JP2011019965A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: it is difficult to define the content of presentation unless the timing to start and stop the presentation is specified in executing continuous presentation over a plurality of times of variation of symbols. <P>SOLUTION: In a Pachinko game machine 10, a presentation executing means 138 starts a special presentation, the presentation to be continued for a period in which symbols are variably displayed an indefinite variable number of times, with a prescribed change on the game state as the trigger, and terminates the presentation with execution of the variable display of symbols corresponding to the result of a lottery as the trigger if the result of the lottery received from a lottery means 111 satisfies a prescribed condition for termination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine, and more particularly to a technique for flexibly controlling a game effect in a ball ball game machine.

  Conventionally, among the various ball game machines, the so-called first type pachinko game machine is a game machine that changes a plurality of symbols in a display area such as a liquid crystal display provided substantially at the center of the game board. Display (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol change” or “change display”). This gaming machine shifts to a special game called so-called jackpot where more prize balls can be obtained than a normal game when the combination of symbols when a plurality of rows of symbol variations is stopped becomes a specific aspect. Known as a thing.

  The variable display of symbols in the display area is not only a variable display of multiple symbols, but the time of variable display is usually reduced in a state where it is a big hit if one more symbols are aligned, as in the so-called reach screen. For example, an effect is made to increase the player's expectation, such as making it longer. In addition, the player's expectation is enhanced by providing various characters and motifs for images such as symbols to give a story to the variable display. The variation pattern with the pattern variation display mode and display process is determined by lottery each time a variation of the symbol is started. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-230714 A

  Normally, when executing a special effect that has continuous contents over a period in which multiple symbol variations are displayed, the contents of the effect to be actually displayed are defined unless the start timing or end timing of the effect is specified. It is not easy to perform, and conversely, it is difficult to start the production before the content of the production is defined.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a subject, The objective is to raise the freedom degree of an effect by controlling flexibly the effect of the game in a ball game machine according to a game state.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a bullet ball game machine according to an aspect of the present invention is provided with a game board on which a game area is formed, a predetermined position in the game area, and the entrance of the game ball is a chance to execute a lottery. And a lottery means for executing a lottery to determine whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, A symbol display device for displaying the symbols in a variable manner, a display control means for variably displaying the symbols on the symbol display device according to a variation pattern in which the symbol variation process is defined, and a new lottery are executed. Sometimes when the symbol change corresponding to the previous lottery is displayed, the hold control means for holding the new lottery result until the symbol change display corresponding to the lottery starts, and the result of the lottery, special game Judgment to move to Special game control means for executing a special game when the symbol is stopped at a predetermined winning symbol, and a special effect that is an effect that can be continued over a period in which the symbol is variably displayed at an indefinite variable number of times An effect execution means that starts with a predetermined change relating to the gaming state as an opportunity, and that ends when the lottery result received from the lottery means satisfies a predetermined end condition, with the execution of the symbol variation display corresponding to the result of the lottery And comprising. The lottery means is provided in the main control device that controls the progress of the game, the effect execution means is provided in the sub-control device that controls the operation of the effect in the game, and data transmission / reception between the main control device and the sub-control device is performed. This is done in one direction from the main control unit to the sub-control unit, and the lottery means produces the result regardless of whether or not the symbol variation display corresponding to the lottery is immediately started when a new lottery is executed. If the result of the lottery received from the lottery means is found to satisfy the end condition during execution of the special effect, the effect executing means is special until the symbol variation display corresponding to the result of the lottery. The content of the special production is changed to the content that assumes that the production will end.

  In the lottery means, determination of success / failure, symbol determination, and variation pattern determination may be processed by lottery. Further, the determination of success / failure, symbol determination, and variation pattern determination may be processed based on a plurality of lottery values, or all may be processed based on one lottery value. The lottery means may execute the lottery at the timing of entering the start winning opening, or may execute the lottery at the timing of starting the symbol variation. Or you may perform at both of these two timings. The “special effect” may be an effect in which the story has continuity over a plurality of variations. The “indefinite variable number of times” may mean that at least at the beginning of the special effect, the end of the effect is undetermined and the number of symbol fluctuations until that end is not determined.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to start the production of the content having continuity without deciding the end in the beginning of the production. Moreover, although the end timing of the special effect is determined based on the lottery result, the lottery result can be grasped in advance with a time margin even before the symbol variation display corresponding to the lottery result is started. So-called look-ahead can be done. Therefore, the end timing of the special effect can be grasped in advance with sufficient margin, and the end process of the effect toward the end timing can be sufficiently expressed using the display time of one or more symbol variations. As described above, it is possible to flexibly advance the production according to the lottery result, and it is possible to demarcate the production with consistency by prefetching.

  The lottery means executes a process of selecting any variation pattern from a plurality of variation patterns as a lottery, and transmits the selection result to the effect execution means as a result of the lottery. The end timing of the special effect may be determined according to the selection result of the variation pattern received as a result. According to this aspect, it is possible to determine the end stage of the special effect based on the type of the variation pattern regardless of whether or not the winning / failing result is a win in the pre-read lottery. Therefore, the end of the special effect can be determined according to the degree of expectation for the jackpot set for each variation pattern. As described above, it is possible to flexibly advance the production according to the lottery result, and it is possible to demarcate the production with consistency by prefetching.

