JP2009160333A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate distrustfulness of a game player when a power source is interrupted in the duration of playing in a time shortening section without installing a backup memory in a sub-board. <P>SOLUTION: When the power source is interrupted and restored in the time shortening section, a count value of a variation number counting part 43 is reset to return to "100". At the moment, in the case of a probability variation mode, a variation image is displayed on a liquid crystal display device. In the case of the count value of the part 43 being not "0" at a finish of the section (when the power source is broken in the section), a special image is displayed together with a pattern on the display device until a hit is obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pachinko machine installed in a pachinko parlor.

  Currently, various types of pachinko machines are offered, and as one of them, a winning lottery using random numbers is performed when a game ball wins a winning prize opening, and it is determined whether or not to win For example, an image display device such as a 7-segment display device or a liquid crystal display displays a winning lottery result after the symbol variation display is performed. Usually, winning lottery or winning detection at a winning opening and image display control on the image display device are performed using different substrates, the former substrate is called the main substrate, and the latter substrate is called the sub substrate. Has been. As described above, by performing each process separately, it is possible to quickly perform a complicated process, and for example, it is possible to display an image rich in variations on an image display device. When winning in the winning lottery, the normal mode is changed to the winning mode, and the game is performed under the number of rounds selected in the lottery. In the winning mode, opening of the attacker in each round releases the large winning opening that is closed in the normal mode, and most of the game balls are guided to the large winning opening on the inner surface of the attacker. You can get a game ball.

  In general, since players play games for the purpose of acquiring game balls, recent pachinko machines have been devised to increase the chances of acquiring a large number of game balls and increase the player's interest in pachinko machines. Yes. As one of the pachinko machines that have been devised in this way, the winning is composed of a normal hit and a probable win, and if you win the normal win, you will only shift to the win mode, There is one that shifts to the probability variation mode in which the winning probability is higher than that in the normal mode, and shifts after the mode ends. In addition, most of the pachinko machines provided in recent years have a movable piece that can be opened and closed at the start winning opening, and if the winning lottery executed when the game ball passes through the through chucker, the movable piece will be Opening up will increase the winning percentage of game balls. And after completion | finish of hit mode, it transfers to a time-short section, and the open time of a movable piece becomes longer than when it is other than a time-short section, and the fluctuation time of a symbol becomes shorter than when a time other than a time-short section. Thereby, in the short time section, the variation display of the symbols can be efficiently performed without reducing the player's balls by improving the winning rate of the game balls to the start winning opening.

As described above, in pachinko machines, the number of game balls acquired by the player varies depending on the state of the game.For example, due to a power failure, the power is shut off during the hit mode, and the power is restored when the power is restored. If the state before the interruption is not saved, the player's interest in playing games will be reduced, and it will cause complaints to pachinko parlors. For this reason, for example, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, in a pachinko machine, it is common to take a backup so that the game state is not erased even if the power is cut off.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-211221 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-212224

