JP2011030725A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent disadvantage related to extract processing for a random number used in win/lose lottery of a Pachinko game machine. <P>SOLUTION: This Pachinko game machine includes a game control means for controlling a game according to a game control program. The game control means is provided with a random number generating part for generating a random number used in win/lose lottery under the control of another system different from the game control program. The game control means is configured to perform the random number fetch determination processing for determining whether or not a random number generated by the random number generating part can be fetched according to the game control program and the lose random number fetch processing for causing to perform the random number fetch processing for fetching a random number in a predetermined storage area when the random number fetch enabling state is confirmed, and on the other hand, for causing to perform the lose random number fetch processing for fetching a lose random number which is not winning in the win/lose lottery in the predetermined storage area when the random number fetch enabling state is not confirmed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine, and more particularly to a ball game machine having a configuration for generating a random number used for a winning / losing lottery by a control different from a game control program governing a game.

  In general, a ball game machine is program-controlled by a control device having a CPU. The game control program performs an interrupt (INT) process every 2 ms or 4 ms, thereby updating various random values, determining input from various switches, determining whether or not it is correct, displaying control of a special symbol display, It is configured to execute various processes related to game control such as a display instruction and a prize ball payout instruction to the prize ball control board.

  In a ball game machine that makes a lottery decision for special symbols, etc., it is common to use a software random number that is updated on the program every time the interrupt (INT) process is performed as a random number for jackpot determination used in the determination of success or failure. However, in recent years, hardware random numbers that are generated on the hardware side composed of a semiconductor integrated circuit have been adopted because the update speed is significantly faster than software random numbers and an anti-fraud effect can be expected (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  The configuration using this type of hardware random number is the same as the configuration using the software random number. When the game ball enters the starting port within the interrupt (INT) process of the game control program, the hardware random number Capture. In this case, since the CPU program processing and the timing of hardware random number generation are different, the CPU can poll the random number information as to whether or not the hardware random number can be fetched and fetch the hardware random number. After confirming that it is in the correct state, the hardware random number is taken into the jackpot determination random number storage area. Then, whether or not the lottery is determined is determined based on the numerical value of the hardware random number fetched into the storage area.

JP 2000-061087 A

By the way, in a conventional ball game machine using hardware random numbers, when hardware random numbers are fetched, the generation of hardware random numbers must be confirmed by polling the control program, and the hardware It becomes difficult to read random number information such as whether or not a random number has been generated, and hardware random numbers cannot be confirmed. When an unexpected situation occurs, it is not possible to get out of polling processing, and game control program processing is first performed. There is a risk that a malfunction (CPU freeze state) may occur. When this state is reached, it is not possible to back up a gaming state or the like that represents the operating state of various functions such as probability change, time reduction, and release extension.
In order to solve the problem and play a normal game, the CPU must be restarted. However, since the gaming state is not backed up, when the game is restarted, the original gaming state cannot be restored, and there is a possibility that the player may be disadvantaged by returning from the probability changing state to the normal probability.
Therefore, the present invention prevents the CPU from freezing related to hardware random number capture, can back up the gaming state even in the event of an unexpected situation, even if the CPU is restarted, it returns to the original gaming state, An object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine that does not give a disadvantage to a player.

The bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 performs a lottery determination when a game ball launched on the game board enters a predetermined game area, and it is advantageous for the player to acquire a prize ball according to the result of the lottery. In a ball game machine that makes it possible to execute special games,
Game control means for controlling the progress of the game including the winning / failing lottery by executing a game control program;
Provided in the game control means, comprising a random number generator for generating random numbers used in the winning / losing lottery by control of a system different from the game control program,
The game control means, according to the game control program, determines whether or not the random number generation unit is ready to fetch the random number after requesting the random number generation unit to fetch the random number. Capture decision processing;
A random number fetching process for fetching the random number into a predetermined storage area when it is confirmed by the random number fetching determination process that the random number can be fetched;
Loss random number acquisition process that is executed when it is not confirmed by the random number acquisition determination process that the random number can be acquired, and the predetermined random number is a winning random number that is not won in the lottery determination It is set as the structure which has.

