JP2009273901A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of reducing loads on a game control means relating to the handling of information for variable display control. <P>SOLUTION: Even when performing variable display for which a period from variation start to the derivation and display of a display result is different, the variation time commands (8100H-8103H) of one kind of a variation time length are used, and the kinds of data to be used for the commands are reduced compared with a conventional game machine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine represented by, for example, a pachinko gaming machine, a coin gaming machine, and a slot machine, and more specifically, has a variable display device that can variably display a plurality of types of identification information, and displays the variable display device. The present invention relates to a gaming machine that can be controlled in a state advantageous to the player when the result is a predetermined display mode.

  Conventionally known as this type of gaming machine is, for example, a variable display device that can variably display a plurality of types of identification information such as symbols, and the display result of the variable display device is predetermined. There is a gaming machine that can be controlled to a state advantageous to the player such as a big hit state when a specific display mode (for example, 777) is obtained.

  In this type of gaming machine, for example, command data for controlling display on a variable display device from game control means such as a game control microcomputer to variable display control means such as a display control microcomputer. Command information is output. Then, in accordance with such command information, control for deriving and displaying the display result after the variable display device is variably started is performed by the variable display control means.

  The command information used for such variable display control is the progress of variable display in order to finely specify the variable display pattern of display information such as identification information from the variable start in the variable display device until the display result is confirmed. It is output many times with it. Data of the variable display pattern used for such command information is stored in a memory such as a ROM on the game control means side.

  However, this type of gaming machine has the following problems in variable display control using command information as described above. In recent years, display contents in a variable display device have become complicated, and accordingly, the number of variable display patterns used for command information has increased. For this reason, the type of data required to specify the variable display pattern on the game control means side increases, and the usage of the storage area of the memory for storing the data increases. In connection with this, the burden on the game control means side has increased.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine that can reduce the burden on the game control means side regarding the handling of information for variable display control. is there.

The present invention according to claim 1 has a variable display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information, and a game is displayed when a display result of the variable display device is in a predetermined specific display mode. A game machine that can be controlled in a state advantageous to a person,
Means for controlling the gaming state of the gaming machine, and game control means for outputting command information for controlling display on the variable display device;
Variable display control means for receiving command information output from the game control means and performing control for deriving and displaying a display result after variably starting the variable display device according to the command information;
The game control means includes
Display result determining means for determining in advance at least part of a display result in variable display on the variable display device;
A period determining means for determining a length of a variable display period required to reach a final display of a display result derived from a variable start in the variable display device;
The variable display period information that can specify the length of the variable display period determined by the period determining means and the display result determining means at a predetermined time related to the variable start within the variable display period in the variable display device. Command information output means capable of outputting the command information including display result information capable of specifying the determined display result,
The variable display control means performs variable display of the identification information within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information to derive and display the display result specified by the display result information. When a waiting period for confirmation occurs between the time when the display result is derived and displayed and the time when the display result is confirmed and displayed in the variable display period specified by the variable display period information, Display control for variably displaying the identification information in a predetermined standby state is performed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the command information output means has at least the command information at the time of variable start in the variable display period in the variable display device. The variable display period information is output.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the invention, the command information output means is specified by the variable display period information after outputting the variable display period information. The display result information is output at a predetermined time before the display result is derived and displayed within the variable display period.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the command information output means includes the display result in the variable display period determined by the period determination means. It is possible to further output as the command information confirmation information that can specify that the derived display result is to be confirmed and displayed at the time of confirming display,
The variable display control means further performs display control for confirming and displaying a display result according to the confirmation information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the game control means is provided for a plurality of types of variable display patterns determined in advance corresponding to the length of the variable display period. A variable display pattern determining means for selectively determining one variable display pattern from the inside;
The variable display period information output at the variable start time from the command information output means can further specify the variable display pattern determined by the variable display pattern determination means,
The variable display control means further performs display control for performing variable display from variable start in the variable display device to derivation of a display result according to a variable display pattern specified by the variable display period information. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the length of a plurality of types of variable display periods that can be specified by the variable display period information is predetermined. A variable display pattern storage means for storing a plurality of types of variable display patterns;
The variable display control means selectively determines one variable display pattern corresponding to the length of the variable display period specified by the variable display period information based on the storage information of the variable display pattern storage means. According to the variable display pattern, display control for performing variable display from variable start in the variable display device to derivation of the display result is further performed.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the variable display control means sets the identification information in a predetermined standby state during the determination waiting period. In the case of variably displaying, display control is performed to display the derived identification information in such a manner that it is alternately swung in a predetermined forward direction and reverse direction.

In addition to the configuration of the invention described in claims 5 to 7, the present invention described in claim 8 provides a display result of the identification information when the variable display device performs variable display of the identification information. It is possible to perform variable display that derives and displays multiple identification information in stages,
The game control means, based on the correlation between the type of identification information derived and displayed in the final stage and the type of identification information derived and displayed in the stage before the final stage, the identification information in the standby state. A standby state period determining means for determining the length of the standby state period for variably displaying
The command information output at the variable start time from the command information output unit further includes standby state period information that can specify the length of the standby state period determined by the standby period determination unit,
The variable display control means further performs display control for variably displaying the identification information in a predetermined standby state within the standby state period specified by the standby state period information.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the invention, the variable display control means may receive the confirmed information even during a standby state period based on the standby state period information. When received, the display control is performed to preferentially display the display result according to the determination information.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, eighth or ninth aspect, the game control means and the variable display control means Information is transmitted by one-way communication from the game control means to the variable display control means.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the tenth aspect of the invention, the command information output means can output information from the inside to the outside of the game control means. It includes an irreversible output means that cannot input information from the outside to the inside of the control means.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to the eleventh aspect, the command information output means includes:
An output port for outputting the command information;
And an output driver for adjusting an output level of the command information from the output port.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first, second, third, fourth or tenth aspect of the invention, the period determining means includes the display result of the variable display device and the variable display period. Determining the length of the variable display period corresponding to the display result determined by the display result determination means based on the predetermined correspondence relationship of
The variable display control means includes
Whether or not the variable display period specified by the variable display period information received from the game control means and the display result specified by the display result information received along with the variable display period information are in the correspondence relationship Determining means for determining whether or not
When the determination means determines that the variable display period and the display result are not in the correspondence relationship, the display result is corrected to a display result corresponding to the variable display period based on the variable display period, It further includes derived display result correcting means for correcting the derived display result.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first, second, third, fourth, or eleventh aspect, the variable display control means includes:
Sequential display control means for performing variable display for causing multiple types of identification information to appear and display sequentially in a predetermined order; and
Based on the display result information received from the game control means, further includes replacement setting means for setting identification information in the order of appearance a predetermined number of times earlier from the identification information of the display result as identification information for replacement display,
Before the derivative information display result is derived and displayed, control is performed to replace the identification information appearing and displayed by the sequential display control means with the replacement display identification information set by the replacement setting means. Features.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the variable display control means includes:
When the display result specified by the received display result information is a specific display mode that can be controlled to a specific game state advantageous to the player, the display result specified by the display result information is the specific game state. Display result determination means for determining whether or not the display state is a special display mode that can be controlled to a special gaming state advantageous to a player different from
According to the determination result by the display result determination means from among a plurality of types of display patterns determined in advance depending on whether or not the display result in the specific display mode by the variable display device is the special display mode. Display pattern selection means for selecting a display pattern of the variable display device at the time of occurrence of the specific gaming state;
A display control means for controlling a specific gaming state, wherein the variable display device performs control to execute display according to the display pattern selected by the display pattern selection means when controlled to the specific gaming state; It is characterized by.

[Action]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it operates as follows. Command information for controlling display on the variable display device is output by the action of game control means which is means for controlling the gaming state of the gaming machine. By the function of the variable display control means, control is performed to receive the command information output from the game control means, start the variable display device variably in accordance with the command information, and derive and display the display result. Due to the action of the display result determining means included in the game control means, at least a part of the display result in the variable display on the variable display device is determined in advance. The length of the variable display period required until the display of the display result derived from the variable start in the variable display device is determined by the action of the period determination means included in the game control means. By the function of the command information output means included in the game control means, the length of the variable display period determined by the period determining means can be specified at a predetermined time related to the variable start within the variable display period on the variable display device. The command information including the variable display period information and the display result information that can specify the display result determined by the display result determining means can be output. With the further function of the variable display control means, the identification information is variably displayed within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information, and the display result specified by the display result information is derived and displayed. If a waiting period for confirmation occurs between the timing for deriving and displaying the display result and the timing for confirming and displaying the display result in the variable display period specified by the variable display period information, the identification information is displayed during the waiting period for confirmation. Display control for variably displaying in a predetermined standby state is performed.

  Thus, if the game control means outputs command information including the variable display period information and the display result information at the variable start time in the variable display device, the variable specified by the variable display period information according to the command information. The variable display control means performs variable display within the display period, and after the display result specified by the display result information is derived and displayed, the display result that has been derived and displayed is determined at the time when the display result is determined. For this reason, it is not necessary to instruct the variable display contents in detail on the game control means side during the period between the variable start time and the display result finalization time, so the burden on the variable display control on the game control means side is reduced. . In addition, it is determined between the timing for deriving the display result in the variable display within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information and the timing for displaying the display result in the variable display period specified by the variable display period information. Even when there is a waiting time, the identification information is variably displayed during the waiting period. As a result, the confirmation of the display result is the same as the end time of the variable display period specified by the variable display period information. It becomes. For this reason, variable display period information with the same period length is used when multiple types of variable display with different substantial period lengths from the start of display to the display result being derived and displayed are selectively performed. Even if the display is used, the variable display in the standby state is performed between the time when the display result is derived and displayed and the time when the display result is determined, so that it is possible to display each variable display without a sense of incongruity. As a result, it is possible to instruct a plurality of types of variable display having substantially different display period lengths using variable display period information of one type of period length. Therefore, since it is possible to reduce the type of information used for command information as compared with the prior art, it is possible to reduce the amount of information stored for variable display control. In connection with this, it is possible to reduce the burden on the game control means side.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the action of the first aspect of the invention, the following action is obtained. By the further function of the command information output means, at least variable display period information is output as command information at the start of variable in the variable display period in the variable display device. In this way, at the game control means side, it is sufficient to output at least variable display period information as command information at the time of variable start within the variable display period on the variable display device. It is possible to reduce the processing load required for outputting the command information.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the first or second aspect of the invention, the following action is obtained. After the variable display period information is output by the further function of the command information output means, the display result information at a predetermined time before the display result is derived and displayed within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information. Is output. As described above, since the display result information is output at the time before the display result is derived and displayed within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information after the variable display period information is output, the display result information It becomes possible to make it difficult to be limited in terms of timing.

  According to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, in addition to the action of the invention as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, it operates as follows. By the further function of the command information output means, the fixed information that can specify that the derived display result is fixedly displayed at the time when the display result in the variable display period determined by the period determining means is fixedly displayed is further specified as the command information. It is possible to output. By further function of the variable display control means, display control for confirming and displaying the display result is further performed according to the confirmation information. In this way, since display control for confirming and displaying the display result is further performed in accordance with the confirmation information output at the time when the display result is confirmed and displayed, the display result is confirmed and displayed at the timing directly designated by the game control means side. It becomes possible to make it.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the action of the first aspect of the invention, the following action is obtained. One variable display pattern is selectively determined from a plurality of types of variable display patterns determined in advance corresponding to the length of the variable display period by the action of the variable display pattern determination means included in the game control means. . The variable display period information output at the variable start time from the command information output means can further specify the variable display pattern determined by the variable display pattern determination means. By the further function of the variable display control means, display control for performing variable display from the variable start in the variable display device to the derivation of the display result is performed according to the variable display pattern specified by the variable display period information. Thus, one variable display pattern selected and determined from a plurality of predetermined variable display patterns is specified by the variable display period information in the command information, and the variable specified by the variable display period information is specified. Since variable display according to the display pattern is performed by the variable display control means, a plurality of types of variable display patterns can be commanded using variable display period information of one type of period length. As a result, the type of information used for command information can be further reduced as compared with the prior art, so that the amount of information stored for variable display control can be further reduced. It is possible to further reduce the burden on the game control means side regarding the handling of information for use.

  In addition to the effect | action of the invention of Claim 1, this invention of Claim 6 acts as follows. By the function of the variable display pattern storage means, a plurality of types of variable display patterns determined in advance corresponding to each of a plurality of types of variable display periods that can be specified by the variable display period information are stored. By further function of the variable display control means, based on the storage information of the variable display pattern storage means, selectively determine one variable display pattern corresponding to the length of the variable display period specified by the variable display period information, In accordance with the determined variable display pattern, display control for performing variable display from variable start in the variable display device to derivation of the display result is further performed. Thus, on the variable display control means side, one variable display pattern corresponding to the length of the variable display period specified by the variable display period information is selectively selected based on the storage information of the variable display pattern storage means. Since the display control is further performed to display the variable display according to the variable display pattern, it is not necessary to instruct the variable display pattern in detail using the command information during the variable display on the game control means side. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the processing load in terms of outputting the command information on the game control means side.

  In addition to the effect | action of the invention in any one of Claims 1-6, this invention of Claim 7 acts as follows. By further function of the variable display control means, when the identification information is variably displayed in a predetermined standby state during the confirmation waiting period, the derived identification information is alternately swung in a predetermined forward direction and a reverse direction. Display control for displaying in a manner is performed. As described above, the identification information is displayed in such a manner that the identification information is alternately swung in the forward direction and the reverse direction during the determination waiting period, so that even if the identification information of the display result is derived, the identification information is not changed. By the movement, it is possible to give the player an impression that the display result has not yet been determined. For this reason, it is possible for the player to easily recognize that the display result is not fixed in the standby state by such swinging display of the identification information.

  The present invention described in claim 8 operates as follows in addition to the operation of the invention described in any of claims 5 to 7. When performing variable display of identification information, the variable display device can perform variable display in which a plurality of identification information is derived and displayed step by step as a display result of the identification information. Based on the correlation between the type of identification information derived and displayed at the final stage and the type of identification information derived and displayed at the stage prior to the final stage, due to the standby state period determination means included in the game control means Thus, the length of the standby state period during which the identification information is variably displayed in the standby state is determined. The command information output at the variable start time from the command information output unit further includes standby state period information that can specify the length of the standby state period determined by the standby period determination unit. By the further function of the variable display control means, display control for variably displaying the identification information in a predetermined standby state is further performed within the standby state period specified by the standby state period information. Thus, the length of the standby state period is determined based on the correlation between the type of identification information derived and displayed in the final stage and the type of identification information derived and displayed in the stage before the final stage. Therefore, it becomes possible to define the length of the standby display period of the identification information according to the correlation. Further, since the variable display control means variably displays the identification information in the standby state based on the standby state period specified by the standby state period information, the variable display control means side sets the standby state period in advance based on the standby state period information. Since it becomes possible to grasp, it becomes easy to perform variable display control in a standby state.

  In addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 4, the present invention described in claim 9 operates as follows. Display control that preferentially displays a fixed display of the display result according to the fixed information when the fixed information is received even during the standby state period based on the standby state period information by the further function of the variable display control means. Is made. In this way, even when the variable display control means is performing variable display in the standby state according to the standby state period information, when the fixed information is received, the display result according to the fixed information is fixed. Display is given priority. Therefore, even if there is a deviation in the control timing between the game control means side and the variable display control means side for some reason, the control timing on the variable display control means side is matched with the control timing on the game control means side. Thus, it is possible to prevent such a shift in control timing.

  The present invention described in claim 10 operates as follows in addition to the function of the invention described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, or 9. Information transmission by one-way communication from the game control means to the variable display control means is performed between the game control means and the variable display control means. As described above, since the transmission of information between the game control means and the variable display control means is performed based on the one-way communication of information from the game control means to the variable display control means, the variable display control means controls the game control. It is possible to prevent as much as possible the illegal act of inputting illegal information to the means and performing the illegal control operation of the game control means.

  In addition to the effect | action of the invention of Claim 10, this invention of Claim 11 acts as follows. By the function of the irreversible output means included in the command information output means, it is possible to output information from the inside to the outside of the game control means, but it is impossible to input information from the outside to the inside of the game control means. As described above, information can be output from the inside of the game control means to the outside, but information cannot be input from the outside to the inside of the game control means. One-way communication is ensured. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the illegal act of inputting illegal information from outside the game control means such as the variable display control means to the inside of the game control means to perform the illegal control operation of the game control means.

  In addition to the effect | action of the invention of Claim 11, this invention of Claim 12 acts as follows. The command information output means includes an output port for outputting the command information and an output driver for adjusting the output level of the command information from the output port. Thus, since the output port and the output driver for adjusting the output level are provided as the command information output means, it becomes difficult to input information as it is from the outside to the game control means. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the fraudulent act of inputting illegal information from the outside to the inside of the game control means to perform the illegal control operation of the game control means.

  In addition to the effect | action of the invention of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 10, this invention of Claim 13 acts as follows. By the function of the period determining means, the length of the variable display period corresponding to the display result determined by the display result determining means is determined based on a predetermined correspondence between the display result of the variable display device and the variable display period. Is done. The variable display control means includes a variable display period specified by the variable display period information received from the game control means, and display result information received along with the variable display period information, by the determination means included in the display control means. It is determined whether or not the display result specified by is in a correspondence relationship. When the determination display unit determines that the variable display period and the display result are not in a correspondence relationship by the operation of the derived display result correction unit included in the display control unit, the display result is changed based on the variable display period. The display result corresponding to the display period is corrected, and the derived display result is corrected. As described above, when the variable display period specified by the variable display period information and the display result specified by the display result information received along with the variable display period information are not in a predetermined correspondence relationship, the display is performed. On the control means side, the display result is corrected to a display result corresponding to the variable display period, and the derived display result is corrected. Therefore, a display result that does not have a predetermined correspondence with the variable display period is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an unnatural display from being performed.

  In addition to the effect | action of the invention of Claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 11, this invention of Claim 14 acts as follows. Due to the action of the sequential display control means included in the variable display control means, variable display is executed in which a plurality of types of identification information are sequentially displayed in accordance with a predetermined order. Based on the display result information received from the game control means by the function of the replacement setting means included in the variable display control means, the identification information in the order of appearance a predetermined number of times before the display result identification information is the identification information for replacement display. Set as By the further function of the variable display control means, the identification information that is sequentially displayed by the display control means at the stage before the display result of the identification information is derived and displayed is replaced with the identification information for replacement display set by the replacement setting means. Control to replace is performed. In this way, in order to perform variable display in which the identification information is sequentially displayed in accordance with a predetermined order, the variable display control means side identifies the replacement display based on the display result information received from the game control means. Before the information is set and the display result is derived and displayed, control is performed to replace the identification information to appear and display with the set identification information for replacement display. For this reason, the game control means only needs to output final display result information when performing variable display in which the identification information is sequentially displayed. As a result, it is not necessary to instruct the variable display pattern in detail using the command information during variable display on the game control means side. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the processing load in terms of outputting the command information on the game control means side.

  In addition to the effect | action of the invention in any one of Claims 1-4, this invention of Claim 15 acts as follows. Displayed when the display result specified by the received display result information is in a specific display mode that can be controlled to a specific gaming state advantageous to the player by the function of the display result determining means included in the variable display control means. It is determined whether or not the display result specified by the result information is a special display mode that can be controlled to a special game state that is advantageous to a player different from the specific game state. By the function of the display pattern selection means included in the variable display control means, a plurality of types of display patterns determined in advance depending on whether or not the display result in a specific display mode by the variable display device is a special display mode. The display pattern of the variable display device at the time of occurrence of the specific gaming state is selected according to the determination result by the display result determination means. When controlled to a specific gaming state by the action of the display control means in the specific gaming state included in the variable display control means, the variable display device causes the display according to the display pattern selected by the display pattern selection means to be executed. Control is performed.

  As described above, when the display pattern of the variable display device in the specific game state is changed depending on whether or not the special game state occurs, the variable display control unit specifies the display result information received from the game control unit. The type of display pattern of the variable display device in the gaming state is selected according to whether or not a special gaming state has occurred, and variable display is executed when controlled to a specific gaming state in accordance with the selected display pattern. . For this reason, the game control means only needs to output display result information when performing display in a specific game state according to whether or not a special game state has occurred. This eliminates the need to instruct a display pattern based on the display result on the game control means side. This makes it possible to further reduce the burden on the game control means side regarding the handling of information for variable display control on the game control means side.

Effects of specific examples of means for solving the problem

  With respect to claim 1, the following effects can be obtained. If the game control means outputs the command information including the variable display period information and the display result information at the variable start time in the variable display device, within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information according to the command information After the variable display is performed by the variable display control means and the display result specified by the display result information is derived and displayed, the display result derived and displayed is determined at the time when the display result is determined. For this reason, it is not necessary to instruct the variable display contents in detail on the game control means side during the period between the variable start time and the display result finalization time, so the burden on the variable display control on the game control means side can be reduced. Can do. In addition, it is determined between the timing for deriving the display result in the variable display within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information and the timing for displaying the display result in the variable display period specified by the variable display period information. Even when there is a waiting time, the identification information is variably displayed during the waiting period. As a result, the confirmation of the display result is the same as the end time of the variable display period specified by the variable display period information. It becomes. For this reason, variable display period information with the same period length is used when multiple types of variable display with different substantial period lengths from the start of display to the display result being derived and displayed are selectively performed. Even when the display is used, the variable display in the standby state is performed between the time when the display result is derived and displayed and the time when the display result is determined, so that each variable display can be displayed without any sense of incongruity. As a result, a plurality of types of variable display having substantially different display period lengths can be commanded using variable display period information of one type of period length. Therefore, since it is possible to reduce the type of information used for command information as compared with the prior art, the amount of information stored for variable display control can be reduced. The burden on the game control means side can be reduced.

  With respect to claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the following effect can be obtained. On the game control means side, it is sufficient to output at least the variable display period information as the command information at the time of variable start within the variable display period on the variable display device, so that the output of the command information on the game control means side at the time of variable start Can reduce the processing load required.

