JP2009061134A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of restarting a performance operation to the utmost extent even after the forcible reset of a CPU by substantially fully restricting the appearance of an unnatural pattern performance. <P>SOLUTION: A liquid crystal control part 24 includes a watch dog timer WDT2. After the CPU is forcibly reset, it is determined whether or not the pattern performance operation is returned to an initial state, based on the check sum value of a work area of a RAM in the liquid crystal control part 24 (ST2-ST3). When the pattern performance operation is returned to the initial state, the whole work area is cleared to zero (ST8-ST10). When the operation is not returned to the initial state, the times of the forcible rest are counted, so as to restart the pattern performance operation (ST4-ST7). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a computer circuit, and more particularly to a gaming machine that can suppress the appearance of an unnatural symbol effect to a minimum.

  A ball and ball game machine such as a pachinko machine has a symbol start port provided on the game board, a symbol display unit for displaying a series of symbol variation modes such as stopping a plurality of display symbols after varying a predetermined time, and an opening / closing plate It is configured with a grand prize opening that opens and closes. When the detection switch provided at the symbol start port detects the passing of the game ball, the game ball is in a winning state and the symbol display unit changes the display symbol for a predetermined time. After that, when the symbol stops in a predetermined manner such as 7-7-7, a big hit state is established, and the big winning opening is repeatedly opened to generate a profit state advantageous to the player.

  The symbol display unit is usually composed of a liquid crystal display, and executes various symbol effect operations including a reach effect, a notice effect, and a jackpot effect. Reach production is a design production that continues to be a big hit state in one step and excites the player, and notice production is a sudden appearance of some character in the middle of the movement of the design, It is a design effect that warns of a big hit. The jackpot effect is an effect executed in a big hit state, and a more flashy symbol effect is executed in response to the joy of the player.

By the way, there is a risk that the CPU will be in a runaway state due to the influence of disturbance noise, etc., and the corner symbol effect may stop in the frozen state. When the clear signal to the dog timer circuit stops, the CPU is forcibly reset (for example, Patent Document 1). In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the one-chip microcomputer mounted on the liquid crystal control board and the VDP are reset synchronously.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-076555

  In the above invention, since the VDP (Video Display Processor) that drives the liquid crystal display and the CPU of the one-chip microcomputer that controls the VDP are reset in synchronization, it is easy to synchronize the symbol effect and return to the initial state. It is excellent in that it can surely avoid the appearance of an unreasonable design effect.

  However, the design effect on the liquid crystal display is only an effect operation in the end, and as long as it does not give a substantial disadvantage to the player, the effect operation is uniformly returned to the initial state in response to the forced reset of the CPU. Is not necessarily reasonable. In other words, even if the program goes into a runaway state, the CPU may have simply repeated an infinite loop process. In such a case, as long as no unreasonable data is written in the work area, the rendering operation There will be no problem even if you restart.

  However, for example, if the liquid crystal display suddenly returns to the initial state at the timing when the player is sufficiently excited by the reach effect, the discomfort felt by the player becomes extremely serious. On the other hand, if the production operation is resumed while the important data in the work area is destroyed, there is a possibility that a serious abnormal situation will occur in which a big hit state stop symbol appears but the game does not shift to the big hit game. is there. Here, since the timing at which the CPU is forcibly reset cannot be predicted at all in advance, the above problem cannot be solved completely with a simple configuration.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a gaming machine that has a simple configuration, suppresses the appearance of an unnatural symbol effect to almost zero, and restarts the effect operation as much as possible even after a forced reset of the CPU. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine according to the present invention is a gaming machine that determines whether or not a profit state advantageous to a player is generated by a winning lottery caused by a player's action, A main control unit that comprehensively controls game operations including lottery and an effect control unit that executes a symbol effect operation based on a control command output by the main control unit. When a clear signal to be supplied to the provided reset circuit every predetermined time is interrupted, the CPU of the effect control unit is configured to be forcibly reset, and the CPU is included in the effect control unit. After forcibly resetting, based on the contents stored in the work area of the volatile memory, the first process for determining whether or not to return the symbol effect operation to the initial state, and the symbol effect based on the determination of the first process Action When returning to the initial state, all the work areas are cleared to zero, and when not returning to the initial state, the second process of restarting the symbol effect operation after counting the number of forced resets is provided. Features.

