JP2009119098A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine capable of executing an appropriate performance without complicating a control. <P>SOLUTION: When determining a variable display mode of performance symbols, this pinball game machine acquires information (retained-number varied information) indicating whether or not the present number of retained balls is reduced compared with the number of retained balls stored when determining the last variable display mode, and determines the variable display mode taking account of the information. The retained-number varied information just indicates whether or not reducing the number of retained balls simply, however, also includes information related to game progress situations such that a variable display is executed immediately before and no game ball enters an operation-start hole for a long time, so as to contribute to determining an appropriate variable mode according to the progress of the game. The complication of the control of this pinball game machine is thus prevented by easily acquiring the retained-number varied information and requiring a little data amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine that plays a game by firing a game ball toward a game board surface.

  When a game ball is launched on a game board surface provided with a plurality of entrances into which game balls can be entered, and a game ball enters any of the entrances, a predetermined number of game balls are awarded as prize balls. 2. Description of the Related Art A ball game machine that performs a game to be paid out is widely known. On the game board surface of such a ball game machine, there is an effect display device that produces an effect to stop display after variably displaying the effect design, a special entrance called a start entrance, and a special entrance called a grand prize entrance When a game ball enters the start opening, variation display is started on the effect display device, and when a predetermined symbol (big hit symbol) is stopped and displayed, A special gaming state (so-called jackpot game) that opens and is advantageous to the player is started. In addition, when a game ball enters the start opening during the variation display of the effect design, even if the big hit game is not started with the current variation display, a new variation display can be started immediately. As described above, the fact that the game ball has entered the start opening is stored as the number of holds.

  Further, in such a ball game machine, there is a case where control for determining a variation display mode of the effect symbol is performed according to the stored number of holds. For example, when the number of reservations has reached the upper limit number, a technique has been proposed in which the variation display mode of the effect design is determined to be a mode with a short variation time (Patent Document 1). In this way, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the game ball enters the start port during the variable display even though the number of holds reaches the upper limit number, and the ball is wasted. Alternatively, in the case of a ball game machine that determines whether or not to stop display with a jackpot symbol when the game ball enters the start port, when the game ball enters the start port, there are already several holding numbers. A technique (so-called continuous notice effect) has also been proposed in which, when stored, a variable display for the number of holds is produced in a manner that is related to each other (Patent Document 2). For example, it is determined that a game ball enters the start opening and is displayed to stop with a big hit symbol, and at that time, two hold numbers are already stored. In this case, for example, if the symbols for which the production symbols are “777” are jackpot symbols, the first variable display for the number of holds is stopped at “757” with a certain notice, and then the variable display In such a case, an effect is made such that a stop display is made at “767” with the same notice as the previous time, and a stoppage display is made at the jackpot symbol “777” in the last variation display. As a result, the player senses that a big hit will occur and is drawn into the game unintentionally, so that the player can greatly enjoy the game.

JP 2003-32584 A JP 2002-360859 A

  However, in the proposed technology, although it is possible to display the varieties of effects in an appropriate manner according to the gaming state, on the other hand, unless the direction of appearance is managed according to the number of pending positions In other words, there is a problem that the control becomes complicated. In other words, in order to perform the proposed effects, it is necessary to always keep track of the number of holds, and then to determine the individual effects according to the number of holds. The control tends to be complicated.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and is a ball game machine capable of variably displaying an effect design in an appropriate manner without complicating control. For the purpose of provision.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the bullet ball game machine of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
A ball game machine that fires a game ball toward a game board provided with a plurality of entrances, and performs a game in which a game ball is paid out as a prize ball when the game ball enters any of the entrances In
An effect display device provided on the game board surface and capable of displaying a change and a stop display of a predetermined effect pattern;
A number-of-holds storage unit that stores the number of game balls that have entered the game as a number of reserves when a game ball enters a start entrance that is a predetermined entrance of the plurality of entrances; ,
It is determined whether or not the number of holdings exists, and if there is, the variable display execution means for determining the variable display mode of the effect symbol and starting the variable display on the effect display device,
A number-of-holds subtracting means for subtracting the number of holds stored in the number-of-holds cumulative storage means one by one each time the effect symbol is displayed in a variable manner,
The variation display execution means includes
Prior to determining the variation display mode of the effect symbol, the number of holds stored in the number-of-holds cumulative storage means decreases with respect to the number of holds stored at the time of determining the previous variation display mode. Holding number fluctuation information acquisition means for acquiring holding number fluctuation information indicating whether or not,
Fluctuation display mode determining means for determining a variation display mode of the effect symbol is provided based on the hold number variation information acquired by the reservation number variation information acquiring unit.

  In such a ball game machine of the present invention, when a game ball enters the start port, the number of holds is accumulated and stored in the number of holds already stored, and the effect design is variably displayed on the effect display device. When the game is played, the number of held is reduced. For this reason, the game progresses while the number of held is increased or decreased during the game. Then, when determining the variation display mode of the design for presentation, information indicating whether or not the current number of reservations is decreasing with respect to the number of reservations stored at the time of determining the previous variation display mode (number of reservations) Fluctuation information) is acquired, and the variation display mode of the effect design is determined based on the reserved number variation information. Here, the “variation display mode of the effect design” defines the content (effect content) of the variation display (effect display) of the effect design. Specifically, the execution time (variation time of the variation display) ), Whether or not an additional effect such as a reach effect or a notice effect accompanying the execution of the variable display is executed, and further, when the additional effect is executed, the contents and the execution time of the additional effect are included in the variable display mode. It is.

  The number-of-holds fluctuation information is not information indicating the number of holds, but is simply information indicating whether or not the number of holds is decreasing (exactly, at the time of determining the variation display mode of the effect design, Information indicating whether or not the number of holds has decreased with respect to the number of holds at the time of the previous determination). However, the following information can be obtained from the information that the number of holds is decreasing. In other words, the current number of reserved numbers is being used to display the variation of the design symbol, but immediately before that, the number of reservations is also displayed and the variable is displayed. This means that the fluctuation display is performed continuously from the previous fluctuation display. In addition, if a game ball has entered the starting port during the previous variation display, the number of suspensions is accumulated and stored, so the number of suspensions at the time of determining the current variation display mode. Should be at least the same number or increased as the number of holds at the previous decision. Therefore, the fact that the number of holdings has decreased since the previous determination means that no game ball has entered the start port at least during the last fluctuation display. As described above, since the number-of-holds fluctuation information includes a lot of information relating to the progress of the game, the game progress status can be determined by taking the number-of-holds fluctuation information into consideration when determining the variation display mode of the effect design. Accordingly, it is possible to determine an appropriate variation display mode. On the other hand, if the number-of-holds variation information is obtained, it can be easily obtained during the game, and the amount of data is smaller than the number of held itself and can be easily handled. Therefore, the control of the ball game machine is not complicated.

  Further, in the above-described bullet ball game machine of the present invention, the hold number fluctuation information may be acquired as follows. First, a flag referred to as a hold count reduction flag is provided. Then, when the change display of the effect design is performed and the number of holds is subtracted, the hold number decrease flag is set, while the game ball enters the start opening and the new number of holds is stored. When setting, the number-of-holds reduction flag is not set. Whether or not the number-of-holds reduction flag is in a set state may be acquired as the number-of-holds fluctuation information.

  After the hold number reduction flag is set and the variable display of the effect design is started, the variable display is finished as it is (while the hold number reduction flag is set) or the variable display is in progress. It is possible to take only one of whether the display of the game ends after the game ball enters the start opening and the hold number decrease flag is not set. From this, when newly determining the variable display mode of the effect design, referring to the hold count reduction flag, if the flag remains in the set state, the hold count is determined from the previous determination of the variable display mode. It can be judged that it is decreasing. On the contrary, if the pending number reduction flag is not set, it can be determined that the pending number has not decreased since the previous determination. Therefore, it is possible to easily acquire the pending number fluctuation information by referring to such a pending number reduction flag.

  In addition, in the above-described bullet ball game machine according to the present invention, when the content indicated by the hold number variation information is the content that the hold number has decreased since the previous determination of the change display mode, It is also possible to determine the variation display mode that is related to the determined variation display mode as the current variation display mode. Here, “determining the variation display mode related to the previously determined variation display mode as the current variation display mode” means that the variation display mode includes all or part of the previous variation display mode, that is, This means that the variation display mode including the same content as the previous variation display mode is set as the current variation display mode, so that the previous variation display mode and the current variation display mode are related to each other. . Specifically, for example, a part of the previous variation display mode is replaced with a part of the current variation display mode, or added to a part of the current variation display mode. It is conceivable that at least a part of the current fluctuation display mode is matched with at least a part of the current fluctuation display mode, or that the effect content that is paired with the previous fluctuation display mode is included in the current fluctuation display mode.

  As described above, when the current variation display mode is related to the previous variation display mode, sufficient effects can be obtained unless the current variation display is performed following the previous variation display. I can't. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm that the current variation display is performed following the previous variation display. In this respect, if it can be confirmed that the number of holdings has decreased from the time of determination of the previous fluctuation display mode based on the hold number fluctuation information, this is the same as the previous fluctuation display. This is easy to check. After all, if the number-of-holds fluctuation information is used, it can be easily confirmed that the current fluctuation display is performed following the previous fluctuation display, and the two fluctuation display modes are set as related fluctuation display modes. Can be easily realized.

  Further, in the above-described bullet ball game machine of the present invention, the variation display mode of the effect symbol may be determined as follows. First, a plurality of variable display modes are grouped together and stored as a first variable display mode group and a second variable display mode group. Here, in the first variation display mode group and the second variation display mode group, some of the variation display modes may overlap, but the variation display mode included in the first variation display mode group. The average variation time of the variation display modes included in the second variation display mode group is set to be longer than the average variation time. Then, if the content indicated by the pending number variation information is the content indicating that the pending number has decreased since the time of the previous variation display mode determination, the current variation display mode group is selected from the second variation display mode group. The variable display mode may be determined.