Here, the lost random numbers that are not won in the lottery lottery may be random numbers that do not cause a special game (for example, a game that is advantageous for winning a prize ball with the opening of a big prize opening or an ordinary electric accessory), and is fixed. There is no problem as a value or a fluctuation value.
According to the ball game machine of claim 1, even if it is not possible to confirm that it is possible to take in a random number such as an unexpected situation, for example, a random number is not generated, Instead of continuing the polling process, the game random number that causes the winning / failing lottery to be lost is taken into a predetermined storage area for taking the random number, so that the game can be continued without the game control means being frozen.

The bullet ball game machine according to claim 2 is the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1,
The game control means counts the number of times the lost random number fetching process is executed, and when the number of execution times reaches a predetermined number, an error determination process that considers an error of the random number generation unit;
An error notification process that is executed at the time of error determination and notifies the occurrence of an error is adopted.

Here, the number of times the lost random number fetching process is executed may be the number of times when it is not confirmed that the random number fetching process is in a state where the random number can be fetched.
According to the ball game machine of claim 2, if the random number is not taken in from the random number generator and the loss random number is taken in continuously, there is a high possibility that the random number generator is defective. Therefore, the fact can be notified as an error, and the player's damage caused by the continuous acquisition of the lost random number can be suppressed.

The bullet ball game machine according to claim 3 is the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The game control means counts the number of times the lost random number fetching process is executed, and when the number of execution times reaches a predetermined number, an error determination process that considers an error of the random number generation unit;
A backup transfer process is executed at the time of error determination and shifts to a backup process for maintaining the current gaming state.

Here, the number of times the lost random number fetching process is executed may be the number of times when it is not confirmed that the random number fetching process is in a state where the random number can be fetched.
According to the ball game machine according to claim 3, if random number is not taken in from the random number generator and the random number is continuously fetched, there is a high possibility that the random number generator is defective. . In this case, there is a possibility that the above-mentioned problem may be solved by restarting the ball game machine, and since the game control means is not frozen as in the conventional case at the time of restart, the probability change, time reduction, open extension in advance Thus, it is possible to shift to a backup process of a gaming state or the like that represents the operating status of various functions, and the player is not penalized by returning to the original gaming state after restarting.

The bullet ball game machine according to claim 4 is the bullet ball game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The game control means includes a power-on process and a basic process that is repeatedly executed after the power-on process,
The basic process includes a power outage detection process for detecting the occurrence of a power outage, and when the power outage is detected, the backup process for maintaining the gaming state at that time is executed,
Each time the basic process is executed, the power failure detection process and the random number acquisition determination process are executed,
When it is not confirmed that the random number can be captured by the random number capture determination process, the lost random number capture process and the error determination process are executed.
In addition, when the error determination is made in the error determination process, the ball game machine has a configuration in which the backup process is executed from the power failure detection process by the backup migration process in the same manner as when a power failure is detected.
The configuration is to execute.

  According to the bullet ball game machine of claim 4, in the basic process that is repeatedly executed after the power-on process, the power failure can be detected, the random number acquisition determination process and the error determination process can be performed. Processing can be used effectively.

The bullet ball game machine according to claim 5 is the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1,
The game control means includes a power-on process and a basic process that is repeatedly executed after the power-on process,
The basic process includes a power outage detection process for detecting the occurrence of a power outage, and when the power outage is detected, the backup process for maintaining the gaming state at that time is executed,
Each time the basic process is executed, the power failure detection process and the random number acquisition determination process are repeated until the random number acquisition determination process confirms that the random number can be acquired. Let it run,
When it is not confirmed that the random number can be captured by the random number capture determination process, the lost random number capture process and the error determination process are executed.
In addition, when the error determination is made in the error determination process, the ball game machine has a configuration in which the backup process is executed from the power failure detection process by the backup migration process in the same manner as when a power failure is detected.
The configuration is to execute.

  According to the ball game machine according to claim 5, in the basic process that is repeatedly executed after the power-on process, the power failure detection process and the random number acquisition determination process are confirmed to be in a state in which random numbers can be acquired. Since both processes are repeatedly executed until an error occurs, a backup process can be quickly performed when an error occurs.

