JP2010022880A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of increasing the performance effect of a display image such as a big winning performance image to be displayed at an image display device and improving the amusement of a game. <P>SOLUTION: When a big winning symbol is established and displayed at a special symbol display device 6, a big winning game is generated, and a big winning game start specifying command q signal is input from a main control circuit to a display control circuit, big winning performance images are displayed until completed for prescribed time (TB+TR+TN) regardless of the time (TB+TR) of the big winning game of a player at the image display device 80 provided at a game board separately from the special symbol display device 6. In the meantime, at the special symbol display device 6, information about the big winning is displayed during the time (TB+TR) of the big winning game on the basis of prescribed commands for display control (r, s, u). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine, and more particularly to a gaming machine having a display control function for displaying a predetermined effect image and displaying a predetermined effect image on an image display device.

  Conventionally, game machines have been devised in various ways to improve their preferences. In particular, a gaming machine equipped with an image display device on a gaming area has various contrivances because the popularity and unpopularity of the gaming machine is determined depending on the display method of the image display device. As a game machine equipped with a typical image display device, for example, there is a so-called fever-type pachinko game machine. Three symbol display parts for displaying symbols are set, and a pseudo pattern showing a state where a picture, a character, a number, a symbol, a character, etc. as a special symbol is rotated on each symbol display part on the basis of a winning of a start winning opening. A variable display as an image is displayed, the variable display is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time, and the stopped special symbols are matched.

  As a result of the above variable display, if the stop symbol of each symbol display unit is a predetermined symbol combination (big hit symbol) determined in advance, the gaming state is shifted to a special game (big hit game) that is extremely valuable to the player. During this special game, a big hit effect image is displayed on the image display unit as a reward.

  This special game is generally composed of a plurality of rounds (for example, the first round to the 16th round) and intervals provided between the rounds, and each round time is a big prize called an attacker. Until a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls wins a predetermined winning opening converted into a state advantageous to the player such as a mouth. Therefore, the round time in this special game is not constant, and varies for each round. Furthermore, this special winning opening has a specific area, and the game balls that won the special winning opening do not pass through this specific area so that they cannot advance to the next round. If the game ball that has won the big prize opening does not pass through this specific area, the round ends. Accordingly, the time for which the special game is executed varies depending on the player for these reasons, and becomes an unspecified time.

  By the way, pachinko machines are constantly demanding further improvements in services to players, and in recent years, therefore, this jackpot effect image has a continuity and narrative so that it can be more interesting. Something that has been raised (hereinafter referred to as conventional technology) has been proposed.

  However, in this big hit effect image in the prior art, since the round time is not constant as described above, only the story progresses independently for each round, and the story progresses over the entire special game. Therefore, there is a problem that only a short and simple story can be displayed, and further, the progress of the story for each round is not constant, so the game ball is placed at the big prize opening. Since it is displayed according to the longest time of the round when the predetermined number is not won, most players have a problem that the scene where the story is completed cannot be seen.

Also, in this prior art, the progress screen of the story is not displayed during the interval, and for example, the jackpot symbol when the special game is acquired and the number of rounds to be executed next are displayed. As information related to the special game during the round, for example, a count display of the game balls won in the big prize opening, a V (round continuation) display for notifying that the game balls have passed the specific area, and the like overlap with the big hit effect image. In other words, the jackpot effect image is immediately interrupted, so that the player who is viewing the jackpot effect image is immediately awakened.

  Therefore, the progressive partial video, which is assigned to each round and forms a part of the progressive production video (big hit video), is completed through time adjustment means that can adjust the length to match the round time. A jackpot effect image that can be displayed is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this jackpot effect image, an image displayed during the interval displays a reaching image that indicates the degree of attainment of each progressive partial moving image. (Hereinafter referred to as prior art 1).

JP 2001-346967 A

  However, in this prior art 1, the progressive partial moving image is restricted to a simple progressive moving image such as the progress of a vehicle or the running of a person, and thus, regardless of whether it is during an interval throughout the special game. Make sure that the story progresses, make sure that there is no sense of incompatibility even if the story ends in the middle, and further, change the time adjustment means according to the rate of winning the winning prize, The story is displayed completely.

  Therefore, in the big hit effect image of the prior art 1 restricted by such a simple progressive video, it is difficult to improve the game taste, and the player's willingness to play cannot be increased. In addition, when the image to be displayed during the interval is a reaching image, it can be harmonized with each of the progressive partial videos, but overall, the continuity of the big hit video and the deterioration of the narrative are avoided. There is also the problem that it cannot be done. Furthermore, information related to special games during the round, such as the count display and the V (continuous round) display as described above, is still displayed so as to overlap the jackpot effect image, that is, the jackpot effect image is immediately interrupted. Therefore, the problem that the player who is viewing the jackpot effect image is immediately awakened is not improved.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to enhance the effect of the display image such as the jackpot effect image displayed on the image display device, and to enhance the game taste. An object is to provide a gaming machine that can be improved.

  In order to solve such problems, the gaming machine of the present invention detects a gaming device in which a gaming ball can win or pass, and a gaming ball that has won or passed through the gaming device, as described in claim 1. A game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball detected by the game ball detecting means, a main control means for transmitting a predetermined display control command signal, and a predetermined display control sent from the main control means. Display control means for performing display control for receiving and displaying at least a predetermined symbol on an image display device and confirming display by receiving a command signal for use, wherein the main control means includes: Special game determination means for determining whether or not to generate a special game advantageous to the player based on the detection of the game ball by the game ball detection means; and the display control means includes the special game determination means. special When it is determined that the technique is to be generated, the image display device includes a special effect image display means for displaying a predetermined special effect image after a predetermined display of a predetermined jackpot symbol is confirmed and displayed by the special effect image display means. The predetermined special effect image is displayed on the image display device continuously for a preset time regardless of the execution of the special game.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine in which a gaming ball can win or pass, a gaming ball detection unit that detects a gaming ball that has won or passed the gaming device, and the gaming ball detection unit that is a game. Based on the detection of the sphere, the main control means for transmitting a predetermined display control command signal and the predetermined display control command signal transmitted from the main control means, thereby receiving at least a predetermined symbol. A display control means for performing display control for variably displaying and confirming display on the image display device, wherein the main control means is based on the fact that the game ball detection means has detected a game ball. And a special game determination means for determining whether or not to generate a special game advantageous to the player, and the display control means, when the special game determination means determines that the special game is generated, A special effect image display means for displaying a predetermined special effect image after a predetermined jackpot symbol is confirmed and displayed on the display device, and when the special game is being executed, information related to the execution of the special game is displayed in the image Special game information display means for displaying on the device, wherein the special game information display means displays information related to execution of the special game on the image display device so as not to overlap the predetermined special effect image. It is characterized by that.

  Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 3, in the gaming machine according to claim 1, when the special game is being executed, the display control means displays information relating to the execution of the special game in the image. Special game information display means for displaying on the display device is provided, and the special game information display means displays information related to execution of the special game on the image display device so as not to overlap the predetermined special effect image. It is characterized by that.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, at least two image display devices are provided, and the display control means is configured to provide the special effect image. The predetermined special effect image by the display means is displayed on one image display device, and an image other than the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the other image display device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the fourth aspect, the special game determination means performs the following while the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the one image display device. If it is determined that the special game is to be generated, the displayed special special effect image is interrupted until the predetermined jackpot symbol is confirmed and displayed on the other image display device, and then the next special game is displayed. The predetermined special effect image related to the above is displayed.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the fourth aspect, the special game determining means performs the following while the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the one image display device. When it is determined that the special game is to be generated, the predetermined special effect image relating to the next special game is continuously displayed on the one image display device after the displayed special special effect image is displayed. It is characterized by doing.

  The gaming machine according to claim 7 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the display control means records the image displayed on the other image display device. And recording / reproducing means for reproducing the image recorded by the recording means on the one image display device.

  Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 8, in the game according to any one of claims 4 to 7, the display control means includes a receiving means for receiving a television image or a video image, and the receiving means. Receiving image display means for displaying the received image on the one image display device.

The gaming machine according to claim 9 is the gaming machine according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the special effect image display means displays the predetermined special effect image on one image display device. The recorded image, the television image or the video image is preferentially displayed.

  Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 10, in the gaming machine according to claim 2 or claim 3, the special game information display means is a special display which is displayed in a small size in a manner separated from the predetermined special effect image. A game information display area is formed in the image display unit of the image display device, and information related to execution of the special game is displayed in the special game information display area.

  In addition, in the gaming machine according to claim 11, in the game according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or 10, the display control means still has the special effect when the special game ends. When the image display means displays the predetermined special effect image on the image display device, the image display unit of the image display device includes at least the display area of the special effect image and the predetermined special effect image. The image display apparatus is characterized in that it includes split display means for split display on an image display area other than the above.

  Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 12, in the game according to any one of claims 1 to 11, a plurality of types of the predetermined special effect images are provided so that the effect is different, and the special effect is provided. The image display means selects one of the plurality of types of predetermined special effect images based on a predetermined game condition, and displays the selected predetermined special effect image on the image display device. It is provided with.

  Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 13, in the gaming machine according to claim 12, the main control means detects the gaming ball by the gaming ball detecting means during the fluctuation display or the fixed display of the predetermined symbol. In this case, when the detected number of game balls exceeds a predetermined number set in advance, a storage means for storing the detected number of game balls as an invalid number of balls is provided, and the predetermined game condition is stored in the memory The number of invalid spheres stored by the means is selected, and the selection display means selects a predetermined special effect image having a high effect in proportion to the number of invalid spheres stored by the storage means. And

  A gaming machine according to claim 14 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the main control means determines that the special game determination means generates a special game. The display control means transmits a variation pattern designation command signal related to a special game as a display control command signal to the display control means, and the display control means receives the display control command signal received from the main control means related to the special game. Command signal determining means for determining whether or not the pattern is a variation pattern designation command signal, and the special effect image display means when the command signal determination means determines that the variation pattern designation command signal is related to a special game. A part or all of the predetermined special effect image is processed in advance before the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the image display device. And special effect image pre-processing unit that, characterized by comprising a.

Further, in the gaming machine according to claim 15, in the gaming machine according to claim 14, the display control means includes a driving means for rewriting and displaying an image of one frame at a predetermined period on the image display device, Display arithmetic processing means for processing one frame of image data within the period of the fixed period and supplying one frame of image data to the driving means in accordance with the timing of rewriting display of the driving means,
The special effect image pre-processing means processes the special effect image data in advance in a vacant time obtained by subtracting the time for the display calculation processing means to process the image data of at least one frame from the time of the fixed period. Image pre-processing execution means is provided.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the game according to the fifteenth aspect, the special effect image pre-processing execution means is configured such that the display calculation processing means performs the special effect of one frame within the predetermined period. The present invention is characterized in that image data not processed in time for processing image data is processed.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, a game ball detecting means such as a proximity sensor detects a winning or passing of a game ball to a game device such as a start winning opening or an operation gate provided at a predetermined position in the game area. Based on the detection of the winning or passing of the game ball by the ball detecting means, the main control means transmits a predetermined display control command signal. The display control means receives the predetermined display control command signal transmitted from the main control means, thereby executing display control for variably displaying at least a predetermined symbol on the image display device and confirming the display. In such a gaming machine, the main control means is provided with special game determination means, and the special game determination means is advantageous for the special game that is advantageous to the player based on the fact that the game ball detection means detects the game ball. It is determined whether or not to generate. As the determination means, for example, a random number is extracted at the timing when the game ball detection means detects the game ball, and it is determined whether or not the extracted random number is a predetermined random number value for generating a special game. Is mentioned. The special game corresponds to, for example, a game in which a so-called first type pachinko gaming machine opens a big winning opening as a big hit game in a predetermined manner.

  The display control means includes a special effect image display means. When the special game determination means determines that the special game is generated, the special effect image display means displays a predetermined jackpot symbol on the image display device. After the fixed display, a predetermined special effect image is displayed. Here, the predetermined special effect image displayed by the special effect image display means is displayed on the image display device continuously for a preset time regardless of the execution of the special game. That is, the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the image display device after completion to the end regardless of the execution of the special game.

  Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, once a special game has been acquired, the player can always view a predetermined special effect image until the last completion regardless of the execution of the special game. As a result, there is a remarkable effect that a predetermined special effect image having a high effect can be sufficiently enjoyed.

  Further, in the invention of claim 2, the predetermined special effect image displayed by the special effect image display means in the configuration of the invention of claim 1 is set in advance for a predetermined time regardless of the execution of the special game. There is no configuration that is continuously displayed on the image display device. On the other hand, the display control means includes special game information display means for displaying information related to execution of the special game on the image display device. The means displays the information related to the execution of the special game on the image display device so as not to overlap the predetermined special effect image.

  For example, in the so-called first type pachinko machine, information related to execution of special games, that is, information related to execution of jackpot games includes information related to jackpot symbol, number of rounds, count and V (round continuation). The big hit effect image is displayed on the special symbol display device as the image display device as the predetermined special effect image. In the invention of claim 2, the special game information display means executes these jackpot games. Is displayed on the special symbol display device so as not to overlap the jackpot effect image.

  Therefore, in the invention of claim 2, the information display related to the execution of the special game is overlapped with the predetermined special effect image displayed on the image display device, and the video of the special effect image is temporarily interrupted. As a result, the effect of the predetermined special effect image is further increased, the game taste is improved, and the player can fully enjoy the special effect image. Has a remarkable effect.

  Further, the invention of claim 3 is a combination of the structure of the invention of claim 1 and the structure of the invention of claim 2. Therefore, in the invention of claim 2, the effects and claims of the invention of claim 1 are obtained. The effects of the invention of Item 2 are achieved. That is, in the invention of claim 3, the effect of the predetermined special effect image is extremely high, and the player can enjoy the special effect image sufficiently.

  By the way, in the inventions of claim 1 and claim 3, when the special game is ended during the display of the predetermined special effect image, that is, before the predetermined special effect image is completed, and in accordance with claims 2 and 3. In the present invention, as means for preventing the display of information relating to the execution of the special game on the image display device from overlapping with the display of the predetermined special effect image, the following is preferable. That is, the invention of claim 4 is the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least two image display devices are provided, and the display control means displays a predetermined special effect image by the special effect image display means on one side. The image is displayed on the image display device, and an image other than the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the other image display device. Here, as an image other than the predetermined special effect image, for example, an image that displays a predetermined pattern by variably displaying it, an image of information related to execution of a special game, or the like can be cited. That is, a dedicated image display device for displaying a predetermined special effect image is provided, and images other than the predetermined special effect image are displayed on an image display device other than the dedicated image display device. Therefore, in the invention of claim 4, the effect of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3 can be made more remarkable.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the special game determination means determines that the next special game is to be generated while the predetermined special effect image is displayed on one of the image display devices. In this case, the display of the predetermined special effect image is interrupted. When a predetermined big hit symbol is confirmed and displayed on the other image display device, a predetermined special effect image relating to the next special game is displayed on the one image display device. Therefore, in the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 4, the player can acquire the special game by the change display of the predetermined symbol at this time when the display of the predetermined special effect image is interrupted. That is, since the interruption of a predetermined special effect image becomes a notice of occurrence of a special game, this brings about a remarkable effect of improving the game's preference. In this case, the display of the predetermined special effect image is interrupted without displaying it until the final completion, but the player acquires the special game again, and eventually the predetermined special effect image is displayed. The effect image can be viewed from the beginning to the end, so that even if the display of the predetermined special effect image is interrupted in this way, the interest of the game is not reduced.

  Further, instead of the invention of claim 5, the following may be adopted. That is, when the special game determination means determines that the next special game is to be generated while the predetermined special effect image is displayed on one image display device, the predetermined special effect image is displayed. After the display of the effect image is completed, a predetermined special effect image relating to the next special game is continuously displayed on one image display device. Therefore, in the invention of claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 4, the player can obtain a predetermined special game even when the next special game is generated while the predetermined special effect image is displayed. The production image can always be seen up to the final completion.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any of the fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention, the display control means includes a recording means and a recording / reproducing means, and the recording means displays on the other image display device. The recorded image, for example, a change display of a predetermined symbol is recorded. Then, the recording / reproducing means reproduces the image recorded by the recording means on one image display device. Accordingly, in the invention of claim 7, in addition to the effects of any of claims 4 to 6, the player records a desired image displayed on the other image display device, and the recorded image is displayed. It can be played back and enjoyed on one image display device.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any of the fourth to seventh aspects of the present invention, the display control means includes a receiving means and a received image display means, and a television image or a video image is received by the receiving means. Receive. The received image display means displays the television image or video image received by the receiving means on one image display device. Accordingly, in the invention of claim 8, in addition to the effect of any of the inventions of claims 4 to 7, the player can use one image display device in parallel with the image displayed on the other image display device. You can enjoy the displayed television image or video image.

  By the way, in the inventions of claim 7 and claim 8, when a predetermined special effect image is displayed on one image display device, the player is watching a recorded (reproduced) image, a television image or a video image. Response is a problem. Accordingly, in the invention of claim 9 according to the invention of claim 7 or claim 8, when the special effect image display means displays a predetermined special effect image on one image display device, the recorded image, television image or video image is displayed. Display with priority. Therefore, in the invention of claim 9, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 7 or claim 8, the player does not miss a predetermined special effect image having a high effect.

  Here, according to the invention of claim 2 or claim 3, when the special game information display means displays information related to execution of the special game on the image display device so as not to overlap the predetermined special effect image. As a means other than providing a plurality of image display devices as in the fourth invention, the following may be used. That is, in the invention of claim 10, in the invention of claim 2 or claim 3, when the special game is executed, the image display unit of the image display device displays information related to the execution of the special game. A special game information display area is formed. The special game information display area is formed on the image display unit of the image display device so as to be partitioned from the special effect image display area for displaying a predetermined special effect image. The size is smaller than that. Therefore, in the invention of claim 10, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2 or claim 3, the player can fully enjoy this special effect image even with a single image display device. As a result, the cost is reduced in developing the gaming machine.

  By the way, even if it is a single image display apparatus, the case where the execution time of a special game becomes shorter than the display time of a predetermined special effect image can be considered. In such a case, it is better to do the following. That is, the invention of claim 11 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim 10, wherein the display control means is provided with divided display means, and this divided display means is used when the special game is finished. In the case where the special effect image display means is still displaying the predetermined special effect image on the image display device, the image display unit of the image display device has at least the predetermined special effect image display area and the predetermined special effect image. The image is divided and displayed in a display area other than the image. Therefore, in the invention of claim 11, in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 3 or claim 10, the player can perform a special effect with a predetermined execution time of a special game on a single image display device. Even when the image display time ends, the predetermined special effect image having a high effect can be enjoyed.

  The invention of claim 12 is the invention of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a plurality of types of predetermined special effect images are provided so that the effect is different. The special effect image display means includes selection display means, and the selection display means selects one of a plurality of types of predetermined special effect images having different effect effects based on a predetermined game condition. The selected predetermined special effect image is displayed on the image display device. Therefore, in the invention of claim 12, in addition to the effects of any one of claims 1 to 11, the game preference is further improved.

The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to claim 12, wherein the main control means is provided with a storage means, and the storage means detects the game ball detecting means during the display of variation or confirmation of a predetermined symbol. If a detected number of gaming balls exceeds a predetermined number when a ball is detected, the detected number of gaming balls is stored as an invalid number of balls. This invalid ball number is called a so-called overflow ball number, that is, the storage means stores the overflow ball number. The predetermined game condition is the number of overflow balls stored in the storage means, and the selection display means displays a predetermined special effect image having a high effect in proportion to the number of overflow balls stored in the storage means. select. That is, if the overflow ball number is large, a predetermined special effect image with a high effect is displayed, and if the overflow ball number is small, a predetermined special effect image with a low effect is displayed. Therefore, in the invention of claim 12, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 12, the player is so-called so as to prevent an overflow ball from being generated so that a predetermined special effect image having a high effect is displayed. Stopping (operating the hitting ball launching device to intermittently launch the game ball) is not performed, and as a result, the game taste is improved and the operating rate of the gaming machine is improved.

  The invention of claim 14 is the display control means according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the main control means displays on the display control means when the special game determination means determines that the special game is to be generated. A variation pattern designation command signal related to a special game is transmitted as a control command signal. On the other hand, the display control means includes a command signal determination means and a special effect image pre-processing means. The command signal determination means decodes the display control command signal received from the main control means, and displays the display control command. It is determined whether or not the command signal is a variation pattern designation command signal related to a special game. If the display control command signal received from the main control means is determined to be a variation pattern designation command signal related to the special game by the command signal determining means, the special effect image pre-processing means Before the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the image display device by the display means, a part or all of the predetermined special effect image is subjected to data processing in advance.

  Therefore, in the invention of claim 14, in addition to the effect of any one of claims 1 to 13, in the case of displaying a predetermined special effect image on the image display device, the special effect image preprocessing means performs this in advance. Since the data processing of a predetermined special effect image is performed, a high-performance calculation is performed on the display control means for a predetermined special effect image having a high effect effect using advanced image processing such as a complicated moving image or a three-dimensional image. It is possible to display on the image display device without mounting components such as a processing device. Naturally, the predetermined special effect image is required to be able to display an image with a high effect that increases the interest of the game. Therefore, according to the present invention, the predetermined special effect image is suppressed while suppressing the cost of parts of the display control means. There is a remarkable effect that a gaming machine capable of enhancing the effect of the effect image can be provided.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the display control means includes a driving means and a display arithmetic processing means, and the driving means puts an image of one frame on the image display device at regular intervals. The display calculation processing means processes one frame of image data within a fixed period of time, and the processing means displays one frame image in accordance with the timing of rewriting display of the driving means. Supply data. Here, the special effect image pre-processing means includes special effect image pre-processing execution means, and this special effect image pre-processing execution means rewrites and displays one frame image of the drive means from a certain period of time. Before the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the image display device in advance for a part or all of the predetermined special effect image in the free time obtained by subtracting the time for processing the image data of at least one frame of the display arithmetic processing means. The data processing of the special effect image is executed.

That is, the display calculation processing means supplies one frame of image data to the driving means at a fixed period, but the time for processing the supplied one frame of image data is shorter than the fixed period of time. An idle time occurs in the display calculation processing means. Therefore, the special effect image pre-processing execution means uses the idle time to preliminarily store the data of the special effect image for a part or all of the predetermined special effect image before the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the image display device. The process is executed. Therefore, in the invention of claim 15, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 14, the special effect image preprocessing execution means executes data processing of a predetermined special effect image in advance in such a free time. The processing capacity of the display control means of the gaming machine can be maximized.

  The invention of claim 16 is the specific processing content of the special effect image pre-processing execution means in the invention of claim 15, that is, the invention of claim 16 is the special effect image advance in the invention of claim 15. The processing execution means processes the image data that is not in time for the display calculation processing means to process the special effect image data of one frame within a fixed period of time for rewriting and displaying the image of one frame of the driving means. ing. By doing so, the invention of claim 15 is effective.

It is a front view which shows the game machine 1 of a present Example. It is a front view which shows the special symbol display apparatus 6 of a present Example. It is a front view which shows the lower part of the game machine 1 of a present Example. It is a principal part block diagram of the game machine control apparatus 100 of a present Example. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the relationship between the main control circuit 44 and the display control circuit 111 of a present Example. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the relationship between the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112 of a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the main game process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a list figure of the random number handled in the main control circuit 44 of a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the normal game process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the operation gate passage process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the pending | holding LED lighting control processing which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the normal symbol game process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the random number value of the off symbol determination counter C10 of a present Example, and a normal symbol. It is a flowchart which shows the normal symbol control process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the start winning opening opening process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the hold LED extinction control process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the special game process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the start winning a prize winning process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the pending | holding LED lighting control processing which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the special symbol game process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the special symbol determination process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the random number values of the left stop symbol determination counter C2, the middle stop symbol determination counter C3, the right stop symbol determination counter C4 and the big hit symbol determination counter C7 of this embodiment and each special symbol. . The process of creating the special symbol of the present embodiment based on the random number values of the left stop symbol determination counter C2, the middle stop symbol determination counter C3, the right stop symbol determination counter C4, and the jackpot symbol determination counter C7 is shown. It is explanatory drawing. It is a flowchart which shows the special symbol control process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the special symbol fluctuation | variation display process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the big hit effect image selection process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the big hit effect image and counter H of a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the jackpot process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the time reduction process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the hold LED extinction control process which the main control circuit 44 of a present Example performs. It is a distribution pattern of the fluctuation pattern in the main control circuit 44 of the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the strobe signal interruption process which the display control circuit 111 of a present Example performs. It is a list figure of the command for display control which the display control circuit 111 receives from the main control circuit 44 of a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the display main control process which the display control circuit 111 (CPU140) of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the big hit effect image data pre-processing which the display control circuit 111 (CPU140) of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the VDP display control process which the display control circuit 111 (VDP143) of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the LCD drive circuit output process which the display control circuit 111 (VDP143) of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the image display control process which the image display control circuit 112 of a present Example performs. It is a flowchart which shows the input operation process which the image display control circuit 112 of a present Example performs. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the image process in 1 frame which CPU140 and VDP143 of a present Example perform. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the image process in 1 frame of the jackpot fluctuation display pre-processing period which CPU140 and VDP143 of a present Example perform. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the image process in 1 frame of the big hit effect image display period which CPU140 and VDP143 of a present Example perform. It is a transition diagram of a display control command when it is not a big hit of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a transition diagram 1 of a display control command in the case of a big hit in the embodiment. It is a transition diagram 2 of the command for display control in the case of a big hit of the present embodiment. (A) is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 showing a state in which the left special symbol, middle special symbol, and right special symbol of this embodiment are scroll-displayed in the vertical direction, and (B) is the present embodiment. It is a front view of the image display apparatus 80 which shows the state in which the reach action is displayed as an example of the example recording (reproduction | regeneration) image. (A) is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 when the jackpot symbol of this embodiment is displayed, and (B) is a jackpot effect image at the start of the jackpot game of this embodiment is displayed. It is a front view of the image display apparatus 80 which shows the state which exists. (A) is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 showing a state in which an example of jackpot information of the present embodiment is displayed, (B) is a display of a jackpot effect image during the jackpot game of the present embodiment It is a front view of the image display apparatus 80 which shows the state currently performed. (A) is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 showing a state in which the special symbol is variably displayed (reach state) as an image example of the normal game after the jackpot game of the present embodiment is finished, B) is a front view of the image display device 80 showing a state where a jackpot effect image is displayed when the jackpot game of the present embodiment is finished. (A) is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 showing a state where a special symbol is scrolled up and down as an example of an image of a normal game when the big hit effect image of the present embodiment ends, B) is a front view of the image display device 80 showing an image when the jackpot effect image of the present embodiment is completed.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1 is an overall front view of the gaming machine 1, FIG. 2 is a front view of the special symbol display device 6, FIG. 3 is a lower front view of the gaming machine 1, and FIG. 4 is provided on the back side of the gaming machine 1. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main control circuit 44 and a display control circuit 111 constituting the gaming machine control device 100, and FIG. 6 shows the gaming machine control device 100. 2 is a block diagram showing a display control circuit 111 and an image display control circuit 112. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes an outer frame 22 fixed to a game island (not shown) and an inner frame 23 attached to the outer frame 22. The game board 21 that provides the player with a pachinko game, the hitting operation handle 2 that operates the hitting ball launching device 43 to be described later when operated by the player, and the game ball launched by the hitting ball launching device 43 are guided. A striking ball guide rail 3 to be played, a game region forming rail 4 provided so that the launched game ball flies within a certain range, a game region 5 surrounded by the striking ball guiding rail 3 and the game region forming rail 4, A liquid crystal display that performs pseudo display (hereinafter also referred to as scroll display) showing a state in which a special symbol is rotated, and a windmill 20 that changes a game ball launched into the game area 5 in an unexpected direction. A special symbol display device 6 composed of an LCD) and the like, and a liquid crystal for displaying a jackpot effect image, a television image, a video image, an image recording the display of the special symbol display device 6 (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recorded image), and the like. An image display device 80 constituted by a display (LCD) or the like, and a start winning opening (electric tulip) 11 for causing the special symbol display device 6 to start a variable symbol display (scroll display) when the game ball wins. When the special symbol display device 6 displays the variation of the special symbol and the game ball wins the start winning opening 11 (hereinafter, such a game ball is also referred to as a holding ball), after the variation display ends, Four hold LEDs 25 (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, see FIG. 2) that sequentially turn on and off the hold memory for informing the player of how many times to display the change (up to 4 times) ), An image display unit 30 for displaying a predetermined image in the special symbol display device 6, a left symbol display unit 8 for individually displaying three special symbols in the image display unit 30, a middle symbol display unit 9, The right symbol display unit 10, the image display unit 81 that displays a predetermined image in the image display device 80, and the game ball that won the start winning slot 11 when all four holding LEDs 25 are lit (hereinafter, this Such a game ball is also referred to as an overflow ball), and the display result on the overflow ball display device 60 composed of a 7-segment LED or the like for displaying the cumulative number and the special symbol display device 6 is in a predetermined mode (big hit). In this case, the player enters a winning opening (attacker) 7 that is advantageously opened to the player, a hitting ball supply tray 12 for supplying game balls to the hitting ball launching device 43, and a hitting ball supply tray 12. A non-illustrated ball can be stored and a game ball can be moved to a non-illustrated storage ball box, a surplus ball receiving tray 13, a normal winning port 14 where a winning ball is paid out by winning, and a winning A game effect lamp 15 for notifying a payout of a prize ball, a ball clogging, and an abnormality, an out port 16 for collecting game balls provided at the bottom of the game area 5, a glass door frame 17 provided to be openable and closable, A normal symbol display composed of a 7-segment LED or the like that opens the blades of the electric tulip as the start winning opening 11 when the normal symbol of one digit is displayed and the normal symbol is a predetermined normal symbol (winning). The normal symbol actuating gate 19 that causes the normal symbol display device 18 to start the variable symbol display when the game ball passes, and the normal symbol display device 18 are the normal symbols. When the game ball passes the normal symbol operation gate 19 during the fluctuation display (hereinafter, such a game ball is also referred to as a pass-holding ball), how many times the fluctuation display is performed after the fluctuation display is finished ( Four hold LEDs 26 (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, see FIG. 2) for sequentially displaying the lighting of the hold memory for informing the player of (up to 4 times) and a lower part of the outer frame 22 will be described later. With a headset jack 32 to which the headset 31 is connected, a volume knob 33 for adjusting the volume of the headset 31, a channel key 34 for selecting a channel of a television image displayed on the image display device 80, and the image display device 80 A switching button 35 (see FIG. 3) for switching a displayed image to one of a TV image, a video image, and a recorded image, and a left upper portion of the hitting ball supply tray 12 In addition, a save button 70, a playback button 71, a feed button 72, a return button 73, a stop button 74, a pause button 75 (see FIG. 3), etc. for performing edit display of the recorded image displayed on the image display device 80, etc. And is composed of.