  As described above, the fact that the number of holdings has decreased since the time of determining the previous variation display mode means that at least during the previous variation display, no game ball entered the start port. I mean. If the state continues as it is, there is a concern that a so-called slump state, that is, a state in which a game ball is only fired for a long time without the effect design being variably displayed. In this regard, if the number of holdings has decreased since the time of determining the previous variation display mode, if the variation display mode is determined from the second variation display mode group, the variation of the design for presentation Since the time becomes longer as a whole, there is a high possibility that the game ball enters the starting port during the fluctuation display, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a so-called slump state.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, examples will be described in the following order.
A. Pachinko machine configuration:
A-1. Configuration on the front side of the device:
A-2. Game board configuration:
A-3. Configuration of control circuit:
B. Overview of the game:
C. Overview of control:
C-1. Game control processing:
C-2. Special design game processing:
C-3. Special electric game game processing:
D. Special symbol variation pattern setting process of the first embodiment:
D-1. Fluctuation pattern setting process during hold addition:
D-2. Fluctuation pattern setting process during hold subtraction:
E. Special symbol variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment:
E-1. Fluctuation pattern setting process during hold addition:
E-2. Fluctuation pattern setting process during hold subtraction:

A. Pachinko machine configuration:
A-1. Configuration on the front side of the device:
FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the front portion of the gaming machine 1 is mainly composed of a front frame 4, an upper plate portion 5, a lower plate portion 6, a game board 10, and the like. In FIG. 1, detailed illustration of the game board 10 is omitted. The front frame 4 is attached to the middle frame 3 (not shown), and the middle frame 3 is attached to the main body frame 2 (not shown). The middle frame 3 is formed of a plastic material and is attached to the inside of the main body frame 2. The main body frame 2 is a substantially rectangular frame formed by assembling wooden plate-like members, and forms an outer frame of the gaming machine 1. One end of the front frame 4 is pivotally supported with respect to the middle frame 3, and one end of the middle frame 3 is pivotally supported with respect to the main body frame 2. The game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3, and the front side is covered with the front frame 4.

  The front frame 4 is formed of a plastic material, and a circular opening 4a is formed in a substantially central portion. A transparent plate such as a glass plate is fitted in the opening 4a so that the board surface of the game board 10 arranged on the back side can be visually recognized. Further, the front frame 4 is provided with various lamps 4b to 4f for enhancing the game effect.

  An upper dish portion 5 is provided below the front frame 4, and a lower dish portion 6 is provided below the upper dish portion 5. A locking device 9 is provided on the right side of the front frame 4, and a prepaid card type ball lending device 13 (CR unit) is provided on the left side of the front frame 4.

  The upper dish portion 5 is provided with a dish-shaped recess and a dish outer edge portion 5a formed so as to surround the recess. The game ball is thrown into a recess formed in the upper plate part 5 and supplied to the launching device unit 12 (see FIG. 5). The dish outer edge portion 5a is provided with various buttons such as a game ball lending switch 5b, a return switch 5c, and a discharge button for discharging the inserted game ball. Furthermore, a first speaker 5y having a plurality of long holes and a plurality of small holes formed thereon is provided at a substantially central portion of the upper plate part 5.

  The lower plate part 6 is provided with a discharge port 6 a for discharging game balls from the inside of the gaming machine 1, and the discharged game balls are stored in the lower plate part 6. Further, second speakers 6 c are provided on the left and right sides of the lower surface of the lower plate part 6.

  A firing handle 8 is provided at the right end of the lower plate portion 6. The firing handle 8 is provided with a touch switch 8a for detecting that the player is touching the handle. The rotation axis of the launching handle 8 is connected to a launching device unit 12 (not shown) mounted on the back side of the lower plate portion 6, and when the player rotates the firing handle 8, the movement is transferred to the launching device unit 12. Then, a launch motor (not shown) built in the unit rotates, and a game ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle. On the left side surface of the launch handle 8, a launch stop switch 8b that is operated by the player to temporarily stop the launch of the game ball is disposed.

A-2. Game board configuration:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a board surface configuration of the game board 10. As described above, the game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially circular game area 11 surrounded by an outer rail 14 and an inner rail 15 is formed at the center of the game board 10.

  A central device 26 is provided in the approximate center of the game area 11. In addition, a starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is provided above the central device 26, and a variable winning device 18 is provided below the central device 26. The starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 17 is a so-called tulip type starting port configured such that a pair of blade pieces can be opened and closed on the left and right. Inside the start port 17 are a start port (ordinary electric accessory) switch 17s (see FIG. 5) for detecting the passage of the game ball and an ordinary electric accessory (start port) for operating the pair of wing pieces. A solenoid 17m (see FIG. 5) is provided. When the pair of wing pieces are opened to the left and right, an opening state in which the game ball is likely to enter is in an open state.

  An effect display device 27 is provided substantially in the center of the central device 26. The effect display device 27 is equipped with a liquid crystal screen, and various symbols such as effect symbols and background symbols can be variably displayed and stopped. Various symbols displayed on the screen of the effect display device 27 will be described later.

  A symbol display device 28 is provided at the lower left of the central device 26. Although the detailed configuration will be described later, the symbol display device 28 can display normal symbols, special symbols, and the like in a variable stop manner.

  A normal symbol operation gate 36 is provided on the left side of the game area 11, and a gate switch 36 s for detecting the passage of the game ball is provided inside the gate. Further, a lamp windmill 24 is provided between the normal symbol operating gate 36 and the central device 26. A number of obstacle nails 23 are provided between and around each of these gaming devices.

  In the variable winning device 18 provided below the central device 26, a large winning device 31 is provided substantially in the center. The big prize winning device 31 is a big prize opening 31d that opens largely in a substantially rectangular shape, an opening / closing door 31e for opening / closing the big prize opening 31d, and a big prize opening solenoid 31m for operating the opening / closing door 31e (see FIG. 5). ) Etc. When a predetermined condition to be described later is satisfied and the opening / closing door 31e is opened, the big winning opening 31d is in an open state, and as a result, the game ball enters the big winning opening 31d with a high probability. A jackpot gaming state, which is a gaming state advantageous for the player, is started. In addition, a big winning opening switch 31s is provided inside the big winning opening 31d, and it is possible to detect a game ball won in the big winning opening 31d.

  An out port 48 is provided below the game board 10, and a back ball preventing member 58 is provided below the out port 48. The back ball prevention member 58 has a function of preventing the game ball that has returned without reaching the game area 11 from returning to the launch position.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the symbol display device 28 mounted on the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the symbol display device 28 of the present embodiment is configured by incorporating twelve small light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a substantially rectangular area. Of these 12 LEDs, 3 LEDs normally constitute the symbol display unit 29, and the remaining 9 LEDs constitute the special symbol display unit 30. Furthermore, the normal symbol display unit 29 includes one LED for displaying a normal symbol (hereinafter referred to as a normal symbol LED 29a) and two LEDs for displaying the number of reserved normal symbols (hereinafter referred to as a normal symbol). Called a hold display LED 29b). Further, the special symbol display unit 30 displays seven LEDs for displaying special symbols (hereinafter referred to as special symbol LED 30a) and the number of special symbols reserved (hereinafter referred to as special symbol reserved number). The two LEDs (hereinafter referred to as special figure hold display LED 30b). The manner in which the symbol display device 28 of this embodiment displays the normal symbol, the special symbol, and the number of special symbol reservations using these 12 LEDs will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the screen configuration of the effect display device 27 installed in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment. As described above, the effect display device 27 is mainly configured by using a liquid crystal display screen, and on the liquid crystal screen, three effect symbols 27a, 27b, 27c and a background symbol 27d of the background are displayed. Has been. Of these, the three effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are variably displayed in various manners in accordance with the display of the special symbol 30 shown in FIG. 3 so that a game can be rendered.

A-3. Control circuit configuration:
Next, the configuration of the control circuit in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the control circuit of the gaming machine 1 is composed of a number of control boards, various boards, relay terminal boards, and the like. The main control board 200 that controls the success / failure involved, the sub control board 220 that controls the control of the game using symbols, lamps, and sound effects, and the details of the effect display device 27 under the control of the sub control board 220 An effect control board 230 that performs general control, a payout control board 240 that controls the operation of paying out rental balls and prize balls, a launch control board 260 that controls control related to the launch of game balls, and the like. These control boards include various types of CPUs, such as a CPU that executes various logical operations and calculation operations, a ROM that stores various programs and data executed by the CPU, and a RAM that stores temporary data when the program is executed. Peripheral LSIs are connected to each other via a bus. Further, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 5 represents the direction in which data or signals are input / output. In FIG. 5, only the CPU 201, the ROM 202, and the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200 are shown.

  As shown in the drawing, the main control board 200 receives a game ball detection signal from the start port switch 17s, the big prize port switch 31s, the gate switch 36s, etc. Are determined, commands for instructing various operations are output toward the sub-control board 220, the dispensing control board 240, the launch control board 260, and the like. Further, the main control board 200 includes a normal electric accessory solenoid 17m for opening and closing a pair of blade pieces provided at the start port 17, a large prize opening solenoid 31m for opening and closing the big prize opening 31d, and Is connected to a symbol display device 28, etc., for displaying fluctuation stop of normal symbols and special symbols via a relay terminal board, and outputs signals to various solenoids 17m, 31m and the symbol display device 28. These operations are also controlled.

  When the sub-control board 220 receives various commands from the main control board 200, it analyzes the contents of the command and produces a game according to the result. That is, a command for designating display contents is output to the effect control board 230 that performs display control of the effect display device 27 described above, an amplifier board 224 that drives the various speakers 5y and 6c, various decorative LEDs, The game is rendered by outputting a drive signal to the decorative drive board 226 that drives the lamp.

  The payout control board 240 is responsible for various controls relating to so-called ball rental and prize ball payout. For example, when the player operates the ball lending switch 5b or the return switch 5c provided in the above-described upper plate part 5, this signal is transmitted from the ball lending display board 242 to the ball lending device 13 via the relay terminal board. Is done. The ball lending device 13 pays out a ball while exchanging data with the payout control board 240. When the main control board 200 outputs a prize ball payout command, the payout control board 240 receives this command and outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 109m to pay out the prize ball.

B. Overview of the game:
Next, an outline of the game performed in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be briefly described.

  In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, a game is performed as follows. First, when a player throws a game ball into the recess of the upper plate portion 5 and rotates the launch handle 8, the game balls thrown into the upper plate portion 5 are supplied to the launcher unit 12 one by one, The game area 11 is fired as described above with reference to FIG. The strength at which the game ball is launched can be adjusted by the rotation angle of the launch handle 8, and the player can aim the game ball by changing the rotation angle of the launch handle 8.

  When the launched game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gate 36 provided on the left side of the game area 11, the normal symbol variation display is started on the symbol display device 28. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the normal symbol display unit 29 is provided in the symbol display device 28, and the normal symbol display unit 29 is equipped with a normal symbol LED 29 a and a general symbol hold display LED 29 b. Of these, the normal symbol LED 29a is used to display the variation of the normal symbol.

  FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a state in which normal symbols are variably displayed. In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the normal symbol LED 29a is repeatedly blinked to display the normal symbol variation display. In the figure, the state in which the normal symbol LED 29a is lit is represented by a radial solid line, and the state in which the normal symbol LED 29a is lit is represented by a broken line. When the blinking normal symbol LED 29a stops in a lighting state, it becomes a normal symbol hit and the start port 17 is in an open state for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds). On the contrary, when it stops in the light-off state, it is usually out of the design and the start port 17 does not open.

  Also, if the game ball passes the normal symbol operation gate 36 during the normal symbol variation display, the passing of this game ball is stored as the number of holds, and after the current normal symbol variation display is completed, the variation display is displayed. Done. Up to four normal symbols can be stored, and the number of stored normal symbols is displayed by the general symbol display LED 29b.

  FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the number of normal symbols held is displayed by the universal symbol hold display LED 29 b provided in the symbol display device 28. When there is no normal symbol hold (that is, when the number of hold is zero), the two general map hold display LEDs 29b are both turned off. When there is one hold, the left-hand general map hold display LED 29b remains off and the right-hand general map hold display LED 29b lights up. When there are two holds, the left-hand general map hold display LED 29b is lit in addition to the right-side normal map hold display LED 29b. Next, when there are three holds, the right-hand general map hold display LED 29b blinks and the left-hand general map hold display LED 29b lights. When the number of holdings further increases to the upper limit of four, the left and right map holding display LEDs 29b blink. As described above, the normal symbol display unit 29 can display the number of hold from 0 to 4 by turning on, turning off, or blinking the two general-purpose hold display LEDs 29b.

  Further, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, the symbol display device 28 is provided with the special symbol display unit 30. When a game ball enters the start port 17, the special symbol change display is started. The display is stopped with any of the symbols described below.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a special symbol stop display mode. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the special symbol display unit 30 includes seven LEDs, and displays these special symbols by lighting them. As shown in FIG. 7, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, eight special symbol stop display modes are provided, and a unique lighting state is set for each stop display mode. Further, the stop display modes of these eight kinds of special symbols are roughly classified into three symbols. First, the stop display mode of the three special symbols shown in the upper part of the figure is classified as “normal jackpot symbol”, and the stop display mode of the three special symbols shown in the middle part is classified as “probable big hit symbol”. The stop display modes of the two special symbols shown in the lower row are classified as “outgoing symbols”. The special symbol display unit 30 performs a special symbol variation display by blinking seven LEDs (special symbol LEDs 30a) for a predetermined time, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the special symbol display unit 30 is stopped and displayed according to any stop display mode. When either the “normal jackpot symbol” or the “probability big hit symbol” symbol (so-called jackpot symbol) is stopped and displayed, the jackpot game in which the big winning opening 31d is opened is started. The big hit game of the present embodiment is configured such that a round game in which the big winning opening 31d is in an open state is repeated a plurality of times. When the big winning opening 31d is in an open state, it becomes easy for a game ball to enter, so the big hit game can be said to be a very advantageous game state for the player.

  In addition, when the special symbol that has been variably displayed is stopped and displayed with the probability variation big hit symbol shown in the middle of FIG. 7, until a predetermined condition is satisfied (for example, until the next big hit game occurs or the special big hit game occurs) For example, until the symbol change display is performed a predetermined number of times, the probability that the special symbol is a big hit symbol is displayed with a high probability (so-called probability change state or simply a probability change state).

  In addition, even if a game ball has entered the starting port 17, the special symbol variation display cannot be started (for example, when the special symbol is variation display or a big hit game) Even so, the fact that a game ball has entered the start port 17 is stored as the number of special symbols held (the number of special drawings held). For this reason, it is possible to perform variable display using the stored number of reserves when the special symbol variable display becomes possible. Note that the number of reserved special figure reservations is displayed by a special figure hold display LED 30b. The mode of displaying the number of special symbols held using the special figure hold display LED 30b is the same as that of the general figure hold display LED 29b shown in FIG.

  In accordance with the above-described change display and stop display of the special symbol, the effect display device 27 performs various effects using the effect symbols. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an aspect of the effect performed by the effect display device 27. As described above with reference to FIG. 4, on the liquid crystal display screen constituting the effect display device 27, three effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are displayed. When the variation display of the special symbol is started in the symbol display device 28 described above, also in the effect display device 27, these three effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c start the variation display all at once. In the present embodiment, a design in which nine numbers from “1” to “9” are designed as an effect design is prepared.

  FIG. 8A conceptually shows a state in which the three effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are variably displayed at the same time. When a predetermined time elapses after the variable display is started, the left effect design 27a is first stopped and displayed in any of the symbols "1" to "9", and then the right effect design 27c is stopped and displayed. Finally, the medium effect design 27b is stopped and displayed. The combination of the three effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c that are stopped and displayed on the effect display device 27 is configured to be interlocked with the combination of the special symbols that are stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 described above. For example, when the special symbol of the symbol display device 28 stops at the winning symbol, the three symbols for effect 27a, 27b, 27c of the effect display device 27 are stopped and displayed with the same symbol. In particular, when the special symbol of the symbol display device 28 stops at the above-described probability variation winning symbol, the three effect symbols 27a, 27b, 27c of the effect display device 27 are stopped and displayed with the same symbol representing an odd number. On the other hand, when the special symbol of the symbol display device 28 is out of position and stops at the symbol, the three effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are stopped and displayed in any combination that does not match the same symbol.

  In this way, the special symbols displayed on the symbol display device 28 and the three effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c displayed on the effect display device 27 correspond to each other, and the respective display symbols are displayed. The timing at which is confirmed (stopped display) is also set to be the same. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the effect display device 27 is provided at a position that is more easily noticeable than the symbol display device 28, and the display screen is large and the display content is easy to understand. It is normal to play a game while looking at the screen of the device 27. Therefore, when the left effect symbol 27a initially stopped and displayed on the display screen of the effect display device 27 and the right effect symbol 27c subsequently stopped and displayed are the same symbol, the stop effect is finally displayed. The player will pay attention to the fluctuation of the symbols so that the medium design symbol 27b may be stopped at the same symbol and become a so-called big hit gaming state. In this way, the effect of variably displaying the last symbol in the state where the two symbols for the effect are stopped at the same symbol is called a reach effect, which can increase the interest of the player by performing the reach effect. It is possible.

C. Game machine control contents:
Below, in order to implement | achieve the game mentioned above, the control content which the game machine 1 of a present Example is performing is demonstrated in detail.

C-1. Game control processing:
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a rough flow of a game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 to control the progress of the game. As shown in the figure, in the game control process, each process such as a prize ball-related process, a normal symbol game process, a normal electric accessory stop process, a special symbol game process, and a special electric accessory game process is repeatedly executed. . The time required for one round of processing is about 4 msec. Therefore, these various types of processing are repeatedly executed about every 4 msec. Then, during these processes, various commands are transmitted from the main control board 200 to the various control boards including the sub control board 220. By doing so, the game of the entire gaming machine 1 progresses, and the sub control board 220 controls the effect according to the progress of the game. The game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 will be described below according to the flowchart.

  When starting the game control process, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 performs a process (pay ball related process) for paying out a game ball as a prize ball (S50). In such processing, among the various switches connected to the main control board 200, it is determined whether or not a game ball has entered a game ball winning switch (such as the start opening switch 17s and the big winning opening switch 31s). To detect. If a game ball is detected, the number of prize balls to be paid out is calculated, and then a process for outputting a prize ball number designation command to the payout control board 240 is performed. When the payout control board 240 receives the award ball number designation command output from the main control board 200, the payout control board 240 interprets the content of the command and outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 109m mounted on the payout device 109 according to the result. Thus, the process of actually paying out the prize ball is performed.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 performs the process related to the prize ball (S50), this time, it is determined whether or not the normal symbol game process is performed, that is, whether or not the normal symbol variation stop display is performed ( S100). Such a determination is made by detecting whether or not the ordinary electric accessory is in operation, in other words, whether or not the starting port 17 is open. If the ordinary electric accessory is not in operation, it is determined that the normal symbol game process is performed (S100: yes), and if the ordinary electric accessory is in operation, it is determined that the ordinary symbol game process is not performed (S100: no). When it is determined that the normal symbol game process is to be performed (S100: yes), the normal symbol game process described below is performed (S150). On the other hand, when it is determined that the normal symbol game process is not performed (S100: no), the normal symbol game process (S150) is skipped.

  In the normal symbol game process (S150), the following processes are mainly performed. First, it is determined whether or not the number of held ordinary symbols is present (whether it is “0”). If the number of retained symbols is present, whether or not the ordinary symbol is present is determined. Here, the reserved number of normal symbols is set by the game ball passing through the normal symbol operating gate 36, and in this embodiment, the upper limit value of the reserved number is set to “4”. Then, based on the result of the normal / bad determination of the normal symbol, it is determined whether the normal symbol is to be stopped and displayed as a winning symbol or a missing symbol (see FIG. 6A). Next, after setting the normal symbol fluctuation display time, the normal symbol fluctuation display is started. When the variable display time elapses, the normal symbol is stopped and displayed with the determined symbol, and when the hit symbol of the normal symbol is stopped and displayed at this time, the operation of the ordinary electric accessory is started. When the ordinary electric accessory is operated in this way, the pair of blade pieces provided at the start port 17 rotate outward, and the start port 17 is in an open state.

  When the normal symbol game process is completed as described above, it is determined whether or not the normal electric accessory is operating (S190). If it is in operation (S190: yes), a process for stopping the ordinary electric accessory (ordinary electric accessory stopping process) is performed (S200). On the other hand, when the ordinary electric accessory is not operating (S190: no), it is not necessary to perform the ordinary electric accessory stopping process, and the process is skipped.

  In the ordinary electric accessory stop process (S200), when any of the following conditions is satisfied, that is, the operating time of the ordinary electric accessory (opening time of the start port 17) has elapsed, or the start port 17 When any of the conditions for entering a specified number of game balls is satisfied, a process for stopping the operation of the ordinary electric accessory is performed. The operating time of the ordinary electric accessory is set to about 0.5 seconds in the normal gaming state, but is about 5 seconds (when the number of times of opening is 1) when the opening time extension function described later is operated. One opening time is extended to about 5 seconds, or when the number of opening times is plural, the total of the plural opening times is extended to about 5 seconds). On the other hand, when the operating time of the ordinary electric accessory (opening time of the start opening 17) has not elapsed and the number of balls entering the start opening 17 has not reached the specified number, the ordinary electric accessory is operated. The normal electric accessory stopping process (S200) is ended while keeping the start port 17 open (ie, with the start port 17 open).