  The lottery means executes the process of determining the stop symbol when stopping the display of the symbol variation as a lottery, and transmits the determination result to the effect execution means as the result of the lottery. The effect execution means draws the lottery from the lottery means The end timing of the special effect may be determined according to the determination result of the stop symbol received as a result of. According to this aspect, it is possible to determine the end stage of the special effect based on the type of the stop symbol regardless of whether or not the winning / failing result is a win in the pre-read lottery. Therefore, it is possible to control to end the special effect when the aspect actually displayed on the screen exhibits a specific aspect. As described above, it is possible to flexibly advance the production according to the lottery result, and it is possible to demarcate the production with consistency by prefetching.

  The effect execution means may start the special effect as a predetermined change related to the gaming state when the result of the lottery received from the lottery means satisfies a predetermined start condition. According to this aspect, not only the end stage of the special effect but also the start period can be determined based on the result of prefetching, and a more flexible effect can be realized.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, or the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention may be mutually replaced between methods, apparatuses, systems, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, data structures, etc. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the bullet ball gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to flexibly control the game effects in the gaming machine according to the lottery result.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the pachinko game machine in a present Example. It is a time chart which shows the process from the start of special production to the end. The example of the production content of a special production is shown typically. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement process in a pachinko game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the winning process of S10 in FIG. 6 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the prior determination process of S28 in FIG. 7 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. 6 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the lottery process of S34 in FIG. 9 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the special effect change process of S49 in FIG. 10 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows S16 in FIG. 6 in detail.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic structure on the front side of a pachinko gaming machine. Hereinafter, a so-called first type pachinko game machine, which is conventionally called a bullet ball game machine, will be described as an example. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is mainly composed of a gaming machine frame and a gaming board. The gaming machine frame of the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 11, a front frame 12, a transparent plate 13, a door 14, an upper ball dish 15, a lower ball dish 16, and a launch handle 17. The outer frame 11 has an opening and is a frame for fixing the pachinko gaming machine 10 to a position where it should be installed. The front frame 12 is a frame body that aligns with the opening portion of the outer frame 11, and is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The front frame 12 includes a mechanism for launching a game ball, a mechanism for detachably storing a game board, a mechanism for guiding or collecting the game ball, and the like.

  The transparent plate 13 is made of glass or the like and is supported by the door 14. The door 14 is attached to the front frame 12 so as to be openable and closable by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The upper ball tray 15 has a mechanism for storing game balls, sending the game balls to the launch rail, and extracting the game balls to the lower ball tray 16. The lower ball tray 16 has a mechanism for storing and extracting game balls. A speaker 18 is provided between the upper ball tray 15 and the lower ball tray 16, and a sound effect corresponding to the gaming state is output.

  The game board 50 has an out port 58, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, and a start winning port (hereinafter referred to as “start port”) 62 on a game area 52 defined by the outer rail 54 and the inner rail 56. , A center ornament 64, a grand prize opening 66, an operation opening 68, and a general prize opening 72. Furthermore, in the game area 52, a plurality of mechanisms such as a game nail and a windmill (not shown) are installed. The start port 62 includes a start winning detection device 74 for detecting the entrance of a game ball and a normal electric accessory solenoid 76 for expanding the expansion mechanism of the start port 62. When the expansion mechanism of the start port 62 is expanded, the opening width of the start port 62 is expanded and the ease of entering the ball is improved. The start winning detection device 74 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the start port 62, and generates start win information indicating the winning at the time of entering. The general winning opening 72 includes a general winning detecting device 73 for detecting the entering of a game ball. The general winning detection device 73 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the general winning opening 72, and generates general winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning. The special winning opening 66 includes a winning detection device 78 for detecting the entry of a game ball and a special winning opening solenoid 80 for expanding the special winning opening 66. The winning detection device 78 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the big winning opening 66, and generates big winning opening winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning.

  The big winning opening 66 is a horizontal rectangular winning opening that is opened as a “big hit” when the special symbol 192 stops in a predetermined manner. The big winning opening 66 is provided above the out opening 58 and the like. The winning detection device 78 of the big winning opening 66 includes a sensor that detects the passage of a game ball.

  The special symbol display device 61 provided on the left side of the game area 52 and the effect display device 60 provided in the approximate center of the game area 52 have a variation of the special symbol 192 on each screen and a decoration linked to the special symbol 192. The variation of the effect image including the symbol 190 is displayed (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol variation” or “variation display”). Here, the special symbol 192 is a symbol corresponding to the result of the lottery performed when the game ball is dropped into the start port 62, and the symbol mode when the change display is stopped is determined to be the winning symbol. When the symbol is a symbol, the timing at which the stop symbol is displayed is the jackpot occurrence timing. The special symbol display device 61 is display means composed of, for example, 7 segment LEDs. The effect display device 60 is a liquid crystal display that variably displays the decorative symbol 190 in a manner interlocked with the variation display of the special symbol 192. The decorative symbol 190 is a symbol for visually producing the lottery result display indicated by the special symbol 192. The effect display device 60 displays, as the decorative symbol 190, for example, a plurality of rows of moving images of symbol variation simulating a slot machine game in the central area of the screen. The effect display device 60 is constituted by a liquid crystal display in this embodiment, but may be constituted by a mechanical rotation device such as a drum or other display means such as an LED. Since the special symbol 192 does not necessarily have a role of production, in this embodiment, the special symbol 192 is displayed in an inconspicuous size on the special symbol display device 61 at the lower left of the production display device 60. In the case of adopting a technique in which a decorative role is not displayed and a decorative symbol is not displayed, the special symbol may be displayed on a liquid crystal display such as the effect display device 60. The operation port 68 is provided at the left side position of the game board 50. The operation port 68 includes a passage detection device 69. The passage detection device 69 is a sensor that detects the passage of the game ball to the operation port 68, and generates passage information indicating the passage at the time of passage. The passage of the game ball to the operation port 68 triggers an open lottery to determine whether or not to expand the expansion mechanism of the start port 62. When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, a normal symbol, which is a symbol indicating the result of the open lottery, is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 59. The normal symbol display device 59 is provided on the lower right side of the effect display device 60. When the normal symbol fluctuation display stops after a predetermined time has elapsed, the start port 62 is normally expanded for a predetermined time with a probability of about 50% to 80%.