  By the way, on a pachinko machine that shifts to a short time section and ends when the number of symbol changes reaches the specified number of times, a short time image indicating that the short time section is moving to the short time section is displayed during the short time section. When the number of symbol fluctuations reaches the specified number, the sub-board receives a command indicating the end of the short time interval from the main board, and it is not possible to identify whether the mode in transition is the normal mode or the probability fluctuation mode Is displayed. If the power of the pachinko machine is shut off during the probability variation mode and during the short time interval, a probability variation image indicating that the probability variation mode is in effect is displayed after the power is restored, and the gaming state is erased by turning off the power. To make sure that the player feels secure. However, even after the power is restored, a command indicating the end of the short time section is input from the main board to the sub board when the number of symbol fluctuations in the short time section reaches the specified number. A normal image is displayed. At this time, the player should have obtained a sense of security by confirming that the probability variation mode is in the probability variation image after the power is restored, but whether or not the player is in the probability variation mode after the end of the short time interval. Can no longer be identified, causing a trouble with a pachinko store clerk with the distrust that it was downgraded from the probability variation mode to the normal mode. For this reason, it is conceivable to manage the switching of images on the sub-board when a backup memory is provided on the sub-board and the power is cut off, but most of the currently available pachinko machines are costly. From the viewpoint of reduction, the sub-board is not provided with a backup memory, but is backed up only on the main board. If the sub-board is provided with a backup memory, the cost of the remodeling and the cost of the memory will increase the An increase in manufacturing costs is unavoidable.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and can eliminate the distrust that the player has when the power is cut off during the game in the short time section without taking backup by the sub-board. The purpose is to provide a pachinko machine that can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, the pachinko machine of the present invention performs a lottery when a game ball wins a winning prize opening, determines a probability variation, a normal win, or a loss on the main board, When the sub-board that has received the result of the winning lottery from the main board displays a variation display and a stop display of the symbols on the image display device to display the result of the winning lottery, when the main board wins the normal winning When winning the winning prize opening that is closed in the normal mode for each round, and when winning the winning per winning change, the winning probability per winning change and the winning per normal is set to the normal mode after the winning mode ends. Transition to a probability variation mode that is higher than, and after the end of the hit mode, transition to a short time interval, in the short time interval, The variation time of the symbol, which is the time from the start of the variation display of the pattern to the stop display, becomes shorter than when it is outside the time interval, and the variation display and the stop display performed for one winning lottery are displayed. In a pachinko machine that ends when the number of symbol fluctuations reaches a specified number of times, a first state command is sent to the main board to indicate that the transition to the probability variation mode and the transition to the short time interval have been made. A state command transmitting means is provided for transmitting to the sub-board a second state command indicating that the time-shortening period is being completed and the time-shortening period has been completed. The number of fluctuations of the symbol is counted, and the count value is reset when the power of the pachinko machine is shut off. And a change count determination means for determining whether or not the count value of the change count counting means has reached the specified count when receiving the second state command, and an image to be displayed after the end of the short time interval Is different from the normal image or the normal image indicating that the transition is being made to either the normal mode or the probability variation mode, and the transition is being made to either the normal mode or the probability variation mode. An image selection lottery means for selecting by image selection lottery from any of the special images to be displayed, and a time-shortening image indicating that the transition to the time-shortening interval is received from the image display device in response to the first state command, If the power supply is cut off during the display of the time-saving image, it is in the transition to the probability variation mode in response to the first state command after the power supply is restored. A probability variation image to be displayed is displayed from the image display device, and after receiving the second state command, if the count value in the variation count means has reached the specified number of times, according to the result of the image selection lottery The normal image or the special image is displayed from the image display device together with the design from the end of the short time interval until the normal hit or the probability change is won, and the count value in the variation counting means is the count value. Display control means is provided for displaying the special image from the image display device together with the symbol from the end of the short time interval until the normal hit or the probability change is won when the prescribed number of times has not been reached. Is.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to identify whether or not the power is cut off in the short time interval by the number of changes in the symbol, and when the power is cut off in the probability fluctuation mode and in the short time interval. The image displayed after the short time interval can be made different from the case where the power is not shut off. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate the distrust of the player when the power is cut off during the game in the short time section without taking a backup with the sub-board.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 includes a game board 11. A game area 11a is formed on the surface of the game board 11, and the launched game ball flows down the game area 11a. The game area 11a is provided with a first start winning opening (hereinafter referred to as “first starting opening”) 12, a second starting winning opening (hereinafter referred to as “second starting opening”) 13, and a through chucker 14. Yes. When a game ball wins a prize in the first start port 12 or the second start port 13, a predetermined number of game balls determined in advance are paid out as a prize ball. The first start port 12 and the second start port 13 are arranged one above the other, and the second start port 13 is disposed below the first start port 12. A pair of movable pieces 13 a whose base end portions are pivotally supported on shafts extending in the front-rear direction are attached to the second start port 13. The movable piece 13a is normally located at a closed position where the tip ends approach each other, and when the winning lottery executed when the game ball passes through the through chucker 14, the movable piece 13a rotates to the open position where the tip ends separate. To do. When the movable piece 13a is located at the closed position, the gap between the movable pieces 13a is covered by the first starting port 12, so that the second starting port 13 has a game only when the movable piece 13a rotates to the open position. You can win a ball. When the movable piece 13a rotates to the open position, the game ball is guided into the second starting port 13 on the inner surface. Thereby, the winning rate of the game ball to the second starting port 13 can be changed between when the movable piece 13a is located at the closed position and when it is located at the open position.