  In the game control process, when returning from the ordinary electric accessory stop process, the process related to the special symbol is started. In this process, after determining whether or not a predetermined condition for performing a special symbol game process, which will be described later, is satisfied, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, the special symbol game process is started.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing (special symbol game start determination processing) performed to determine whether or not to start the special symbol game processing. In determining whether or not to start the special symbol game process, first, it is determined whether or not a game ball has entered the start port 17 (S302). As described above, the start port 17 s that detects the entrance of a game ball is provided inside the start port 17, and can detect that a game ball has entered.

  If the game ball has passed the start opening switch 17s (S302: yes), it is determined whether or not the number of special symbols held (special figure holding number) has reached the upper limit ("4" in this embodiment). Judgment is made (S304). If the number of special symbol reservations has not reached the upper limit (S304: no), a special symbol success / failure determination random number and a symbol determination random number are acquired and stored (S306). Here, the special symbol success / failure determination random number is a random number used to determine whether or not the special symbol is successful, and the symbol determination random number determines the type of the special symbol to be stopped and displayed according to the special symbol's success / failure determination result. Is a random number. Next, after adding “1” to the special figure holding number (S308), the setting of the holding number reduction flag is changed from “1” to “0” to clear the holding number reduction flag (S310). Here, the hold number decrease flag is set to “1” when the special figure hold number decreases and is set to the set state, and conversely, when the special figure hold number is added, it is cleared to “0” and is not set. It is a flag. The reserved number decrease flag is set at a predetermined address of the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200, and a special figure is obtained by referring to a value (that is, the status of the reserved number decrease flag) set at the address. It is possible to easily recognize whether the number of holdings has decreased or increased. And, as will be described in detail later, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, based on the hold number reduction flag, the current gaming state, that is, whether the special figure hold number has decreased or increased (the design for production) 27a, 27b, and 27c), it is possible to perform an appropriate effect. This point will be described in detail later. On the other hand, when the number of reserved special symbols has reached 4 (S304: no), processing for obtaining the random number for determining whether or not the special symbol is determined, the symbol determining random number, and clearing the above-described reserved number decrease flag are performed. Absent. In addition, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, various flags are used in performing the control processing of the gaming machine in addition to the above-described holding number reduction flag, but the following related to various flags including the holding number reduction flag In the description, “set” means “set state”, and “clear” means “unset state”.

  The process of accumulating and storing the number of holdings by adding “1” to the number of holdings of the special symbol each time a game ball enters the starting port 17 is mounted on the main control board 200. This is realized by the CPU 201 executing the special symbol game start determination process described above. Therefore, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “holding number accumulation storage unit” in the present invention.

  When the process related to the special symbol hold is completed as described above, it is determined whether or not a big hit game is being played (S312). The special game process to be described later is a process for starting a big hit game, which is a special game advantageous to the player, when the special symbol is variably displayed and stopped with a predetermined hit symbol. If a big hit game is currently being played, there is no need to repeatedly start a big hit game. Therefore, when the process related to the special symbol hold is completed, it is determined whether or not a big hit game is being played (S312). If there is no big hit game (S312: no), a special symbol game process to be described later is executed. It is determined to start (that is, S300: yes). On the other hand, if it is already a big hit game (S312: yes), it is determined that the special symbol game process is not started (that is, S300: no).

  As described above, when it is determined that the special symbol game process is to be performed (S300: yes), the special symbol game process described below is performed (S320). On the other hand, if it is determined not to perform the special symbol game process (S300: no), the special symbol game process (S320) is skipped.

C-2. Special design game processing:
11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the flow of the special symbol game process. When the special symbol game process is started, first, it is determined whether or not the special symbol is changing (S322). As described above with reference to FIG. 3, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the special symbol display unit 30 is provided in the symbol display device 28, and the special symbols can be variably displayed.

  If the special symbol on the special symbol display unit 30 is not changing (S322: no), it is determined whether or not it is during the stop display time for displaying the special symbol stop symbol (S324). That is, for a period of time after the change display of the special symbol is finished, a stop display time is provided for the player to confirm which symbol the special symbol is stopped and displayed. It is judged whether it is in the middle. When it is confirmed that the special symbol is not variably displayed and the stop display time for displaying the special symbol stop symbol has passed (S324: no), the number of special symbols reserved (special symbol pending) It is determined whether or not (number) is “0” (S326). As described above, the special figure hold number can be stored until the upper limit value “4” is reached. If the special figure holding number is “0” (S326: yes), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the number of special symbol hold is not “0”, in other words, if there is a special symbol hold (S326: no), a process for determining whether or not the special symbol is successful (special symbol success / failure determination process) is started. (S330).

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for determining whether or not a special symbol is appropriate. As shown in the figure, when the special symbol success / failure determination process is started, first, a process of reading a special symbol success / failure determination random number is performed (S3300). The special symbol success / failure determination random number means that the number of reserved special symbols is four when it is determined in the special symbol game start determination process described above with reference to FIG. It is a random number acquired up to 4 until it reaches. In the special symbol success / failure determination process shown in FIG. 13, first, a process of reading one special symbol success / failure determination random number stored in advance is performed.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the current game state is a probability change state, that is, whether or not a probability change flag is set (S3302). If the probability change flag is set (S3302: yes), whether or not the probability change is appropriate is determined. A table is selected (S3304), and if the probability variation flag is not set (S3302: no), the validity determination table for non-probability variation is selected (S3306). Here, the probability change flag is a flag that is set when the gaming state becomes the probability change state, and a predetermined address of the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200 is assigned as the probability change flag. Also, the success / failure determination table is a table in which the determination result of special symbols is determined in association with the random determination random number of special symbols, and is stored in advance in the ROM 202 of the main control board 200.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory view exemplifying a special symbol determination table stored in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment. FIG. 14A shows a non-probability change determination table, and FIG. 14B shows a probability change determination table. As shown in the drawing, in the success / failure determination table, the success / failure determination result of the special symbol “win” or “out” is set in association with the random determination random number of the special symbol. Further, as is clear from a comparison between FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B, the probability change determination table shown in FIG. 14B is used for the non-probability change shown in FIG. “Win” determination result is set to a larger number of random numbers than the determination table.

  Next, based on the special symbol success / failure determination random number read out earlier, by referring to the selected success / failure determination table, it is determined whether or not the special symbol success / failure determination result is “winning” (S3308). As described above, the accuracy determination success / failure determination table referred to in the probability variation state is more likely to win a lot of special symbol success / failure determination random numbers than the non-accuracy variation accuracy determination table referred to when not in the probability variation state. Since the success / failure determination result is set, the success / failure determination result of “winning” is generated with a higher probability during the probability change than during the non-accuracy change.

  If it is determined that the determination result of the special symbol is a win (S3308: yes), after the symbol determination random number is read (S3310), a process of determining the big hit symbol of the special symbol is performed (S3312). Here, the symbol determination random number is a random number acquired together with the special symbol success / failure determination random number in the special symbol game start determination process shown in FIG. 10 when a game ball enters the start opening. The special symbol jackpot symbol is determined by referring to the jackpot symbol determination table based on the symbol determination random number.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory view exemplifying a jackpot symbol determination table referred to in order to determine a jackpot symbol of a special symbol. As shown in the figure, in the jackpot symbol determination table, a jackpot symbol of a special symbol is set in advance in association with the symbol determination random number. As described above with reference to FIG. 7, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, since six types of jackpot symbols are set, these six types of jackpot symbols are also set in the jackpot symbol determination table. . If the result of the special symbol success / failure determination is “hit”, the big hit symbol determination table of FIG. 15 is referred to based on the symbol determination random number acquired when the game ball enters the start port 17. As a result, a process for determining which jackpot symbol to display the special symbol is performed.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the other symbol is “exclusion” (S3308: no in FIG. 13), the symbol determination random number is read out as in the case of “winning” (S3314), and then the special symbol is out of symbol. Is performed (S3316). The process of determining the off symbol is also performed by referring to the off symbol determining table in which the out symbol is preset with respect to the symbol random number. As described above with reference to FIG. 7, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, only two types of symbols are provided for the special symbols, so the symbol determination table includes symbol determination random numbers. One of the off symbols is set.

  As described above, in the special symbol success / failure determination process shown in FIG. 13, the special symbol success / failure determination random number and the symbol determination random number previously acquired are read out to determine whether or not the special symbol is successful, Depending on the result, a process of determining a special symbol jackpot or missing symbol is performed (S3312 or S3316). When the big hit symbol or the off symbol is determined, the special symbol success / failure determination process is terminated, and the process returns to the special symbol game process of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in the special symbol game process, after returning from the special symbol success / failure determination process (S330), the process for setting the variation pattern of the special symbol is started (S500). As described above, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the special symbol variation display performed by the symbol display device 28 and the variation symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c performed by the effect display device 27 are linked to each other. Therefore, when the variation pattern of the special symbol is set, the variation display mode of the effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c is also set to the corresponding variation display mode. In the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when setting the variation pattern of the special symbol, the background of the number of special symbols held (that is, whether the number of special symbol holds is decreasing or increasing) is considered. By doing so, it is possible to appropriately set a special symbol variation pattern according to the gaming state. Further, whether or not the special figure holding number is decreasing or increasing can be easily recognized by referring to the above-described holding number decrease flag. In this way, by appropriately setting the variation pattern of the special symbol, it is possible to vary the effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c in an appropriate variation display mode. Details of the process of setting the special symbol variation pattern will be described in detail later.

  In the special symbol game process shown in FIG. 11, when returning from the special symbol variation pattern setting process, the variation display of the special symbol on the symbol display device 28 is started (S340). As described above, the symbol display device 28 of the present embodiment can display the ten types of special symbols shown in FIG. 7, and performs variable display by switching the display of these symbols one after another. When the special symbol variation display is started, “1” is subtracted from the special symbol hold number (S342), and then the hold number decrease flag is set by setting “1” to the hold number decrease flag. (S343). As described above, the hold number decrease flag is a flag indicating whether the special figure hold number has decreased or increased, and is set to “1” when the special figure hold number decreases, and conversely, the special figure hold number is added. When cleared, it is cleared to “0”. Then, as will be described in detail later, in the special symbol variation pattern setting process, based on the reserved number decrease flag, it is recognized whether the number of special symbol reservations has decreased or increased, and the variation pattern of the special symbol is determined according to the result. By setting, an appropriate variation pattern according to the current gaming state is set. This point will be described in detail later.