  A center ornament 64 is provided around the effect display device 60. The center ornament 64 has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60, and decoration. A lottery hold lamp 20 is provided below the effect display device 60, and an operation hold lamp 22 is provided below the normal symbol display device 59 at the lower right of the game area 52, which is a symmetrical position. . The lottery hold lamp 20 is composed of four lamps, and displays the number of lottery holds depending on the number of lights. The number of lottery holds is the number of lottery results won in the starting port 62 during symbol variation or special game, and indicates the number of winning balls for which symbol variation has not yet been executed. The operation holding lamp 22 is also composed of four lamps, and displays the number of holdings of normal symbol fluctuations depending on the number of lights. The number of normal symbol fluctuations held is the number of game balls that have passed through the operation port 68 during the fluctuation of the normal symbol, and indicates the number of normal symbol lotteries for which the fluctuation of the normal symbol has not yet been executed. Furthermore, game effect lamps 90 are respectively provided above and below the effect display device 60. The operation button 82 is a button operated by the player to input a predetermined instruction to the gaming machine. The operation button 82 is provided on the outer wall surface near the upper ball tray 15.

  When the player rotates the launch handle 17 by hand, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 15 are guided one by one to the inner rail 56 and the outer rail 54 with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle, thereby playing the game area. To 52. When the player fixes the rotation position of the firing handle 17 by hand, the game ball is repeatedly fired at regular time intervals. The game ball launched to the upper part of the game area 52 falls in a direction according to the way of hitting while hitting a plurality of game nails and windmills. When a game ball is dropped into each of the general winning opening 72, the start opening 62, and the big winning opening 66, a winning ball corresponding to the type of the winning opening is paid out to the upper ball tray 15 or the lower ball tray 16. A game ball dropped into each winning hole such as the general winning hole 72 is processed as a safe ball, and a game ball dropped into the out hole 58 is processed as an out ball. Each winning opening includes a gate type through which a game ball passes. In the present application, “incoming”, “entering”, and “winning” include “passing”.

  When the game ball falls into the start port 62, the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 are variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60. The variable display of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is stopped after the elapse of the display time determined prior to the display. When the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 at the time of the stop are symbols indicating a big hit, the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, and the opening / closing operation of the big prize opening 66 is started. At this time, the decorative pattern 190 simulating a game of a slot machine takes a display mode in which three symbols are matched. In the special game, the grand prize winning slot 66 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after nine or more game balls are dropped. Such opening / closing of the big prize opening 66 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times.

  In the normal game after the end of the special game, a variable time shortening game (hereinafter referred to as “time reduction” as appropriate) that is one of the specific games is started. In the variation time shortening game, the variation time of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is shortened from the normal time. The variation time of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is returned to the original variation time after the variation display of a predetermined variation number is performed. When a special game occurs and the winning stop pattern at that time is in a specific mode, a probability variation game (hereinafter referred to as “probability change” as appropriate) that is one of the specific games after the special game ends Be started. In the probability variation game, a lottery with a higher win probability than the normal probability state is performed, and a new special game is generated relatively early.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic structure on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine. The power switch 40 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main board 102 controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and processes all game operations such as a lottery when a winning is made to the start port 62. The sub board 104 includes the liquid crystal unit 42 and controls display contents on the effect display device 60, operations of the plurality of movable objects 140, and lighting of the game effect lamp 90, and in particular, display contents according to the lottery result by the main board 102. And the lighting of the movable accessory 140 and the game effect lamp 90 is activated along with the progress of the production. The main board 102 and the sub board 104 constitute a game control device 100. The set base 39 includes a prize ball tank 44, a flow path for prize balls, a payout unit 43 for delivering prize balls. The payout unit 43 pays out the game balls supplied from the winning ball tank 44 to the upper ball tray 15 in accordance with winning in each winning opening. The payout control board 45 controls the payout operation by the payout unit 43. The launching device 46 launches the stored balls in the upper ball tray 15 to the game area 52 one by one. The launch control board 47 controls the launch operation of the launch device 46. The power supply unit 48 supplies power to each part of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  FIG. 3 shows functional blocks of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in the present embodiment. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the game control device 100 includes a start port 62, a big winning port 66, a general winning port 72, an operating port 68, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, a normal symbol display device 59, and operation buttons 82. The speaker 18, the game effect lamp 90, and the movable accessory 140 are electrically connected to each other, and can transmit and receive various control signals. The game control device 100 controls not only the basic operation of the game but also the staging operations such as the symbol variation display, the movable accessory 140, and the electric decoration. The game control device 100 is configured in such a manner that functions are shared by a main board 102 that controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 including basic operations of the game, and a sub board 104 that controls design effects and the like. The game control device 100 is configured to include elements such as a ROM and a RAM for storing data and programs and a CPU used for arithmetic processing in terms of hardware.