It is a front view of a ball game machine to which the present invention is applied. It is a front view of the game board of the said ball game machine. It is a rear view of the said ball game machine. It is an electrical block diagram of the said ball game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the game process performed with the main control apparatus (game control means) of the said ball game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the interruption (NMI) process performed with the said main controller. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the interruption (INT) process performed with the said main controller. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the start winning process performed with the said main controller. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the error determination process performed with the said main controller. It is explanatory drawing regarding the pending | holding memory | storage of the said bullet ball game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the game process 1 performed with the main control apparatus of the other ball game machine to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the start winning process 1 performed with the said main controller. It is a flowchart which shows the control content of the game process 2 performed with the main control apparatus of the further another ball game machine to which this invention is applied.

A pachinko machine as a ball game machine to which the present invention is applied will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine 50 has a structure in which each part of the configuration is held by an outer frame 51 that forms a vertically long fixed outer frame holding frame. The outer frame 51 is provided with a front frame (glass frame) 52 into which a glass plate 61 is fitted and an inner frame to be described later, which can be opened and closed, via a hinge 53 provided at the upper and lower positions on the left side.
A game board 10 (FIG. 2) held by the inner frame is provided at the back of the plate glass 61 of the front frame 52.

Speakers 66 are installed at both the left and right side positions above the front frame 52 and the left and right side positions below the outer frame 51, respectively, thereby outputting game sounds and improving the player's preference. In addition to the frame-side decorative lamp 65 that emits light according to the gaming state, the front frame 52 is provided with LEDs for notifying abnormality of the game.
An upper plate 55 and a lower plate 63 are integrally formed in the lower half of the front frame 52. A launch handle 64 is provided on the right side of the lower plate 63, and the launch device is operated by operating the launch handle 64 in the clockwise direction, so that the game ball supplied from the upper plate 55 is directed toward the game board 10. Fired.

  The lower plate 63 is configured to receive the award balls overflowing from the upper plate 55, and the game balls accumulated in the lower plate 63 can be moved to another box (dollar box) provided in the game store by operating the ball removal lever. A production button 67 is provided on the left side of the lower plate 63.

The pachinko machine 50 is a so-called CR machine and includes a prepaid card unit (CR unit) 56 for reading and writing a prepaid card. The pachinko machine 50 has a lending button 57 and a checkout button 58 on the left side of the lower plate 63. And a balance indicator 59 is provided.
1 denotes a cylinder lock that locks the front frame 52 and the inner frame to the outer frame 51. A predetermined key is inserted into the cylinder lock 39, and the key is operated clockwise to move the inner frame. The front frame 52 is opened by a counterclockwise operation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially circular game region 13 surrounded by an outer rail 11 and an inner rail 12 is formed on the game board 10. A center case 14 is mounted at the center of the game area 13, and a normal design starting gate (passage opening) 21 is provided on the left and right sides of the center case 14, and a windmill 20 is provided below them. Yes.

There is an ordinary winning opening 24 directly below the center case 14, and a special design starting port 22 made of a tulip-type ordinary electric accessory is installed directly below the center case 14.
The start port 22 is a start port for executing a lottery of a special symbol (hereinafter simply referred to as a special symbol). The electric combination at the start port 22 is a predetermined time (about 2.6) when a lottery of a normal symbol (hereinafter simply referred to as a normal figure) executed due to the game ball passing through the start gate 21 is won. Sec). Then, when a game ball enters the start port 22, a plurality of types of random numbers are extracted and stored as a special memory.
As the hold storage, “big hit determination random number”, “special figure determination random number 1”, “special figure determination random number 2”, “reach determination random number”, “variation pattern determination random number” and the like are stored ( (See FIG. 10). Note that a maximum of four reserved memories are stored.

A normal winning opening 24 is arranged at both the left and right positions of the start opening 22. Also, below the start opening 22 is a large winning opening 25 that is opened and closed by an opening and closing plate, and an out opening 28 is provided at the bottom of the board surface.
A number of game nails are planted in the game area 13 of the game board 10.

