JP2010213926A - Game device and performance device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a performance of a game device which can entice players take part in play more positively. <P>SOLUTION: The game device carries out a sub-game which permits the players to take part by inputting an operation as a drawing performance. At that time, the players choose one from among a plurality of set degrees of game difficulty related to the results of internal drawings. The game device makes an input evaluation decision using an input evaluation decision area related to a set degree of game difficulty chosen for a performance display. Results in the sub-game are accumulations of acquired points granted in accordance with the input evaluation decision. Consequently, the way in which points acquired by playing the sub-game increase permits the result of the internal drawing to be guessed, and even experienced players who are indifferent to the performance but are interested in knowing the result of the internal drawing to be urged to positively take part in the sub-game. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming apparatus or the like that executes an effect according to an internal lottery result.

  In recent gaming machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines, various presentations are executed according to the results of internal lottery by arithmetic processing (so-called internal lottery results), and the player can enjoy other than the main game. The mechanism to prevent it is known. There are various types of effects, such as moving a mechanism called an accessory, or displaying a moving image prepared in advance on an attached liquid crystal display or the like.

Normally, the type of production is set so that the contents differ little by little depending on the result of the internal lottery, and it is possible to notify and suggest the internal hit state by showing the production to the player.
With regard to the suggestion of the internal hit state, it is possible to display the internal hit state at a timing intended by the player for a skilled player who is not interested in the effect display but only needs to know the internal hit state. The configuration is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-253740 A

  The various productions accompanying the internal lottery were born out of consideration for the players to enjoy other than the main game, and it is considered sufficient if the skilled engineer is not interested in the production and can recognize the internal situation. However, it is the wish of the gaming machine manufacturer to enjoy the production as much as possible. According to the technique of Patent Document 1, it is possible to provide the requested information at the timing intended by the skilled player, but this does not fulfill the desire to enjoy the special effects.

  The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and is to realize an effect of a gaming apparatus that allows a player to participate more actively.

A first invention for solving the above problems is a gaming apparatus that executes an internal lottery process and discharges a given number of gaming media as a bonus,
A display unit (for example, the liquid crystal display 202 in FIG. 1);
An operation input unit (for example, an operation button 1410 in FIG. 1) for a player to input an operation;
A game control unit that controls display of the display unit according to an operation input from the operation input unit to control the progress of a predetermined game (for example, the rendering device 200 in FIG. 1, the sub board 204, the processing unit 600 in FIG. Control unit 610, steps S8 to S18 in FIG. 10, and
A bonus discharge control unit (for example, the main board 1450 and the medal discharge device 1412 in FIG. 1) that performs control to change and discharge the number of game media to be discharged as the bonus according to the game result;
The game control unit is a gaming device having a difficulty level setting unit that variably sets the difficulty level of the game according to the lottery result.

  Further, as another form, an internal lottery process is executed to discharge a given number of game media as a bonus, and an effect device that is attached to a gaming device including a display unit and an operation input unit, In accordance with an operation input from the operation input unit, the display unit is displayed and controlled, and a game control unit that controls the progress of a predetermined game for producing a lottery by the internal lottery process, and according to the game result, A bonus discharge control unit that performs control to change the number of game media to be discharged as a bonus, and the game control unit can easily set the difficulty level of the game according to the lottery result An effect device having a degree setting unit can be configured.

  According to the first invention, a player-participation-type game (a sub game or a mini game in terms of the main game) can be executed as an effect form. The game difficulty level of this game is variable depending on the lottery result. That is, in order to know the internal lottery result, it is necessary to participate in the game even a little, and it is possible to encourage the player to enjoy the effect by paying attention to the effect and participating in the game. At the same time, it also realizes an unprecedented gaming device that notifies the result of the internal lottery with the game difficulty level.

  Further, according to the first invention, for example, when the game is cleared, the number of game media to be discharged as a bonus can be increased and discharged, so that an incentive for even a skilled player to participate in the game is given. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the game control unit is a timing presenting unit (for example, the liquid crystal display 202 in FIG. 1, the sign basin 4 in FIGS. 2 to 3, the input timing index 8, 10, the production device 200 of FIG. 7, the production control unit 610, the image display unit 360, step S <b> 10 of FIG. 10),
An evaluation unit that evaluates the superiority or inferiority of the operation input of the player by evaluating a deviation between the timing indicated by the timing presentation unit and the operation input timing from the operation input unit based on a predetermined input evaluation determination criterion ( For example, the sub-board 204 in FIG. 1, the production control unit 610 in FIG. 7, the input evaluation determination area setting data 508, and step S14 in FIG.
The difficulty level setting unit is the gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the difficulty level of the game is set by changing the input evaluation criterion according to the lottery result.

According to the second invention, the same effect as the first invention can be obtained, and the game difficulty level can be set by changing the evaluation criterion of the deviation between the operation input timing and the optimum timing for the operation input. it can. In other words, even if an operation is input at the same timing, the evaluation differs depending on the result of the internal lottery, which affects the progress of the game. For example, in the case of a point-based game, the degree of increase in earned points is affected.
From the player's perspective, the internal lottery results are not clearly indicated, and by playing the game over and over, the progress of the game (e.g. It is possible to guess the difference in the result of the internal lottery by sensing that the increase is different. Thus, the player can be encouraged to participate actively in the game.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the difficulty level setting unit widens the allowable range of deviation determined as high evaluation when the lottery result satisfies a predetermined good condition as compared with the case where the lottery result does not satisfy the predetermined good condition. The gaming machine according to the second aspect of the present invention changes the input evaluation criteria.