  In the present invention, since it is determined whether or not to return the symbol effect operation to the initial state based on the storage contents of the work area of the volatile memory, it is possible to effectively suppress the appearance of an irrational symbol effect. As a work area referred to by the first process, for example, it is preferable to use an inspection area in which a predetermined value is stored in an initial operation after power-on preceding a game operation. As the inspection area, it is preferable to use an area that is not accessed at all even if a gaming operation proceeds.

  In the first process, it is also preferable to determine whether or not to return the symbol effect operation to the initial state based on the integrated data (for example, checksum value) calculated for the predetermined area of the work area. The overall data is preferably calculated and stored every time the basic data changes based on the progress of the game operation. However, if the basic data changes frequently in response to the progress of the symbol production operation, the overall data cannot be effectively used in practice, so the basic data that does not change during the series of symbol production operations is used. It is preferable to calculate summary data.

  According to the present invention described above, it is possible to realize a gaming machine that can suppress the appearance of an unnatural symbol effect to almost zero and can resume the effect operation as much as possible even after the CPU is forcibly reset even though it has a simple configuration. .

  Hereinafter, the ball game machine according to the embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pachinko machine according to the present embodiment. The illustrated pachinko machine includes a rectangular frame-shaped wooden outer frame 1 that is detachably attached to an island structure, and a front frame 3 that is pivotally mounted via a hinge 2 fixed to the outer frame 1. It is configured. A game board 5 is detachably attached to the front frame 3 from the back side, and a glass door 6 and a front plate 7 are pivotally attached to the front side so as to be freely opened and closed.

  An upper plate 8 for storing game balls for launch is mounted on the front plate 7, and a lower plate 9 for storing game balls overflowing from or extracted from the upper plate 8 and a launch handle 10 are mounted at the bottom of the front frame 3. And are provided. The launch handle 10 is interlocked with the launch motor, and a game ball is launched by a striking rod that operates according to the rotation angle of the launch handle 10.

  A chance button 11 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the upper plate 8. The chance button 11 is provided at a position where it can be operated with the left hand of the player, and the player can operate the chance button 11 without releasing the right hand from the firing handle 10. The chance button 11 does not function normally, but when the game state becomes the button chance state, the built-in lamp is turned on and can be operated. The button chance state is a game state provided as necessary.

  On the right side of the upper plate 8, an operation panel 12 for ball lending operation with respect to the card-type ball lending machine is provided, a frequency display unit for displaying the remaining amount of the card with a three-digit number, and a ball of game balls for a predetermined amount A ball lending switch for instructing lending and a return switch for instructing to return the card at the end of the game are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 5 is provided with a guide rail 13 formed of a metal outer rail and an inner rail in an annular shape, and a liquid crystal color display DISP is provided at the approximate center of the game area 5a inside. Is arranged. In addition, at a suitable place in the game area 5a, a symbol starting port 15, a big winning port 16, a plurality of normal winning ports 17 (four on the right and left sides of the big winning port 16), and a gate 18 serving as two passing ports are arranged. Has been. Each of these winning openings 15 to 18 has a detection switch inside, and can detect the passage of a game ball.

  The liquid crystal display DISP is a device that variably displays a specific symbol related to a big hit state and displays a background image and various characters in an animated manner. This liquid crystal display DISP has special symbol display portions Da to Dc in the center portion and a normal symbol display portion 19 in the upper right portion. The special symbol display portions Da to Dc execute a reach effect that expects a big hit state to be invited, and the special symbol display portions Da to Dc and the surroundings perform a notice effect that informs the result of the determination indefinitely. The

  The normal symbol display unit 19 displays a normal symbol. When a game ball that has passed through the gate 18 is detected, the displayed normal symbol fluctuates for a predetermined time and is extracted at the time when the game ball passes through the gate 18. The stop symbol determined by the random number for lottery is displayed and stopped.

  For example, the symbol start opening 15 is configured to be opened and closed by an electric tulip having a pair of left and right opening and closing claws 15a. When the stop symbol after the fluctuation of the normal symbol display unit 19 displays a winning symbol, the symbol start port 15 is opened and closed. The claw 15a is opened for a predetermined time. When a game ball wins the symbol start port 15, the display symbols of the special symbol display portions Da to Dc change for a predetermined time and are determined based on the lottery result corresponding to the winning timing of the game ball to the symbol start port 15. Stop at the stop symbol. In addition, in special symbol display parts Da-Dc and its circumference, a notice effect may be performed between a series of symbol effects.