  In the gaming machine 1 configured as described above, first, a game ball is launched from the hit ball launching device 43 by the operation of the hitting operation handle 2 of the player, and passes between the hit ball guiding rail 3 and the game area forming rail 4. A game ball is launched into the game area 5 on the game board 21. Then, the game ball falls in the game area 5 by its own weight, and in the process of falling, the game ball 21 is changed in the direction of dropping by a game nail or a windmill 20 (not shown) implanted in the game board 21, In the case where the normal winning opening 14 is won, the normal symbol operating gate 19 is passed, or all the winning holes are not won, the winning hole 16 is collected.

  When the game ball wins the start winning opening 11, a predetermined prize ball is given to the player, and the game ball is detected by a start winning detection sensor 116 described later, and each symbol display unit 8 of the special symbol display device 6 is detected. , 9 and 10, the special symbols are scroll-displayed, and after a predetermined time, the special symbols are stopped in the order of the left symbol display unit 8, the right symbol display unit 10, and the middle symbol display unit 9, and a lottery is performed. When the special symbol and the special symbol on the right symbol display unit 10 are stopped, a special symbol combination (for example, the same special symbol combination) that constitutes a big hit is reached, and the special symbol display device 6 displays an image. A predetermined reach action is displayed in the part 30, and then the special symbol that is confirmed and displayed when the special symbol in the middle symbol display unit 9 is stopped is a combination of predetermined special symbols. In this case, a big hit game is executed to open the attacker as the big winning opening 7 in a predetermined manner, and the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 will be described in detail later. A predetermined jackpot effect image is preferentially displayed based on the cumulative number of overflow spheres displayed at 60, and if the combination is a special symbol other than these, it is out of place.

Note that, when the big hit effect image is not displayed, any one of the television image, the video image, and the recorded image is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 when the player presses the switching button 35. It is like that. A television image of a channel desired by the player is displayed when the player presses the channel key 34. In addition, the video image is prepared in advance by the game hall, and for example, an image such as a game description of the gaming machine 1 or an advertisement for the game hall is displayed. As will be described in detail later, the recorded image is automatically updated by the variable display image displayed on the special symbol display device 6 and recorded for a predetermined number of times. By pressing the save button 70, a recorded image desired by the player is saved. Then, when the player presses the play button 71, the feed button 72, the return button 73, the stop button 74 or the pause button 75, the stored recorded image or the automatically updated recorded image becomes the player's Edited and displayed in a desired manner. The sound of the television image, the video image or the recorded image can be heard by a headset 31 which will be described later connected to the headset jack 32. The volume of the sound can be adjusted by rotating the volume knob 33 left and right. It can be adjusted by doing.

  Further, when the game ball wins the normal winning opening 14, a predetermined prize ball is given to the player. When the game ball passes the normal symbol operation gate 19, the game ball is detected by an operation gate detection sensor 121, which will be described later, the normal symbol is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 18, and a lottery is performed to confirm the display. When the normal symbol is a normal symbol determined in advance, it is a win and the blades of the start winning opening (electric tulip) 11 are opened for a predetermined time.

Next, the gaming machine control device 100 provided on the back side of the gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The gaming machine control device 100 is configured as shown in FIG. 4, and the main control circuit 44 mainly constituting the gaming machine control device 100 includes an input circuit 101, an output circuit 110, a one-chip microcomputer 27, and a bus connecting them. 115 (data bus, address bus, control bus, etc.), and the one-chip microcomputer 27 is connected to the output circuit 110 on the basis of signals from the sensors and switches acquired via the input circuit 101. A predetermined control program for controlling various circuits and devices is executed. The one-chip microcomputer 27 includes a CPU 102 that executes a control program, a ROM 103 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 102, and a RAM 104 that temporarily stores data processed by the CPU 102.

  When the winning of the game ball provided in the start winning opening 11 is detected in the input circuit 101, a start winning detection sensor 116 that sends a special symbol variation start signal (hereinafter also referred to as a start signal), and the start winning opening 11 is won. A count switch 123 for detecting the number of game balls, an operation gate detection sensor 121 for sending a normal symbol variation start signal (hereinafter also referred to as an operation signal) when the passage of a game ball provided in the normal symbol operation gate 19 is detected, A count switch 117 for detecting the number of game balls won in the big prize opening 7 by opening the prize opening 7, a continuous prize switch 118 for detecting a game ball that has passed a specific area of the big prize opening 7, and a hitting operation A hitting operation switch 119 that is turned on when the handle 2 is turned and a game ball is fired, and a press provided at a predetermined position of the hitting operation handle 2 In order to turn off the operation of the hitting ball launching device 43 to stop the launching of the game ball, and to count the game balls won in each winning opening as safe balls and to pay out the game balls as prizes Is connected to a safe sphere detection sensor 122 that outputs a safe signal necessary for the operation.

  The output circuit 110 includes a lamp control circuit 37 that controls lighting / flashing of LEDs (for example, the hold LED 25 and the hold LED 26) and various display lamps (for example, the game effect lamp 15) provided on the game board surface, and a grand prize. A solenoid 106 for opening the attacker as the mouth 7, a solenoid 107 for opening the electric tulip as the start winning opening 11, and a voice for performing voice control for amplifying various sound effects from the speaker 113. The control circuit 38 is connected to an external information terminal 109 connected to a hall management computer or the like (not shown). In addition, a normal symbol display device (7-segment LED) 18 and an overflow ball display device (7-segment LED) 60 are connected to the output circuit 110 via a driver circuit (not shown). Although omitted in FIG. 4, outputs related to various sound effects from the sound control circuit 38 are also input to an image display control circuit 112 described later (see FIG. 6 described later).

Furthermore, the payout control circuit 40 and the display control circuit 111 are connected to the output circuit 110. The payout control circuit 40 includes a payout control CPU (not shown) and a payout control CP.
A RAM having a storage area for storing and holding the U work area and the number of prize balls corresponding to each prize ball command, and a ROM in which control data, a control program for paying out a prize ball, and the like are stored. Yes. The payout control circuit 40 drives and controls the prize ball payout device 41 according to the prize ball command instructed from the CPU 102 of the main control circuit 44, and performs prize ball payout control. In addition, the payout control circuit 40 is connected to a hitting ball launching device 43 for emitting a pachinko ball toward the game area 5 via the launching control circuit 42. And control.

  Next, the display control circuit 111 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the display control circuit 111 receives a control signal such as a one-way strobe signal or a display control command signal from the output circuit 110 of the main control circuit 44. In addition to executing display control for image processing related to 2D or 3D scroll display displayed on the image display unit 30, image data related to the jackpot effect image and the recorded image is transmitted to the image display control circuit 112 described later. Output. Therefore, the display control circuit 111 includes a CPU 140, a RAM 141, a ROM 142, a VDP 143, a VRAM (video RAM) 144, a character ROM 145, an input interface 146, a reset circuit 147, an oscillation circuit 148, and a timing controller. 149 and an LCD drive circuit 150.

  The input interface 146 is provided with a buffer circuit (not shown) composed of, for example, a transistor array whose input terminal is connected to a power source via a resistor. The strobe signal input from the main control circuit 44 and the display control command are provided. The signal is output to an INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 140. Thus, only signal input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 is permitted, and signal output from the display control circuit 111 to the main control circuit 44 is prohibited. This display control command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later. The oscillation circuit 148 is a circuit that outputs a reference clock signal to the CPU 140 and the VDP 143, and the reset circuit 147 is a circuit that outputs a reset signal for resetting the CPU 140 and the VDP 143. The CPU 140 and the VDP 143 divide the reference clock signal from the oscillation circuit 148 to generate an internal clock signal, and operate based on the internal clock signal.

  The ROM 142 is a semiconductor memory that stores a display control program executed by the CPU 140, and the RAM 141 is a semiconductor memory that is used as a work area such as a work area or a stack area of the display control program executed by the CPU 140. The CPU 140 is a central processing unit that executes a display control program. When a strobe signal is input from the input interface 146, the CPU 140 recognizes a display control command signal and controls the display data from the ROM 142 using the RAM 141 as a work area. 2D symbol display information, animation character screen information, background screen information, 3D image information (object) coordinate calculation (geometry calculation) and other image data calculations and drawing commands are created. The calculation result of the data and the created drawing command are stored in the RAM 141 and output to the VDP 143 as a control signal.

  Specific examples of the drawing command include an attribute command, a sprite command, a spline command, a polygon display command, a texture mapping command, and the like.

The character ROM 145 is constituted by, for example, a flash ROM or the like, and is a semiconductor memory in which image data such as two-dimensional data such as a character, a pattern, a background, and a moving image character, or three-dimensional data such as object data and texture data is stored. The VRAM 144 is a frame buffer memory for temporarily storing and developing image data processed by the VDP 143. Based on the control signal from the CPU 140, the VDP 143 generates image data such as a variable display and a jackpot effect image displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 and the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. A two-dimensional address space independent of the CPU 140 is provided, and the VRAM 144 is mapped there.

  The VDP 143 includes a timing controller 149, and supplies image data (excluding the big hit effect image data) developed in the VRAM 144 to the LCD drive circuit 150 at regular intervals. That is, the timing controller 149 outputs a synchronization signal (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, clock signal) to be supplied to the LCD drive circuit 150 based on the reference clock signal from the oscillation circuit 148 and the reset signal from the reset circuit 147. The LCD drive circuit 150 converts the image data (except for the big hit effect image data) supplied from the VDP 143 into a video signal composed of a color signal and a luminance signal, and the waveform of the video signal is used as an LCD. Are adjusted to a waveform suitable for the special symbol display device 6 to perform amplitude adjustment, gamma correction, contrast, brightness adjustment, and the like, and output to the special symbol display device 6.

  Here, the LCD driving circuit 150 according to the present embodiment outputs a video signal conforming to the NTSC system, and a horizontal synchronizing signal (horizontal blanking) is output every 63.5 μsec. The signal (vertical blanking) is output every 1/30 seconds (non-interlace) (however, in the case of interlace, the vertical sync signal is output every 1/60 seconds. In the embodiment, only the case of non-interlace will be described hereinafter).

  That is, the VDP 143 sequentially drives the image data (excluding the big hit effect image data) developed in the VRAM 144 based on the internal clock signal every time a vertical synchronization signal is input from the timing controller 149 (every 1/30 seconds). The LCD driving circuit 150 converts the supplied image data (except for the big hit effect image data) into a video signal, shapes the waveform, and converts the waveform-shaped video signal to 1 based on the horizontal synchronization signal. The frame image is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6. The LCD driving circuit 150 switches the image of one frame displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 every time a vertical synchronizing signal is input (every 1/30 seconds), thereby changing the display as a variable display. Videos such as scroll display and reach action are displayed. The VDP 143 outputs an interrupt signal to the INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 140 every time a vertical synchronization signal is received from the timing controller 149 (every 1/30 seconds). By receiving this interrupt signal, the CPU 140 executes display control for creating the next one-frame image based on the internal clock signal.

  Note that the VDP 143 is stored in the VRAM 166 for recording of the image display control circuit 112 (described later) in the VRAM 144 at regular intervals (every 1/30 seconds when the vertical synchronization signal is input from the timing controller 149). The image data of the variable display related to the recorded image is copied, and the image data of the big hit effect image related to the big hit game among the image data developed in the VRAM 144 is transferred to the LCD drive circuit 167 of the image display control circuit 112 described later. It is supplied in the same manner as the drive circuit 150.

  Next, the image display control circuit 112 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the image display control circuit 112 has a function of displaying a television image, a video image, a recorded image, or a jackpot effect image on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. , An input buffer 161, a CPU 162, a ROM 163, a RAM 164, a controller 165, a VRAM (video RAM) 166, and an LCD drive circuit 167.

First, the input buffer 161 includes a volume knob 33 for adjusting the volume of a television image, a video image, or a recorded image heard by a headset 31 described later, and a television tuner 8 described later.
A channel key 34 for switching the channel 5, a switching button 35 for setting the output mode of the image display device 80 to one of the television mode, the video mode, and the recording mode, and a sound for inputting various sound effects amplified from the speaker 113. A control circuit 38, a save button 70 for saving the image data of the variable display desired by the player among the recorded images, and a playback button 71 for displaying the recorded images on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. , A forward button 72 for fast-forwarding or frame-by-frame the recorded image, a return button 73 for rewinding or reverse-frame-recording the recorded image, a stop button 74 for stopping playback display of the recorded image on the image display unit 81, and an image display unit A pause button 75 for temporarily stopping the playback display of the recorded image at 81 is connected.

  The receiving circuit 160 is connected to a transmitting device 87 installed at a predetermined place in the game room such as a management room, and receives a TV image signal output from the TV tuner 85 and a video image signal output from the video device 86, and The accompanying audio signal is received via the transmitter 87. The VRAM 166 is a frame buffer memory for storing image data of variable display related to the recorded image output from the VDP 143. The CPU 162 is a central processing unit that executes an image display control program of the image display device 80, and based on various signals input from the input buffer 161, image control data for performing image display control from the ROM 163 using the RAM 164 as a work area. Is stored in the RAM 164 and output to the controller 165 as a control signal.

  The controller 165 executes the following control based on the control signal from the CPU 162. First, based on the signal from the switching button 35, image data of a television image, a video image or a recorded image is supplied to the LCD drive circuit 167, and audio data is supplied to the amplifier 88. That is, when the switching button 35 is set to the television mode, the television image signal and the audio signal received from the receiving circuit 160 are output to the LCD driving circuit 167 and the amplifier 88 according to the channel key 34, respectively. When the switching button 35 is set to the video mode, the video image signal and the audio signal received from the receiving circuit 160 are output to the LCD driving circuit 167 and the amplifier 88, respectively.

  When the switching button 35 is set to the recording mode, the recorded image stored in the VRAM 166 is based on signals from the play button 71, the feed button 72, the return button 73, the stop button 74, or the pause button 75. Is output to the LCD drive circuit 167, and the sound effect data from the sound control circuit 38 stored in the RAM 164 corresponding to the image data is output to the amplifier 88. Here, as described above, the image data of the variable display is automatically updated in the VRAM 166 so as to be always stored for the immediately preceding ten variable displays, and corresponding to the stored variable display. Thus, the sound effect data is stored in the RAM 164. Based on the signal from the save button 70, predetermined data is selected from the fluctuation display image data and sound effect data stored in the VRAM 166 and RAM 164, and the selected fluctuation display image data and sound effect data are stored in the selected data. It is stored in the storage area for storage of the VRAM 166 and RAM 164. In other words, the recorded image is made up of automatically displayed variable display image data and sound effect data, and variable display image data and sound effect data stored and saved by the player via the save button 70.

  The headset 88 is connected to the amplifier 88 via the headset jack 32, and the volume of the headset 31 is adjusted based on the signal from the volume knob 33.

The LCD drive circuit 167 is connected to the timing controller 149 of the display control circuit 111 and, like the LCD drive circuit 150 of the display control circuit 111 described above, outputs a video signal conforming to the NTSC system. A television image, a video image, or a recorded image is displayed on the image display device 80 based on the image data supplied from. Further, every time a vertical synchronizing signal is input from the timing controller 149 (every 1/30 seconds), the big hit effect image data developed in the VRAM 144 is input from the VDP 143 to the LCD drive circuit 167. In this case, the LCD drive circuit 167 Displays a big hit effect image on the image display device 80 with priority regardless of the mode setting of the switching button 35. The LCD driving circuit 167 outputs an interrupt signal to the INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 162 via the controller 165 every time a vertical synchronization signal is received from the timing controller 149 (every 1/30 seconds). By receiving this interrupt signal, the CPU 162 repeatedly executes the image display control stored in the ROM 163 based on the internal clock signal.

  The RAM 141 or the RAM 164 described above is externally attached to the CPU 140 or the CPU 162, but this is not limited, and the RAM 141 or the RAM 164 may be provided in the CPU 140 or the CPU 162.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the main control circuit 44 has a RAM backup 130 circuit that can retain the stored contents of the RAM 104 even when the power is turned off. A test terminal 131 for testing the contents of 44, for example, a connector is also provided.

  Thus, if the RAM 104 of the main control circuit 44 has a backup function that can retain the stored contents even when the power is turned off, for example, lightning occurs nearby and a surge current is generated in the gaming machine 1. Even if the gaming machine 1 is suddenly shut down due to intrusion etc., all the data related to the game stored in the RAM 104 of the main control circuit 44 is maintained, so when the power of the gaming machine 1 is restored , The game can continue to resume from the previous gaming state, and the game arcade can provide a fair game to the player, while the player may be powered off even if the power is interrupted, for example, in an advantageous gaming state. After returning, it becomes possible to continue the advantageous gaming state, so that an unexpected disadvantage can be avoided, and a remarkable effect is exerted on both sides. In addition to the RAM 104 of the main control circuit 44, this backup function may be provided in the RAM of other control circuits such as the RAM of the payout control circuit 40 that controls the payout of prize balls.

  Further, the control signal (strobe signal, command signal, etc.) is unidirectionally communicated from the CPU 102 of the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, that is, by eliminating the input from the display control circuit 111 to the main control circuit 44. The number of inputs to the main control circuit 44 that controls the main control of the entire gaming machine 1 can be reduced, and illegal signal inputs to the main control circuit 44 can be eliminated as much as possible, and the game field can provide appropriate games to the player. At the same time, it is possible to simplify the circuit configuration and the program related to the communication between the two, and it is easy to develop and produce the gaming machine 1 and has a remarkable effect that leads to cost reduction. In addition to the display control circuit 111, the one-way communication from the CPU 102 of the main control circuit 44 is also performed to other control circuits such as a payout control circuit 40 that controls payout of prize balls as shown in FIG. It has become.

  The normal symbol display device 18, the lamp control circuit 37, the sound control circuit 38 and the overflow ball display device 60 directly connected to the output circuit 110 of the main control circuit 44 include the display control circuit 111, the image display control circuit 112 or the payout control. The circuit 40 may be connected. Furthermore, the hitting operation handle switch 119 and the hitting operation stop switch 120 connected to the input circuit 101 may be directly connected to the launch control circuit 42 or the payout control circuit 40. These may be appropriately designed according to the functions and arrangement of various devices constituting the gaming machine control device 100, the processing speed of each CPU, the capacity of a storage device such as ROM, RAM, and the like.

In the gaming machine 1 configured as described above, the gaming machine control device 100 performs overall control of the gaming machine 1 by executing the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIG. Various images corresponding thereto are displayed on the special symbol display device 6, the image display device 80, or the like.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main game process (main routine) executed by the CPU 102 of the main control circuit 44. Immediately after the power is turned on, the CPU 102 performs initialization processing (step S10), initializes the flags, registers, and storage areas necessary for stack setting and the following processing, and displays special symbols in the display control circuit 111. Outputs the specified command signal. This special symbol initial designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  When the CPU 102 finishes the initialization process in step S10, the process proceeds to the random number update process in step S20. The CPU 102 executes a main routine (each program stored in the ROM 103 of the main control circuit 44), that is, each process of Step S20 to Step S60 described below, every reset interrupt (2 msec).

  FIG. 8 is a list of random numbers handled by the main control circuit 44. As shown in FIG. 8, in the main control circuit 44, various counters C1 to C8 (random numbers 1 to 8) are set as random numbers for randomly setting the game mode. CPU102 updates the value regarding each counter C1-C8 by the random number update process of step S20. The jackpot determination counter C1 (random numbers 1, 0 to 314) is a random number counter that draws whether or not a special symbol combination is a jackpot (details will be described later. ), Starting from 0 when the power is turned on, and incremented (added by 1) every reset interrupt (2 msec). However, when this random number counter C1 becomes 315, it is rewritten to 0.

  Random number counter for determining the stop symbol of a special symbol is a random number that creates an off symbol other than the jackpot symbol, which will be described later, as a special symbol combination (including a case where the symbol is disengaged after reaching reach; Counters for left stop symbol determination C2 (random numbers 2, 0 to 13), middle stop symbol determination counter C3 (random numbers 3, 0 to 13), right stop symbol determination counter C4 (random numbers 4, 0 to 13) 13) is provided.

  The left stop symbol determination counter C2 is a counter used to create a symbol for the left symbol, starts from 0 when the power is turned on, and is incremented (added by 1) every reset interrupt (2 msec). However, when the random number counter C2 becomes 14, it is rewritten to 0. The middle stop symbol determination counter C3 is a counter used for creating a middle symbol symbol, and starts from 0 when the power is turned on, and is incremented (added by 1) each time the left stop symbol determination counter C2 is set to zero. The However, when the random number counter C3 becomes 14, it is rewritten to 0. The right stop symbol determination counter C4 is a counter used for creating the right symbol, starts from 0 when the power is turned on, and is incremented (added by 1) every time the intermediate stop symbol determination counter C3 is set to 0. The However, when this random number counter C4 becomes 14, it is rewritten to 0. By doing so, it is possible to prevent synchronization of the left, middle and right symbols.

  The reach determination counter C5 (random numbers 5, 0 to 11) is a random number counter (to be described later in detail, the reach is 3 when the special symbol combination is used as an out-of-band design). The probability is 1/12), which starts from 0 when the power is turned on, and is incremented (added by 1) every reset interrupt (2 msec). However, when the random number counter C5 becomes 12, it is rewritten to 0.

The reach symbol mode determination counter C6 (random numbers 6, 0 to 62) displays the special symbol that the middle symbol display unit 9 stops when the combination of special symbols is out of reach, the left symbol display unit 8 and the right symbol display The same special symbol that the unit 10 stops is set to plus or minus 1 (which will be described later, in this embodiment, each special symbol displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9 and the right symbol display unit 10 is For example, when the special symbol stopped in the left symbol display unit 8 and the right symbol display unit 10 is 3, the special symbol that the middle symbol display unit 9 stops is displayed. 4 (plus 1) or 2 (minus 1), hereinafter, a random number counter (to be described in detail later) for determining whether or not such a special symbol that the middle symbol display unit 9 stops is also referred to as plus or minus 1 symbol) 0 For 19 reach the edge of plus or minus 1 pattern, a probability 20/63), starting from power-on 0, it is incremented (1 is added) to each reset interrupt (2 msec). However, when this random number counter C6 becomes 63, it is rewritten to 0.

  The jackpot symbol determination counter C7 (random numbers 7, 0 to 13) is a random number counter that creates a jackpot symbol as a combination of special symbols. The counter is started from 0 when the power is turned on, and is incremented every reset interrupt (2 msec) (1 Added). However, when the random number counter C7 becomes 14, it is rewritten to 0.

  The variation pattern determination counter C8 (random numbers 8, 0 to 51) is a random number counter for lottery of which variation pattern is adopted as the above reach action when a special symbol combination is a big hit or a reach loss. Starting from 0 when the power is turned on, it is incremented (added by 1) every reset interrupt (2 msec). However, when this random number counter C8 becomes 52, it is rewritten to 0.

  The hit determination counter C9 (random numbers 9, 0 to 30) is a random number counter that draws a lottery to determine whether or not to win the normal symbol (details will be described later. ), Starting from 0 when the power is turned on, and incremented (added by 1) every reset interrupt (2 msec). However, when this random number counter C9 becomes 30, it is rewritten to 0.

  The off symbol determination counter C10 (random numbers 10, 0 to 8) is a counter used to create a normal symbol off symbol, starts from 0 when the power is turned on, and increments (adds 1) every reset interrupt (2 msec). Is done. However, when the random number counter C10 becomes 9, it is rewritten to 0.

  The CPU 102 outputs a customer waiting demonstration designation command signal to the display control circuit 111 when a predetermined time elapses after outputting the special symbol initial designation command signal. This customer waiting demonstration designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when the CPU 102 finishes the random number update process in step S <b> 20, the CPU 102 proceeds to the normal game process in step S <b> 30. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the normal game process (step S30). The normal game process is composed of the operation gate passing process in step S450 and the normal symbol game process in S500. First, the operation gate passing process in step S450 will be described.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation gate passing process (step S450). When this operation gate passage process is started, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the game ball that has passed the normal symbol operation gate 19 is detected (operation signal input to the operation gate detection sensor 121) (step S452). If a game ball is not detected (NO in step S452), the operation gate passing process is terminated, and the process proceeds to the normal symbol game process (FIG. 12) in S500. On the other hand, when a game ball is detected (YES in step S452), CPU 102 proceeds to the process in step S454 and determines whether the value of counter A is less than 5.

The counter A is a counter set in the main control circuit 44 to store the number of reserved memories (the number of retained balls passed) of the hold LED 26 (see FIG. 2), and the operation gate detection sensor 121 is a normal symbol operation gate 19. When a game ball passing through is detected, the minimum value is changed from 0 to a maximum value of 5. When the power is turned on, the value is initialized and a minimum value of 0 is set.

  If NO in step S454, that is, if the counter A has a value of 5 or more, the CPU 102 ends the operation gate passing process and proceeds to the normal symbol game process of S500. On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S454, that is, if the counter A has a value of 0 to 4, the process proceeds to the process of step S456, and the CPU 102 increments the value of the counter A (add 1) based on the operation signal described above. Then, the process proceeds to step S458 to execute a random number acquisition process. When the CPU 102 proceeds to the random number acquisition process in step S458, the CPU 102 acquires the current values of the counters C9 and C10 described above and stores them in the acquired numerical value storage areas of the RAM 104, respectively. When the random number acquisition process in step S458 ends, the CPU 102 proceeds to the hold LED lighting control process in step S464.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the hold LED lighting control process (step S464). When the hold LED lighting control process is executed, the CPU 102 first determines in the process of step S466 whether or not the value of the counter A is 2 or more (NO in step S466), that is, When the value of the counter A is 0 or 1, the hold LED lighting control process is ended, the process returns to the operation gate passing process (FIG. 10), and the normal symbol game process of step S500 is executed. On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S466, that is, if the value of the counter A is 2 or more, the process proceeds to step S468, and the CPU 102 has four hold LEDs 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d (see FIG. 2), the lamp control circuit 37 is driven to light up, the hold LED lighting control process is terminated, the process returns to the operation gate passing process, and the normal symbol game process of step S500 is executed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the normal symbol game process (step S500). When the normal symbol game process is executed, the CPU 102 first determines whether or not the value of the counter A is 1 or more in the process of step S501, and if not (1 in step S501), that is, the counter If the value of A is 0, the normal symbol game process is terminated and the process returns to the normal game process (FIG. 9), and the process proceeds to step S40 of the main game process (FIG. 7). On the other hand, when the value of the counter A is 1 or more in the process of step S501 (YES in step S501), the CPU 102 proceeds to the process of step S502 and sets a value in the hit flag F4.