The center case 14 is provided with an LCD panel of an effect symbol display device 15 (not shown in its entirety) in the center. A special figure display device 16 for displaying a special figure on the outer periphery of the LCD panel, a special figure reservation number display device 17 for displaying a special figure hold memory, a universal figure display device 18 for displaying a general figure, and a general figure hold memory. A general-purpose hold number display device 19 for displaying is displayed.
Further, the center case 14 is provided with a warp inlet, a warp rod, a stage, and the like, as is well known.

As shown in FIG. 3, an inner frame 70 for detachably attaching the game board 10 is accommodated on the back side of the pachinko machine 50. Similarly to the front frame 52, the inner frame 70 is installed so that the vertical position of one side edge (the right side in FIG. 3) is hinged to the outer frame 51 and can be opened and closed. The inner frame 70 is formed with a game ball flow-down passage, and a ball tank 71, a tank rail 72, and a payout unit 73 are provided from above (upstream), and a payout device is provided in the payout unit 73. . With this configuration, when a game ball wins a winning opening of the game board 1, a predetermined number of game balls (prize balls) are passed from the ball tank 71 via the tank rail 72 by the payout device 73 through the payout ball flow-down passage. Paid out to 55. In this embodiment, the payout device 73 that pays out the prize balls is also used to pay out the balls that are paid out by operating the lending button.
Further, on the back side of the pachinko machine 50, a main control device 80, a payout control device 81, an effect symbol control device 82, a sub integrated control device 83, a launch control device 84, and a power supply board 85 are provided. The production symbol control device 82 and the sub integrated control device 83 correspond to sub control devices.

  The main control device 80, the production symbol control device 82, and the sub integrated control device 83 are provided on the game board 1, and the payout control device 81, the launch control device 84, and the power supply board 85 are provided on the inner frame 70. In FIG. 3, the launch control device 84 is not depicted, but is provided under the payout control device 81.

  Further, an external connection terminal plate 78 is provided on the right side of the ball tank 71, and a signal indicating a game state and a game result is sent to the hall computer (not shown) by the external connection terminal plate 78. Conventionally, the external connection terminal board for transmitting signals to the hall computer has a board (terminal for outputting the signal output from the game board side) and a frame (frame side (front frame)). 52, terminals for outputting signals output from the inner frame 70 and the outer frame 51) to the hall computer). In this embodiment, the game is played through one external connection terminal board 78. A signal indicating the state and game result is transmitted to the hall computer.

FIG. 4 shows the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 50. The pachinko machine 50 includes a main control device 80, a payout control device 81, an effect symbol control device 82, a sub-integrated control device 83, and a launch control device 84. These are electrically connected.
The main controller 80 includes a CPU 80b, a ROM, an RWM (RAM), an input port, an output port (not shown), and the like. The CPU 80b, the ROM, and the RWM of the main controller 80 are an integrated MPU (microprocessing unit) packaged. )) 80a. The MPU 80a is game control means for controlling the progress of the game. The MPU 80a is also provided with a hardware random number generation circuit 80c described later in the package.

  Main controller 80 is electrically connected to the hall computer of the game facility via back wiring relay terminal board and external connection terminal board 78. The main controller 80 includes a glass frame opening SW (switch) for detecting whether or not the front frame (glass frame) 52 and the inner frame 70 are open via the back wiring relay terminal board and the game board relay terminal board, Inner frame opening SW, special figure start opening SW for detecting entry into the special figure start opening 22, normal figure start SW for detecting entry into the general figure start gate 21, and entry into the big prize opening 25 Detection signals such as a count SW to be detected and a left and right winning opening SW for detecting a winning ball to the normal winning opening 24 are input.

The main control device 80 is configured such that the CPU 80b of the MPU 80a operates in accordance with the ROM game control program, generates various commands related to the progress of the game based on the above-described detection signals, and the like. The command is output to the sub integrated control device 83 and the effect symbol control device 82 which are the sub control devices. Further, the display control of the special figure display device 16, the special figure reservation number display device 17, the universal figure display device 18 and the universal figure reservation number display device 19 is directly performed via the symbol display device relay terminal board.
Further, the main control device 80 controls the large winning opening solenoid that opens and closes the large winning opening 25 to open the large winning opening. It also controls the operation of a universal utility solenoid that opens and closes the starting port 22 of the special figure.