  The big winning opening 16 is controlled to open and close by, for example, an opening / closing plate 16a that can be opened forward. When the stop symbol after the symbol change of the special symbol display portions Da to Dc is a big hit symbol such as “777”, the “big hit” Is started, and the opening / closing plate 16a is opened. A winning area 16 b is provided inside the big winning opening 16.

  After the opening / closing plate 16a of the big prize opening 16 is opened, the opening / closing plate 16a is closed when a predetermined time elapses or when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls wins. In such an operation, the special game is continued up to 15 times, for example, and is controlled in a state advantageous to the player. In addition, when the stop symbol after the change of the special symbol display parts Da to Dc is a specific symbol of the special symbols, a privilege that the game after the end of the special game is in a high probability state is given. Usually, the big hit by this specific design is called “probable big hit”.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall circuit configuration of the pachinko machine 1 that realizes the above-described operations. Broken lines in the figure mainly indicate DC voltage lines. FIG. 4 shows the circuit configuration of the effect control board, the effect interface board, and the liquid crystal control board in a little more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 3, this pachinko machine 1 receives AC 24V, outputs various DC voltages and outputs a power reset signal SYR when the power is turned on, and a main control board for centrally controlling gaming operations. 21, an effect control board 22 that executes a lamp effect and a sound effect based on a control command CMD received from the main control board 21, an effect interface board 23 that transmits a signal received from the effect control board 22 to each part, A liquid crystal control board 24 that drives the liquid crystal display DISP based on the control command CMD ′ received from the effect interface board 23, and a payout motor M based on the control command CMD ″ received from the main control board 21 to play a game ball The payout control board 25 for paying out the game and the launch control board 26 for launching the game ball in response to the player's operation It has been made.

  Here, on the main control board 21, the effect control board 22, the liquid crystal control board 24, and the payout control board 25, for example, computer circuits each including a one-chip microcomputer are mounted. Therefore, the functions mounted on the main control board 21, the production control board 22, the liquid crystal control board 24, and the payout control board 25 and the operations realized by the circuits are functionally named. Unit 21, effect control unit 22, liquid crystal control unit 24, and payout control unit 25. All or part of the effect control unit 22, the liquid crystal control unit 24, and the payout control unit 25 are sub-control units.

  The main control board 21 receives from the power supply board 20 a power supply abnormality signal output when the voltage drops and a power supply reset signal SYR output when the power is turned on, in addition to DC12V, DC32V, and backup power supply (DC5V). . In the main control board 21, the received DC 12V is stepped down to DC 5V, and used as the power supply voltage of the computer circuit in the board.

  The main control board 21 is connected to each game component of the game board 5 via the game board relay board 27. And while receiving the switch signal of the detection switch built in each winning opening 16-18 on a game board, solenoids, such as an electric tulip, are driven. Note that the switch signal from the symbol start port 15 is received directly by the main control unit 21 without going through the game board relay board 27.

  The main control unit 21 transmits a control command CMD ″ to the payout control unit 25 in one direction, while the payout control unit 25 receives a prize ball count signal indicating a payout operation of a game ball and an abnormality in the payout operation. The status signal CON is received, and the status signal CON includes, for example, an out-of-supply signal, an insufficient payout error signal, and a lower plate full signal.

  The effect control unit 22 is connected to the main control unit 21 in one direction via the command relay board 28. Specifically, an 8-bit parallel signal line that receives a control command and a 1-bit strobe signal line that receives an interrupt signal STB are connected to the main control unit 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the effect control unit 22 includes a one-chip microcomputer 40 that executes processing such as sound effects, lamp effects, and data transfer, an EPROM 41 that stores a control program for the one-chip microcomputer 40, and the one-chip microcomputer. 40, an audio reproduction LSI 42 that generates an audio signal based on an instruction from 40, an audio memory (phrase ROM) 43 that stores compressed audio data that is the original data of the generated audio signal, and a watchdog timer WDT1. Configured.

  Here, the watchdog timer WDT1 is reset by a clear pulse periodically supplied from the one-chip microcomputer 40. When this clear pulse is interrupted due to a program runaway or the like, an L level reset signal RT is output. It is like that. The reset signal RT output from the watchdog timer WDT1 is supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 40 as the CPU reset signal RESET via the negative logic OR gate G1. Therefore, the CPU core is reset and returns to the operation in the initial state.