  With respect to claim 3, in addition to the effects of claim 1 or 2, the following effects can be obtained. After outputting the variable display period information, the display result information is output at the time before the display result is derived and displayed within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information. It is possible to make it difficult to be subject to general restrictions.

  Regarding the fourth aspect, in addition to the effects related to any one of the first to third aspects, the following effects can be obtained. Since the display control for confirming and displaying the display result is further performed in accordance with the confirmation information output when the display result is confirmed and displayed, the display result can be confirmed and displayed at the timing directly designated by the game control means side. .

  Regarding claim 5, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the following effect can be obtained. One variable display pattern selected and determined from a plurality of predetermined variable display patterns is specified by the variable display period information in the command information, and follows the variable display pattern specified by the variable display period information. Since variable display is performed by the variable display control means, a plurality of types of variable display patterns can be commanded using variable display period information of one type of period length. As a result, the number of types of information used for the command information can be further reduced as compared with the prior art, so that the amount of information stored for variable display control can be further reduced. Regarding handling, the burden on the game control means side can be further reduced.

  Regarding claim 6, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the following effect can be obtained. On the variable display control means side, one variable display pattern corresponding to the length of the variable display period specified by the variable display period information is selectively determined based on the storage information of the variable display pattern storage means, Since display control for performing variable display according to the variable display pattern is further performed, it is not necessary to instruct the variable display pattern in detail using the command information during variable display on the game control means side. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the processing burden on the output side of the command information on the game control means side.

  Regarding the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect related to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the following effect can be obtained. The identification information is displayed in such a manner that the identification information is alternately swung in the forward direction and the reverse direction during the confirmation waiting period, so that even if the identification information of the display result is derived, the identification information is displayed by the fluctuation of the identification information. It is possible to give the player an impression that the result has not yet been finalized. For this reason, the player can easily recognize that the display result is not fixed in the standby state by such swinging display of the identification information.

  Regarding the eighth aspect, in addition to the effect related to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the following effect can be obtained. The length of the waiting period is determined based on the correlation between the type of identification information derived and displayed in the final stage and the type of identification information derived and displayed in the stage before the final stage. The length of the standby display period of the identification information can be defined according to the relationship. Further, since the variable display control means variably displays the identification information in the standby state based on the standby state period specified by the standby state period information, the variable display control means side sets the standby state period in advance based on the standby state period information. Since it becomes possible to grasp, it becomes easy to perform variable display control in a standby state.

  Regarding claim 9, in addition to the effect of claim 4, the following effect can be obtained. Even when the variable display control means is performing variable display in the standby state according to the standby state period information, when the fixed information is received, the fixed display of the display result according to the fixed information is given priority. To be done. Therefore, even if there is a deviation in the control timing between the game control means side and the variable display control means side for some reason, the control timing on the variable display control means side is matched with the control timing on the game control means side. Such control timing deviation can be prevented.

  According to the tenth aspect, in addition to the effects related to any one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth aspects, the following effects can be obtained. Since the transmission of information between the game control means and the variable display control means is performed based on one-way communication of information from the game control means to the variable display control means, the variable display control means is illegal to the game control means. It is possible to prevent fraudulent acts that cause information to be input and perform an illegal control operation of the game control means as much as possible.

  With respect to claim 11, in addition to the effect of claim 10, the following effect can be obtained. Although it is possible to output information from inside to outside of the game control means, it becomes impossible to input information from outside to inside of the game control means, so one-way communication from the game control means to the variable display control means is possible. Surely done. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the illegal act of inputting illegal information into the game control means from the outside of the game control means such as the variable display control means to perform the illegal control operation of the game control means.

  With respect to claim 12, in addition to the effect of claim 11, the following effect can be obtained. Since the output port and the output driver for adjusting the output level are provided as the command information output means, it becomes difficult to input information from the outside to the inside of the game control means as it is. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the illegal act of inputting illegal information from the outside to the inside of the game control means to perform the illegal control operation of the game control means.

  According to the thirteenth aspect, in addition to the effects of the first, second, third, fourth or tenth aspect, the following effects can be obtained. When the variable display period specified by the variable display period information and the display result specified by the display result information received along with the variable display period information do not have a predetermined correspondence, the display control means side Since the display result is corrected to the display result corresponding to the variable display period and the derived display result is corrected, the display result that is not in a predetermined correspondence relationship with the variable display period is not displayed. It is possible to prevent natural display.

  According to the fourteenth aspect, in addition to the effects related to the first, second, third, fourth, or eleventh aspects, the following effects can be obtained. In order to perform variable display in which the identification information is sequentially displayed in accordance with a predetermined order, the variable display control means sets identification information for replacement display based on the display result information received from the game control means. In the stage before the display result is derived and displayed, control is performed to replace the identification information that appears and is displayed with the set identification information for replacement display. For this reason, the game control means only needs to output final display result information when performing variable display in which the identification information is sequentially displayed. As a result, it is not necessary to instruct the variable display pattern in detail using the command information during variable display on the game control means side. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the processing burden on the output side of the command information on the game control means side.

  Regarding the fifteenth aspect, in addition to the effects related to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the following effects can be obtained. When changing the display pattern of the variable display device in the specific gaming state depending on whether or not the special gaming state occurs, the variable display control means is based on the display result information received from the game control means, in the specific gaming state. The type of the display pattern of the variable display device is selected according to whether or not a special gaming state has occurred, and variable display is executed in accordance with the selected display pattern when controlled to the specific gaming state. For this reason, the game control means only needs to output display result information when performing display in a specific game state according to whether or not a special game state has occurred. Thereby, it is not necessary to instruct the game control means to instruct the display pattern based on the display result. Thereby, regarding the handling of the information for variable display control on the game control means side, the burden on the game control means side can be further reduced.

It is a whole front view which shows the pachinko game machine of an example of the game machine with which the card unit was adjacent. It is a whole rear view which shows the partial internal structure of the pachinko game machine with which the card unit was adjacent. It is a rear view of the game board of a pachinko gaming machine. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the circuit structure in a game control board. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure in a display control board with the LCD display which implement | achieves an image display. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the signal wire | line between a game control board and a display control board. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the transmission path | route of the display control command data and the display control signal INT between a game control board and a display control board. It is a timing chart showing an example of transmission timing of display control command data given from a game control board to a display control board. It is a figure which shows the various random counters used for control of this pachinko gaming machine. It is a figure which shows the specific example of display control command data in a table format. It is a figure which shows the specific example of display control command data in a table format. It is a figure which shows the specific example of display control command data in a table format. FIG. 20 is a table showing a correspondence relationship between types of display control command data used in the display control examples shown in FIGS. 15 to 19 and symbols attached to commands. It is a figure which shows the corresponding | compatible relationship between the kind of screen display output (display content) of a variable display part and screen display output symbol which are shown by the example of display control shown in FIGS. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display control before the change start of a special symbol. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st display control example in the period from the time of the fluctuation | variation start of a special symbol to the time of the fluctuation | variation end. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd example of display control in the period from the time of a change start of a special symbol to the time of the end of change. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of display control in the period from the variation start time of a special symbol to the end of variation. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display control in the variable display part after a big hit symbol display. It is a flowchart which shows the game control main process performed by the basic circuit. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine program of special symbol process processing. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the special symbol fluctuation waiting process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a special symbol determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a stop symbol setting process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a symbol fluctuation | variation setting process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of all the symbol variation start processes. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of all the symbol fluctuation | variation stop processes. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a jackpot display process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a big winning opening release start process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a process during big prize opening opening. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process between rounds. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the big hit end process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a display command output process. It is a flowchart which shows the display control main process performed by the object for display control. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of INT interruption processing. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a display control process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a display control command reception waiting process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of all the symbol variation start processes. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process during symbol fluctuation. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of all the symbol fluctuation | variation stop processes. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a jackpot display process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a big winning opening release start process. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process between rounds. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of a process during big prize opening opening. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the big hit end process. It is a figure which shows the various random counters used for control of the pachinko game machine by 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display control command data by 2nd Embodiment in a table format. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the symbol fluctuation | variation setting process by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process during symbol fluctuation by 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the various random counters used for control of the pachinko game machine by 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the display control command data by 3rd Embodiment in a table format. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the stop symbol setting process by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the symbol fluctuation | variation setting process by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the process during symbol change by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing content of the jackpot display process by 4th Embodiment.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a coin gaming machine or a slot machine. A gaming machine having a variable display device capable of variably displaying information, and capable of being controlled in a state advantageous to the player when the display result of the variable display device is in a predetermined display mode. All are eligible.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an overall front view showing a pachinko gaming machine 1 as an example of a gaming machine with adjacent card units. As shown in the figure, the pachinko gaming machine 1 has a glass door frame 2 formed in a frame shape. On the lower surface of the glass door frame 2 is a hitting ball supply tray 3. Under the hitting ball supply tray 3, there are provided a surplus ball receiving tray 4 for storing prize balls overflowing from the hitting ball supply tray 3 and a hitting operation handle (hereinafter referred to as an operation knob) 5 for firing the hitting ball. A game board 6 is detachably attached to the rear of the glass door frame 2. A game area 7 is provided in front of the game board 6.

  Near the center of the game area 7, a variable display unit 9 for variable display of a plurality of types of identification information called “special symbols”, and a variable display for variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information called “ordinary symbols” 10 is provided. In this embodiment, the variable display unit 9 is composed of an LCD display (liquid crystal display) and can variably display special symbols. Specifically, in the display area of the variable display unit 9, three variable display areas are formed on the display in a manner of being arranged in the horizontal direction, and in these areas, “left symbol”, “middle symbol”, “right symbol” These three special symbols can be variably displayed. Moreover, the variable display 10 consists of 7 segment LED, and has one symbol display area. The special symbol displayed on the variable display section 9 is variably started based on the start winning of the hit ball to the start winning opening 14 as will be described later. On the other hand, the normal symbol displayed on the variable display unit 9 is variably started based on the hit ball passing through the passing gate 11 as described later.

  At the bottom of the variable display section 9, a start winning memory display 18 having four display sections (LEDs) for storing and displaying the number of starting winning balls that have entered the start winning opening 14 is provided. In this example, with an upper limit of four, every time a start prize is stored, one additional LED of the start prize storage display 18 is lit. Each time the variable display of the special symbol is started in the variable display section 9, one LED is extinguished.

  On the side of the variable display device 8, a passing gate 11 for guiding a hit ball is provided. The hit ball that has passed through the passing gate 11 is guided to a start winning opening 14 having a pair of left and right movable pieces 15 through a ball outlet 13. The movable piece 15 is opened by a solenoid 16. In the path between the passage gate 11 and the ball exit 13, there is a gate switch 12 that detects a hit ball that has passed through the passage gate 11. The start winning ball that has entered the start winning opening 14 is guided to the back of the game board 6 and detected by the start opening switch 17.

  A variable winning ball apparatus 19 provided with an opening / closing plate 20 is attached below the movable piece 15. When the gaming state becomes a big hit state (specific gaming state), the opening / closing plate 20 is tilted by the solenoid 21 and the large winning opening of the variable winning ball apparatus 19 is opened. Of the balls that have entered the big winning opening, the winning ball that has entered the specific winning area (V pocket) is detected by the V count switch 22. On the other hand, a winning ball that has won a normal winning area other than the specific winning area in the special winning opening is detected by the count switch 23.

  The game board 6 is provided with a plurality of winning openings 24. Decorative lamps 25 that are lit and displayed during the game are provided around the left and right sides of the game area 7, and an outlet 26 is provided at the bottom for collecting hit balls that have not won. Two speakers 27 that emit sound effects are provided on the left and right upper portions outside the game area 7. On the outer periphery of the game area 7, a game effect LED 28a and game effect lamps 28b and 28c are provided. In this example, a prize ball lamp 51 is provided in the vicinity of one speaker 27 so as to be turned on when the prize ball is paid out, and a ball-out lamp 52 that is turned on when the supply ball is cut out is provided in the vicinity of the other speaker 27. Is provided. Further, FIG. 1 also shows a card unit 50 that is installed adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 1 and enables ball lending by inserting a prepaid card.

  The hit ball fired by the operation of the hitting operation knob 5 enters the game area 7 through the hitting rail, and then flows down the game area 7. When the hit ball is detected by the gate switch 12 through the passing gate 11, the normal symbol stopped and displayed on the variable display 10 is variably started. In addition, when the hit ball passes the passage gate 11 during the variable display of the variable indicator 10, the passage is memorized, and the passage is made after the variable indicator 10 is stopped and the fluctuation can be started again. The variable display 10 is variably controlled by subtracting “1” from the memory. The upper limit of the passing memory is set to “4”, for example, and the current passing memory number is displayed by a passing memory display (not shown). When the hit ball enters the start winning opening 14 and is detected by the start opening switch 17, the special symbol displayed on the variable display unit 9 starts scrolling if the variation of the special symbol can be started. For example, if the change of the special symbol cannot be started immediately because the variable display has already started and the special symbol is changing, the start winning memory is increased by one.

  When the display result after the variable display operation of the variable indicator 10 becomes a predetermined specific display result (for example, 7), the movable piece 15 provided in the start winning opening 14 is opened for a predetermined time and the player The first state is advantageous to the user.

  When a pachinko ball is won at the start winning port 14 and detected by the start port switch 17, all the special symbols are variably displayed on the variable display unit 9 of the variable display device 8 if the variation of the special symbol can be started. (Fluctuation display) starts. After that, when the left, middle, and right special symbols are stopped and the stop display result is a predetermined display mode (for example, 777), a specific gaming state (a big hit state) occurs. A specific display mode in which such a big hit state occurs is called a big hit symbol, and in this example, a plurality of types are determined in advance. When the big hit state occurs in this way, the opening / closing plate 20 of the variable winning ball apparatus 19 is opened, which is a first state advantageous to the player. This first state ends when a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds) or a predetermined number of hit balls (for example, 10) wins, whichever comes first, and then for the player This is a disadvantageous second state. If the hit ball that has entered the large winning opening of the variable winning ball apparatus 19 in the first state wins the specific winning area (V pocket) and is detected by the V count switch 22, the first time of that time. Waiting for the end of the state, the opening / closing plate 20 is opened again to be in the first state. This repeated continuation control in the first state can be executed up to 15 times. Such a time when the first state that can be executed 15 times at maximum is called a round of repeated continuation control. In this example, the repeated continuation control can be repeatedly executed from the first round to the maximum 15th round.

  When the left, middle and right special symbols variably displayed on the variable display unit 9 of the variable display device 8 are stopped and displayed with a combination of big hit symbols matching the same symbol type, a big hit occurs as described above. However, if the jackpot symbol is a predetermined type of jackpot symbol (a symbol with a special display mode) among a plurality of types of jackpot symbols, the probability that a jackpot will occur is higher than that in the normal gaming state. The probability variation state (hereinafter also referred to as a probability variation state) is obtained. A special display mode jackpot symbol that triggers the occurrence of such a probability variation state is called a probability variation symbol. In the following, jackpots generated by probability variation symbols are referred to as probability variation jackpots, and jackpots generated by jackpot symbols other than probability variation symbols (non-probability variation symbols) are referred to as non-probability variation jackpots.

  Once a probability variation jackpot occurs in the normal gaming state, the probability variation state is, for example, a probability variation state until a jackpot for at least a predetermined number of probability variation continuations (for example, once or twice) occurs. Is continuously controlled. Further, if a probability variation big hit occurs during the probability variation state, the probability variation continuation count is counted again after that probability variation big hit, and then the probability variation state continues until at least the number of probability variation continuations occurs. If the jackpot that has reached the probability variation continuation count is due to a non-probability variation symbol other than the probability variation symbol, the normal gaming state in which the probability variation does not occur is returned.

  Therefore, when no restriction is placed on the continuous control of the probability variation state, the probability variation state continues indefinitely at least as long as the big hit that has reached the number of times of the probability change continues is the probability change big hit. In the case of this pachinko gaming machine 1, once the probability variation state continues to some extent, once the probability variation jackpot is continuously generated during the probability variation state in order to end the continuous control to the probability variation state, An upper limit has been set. When the big hit display mode is determined to be an uncertain change big hit based on the upper limit number of times, the continuous control of the probability variation state is forcibly terminated at that time. Hereinafter, such control is referred to as frequency limit control. It is to be noted that the restriction that prohibits big hits in the probability variation symbol by executing the number limit control (this is referred to as a continuous regulation state) is commonly referred to as (probability variation) limiter operation.

  As described above, when the big hit is generated when the big hit in the probability variation symbol is limited by the execution of the number limiting control, the big hit by the normal big hit symbol (non-probability variable symbol) other than the probability variation symbol is generated. Therefore, when the number limiting control is executed, the big hit with the probability variation symbol is temporarily prohibited. The number-of-times limit state is canceled when the next big hit occurs, and after the prohibition of occurrence of the big hit with the probability variation symbol, the big hit with the probability variation symbol is permitted again as usual.

  In the variable display unit 9 of the variable display device 8, a reach state may occur. Here, the “reach state” means that even after the variable display unit 9 of the variable display device 8 is variably started, even when the display control progresses and reaches the stage before the display result is derived and displayed. A display mode that does not deviate from the display condition that is the display mode. In other words, reach is a variable display device whose display state can change, and the variable display device derives and displays a plurality of display results at different times, and the plurality of display results are specified in advance. In a gaming machine in which the gaming state is a specific gaming state that is advantageous to the player when the display mode is combined, the plurality of display results are already derived and displayed at a stage where they are not yet derived and displayed. A display state in which a display result satisfies a condition that is a combination of the specific display modes. In other words, reach means that a game state is obtained when a display result of a variable display device having a plurality of variable display units whose display states can be changed is a combination of predetermined display modes. In a gaming machine that is in a specific gaming state that is advantageous to the player, when the display result of the variable display device has not yet been derived and displayed, the combination of the specific display modes is likely to be displayed. This is the display state that makes a person think. For example, the reach display state also includes a state in which variable display by the plurality of variable display units is performed while maintaining a state where the combinations of the specific display modes are aligned. Furthermore, some reach is likely to generate a big hit when it appears, compared to normal reach (normal reach). Such a specific reach is called super reach.

  The reach state is a display state at the time when the display control of the variable display device progresses and reaches a stage before the display result is derived and displayed, and is determined before the display result is derived and displayed. This also refers to a display state in a case where at least a part of the display results of the plurality of variable display areas that have been satisfied the conditions for the specific display mode.

  Next, the structure of the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is an overall rear view showing a partial internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine with adjacent card units.

  A mechanism plate 36 is provided on the back side of the game board 6 of the pachinko gaming machine 1. A ball tank 38 is provided on the upper portion of the mechanism plate 36, and pachinko balls are supplied to the ball tank 38 from above in a state where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed on the gaming machine installation island. The pachinko balls in the ball tank 38 are supplied to the ball dispensing device through the guide rod 39.

  The mechanism plate 36 includes a variable display control unit 29 that performs display control of the variable display unit 9 via the relay board 30, a game control board 31 that is covered with a board case 32 and mounted with a game control microcomputer, and the like. A relay board 33 for relaying signals between the control unit 29 and the game control board 31, and a prize ball board 37 on which a payout control microcomputer for performing payout control of pachinko balls and the like are mounted. Further, on the mechanism plate 36, a ball hitting device 34 for launching a hit ball to the game area 7 using the rotational force of the motor, and a lamp for sending signals to the speaker 27 and the game effect lamps / LEDs 28a, 28b, 28c. A control board 35 is provided.

  FIG. 3 is a rear view of the game board 6 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as seen from the back. On the back surface of the game board 6, as shown in FIG. 3, a winning ball collective cover 40 is provided for guiding the winning balls that have won the winning holes and the winning ball devices along a predetermined winning path. The winning ball guided by the winning ball collective cover 40 is supplied to a winning ball processing device (not shown) for processing one winning ball. The winning ball processing device is provided with a winning ball detection switch 99 (see FIG. 4), and a detection signal of the winning ball detection switch 99 is sent to the game control board 31.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration in the game control board 31. 4 also shows the lamp control board 35, the prize ball board 37, the sound control board 70, the display control board 80, and the launch control board 91.

  The game control board 31 includes a basic circuit 53 that controls the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to a program, a gate switch 12, a start port switch 17, a V count switch 22, a count switch 23, a winning ball detection switch 99, and a full switch 402. The basic circuit includes a switch circuit 58 that supplies a signal from the full circuit switch 402 that detects whether the extra ball tray 4 is full to the basic circuit 53, a solenoid 16 that opens and closes the movable piece 15, and a solenoid 21 that opens and closes the opening and closing plate 20. 53 includes a solenoid circuit 59 that is driven in accordance with a command from 53, and a lamp / LED circuit 60 that lights and blinks the start-up memory display 18 and drives the variable display 10 and the decoration lamp 25.

  In addition, the game control board 31 generates jackpot information indicating the occurrence of a jackpot, starting information indicating the number of starting winning balls used for variable display of the variable display device 8, and probability fluctuations according to the data provided from the basic circuit 53. An information output circuit 64 is provided for outputting probability variation information and the like indicating to a host computer such as a hall management computer.

  The basic circuit 53 includes a ROM 54, a RAM 55, a CPU 56, an I / O port 57, and a clock generator 501. The ROM 54 stores various information (data) such as a game control program. The RAM 55 is for use as a work memory. The CPU 56 performs various control operations such as a game control operation in accordance with various control programs such as a game control program. The I / O port 57 has a plurality of ports provided for inputting and outputting various information such as data and signals. The clock generation unit 501 supplies an operation clock serving as a reference timing when the basic circuit 53 operates to each unit in the basic circuit 53 such as the CPU 56.

  Further, the game control board 31 includes an initial reset circuit 65 for resetting the basic circuit 53 when the power is turned on, a periodic reset circuit 65 for periodically resetting the basic circuit 53 after the power is turned on, and the basic circuit 53. An address decoding circuit 67 is provided for decoding a given address signal and outputting a signal for selecting any I / O port of the I / O ports 57.