According to the third invention, the same effect as the second invention is achieved, and the result of the lottery is beneficial to the player, for example, the evaluation of the operation input when winning in some form such as a big game is more than the case where it is not so Is also highly appreciated.
For the player, if the player is playing a game and can play better than usual, it can be assumed that the internal lottery result is good. This is because the flow of discharging a number of game media according to the lottery result as a bonus as a result of the production, it is possible to enjoy the game comfortably with good results, and in addition, a bonus flow that says that you can get a bonus It is possible to impress the fun of participating in the game.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the game control unit includes a timing presenting unit that indicates a timing at which an operation input is to be made to a player, and a deviation between the timing indicated by the timing presenting unit and the operation input timing from the operation input unit. A game point calculation unit that calculates a game point based on the game point, and the difficulty level setting unit sets a difficulty level of the game by changing a calculation unit of the game point according to the lottery result (for example, 15, the acquired point setting data 518 of FIG. 15, step S <b> 16 </ b> C of FIG. 16, and the gaming device of the first invention.

According to the fourth invention, the same effect as that of the first invention is achieved, and when calculating the game points based on the difference between the operation input timing and the optimum timing to input the operation, according to the result of the internal lottery The game difficulty level can be varied by using the calculation unit. That is, even if the operation is input at the same timing, the degree of increase in the earned points changes depending on the result of the internal lottery.
For players, by playing the game over and over again, they will be able to guess the difference in the results of the internal lottery by detecting that the number of points earned is different even though they intend to play as usual. . Therefore, it is possible to encourage the player to participate actively in the game.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the difficulty level setting unit sets the calculation unit so that the game point addition unit is larger when the lottery result satisfies a predetermined good condition than when the lottery result does not satisfy the predetermined good condition. It is a gaming machine of the 4th invention to change.

According to the fifth invention, the same effect as the fourth invention is achieved, and the result of the lottery is beneficial to the player, for example, the evaluation of the operation input when winning in some form is more evaluated than the game other than that The point addition unit is increased.
For the player, after playing the game, if the result is better than usual, it can be estimated that the internal lottery result is good. This is a good flow of information that allows you to enjoy the game comfortably with good results and receive bonuses in consideration of the flow of discharging a number of game media according to the lottery results as a bonus. Impress the fun of participating in the game.

FIG. 3 is a front external view showing a configuration example of a slot machine in the first embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a game screen of the subgame in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a game screen of the subgame in 1st Embodiment. The screen figure for demonstrating the example of a display of praise production. The screen figure for demonstrating the example of a display of a game over effect. The conceptual diagram which shows the example of the correspondence of the setting of the game difficulty in 1st Embodiment, and the input evaluation criteria The functional block diagram which shows the function structural example in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the data structural example of difficulty setting data. The figure which shows the data structural example of input evaluation determination area | region setting data. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the process regarding presentation execution in 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a game screen of the subgame in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the data structural example of clear condition setting data. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the process concerning presentation execution in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a game screen of the subgame in 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the data structural example of acquisition point setting data. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the process regarding presentation execution in 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a game screen of the sub game in the modification of 3rd Embodiment. The front external view which shows the structural example of the medal game device of 4th Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the process in 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a game screen of the subgame in 5th Embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the process in 5th Embodiment. The flowchart continued from FIG.

[First Embodiment]
As a first embodiment of the present invention, a description will be given by taking as an example a mode in which a rendering device to which the present invention is applied is mounted on a slot machine which is an example of a gaming device.

[Overview of slot machine]
FIG. 1 is a front external view of a slot machine 1400 which is a gaming device in the present embodiment. The slot machine 1400 includes a triple reel 1402 that is driven and controlled by a built-in main board 1450 in the center of the front surface, and a medal slot 1404, a start lever 1406, and a reel below the triple reel 1402 along the series of reels. , Three reel stop buttons 1408 corresponding to each reel, and operation buttons 1410 are provided. In addition, a medal tray 1414 for receiving medals paid out from a built-in medal discharging device 1412 is provided in the lower front portion, and an effect device 200 having a liquid crystal panel 202 and a speaker 1416 are provided in the upper front portion.

  When a player inserts a medal from the medal slot 1404, the game becomes possible, and when the start lever 1406 is operated, the main board 1450 rotates the triple reel 1402. The main board 1450 corresponds to a so-called control board, and includes various IC chips such as a CPU, ROM, and RAM, an IC chip for controlling data communication between boards, a terminal of a communication cable, and the like, and controls each part of the slot machine 1400. be able to.

  The main board 1450 executes an internal lottery by a calculation process when an operation input of the start lever 1406 is performed, and determines a lottery result (a major role / small role / ordinary hit / losing) of this game, The rotation of the triple reel 1402 is started. Then, upon detecting that the reel stop button 1408 has been pressed, the main board 1450 controls to stop the rotation of the reel corresponding to the pressed reel stop button 1408. At this time, if the symbol of the triple reel 1402 matches the winning combination (main role / small role / ordinary winning) determined in advance, the bonus medal is paid out from the medal discharging device 1412.

When the main board 1450 of the present embodiment determines the result of the internal lottery, the main board 1450 can send a lottery effect execution command signal including information on the internal lottery result to the effect device 200.
The sub board 204 built in the rendering device 200 is connected by a communication cable so as to be able to receive a control signal from the main board 1450, and upon receiving a lottery effect execution command signal from the main board 1450, the liquid crystal display 202. A player participation type sub-game format effect display is executed, and a game ending effect is further displayed after the game ends.

[Description of production]
The effect device 200 according to the present embodiment stops a sub game in which a player can participate using an operation button 1410 as one form of effect from the start of rotation of the triple reel 1402, and starts to pay out bonus medals. Until this is done, it is executed in a time shorter than the time limit for automatically stopping the triple reel 1402.

