed as the continuation time limit of the specific game to be executed.

  The “ball game machine” here refers to special game machines such as the conventional type 1 pachinko game machine and the game machine in which the first type pachinko machine and the second type pachinko game machine are mixed. Various types of gaming machines in which a specific game is executed upon completion can be included. The “specific game” is a normal game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, and may include the above-mentioned “short time”. The number of continuations of a specific game is defined as the number of times of variation of a plurality of symbols displayed in a variable manner. Also, “indicating the number of continuations” here means not displaying the number of continuations itself but displaying it with some ambiguity so as to inform the player of the number of continuations.

  According to this aspect, a game in which the player can participate by the operation input during the execution of the special game is produced, and the number of times of the subsequent specific game is suggested based on the result of the game. The player has a sense of expectation that the specific game can be continued for a long time by advantageously leading the game result. On the other hand, since the number of continuations of a specific game is only suggested, unlike the case where the number of continuations is displayed, there is a sense of expectation as to whether the actual number of continuations is higher than expected after moving to a specific game. Can be retained. As a result, it is expected that the interest of the player will be further enhanced.

  The display control means displays a game effect image that allows the player to select one of a plurality of options during the execution of the special game, and any one performed via the operation input device in the course of the game An effect image that suggests the number of continuations may be displayed based on the selection operation of the option.

  In this case, in the internal processing, the effect images to be displayed may be different or the same depending on the option selected by the player. In any case, since the number of continuations of the specific game is suggested according to the player's selection operation, the player can be made to recognize that the game result differs depending on which option is selected. In other words, the player's sense of expectation can be raised at each selection.

  The display control means may display an image that changes stepwise in order to cause the player to predict an approximate value of the number of continuations depending on the display state as an effect image that suggests the number of continuations.

  This effect image may be understood at a glance at the correspondence relationship with the number of continuations or may require an explanation to the player in advance. As an example of the former, the number or volume of image objects may increase or decrease corresponding to the number of times of continuation. For example, the number of continuations may be indicated by the level of a meter that is visually recognized in a plurality of stages. As an example of the latter, a display mode such as a light emission mode or a color of an image object may be changed into a plurality of types. For example, a display lamp may be displayed as an image object, and the number of continuations may be suggested by the lighting state, blinking state, or blinking cycle of the display lamp. Alternatively, the color of the display lamp may be changed stepwise, and the number of times of continuation may be reduced in the order of blue, yellow, and red, for example.

  The display control means produces and displays a mini game as the above-mentioned game, which is performed a plurality of times in accordance with the progress of the special game and the result is obtained each time based on the operation input via the operation input device, and the game ends. Sometimes the meter level may be displayed based on the results obtained by adding the results of each mini-game.

  In this way, if the special game is constituted by a plurality of unit games by dividing the game into a plurality of mini games, each mini game can be assigned to one of the unit games and set. it can. For this reason, there is an advantage that it is relatively easy to construct a game in accordance with the progress of the game. In addition, since the total result of each mini-game is reflected in the meter level, it is expected that the player's interest will be enhanced, for example, by raising the player's consciousness especially in the unit game in which the mini-game is set. The

  In this case, the display control means determines the level of the meter based on the result obtained by adding the results of each mini game at the end of the game, regardless of whether or not there is an operation input via the operation input device in each mini game. May be displayed.

  In this aspect, even if there is a minigame that is played multiple times and the player does not participate, the meter level is displayed based on the result obtained by adding the results of each minigame. Complete and serve as an indication of the number of continuations. In this case, a result may not be obtained for a mini game in which the player has not participated, or a predetermined result may be set on the gaming machine side.

  The display control means displays the result obtained by the operation input when there is an operation input via the operation input device in each mini-game, and reserves when there is no operation input via the operation input device. The effect image may be displayed.

  According to this aspect, since the result is displayed for each mini game, it is possible to obtain an effect that the number of continuations of the specific game changes as the game progresses. As a result, it is expected that the excitement will be enhanced, such as when the player sees the result of the mini-game, and is angry.

  In addition, in accordance with any combination of the above components, the components and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced between methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, data structures, etc. Is also effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to further enhance the interest of a player in a ball game machine that shifts to a shorter time under a predetermined condition after a special game.

  The pachinko gaming machine shown in the present embodiment provides a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game in a plurality of forms. In other words, as a first special game, a game corresponding to a special game in a conventional type 1 pachinko gaming machine is provided, and as a second special game, a game corresponding to a special game in a conventional second type pachinko game machine is provided. To do. The first special game is generated through the following process. That is, when the game ball enters the start winning opening, the first lottery is executed, and a special symbol variation display for indicating the result is performed. When the first lottery is won and the special symbol is stopped in a predetermined winning manner, the first special game is started. The second special game occurs through the following process. That is, when the game ball enters the normal electric role entrance, the second grand prize opening is temporarily opened and the first stage of the second special game is started. When a game ball that has entered the second grand prize opening passes through a specific area inside, the second stage of the second special game is started and the second special game is continued.

  When the first special game or the second special game ends, the game shifts to a specific game called a so-called variable time shortening game (referred to as “short time”) with a predetermined probability. The specific game continues after the special game ends until the number of times the special symbol fluctuates reaches a predetermined number of times (referred to as “continuation frequency”). During this specific game, the ease of entering the normal electric role entrance is increased, so the possibility of occurrence of the second special game is also increased. When the second special game occurs during the specific game, the specific game is continued even if the second special game is finished. In normal games in the normal state, since it is not easy to enter a normal electric role entrance, first the game ball is entered into the start winning entrance, the first special game is generated, and the game is shifted to a specific game. Above, the game method for repeatedly aiming at the second special game is a fixed stone.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the front side of a pachinko gaming machine. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is mainly composed of a gaming machine frame and a gaming board. The gaming machine frame of the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 11, a front frame 12, a transparent plate 13, a door 14, an upper ball dish 15, a lower ball dish 16, and a launch handle 17. The outer frame 11 has an opening and is a frame for fixing the pachinko gaming machine 10 to a position where it should be installed. The front frame 12 is a frame body that aligns with the opening portion of the outer frame 11, and is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The front frame 12 includes a mechanism for launching a game ball, a mechanism for detachably storing a game board, a mechanism for guiding or collecting the game ball, and the like. The transparent plate 13 is made of glass or the like and is supported by the door 14. The door 14 is attached to the front frame 12 so as to be openable and closable by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The upper ball tray 15 has a mechanism for storing game balls, sending out the game balls to the launch rail, and extracting the game balls to the lower ball tray 16. The lower ball tray 16 has a mechanism for storing and extracting game balls. A speaker 18 is provided between the upper ball tray 15 and the lower ball tray 16, and a sound effect corresponding to the gaming state is output. The operation button 82 is a button operated by the player to input a predetermined instruction to the gaming machine side. The operation button 82 is provided on the outer wall surface near the upper ball tray 15.

  The game board 50 has an out port 58, a center decoration 64, a first type start winning port (hereinafter simply referred to as “start port”) 24, a normal electric power, on a game area 52 defined by an outer rail 54 and an inner rail 56. It includes a winning ball opening 26, a first big winning port 28, a second big winning port 30, and an operating port 68. Furthermore, in the game area 52, a plurality of mechanisms such as a game nail and a windmill (not shown) are installed.

  The start port 24 includes an incoming ball detection device 32 that detects an incoming ball of a game ball. The operation port 68 includes an incoming ball detection device 38 that detects an incoming ball of a game ball. The ordinary electronic combination entrance 26 includes an entrance detection device 34 that detects entrance of a game ball. The normal electric combination entrance 26 includes a normal electric combination that widens the entrance to enter the ball, and a normal electric solenoid 76 that opens and closes the normal electric combination. The first grand prize opening 28 includes a ball entry detecting device 78 that detects the entry of a game ball and a big prize opening solenoid 83 that opens and closes the first big prize opening 28. The second grand prize opening 30 includes a ball entry detecting device 81 that detects the entry of a game ball and a big prize opening solenoid 80 that opens and closes the blades of the second big prize opening 30.