  A power reset signal SYR is also supplied to the input terminal of the negative logic OR gate G1 from the power supply board 20 via the power relay board 29 and the effect interface board 23. For this reason, the power reset signal SYR is also supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 40 via the negative logic OR gate G1 to reset the CPU core.

  As shown in the figure, the input terminal of the negative logic OR gate G2 is supplied with the restart signal RST from the one-chip microcomputer 40 in addition to the output of the negative logic OR gate G1, and the output of the negative logic OR gate G2 is a voice signal. It is supplied to the reset terminal of the reproduction LSI 42. Here, the restart signal RST is a signal output from the one-chip microcomputer 40 when the sound reproduction LSI 42 operates abnormally. Therefore, the audio reproduction LSI 42 is not only reset in synchronization with the reset of the one-chip microcomputer 40, but is also reset by the restart signal RST output from the one-chip microcomputer 40. Therefore, even if the audio reproduction LSI 42 runs away and an abnormal audio signal is output, the operation can be immediately stopped by the control of the one-chip microcomputer 40.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a strobe signal (interrupt signal) STB output from the main control board 21 is supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 40 of the effect control board 22. Then, the effect control unit 22 acquires the control command CMD by the reception interrupt process activated by the strobe signal STB. In addition to (a) error notification and other notification control commands, the control command CMD acquired by the effect control unit 22 includes (b) control for specifying an outline of various effect operations resulting from winning at the symbol start opening. Commands (hereinafter referred to as variation pattern commands) are included. Here, the outline of the production operation specified by the variation pattern command includes the production total time from the production start to the production end, and the result of winning or failing in the big hit lottery. In addition to these, the change pattern command including the presence or absence of the reach effect or the notice effect may be specified, but even in this case, the specific content of the effect content is not specified.

  Therefore, when the effect control unit 22 acquires the variation pattern command CMD, the effect lottery is subsequently performed, and the effect outline specified by the acquired variation pattern command is further specified. For example, the specific contents of the reach effect and the notice effect are determined. Then, according to the determined specific game content, the lamp production by blinking the LED group or the like and the voice production preparation operation by the speaker are performed, and the liquid crystal control unit 24 is adapted to the production operation by the lamp or the speaker. The control command CMD ′ relating to the design effect to be output is output.

  In addition to the variation pattern command, the control command CMD ′ relating to the symbol effect includes a first symbol designation command for specifying a special symbol that stops at the first digit and a second symbol that specifies a special symbol that stops at the second digit. A symbol designating command and a third symbol designating command for specifying a special symbol that stops at the third digit are included. A special symbol is a symbol that means that if all three symbols are in a big hit state, if the gaming machine is in such a big hit state, it will be possible to expect a large amount of game balls to be paid out very easily. ing. It is typical to stop the 3rd symbol from the 1st symbol to the left / middle / right, but when the left and right symbols match, a stage action called reach action is started and the player expects While arousing a feeling, the symbol at the central position continues to move further.

  When transmitting such a design effect control command CMD ′, the effect control unit 22 directs the command data CMD ′ to the effect interface board 23 together with the strobe signal (interrupt signal) STB ′ for the liquid crystal control unit 24. Output. On the other hand, the effect interface board 23 is configured to receive the 8-bit command data CMD ′ and the 1-bit interrupt signal STB ′ from the effect control board 22. These data CMD ′ and STB ′ are output to the liquid crystal control board 24 as they are via the buffer circuit 45.

  The effect interface board 23 receives the lamp driving control signal output from the effect control unit 22 and outputs it via the buffer circuit 46. As shown in FIG. 3, the lamp drive control signal output from the production interface board 23 is supplied to the LED lamp group via the lamp connection board 30, and as a result, the control command CMD output by the main control unit 21 is supplied. The corresponding lamp production is realized.

  Next, the configuration of the liquid crystal control unit 24 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the liquid crystal control unit 24 receives a control command CMD ′ via the effect interface board 23, and controls a one-chip microcomputer 48 that controls the design effect, a control program for the one-chip microcomputer 48, and the like. A control ROM 49 to be stored, a graphic controller (specifically, a video display processor) 50 for driving the liquid crystal display DISP based on an instruction from the one-chip microcomputer 48, and basic data (sprite pattern) drawn on the liquid crystal display DISP Data) and the like, and a watchdog timer WDT2.