  The main board 102 in this embodiment includes a ball entering determination unit 110, a lottery unit 111, a holding control unit 116, a main display control unit 118, a special game control unit 120, a specific game execution unit 122, and an opening / closing control unit 124. The sub-board 104 in this embodiment includes a pattern storage unit 130, an effect determination unit 132, an effect display control unit 134, an accessory control unit 136, and an effect execution unit 138. Each functional block included in the main board 102 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the sub board 104 instead of the main board 102. Similarly, each functional block included in the sub-board 104 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the main board 102 instead of the sub-board 104.

  However, since data transmission / reception between the main board 102 and the sub-board 104 is unidirectional from the main board 102 to the sub-board 104, each data transmission / reception in such one direction can realize each operation. The configuration is arranged on the main board 102 and the sub board 104. In this way, since the unidirectionality of data transmission from the main board 102 to the sub board 104 is maintained, data cannot be transmitted from the configuration included in the sub board 104 to the configuration included in the main board 102. It is not possible to request data transmission. Therefore, the information generated on the main board 102 cannot be referred to from the sub board 104 unless the main board 102 transmits the information to the sub board 104 unilaterally.

  The entrance determination means 110 determines whether or not a game ball has entered each winning opening. When receiving the start winning information, the winning determination means 110 determines that the game ball has won the start opening 62, and when receiving the big winning opening winning information, determines that the game ball has won the big winning opening 66, and the general winning is obtained. When the information is received, it is determined that the game ball has won the general winning opening 72. Upon receiving the passage information, the entry determination unit 110 determines that the game ball has passed through the operation port 68.

  The lottery means 111 executes the lottery with the ball entering the start port 62 as an opportunity. In the lottery by the lottery means 111, whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, determination of whether to shift to a special game, symbol determination to determine a symbol variation stop symbol, symbol variation variation Pattern determination for determining a pattern.

  When the lottery unit 111 starts the symbol variation, the lottery unit 111 transmits the lottery result corresponding to the symbol variation to the effect determining unit 132 and the effect executing unit 138. Further, the lottery means 111 executes a lottery as a pre-determination process even when entering the starting port 62, and transmits the lottery result to the effect execution means 138. As described above, the result of the preliminary determination process is transmitted to the effect execution means 138 regardless of whether or not the symbol variation display corresponding to the lottery is immediately started. Therefore, for the sub-board 104 side, a process called “prefetching” is realized in which the result of the success / failure can be recognized in advance before the start of the symbol variation start.

  The lottery unit 111 includes a lottery value acquisition unit 112, a success / failure determination unit 113, and a symbol variation determination unit 114. The lottery value acquisition unit 112 acquires a random number value as a success / failure lottery value in order to determine whether or not the game ball has entered the start port 62. For example, the success / failure lottery value is acquired from a value range from “0” to “65535”. The “random number” in the present application may not be a mathematically generated random number, but may be a pseudo-random number generated by a hardware random number, a software random number, or the like.

  The success / failure determination unit 113 holds a plurality of success / failure tables referred to in the determination of success / failure. In the plurality of success / failure tables, a determination result of winning or losing is associated with a lottery value, and the success / failure probability is determined according to the associated winning range setting. The success / failure determination unit 113 refers to a success / failure table for determination of success / failure based on the normal probability at the normal time, and refers to a correct / failure table in which the probability of winning is higher than the normal probability when the probability changes. The success / failure determination unit 113 refers to any one of the plurality of success / failure tables, and determines whether or not the success / failure lottery value is a win. The determination result by the success / failure determination unit 113 is variably displayed in the special symbol display device 61 in the form of a special symbol. In addition, a decorative design that shows the determination result by the success / failure determination unit 113 in an effect manner is variably displayed on the effect display device 60.

  The symbol variation determining means 114 determines the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbols to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61 according to the result of the validity determination by the validity determination means 113. Further, the symbol variation determining means 114 determines the stop symbol of the normal symbol to be displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 by lottery. The stop symbol is a symbol to be displayed at the end of symbol variation. The symbol variation determination means 114 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a special symbol or a normal symbol stop symbol, or a variation pattern table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

  The symbol variation determination means 114 acquires a symbol determination lottery value for determining a special symbol, and determines a stop symbol of the special symbol according to the determination result of the success / failure determination unit 113 and the symbol determination lottery value. The symbol variation determining unit 114 selects one of a plurality of variation patterns according to the result of the determination as to whether or not the result is determined by the determination unit 113. The symbol variation determining means 114 sends data indicating the determined stop symbol and variation pattern to the main display control means 118, the effect determining means 132, and the effect executing means 138.

  The symbol variation determining means 114 stores, in the form of a variation pattern table, the correspondence between a plurality of types of variation patterns in which the variation mode from variation start to stop when the special symbol is variably displayed and pattern selection lottery values. To do. Multiple types of variation patterns have various variation times. That is, for each variation pattern, a variation display time is defined for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the variation of the special symbol is stopped when the variation display time elapses.

  The symbol variation determining means 114 has a plurality of variation pattern tables, and refers to different variation pattern tables depending on the gaming state. For example, reference is made to a variation pattern table that differs depending on whether the result is correct or not. In addition, a variation pattern table to be referred to in a short time and a plurality of variation pattern tables corresponding to each number of suspensions by the suspension control unit 116 are held. In this embodiment, a variation pattern table to be referred to in special effects described later is further held.