  The ordinary electric combination entrance 26 changes between a state in which entry is possible and a state in which entry is not possible, by opening and closing the ordinary electric accessory. Specifically, the ordinary electric role entrance 26 functions as a variable entrance that can be changed to an open state or a closed state by the driving force of the ordinary electric role solenoid 76. The ordinary electric role entrance 26 is provided immediately below the start port 24. When the ordinary electric accessory is in a closed state, the entrance of the ordinary electrical service entrance 26 is shielded by the start port 24, and the game ball does not fall into the ordinary electrical service entrance 26. However, in a modification, you may comprise so that it may not be shielded at normal time. In this case, the open state of the ordinary electric accessory is easier to enter than the closed state. When the ordinary electric accessory is in an open state, the game ball can drop into the ordinary electric accessory entrance 26 from the lateral direction of the ordinary electric accessory.

  The normal opening time of the ordinary electric service entrance 26 is a short time of, for example, about 0.8 seconds in the normal state. Therefore, in a normal state, the possibility that the game ball will drop into the normal electric role entrance 26 is small. On the other hand, during the specific game, since the opening time of the normal electric role entrance 26 is set longer than the normal state, the game ball is easy to drop into the normal electric entrance 26. The opening time at this time is set to about 3.0 seconds, for example.

  The first big winning opening 28 changes between a state in which a player can enter and a state in which a player cannot enter. Specifically, the first grand prize winning port 28 functions as a first variable pitching device capable of changing the state between the open state and the closed state by the driving force of the big prize winning solenoid 83. The first big winning opening 28 is a horizontal rectangular winning opening that is opened during the special game, and is provided above the out opening 58. When the first big winning opening 28 is in a closed state, it is not possible to enter the ball, and it is possible to enter the ball only when it is in the open state.

  The second big winning opening 30 also changes between a state where a ball can be entered and a state where a ball cannot be entered. Specifically, the second grand prize opening 30 functions as a second variable pitching apparatus capable of changing the state between the open state and the closed state by the driving force of the big prize opening solenoid 80. The second grand prize winning opening 30 is in an open state in response to a ball entering the ordinary electric role entrance 26. When the second big prize opening 30 is in the closed state, it is not possible to enter the ball, and it is possible to enter the ball only when it is in the open state.

  An effect display device 60, a special symbol display device 61, and a special symbol variation holding lamp 20 are provided on a center ornament 64 provided in the approximate center of the game board 50. The center ornament 64 has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60, and decoration. The special symbol display device 61 is a display means composed of 7-segment LEDs, and displays the special symbol 192 while fluctuating (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol variation” or “variable display”). The special symbol 192 is a symbol corresponding to the result of a lottery executed upon entering the starting port 24 (hereinafter referred to as “special symbol lottery”), and indicates whether or not the first special game is generated. Has the role to show. In other words, when the ball enters the start port 24, the special symbol 192 is variably displayed, and after the variation time determined prior to the display has elapsed, the special symbol 192 is stopped in a manner indicating the result of the special symbol lottery. Since the special symbol 192 does not necessarily have a role of production, in this embodiment, the special symbol 192 is displayed in an inconspicuous size on the special symbol display device 61 on the right side of the production display device 60. In the case of adopting a technique in which a decorative role is not displayed and a decorative symbol is not displayed, the special symbol may be displayed on a liquid crystal display such as the effect display device 60.

  The effect display device 60 is a liquid crystal display that variably displays the decorative symbol 190 in a manner interlocked with the variation display of the special symbol 192. The decorative symbol 190 is a symbol for visually producing the result of the special symbol lottery. The effect display device 60 displays, for example, a moving image of a plurality of rows of symbol fluctuations simulating a slot machine game as a decorative symbol 190 on the screen. The effect display device 60 is constituted by a liquid crystal display in this embodiment, but may be constituted by a mechanical rotating device such as a drum or other display means such as an LED. In addition, the effect display device 60 displays an effect image (effect image) even in the effect for inducing the player's expectation for winning the prize ball in the first special game or the second special game.

  The operation port 68 is provided at the lower left position of the game board 50. The passing of the game ball to the operation port 68 triggers the normal symbol lottery for determining whether or not to expand the normal electric combination of the normal electric combination entrance 26. When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, the normal symbol 194 for indicating the result of the normal symbol lottery is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 so as to blink the lamp. The normal symbol display device 59 is provided on the left side of the operation port 68. When the fluctuation display of the normal symbol 194 stops in a winning manner after the lapse of a predetermined time, the normal electric role entrance 26 is expanded for a predetermined time. The normal symbol change holding lamp 21 is provided in the vicinity of the normal symbol display device 59.

  The special symbol variation holding lamp 20 is composed of four lamps, and the number of reserved balls of the special symbol 192 variation is displayed according to the number of lights. The number of reserved balls is a lottery random number (hereinafter also referred to as “special drawing lottery value”) that is acquired as a lottery value when a game ball enters the start opening 24 while the special symbol 192 is changing or during execution of a special game. ) And the number of winning balls for which the variation display of the special symbol 192 has not been executed yet. In other words, it is the planned number of special symbol changes. The normal symbol fluctuation holding lamp 21 is also composed of four lamps, and the number of balls held for fluctuation of the normal symbol 194 is displayed according to the number of lights. The number of reserved balls is the number of lottery random numbers (hereinafter also referred to as “general drawing lottery values”) acquired as a lottery value when a game ball falls into the operation port 68 during the fluctuation of the normal symbol 194. The number of incoming balls for which the variation of the normal symbol 194 has not yet been executed is shown. In other words, it is the planned number of normal symbol changes.

  When the player turns the launch handle 17 by hand, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 15 are guided one by one to the inner rail 56 and the outer rail 54 with a strength corresponding to the turning angle, thereby playing the game area. To 52. When the player fixes the rotation position of the firing handle 17 by hand, the game ball is repeatedly fired at regular time intervals. The game ball launched to the upper part of the game area 52 falls in a direction according to the way of hitting while hitting a plurality of game nails and windmills. When a game ball falls into each of the winning openings such as the start opening 24, the ordinary electric service entrance opening 26, the second large winning opening 30, the first large winning opening 28, etc., the winning ball according to the type of the winning opening is raised. The ball tray 15 or the lower ball tray 16 is paid out. A game ball dropped into each winning opening such as the start port 24 is processed as a safe ball, and a game ball dropped into the out port 58 is processed as an out ball. Each winning opening includes a gate type through which a game ball passes. In this application, “incoming”, “entering”, and “winning” include “passing”.

  When the ball enters the start port 24, the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 are variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60. The variable display of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is stopped after the elapse of the display time determined prior to the display. When the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 at the time of the stop are symbols indicating a big hit, the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, and the opening / closing operation of the first big prize opening 28 is started. The At this time, the decorative pattern 190 simulating the game of the slot machine takes a display mode in which the three patterns are matched. In the special game, the first grand prize opening 28 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after 9 or more game balls are dropped. Such opening and closing of the first big winning opening 28 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times.

  In this embodiment, if the first special game or the second special game occurs, the specific game is specified in the normal game after the end of the first special game or the normal game after the end of the second stage of the second special game. Time is started as a game. In time saving, the variation time of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is shortened from the normal time. The variation time of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is returned to the original variation time after the variation display of a predetermined variation number is performed. In the time reduction, not only the special symbol 192 is shortened, but also the variation time of the ordinary symbol in the ordinary symbol display device 59 is shortened, and the opening time of the ordinary electronic service entrance 26 is also lengthened. Therefore, it is much easier to enter the normal electric role entrance 26 compared to the normal game in the normal state. When the player enters the opened ordinary electric role entrance 26, the second big prize opening 30 is opened. Thereby, it shifts to the second special game. The state in which the second big prize opening 30 is opened in the second special game is called the first stage of the second special game.