  When a game ball wins the first or second starter 12 or 13, a winning lottery for determining a winning or losing is performed. When winning, the lot number lottery is performed, and the number of rounds in the winning mode, either normal or probable, is determined simultaneously. When winning in the normal winning mode, the mode is shifted only to the winning mode, and when winning per probable change, the mode is shifted to the probability variation mode following the winning mode. In the probability variation mode, the winning probability is higher than in the normal mode. The probability variation mode continues from the end of the hit mode until the win is won after that.

  In the winning mode, a game is played under the number of rounds determined by the round number lottery. In each round, the attacker 15 provided below the game area 11a is released once. A large winning opening (not shown) is provided in the back of the attacker 15, and when the attacker 15 is opened, most of the game balls flowing down the game area 11 a are guided to the large winning opening on the inner surface and receive a large number of winning balls. Obtainable. Then, when 10 game balls are won in the big winning opening or when 30 seconds have elapsed from the start of the round, the attacker 15 is closed and one round is finished, and when the number of rounds determined by the round number lottery is finished, the winning mode is finished. .

  A center accessory 16 is provided in a substantially central portion of the game area 11a. A liquid crystal display 17 is incorporated in the center accessory 16. On the liquid crystal display 17, symbols 18 arranged side by side in three rows are displayed. The symbol 18 in each column is composed of three types of “blue”, “red”, and “pink”. When a game ball wins the first or second start port 12, 13 during the normal mode or the probability variation mode, the variation display of the symbol 18 is started, and the symbol 18 scrolls from top to bottom. Then, the symbols 18 are sequentially stopped and displayed one column at a time (in order of left → right → middle), and when all the symbols 18 are stopped, the symbols 18 of the same color are aligned or the colors of the symbols 18 are arranged. Wins with a specific line (hereinafter “chance eyes”).

  At this time, when the blue symbols 18 come together, the number of rounds in the winning mode is 14 rounds, either positive or normal, and when the red symbols 18 come together, the round number in the winning mode is 16. When the probability change per round is confirmed and the pink symbols 18 are all in success, the number of hits in the hit mode is 14 rounds and the probability change is confirmed. Further, when all the chances are hit, the number of rounds in the hit mode is determined to be probable per two rounds.

  In the pachinko machine 10, regardless of whether the winning per winning change or the normal winning is won, the pachinko machine 10 shifts to a short time section after the end of the hit mode. In the short time section, the time required to display the symbol variation time and the open lottery result, which is the average of the time from the start of the variable display of the symbol 18 to the stop display, is shorter than that in the time zone other than the short time section. The opening time of 13a is 0.5 seconds when the opening time is other than the short time interval per opening, whereas it is 2 seconds in the short time interval. Thereby, the player can play a game efficiently without reducing the ball. The short time interval ends when the number of symbol variations that have been made once per symbol for the winning lottery reaches 100 times (the prescribed number).

  At the bottom of the pachinko machine 10, a launch handle 19 that rotates when a game ball is launched into the game area 11a and a tray 20 from which a prize ball is paid out are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 is controlled by the main board 30. The main board 30 includes a CPU 31. Various sensors are connected to the CPU 31. The CPU 31 refers to the programs and data stored in the memory 32 in response to signals from the sensors, performs award ball payout and winning lottery execution, drive control of the attacker 15 and the movable piece 13a, and in each mode and time interval. The game is executed. Further, a backup memory 33 is connected to the CPU 31. In the backup memory 33, flags and data indicating the game state are written as the game progresses. The backup memory 33 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory. Flags and data written in the backup memory 33 remain stored when the power supply 34 of the pachinko machine 10 is shut off and returned. As a result, the number of symbol fluctuations in the short time interval (the number of winnings at the first or second starting port 12, 13), the number of rounds in the winning mode, etc. are saved, and even after the power supply 34 is shut off Can continue to play games.