  The basic circuit 53 is initially reset by the initial reset circuit 65 when the power is turned on. Further, after the power is turned on, the basic circuit 53 is periodically reset (for example, every 2 ms) by the periodic reset circuit 65, and interrupt processing is executed. Thus, each time the interrupt process is executed, the game control program is executed again from the predetermined position.

  The ball striking device 34 for firing a ball is driven by a drive motor 94 controlled by a circuit on the firing control board 91. Then, the driving force of the drive motor 94 is adjusted according to the operation amount of the operation knob 5. That is, the circuit on the firing control board 91 is controlled so that the hit ball is fired at a speed corresponding to the operation amount of the operation knob 5.

  The basic circuit 53 pays out a predetermined number of prize balls based on the detection signal of the winning ball detection switch 99, the detection signal of the start port switch 17, the detection signal of the V count switch 22, and the detection signal of the count switch 23. A prize ball signal is output to the prize ball substrate 37. The prize ball substrate 37 controls the ball dispensing device based on the outputted prize ball signal to perform a control for dispensing a predetermined number of prize balls.

  More specifically, for example, 15 prize balls are paid out for each winning ball for the winning ball that has won the big winning gate of the variable winning ball apparatus 19, and one for the winning ball that has won the starting winning port 14. For example, 6 prize balls are paid out for each winning ball, and for the other winning balls 24 awarded to the winning opening 24, for example, 10 prize balls are paid out for each winning ball.

  In order to control the payout of such three types of prize balls, the game control board 31 performs a control operation as follows. When a detection signal from the start port switch 17, the V count switch 22 or the count switch 23 is input, the detection signal is used as a payout number determination data used when determining the payout number of the award balls. The number of payouts is temporarily stored internally. Thereafter, if a detection signal from the winning ball detection switch 99 is input, it is determined by referring to the payout number determination data whether there is a detection signal from the start port switch 17 before the input. The game control board 31 outputs a prize ball command signal for instructing the prize ball board 37 to pay out the number of prize balls “6”. On the other hand, when there is a detection signal from the winning ball detection switch 99 and there is a detection signal from the V count switch 22 or the count switch 23 before that, the game control board 31 has a prize ball of “15”. A number of prize ball command signals are output to the prize ball substrate 37. Further, when there is a detection signal from the winning ball detection switch 99, if no detection signal has been input from any of the start port switch 17, V switch 22 and count switch 23 before that, game control is performed. The board 31 outputs a prize ball command signal to the prize ball board 37 for giving a command of paying out the number of prize balls of “10”.

  If the detection signal from the full tank switch 402 indicates a full state, a prize ball prohibition command signal is sent to the prize ball control board 37 according to the situation, and the prize ball device 97a receives a prize ball. Stop paying out.

  From the game control board 31 to the display control board 80, display control command data and an interrupt signal (hereinafter referred to as a display control signal INT) as a strobe signal are provided as command information relating to display control of the variable display unit 9 of the variable display device 8. Is transmitted). On the display control board 80 side, display control of the variable display unit 9 is performed according to the content of the display control command data CD.

  From the game control board 31 to the lamp control board 35, command information relating to control of the game effect LED 28a, the prize ball lamp 50, the ball-out lamp 52, and the game effect lamps 28a and 28b controlled by the lamp control board 35 is provided. Information such as a lamp control signal is transmitted.

  From the game control board 31 to the voice control board 70, information such as voice control command data as command information relating to voice control such as sound effects outputted from the speaker 27 by the voice control board 70 is transmitted. In response to the voice control command data, the voice control microcomputer provided in the voice control board 70 controls voice such as the generation of sound effects from the speaker 27.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in the display control board 80 together with an LCD display 82 for realizing image display.

  The game control board 31 is provided with an output buffer 571 and an output port 572. The output buffer 571 and the output port 572 constitute part of the I / O port 57. The display control command data is output from the CPU 56 toward the display control board 80 via the output buffer 571, the output port 572, and an output driver (not shown) based on the control of the CPU 56 (see FIG. 4).

  The output buffer 571 is composed of a plurality of buffers. Each buffer in the output buffer 571 can pass a signal only in the direction from the game control board 31 to the display control board 80. That is, the output buffer 571 is an output interface having an irreversibility that allows output of information from the inside of the game control board 31 to the outside but does not allow input of information from the outside to the inside of the game control board 31. Therefore, there is no room for signals to be transmitted from the display control board 80 side to the game control board 31 side. Thereby, even if unauthorized modification is added to the circuit in the display control board 80, the information to be output by unauthorized modification is not transmitted to the game control board 31. For this reason, one-way communication of information from the game control board 31 to the display control board 80 is ensured, and an illegal act of causing illegal information to be input from the display control board 80 to the game control board 31 to perform an illegal control operation. It can be surely prevented.

  The display control CPU 101 operates according to a program stored in the control data ROM 102. When the display control signal INT as a strobe signal output from the game control board 31 in the manner described above is input via the input buffer 105, the display control CPU 101 enters the interrupt operation state. Capture display control command data. Then, the display control CPU 101 performs display control of an image displayed on the LCD display 82 in accordance with the instruction content of the fetched display control command data. Specifically, display control data such as a special symbol variation pattern is stored in the control data ROM 102, and the display control data corresponding to the received display control command data is selectively read out. Based on this, a command for displaying an image in a display pattern corresponding to the display control command data is given to the VDP 103. VDP 103 reads necessary data from character ROM 86. The VDP 103 generates image data to be displayed on the LCD display 82 in accordance with the input data, and stores the image data in the VRAM 87. The image data in the VRAM 87 is converted into R (red), G (green), and B (blue) signals (RGB signals), converted into analog signals by the D / A conversion circuit 104, and displayed on the LCD display 82. Is output.

  In FIG. 5, a reset circuit 83 for resetting the VDP 103, an oscillation circuit 85 for supplying an operation clock to the VDP 103, a character ROM 86 for storing frequently used image data, and an input for inputting display control command data A buffer 105 is also shown. The frequently used image data stored in the character ROM 86 is, for example, a person, animal, or an image made up of characters, figures, symbols, or the like displayed on the LCD display 82.

  The input buffer 105 is composed of a plurality of buffers. Each buffer in the input buffer 105 can pass a signal only in the direction from the game control board 31 to the display control board 80. In other words, the input buffer 105 is an input interface having irreversibility that allows output of information from the outside to the inside of the display control board 80 but does not allow input of information from the inside to the outside of the display control board 80. Therefore, there is no room for signals to be transmitted from the display control board 80 side to the game control board 31 side. Thereby, even if unauthorized modification is added to the circuit in the display control board 80, the information to be output by unauthorized modification is not transmitted to the game control board 31. For this reason, one-way communication of information from the game control board 31 to the display control board 80 is ensured, and an illegal act of causing illegal information to be input from the display control board 80 to the game control board 31 to perform an illegal control operation. It can be surely prevented.

  In addition, the data transmission path between the game control board 31 and the display control board 80 is provided with two buffers as an irreversible interface, the output buffer 572 and the input buffer 105 described above. Since the illegal signal transmission is prevented twice, the illegal control operation of the game control by illegal modification can be further prevented.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of signal lines between the game control board 31 and the display control board 80. Referring to FIG. 6, display control command data CD0-CD7 are composed of 8-bit data, and are transmitted in parallel from game control board 31 to display control board 80 using eight signal lines. Further, the display control signal INT is transmitted from the game control board 31 to the display control board 80 using one signal line. When the display control signal INT is input to the display control board 80, the display control CPU 101 enters an interrupt state, and performs an operation of fetching display control command data. Further, the display control board 31 to the display control board 80 are also connected with power supply wiring for supplying + 12V and + 5V power supply potential and ground wiring for supplying the ground potential GND.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the transmission path of the display control command data and the display control signal INT between the game control board 31 and the display control board 80.

  Referring to FIG. 7, in game control board 31, output driver 580 is provided on the data output side of output port 572. Output driver 580 includes a plurality of driver sections 5800 provided corresponding to each of a total of nine signal lines for transmission of display control command data CD0 to CD7 and display control signal INT. Each of the plurality of driver units 5800 includes two resistors 581 and 582 and one NPN type transistor 583. Unlike a general bipolar transistor that performs an analog on / off operation, the transistor 583 includes a digital transistor that performs a digital on / off operation. Therefore, the transistor 583 operates in response to a change in the input level quickly, so that it is possible to prevent output level overshoot and undershoot.

  The transistor 583 is provided in such a manner that the collector is connected to the output terminal of the game control board 31 and the emitter is connected to the ground node 584 that receives the ground potential. A signal for transmitting corresponding data among the display control command data CD0 to CD7 output from the output port 572 is supplied to the base of the transistor 583 via the resistor 581. A resistor 582 is connected between a node between the base of the transistor 583 and the resistor 581 and a ground node 584.

  On the other hand, in the display control board 80, a signal power supply circuit 110 is provided on the data input side of the input buffer 105. Signal power supply circuit 110 includes a plurality of drive units 1100 provided corresponding to each of a total of nine signal lines for transmission of display control command data CD0 to CD7 and display control signal INT. Each of the plurality of driving units 1100 includes two resistors 111 and 112. Resistors 111 and 112 are connected in series between a power supply node 113 receiving a power supply potential of 5 V and an input terminal of the input buffer 105. A node between the resistor 111 and the resistor 112 is connected to a signal line having a corresponding relationship among the display control command data CD0 to CD7 and the display control signal INT through an input terminal of the display control board. Therefore, the plurality of driver units 580 on the game control board 31 side and the plurality of drive units 1100 on the display control board 80 side are connected to each other via signal lines.

  In the output driver 580, in each of the driver units 5800, when the input signal level of the corresponding control signal applied to the base of the transistor 583 becomes a low level, the transistor 583 is turned off. In that case, no current flows from the power supply node 113 of the display control board 80 to the ground node 584 through the resistor 111 and the transistor 583. As a result, the potential of the node between the resistor 111 and the resistor 112, that is, the level of the control signal received by the display control board 80 becomes a predetermined high level, and as a result, is given to the CPU 101 via the input buffer 105. The signal level becomes high.

  On the other hand, in each of the driver portions 5800, when the input level of the corresponding control signal applied to the base of the transistor 583 becomes a high level, the transistor 583 is turned on. In that case, a current flows from the power supply node 113 of the display control board 80 to the ground node 584 through the resistor 111 and the transistor 583. As a result, the potential of the node between the resistor 111 and the resistor 112, that is, the level of the control signal received by the display control board 80 becomes a low level. As a result, the signal given to the CPU 101 via the input buffer 105 is reduced. The level becomes low level.

  As described above, the output driver 580 and the signal power supply circuit 110 constitute an inversion circuit that inverts the signal level of the display control signal. Further, in this inverting circuit, the output driver 580 is connected to the signal power supply circuit 110 to display control signals such as display control command data and display control signal INT transmitted from the game control board 31 to the display control board 80. This is a circuit having a function of adjusting the signal output level (transmission level) to a certain level so as not to attenuate. In other words, the output driver 580 is a circuit that can adjust the output level so that the output level of the data output from the output port 572 can be maintained at a stable level. As for the display control command data, the output driver 580 can adjust the output level so that the display control command data output from the output port 572 can maintain the output level necessary for stable command transmission. It is a possible circuit. Furthermore, the output driver 580 can also perform signal waveform shaping of the display control command data. By providing the output driver 580, the display control command data is stably transmitted from the game control board 31 to the display control board 80.

  FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an example of transmission timing of display control command data given from the game control board 31 to the display control board 80.

  The display control command data is composed of data in which one command unit is 2 bytes (a total of 2 bytes of CMD1 and CMD2). In this way, the display control command data consisting of 2 bytes is output by one command every one output of the periodic reset signal output from the periodic reset circuit 65 every 2 ms, that is, every 2 ms. The display control command data of 1 command consisting of 2 bytes is output in a period of 2 ms as described above, for example, taking 70 μs. The display control signal INT as an interrupt signal is a timing at which each byte of display control command data output in 2 bytes at 70 μs can be captured on the display control board 80 side, and 1 byte of display control command data is received. Every time it is output, it is output (meaning that it is in an active state, in this case it is low active). In this embodiment, the display control board 80 side captures the display control command data at the falling timing of the display control signal INT. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display control command data is captured. May be the rise timing of the display control signal INT.

  In FIG. 8, as specific command output examples, a command (variation start command) that is output at the start of variation of the special symbol in the variable display unit 9, and a command (variation stop command) that is output when the variation is stopped. It is shown. As the change start command, data of change time (which can specify data related to reach operation) command, left stop symbol command, right stop symbol command, and middle stop symbol command are output continuously in this order. The At the beginning of the change of the special symbol, it is sufficient to output the variable time command, and the stop symbol commands for left, middle and right are output at any timing during the change time of the special symbol. May be.

  When the change start command output in this way is received on the display control board 80 side, the display control CPU 101 performs control based on the control data stored in advance on the display control board 80 side according to the contents of the change time command. Variable display control is executed from the start of the change of the special symbol to before the stop of the change. Thereafter, only the data of all symbol variation stop commands is output as the variation stop command. When this fluctuation stop command is output, the display control CPU 101 executes control for stopping fluctuations of all the special symbols on which variable display is performed in response to the above-described fluctuation start command. Thereby, the stop display result of the special symbol is derived and displayed.

  The timing at which the display control command data given from the game control board 31 side to the display control board 80 side during the variable display of the special symbol is output is two kinds of timings, that is, the output timing of the change start command and the output timing of the change stop command. Only. Therefore, in the game control board 31, only the display control command data is sent to the display control board 80 at the variable symbol display start timing and end timing of the special symbol, and control such as selection of display control contents during the special symbol variable display operation is performed. Is left to the display control board 80 side.

  Next, various random counters used for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing various random counters used for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1. In FIG. 9, eight counters from random number 1 to random number 8 are shown as representative examples of random counters.

  Random number 1 is a jackpot determination random counter for determining whether or not to generate a jackpot state, and is incremented and updated by 1 for each interrupt (specifically every 2 ms) by periodic reset. Then, after addition and updating up to the upper limit 314, addition updating is again performed from 0. A jackpot is generated when the extracted value of the random number 1 matches a predetermined jackpot determination value (for example, 7), and a shift occurs when the extracted value does not match.

Random number 2 is used for determining a jackpot symbol for determining whether or not to control a probability variation state while determining a display result of the jackpot symbol when it is determined in advance that a jackpot state is generated based on random number 1 It is a random counter. Like the random number 1, this random number 2 is incremented and updated by 1 every interrupt by a periodic reset, that is, every 2 ms, and is incremented and updated from 0 to the upper limit of 9, and then incremented again from 0. Updated. Corresponding to each of the values that can be taken by the random number 2, the type of jackpot symbol is determined in advance, and the jackpot symbol corresponding to the extracted value is used as a scheduled stop symbol of the jackpot symbol when the jackpot occurs. In addition, when it matches a predetermined probability variation determination value (for example, 3, 7), it is determined to control to the probability variation state.

  The random number 3 is a random counter for determining the left symbol for determining the stop symbol when the left symbol of the special symbol is lost. Like the random number 1, the random number is 1 every interrupt by a periodic reset, that is, 1 every 2 ms. The addition is updated, the addition is updated from 0, and the addition is updated up to 9, which is the upper limit, and then the addition is updated from 0 again. Random number 4 is a random counter for determining the right symbol for determining the stop symbol when the right symbol of the special symbol is lost. The random counter 4 is incremented and updated one by one whenever the carry of the random number 3 is performed. Then, after adding up to 9 which is the upper limit, the addition is updated again from 0. Random number 5 is a random counter for determining out-of-design symbol to determine a stop symbol when the special symbol is out of middle. The addition is updated using the remaining processing time. Interrupt processing surplus time is the time remaining from the time when the game control main process of FIG. 20 described later is executed to the end of the program until the interruption every 2 ms by periodic reset (S17 described later is an infinite loop). Execution time). The addition process is executed in an infinite loop using this extra time. The random number 5 is added and updated from 0 and updated up to 9 which is the upper limit thereof, and then added and updated again from 0. For each of these random numbers 3 to 5, the type of scheduled stop symbol in the case of a deviation is determined in advance corresponding to each of the possible values, and the scheduled stop symbol corresponding to the extracted value is a scheduled stop symbol at the time of loss Used as.

  A random number 6 is a random counter for determining a variation time (no reach) for determining a variation time (time required from variable start to stop display) of a special symbol when a reach state does not occur. In the same manner as above, addition is updated by 1 every 2 ms, addition update is performed from 0, addition update is performed up to 1, which is the upper limit, and then addition update is performed from 0 again. The variation time is predetermined for each value that the random number 6 can take, and the variation time corresponding to the extracted value is used for selection of the variation time command when the reach state does not occur.

  The random number 7 is a random counter for determining a variation time (with reach) for determining a variation time (time required from variable start to stop display) of a special symbol when a reach state occurs. Similarly to the random numbers 2 and 3, the addition is updated by 1 every 2 ms, the addition is updated from 0, the addition is updated to 50 which is the upper limit, and then the addition is updated from 0 again. The variation time is determined in advance corresponding to each value that the random number 7 can take, and the variation time corresponding to the extracted value is used for selection of the variation time command when the reach state occurs.

  The random number 8 is a random counter for reach notice determination for determining whether or not to give a notice that a reach state will occur (reach notice). Like the random number 1 described above, the random number 8 is incremented by 1 every 2 ms. It is updated, the addition is updated from 0, the addition is updated to 10 which is the upper limit, and then the addition is updated from 0 again. It is determined in advance whether or not the reach notification is performed corresponding to each of the values that the random number 8 can take, and it is determined whether or not the reach notification is performed corresponding to the extracted value.

  These random counters are extracted and used for control when the gaming state reaches a state determined for each of the random counters. For this reason, although the random counter itself is periodically updated, the extraction timing becomes random, so that the counter value extracted from each random counter can be used as a random number.

  Next, an arrangement configuration of special symbols displayed on the variable display unit 9 of the variable display device 8 will be described. Each of the left symbol, middle symbol, and right symbol is composed of multiple types of symbols such as numbers (in this example, 10 types), and can be changed according to the display mode such as scroll display, replacement display, and shaking display. Is displayed. Each special symbol is stored in the ROM 54 of the basic circuit 53 as symbol data in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a predetermined order.

  The specific structure of the special symbol data is as follows. In each of the left, middle, and right symbols, symbol position numbers 0, 1,..., 8, 9 are assigned to each of the 10 types of symbols. Such a symbol position number corresponds to each of the counter values 0 to 9 that can be extracted from each of the random numbers 3 to 5 described above.

  If the jackpot is pre-determined based on the extracted value of random number 1, the symbol where the extracted value of random number 2 matches the symbol position number is selected as the scheduled stop symbol on the left, middle, and right. It is determined. As a result, when the big hit is determined in advance, the left, middle and right scheduled stop symbols are aligned to the same symbol. On the other hand, when the loss is determined in advance, the symbols where the extracted values of random numbers 3 to 5 match the corresponding symbol position numbers are selected and determined as the left, middle, and right scheduled stop symbols. Is done. However, when the scheduled stop symbols selected and determined as such match, the middle symbols are shifted by one symbol so that the left, middle, and right scheduled stop symbols are not aligned with the same symbol type. Thus, the symbol is forcibly removed.

  Next, a specific example of display control command data will be described. 10 to 12 are diagrams showing specific examples of the display control command data in a table format. One unit of display control command data is composed of data of 2 bytes in total by a combination of CMD1 and CMD2, which are 1-byte data.

  In FIG. 10, (a) a command for instructing a variation time when a reach state does not occur (meaning a special symbol variation time), and (b) a command for instructing a variation time when a reach state occurs. , (C) show commands for designating the scheduled stop symbol of the left symbol.

  Referring to (a) of FIG. 10, the value “80H” of the data CMD1 of the first byte specifies that the data is a variable time when no reach occurs. The value of the data CMD2 in the second byte selectively designates data indicating the type of the variation time and the difference in the hit (the hit for the big hit, the same applies hereinafter). The variation time data in this case is all data in the case of deviation.

  Referring to (b) of FIG. 10, the value “81H” of the data CMD1 of the first byte specifies that the data is a variable time when a reach occurs. Based on the value of the data CMD2 in the second byte, data indicating the type of the length of the fluctuation time, the type of reach state (normal reach, long reach, frame advance reach), presence / absence of reach notice, and the type of hit failure Specified. Here, the long reach refers to a reach state in which the duration of the reach state is relatively long. The frame advance reach is a reach state in which special symbols are variably displayed in a frame advance state (display in a mode in which symbols are sent one frame at a time). In this case, for each of normal reach, long reach, and frame advance reach, there are four types of data (rear data and reach without reach notice) based on the relationship between presence / absence of reach notice and hit / miss The hit data when there is no advance notice, the outlier data when there is a reach notice, and the hit data when there is a reach notice are set.

  Referring to (c) of FIG. 10, the value “8BH” of the data CMD1 in the first byte specifies that the data indicates the stop symbol of the left symbol. The stop symbol type (“0” to “9”) of the left symbol is selectively designated by the value of the data CMD2 of the second byte.

  In FIG. 11, (a) is a command for designating a scheduled stop symbol for the right symbol, (b) is a command for designating a scheduled stop symbol for the middle symbol, and (c) is a stop display of all symbols for the left, middle and right symbols. A command for instructing display and a command for instructing display when a big hit state occurs are shown in FIG.

  Referring to (a) of FIG. 11, the value “8CH” of the data CMD1 in the first byte designates data indicating the scheduled stop symbol of the right symbol. The stop symbol type (“0” to “9”) of the right symbol is selectively designated by the value of the data CMD2 of the second byte.