2 to 3 are diagrams showing examples of a game screen of a sub game displayed on the liquid crystal display 202. FIG.
The sub game of the present embodiment is a mini game on the theme of virtual musical instrument performance called “music game” “sound game”. When the operation button 1410 is operated with good rhythm in synchronization with the designated timing while listening to the performance music reproduced from the speaker 1416, the percussion sound of the percussion instrument is reproduced over the performance music being reproduced. That is, it is possible to enjoy the performance of a virtual percussion instrument that matches the performance song.

On the game screens W2 and W4, a coincidence area 4, an accumulated point display unit 6, and an input timing index 8 are displayed.
The sign junction area 4 is a belt-like area provided in the center of the game screens W2 and W4 over the left and right edges of the screen. Along with the reproduction of the performance song, a symbol 10 indicating the type of the virtual performance operation appears from the right end of the screen in the sign junction region 4, and the performance song is played toward the input timing index 8 fixedly displayed at the left end of the symbol junction region 4. A flow is displayed so as to enter at a predetermined timing in synchronization with the reproduction. That is, it is the timing at which the operation input is made when the symbol 10 displayed in the flow enters the input timing index 8, and this is indicated to the player. The timing at which the center of the input timing index 8 overlaps the center of the symbol 10 is the optimum input timing.

  The player operates the operation button 1410 corresponding to the operation type indicated by the reference numeral 10 at the timing at which the flow-displayed reference numeral 10 enters the input timing index 8, thereby changing the rhythm of the performance music being played back. At the same time, a percussion instrument sound is generated, and the game is played while enjoying the virtual reality as if you were playing the percussion part of the song.

  The timing of the operation input by the player is evaluated according to a predetermined input evaluation standard based on a deviation from the optimal input timing. Then, the player can acquire points according to the determination result (excellent / good / good / impossible) of the input evaluation. For example, “Excellent” is 3 points, “Good” is 2 points, “Yes” is 1 point, and “No” is 0 points.

  The determination result of superiority or inferiority is displayed on the screen as the input evaluation result display 12. The accumulated points are always displayed on the accumulated point display unit 6. The game is cleared if the accumulated points reach the specified value by the end of the performance, and the game is over if it cannot be reached.

  When the game ends, a game ending effect is displayed on the liquid crystal display 202. For example, when the game is cleared, as shown in FIG. 4, on the game screen W6, the game clear is praised, and medals paid out from the medal discharging device 1412 after the game ending effect are bonuses for clearing the game. A praise effect 30 of the content to be produced is displayed. Of course, the dedicated sound 40 is reproduced and output from the speaker 1416 with the display of the same effect.

  On the other hand, when the game is over, as shown in FIG. 5, a game over effect 34 (failure effect) notifying that the game has failed is displayed on the game screen W8 as a game ending effect. The game over effect 34 according to the present embodiment is an effect of notifying that a bonus is not obtained because the game has failed. Of course, the dedicated sound 44 is reproduced from the speaker 1416 with the display of the same effect.

[Setting of game difficulty according to internal lottery result]
By the way, in the sub game of the present embodiment, if the internal lottery result is good (that is, if “winning” is given) by switching the input evaluation determination criterion for the player's operation input according to the result of the internal lottery. If the game difficulty level is relatively low and the internal lottery result is poor (that is, if “losing” occurs), the game difficulty level can be varied to be relatively high.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between the setting of the game difficulty level and the input evaluation determination criterion in the present embodiment.
In the present embodiment, three levels of game difficulty, easy, standard, and hardware, can be selected. The input evaluation is based on the horizontal deviation between the center point 8p of the input timing index 8 at the timing when the operation button 1410 is pressed and the center point 10p of the nearest sign 10 to the center point 8p at this time. It is evaluated in 4 grades. More specifically, regarding the input evaluation of excellent / good / good, the input evaluation determination areas (excellent determination areas 20e, 20s, 20h, and good determination area 22e) for each input evaluation in and around the input timing index 8. , 22s, 22h, determination areas 24e, 24s, 24h), and in which determination area the center point 10p of the nearest sign 10 of the input timing index 8 is located when the operation button 1410 is pressed. Input evaluation is determined. If it is not in any of the determination areas, the input evaluation is naturally “impossible”.
As shown in the figure, the input evaluation determination area of the present embodiment is set so that a higher evaluation is easily obtained as the game difficulty level is lower.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, it is applied to a sub game (unless the player has a skill enough to always match the center point 8p of the input timing index 8 and the center point 10p of the sign 10). If the game difficulty level is different, even if the operation is input at the same timing, the input evaluation determination result is different, and this is presented to the player as a difference in points to be acquired. In other words, the internal lottery result is indirectly suggested to the player by setting the difficulty level of the game.

  In this way, if the internal lottery result can be suggested to the player as the game difficulty level of the sub game, the player can confirm the suggestion by actively participating in the sub game. The player is encouraged to play the game more positively, and the effect of encouraging the player to enjoy the production while knowing the winning state is produced.

  In addition, the rendering device 200 according to the present embodiment determines the number of additional bonus medals according to the result of the sub game (game clear or game over), and sends information on the determined number of additional bonus medals to the main board 1450. can do. In addition to the bonus medal payout number originally set in the internal lottery result, the main board 1450 pays out medals from the medal discharging device 1412 by the number of additional bonus medals received from the rendering device 200. Of course, the number of additional bonus medals is set so as to increase as the game result of the sub game becomes better.

  Therefore, as a player, if you participate in a subgame and get good results, you can earn more medals as an additional bonus, so you can encourage the player to participate more in the subgame. .

  In the present embodiment, the main board 1450 and the sub board 204 are configured separately, but may be configured as a single body. In that case, the rendering device 200 can be regarded as a configuration including the liquid crystal display 202, the main substrate 1450, and the medal discharging device 1412.