  The main control circuit 44 is set with a hit flag F4, and the hit flag F4 is set to 0 when the power is turned on. Then, in the random number acquisition process of step S458 described above, when the acquired numerical value of the counter for counter C9 (random numbers 9, 0 to 30) is 0 to 9, the CPU 102 sets 1 to the hit flag F4. If the acquired numerical value of the counter for counter C9 is not 0 to 9, that is, 10 to 30, the hit flag F4 remains 0. Therefore, the hit probability in this case is 10/31, and the probability of loss is 20/31. When the CPU 102 completes the process of setting the hit flag F4 in step S502, the CPU 102 proceeds to a normal symbol determination process in step S503.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the random number value of the off symbol determination counter C10 (0 to 8) and the normal symbol (one-digit normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 18 composed of 7-segment LEDs). FIG.

When the CPU 102 proceeds to the normal symbol determination process in step S503, the CPU 102 determines the normal symbol that is fixedly displayed on the normal symbol display device 18. If 1 is set in the winning flag F4 (if it is a winning), the CPU 102 determines the number symbol “7” as the winning symbol. On the other hand, if 0 is set in the hit flag F4, an off symbol (for example, “2” if C10 = 2) corresponding to the acquired numerical value of the off symbol determining counter C10 (0 to 8) shown in FIG. The normal symbol determination process in step S503 is terminated, and the process proceeds to the normal symbol control process in step S504.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the normal symbol control process (step S504). When this normal symbol control process is executed, the CPU 102 first executes a normal symbol variation display process in the process of step S506. In the normal symbol fluctuation display process in step S506, the CPU 102 controls a driver circuit (not shown) to display the normal symbols in a variable manner on the normal symbol display device 18. Then, the CPU 102 proceeds to the process of step S508, determines whether or not the preset normal symbol variation time t is up (t = 0), and determines NO in the process of step S508, that is, normal. If it is determined that the symbol variation time t has not expired, the CPU 102 ends the normal symbol control process (step S504), returns to the normal symbol game process (FIG. 12), and proceeds to the process of step S512. Transition. On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S508, that is, if it is determined that the normal symbol variation time t has timed up, the process proceeds to the normal symbol fixed display process of step S510.

  In step S510, the CPU 102 controls a driver circuit (not shown) to display the fluctuation in the normal symbol determined in the normal symbol determination process in step S503 by controlling the driver circuit (not shown). The process of stopping the normal symbol is executed. When the normal symbol is confirmed and displayed on the normal symbol display device 18 in the process of step S510, the CPU 102 ends the normal symbol control process, returns to the normal symbol game process, and proceeds to the process of step S512.

  When the process proceeds to step S512, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the normal symbol is fixedly displayed on the normal symbol display device 18, and if it is not fixedly displayed (NO in step S512), the normal symbol is displayed. The symbol game process (step S500) is ended, the process returns to the normal game process (FIG. 9), and the process proceeds to step S40 of the main game process. On the other hand, when it is determined in the process of step S512 that the normal symbol is confirmed and displayed on the normal symbol display device 18 (YES in step S512), the CPU 102 proceeds to the process of step S514.

  When the process proceeds to step S514, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the hit flag F4 is 1, and if it is 1 (YES in step S514), the CPU 102 proceeds to step S516 and opens the start winning opening. Execute the process.

  In step S516, the CPU 102 executes a start winning opening opening process shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the start winning opening releasing process (step S516). When this start winning opening opening process is executed, the CPU 102 first controls the solenoid 107 to open the blades of the starting winning opening (electric tulip) 11 in the process of step S518. Then, the process proceeds to step S520, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the set start winning opening opening time ST is up (ST = 0). Accordingly, this time ST is the opening time of the start winning opening, that is, the time from when the starting winning opening 11 opens the blade until it closes. The start winning opening opening time ST is normally set to 0.2 seconds. If NO in step S520, that is, if it is determined that the start winning opening release time ST has not timed up, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S522 and the value of the counter G is 6 or more. It is determined whether or not.

This counter G counts the main control circuit 44 in order to count the number of game balls won in the start winning opening 11 until the opened winning opening 11 is closed after the start winning opening 11 elapses. Is counted up when the count switch 123 detects a game ball, and is initialized and set to 0 when the power is turned on.

  If NO in step S522, that is, if the value of the counter G is determined to be less than 6, the start winning opening releasing process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S528. On the other hand, when it is determined YES in the process of step S520 and the process of step S522, that is, when it is determined that the start winning opening opening time ST is up and when the value of the counter G is determined to be 6 or more, In step S524, the CPU 102 drives and controls the solenoid 107 to close the blades of the start winning port 11. Then, the process proceeds to step S525, and the CPU 102 sets the value of the counter G to 0, proceeds to the process in step S526, sets the value of the winning flag F4 to 0, and this start winning opening releasing process. (Step S516) is ended, and the process proceeds to Step S528 (FIG. 12).

  When the process proceeds to step S528, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the winning flag F4 is 0, that is, whether or not the predetermined start winning opening opening process (step S516) is all finished, and determines the value of the winning flag F4. Is not 0 (NO in step S528), that is, in the case of 1, it is determined that all the predetermined start winning opening releasing processing has not been completed, and this normal symbol game processing (step S500) is terminated and Returning to the game process (FIG. 9), the process proceeds to step S40 of the main game process (FIG. 7). On the other hand, when the value of winning flag F4 is 0 (YES in step S528), CPU 102 determines that all the predetermined start winning port opening processes have been completed, and proceeds to the process of step S530.

  On the other hand, if the value of the hit flag F4 is not 1 in the process of step S514 (NO in step S514), that is, if the value of the hit flag F4 is 0, the CPU 102 proceeds to the process of step S530. .

  After shifting to the process of step S530, the CPU 102 decrements (decrements 1) the value of the counter A incremented (added by 1) in the process of step S456 (FIG. 10) described above, and shifts to the process of step S532. The hold LED extinguishing control process is executed.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the hold LED extinguishing control process (step S532). When the hold LED extinguishing control process is executed, the CPU 102 first determines whether or not the value of the counter A is 1 or more in the process of step S534. If the value of the counter A is not 1 or more (in step S534) NO), that is, when the value of the counter A is 0, the hold LED extinguishing control process is finished, the normal symbol game process (step S500) is finished, and the normal game process (FIG. 9) is returned to. The process proceeds to step S40 in the process (FIG. 7). On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S534, that is, if the value of the counter A is 1 or more, the process proceeds to step S536, and the CPU 102 selects one of the four hold LEDs 26a, 26b, 26c, and 26d. The corresponding one is turned off by driving the lamp control circuit 37, the hold LED extinguishing control process is finished, the normal symbol game process is finished, the process returns to the special game process, and the process goes to the process of step S40 of the main game process. Transition.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when the normal game process (step S30) is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S40 and executes the special game process. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the special game process. The special game process includes a start winning opening winning process in step S300 and a special symbol game process in step S318. First, the starting winning opening winning process in step S300 will be described.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the start winning opening winning process (step S300). When the start winning award winning process is started, the CPU 102 determines whether or not a game ball won in the start winning award 11 is detected (start signal input from the start winning detection sensor 116) (step S302). If no game ball has been detected (NO in step S302), the start winning opening winning process is terminated and the process proceeds to a special game process in step S318. On the other hand, when a game ball is detected (YES in step S302), the process proceeds to step S304 to determine whether the value of counter B is less than 5.

  The counter B is the same as the counter A described above, and is a counter set in the main control circuit 44 for storing the number of reserved memories (the number of held balls) of the hold LED 25. The start winning detection sensor 116 is started. When a game ball that has won a prize opening 11 is detected, the game ball is changed from a minimum value 0 to a maximum value 5, and is initialized and a minimum value 0 is set when the power is turned on.

  If NO in step S304, that is, if the counter B is 5 or more, the process proceeds to step S316, and the CPU 102 increments (adds 1) the value of the counter H. The counter H is a counter set in the main control circuit 44 to store the overflow ball number of the overflow ball display device 60. When the counter B is a value of 5 or more, the start winning detection sensor 116 is the start winning port. Each time a game ball won in 11 is detected, its value is incremented (added by 1). Then, the process proceeds to the process of step S317, and the CPU 102 controls a driver circuit (not shown) to display the value of the counter H on the overflow ball display device 60, and then ends the start winning award winning process and ends the process of step S318. Transition to special game processing.

  On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S304, that is, if the counter B has a value of 0 to 4, the process proceeds to the process of step S306, and the CPU 102 increments the value of the counter B (add 1) based on the start signal described above. Then, the process proceeds to step S308 to execute a random number acquisition process. When the CPU 102 proceeds to the random number acquisition process of step S308, the CPU 102 acquires the current values of the counters C1, C5, C6, and C8 from the counters C1 to C10 described above and stores them in the acquired numerical value storage area of the RAM 104, respectively. When the random number acquisition process in step S308 ends, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S312 and executes the hold LED lighting control process.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the hold LED lighting control process (step S312). When the hold LED lighting control process is executed, the CPU 102 first determines whether or not the value of the counter B is 2 or more in the process of step S314. If it is not 2 or more (NO in step S314), that is, When the value of the counter B is 0 or 1, the hold LED lighting control process is ended, the process returns to the start winning opening winning process (step S300), the starting winning opening winning process is ended, and the special symbol of step S318 is obtained. Execute game processing.

  On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S314, that is, if the value of the counter B is 2 or more, the process proceeds to step S315, and the CPU 102 selects one of the four hold LEDs 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d. The corresponding one is driven and lit up by driving the lamp control circuit 37, the hold LED lighting control process (step S312) is terminated, and the process returns to the start winning award winning process (step S300). End and execute the special symbol game process of step S318.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the special symbol game process (step S318). When the special symbol game process is executed, the CPU 102 first determines whether or not the value of the counter B is 1 or more in the process of step S319. If the value of the counter B is not 1 or more (in step S319) NO), that is, if the value of the counter B is 0, the special symbol game process is terminated, the process returns to the special game process (FIG. 17), and the process proceeds to step S50 of the main game process (FIG. 7). On the other hand, if the value of counter B is 1 or more in the process of step S319 (YES in step S319), the process proceeds to step S344, and CPU 102 sets a value for each flag.

  Here, as the flags, a big hit flag F1, a reach flag F2 and a reach mode flag F3 are set in the main control circuit 44, and these flags are set to 0 when the power is turned on. In the random number acquisition process in step S308 described above, if the acquired numerical value (hereinafter, simply referred to as “value”) of the jackpot determination counter C1 (random numbers 1, 0 to 314) is 7, the jackpot 1 is set in the flag F1. Note that if the acquired value of the big hit determination counter C1 is not 7, that is, 0 to 6 and 8 to 314, the big hit flag F1 remains 0. Accordingly, the big hit probability in this case is 1/315, and the probability of loss is 314/315.

  Further, in the random number acquisition process in step S308 described above, when the acquisition numerical value of the reach determination counter C5 (random numbers 5, 0 to 11) is 3, the reach flag F2 is set to 1. It should be noted that the reach flag F2 remains 0 if the acquired value of the reach determination counter C5 is not 3, that is, 0-2 and 4-11. Therefore, in this case, the probability of detachment of reach is 1/12, and the probability of detachment of non-reach is 11/12.

  Further, in the random number acquisition process of step S308 described above, when the acquired numerical value of the reach symbol mode determination counter C6 (random numbers 6, 0 to 62) is 0 to 19, 1 is set to the reach mode flag F3. In addition, when the acquisition numerical value of the reach symbol mode determination counter C6 is 20 to 62, the reach mode flag F3 remains 0. Accordingly, in this case, the probability of reach divergence in which the middle symbol display unit 9 becomes plus / minus one symbol is 20/63, and the probability of reach detachment in which the middle symbol display unit 9 is other than plus / minus one symbol is 43/63. When the CPU 102 completes the process of setting each flag in step S344, the CPU 102 proceeds to the special symbol determination process in step S346.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the special symbol determination process (step S346). When the special symbol determination process is executed, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the big hit flag F1 is 0 in step S347. If the value of the big hit flag F1 is not 0 (NO in step S347), that is, if the value of the big hit flag F1 is 1, the process proceeds to step S353 and is created in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 104. Corresponding jackpot symbol data is acquired from the jackpot symbol storage buffer in which the jackpot symbol data is stored.

  22 and 23, the left stop symbol determination counter C2 (random number 2, 0 to 13), the middle stop symbol determination counter C3 (random numbers 3, 0 to 13), and the right stop symbol determination counter A special symbol (left symbol display unit 8, middle symbol display unit) as an off symbol or jackpot symbol based on the random number values of C4 (random numbers 4, 0 to 13) and jackpot symbol determination counter C7 (random numbers 7, 0 to 13) 9, the case where each special symbol displayed on the right symbol display unit 10 is created will be described.

  22 and 23 show the relationship between the random numbers of the stop symbol determination counters C2, C3, C4 and the jackpot symbol determination counter C7 and the special symbols, and the special symbols are the stop symbol determination counters C2, C3, C4 and It is explanatory drawing which shows the process produced based on the random value of the big hit symbol determination counter C7. First, with reference to FIGS. 22A, 22 </ b> B, and 23 </ b> C, and FIG. 23A, a description will be given of a case where a slip symbol (including reach slip) is created as a special symbol combination.

Left stop symbol determination counter C2 (random number 2, 0 to 13), middle stop symbol determination counter C3
(Random numbers 3, 0 to 13) and right stop symbol determination counter C4 (Random numbers 4, 0 to 13) are specially set to random numbers 0 to 13 as shown in FIGS. 20 (A), (B), and (C), respectively. The symbols 1 to 14 correspond, and are counted up as described in the random number update process in step S20. However, the main game process is performed by the random number update process in step S60 shown in FIG. Therefore, each random number takes a random value every 2 msec, and as a result, each special symbol corresponding to the random value is also created as random data every 2 msec. Is done.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 23A, the data of each special symbol created to be displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 every 2 msec is stored in the RAM 104. Are stored in a predetermined symbol storage buffer created in the storage area. Here, as the special symbol combination, when the data of the out-of-reach where the middle symbol display unit 9 becomes plus or minus 1 symbol is created, the reach symbol storing buffer of plus or minus 1 symbol as the special symbol combination, When the data of the reach out of which the middle symbol display unit 9 is other than the plus / minus 1 symbol is created, the data of the out of the reach which does not become the reach as the combination of the special symbol is stored in the reach symbol storing buffer other than the plus / minus 1 symbol. When created, each of them is stored in the errant symbol storage buffer that does not become reach, and when the jackpot symbol data shown in FIG. 22 (D) is created as a special symbol combination. , Not to be remembered. In FIG. 23 (A), “1, 2, 1” is a combination of special symbols that are out of reach where the middle symbol display portion 9 becomes plus or minus one symbol, and the middle symbol display portion 9 is other than plus or minus one symbol. As an example, “5, 8, 5” is shown as a combination of special symbols that are not reachable, and “5, 5, 1” is shown as a combination of special symbols that are not reachable.

Next, the case where a big hit symbol is created as a combination of special symbols will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 (D) and 23 (B).
The jackpot symbol determination counter C7 (random numbers 7, 0 to 13) is, as shown in FIG. 22D, jackpot symbols “1, 1, 1” to “14, 14 and 14 ", and is counted up as described in the random number update process in step S20. However, the main game process is performed by the random number update process in step S60 shown in FIG. Therefore, the random number value takes a random value every 2 msec, and as a result, the jackpot symbol corresponding to the random value is also created as random data every 2 msec.

  As shown in FIG. 23B, the jackpot symbol data created to be displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 every 2 msec is stored in a predetermined memory of the RAM 104. The jackpot symbol storage buffer created in the area is stored while being rewritten. Note that FIG. 23B shows, as an example, jackpot symbols “5, 5, 5” as a combination of special symbols.

  In addition, among the jackpot symbols, odd numbered numbers (“1, 1, 1” “3, 3, 3” “5, 5, 5” “7, 7, 7” “9, 9, 9” “ 11, 11, 11 "," 13, 13, 13 ") is a specific big symbol, and the other numbers are even numbers (" 2, 2, 2 "," 4, 4, 4 "," 6, 6, 6 ”,“ 8, 8, 8 ”,“ 10, 10, 10 ”,“ 12, 12, 12 ”,“ 14, 14, 14 ”) is a normal big bonus symbol, and the specific big bonus symbol is more than the normal big bonus symbol Benefits more advantageous to the player are given.

Note that the jackpot symbol is not limited to these three digits, but may be any number of digits (for example, three digits or more), and the above jackpot symbol has been described as a numerical symbol of a flat eye, but this can be set arbitrarily. For example, any combination such as “ABC” and “Shochiku Ume” may be used as the big hit symbol.

  Returning to FIG. 21, that is, in the process of step S353, if the big hit flag F1 is set to 1 (in the case of a big hit), the CPU 102 reads out the big hit symbol data stored in the big hit symbol storage buffer and reads it out. The jackpot symbol corresponding to the jackpot symbol data is determined as a symbol to be stopped and displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 this time, and stored in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 104.

  On the other hand, if YES in step S347, that is, if the value of the big hit flag F1 is 0, the process proceeds to step S348, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the reach flag F2 is 0. If the value of reach flag F2 is 0 (YES in step S348), the process proceeds to step S349, and CPU 102 reads out the missed symbol data stored in the missed symbol storage buffer that does not become reach. The outlier corresponding to the read out out symbol data is determined as a symbol to be stopped and displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 this time, and is stored in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 104.

  On the other hand, if NO in step S348, that is, if the value of the reach flag F2 is 1, the process proceeds to step S350, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the reach state flag F3 is 0. If the value of reach state flag F3 is 0 (YES in step S350), the process proceeds to step S351, and CPU 102 loses the data stored in the reach symbol storage buffer other than plus or minus 1 symbols. The design data is read out, and a reach out of design other than the plus or minus 1 design corresponding to the read out design data is determined as a design to be stopped and displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special design display device 6 this time. Store in the storage area.

  On the other hand, when the value of reach mode flag F3 is not 0 (NO in step S350), that is, when the value of reach mode flag F3 is 1, the process proceeds to step S352, and CPU 102 determines whether plus or minus 1 symbol. The symbol information stored in the reach symbol storage buffer is read out, and the reach symbol symbol of the plus or minus one symbol corresponding to the read out symbol data is stopped and displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 this time. It is determined as a symbol to be stored and stored in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 104.

  When any of steps S349, S351, S352, and S353 is completed, the CPU 102 ends the special symbol determination process (step S346), and proceeds to the special symbol control process of step S354.

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the special symbol control process (step S354). When this special symbol control process is executed, CPU 102 executes a special symbol variation display process shown in FIG. 25 in step S356.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the special symbol variation display process (step S356). When the special symbol variation display process is executed, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the big hit flag F1 is 0 in step S358. If the value of the big hit flag F1 is not 0 (NO in step S358), that is, if the value of the big hit flag F1 is 1, the process proceeds to step S359, and the CPU 102 performs the special symbol determination process described above. It is determined whether or not the jackpot symbol corresponding to the jackpot symbol data acquired from the jackpot symbol storage buffer in step S353 of (step S346) is the above-mentioned odd numbered number symbol, that is, whether or not it is a specific bonus symbol. .

If YES in step S359, that is, if the jackpot symbol acquired this time is the specific bonus symbol, the process proceeds to step S360, and the CPU 102 changes the variation pattern 4, the variation pattern 22, the variation pattern 32, A variation pattern designation command signal for instructing display of any variation pattern from among the variation patterns 52 and 62 is output to the display control circuit 111. On the other hand, if NO in the process of step S359, that is, if the jackpot symbol acquired this time is not a specific bonus symbol (when it is a normal bonus symbol as the above-mentioned even-numbered symbol), step S361 is performed. In the process, the CPU 102 sends a variation pattern designation command signal for instructing the display control circuit 111 to display any variation pattern from among the variation pattern 22, the variation pattern 32, the variation pattern 52, and the variation pattern 62. Output.

  On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S359, that is, if the value of the big hit flag F1 is 0, the process proceeds to step S362, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the reach flag F2 is 0. If the value of the reach flag F2 is 0 (YES in step S362), that is, the symbol data acquired this time is stored so that it does not become reach in step S349 of the special symbol determination process (step S346) described above. If it is out-of-order symbol data acquired from the buffer, the process proceeds to step S363, and the CPU 102 outputs a variation pattern designation command signal for instructing display of the variation pattern 1 to the display control circuit 111.

  On the other hand, if NO in step S362, that is, if the value of the big hit flag F2 is 1, the process proceeds to step S364, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the reach state flag F3 is zero. If the value of reach state flag F3 is 0 (YES in step S364), that is, the symbol data acquired this time is other than plus or minus one symbol in step S351 of the special symbol determination process (step S346) described above. If the reach out-of-reach symbol data obtained from the reach symbol storage buffer is selected, the process proceeds to step S365, where the CPU 102 changes the change pattern designation command signal for instructing the display of the change pattern 21 or the change pattern 31. Is output to the display control circuit 111.

  On the other hand, if NO in step S364, that is, if the value of the reach state flag F3 is 1, that is, the symbol data acquired this time is plus or minus 1 in step S352 of the special symbol determination process (step S346) described above. If the reach reach symbol data acquired from the symbol reach symbol storage buffer step, the process proceeds to step S366, and the CPU 102 determines whether the variation pattern 21, the variation pattern 31, the variation pattern 51, and the variation pattern 61 are within the range. A variation pattern designation command signal for instructing display of any variation pattern is output to the display control circuit 111. Note that these variation pattern designation commands are shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  In addition, as will be described later, in the process of step S360, step S361, step S365, and step S366, that is, the process of displaying reach, one variation pattern is selected from the plurality of variation patterns. It is determined by the value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 (random number 8, 0 to 51) acquired in the acquisition process.

When the process of step S360 or step S361 is completed, that is, when the big hit symbol acquired this time is a specific big hit symbol or a normal big hit symbol, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S600 and performs a big hit effect image selection process. Execute. FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the big hit effect image selection process (step S600). When the big hit effect image selection process is executed, the CPU 102 first determines whether or not the value of the counter H is less than 10 in the process of step S602. If YES in the process of step S602, that is, if the value of the counter H is less than 10 (0 to 9), the process proceeds to step S604, and the CPU 102 performs the jackpot effect related to the current jackpot game. The jackpot effect image A is selected as an image, and a jackpot effect image designation command signal for preferentially displaying the jackpot effect image A on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 is output to the display control circuit 111. The jackpot effect image designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  On the other hand, if NO in step S602, that is, if the value of the counter H is 10 or more, the process proceeds to step S606, and the CPU 102 determines whether the value of the counter H is 10 or more and less than 20. judge. If YES in step S606, that is, if the value of the counter H is not less than 10 and less than 20 (10 to 19), the process proceeds to step S608, and the CPU 102 relates to the current big hit game. A jackpot effect image B is selected as the jackpot effect image, and a jackpot effect image designation command signal for preferentially displaying the jackpot effect image B on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 is output to the display control circuit 111. .

  On the other hand, if NO in step S606, that is, if the value of the counter H is 20 or more, the process proceeds to step S610, and the CPU 102 receives a big hit effect image as a big hit effect image related to the current big hit game. C is selected, and a jackpot effect image designation command signal for instructing to preferentially display the jackpot effect image C on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 is output to the display control circuit 111.

  Here, the big hit effect image will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the big hit effect image and the counter H. As shown in FIG. 27, the jackpot effect image has three types of jackpot effect images A, B, and C, each having a different effect, and the effect of the jackpot effect image A is the lowest. The effect is the highest, and the effect of the jackpot effect image B is the middle of the effect of the jackpot effect image A and the jackpot effect image C. In other words, as shown in the above-described jackpot effect image selection process (step S600), the jackpot effect image has a low effect if the value of the counter H is low, that is, the number of overflow balls is small. A big hit effect image with a high effect is displayed on the image display device 80 as the value of the counter H increases.

  Returning to FIG. 26, when the process of step S604, step S608, or step S610 is completed, the CPU 102 ends the jackpot effect image selection process (step S600), and proceeds to step S367.

  Returning to FIG. 25, when the processing of step S600 or S365 is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S367 to execute the LED / lamp lighting control processing. Here, the CPU 102 drives the lamp control circuit 37 and plays Control is performed to turn on or blink LEDs or lamps provided on the board in a predetermined manner. By this processing, it is possible to notify the player that the special symbol display device 6 has displayed the variation pattern related to the big hit or the reach, and it is possible to improve the performance level of the game.

  When the LED / lamp lighting control process in step S367 or the process for instructing the display of the fluctuation pattern 1 in step S363 is finished, the CPU 102 proceeds to the sound effect output process in step S357, where the special symbol fluctuation display is performed. The sound effect corresponding to the variation pattern variably displayed in the process (step S356) is output from the speaker 113 via the audio control circuit 38 and also output to the image display control circuit 112.

When the sound effect output process in step S357 is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to the process in step S368, and outputs a left special symbol designation command signal for designating a stop symbol of the left special symbol to the display control circuit 111. Then, the process proceeds to step S369, where a right special symbol designation command signal for designating a stop symbol of the right special symbol is displayed on the display control circuit 111.
Then, the process proceeds to step S370, where a medium special symbol designation command signal for designating a stop symbol of the middle special symbol is outputted to the display control circuit 111. Note that these left special symbol designation command, right special symbol designation command, and middle special symbol designation command are shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  In addition, the special symbols specified in the processing of step S368, step S369, and step S370 correspond to the symbol data acquired from the symbol storage buffer in the processing of step S349, step S351, step S352, or step S353 described above, respectively. (See FIG. 21). When the process of step S370 is completed, the CPU 102 ends the special symbol variation display process (step S356), returns to the special symbol control process (FIG. 24), and proceeds to the process of step S371.

  When the process proceeds to step S371, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the special symbol variation time TH set in advance is up (TH = 0). The special symbol variation time TH will be described later. If NO in step S371, that is, if it is determined that the special symbol variation time TH has not increased, the CPU 102 ends the special symbol control process (step S354) and performs the special symbol game process. Returning to step S376, the process proceeds to step S376. On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S371, that is, if it is determined that the special symbol variation time TH has timed up, the process proceeds to step S372, and the CPU 102 designates stop of all special symbols here. All symbol stop designation command signals are output to the display control circuit 111. This all symbol stop designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later. When the process of step S372 is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to the special symbol determination process of step S373.

  When the process proceeds to the process of step S373, the CPU 102 executes a process of determining the special symbol determined in the special symbol determination process of step S346 in the special symbol display device 6 as described above. The determination of the special symbol in the process of step S373 is performed by maintaining the state where the special symbol stopped on the special symbol display device 6 is stopped for a predetermined time (2 seconds) based on the all symbol stop designation command. Do.

  The confirmation of the special symbol means that the special symbol (left special symbol, middle special symbol, right special symbol) is completely stopped for a predetermined time (2 seconds). On the other hand, it does not include a shaking state that is slightly moved up and down, for example, several frames up and down, while the special symbol stop includes this shaking state, that is, the special symbol stop and May be in any form as long as the player can recognize it even if the special symbol is not completely stopped.

  When the process of step S373 is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to the process of step S374, sets the value of the reach flag F2 to 0, shifts to the process of step S375, and sets the value of the reach mode flag F3 to 0. To do. When it is determined YES in the processes of steps S348 and S362 and when YES is determined in the processes of steps S350 and S364, the CPU 102 performs the processes in steps S374 and S375. , Do nothing. When the process of step S375 is completed, the CPU 102 ends the special symbol control process (step S354), returns to the special symbol game process (FIG. 20), and proceeds to the process of step S376.

When the process proceeds to step S376, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the special symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 6 has been confirmed. If not (NO in step S376), the CPU 102 determines this. The special symbol game process (step S318) is terminated, the process returns to the special game process (FIG. 17), and the process proceeds to step S50 of the main game process (FIG. 7). On the other hand, when it is determined in step S376 that the special symbol displayed on special symbol display device 6 has been determined (YES in step S376), the process proceeds to step S380.

  When the process proceeds to step S380, CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of jackpot flag F1 is 1, and if the value of jackpot flag F1 is 1 (YES in step S380), the process proceeds to step S381. Then, the processing for canceling the short time processing is executed.

  Note that the processing for canceling the time-saving process in step S381 is processing for canceling the processing set in the time-saving processing in step S412 to be described later and returning it to the normal setting, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. In short, the hit determination counter C9 (random numbers 9, 0 to 30), the normal symbol variation time t, the start winning opening opening time ST, the big hit determination counter C1 (random numbers 1, 0 to 314), and This is processing for returning each content of the special symbol variation time TH to the normal setting. Therefore, when the time reduction process in step S412 described later is not executed, the CPU 102 does not perform any process here.