  The first start sensor 35 a detects a game ball that has entered the first start port 12, and the second start sensor 35 b detects the game ball that has entered the second start port 13. The through sensor 36 detects a game ball that has passed through the through chucker 14. These detection signals are input to the CPU 31.

  The CPU 31 includes a winning lottery unit 37, a round number lottery unit 38, and an open lottery unit 39.

  The winning lottery unit 37 receives a signal input from the first or second start sensor 35a, 35b when a game ball wins the first or second start port 12, 13, and uses an electronic random number. Win a lottery to determine a win or loss. In the winning lottery, the random number extracted at the time of the lottery is compared with a winning determination table, and it is determined whether the extracted random number is a winning random number or not. The hit determination table is composed of a normal table used in the normal mode and a probability variation table used in the probability variation mode. In the probability variation table, the winning probability of winning is set higher than that of the normal table. However, the probability variation table has more random numbers.

  The round number lottery unit 38 performs a lot number lottery using an electronic random number when winning a win, and simultaneously determines the number of rounds in the win mode, normal win or probable change.

  The open lottery unit 39 is operated in response to a signal input from the through sensor 36 when the game ball passes through the through chucker 14. The open lottery unit 39 determines whether to open the movable piece 13a of the second starting port 13 by performing an open lottery using an electronic random number. When the open lottery is won, the CPU 31 opens the movable piece 13a for 0.2 seconds except for the short time interval and for 2 seconds in the short time interval.

  The pachinko machine 10 includes a sub board 40 that is operated in response to a command from the main board 30. The sub-board 40 performs image display control on the liquid crystal display 17. The sub-board 40 includes a CPU (display control means) 41 and a memory 42, and the overall operation is controlled by the CPU 41.

  In the memory 42, symbol data for displaying a symbol from the liquid crystal display 17, time-short image data for displaying a time-short image indicating that the time-short interval is being transferred, a normal image to be displayed after the time-short interval ends, and a special image Stored are display data of various images to be displayed from the liquid crystal display 17, such as normal image data and special image data for displaying an image, and probability variation image data of a probability variation image indicating that the transition to the probability variation mode is in progress. Note that the normal image and the special image indicate that a transition is made to either the normal mode or the probability variation mode.

  The display data of various images is given a head address, and the CPU 41 identifies each image by identifying the head address.

  When a game ball wins at the first or second start opening 12 or 13 and a winning lottery is executed, a start winning command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41. The start winning command includes the result of the winning lottery (ordinary winning, winning per probability change, or losing), and includes the result of the round lottery when winning the winning lottery. In response to the start winning command, the CPU 41 reads the symbol data, displays the symbol variation and stop on the liquid crystal display 17 and displays the winning lottery result.

  Further, at the start and end of the short time interval after the end of the hit mode, a state transition command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41. The state transition command includes a first state command indicating that the state has shifted to the probability variation mode and has shifted to the short time interval, a second state command indicating that the state has been shifted to the probability variation mode and the short time interval has ended, and the normal mode. And a fourth state command indicating that the shift to the normal mode has been completed and that the shift to the short time interval has been completed. At the start of the short time interval, the first state command or the third state command is input together with the mode being shifted, and at the end of the short time interval, the second state command or the fourth state command is also combined with the mode being shifted. Is entered. In addition, while the power source 34 is shut off during the short time interval, the first state command or the third state command is input in accordance with the mode in transition even when the power source 34 is restored. The CPU 41 identifies these state transition commands and causes the liquid crystal display 17 to display an image selected from a time-short image, a normal image, a special image, or a probability variation image together with a symbol display.

  The CPU 41 includes a variation count counting section (variation count counting means) 43, a variation count determination section (variation count determination means) 44, and an image selection lottery section (image selection lottery means) 45.

  The variation count unit 43 is activated when a first state command or a third state command is input from the CPU 31. The variation count unit 43 counts the number of symbol variations in the short time interval. Since the short time section ends when the number of symbol variations reaches 100, “100” is set in advance in the variation count section 43. Then, the variation count counting unit 43 decrements “100” set in the variation count counting unit 43 by “1” every time a start winning command is input during the short time interval. When the count value of the variation count unit 43 becomes “0”, it is identified that the number of symbol variations in the short time interval has reached 100. The count value of the variation count unit 43 is reset when the power supply 34 is shut off and returned to “100”.