  The center ornament 64 forms a space partitioned inside the center ornament 64 so as to be separated from the outside of the center ornament 64. The second big prize opening 30 is attached to the left side of the center decoration 64, and the game balls that have entered the opened second big prize opening 30 pass through the passage 31 provided inside the center decoration 64 to the inside. Flows into the space. In the space, a guidance device 62, a specific area 22, and an outflow area 66 are provided. Inside the passage 31, a ball entry detection device 81 is provided to detect a ball entered into the second big prize opening 30. A game ball that has entered the center decoration 64 is guided toward the specific area 22 or the outflow area 66. The guide device 62 rotates at a low speed and acts to guide the game ball to either the specific area 22 or the outflow area 66. The specific area 22 has a shape of a entrance and always moves back and forth in the left-right direction. In this way, whether the game ball enters the specific area 22 or the outflow area 66 is determined by the rotational relationship of the guidance device 62 and the positional relationship of the reciprocating movement of the specific area 22 or the momentum of the game ball. .

  The entrance to the specific area 22 is detected by the entrance detection device 36, and the entrance to the outflow area 66 is detected by the outflow detection device 37. The entrance detection device 36 and the outflow detection device 37 are collectively referred to as a discharge detection device 35. The entrance detection device 36 and the outflow detection device 37 count the game balls that enter the specific area 22 and the outflow area 66, respectively. When the sum of the number of balls entered into each area coincides with the number of balls counted by the ball detection device 81, all the game balls that have entered the second big prize opening 30 are identified areas 22 or outflow areas 66. Is determined to have entered the ball.

  The game ball entering the specific area 22 inside the center decoration 64 is a continuation condition for shifting from the first stage to the second stage of the second special game. When the continuation condition is satisfied, the opening / closing operation of the first grand prize winning opening 28 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times as in the first special game. The first stage of the second special game corresponds to the first unit game, and the second stage corresponds to the second and subsequent unit games.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the modified example, a gaming machine without the first big prize opening 28 may be realized by providing the second big prize opening 30 with all the functions of the first big prize opening 28. As a result, it is possible to further simplify the operation control of the special game, reduce the manufacturing cost, and effectively use the space of the game area 52.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the back side of the pachinko gaming machine. The power switch 40 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main board 102 controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and processes all game operations such as lottery when entering the starting port 24 and the operating port 68 in particular. The sub board 104 includes a liquid crystal unit 42, controls display contents on the effect display device 60, and changes display contents according to a lottery result by the main board 102 in particular. The main board 102 and the sub board 104 constitute a game control device 100. The set base 39 includes a prize ball tank 44, a flow path for prize balls, a payout unit 43 for delivering prize balls. The payout unit 43 pays out the game balls supplied from the winning ball tank 44 to the upper ball tray 15 in accordance with winning in each winning opening. The payout control board 45 controls the payout operation by the payout unit 43. The launching device 46 launches the stored balls in the upper ball tray 15 to the game area 52 one by one. The launch control board 47 controls the launch operation of the launch device 46. The power supply unit 48 supplies power to each part of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the pachinko gaming machine. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the game control device 100 includes a start port 24, an operation port 68, a normal electric service entrance ball 26, a first grand prize port 28, a second major prize port 30, an effect display device 60, and a special symbol display. The device 61, the normal symbol display device 59, the speaker 18, and the operation button 82 are electrically connected to each other, and can transmit and receive various control signals. The game control device 100 controls not only the basic operation of the game, but also staging operations such as symbol variation display and electrical decoration. The game control device 100 is configured in such a manner that functions are shared between a main board 102 that controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 including basic operations of the game, and a sub board 104 that controls design effects and the like. The game control device 100 is configured by hardware including elements such as a ROM and a RAM for storing data and programs, and a CPU used for arithmetic processing.

  The main board 102 in this embodiment is a ball entering determination means 110, a first lottery means 112, a second lottery means 113, a symbol determination means 114, a holding control means 118, a main display control means 122, a special game control means 126, an open / close A control unit 132, a specific game control unit 133, and a continuation number determination unit 210 are provided. The sub-board 104 in this embodiment includes a pattern storage unit 140, an effect determination unit 142, an effect display control unit 144, a level determination unit 212, a continuation count storage unit 214, and a level storage unit 216. Each functional block included in the main board 102 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the sub board 104 instead of the main board 102. Similarly, each functional block included in the sub-board 104 may be configured such that any one of them is mounted on the main board 102 instead of the sub-board 104.

  The entrance determination means 110 determines entrance to each entrance. When receiving the start prize information from the entrance detection device 32, the entrance determination means 110 determines that the game ball has won the start opening 24, and when receiving the passage information from the entrance detection apparatus 38, the game ball opens the operation opening 68. Judge that it has passed. When receiving the winning prize opening information from the entering detection device 78, the winning determination means 110 determines that the game ball has won the first winning opening 28 and receives the winning prize winning information from the entering detection device 81. It is determined that the game ball has won the second grand prize opening 30. Further, the entrance determination means 110 also determines entrance into the specific area 22 and the outflow area 66 at the second big prize opening 30 based on the detection information of the entrance detection device 36 and the outflow detection device 37.

  The first lottery means 112 acquires a random number value as a special drawing lottery value in order to determine whether or not to shift to the first special game upon entering the starting port 24. For example, the special drawing lottery value is acquired from a value range from “0” to “65535”. The “random number” in the present application may not be a mathematically generated random number, but may be a pseudo-random number generated by a hardware random number, a software random number, or the like. In the success / failure table referred to by the first lottery means 112, the determination result of winning or losing is associated with the special drawing lottery value, and the success / failure probability is determined according to the associated winning range setting.

  The second lottery means 113 obtains a random number value as a regular lottery value in order to determine whether or not to open the ordinary electronic role entrance 26 upon entering the operation port 68. For example, the usual drawing lottery value is acquired from a value range from “0” to “511”. In the success / failure table referred to by the second lottery means 113, the determination result of winning or losing is associated with the usual drawing lottery value, and the success / failure probability is determined according to the associated winning range setting.

  The symbol determining unit 114 includes a special symbol determining unit 115 and a general symbol determining unit 116. The special symbol determination unit 115 acquires a symbol determination lottery value for determining the stop symbol of the special symbol 192, and the special symbol 192 stop symbol according to the determination result of the first lottery unit 112 and the symbol determination lottery value. To decide. The special figure determination unit 115 selects one of a plurality of variation patterns in accordance with the determination result of the first lottery unit 112. The special symbol determination means 115 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine the stop symbol of the special symbol 192 and a pattern determination table to be referred to in order to determine the variation pattern of the special symbol 192. Note that the “variation pattern” of the special symbol 192 determined by the first lottery means 112 is substantially synonymous with “variation time” because it is a pattern that does not include a staging process. The special figure determination unit 115 sends data indicating the determined stop symbol and variation pattern to the main display control unit 122 and an effect determination unit 142 described later.

  The normal symbol determination means 116 acquires a symbol determination lottery value for determining the stop symbol of the normal symbol 194, and the stop symbol of the normal symbol 194 according to the determination result of the second lottery means 113 and the symbol determination lottery value. Decide. In the normal state, the usual figure determining means 116 randomly selects a variation time, for example, between 10 seconds and 60 seconds, and selects a variation time of, for example, 1 second shorter than the normal state during a specific game. The common symbol determination means 116 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine the stop symbol of the normal symbol 194 and a time determination table to be referred to in order to determine the variation time of the normal symbol 194. The general symbol determining means 116 sends data indicating the determined stop symbol and the variation time to the normal symbol display device 59. When the stop symbol of the normal symbol 194 is a specific symbol, the open / close control means 132 expands the normal electric combination at the normal electric combination entrance 26 for a predetermined time.