  When the processing for canceling the time-saving process in step S381 is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to the process in step S383, where the jackpot game start designation command signal is output to the display control circuit 111, and the process proceeds to step S391. The indicated jackpot process is executed. The jackpot game start designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the big hit process (step S391). When the jackpot process (step S391) is executed, the CPU 102 first determines whether or not the interval time is in the process of step S392. This interval time is the time during which the big winning game (attacker) 7 is closed at the start of the big hit game, at the end of each round, or at the end of the big hit game. If YES (YES in step S392), the jackpot process (step S391) is terminated, the process returns to the special symbol game process (FIG. 20), and the process proceeds to step S409. The interval time at the start of the big hit game and the end of the big hit game is set to 10 seconds, and the interval time at the end of each round is set to 2 seconds.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S392 that the interval time is not reached (NO in step S392), the process proceeds to step S393, and the CPU 102 determines the value of counter E, which will be described later. A round display designation command signal is output to the display control circuit 111. The round display designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  Next, when the process proceeds to step S394, the CPU 102 drives and controls the solenoid 106 to open the special winning opening 7. Then, the process proceeds to the process of step S395, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the predetermined opening time 30 of the predetermined prize winning opening 7 has expired, and NO in the process of step S395, that is, When it is determined that the opening time 30 seconds of the big winning opening 7 has not timed up, the process proceeds to step S396 to display the number of game balls won in the big winning opening 7 during the round. Are output to the display control circuit 111 in synchronization with the counter D. The counter D is a main control circuit 44 for counting the number of game balls won in the big prize opening 7 until the opened big prize opening 7 is closed after the opening time of the big prize opening 30 seconds elapses. Is counted up when the count switch 117 detects a game ball, and is initialized and set to 0 when the power is turned on. The count display designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

Next, when proceeding to the processing of step S397, the CPU 102 detects whether or not the above-described continuous winning switch 118 is turned on, that is, a game ball in which the continuous winning switch 118 has passed a specific area of the big winning opening 7 during the round. If the game ball passes through a specific area of the big winning opening 7 and the continuous winning switch 118 is turned on (YES in step S404 described later), the CPU 102 proceeds to step S398. The process proceeds to processing, and a V display designation command signal for displaying V is output to the display control circuit 111 in synchronization with the detection signal of the continuous winning switch 118, and the process proceeds to step S399. The V display designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined NO in the process of step S397, that is, when the continuous winning switch 118 is not turned on during the round and the game ball has not passed the specific area of the big winning opening 7, the CPU 102 Then, the process proceeds to step S399, and it is determined whether or not the value of the counter D is 10 or more. If NO in step S399, that is, if the value of the counter D is determined to be less than 10, the CPU 102 ends the jackpot process and proceeds to the process in step S409.

  On the other hand, if YES is determined in the process of step S395 and YES is determined in the process of step S399, that is, if it is determined that the opening time 30 seconds of the big winning opening 7 is up, and the value of the counter D is 10 or more. When it is determined that the process proceeds to step S400, the CPU 102 drives and controls the solenoid 106 to close the special winning opening 7. Then, the CPU 102 proceeds to the process of step S401, sets the value of the counter D to 0, proceeds to the process of step S402, and increments (adds 1) the value of the counter E.

  This counter E is a counter set in the main control circuit 44 in order to count how many times the big winning opening 7 is opened, in other words, how many times each round in the big hit game is executed. Every time the process of step S400 is executed and the special winning opening 7 is closed, it is counted up, and is initialized and set to 1 when the power is turned on.

  When the process of step S402 is completed, the process proceeds to the process of step S404, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the continuous winning switch 118 is turned on in the process of step S397, and the continuous winning switch 118 is turned on. If YES (YES in step S404), the process proceeds to step S405 to determine whether the value of the counter E is less than 16. In the process of step S405, it is determined whether or not the number of times that the big winning opening 7 is opened, that is, whether or not the number of rounds in the big hit game has become 16 times. When YES is determined in the process of step S405, that is, when the value of the counter E is determined to be 16 or less, the CPU 102 ends the jackpot process and proceeds to the process of step S409 (FIG. 20).

  On the other hand, when it is determined NO in the process of step S404 and NO in the process of step S405, that is, when the continuous winning switch 118 is not turned on and the game ball has not passed the specific area of the big winning opening 7. When it is determined that the value of the counter E exceeds 16, the CPU 102 proceeds to the process of step S406, sets the value of the counter E to 0, and proceeds to the process of step S407. The value of the big hit flag F1 is set to 0, the process proceeds to step S408, the value of the counter H is set to 0, the big hit process is terminated, and the process proceeds to the process of step S409 (FIG. 20). When the value of the counter H is set to 0 in the process of step S408, the value of the overflow ball number displayed on the overflow ball display device 60 is also reset to 0.

When the processing proceeds to step S409, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the value of the big hit flag F1 is 0, that is, whether or not all of the predetermined big hit processing (step S391) is completed, and the value of the big hit flag F1 is not 0. If this is the case (NO in step S409), that is, if the value of the jackpot flag F1 is 1, it is determined that all of the predetermined jackpot processing has not ended, and this special symbol game processing (step S318) is terminated. Then, the process returns to the special game process (FIG. 17) and proceeds to the process of step S50 of the main game process (FIG. 7). On the other hand, if the value of big hit flag F1 is 0 (YES in step S409), the process proceeds to step S410, and CPU 102 here outputs a big hit game end designation command signal to display control circuit 111. The jackpot game end designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later.

  Next, the process proceeds to the process of step S411, and the CPU 102 determines whether or not the jackpot symbol is an odd numbered number symbol, that is, whether it is a specific big win symbol, as in the process of step S359 described above (FIG. 25). Determine whether. If YES in the process of step S411, that is, if the jackpot symbol acquired this time is a specific bonus symbol, the process proceeds to step S412 and the CPU 102 executes a time reduction process.

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the time reduction process (step S412). When the time reduction process is started, the CPU 102 first changes the contents of the hit determination counter C9 (random numbers 9, 0 to 30) updated in the random number update process in step S20 described above in the process in step S414. Normally, the random number 9 generated in the process of step S20 has a lottery probability that a normal symbol is a hit, but is 10/31. To rise. This is done by changing 0 to 27 to random numbers instead of 0 to 9 among the random numbers composed of 0 to 30 described above.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S416, and the CPU 102 shortens the normal symbol variation time t used in step S508 of the above-described normal symbol control process (FIG. 14). Normally, the normal symbol variation time t is 30 seconds, but the normal symbol variation time t is shortened to 2 seconds by executing the time reduction process. That is, the variable display is started in step S506 of the above normal symbol control process (step S504), and the normal symbol change display time is 30 seconds until the winning symbol or the off symbol is fixedly displayed in step S510. Is reduced to 2 seconds.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S418, and the CPU 102 extends the start winning opening opening time ST used in step S520 of the above starting winning opening opening process (FIG. 15). Normally, the start winning opening opening time ST is 0.2 seconds. However, the start winning opening opening time ST is extended to 2 seconds by the execution of the time reduction process. That is, the opening time of the start winning port (electric tulip) 11 until the opening is closed in step S518 of the start winning port opening process (step S516) and closed in step S524 is 0.2 seconds. Extend to 2 seconds.

  Next, proceeding to step S420, the CPU 102 changes the contents of the jackpot determination counter C1 (random numbers 1, 0 to 314) updated by the random number update process of step S20 described above. Normally, the random number 1 created in the process of step S20 has a lottery probability that the special symbol combination is a big win, but it is 1/315. To 315. This is performed by changing 7, 33, 77, 111, and 222 to the big hit random numbers instead of the big hit random numbers consisting of 0 to 350 described above as the big hit random numbers.

Next, proceeding to step S422, the CPU 102 shortens the special symbol variation time TH used in step S371 of the special symbol control process (FIG. 24) described above. Normally, the special symbol variation time TH is 7 to 42 seconds (13 to 42 seconds in the case of big hit or reach, and 7 seconds otherwise). TH is shortened to 2 to 37 seconds (8 to 37 seconds for a big hit or reach, otherwise 2 seconds). That is, the variable display is started in step S356 of the special symbol control process (step S354) described above, and the special symbol variation display time until the big hit symbol or the off symbol is determined in step S373 is 7 to 42 seconds. Is reduced to 2 to 37 seconds. When the process of step S422 is completed, the time saving process (step S412) is terminated, and the process proceeds to the process of step S431 of the special symbol game process (FIG. 20).

  On the other hand, if NO in the process of step S411, that is, if the jackpot symbol acquired this time is not a specific bonus symbol (when it is a normal bonus symbol as the above-mentioned even-numbered symbol symbol), step S431 is performed. Shifting to processing, the CPU 102 determines whether or not the big hit effect images A, B, and C displayed on the image display device 80 have ended. The jackpot effect images A, B, and C will be displayed for about 532 seconds after the jackpot processing in step S391 is started (the jackpot game start designation command signal is output in step S383). This 532 seconds is approximately equal to the jackpot game time when each round time in the jackpot game continues for the longest 30 seconds (interval time at the start of jackpot game + round time × 16 + interval time between rounds) × 16 + Large hit game end time = 10 seconds + 30 seconds × 16 + 2 seconds × 16 + 10 seconds = 532 seconds). In other words, this 532 seconds is for avoiding that the big hit effect images A, B, and C end even though the player is executing the big hit game. Even after the player has finished the big hit game, the big hit effect images A, B, and C are still displayed on the image display device 80.

  That is, the jackpot effect images A, B, and C are displayed completely until the end regardless of the end of the jackpot game. If YES in the process of step S431, that is, if the display of the big hit effect image A, B, C is completed, the process proceeds to step S432, and the CPU 102 displays a big hit effect image end designation command signal here. The data is output to the control circuit 111, and the process proceeds to step S434. The jackpot effect image end designation command is shown in FIG. 33 and will be described later. On the other hand, if NO in the process of step S431, that is, if the display of the big hit effect images A, B, and C has not ended, the CPU 102 proceeds directly to the process of step S434.

  After shifting to the process of step S434, the CPU 102 decrements (decrements 1) the value of the counter B incremented (added by 1) in the process of step S306 (FIG. 18) described above, and shifts to the process of step S436. The hold LED extinguishing control process is executed.

  As described above, if NO in step S411, that is, if the acquired jackpot symbol is not an odd jackpot symbol (specific bonus symbol), the time-saving process in step S412 is not executed in this embodiment. However, for example, in this case as well, time-limited processing with a limited number of times may be performed. Specifically, when the big hit symbol is a specific big hit symbol (YES in step S411), in this embodiment, the time-shortening process is executed until the next big hit comes, while the even big hit symbol (normally big symbol) If it is (this symbol) (NO in step S411), the short time processing released in step S381 is maintained, but instead of this, an even number of big hit symbols (normally big symbol) Even when the special symbol game process (step S318) is executed up to 100 times in other words, in other words, while the variable symbol count of the special symbol is executed 100 times, the time reduction process is set. Anyway. Furthermore, this may be adopted only when a big hit is made with an even number of big hit symbols (usually big hit symbols) while the time reduction processing is set. In this way, even when a big bonus symbol is drawn, the time-short process that is extremely advantageous for the player is executed a predetermined number of times, so that the player is given appropriate gambling Is possible, and the playability is remarkably improved. In such a time-limited process with a limited number of times, the process of increasing the jackpot probability in step S420 described above may not be executed.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the hold LED extinguishing control process (step S436). When the hold LED extinguishing control process is executed, the CPU 102 first determines whether or not the value of the counter B is 1 or more in the process of step S438, and if the value of the counter B is not 1 or more (in step S438) NO), that is, if the value of the counter B is 0, the hold LED extinguishing control process (step S436) is terminated, the special symbol game process (step S318) is terminated, and the special game process (FIG. 17) is entered. Returning to the process in step S50 of the main game process (FIG. 7). On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S438, that is, if the value of the counter B is 1 or more, the process proceeds to the process of step S440, and the CPU 102 selects one of the four hold LEDs 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d. The corresponding one is turned off by driving the lamp control circuit 37, the hold LED extinguishing control process is finished, the special symbol game process is finished, the process returns to the special game process, and the process goes to the process of step S50 of the main game process. Transition.

  Returning to FIG. 7, when the special game process (step S40) is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S50 and executes other processes. In addition, in the other processes of step S50, various processes other than the processes described above are executed. However, since the processes are not particularly related to the present invention, the description thereof is omitted here.

  When the process of step S50 is completed, the CPU 102 proceeds to step S60 and executes a random number update process in step S60. This performs a loop process that continuously updates the values of the random number counters C1 to C10 (see FIG. 8) in the random number update process of step S20 described above until the next reset interrupt occurs.

  Specifically, the CPU 102 executes each process of step S20 to step S60 every reset interrupt (2 msec), but the time (machine cycle) required to execute these processes is not the same every time. . Therefore, it is necessary to set the time of 2 msec for generating the reset interrupt with a margin, and the remaining time still occurs when the CPU 102 finishes the process of step S50. In step S60, the remaining time is used to update the values of the random number counters C1 to C10. For example, the values of the random number counters C1 to C10 are incremented (add 1) until the remaining time is consumed. Alternatively, a process of continuing to decrement (1 subtraction) is executed, or a process of continuously updating the values of the random number counters C1 to C10 by a predetermined mathematical expression.

  In addition, without updating the values of the random number counters C1 to C10, a specific random number counter, for example, a big hit determination counter C1, a big hit symbol determination counter C7, or a big hit determination counter C9, is greatly advantageous to the player. Only the affected random number counter may be updated, and the values of the random number counters C1 to C10 may not be updated every reset interrupt (2 msec). May be performed every time one cycle occurs. In this way, program design is facilitated and processing operations of the CPU 102 and the like can be reduced.

  In this way, by updating the predetermined random number counter using the remaining time of the reset interrupt that is repeatedly executed every 2 msec of the main game process, the increment of the value of the predetermined random number counter in one process is irregular. Thus, it is possible to make it difficult for an unfair strategy using a player's sensory device or the like, for example, a player's strategy to hit a big hit random number or the like.

Here, with reference to FIG. 31, the ten types of variation patterns related to the special symbol described above will be described. FIG. 31 is a distribution diagram of the fluctuation pattern in the main control circuit 44. As shown in FIG. 31, first, the variation pattern 1 is selected in the process of step S349 (FIG. 21) when a symbol that does not become a reach is determined as a symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time. This is a fluctuation pattern, and the random number acquisition process in step S308 (FIG. 18).
), The acquired numerical value of the big hit determination counter C1 (random number 1, 0 to 314) is 0 to 6, 8 to 314 (probability 314/315, provided that time reduction processing is set in step S412) 0 to 6, 8 to 32, 34 to 76, 78 to 110, 112 to 221, 223 to 314 and the probability 62/63), and the obtained numerical value of the reach determination counter C5 (random numbers 5, 0 to 11) is 0 to 2 4 to 11 (probability 11/12), when the big hit flag F1 = 0 and the reach flag F2 = 0 in the processing of step S358 and step S362 (FIG. 25), the main processing in step S363 (FIG. 25) When the variation pattern designation command corresponding to the variation pattern 1 is transmitted from the control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, the special symbol display device 6 displays the variation pattern.

  In the same manner, the variation pattern 21 is a symbol other than a plus or minus one symbol that is not plus or minus one symbol as a symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time in the process of step S351 or step S352 (FIG. 21). The fluctuation pattern selected when the out-of-reach symbol is determined, and the acquired numerical value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the random number acquisition process (FIG. 18) in step S308 is 0 to 6, 8 to 314 (probability 314/315. However, when the time reduction processing is set, 0 to 6, 8 to 32, 34 to 76, 78 to 110, 112 to 221, 223 to 314 and the probability 62/63), and the acquisition numerical value of the reach determination counter C5 is 3 (probability 1/12), the acquisition numerical value of the reach symbol mode determination counter C6 (random numbers 6, 0-62) is 0-19 (probability 20/6) ), The obtained numerical value of the variation pattern determining counter C8 (random numbers 8, 0 to 51) is 0 to 24 (probability 25/52), and the big hit flag F1 = in the processing of step S358, step S362 and step S364 (FIG. 25) In the case of 0, the reach flag F2 = 1 and the reach mode flag F3 = 1, or the acquisition value of the big hit determination counter C1 acquired in the random number acquisition process (FIG. 18) in step S308 is 0 to 6, 8 to 314 ( Probability 314/315, provided that when time reduction processing is set, 0 to 6, 8 to 32, 34 to 76, 78 to 110, 112 to 221, 223 to 314, and probability 62/63), the numerical value obtained by the reach determination counter C5 Is 3 (probability 1/12), the obtained numerical value of the reach symbol mode determination counter C6 is 20 to 63 (probability 43/63), and the variation pattern determination counter C8 When the obtained numerical value is 0 to 29 (probability 30/52), the big hit flag F1 = 0, the reach flag F2 = 1, and the reach mode flag F3 = 0 in the processing of FIG. 25 (step S358, step S362 and step S364). In the process of step S365 or step S366 (FIG. 25), a change pattern designation command corresponding to the change pattern 21 is transmitted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, so that the change display on the special symbol display device 6 is performed. Is done.

  The variation pattern 22 is a variation pattern that is selected when the jackpot symbol is determined as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time in the process of step S353 (FIG. 21), and the random number acquisition in step S308 is performed. The acquisition value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the processing (FIG. 18) is 7 (probability 1/315, but when the time reduction processing is set, it becomes 7, 33, 77, 111, 222 and the probability 1/63), step S359. In the process (FIG. 25), an odd number of big hit symbols (specific big win symbols) are stored in the big hit symbol storage buffer (probability 1/2), and the obtained numerical value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 1 to 5 (probability 5/52). ), When the big hit flag F1 = 1 in the processing of step S358 (FIG. 25), or the big hit determination capacities acquired in the random number acquisition processing (FIG. 18) of step S308. The acquired numerical value of the data C1 is 7 (probability 1/315, but when time-shortening processing is set, the probability is 1/63 with 7, 33, 77, 111, 222), and the big hit symbol storage buffer in the process of FIG. Is stored with an even number of big hit symbols (usually big winning symbols) (probability 1/2), the obtained numerical value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 0-5 (probability 6/52), and in the process of step S358 (FIG. 25) When the big hit flag F1 = 1, the variation pattern designation command corresponding to the variation pattern 22 is transmitted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 in the process of step S360 or step S361 (FIG. 25). The special symbol display device 6 is variably displayed.

  Similar to the variation pattern 21, the variation pattern 31 is a symbol that is not plus or minus one symbol plus or minus one as a symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time by the processing of step S 351 or step S 352 (FIG. 21). A variation pattern that is selected when a non-design reach symbol is determined, and the acquired value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the random number acquisition process (FIG. 18) in step S308 is 0 to 6, 8 to 314. (Probability 314/315, but 0 to 6, 8 to 32, 34 to 76, 78 to 110, 112 to 221, 223 to 314 and probability 62/63 when time reduction processing is set) Acquisition of reach determination counter C5 The numerical value is 3 (probability 1/12), the acquisition numerical value of the reach symbol mode determination counter C6 is 0 to 19 (probability 20/63), variable The acquired numerical value of the pattern determination counter C8 is 25 to 31 (probability 7/52), and the big hit flag F1 = 0, the reach flag F2 = 1, and the reach mode flag in the processing of FIG. 25 (step S358, step S362 and step S364) When F3 = 1, or the acquired numerical value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the random number acquisition process (FIG. 18) in step S308 is 0 to 6, 8 to 314 (probability 314/315, provided that the time reduction process is set) 0 to 6, 8 to 32, 34 to 76, 78 to 110, 112 to 221, 223 to 314 and the probability 62/63), the reach numerical value of the counter C5 for reach determination is 3 (probability 1/12), the reach design The acquired numerical value of the mode determining counter C6 is 20 to 63 (probability 43/63), and the acquired numerical value of the variation pattern determining counter C8 is 30 to 51 (probability 3). / 52), when the big hit flag F1 = 0, the reach flag F2 = 1, and the reach mode flag F3 = 0 in the processing of step S358, step S362, and step S364 (FIG. 25) (step S365 or step S366) In FIG. 25), a variation pattern designation command corresponding to the variation pattern 31 is transmitted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, so that the variation is displayed on the special symbol display device 6.

  The variation pattern 32 is a variation pattern that is selected when the jackpot symbol is determined as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time in the process of step S353 (FIG. 21), and the random number acquisition in step S308 is performed. The acquisition value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the processing (FIG. 18) is 7 (probability 1/315, but when the time reduction processing is set, it becomes 7, 33, 77, 111, 222 and the probability 1/63), step S359. In the process of FIG. 25 (FIG. 25), an odd number of big hit symbols (specific big hit symbols) are stored in the big hit symbol storage buffer (probability 1/2), and the obtained numerical value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 6 to 10 (probability 5/52). ), When the big hit flag F1 = 1 in the process of step S358 (FIG. 25) or for the big hit determination acquired in the random number acquisition process (FIG. 16) of step S308 The acquisition value of the counter C1 is 7 (probability 1/315, but when the time reduction processing is set, it becomes 7, 33, 77, 111, 222 and the probability is 1/63), and the big hit symbol storage buffer in the process of FIG. Are stored even numbers (usually big winning symbols) (probability 1/2), the obtained value of the variation pattern determining counter C8 is 6 to 10 (probability 5/52), and in the process of step S358 (FIG. 25) When the big hit flag F1 = 1, the change pattern designation command corresponding to the change pattern 32 is transmitted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 in the process of step S360 or step S361 (FIG. 25). The special symbol display device 6 is variably displayed.

  The variation pattern 4 is a variation pattern that is selected when the jackpot symbol is determined as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time in the process of step S353 (FIG. 21), and the random number acquisition in step S308 is performed. The acquisition value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the processing (FIG. 18) is 7 (probability 1/315, but when the time reduction processing is set, it becomes 7, 33, 77, 111, 222 and the probability 1/63), step S359. In the process of FIG. 25 (FIG. 25), an odd number of big hit symbols (specific big win symbol) is stored in the big hit symbol storage buffer (probability 1/2), and the obtained numerical value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 0 (probability 1/52). When the big hit flag F1 = 1 in the process of step S358 (FIG. 25), the main control circuit 44 changes to the display control circuit 111 in the process of step S360 (FIG. 25). By variation pattern designation command corresponding to the pattern 4 is transmitted, it is variably displayed on the special symbol display device 6.

  The variation pattern 51 is a variation pattern that is selected when the reach / decrease symbol of the plus / minus one symbol is determined as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time in the process of step S352 (FIG. 21). The acquisition value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the random number acquisition process (FIG. 18) in step S308 is 0 to 6, 8 to 314 (probability 314/315, but 0 to 6, 8 to 8 when the time reduction process is set). 32, 34 to 76, 78 to 110, 112 to 221, 223 to 314 and probability 62/63), the acquisition numerical value of reach determination counter C5 is 3 (probability 1/12), and acquisition of reach symbol mode determination counter C6 The numerical value is 0 to 19 (probability 20/63), the acquisition numerical value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 32 to 41 (probability 10/52), step S358, step When the big hit flag F1 = 0, the reach flag F2 = 1, and the reach state flag F3 = 1 in the processing of S362 and step S364 (FIG. 25), the main control circuit 44 displays in the processing of step S366 (FIG. 25). When the fluctuation pattern designation command corresponding to the fluctuation pattern 51 is transmitted to the control circuit 111, the special symbol display device 6 displays the fluctuation pattern.

  The variation pattern 52 is a variation pattern that is selected when the big hit symbol is determined as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time in the process of step S353 (FIG. 21), and the random number acquisition in step S308 is performed. The acquisition value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the processing (FIG. 18) is 7 (probability 1/315, but when the time reduction processing is set, it becomes 7, 33, 77, 111, 222 and the probability 1/63), step S359. In the process of FIG. 25 (FIG. 25), an odd number of big hit symbols (specific big hit symbols) are stored in the big hit symbol storage buffer (probability 1/2), and the obtained numerical value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 11 to 35 (probability 25/52). ), When the big hit flag F1 = 1 in the process of step S358 (FIG. 25), or the big hit size acquired in the random number acquisition process (FIG. 18) of step S308 The acquisition value of the counter C1 is 7 (probability 1/315, but when the time reduction process is set, the probability is 1/63 with 7, 33, 77, 111, 222), and the big hit symbol is stored in the process of FIG. An even number of big hit symbols (usually big symbols) are stored in the buffer (probability 1/2), the obtained numerical value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 11 to 26 (probability 16/52), and the processing of step S358 (FIG. 25) is performed. When the big hit flag F1 = 1, the variation pattern designation command corresponding to the variation pattern 52 is transmitted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 in the process of step S360 or step S361 (FIG. 25). The special symbol display device 6 is displayed in a variable manner.

  The variation pattern 61 is a variation pattern that is selected when the reach / decrease symbol of the plus / minus one symbol is determined as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time in the process of step S352 (FIG. 21). The acquisition value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the random number acquisition process (FIG. 18) in step S308 is 0 to 6, 8 to 314 (probability 314/315, but 0 to 6, 8 to 8 when the time reduction process is set). 32, 34 to 76, 78 to 110, 112 to 221, 223 to 314 and probability 62/63), the acquisition numerical value of reach determination counter C5 is 3 (probability 1/12), and acquisition of reach symbol mode determination counter C6 The numerical value is 0 to 19 (probability 20/63), the acquisition numerical value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 42 to 51 (probability 10/52), step S358, step When the big hit flag F1 = 0, the reach flag F2 = 1, and the reach state flag F3 = 1 in the processing of S362 and step S364 (FIG. 25), the main control circuit 44 displays in the processing of step S366 (FIG. 25). When the fluctuation pattern designation command corresponding to the fluctuation pattern 61 is transmitted to the control circuit 111, the special symbol display device 6 displays the fluctuation pattern.

The variation pattern 62 is a variation pattern that is selected when the big hit symbol is determined as the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the special symbol display device 6 this time in the process of step S353 (FIG. 21), and the random number acquisition in step S308 is performed. The acquisition value of the jackpot determination counter C1 acquired in the processing (FIG. 18) is 7 (probability 1/315, however, 7, 33, 77, 111 when the time reduction processing is set)
222 and the probability 1/63), in the process of step S359 (FIG. 25), an odd big hit symbol (specific big hit symbol) is stored in the big hit symbol storage buffer (probability 1/2), and the variation pattern determining counter C8 When the acquired numerical value is 36 to 51 (probability 16/52), the big hit flag F1 = 1 in the process of step S358 (FIG. 25), or for the big hit determination acquired in the random number acquisition process of step S308 (FIG. 18) The acquisition value of the counter C1 is 7 (probability 1/315, but when the time reduction processing is set, the probability is 1/63 with 7, 33, 77, 111, 222), and the big hit symbol storage buffer in the process of FIG. Are stored even numbers (usually big win symbols) (probability 1/2), the obtained value of the variation pattern determination counter C8 is 27 to 51 (probability 25/52), step S When the big hit flag F1 = 1 in the process 59 (FIG. 25), the change pattern corresponding to the change pattern 62 is transferred from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 in the process (FIG. 25) in step S360 or S361. When the designated command is transmitted, the special symbol display device 6 displays the variation.

  Next, processing executed by the display control circuit 111 will be described in detail. FIG. 32 shows a strobe signal interrupt process executed when the strobe signal output from the main control circuit 44 is input to the INT terminal of the CPU 140 of the display control circuit 111. When the strobe signal is input to the INT terminal, the CPU 140 receives the display control command signal in the process of step S701, and proceeds to the process of step S703. Stored in the storage area.

  Here, the display control command will be described. FIG. 33 is a list of display control commands received by the display control circuit 111 from the main control circuit 44. The special symbol initial designation command a is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the initialization process of step S10 (FIG. 7) when the gaming machine 1 (the main control circuit 44 and the display control circuit 111) is turned on. Therefore, special symbols (left special symbol, middle special symbol, right special symbol) to be stopped and displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 are designated.

  After the special symbol initial designation command a signal is output or the special symbol that has been changed is stopped and confirmed and displayed (FIG. 24, step S373), the customer waiting demonstration designation command b is played at the start winning opening 11 A command output from the main control circuit 44 when a predetermined time TS (60 seconds) has elapsed without winning a ball, and displays the advertisement of the gaming machine 1 and game contents as a moving image on the image display unit 30. Designate a customer waiting demonstration image.

  As for the variation pattern designation commands c to l, a special symbol initial designation command a signal is output when a game ball is won at the start winning opening 11 after the customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal is outputted (after an unspecified time TD has elapsed). After the special symbol that has been changed or after the special symbol that has fluctuated is stopped and fixedly displayed (FIG. 24, step S373), when the game ball wins the start winning slot 11 before the predetermined time TS (60 seconds) has elapsed, Alternatively, the command is output from the main control circuit 44 when the display of the confirmation of the special symbol is completed when the reserved ball is stored, and the predetermined symbol is displayed on the image display unit 30 when the special symbol starts to change. Designate the fluctuation pattern (fluctuation time TH).