  Referring to (b) of FIG. 11, the value “8DH” of the data CMD1 in the first byte specifies that the data indicates the scheduled stop symbol of the middle symbol. Then, the stop symbol type (“0” to “9”) of the middle symbol is selectively designated by the value of the data CMD2 of the second byte.

  Referring to (c) of FIG. 11, stop display of all symbols on the left, middle, and right is designated by the values of data CMD1 and CMD2. Referring to FIG. 11D, the value “91H” of the data CMD1 in the first byte specifies that the data is an instruction to generate a big hit state. Then, display of non-probable variation big hit or display for probable variation big hit is selectively designated by the value of data CMD2 of the second byte.

  In FIG. 12, (a) is a command for instructing display at the start of opening of the big winning opening, (b) is a command for instructing display at the time of opening of the big winning opening, and (c) is instructed to display at the end of the big win. (D) command for instructing display between rounds of repeated continuation control (interval period between the previous round and the next round), and (e) instructing display switching of the display screen of the variable display unit 9 Each command is shown.

  Referring to (a) of FIG. 12, display (for example, display of round “1”) at the start of opening of the special winning opening (that is, at the start of the “1st” round) is performed based on the values of data CMD1 and CMD2. ) Is specified. With reference to (b) of FIG. 12, the display for when the special winning opening is open is designated by the values of the data CMD1 and CMD2. With reference to (c) of FIG. 12, the display for end of jackpot is designated by the values of data CMD1 and CMD2. Referring to (d) of FIG. 12, the value “93 (H)” of the data CMD1 of the first byte specifies that the data indicates display between rounds. The type of data between the rounds (before the start of the “2nd” round to before the start of the “15th” round) is selectively designated by the value of the data CMD2 of the second byte.

  Referring to (d) of FIG. 12, the value “9FH” of the data CMD1 in the first byte specifies that the data is an instruction for switching the display screen. Then, the display for switching the demonstration screen (demonstration screen) to another screen or the display for switching the off-screen (screen displaying the out-of-pattern) to another screen is selectively designated by the value of the data CMD2 of the second byte. The

  Next, an example of display control performed based on display control command data will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 13 is a table showing the correspondence relationship between the types of display control command data used in the display control examples shown in FIGS. 15 to 19 and the symbols a to n attached to the commands in a table format. In the display control examples shown in FIGS. 15 to 19, examples using the command a to the command n shown in FIG. 13 among the display control command data described above are shown.

  Referring to FIG. 13, command a is a command that specifies a variation time of 10 s. The command b is a command for designating generation of a normal reach with a change time of 20 s and no reach notice. The command c is a command for designating generation of a normal reach with a reach notice and a change time of 20 s. The command d is a command for designating the type of stop symbol for the left symbol. The command e is a command for designating the type of stop symbol of the right symbol. The command f is a command for designating the type of stop symbol of the middle symbol. The command g is a command that specifies that all symbols on the left, middle, and right are to be stopped. The command h is a command for designating the occurrence of the probability variation jackpot. Command i is a command for designating the display of opening of the big winning opening. The command j is a command for designating display between rounds. The command k is a command for designating display when the special winning opening is open. The command l is a command for designating display of the jackpot end. The command m is a command for designating demo screen switching. The command n is a command for designating the screen change.

  FIG. 14 is a table showing the correspondence between the types of screen display outputs (display contents) of the variable display unit 9 and screen display output symbols A to P shown in the display control examples shown in FIGS. 15 to 19 in a table format. is there.

  Referring to FIG. 14, the acceleration variation display A is a display in which the special symbol varies while accelerating by scrolling. The constant speed fluctuation display B is a display in which the special symbol fluctuates by scrolling at a constant speed. The low speed fluctuation display C is a display in which a special symbol fluctuates at a predetermined low speed, and is a fluctuation display in which the displayed symbols are replaced one by one on the spot without scrolling. The reach notice display D is a display for giving a notice that a reach state will occur in a stage before the reach state occurs. The normal reach display E is a display of a normal reach state indicating a normal reach state.

  The left symbol stop (swing motion) display F is a display for stopping the left symbol. The stop in this case includes a temporary stop state (a state in which a display result is derived but a stop display result has not yet been determined) called a shaking operation. Here, the swaying operation display refers to a display in which the derived symbol is oscillated alternately in the forward and reverse directions of the symbol scroll. By this shaking operation display, the symbol is displayed as if waiting while shaking in the state immediately before the stop display. The right symbol stop (swing motion) display G is a display for stopping the right symbol and includes a swing motion. The middle symbol stop (swing operation) display H is a display for stopping the middle symbol and includes a shaking operation.

  The all symbol stop display I is a display for stopping all symbols on the left, middle, and right simultaneously and confirming the display result. The probability variation jackpot display J is a display indicating that a probability variation jackpot has occurred. The special winning opening opening display K is a display indicating the start of repeated continuation control, for example, a display indicating that the first round starts. The inter-round display L is a display between rounds after the end of the first round of the repeated continuation control, and is a display indicating that, for example, the next round starts. The special winning opening open display M is a display indicating that the round of repeated continuous control is in progress. The big hit end display N is a display indicating that the big hit state (big hit control state) has ended. The demonstration screen display O is a display using the demonstration screen. The missed screen display P is a display when the result of variable display is missed.

  In the following display control examples shown in FIGS. 15 to 19, the control contents will be described using the symbols shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display control before the start of variation of special symbols. In FIG. 15, (a) shows a control example of the demonstration screen switching display, and (b) shows a control example of the shifted screen switching display. In each of (a) and (b), a timing chart of display control and a typical display screen example in display control are shown.

  Referring to FIG. 15A, in the case of the demonstration screen switching display, the display control command m is output together with the display control signal INT. In response to this, in the display control board 80, when the display control command data m and the display control signal INT are received, the screen display output is controlled to switch from the demo screen display O to the screen display P. An example of the display screen of the off-screen display P after such switching is shown in FIG. Here, in the display control board 80, when the screen display content is switched according to the display control command data, the display control signal INT corresponding to the second byte data of the display control command data falls, that is, At the stage where all the data of the second byte is taken in, control for switching the contents of the screen display output is performed.

  Referring to (b) of FIG. 15, in the case of the off screen switching display, display control command data n is output together with the display control signal INT. In response to this, when receiving the display control command data n and the display control signal INT, the display control board 80 controls to switch the screen display output from the screen display P to the demo screen display O. A display screen example of the demo screen display O after such switching is shown in (2) in the figure.

  Next, a first display control example in the period from the start of change of the special symbol to the end of change will be described. This first display control example is a display control example when the variation time is 10 s and a misaligned display result is derived without occurrence of a reach state.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first display control example in a period from the start of change of the special symbol to the end of change. In FIG. 16, a timing chart of display control and a plurality of typical display screen examples (3-1) to (7-1) in display control are shown. Display screen examples (3-1) to (7-1) in FIG. 16 are display screen examples at the same-numbered timing indicated by solid line arrows in the timing chart, and the variation direction of the special symbol is outlined. Shown with arrows.

  Referring to FIG. 16, display control command data a, d, e, f (see FIG. 13) are sequentially output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and are taken in on the display control board 80 side. Thereby, for example, the big hit end display N is terminated in the screen display output in response to the fact that 2 bytes of the display control command data a are fetched (the falling edge of the pulse of the second byte of the display control signal INT). The left symbol 91, the middle symbol 92, and the right symbol 93, which have been in a stopped state as shown in the display screen example (3-1) in the figure, start scrolling at the same time, and the state of the acceleration fluctuation display A Controlled.

  After a predetermined period, the left, middle and right symbols are simultaneously controlled to the state of constant speed fluctuation display B. Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the left symbol approaches, the left symbol is controlled to the state of the low speed fluctuation display C. In the low-speed fluctuation display C, the pattern fluctuation state is controlled to a mode in which symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. When the left symbol stop timing comes, the left symbol 91 is controlled to the symbol stop display (swing motion display) F state as shown in the display screen example (4-1) in the figure. In this case, the left symbol 91 displayed as a shaking motion is a scheduled stop symbol designated by the display control command data d.

  Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the right symbol approaches, the right symbol is controlled to the state of the low-speed fluctuation display C as described above, and the symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. When the right symbol stop timing comes, as shown in the display screen example (5-1) in the diagram, the right symbol 93 is in the symbol stop display (swing motion display) G together with the left symbol 91 described above. Controlled. The right symbol 93 displayed in the shaking motion in this case is a scheduled stop symbol designated by the display control command data f. Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the middle symbol approaches, the middle symbol is controlled to the state of the low-speed fluctuation display C as described above, and the symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. At the stop timing of the middle symbol, as shown in the display screen example (6-1) in the diagram, the middle symbol 92 is displayed together with the left symbol 91 and the right symbol 93 described above (swing motion display). ) Controlled to H state. In this case, the left symbol 91 displayed as a shaking motion is a scheduled stop symbol designated by the display control command data e. In this case, the left, middle, and right symbols 91, 92, and 93 are moved together in a state in which they are separated from each other. Such all-symbol shaking display is continued until the display control board 80 receives the all-symbol stop command.

Thereafter, all symbol stop commands g are output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and taken in on the display control board 80 side. In response to this, all symbols on the left, middle and right are controlled to the state of all symbols stop display I as shown in (7-1) in the drawing. As a result, all symbols 91, 92, and 93 on the left, middle, and right are stopped and displayed at the same time, and the variation display ends.
Next, a second display control example in the period from the start of change of the special symbol to the end of change will be described. This second display control example is a display control example in the case where the variation time is 20 s and the normal hit state with the reach notice is generated and then the jackpot display result is displayed.

  FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a third display control example in the period from the start of change of the special symbol to the end of change. In FIG. 17, a timing chart of display control and a plurality of display screen examples (3-3) to (7-3) representative in display control are shown. Display screen examples (3-3) to (7-3) in FIG. 17 are display screen examples at the same-numbered timing indicated by solid arrows in the timing chart, and the direction of variation of the special symbol is outlined. Shown with arrows.

  Referring to FIG. 17, display control command data c, d, e, f (see FIG. 13) are output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and taken in on the display control board 80 side. As a result, in response to the fact that 2 bytes of display control command data a have been fetched (falling of the pulse of the second byte of display control signal INT), for example, display M during the big prize opening being opened is displayed. After the operation is completed, the state is controlled to the D state of the reach notice display and the acceleration fluctuation display A state. As a result, the reach notice 94 indicating the message “reach” as shown in the display screen example (3-3) in the figure is displayed over the special symbol, and the left symbol 91 in the stopped state is displayed. The middle symbol 92 and the right symbol 93 start scrolling at the same time.

  After a predetermined period, the left, middle and right symbols are simultaneously controlled to the state of constant speed fluctuation display B. Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the left symbol approaches, the left symbol is controlled to the state of the low speed fluctuation display C. In the low-speed fluctuation display C, the pattern fluctuation state is controlled to a mode in which symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. When the left symbol stop timing comes, the left symbol 91 is controlled to the symbol stop display (swing motion display) F state as shown in the display screen example (4-3) in the figure.

  Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the right symbol approaches, the right symbol is controlled to the state of the low-speed fluctuation display C as described above, and the symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. At the right symbol stop timing, as shown in the display screen example (5-3) in the figure, the right symbol 93 is in the symbol stop display (swing motion display) G together with the left symbol 91 described above. Controlled. In this case, the left symbol 91 (“7”) matches the right symbol 93 (“7”), and a reach state has occurred. Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the middle symbol approaches, the middle symbol is controlled to the state of the low-speed fluctuation display C as described above, and the symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. When the predetermined reach display timing of the middle symbol approaches, the middle symbol is controlled to the normal reach display E state. At the stop timing of the middle symbol, as shown in the display screen example (6-3) in the diagram, the middle symbol 92 is displayed together with the left symbol 91 and the right symbol 93 described above (swing motion display). ) Controlled to H state. In this case, the left, middle, and right symbols 91, 92, and 93 are shaken together in a state where the big hit symbols are aligned to "7". Such all-symbol shaking display is continued until the display control board 80 receives the all-symbol stop command.

  Thereafter, all symbol stop commands g are output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and taken in on the display control board 80 side. In response to this, all symbols on the left, middle, and right are controlled to the state of all symbols stop display I as shown in (7-3) in the drawing. As a result, all symbols 91, 92, and 93 on the left, middle, and right are stopped and displayed at the same time, and the variation display ends.

  In the display control in the period from the start of change of the special symbol to the end of change as described above, the special symbol is commanded to stop all symbols by the all symbol stop command g at the stop timing of each symbol. A display is made to wait in the shaking operation state. This is because a plurality of variation patterns are defined for the same variation time, and the time required to display those variation patterns is not necessarily determined to match the defined variation time. When finished, it waits in a temporary stop state (swing motion) indicating that the stop display result has not yet been confirmed, and by finalizing the stop display result at the end of the change time, the change time of each change pattern is defined as a result. It is because it is going to match with the fluctuation time of.

  As the display control in the period from the start of change of the special symbol to the end of change, the left, middle and right stop symbol commands are not output at the beginning of the change, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to output a stop symbol command such as a start timing at a timing that is actually required in the control, and to perform display control after the replacement display according to the capture of the command. Such an example will be described below.

  FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing another display control example in a period from the start of change of the special symbol to the end of change. This display control example is a display control example in the case where the variation time is 20 s and the display result of the outlier is displayed after the normal reach state occurs. In FIG. 18, a timing chart of display control and a plurality of display screen examples (3-2) to (7-2) representative of display control are shown. Display screen examples (3-2) to (7-2) in FIG. 18 are display screen examples at the same-numbered timing indicated by solid arrows in the timing chart, and the variation direction of the special symbol is outlined. Shown with arrows.

  Referring to FIG. 18, display control command data b (see FIG. 13) is output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and taken in on the display control board 80 side. As a result, in response to the fact that 2 bytes of display control command data b have been fetched (the fall of the pulse of the second byte of the display control signal INT), for example, a display M during opening of the big prize opening is displayed. , And the left symbol 91, the middle symbol 92, and the right symbol 93, which were in a stopped state as shown in the display screen example (3-2) in the figure, start scrolling all at once and display acceleration fluctuation display. Controlled to state A.

  After a predetermined period, the left, middle and right symbols are simultaneously controlled to the state of constant speed fluctuation display B. Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the left symbol approaches, display control command data d (see FIG. 13) is output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and is taken in on the display control board 80 side. Thereby, the left symbol is controlled to the state of the low speed fluctuation display C. In the low-speed fluctuation display C, the pattern fluctuation state is controlled to a mode in which symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. When the left symbol stop timing comes, the left symbol 91 is controlled to the symbol stop display (swing motion display) F state as shown in the display screen example (4-2) in the figure.

  Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the right symbol approaches, the display control command data e (see FIG. 13) is output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and is taken in on the display control board 80 side. As a result, the right symbol is controlled to the state of the low-speed fluctuation display C as described above, and the symbols are sequentially switched at a low speed. At the right symbol stop timing, as shown in the display screen example (5-2) in the diagram, the right symbol 93 is in the symbol stop display (swing motion display) G together with the left symbol 91 described above. Controlled. In this case, the left symbol 91 (“7”) matches the right symbol 93 (“7”), and a reach state has occurred.

  Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the middle symbol approaches, the display control command data f (see FIG. 13) is output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and is taken in on the display control board 80 side. As a result, the middle symbol is controlled to the state of the low-speed fluctuation display C as described above, and is controlled so that the symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. At a predetermined reach display timing for the middle symbol, the middle symbol is controlled to the normal reach display E state. Thereafter, when the predetermined stop timing of the middle symbol at the time of normal reach approaches, the middle symbol is controlled to the state of the low-speed fluctuation display C as described above, and the symbols are sequentially replaced at a low speed. At the stop timing of the middle symbol, as shown in the display screen example (6-2) in the diagram, the middle symbol 92 is displayed together with the left symbol 91 and the right symbol 93 described above (swing motion display). ) Controlled to H state. In this case, the left, middle, and right symbols 91, 92, and 93 are moved together in a state in which they are separated from each other. Such all-symbol shaking display is continued until the display control board 80 receives the all-symbol stop command.

  Thereafter, all symbol stop commands g are output from the game control board 31 side together with the display control signal INT, and taken in on the display control board 80 side. In response to this, all symbols on the left, middle, and right are controlled to the state of all symbols stop display I as shown in (7-2) in the drawing. As a result, all symbols 91, 92, and 93 on the left, middle, and right are stopped and displayed at the same time, and the variation display ends.

  Next, an example of display control in the variable display unit 9 after the special symbol jackpot symbol is displayed will be described. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of display control in the variable display unit 9 after the big hit symbol display. In FIG. 19, (a) to (e) show various display control examples. In each of (a) to (e), a display control timing chart and a typical display screen in display control are shown. An example is shown.

  FIG. 19A shows a display control example of probability variation big hit display. Referring to (a) of FIG. 19, in the case of probability variation jackpot display, display control command data h is output together with display control signal INT. In response to this, when display control command data h and display control signal INT are received, display control board 80 performs control to switch the screen display output from all symbol stop display I to probability variation big hit display J. An example of the display screen of the probability variation jackpot display after such switching is shown in (8) in the figure. In the probability variation jackpot display, for example, a message “probability variation jackpot!” Is displayed.

  FIG. 19B shows a display control example of the big winning opening opening display. Referring to (b) of FIG. 19, in the case of the special winning opening opening start display, the display control command data i is output together with the display control signal INT. In response to this, when receiving the display control command data i and the display control signal INT, the display control board 80 performs control to switch the screen display output from the probability variation jackpot display J to the big prize opening opening display K. An example of the display screen of such a large winning opening opening start display after switching is shown in (9) in the figure. In the special winning opening opening display, for example, a message “1R start” is displayed.

  FIG. 19 (c) shows an example of display control for displaying the special winning opening being opened. Referring to (c) of FIG. 19, in the case of display while the special winning opening is open, the display control command data k is output together with the display control signal INT. In response to this, when receiving the display control command data k and the display control signal INT, the display control board 80 performs control to switch the screen display output from the big prize opening opening start display K to the big prize opening open display M. . An example of the display screen of the display during opening of the big winning opening after such switching is shown in (10) in the figure. In the special winning opening open display, in addition to the jackpot symbol, for example, a display indicating the current round number of “1R” is made.

  FIG. 19D shows an example of display control for display between rounds. Referring to (d) of FIG. 19, in the case of display between rounds, display control command data j is output together with display control signal INT. In response to this, when receiving the display control command data j and the display control signal INT, the display control board 80 performs control to switch the screen display output from the display M during opening of the big prize opening to the display L between rounds. An example of the display screen of the display between rounds after such switching is shown in (11) in the figure. In the display between rounds, a message corresponding to the round such as “2R start” is displayed.

  FIG. 19E shows a display control example of the big hit end display. Referring to (e) of FIG. 19, in the case of jackpot end display, display control command data l is output together with display control signal INT. In response to this, in the display control board 80, when the display control command data 1 and the display control signal INT are received, the screen display output is switched from the inter-round display L to the big hit end display N. An example of the display screen of the jackpot end display after such switching is shown in (12) in the figure. In the display between rounds, a message “END” indicating the end of the big hit state is displayed.

  Next, control executed by the basic circuit 53 will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a game control main process executed by the basic circuit 53.

  In the game control main process, first, in step S (hereinafter simply referred to as S) 1, a process of setting the clock monitor control register to the clock monitor enable is performed. This is preparation for the initialization process. Next, the process proceeds to S2, and a stack setting process for setting the designated address of the stack pointer is performed. Specifically, processing for setting 00FFH to the stack pointer is performed. In step S3, system check processing is performed. This system check process is a process for initialization, and it is determined whether or not an error is included in the RAM 55 of the basic circuit 53, and when the error is included, the RAM 55 is initialized. is there.

  Next, a display control command setting process is performed in S4. In the display control command setting process, a process of storing and setting display control command data output to the display control board 80 in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 55 is performed. Next, in S5, display control data setting processing is performed. In this display control data setting process, in order to set data used for display control on the display control board 80, a process of outputting the display control command data set in S4 toward the display control board 80 is performed.

  Next, in S6, command output processing is performed. In this command output processing, output processing for transmitting predetermined command data for generating sound and controlling LED lighting is performed to the lamp control board 35 and the voice control board 70, and the jackpot information and start information are transmitted to the hall management computer. Then, an output process for transmitting data such as probability variation information is performed. The data output by S6 is set by S8 described later.

  Next, in S7, a lamp timer process is performed. In this lamp timer process, a process is performed for timing operation of a lamp timer for controlling lighting or blinking of various lamps and LEDs. Next, the process proceeds to S8, in which predetermined command data for generating sound and LED lighting control for transmission to the lamp control board 35 and the voice control board 70 is set, and jackpot information for transmission to the hall management computer, starting Processing for setting information, probability variation information, and the like is performed.

  Next, error processing is performed in S9. In this error processing, various abnormality diagnosis processing is performed by a self-diagnosis function provided in the pachinko gaming machine 1, and processing for generating an alarm is performed if necessary according to the result. Next, in S10, a determination random number update process is performed. In this determination random number update process, the process of updating the jackpot determination random number 1 described above is performed.

  Next, a special symbol process is performed in S11. In the special symbol process, the corresponding process is selected and executed according to a special symbol process flag for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 in a predetermined order according to the gaming state. The value of the special symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the gaming state. Specific processing contents of the special symbol process will be described later.

  Next, the normal symbol process is performed in S12. In the normal symbol process, the corresponding process is selected and executed according to the normal symbol process flag for controlling the variable display 10 in a predetermined order. The value of the normal symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the gaming state.

  Next, a switch process is performed by S13. In this switch process, the state of the gate switch 12, the start port switch 17, the count switch 23, the V count switch 22 and the like is input, and a process for determining whether or not each winning port or variable winning ball device has been won is performed. It is. Next, voice processing is performed in S14. In this sound processing, processing for generating a predetermined sound from the speaker 27 is performed.