  The hold control means 118 includes a first hold means 119 and a second hold means 120. The first holding means 119, when there is a ball entering the start port 24 while the special symbol 192 is being displayed or during the execution of a special game, the special figure lottery value corresponding to the ball is the upper limit number of four Memorize as a holding ball. When there is a ball entering the operating port 68 during the display of the variation of the normal symbol 194, the second holding means 120 stores up to four maximum lottery values corresponding to the ball as a holding ball. .

  The main display control means 122 includes special figure display means 123 and universal figure display means 124. The special symbol display unit 123 displays the lottery result by the first lottery unit 112 on the special symbol display device 61 as a variation display of the special symbol 192 according to the variation pattern determined by the special symbol determination unit 115. The special figure display means 123 transmits the fluctuation start command and the fluctuation stop command to the production display control means 144 at the timing of starting and stopping the fluctuation display of the special symbol 192, thereby producing the special figure display means 123 and the production. The fluctuation display by the display control means 144 is synchronized and interlocked. The normal symbol display means 124 causes the normal symbol display device 59 to display the variation of the normal symbol 194 in the determined variation time.

  The special game control means 126 includes a first operation condition holding means 127, a second operation condition holding means 128, a first special game execution means 129, a second special game execution means 130, and an operation avoidance means 131. The first operating condition holding means 127 holds a first operating condition that is a condition for executing the first special game, and the second operating condition holding means 128 is a condition for executing the second special game. The second operating condition is maintained. The first operating condition is defined as a condition that the special symbol 192 stops in a winning manner. In the second operating condition, the entry into the ordinary electric role entrance 26 is defined as a condition.

  The first special game executing means 129 executes the first special game when the lottery result by the first lottery means 112 is a win. The first special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the first grand prize winning opening 28 is continuously performed a plurality of times, and a unit game with one opening / closing as a unit is executed a plurality of times. In this embodiment, the number of unit games (number of rounds) is 15, and the first grand prize opening 28 is opened for about 30 seconds per time.

  The second special game executing means 130 executes the second special game when the lottery result by the second lottery means 113 is a win. The second special game is divided into a first stage and a second stage. Satisfaction of the second operation condition indicates that the continuation condition for the first stage of the second special game is established, and the second operation condition is established as long as the second special game continues through the first stage and the second stage. Yes. In the first stage of the second special game, the second big prize opening 30 is opened as the first unit game, and in the second stage, the first big prize opening 28 is opened a plurality of times as the second and subsequent unit games. The number of unit games in the second stage is 15 in this embodiment, and the first grand prize opening 28 is opened for about 30 seconds per time.

  The operation avoiding means 131 avoids the establishment of the other operation condition when one of the first operation condition and the second operation condition is satisfied. In other words, exclusive control is performed so that the first special game and the second special game are not executed simultaneously. While the second operating condition is being established and the first stage or the second stage of the second special game is being executed, the establishment of the first operating condition is avoided. On the other hand, while the first operating condition is established, the establishment of the second operating condition is avoided, and neither the first stage nor the second stage of the second special game is executed. When the second operation condition is satisfied while the special symbol 192 is displayed in a variable manner, the operation avoiding unit 131 temporarily stops the progress of the fluctuation time in the variable symbol display of the special symbol 192.

  The specific game control means 133 executes control for shifting the game state in the normal game from the normal state to the specific game state, and control for returning from the specific game state to the normal state. In this embodiment, after the end of the first special game, the time shifts. Also, when the second special game occurs during the time reduction, the time shifts to the time reduction after the end of the second special game. When the time shifts to the short time, the short time is continued until the number of symbol fluctuations reaches a predetermined number of times or the next first special game or second special game occurs.

  The number-of-continuations determination means 210 determines the number of times of continuation after the transition to a specific game (hereinafter also referred to as “number of times of short-time continuation”) when the first lottery means 112 wins in the normal state of the normal game. The short-time lottery which will be described later is executed. When the lottery by the first lottery means 112 is won during the time reduction, or when the player passes a specific area in the second stage of the second special game, a preset number of time reductions is set in advance. The The number of time reductions is defined as the number of symbol fluctuations after shifting to the time reduction. The number-of-continuations determination unit 210 transmits information indicating the number of short-time continuations determined at this time to the effect determination unit 142 and the number-of-continuations storage unit 214.

  The specific game control means 133 transmits information indicating the start and end of the specific game to the symbol determination means 114, the opening / closing control means 132, and the continuation count storage means 214 at the start and end of the specific game. During the specific game, the special figure determination means 115 selects a fluctuation pattern with a short fluctuation time, and the general figure determination means 116 shortens the fluctuation time of the normal symbol. In addition, the opening / closing control means 132 during the specific game opens the normal electric service entrance 26 with an opening time longer than the normal state when the normal symbol lottery is won.

  The opening / closing control means 132 controls the opening / closing of the ordinary electric combination of the ordinary electric winning combination entrance 26, the first big winning opening 28 and the second big winning opening 30. When the normal symbol is stopped at a specific symbol, the opening / closing control means 132 sends an opening instruction to the normal electric combination solenoid 76 to open the normal electric combination entrance 26. Similarly, during the first special game, the opening / closing control means 132 sends an opening instruction to the big prize opening solenoid 83 to open the first big prize opening 28, and the first stage of the second special game is the big prize opening solenoid 80. An opening instruction is sent to open the second big prize opening 30, and in the second stage of the second special game, an opening instruction is sent to the big prize opening solenoid 83 to open the first big prize opening 28.

  The pattern storage means 140 holds a plurality of variation pattern data in which a variation process from variation start to stop in variation display is defined as a variation pattern of the effect image including the decorative design. The fluctuation pattern displays a pattern for displaying a normal out symbol, a pattern for displaying a symbol out of reach after reaching a big win if one more symbols are aligned, and a jackpot symbol through a reach state. When the pattern is included. In particular, the pattern that passes through the reach state includes patterns having various fluctuation times. Each variation pattern has a variation time for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the symbol variation is stopped when the variation time elapses.

  The effect determination unit 142 determines the combination of stop symbols of the decorative symbols, their arrangement, and the variation pattern according to the result of the lottery by the first lottery unit 112, the stop symbol of the special symbol, and the variation pattern of the special symbol. Thereby, the variation pattern of the effect image with the same variation time as the special symbol is selected. The effect determination unit 142 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a stop symbol of a decorative symbol and a pattern table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

The stop symbol of the decoration symbol is formed as a combination of three symbols. For example, when the determination result by the first lottery means 112 indicates the transition to the first special game, three symbols such as “777” and “111” are displayed. Is selected. In this case, it is preferable that the same numbers as the special symbols are selected as the numbers to be arranged as the decorative symbols. For example, when the special symbol is “3”, the decorative symbol is “333”. When the determination result by the first lottery means 112 indicates that the game does not shift to the special game, a combination that does not have three symbols such as “312” and “946” is selected. However, if the determination result is that the game does not shift to a special game, and a variation pattern of a special symbol indicating a loss with reach is selected, only one such as “191” or “727” is selected. Select a combination that does not have the same pattern.
The effect determining unit 142 also determines the effect pattern of the special effect to be performed during the special game based on the short time continuation number acquired from the continuation number determining unit 210. The effect determining unit 142 sends information on the stop pattern of the decorative symbol and the variation pattern of the effect image, information on the effect pattern of the special effect, and the like to the effect display control unit 144.

  The effect display control means 144 displays the effect image on the effect display device 60 in accordance with the selected variation pattern data as a result of the success / failure lottery by the first lottery means 112. The effect display control means 144 also performs an effect display of a special effect that suggests the number of short-time continuations as the specific game (number of short-time continuations). In a present Example, it displays as the effect image of the meter which suggests the frequency | count of short duration at that time with a display level. The display level of this meter changes according to the progress of the game, details of which will be described later. The effect display control means 144 further controls effect processing such as lighting and extinguishing of the game effect lamp and sound output from the speaker 18.