  First, the variation pattern 1 designation command c is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S363 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) described above, and starts the variation of the special symbol. Then, the fluctuation pattern 1 (fluctuation time TH) for designating and displaying the missing symbol that does not reach the image display unit 30 is designated.

The variation pattern 21 designation command d is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S365 or step S366 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) described above, and the variation of the special symbol. Start and designation of the fluctuation pattern 21 (variation time TH) when the reach-removed symbol other than the plus / minus 1 symbol or the reach / reversed symbol of the plus / minus 1 symbol (that is, all reach-missing symbols) is displayed on the image display unit 30. To do.

  The variation pattern 22 designation command e is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S360 or step S361 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) described above. The start and the variation pattern 22 (variation time TH) when the specific big symbol or the normal big symbol is fixedly displayed on the image display unit 30 are designated. Further, the variation pattern 22 designation command e also designates the start of pre-processing of jackpot effect image data, which will be described later.

  The fluctuation pattern 31 designation command f is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S365 or step S366 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol fluctuation display process (step S356) described above, and changes in the special symbol. Start and designation of the fluctuation pattern 31 (variation time TH) when the reach-removed symbol other than the plus / minus 1 symbol or the reach / reject symbol of the plus / minus 1 symbol (that is, all reach-missing symbols) is displayed on the image display unit 30. To do.

  The variation pattern 32 designation command g is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the processing of step S360 or step S361 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display processing (step S356) described above. The start and the variation pattern 32 (variation time TH) when the specific big symbol or the normal big symbol is displayed on the image display unit 30 are designated. Furthermore, the variation pattern 32 designation command g also designates the start of pre-processing of jackpot effect image data described later.

  The variation pattern 4 designation command h is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S360 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) described above, A variation pattern 4 (variation time TH) when the specific big symbol is fixedly displayed on the image display unit 30 is designated. Furthermore, the variation pattern 4 designation command h also designates the start of pre-processing of jackpot effect image data to be described later.

  The variation pattern 51 designation command i is a command that is output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S366 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) described above. A fluctuation pattern 51 (fluctuation time TH) for designating and displaying a symbol that is out of reach of the plus or minus one symbol on the image display unit 30 is designated.

  The variation pattern 52 designation command j is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S360 or step S361 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) described above, and the variation of the special symbol. The start and the variation pattern 52 (variation time TH) when the specific big symbol or the normal big symbol is fixedly displayed on the image display unit 30 are designated. Furthermore, the variation pattern 52 designation command j designates the start of pre-processing of the jackpot effect image data described later.

  The variation pattern 61 designation command k is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S366 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) described above, A fluctuation pattern 61 (fluctuation time TH) for designating and displaying the symbol that is out of reach of the plus or minus one symbol on the image display unit 30 is designated.

The variation pattern 62 designation command l is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the processing of step S360 or step S361 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display processing (step S356) described above. The start and the variation pattern 62 (variation time TH) when the specific big symbol or the normal big symbol is fixedly displayed on the image display unit 30 are designated. Furthermore, the variation pattern 62 designation command l also designates the start of pre-processing of jackpot effect image data, which will be described later.

  The left special symbol designation command m is executed in the process of step S368 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) when a predetermined time T1 has elapsed after the variation pattern designation commands c to l are output. This is a command output from the main control circuit 44 and designates a left special symbol to be stopped and displayed on the left symbol display unit 8. The left special symbol designation command m is prepared in 14 types corresponding to the left special symbols 1 to 14 shown in FIG.

  The right special symbol designating command n is executed in step S369 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) described above when a predetermined time T2 has elapsed since the left special symbol designating command m signal was output. It is a command output from the main control circuit 44 and designates a right special symbol to be stopped and displayed on the right symbol display unit 10. There are 14 types of right special symbol designation commands n corresponding to the right special symbols 1 to 14 shown in FIG.

  The middle special symbol designation command o is executed in the process of step S370 (FIG. 25) of the special symbol variation display process (step S356) when the predetermined time T3 has elapsed after the right special symbol designation command n signal is output. This is a command output from the main control circuit 44, and designates a middle special symbol to be stopped and displayed on the middle symbol display unit 9. In addition, 14 types of medium special symbol designation commands o are prepared corresponding to the medium special symbols 1 to 14 shown in FIG.

  The all symbol stop designation command p is processed in the process of step S372 (FIG. 24) of the special symbol control process (step S354) described above when a predetermined time TH has elapsed after the fluctuation pattern designation commands c to l are output. It is a command output from the main control circuit 44, and designates stop timings of all special symbols (left special symbol, middle special symbol, right special symbol) that are variably displayed. The predetermined time TH (normal time: 7 to 42 seconds, time reduction processing: 2 to 37 seconds) is the special symbol variation time.

  The big hit game start designation command q is a variation pattern designation command for finalizing and displaying a big bonus symbol (a specific bonus symbol or a normal bonus symbol) on the image display unit 30, that is, a fluctuation pattern 22 designation command e and a fluctuation pattern 32 designation. When the command g, the variation pattern 4 designation command h, the variation pattern 52 designation command j or the variation pattern 62 designation command l signal is output, the predetermined time TK (2 Seconds), the command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S383 (FIG. 20) of the special symbol game process (step S318) described above. Specify the end of the display. Furthermore, the big hit game start designation command q designates the end of the pre-processing of the big hit effect image data described later.

  The round display designation command r ends when the interval time TB (10 seconds) at the start of the jackpot game has elapsed after the output of the jackpot game start designation command q signal, or at the end of each round during the jackpot game The command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S393 (FIG. 28) of the jackpot process (step S391) described above, and displayed on the round display unit 54 of the image display unit 30 described later. Specify a number. Note that 16 types of round display designation commands r are prepared corresponding to the values (1 to 16) taken by the counter E.

The count display designation command s is obtained when the game ball is won in the big winning opening 7 opened during the big hit game and the count switch 117 is turned on (step S3).
91) is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S396 (FIG. 28), and designates the count number to be displayed on the count display section 55 of the image display section 30 described later. Ten types of count display designation commands s are prepared corresponding to the values (1 to 10) taken by the counter D.

  When the game ball passes through a specific area of the big winning opening 7 opened during the big hit game and the continuous winning switch 118 is turned on, the V display designation command u is the step S398 ( A command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of FIG.

  The jackpot game end designation command w is the special symbol described above when the interval time at the end of the jackpot game ends (after the unspecified time TR has elapsed) after the first (round 1) round display designation command r signal is output. A command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S410 (FIG. 20) of the game process (step S318), and designates the display of the big hit game end and the start of the time-saving process display.

  The jackpot effect image end designation command x is output when the jackpot effect image ends after the jackpot game end designation command w signal is output (after an unspecified time TN has elapsed), that is, the jackpot game start designation command q signal is output. Is a command output from the main control circuit 44 in the process of step S432 (FIG. 20) of the special symbol game process (step S318) after a predetermined time (TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds) has elapsed. Specify the end.

  The big hit effect image designation command y is the above-described big hit, almost simultaneously with the variation pattern 22 designation command e, variation pattern 32 designation command g, variation pattern 4 designation command h, variation pattern 52 designation command j, variation pattern 61 designation command k. This command is output from the main control circuit 44 in the processing of step S604, step S608, and step S610 (FIG. 26) of the effect image selection processing (step S600), and has priority over the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. A big hit effect image to be displayed is designated. Note that three types of jackpot effect image designation commands y are prepared corresponding to the jackpot effect images A, B, and C shown in FIG.

  FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a display main control process (main routine) executed by the CPU 140 of the display control circuit 111. Immediately after the power is turned on, the CPU 140 initializes each flag, each register, each storage area, and the like necessary for stack setting and the following processing as initialization processing (step S710). When finishing the initialization process in step S710, the CPU 140 proceeds to the process in step S712, and determines whether or not the display control command signal is received in the strobe signal interrupt process described above. If the display control command signal has not been received (NO in step S712), the process proceeds to step S724.

  On the other hand, if a display control command signal has been received (YES in step S712), CPU 140 proceeds to the process in step S714 and decodes the received display control command. In the process of step S712, the CPU 140 stores the display control command data stored in the predetermined storage area of the RAM 141 in the process of step S703 of the strobe signal interrupt process described above in the RAM 141 that is reserved for decoding. The display control command is decoded by copying to the storage area and reading the copied data from the decoding storage area. This has the effect of preventing the received display control command data from being erased due to overwriting or the like.

  When the process of step S714 is completed, the CPU 140 proceeds to the process of step S716, and the decoded display control command confirms and displays the big symbol (specific big symbol or normal big symbol) on the image display unit 30. It is determined whether it is a fluctuation pattern designation command at that time, that is, a fluctuation pattern 22 designation command e, a fluctuation pattern 32 designation command g, a fluctuation pattern 4 designation command h, a fluctuation pattern 52 designation command j, or a fluctuation pattern 62 designation command l. If the decoded display control command is a variation pattern designation command for confirming and displaying the big symbol on the image display unit 30 (YES in step S716), the process proceeds to step S718. 1 is set to the pre-processing flag F7.

  The display control circuit 111 is set with a preprocessing flag F7, and this preprocessing flag F7 is set to 0 when the power is turned on. When the process of step S718 is completed, or NO in step S716, that is, when the decoded display control command is not a change pattern designation command for displaying the big symbol on the image display unit 30, The CPU 140 proceeds to the process of step S720.

  When the process proceeds to step S720, the CPU 140 determines whether or not the display control command decoded here is a big hit game start designation command q. If the decoded display control command is a jackpot game start designation command q (YES in step S720), the process proceeds to step S722, and 0 is set to the pre-processing flag F7. On the other hand, if NO in step S720, that is, if the decoded display control command is not the big hit game start designation command q, the CPU 140 proceeds to the process of step S724.

  That is, the pre-processing flag F7 is a variable pattern designation command (the fluctuation pattern 22 designation command e, the fluctuation pattern 32 designation command g when the display control circuit 111 confirms and displays the big symbol on the image display unit 30 from the main control circuit 44. , The variation pattern 4 designation command h, the variation pattern 52 designation command j or the variation pattern 62 designation command l) until the big hit game start designation command q is received, that is, the big win symbol is confirmed in the image display unit 30. 1 is set only during the period from when the special symbol starts to change until it is fixedly displayed (hereinafter also referred to as jackpot change display pre-processing period).

  In step S724, the CPU 140 sends control data for performing display control for displaying the next one frame image on the image display unit 30 or the image display unit 81 from the ROM 142 in accordance with the decoded display control command. The image data as described above is read out and the RAM 141 is used as a work area, and the process proceeds to step S726, where the image display unit 30 or the image display unit displays the effect of the image corresponding to the display control command decoded here. A drawing command as described above for execution at 81 is created and stored in the RAM 141. Then, the process proceeds to step S728, and the calculation result of these image data and the created drawing command are output to the VDP 143 as control signals, and the process proceeds to step S730.

It should be noted that the processing time from step S712 to step S728 is one frame image to be displayed next time, that is, a vertical synchronizing signal is inputted, and the LCD driving circuit 150 drives the image display unit 30 or the LCD driving unit of the special symbol display device 6. The processing time of the CPU 140 for creating an image of one frame for the next display on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 by the circuit 167 is obtained. That is, the processing of CPU 140 from step S712 to step S728 executed this time is performed by LCD drive circuit 150 based on the processing of CPU 140 from step S712 to step S728 previously executed by image display unit of special symbol display device 6. 30 or the time during which one frame of image display processing is being performed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 by the LCD driving circuit 167 (1/30 seconds, a time obtained by adding a vertical blanking period and a vertical display period to be described later) ) To be processed.

  When the process proceeds to step S730, the CPU 140 determines whether or not the value of the preprocessing flag F7 is 0, that is, a process in which the current series of processes (step S712 to step S728) is executed during the jackpot variation display preprocessing period. It is determined whether or not. If YES in step S730, that is, if it is determined that the current series of processing has been executed in a period other than the big hit fluctuation display pre-processing period, the process proceeds to step S732 to interrupt from the VDP 143. Wait until a signal is received (NO in step S732). The interrupt signal from the VDP 143 is synchronously input to an INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 140 (every 1/30 seconds) every time a vertical synchronization signal is input from the timing controller 149 to the VDP 143. In addition, the standby time until the interrupt signal from the VDP 143 is received in the process of step S732 becomes the idle time of the CPU 140. When the interrupt signal from the VDP 143 is received in the process of step S732 (YES in the process of step S732), the CPU 140 proceeds to the process of step S712 and thereafter receives the interrupt signal from the VDP 143 ( This display main control process is repeated every 1/30 seconds.

  On the other hand, if NO in step S730, that is, if it is determined that the current series of processing has been executed during the big hit variation display pre-processing period, the process proceeds to step S734, and the CPU 140 determines the big hit effect image data. Perform pre-processing.

  FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734). In the jackpot effect image data pre-processing (step S734), the CPU 140 first executes arithmetic processing related to the jackpot effect image data in step S736. Here, the big hit effect image data to be processed in step S736 is designated by the big hit effect image designation command y sent based on the number of overflow balls (the value of the counter H) decoded in the process of step S714. The data is related to any one of the big hit effect images A, B, and C. In the process of step S736, control data for performing display control for displaying a big hit effect image on the image display unit 81 is read from the ROM 142, and the RAM 141 is used as a work area to make a big hit effect image as in the process of step S724. Calculation of related image data is performed. Then, the process proceeds to step S738, and in order to display the big hit effect image on the image display unit 30, a drawing command related to the big win effect image is created and stored in the RAM 141 in the same manner as in the process of step S726. Then, the process proceeds to the process of step S740, and the calculation result of the image data related to the jackpot effect image and the drawing command related to the created jackpot effect image are displayed on the VDP 143 in the same manner as the process of step S728. It outputs as a control signal of the pre-process for displaying on the display part 81, and transfers to the process of step S742. When the process proceeds to step S742, the CPU 140 repeatedly executes the process from step S736 to step S740 until it receives the interrupt signal from the VDP 143, similarly to the process in step S732 (NO in the process in step S742). .

  That is, in the big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734), during the big hit variation display pre-processing period (when the pre-processing flag F7 is set to 1), that is, the display control circuit 111 receives the image from the main control circuit 44. Fluctuation pattern designation command (variation pattern 22 designation command e, fluctuation pattern 32 designation command g, fluctuation pattern 4 designation command h, fluctuation pattern 52 designation command j or fluctuation pattern 62 designation when the big symbol symbol is displayed on the display unit 30. During the period from the time when the command l) is received until the time when the jackpot game start designation command q is received, the CPU 140 waits for itself (from the time when the interrupt signal is received from the VDP 143 in the process of step S732). Step S736 to Step S740 using the standby time) Than is repeatedly executed.

  Here, the reason that the big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734) is executed is that the big hit effect image is an image having a high effect such as a complicated movie or a three-dimensional image so that the player will be more interested in the game. This is because advanced image processing such as images is used, and the data processing is not in time within one frame of image display processing time (1/30 second). That is, as described above, while the LCD driving circuit 150 is executing the image display process of one frame on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 (for 1/30 second), the CPU 140 displays the next time. The processing (steps S712 to S728) for generating one frame image is executed. However, when image data related to the big hit effect image is processed, the data processing becomes enormous, and the LCD drive circuit 167 displays the image. While one frame image display processing is being performed on the image display unit 81 of the display device 80 (for 1/30 seconds), processing for creating one frame image related to the big hit effect image (steps S712 to S728) is performed. Because it will not be in time. Therefore, in the big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734), the data processing portion that is not in time for creating one frame image related to the big hit effect image is processed in advance during the big hit fluctuation display pre-processing period. I will leave it. The processing amount of the image data in the jackpot effect image data pre-processing (step S734) is the largest in the processing amount of image data related to the jackpot effect image C having the highest effect, and decreases in the order of the jackpot effect images B and A. It has become.

  On the other hand, when the interrupt signal from VDP 143 is received in the process of step S742 (YES in the process of step S742), CPU 140 ends this big hit effect image data pre-process (step S734) and enters the display main control process. Returning to step S712, the display main control process is repeated every time an interrupt signal is received from the VDP 143 (every 1/30 seconds). The time required for the big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734) is the pre-processing time of the CPU 140 for displaying the big hit effect image on the image display unit 81.

  In other words, in this display main control process (main routine), the processing from step S712 to step S732 (processing time + free time) or step S734 (processing time + pre-processing time) executed by the CPU 140 is performed by the LCD drive circuit 150. Thus, the image display processing time (1/30 second) of one frame displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 by the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 and the LCD driving circuit 167 is equal to each other.

  It should be noted that during the big hit variation display pre-processing period, when the CPU 140 is executing the big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734), an interrupt signal is received from the VDP 143, and the processing is interrupted (step S742 processing). In the next free time (big hit effect image data preprocessing), the processing is resumed from the continuation of the interrupted processing, and this is repeated during the big hit variation display preprocessing period. When the big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734) is completed during the big hit variation display pre-processing period, the CPU 140 executes nothing in the subsequent big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734). do not do.

Next, display control processing executed by the VDP 143 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing a VDP display control process executed by the VDP 143. Immediately after the power is turned on, the VDP 143 performs initialization processing of the VRAM 144 and the like in the processing of step S802, and proceeds to the processing of step S804. Here, the CPU 140 proceeds to step S728 related to the calculation result of the image data and the drawing command described above. It is determined whether or not a control signal output is received. If the control signal is not received from CPU 140 (NO in step S804), the control waits until the control signal is received, and if it is determined that the control signal is received from CPU 140 (step S804). YES in the process of S804
), The VDP 143 proceeds to the process of step S806.

  When the process proceeds to step S806, the VDP 143 reads out image data that is compatible from the character ROM 145 based on the received control signal. Based on the above, image data for displaying the next one frame image on the image display unit 30 or the image display unit 81 is generated, and the generated image data for display is stored in the VRAM 144. Then, the process proceeds to step S810.

  When the process proceeds to step S810, the VDP 143 is output from the CPU 140 in step S740 as a calculation result of the big hit effect image data in the big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734) or a drawing command. It is determined whether or not a signal has been received. If the control signal related to the big hit effect image data pre-processing from the CPU 140 has not been received (NO in the process of step S810), the VDP 143 proceeds to the process of step S816. On the other hand, if it is determined that the control signal related to the big hit effect image data preliminary process is received from CPU 140 (YES in the process of step S810), VDP 143 proceeds to the process of step S812.

  When the process proceeds to step S812, the VDP 143 reads the matching jackpot effect image data from the character ROM 145 based on the received control signal related to the jackpot effect image data pre-processing, similarly to the process of step S806, and the process of step S814. In the same way as the process of step S808, the jackpot game start designation command q is received based on the jackpot effect image data read from the character ROM 145 and the control signal related to the received jackpot effect image data pre-process. The big hit effect image data for displaying the big hit effect image (big hit effect image A, B or C) started in the image display unit 81 is generated, and the generated image data for displaying the big hit effect image is Predetermined memory reserved for preprocessing of VRAM 144 And stores in the area. Then, the process proceeds to step S816.

  When the process proceeds to step S816, the VDP 143 repeatedly executes the processes from step S810 to step S814 until the vertical synchronization signal (every 1/30 seconds) is received from the timing controller 149 (NO in the process of step S816). ). On the other hand, when the vertical synchronization signal (every 1/30 second) is received from the timing controller 149 in the process of step S816 (YES in the process of step S816), the VDP 143 proceeds to the process of step S818.

  Note that the processing of steps S810 to S814 of the VDP 143 corresponds to the processing of steps S736 to S740 of the jackpot effect image data preprocessing (step S734) executed by the CPU 140 described above, and therefore the jackpot variation display preprocessing. If it is a period other than the period and the CPU 140 does not execute the jackpot effect image data pre-processing (step S734), the VDP 143 does not receive a control signal related to the jackpot effect image data pre-processing from the CPU 140, and the step In step S810, NO is always determined. In this case, the processing in step S812 and step S814 are not executed, and the vertical synchronization signal (every 1/30 second) from the timing controller 149 is processed in step S816. Wait until you receive To become. The standby time in the process of step S816 is the free time of the VDP 143.

That is, the VDP 143 displays the big win symbol on the image display unit 30 from the main control circuit 44 during the big hit fluctuation display preprocessing period (when the preprocessing flag F7 is set to 1), that is, the display control circuit 44 Jackpot game from when the variation pattern designation command (variation pattern 22 designation command e, variation pattern 32 designation command g, variation pattern 4 designation command h, variation pattern 52 designation command j or variation pattern 62 designation command l) is received. During the time until the start designation command q is received, the free time generated by itself (the waiting time until the vertical synchronization signal is received from the timing controller 149 in the processing of step S816) is used, and steps S810 to S810 are performed. The process of step S816 is repeatedly executed. Note that the time required to repeatedly execute the processes of steps S810 to S816 is the pre-processing time of the VDP 143 for displaying the big hit effect image on the image display unit 30. In addition, the image data stored in the predetermined storage area reserved for the pre-processing of the VRAM 144 in the process of step S814 is a big hit effect image data group that is not in time for displaying an image of one frame related to the big hit effect image. It is.

  When the process proceeds to step S818, the VDP 143 outputs an interrupt signal to the INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 140, and the process proceeds to step S820 to display the change display related to the recorded image among the image data stored in the VRAM 144. Are copied to the recording VRAM 166 of the image display control circuit 112. The variable display image data copied to the recording VRAM 166 is overwritten in the storage area of the VRAM 166 storing the old variable display image data, and the previous 10 variable display portions are always stored. Yes. Accordingly, the image data of the jackpot effect image stored in the VRAM 144 (including the jackpot effect image data preprocessed during the jackpot variation display preprocessing period) is not stored in the VRAM 166 for recording.

  When the process of step S820 is completed, the VDP 143 proceeds to the LCD drive circuit output process of step S822, and outputs the image data stored in the VRAM 144 to the LCD drive circuit 150 or the LCD drive circuit 167 here. FIG. 37 is a flowchart showing an LCD drive circuit output process executed by the VDP 143. When this process is started, the VDP 143 determines whether or not the current image data developed in the VRAM 144 in the process of step S824, that is, the image data stored in the VRAM 144 in the process of step S808 is the big hit effect image data. If NO in step S824, that is, if the image data stored in the current VRAM 144 is not big hit effect image data, the process proceeds to step S828, and the image data stored in the current VRAM 144 is transferred to the LCD drive circuit 150. Output. On the other hand, if YES in the process of step S824, that is, if the image data stored in the current VRAM 144 is the big hit effect image data, the process proceeds to step S826, and the image data stored in the current VRAM 144 is transferred to the LCD drive circuit 167. Output to. That is, the VDP 143 outputs one frame of image data stored in the VRAM 144 to the LCD drive circuit 150 or the LCD drive circuit 167 every time a vertical synchronization signal is received from the timing controller 149 (every 1/30 seconds).

  Here, the image data stored in the VRAM 144 output to the LCD drive circuit 167 in the process of step S826 is the big hit effect image data related to one frame stored in the process of step S808 and the big hit stored in the process of step S814. Out of the effect image data group, the big hit effect image data (one frame combined with the image data of both frames) that does not meet the big hit effect image data related to one frame stored in the processing of step S808 this time. On the other hand, the image data stored in the VRAM 144 that is output to the LCD drive circuit 150 in the process of step S828 is only image data other than the one-hit jackpot effect image data stored in the process of step S808.

  When the process of step S826 and the process of step S828 are completed, the VDP 143 ends the LCD drive circuit output process (step S822), returns to the VDP display control process, and proceeds to the process of step S804. This VDP display control process is repeated every time a vertical synchronization signal is received from the controller 149 (every 1/30 seconds).

  In the process from step S804 to step S808, one frame image to be displayed next time, that is, a vertical synchronizing signal is inputted, and the LCD driving circuit 150 applies the next 1 to the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6. The processing of the VDP 143 for displaying an image of a frame is performed. The processing time of steps S804 to S808 and steps S818 to S822 is displayed, and the LCD drive circuit 150 displays an image of one frame on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6. This is the processing time executed by the VDP 143 during execution of the processing (1/30 seconds, a time obtained by adding a vertical blanking period and a vertical display period described later).

  That is, in this VDP display control processing, the processing from step S804 to step S822 (processing time + free time or processing time + pre-processing time) executed by the VDP 143 is performed by the LCD driving circuit 150 of the special symbol display device 6. This is equal to one frame of image display processing time (1/30 second) displayed on the image display unit 30 or on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 by the LCD drive circuit 167.

  Note that the jackpot effect image data group stored in step S814 is given an identifier for each jackpot effect image data that does not fit in one frame, and the jackpot effect image is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. LCD drive circuit output processing (step S822) while the display control circuit 111 receives the jackpot game start designation command q from the main control circuit 44 until the jackpot effect image designation command y is received. In the process of step S826, the VDP 143 selects, based on the identifier, the big hit effect image data that does not fit in one frame that matches the big hit effect image data of the next frame stored in the process of step S808. The one-frame jackpot effect image data and the one frame Min late not become a big hit effect image data and outputs to the LCD driving circuit 167.

  Then, based on the image data output in the process of step S828, the LCD drive circuit 150 displays a predetermined image on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 in accordance with the NTSC system, and the process of step S826. In the same manner, the LCD drive circuit 167 applies a predetermined jackpot effect image (a jackpot effect image A, B or C) to the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 in accordance with the NTSC system. ) Is displayed.

  In this way, in the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, the display control circuit 111 receives the jackpot game start designation command x from the main control circuit 44 until the jackpot effect image end designation command x is received. One of the jackpot effect images A, B, and C designated by the jackpot effect image designation command y is displayed, while the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 receives various display control commands. Thus, a predetermined image other than the big hit effect image is always displayed.

Next, image display control processing executed by the CPU 162 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 38 is a flowchart showing an image display control process executed by the CPU 162 of the image display control circuit 112. Immediately after the power is turned on, the CPU 162 initializes each storage area such as the RAM 164 and the VRAM 166 in the process of step S830 and proceeds to the process of step S832, where the CPU 162 hits the LCD drive circuit 167 from the VDP 143. Whether or not effect image data is input, in other words, a period from when the display control circuit 111 receives the big hit game start designation command q from the main control circuit 44 to when the big hit effect image end designation command x is received. Then, the image display control circuit 112 determines whether or not it is the display period of the big hit effect image via the controller 165. If YES in the process of step S832, that is, if the image display control circuit 112 is the display period of the big hit effect image, the CPU 162 proceeds to the process of step S834, invalidates the input from the switching button 35, The process proceeds to step S836, and the output mode of the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 is set to a mode for displaying the big hit effect image preferentially. That is, the CPU 162 disables the input of the television mode, the video mode, and the recording mode from the switching button 35 while the big hit effect image data is input from the VDP 143 to the LCD drive circuit 167, and preferentially displays the image display device. The output mode of the 80 image display units 81 is set to the big hit effect image display mode. Accordingly, the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 displays any one of the big hit effect images A, B, and C designated by the big hit effect image designation command y while the big hit effect image display mode is set. It will be.

  On the other hand, if NO in the process of step S832, that is, if the image display control circuit 112 is not in the display period of the big hit effect image, the CPU 162 proceeds to the process of step S838, and the player in the process of step S852 described later. It is determined whether or not the input of the switching button 35 based on the selection is in the television mode. If YES in the process of step S838, that is, if the input from the switching button 35 is in the television mode, the CPU 162 proceeds to the process of step S840 and outputs the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. Set the mode to TV mode. Accordingly, a television image is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 while the switching button 35 is set to the television mode (however, when the display unit for the big hit effect image is not displayed).

  On the other hand, if NO in the process of step S838, that is, if the input from the switching button 35 is not in the TV mode, the CPU 162 proceeds to the process of step S842 and the player in the process of step S852 described later. It is determined whether or not the input of the switching button 35 based on the selection is in the video mode. If YES in step S842, that is, if the input from the switching button 35 is in the video mode, the CPU 162 proceeds to step S844 and outputs the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. Set the mode to video mode. Therefore, a video image is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 while the switching button 35 is set to the video mode (however, it is not the display period of the big hit effect image).

  On the other hand, if NO in the process of step S842, that is, if the input from the switching button 35 is not in the video mode, the CPU 162 proceeds to the process of step S846. In this case, in step S852 described later. Since the input of the switching button 35 based on the player's selection in the process is in the recording mode, the output mode of the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 is set to the recording mode. Therefore, a playback image related to recording is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 while the switching button 35 is set to the recording mode (however, it is not the display period of the big hit effect image). .

  Note that in the processing of step S840, step S844, and step S846, sound and sound effects corresponding to the image displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 are output to the headset 31 via the amplifier 88. . Accordingly, the player can use the headset 31 to display the image display device 80 separately from the sound effect output from the speaker 113 in response to an image such as a variable display displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6. It is possible to listen to sound and sound effects corresponding to the image displayed on the image display unit 81. Further, when the big hit effect image is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 in the process of step S836, the sound effect corresponding to the big hit effect image is output from the speaker 113. In this case, The sound effect corresponding to the jackpot effect image may also be output to the headset 31.