  Next, a display random number update process is performed in S15. In this display random number update process, random numbers used for variable display are updated. Specifically, in the display random number update process, the above-described random numbers 2 to 8 are updated. Next, in S16, a winning ball signal process is performed. In this winning ball signal processing, a prize ball number signal and a winning ball possible signal are outputted to the prize ball substrate 37 to give a prize ball payout control command. The prize ball substrate 37 receives the prize ball possible signal and the prize ball number signal, and controls the ball dispensing device 97 to dispense the number of prize balls specified by the prize ball number signal.

Next, the display random number update process is performed in an infinite loop through S17. Specifically, in the display random number update process of S17, the random number 5 described above is added and updated during the interruption process surplus time. Here, in this pachinko gaming machine 1, a reset interrupt is performed every 2 ms by a periodic reset signal and the game control main process program is executed from the beginning, but before the 2 ms elapses, the game control main process is executed. When the execution of is terminated, it takes time to interrupt. Therefore, by using such extra interrupt processing time, the addition and updating of the random number 5 is performed in an infinite loop.
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a subroutine program for the special symbol process shown in S11 described above. This special symbol process is controlled so that any one of eleven types of processing from S100 to S111 is executed according to the value of the special symbol process flag. In S100 to S111, the following processing is executed.

  In the special symbol variation waiting process (S100), the process waits for a hit ball to enter the start winning opening 14 and the start opening switch 17 to be turned on. When the start switch 17 is turned on, if the start winning memory number is not full, the start winning memory number is updated by adding “1” and a big hit determination random number is extracted. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the special symbol determination process (S101), when the variable display of the special symbol (the symbol displayed by the variable display unit 9) can be started, the start winning memory number is confirmed. If the start winning memorized number is not 0, it is determined whether to win or not according to the extracted value of the random number for jackpot determination. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the stop symbol setting process (S102), the stop symbols of the left and right middle symbols are determined. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG. In the symbol variation setting process (S103), determination of the symbol variation time and the type of reach operation based on the value of the variation time determination random number, determination of the presence or absence of reach notification based on the value of the random number for reach notification determination, To do. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG. In the all symbol variation start process (S104), the variable display unit 9 is controlled so that all of the left, middle and right symbols start to vary. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG. In the all symbol stop process (S105), control is performed so that all symbols on the left, middle, and right displayed on the variable display unit 9 are stopped when a predetermined time has elapsed. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the jackpot display process (S106), when the stop symbol is a combination of the jackpot symbol, it requests that the jackpot display display control command data be transmitted to the display control board 80, and the internal state (process flag). Is updated to shift to step S107. Further, the display control CPU 101 of the game control board 80 displays a big hit on the variable display unit 9 in accordance with the display control command data. The jackpot display is made to notify the player of the occurrence of the jackpot. The contents of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG. In the special winning opening opening process (S107), control for opening the special winning opening is started. Specifically, the solenoid 21 is driven to open the special winning opening, and the output of the special winning opening opening command is requested. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the special prize opening opening process (S108), a request for transmitting the display control command data for the special prize round display to the display control board 80, a process for confirming the establishment of the closing condition of the special prize opening, and the like are performed. . If the closing condition for the big prize opening is satisfied, the internal state is updated to shift to S109 if the end condition for the big hit gaming state is not satisfied. If the big hit gaming state termination condition is satisfied, the process is updated to shift to S110. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In the inter-round processing (S109), display between rounds such as display of the number of rounds of the next round of the repeated continuation control is performed in the interval period between the loops of the repeated continuation control. The contents of this process will be described later with reference to FIG. In the big hit end process (S110), a display for notifying the player that the big hit gaming state has ended is performed. When this display is completed, the internal flag and the like are returned to the initial state, and the process proceeds to S100. In the display command output process (S111), display command data is output. In this process, since the process flag is not updated, when this process ends, the process returns to the process before the transition to this process.

  Next, the contents of each subroutine in the special symbol process described above will be described. In the following, steps of a portion related to variable display control are extracted and shown from the programs constituting each subroutine. Therefore, in the subroutine shown below, although illustration and detailed description are omitted, steps related to control other than the variable display control such as driving of the solenoid as described above are included.

  First, the special symbol variation waiting process of S100 described above will be described. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the special symbol variation waiting process.

  First, in S121, based on the detection output of the start opening switch 17, it is determined whether or not there is a hitting hit to the start winning opening 14. If it is determined in S121 that the start winning opening 14 has not been won, the process proceeds to S126 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined that the winning prize opening 14 has been won, the process proceeds to S122, and it is determined whether or not the starting winning memory number is “4” which is the upper limit.

  If it is determined in S122 that the start winning memory number has already been "4", no further memory can be stored. Therefore, the process proceeds to S125 to be described later in order to end the special variation waiting process. On the other hand, if it is determined in S122 that the start winning memory number is not yet “4”, there is still room to store, so that the process proceeds to S123, where the process of updating the starting winning memory number by “1” is updated. Made.

  Next, the process proceeds to S124, in which processing for extracting the value of the jackpot determination random number (random number 1) and storing the extracted value in a random value storage area (also referred to as a special symbol determination bank) corresponding to the number of start winning memories is performed. Made. The RAM 55 of the basic circuit 53 is provided with four random number storage areas 1 to 4 corresponding to the start winning memory numbers 1 to 4, respectively, and the jackpot determination random number extracted according to the start winning is stored. This S124 is processed so as to be stored in the random value storage areas 1 to 4 corresponding to the start winning number. Note that the four random value storage areas described above are the four storage areas of the random value storage areas 1 to 4 in detail, and the jackpot determination random numbers are stored from the random value storage area 1 to the random value storage area 4 in order. It will be done. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S125 to end the special variation waiting process.

  When the process proceeds to S125, processing for setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the special symbol determination processing is performed in order to determine the big hit based on the random value extracted based on the start winning memory. Thereby, when this special symbol determination process is completed through S125, the process proceeds by one and the special symbol variation waiting process of S101 is executed at the next execution of the special symbol process.

  If it is determined in S121 that the start winning opening 14 has not been won and the process proceeds to S126, it is determined whether or not the counter value of the variable waiting timer is greater than zero. Here, the variable standby timer is used to define the timing of switching from the demo screen displayed during the period in which the special symbol does not change and is in the standby state. This variable waiting timer is a timer that measures time based on a counter value of a counter that is incremented and incremented by 1 every elapse of a predetermined time with 0 as an initial value, and increments and updates the counter value by a timing processing step (not shown). Is done. Further, as will be described later in S130, this variable waiting timer starts measuring time when display of either the demonstration screen or the off screen is started.

  If it is determined in S126 that the counter value is not greater than 0, the process proceeds to S127 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S126 that the counter value is greater than 0, the variable standby timer is counting, and the process proceeds to S133, where the counter value of the variable standby timer is set to a predetermined value determined as the screen display switching timing. A determination is made whether or not it has been reached. If it is determined in S133 that the predetermined value has not been reached, the process returns to S121 described above and the time measurement is continued. On the other hand, if it is determined in S133 that the predetermined value has been reached, the process proceeds to S134 to perform processing for resetting the variable waiting timer. As a result, the timing operation by the variable standby timer is stopped, and the counter value is reset to zero. Therefore, when the special symbol variation waiting process is executed next, it is determined in S126 that the process proceeds to S127. After S134, this special symbol variation waiting process is terminated.

  If it is determined in S126 that the counter value is not greater than 0 and the process proceeds to S127, that is, if the screen display switching timing is reached, the process proceeds to S127 and the demonstration display flag is in the ON state (set state). A determination is made as to whether or not. Here, the demonstration display flag is a flag that is set when the demonstration display is performed. Hereinafter, regarding various flags, the ON state means a state in which the flag is set.

  If it is determined in S127 that the demonstration display flag is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to S131 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S127 that the demonstration display flag is in the ON state, the process proceeds to S128, and the display control command data for designating switching to the off-screen is stored in the output data storage area in the RAM 55. Next, the process proceeds to S129, where the demonstration display flag is cleared and the dismissal display flag is set to the ON state. Here, the detachment display flag is a flag that is set when detachment display is performed. It progresses to S130 after S129.

  If it is determined in S127 that the demo display flag is not in the ON state and the process proceeds to S131, display control command data for designating switching to the demo screen is stored in the output data storage area in the RAM 55. The Next, the process proceeds to S129, and the process of clearing the missed display flag and setting the demo display flag to the ON state is performed. It progresses to S130 after S129. When the process proceeds to S130, a port output request is set and a process of starting the time measurement by the variable waiting timer is performed. After S130, this special symbol variation waiting process ends.

  According to the processing of S126 to S134, when there is no winning at the start winning opening 14, the variable display unit 9 alternately displays the demo screen and the screen. The screen is switched every predetermined time.

  Next, the special symbol determination process of S101 described above will be described. FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the special symbol determination processing.

  First, in S141, it is determined whether or not the start winning memorized number is “0”. If it is determined in S141 that it is “0”, the special symbol determination process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in S141 that the value is not “0”, the process proceeds to S142, and a process of reading the value stored in the random value storage area corresponding to the start winning memorized number “1” is performed. Then, the process proceeds to S143, and a process of subtracting and updating the starting winning memory number by 1 and shifting the winning memory area is performed. Specifically, the process of shifting the prize storage area is performed by erasing the random value stored in the random value storage area 1 and storing the random value stored in the random value storage area 2 as a random value. Shift to area 1 and store, shift random number stored in random value storage area 3 to random value storage area 2 and store random value stored in area 4 in random value storage area 3 This is a process of shifting and storing.

  Next, the process proceeds to S144, in which it is determined whether or not the value of the jackpot determination random number (random number 1) read out in S142 matches the jackpot determination value. If not, it is determined to be a deviation. If it is determined in S144 that the detachment has occurred, the process proceeds to S145, and after the detachment flag is turned ON, the process proceeds to S151 described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the jackpot is determined in S144, the process proceeds to S146, where the random number for determining the jackpot symbol (random number 2) is extracted, and it is determined whether the extracted value matches the probability variation determination value. A determination is made whether or not a fluctuating state occurs. Further, the type of jackpot symbol is determined based on such an extracted value. If it is determined in S146 that the probability variation state does not occur (uncertain change), the process proceeds to S149 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S146 that the probability variation state occurs (probability change), the process proceeds to S147, and it is determined whether or not the value of the limit counter is “0”. Here, the limit counter is a counter that counts the number of times that the probable big hit is continuously generated in order to perform the control for operating the limiter (prohibiting big hits in the probable variation pattern). "5") is subtracted and updated.

  If it is determined in S147 that the value of the limit counter is “0”, the process proceeds to S148 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S147 that the value of the limit counter is not “0”, the process proceeds to S150, where the per-probability flag is set to the ON state and the limit counter value is decremented by 1 and updated. . As a result, when a non-probable variation big hit occurs, the probability variation hit flag indicates that the probability variation is positive, and the number of consecutive times of the probable variation big hit is counted. Then, it progresses to S151 mentioned later.

  If it is determined in S146 that the probability fluctuation state does not occur (non-probability change) and the process proceeds to S149, the probability change flag is turned OFF (reset state) and the limit counter value is reset to the initial value. Processing to return the value is performed. As a result, when a non-probable hit is generated, the probability variation hit flag indicates that there is no probability variation, and the count of the number of consecutive times of the probability variation big hit is initialized.

  If it is determined in S147 that the value of the limit counter is “0” and the process proceeds to S148, the random number extracted in S146 and used for determining the big hit symbol corresponds to the non-probable variable symbol. By changing to another value, a process of replacing the jackpot symbol with a non-probable variable symbol is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S151 described later via S149 described above. As a result, when the number of consecutive successes per probability variation hits the upper limit, continuous occurrence per probability variation hit is limited according to the operation of the limiter.

  When the process proceeds to S151, the special symbol process flag value is set to a value indicating the stop symbol setting process. Thereby, when this special symbol determination process is completed through S151, the process proceeds by one and the stop symbol setting process of S102 is executed at the next execution of the special symbol process.

  In the special symbol determination process described above, jackpot determination, jackpot symbol determination, and probability variation determination are performed, and probability variation jackpot number limit control is also performed.

  Next, the stop symbol setting process of S102 described above will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the stop symbol setting process.

  First, in S161, it is determined whether or not the above-described failure flag is in an ON state. If it is determined in S161 that the separation flag is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to S169 described later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S161 that the deviation flag is in the ON state, the process proceeds to S162, where the random symbol for determining the left symbol (random number 3) is extracted, and the left symbol is scheduled to stop based on the extracted value. A process for determining a symbol is performed. Next, the process proceeds to S163, where the value of the random symbol for determining the right symbol (random number 4) is extracted, and the scheduled stop symbol of the right symbol is determined based on the extracted value. Next, the process proceeds to S164, in which the value of the random symbol for determination of out-of-design (random number 5) is extracted, and the scheduled stop symbol of the medium symbol is determined based on the extracted value.

  Next, the process proceeds to S165, and a process of comparing the left symbol for which the scheduled stop symbol has been determined in S162 with the right symbol for which the scheduled stop symbol has been determined in S163 is performed. Next, the process proceeds to S166, and it is determined whether or not the left symbol and the right symbol compared in S165 match. If it is determined in S166 that the symbols match, the process proceeds to S169 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S166 that the symbols do not match, the reach state does not occur, and the process proceeds to S168, and the process of setting the variable time (no reach) flag to the ON state is performed. Here, the fluctuation time (no reach) flag is a flag indicating that the fluctuation time during which the reach state does not occur is determined. After S168, the process proceeds to S172 described later.

  If it is determined in S161 that the slip flag is not in the ON state, or if it is determined in S166 that the symbols match and the process proceeds to S169, processing for setting the reach flag to the ON state is performed. Here, the reach flag is a flag indicating that a reach state occurs. Next, the process proceeds to S171, and a process for setting the fluctuation time (with reach) flag to the ON state is performed. Here, the fluctuation time (with reach) flag is a flag indicating that the fluctuation time at which the reach state occurs is determined. After S171, the process proceeds to S172 described later.

  If the process has proceeded to S172, a process of resetting the disconnection flag to the OFF state is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S173, and a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the symbol variation setting process is performed. As a result, when this stop symbol setting process is completed, the next time the special symbol process is executed, the process advances by one and the symbol variation setting process of S103 is executed. After S173, the stop symbol setting process ends.

  In the stop symbol setting process described above, the scheduled stop symbol of the special symbol in the case of a loss is determined at random, and it is determined whether or not a reach state occurs.

  Next, the symbol variation setting process of S103 described above will be described. FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the contents of the symbol variation setting process.

  First, in S181, it is determined whether or not the variable time (with reach) flag is ON. If it is determined in S181 that the flag is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to S182, where the value of the random time (random number 6) for determining the variation time (no reach) is extracted, and the variation time is determined based on the extracted value. After the processing is performed, the process proceeds to S186 described later. Thereby, the length of the variation time is determined randomly. On the other hand, if it is determined in S181 that the flag is in the ON state, the process proceeds to S183, and the value of the random time for determining the variation time (with reach) (random number 7) is extracted, and based on the extracted value, the variation time Processing for determining the length and the type of reach operation is performed. Thereby, the length of the variation time and the type of reach operation are determined at random.

  Next, the process proceeds to S184, where the value of the reach notice determination random number (random number 8) is extracted, and it is determined whether or not the reach notice is to be performed based on the extracted value. If it is determined in S184 that the reach notice is not made, the process proceeds to S186 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S184 that the reach notice is to be performed, the process proceeds to S185, and the process for setting the reach notice setting in the display control command data to “with reach notice” is performed. As a result, it is randomly determined whether or not to make a reach notice. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S186.

  When the process proceeds to S186, processing for setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating all symbol variation start processing is performed. As a result, when this symbol variation setting process is completed, the process proceeds by one and the entire symbol variation start process of S104 is performed when the next special symbol process process is executed. After S186, this symbol variation setting process ends.

  In such a symbol variation setting process, when a reach operation occurs, the length of the variation time, the type of reach operation, and the presence / absence of reach notice are determined at random. When the reach operation does not occur, the length of the variation time is determined at random.

  Next, the above-described all symbol variation start processing in S104 will be described. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the contents of all symbol variation start processing.

  First, in S190, it is determined whether the data transmission flag is set to ON. Here, the data transmission flag is a flag that is set in S216 described later when the display control command data and the display control signal INT are being transmitted.

  If it is determined in S190 that the flag is set to the ON state, this all symbol variation start process is terminated. As a result, during transmission of display control command data, storage of the following change start command in the RAM 55 is not permitted. On the other hand, if it is determined in S190 that the flag is not set to the ON state, the process proceeds to S191, and it is determined whether or not the counter value of the command output counter is “0”. Here, the counter for command output is a variable time command, a left stop symbol command (a command indicating the left stop symbol determined in the stop symbol setting process), a right left stop symbol command (determined in the stop symbol setting process) at the variation start time. The command indicating the right stop symbol), the middle stop symbol command (the command indicating the middle stop symbol determined in the stop symbol setting process) are sequentially output in this order, and the number of commands for which output has been set is counted. It is a counter for. As will be described later, this command output counter is initialized (“0”) when an intermediate stop symbol command is output, and the next display control command data is output in the order described above. Every time a command is set to be output, that is, every time a command is output, one is added and updated.

  If it is determined in S191 that the counter value is not “0”, it means that the variable time command has already been output, and the process proceeds to S195 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S191 that the counter value is “0”, the variable time command has not been output yet, and the process proceeds to S192. In S192, as the display control command data, a process of storing the data of the variation time command determined in the symbol variation setting process in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 is performed. Thus, if the display control command data is stored in the output command data storage area, the display control command data can be output from the output port 572, that is, the game control board 31 can be output. Thereby, at this stage, a variable time command can be output.

  Next, in S193, the port output request data is set, and the process of starting the time measurement by the symbol variation time timer is performed. Here, the port output request refers to command data that requests the display port command 572 to output the display control command data stored in the output command data storage area. When data indicating this port output request is set, display control command data is output by display command output processing. In this case, a variable time command is output. The symbol variation time timer is a timer that measures the variation time in order to output all symbol stop commands at the end of the variation time specified by the variation time command. This symbol variation time timer measures time based on the counter value of a counter that is subtracted and updated by “1” every time a predetermined time has elapsed, with the time counter value corresponding to the variation time specified by the variation time command as an initial value. This is a timer, and the counter value is added and updated by a time measuring step (not shown).

  Next, the process proceeds to S194, and after the process of adding and updating the counter value of the command output counter described above by “1” is performed, this all symbol variation start process is completed. In this case, since the process flag is not updated, when this all symbol variation start process is completed, this all symbol variation start process is executed again when the next special symbol process is executed.

  If it is determined in S191 that the counter value is not 0 and the process proceeds to S195, the stop symbol command data corresponding to the command output counter value is stored in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55. It is. Here, the correspondence relationship between the command output counter value and the stop symbol command data is as follows. That is, the counter value “1” corresponds to the left stop symbol command, the counter value “2” corresponds to the right stop symbol command, and the counter value “3” corresponds to the middle stop symbol command. Therefore, when the counter value is “1”, processing for storing the data of the left stop symbol command determined in the stop symbol setting process in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 is performed. When the counter value is “2”, the right stop symbol command data determined in the stop symbol setting process is stored in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55. When the counter value is “3”, the process of storing the data of the medium stop symbol command determined in the stop symbol setting process in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 is performed.

  Next, in S196, a process for setting data for port output request is performed. Thereby, the output of the stop symbol command stored in S195 is requested, and the command is output.

  Next, in S197, it is determined whether or not the counter value of the command output counter is “3”. If it is determined in S197 that the counter value is not “3”, the output of the middle stop symbol command that is output at the end of the above-described order has not yet been completed. In order to output commands in the next order in all symbol variation start processing, processing for adding and updating the counter value of the command output counter by “1” is performed, and then all symbol variation start processing ends. In this case, since the process flag is not updated, when this all symbol variation start process is completed, this all symbol variation start process is executed again when the next special symbol process is executed.

  If it is determined in S197 that the counter value is “3”, the output of the middle stop symbol command that is output at the end of the above-described order has been completed. Since the output of the four commands necessary for executing the special symbol variation display is completed, the counter value of the command output counter is cleared to “0”. Then, the process proceeds to S199a, and a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating all symbol variation stop processing is performed. As a result, when this all symbol variation start process is completed, the next symbol design process is executed, the process advances by one and the all symbol variation stop process of S105 is performed. After S193, this all symbol variation start process is terminated.

In the above all symbol variation start processing, the processing for sequentially outputting the variation time command, the left stop symbol command, the right stop symbol command, and the middle stop symbol command at the start time of the special symbol variation display is performed. At the same time, processing for measuring the subsequent fluctuation time is performed.
Next, the all symbol variation stopping process of S105 described above will be described. FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the contents of all symbol variation stop processing.

  First, in S201, it is determined whether or not the variation time has expired, that is, whether or not the variation time designated by the display control command data has elapsed. Specifically, whether or not the variation time has expired by determining whether or not the symbol variation time timer that has started timing in the all symbol variation start process has timed out (counter value is 0). Is judged.

  Next, the process proceeds to S202, where a process of storing all symbol stop command data in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 as a variable stop command is performed. As a result, all symbols stop command can be output. In step S203, the port output request data is set, and the time measured by the symbol variation time timer is reset.

  Next, in S204, it is determined whether or not a big hit occurs. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a big hit occurs based on the information of the big hit determination result in the special symbol determination process described above. If it is determined in S204 that a big hit will occur, the process proceeds to S205, and a process for setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the big hit display process is performed. Thereby, when a big hit occurs, the process advances by one and the big hit display process of S106 is executed at the time of executing the next special symbol process after the completion of the all symbol variation stop process. Thereafter, all symbol variation stop processing is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S204 that no big hit will occur, the process proceeds to S206, where the value of the special symbol process flag is set to a value indicating the special symbol variation waiting process. As a result, when a big hit does not occur, the process returns to the special symbol variation waiting process of S100 when the next special symbol process processing is executed after the end of all symbol variation stop processing. Thereafter, all symbol variation stop processing is completed.