  In this way, 1 is subtracted from the number of special symbols held (the number of special symbols held) (S342), and accordingly, the number of holdings decrease flag is set (S343). After a command to be designated (special symbol variation pattern designation command) is output to the sub-control board 220 (S344), a command to designate a special symbol stop symbol (special symbol stop information designation command) is also used as the sub-control board. Output to 220 (S346). It should be noted that every time the special symbol is variably displayed, the processing (S342) of subtracting the number of special symbols held (the number of special symbols held) one by one is performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment. This is done by executing the special symbol game process described above. Therefore, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “holding number subtraction unit” in the present invention.

  The CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 receives the special symbol variation pattern designation command and the special symbol stop information designation command in this way, thereby varying the special symbol variation time displayed on the symbol display device 28 and the special symbol suspension. You can know information about symbols. Therefore, in accordance with the information, an effect mode (variable display mode of effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c) to be performed on the effect display device 27 is determined, and a control command for instructing the determined effect mode is output to the effect control board. Output to 230. By doing so, various effect displays using the effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are also performed on the effect display device 27 in accordance with the change display and stop display of the special symbols performed on the symbol display device 28.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 determines the variation pattern and stop symbol of the special symbol as described above, and outputs the variation pattern designation command and the special symbol stop information designation command to the sub-control board 220, The special symbol game process shown in FIG. 11 is terminated, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

  The detailed processing performed in the special symbol game process when the special symbol is not variably displayed (that is, in the case of S322: no in FIG. 11) has been described above. On the other hand, when the special symbol game process of FIG. 11 is started while the special symbol is changing, it is determined that the special symbol is changing in the determination of S322 performed first (S322: yes). This case corresponds to the case where the special symbol variation pattern and the stop symbol have already been determined and the special symbol variation has started. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the special symbol variation time has elapsed (S348). That is, since the variation time of the special symbol is determined in advance according to the variation pattern, it is determined whether a predetermined variation time has elapsed by setting the timer at the same time as the variation of the special symbol is started. If the variation time has not yet elapsed (S348: no), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the fluctuation time has elapsed (S348: yes), a command (design stop command) indicating that the special symbol is stopped and displayed is output to the sub-control board 220 (S350). At the same time, the special symbol variably displayed on the symbol display device 28 is stopped and displayed with a symbol set in advance (S352). Next, after setting a time for stopping and displaying the special symbol (stop display time) (S354), it is determined whether or not the set display time has passed (S356). If the display time has not elapsed (S356: no), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the special symbol stop display time has elapsed (S356: yes), it is determined whether or not the special symbol that has been stopped and displayed is one of the jackpot symbols shown in FIG. 7 (S358 in FIG. 12). ). If the symbol displayed in a stopped state is a jackpot symbol (S358: yes), by changing the setting of the jackpot game flag indicating the start of the jackpot game from “0” to “1”, A game flag is set (S360). Next, it is determined whether or not the probability variation flag is set (S362). If the probability change flag is set (S362: yes), the current game state is the probability change state, and the probability change function and the time reduction function are activated. Therefore, by clearing the probability variation flag (that is, changing the probability variation flag setting from “1” to “0”), the operation of the probability variation function is stopped and the time reduction flag is also cleared (that is, setting the time reduction flag to “1”). ”Is changed from“ 0 ”to“ 0 ”), the operation of the time reduction function is also stopped. Here, the time reduction flag is a flag that is set when the gaming state is in time reduction, and a predetermined address of the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200 is assigned as the time reduction flag.

  On the other hand, if the probability change flag is not set (S362: no), it is determined whether or not the time reduction flag is set (S370). If the time reduction flag is set (S370: yes), the time reduction is determined. The time reduction flag is cleared to stop the function (S366). Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the time reduction function is activated, the function (opening extension function) of extending the opening time of the start port 17 (ordinary electric accessory) also works. Therefore, when the time reduction flag is cleared and the time reduction function is stopped (S366), the opening extension flag is cleared to stop the opening extension function (S368), and the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is exited. Returning to the game control process of FIG. On the other hand, when the jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed, if neither the probability change flag nor the hourly flag is set (S362: no, S370: no), the special symbol game process is exited and the game control process is resumed. To do.

  The processing when the special symbol stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 is a jackpot symbol has been described (S358: yes). I do.

  First, it is determined whether or not the current gaming state is in a short time, that is, whether or not a short time flag is set (S372). If the time reduction flag is set (S372: yes), after counting the number of fluctuations of the special symbol during the time reduction (S374), it is determined whether or not the number of fluctuations reaches a predetermined number (S376). . As described above, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, the time-short state is started after the end of the special game in either case of “probable hit” or “normal hit”, and the next big hit game state occurs, or It is set to continue until the special symbol fluctuates a predetermined number of times. Therefore, if it is determined that the current gaming state is short in time (that is, the short time flag is set) (S372: yes), after counting the number of fluctuations of the special symbol (S374), the count value of the number of fluctuations It is determined whether or not has reached a predetermined number of times (S376). If the predetermined number of times has been reached (S376: yes), the time reduction flag is cleared to stop the time reduction function (S366), and then the opening extension flag is also cleared to stop the opening extension function of the ordinary electric accessory. After that (S368), the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is exited, and the process returns to the game control process of FIG. On the other hand, if the number of fluctuations of the special symbol has not yet reached the predetermined number (S376: no), the special symbol game process is exited while maintaining the short-time state (with the short-time flag and the opening extension flag set). Returning to the game control process of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the game control process, when returning from the special symbol game process, it is determined whether or not the big hit game flag is set (S390). As described above, the big hit game flag is a flag that is set when a special symbol is stopped and displayed as a big hit symbol. If the big hit game flag is set (S390: yes), the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 starts a special electric game game process described below (S400). On the other hand, if the big hit game flag is not set (S390: no), the special electric accessory game process (S400) is skipped and the process returns to the top of the game control process, and the above-described prize ball related process (S50) and subsequent steps are performed. Repeat a series of processes.

C-3. Special electric game game processing:
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the flow of the special electric accessory game process. By executing such special electric accessory game processing, a special gaming state (so-called big hit) occurs. Hereinafter, the special electric accessory game process will be described with reference to FIG. 16, but as a preparation, the contents of a game called a so-called special game state will be briefly described.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 2, a special winning opening 31d is provided below the game board, and the special winning opening 31d is closed in a normal gaming state. However, when the special game is started, the special winning opening 31d is opened. Since the big winning opening 31d is opened larger than the other winning openings, when the big winning opening 31d is in an open state, the game ball enters with high probability. The opened large winning opening 31d is once closed when a predetermined opening time elapses or a predetermined number of game balls enter, but is again opened when a predetermined closing time elapses. A game from the opening of the special winning opening 31d to the closing is referred to as “round”. When these rounds are repeated and a predetermined number of rounds are consumed, the special gaming state is completed. Hereinafter, the special electric accessory game process performed by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 in order to execute the special game described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 starts the special electric accessory game process (S400), it is first determined whether or not the special winning opening 31d is open (S402). The special winning opening 31d is closed in the normal gaming state, and therefore, the special winning opening 31d is closed immediately after the start of the special game. Therefore, it is determined that the special winning opening 31d is not open (S402: no), and it is determined whether or not the number of openings (that is, the number of rounds) of the special winning opening 31d has reached a predetermined number (S404). As described above, during the big hit game, the big winning opening 31d is opened, and a predetermined number of round games are repeated. Corresponding to this, when the special winning opening 31d is closed (S402: no), it is determined whether or not the number of opening of the special winning opening 31d (number of round games) has reached a predetermined number ( S404).

  As a matter of course, immediately after the special game is started, the number of times of opening of the big prize opening 31d has not reached the predetermined number (S404: no), so it is determined whether or not the closing time of the big prize opening 31d has elapsed. (S406). The closing time of the special winning opening 31d is a time during which the special winning opening 31d is in a closed state between rounds. Immediately after the special game is started, the special winning opening 31d is in a closed state, and therefore it is naturally determined that the closing time of the special winning opening 31d has elapsed (S406: yes), and the special winning entry 31d is opened. After the opening (S408), the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 16 is temporarily ended, and the process returns to the game control process of FIG.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 returns to the game control process, as shown in FIG. 9, after performing a series of various processes after the prize ball-related process (S50), the special electric equipment game process (S400) again. To start. As described above, the time required for the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 to execute the game control process shown in FIG. 9 once is about 4 msec. Therefore, the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 16 is also executed about every 4 msec. When the special game is started and the special electric accessory game process of FIG. 16 is executed for the first time, as described above, the special winning opening 31d is opened in S408, and the process is ended as it is. When the second round process is performed after 4 msec, it is determined in S402 that the special winning opening 31d is being opened (S402: yes).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the opening time of the special winning opening 31d has reached a predetermined time (S410). As described above, in the special game, the special winning opening 31d is in an open state, but is closed when the opening time reaches a predetermined time or when a predetermined number of game balls enter the special winning opening 31d. In response to this, in S410, it is determined whether or not the opening time of the special winning opening 31d has reached a predetermined time. If the opening time has reached the predetermined time (S410: yes), after closing the special winning opening 31d (S414), the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 16 is exited, and the game control of FIG. Return to processing. On the other hand, if the opening time has not reached the predetermined time (S410: no), it is determined whether or not the number of game balls that have entered the special winning opening 31d has reached a specified number (S412). When the number of game balls reaches the specified number (S412: yes), the special winning opening 31d is closed (S414). On the other hand, when the prescribed number has not been reached (S412: no), the opening time of the special winning opening 31d has not yet reached the predetermined time, and the number of game balls that have entered the special winning opening 31d is also the prescribed number Therefore, the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 16 is exited and the game control process shown in FIG. 9 is resumed while the special winning opening 31d is kept open.