  Level determining means 212 determines the initial level of the meter when the game is shifted to a specific game. The continuation count storage means 214 determines and holds the remaining continuation count that is the remaining number of short-time continuations at each end of the variation of the decorative symbol 190 after the transition to the specific game. The level storage unit 216 reduces and holds the level of the meter by a predetermined amount every time the decoration symbol 190 changes after the transition to the specific game.

Hereinafter, characteristic functions and operations in the present embodiment will be described.
First, a special effect made during the execution of the first special game will be described.
In the present embodiment, a special effect described later is executed at a predetermined timing after the transition to the first special game. This special effect is configured as a player-participation-type game, and an effect image suggesting the number of short-time continuations after the end of the first special game is displayed as the game progresses. The player can roughly grasp the number of short-time continuations to be performed thereafter while watching the effect image while being in a special game.

  4-6 is a figure showing the example of a screen of the effect image displayed on an effect display apparatus in a special effect. In each figure, the appearance of the effects is shown in the order of (a) to (c).

  In this embodiment, when the unit game is started by shifting to the first special game, a video (movie) having a predetermined story is reproduced in the display area 200 of the effect display device 60. Then, in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth rounds (third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth unit games), a predetermined mini-game related to the story is produced.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4A, images of the two doors 201 and 202 are displayed on the left and right of the middle stage of the screen, and a telop is displayed at the bottom of the screen. In the telop, the image of the character appearing in the story is displayed with the words “Emergency command. Please choose the left or right door.” In addition, characters indicating the number of rounds of the unit game are displayed on the upper left of the screen, and an image of the operation button 82 is displayed between the left door 201 and the right door 202 to prompt the player to operate. Has been. The left door 201 and the right door 202 are alternately highlighted at predetermined time intervals. The player can select this by pressing the operation button 82 with the desired door highlighted. In addition, in a modification, for example, a selection button that allows the player to select a door to be highlighted is provided separately, and after selecting by the selection button, the operation button 82 can be pressed to determine any door. Good.

  At this time, when the player selects any door, as shown in FIG. 4B, the selected door is opened and the score is displayed therein. In the illustrated example, since the right door 202 is selected, it is opened and a score of “+3” is displayed. At the same time, the score display unit 203 is displayed at the bottom of the screen, and the acquired score “+3” is stored. That is, in the present embodiment, an effect is provided in which a score is given according to the door selected for each mini game. Here, any of “+3”, “+2”, “+1”, “0”, “−1” is acquired as the score, and when the player does not select any door No points are given for production. The score display unit 203 is divided into four display units, and the scores in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth rounds are sequentially stored and held from the left.

  FIG. 4C shows a case where the player has not selected a door in the sixth round. In this case, for example, an image of a door is displayed on the second display unit from the left as a preliminary effect image.

  FIG. 5A shows a state in which the left door 201 is selected and “+2” is scored in the ninth round mini-game. Although the 12th round is not shown, it is assumed here that the score is “0”. When the mini game is finished in this way, the scores so far are counted in the 13th round before the final round, and the result of the game is displayed at the center of the screen as shown in FIG. 5B. In this example, the upper limit of the score is 10 points, and the total of the scores acquired by the 12th round is 5. Therefore, the characters “Game Result 5/10” and “Power Filling Level: Medium” are displayed. Has been. Then, the power filling effect shown in FIG. 5C is displayed. That is, the word “power charge” is displayed at the center of the screen, and a meter 205 suggesting the number of short-time continuations is displayed at the bottom of the screen. This meter 205 is configured as an effect image that can be lit in 10 levels from level “1” to “10”. In this example, since the result of the mini game is 5/10, an effect image in which the meter 205 lights up to level “5” is displayed. This is consistent with the display content of “power filling level: medium” in that the meter 205 is lit up to its middle level.

  In this embodiment, the “power filling level” is set to four levels of “low”, “medium”, “high”, and “MAX”. “Power filling level: low” corresponds to the level “0 to 3” of the meter 205. “Power filling level: medium” corresponds to the level “4 to 6” of the meter 205. “Power filling level: high” corresponds to the level “7-9” of the meter 205. “Power filling level: MAX” corresponds to the level “10” of the meter 205.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, the number of time durations that can be selected in a time lottery to be described later is basically set to 2, 3, or 5. The meter 205 is displayed in the range of level “0 to 4” when the number of time reductions is 2, and is displayed in the range of levels “3 to 7” when the number of time reductions is 3, and the number of time reductions is 5 In the case of times, it is displayed in the range of level “6-10”. That is, the level of the meter 205 represents the degree of the number of short-time continuations, but does not necessarily correspond 1: 1 with the number of short-term continuations, and slightly overlaps. For example, when the level “4” is displayed, there may be a case where the number of time reduction continuations is two or three. When the level “7” is displayed, there may be a case where the number of time reduction continuations is 3 or 5 times. In this respect, the level of the meter 205 does not display the number of time reductions per se, but merely suggests this.

In the present embodiment, in order to further enhance the interest of the player, an effect of changing the level of the meter 205 once determined is also performed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, characters of “game result 2/10” and “power filling level: low” are displayed in the thirteenth round, and the level of “2” is displayed on the meter 205 in the power filling effect. Suppose that only the display was lit. The player recognizes that the number of short-time continuations is small by looking at the result display of the game, and the expectation is lowered. Under such circumstances, for example, the reverse effect shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C is displayed at a predetermined timing. That is, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), after suggesting the development of the production by additionally displaying a lightning image, the character “power full charge” is displayed as shown in FIG. 6 (c). At the same time, a reverse charge effect that raises the level of the meter 205 to the limit is performed. By performing such an effect with a gap, it is expected that a player who has been discouraged once will have a high expectation at a stretch, and the game performance is further enhanced.

  FIG. 7 is a data structure diagram of the time reduction number determination table used when the continuation number determination means determines the time reduction continuation number. In addition, the time-short continuous number of times shown in the figure is defined by the number of fluctuations of the special symbol 192 (also the number of fluctuations of the decorative symbol 190).

  In the time reduction number determination table 220, the number of time reductions is stored so as to be associated with the random value acquired by the continuation number determination means 210. The number-of-continuations determination means 210 determines the number of continuations in a short time according to the lottery value generated in the range of 0 to 15 when the result of the lottery determination by the first lottery means 112 is a win in the normal game. When the winning is in the normal state of the normal game (hereinafter, such winning is also referred to as “first type”), the short duration is 2 times when the random number value is “0” to “7”. When the random value is “8” to “12”, it is set to 3 times, and when the random value is “13” to “15”, it is set to 5 times. On the other hand, when the time is shorter than the first type during the time reduction, the duration of the time reduction is uniformly set to 100 times. In the latter case, the short-time lottery itself does not have to be performed. Furthermore, when the player passes a specific area and wins in the second stage of the second special game (hereinafter, such a win is also referred to as “second type”), the number of times of short time is uniform. It is set to 5 times. In this case, the short-time lottery is not performed.

  The continuation number determination unit 210 uses the time reduction number determination table 220 to determine the time reduction when the winning lottery by the first lottery unit 112 is won or when it is won in the second stage of the second special game. The number of continuations is determined, and information indicating the number of short continuations is transmitted to the effect determination unit 142. The effect determining means 142 determines the contents of the effect to be performed during the special game based on the number of short-time continuations acquired at this time. It should be noted that the content of the short time count determination table 220 described above is merely an example, and selectable short time duration counts, setting of acquired random number values, correspondence between acquired random number values and short time duration counts, etc. are appropriately set. Needless to say, it can be changed. For example, it is possible to set a case where the number of short-time continuations is zero.

