JP2009268566A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To alleviate a player's feeling that he/she has lost. <P>SOLUTION: The Pachinko game machine starts clocking by actuating a timer and also starts counting of game balls hit out within a playfield by actuating a counter when neither annunciation display nor winning mode is executed. A first demonstration display is executed when the game balls counted by the counter are less than a predetermined number and the time clocked by the timer has reached a predetermined time. A second demonstration display is executed when the game balls counted by the counter has reached the predetermined number. The second demonstration display different from the first demonstration display which is executed when the time has reached even if the game balls are not hit out within the playfield is executed, which could alleviate the player's feeling that he/she has lost when the annunciation display or the winning mode is not executed because the game balls have never entered into a start pocket or the like even if the game balls are hit out within the playfield. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pachinko machine used in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  In the pachinko machine, when the launch handle is operated, a game ball is launched from the launch device, and the launched game ball is launched into the game area. In the game area, a start winning opening and a liquid crystal display (display means) are provided. When a game ball launched into the game area wins the start winning opening, the pachinko machine performs a winning lottery to determine the winning or losing, drives the liquid crystal display to display the variation of the symbol, and stops after the variation is displayed. A notification effect for notifying the result of the winning lottery is performed according to the combination of symbols to be displayed. Then, when it is a win, the game state is shifted to a game state advantageous to the player.

In addition, some pachinko machines perform demonstrations (demonstrations) on the liquid crystal display to encourage entertainment. For example, the device described in Patent Document 1 below performs a demonstration effect when a state in which a game ball does not win a start winning opening continues for a predetermined time or more. Further, the device described in Patent Document 2 below performs a demonstration effect when a state in which the symbol variation display is not performed continues for a predetermined time or longer.
JP2000-024217 JP 2004-358064 A

  By the way, the demonstration performance of a conventional pachinko machine is executed regardless of whether or not a game is being played (whether or not a game ball has been launched into the game area) when the time during which no winning is made at the start winning opening becomes long. It is what is done. For this reason, there is a case in which a demonstration effect is executed in spite of playing a game. In such a case, there is a problem that the player is given a sense of loss.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a pachinko machine that can reduce a player's feeling of loss when a time during which no winning is made at a start winning opening becomes long. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the pachinko machine of the present invention performs a lottery when the game ball launched in the game area wins the starting winning opening, determines a win lose, and wins in the win lottery. In a pachinko machine that shifts to a winning mode that is more advantageous to the player than the normal mode, a change effect display is performed to notify the result of the winning lottery, and a game in the winning mode An effect control means for executing the first and second demonstration effects for encouraging the game when the notification effect and the hit mode effect are not executed, and the notification effect And a timer that counts the time during which the state where the hit mode effect is not executed, and the state where the notification effect and the hit mode effect are not executed continue. A counter that counts the number of game balls launched into the game area, and the effect control means has a time counted by the timer exceeding a predetermined time, and the game counted by the counter The first demonstration effect is executed when the number of balls is less than a predetermined number, and the second demonstration effect is executed when the number of game balls counted by the counter reaches a predetermined number. Yes.

  The effect control means executes a third demonstration effect for encouraging the game, and sets the first predetermined number and the second predetermined number as the predetermined number, and the effect control means is configured by the counter. When the counted number of game balls reaches the first predetermined number, the second demonstration effect is executed, and when the number of game balls counted by the counter reaches the second predetermined number, the third demo An effect may be performed.

  The present invention provides a start winning opening while the state in which the hit mode effect for producing the notification effect or the game in the hit mode is not continued, that is, despite the fact that the change display of the win mode or the symbol has ended. If a predetermined number or more of the game balls are launched into the game area while the game balls are not winning, the second demonstration effect is performed. Since this second demonstration production cannot be seen simply by stopping the game and waiting for a predetermined time to elapse, like the first demonstration production and the demonstration production of the conventional pachinko machine, Rare value compared to the demonstration production of the pachinko machine. As described above, according to the present invention, when the time during which no winning is made at the start winning opening has become long, a privilege such as being able to see the second demo image with a high rarity value is given to the player. The feeling of loss felt by the player can be reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 10 includes a game board 12, a launch handle 14, and a saucer 16. The game board 12 is provided with a launch passage 18 and a game area 20. A launching device 22 (see FIG. 2) is provided below the launching passage 18. When the launch handle 14 is turned, the launch device 22 launches game balls one by one into the game area 20 with a launch intensity corresponding to the amount of rotation of the launch handle 14. The game ball launched from the launching device 22 is launched into the game area 20 through the launch passage 18.