  Since the power supply voltage of the one-chip microcomputer 48 and the graphic controller 50 is 3.3V, the liquid crystal control board 24 steps down the DC voltage 5V received from the effect interface board 23 to 3.3V by the step-down circuit. Let me use it.

  The watchdog timer WDT2 is reset by a clear pulse periodically supplied from the one-chip microcomputer 48. When this clear pulse is interrupted due to a program runaway or the like, an L level reset signal RT is output. ing. The reset signal RT output from the watchdog timer WDT2 is supplied to the one-chip microcomputer 48 via the negative logic OR gate G3. As a result, the one-chip microcomputer 48 is reset to the initial state.

  However, the output of the negative logic OR gate G3 is not supplied to the graphic controller 50. Therefore, the graphic controller 50 is not uniformly reset to the initial state in synchronization with the one-chip microcomputer 48. In other words, in the present embodiment, the reset one-chip microcomputer 48 determines the abnormal level based on the stored contents of the memory, and initializes the graphic controller 50 to an optimal state according to the determination result. Therefore, if the program is simply runaway and the memory (work area) is not damaged at all, the symbol effect operation immediately before the program runaway is resumed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the one-chip microcomputer 48 receives the control command CMD 'from the effect interface board 23 at the input port and receives the strobe signal STB' from the effect interface board 23 at the interrupt terminal IRQ1. When the strobe signal STB 'becomes active, the interrupt processing program stored in the control ROM 49 is activated, and the control command CMD' is acquired by the one-chip microcomputer 48.

  The interrupt terminal IRQ0 of the one-chip microcomputer 48 receives the interrupt signal INT output from the graphic controller 50, and draws an interrupt for drawing every 1/60 seconds when drawing of one frame of the liquid crystal display DISP is completed. The processing program is started. Then, the drawing interrupt processing program stored in the control ROM 49 writes the necessary data in the instruction data table TBL for determining the drawing position of each sprite, and thereby the position of each sprite to be drawn next. And deformed shapes are specified. Note that a sprite is a generic term for a unit of graphic data that can be arbitrarily moved independently of other images on the liquid crystal display DISP. In this embodiment, decorative characters “1” to “9” are used. And other effect characters are specified. The background image is also composed of sprites.

  The instruction data table TBL of the graphic controller 50 functions as a peripheral device (memory) that can be connected to the external bus of the one-chip microcomputer 48, and can be directly accessed by being positioned in the memory map of the one-chip microcomputer 48. (Direct mapping). Although the addressing can be performed indirectly via the built-in register of the graphic controller 50 (indirect mapping), the graphic controller 50 is not involved in the writing process anyway. Input processing is not executed for the one-chip microcomputer 48.

  As described above, the graphic controller 50 only reads the data of the instruction data table TBL, reads the pattern data of the specific sprite from the CGROM 51 based on the instruction data stored in the instruction data table TBL, and designates the specified position. In addition, data calculation processing is performed to draw each sprite with the specified deformed shape. In the case of this embodiment, the result of the data calculation is converted into an analog signal and output to the liquid crystal display DISP as R, G, B image signals.

  FIG. 6 illustrates the relationship between the instruction data table TBL provided in the built-in RAM of the VDP and sprites drawn based on the data stored in the instruction data table TBL. In the instruction data table TBL, an instruction data write area of about 16 bytes is provided for each sprite (# 1 to #m), and the display position, enlargement / reduction ratio, etc. of each sprite is determined by the written instruction data. Are to be identified.

  The display position of the sprite is defined by, for example, the coordinate position (DOx, DOy) of the upper left dot of the sprite. When the sprite size is 16 × 16 dots, the sprite is a sprite surface generation unit of the graphic controller 50. By the above operation, drawing is performed in a rectangular range surrounded by the upper left end (DOx + DOy) to the lower right end (DOx + 15, DOy + 15) of the sprite surface. In these operations, the built-in RAM of the graphic controller 50 is used as a frame buffer.