  FIG. 8 is a data structure diagram of a pattern table used when the effect determining means determines a special effect pattern to be executed in the special game. In the example shown in the figure, the pattern table used when the number of shortened durations is 5 for the first type is shown, and when the number of shortened durations is other than that (2 or 3 times) A pattern table corresponding to the number of times is used. Here, for convenience of explanation, only a pattern with a short time duration count of 5 will be described.

  The pattern table 222 stores the contents of the special effects described above so as to be associated with the random value acquired by the effect determining means 142. The effect determining means 142 selects a pattern table based on the information on the number of short durations received from the specific game control means 133, and further determines the effect pattern of the special effect according to the lottery value generated in the range of 0-15. To do.

  In the pattern table 222, when the random number value is “0” to “5”, the door selection request shown in FIG. 4A is made in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth rounds of the first special game. The setting is made. A score of “+1” is acquired in the third round, and a score of “+3” is acquired in the sixth, ninth, and twelfth rounds. Therefore, “+1” is displayed when any door is selected in the third round, and “+3” is displayed when any door is selected in the sixth, ninth, and twelfth rounds. Become. In the thirteenth round, the meter 205 is charged to a level “10” corresponding to the total score.

  On the other hand, even when the random number values are “6” to “14”, the door selection request is made in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth rounds. A score of “+1” is acquired in the third and sixth rounds, a score of “+3” is acquired in the ninth round, and a score of “+2” is acquired in the twelfth round. . Therefore, “+1” is displayed when any door is selected in the third and sixth rounds, and “+3” and “+2” are displayed when any door is selected in the ninth and twelfth rounds, respectively. Will be displayed. In the thirteenth round, the meter 205 is charged to level “7”. That is, in this pattern, although the meter 205 is at level “7”, the number of time reductions is five.

  Furthermore, even when the random value is “15”, the door selection request is made in the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth rounds. Then, the score is set to “0” in the third round, the score “+1” is acquired in the sixth and ninth rounds, and the score is set to “0” in the twelfth round. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, after an effect that the meter 205 is charged only up to level “2” in the thirteenth round, the meter 205 is fully charged to level “10” by reverse charge. ing.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of patterns representing the contents of the special effects are set in advance in the pattern table 222, and the contents of the effects are selected by lottery. Here, the same score set in advance is displayed regardless of which of the left and right doors is selected. However, in the modified example, the score is different when the left and right doors are selected, and the actually selected door is displayed. The total of the scores may be calculated.

Next, the time reduction revival effect made in the time reduction will be described.
In this embodiment, a time reduction display effect indicating that effect is executed during the time reduction. Then, when the number of time reduction continuations approaches expiration, a time reduction end effect is executed, and then the normal state is restored. However, when a predetermined restoration effect condition is established, after a short-time end effect, a short-time restoration effect is made, and a short-time display effect is displayed again for a predetermined period. The player's excitement and expectation can be heightened by the revival of the short working time that the player once assumed is finished. As described above, “short-time restoration” in this embodiment means that the short-time restoration is not actually performed internally, but the production time is restored. In other words, the time saving continues internally, and the time saving is ended and revived.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams showing screen examples of effect images that can be displayed on the effect display device at the time reduction.
In the present embodiment, the time shifts to a short time with the end of the first special game or the end of the second special game after the end of the second stage. During this time reduction, as shown in FIG. 9A, time reduction information indicating that is displayed in the display area 200 of the effect display device 60. That is, in the center of the screen, the characters “short and medium” are displayed large, and the meter 205 described above is displayed below the characters. In addition, a decorative pattern 190 is displayed in a small and variable manner on the upper right of the screen.

  The initial level of the meter 205 at the beginning of the time shift is the level finally displayed in the special effect described above. The level of the meter 205 decreases by a predetermined amount every time when the special symbol 192 during the time reduction ends. Then, when the remaining number of time reductions is one time, as shown in FIG. 9B, the characters “WARNING!” Are displayed at the center of the screen to notify the player that the time reduction end is approaching. When the time reduction is completed, the level of the meter 205 becomes zero and the text “END” is displayed at the center of the screen, and the time reduction ends.

  Here, when a predetermined revival effect condition is satisfied, as shown in FIG. 10A, an image of lightning is additionally displayed so as to overlap the characters “END”, suggesting the player to develop the effect. At this time, a telop is displayed in the lower part of the screen, and the characters “Auxiliary power start” are displayed. Then, the level of the meter 205 once extinguished is turned on again and rises to a predetermined level. Then, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the characters “Restore time reduction!” Are displayed in the center of the screen, and the player is informed that the time reduction has been revived in production.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the level of the meter 205 is decreased by a predetermined level every time the special symbol 192 changes during the time reduction, while the remaining number of time reduction continuations (hereinafter referred to as “the number of remaining continuations”) is monitored. Then, it is determined that the revival effect condition is satisfied when there is a remaining continuation number even though the level of the meter 205 becomes zero, and an revival effect is performed for the remaining continuation number at that time.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a basic process in the pachinko gaming machine. First, processing when a game ball enters the start port 24, the ordinary electric service entrance port 26, the first grand prize port 28, the second major prize port 30, or when the game ball passes the operation port 68 is performed. If it is executed (S10) and is not in a special game (N in S12), a normal game process such as a special symbol lottery is executed (S14). If it is in a special game (Y in S12), the first special game Alternatively, the process of the second special game is executed (S16), and award ball payout corresponding to various winnings in S10 is processed (S18).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. Here, the variable display of the special symbol 192 and the variable image of the effect image including the decorative symbol 190 are processed (S30), and the variable symbol of the normal symbol 194 is processed (S31). Note that the processing order of S30 and S31 is merely an order defined for convenience of explanation, and processing may be performed in any order.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing in detail the special symbol and effect image symbol variation processing in S30 of FIG. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, “symbol” indicates both the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190. If the special reservation lottery value is held in the first holding means 119 (Y in S40) and the symbol variation is not being displayed (N in S42), whether or not the special symbol lottery is determined or determined, The selection of the variation pattern is processed (S44), and the variation display of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is started (S46). When the special drawing lottery value is not suspended in S40 (N of S40), the processing from S42 to S46 is skipped. If the symbol is already changing in S42 (Y in S42), the processing in S44 and S46 is skipped.

  If the symbol variation display is not in progress (N in S48), the symbol variation process in S30 is terminated as it is. On the other hand, if the symbol variation display has been started (Y in S48), the symbol variation display is processed (S50), and when the variation time reaches the variation stop timing (Y in S52), the symbol variation display is Stopped (S58). If it is during a specific game (Y in S60) and the special drawing lottery is not won (N in S61), the number of changes is incremented (S62), and if the number of changes reaches a predetermined number of times (Y in S64) ), The specific game is ended (S66). If the number of fluctuations has not reached the number of continuations (N in S64), S66 is skipped. If the winning is made during the specific game (Y in S60) (Y in S61), the specific game is ended (S66). When it is not in the specific game (N of S60), the processing from S61 to S66 is skipped. If it is not the symbol stop timing, the flow of S30 is also terminated (N in S52).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal symbol variation process in S31 of FIG. If the normal drawing lottery value is held in the second holding means 120 (Y in S80), if the normal symbol 194 is not being displayed in a variable manner (N in S82), the second lottery means 113 is determined to be a normal symbol lottery. The determination process is executed (S84), and the variable symbol 194 display is started (S90). If the regular drawing lottery value has not been held in S80 (N in S80), the processing from S82 to S90 is skipped, and if the normal symbol 194 is in a variable display in S82 (Y in S82), The processing of S84 and S90 is skipped.