  The variation number determination unit 44 is activated when a second state command is input from the CPU 31. The variation number determination unit 44 determines whether or not the count value of the variation number count unit 43 is “0”, that is, the count value of the variation number count unit 43 has reached 100 times that is the specified number of end conditions for the short time interval. It is determined whether or not. When the power supply 34 is shut off in the short time interval, the count value of the variation count counting unit 43 is reset. Therefore, the count value of the variation count counting unit 43 does not become “0” at the determination by the variation count determination unit 44. When the power supply 34 is not shut off in the short time interval, the count value of the variation count counting unit 43 is “0” when the variation count determination unit 44 determines. As a result, it is possible to identify whether or not the power supply 34 is shut off in the time interval 34 based on the determination by the variation number determination unit 44.

  The image selection lottery unit 45 counts the number of fluctuations by the fluctuation number determination unit 44 when the fourth state command is input, that is, when the mode is shifted to the normal mode and the short time interval ends, or when the second state command is input. It is activated when the count value of the unit 43 is determined to be “0”, that is, when the power supply 34 is not shut off during the short time interval when shifting to the probability variation mode. The image selection lottery unit 45 determines by image selection lottery whether the image to be displayed from the end of the short time interval to the winning win is the normal image or the special image. The image selection lottery unit 45 includes a lottery table for a normal mode and a lottery table for a probability variation mode. Then, the random number value extracted in the image selection lottery is checked against a table corresponding to the mode being transferred, and it is determined by the image selection lottery whether to be a normal image or a special image. In the lottery table for the probability variation mode, the number of winning random numbers is set so that the selection probability of the special image is higher than the lottery table for the normal mode. For this reason, when a special image is displayed, the expectation that it is shifting to the probability variation mode becomes high.

  Next, the flow of image display processing executed by the CPU 41 of the sub-board 40 during the short time interval will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the hit mode ends, a state transition command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41. At this time, the first state command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41 in the probability variation mode, and the third state command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41 in the normal mode. When the first state command or the third state command is received, the CPU 41 identifies that the time has shifted to the short time section, and displays the short time image from the liquid crystal display 17. Further, every time a start winning command is input from the CPU 31, the variation number counting unit 43 counts the symbol variation number by subtracting “1” from “100”. When the power supply 34 is shut off and restored (turned on the power supply 34) during the short time interval, the count value of the fluctuation count counting unit 43 is reset and returned to “100”. At this time, the first state command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41 in the probability variation mode, and the third state command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41 in the normal mode. In response to this, the CPU 41 executes an image restoration process. When the first state command is received, the probability change image is displayed from the liquid crystal display 17, and when the third state command is received, the time shortened image is re-displayed from the liquid crystal display 17. Display. Then, the CPU 31 terminates the short time interval when the number of winning of the game ball to the first or second start port 12, 13 is 100 times and the start winning command is transmitted 100 times to the CPU 41 during the short time interval. At this time, the second state command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41 in the probability variation mode, and the fourth state command is input from the CPU 31 to the CPU 41 in the normal mode. When the CPU 41 receives the second state command or the fourth state command, the CPU 41 identifies that the short time interval has ended. Then, referring to the count value of the variation count unit 43, when the second state command is received and the count value of the variation count unit 43 is not “0” (the power supply 34 was shut off during the short time interval) In the case), a special image is displayed from the liquid crystal display 17 together with a symbol until a special winning is won by the lottery unit 37 (that is, until a normal winning or winning per probability variation is won). Further, when the second state command is received and the count value of the variation count counting unit 43 is “0” (when the power supply 34 is not shut off during the short time interval), a lottery table for the probability variation mode is displayed. The used image selection lottery (first lottery) is executed to determine whether to display a special image or a normal image, and the determined image is displayed from the liquid crystal display 17 together with a design until it is won. Further, the CPU 41 also executes the image selection lottery (second lottery) using the lottery table for the normal mode regardless of the count value of the variation count unit 43 even when the fourth state command is received, and the special image or Which of the normal images is to be displayed is determined, and the determined image from the liquid crystal display 17 is displayed together with the symbol until it is won.