[Description of functional block]
Next, a functional configuration related to the rendering device 200 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration related to the rendering device 200 according to the present embodiment. The rendering device 200 includes a processing unit 600, an image display unit 360, a communication unit 370, and a storage unit 500. Among these, the processing unit 600 and the storage unit 500 correspond to the control board of the rendering device 200, the sub-board 204 in the slot machine 1400.
Here, the production device 200 is described as a configuration capable of outputting an audio signal to the external sound output unit 350, but the production device 200 itself may be configured to include the sound output unit 350.

  The processing unit 600 is realized by electronic components such as a microprocessor, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an IC memory, a stepping motor drive circuit, and the like. From the main board 112 received by the communication unit 370, a predetermined program and data are received. Based on the control signal and the input signal from the operation button 1410, various arithmetic processes are executed to control the operation of the rendering device 200. The processing unit 600 in the present embodiment includes an effect control unit 610, a sound generation unit 650, an image generation unit 660, and a communication control unit 670.

The effect control unit 610 is realized by the processing unit 600 reading and executing the effect control program 504 in the storage unit 500, and when receiving an effect execution start signal including information on the internal lottery result from the main board 112, as described above. A sub game effect is applied to which the game difficulty level corresponding to the internal lottery result is applied, and display control of the game ending effect corresponding to the play result of the sub game is executed after the sub game ends. At the end of the sub game, the number of additional bonus medals is determined according to the game results, and information on the determined number of medals is transmitted to the main board 1450.
The basic game processing related to the execution of the sub game can be realized in the same manner as the processing related to a known video game, except that the game difficulty level corresponding to the internal lottery result is applied.

The sound generation unit 650 is realized by a processor such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or its control program, for example, generates a sound effect based on the processing result by the effect control unit 610, and outputs the sound effect to the sound output unit 350.
In the present embodiment, the sub-board 204 of the rendering device 200 has the function of a well-known “voice control board” by having the sound generation unit 650, but the structure in which the sound control board is provided separately. Of course.

  The sound output unit 350 is realized by a device that outputs a sound effect or the like based on a sound signal input from the sound generation unit 650. The speaker 1416 in FIG. 1 corresponds to this.

  The image generation unit 660 is realized by, for example, a processor such as a GPU or a digital signal processor (DSP), a control program thereof, a drawing frame IC memory such as a frame buffer, or the like. The image generation unit 660 generates one game image in one frame time (for example, 1/60 seconds) based on the processing result by the effect control unit 610, or decodes and prepares the moving image data prepared in advance. As a result, an image signal for production is generated and output to the image display unit 360.

  The image display unit 360 displays an image based on the image signal input from the image generation unit 660. For example, it can be realized by an image display device such as a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube (CRT), or a projector. The liquid crystal display 202 in FIG. 1 corresponds to this.

The communication control unit 670 executes data processing related to data communication such as encoding or decoding a command into a serial signal, for example, and data with an external device (main board 112 in the present embodiment) via the communication unit 370. Realize the exchange.
The communication unit 370 is connected to a communication line or a communication cable and transmits / receives an electrical signal to / from the outside. For example, it is realized by an interface circuit for serial communication, a jack of a communication cable, or the like.

  Storage unit 500 stores programs, various data, and the like for realizing various functions for causing processing unit 600 to control rendering device 200 in an integrated manner. Further, it is used as a work area of the processing unit 600 and temporarily stores calculation results executed by the processing unit 600 according to various programs, information on control signals from the main board 112 received via the communication unit 370, and the like. This function is realized by, for example, an IC memory such as a RAM or a ROM, or a magnetic disk such as a hard disk.

  In the present embodiment, the storage unit 500 stores a system program 502 and an effect control program 504. When the processing unit 600 reads and executes the effect control program 504, the function as the effect control unit 610 can be realized in the processing unit 600.

  The storage unit 500 stores difficulty setting data 506, input evaluation determination area setting data 508, performance song setting data 510, and a plurality of types of effect animation data created in advance as data prepared in advance. The effect moving image data library 512 and the sound effect data library 514 for storing various sound effect data are stored. Accumulated points, timer values, flags, and the like necessary for various types of performance execution are also stored as appropriate.

  The difficulty level setting data 506 associates the internal lottery result with the applied game difficulty level. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the difficulty level setting 506b is stored in association with the lottery result 506a. In the internal lottery of the present embodiment, three types of big, small, and normal are ordered in descending order of the amount of game media to be paid out as bonuses, and a total of 4 types of loses in which bonus game media are not paid out are set. For the big and small roles, the game difficulty level is set to be relatively lower than others, and the loss is set to be relatively high.

  The input evaluation determination area setting data 508 defines an input evaluation determination area (see FIG. 6) that is applied when each game difficulty level is selected. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the determination area setting 508b is stored in association with the difficulty level setting 508a. In the determination area setting 508b, the above-described superior determination areas 20e, 20s, and 20h, good determination areas 22e, 22s, and 22h, and allowable determination areas 24e, 24s, and 24h are defined.

  The performance song setting data 510 stores information such as music data to be virtually played in the subgame, and the type and display position of the code 10 that is flow-display controlled along with the reproduction of the music data. The performance song setting data 510 can be realized in the same manner as the same kind of data in a known music game.

  The effect moving image data library 512 stores effect moving image data prepared in advance. In the present embodiment, moving image data of the praise effect 30 (see FIG. 4) and the game over effect 34 (see FIG. 5) and sound data to be reproduced along with the moving image reproduction are stored.