  The game area 20 is provided with a center bonus 24, a normal winning port 26, a starting winning port 28, an attacker 30, and an out port 32. The center accessory 24 includes a liquid crystal display 40. The liquid crystal display 40 displays various images along with execution of a notification effect, a hit mode effect, and first and second demonstration effects, which will be described later.

  When a game ball wins the normal winning opening 26 and the start winning opening 28, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as winning balls. In addition, when a game ball wins the start winning opening 28, a winning lottery for determining a winning or losing is performed. Then, when the winning lottery is won, the mode shifts to the winning mode. In the winning mode, the attacker 30 is opened to expose the big winning opening 42, and a large amount of winning balls can be obtained by winning the game balls in the big winning opening 42. On the other hand, game balls that have not won any of the start winning opening 28 and the big winning opening 42 enter the out opening 32 and are collected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pachinko machine 10 is provided with a control unit (production control means) 50. A memory 52 is connected to the control unit 50. The memory 52 stores control programs, various setting information such as predetermined times and predetermined values to be described later, and various image data such as symbols and effects screens displayed on the liquid crystal display 40, first demonstration screen, and second demonstration screen. It is remembered. The control unit 50 controls the overall operation of the pachinko machine 10 including the display control of the liquid crystal display 40 based on the information stored in the memory 52.

  The normal winning sensor 54 detects a game ball won in the normal winning opening 26. The start winning sensor 56 detects a game ball won in the start winning opening 28, and the big winning sensor 58 detects a game ball won in the big winning opening 42. When the payout device 60 detects that the game ball has won the normal winning port 26, the start winning port 28, and the big winning port 42, the payout device 60 receives a predetermined number of game balls associated with the winning port where the game ball has won. It is paid out to the tray 16 as a prize ball. The winning lottery unit 62 performs a winning lottery to determine whether or not to win when a game ball wins the start winning opening 28.

  When the winning lottery is executed, the control unit 50 selects a variation pattern to be executed by lottery from a plurality of preset variation patterns based on the winning lottery result. Then, the liquid crystal display 40 is controlled based on the selected variation pattern to perform symbol variation display, and a notification effect is provided to notify the winning combination lottery result by a combination of symbols to be stopped and displayed after the variation display. If a game ball wins the start winning opening 28 during execution of the notification effect, the winning lottery is put on hold. Then, after the result of the winning lottery being executed is notified, the hold is released and the winning lottery is executed. Further, the control unit 50 performs a hit mode effect that produces a game in the hit mode by displaying the effect image on the liquid crystal display 40 after the pachinko machine 10 is shifted to the hit mode when the win is made by the win lottery. .

  Further, a timer 64 and a counter 66 are connected to the control unit 50. The timer 64 is provided to measure the time during which the notification effect and the hit mode effect are not executed. Further, the counter 66 counts the number of game balls fired by the launching device 22, that is, launched into the game area 20, while neither the notification effect nor the hit mode effect is being executed. Is provided to do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when neither the notification effect nor the winning mode effect is executed and the winning lottery is not put on hold, the control unit 50 operates the timer 64 to start timing. At the same time, the counter 66 is operated to start counting the number of game balls launched into the game area 20.

  The control unit 50 controls the liquid crystal display 40 to display the first demo image when the time counted by the timer 64 exceeds the predetermined time and the value of the counter 66 is less than the predetermined value. Perform the first demonstration. In addition, when the value of the counter 66 reaches a predetermined value, the control unit 50 performs the second demonstration effect by controlling the liquid crystal display 40 to display the second demonstration image.

  Further, the control unit 50 wins a game ball at the start winning opening 28 when the first demonstration effect or the second demonstration effect is executed and before the first demonstration effect or the second demonstration effect is executed. For example, when the notification effect is executed or the hit mode effect is executed, the timer 64 is stopped to reset the value counted and the counter 66 is stopped to reset the counted value.

  In the present embodiment, the “predetermined number” is set to a value smaller than the number of game balls that can be launched into the game area 20 from the start of time measurement by the timer 64 until the “predetermined time” elapses. In this way, when game ball launching is continued from the start of timing, the value of the counter 66 reaches the “predetermined number” earlier than the “predetermined time” has elapsed, that is, the launch of game balls from the start of timing. If the second demonstration effect is continued, the second demonstration effect is executed earlier than the first demonstration effect.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 configured as described above will be described. In the pachinko machine 10, when a game ball launched into the game area 20 wins the start winning opening 28, a winning lottery is performed, and a notification effect for notifying the result of the winning lottery is performed. In the notification effect, the variation display of the symbol is performed on the liquid crystal display 40, and the result of the winning lottery is notified by the symbol that is stopped and displayed after the variation display. And when the result of the winning lottery is a winning, after the notification effect, the mode is shifted to the winning mode. In the hit mode, the win mode effect is performed by displaying the effect image on the liquid crystal display 40.