  As described above, if the one-chip microcomputer 48 writes the instruction data table TBL and changes the display position of the sprite #n from (DOx, DOy) to (DOx + A, DOy + B), the sprite is displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP. #N moves by + A in the X direction and + B in the Y direction. However, according to the resolution of the liquid crystal display DISP, what is actually displayed is limited to a rectangular range of the number of horizontal display dots HDW × the number of vertical display lines VDW. Each sprite can be freely moved on the liquid crystal display DISP. As described above, the one-chip microcomputer 48 can perform various symbol effects including reach effects by rewriting the contents of the instruction data table TBL with the drawing interrupt IRQ0 every 1/60 seconds.

  Next, the operation content of the one-chip microcomputer 48 of the liquid crystal control unit 24 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. The operation of the one-chip microcomputer 48 is caused by a command reception interrupt routine (FIG. 8B) that is activated due to the strobe signal STB ′ from the effect interface board 23 and an interrupt signal INT from the graphic controller 50. The drawing interrupt routine to be started (FIG. 8C) and the main routine (FIG. 7) for substantially executing a series of operations of the liquid crystal control unit 24 are mainly configured.

  In the case of this embodiment, the graphic controller 50 draws one frame (screen) of the liquid crystal display DISP in a time of 1/60 seconds, and synchronizes with the vertical synchronization signal every time drawing of one frame is completed. The interrupt signal INT is output. Then, in the drawing interrupt routine, the drawing request flag FLG is set to 1 and the interruption process is finished (ST30 in FIG. 8C).

  Next, the command reception interrupt routine will be described with reference to FIG. In the command reception interrupt routine, the control command CMD 'is acquired from the input port of the one-chip microcomputer 48 (ST20), and the acquired control command CMD' is stored in a reception buffer having a ring buffer structure (ST21). Then, the ring buffer pointer is cyclically increased to designate the next storage position, and the process is terminated (ST22).

  The control command stored in this way is read in the command analysis process (ST12) of the main routine, and then the pointer value of the ring buffer is returned to the original value. Here, in the command analysis process (ST12), any control command of the variation pattern number command, the first digit stop symbol designation command, the second digit stop symbol designation command, and the third digit stop symbol designation command is received from the reception buffer. If detected, the “variation pattern number”, “left symbol”, “middle symbol”, and “right symbol” specified from these control commands are stored in the effect parameter storage area of the work area, and the subsequent symbol effect operation To be used.

  In the command analysis process (ST12), every time one of the above-described effect parameters is stored in the effect parameter storage area, “variation pattern number”, “left symbol”, “middle symbol”, and “right symbol” are displayed. A checksum calculation is executed, and the calculation result is stored in the work area as a SUM value. When the CPU is forcibly reset, the SUM value is a decisive factor for starting the symbol effect operation from the initial state as a cold start or restarting the symbol effect operation from the middle as a hot start.

  Based on the above, the main routine shown in FIG. 7 will be described. In addition to the drawing request flag FLG, the abnormality counter ERR, the effect parameter storage area, and the like, the inspection areas are discretely provided in the RAM work area referred to by the CPU (see FIG. 8A).

  In the main routine, first, initialization processing is executed for the one-chip microcomputer 48 (ST1). Next, checksum calculation is performed for the “variation pattern number”, “left symbol”, “middle symbol”, and “right symbol” stored in the effect parameter storage area of the work area, and the calculation result is stored in the work area. It is determined whether or not it matches the stored SUM value (ST2).

  Here, the case where the calculation result of the checksum calculation does not coincide with the SUM value is a case where the CPU is reset by turning on the power or the effect parameter is destroyed due to the runaway of the CPU. Therefore, in such a case, the cold start process is started, and all work areas including the effect parameter storage area and the abnormality counter ERR are cleared to zero (ST8). Next, as initial setting processing, predetermined inspection data is stored in the inspection area (ST9). The inspection areas are a plurality of areas that are discretely secured at a plurality of locations in the work area that are not used in the steady process (ST11 to ST16) (see FIG. 8A).

  When the inspection data storing process is completed in this way, the graphic controller 50 is initialized for cold start (ST10), and the process proceeds to a steady process. When the graphic controller 50 is initialized for cold start (ST10), in the subsequent steady processing (ST11 to ST16), processing for drawing an initial screen (for example, a black screen) on the liquid crystal display DISP is executed. .

  As described above, the case where the calculation result of the checksum calculation and the SUM value do not match in the determination in step ST2 has been described. However, if they match, it is determined after step ST2 whether or not predetermined inspection data is stored in all inspection areas (ST3). This is because even if the above-described four effect parameters are normal values, other important data may be destroyed before the CPU is forcibly reset.