  A plurality of types of variation patterns are associated with lottery values in the variation pattern table. The selection probability is determined by the size of the lottery value range associated with each variation pattern. Further, the variation pattern depends on the size of the lottery value range associated in the variation pattern table referenced at the time of winning or the size of the lottery value range associated in the variation pattern table referenced at the time of losing. The probability of being selected when hit is determined. Thereby, the expectation degree for the jackpot for each variation pattern is determined.

  When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, the symbol variation determining means 114 acquires a lottery random number for determining a normal symbol, and determines a stop symbol of the normal symbol according to the lottery random number. When the stop symbol of the normal symbol is a specific symbol, the opening / closing control means 124 expands the normal electric accessory at the start port 62 for a predetermined time.

  The holding control means 116, when the winning / not determining lottery value is acquired by the lottery value acquiring means 112 as a new lottery, when the change display of the symbol corresponding to the previous lottery is still being made, It is held as a holding ball until the variable display of the symbol corresponding to the lottery starts. The success / failure lottery value is accumulated until the number of holds reaches a predetermined upper limit. The upper limit of the number of holds is 4.

  The main display control means 118 causes the special symbol display device 61 to display the result of the lottery by the success / failure determination means 113 as a special symbol variation display according to the variation pattern determined by the symbol variation determination means 114. The main display control means 118 transmits the change start command and the change stop command to the effect display control means 134 at the timing of starting and stopping the change display of the special symbol, so that the main display control means 118 and the effect display are displayed. The fluctuation display by the control means 134 is synchronized and interlocked. The main display control means 118 causes the normal symbol display device 59 to display normal symbol fluctuations.

  The special game control means 120 controls the execution process of the special game when the result of winning / not-winning lottery by the winning / failing determining means 113 is a win. The special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is continuously continued a plurality of times, and is constituted by one or a plurality of unit games with one opening / closing as a unit. The unit game is repeated up to 15 times, for example, and the grand prize opening 66 is opened for about 30 seconds in one unit game. If the number of continuations of the unit game has not reached the upper limit number, the special game control means 120 starts the next unit game after the end of the current unit game. When the upper limit number of unit games is exhausted, the special game is terminated.

  The specific game execution means 122 executes control for shifting the game state from the normal state to the specific game state, and control for returning from the specific game state to the normal state. The specific game in this embodiment has a probability change in which the winning probability of the winning / failing lottery is switched from a normal probability state to a high probability state and a short time in which the symbol variation time is switched from a normal time to a short time.

  The specific game executing means 122 shifts the gaming state after the special game to the probability changing state when the winning / failing lottery value is a value to be shifted to the probability changing state. The probability variation state is continued until the next jackpot occurs in principle, and during that time, the probability of the hit determination by the success / failure determination means 113 is maintained at a high value. In addition, the specific game executing means 122 shifts the game state to the time-shortened state after the special game regardless of the winning lottery value. The short time is continued until the number of changes in the special symbol after the special game reaches a predetermined number, for example, 100 times.

  The opening / closing control means 124 controls the opening / closing of the ordinary electric accessory at the start opening 62 and the special winning opening 66. When the normal symbol is stopped at a specific symbol, the opening / closing control unit 124 sends an opening instruction to the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 76 to open the start port 62. Further, the opening / closing control means 124 sends an opening instruction to the special winning opening solenoid 80 during the special game, and opens the special winning opening 66.

  The pattern storage unit 130 holds a plurality of variation pattern data in which a variation process from variation start to stop in variation display is defined as a variation pattern of the effect image including the decorative design. In the fluctuation pattern, a pattern for displaying a normal out symbol, a pattern for displaying a symbol out of reach after reaching a big win if one more symbols are aligned, and a jackpot symbol through a reach state are displayed. When the pattern is included. In particular, the pattern when reaching the reach state includes patterns having various fluctuation times. For each variation pattern, a variation time is defined for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the symbol variation is stopped when the variation time elapses. The effect determining means 132 selects the variation pattern of the effect image having the same variation time as that of the special symbol according to the variation pattern of the special symbol.

  The effect determining means 132 selects the combination of stop patterns of decorative symbols and their arrangement and variation pattern according to the determination result of the success / failure determination means 113 and the determination result of the stop symbol or variation pattern of the special symbol.

  The stop symbol of the decorative symbol is formed as a combination of three symbols. For example, when the determination result by the success / failure determination means 113 indicates a shift to a special game, three symbols such as “777” and “111” are arranged. A combination is selected. In this case, it is preferable that the same numbers as the special symbols are selected as the numbers to be arranged as the decorative symbols. For example, when the special symbol is “3”, the decorative symbol is “333”. When the determination result by the success / failure determination unit 113 indicates that the game does not shift to the special game, a combination that does not have three symbols such as “312” and “946” is selected. However, if the determination result is that the game does not shift to a special game, and a variation pattern of a special symbol indicating a loss with reach is selected, only one such as “191” or “727” is selected. Select a combination that does not have the same pattern. The effect determining unit 132 sends information about the stop symbol of the decorative symbol and the variation pattern of the effect image to the effect display control unit 134.

  The effect display control unit 134 causes the effect display device 60 to variably display the effect image according to the selected variation pattern data as a result of the success / failure lottery by the success / failure determination unit 113. The effect display control means 134 further controls effect processing such as lighting and extinguishing of the game effect lamp 90 and sound output from the speaker 18.

  In accordance with the instruction received from the effect display control means 134, the accessory control means 136 causes the movable accessory 140 to act in an effect manner in accordance with the effect contents in the effect display device 60 and the blinking process of the game effect lamp 90.