  As described above, in the all symbol variation stop processing, the processing for outputting the variation stop command is performed after the variation time specified by the variation time command has elapsed.

  Next, the jackpot display process of S106 described above will be described. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the jackpot display processing.

  First, in S271, it is determined whether or not the probability variation flag described above is in an ON state. That is, it is determined whether or not a probable big hit occurs. If it is determined in S271 that the probability variation hit flag is in the ON state, the process proceeds to S272, and processing for storing the probability variation big hit command data as display control command data in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 is performed. As a result, the probability variation jackpot command can be output. Then, it progresses to S274 mentioned later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S271 that the probability variation flag is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to S273, and the process of storing the data of the uncertain variation big hit command as display control command data in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 is performed. It is. As a result, an uncertain variable hit command can be output. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S274.

  When the process proceeds to S274, processing for setting data for port output request is performed. Next, the process proceeds to S275, and a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the big prize opening opening process is performed. As a result, when the next special symbol process is executed after the end of the jackpot display process, the big prize opening opening process of S107 is executed. Thereafter, the jackpot display process ends.

  In this way, in the big hit display process, a process for outputting display control command data according to the presence or absence of the occurrence of the probability variation state is performed based on the determination of the probability change big hit or the non-probability big hit.

  Next, the above-described special winning opening opening process in S107 will be described. FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the contents of the special winning opening opening process.

  First, in S281, processing for storing the data of the big prize opening opening command as display control command data in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 is performed. As a result, it becomes possible to output a special winning opening opening command. Next, the process proceeds to S282, where processing for setting port output request data is performed. Next, the process proceeds to S283, and a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the special winning opening opening process is performed. As a result, when the next special symbol process process is executed after the end of the special winning opening opening process, the special winning opening opening process of S108 is executed. After that, the big prize opening opening process ends.

  In this way, in the special winning opening opening process, a process for outputting display control command data at the start of the special winning opening is performed.

  Next, the above-described processing for opening a special winning opening in S108 will be described. FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the special winning opening opening process.

  First, in S231, processing for storing the data of the command for opening the big prize opening as display control command data in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 is performed. As a result, it becomes possible to output a command for opening the special winning opening. In step S232, data for requesting port output is set. Next, proceeding to S233, a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the process between rounds is performed. Thereby, the process between rounds of S109 is performed at the time of execution of the next special symbol process after the end of the special winning opening opening process. Thereafter, the process for opening the special prize opening is completed.

  In this way, in the process for opening the special prize opening, the process for outputting the display control command data when the special prize opening is open is performed.

  Next, the process between rounds of S109 described above will be described. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the processing between rounds.

  First, in S241, based on the current game situation, it is determined whether or not the final round whose execution upper limit is the current round in the repeated continuation control being executed is completed. If it is determined in S241 that the final round has ended, the process proceeds to S245, and a process for setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the jackpot end process is performed. As a result, when the next special symbol process is executed after the end of the process between rounds, the big hit end process of S110 is executed. For this reason, when the final round is completed, the big-hit end display process is performed without performing the process between rounds. Thereafter, the process between rounds is completed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S241 that the final round has not been completed yet, the process proceeds to S242, and the inter-round command data indicating the number of rounds corresponding to the current number of rounds is output in the RAM 55 as display control command data. Processing to store in the command data storage area is performed. As a result, the command data between rounds can be output. Next, the processing proceeds to S243, and processing for setting port output request data is performed. Next, proceeding to S244, a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the special winning opening opening process is performed. As a result, when the next special symbol process process is executed after the end of the process between rounds, the special winning opening releasing process of S109 is executed. As a result, in the situation where the final round has not ended, after the inter-round processing is completed, the big prize opening opening process corresponding to the next round is executed.

  As described above, in the process between rounds, the process for outputting the display control command data during the round is performed, and the process of the process for the big prize opening opening process or the jackpot end process is performed depending on the game situation. A branch is taken.

  Next, the jackpot end process of S110 described above will be described. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the contents of the big hit end process.

  First, in S251, processing for storing the jackpot end command data as display control command data in the output command data storage area in the RAM 55 is performed. As a result, a jackpot end command can be output. Next, the processing proceeds to S252, where processing for setting port output request data is performed. Next, proceeding to S253, a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the special symbol variation waiting process is performed. As a result, the special symbol variation waiting process of S100 is executed at the time of execution of the next special symbol process after the end of the jackpot end process. Thereafter, the jackpot end process ends.

  Thus, in the big hit end process, a process for outputting the display control command data at the end of the big hit is performed.

  Next, the display command output process of S111 described above will be described. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the display command output processing. This display command output process is always executed after the processes of S100 to S110 are completed.

  First, in S211, it is determined whether or not the above-described port output request is set (data set). If it is determined in S211 that the port output request has not been set, this display command output process ends. As a result, when there is no display control command data to be output, processing relating to output of command data is not performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S211 that the port output request is set, the process proceeds to S212, and processing for resetting the port output request data is performed.

  In step S213, the first byte of data stored in the output command data storage area is output from the output port 572 for display control command data output. The first byte data is output for a predetermined period. As a result, the first byte of the display control command data stored in the output command data storage area is transmitted toward the display control board 80. In step S214, the port output counter is incremented and updated by “1”. Here, the port output counter is a counter for counting the number of bytes of output data for one display control command data, and counts using “0” as an initial value. Next, the process proceeds to S215, and the process of turning the display control signal INT to the ON state (active state, that is, low level) after the elapse of a predetermined ON timing (timing when the display control signal INT becomes active) elapses. Made. As a result, the display control signal INT for taking in the first byte of data becomes active (low level). Next, the process proceeds to S216, and processing for turning on the data transmission flag is performed. This indicates that display control command data is being transmitted.

  Next, in S217, it is determined whether or not the value of the port output counter described above is “2”. That is, since the value of the port output counter is “1” at the time when the first byte of the display control command data is being output, it is determined here whether or not the first byte is being output. If it is determined in S217 that the value of the port output counter is “2”, the process proceeds to S218 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S217 that the value of the port output counter is not “2”, the first byte is being output, and the process proceeds to S221 to wait for the elapse of a predetermined OFF timing of the display control signal INT. The display control signal INT is turned off.

  In step S222, the second byte of the data stored in the output command data storage area is output from the output port 572 for display control command data output. As a result, the remaining second byte of the display control command data stored in the output command data storage area is transmitted toward the display control board 80. The second byte data is output for a predetermined period. In step S223, the port output counter is incremented and updated by “1”. As a result, when the second byte data is output, the port output counter becomes “2”.

  Next, the process proceeds to S224, and processing for turning on the display control signal INT is performed after the elapse of a predetermined ON timing of the display control signal INT. As a result, the display control signal INT for taking in the second byte of data becomes active (low level). Thereafter, the process returns to S217. When the process proceeds from S224 to S217, since the port output counter is “2”, the process proceeds from S217 to S218.

  In S218, processing for clearing the port output counter is performed. Next, the process proceeds to S219, and a process for turning the display control signal INT to the OFF state is performed after the elapse of a predetermined OFF timing of the display control signal INT. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S220, and the process of turning off the data transmission flag is performed after waiting for the output of the display control command data of the second byte to be stopped. Thereby, the output processing of one display control command data is completed, and it becomes possible to output the next display control command data.

  In such a display command output process, although not shown, the timing at which each step is executed is time-managed according to a predetermined time schedule. Thus, as for the display control command data, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, 2-byte data is output in 70 μs.

  As described above, in the display command output process, display control command data is output by sequentially outputting data stored in the output command data storage area byte by byte in response to a port output request.

  Next, control executed by the display control CPU 101 will be described. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a display control main process executed by the display control CPU 101.

  First, in S301, a process for initializing (initializing) the internal RAM, I / O port, VDP 103, and the like of the display control CPU 101 is performed. Next, the process proceeds to S302, in which it is determined whether or not there is an interruption (a signal fall) due to a display control signal INT (referred to as an INT signal in the following flowchart). If it is determined in S302 that there is no interrupt, an interrupt is waited for. On the other hand, if it is determined in S302 that an interrupt has occurred, the process proceeds to S303, and INT interrupt processing is executed. The contents of this INT interrupt processing will be described later with reference to FIG. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S304, and display control process processing is executed. The contents of this display control process will be described later with reference to FIGS. After S304, the process returns to S302 to wait for the next interrupt.

  Next, the contents of the INT interrupt process executed in S303 described above will be described. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the INT interrupt processing.

  First, in S311, it is confirmed whether or not the command receiving flag is set (ON state). Here, the command receiving flag is a flag for indicating that display control command data is being received, and is set in response to receiving the first byte of the display control command data. In response, the command data is reset and saved.

  If it is determined that the set state is set in S311, it is determined that the interrupt is caused by the transmission of the second byte data, and the process proceeds to S314 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S311 that the set state is not set, it can be determined that this interrupt is an interrupt caused by the transmission of the first byte data. Therefore, in this case, the process proceeds to S312 and the pointer is cleared. Here, the pointer is for indicating at which byte in the display control data storage area of the RAM built in the display control CPU 101 the received data is stored. Next, the process proceeds to S313, and a process of setting a command reception flag is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S314.

  When the process proceeds to S314, it is determined whether or not the display control signal INT is in the ON state (low level state). If it is determined in S314 that it is not in the ON state, an interrupt is waited for. On the other hand, if it is determined in S314 that it is in the ON state, the process proceeds to S315, in which the currently received display control command data is stored and saved in the display control data storage area indicated by the pointer. . In step S316, the pointer value is incremented by “1”.

  Next, in S317, it is determined whether or not the pointer value is 2. If it is determined that the number is not 2 in S317, the INT interrupt process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined by S317 that it is 2, it means that the reception of the display control command data composed of 2 bytes is completed. Therefore, after the process of setting the command reception completion flag is performed in S318, Processing to reset the command reception flag is performed. Thereafter, the INT interrupt process is completed.

  Through the processing as described above, display control command data composed of 2-byte data is received by the display control board 80.

  FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the display control process (S304) in the display control main process described above. In the display control process, any one of steps S331 to S339 is performed according to the value of the display control process flag. In each process, the following process is executed.

  In the display control command reception waiting process (S331), it is confirmed by the INT interrupt process whether display control command data capable of specifying the variation time has been received. In the all symbol variation start process (S332), control is performed to display that the variation of all symbols of the left, middle, and right symbols starts. In the symbol variation processing (S333), the switching timing of each variation state (variation speed and variation method (variation method such as scrolling and replacement)) constituting the variation pattern is controlled, and the end of the variation time is monitored. In the all symbol variation stop process (S334), in response to reception of display control command data instructing all symbols to be stopped at the end of the variation time. Then, control is performed to stop the variation of all symbols and display the final stop symbol (determined symbol).

  In the big hit display process (S335), after the variation time is over, the above-described control of the probability variation big hit display or the non-probability big hit display is performed. In the big prize opening opening process (S336), the above-described control for displaying the big prize opening opening is performed. In the special prize opening open process (S337), the above-described control for displaying the special prize opening open is performed. In the inter-round processing (S338), the above-described control for displaying between rounds is performed. In the big hit end process (S339), the control for displaying the big hit end mentioned above is performed.

  Next, processing contents of a subroutine constituting the display control process described above will be described. First, the processing content of the display control command reception waiting process (S331) will be described. FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing the contents of the display control command reception waiting process.

  In the display control command reception waiting process, first, in S341, it is determined whether display control command data has been received. If it is determined in S341 that it has not been received, the display control command reception waiting process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has been received in S341, the process proceeds to S342, where it is determined whether or not the received command data is a change start command (in this case, specifically a change time command).

  If it is determined in S342 that the command is a change start command, the process proceeds to S343, and a process of setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating all symbol change start processing is performed. As a result, when this display control command reception waiting process is completed through S343, the process proceeds by one and the entire symbol variation start process of S332 is executed when the next display control process process is executed. . On the other hand, if it is determined in S342 that the command is not a change start command, the process proceeds to S344, in which it is determined whether the received command data is a demo screen switching command.

  If it is determined in S344 that the command is a demo screen switching command, the process proceeds to S345, and processing for displaying the demo screen is performed according to the first and second byte data of the received display control command data. Thus, when performing display control according to the display control command data, a command for instructing the contents to be displayed according to the display control command data is given from the display control CPU 101 to the VDP 103, and according to the command, The VDP 103 creates image data of the specified content, combines the image data with the background image, and displays the image on the variable display unit 9. An image is displayed on the variable display unit 9 by performing the same control for various display controls described below.

  After S345, the display control command reception waiting process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in S344 that the command is not a demo screen switch command, the data received at this stage is a miss screen switch command, and the slip screen is displayed according to the first and second byte data of the received display control command data. Processing is done. After S346, this display control command reception waiting process ends. In this way, when the demo screen switching command or the off screen switching command is received, the process ends without updating the process flag. Therefore, the display control command reception waiting process is executed again at the next display control process processing execution. Will be executed.

  Next, the contents of the all symbol variation start process (S332) will be described. FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing the contents of all symbol variation start processing. In the all symbol variation start processing, first, in S351, display control is performed to perform display for starting variation of all symbols in accordance with the first and second byte data of the received display control command data. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S352, where the process of setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating the process during symbol variation is performed, and this all symbol variation start process ends. As a result, when this all symbol variation start process is completed, the next process of the display control process is executed, the process advances by one, and the symbol variation in-process of S333 is performed.

  Next, the processing content of the symbol variation processing (S333) will be described. FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the symbol variation processing. In the process of changing symbols, first, in S361, it is determined whether or not a left stop symbol command, a right stop symbol command, and a middle stop symbol command have been received. In step S361, the process proceeds to step S362 after receiving a command. In S362, it is determined whether or not the change time command that triggered the start of change of the current variable display is a command when it is out of date (change time command when the display result is out of date).

  If it is determined in S362 that the command is a miss command, the process proceeds to S365 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined by S362 that the command is not an out-of-game command, that is, if the command is a big hit, the process proceeds to S363 and the left, middle and right schedules indicated by the left, middle and right stop symbol commands Judgment is made as to whether or not all the stop symbols match. Thus, it is determined whether or not the scheduled stop symbol is a big hit symbol corresponding to the display control content in the case of the big hit specified by the variable time command.

  If it is determined in S363 that they do not match, the process proceeds to S364, and correction is performed to match the left, middle, and right scheduled stop symbols so that the planned stop symbol corresponds to the display control content in the case of a big win. Is made. Then, it progresses to S367 mentioned later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S363 that they match, the display control content corresponds to the case where the scheduled stop symbol is a big hit, so the process directly proceeds to S367 described later.

  If it is determined that the command is out of step in S362 and the process proceeds to S365, whether the left, middle and right scheduled stop symbols indicated by the left, middle and right stop symbol commands match. Judgment is made. As a result, it is determined whether or not the scheduled stop symbol is a symbol that is out of correspondence with the display control content in the case of the loss specified by the variable time command.

  If it is determined in S365 that the two symbols match, the process proceeds to S366, and the right symbol of the scheduled stop symbol is shifted by one symbol in order to correspond to the display control contents when the scheduled stop symbol is lost, and a shift symbol is generated. Correction processing is performed to do so. Then, it progresses to S367 mentioned later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S365 that they match, the display control content corresponds to the case where the scheduled stop symbol is out of order, and the process directly proceeds to S367.

  When the process proceeds to S367, processing for storing the current left, middle and right scheduled stop symbols in the RAM built in the display control CPU 101 is performed. Next, the process proceeds to S368, in which the display control of the left, middle, and right symbols is performed based on the variation pattern designated by the display control command data. Specifically, a variation pattern corresponding to the variation time specified by the display control command data is selectively read out from a plurality of types of variation patterns stored in the control data ROM 102, and data for designating the variation pattern is read. Give to VDP103. In response to this, the VDP 103 creates an image as described above, and performs a process of displaying an image according to the designated variation pattern on the LCD display 82 of the variable display unit 9. Thereby, the variable display as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 is performed according to the display control command data. In such variable display, after the left, middle, and right symbols start to change all at once, the display results for the left symbol, right symbol, and middle symbol are sequentially derived and stopped as time passes. Each symbol is displayed and controlled to be shaken. During the change, when the change time command is a command that specifies the type of reach state, an effect display that displays the reach state according to the specification is performed. Further, during the change, when the change time command is a command designating the reach notice, an effect display for displaying the reach notice is performed according to the designation. The control content of the variation pattern corresponding to such display control command data is specified by the variation pattern data stored in the control data ROM 102.

  Further, when the replacement display as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 is performed during the change, the display control board 80 side performs the replacement display in which the special symbols appear and appear in accordance with the symbol arrangement order. Based on the stop symbol command received from the game control board 31 side, a special symbol for replacement display is set, and a special symbol that appears and is displayed at a stage before the display result of the special symbol is derived and displayed is set. Control for replacing with a special symbol for replacement display is performed. For this reason, the game control board side 31 only needs to output a stop symbol command indicating a final stop symbol when performing a variable display in which special symbols are sequentially displayed.

  When the display control based on the variation pattern is completed, the process proceeds to S369, where it is determined whether or not an all symbol variation stop command has been received.

  If it is determined in S369 that the signal has not been received, the process proceeds to S370, and display control is performed in which the left, right, and middle symbols that have finished changing with the specified change pattern are swayed and placed in a standby state. . After S370, the process returns to S369. As a result, the shaking operation is continued until the all symbol variation stop command is received, and a standby state is set. On the other hand, if it is determined that the message has been received in S369, the process proceeds to S371, where a process for setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating the all-symbol fluctuation stop process is performed, and the process during the symbol fluctuation ends. As a result, when the process during symbol variation is completed, the process proceeds by one when the next display control process is executed, and all symbol variation stop processing in S334 is performed.

  Next, the processing contents of the all symbol variation stopping process (S334) will be described. FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing the contents of all symbol variation stop processing. In the all symbol variation stop process, first, in S371, display control is performed to stop the variation of all symbols in accordance with the first and second byte data of the received display control command data (all symbol stop command). .

  Next, proceeding to S373, it is determined whether or not a big hit command has been received. If it is determined in S373 that a jackpot command has been received, since the occurrence of a jackpot is instructed, the process proceeds to S375, and a process for setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating the jackpot display process is performed. The symbol variation stop process is completed. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the process advances by one and the jackpot display process of S335 is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S373 that a jackpot command has not been received, the occurrence of a jackpot is not instructed and is out of order, so that the process proceeds to S374 and the value of the display control process flag indicates the display control command reception waiting process. Processing for setting the value is performed, and this all symbol variation stop processing is completed. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the above-described process is advanced by one and the display control command reception waiting process of S331 is executed.

  Next, processing contents of the jackpot display process (S335) will be described. FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing the contents of the jackpot display process.

  In the jackpot display process, first, in S381, it is determined whether or not a probability change command has been received. If it is determined in S381 that the probability change command has been received, the process proceeds to S382, and control is performed to perform display corresponding to the probability change big hit state according to the first and second byte data of the received display control command data (probability change big hit command). Made. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S384 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S381 that a probability variation command has not been received, that is, if a non-probability variation command has been received, the process proceeds to S383, and 1 to 2 of the received display control command data (non-probability variation big hit command). Control is performed to perform display corresponding to the uncertain change big hit state according to the data of the byte. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S384.

  If the process has proceeded to S384, the process proceeds to S385 after waiting for reception of the big prize opening opening command. In S385, a process for setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating the big prize opening opening process is performed, and this big hit display process is ended. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the above-described process is advanced by one, and the big prize opening opening process of S336 is executed.

  Next, processing contents of the special winning opening opening process (S336) will be described. FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing the contents of the special winning opening opening process. In the big winning opening opening process, first, in S391, display corresponding to the big winning opening opening start state is performed according to the first and second byte data of the received display control command data (big winning opening release start command). Control is made. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S392.

  If the process proceeds to S392, the process proceeds to S393 after waiting for reception of the special winning opening open command. In S393, a process for setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating the process for opening the big prize opening is performed, and this big prize opening opening process ends. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the above-described process is advanced by one, and the process for opening the big prize opening in S337 is executed.

  Next, the processing content of the process between rounds (S338) is demonstrated. FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the processing between rounds. In the inter-round processing, first, in step S401, control corresponding to the state between rounds is performed according to the first and second byte data of the received display control command data (inter-round command). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S402.

  If the process proceeds to S402, the process waits for reception of the command for opening a big prize opening and then proceeds to S403. In S403, a process for setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating the process for opening the big prize opening is performed, and the process between rounds is completed. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the above-described process is returned to one, and the large winning opening opening process of S337 is executed.

  Next, processing contents of the special winning opening opening process (S337) will be described. FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the special winning opening opening process. In the process for opening the big prize opening, first, in S411, display corresponding to the state of opening the big prize opening is performed according to the data of the first and second bytes of the received display control command data (command for opening the big prize opening). Control is made. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S412.

  If the process proceeds to S412, it is determined whether an inter-round command has been received. If it is determined in S412 that an inter-round command has been received, the process proceeds to S413, where the value of the display control process flag is set to a value indicating inter-round processing, and this process of opening a special winning opening is completed. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the above-described process is advanced by one and the process between rounds in S338 is executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S412 that an inter-round command has not been received, the process proceeds to S414, where it is determined whether or not a jackpot end command has been received. If it is determined in S414 that the jackpot end command has been received, the process proceeds to S415, where the value of the display control process flag is set to a value indicating the jackpot end process, and the process for opening the big prize opening is ended. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the above-described process is advanced by two and the jackpot end process of S339 is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S414 that the jackpot end command has not been received, the process returns to S412 to wait for reception of an inter-round command or jackpot end command.

  Next, the contents of the big hit end process (S336) will be described. FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing the contents of the big hit end process. At the end of the big hit, first, at S421, display control is performed to perform display corresponding to the big hit end state in accordance with the first and second byte data of the received display control command data. Then, the process proceeds to S422, where it is determined whether a change start command has been received.