When the process of step S836, step S840, step S844, or step S846 is completed, the CPU 162 proceeds to the process of step S848 and the voice control circuit 38.
Sound effect data, that is, the same sound effect data as the sound effect output from the speaker 113 corresponding to the image such as the fluctuation display currently displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 is received. If the sound effect data is received from the sound control circuit 38 (YES in the process of step S848), the CPU 162 proceeds to the process of step S850 and receives it. After the sound effect data from the sound control circuit 38 is stored in the RAM 164, the process proceeds to step S852. The sound effect data stored in the RAM 164 is the variable display image data stored in the VRAM 166 for recording by the VDP 143 in the process of step S820 of the VDP display control process (FIG. 36) (the previous 10 times). Image data corresponding to variable display). On the other hand, when the sound effect data is not received from the sound control circuit 38 (NO in the process of step S848), the CPU 162 directly proceeds to the process of step S852. The signal received from the voice control circuit 38 in the process of step S848 is sound effect data output in the process of step S357 of the special symbol variation display process (FIG. 25).

  In step S852, the CPU 162 executes the input operation process shown in FIG. FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing the input operation process executed by the CPU 162. When this process is started, the CPU 162 first executes a volume input process in the process of step S854. This volume input process corresponds to a television image, a video image, or a recorded image displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 in the process of step S840, step S844, or step S846 based on the signal from the volume knob 33. The volume of the headset 31 to be adjusted is adjusted.

  Next, when proceeding to the process of step S856, the CPU 162 executes a channel input process. In this channel input process, the channel of the television image displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 is switched in the process of step S840 based on the signal from the channel key 34.

  Next, when proceeding to the process of step S858, the CPU 162 executes a switching button input process. This switching button input process is based on the signal from the switching button 35, and the television image, video image or recorded image displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 in the process of step S840, step S844 or step S846. Switch.

  Next, when proceeding to the process of step S860, the CPU 162 executes a save button input process. This save button input process is based on the signal from the save button 70 that is appropriately operated by the player, and the change display desired by the player is selected from the 10 change displays and sound effects stored in the VRAM 166 and RAM 164. The image data and sound effects are stored in the storage area for storage in the VRAM 166 and RAM 164.

  Next, when proceeding to the process of step S862, the CPU 162 executes a playback button input process. In this playback button input process, the playback image related to the recording and the sound effect associated with the image recorded in step S846 based on the signal from the playback button 71 are sent to the image display unit 81 and the headset 31 of the image display device 80. Reproduce. In other words, the latest 10 fluctuation display images stored in the VRAM 166 and RAM 164 and the sound effect accompanying the image, or the player operates the save button 70 in the process of step S860 to save the VRAM 166 and RAM 164. Either the variable display image stored in the storage area and the sound effect accompanying the image are reproduced on the image display unit 81 and the headset 31 of the image display device 80.

Next, when proceeding to the process of step S864, the CPU 162 executes a feed button input process. In the feed button input process, the playback image related to the recording played back in the process of step S862 and the sound effect associated with the image are fast-forwarded based on a signal from the feed button 72 appropriately operated by the player.

  Next, when proceeding to the process of step S868, the CPU 162 executes a return button input process. In this return button input process, the playback image related to the recording played back in the process of step S862 and the sound effect accompanying the image are rewound based on the signal from the return button 73 appropriately operated by the player.

  Next, when the process proceeds to step S870, the CPU 162 executes stop button input processing. In this stop button input process, the playback image related to the recording being played back in the process of step S862 and the sound effect associated with the image are stopped based on a signal from the stop button 74 appropriately operated by the player.

  Next, when proceeding to the processing of step S872, the CPU 162 executes pause button input processing. This pause button input process is based on a signal from the pause button 75 that is appropriately operated by the player to reproduce the playback image related to the recording being played back in the process of step S862 and the sound effect accompanying the image. Stop or resume.

  When the process of step S872 is completed, the CPU 162 ends this input operation process (step S852), returns to the image display control process, and proceeds to the process of step S873. In step S873, the CPU 162 determines whether an interrupt signal from the controller 165 has been received. The interrupt signal from the controller 165 is input to the INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 162 in synchronization every time a vertical synchronization signal is input from the timing controller 149 to the LCD drive circuit 167 (every 1/30 seconds). ). If NO in step S873, that is, if it is determined that an interrupt signal from the controller 165 has not been received, the process proceeds to step S848, and the interrupt signal from the controller 165 is received thereafter. Until then, the processing of step S848 to step S873 is repeated. On the other hand, if NO in step S873, that is, if it is determined that the interrupt signal from the controller 165 is received, the CPU 162 proceeds to step S832, and thereafter the interrupt signal from the controller 16 is received. This image display control process (the processes in steps S832 to S873) is repeated every time (1/30 seconds) is received.

  In other words, in this image display control process, the processes from step S832 to step S873 executed by the CPU 162 are one frame of image display processing time (displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 by the LCD drive circuit 167) ( 1/30 seconds). Therefore, in the input operation process (FIG. 39) in step S852, the volume knob 33, the channel key 34, the switching button 35, the save button 70, the play button 71, and the send button are input via the input buffer 161 during the current image display control process. 72, the signal input to the CPU 162 from the return button 73, the stop button 74 or the pause button 75 is temporarily stored in the predetermined storage area of the RAM 164 until the CPU 162 receives an interrupt signal from the next controller 16. In the next image display control process, the CPU 162 reads out these input signals stored and held in the RAM 164, so that the process based on these input signals is reflected in the process of step S840, step S844 or step S846. , Based on this reflected processing Image, video image, or recording (playback) image is to be displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80.

  Next, display control processing executed by the display control circuit 111 and the image control circuit 112 along a specific game flow will be described with reference to FIGS. 40 to 50. First, referring to FIG. 43, a case where a big hit is not won will be described. FIG. 43 is a transition diagram of a display control command when a big hit is not made.

  When the gaming machine 1 is powered on, a special symbol initial designation command a signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 (FIG. 7, step S10), and the left symbol display portion 8 of the special symbol display device 6 is displayed. In the middle symbol display unit 9 and the right symbol display unit 10, a predetermined symbol, for example, “453” is displayed as a special symbol (left special symbol, middle special symbol, right special symbol). Then, when a predetermined time TS (60 seconds) has elapsed since the input of the special symbol initial designation command a signal, the customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal is inputted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 (FIG. 7, step S10), a customer waiting demonstration image for displaying the advertisement of the gaming machine 1 and game contents as a moving image is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6.

  Then, by operating the player's hitting operation handle 2, the hitting ball launching device 43 launches the game ball to the game area 5 on the game board 21, so that the start waiting prize is received after the customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal is inputted. A game-waiting demonstration image is displayed before a predetermined time TS (60 seconds) elapses after a game ball is won in the mouth 11 (after an unspecified time TD has elapsed) or a special symbol initial designation command a signal is input. If a game ball is won at the start winning opening 11 before being played, and it is decided to display the symbol that is not a big hit on the image display unit 30 based on the winning game ball (FIG. 20, step S344). From the control circuit 44, the fluctuation pattern 1 designation command c, the fluctuation pattern 21 designation command d, the fluctuation pattern 31 designation command f, the fluctuation pattern Any variation pattern designation command signal down 51 specifying command i or variation pattern 61 specified command k is input to the display control circuit 111 (FIG. 25, step S363, step S365 or step S366).

  When the variation pattern designation command signal is input, the display control circuit 111 displays the diagram on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 of the special symbol display device 6 based on a predetermined variation pattern. As shown in 46 (A), the variable display (scroll display) of special symbols (left special symbol, middle special symbol, right special symbol) is started. 46A is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 showing a state in which the left special symbol, the middle special symbol, and the right special symbol are scroll-displayed in the vertical direction. When a variation pattern designation command signal is input to the display control circuit 111, the main control circuit 44 determines and displays the special symbols (left special symbol, middle special symbol, and right special symbol) that are variably displayed. The special symbol (stop symbol) determined in the special symbol determination process (FIG. 21, step S349, step S351 or step S352) is executed for the display control circuit 111. Designation of a special symbol (stop symbol) for the display control circuit 111 is performed as follows.

  In other words, the display control circuit 111 receives the left special symbol designation command m signal when a predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the input of the variation pattern designation command signal, and the left special symbol displayed on the left symbol display unit 8 is displayed. Designated (FIG. 25, step S368), the right special symbol designation command n signal is inputted and displayed on the right symbol display unit 10 when a predetermined time T2 has elapsed since the left special symbol designation command m signal was inputted and transmitted. The right special symbol is designated (FIG. 25, step S369), and when a predetermined time T3 elapses after the right special symbol designation command n signal is inputted, the middle special symbol designation command o signal is inputted and the middle symbol display unit 9 Special symbol change time TH (normal time) after the special symbol to be displayed is designated (FIG. 25, step S370) and the fluctuation pattern designation command signal is inputted. All symbols stop designation command p signal is input when the time of ~ 42 seconds, time reduction processing time of 2 to 37 seconds), and the above designation is made on the left symbol display portion 8, the middle symbol display portion 9, and the right symbol display portion 10. The left special symbol, middle special symbol, and right special symbol are stopped and displayed (FIG. 24, step S372). Thus, a special symbol such as “835” is stopped and displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 of the special symbol display device 6, for example.

When the all symbol stop designation command p signal is input, the display control circuit 111 causes the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 to stop at the left special symbol, the middle special symbol, and the right special symbol. To confirm the left special symbol, the middle special symbol, and the right special symbol for a predetermined period of time (2 seconds) and maintaining a complete stop (FIG. 24, step S373). As a result, the special symbol “835” is fixedly displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 of the special symbol display device 6.

  The above display control command signal, that is, special symbol initial designation command a signal, customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal, variation pattern designation command signal (variation pattern 1 designation command c, variation pattern 21 designation command d, variation pattern 31 designation command f, variation pattern designation command signal of variation pattern 51 designation command i or variation pattern 61 designation command k), left special symbol designation command m signal, right special symbol designation command n signal, middle special symbol designation command o signal, and Once all symbols stop designation command p signal is transmitted from the main control circuit 44 and received by the display control circuit 111, once the special symbol starts to fluctuate until it is displayed after being stopped, it is not a big hit. Each symbol table of the special symbol display device 6 is a variable display (scroll display) Displayed by parts 8, 9, 10. It should be noted that the image of the variable display from when the fluctuation pattern designation command signal is input to the display control circuit 111 from the main control circuit 44 until the all symbol stop designation command p signal is issued (in FIG. 43, described as symbol fluctuation). Are automatically memorized (the last 10 fluctuation displays, FIG. 36, step S820).

  Then, the special symbol variation display (scroll display) displayed on the special symbol display device 6 is displayed in a predetermined variation pattern based on the variation pattern designation command signal, and at the start of variation, each symbol display section 8. , 9 and 10 are performed simultaneously, and when the fluctuation is stopped, the left symbol display unit 8 is first stopped, then the right symbol display unit 10 is stopped, and finally the middle symbol display unit 9 is stopped. Yes.

  In addition, the aspect until each symbol display part 8,9,10 stops from a fluctuation | variation start may be other than above, and various aspects can be considered. For example, a time difference may be provided when each of the symbol display units 8, 9, and 10 starts changing, or may be stopped simultaneously when each of the symbol display units 8, 9, and 10 stops changing. Further, the order in which the symbol display units 8, 9, and 10 start changing may be changed, or the order in which the symbol display units 8, 9, and 10 stop changing may be changed.

  When the left special symbol, the middle special symbol, and the right special symbol are confirmed and displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 of the special symbol display device 6, there is a shift in the current variation display result. If it is confirmed and there is no above-described reserved storage (NO in step S314 in FIG. 19), the display control circuit 111 maintains the display of the special symbol confirmed in each symbol display section 8, 9, and 10. When a predetermined time TS (60 seconds) elapses while maintaining the display of the confirmed special symbol, a customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111. Performs a display control process similar to that described above. Further, if a game ball wins the start winning opening 11 before the predetermined time TS (60 seconds) has passed while maintaining the display of the confirmed special symbol, the main control is performed without inputting the customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal. A variation pattern designation command signal is input from the circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, and the display control circuit 111 executes display control processing similar to the above.

  On the other hand, if there is the above-described hold storage (YES in step S314 in FIG. 19), the variation pattern designation command signal is immediately input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111. The display control process similar to the above is executed.

Here, referring to FIG. 40, the CPU 140 and V related to the display control processing executed by the display control circuit 111 during the transition of the display control command in the case where the big hit shown in FIG.
The image processing of DP143 will be described. FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram for describing image processing executed by the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 in one frame.

  In FIG. 40, 1/30 second (time of one frame) is a period in which a vertical synchronizing signal is input from the timing controller 149 to the LCD driving circuit 150 and the LCD driving circuit 167, and the LCD driving circuit 150 has a special symbol. This is a processing time for the LCD driving circuit 167 to display an image of one frame on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 on the image display unit 30 of the display device 6, and this one frame time (1/30 second). ) Is composed of a vertical blanking period and a vertical display period. The vertical blanking period is a period (vertical blanking period) in which a vertical blanking that occurs when a vertical synchronizing signal is input to the LCD driving circuit 150 and the LCD driving circuit 167, and in this period, The LCD drive circuit 150 and the LCD drive circuit 167 do not rewrite the image of one frame displayed on the image display units 30 and 81. The vertical display period is a period from the end of the vertical blanking period to the input of the next vertical synchronization signal, and the horizontal synchronization signal from the timing controller 149 and the LCD drive circuit output in the VDP display control process. Based on one frame of image data (one frame of image data stored in the VRAM 144 in the process of step S808) input in the process of step S826 or step S828 of the process (FIG. 37), the LCD drive circuit 150 and the LCD This is a period in which the drive circuit 167 rewrites the image of one frame and displays the image on the image display unit 30. Note that FIG. 40 relates to the transition of the display control command when it is not a big hit, and accordingly, image data based on the display control command is not input to the LCD drive circuit 167.

  The VDP 143 outputs an interrupt signal to the INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 140 in synchronism with the input of the vertical synchronization signal from the timing controller 149, and the VRAM 144 at the time of the previous one frame (1/30 seconds). 1 frame image data stored in the image display control circuit 112 is copied to the recording VRAM 166 and output to the LCD drive circuit 150. Then, a display control command signal from the CPU 140, that is, a special symbol initial designation command a signal, a customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal, a fluctuation pattern 1 designation command c, a fluctuation pattern 21 designation command d, a fluctuation pattern 31 designation command f, a fluctuation pattern One frame related to any of 51 designation command i, fluctuation pattern 61 designation command k, left special symbol designation command m signal, right special symbol designation command n signal, middle special symbol designation command o signal, or all symbol stop designation command p signal By receiving the calculation result of the image data and the control signal as the drawing command, the image data to be read from the character ROM 145 is read and image data for displaying the next one frame image on the image display unit 30 is generated. , This generated image data for display And it stores the data in VRAM144.

  These VDP 143 processes correspond to Step S818, Step S820, Step S822 (Step S828 in FIG. 37), Step S804, Step S806, and Step S808 of the VDP display control process (FIG. 36), that is, VDP 143. When a vertical synchronizing signal is input from the timing controller 149, one frame of image data is processed in such a processing order (steps S818 to S808) in one frame time (1/30 second). The time required for these processes is the processing time indicated by the white arrow in FIG. Therefore, the time obtained by subtracting this processing time from the time of 1 frame (1/30 second) is the free time in 1 frame of VDP 143. This processing time (free time) is different for each frame, and this is due to the amount of image data processed by the VDP 143 being different for each frame. For example, when the VDP 143 performs advanced image processing such as a complicated moving image or a three-dimensional image, the processing time becomes longer, and the idle time becomes shorter than that.

Next, when the interrupt signal from the VDP 143 synchronized with the vertical synchronization signal is input, the CPU 140 decodes the display control command received from the main control circuit 44, and based on the decoded display control command. The control data for performing display control for displaying the next one frame image on the image display unit 30 is read from the ROM 142 to calculate the image data and create the drawing command. The calculation result of the one frame image data and The created drawing command is stored in the RAM 141. Here, the decoded display control command includes a special symbol initial designation command a signal, a customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal, a fluctuation pattern 1 designation command c, a fluctuation pattern 21 designation command d, a fluctuation pattern 31 designation command f, a fluctuation pattern. 51 designation command i, variation pattern 61 designation command k, left special symbol designation command m, right special symbol designation command n, middle special symbol designation command o or all symbol stop designation command p. Then, the calculation result of one frame of image data stored in the RAM 141 and the created drawing command are output to the VDP 143 as control signals.

  These processes of the CPU 140 correspond to steps S712 to S728 of the display main control process (FIG. 34). That is, when the CPU 140 inputs an interrupt signal from the VDP 143, the time of one frame (1 / 30 seconds), one frame of image data is processed in such a processing order (steps S712 to S728), and the time required for these processes is the processing time indicated by the white arrow in FIG. It becomes. Accordingly, the time obtained by subtracting this processing time from the time of 1 frame (1/30 second) is the free time in 1 frame of the CPU 140. Note that this processing time (free time) is different for each frame, and this is because the amount of image data processed by the CPU 140 is different for each frame, like the VDP 143. In FIG. 40, the processing time of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 within one frame time (1/30 second) is represented by one white arrow for convenience, but the processing time of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is actually Are not the same, but have different times.

  As described above, in FIG. 43, an image such as a change display of the special symbol is mainly displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 in connection with the display control command when the big hit is not made ( In FIG. 43, it is described that the normal game image is being displayed). During this time, the player displays the volume knob 33, the channel key 34, the switching button 35, the save button 70, the play button 71, the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, By operating the feed button 72, the return button 73, the stop button 74, or the pause button 75, the player's desired image can be viewed from the television image, video image, or recorded (playback) image (FIG. 43). In TV images, video images, or playback images.) For example, to view a television image, the player operates the switch button 35 to set the output mode of the image display unit 81 and the headset 31 to the television mode, and operates the volume knob 33 and the channel key 34 as appropriate. Can enjoy the desired television image. When the user wants to see a video image, the player selects the video image by operating the switching button 35 to set the output mode of the image display unit 81 and the headset 31 to the video mode and appropriately operating the volume knob 33. Can enjoy. These correspond to the processing from step S838 to step S844 in the image display control processing (FIG. 38) and from step S854 to step S858 in the input operation processing (FIG. 39, step S852).

When the user wants to view a recorded (reproduced) image, he / she operates the switching button 35 to set the output mode of the image display unit 81 and the headset 31 to the record mode, and reproduces 71, forward button 72, return button 73, By appropriately operating the stop button 74 or the pause button 75, the player can enjoy a desired variation display image from the latest ten variations display. Furthermore, the player saves the desired fluctuation display image from the latest ten fluctuation displays so as not to be automatically updated by operating the save button 70, and the saved fluctuation display image is similarly processed. I can enjoy it. 46B shows a state in which the reach action is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 as an example of a recorded (reproduced) image. These correspond to steps S842 and S846 of the image display control process (FIG. 38) and steps S858 to S872 of the input operation process (FIG. 39 and step S852).

  Next, a case where a big hit will be described with reference to FIGS. 44 and 45. FIG. FIG. 44 is a transition diagram 1 of the display control command in the case of a big hit, and FIG. 45 is a transition diagram 2 of the display control command in the case of a big hit. 44 and 45 are in time series.

  First, referring to FIG. 44, when the gaming machine 1 is turned on, a special symbol initial designation command a signal and a customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal are input to the display control circuit 111. Since this is the same as the case of not being a big hit in FIG. 43 described above, description thereof is omitted here.

  Then, by operating the hitting operation handle 2 of the player, the game ball is launched from the hitting device 43 into the game area 5 on the game board 21, whereby the game ball wins the start winning slot 11, and this winning game When it is decided to display the big hit symbol on the image display unit 30 based on the sphere (FIG. 20, step S344), the main control circuit 44 specifies the variation pattern 22 designation command e, the variation pattern 32 designation command g, and the variation pattern 4 designation. A variation pattern designation command signal of command h, variation pattern 52 designation command j or variation pattern 62 designation command l is input to the display control circuit 111 (FIG. 25, step S360 or step S361).

  Further, at the same time as the input of the variation pattern designation command signal, a big hit effect image designation command y signal for designating a big hit effect image to be preferentially displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 from the main control circuit 44 is provided. It is input to the display control circuit 111 (FIG. 26, step S604, step S608 or step S610). Here, as shown in FIG. 46 (B), on the overflow ball display device 60 of the image display device 80, the winning prize opening 11 that will definitely display the jackpot symbol on the image display unit 30 based on the value of the counter H. It is assumed that 26 is displayed at the time when the game ball is won, and the jackpot effect image designated by the jackpot effect image designation command y is the jackpot effect image C having the highest effect.

  When the variation pattern designation command signal and the big hit effect image designation command y signal are input, the display control circuit 111, based on a predetermined reach variation pattern, the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, In the right symbol display unit 10, as shown in FIG. 46A, the variable symbol display (scroll display) of special symbols (left special symbol, middle special symbol, right special symbol) is started. When a variation pattern designation command signal is input to the display control circuit 111, the main control circuit 44 determines and displays the special symbols (left special symbol, middle special symbol, right special symbol) that are variably displayed. Designation of a special symbol (stop symbol) as a jackpot symbol determined in the special symbol determination process (FIG. 21, step S353), left special symbol designation command m signal, right special symbol designation command n signal, middle special symbol designation The display control circuit 111 is executed by outputting a command o signal and an all symbols stop designation command p signal. The designation of the special symbol (stop symbol) for the display control circuit 111 is the same as that in the case of not being a big hit in FIG. 43 described above, and the description thereof is omitted here. However, since the input variation pattern designation command is a display control command in the case of a big hit, the variation display here is performed after reach is established, that is, the left symbol display portion 8 and the right symbol display portion 10. After the same special symbol is stopped, until the special symbol is stopped on the middle symbol display unit 9, an effect image as a predetermined reach action is displayed on the image display unit 30.

Then, when the special pattern fluctuation time TH (13 to 42 seconds for normal time, 8 to 37 seconds for short time processing) has elapsed after the fluctuation pattern designation command signal is inputted, all symbol stop designation command p signals are inputted. The special symbol display device 6 has a special symbol as a big hit symbol such as “666” as shown in FIG. 47 (A), for example, in the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10. Stopped display. The display control circuit 111 receives the jackpot game start designation command q signal after a predetermined time TK (2 seconds) has elapsed since the input of all symbol stop designation command p signal (FIG. 20, step S383). In order to determine the left special symbol, middle special symbol, and right special symbol (big hit symbol) stopped in the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10, the left special symbol, the middle special symbol Then, the right special symbol (big hit symbol) is continuously displayed in a state where it is completely stopped (FIG. 24, step S373). Thereby, the special symbol as a big hit symbol of “666” is fixedly displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 of the special symbol display device 6 (FIG. 47A). ). FIG. 47A is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 when a big hit symbol is displayed. In FIG. 47, 51 is a big hit symbol display unit described later.

  The above display control command signals, that is, special symbol initial designation command a signal, customer waiting demonstration designation command b signal, variation pattern designation command signal (variation pattern 22 designation command e, variation pattern 32 designation command g, variation pattern 4 designation command h, a variation pattern designation command signal of either the variation pattern 52 designation command j or the variation pattern 62 designation command l), a left special symbol designation command m signal, a right special symbol designation command n signal, a middle special symbol designation command o signal, All symbol stop designation command p signal and jackpot game start designation command q signal are transmitted from the main control circuit 44 and received by the display control circuit 111, and after the special symbol starts to change, it is fixedly displayed after being stopped. 1 reach reach display (scroll) Shown) is displayed by the symbol display section 8, 9, 10 of the special symbol display device 6 (the image display unit 30). The main control circuit 44 inputs the change pattern designation command signal and the jackpot effect image designation command y to the display control circuit 111 until the all symbol stop designation command p signal is given (in FIG. As described above, the latest display is automatically memorized in the same manner as in the case of no big hit (FIG. 43). FIG. 36, step S820).

  In this way, in FIG. 44, the display control command in the case of a big hit is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 mainly displaying an image such as a special symbol variation display (reach action). (In FIG. 44, it is indicated that the normal game image is being displayed), but during this time, the player can pick up the volume on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, as in the case where the big hit shown in FIG. 33, a channel key 34, a switch button 35, a save button 70, a play button 71, a feed button 72, a return button 73, a stop button 74, or a pause button 75, by operating a television image, a video image or a recorded (playback) image. The desired image of the player can be viewed from among the images (in FIG. 44, a TV image, a video image or a reproduced image is displayed. Described).

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 44, after the variation pattern designation command signal (the variation pattern 22 designation command e in FIG. 44) is inputted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, the big hit game start designation command q signal is inputted. Until the game is executed (pre-processing period for jackpot variation display, described as pre-processing in FIG. 44), that is, a time obtained by adding a special symbol variation time TH related to reach and a predetermined time TK related to symbol determination (normal time 15) The CPU 140 and the VDP 143 in the display control circuit 111 execute pre-processing for displaying the big hit effect image C on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 (for 44 seconds, 10 to 39 seconds for the short time processing) ( FIG. 34, NO in the process of step S730). That is, the variation pattern 22 designation command e, the variation pattern 32 designation command g, the variation pattern 4 designation command h, the variation pattern 52 designation command j or the variation pattern 62 designation command l starts the pre-processing, and the jackpot game start designation command q Specify the end of preprocessing. This pre-processing is the above-mentioned jackpot effect image data pre-processing (FIG. 35, step S734) in the CPU 140, and the VDP 143 is processing in steps S810 to S816 in the above-mentioned VDP display control processing (FIG. 36).

  Here, with reference to FIG. 41, the image processing of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 related to the display control processing executed by the display control circuit 111 during the pre-processing shown in FIG. 44 (big hit variation display pre-processing period) will be described. FIG. 41 is an explanatory diagram for describing image processing executed by the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 in one frame of the big hit variation display pre-processing period. In FIG. 41, 1/30 seconds (one frame time), vertical blanking period, and vertical display period are the same as those described in the description of FIG. 40, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. .

  Also, the processing time of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is the same as the contents described in the description of FIG. 40, so detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the processing time of the CPU 140 in FIG. The display control commands decoded by the CPU 140 are the variation pattern 22 designation command e, the variation pattern 32 designation command g, the variation pattern 4 designation command h, the variation pattern 52 designation command j, the variation pattern 62 designation command l, and the jackpot effect image designation command. y, left special symbol designation command m, right special symbol designation command n, middle special symbol designation command o, all symbol stop designation command p or jackpot game start designation command q, and the CPU 140 performs the decoded display control. Based on the command for the next time from the ROM 142 to the image display unit 30 And creating a computation and drawing commands of the image data by reading the control data for controlling the display to display the image of the frame, it stores the drawing command calculation results and the creation of image data for one frame in RAM 141. Then, the calculation result of one frame of image data stored in the RAM 141 and the created drawing command are output to the VDP 143 as control signals.

  Therefore, in FIG. 41, the control signals received by the VDP 143 according to the processing time of the VDP 143 are the fluctuation pattern 22 designation command e signal, the fluctuation pattern 32 designation command g signal, the fluctuation pattern 4 designation command h signal, and the fluctuation pattern 52 designation. Command j signal, variation pattern 62 designation command l signal, jackpot effect image designation command y, left special symbol designation command m signal, right special symbol designation command n signal, middle special symbol designation command o signal, all symbol stop designation command p signal Alternatively, it is a control signal as a calculation result of one frame of image data or a drawing command related to any of the jackpot game start designation command q signal, and the VDP 143 receives this control signal, and thereby the image data that is suitable from the character ROM 145 Is read out and the next 1 Generates image data for displaying an image of the frame, it stores the image data for the generated display on VRAM144. Note that the processing time of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is as shown by the white arrows in FIG.

  As described in the explanation of FIG. 40 above, the time obtained by subtracting the processing time of the CPU 140 or VDP 143 from the time of 1 frame (1/30 second) is the free time in one frame of the CPU 140 or VDP 143. However, in FIG. 41 (the big hit variation display pre-processing period, NO in step S730 in FIG. 34), the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 use this idle time to display the big hit effect image C on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. Perform pre-processing for display.

The pre-processing is executed because the jackpot effect image C has the highest effect as described above, and therefore, advanced image processing such as the most complicated moving image or three-dimensional image among the jackpot effect images is used. Therefore, the time for the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 to process one frame of image data for displaying the jackpot effect image C is one frame time (1/30 second) as indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow shown in FIG. This is because it becomes longer and the data processing is not in time. In FIG. 41, the hatched portion of the two-dot chain line arrow indicates that one frame time (1/30 second) of the image data of one frame related to the jackpot effect image C processed by the CPU 140 and the VDP 143. ) Is not in time (hereinafter also simply referred to as “no time”).