[Description of the flow of processing related to performance execution]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing related to performance execution in the present embodiment. When the processing unit 600 of the rendering device 200 receives a control signal including information on the internal lottery result from the main board 112 via the communication unit 370 (YES in Step S6), the processing of Steps S8 to S42 is performed as a predetermined rendering. Run within time T.

  Specifically, the difficulty level setting data 506 is referred to, the difficulty level setting 506b is selected based on the internal lottery result included in the received control signal (step S8), and the performance song setting data 510 is referred to. At the same time as the flow display control of 10, reproduction of the performance music is started (step S 10), and the sub game is started.

  When the sub game is started, the processing unit 600 is defined by the determination area setting 508b corresponding to the difficulty level setting 506b selected in step S8 each time an operation input from the operation button 1410 is detected (YES in step S12). The input evaluation is executed based on the input evaluation determination area (step S14).

  Then, the determination result of the input evaluation is displayed as the input determination display 12 on the game screen for a certain time (step S15), a predetermined point corresponding to the determination result is added to the accumulated point, and the accumulated point display 6 is updated ( Step S16). This is repeated until the performance music is finished (NO in step S18).

  If the musical piece has been completed (YES in step S18), the processing unit 600 determines whether or not the sub game has been cleared based on whether or not the accumulated points have reached a specified value (step S30). If the determination is affirmative (YES in step S30), display control of the praise effect 30 is performed (step S32). Then, after completion of the praise effect 30, information on a predetermined number of additional bonus medals (for example, 50) is transmitted to the main board 1450 (step S34).

  On the other hand, when the accumulated point does not reach the specified value, it is determined that the game is over (NO in step S30), and the processing unit 600 displays the game over effect 34 (step S40). Then, after the game over effect 34 ends, a predetermined minimum number of additional bonus medals (for example, 10 or 1 may be used. By setting the number to 0, there may be no additional bonus) is main. It transmits to the board | substrate 1450 (step S42).

  As described above, when the main board 1450 receives the information on the number of additional bonus medals from the sub board 204, the number of medals is equal to the number of bonus medals originally set in the internal lottery result plus the received number of additional bonus medals. The payout control. Of course, in the case of not participating in the sub game, the information on the number of additional bonus medals is not received, so that only the number of bonus medals originally set in the internal lottery result is paid out.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a game with a game difficulty level setting corresponding to the internal lottery result can be executed in the effect of executing a mini game.
Unless the player deliberately shifts the operation timing, the game difficulty corresponding to the internal lottery result is suggested to the player as a result of the input evaluation with respect to the player's operation input, that is, the size of the points to be acquired. Therefore, even a skilled player who is not interested in the performance itself but wants to know the result of the internal lottery can be encouraged to actively participate in the subgame.

  In addition, by setting the time when the internal lottery result is lost compared to when it is lost, the game will be cleared comfortably when the internal lottery is won and a bonus game medium will be obtained. Can do. Therefore, the pleasure and excitement up to the comfortable bonus acquisition, which is not found in the conventional sub-game effects where the game difficulty does not change, further enhances the effect of prompting the player to play the sub-game more actively.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the sub game is cleared, an additional bonus medal is additionally paid out, so that even a skilled player can have an incentive effect to participate in the sub game.

  In the present embodiment, the main board 1450 and the sub board 204 are configured separately, but may be configured as a single body. In that case, the rendering device 200 can be regarded as a configuration including the liquid crystal display 202, the main substrate 1450, and the medal discharging device 1412.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The present embodiment is basically realized in the same manner as the first embodiment, except that the game difficulty level is changed by changing the game clear condition. In addition, the same code | symbol is provided about the component similar to 1st Embodiment, and description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game screen of a sub game in the present embodiment. The game screen W10 of this embodiment includes a game clear condition notification 14 and a result display 16 of current input evaluation.
The game clear condition notification 14 displays a condition determined so that the game difficulty level is set according to the internal lottery result before the game is started. In the example shown in the figure, the game is cleared if an evaluation with an input evaluation determination result of “excellent” is obtained three or more times by the end of the performance.
The results display 16 displays the evaluation results obtained so far.

The game clear condition for realizing the game difficulty level setting according to the internal lottery result is defined by clear condition setting data 516 stored in advance in the storage unit 500 of the present embodiment.
Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of clear condition candidates 516b are stored in association with each difficulty level setting 516a. The processing unit 600 selects the difficulty level setting 506b corresponding to the internal lottery result according to the setting of the difficulty level setting data 506, and then refers to the clear condition setting data 516 to correspond to the difficulty level setting 506b selected previously. One of the clear condition candidates 516b is selected as a game clear condition for the sub game to be executed.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing related to the performance execution in the present embodiment. Basically, it is the same as the processing flow of the first embodiment, and the processing unit 600 of the rendering device 200 receives a control signal including information on the internal lottery result from the main board 112 via the communication unit 370 ( YES in step S6), the processes in steps S8 to S42 are executed within a predetermined effect execution time T.

  To describe the changes from the first embodiment, first, instead of step S8 of the first embodiment, one clear condition corresponding to the received internal lottery result is selected from the clear condition candidates 516b of the clear condition setting data 516. While selecting, the game clear condition notification 14 is displayed on the game screen W10 (step S8B).

  Further, instead of step S14 of the first embodiment, input evaluation of the operation input to the operation button 1410 detected in step S12 is performed based on a predetermined input determination reference region (step S14B). If the points are added according to the input evaluation and the accumulated point display 6 is updated (step S16), the results display 16 is updated (step S17B).

  In addition, instead of step S30 of the first embodiment, after the musical piece is finished (YES in step S18), the processing unit 600 determines whether the game clear condition selected in step S8B is satisfied (step S30B).