  While the game control process of FIG. 9 is repeatedly executed, whether the opening time of the special winning opening 31d reaches a predetermined time (S410: yes), or a prescribed number of gaming balls are in the special winning opening 31d. A ball is entered (S412: yes), and the special winning opening 31d is closed (S414). Thus, one round of game is completed. Then, when the special electric accessory game process is executed next, it is determined in S402 that the special winning opening 31d is closed (S402: no), and it is determined whether or not a predetermined number of rounds have ended (S404). If all the rounds have not been completed (S404: no), after confirming that the closing time of the big prize opening has reached a predetermined time (S406: yes), the new prize opening 31d is opened again and a new one is opened. A round is started (S408). On the other hand, if it is determined in S404 that the predetermined number of rounds have been completed (S404: yes), by changing the setting of the big hit game flag from “1” to “0” in order to end the big hit game, The big hit game flag is cleared (S416).

  When the big hit game is terminated as described above, it is determined whether or not the probability variation flag is set when the big hit game flag is set (S418). If the probability change flag is set (S418: yes), after setting the probability change flag (S420), the time reduction flag and the opening extension flag are set in order to activate the time reduction function and the opening extension function of the ordinary electric accessory. After setting (S422, S424), the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 16 is terminated. On the other hand, if the probability change flag is not set when the big hit game flag is set (S418: no), the time reduction flag and the opening are set to operate the time reduction function and the opening extension function without setting the probability change flag. The extension flag is set (S422, S424), the special electric accessory game process shown in FIG. 16 is terminated, and the process returns to the game control process of FIG.

  The CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 advances the game of the gaming machine 1 by repeatedly performing the game control process as described above. Further, while such a game is in progress, the number of special symbols on hold (the number of special figure hold) changes to various values from “0” to “4” depending on the progress of the game. For example, during the big hit game, although the opening time of the start port 17 is not extended, the game ball can still enter the start port 17, so at the end of the big hit game, the special figure reservation number is set to the upper limit “4”. Often has become. Alternatively, it is called a so-called slump, and for a long time, when the game ball does not enter the start port 17 at all and the effect symbol is not variably displayed, the special figure holding number is “0”. Then, it is desirable to perform an appropriate effect on the effect display device 27 in accordance with the number of special figure reservations that vary in various ways. On the other hand, in order to switch the contents of the effect according to the number of special figure hold, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 always grasps the current number of special figure hold and changes the variation pattern according to the number of special figure hold. Since it must be decided, the control becomes complicated. In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, in order to be able to select an appropriate variation pattern according to the number of special figure reservations without complicating the control of the main control board 200, the variation of the special symbol is performed as follows. A pattern is set. Hereinafter, the special symbol variation pattern setting process of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

D. Special symbol variation pattern setting process of the first embodiment:
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for setting a special symbol variation pattern in the gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment. This process is a process executed by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 in the special symbol game process shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 17, when the special symbol variation pattern setting process is started, first, the current number of reserved special symbols (the number of special symbol reservations) is calculated from the number of special symbol reservations at the start of the previous special symbol variation. It is determined whether or not there is a decrease (S502). Such a determination can be easily made by referring to the pending number reduction flag. That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 11, the reserved number decrease flag is set to a value of “1” only when the special symbol variation display is started and the number of reserved special figure decreases (see FIG. 11). After that, when a game ball enters the start port 17 and 1 is added to the special figure holding number, the flag is cleared to “0”. Therefore, the fact that the hold number reduction flag is set means that no game ball has entered the start port 17 until the present time after the special symbol change display is performed and the special figure hold number is reduced. Is shown. On the contrary, the fact that the hold number reduction flag is not set means that at least one game ball has entered the start port 17 after the special symbol change display is performed and the special figure hold number is reduced. Show. Thus, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, whether or not the current special figure holding number has decreased since the time when the special symbol started the previous fluctuation display, based on the state of the holding number reduction flag. It is possible to judge easily. In S502 of FIG. 17, it is determined whether or not the current special figure hold number is decreasing by referring to the hold number reduction flag in this way.

  The reserved number decrease flag indicates whether or not the special figure reserved number has decreased since the start of the last special symbol change. Therefore, the reserved number decrease flag of the present embodiment is “ It corresponds to “Holding number fluctuation information”. In addition, the process (S502) for referring to the hold count reduction flag is performed while the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 is performing the special symbol variation pattern setting process. The CPU 201 mounted on the computer 200 corresponds to the “holding number variation information acquisition unit” in the present invention.

  If it is determined that the current number of special figure reservations has decreased since the start of the previous effect design change (S502: yes), a hold subtraction change pattern setting process described later is performed (S506). . On the other hand, if it is determined that the current number of special figure reservations has not decreased (that is, it is the same as or increased at the time of the start of the change in the last effect design) (S502: no), a hold addition to be described later A time variation pattern setting process is performed (S506).

D-1. Fluctuation pattern setting process during hold addition:
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the flow of the hold addition variation pattern setting process performed in the gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment. As described above, this process is a process that is executed by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 when it is determined that the number of special figure reservations has not decreased since the start of the change of the last effect design.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in the pending addition variation pattern setting process, first, it is determined whether or not the special symbol win / fail determination result is a hit (S5020). As described above with reference to FIG. 11, the special symbol success / failure determination result has already been determined by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 performing the special symbol success / failure determination processing (S330). Therefore, in S5020, first, It is possible to immediately determine whether or not the determined determination result is a hit.

  As a result, when the determination result is a win (S5020: yes), a winning variation pattern selection table is set (S5022). Here, the variation pattern selection table is a table that stores variation pattern determination random numbers and a plurality of variation patterns for special symbols in association with each other, and is stored in advance in the ROM 202 of the main control board 200. In addition, the variation pattern selection table includes a table used when the determination result of the special symbol is a winning combination (a winning variation pattern selection table) and a table used when the determination result is a failure (displacement variation pattern selection table). And are provided. In S5022, a process of reading the hit variation pattern selection table from the variation pattern selection table stored in the ROM 202 is performed.

  On the other hand, if the determination result of the special symbol is not a win, that is, if it is determined that the special symbol is out (S5020: no), whether or not the time reduction flag is set, in other words, the current gaming state is It is determined whether the time is short or not (S5024). If the time reduction flag is set and it is determined that the current gaming state is in time reduction (S5024: yes), a time variation deviation variation selection table is set (S5026). In other words, a table for time reduction and a table for non-time reduction are also provided in the deviation variation pattern selection table, and the table is selectively used depending on whether or not the current game state is time reduction. Therefore, when the time reduction flag is set (S5024: yes), processing for reading out the time variation deviation variation selection table from the plurality of variation pattern selection tables stored in the RAM 203 is performed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the time reduction flag is not set (S5024: no), a process of reading the non-time reduction deviation variation pattern selection table is performed (S5028).

  As described above, whether or not the winning determination result of the special symbol is a hit or not, and if the determination result is not correct, the hit variation pattern selection table, whether or not the variation for short time depends on whether or not the current gaming state is in a short time. When either the pattern selection table or the non-temporal outlier variation pattern selection table is read (S5022, S5026, S5028), one variation pattern determination random number is acquired (S5030). Then, with reference to the variation pattern selection table read from the RAM 203 in advance, the variation pattern associated with the obtained variation pattern determination random number is determined as the variation pattern of the special symbol (S5032). The hit variation pattern selection table, the short-time out-of-time variation pattern selection table, and the non-short-time out-of-time variation pattern selection table indicate whether or not each game state, that is, whether or not the special symbol win / fail determination result is successful or the current An appropriate variation pattern is set in advance depending on whether or not the gaming state is short. Therefore, by determining the variation pattern with reference to such a variation pattern selection table, it is possible to determine an appropriate variation pattern according to the gaming state.

  When the variation pattern of the special symbol is determined as described above, the variation pattern setting process for holding addition shown in FIG. 18 is terminated, and after returning to the special symbol variation pattern setting process of FIG. Return to special symbol game processing. Then, according to the determined variation pattern, the variation display of the special symbol is started (S340 in FIG. 11), and in response to this, the variation display of the three representation symbols 27a, 27b, 27c is performed in the representation display device 27. As described above, the change display of the special symbol performed on the symbol display device 28 and the change display of the effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c performed on the effect display device 27 are linked to each other. Although it is indirectly that the variation pattern of the special symbol is determined and the variation display is started, the variation display mode of the three effect symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c performed by the effect display device 27 is determined and varied. Display will start. Therefore, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment that performs the special symbol game process of FIG. 11 corresponds to the “variable display execution means” in the present invention. Further, since the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 executes the special symbol change pattern setting process (S500), the CPU 201 in the main control board 200 of the present embodiment This also corresponds to the “variable display mode determining means” in the present invention.

  In the above, when it is determined that the current number of special symbol reservations has not decreased with respect to the previous special symbol variation start time (S502 of FIG. 17: no), the processing for determining the special symbol variation pattern explained. On the other hand, when it is determined that the current number of special figure reservations has decreased with respect to the previous special symbol change start time (S502: yes in FIG. 17), the following is the case of the hold subtraction described below The variation pattern of the special symbol is determined by performing the variation pattern setting process.

D-2. Fluctuation pattern setting process during hold subtraction:
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the flow of the pending addition variation pattern setting process performed in the gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment. This process is also a process executed by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200, similarly to the above-described pending addition variation pattern setting process.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the pending subtraction variation pattern setting process is exactly the same as the pending addition variation pattern setting process shown in FIG. 18 until the variation pattern determination random number is acquired. In the following, a brief description will be given. First, it is determined whether or not the special symbol win / fail determination result is a win (S5040). If the win / fail determination result is a win (S5040: yes), the winning variation pattern selection table Is set (S5042). On the other hand, if the result of determining whether the special symbol is correct (S5040: no), it is determined whether or not the time reduction flag is set (S5044). If the hour / hour flag is set (S5044: yes), the hour / day deviation variation pattern selection table is set (S5046). If the hour / hour flag is not set (S5044: no), the non-hour / hour flag is used. The deviation variation pattern selection table is set (S5048). Next, a fluctuation pattern determining random number is acquired (S5050).

  In the pending addition variation pattern setting process described above with reference to FIG. 18, when the variation pattern determination random number is acquired, the variation pattern of the special symbol is immediately determined by referring to the variation pattern selection table set in advance. It was. On the other hand, in the variation pattern setting process at the time of hold subtraction shown in FIG. 19, the variation pattern of the special symbol is selected from the variation pattern determination random number with reference to the variation pattern selection table (S5052). It is not decided. That is, after the process of S5052, it is determined whether or not a continuous notice effect is performed (S5054). Here, the continuous notice effect is an aspect of the variable display that is continuously performed when the variable symbol is continuously displayed (that is, when the variable symbol is also continuously displayed). Is an effect that is performed in a manner related to each other. Such a continuous notice effect is meaningless unless effects in a manner related to each other are continuously performed. Therefore, in order to perform a continuous notice effect, a plurality of special symbol fluctuation displays are required. It is necessary to confirm that it is performed continuously.