  Accordingly, the jackpot variation display pre-processing period, that is, as shown in FIG. 44, after the variation display of the special symbol is started, the variation display is stopped and fixedly displayed (in FIG. In the process of determining the symbol), the processing that does not fit between the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is performed before the big hit effect image C starts to be displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 using the free time of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143. Is pre-processed. In FIG. 41, the pre-processing executed by the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is as indicated by the hatched arrow as a whole, and this pre-processing time is the same as the idle time.

  Here, the amount of data of the pre-processing executed by the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 (the arrow with a hatched line in FIG. 41) is not in time (the hatched line among the two-dot chain line arrows in FIG. 41). (Part) is not consistent with the data volume. In other words, since this pre-processing is performed continuously during the idle time, for example, when the length of the idle time is longer than the time taken to execute a process that does not fit between the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 Therefore, the amount of data for preprocessing is larger than the amount of data for processing that is not in time, so the amount of data for preprocessing executed by the CPU 140 and VDP 143 is, for example, the amount of image data related to processing that is not enough for tens of frames. Become.

  The execution of such pre-processing will be described first from the CPU 140. From the main control circuit 44, the fluctuation pattern designation command signal (fluctuation pattern 22 designation command e signal, fluctuation pattern 32 designation command g signal, fluctuation pattern 4 designation command) related to the big hit. When the h signal, the fluctuation pattern 52 designation command j signal or the fluctuation pattern 62 designation command l signal) is input to the display control circuit 111, the CPU 140 performs a predetermined reach action based on the predetermined reach fluctuation pattern as described above. The big hit effect image data pre-processing as the pre-processing is executed in the free time after processing the image data of one frame for displaying the effect image.

  In this jackpot effect image data pre-processing, since the CPU 140 displays the jackpot effect image C from the ROM 142, the jackpot effect image data that will not be in time for creating an image of one frame (hereinafter also simply referred to as the jackpot effect image data that will not be in time). ), The calculation of the big hit effect image data that does not meet the needs and the creation of the drawing command are performed, and the calculation result of the big hit effect image data that cannot be met in the meantime and the created drawing commands are stored in the RAM 141. The calculation result of the jackpot effect image data that does not fit in the stored time and the created drawing command are output to the VDP 143 as a preprocessing control signal. And CPU140 repeats this big hit effect image data pre-processing until it receives the interruption signal from VDP143. As described above, when the interrupt signal is received from the VDP 143, the CPU 140 once suspends the big hit effect image data pre-processing and resumes the big hit effect image data from the continuation of the process interrupted in the next idle time. Perform pre-processing. Then, the CPU 140 executes the jackpot effect image data pre-processing until the jackpot game start designation command q signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111.

These processes of the CPU 140 correspond to steps S730 and S734 (FIG. 35, steps S736 to S742) of the display main control process (FIG. 34), that is, one frame time in the jackpot variation display pre-processing period. In (1/30 seconds), the time required for the processing of steps S712 to S728 of the display main control processing (FIG. 34) is the processing time of the CPU 140 indicated by the white arrow in FIG. The time required for the processing of step S730 and step S734 (FIG. 35, step S736 to step S742) of FIG. 34 is the pre-processing time of the CPU 140 indicated by the hatched arrow in FIG.

  Next, pre-processing executed by the VDP 143 will be described. As described above, the VDP 143 receives a control signal from the CPU 140, processes one frame of image data for displaying an effect image as a predetermined reach action based on a predetermined reach variation pattern, and stores the processed image data in the VRAM 144. When a pre-processing control signal is further input from the CPU 140 during the idle time, pre-processing for displaying the jackpot effect image C is executed.

  In the pre-processing for displaying the jackpot effect image C, the VDP 143 displays the jackpot effect image C. Therefore, the jackpot effect image data (hereinafter simply referred to as “hit”) that is not in time for displaying an appropriate frame image from the character ROM 145 is displayed. (Also referred to as jackpot effect image data not in time), and when the CPU 140 receives the jackpot game start designation command q, the jackpot effect image C started in the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 is not displayed in time. Big hit effect image data is generated. Then, the VDP 143 sequentially stores the jackpot effect image data that does not fit during the generation in a predetermined storage area reserved for preprocessing of the VRAM 144 until the vertical synchronization signal from the timing controller 149 is received. That is, the predetermined storage area reserved for the pre-processing of the VRAM 144 stores a big hit effect image data group that is not in time for displaying an image of one frame related to the big hit effect image C.

  Thus, when the VDP 143 stores the big hit effect image data that does not fit in this time in the VRAM 144, the VDP 143 stores the big hit effect image data that does not fit in one frame with an identifier of a predetermined number of bits.

  When the VDP 143 receives the vertical synchronization signal from the timing controller 149, the VDP 143 proceeds to the next frame, outputs an interrupt signal to the INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 140, and the time of this one frame (1/30 second) The image data of one frame stored in the VRAM 144 at the beginning of) is copied to the recording VRAM 166 of the image display control circuit 112 and is output to the LCD drive circuit 150. As shown in FIG. 44, after the change display of the special symbol is started, the VRAM 144 is displayed while the change display is stopped and fixedly displayed (in FIG. 44, the symbol is changing and the symbol is being fixed). The big hit effect image data group stored in the predetermined storage area reserved for the pre-processing of the recording VRAM 166 Copied, further it is nor output to the LCD driving circuit 167. That is, the data for the big hit effect image is not stored in the recording VRAM 166, and the big hit effect image data group stored in the VRAM 144 will be described later. When the big hit effect image C is received and displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, it is output to the LCD drive circuit 167 based on the identifier.

These processes of the VDP 143 correspond to the VDP display control process (FIG. 36), that is, the VDP display control process (FIG. 36) during one frame time (1/30 second) in the big hit fluctuation display pre-processing period. ) Of steps S818 to S808 is the processing time of the VDP 143 indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 41, and the time required for the processing of steps S810 to S816 of the VDP display control processing (FIG. 36) is This is the pre-processing time for the VDP 143 indicated by the hatched arrow in FIG. In FIG. 41, as in FIG. 40, the CPU 140 and the VDP 14 within one frame time (1/30 second).
3 processing time, pre-processing time, and time for processing one frame of image data for displaying the jackpot effect image C are represented by one arrow (a white arrow, an arrow with a diagonal line and a two-dot chain line for convenience). The processing time of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143, the pre-processing time, and the time for processing one frame of image data for displaying the big hit effect image C are not actually the same but are different times. It becomes.

  Incidentally, the time during symbol variation shown in FIG. 44, that is, the special symbol variation time TH in the jackpot variation display pre-processing period is the variation time of the special symbol related to reach, and is 13 to 42 seconds in the normal time as described above. In the short time processing, it is 8 to 37 seconds. Therefore, the pre-processing time shown in FIG. 44 is obtained by adding 2 seconds of the predetermined time TK during symbol determination to this special symbol variation time TH, and is 10 seconds in the shortest case. Therefore, in the present embodiment, of the time during the pre-processing, the time for the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 actually related to the pre-processing is determined in advance after the variation pattern designation command signal related to the big hit is input to the display control circuit 111. It is designed at the time of developing the gaming machine 1 so as to be completed in approximately 10 seconds (strictly, a little shorter than 10 seconds). Thereby, in the above-described display main control process, even if it is determined NO in the process of step S730, if the time for completing this actual pre-process has elapsed, the CPU 140 In the subsequent big hit effect image data pre-processing (step S734), nothing is executed, and the pre-processing control signal from the CPU 140 to the VDP 143 is not output.

  Next, in the case of a big hit, the subsequent operation after the big hit game start designation command q signal is input to the display control circuit 111 will be described with reference to FIG. Referring to FIG. 45, when the jackpot game start designation command q signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 displays the image display unit 81 as shown in FIG. In addition, an image (a jackpot effect image C) for notifying the player of the praise for winning the jackpot game and the start of the jackpot game is displayed on the screen of the image display unit 30. That is, the big hit effect image C is started when the big hit game start designation command q signal is input to the display control circuit 111. FIG. 47B is a front view of the image display device 80 showing a state in which the jackpot effect image C at the start of the jackpot game is displayed.

  When the jackpot game start designation command q signal is input, the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 forcibly switches the display of the TV image, video image, or recorded image displayed so far. The big hit effect image C is displayed with priority (FIG. 38, step S836).

  Here, the image processing of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 related to the display control processing executed by the display control circuit 111 when the jackpot effect image C shown in FIG. 45 is displayed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram for describing image processing executed by the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 in one frame. In FIG. 42, 1/30 seconds (one frame time), vertical blanking period, and vertical display period are the same as the contents described in the description of FIGS. 40 and 41 described above. Is omitted.

Also, the processing time of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is the same as the contents described in the description of FIGS. 40 and 41, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. However, in FIG. 42, the processing time of the CPU 140 is omitted. The display control command decoded by the CPU 140 is a jackpot game start designation command q signal, a round display designation command r signal, a count display designation command s signal, a V display designation command u signal, or a jackpot game during the jackpot game. One of the end designation command w signals, and the display control described in FIG. 40 and FIG. 41 from the end of the jackpot game until the end of the display of the jackpot effect image C (indicated as being in the normal game in FIG. 45). Command (see FIGS. 43 and 44) or a jackpot effect image end designation command x signal.

  The CPU 140 and the VDP 143 execute image data processing as described in the description of FIG. 40 based on these display control commands. That is, as shown in FIG. 42, when the big hit effect image C is displayed, the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 are configured not to execute the pre-process as in FIG. 40, but are different from FIG. The point is that the processing time of one frame of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is almost 1/30 seconds (time of one frame), and there is almost no free time. This is because during the display period of the jackpot effect image C, the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 display the jackpot effect image C on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 mainly based on the input of the jackpot game start designation command q signal. As shown in FIG. 41, the image data is processed by the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 from one frame of image data related to the original jackpot effect image C. This is because the image data relating to the processing not in time for (1/30 seconds) is omitted. In other words, the processing time of the CPU 140 and VDP 143 when displaying the big hit effect image C is designed in advance to be close to the time of 1 frame (1/30 second). Note that the processing time of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is as shown by the white arrows in FIG.

  When the VDP 143 receives the vertical synchronization signal from the timing controller 149, the VDP 143 shifts to the next frame, outputs an interrupt signal to the INT terminal (not shown) of the CPU 140, and receives a control signal from the CPU 140 (pre-processing control signal). 1 frame image data stored in the VRAM 144 based on the image data relating to the jackpot effect image C processed this time without copying to the recording VRAM 166 during the jackpot game, and in advance based on the identifier. The processed image data related to the jackpot effect image C is output to the LCD drive circuit 167 (FIG. 37, step S826), while the image data related to the jackpot information described later is output to the LCD drive circuit 150 (FIG. 37, step S826). S828). Thus, during the big hit game, the big hit effect image C is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, while the big hit information described later is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6. The In addition, after the big hit game is completed among the image data of one frame stored in the VRAM 144, the image data related to the big hit effect image C processed this time, the image data related to the big hit effect image C preprocessed based on the identifier, Is output to the LCD drive circuit 167, while image data (for example, image data of variable display, etc.) based on the display control commands (see FIGS. 43 and 44) described in FIGS. 40 and 41 is applied to the LCD drive circuit. To 150. In this case, the fluctuation display image data is copied to the recording VRAM 166 (FIG. 36, step S820). Thus, until the display of the big hit effect image C is ended after the big hit game is ended, the big hit effect image C is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, while the special symbol display device 6 is displayed. The image display unit 30 displays a special symbol variation display or the like.

Returning to FIG. 45, when an interval time TB (10 seconds) at the start of the jackpot game has elapsed since the jackpot game start designation command q signal was input, a round display designation command r signal is sent from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111. The first round is started (FIG. 28, step S393), and the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 changes to the effect image at the start of the big hit game in the big hit effect image C, and the story has a high effect effect. On the other hand, on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6, a big hit symbol display unit 51, a round display unit 54, a count display unit 55, and a V display unit 56, which will be described later, are displayed. Appears and an attacker as a special winning opening 7 is opened by the solenoid 106. When a game ball wins in the open big winning opening 7 (indicated in FIG. 45 that the big winning opening is open) and the count switch 117 is turned on, a count number to be displayed on the count display section 55 described later is designated. When the count display designation command s signal indicates that the game ball won in the big prize opening 7 passes through the specific area and the continuous winning switch 118 is turned on, the V display designation command for designating “V” display on the V display unit 56 described later. The u signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 (FIG. 28, step S396 and step S398). The count display designation command s signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 every time a game ball wins the big winning opening 7 and the count switch 117 is turned on, and the V display designation command u signal is Only when the ball passes through the specific area and the continuous winning switch 118 is turned on for the first time, it is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111.

  Then, after the winning opening 7 is opened, that is, after the round display designation command r signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, the opening time 30 seconds of the winning prize 7 has elapsed, or When ten game balls are won in the big prize opening 7 (in FIG. 45, it is displayed that the big prize opening is open), the big prize opening 7 is closed by the solenoid 106 and the first round is completed. The closed state continues for 2 seconds (in FIG. 45, it is displayed that the winning prize closing interval time is in progress). Then, at the point in time when the closing interval time of the big winning opening has elapsed, when the game ball that won the big winning opening 7 during the first round passes the specific area and the continuous winning switch 118 is turned on (FIG. 45). 2), the round display designation command r signal is inputted again from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, and the second round is started. Similarly, the round is repeated up to the 16th round in the same manner. It is.

  On the other hand, if the game ball has not passed the specific area during the first to fifteenth rounds or when the sixteenth round is over at the end of the winning prize closing interval time, the big hit game ends. After an interval time of 10 seconds (indicated in FIG. 45, the time when the big hit game ends) is elapsed, a big hit game end designation command w signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111. (FIG. 20, step S410). The time TR from when the round display designation command r signal is inputted to the display control circuit 111 until the big hit game end designation command w signal is inputted is an unspecified time, and the maximum is 522 seconds.

  Here, referring to FIG. 48A, a period from when the big hit game start designation command q signal is inputted to the display control circuit 111 from the main control circuit 44 until when the big hit game end designation command w signal is inputted. Next, the jackpot information displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 will be described. FIG. 48A is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 showing a state in which an example of jackpot information is displayed.

  The jackpot symbol displayed on the jackpot symbol display unit 51 is displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 when the jackpot game start designation command q signal is input to the display control circuit 111. In FIG. 48A, “666” is displayed at the lower left corner of the image display unit 30. The jackpot symbol displayed on the jackpot symbol display unit 51 is continuously displayed during the opening of the big winning opening and the closing interval of the big winning opening of each round, and even if the round is changed. This jackpot symbol is not changed.

  The number of rounds displayed on the round display unit 54 is displayed when a round display designation command r signal for designating any of the first to sixteenth rounds corresponding to the counter E is input to the display control circuit 111. In FIG. 48A, “7R” is displayed at the upper left corner of the image display unit 30. The number of rounds displayed on the round display section 54 is continuously displayed during the opening of the big winning opening and the closing interval of the big winning opening of each round, and corresponds to the change of the round. The number of rounds is displayed.

  The count number displayed on the count display unit 55 is displayed when a count display designation command s signal for designating any one of 1 to 10 corresponding to the counter D is input to the display control circuit 111. In FIG. 48A, “8” is displayed at the lower right corner of the image display unit 30. The count number displayed on the count display section 55 is displayed while continuously counting up during the opening of the big winning opening and the closing interval of the big winning opening of each round. Along with this, 0 is displayed.

  The “V” display displayed on the V display unit 56 is displayed when the V display designation command u signal is input to the display control circuit 111. In FIG. A large “V” is displayed at the center of 30. The “V” display displayed on the V display section 56 is from the time when the game ball passes a specific area and the continuous winning switch 118 is turned on during the opening of the big winning opening of each round to the end of the closing interval of the big winning opening. It is displayed continuously, and the display is deleted as the round changes.

  When the end of the big winning opening and the closing time of the big winning opening end, and the end of the big hit game, the display control circuit 111 displays the big win symbol display section 51 and the round display section 54 of the image display section 30. Nothing is displayed on the count display portion 55 and the V display portion 56. Thus, the player recognizes that the big hit game has ended. Note that this is not limiting, and for example, the fact that the big hit game has ended may be displayed on the image display unit 30 by characters, that is, during the big hit game end interval time, What is necessary is just to perform the display which can recognize that the game was complete | finished.

  That is, the jackpot information display is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 as shown in FIG. 48 (A). The jackpot effect image C displayed on the image display unit 81 is displayed completely independently. That is, the jackpot effect image C having a high stage effect and narrative or continuity is the period of the jackpot game from when the jackpot game start designation command q signal is inputted until the jackpot game end designation command w signal is inputted (FIG. 45 (TB + TR) is also displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 without being affected by the big hit game at all. However, the player can fully enjoy the jackpot effect image C even during the jackpot game without the story or continuity being lowered. FIG. 48B is a front view of the image display device 80 showing a state in which the jackpot effect image C is displayed during the jackpot game.

  In addition, the value of the counter H is fixed during the jackpot game period, so that the number displayed on the overflow ball display device 60 is not changed even if an overflow ball is generated during the jackpot game period. It has become. Accordingly, the big hit game start designation command q signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, and the big hit effect image C is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 as shown in FIG. At substantially the same time, the number displayed on the overflow ball display device 60 (26 in FIG. 47B) is fixed.

Returning to FIG. 45, when the big hit game end designation command w signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, the main control circuit 44 ends the big hit game and executes normal game processing. In this case, when there is a holding storage during the big hit game, the special symbol display device 6 immediately receives a big hit game end designation command w signal as shown in FIG. The special symbol change display is started. When there is no pending storage during the big hit game, the big hit symbol as shown in FIG. 47 (A) is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 instead of the big hit information display. It has become. Even when the jackpot game end designation command w signal is input, the jackpot effect image C displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 is as shown in FIG. 49 (B). Regardless of this, it will continue to be displayed. Accordingly, the player can continue to enjoy the jackpot effect image C even after the jackpot game is over.

  49A is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 showing a state in which the special symbol is variably displayed (reach state) as an example of the normal game image after the big hit game is ended. 49 (B) is a front view of the image display device 80 showing a state in which the jackpot effect image C is displayed when the jackpot game ends. Further, the counter H is reset almost simultaneously with the input of the big hit game end designation command w signal (FIG. 28, step S408). Therefore, the display number of the overflow ball display device 60 is as shown in FIG. 49 (B). 0.

  As described above, in FIG. 45, the main control circuit 44 ends the big hit game and executes the normal game process substantially simultaneously with the input of the big hit game end designation command w signal. However, this is a case where the big hit game with the even-numbered big-bottle symbol “666” (usually big-hit symbol) is finished, and the big-hit game with the specific big-hit design where the big-hit symbol becomes an odd-numbered double-hit symbol If this is the case, the game is executed by the time-saving process (FIG. 29, step S412) instead of the normal game process. When the main control circuit 44 executes the game by the time-saving process, when the big hit game end designation command w signal is input, the background color of the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 (in the normal game process) For example, blue) displays a background color (for example, red) different from the normal game process in order to make the player recognize the time-saving process. Further, in any of the normal game process or the time-saving process, the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 has a display control command in the case where the big hit shown in FIG. In accordance with the transition of the display control command in the case of the big hit shown in 45, the variation of the special symbol is displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 45, when the unspecified time TN elapses after the jackpot game end designation command w signal is input, the jackpot effect image C is completed and the jackpot effect image C is displayed as shown in FIG. After that, the big hit effect image end designation command x signal is inputted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 (FIG. 20, step S432), and thereby, the big hit effect image is displayed in the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. Instead of C, the display is switched to one of the television image, video image or recorded image desired by the player. In this case, when the player does not operate the switching button 35, the mode before the big hit effect image C is displayed is given priority.

  On the other hand, the image of the normal game is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 as shown in FIG. 50A regardless of the input of the big hit effect image end designation command x signal. FIG. 50A is a front view of the special symbol display device 6 showing a state in which the special symbol is scrolled up and down as an example of the normal game when the big hit effect image C ends. FIG. 50B is a front view of the image display device 80 showing an image when the big hit effect image C is completed. Also, the jackpot effect image C displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 of FIG. 50B is a predetermined time (immediately before the jackpot effect image end designation command x signal is input to the display control circuit 111). For example, 5 seconds) is displayed. In FIG. 50B, the number displayed on the overflow ball display device 60 is two.

That is, the big hit effect image C is started when the big hit game start designation command q signal is input to the display control circuit 111, and a predetermined time (TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds) has elapsed since the input of the game start designation command q signal. Until the jackpot effect image end designation command x signal is input, the image display unit of the image display device 80 is completed to the end without being affected by the jackpot game without deteriorating its narrative or continuity. 81 is preferentially displayed. Therefore, when the player wins the big hit game, the player can view the big hit effect image C having a high effect of the game up to the final completion regardless of the big hit game.

  Here, the unspecified time TN is obtained by the formula 532- (TB + TR). However, when the unspecified time TR is the longest 522 seconds, that is, the player has 30 seconds as the game time in all 16 rounds. Is spent, the unspecified time TN is 0 seconds. In this case, the main control circuit 44 sends the big hit game end designation command w signal and the big hit effect to the display control circuit 111 when the big hit game ends. The image end designation command x signal is input simultaneously.

  After the jackpot effect image end designation command x signal is input, the display control command when the big hit is not shown in FIG. 43 or the display control when the big hit is shown in FIGS. 44 and 45. The predetermined image is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 or the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 in the same manner according to the transition of the command.

  By the way, when the big hit effect image C is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, that is, after the big hit game end designation command w signal is inputted from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111, the big hit effect image ends. It is also conceivable that a jackpot symbol may be confirmed and displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 during an unspecified time TN until the designation command x signal is input. In such a case, when the jackpot symbol is confirmed and displayed, the jackpot game start designation command q signal is input to the display control circuit 111 and displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. The big hit effect image C may be interrupted, and the big hit effect image designated by the big hit effect image designation command y input this time, that is, any one of the big hit effect images A, B, C may be displayed. Further, the following may be performed. That is, when the big hit symbol is confirmed and displayed, the fluctuation pattern designation command input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 is a display control command for the big hit, ie, the fluctuation pattern 22 designation command e. Since the variation pattern designation command signal is one of the pattern 32 designation command g, the variation pattern 4 designation command h, the variation pattern 52 designation command j, or the variation pattern 62 designation command l, any variation pattern designation command which is a big hit. At the time when the signal is inputted, the displayed big hit effect image C is interrupted in the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 in the same manner as when the big hit game start designation command q signal is inputted. The jackpot effect image input this time when the jackpot game start designation command q signal is input Big hit effect image constant command y designates, namely the big hit effect image A based on the counter H, B, may be displayed one of C.

  That is, at the time when any of the variation pattern designation command signals to be a big hit is input, the display of the big hit effect image C is interrupted without being displayed until the final completion. In this way, the jackpot effect image C is temporarily interrupted, but the player can newly see any one of the jackpot effect images A, B, and C from the beginning to the last completed position. When the effect image C is interrupted, it can be convinced that the result of the change display of the special symbol this time will be a big hit, that is, the interruption of the big hit effect image C will be a big hit notice. The preference will be improved. This also reduces the load on the image processing of the CPU 140 and VDP 143.

In this way, in FIG. 45, the display control command in the case of a big hit is displayed, and the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 mainly displays an image such as the big hit information related to the big hit game. (In FIG. 45, it is described that the jackpot symbol, the number of rounds, the number of counts, and V is being displayed). During this time, the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 has a jackpot effect image C with a high effect.
Is displayed with priority over a television image, a video image, or a recorded (reproduced) image up to the last completion regardless of the jackpot game (denoted that the jackpot effect image is being displayed in FIG. 45). 44 and 45, the jackpot effect image displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 has been described by taking C as an example. However, even if the jackpot effect image is A or B, According to the above, it is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. However, since the big hit effect image A or B has a lower effect than the big hit effect image C, the pre-processing time related to the big hit effect image A or B of the CPU 140 and VDP 143 is also correspondingly larger than the big hit effect image C. Shorter.

  As described above, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, once the player has won the big hit game, the big hit effect image with high production effect and narrative characteristics is always required regardless of the big hit game. It can be seen to the last complete place, and furthermore, this jackpot effect image is never interrupted due to overlapping information display related to the jackpot game, and the story or continuity is never lowered As a result, the effect of the big hit effect image is further enhanced, the game is improved, and the player can sufficiently enjoy the big hit effect image.

  The jackpot effect image is selected from a plurality of types of jackpot effect images having different effect effects depending on the number of overflow balls, and the effect of the effect is proportional to the increase in the number of overflow balls. Since a high jackpot effect image is selected, therefore, the player can use a so-called hitting (hit ball launching device) to prevent an overflow ball from being generated so that a jackpot effect image with a high effect is displayed. 43 is not intermittently fired by operating 43), and as a result, the game taste is improved and the operating rate of the gaming machine 1 is improved.

  In addition, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the image display device 80 is provided separately from the special symbol display device 6, and the big hit effect image is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. In addition, since any one of the TV image, the video image, and the recorded image is displayed according to the player's desire, the player continues to display the monotonous special symbol on the special symbol display device 6. Even if it is etc., it can fully enjoy by seeing these images. In addition, since the VDP 143 is configured to be shared by the special symbol display device 6 and the image display device 80, the parts cost of the gaming machine 1 can be reduced.

  In particular, the player can store the desired variation display image, for example, the variation display image related to the reach, from the recorded image by appropriately operating the save button 70. Can be reproduced and enjoyed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, so that the taste of the gaming machine 1 is further improved, and a big hit effect image is displayed on the image display unit 81 when a big hit occurs during the game. Since it is displayed preferentially, the player does not miss the jackpot effect image with high effect.

Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the variation pattern when the display control circuit 111 confirms and displays the big symbol on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 from the main control circuit 44. The jackpot game start designation command q is received from the time when the designation command (the fluctuation pattern 22 designation command e, the fluctuation pattern 32 designation command g, the fluctuation pattern 4 designation command h, the fluctuation pattern 52 designation command j or the fluctuation pattern 62 designation command l) is received. The CPU 140 or the VDP 143 uses the free time generated by itself during the time until the reception, that is, during the big hit fluctuation display pre-processing period, to make or display one frame image related to the big hit effect image. Since the data processing part that has been set in advance is processed in advance, Even when a big hit effect image that requires advanced image processing such as a rough moving image or a three-dimensional image is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, the processing capability of the CPU 140 or VDP 143 provided in the display control circuit 111 is reduced. Therefore, the display control circuit 111 is equipped with a high-performance CPU 140 and VDP 143, which increases the data processing speed and increases the component cost of the display control circuit 111. Can be suppressed. That is, it is possible to enhance the effect of the big hit effect image while suppressing the cost of parts of the gaming machine 1.

  In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the image display device 80 is provided separately from the special symbol display device 6, and the special display variation display or the like is provided on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. Although the big hit effect image is displayed separately from the image, the image display device 80 may be omitted as follows. That is, when a big hit is made during a game, a big hit effect image is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 according to the above, and when the big hit game is ended while the big hit effect image is displayed. Then, the display area of the image display unit 30 is divided (partitioned) so that a big hit effect image is displayed on one side and an image such as a special symbol variation display is displayed on the other side. In this case, the jackpot information (hit symbol, number of rounds, number of counts, V display, etc.) is not displayed so as to overlap the jackpot effect image, for example, the display area of the image display unit 30 is further divided ( The jackpot information display area may be provided and the jackpot information may be displayed in the jackpot information display area. Furthermore, for the display of television images, video images, and recorded images, the display area of the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 is divided (partitioned) in a similar manner, and a special symbol is displayed on the other side. May be displayed on the other side, and on the other side, a television image, a video image, or a recorded image may be displayed. You may make it display an image in the image display part 30 full of the special symbol display apparatus 6. FIG. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the case where the image display apparatus 80 is provided separately from the special symbol display apparatus 6 is acquired. When a television image, a video image, and a recorded image are displayed on the image display unit 30 by switching to an image such as a special symbol variation display, the television image, the video image, and the recorded image are automatically generated when a reach occurs. It is preferable to switch from the change display to reach display (reach action image). This way, the player never misses the most important reach action.

  It is also possible to display a big hit effect image on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 without omitting the image display device 80. In this case, the display of the image display unit 30 is the same as described above. The area may be divided (divided) to display a jackpot effect image and an image such as a special symbol variation display. However, the jackpot information is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. Also good. In this case, the display area of the image display unit 80 is divided (sectioned) to display the jackpot information in the same manner as described above without displaying the TV image, the video image, and the recorded image so as to overlap. Further, the image may be displayed using a superimpose technique, or a television image, a video image, and a recorded image may be automatically switched and displayed in a full image display unit 81.