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a game effect in which the game difficulty level changes in accordance with the internal lottery result as in the first embodiment.
In addition, the structure which matches the structure which selects the input evaluation criteria of 1st Embodiment according to an internal lottery result for this embodiment is also possible. In that case, step S8 of the first embodiment is not replaced with step S8B but is left as it is, and step S14B is not provided, and step S14 of the first embodiment is executed as it is.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. This embodiment is basically realized in the same way as the first embodiment, but in the first embodiment, the points that can be obtained by each of the excellent, good, and good are fixed, but the points that can be obtained by the input evaluation Is different depending on the internal lottery result.
In addition, the same code | symbol shall be provided about the component similar to 1st or 2nd embodiment, and description shall be abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a game screen of a sub game in the present embodiment. In the game screen W12 of the present embodiment, an acquisition point notification 18 indicating the points acquired by the player through the current operation input is displayed together with the input evaluation display 12. The points that can be acquired with this input evaluation increase or decrease according to the internal lottery result.

For this purpose, acquired point setting data 518 is stored in advance in the storage unit 500 of the present embodiment. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, input evaluation-based acquisition points 518 b are stored in association with the difficulty level setting 518 a.
The input evaluation-specific acquisition points 518b are set so as to be smaller as the game difficulty level is higher and to be higher as the game difficulty level is lower. When the input evaluation-specific acquired points 518b are set not with the prescribed value but with a width, each time an acquired point is determined, it is determined randomly within the set width.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing related to performance execution in the present embodiment. Basically, it is the same as the processing flow of the first embodiment. When the processing unit 600 of the rendering device 200 receives a control signal including information on the internal lottery result from the main board 112 via the communication unit 370 (YES in Step S6), the processing of Steps S8 to S42 is performed as a predetermined rendering. Run within time T.

  To describe the changes from the first embodiment, instead of step S14 of the first embodiment, an input evaluation determination process based on a predetermined input evaluation determination area is executed as in the second embodiment (step S14B). Then, the determined input evaluation result is displayed on the game screen as the input evaluation display 12 (step S15), and acquisition points corresponding to the game difficulty level setting selected in step S8 and the input evaluation determined in step S14B are obtained. Selection is made from the acquired point setting data 520, and the acquired point notification 18 is displayed (step S16C). Next, the accumulated points display 6 is updated by adding the acquired points to the accumulated points (step S17C).

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a subgame effect in which the game difficulty level is changed according to the internal lottery result as in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the number of points that can be acquired according to the input evaluation by changing the game difficulty level is large if the internal lottery result is good, and is small if the internal lottery result is not good. This result is suggested to the player by participating in the game and displaying the earned point notification 18 and also gives a chance to make the game easier and increase the number of additional bonus medals. This produces an effect of encouraging players to actively participate in the subgame production.

  Although the input evaluation determination area is fixed in the present embodiment, the determination area setting 508b to be applied may be selected from the input evaluation determination area setting data 508 according to the internal lottery result as in the first embodiment. . In that case, step S14B is not provided and step S14 of the first embodiment may be executed as it is.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the earned points are changed according to the game difficulty level setting for all the codes 10, but, for example, in FIG. (For example, about 3 seconds) It is possible to set a special sign 11 for requesting continuous hitting of the operation button 1410 during the stop, and change the earned points according to the game difficulty setting only when the special sign 11 is set. good.

  In this case, when the game difficulty level is easy, it can be set extremely so that the accumulated points reach the specified value for clearing the game only with the acquisition points of the special code 11. Then, regardless of the game play results before and after the special code 11, the game can be cleared by only one continuous hitting operation. In this way, even players who are only interested in the main game (in this case, the slot) from the beginning and are not willing to participate in the sub-game will be given an indication of the internal lottery result if they participate even a little. In addition, it is possible to further increase the number of additional bonus medals by facilitating game clearing.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, as a fourth embodiment, a medal game device is taken as an example of one gaming device to which the present invention is applied, and a case where a sub game effect similar to that in the first embodiment is executed will be described.

  FIG. 18 is an external view showing a configuration example of the medal game device 300 in the present embodiment. The medal game device 300 basically has the same configuration as a known medal game device that uses medals as game media. That is, the medal game device 300 defines a game space with the transparent cover glass 302, and a fixed table 306 having a front end installed above the medal drop opening 304 in the game space, and an upper surface of the fixed table 306. The pusher table 308 extends along the upper surface and is periodically reciprocated along the upper surface thereof, and has a configuration classified as a so-called “pusher type” medal game device.

  Normally, the player is extended to the front of the housing from the state where a large number of medals M are placed in advance on the upper surfaces of the fixed table 306 and the pusher table 308 by the managers of the medal game device 300 before the game starts. A new medal M is inserted into the medal insertion slot 310 opened on the operation table.

  When the player inserts a new medal M into the medal insertion slot 310, the inserted medal passing sensor 314 detects the passing of the medal while the inserted medal M is accommodated in the medal accommodating unit 312. The inserted medal passage sensor 314 is a means for detecting the passage of an object. For example, a sensor that detects the passage of an object by light shielding in which a light projecting element and a light receiving element are opposed to each other, or a distance from an ultrasonic reflection time. It can be realized by a distance sensor to measure. A swing switch that swings in contact with a passing object may be used.

  When the passage of the medal M is detected, the same number of medals inserted in the medal insertion slot 310 are stored in the ceiling of the game space from the medal receiving portion 312 by a known transport mechanism (not shown). Immediately after the medal already stored in the medal storage unit 316 is detected by the inserted medal passage sensor 314 and the passage of the medal M is detected, the same number of medals are ejected from the medal injection device 318. .

  The medals injected from the medal injection device 318 are dropped and inserted into the game space from the new medal insertion slot 320. The medal M thrown into the game space flows down while hitting a nail 326 erected between the game board 322 and the cover glass 324, and eventually falls on the upper surface of the pusher table 308.