  As described above, when the power supply 34 is cut off during the short time interval, the probability variation image is displayed when the mode is shifted to the probability variation mode to give the player a sense of security, and the short time interval has ended. By displaying a special image that has a high probability of shifting to the probability variation mode sometimes, it is possible to avoid giving an impression as if the normal variation image was displayed from the probability variation image and the probability variation mode was canceled, After that, he can motivate him to continue playing games. Since these processes can be executed without providing a backup memory on the sub-board 40, it is possible to prevent the manufacturing cost of the pachinko machine 10 from increasing.

  In the above embodiment, either the normal image or the special image is selected by the image selection lottery, but the number of images that are selected in addition to these images may be increased. In this case, it is preferable to display an image that is most easily selected in the probability variation mode when the power is shut off during the short time interval. For example, it is possible to select a special image A that is likely to be in the probability variation mode and a special image B that is unlikely to be in the probability variation mode.

  In the above-described embodiment, a pachinko machine that displays a variation of a symbol using a liquid crystal display has been described as an example. However, other embodiments such as a pachinko machine that displays a variation of a symbol using a reel that rotates by driving a motor are used. You may apply this invention to the pachinko machine which displays the result of a lottery. The image display device is not limited to a liquid crystal display, and an appropriate display device such as a 7-segment display device or a display device using EL (electroluminescence) may be used.

It is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the image display process in a short time area.

Explanation of symbols

10 Pachinko machines 41 CPU (game control means)
43 Fluctuation count section (variation count counting means)
44 Fluctuation frequency determination unit (variation frequency determination means)
45 image selection lottery section (image selection lottery means)

Claims (1)

When a game ball is won at the start winning opening, a winning lottery is executed, and either a probability change, a normal winning or a loss is determined on the main board, and the sub board receiving the winning lottery result from the main board is an image The display device displays a variation display and a stop display of the symbol to display the result of the winning lottery, and the main board opens the big winning opening that is closed in the normal mode for each round when the normal winning is won. The winning mode is shifted to the probability variation mode in which the winning probability per probability variation and the normal winning probability is higher than the normal mode after the winning mode is finished when the winning mode is won, and the winning mode After the end of the period, the time shifts to the short time section, where the time from the start of the symbol variation display to the stop display. The variation time of the symbol is shorter than when it is outside the short time interval, and the number of variations of the symbol reaches the specified number of times, with the variation display and the stop display performed once per winning lottery. Then, in the pachinko machine that ends,
The main board is transmitted to the sub board with a first state command indicating the transition to the probability variation mode and the time reduction interval, and the state change to the probability variation mode is completed. Providing a state command transmitting means for transmitting a second state command indicating that to the sub-board,
On the sub-board,
While counting the number of fluctuations of the symbol during the short time interval, a fluctuation number counting means for resetting the count value when the power of the pachinko machine is shut off,
A variation number determination unit that determines whether or not the count value in the variation number counting unit reaches the specified number when receiving the second state command;
The image displayed after the end of the short time interval is different from the normal image or the normal image indicating that the image is being transferred to either the normal mode or the probability variation mode. Image selection lottery means for selecting by image selection lottery from any of special images indicating that the
In response to the first state command, the image display device displays a time-short image indicating that the time-short period is being transferred, and when the power is cut off during the time-short image display, the power is restored. After receiving the first state command and causing the image display device to display a probability change image indicating that the transition to the probability variation mode is being performed, the second state command is subsequently received and the variation number counting means If the count value has reached the specified number of times, the normal image or the special image is combined with the symbol from the end of the short time interval until winning the normal hit or the probable change according to the result of the image selection lottery. If the count value in the variation counting means has not reached the specified number of times, it may be after the end of the time interval Pinball machine characterized by comprising a display control means for displaying from the image display device the special image together with the symbol until the winning to the normal or per the probability variation per.

Images