In addition, the jackpot effect image is selected from a plurality of types of jackpot effect images A, B, and C having different effect effects depending on the number of overflow balls. Depending on the design, it may be selected, and it may be as follows. That is, the special symbol change time TH related to the reach is 13 to 42 seconds in the normal time and 8 to 37 seconds in the short time processing as described above, so that the big hit effect images A, B, and C are included in this reach. You may make it select according to the special symbol fluctuation time TH concerned. That is, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the actual pre-processing is being performed in 10 seconds obtained by adding 2 seconds of the predetermined time TK during symbol determination to the shortest special symbol variation time TH (8 seconds). Although the time is set in advance, for example, in the reach with a long special symbol variation time TH, the big hit variation display pre-processing period becomes longer than the reach with a short special symbol variation time TH. Prolonged proportionally. Therefore, in a reach with a long special symbol variation time TH, a big hit with a high stage effect using a lot of images that require advanced image processing, such as complex moving images and three-dimensional images, than a reach with a short special symbol variation time TH. An effect image, for example, a jackpot effect image C in this embodiment may be selected. In such a case, a plurality of types of jackpot effect images A, B, and C having different effect effects are displayed with a short effect effect and a longer display time as the effect effect becomes higher. Anyway. For example, in the example of the big hit effect images A, B, and C, the big hit effect image A may be 532 seconds, the big hit effect image B may be 602 seconds, and the big hit effect image C may be 632 seconds. If it does in this way, the interest of a game will increase further and game property will improve.

  In the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 display the jackpot effect image when the variation pattern designation command signal related to the jackpot is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111. However, this may be performed at the time when the big hit effect image designation command y signal is input. Alternatively, a predetermined command signal is input from the main control circuit 44 to the display control circuit 111 when the big hit random number is obtained from the big hit determination random number in step S308 in the start winning opening winning process (FIG. 16, step S300). Thus, the pre-processing may be started, and in this way, the big hit variation display pre-processing period becomes longer, so that the content of the big hit effect image can be made more elaborate.

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the big hit game is ended as described above, the value of the counter H is reset to 0, that is, the display number of the overflow ball display device 60 is reset to 0 (see FIG. 28, step S408), which is not limited, and may be performed, for example, every time a predetermined time elapses or only when the big hit game related to the specific big win symbol ends.

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the big hit game is generated again while the big hit effect image after the big hit game is displayed as described above, the currently displayed big hit effect is displayed. Although the image is interrupted and the jackpot effect image based on the jackpot game generated this time is displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, this is possible without interrupting the currently displayed jackpot effect image. After the display of the big hit effect image is completed, the big hit effect image based on the big hit game generated this time may be displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80.

Note that the video for the big hit effect image includes an animation, a game, a movie, a promotional video for music, a video (movie mail, etc.) shot with a portable device, and the like.
In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, during the big hit variation display pre-processing period, the CPU 140 or the VDP 143 creates a one-frame image related to the big hit effect image using the free time generated by itself. Alternatively, a preset data processing portion that cannot be displayed in time is processed in advance, but this may be performed as follows. In other words, during the big hit variation display pre-processing period, the CPU 140 or the VDP 143 may sequentially process data of one frame related to the big hit effect image using this idle time. For example, the CPU 140 or the VDP 143 processes one frame image related to the jackpot effect image from the beginning to as much as possible or a preset position (for example, a predetermined time) during the jackpot variation display pre-processing period. Thus, when the display time of the big hit effect image comes, the LCD drive circuit 167 displays the preprocessed big hit effect image on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, while the preprocessed big hit effect image is displayed. Processing may be continued from the continuation until the display of the big hit effect image is completed. Even if it does in this way, the effect similar to the case where CPU140 or VDP143 as mentioned above processes beforehand the process which does not meet the time (1/30 second) of 1 frame regarding a big hit effect image is acquired.

  Alternatively, in the character ROM 145, image data that is not in time for creating or displaying an image of one frame related to the jackpot effect image in advance, or a predetermined time or all the time from the beginning of one frame related to the jackpot effect image described above When the image data is stored and when the display time of the big hit effect image comes, the image data for one frame corresponding to the pre-stored image data is copied to the VRAM 144 so that the LCD drive circuit 167 can win the big hit effect. The image may be displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80. In this way, although it is necessary to increase the capacity of the character ROM 145, it is possible to further reduce the component costs of the CPU 140 and the VDP 143. Further, in this case, these image data may be stored in a storage device other than the character ROM 145.

  Note that the pre-processing as described above executed by the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 is not limited to the jackpot effect image, but may be an effect image displayed at the time of reach, for example, the game machine 1 displays the effect image with the CPU 140 or the like. It may be executed when it is known in advance that the processing load of the VDP 143 is large. This can be realized by determining in advance the effect image displayed by the gaming machine 1.

  Further, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, both the CPU 140 and the VDP 143 execute the pre-processing as described above. However, only the CPU 140 may execute the pre-processing. In this case, the data processed by the big hit effect image data calculation process in step S736 and the big hit effect drawing command creation process in step S738 in the big hit effect image data pre-processing (FIG. 34, step S734) is temporarily stored in the RAM 141. In addition, when the display time of the big hit effect image comes, it may be output as a control signal for one frame corresponding to the VDP 143. In this way, although it is necessary to increase the capacity of the RAM 141 and the performance of the VDP 143, the component costs of the CPU 140 and the VRAM 144 can be reduced.

  In the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, as described above, the LCD drive circuits 150 and 167 have been described using video signals conforming to the NTSC system, but this is not limited. For example, the PAL system or A video signal compliant with the SECAM system may be used. The image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 and the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 have been described using an example of a liquid crystal display (LCD). A display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, or the like may be used.

  In this embodiment, the normal symbol display device 18 is composed of 7 segment LEDs. However, this is not limited, and for example, the symbol design device 18 may be composed of a liquid crystal display (LCD) like the special symbol display device 6. In this case, when the normal symbol is won by the normal symbol display device 18, in the same manner as when the special symbol is a big hit by the special symbol display device 6 described above, it conforms to the big hit effect image. The winning effect image may be displayed on the normal symbol display device 18 or the image display device 80. In this case, when displaying a winning effect image having a high effect, a pre-process related to the winning effect image may be executed according to the above.

In the present embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine has been described as an example of the gaming machine 1, but this is not a limitation, and for example, a throttle gaming machine, an arrangement gaming machine, a jean ball gaming machine, a pinball gaming machine, etc. Any gaming machine using a display device that reads image data stored in the device and displays an image based on the read image data on the image display unit may be used. In addition to the above-described game execution modes, for example, a program or data downloaded using a communication line or the like is stored in an internal storage device, or other on a network connected via a communication line or the like. It is possible to execute the program by using the above hardware resources or exchanging data with a device equipped with another computer device via this network.

Next, the main correspondence between the configuration of the claims and the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Claim 1: The gaming device corresponds to the start winning opening (electric tulip) 11, the game ball detecting means corresponds to the starting winning detection sensor 116, and the predetermined display control commands are the display controls shown in FIG. Command a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, u, w, x, y The main control means corresponds to the main control circuit 44, the predetermined symbol corresponds to a special symbol, the image display device corresponds to the special symbol display device 6 and the image display device 80, and the display control means includes a display It corresponds to the control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, the gaming machine corresponds to the gaming machine 1, the special game corresponds to the jackpot game, the special game determination means is the random number of the CPU 102, ROM 103, RAM 104, step S308. Acquisition process, step S344, step S344 The predetermined jackpot symbols correspond to the jackpot symbols “1, 1, 1” to “14, 14, 14”, and the predetermined special effect images are the jackpot effect images A, B, and C. Correspondingly, the special effect image display means receives the display control circuit 111, the image display control circuit 112, the image display device 80, and the jackpot game start designation command q signal until receiving the jackpot effect image end designation command x signal. Corresponds to the display main control process, VDP display control process, and image display control process executed by the CPU 140, VDP 143, and CPU 162 during the predetermined time period TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds, and the predetermined special effect image is used for executing the special game. Regardless of being displayed on the image display device continuously for a preset time, the display control circuit 111 receives the jackpot game start designation command q signal. Predetermined time 532 seconds until it receives a big hit effect image ends specifying command x signals from (TB + TR + TN) jackpot game effect is equivalent to that displayed on the image display device 80.

  Claim 2: The gaming device corresponds to the start winning opening (electric tulip) 11, the game ball detecting means corresponds to the starting winning detection sensor 116, and the predetermined display control commands are the display controls shown in FIG. Command a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, u, w, x, y The main control means corresponds to the main control circuit 44, the predetermined symbol corresponds to the special symbol, the image display device corresponds to the special symbol display device 6 and the image display device 80, and the display control means includes the display It corresponds to the control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, the gaming machine corresponds to the gaming machine 1, the special game corresponds to the jackpot game, the special game determination means is the random number of the CPU 102, ROM 103, RAM 104, step S308. Acquisition processing, processing in step S344, step S The predetermined jackpot symbols correspond to the jackpot symbols “1, 1, 1” to “14, 14, 14”, and the predetermined special effect images are the jackpot effect images A, B, and C. Correspondingly, the special effect image display means receives the display control circuit 111, the image display control circuit 112, the image display device 80, and the jackpot game start designation command q signal until receiving the jackpot effect image end designation command x signal. Corresponds to display main control processing, VDP display control processing, and image display control processing executed by the CPU 140, VDP 143, and CPU 162 during a predetermined time period TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds. Information related to execution of the special game is jackpot information ( The special game information display means is a process of step S393, a process of step S396, It corresponds to the processing of step S398, the special symbol display device 6, the jackpot symbol display unit 51, the round display unit 54, the count display unit 55, and the V display unit 56, and information related to the execution of the special game is overlapped with a predetermined special effect image. Displaying on the image display device so that it does not occur corresponds to displaying the jackpot information on the special symbol display device 6 and displaying the jackpot effect image on the image display device 80.

Claim 3: The display control means corresponds to the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, the special game corresponds to the jackpot game, and the information related to the execution of the special game includes the jackpot information (the jackpot symbol, the number of rounds) , Count number, V display), the image display device corresponds to the special symbol display device 6 and the image display device 80, and the special game information display means includes the processing in step S393, the processing in step S396, and the processing in step S398. It corresponds to processing, special symbol display device 6, jackpot symbol display unit 51, round display unit 54, count display unit 55, V display unit 56, and the predetermined special effect image corresponds to jackpot effect image A, B, C. If the information related to the execution of the special game is displayed on the image display device so as not to overlap the predetermined special effect image, the jackpot information is displayed on the special symbol display device 6, Out image corresponds to displayed on the image display device 80.

  The image display device corresponds to the special symbol display device 6 and the image display device 80, the display control means corresponds to the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, and the special effect image display means The control circuit 111, the image display control circuit 112, the image display device 80, and the reception of the jackpot effect image end designation command x signal after receiving the jackpot game start designation command q signal (predetermined time TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds). The CPU 140, the VDP 143, and the CPU 162 correspond to display main control processing, VDP display control processing, and image display control processing. The device corresponds to the image display device 80, and the other image display device corresponds to the special symbol display device 6.

  Claim 5: The predetermined special effect image corresponds to the jackpot effect image A, B, C, one image display device corresponds to the image display device 80, and the special game determination means includes the CPU 102, the ROM 103, the RAM 104, The random number acquisition process in step S308, the process in step S344, and the process in step S380 correspond to the special game corresponds to the jackpot game, and the other image display device corresponds to the special symbol display device 6, and the predetermined jackpot symbol Corresponds to the jackpot symbols “1, 1, 1” to “14, 14, 14”, and the displayed special special effect image is suspended until the predetermined jackpot symbol is fixedly displayed on the other image display device. After that, displaying a predetermined special effect image relating to the next special game means that “the jackpot game start designation command q signal described above is displayed when the jackpot symbol is confirmed and displayed later in the text”. Is input to the display control circuit 111, the displayed big hit effect image C is interrupted in the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80, and the big hit effect image designation command y input this time is specified. That is, it corresponds to the description that any one of the big hit effect images A, B, and C may be displayed.

  Claim 6: The predetermined special effect image corresponds to the jackpot effect image A, B, C, one image display device corresponds to the image display device 80, and the special game determination means includes the CPU 102, the ROM 103, the RAM 104, Corresponding to the random number acquisition process of step S308, the process of step S344, and the process of step S380, the special game corresponds to the big hit game, and after the displayed special special effect image is displayed, the one image display is continued. The display of the predetermined special effect image related to the next special game on the device is continued after the display of the big hit effect image is terminated without interrupting the currently displayed big hit effect image. In other words, the jackpot effect image based on the jackpot game generated this time may be displayed on the image display unit 81 of the image display device 80 ”. To.

  Claim 7: The display control means corresponds to the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, the other image display apparatus corresponds to the special symbol display apparatus 6, and the recording means performs the processing and display control in step S820. The circuit 111 corresponds to the image display control circuit 112 (VRAM 166, RAM 164), and one image display device corresponds to the image display device 80. , Headset jack 32, volume knob 33, switching button 35, save button 70, play button 71, feed button 72, return button 73, stop button 74, pause button 75, image display device 80, and image display control circuit 112 To do.

  Claim 8: The display control means corresponds to the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, the reception means corresponds to the reception circuit 160, and one image display apparatus corresponds to the image display apparatus 80 and receives The image display means includes the processing in step S840, the processing in step S844, the processing in step S852, the headset 31, the headset jack 32, the volume knob 33, the channel key 34, the switching button 35, the image display device 80, and the image display control circuit. This corresponds to 112.

  Claim 9: The special effect image display means receives the jackpot effect image end designation command x signal after receiving the display control circuit 111, the image display control circuit 112, the image display device 80, the jackpot game start designation command q signal. Corresponds to the display main control processing, VDP display control processing, and image display control processing executed by the CPU 140, VDP 143, and CPU 162 during a predetermined period of time (predetermined time TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds). , B, and C, and one image display device corresponds to the image display device 80. When a predetermined special effect image is displayed on one image display device, the image display device, the television image, or the video image has priority. This display corresponds to the processing in step S834 and the processing in step S836.

  Claim 10: The special game information display means includes the processing in step S393, the processing in step S396, the processing in step S398, the special symbol display device 6, the jackpot symbol display portion 51, the round display portion 54, the count display portion 55, and the V display. The special special effect image corresponds to the jackpot effect images A, B, and C, and the special game information display area corresponds to the big hit symbol display unit 51, the round display unit 54, the count display unit 55, and the V display. The image display device corresponds to the special symbol display device 6 and the image display device 80, the image display unit corresponds to the image display unit 30 and the image display unit 81, and the special game is a jackpot game. Correspondingly, a special game information display area that is divided and displayed in a small size from the predetermined special effect image is formed on the image display unit of the image display device, and the special game information display area is used for executing the special game. The fact that the information is displayed is that the display of “hit information (hit symbol, round number, count number, V display, etc.) in the latter part of the text does not overlap with the jackpot effect image, for example, The display area of the image display unit 30 may be divided (partitioned) to provide a jackpot information display area, and the jackpot information may be displayed in the jackpot information display area.

  Claim 11: The display control means corresponds to the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, the special game corresponds to the jackpot game, and the special effect image display means includes the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112. The CPU 140, VDP 143, and CPU 162 execute during the period from the reception of the jackpot game start designation command q signal to the reception of the jackpot effect image end designation command x signal (predetermined time TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds). Corresponding to display main control processing, VDP display control processing, and image display control processing, the predetermined special effect images correspond to jackpot effect images A, B, and C, and the image display device includes special symbol display device 6 and image display. The image display unit corresponds to the device 80, the image display unit 30 corresponds to the image display unit 81, and the split display unit corresponds to the “big hit” in the latter part of the text. When the big hit game is finished while the big hit effect image is displayed on the image display unit 30 of the special symbol display device 6 and the big hit effect image is displayed, the display area of the image display unit 30 is divided (section). This is equivalent to the description of displaying a big hit effect image on one side and displaying an image such as a special symbol variation display on the other side.

Claim 12: A plurality of types of predetermined special effect images having different effect effects correspond to jackpot effect images A, B, and C, and the special effect image display means includes a display control circuit 111, an image display control circuit 112, and an image display. Device 80, display main control executed by CPU 140, VDP 143, and CPU 162 from the time of receiving jackpot game start designation command q signal to the time of receiving jackpot effect image end designation command x signal (predetermined time TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds) Processing, VDP
The display control process corresponds to the image display control process, and the predetermined game condition corresponds to the process of step S602 and the process of step S606 related to the number of overflow balls. The image display apparatus includes the special symbol display apparatus 6 and the image display apparatus. The selection display means corresponds to the big hit effect image selection processing in step S600.

  Claim 13: The main control means corresponds to the main control circuit 44, the predetermined symbol corresponds to the special symbol, the game ball detection means corresponds to the start winning detection sensor 116, and the storage means corresponds to the counter H. Correspondingly, the selection display means corresponds to the big hit effect image selection processing in step S600, and selects a predetermined special effect image having a high effect in proportion to the increase in the number of invalid balls stored in the storage means. This is equivalent to selecting one of the jackpot effect images A, B, and C shown in FIG. 27 based on the jackpot effect image selection process in step S600.

  Claim 14: The main control means corresponds to the main control circuit 44, and the special game determination means corresponds to the CPU 102, the ROM 103, the RAM 104, the random number acquisition processing in step S308, the processing in step S344, and the processing in step S380. The game corresponds to a jackpot game, the display control means corresponds to the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, and the display control commands are the display control commands a, b, c, d shown in FIG. , E, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, u, w, x, y, and a variation pattern designation command for special games Corresponds to the fluctuation pattern 22 designation command e, the fluctuation pattern 32 designation command g, the fluctuation pattern 4 designation command h, the fluctuation pattern 52 designation command j, and the fluctuation pattern 62 designation command l. The CPU 140, RAM 141, ROM 142, and step S716 correspond to YES processing (display main control processing), and the special effect image display means includes the display control circuit 111, the image display control circuit 112, and the image display device. 80, display main control processing executed by CPU 140, VDP 143, and CPU 162 during the period from the reception of jackpot game start designation command q signal to the reception of jackpot effect image end designation command x signal (predetermined time TB + TR + TN = 532 seconds) , VDP display control processing and image display control processing, predetermined special effect images correspond to jackpot effect images A, B and C, and image display devices correspond to special symbol display device 6 and image display device 80. The special effect image pre-processing means includes CPU 140, RAM 141, ROM 142, VDP. 43, VRAM144, character ROM 145, jackpot effect image data pre-processing in step S734, corresponds to the processing in step S810~ step S814.

  Claim 15: The display control means corresponds to the display control circuit 111 and the image display control circuit 112, the image display apparatus corresponds to the special symbol display apparatus 6 and the image display apparatus 80, the drive means corresponds to the LCD drive circuit 150, Corresponding to the LCD drive circuit 167, the period of a certain period corresponds to the time (1/30 seconds) when the vertical synchronization signal is output from the timing controller 149, the display calculation processing means corresponds to the CPU 140, VDP 143, and special The effect image pre-processing means and the special effect image pre-processing execution means correspond to the CPU 140, the RAM 141, the ROM 142, the VDP 143, the VRAM 144, the character ROM 145, the big hit effect image data pre-processing in step S734, and the processes in steps S810 to S814.

  Claim 16: Special effect image pre-processing execution means corresponds to the CPU 140, RAM 141, ROM 142, VDP 143, VRAM 144, character ROM 145, jackpot effect image data pre-processing of step S734, processing of steps S810 to S814, and display calculation processing The means corresponds to the CPU 140 and the VDP 143, and the processing of image data that is not in time for processing one frame of special effect image data corresponds to the description of FIG. 41 in the text.

1 ... game machine, 2 ... hit control handle,
3 ... Hitting ball guide rail, 4 ... Game area formation rail,
5 ... gaming area, 6 ... special symbol display (LCD),
7 ... Grand prize opening (Attacker), 8 ... Left symbol display section,
9 ... middle symbol display part, 10 ... right symbol display part,
11 ... Starting prize opening (electric tulip), 12 ... Hit ball supply tray,
13 ... Extra ball tray, 14 ... Ordinary prize opening,
15 ... Game effect lamp, 16 ... Out port,
17 ... Glass door frame, 18 ... Normal symbol display device (7-segment LED),
19 ... Normal symbol operation gate, 20 ... Windmill,
21 ... Game board, 22 ... Outer frame,
23 ... inner frame, 25 (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) ... hold LED,
26 (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) ... hold LED,
27 ... One-chip microcomputer, 30 ... Image display unit 31 ... Headset, 32 ... Headset jack,
33 ... Volume knob, 34 ... Channel key,
35 ... Switching button, 37 ... Lamp control circuit,
38 ... voice control circuit, 40 ... payout control circuit,
41 ... Prize ball dispensing device, 42 ... Launch control circuit,
43 ... Hitting ball launcher, 44 ... Main control circuit,
51 ... Big hit symbol display part, 54 ... Round display part,
55 ... count display part, 56 ... V display part,
60 ... Overflow ball display device (7-segment LED), 70 ... Save button,
71 ... Play button, 72 ... Feed button,
73 ... Return button, 74 ... Stop button,
75 ... Pause button, 80 ... Image display device (LCD),
81 ... Image display unit, 85 ... TV tuner,
86: Video device 87: Transmission device
88 ... Amplifier, 100 ... Game machine control device,
101 ... Input circuit, 102 ... CPU,
103 ... ROM, 104 ... RAM,
106 ... Solenoid, 107 ... Solenoid,
109: External information terminal, 110: Output circuit,
111 ... Display control circuit, 112 ... Image display control circuit,
113 ... Speaker, 115 ... Bus, 116 ... Start winning detection sensor,
117 ... Count switch 118 ... Continuous winning switch
119 ... Hitting ball operation handle switch, 120 ... Hitting ball operation stop switch,
121 ... Actuation gate detection sensor, 122 ... Safe ball detection sensor,
123 ... Count switch, 130 ... RAM backup,
131: Test terminal, 140: CPU,
141 ... RAM, 142 ... ROM,
143 ... VDP, 144 ... VRAM,
145 ... Character ROM, 146 ... Input interface,
147 ... reset circuit, 148 ... oscillation circuit,
149 ... Timing controller, 150 ... LCD drive circuit,
160: receiving circuit, 161: input buffer,
162 ... CPU, 163 ... ROM,
164 ... RAM, 165 ... controller,
166 ... VRAM, 167 ... LCD driving circuit,
A ... Counter, B ... Counter,
D ... Counter, E ... Counter,
G ... Counter, H ... Counter,
C1 ... Counter for jackpot determination, C2 ... Counter for left stop symbol determination,
C3: Counter for determining the middle stop symbol, C4: Counter for determining the right stop symbol,
C5: Reach determination counter, C6: Reach design mode determination counter,
C7: Big hit symbol determination counter, C8: Fluctuation pattern determination counter,
C9: Counter for hit determination, C10: Counter for determining out-of-design,
C11: counter for determining the first effect character,
C12: counter for determining the second effect character,
C13: Fluctuation pattern main part group determination counter,
C14: variation pattern main part arrangement counter,
F1 ... Big hit flag, F2 ... Reach flag,
F3 ... Reach mode flag, F4 ... Hit flag,
F7 ... Pre-processing flag, TH ... Special symbol variation time,
t ... Normal symbol variation time, ST ... Starting prize opening time,
T1, T2, T3, TS, TD, TK, TB, TR, TN ... Times a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p , Q, r, s, u, w, x, y ... display control commands

Claims (16)

A gaming device through which game balls can win or pass;
Game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball winning or passing through the game device;
Main control means for transmitting a predetermined display control command signal based on detection of the game ball by the game ball detection means;
A display control means for performing display control for receiving and displaying a predetermined display control command signal transmitted from the main control means to display at least a predetermined symbol in a variable manner on the image display device. Machine,
The main control means includes special game determination means for determining whether or not to generate a special game advantageous to the player based on the detection of the game ball by the game ball detection means,
When the display control means determines that the special game determination means is to generate a special game, a special effect image display for displaying a predetermined special effect image after confirming and displaying a predetermined jackpot symbol on the image display device With means,
The predetermined special effect image displayed by the special effect image display means is displayed on the image display device continuously for a preset time regardless of the execution of the special game. Gaming machine. A gaming device through which game balls can win or pass;
Game ball detecting means for detecting a game ball winning or passing through the game device;
Main control means for transmitting a predetermined display control command signal based on detection of the game ball by the game ball detection means;
A display control means for performing display control for receiving and displaying a predetermined display control command signal transmitted from the main control means to display at least a predetermined symbol in a variable manner on the image display device. Machine,
The main control means includes special game determination means for determining whether or not to generate a special game advantageous to the player based on the detection of the game ball by the game ball detection means,
When the display control means determines that the special game determination means is to generate a special game, a special effect image display for displaying a predetermined special effect image after confirming and displaying a predetermined jackpot symbol on the image display device Means, and when the special game is being executed, special game information display means for displaying information related to the execution of the special game on the image display device,
The special game information display means displays information related to execution of the special game on the image display device so as not to overlap the predetermined special effect image. The display control means includes special game information display means for displaying information related to execution of the special game on the image display device when the special game is being executed,
2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the special game information display means displays information related to execution of the special game on the image display device so as not to overlap the predetermined special effect image. Machine.   At least two image display devices are provided, and the display control means displays the predetermined special effect image by the special effect image display means on one image display device, and displays an image other than the predetermined special effect image. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game machine is displayed on the other image display device.   If the special game determination means determines that the next special game is to be generated while the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the one image display device, the displayed special effect is displayed. 5. The predetermined special effect image related to the next special game is displayed after the image is interrupted until the predetermined jackpot symbol is confirmed and displayed on the other image display device. Gaming machine.   When the special game determination means determines that the next special game is to be generated while the predetermined special effect image is displayed on the one image display device, the displayed special special effect is displayed. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined special effect image relating to the next special game is continuously displayed on the one image display device after the image is finished.   The display control means includes a recording means for recording an image displayed on the other image display apparatus, and a recording / reproducing means for reproducing an image recorded by the recording means on the one image display apparatus. A gaming machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that.   The display control means comprises receiving means for receiving a television image or video image, and received image display means for displaying an image received by the receiving means on the one image display device. Item 8. A gaming machine according to any one of Items 4 to 7.   The special effect image display means displays the predetermined special effect image on one image display device in preference to the recorded image, the television image or the video image. The gaming machine according to claim 7 or 8.   The special game information display means forms a special game information display area that is displayed separately from the predetermined special effect image in the image display unit of the image display device, and the special game information display area includes the special game information display area. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein information relating to execution of the game is displayed.   In the case where the special effect image display means is still displaying the predetermined special effect image on the image display device when the special game is ended, the display control means is an image display unit of the image display device. 4. A split display means for dividing and displaying at least a display area of the predetermined special effect image and a display area of an image other than the predetermined special effect image. The gaming machine according to claim 10.   The predetermined special effect image is provided in a plurality of types so that the effect is different, and the special effect image display means selects one of the plurality of types of the predetermined special effect image based on a predetermined game condition. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising selection display means for selecting and displaying the selected predetermined special effect image on the image display device. The main control means, when the game ball detecting means detects a game ball during the variation display or final display of the predetermined symbol, and when the detected number of game balls exceeds a preset predetermined number And storing means for storing the detected number of game balls as an invalid number of balls,
The predetermined game condition is the number of invalid balls stored in the storage means,
The game according to claim 12, wherein the selection display means selects a predetermined special effect image having a high effect in proportion to the number of invalid balls stored in the storage means. Machine. When the main control means determines that the special game determination means generates a special game, the main control means transmits a variation pattern designation command signal related to the special game as a display control command signal to the display control means,
The display control means includes a command signal determination means for determining whether or not the display control command signal received from the main control means is a variation pattern designation command signal related to a special game;
When the command signal determining means determines that the change pattern designation command signal is related to a special game, a part or all of the predetermined special effect image displayed by the special effect image display means is replaced with the predetermined special effect. Before the image is displayed on the image display device, special effect image preprocessing means for data processing in advance;
A gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising: The display control means is a driving means for rewriting and displaying an image of one frame on the image display device at regular intervals, and processing one frame of image data within the time of the constant period, and rewriting the driving means. Display operation processing means for supplying one frame of image data to the driving means in accordance with the display timing,
The special effect image pre-processing means processes the special effect image data in advance in a vacant time obtained by subtracting the time for the display calculation processing means to process the image data of at least one frame from the time of the fixed period. 15. The gaming machine according to claim 14, further comprising image preprocessing execution means.   The special effect image preprocessing execution means processes image data in time for the display calculation processing means to process one frame of special effect image data within the period of the fixed period. The gaming machine according to claim 15.

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