  The effect execution means 138 determines execution of a special effect that is an effect that can be continued over a period in which the symbol is variably displayed with an indefinite variable number of times. This special effect is an effect displayed over a plurality of symbol variations, and expresses a continuous and consistent story over a plurality of symbol variations. During the special effect, the effect content is displayed on the effect display device 60 by using the special effect change pattern as the change pattern. That is, when the effect execution means 138 determines the start of the special effect, the effect selection means 132 replaces the variation pattern selected by the effect determination means 132 with the variation pattern for special effects. While the special effect is executed, the symbol variation determining means 114 replaces the variation pattern table with the special effect variation pattern table. All the variation times of the plurality of variation patterns associated with the lottery values in the variation pattern table for special effects are fixed to “10 seconds”. Accordingly, the variation time is the same regardless of which variation pattern is selected.

  The special effect is triggered by a predetermined change regarding the game state, and when the lottery result of “prefetching” received from the lottery means 111 satisfies a predetermined end condition, the symbol variation display corresponding to the lottery result is executed. Ended as an opportunity. In this embodiment, the special effect is started assuming that the start condition is satisfied when the game state changes from the special game to the normal game. Further, when the lottery result is a lottery result with a high expectation level for the jackpot, the special effect is ended on the assumption that the end condition is satisfied. A lottery result with a high degree of expectation for a big win is, for example, a result of determining whether a win corresponding to a win or a reach variation pattern with a high degree of expectation for a win is selected.

  Special effects are positioned as special effects that appear after the end of the special game, but there is no provision of the effect display period based on the number of symbol changes from the beginning to the end, and it will continue until the beginning. Or appear undecided. After that, if it is determined that the lottery result of prefetching satisfies the end condition during execution of the special effect, the end timing of the special effect is determined, and the special effect ends until the symbol variation display corresponding to the result of the lottery The content of the special production is changed to an ending production based on the premise that

  As described above, it is possible to flexibly advance the production according to the lottery result, and it is possible to demarcate the production with consistency by prefetching. The content displayed as the special effect is determined by the variation pattern selected by the effect determining means 132 during the special effect. The effect determining means 132 sequentially selects a variation pattern corresponding to each aspect of the story so that a consistent story proceeds as a special effect in order.

  When the content of the special effect is changed to the ending effect, the effect executing unit 138 replaces the variation pattern selected by the effect determining unit 132 with the variation pattern for the ending effect. As a result, the variation pattern constituting the content of the ending effect is selected, and a consistent story for the end of the special effect is displayed. The effect executing means 138 controls the symbol fluctuation determining means 114 to return from the special effect fluctuation pattern table to the normal fluctuation pattern table when the special effect ends. Note that the variation pattern table used in the prior determination may be returned to the normal variation pattern table at a timing earlier than the end timing of the special effect, that is, a timing when the lottery result satisfies the termination condition.

  FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the process from the start to the end of the special effect. First, when the special game ends, the special effect is started assuming that the start condition is satisfied (t1). At this point, the end of the special performance is undecided. After the start of the special effect, the fluctuation time of the fluctuation pattern is fixed to a certain time, for example, “10 seconds”. The scale on the time axis shown in the figure indicates the start and end of the symbol variation. The black dots drawn between these breaks indicate the timing of entering the starting port 62 and the lottery timing triggered by the entrance. Since the lottery is executed as a preliminary determination whenever there is a ball entering the start port 62, the execution timing does not depend on the timing of the start and end of symbol variation and is irrelevant. When a pre-determination is executed as a new lottery during symbol variation, the lottery value is held until the corresponding symbol variation is subsequently started. Therefore, the effect execution means 138 can recognize the result of the prior determination as so-called “prefetching” before the timing of symbol variation.

  When the pre-determined lottery result is the content that satisfies the end condition, it is determined that “after 4 changes” is the end timing based on the number of holds until the symbol change display corresponding to the lottery result (t2) Then, after the symbol variation started thereafter, the content of the effect is changed, and the ending effect for the end of the special effect is started (t3). When the symbol variation display corresponding to the lottery result satisfying the end condition ends, the special effect ends with the end of the ending effect (t4). At this time, the variation pattern table for special effects is returned to the normal variation pattern table.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of the contents of special effects. FIG. 5A is an example of a screen when the special effect is started. On the display screen 200, the variation of the decorative pattern 190 is displayed slightly smaller in the lower right, and a special effect is displayed using other areas. The example in this figure is an effect simulating a car race. A scene in which two cars have started is displayed, and a character string “START!” Indicating the start of a special effect is displayed in the information area 210. At this point in time, the end of the special effect has not been determined, and thereafter, images of race cars competing as a special effect are displayed while repeating the pattern variation. At that time, the number of changes may be displayed in the form of the number of laps of the race every time the symbol change starts. In particular, since the variation time is constant during special production, it is easy to set production changes at regular intervals, such as counting up the number of laps of a race, and it is possible to easily design consistent production contents. .

  FIG. 5B is a screen example of the ending effect in the special effect. The display screen 200 displays the content that the cars of the race are competing with each other, and the information area 210 has a character string of “4 more laps!” Indicating that the remaining number of fluctuations until the end of the special effect is 4 times. Is displayed. At this point, there are multiple symbol variations until the end of the special performance, but by prefetching the lottery results, you can start the production toward the end in advance, and the production will end suddenly Can be avoided, and the consistency of performance can be maintained.