  Further, in the pachinko machine 10, when neither the notification effect nor the winning mode is executed and the winning lottery is not put on hold, the timer 64 is activated to start measuring time, and the counter 66 is activated and counting of the number of game balls launched into the game area 20 is started. When the number of game balls counted by the counter 66 is less than a predetermined number and the time counted by the timer 64 reaches a predetermined time, the first demo image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 40 to display the first demo image. 1 demonstration will be performed. When the number of game balls counted by the counter 66 reaches a predetermined number, the second demonstration effect is performed by displaying the second demonstration image on the liquid crystal display 40.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 10, when the game ball is launched in the game area 20, the notification effect or the hit mode effect is not executed due to reasons such as the game ball does not win the start winning opening 28, A second demonstration effect different from the first demonstration effect that is executed when time elapses without launching a game ball in the game area 20 is executed. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the feeling of loss that the player feels when he / she does not win the start winning opening 28 even though the game ball is launched into the game area 20.

  The first demo image and the second demo image may be arbitrary images. However, the first demo image is displayed when time elapses regardless of whether or not the game ball is launched in the game area, and the second demo image is also displayed when the game ball is launched in the game area. Regardless, it is displayed for the purpose of reducing the feeling of loss felt by the player when no winning is made at the start winning opening. For this reason, in order to differentiate between the first demo image and the second demo image, for example, as the first demo image, a general one for enhancing the effect of attracting customers, which has been conventionally used, is used. As the two demo images, it is preferable to use a highly rare image including information and images that are disclosed only in the second demo image. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and the second image is an image that is displayed in a normal game process, but has a low display frequency and a high rarity value (for example, a variation with a low probability of being selected from a variation pattern of symbols) An image included in the pattern) may be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although demonstrated in the example which displays a 1st demonstration image on a liquid crystal display as a 1st demonstration effect, in addition to displaying a 1st demonstration image on a liquid crystal display as a 1st demonstration effect. (Or, instead of displaying the first demo image on the liquid crystal display), a production sound may be output from a speaker, or a light emission pattern or a light emission color of an illumination device such as a lamp may be changed. Similarly, as a second demonstration effect, in addition to displaying the second demonstration image on the liquid crystal display (or changing to displaying the second demonstration image on the liquid crystal display), an effect sound is output from the speaker. The light emission pattern or light emission color of an electric decoration device such as a lamp may be changed.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the first demonstration effect is executed, the counter is reset, that is, before the predetermined time elapses after the notification effect and the hit mode effect are not executed. Although the example in which the second demonstration effect is not executed unless a predetermined number or more of game balls are launched into the game area has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. Even after the first demonstration effect is executed, counting by the counter is continued, regardless of whether a predetermined time has passed since the notification effect and the hit mode effect are not executed. The second demonstration effect may be executed when a predetermined number or more of game balls are launched into the game area while none of the hit mode effects is being executed. In this case, if the first demonstration effect is being executed when the condition for executing the second demonstration effect is satisfied, the first demonstration effect may be interrupted or interrupted to be performed. Then, the second demonstration effect may be performed after the first demonstration effect ends.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the time during which neither the notification effect nor the winning mode effect continues is over a predetermined time, and a predetermined number or more of game balls are in the game area within the predetermined time. The second demonstration effect is executed when the game is launched, and the first demonstration effect is executed when the number of game balls launched in the game area within a predetermined time is less than the predetermined number. The invention is not limited to this. For example, the first demonstration effect may not be executed when a set number (for example, one) smaller than the predetermined number is set and more than the set number of game balls are launched within a predetermined time. Although the player feels uncomfortable when the first demonstration performance is executed even though the player has launched a game ball, this problem can be prevented by doing so.