  If it is determined that it has been received in S422, since the start of the next variation is instructed, the process proceeds to S423, in which processing for setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating all symbol variation start processing is performed. The jackpot end process ends. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the entire symbol variation start process of S332 is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined in S423 that it has not been received, since the start of the next fluctuation is not instructed, the process proceeds to S424, and the value of the display control process flag is set to a value indicating display control command reception waiting processing. Processing is performed, and the jackpot end processing ends. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the display control command reception waiting process of S331 is executed.

Next, the main effects obtained by the first embodiment described above are listed.
As shown in FIG. 16 and the like, if the game control board 31 outputs a change start command including a change time command and a stop symbol command at the change start time of the special symbol on the variable display unit 9, FIG. 16 and FIG. As shown in the above, within the variation time specified by the variation time command, variable display is performed by the control on the display control board 80 side, and the display result of the special symbol specified by the stop symbol command is derived and displayed. It is done. Then, as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 27, when the all symbols stop command is output from the game control board 31 side at the time when the display result is fixed, the derivation is performed as shown in FIG. Display control for confirming the displayed display result is performed on the display control board 80 side. For this reason, it is not necessary to give detailed instructions on the variable display contents on the game control board 31 side during the period between the change start time and the display result finalization time, thus reducing the burden on the variable display control on the game control board 31 side. can do.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 39, the display result is determined at the time of derivation of the display result in the variation display within the variation time specified by the variation time command and the variation time specified by the variation time command. Even if there is a fixed waiting time between the time of display (specifically, the fixed time of display result by all symbols stop command), the special symbol will be displayed in a standby state due to shaking during that period. As a result, the display result is confirmed at the same time as the end time of the variation time specified by the all symbols stop command. For this reason, when multiple types of variable display with different substantial lengths from the start of display to display of the display result are selectively performed, the data of the variable time length is the same variable time. Even if a command is used, since the display of the fluctuation is performed by the swinging operation from the time when the display result is derived and displayed until the time when the display result is determined, it is possible to display each of the fluctuation displays without a sense of incongruity. Thereby, it is possible to instruct a plurality of types of variation pattern displays having substantially different variation time lengths using data specifying one variation time length. Therefore, since the type of data used for the display control command data can be reduced on the game control board 31 side as compared with the prior art, the amount of data stored in the memory such as the ROM 54 and the RAM 55 for variable display control can be reduced. For example, the burden on the game control board 31 can be reduced with respect to handling information for variable display control.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the game control board 31 only needs to output at least a variable time command as display control command data at the time of variable start within the variable time in the variable display unit 9. It is possible to reduce the processing load required for outputting the display control command data on the game control board 31 side at the start.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, at a predetermined time in a wide time zone after outputting the variation time command and before deriving and displaying the display result within the variation time specified by the variation time command. Since the left, middle, and right stop symbol commands are output, the output of the left, middle, and right stop symbol commands can be made less susceptible to time restrictions.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, since the display control for confirming and displaying the special symbol display result is performed in response to the all symbol variation stop command output at the time of finalizing and displaying the special symbol display result, The display result can be confirmed and displayed at a timing directly designated by the game control board 31.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10 and the like, one variation pattern selected and determined from a plurality of predetermined variation patterns is specified by the variation time command in the display control command data, and is shown in FIG. As described above, since the variation display according to the variation pattern specified by the variation time command is performed under the control of the display control board 80, a plurality of types of variation patterns are converted into one variation time data. Can be commanded using commands. As a result, the type of data used for the display control command data can be further reduced as compared with the prior art, so that the amount of data stored for variable display control can be further reduced. Regarding the handling of information, the burden on the game control board 31 side can be further reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 39, one variation pattern corresponding to the variation time length specified by the variation time command is stored in the control data ROM 102 on the display control board 80 side. Since the display control is further performed, which is selectively determined based on the data of the variation pattern and the variable display is performed according to the variation pattern, the display control command data is varied during the variable display on the game control board 31 side. There is no need to specify detailed patterns. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the processing burden in terms of the output of display control command data on the game control board 31 side.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 16 to 18 and the like, since the special symbol is displayed in a swinging manner in an alternating manner in the forward direction and the reverse direction during the symbol determination waiting period, even if the special symbol is displayed. Even if the display result is derived, it is possible to give the player an impression that the display result has not yet been finalized by swinging the special symbol. For this reason, the player can easily recognize that the display result is not fixed in the standby state by such a swinging operation display of the identification information of the special symbol.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 39, even when the display control board 80 side is performing the swing operation display in the standby state in accordance with the variable time command, when all symbols stop command is received. The display of the display result according to the command is given priority. For this reason, even if there is a deviation in the control timing between the game control board 31 side and the display control board 80 side for some reason, the control timing on the display control board 80 side is changed to the lamp, sound, etc. on the game control board 31 side. By adjusting to the control timing, it is possible to prevent such a control timing shift.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the transmission of information between the game control board 31 side and the display control board 80 side is based on one-way communication of information from the game control board 31 side to the display control board 80 side. Therefore, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the illegal act of inputting illegal information from the game control board 31 side to the display control board 80 side and performing the illegal control operation of the game control board 31 (particularly, the basic circuit 53). it can.

  Further, the output buffer 571 shown in FIG. 5 and the like has an irreversibility that allows output of information from the inside to the outside of the game control board 31 but does not allow input of information from the outside to the inside of the game control board 31. Since it is an output interface, one-way communication from the game control board 31 side to the display control board 80 side is reliably performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible an illegal act of inputting illegal information from the outside to the inside of the game control board 31 to perform an illegal control operation of the game control board 31 (particularly, the basic circuit 53).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, since an output port 572 and an output driver 580 for adjusting the output level are provided for outputting a display control command, the game control board is caused by the circuit configuration. It becomes difficult to input information from the outside of 31 to the inside as it is. As a result, it is possible to prevent as much as possible an illegal act of inputting illegal information from the outside to the inside of the game control board 31 to perform an illegal control operation of the game control board 31 (particularly, the basic circuit 53).

  Also, as shown in FIG. 39, when the variation time specified by the variation time command and the display result identified by the stop symbol command received with the variation time command do not have a predetermined correspondence relationship Furthermore, on the display control board 80 side, the display result is corrected to a display result corresponding to the variation time (see S363 to S366), and the derived display result is corrected. For this reason, for example, a display that does not have a predetermined correspondence with the variation time as in the case where the display result of the special symbol becomes a big hit symbol even though the effect display of the big hit display is performed. By displaying the result, an unnatural display can be prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16 to FIG. 18, the stop received from the game control board 31 side on the display control board 80 side in order to perform the replacement display in which the special symbols appear and be displayed sequentially in a predetermined order. Based on the symbol command, a special symbol for replacement display is set, and the special symbol that appears before the special symbol display result is derived and displayed, is replaced with the special symbol for replacement display that has been set. Control is performed. For this reason, the game control board side 31 only needs to output a stop symbol command indicating a final stop symbol when performing a variable display in which special symbols are sequentially displayed. This eliminates the need to specify the variation pattern in detail using the display control command data during the variation display on the game control board 31 side. Thereby, the processing burden in terms of output of display control command data on the game control board side 31 side can be reduced.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the time of the shaking operation is also specified by the variable time command. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 46 is a diagram showing various random counters used for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 46, eight counters from random number 1 to random number 8 are shown as representative examples of random counters.

  The random numbers 1 to 5 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. Random numbers 6 to 10 select a variable time command according to the symbol difference between the right symbol and the middle symbol of the scheduled stop symbol when the reach state occurs (difference in symbol position on the symbol arrangement described above). Is for. This symbol difference is represented by one symbol as one frame, the symbol position number of the scheduled symbol of the right symbol is regarded as the reference value “0”, and the direction in which the number decreases from the symbol position number serving as the reference value is “ The direction in which the number increases is represented by “+”.

  The random number 6 is a random counter for determining the variation time when the above-described symbol difference is −2 frames. The random number 7 is a random counter for determining the variation time when the above-described symbol difference is -1 frame. The random number 8 is a random counter for determining the variation time when the above-described symbol difference is +2 frames. The random number 9 is a random counter for determining the variation time when the above-described symbol difference is +1 frame. The random number 10 is a random counter for determining a variation time when the above-described symbol difference is 0 frames, that is, when a big hit occurs. Each of these random numbers 6 to 10 is incremented and updated by 1 every 2 ms, is incremented and updated from 0, and is incremented and updated to 30 which is the upper limit thereof, and then incremented and updated again from 0. When the symbol difference does not fall within the range of −2 frames to +2 frames, there is no room for selection for the variation time, and the variation time determined in advance corresponding to the symbol difference is determined.

  Next, a specific example of display control command data according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 47 is a diagram showing a specific example of display control command data according to the second embodiment in a table format.

  47 (a), a command for instructing a variation time when a reach state does not occur (meaning a special symbol variation time), and a command for (b) instructing a variation time when a normal reach state occurs. , (C) show commands for instructing the variation time when the long reach state or the frame advance reach state occurs.

  Referring to (a) of FIG. 47, the data value “8000H” is data of the fluctuation time when the reach does not occur, the fluctuation time is 10 seconds, and the fluctuation operation within that time is 3 seconds. It is specified to be seconds.

  Referring to (b) of FIG. 47, the value “81H” of the data CMD1 of the first byte specifies that the data is a variable time when normal reach occurs. The value of the data CMD2 in the second byte specifies the type of length of the fluctuation time, the type of reach (separate between long reach and frame advance reach), and the type of length of the shaking operation time.

  Referring to (c) of FIG. 47, the value “82H” of the data CMD1 of the first byte specifies that the data is a variable time when long reach or frame advance reach occurs. The value of the data CMD2 in the second byte specifies the type of length of the fluctuation time, the type of reach (separate from normal reach, long reach, frame advance reach) and the type of length of the shaking operation time. The

  In the commands shown above, the length of the variation time is set to a time corresponding to the number of frames, where one frame of the symbol difference corresponds to 0.5 seconds. The commands shown in (b) and (c) are selected corresponding to the symbol difference described above. Specifically, when the symbol difference is “−5”, the 8100H command is fixedly determined. When the symbol difference is “+2”, the 8109H command or the 8203H command is selectively determined. In this example, for the symbol differences “−2” to “+2”, since a plurality of types of commands are provided, it is necessary to select the commands using the random numbers 6 to 10 as described above. . On the other hand, for the symbol differences of “−3”, “+3”, “−4”, “+4”, “−5”, and “+5”, only one type of command is provided for each. Based on this, the command is fixedly determined. Also. In this example, a big hit operation is performed when the length of the shaking operation time is 0 second. Therefore, the display control CPU 101 recognizes whether the occurrence of big hit or the occurrence of deviation is predetermined by determining whether or not the length of the shaking operation time is 0 second. Is possible.

  Next, processing contents of the symbol variation setting process according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 48 is a flowchart showing the contents of the symbol variation setting process according to the second embodiment. This symbol variation setting process replaces the symbol variation setting process shown in FIG. 25 of the first embodiment described above, and is executed by the basic circuit 53.

  In the symbol variation setting process, first, in S501, it is determined whether or not the variation time (with reach) flag is ON. If it is determined in S501 that the flag is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to S511, and after the process of determining the command (8000H) of the fluctuation time when the reach does not occur, the process proceeds to S514 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S501 that the flag is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to S502, and it is determined whether or not the symbol difference between the right symbol and the middle symbol is −2 for the scheduled stop symbol.

  If it is determined in S502 that the symbol difference is −2, the process proceeds to S503, the value of the random number 6 in FIG. 46 is extracted, and the command (8103H or 8200H) of the variation time is determined based on the extracted value Is made. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S514. On the other hand, if it is determined in S502 that the symbol difference is not −2, the process proceeds to S504, and it is determined whether or not the symbol difference between the right symbol and the middle symbol is −1 for the scheduled stop symbol.

  If it is determined in S504 that the symbol difference is -1, the process proceeds to S505, where the value of the random number 7 in FIG. 46 is extracted, and a command (8104H, 8105H, or 8205H) of the fluctuation time is extracted based on the extracted value. Processing to determine is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S514. On the other hand, if it is determined in S505 that the symbol difference is not -1, the process proceeds to S506, and for the scheduled stop symbol, it is determined whether or not the symbol difference between the right symbol and the middle symbol is +2.

  If it is determined in S506 that the symbol difference is +2, the process proceeds to S507, where the value of the random number 8 in FIG. 46 is extracted, and the process of determining the variable time command (8109H or 8203H) based on the extracted value is performed. Made. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S514. On the other hand, if it is determined in S506 that the symbol difference is not +2, the process proceeds to S509, and it is determined whether or not the symbol difference between the right symbol and the middle symbol is +1 for the scheduled stop symbol.

  If it is determined in S509 that the symbol difference is +1, the process proceeds to S512, in which the value of the random number 9 in FIG. 46 is extracted, and a command for changing time (810AH or 8204H) is determined based on the extracted value. Made. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S514. On the other hand, if it is determined in S509 that the symbol difference is not +1, the process proceeds to S511, and it is determined whether or not the symbol difference between the right symbol and the middle symbol is zero for the scheduled stop symbol.

  If it is determined in S511 that the symbol difference is 0, the process proceeds to S514, the value of the random number 10 in FIG. 46 is extracted, and the command of the variation time (8105H, 8202H, or 8206H) is determined based on the extracted value. Processing is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S514. On the other hand, if it is determined in S511 that the symbol difference is not 0, the process proceeds to S513, where the symbol difference between the right symbol of the scheduled stop symbol and the middle symbol (-3, +3, -4, +4, -5, +5). The process of determining the command (see FIG. 47) of the variation time that corresponds to is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S514.

  When the process proceeds to S514, a process for setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating the entire symbol variation start process is performed, and the symbol variation setting process is terminated. In this case, at the time of executing the next special symbol process, the all symbol variation start process of S104 is executed.

  Next, processing contents of the symbol variation processing according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the symbol variation processing according to the second embodiment. This symbol variation processing is replaced with the symbol variation processing shown in FIG. 39 of the first embodiment, and is executed by the display control CPU 101.

  This symbol changing process is different from the symbol changing process shown in FIG. 39 in step S530. When it is determined in S529 that the all symbol variation stop command has not been received, the process proceeds to S530. In S530, based on the data of the shaking operation time designated by the received fluctuation time command, the display is made to perform the shaking operation for all the left, right, and middle symbols that have finished the fluctuation in the designated fluctuation pattern, and enter the standby state. Control is performed. After S530, the process returns to S529. As a result, the shaking operation is continued until the all symbol variation stop command is received, and a standby state is set. On the other hand, if it is determined in S529 that the all symbol variation stop command has been received, the process proceeds to S531, and a process of setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating all symbol variation stopping processing is performed. Will end.

  According to the second embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects obtained by the first embodiment described above. As shown in FIGS. 47 and 48, when the reach display state is displayed, a special symbol (middle symbol) derived and displayed at the final stage and a special symbol derived and displayed at a stage before the final stage Since the length of the swing operation period is determined based on the symbol difference (for example, the right symbol), the length of the swing operation period of the special symbol can be defined according to the symbol difference. Thereby, when the symbol difference is large, it is possible to prevent the player from feeling uncomfortable by preventing the shaking operation for an unnecessarily long period. In addition, since the display control board 80 displays the special symbol by the shaking operation based on the shaking operation period specified by the data of the changing time command, the display control board 80 grasps the shaking operation period in advance based on the changing time command. This makes it easy to perform variable display control in the standby state.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 50 is a diagram showing various random counters used for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 50, 10 counters from random number 1 to random number 10 are shown as representative examples of random counters.

  The random numbers 1 to 5 are the same as those in the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. The random number 6 is a random counter for determining the fluctuation time (no reach) for determining the fluctuation time of the special symbol when the reach state does not occur. Like the random number 1 described above, the random number 6 is incremented and updated by 1 every 2 ms. Then, the addition is updated from 0, the addition is updated to 5 which is the upper limit, and then the addition is updated from 0 again. Corresponding to each of the values that can be taken by the random number 6, a variation time of 10 seconds or 15 seconds is determined in advance, and the variation time corresponding to the extracted value is used for selecting the variation time command. Random number 7 is a random counter for determining the fluctuation time (out of reach) for determining the fluctuation time of the special symbol when the reach state occurs but is lost, and is added and updated by 1 every 2 ms as described above. , The addition is updated from 0 and the addition is updated to 20 which is the upper limit, and then the addition is updated from 0 again. Corresponding to each of the values that can be taken by the random number 7, the type of the variation time of 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or 45 seconds is determined in advance, and the variation time corresponding to the extracted value is used for selecting the variation time command. It is done. The random number 8 is a random counter for determining a variation time (per reach) for determining a variation time of a special symbol when a reach state occurs and a big hit occurs, and is added and updated by 1 every 2 ms. , The addition is updated from 0 and the addition is updated to 20 which is the upper limit, and then the addition is updated from 0 again. Corresponding to each of the values that the random number 8 can take, the types of variation time of 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, or 60 seconds are determined in advance, and the variation time corresponding to the extracted value is selected in the variation time command. Used for.

  Next, a specific example of display control command data according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 51 is a diagram showing a specific example of display control command data according to the third embodiment in a table format.

  In FIG. 51, a command indicating a variation time (meaning a variation time of a special symbol) determined on the basic circuit 53 side is shown by (a), and shown in (a) by (b). The relationship between the command and the display content determined on the display control CPU 101 side corresponding to the command is shown.

  Referring to (a) of FIG. 51, the length of the fluctuation time of 10 seconds is designated by the command data “8000H”. This variation time is selectively determined in the case of a loss without the occurrence of reach. The length of the fluctuation time of 15 seconds is specified by the command data “8001H”. This variation time is determined in the case of a loss without occurrence of reach or in the case of normal reach. The length of the fluctuation time of 30 seconds is specified by the command data “8002H”. This variation time is determined in the case of a normal reach or a frame advance reach that falls apart. The length of the fluctuation time of 45 seconds is specified by the command data “8003H”. This variation time is determined in the case of a frame advance reach or a long reach that falls apart. The length of the fluctuation time of 60 seconds is specified by the command data “8004H”. This variation time is determined in the case of full rotation reach. Here, the all symbol rotation reach means a display in which all symbols scroll and rotate while maintaining the reach state.

  Referring to (b) of FIG. 51, when “8000H” to “8004H” are received on the display control CPU 101 side, the following display contents are determined corresponding to each command.

  When the command data of “8000H” is received, the scheduled stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command becomes left symbol ≠ right symbol ≠ middle symbol, and the display content is determined as the display content without the occurrence of reach.

  When command data “8001H” is received, the following determination is made. When the scheduled stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command is left symbol ≠ right symbol ≠ middle symbol, a display that does not involve reach is determined as the display content. When the scheduled stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command is left symbol = right symbol ≠ middle symbol, the normal reach that is out of place is determined as the display content. When the scheduled stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command is left symbol = right symbol = middle symbol, the normal reach that is a big hit is determined as the display content.

  When command data “8002H” is received, the following determination is made. When the planned stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command is left symbol = right symbol ≠ middle symbol, normal reach or frame advance reach that is out of place is determined as display content. When the scheduled stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command is left symbol = right symbol = middle symbol, the frame feed reach that is a big hit is determined as the display content.

  When command data “8003H” is received, the following determination is made. When the scheduled stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command is left symbol = right symbol ≠ middle symbol, the frame advance reach or long reach that is lost is determined as the display content. When the planned stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command is left symbol = right symbol = middle symbol, the long reach that is a big hit is determined as the display content.

When the command data “8004H” is received, the scheduled stop symbol indicated by the stop symbol command is left symbol = right symbol = medium symbol, and the total rotation reach that is a big hit is determined as the display content.
Next, processing contents of the stop symbol setting process according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing the details of the stop symbol setting process according to the third embodiment. This stop symbol setting process replaces the stop symbol setting process shown in FIG. 24 of the first embodiment described above, and is executed by the basic circuit 53.

  First, in S601, it is determined whether or not the off flag (see FIG. 23) is in an ON state. If it is determined in S601 that the deviation flag is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to S611, and after processing for setting the variable time (per reach) flag to the ON state is performed, the process proceeds to S610 described later. Here, the fluctuation time (per reach) flag is a flag indicating that the fluctuation time is determined when a reach state that is a big hit occurs.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S601 that the deviation flag is in the ON state, processing similar to S162 to S165 shown in FIG. 24 is executed in S602 to S605, and the determination of the deviation symbol and the stop symbol as described above are performed. Comparison (comparison between the left symbol and the right symbol) is performed.

  Then, in S606, it is determined whether or not the compared left symbol and right symbol match. If it is determined in S606 that the symbols do not match, the process proceeds to S608 described later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S606 that the symbols do not match, the reach state is generated, and the process proceeds to S607, in which the process of setting the fluctuation time (out of reach) flag to the ON state is performed. Here, the fluctuation time (out of reach) flag is a flag indicating that a fluctuation time is determined when a reach state that causes a loss occurs. After S607, the process proceeds to S609 described later.

  If it is determined in S606 that the symbols do not match and the process proceeds to S608, a process for setting the variable time (no reach) flag to the ON state is performed. Here, the variation time (no reach) flag is a flag indicating that the variation time is determined when the reach state does not occur and a shift occurs. After S608, the process proceeds to S609.

  When the process proceeds to S609, a process for resetting the off flag to the OFF state is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S610, and a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating the symbol variation setting process is performed. As a result, when this stop symbol setting process is completed, the next time the special symbol process is executed, the process advances by one and the symbol variation setting process of S103 is executed. After S610, the stop symbol setting process ends.

  In the stop symbol setting process shown above, it is determined that a big hit accompanied by the occurrence of the reach state is generated in response to the determination of the occurrence of the big hit by the random number for jackpot determination, and this stop symbol setting process In this case, the scheduled stop symbol of the special symbol in the case of a loss is determined at random, and on the basis of the determined scheduled stop symbol, it is determined that the failure occurs with the occurrence of the reach state or the release without the occurrence of the reach state. It is selectively determined whether to do.