  If an abnormality is recognized in any of the inspection areas, the cold start process after step ST8 described above is executed. On the other hand, if all the inspection data are normal values, it can be expected that all the work areas are normal. That is, although the CPU of the one-chip microcomputer 48 is forcibly reset by the watchdog timer WDT2, it can be expected that an unreasonable writing process to the work area has not been executed when the CPU runs away (a pseudo-normal state). .

  Therefore, in such a pseudo-normal state, the abnormality counter ERR is incremented and updated to count the number of forced resets of the CPU (ST4). Then, the value of the updated abnormal counter ERR is compared with the upper limit value MAX (ST5). If the upper limit value MAX has not been reached, the graphic controller 50 is set for hot start and the process proceeds to steady processing ( ST6).

  Since the graphic controller 50 is initially set for hot start, in the subsequent steady processing (ST11 to ST16), the liquid crystal display DISP displays the symbol effect that was being executed when the CPU was forcibly reset. Will return to the point and resume. Prior to restarting the symbol effect, a restart notification process for notifying that the liquid crystal control unit has been hot-started may be executed (ST7).

  By the way, in the above explanation, as long as the determination results of step ST2 and step ST3 are normal, it is assumed that the CPU has not executed an unreasonable writing process in the work area until the CPU is forcibly reset. However, even if the four production parameters and the inspection data at a plurality of locations are normal values, it cannot be said that there is no irrational writing in all the remaining work areas.

  However, even in the case of an abnormal situation in which some unreasonable writing remains, there is no substantial disadvantage to the player, and at most, the scheduled symbol effect is not normally executed on the liquid crystal display DISP. As explained above, in the pseudo-normal state, since at least the determination of step ST2 has passed, an unreasonable reach action such as “7 ↓ 6” or a stoppage pattern such as “777” is a big hit state An abnormal situation that does not shift to is reliably prevented.

  On the contrary, there is no irrational writing, and even though the symbol production can be resumed normally, every time the CPU is forcibly reset, if the liquid crystal display screen is made black, the game rhythm will be broken, It only gives the player discomfort. Therefore, even if the CPU is forcibly reset, as long as the specific rendering parameter and all the inspection data are normal values, the correspondence of the present embodiment that resumes the symbol rendering as a fake normal state is reasonable. Can do.

  However, in exceptional cases, even in a pseudo-normal state, there may be cases in which malignant data that repeatedly causes the program to run away remain in the work area. However, in such a case, each time the CPU is forcibly reset, the abnormality counter ERR is incremented, and eventually the value of the abnormality counter ERR coincides with the upper limit value MAX (ST4 to ST5). Then, since the cold start process after step ST8 is executed, the malignant data is surely deleted.

  Subsequently, the steady process of steps ST11 to ST16 will be described. In the steady process, whether or not there is a drawing request is checked based on the value of the drawing request flag FLG and waits until the drawing request flag FLG becomes 1 (ST11). As described above, the drawing request flag FLG is set every 1/60 seconds in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal of the liquid crystal display DISP in the drawing interrupt routine.

  Accordingly, the drawing request flag FLG is eventually set to 1, so that the drawing request flag FLG is reset and command analysis processing is executed (ST12). In the command analysis process, an unprocessed control command is read from a reception buffer having a ring buffer configuration, and a process corresponding to the control command is performed. For example, when any one of “variation pattern number”, “first digit stop symbol”, “second digit stop symbol”, and “third digit stop symbol” is specified by the control command, as described above. The specified effect parameter is written in the corresponding area of the effect parameter storage area, and the SUM value is recalculated and rewritten.

  The “first-digit stop symbol”, “second-digit stop symbol”, and “third-digit stop symbol” stored in this way are read out prior to the timings T2, T3, and T4 shown in FIG. In order to stop display on the display DISP, necessary data is written in the instruction data table TBL of the graphic controller 50 in the drawing process of step ST14. FIG. 9 is a time chart illustrating an effect operation when a deviation variation pattern with a reach action is selected.

  Further, if a new variation pattern number command is received, in the command analysis process (ST12), the content of the effect is specified by this variation pattern number, and the time counting operation of the management timer for managing the effect time is started. Perform the necessary preparatory actions.