  Subsequently, if the fluctuation display of the normal symbol 194 has been started (Y in S92), the fluctuation display of the normal symbol 194 is processed (S94), and the fluctuation display of the normal symbol 194 is performed after a predetermined fluctuation time has elapsed. When the stop timing is reached (Y in S96), the normal symbol 194 that is being displayed is stopped (S98). If the stop symbol is a winning mode (Y in S100), the normal electric role entrance 26 is opened (S102), and if the stopped symbol is not a winning mode (N in S100), the process of S102 is skipped. If it is before the fluctuation time has elapsed (N in S96), the processing from S98 to S102 is skipped. When the variable display is not started in S92 (N in S92), the processing from S94 to S102 is skipped.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing in detail the special game control process of S16 in FIG. If the special game being executed is the first special game (Y of S110), the control of the first special game is processed (S112), and if the special game being executed is not the first special game (N of S110) Then, the control of the second special game is processed (S114).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing in detail the first special game in S112 of FIG. First, if the first grand prize winning opening 28 has not been opened (N in S120), the effect display control means 144 executes a special effect setting process described later (S200). Then, the production of the first special game including the special production set at that time is started (S122), and the opening / closing control means 132 opens the first big winning opening 28 (S124). If the first big winning opening 28 has been opened (Y in S120), the processes in S200, S122, and S124 are skipped. When the predetermined opening time has elapsed since the opening of the first grand prize opening 28 (Y in S126), or the opening time has not elapsed (N in S126), the entry into the first big winning opening 28 When the number of balls reaches 9 or more (Y in S128), the opening / closing control means 132 temporarily closes the first grand prize winning opening 28 (S130). If the opening time has not elapsed (N in S126) and the number of balls entered into the first grand prize opening 28 has not reached nine or more (N in S128), the processing after S130 is skipped and S112 is performed. End the flow.

  When the number of unit games reaches a predetermined number of times (15 times in this embodiment) after the closing of the first big winning opening 28 in S130 and the end timing is reached (Y in S132), the effect display control means 144 is the first special display. The game effect is ended (S134), and the special game control means 126 ends the first special game (S136). When the transition condition to the specific game is satisfied (Y in S140), the process shifts to the specific game (S142), and when the condition is not satisfied (N in S140), the process of S142 is skipped. If the number of unit games (number of rounds) has not reached the predetermined number in S132 (N in S132), 1 is added to the number of unit games and the flow of S112 is ended (S138).

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing in detail the second special game in S114 of FIG. If the second special game has not been started (N in S150), the second big prize opening 30 is opened (S152), and if it has been started (Y in S150), S152 is skipped. When in the first stage (Y in S154), when the opening time of the second big prize opening 30 has passed (Y in S156), the second big prize opening 30 is closed (S158), and if it is within the opening time ( N) of S156 and S158 are skipped. Here, if there is a ball entering the specific area 22 inside the second big prize opening 30 (Y in S160), a flag indicating the transition to the second stage is immediately set (S162), and the process jumps to S168. At this time, if the second grand prize opening 30 is still open, it is closed. On the other hand, if there is no entry into the specific area 22 in the first stage (N in S160) and the end condition in the first stage is satisfied (Y in S164), the first stage is terminated. The second special game is also ended (S166). The end condition here is when a certain time has passed since the closing of the second grand prize opening 30 or when the number of detected balls and the number of detected discharges in the second big prize opening 30 coincide with the number of 10 or more balls. is there. If this end condition is not satisfied (N in S164), S166 is skipped. If not in the first stage, the processing from S156 to S166 is skipped (N in S154). When the transition flag to the second stage is set (Y in S168), the process similar to the special game process shown in FIG. 16 is executed as the second stage game of the second special game (S170). . If the transition flag to the second stage is not set, S170 is skipped (N in S168).

  In the second stage of the second special game in S170, the first special game in S112 basically processes the same operation except that there is no process in S200. Therefore, here, except for the process of S200 in the description of FIG. 16, “first special game” is read as “second special game”, and the description of the process of S170 is omitted.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing in detail the special effect setting process in S200 of FIG. First, if the first special game in S112 is due to a hit that occurred at a non-short time (Y in S202), the continuation number determination means 210 obtains a random value for determining the number of time lapses (S204), 7 is determined using the time reduction number determination table 220 shown in FIG. 7 (S206). In this embodiment, 2 times, 3 times, or 5 times is set as the number of short-time continuations. The effect determining means 142 selects a pattern table corresponding to the number of short time durations determined at this time (see FIG. 8), acquires a random value for determining a special effect (S208), and based on the random value. Then, the special effect production pattern is determined with reference to the pattern table (S210). On the other hand, in S202, if the first special game in S112 is due to the occurrence of a short time (N in S202), the processes in S204 to S210 are skipped. In this case, a special effect is not made, but 100 times is set as the number of short-time continuations.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing in detail the variation display process in S50 of FIG. First, in the case of a variation with time reduction as a specific game (Y in S212), a time reduction processing described later is executed (S214). If it is not a change with time reduction (N in S212), non-time reduction processing is executed (S216). The non-time-saving process is a process according to any variation pattern stored in the pattern storage unit 140, but the description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing in detail the time reduction processing in S214 of FIG. First, the effect display control means 144 starts the time effect (S222) if the time effect is not yet started (N in S220). For example, characters “short and medium” as shown in FIG. 9A are displayed. The decorative symbol 190 is displayed in a small and variable manner on the upper right side of the screen as shown in FIG. Subsequently, the short-time continuation number N0 determined in S206 is acquired and held in the continuation number storage means 214 (S224). The level determining means 212 determines the initial level L 0 of the meter 205 and holds it in the level storage means 216. The effect display control means 144 displays the effect image of the meter 205 on the screen (S226). The initial level of the meter 205 is made to coincide with the level charged with the special effect. However, as described above, the initial level of the meter 205 and the number of short-time continuations do not correspond to 1: 1. On the other hand, if the time reduction effect has already started in S220 (Y in S220), the processing in S222 to S226 is skipped.

  Subsequently, when the effect display control means 144 obtains the change stop command from the special figure display means 123 (Y of S228), the remaining display count N held in the continuation count storage means 214 is decremented by 1 (S230), The level L of the meter 205 held in the level storage means 216 is lowered by a predetermined amount, and the effect is displayed (S232). For example, the lit level may be reduced by two levels.

  When the level L of the meter 205 becomes zero (Y in S234), if the remaining continuation number N remains (Y in S236), the effect display control means 144 pretends that the time reduction has once ended. A short time revival effect is started to revive this (S238). That is, the short-time revival effect is performed in the order shown in FIGS. 9B to 10B. On the other hand, if the remaining continuation count N is also zero (N in S236), a normal short time end effect is started (S240). That is, the time-short end effect is performed in the order of FIGS. 9B and 9C.

  On the other hand, when the level L of the meter 205 remains (N in S234), if the remaining continuation count N is zero (N in S242), the effect display control means 144 starts the effect of short end when the level suddenly drops (S244). Here, for example, the effect of forcibly setting the level of the meter 205 to zero together with the effect image of the content in which the abnormal situation has occurred is performed. As a result, the number of short-time continuations matches the level value of the meter 205 as a result. When both the level L of the meter 205 and the remaining continuation number N remain (Y in S242), the process of S244 is skipped.

  In S228, when the change stop command is not acquired (N of S228), the processes of S230 to S244 are skipped.

  As described above, in the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment, a game in which a player can participate via the operation buttons 82 during the execution of the special game is produced. This game is configured as a plurality of times of mini-games in the form of selecting one of the left and right doors, and the results for each mini-game and the results for the entire game are displayed according to the score or the level of the meter 205. The meter 205 suggests an approximate value of the number of short durations by illuminating the level in stages, but does not display the number of short durations itself. For this reason, the player's sense of expectation can be maintained as to whether or not the actual number of continuations is greater than expected even after the transition to the specific game. As a result, it is expected that the interest of the player will be further enhanced.

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

  For example, in the present embodiment, as a special effect, one of the left and right doors is presented as an option, and a game effect composed of a plurality of mini-games that allow the player to select it is shown. It is only an example and it goes without saying that various other game formats can be adopted. For example, even in the case of a selection-type game, the options may be configured with selection targets other than the door, or three or more options may be set. In this embodiment, the result of each mini game is displayed in the form of a score. However, other display modes that can determine whether the result is good or bad can be used. For example, the game may be configured to acquire items such as a predetermined character, and the result of the entire game may be specified by the number of items collected in a plurality of mini-games.