  Next, processing contents of the symbol variation setting process according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing the contents of the symbol variation setting process according to the third embodiment. This symbol variation setting process replaces the symbol variation setting process shown in FIG. 25 of the first embodiment described above, and is executed by the basic circuit 53.

  First, in S621, it is determined whether or not the variable time (with reach) flag is ON. The variation time (with reach) flag in this case includes both the above-described variation time (with reach) flag and the variation time (with reach) flag. If it is determined in S621 that the variation time (with reach) flag is not in the ON state, the process proceeds to step S622, where the value of the random time (random number 6) for determining the variation time (without reach) is extracted and based on the extracted value. After the process of selectively determining the fluctuation time to 10 seconds or 15 seconds (see FIG. 51) is performed, the process proceeds to S626 described later. Thereby, the length of the variation time is determined randomly. On the other hand, if it is determined in S621 that the flag is in the ON state, it is determined whether or not the occurrence of a big hit has been determined. Specifically, the determination is made based on whether or not the flag to be determined in S621 is a reach flag.

  If it is determined in S623 that the occurrence of the big hit has not been determined, the process proceeds to S624, where the value of the random time (random number 7) for determining the fluctuation time (out of reach) is extracted, and the fluctuation is determined based on the extracted value. Processing for selectively determining the length of time as 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or 45 seconds (see FIG. 51) is performed. Thereby, the length of the variation time is determined randomly. Then, it progresses to S626 mentioned later.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S623 that the occurrence of the big hit is determined, the process proceeds to S624, and the value of the random time for determining the variation time (per reach) (random number 8) is extracted, and based on the extracted value Then, a process of selectively determining the length of the variation time to 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds or 60 seconds (see FIG. 51) is performed. Thereby, the length of the variation time is determined randomly. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S626.

  When the process proceeds to S626, a process of setting the value of the special symbol process flag to a value indicating all symbol variation start processing is performed. As a result, when this symbol variation setting process is completed, the process proceeds by one and the entire symbol variation start process of S104 is performed when the next special symbol process process is executed. After S626, this all symbol variation setting process ends.

  In such a whole symbol variation setting process, the length of the variation time is randomly determined in relation to the presence or absence of the reach operation and the presence or absence of the jackpot.

  Next, processing contents of the symbol variation processing according to the third embodiment will be described. FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the symbol variation processing according to the third embodiment. This symbol variation processing is replaced with the symbol variation processing shown in FIG. 39 of the first embodiment, and is executed by the display control CPU 101.

  In this symbol changing process, first, in S631, it is determined whether a left stop symbol command, a right stop symbol command, and a middle stop symbol command have been received. In step S631, the process waits for reception of a command and proceeds to step S632. In S632, it is determined whether or not the scheduled stop symbol indicated by the received stop symbol command is left symbol = middle symbol = right symbol.

  If it is determined in S632 that the left symbol = middle symbol = right symbol, it is a case where a big hit occurs, the process proceeds to S633, and the received symbol variation time command (any one of 8001H to 8004H) Based on the above, processing is performed for determining the corresponding jackpot reach effect display as the display content. Specifically, the display content corresponding to the case where the left symbol = middle symbol = right symbol is selectively determined among the predetermined display contents corresponding to the received command (see FIG. 51). . For example, when an 8001H command is received, a normal reach effect display in which a big hit occurs is determined as the display content. After S632, the process proceeds to S637 described below.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S632 that the left symbol = right symbol = middle symbol is not a big win, the process proceeds to S634, where it is determined whether the left symbol = right symbol ≠ middle symbol. The That is, it is determined whether or not a reach state occurs.

  If it is determined in S634 that the left symbol = right symbol ≠ middle symbol, that is, if a reach state occurs, the process proceeds to S635 and the received symbol variation time command (any one of 8001H to 8003H) Based on the above, processing for determining the corresponding reach effect display as the display content is performed. Specifically, the display content corresponding to the case where the left symbol = middle symbol ≠ right symbol is selectively determined among the predetermined display contents corresponding to the received command (see FIG. 51). . In this case, for example, when an 8001H command in which only one type of display content is set is received, an effect display of normal reach that is out of place is determined as the display content, and a plurality of types of display content are set 8002H , 8003H command is received, the effect display of normal reach that is out of place is selectively determined using a predetermined random number. In this case, a command to be selected for each of the values that the random number can take is determined in advance, and which command is to be selected is determined according to the extracted value of the random number. After S635, the process proceeds to S637 described below.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S634 that the left symbol = middle symbol ≠ right symbol, that is, if the reach state does not occur, the process proceeds to S636, and the received symbol variation time command (8000H, 8001H) On the other hand, a process for determining an effect display that shifts without a corresponding reach as display content is performed. Specifically, the display content corresponding to the case where the left symbol ≠ middle symbol ≠ right symbol among the predetermined display contents corresponding to the received command (see FIG. 51) is selectively determined. . For example, when an 8001H command is received, an effect display that shifts without reaching a reach state is determined as the display content. After S636, the process proceeds to S637.

  When the process proceeds to S637, a process of storing the current scheduled stop symbol in the RAM built in the display control CPU 101 is performed. Next, the process proceeds to S638, and the display control of the left, middle, and right symbols is performed based on the variation pattern specified by the display control command data as in S368 described above. When the display control based on the variation pattern is completed, the process proceeds to S369, where it is determined whether or not an all symbol variation stop command has been received.

  If it is determined in S639 that the signal has not been received, the process proceeds to S641, and display control is performed in which all the left, right, and center symbols that have finished changing with the specified change pattern are swayed to enter a standby state. . After S641, the process returns to S639. As a result, the shaking operation is continued until the all symbol variation stop command is received, and a standby state is set. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has been received in S639, the process proceeds to S640, where the value of the display control process flag is set to a value indicating all symbol variation stop processing, and this symbol variation processing is terminated. As a result, when the process during symbol variation is completed, the process proceeds by one when the next display control process is executed, and all symbol variation stop processing in S334 is performed.

  According to the third embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained by the other embodiments described above, the following effects can be obtained. As shown in FIG. 51 and FIG. 53, in accordance with the length of the variation time specified by the variation time command, the display control board 80 side displays the variation pattern data stored in a plurality of types in the control data ROM 102. Based on this, the variation pattern is freely and selectively determined using a determination method using a random number, and display control is further performed to perform variable display according to the variation pattern. For this reason, it is not necessary to specify the variation pattern in detail using the display control command data during variable display on the game control board 31 side. As a result, the processing burden on the display control command data output on the game control board 31 side can be reduced, and the degree of freedom of control on the game control board 31 side can be increased.

Fourth Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the display control CPU 101 determines whether or not the big hit is a big hit and whether or not the big hit is a probable big hit, and based on the judgment, performs various displays such as a display of the probable big hit. An example of performing is described. In the fourth embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing the contents of the jackpot display process according to the fourth embodiment. This jackpot display process replaces the above-described jackpot display process of FIG. 28 and is executed by the display control CPU 101.

  In this jackpot display process, first, in S701, it is determined whether or not a left stop symbol command, a right stop symbol command, and a middle stop symbol command are received in S701. In step S701, the process proceeds to step S702 after receiving a command. In S702, it is determined whether the left, middle, and right scheduled stop symbols all match. Thus, it is determined whether or not the scheduled stop symbol is a big hit symbol corresponding to the display control content in the case of the big hit specified by the variable time command.

  In the case of the fourth embodiment, even if the game control board 31 generates a big hit, the big hit command and the probability variation big hit command or the non-probability big hit command are transmitted to the display control CPU 101 as display control command data. do not do. On the other hand, on the display control board 80 side, whether or not a big hit is generated is determined independently in S702. If it is determined in S702 that they do not coincide with each other, it is a case where the occurrence of a jackpot is not designated, and the jackpot display process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in S702 that the match is a case where the occurrence of a big hit is designated, the process proceeds to S703, where it is determined whether or not the planned stop symbol is a probability variation symbol. In this way, by checking the combination of scheduled stop symbols, it is uniquely determined whether or not a probability variation state occurs.

  If it is determined in S703 that the symbol is a probability variation symbol, a probability variation jackpot is generated, and control proceeds to S704 to perform display corresponding to the probability variation jackpot state in accordance with predetermined probability variation jackpot display data. The Then, it progresses to S706 mentioned later. On the other hand, if it is determined in S703 that the symbol is not a probability variation symbol, this is a case of a non-variable big hit in which occurrence of a probability variation big hit is not specified, and the process proceeds to S705, where the non-variable big hit display data is determined according to the predetermined non-probable variable big hit display data. Control is performed to perform display corresponding to the probable big hit state. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S706.

  If the process has proceeded to S706, the process proceeds to S707 after waiting for the reception of the special winning opening opening command. In S707, a process for setting the value of the display control process flag to a value indicating the big prize opening opening process is performed, and this big hit display process is ended. In this case, when the next display control process is executed, the process described above is advanced by one, and the big prize opening opening process of S707 is executed.

  In the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained by the other embodiments described above, the following effects can be obtained. When changing the variation pattern of the variable display section 9 in the probability variation state depending on whether or not the probability variation state occurs, the probability variation big hit display is displayed on the display control board 80 side based on the stop symbol command received from the game control board 31 side. Or whether to display the non-probable variation big hit display, and the big hit display is executed according to the selected display pattern. For this reason, the game control board 31 does not need to output display control command data for instructing the display contents in the big hit state when performing the big hit state display according to the presence or absence of occurrence of the probability variation state. Just output the command. This eliminates the need to instruct a display pattern based on the display result on the game control board 31 side. Thereby, regarding the handling of the information for variable display control on the game control board 31 side, the burden on the game control board 31 can be further reduced.

Next, modifications, feature points, and the like in the embodiment described above are listed below.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the pachinko gaming machine is a gaming machine in which a player can directly hold a pachinko ball has been described. The invention can also be applied to other gaming machines such as a ball-sealed pachinko gaming machine of the type in which pachinko balls enclosed therein are circulated and used for gaming.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the pachinko gaming machine is a gaming machine in which the player can directly hold the pachinko ball has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the structure of the gaming area and A thing related to a pachinko gaming machine such as a pachinko ball is displayed as an image, and the present invention can also be applied to other gaming machines such as an image-type gaming machine capable of playing a game with the displayed image.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the variable display unit 9 is configured as an LCD (liquid crystal display device) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the variable display unit 9 may be configured by other display devices such as CRT, dot matrix, LED, electroluminescence, 7-segment LED, fluorescent display tube, and the like.

  (4) As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 39 described above, on the display control board 80 side, when the display control of the variable display section 9 is performed, the timing for deriving and displaying the display result of the special symbol is In the case where a waiting period for determination (for example, the shaking operation period in FIG. 16) occurs in the meantime, an example is shown in which control is performed to set the standby state by setting the special symbol to the shaking operation state during the determination waiting period. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display mode of the special symbol in the confirmation waiting period is not limited to the shaking operation state described above. In other words, the special symbol in the waiting period for confirmation is any display state in which the player does not feel uncomfortable and the display result can indicate that the display result has not yet been confirmed. It may be in a standby state in the display mode.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the variation of the special symbol is started in response to the variation time command being taken in by the display control board 80 side is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and control for starting the variation of the special symbol may be performed in response to taking in all of the left, middle, and right stop symbol commands output after the variation time command.

  (6) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the variable time command and the left, middle and right stop symbol commands are output by the command data of 8 bytes in total is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and command data in which all of the variable time command and the left, middle, and right stop symbol commands are included in the 2-byte data may be output. The data length of such command data is not limited to these 8 bytes and 2 bytes. That is, the data length of such command data varies depending on the command content such as the data quantity and type of the command to be output.

  (7) In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the game control board 31 side displays the variation display by outputting the variation time command and the left, middle, and right stop symbol commands. However, not limited to this, the game control board 31 side outputs a variable time command, a hit-off command, and a final stop symbol command (middle symbol in the example of this embodiment), and the display control board 80 side outputs a hit-off command. Depending on the contents, other stop symbols (left and middle symbols in the example of this embodiment) may be selected and determined based on the final stop symbol command. Further, the variable display may be performed based on the fact that the game control board 31 side outputs only the variable time command and the hit-off command (command indicating whether it is a big hit or not). The stop symbol in that case may be selected and determined by the display control board 80 side.

  (8) The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

Specific examples of means for solving the problem

  (1) The pachinko gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 or the like has a variable display device (variable display unit 9 of the variable display device 8) capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information (special symbols). A gaming machine that can be controlled to a state advantageous to the player (for example, a big hit state) when the display result of the display device becomes a predetermined specific display mode (big hit symbol) is configured. 4 is a means for controlling the gaming state of the gaming machine by the game control board 31, more specifically, the basic circuit 53, and includes command information (display control command) for controlling display on the variable display device. Game control means for outputting data) is configured. The display control board 80 shown in FIG. 5, more specifically, the display control CPU 101 receives the command information output from the game control means, and after the variable display device is variably started in accordance with the command information, the display result Variable display control means for performing control for deriving and displaying is configured. The game control means includes display result determination means, period determination means, and command information output means. S146 shown in FIG. 23 and S162 to S164 shown in FIG. 24 constitute display result determining means for determining in advance at least part of the display result in variable display on the variable display device. Period determining means for determining the length (variation time) of the variable display period required from the variable start in the variable display device to the final display of the display result derived and displayed by S182 and S183 shown in FIG. It is configured. The basic circuit 53 shown in FIG. 7, more specifically, the variable determined by the period determining means at the variable start time in the variable display device by the CPU 56, the output buffer 571, the output port 572, and the output driver 580. Variable display period information (variable time command) that can specify the length of the display period and display result information (left, middle, and right stop symbol commands) that can specify the display result determined by the display result determining means are included. Command information output means capable of outputting the command information is configured. As shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 39, the variable display control means performs variable display of the identification information within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information, and the display specified by the display result information. The result (scheduled stop symbol) is derived and displayed (display state derived regardless of confirmed or unconfirmed), and the display result is derived and displayed in the display control and specified by the variable display period information When a confirmation waiting period (for example, the shaking operation period in FIG. 16) occurs between the display time and the display result of the variable display period, the identification information is stored in a predetermined standby state (swinging operation) during the confirmation waiting period. Display control for variable display in (status).

  (2) As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the command information output means outputs at least the variable display period information as the command information at the time of variable start within the variable display period in the variable display device.

  (3) As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, after the command information output means outputs the variable display period information, the display result is derived and displayed within the variable display period specified by the variable display period information. The display result information is output at a predetermined time before the display.

  (4) As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the command information output means confirms the derived display result at a time when the display result in the variable display period determined by the period determination means is to be confirmed and displayed. It is possible to further output the fixed information (all symbols stop command) that can specify to be displayed as the command information. As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the variable display control means further performs display control for confirming and displaying a display result in accordance with the confirmation information.

  (5) From S182 and S183 shown in FIG. 25, one variable display pattern is selected from a plurality of types of variable display patterns included in the game control means and predetermined according to the length of the variable display period. Is selectively determined (in the case of S182 and S183, the variation pattern is determined by determining the variation time), and variable display pattern determination means is configured (see FIGS. 10A and 10B). As shown in FIG. 10, the variable display period information output from the command information output means at the variable start time is the variable display pattern determined by the variable display pattern determination means (for example, the type of reach and the advance notice). ) Can be further specified. As shown in FIG. 39 (more specifically, S368), the variable display control means follows the variable display pattern specified by the variable display period information from the variable start in the variable display device to the derivation of the display result. Further, display control for making variable display of is performed.

  (6) By the control data ROM 102 shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of types of variable display patterns (variables) determined in advance corresponding to the lengths of the plurality of types of variable display periods that can be specified by the variable display period information. Variable display pattern storage means for storing (pattern) is configured. As shown in S368 of FIG. 39, the variable display control means is one variable corresponding to the length of the variable display period specified by the variable display period information based on the storage information of the variable display pattern storage means. Display control is further performed in which a display pattern is selectively determined, and variable display from variable start to display result derivation in the variable display device is performed according to the determined variable display pattern.

  (7) As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, the variable display control means predefines the derived identification information when the identification information is variably displayed in a predetermined standby state during the determination waiting period. Display control is performed in such a manner that the display is alternately swung in the forward direction and the reverse direction (swing operation display).

(8) As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, when the variable display device performs variable display of the identification information, a plurality of pieces of identification information (left, middle and right symbols) are displayed as a display result of the identification information. ) Can be displayed in a step-by-step manner. 48. S502 to S513 shown in FIG. 48 include types of identification information (for example, middle symbols) included in the game control means and derived and displayed at the final stage, and identification derived and displayed at a stage before the final stage. Based on a correlation (for example, symbol difference) with the type of information (for example, the right symbol), standby state period determining means for determining the length of the standby state period for variably displaying the identification information in the standby state is configured. ing. As shown in FIG. 47, the command information output at the variable start time from the command information output means is standby state period information that can specify the length of the standby state period determined by the standby period determination means. (Information on the corresponding shaking operation time) is further included.
As shown in S528 of FIG. 49, the variable display control means is a display that variably displays the identification information in a predetermined standby state (swing operation display) within the standby state period specified by the standby state period information. Further control.

  (9) As shown in S369 in FIG. 39, S529 in FIG. 49, S639 in FIG. 54, and the like, the variable display control means can determine the fixed information even during the standby state period based on the standby state period information. Display control is performed to preferentially display the display result according to the determination information.

  (10) As shown in FIG. 5 and the like, information is transmitted between the game control means and the variable display control means by one-way communication from the game control means to the variable display control means.

  (11) The output buffer 571 shown in FIG. 5 and the like is included in the command information output means, and can output information from the inside of the game control means to the outside. An irreversible output means that cannot input information is configured.

  (12) The output port 572 shown in FIG. 7 or the like constitutes an output port that is included in the command information output means and outputs the command information. The output driver 580 shown in FIG. 7 constitutes an output driver included in the command information output means for adjusting the output level of the command information from the output port 572.

  (13) As shown in S182 and S183 of FIG. 25, the period determining means determines a predetermined correspondence between the display result of the variable display device and the variable display period (for example, the variation time shown in FIG. 10). The length of the variable display period corresponding to the display result determined by the display result determining means is determined based on the relationship with the variation pattern). S362, S363, and S365 shown in FIG. 39 (similarly S522, S523, and S525 shown in FIG. 49) are included in the display control means and specified by the variable display period information received from the game control means. A determining unit is configured to determine whether or not the displayed variable display period and the display result specified by the display result information received along with the variable display period information are in a correspondence relationship. 39. S364 and S366 shown in FIG. 39 (the same applies to S526 and S524 shown in FIG. 49) are included in the display control unit, and the variable display period and the display result are not in the correspondence relationship by the determination unit. When it is determined that the display result is corrected, the display result is corrected to the display result corresponding to the variable display period based on the variable display period, and the derived display result correction unit corrects the derived display result.

  (14) By S368 shown in FIG. 39 (S528 shown in FIG. 49 and S638 shown in FIG. 54), the variable display control means includes a plurality of types of identification information. Sequential display control means for executing variable display for appearing and displaying sequentially according to the order is configured. Based on the display result information received from the game control means and included in the variable display control means by S368 shown in FIG. 39 (S528 shown in FIG. 49, and S638 shown in FIG. 54). Thus, replacement setting means for setting the identification information in the appearance order (symbol arrangement order) a predetermined number before the display result identification information (scheduled stop symbol) as identification information for replacement display is configured. As described above, the variable display control unit replaces the identification information that is displayed and displayed by the sequential display control unit with the replacement setting unit before the derivative information display result is derived and displayed. Control is performed to replace the identification information.

  (15) The variable display control means includes a display result determination means, a display pattern selection means, and a display control means in a specific gaming state. 55. In S701 and S702 shown in FIG. 55, the display result specified by the received display result information can be controlled to a specific game state (big hit state) advantageous to the player in a specific display mode (big hit symbol). Whether the display result specified by the display result information is a special display mode (probability change pattern) that can be controlled to a special game state (probability change state) advantageous to the player different from the specific game state. Display result determination means for determining whether or not is configured. 55. The variable display in a state advantageous to the player from among a plurality of predetermined display patterns according to the type of display result determined by the display result determination means by S703 to S705 shown in FIG. Display pattern selection means for selecting the display pattern of the apparatus is configured. 55. Specific to perform control to execute display according to the display pattern selected by the display pattern selection means in the variable display device when controlled to the specific gaming state by S703 to S705 shown in FIG. The game state display control means is configured.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine, 8 Variable display apparatus, 9 Variable display part, 19 Variable winning ball apparatus, 31 Game control board, 53 Basic circuit, 80 Display control board, 101 Display control CPU, 56 CPU, 571 Output buffer, 572 output Port, 580 output driver, 102 Control data ROM.

Claims (1)

A game having a variable display device capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information, and capable of being controlled in a state advantageous to a player when a display result of the variable display device is in a predetermined specific display mode Machine,
Means for controlling the gaming state of the gaming machine, and game control means for outputting command information for controlling display on the variable display device;
Variable display control means for receiving command information output from the game control means and performing control for deriving and displaying a display result after variably starting the variable display device according to the command information;
The game control means includes
Display result determining means for determining in advance at least part of a display result in variable display on the variable display device;
A period determining means for determining a length of a variable display period required to reach a final display of a display result derived from a variable start in the variable display device;
The command information including variable display period information capable of specifying the length of the variable display period determined by the period determining means is output at a predetermined time related to variable start within the variable display period in the variable display device. Command information output means capable of
The variable display control means performs variable display of the identification information within a variable display period specified by the variable display period information to derive and display a display result, and derives and displays the display result during the display control. When a confirmation waiting period occurs between the time and a time when the display result is fixedly displayed in the variable display period specified by the variable display period information, the identification information is set in a predetermined standby state during the confirmation waiting period. A gaming machine characterized by performing display control for variable display.

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