  FIG. 5C is a screen example of a special effect end scene. The display screen 200 displays the content of the moment when the car in the race finishes, but shows that the car that suggests the player is able to finish first or is competing with a close margin so that it is not known until the end. As a result, if the car suggesting the player finishes first and wins the race, it indicates that a jackpot has occurred, and if it loses the race, it indicates that it has been missed. In this end scene, the decorative symbol 190 is displayed in a reach manner in the lower right area, and the character string “Final Wrap!” Is displayed in the information area 210 indicating that the special effect ends with this symbol variation. Here, assuming that the screen of FIG. 5C appears without the appearance of an ending effect over a plurality of symbol variations due to prefetching, the character string “Final Wrap!” Is displayed without any precautions. It will be. In view of the storyline of the production, it is unnatural that the last lap is displayed suddenly. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the special effect is terminated after the ending effect is displayed in advance, so that the consistency of the effect can be maintained.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a basic operation process in the pachinko gaming machine. First, processing is performed when the game ball has won the start opening 62, the general winning opening 72, the big winning opening 66, etc. (S10), and if it is not in a special game (N in S12), a normal game such as symbol variation is performed. If the special game is in progress (Y of S12), the special game control process is executed (S16). Thereafter, award ball payout according to various winnings is processed with the number of winning balls set in the winning process of S10 (S18).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing in detail the winning process of S10 in FIG. If there is a ball in the starting port 62 (Y in S20), the number of prize balls corresponding to the starting port 62 is set (S22). If the ball is entering the starting port 62, it is referred to whether or not the number of holds by the hold control means 116 is less than 4, and if the hold is possible (Y in S24), the lottery value acquisition means 112 is The winning / bad lottery value is acquired (S26). A pre-judgment process for lottery based on the winning / failing lottery value is executed (S28), and the winning / losing lottery value is held in the hold control means 116 (S30). If there is no ball entering the starting port 62 in S20, the processing from S22 to S30 is skipped (N in S20). If the number of holds reaches the upper limit in S24 and further holding is impossible, the processing from S26 to S30 is skipped (N in S24). The above processing from S20 to S30 is a winning process for the ball entering the starting port 62.

  If there is a winning at the general winning opening 72 (Y of S32), the number of winning balls corresponding to the general winning opening 72 is set (S34), and if there is no winning at the general winning opening 72, S34 is skipped. (N in S32). If there is a ball in the big prize opening 66 (Y of S36), the number of prize balls corresponding to the big prize slot 66 is set (S38), and if there is no ball in the big prize slot 66, S38 is skipped. (N in S36).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing in detail the advance determination process of S28 in FIG. First, the success / failure determination unit 113 executes a determination as a prior determination (S40), the symbol variation determination unit 114 determines a stop symbol of a special symbol as a preliminary determination (S42), and the symbol variation determination unit 114 varies as a preliminary determination. A pattern is determined (S44). The results of the determination of success / failure, symbol determination, and pattern determination are temporarily stored in the transmission buffer (S46) and transmitted to the effect execution means 138 (S48).

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. In the normal game control process, if the winning / failing lottery value is on hold (Y in S30) and the symbol variation is not being displayed (N in S32), the lottery means 111 executes the lottery process (S34). ). In accordance with the determination result, the main display control means 118 starts changing display, transmits a change start command to the effect display control means 134, and the effect display control means 134 that receives the command displays the effect image according to the change pattern data. The fluctuation display is started (S36). At this time, if the special effect is being performed, the symbol variation in the variation pattern corresponding to the special effect is started, and the special effect is also started. If the winning / losing lottery value is not held in S30 (N in S30), the processing from S32 to S36 is skipped, and if the symbol variation is being displayed in S32 (Y in S32), S34 and S36. Is skipped. Subsequently, if the symbol variation display has already been started (Y in S38), symbol variation display processing is executed (S39), and when the predetermined variation time has elapsed and the symbol display stop timing has been reached (S40). Y), the symbol variation being displayed is stopped (S42). At this time, if the special effect is being performed, the symbol variation in the variation pattern corresponding to the special effect is stopped, and the special effect ends. In that case, the variation pattern table for special effects is returned to the normal variation pattern table. If the symbol display stop timing has not been reached, the process of S42 is skipped and the flow of this figure is terminated (N in S40). When the symbol variation display is not started (N in S38), the processing from S39 to S42 is skipped.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail the lottery process of S34 in FIG. First, the lottery value acquisition unit 112 reads out the winning / notifying lottery value (S43), and based on the winning / losing lottery value, the success / failure determining unit 113 determines the success / failure (S44). The symbol variation determining means 114 determines a stop symbol of the special symbol based on the determination result (S46), and selects the variation pattern of the special symbol (S48). The effect execution means 138 processes the content change of the special effect (S49), and the effect determination means 132 determines the stop symbol combination of the decorative symbols based on the determination result and the special symbol (S50), and the special symbol variation pattern A variation pattern of the decorative design is selected according to (S52). Here, when the special effect is being performed, the variation pattern for the special effect is selected in S52. Further, if the content of the special effect has been changed in S49, a variation pattern for the ending effect is selected in S52.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing in detail the special effect changing process of S49 in FIG. When the special effect is not being performed (N in S54), the entire flow of this figure is skipped. If the special effect is being executed (Y in S54), and it is found that the lottery result satisfying the end condition is included in the held lottery (Y in S56), the effect is directed toward the end of the special effect. The content is changed to the ending effect (S58), and if the lottery result that satisfies the end condition is not included in the lottery that is put on hold (N of S56), S58 is skipped.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail S16 in FIG. First, if the big prize opening 66 has not been opened (N in S70), the production display control means 134 starts the special game production process (S72), and the open / close control means 124 opens the special prize opening 66 (S74). ). If the big winning opening 66 has been opened, S72 and S74 are skipped (Y in S70). When the predetermined opening time has elapsed since the grand prize opening 66 was opened (Y in S76), or the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76), there are nine or more game balls to the big winning opening 66 When the player has entered the ball (Y in S78), the opening / closing control means 124 closes the special winning opening 66 (S80). If the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76) and the number of balls entered into the grand prize winning opening 66 has not reached nine or more (N in S78), the processing after S80 is skipped and the flow of S16 Exit.