  In this embodiment, the result of the game is expressed in the form of a level charge to the meter 205 at the final stage. In a modification, you may perform the effect display which performs the level charge to the meter 205 for every mini game. Thereby, a player can grasp | ascertain intuitively the halfway progress in which the number of time reduction continuation changes on production. In the present embodiment, the number of times of continuous time reduction is determined at the time of the short time lottery performed after the success / failure lottery and is not actually increased or decreased during the special performance, but there is a production effect in that the player's sense of expectation is increased.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the number of short-time durations determined by the short-time lottery and the level of the meter 205 charged in the special performance are not strictly associated with each other. Regardless of the method, a mode of decreasing by a predetermined level was adopted. For this reason, when one of the level of the meter 205 and the remaining number of remaining times becomes zero, the other may not become zero, and an effect of following this is performed. That is, when one becomes zero, an effect for matching with the other remaining is performed each time. In the modified example, a plurality of performance patterns in which the decrease in the level of the meter 205 is matched in advance according to the number of times the time is shortened, and any one of the plurality of performance patterns is matched at the time of transition to time reduction, etc. A pattern may be selected.

  Although not described in the present embodiment, even if there is a remaining number of times when the level of the meter 205 becomes zero, it may be assumed that if the remaining time is short, the short-time revival effect cannot be performed. . For this reason, if the remaining time is less than or equal to a predetermined value (for example, 10 seconds or less) at the time when the level of the meter 205 becomes zero, the time restoration effect may not be performed. In other words, the time reduction restoration effect may be executed on condition that the time reduction remaining time remains at a predetermined reference value or more when the level of the meter 205 becomes zero.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the level of the meter 205 is reduced at the time of the symbol change stop display timing at the time of shortening has been shown. However, the timing at which the level of the meter 205 is reduced is not necessarily matched with the timing of the symbol change. I don't need it. That is, the effect process on the sub-board 104 side may be performed so as to straddle the symbol variation process on the main board 102 side.

  In addition, in this embodiment, only the short time has been described as a specific game, but in addition to this, a function for executing a so-called probability variation game in which the probability of winning a special symbol lottery is set as a high probability setting may be installed as a kind of specific game. Good.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the ball game machine of the present invention is configured as a gaming machine in which a first type pachinko gaming machine and a second type pachinko gaming machine are mixed. It can also be configured as other types of pachinko gaming machines in which at least a specific game is executed, such as those having the function of the first type pachinko gaming machine alone.
Also, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, if a player does not select a door with the operation button 82 in a round mini-game, no score is obtained, and the total score is obtained. An example that is not reflected is shown. In the modification, for example, a score to be selected in each round of mini-games is set internally in advance, and even if there is no selection by the player, the score may be acquired. Good. Internally, a preset score may be obtained regardless of which door is selected or not selected. Furthermore, the score when the player does not select the door may be set to the same score, and this may be reflected when calculating the total score.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the structure of the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a functional block diagram of a pachinko gaming machine. It is a figure showing the example of a screen of the production image displayed on a production display device in special production. It is a figure showing the example of a screen of the production image displayed on a production display device in special production. It is a figure showing the example of a screen of the production image displayed on a production display device in special production. It is a data structure figure of the time reduction number determination table used when a continuation number determination means determines a time reduction time count. It is a data structure diagram of a pattern table used when the effect determining means determines an effect pattern to be executed in a special game. It is a figure showing the example of a screen of an effect picture which can be displayed on an effect display device at the time saving. It is a figure showing the example of a screen of an effect picture which can be displayed on an effect display device at the time saving. It is a flowchart which shows the basic process in a pachinko game machine. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the symbol change process of the special symbol and effect image in S30 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the change process of the normal symbol in S31 of FIG. 12 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the special game control process of S16 in FIG. 11 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st special game in S112 of FIG. 15 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd special game in S114 of FIG. 15 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the special effect setting process in S200 of FIG. 16 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the fluctuation | variation display process in S50 of FIG. 13 in detail. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing details of a time reduction process in S214 of FIG. 19. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Pachinko machines, 22 specific areas, 24 starting openings, 26 ordinary electric entrance holes, 28 1st prize opening, 30 2nd prize opening, 50 game boards, 52 gaming areas, 59 ordinary symbol display device, 60 Effect display device, 61 special symbol display device, 62 guidance device, 68 operation port, 82 operation button, 100 game control device, 102 main board, 104 sub-board, 110 entry judgment means, 112 first lottery means, 113 second Lottery means, 114 symbol determination means, 122 main display control means, 123 special figure display means, 124 general figure display means, 126 special game control means, 127 first operating condition holding means, 128 second operating condition holding means, 129 first 1 special game execution means, 130 second special game execution means, 133 specific game control hand Step, 140 Pattern storage means, 142 Production determination means, 144 Production display control means, 190 Decoration design, 192 Special design, 200 Display area, 201 Left door, 202 Right door, 203 Score display section, 205 Meter, 210 Determination of number of continuations Means, 212 level determination means, 214 continuation count storage means, 216 level storage means, 220 time reduction count determination table, 222 pattern table.

Claims (7)

A game board in which a game area is formed;
A starting opening provided at a predetermined position in the gaming area and allowing a game ball to enter;
A lottery means for executing a lottery means for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, triggered by entering the starting port;
An effect display device capable of displaying a predetermined effect image including a variation display of a plurality of symbols for indicating the result of the success / failure lottery as a movie,
Pattern storage means for holding effect patterns of a plurality of effect images including a plurality of change patterns in which a change process from change start to stop in the change display of the plurality of symbols is defined;
Production determining means for selecting one of the plurality of production patterns according to the progress of the game,
Display control means for displaying an effect image corresponding to the selected effect pattern on the effect display device;
Special game control means for executing the special game when the plurality of symbols are stopped and displayed in a winning mode indicating that the result of the winning / losing lottery is winning;
When the special game is over, the game state is shifted to a specific game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal state, and the specific game is continued until the number of fluctuations of the plurality of symbols reaches a predetermined number of times after the transition. Specific game control means;
An operation input device for receiving an operation input by a player;
With
The display control means displays an effect image of a game in which a player can participate by an operation input via the operation input device during the execution of the special game, and the special game based on the result of the game A bullet ball game machine that displays an effect image suggesting the number of times of continuation as a continuation time limit of a specific game executed after the end of the game.   The display control means displays an effect image of a game that allows the player to select one of a plurality of options during execution of the special game, and is performed via the operation input device in the course of the game. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein an effect image suggesting the number of continuations is displayed based on a selection operation of any one of the options.   The display control means displays, as an effect image suggesting the number of continuations, an image that changes stepwise in order to cause a player to predict an approximate value of the number of continuations according to the display state. Item 3. A ball game machine according to item 1 or 2.   4. The ball game machine according to claim 3, wherein the display control means displays an effect image that suggests the number of continuations based on a meter level visually recognized in a plurality of stages.   The display control means, as the game, effected and displayed a mini game that is performed a plurality of times in accordance with the progress of the special game and the result is obtained each time based on the operation input through the operation input device, The ball game machine according to claim 4, wherein the level of the meter is displayed based on a result obtained by adding the results of the mini-games at the end of the game.   Regardless of whether or not there is an operation input through the operation input device in each mini game, the display control means is configured to adjust the meter based on the result obtained by adding the results of the mini games at the end of the game. The bullet ball game machine according to claim 5, wherein a level is displayed.   The display control means displays the result obtained by the operation input when there is an operation input via the operation input device in each mini-game, while there is no operation input via the operation input device. The bullet ball game machine according to claim 5, wherein a preliminary effect image is displayed.

Images