  In this way, when the command analysis process in step ST12 is completed, it is necessary to execute the symbol variation operation based on the variation pattern number instructed from the effect interface board 23. First, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP is erased (ST13). The image is erased by setting the graphic controller 50 to the display OFF state. As a result, the image signal to the liquid crystal display DISP disappears, and the screen of the liquid crystal display DISP becomes true black. The reason why such a process is provided is that if the image on the liquid crystal display DISP is displayed during the writing operation of the instruction data table TBL by the one-chip microcomputer 48, the display image becomes unreasonable.

  When the processing of step ST13 for erasing the image is completed, the next image to be drawn on the liquid crystal display DISP is specified according to the progress degree of the series of symbol effects specified by the variation pattern number, and according to the specified contents. The contents of the instruction data table TBL of the graphic controller 50 are rewritten.

  When the rewriting process of the instruction data table TBL is completed, the liquid crystal display is set to the ON state (ST15). Then, according to the operation parameter of the rewritten instruction data table TBL, the pattern data of the corresponding sprite is read from the CGROM 51, and after being subjected to necessary deformation processing, it is arranged at the designated coordinate position and written to the frame buffer. Is included. Then, since the analog-converted image signal RGB is sent to the liquid crystal display, an image different from the previous image is displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP and the changing operation is realized.

  Thereafter, after a clear signal is output to the watchdog timer WDT2 (ST16), the process returns to step ST11 and waits for the next drawing interrupt to occur. As a result, the image constructed this time is displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP as a still image for 1/60 second, and is rewritten to another still image by the next interruption process. Before the symbol change operation is started, still images may be continuously displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP. In such a case, the operation parameter rewriting operation is skipped in the process of step ST14. .

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described concretely, the concrete description content does not specifically limit this invention. In particular, the steady process in the effect control unit is merely an example, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a perspective view of the pachinko machine shown in an embodiment. It is the front view which illustrated in detail the game board of the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of an effect control part, an effect interface part, and a liquid-crystal control part. The circuit configuration of the liquid crystal control unit is illustrated in some detail. It is drawing explaining the relationship between the instruction | indication data table TBL and the sprite surface comprised by this. It is a flowchart which shows the main routine of a liquid-crystal control part. It is drawing which shows the work area of a liquid-crystal control part, and an interruption routine. It is a time chart explaining a symbol variation operation.

Explanation of symbols

24 Production control unit (LCD control unit)
WDT2 Watchdog timers ST2 to ST3 First process ST8 to ST10 Second process ST4 to ST7 Second process

Claims (6)

A gaming machine that determines whether or not a profit state advantageous to a player is generated by a winning / raft lottery caused by the player's action, the main control unit comprehensively controlling the gaming operation including the winning / failing lottery; An effect control unit configured to execute a symbol effect operation based on a control command output by the main control unit,
The CPU of the effect control unit is configured to be forcibly reset when a clear signal to be supplied to the reset circuit provided in the effect control unit every predetermined time is interrupted, and the effect control unit Is
A first process for determining whether or not to return the symbol effect operation to the initial state based on the stored contents of the work area of the volatile memory after the CPU is forcibly reset;
Based on the determination of the first process, when returning the symbol effect operation to the initial state, all the work areas are cleared to zero. When not returning to the initial state, the symbol effect operation is performed after counting the number of forced resets. And a second process for resuming the game machine. The effect control unit includes a computer circuit that controls a symbol effect operation based on the control command, and a controller that drives a display device based on an instruction from the computer circuit,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a reset signal for forcibly resetting the CPU by the reset circuit is not supplied to the controller.   The game according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the number of forced resets reaches a predetermined value, the work area is all cleared to zero and the symbol effect operation is returned to the initial state regardless of the determination of the first process. Machine. The first process determines whether to return the symbol effect operation to the initial state based on the data stored in the inspection area of the work area,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined value is stored in the inspection area after the work area is cleared to zero. The work area is provided with a parameter storage area for storing a group of effect parameters for specifying a design effect operation. Every time one of the effect parameters is updated, the general data of the group of effect parameters is calculated. Configured to remember,
In the first process, the overall data of the group of production parameters is calculated, and it is determined whether or not to return the symbol effect operation to the initial state based on whether or not it matches the already stored summary data. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the effect parameter includes data related to a symbol that specifies a final screen in a series of symbol effect operations.

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