  If the number of rounds of the unit game has reached 15 after closing the special winning opening 66 in S80 (Y in S82), the effect display control means 134 ends the effect processing of the special game (S84), and the special game control means 120 ends the special game (S86). A special effect is started with the end of the special game (S88). If the number of rounds has not reached 15 (N in S82), 1 is added to the number of rounds and the flow of S16 is terminated (S90).

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the change of the game state from the special game to the normal game is used as a trigger for starting the special effect. In a modification, it is good also considering the change of another game state or operation | movement as a start opportunity of special production. For example, a change from a normal state to a probable state, a change from a probabilistic state to a normal state, or a change from a normal state to a short-time state, or a change from a short-time state to a normal state, Also good. Alternatively, the lottery result received from the lottery means 111 may be a start trigger when a predetermined start condition is satisfied, and as a result, both the start trigger and the end trigger may be dependent on the pre-read lottery result. For example, it may be triggered by the occurrence of a highly anticipated reach variation, the number of reach misses reaching a predetermined number, the occurrence of a symbol variation due to a variation pattern with a specific performance content, etc. .

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the appearance of a lottery result with a high degree of expectation for a jackpot is used as an end trigger for the special effect. In the modification, the end trigger may be that a specific stop symbol has been selected, or the end timing may be a timing at which the number of reserved lottery results shows a predetermined change. Alternatively, the end of the lottery value itself may be a predetermined value.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the special effect is displayed by switching the variation pattern has been described. In a modified example, it may be displayed in the form of an effect such as a so-called notice display in which appearance is determined separately from symbol variation. Alternatively, a special effect may be realized in the form of switching the effect mode.

  In the above embodiment, the conventional so-called first type pachinko gaming machine has been described as an example. In a modified example, the present invention may be realized in a model in which a plurality of first type pachinko gaming machines are combined into one model and fused. In that case, there are a plurality of start winning openings, lottery means, special symbols, hold control means, and the like, and the game is as if the first game and the second game are mixed. For example, if the ball enters the first start winning opening, it is held by the first holding control means, and if it enters the second start winning opening, it is held by the second holding control means. When the second hold control means has a hold, the symbol variation is started regardless of whether or not the first hold control means has a hold. On the contrary, as long as there is a hold in the second hold control means, the symbol variation corresponding to the lottery value held in the first hold control means is not started. That is, the holding lottery value of the second holding control means is preferentially digested over the holding lottery value of the first holding control means, and the symbol variation is started. In such a game, for example, even if it is found that the lottery result held by the first holding control means satisfies the special effect end condition, the player aims to hit the second start winning opening. Subsequently, the lottery result satisfying the end condition held in the first hold control means is not digested unless the hold by the second hold control means is lost. In this way, a game is realized in which the end of the special effect can be substantially postponed depending on whether the player aims at the first start winning opening or the second starting winning opening.

  10 Pachinko machines, 50 game boards, 52 game areas, 60 effect display devices, 61 special symbol display devices, 62 start openings, 90 game effect lamps, 100 game control devices, 111 lottery means, 116 hold control means, 118 main display Control means, 130 pattern storage means, 138 effect execution means.

Claims (2)

A game board in which a game area is formed;
A start winning opening provided at a predetermined position in the game area, and a game ball entering is a chance to execute a lottery;
Lottery means for executing the lottery in order to determine whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, triggered by entering the starting winning opening;
A symbol display device in which symbols for indicating the result of the lottery are displayed in a variable manner;
Display control means for variably displaying the symbol on the symbol display device according to a variation pattern in which the variation process of the symbol is determined;
A hold control means for holding the result of the new lottery until the start of variable display of the symbol corresponding to the lottery when the symbol corresponding to the previous lottery is displayed when the new lottery is executed When,
As a result of the lottery, a special game control means for executing the special game when it is determined that the game is shifted to the special game and the symbol is stopped at a predetermined winning symbol;
As a special effect that is an effect that can be continued over a period in which the symbol is variably displayed with an indefinite variable number of times, based on a special effect variation pattern table that has a different relationship with the variation time than the normal variation pattern table When an effect using the selected variation pattern for special effects is displayed, and the lottery result received from the lottery means satisfies a predetermined end condition, triggered by the execution of the symbol variation display corresponding to the lottery result Production execution means for ending the special production;
With
The lottery means is provided in a main control device that controls the progress of the game, and the effect execution means is provided in a sub-control device that controls the operation of the effect in the game,
The lottery means transmits the result to the effect executing means regardless of whether or not the symbol variation display corresponding to the lottery is immediately started when a new lottery is executed,
If it is determined that the lottery result received from the lottery means during the execution of the special effect satisfies the end condition, the effect executing unit is configured to display the special variation until the symbol variation display corresponding to the lottery result. A bullet ball game machine characterized in that the content of the special effect is changed to a content premised on the end of the effect.   2. The bullet ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the variation patterns for special effects associated with the special effect variation pattern table have a common fixed value for all the variation times.

Images