  However, as shown in FIG. 17, the hold subtraction fluctuation pattern setting process is a process that is performed when the number of special figure holds has decreased from the previous start of fluctuation of the special symbol. The fact that the number of holdings has decreased from the start of the previous fluctuation means that the previous fluctuation display was performed immediately before the current fluctuation display. Therefore, as long as it is determined in the pending subtraction variation pattern setting process, it is clear that the present variation display is performed following the previous variation display, and it is not necessary to confirm again. For this reason, in S5054, it can be very easily determined whether or not to perform the continuous notice effect. For example, it may be determined by performing a lottery using random numbers, or alternatively, it may be determined that a continuous notice effect is performed every time the hold subtraction variation pattern setting process is performed a predetermined number of times. Furthermore, a special fluctuation pattern that can be followed by a continuous notice effect is set in advance, and a continuous notice effect is performed when the previous fluctuation pattern is a special fluctuation pattern. You may judge.

  As described above, when it is determined that the continuous notice effect is to be performed (S5054: yes), the change for the continuous notice effect is based on the change pattern previously selected in S5052 and the previous change pattern. A pattern is determined (S5056). The variation pattern for the continuous notice effect can be determined by various methods. In this embodiment, the variation pattern for the previous variation and the variation pattern selected this time (current variation pattern) are continuously displayed. The variation pattern for the advance notice effect is stored in association with the change pattern table for the advance notice effect in advance, and the change pattern for the continuous notice effect is determined by referring to the table.

  FIG. 20 is an explanatory view illustrating a variation pattern table for continuous notice effect. As shown in the figure, in the variation pattern table for continuous notice effect, a variation pattern for continuous notice effect is stored in advance in association with the combination of the previous variation pattern and the present variation pattern selected previously. Has been. For example, when the previous variation pattern is “pattern 3” and the previously selected variation pattern is “pattern 1”, “pattern 71” is set as the variation pattern for the continuous notice effect. . Then, when the variation pattern for the continuous notice effect (here, pattern 71) is selected, the effect performed on the effect display device 27 is the current variation pattern (here, pattern 1) selected previously. For the effect performed on the effect display device 27, some contents are replaced with the content of the effect performed on the effect display device 27 with respect to the previous variation pattern (here, pattern 3). Yes.

  In S5056 of FIG. 19, by referring to the above-described continuous notice effect change pattern table based on the change pattern selected in S5052 and the change pattern for which the previous change display has been performed, the change pattern for the continuous notice effect is shown. The process of determining is performed. On the other hand, when it is determined in S5054 that the continuous notice effect is not performed (S5054: no), the change pattern setting process at the time of hold subtraction in FIG. 19 is performed without changing the change pattern selected in S5052. , And after passing through the special symbol variation pattern setting process of FIG. 17, the process returns to the special symbol game process of FIG. Then, according to the determined variation pattern, variation display of the special symbol is started (S340 in FIG. 11), and in response to this, the representation display device 27 performs variation display of the three representation symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c. become.

  As described above, in the special symbol variation pattern setting process of the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the current special symbol hold number is reduced with respect to the special symbol hold number at the start of the previous special symbol variation. If it has been determined and has decreased, a change pattern setting process at the time of subtraction is performed, and it is determined whether or not a continuous notice effect is to be performed. As described above, in order to perform the continuous notice effect, it is necessary to confirm that the special symbol variation display is performed continuously. The decrease means that the previous fluctuation display was performed immediately before the current fluctuation display. If it is determined by the above, it is clear that the change display of the special symbol was performed immediately before it was confirmed again. For this reason, it becomes possible to determine very easily whether or not to perform the continuous notice effect. This point will be described with some supplementary explanation.

  For example, assuming that the number of special figure reservations at the current time (at the start of variation of special symbols) is “1”, the variation display of the special symbols and effect designs 27a, 27b, and 27c corresponding to this special figure reservation number “1” Consider whether or not the continuous notice effect can be executed. If a special ball is not displayed in a floating state and a game ball enters the start port 17 and the number of special figure hold has changed from “0” to “1”, the special symbol will be stopped until now. Because it was done, it is not possible to perform a continuous notice effect. On the other hand, the special symbol change display is started in the state where the special figure hold number is “2”, and the special figure hold number becomes “1”. If the current number of special figure reservations is “1” without entering the ball, the special symbol has been displayed variably until immediately before, so a continuous notice effect can be performed. In this way, there are cases where the continuous notice effect can be performed and where it cannot be performed even when the number of special figure reservations at the time of the special symbol change start is “1”. Therefore, it is not possible to make an appropriate determination unless it is determined including whether the number of special figure holds is “1”.

  On the other hand, if it is known whether or not the current special figure hold count has decreased compared to the previous special symbol variation start time, it can be very easily determined whether or not the continuous notice effect can be executed. it can. That is, even if the current special figure hold number is “1”, the special figure hold number at the start of the last special symbol change is “2”, and the special figure hold number has decreased. It can be determined that the continuous notice effect can be executed. Then, whether or not the current special figure reservation number has decreased with respect to the start of the last change of the special symbol can be checked very easily by referring to the reservation number reduction flag. For example, when the special figure hold number decreases from “2” to “1”, the hold number reduction flag is set, but after that, the game ball has not entered the start port 17 and has reached the present. For example, the hold count decrease flag should remain set. On the other hand, if a game ball has entered the start port 17 on the way, the reserved number decrease flag should be cleared when the special figure reservation number is added accordingly. Alternatively, consider a case where a game ball enters the start port 17 from the state where the special symbol is stopped and displayed, and the special figure holding number becomes “1”. In this case, when the game ball enters the start port 17 and the special figure hold number increases from “0” to “1”, the hold number decrease flag is cleared. Is determined, the pending number decrease flag is cleared. In this way, by using the reserved number reduction flag, it can be very easily confirmed whether or not the current number of special figure reservations has decreased with respect to the previous special symbol variation start time. Then, only when the number of special figure hold has decreased compared to the previous start of change, the hold subtraction change pattern setting process (S504) is performed, in which it is determined whether or not to perform the continuous notice effect. To do. For this reason, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately determine whether or not to perform the continuous notice effect without complicating the control of the entire game.

E. Special symbol variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment:
In the special symbol variation pattern setting process of the first embodiment described above, whether or not to perform a continuous notice effect depending on whether or not the current number of special symbol reservations has decreased since the start of the last variation of the special symbol Judged whether or not. Focusing on the fact that the special figure hold number has decreased since the start of the previous fluctuation, it means that the special symbol fluctuation display has been carried out until just before. Whether to execute or not can be easily determined. On the other hand, the fact that the number of special figure holds has decreased since the start of the previous special symbol variation, that at least during the previous variation display, no game ball has entered the starting port 17. I mean. Therefore, focusing on this point, by performing the following process, an appropriate special symbol variation pattern is determined according to the gaming state, and then the design symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are appropriately set. It is possible to display variably in a manner. Hereinafter, such a second embodiment will be described.

  Also in the second embodiment, the special symbol variation pattern setting process itself is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, first, it is determined whether or not the number of special figure reservations at the current time point has decreased since the previous special symbol fluctuation start time (see S502). If it has decreased from the start time (S502: yes), a pending subtraction variation pattern setting process is performed, and if it has not decreased, a pending addition variation pattern setting process is performed. However, in the second embodiment, the contents of the pending subtraction variation pattern setting process or the pending addition variation pattern setting process are different from those of the first embodiment described above. Hereinafter, the contents of these processes will be described.

E-1. Fluctuation pattern setting process during hold addition:
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the flow of the hold addition variation pattern setting process performed in the gaming machine 1 of the second embodiment. The hold addition variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment is different from the process of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 18 only in the case where the special figure hold number has reached the upper limit. The other parts are almost the same. In the following, focusing on this difference, the variation pattern setting process at the time of the pending addition of the second embodiment will be briefly described.

  In the hold addition variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment as well, as in the process of the first embodiment described above, first, it is determined whether or not the special symbol win / fail determination result is a hit (S5120). If the determination result is a win (S5120: yes), a winning variation pattern selection table is set (S5122). On the other hand, when the determination result is not successful (S5120: no), it is determined whether or not the time reduction flag is set (S5124). If the time reduction flag is set (S5124: yes), a time variation deviation variation pattern selection table is set (S5126).

  On the other hand, in the change pattern setting process for holding addition in the second embodiment, if it is determined that the hourly flag is not set (S5124: no), the special figure holding number is the upper limit (“4” in this embodiment) It is determined whether or not (S5128). If the special figure hold number has reached the upper limit (S5128: yes), even if the time flag is not set, that is, even if the current gaming state is not in time (S5124: no) The deviation variation pattern selection table is set (S5126). On the other hand, only when the special figure hold number has not reached the upper limit value, that is, when the time reduction flag is not set (S5124: no) and the special figure hold number has not reached the upper limit value. (S5128: no), a non-time reduction deviation variation pattern selection table is set (S5130).

  As described above, when any one of the hit variation pattern selection table, the time variation deviation variation pattern selection table, or the non-time variation variation variation selection table is read (S5122, S5126, S5130), the subsequent steps are the same as described above. Similar to the first embodiment, a variation pattern determination random number is acquired (S5132), and the variation pattern of the special symbol is determined by referring to the variation pattern selection table set in advance (S5134). When the variation pattern of the special symbol is determined, the variation pattern setting process at the time of holding addition shown in FIG. 21 is finished, and after returning to the special symbol variation pattern setting process of FIG. 17, the special symbol game process of FIG. Return to.

E-2. Fluctuation pattern setting process during hold subtraction:
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of the hold subtraction variation pattern setting process performed in the gaming machine 1 of the second embodiment. The change pattern setting process at the time of hold subtraction in the second embodiment is a change pattern that is set when the result of the determination on whether or not the special symbol is correct is different from the process in the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. Only a part of the selection table is different, and the other parts are the same. In the following, focusing on this difference, the pending subtraction variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment will be briefly described.