  The pusher table 308 is placed so as to be slidable along the upper surface of the fixed table 306, and a game erected in the back of the game space by a known reciprocating mechanism (not shown) installed in the housing. The plate 322 reciprocates periodically in the front-rear direction so as to enter and exit from an insertion hole 328 opened at the lower end of the board 322.

  When the pusher table 308 moves backward (retreats) so as to slide on the fixed table 306, the medals M placed on the upper surface thereof also move together. When the pusher table 308 is pulled back into the insertion hole 328 as it moves backward, the extension length of the pusher table 308 is shortened by the amount of reverse movement, and the medal placed behind the upper surface of the pusher table 308 becomes the periphery of the insertion hole 328. When hitting, it will be pushed relatively forward. Then, other medals placed on the pusher table 308 are also pushed forward in a chain shape, and finally the medals placed on the front end side fall on the fixed table 306.

  Thereafter, as the pusher table 308 moves forward (extrusion operation), its front end surface functions as an extruding portion, and the medal that falls on the upper surface of the fixed table 306 and is placed on the fixed table 306 is pushed forward. This time, the medal placed on the fixed table 306 is pushed forward in a ball shape and falls to the medal drop opening 304.

The lower part of the medal drop opening 304 communicates with a passage 334 provided with a dropped medal passage sensor 332 that detects the passage of the dropped medal M.
The medal M dropped to the medal drop opening 304 is accommodated in the medal accommodating portion 312 through the passage 334. Then, as many medals as the number of medals M detected when passing through the passage 334, the medals accommodated in the medal accommodating portion 312 are conveyed to the acquired medal payout opening 336 by a known conveyance mechanism (not shown), and a medal tray is obtained. 338 is paid out.

  In addition, the fixed table 306 has a width at the front end, that is, the medal dropping end, wider than the width of the pusher table 308 and has a shape that widens from the vicinity of the forward limit position of the pusher table 308 to the left and right. Further, side medal drop openings 311 through which medals M can enter respectively are provided in the left and right side wall portions of the widened portion, and the medals M dropped here are not detected and are not separated from the medal container 312. It is separately collected in the illustrated accommodating part.

  Now, the medal game device 300 in the present embodiment has a lottery function. When the medal M flowing down the game board 322 passes a predetermined chucker 336, a passing signal is transmitted to the control unit 350, and the control unit 350 performs an internal lottery. Processing is executed. In the present embodiment, the detection of medals by the chucker 336 is a condition (lottery right acquisition condition) for invoking the internal lottery process.

  The control unit 350 corresponds to a so-called control board, on which electronic / electrical components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 352 and an IC memory 354 are mounted. In the control unit 350, the CPU 352 executes various arithmetic processes according to a program stored in advance in the IC memory 354, and executes an internal lottery process. The number of bonus medals corresponding to the internal lottery result is discharged from a bonus medal discharge port 348 provided on the side of the pusher table 308.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 350 allows the player to operate the operation button 1410 on the liquid crystal display 356 in the same manner as in the first to third embodiments before the bonus medals are discharged. (Sub game) is executed and sound is reproduced from the speaker 358. That is, the control unit 350, the liquid crystal display 356, and the speaker 358 perform a function corresponding to the rendering device 200 in the first to third embodiments.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing in the present embodiment. If the inserted medal passage sensor 314 detects the passage of a medal (YES in step S1), the control unit 350 executes a new medal insertion process, and ejects the same number of medals from the medal injection device 318. The medals are discharged from the new medal slot 320 to the game space (step S2).

  When it is detected that a medal flowing down along the game board 322 has entered the chucker 336 (YES in step S3), the control unit 350 executes an internal lottery process (step S4), and based on the lottery result. Then, the difficulty level setting of the sub game is selected (step S5).

  Hereinafter, the control unit 350 executes the same processing as in the first embodiment for steps S10 to S42. If the processes of steps S10 to S42 are executed, a bonus medal discharge process is executed, and the number of medals corresponding to the internal lottery result is discharged from the bonus medal discharge port 348 (step S46).

  Next, if the control unit 350 detects a medal dropped at the medal drop opening 304 by the dropped medal passage sensor 332 (YES in step S48), the same number as that detected by the dropped medal passage sensor 332 is executed. Are paid out from the medal payout exit 336 (step S50).

  Therefore, the medal game device 300 according to the present embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment. Of course, regarding the execution of the sub game, not only the first embodiment but also the second and third embodiments can be executed.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a fifth embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The present embodiment is basically realized by the same hardware and functional configuration as the fourth embodiment, but is different in that the sub game has the content of clay shooting as a motif. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the fourth embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted, and only characteristic portions of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 20 is a game screen diagram for explaining the contents of the subgame in the present embodiment. In the subgame of the present embodiment, virtual target ejection devices 50 are arranged on the left and right sides of the screen, and the target 52 is ejected at random timing toward the center of the screen. In the center of the screen, a landing area mark 54 whose size varies depending on the game difficulty level is displayed, and if the medal M enters the chucker 336 while the target 52 is passing through the landing area mark 54, it passes. It is determined that the target inside has been struck down. If the target 52 exceeding the specified value can be shot down within a predetermined time, the game is cleared.

  21 to 22 are flowcharts for explaining the flow of processing in the present embodiment. If the inserted medal passage sensor 314 detects the passage of a medal (YES in step S1), the control unit 350 executes a new medal insertion process, and ejects the same number of medals from the medal injection device 318. The medals are discharged from the new medal slot 320 to the game space (step S2).