  Further, for example, in addition to the first demonstration effect and the second demonstration effect described above, a third demonstration effect for displaying a third demonstration image for encouraging the game is executed. A predetermined number and a second predetermined number are set. When the first predetermined number or more of game balls are launched into the game area within a predetermined time, the second demonstration effect is executed, and within the predetermined time, the second predetermined number or more of game balls are launched into the game area. In this case, the third demonstration effect may be executed. Of course, the first predetermined time and the second predetermined time are set as the predetermined time, and when the first predetermined number of game balls or more are launched within the first predetermined time, the second demonstration effect is executed, and the second predetermined time. When a second predetermined number or more of game balls are launched, the effect may be executed even in the third. In addition, a predetermined number of three or more is set, and four or more demonstration effects are executed, and the type of demonstration effect to be executed is changed every time the number of game balls launched in the game area exceeds each predetermined number. You may let them.

  In the above embodiment, the example has been described in which the timer and the counter are activated when the notification rendering or the hit mode is not performed and the winning lottery is not put on hold. The timing to perform is not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the counter may be started with the start of the notification effect (with the start of the last notification effect) being performed in a state where the winning lottery is not held. Since the player hits the game ball even during the last notification effect, this can prevent the game ball that was shot during the last notification effect from giving a sense of loss without being counted. .

  Furthermore, as a notification effect, there is a pachinko machine that not only informs whether or not it is a hit, but also performs a so-called reach effect and makes the process of notifying whether or not a hit is more interesting. When the present invention is applied to such a pachinko machine, it is preferable not to operate the timer during the reach effect. Further, some players interrupt the game and observe the reach effect, and after the reach effect (notification effect) is finished, it takes time to start the game again (launch a game ball). May occur. In consideration of such circumstances, when the reach effect is performed, the timing for operating the timer may be delayed or the predetermined time may be extended as compared with the case where the reach effect is not performed.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example which counts the game ball which the launching device launched as the game ball launched into the game area, this invention is not limited to this. When the firing strength of the launching device is weak (when the launch handle has a small amount of rotation), a game ball that cannot reach the game area is generated. In a general pachinko machine, the game balls that cannot reach the game area are paid out to the tray as foul balls through the foul ball collection passage connected to the launch passage. For this reason, when the present invention is applied to such a pachinko machine, the second demonstration production is performed without launching the game ball in the game area with the firing strength weakened (without playing the game). The problem that it becomes possible to execute will occur. In order to prevent such a problem, a counter for counting foul balls may be provided, and a value obtained by subtracting the foul balls from the game balls fired by the launching device may be counted as game balls launched into the game area. In order to prevent such a problem, a counter that counts game balls that have entered the out port may be provided, and the game balls that have entered the out port may be counted as game balls that have been launched into the game area. Of course, the game balls that have entered the out slot and the game balls that have won the normal prize slot may be counted as game balls that have been launched into the game area. In addition, a dedicated sensor for detecting a game ball launched into the game area is provided in the vicinity of the exit of the launch passage in the game area, and the game launched into the game area based on information from this sensor Spheres may be counted.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the entire pachinko machine is controlled by one control unit has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a control unit that controls the launching device, a control unit that controls the execution and progress of the game, and a control unit (production control means) that controls the lighting device such as a liquid crystal display (production), speakers, and lamps are separately provided. May be provided.

It is a front view of a pachinko machine. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the electric constitution of a pachinko machine. It is a flowchart which shows the flow until a 1st, 2nd demonstration effect is performed.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pachinko machine 12 Game board 14 Launch handle 20 Game area 22 Launcher 28 Start winning opening 40 Liquid crystal display 50 Control part (production control means)
52 Memory 64 Timer 66 Counter

Claims (2)

When a game ball launched into the game area wins the starting prize opening, a lottery is performed to determine the winning lose, and when the winning lottery is won, the winning is more advantageous to the player than the normal mode. In the pachinko machine that moves to the mode,
When the change display of the symbol is performed, the notification effect for notifying the result of the winning lottery, the winning mode effect for directing the game in the winning mode, and the notification effect and the winning mode effect are not executed. Production control means for executing first and second demonstration productions to promote interest in the game,
A timer that counts the time during which the notification effect and the hit mode effect are not executed;
A counter that counts the number of game balls launched into the game area while the notification effect and the hit mode effect are not executed;
The production control means executes the first demonstration production when the time counted by the timer exceeds a predetermined time and the number of game balls counted by the counter is less than a predetermined number, and the counter When the number of game balls counted by the above reaches a predetermined number, the second demonstration effect is executed. The production control means executes a third demonstration production for promoting interest in the game,
As the predetermined number, a first predetermined number and a second predetermined number are set,
The effect control means executes the second demonstration effect when the number of game balls counted by the counter reaches the first predetermined number, and the number of game balls counted by the counter becomes the second predetermined number. The pachinko machine according to claim 1, wherein the third demonstration effect is executed when it is reached.

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