  As shown in FIG. 22, in the hold subtraction variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment, first, as in the first embodiment described above, it is first determined whether or not the special symbol win / fail determination result is a hit. If the determination result is a win (S5140: yes), a winning variation pattern selection table is set (S5142). On the other hand, if the result of determining whether or not the special symbol is correct (S5140: no), it is determined whether or not the hourly flag is set (S5144). If the time reduction flag is not set (S5144: no), the non-time reduction deviation variation pattern selection table in the extended mode is set (S5148). This “extension mode non-short-time deviation variation pattern selection table” is a variation pattern with a longer variation time than the “non-time-short variation variation pattern selection table” set in the pending addition variation pattern setting process of FIG. The table is set. In other words, in the change pattern setting process at the time of the hold subtraction, if the result of the determination is wrong and the gaming state is not in a short time (in the normal gaming state), the variation pattern having a longer fluctuation time is set for the non-short time A table is set. The hit fluctuation pattern selection table is the same as the hit fluctuation pattern selection table used in the above-described pending addition change pattern setting process.

  On the other hand, if the time reduction flag has been set (S5144: yes), the extended time reduction deviation pattern selection table is set (S5146). This “shortening / shortening variation pattern selection table for extended mode” is also used in the same way as the “unscheduling variation pattern selection table for non-shortening / extension mode”. Compared to the “table”, the table is set with a variation pattern having a longer variation time. That is, in the pending subtraction variation pattern setting process, if the result of the determination is wrong and the gaming state is shorter, the time reduction table in which a longer variation pattern is set is set. ing.

  Thus, after setting the corresponding variation pattern selection table according to whether or not the special symbol determination result or the time reduction flag is set (S5142, S5146, S5148), after obtaining the variation pattern determination random number ( In step S5150, the variation pattern of the special symbol is determined by referring to the variation pattern selection table set in advance (S5152). Then, the pending subtraction variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 22 is terminated, and after passing through the special symbol variation pattern setting process of FIG. 17, the process returns to the special symbol game process of FIG. Then, according to the determined variation pattern, the variation display of the special symbol is started (S340 in FIG. 11), and in response to this, the variation display of the three representation symbols 27a, 27b, 27c is performed in the representation display device 27. become.

  Note that the variation pattern selection table (temporal shortening variation pattern selection table, non-temporal variation variation pattern table) that is set when the number of special figure reservations has not decreased from the previous variation start time of special symbols is This corresponds to the “first variation display mode group” in the present invention. On the other hand, a variation pattern selection table set when the number of special figure reservations is less than the previous special symbol variation start time (extended mode short variation pattern selection table, non-extension mode) The time reduction deviation pattern table) corresponds to the “second variation display mode group” in the present invention. These selection tables are stored in advance in a ROM 202 mounted on the main control board 200. Therefore, the ROM 202 mounted on the main control board 200 of this embodiment corresponds to the “variable display mode group storage unit” in the present invention.

  As described above, in the special symbol variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment, when it is determined that the current number of special symbol reservations has decreased since the start of the last variation of the special symbol, FIG. The change pattern setting process at the time of hold subtraction of the second embodiment shown in FIG. And, in the variation pattern setting process at the time of the hold subtraction, when the determination result of special symbol is out of place, by referring to the extended variation pattern selection table of the extended mode in which the variation pattern with a longer variation time is set, A variation pattern is determined. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a so-called slump state. This point will be described below.

  As described above, the fact that the number of special figure holds has decreased from the previous start of fluctuation means that at least during the previous fluctuation display, no game ball has entered the start port 17. I mean. If the game is continued as it is, there is a concern that the game ball will not enter the starting port 17 at all and a so-called slump state will occur in which special symbols are not variably displayed. For example, it is assumed that the current number of reserved special symbols (number of reserved special symbols) is “1”, and the number of reserved special symbols has decreased since the start of the last special symbol change. This state means that no game ball entered the start port 17 during the change of the special symbol started with the special figure hold number “2”. If the game ball does not enter the start port 17 even during the fluctuation display that starts when the number of special figure holds is “1”, the game ball will start over at least two symbol variations. Without entering the ball 17, the variation display of the special symbol stops and a so-called slump state occurs. On the other hand, in the hold subtraction variation pattern setting process of the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 22, if the special symbol win / fail determination result is out of place, the hold addition variation pattern setting of FIG. Outgoing variation pattern selection table (extended mode shortening variation pattern selection table or extension mode) in which a variation pattern with a longer variation time is set than the outlier variation pattern selection table (for time reduction and non-time reduction) used in processing The fluctuation pattern is determined with reference to the non-time-shortening deviation fluctuation pattern table. For this reason, the special symbol is displayed with a long variation, and there is a possibility that the game ball may enter the start port 17 during that time. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a so-called slump state.

  Of course, if the game state is continuously monitored and a slump state is likely to occur, the occurrence of a slump state can be suppressed, as in the second embodiment described above, by increasing the special symbol variation time. Is possible. However, in this case, it is necessary to constantly monitor the gaming state and determine whether or not the gaming state is likely to cause a slump state, so that the control of the game becomes complicated. On the other hand, in the second embodiment described above, since the current number of special figure holds is very simple information on whether or not the number of special symbols held has decreased since the start of the last special symbol change, It is possible to easily suppress the occurrence of the slump state without complicating the control.

  In addition, in the above-described second subtraction variation pattern setting process (FIG. 22), when the special symbol win / fail determination result is unacceptable, the extended variation deviating variation pattern table (extended variation is not used for the time reduction). The variation pattern is determined with reference to a variation pattern selection table or an extended non-time-shortening variation pattern table.

  However, it is not always necessary to refer to the extended variation pattern table when the determination result of the special symbol is wrong. For example, if the special symbol is judged to be wrong and the current special symbol is not held. When the number is a predetermined value excluding the upper limit (for example, “3” or less or “2” or less), the variation pattern may be determined with reference to the extended variation pattern table. Note that the number of special figure hold (that is, the above-mentioned predetermined value) to be referred to the extended variation pattern table is different depending on whether or not the current gaming state is shorter (for example, shorter “2”, “3” during non-time savings, or the same value regardless of the gaming state.

  In this way, since it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the slump state is likely to occur, it is possible to prevent the variation time of the special symbol from becoming unnecessarily long (unnecessarily) It becomes possible to set the variation pattern of the special symbol (the variation display mode of the effect symbols 27a, 27b, 27c) more appropriately.

  While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is not limited to the wording of each claim unless it departs from the scope described in each claim. Improvements based on the knowledge that a person skilled in the art normally has can also be added as appropriate to the extent that those skilled in the art can easily replace them.

It is a front view of the gaming machine of the present embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the board surface structure of a game board. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the symbol display apparatus mounted in the gaming machine of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen structure of the effect display apparatus mounted in the game machine of a present Example. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the control circuit in the game machine of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the mode that the normal symbol was variably displayed. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the mode that the special symbol was variably displayed. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the one aspect | mode of the effect performed with an effect display apparatus. It is the flowchart which showed the rough flow of the game control process which CPU mounted in the main control board performs in order to control progress of a game. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the special symbol game start judgment process performed in order to judge whether the special symbol game process is started. It is the flowchart which showed a part of special symbol game process performed in a game control process. It is the flowchart which showed the remaining part of the special symbol game process performed in a game control process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a special symbol success / failure determination process. It is explanatory drawing which showed notionally the success / failure determination table referred in order to perform the determination of the success / failure of a special symbol in a special symbol game process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the jackpot symbol determination table referred in order to determine the jackpot symbol of a special symbol. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the special electric accessory game process performed in a special symbol game process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the special symbol fluctuation pattern setting process of 1st Example which sets the fluctuation pattern of a special symbol. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the change pattern setting process at the time of a hold addition performed in the gaming machine 1 of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the change pattern setting process at the time of a hold subtraction performed in the gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the fluctuation pattern table for continuous notice effects referred in the change pattern setting process at the time of a hold subtraction of 1st Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the change pattern setting process at the time of a hold addition performed in the gaming machine 1 of 2nd Example. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the change pattern setting process at the time of a hold subtraction performed in the gaming machine 1 of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Pachinko machine, 17 ... Start port, 27 ... Production display device,
200 ... main control board,
201... CPU (pending number accumulating storage means, fluctuation display execution means, holding number subtraction means, holding number fluctuation information acquisition means, fluctuation display mode determination means),
202 ... ROM (variable display mode group storage means)

Claims (4)

A ball game machine that fires a game ball toward a game board provided with a plurality of entrances, and performs a game in which the game ball is paid out as a prize ball when the game ball enters any of the entrances In
An effect display device provided on the game board surface and capable of displaying a change and a stop display of a predetermined effect pattern;
When a game ball enters a start opening which is a predetermined entrance among the plurality of entrances, a hold number accumulation storage means for accumulating and storing the number of game balls entered as a hold number; ,
It is determined whether or not the number of holdings exists, and if there is, the variable display execution means for determining the variable display mode of the effect symbol and starting the variable display on the effect display device,
A number-of-holds subtracting means for subtracting the number of holds stored in the number-of-holds cumulative storage means one by one each time the effect symbol is displayed in a variable manner,
The variation display execution means includes:
Prior to determining the variation display mode of the effect design, the number of holds stored in the hold number accumulation storage means decreases with respect to the number of holds stored at the time of determining the previous variation display mode. Holding number fluctuation information acquisition means for acquiring holding number fluctuation information indicating whether or not,
A bullet ball game machine comprising: variation display mode determination means for determining a variation display mode of the effect symbol based on the hold number variation information acquired by the reservation number variation information acquisition unit. In the ball game machine according to claim 1,
A holding number reduction flag that is set when the number of holdings is subtracted, and is set to a non-setting state when the new number of holdings is accumulated and stored;
The number-of-holds fluctuation information acquisition means acquires whether or not the number-of-holds reduction flag is in a set state as the number-of-holds fluctuation information. In the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The fluctuation display mode determining means, when the hold number fluctuation information acquired by the hold number fluctuation information acquiring means indicates that the hold number is decreasing, the fluctuation display mode determined last time A bullet ball game machine characterized in that a variation display mode that is relevant to the game is determined as the current variation display mode. In the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or claim 2,
A first variation display mode group composed of a plurality of variation display modes, and a second variation display mode group composed of a plurality of variation display modes whose average variation time is longer than that of the first variation display mode group And a variable display mode group storage means for storing in advance,
The fluctuation display mode determination means, when the hold count fluctuation information acquired by the hold count fluctuation information acquisition means indicates that the hold count is decreasing, the second fluctuation display mode. A bullet ball game machine characterized in that the current variation display mode is determined from a group.

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