If it is detected that the discharged medal flows down along the game board 322 and enters the chucker 336 (YES in step S3), the control unit 350 determines whether or not the sub game is currently being executed (step S3). Step S3B).
If it is not currently executed, an internal lottery process is executed (step S4), and the difficulty setting of the sub game is selected based on the lottery result (step S5).

  Next, the control unit 350 determines that the display size of the landing area mark 64 becomes larger as the top of the lottery result based on the selected game difficulty level (step S20), and places the landing display mark 64 in the center of the screen. At the same time, a game screen in which the target injection device 60 is arranged on both sides below the screen is displayed (step S21). Then, the sub game is started by performing an initialization process such as starting to count down the remaining play time or resetting the target hit count to “0” (step S22).

When the game is started, the control unit 350 starts display control so that the target 62 is ejected from the target ejection device 60 at a random timing on a course that passes through the landing area mark 54 (step S23).
The ejected target 62 is moved and displayed along a predetermined course, and if it is detected that a medal has entered the chucker 336 while passing through the landing area mark 54 (YES in step S24), the control unit 350 It is determined that the target 62 has been shot down, and the target hit count is incremented by “1” (step S25).
Random timing injection of the target 62 continues until the play time becomes “0” (NO in step S26), and when the play time becomes “0” (YES in step S26), the control unit 350 defines the target hit count. It is determined whether the value has been reached (FIG. 22; step S31).

If step S31 is affirmative, steps S32 to S34 are executed as in the fourth embodiment, and if negative, steps S40 to S42 are executed as in the fourth embodiment.
Then, a bonus medal discharging process according to the internal lottery result (step S46) and a process of paying out the same number of medals as the medal dropped to the medal drop opening 304 from the medal payout exit 336 are executed (steps S48 to S50).

[Modification]
As described above, the first to fifth embodiments to which the present invention is applied have been described. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these, and additions, omissions, and changes of components can be appropriately made.

  For example, a slot machine and a medal game device have been exemplified as gaming devices, but the same applies to other types of devices such as pachinko machines and pinballs as long as the gaming devices execute internal lottery and perform effects. be able to.

  Moreover, although the example which performs the game which used the game which used a music game and clay shooting as a motif as a game (subgame) in the said embodiment was given, the genre of a subgame is not restricted to these, A shooting game, a puzzle game, Other genres such as action games and sports games may be used. In each genre, the game difficulty level may be appropriately changed according to the internal lottery result.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the condition for changing the game difficulty is an example of winning a role such as a big role, a small role, a normal hit, or a lost game. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course.

  In the above embodiment, the number of medals to be paid out as a bonus is added according to the game result. However, the number of medals to be paid out may be added. For example, if the game cannot be cleared, the number of bonus medals may be reduced by a predetermined amount (for example, 10) or may be decreased by a predetermined rate (for example, 10% or half). Of course, as a game result, the number of additional bonus medals may be increased or decreased according to the accumulated points (game points) in addition to whether or not the game has been cleared.

4 sign basin 6 accumulated point display 8 input timing index 10 sign 20e, 20s, 20h input evaluation determination area 22e, 22s, 22h for input evaluation “excellent” input evaluation determination area 24e, 24s, 24h for input evaluation “good” Input evaluation judgment area for input evaluation “OK” 30 Praise production (game clear production)
34 game over effect 200 effect device 202 liquid crystal display 204 sub-board 500 storage unit 504 effect control program 506 difficulty setting data 508 input evaluation determination area setting data 510 performance song setting data 600 processing unit 610 effect control unit 1400 slot machine 1402 triple Slot 1450 main board

Claims (6)

A gaming device that executes an internal lottery process and discharges a given number of gaming media as a bonus,
A display unit;
An operation input unit for the player to input operations;
A game control unit that controls display of the display unit according to an operation input from the operation input unit to control the progress of a predetermined game;
In accordance with the game result, a bonus discharge control unit that performs control to change and discharge the number of game media to be discharged as the bonus,
With
The game device having a difficulty level setting unit that variably sets the difficulty level of the game according to the lottery result. The game control unit
A timing presentation unit that indicates to the player the timing at which an operation should be input;
An evaluation unit that evaluates the superiority or inferiority of the operation input of the player by evaluating a deviation between the timing indicated by the timing presentation unit and the operation input timing from the operation input unit based on a predetermined input evaluation determination criterion; ,
Have
The difficulty level setting unit sets the difficulty level of the game by changing the input evaluation criterion according to the lottery result.
The gaming device according to claim 1.   The difficulty level setting unit, when the lottery result satisfies a predetermined good condition, the input evaluation determination criterion so as to widen the allowable range of the deviation determined to be high evaluation compared to the case where the lottery result does not satisfy The gaming device according to claim 2, wherein the game device is changed. The game control unit
A timing presentation unit that indicates to the player the timing at which an operation should be input;
A game point calculation unit for calculating a game point based on a difference between a timing indicated by the timing presentation unit and an operation input timing from the operation input unit;
Have
The difficulty level setting unit sets the difficulty level of the game by changing the calculation unit of the game points according to the lottery result.
The gaming device according to claim 1.   5. The difficulty level setting unit changes the calculation unit so that the unit for adding game points is larger when the lottery result satisfies a predetermined good condition than when the lottery result does not satisfy the predetermined good condition. The gaming device described. A rendering device that executes an internal lottery process and discharges a given number of game media as a bonus, and is attached to a gaming device including a display unit and an operation input unit,
A game control unit that controls display of the display unit according to an operation input from the operation input unit, and controls a progress of a predetermined game for producing a lottery by the internal lottery process;
In accordance with the game result, a bonus discharge control unit that performs control to change and discharge the number of game media to be discharged as the bonus,
With
The game control unit includes a difficulty level setting unit that variably sets the difficulty level of the game according to the lottery result.
Production device.

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