  The MPU 80a of the main controller 80 is provided with a random number counter that extracts various random numbers (software random numbers) by the program processing of the CPU 80b, and the software random numbers generated by the random number counter are “special figure determination random number 1”, “special number determination random number 1”, It is used for extraction of “random number for figure determination 2”, “random number for reach determination”, “random number for change pattern determination”, and the like.

  The MPU 80a includes a hardware random number generation circuit (random number generation unit) 80c, which is a control system different from the program processing of the CPU 80b, and generates a random number (hardware random number) on the hardware side constituted by a semiconductor integrated circuit. As described above, the hardware random number generation circuit 80c is also provided in the package of the MPU 80a. Here, when a hardware random number generation circuit is provided outside the MPU, it is easy to illegally read a random number value between the hardware random number generation circuit and the MPU. Incorporation of the random number generation circuit 80c makes unauthorized reading difficult.

The hardware random number generation circuit 80c is configured to generate a hardware random number in the range of “0 to 65535”. The hardware random number generation circuit 80c sets the generated hardware random number in the random number register when the acquisition register is set (capture request) by the CPU 80b. When the hardware random number is set in the random number register in this way, “1” is set in the latch register as the random number information (capture is permitted). When the latch register becomes “1”, the value of the random number register (random number value) can be taken in safely (reliably).
The hardware random numbers do not overlap in a cycle in which the numerical value makes a round from “0” to “65535”. The cycle in which the numerical value circulates is set by a clock inside the circuit. For example, when the clock is 10.0 MHz, the cycle is about 6.5 ms.
As described above, according to the hardware random number generation circuit 80c, the illegal reading described above is difficult, the range of generated hardware random numbers can be widened, and the update processing of the hardware random numbers is performed by an “interrupt” described later. Since it can be updated much faster than software random numbers that are updated for each (INT) process, random number prediction becomes difficult. Therefore, the hardware random number is used as the “big hit determination random number”.

  Next, the payout control device 81 includes a CPU, a ROM, an RWM (RAM), an input port, an output port, and the like, although details are not shown. The payout controller 81 detects a ball SW that detects that the ball tank is empty, a payout SW that detects that a game ball has been paid out, and detects that the game ball storage tray is full. A detection signal such as a full SW is input. In accordance with a command sent from the main controller 80, the payout motor is operated to pay out the game ball. Also, it is electrically connected to the CR unit, accepts lending requests and settlement request operation signals from the ball settlement and settlement SWs 57 and 58 via the settlement display device 59, sends and receives data to and from the CR unit, and responds to the lending request signal. Then, the payout motor is operated to pay out the rental balls, and the balance display of the prepaid card inserted in the CR unit is controlled.

  The launch control device 84 includes a CPU, a ROM, an RWM (RAM), an input port, an output port, and the like, although details are not shown. The firing control device 84 receives detection signals such as a firing stop SW and a touch SW that detects that the player is in contact (operating) with the firing handle. The firing motor is controlled based on a command (reflecting a touch SW signal or game situation), a firing handle rotation signal, and a firing stop SW signal sent from the main control device 80 via the payout control device 81. Control and fire and stop the game ball to control the lighting of the touch lamp.

  The sub integrated control device 83 includes a CPU, a ROM, an RWM (RAM), an input port, an output port, and the like, although details are not shown. Detection signals such as volume control SW and effect button 67 are input to the sub integrated control device 83. In response to a command sent from the main controller 80, the speaker 66 is driven to output sound, and various LEDs and various lamps 65 are turned on and off. Further, a pseudo effect for displaying a character or the like or a command for displaying a pseudo symbol of a normal diagram is transmitted to the effect symbol control device 82.

  Although the detailed illustration of the production symbol control device 82 is omitted, the production symbol control device 82 having a CPU, a ROM, an RWM (RAM), an input port, an output port, and the like, together with the LCD panel unit and the accessory unit, the production symbol. A display device 15 is configured. The production symbol control device 82 controls the display of the LCD panel according to the command sent from the sub integrated control device 83.

Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 50 will be described.
The pachinko machine 50 extracts the various random numbers by entering the starting port 22, performs special lottery determination based on these random numbers, and starts symbol variation of the special symbol display device 16 and the effect symbol display device 15. . If the lottery result is a big hit, the big hit symbol advantageous to the winning of the winning ball is executed after the big hit symbol is confirmed and displayed on each of the display devices 15 and 16. The effect symbol display device 15 displays a pseudo symbol or effect corresponding to the special symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 16.
Further, the pachinko machine 50 shifts the gaming state after the big hit game to a probable change state or a short time state based on the decided big hit symbol. Information on the game state such as probability change and time reduction is stored as game information when the power is turned off.

FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 show a flowchart of each program process executed by the main control device 80 (CPU 80b of the MPU 80a) of the pachinko machine 50, and each process will be described in detail.
FIG. 5 shows a “game process” that is executed when power is supplied to each control device by operating a power switch provided on the power supply board 85 of the pachinko machine 50, and power is supplied to the main control device 80. It is. The “game process” is a process performed after a security check (not shown) executed immediately after the power is turned on by the CPU 80b.

First, in the “game process”, when power is supplied to the main controller 80 by turning on the power switch, and the voltage of the power source rises and reaches a predetermined voltage, the main controller 80 from the power supply board 85 (power feeding monitoring circuit). After the reset signal is output and the security check is executed, the RWM initial value setting process is performed in the “power-on process” (S100).
Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the RWM clear switch of the power supply board 85 is operated (S101). If not operated (S101: no), “1” indicating that the RWM guaranteed value has been backed up normally. (S102).
If the RWM guarantee value is “1” (S102: yes), the SUM value creation process is executed (S103), and it is confirmed whether or not the SUM value is “0” indicating that there is no problem in the stored information ( S104).
If the SUM value is 0 (S104: yes), the power recovery process is executed (S105), and the game is resumed based on the game information (game state) when the power is shut off.

  When the RWM clear switch is operated in the process of S101 (S101: yes), when the RWM guarantee value is not “1” in the process of S102 (S102: no), or when the SUM value is “ If it is not “0” (S104: no), an RWM deletion process (S106) is executed to clear the game information stored in the RWM.

  In the “basic process” following the “power-on process”, an interrupt prohibition process for prohibiting reception of a normal interrupt signal (INT signal) is executed (S110), and a power failure detection flag indicating whether or not a power failure has been detected Is “0” (S111), and if the power failure detection flag is “0” (S111: yes), the initial value random number update process (S112) is executed and the normal interrupt signal (INT signal) After executing the interrupt permission process (S113) for permitting reception, the process returns to S110. Unless the INT signal or the NMI signal is received, the processes of S110 to S113 are repeatedly executed.

  If the power failure detection flag is not “0” in the S111 process (S111: no), the process proceeds to the “backup process” and executes the SUM value creation process for creating the SUM value stored in the RWM (S120), and the RWM guarantee The value is set to “1” indicating that the RWM backup has been normally performed (S121), the RWM write prohibition process (S122) is executed so that the game information stored in the RWM is not destroyed, and the power ( The infinite loop process is executed until the power (except for the battery backup (VBB)) is not supplied.

FIG. 6 shows an interrupt executed by main controller 80 when an NMI signal related to a power failure detection is received during the execution of each process such as “game process” or “interrupt (INT) process” described later. (NMI) processing.
In the process of S200, when the main controller 80 receives an NMI signal output from the power supply board 85 (power failure monitoring circuit) when the voltage of the power supply decreases and reaches a predetermined voltage, the address of the program being executed Is saved in the RWM, the power failure detection flag is set to “1” (S201), and a register restoration process (S202) is executed to restore the address stored in the RWM in S202.

If an INT signal is received when reception of an interrupt (INT) signal is permitted in S113 of the “game process”, the process proceeds to an “interrupt (INT) process” shown in FIG.
Here, the “INT signal” is a signal that is periodically input every predetermined time (for example, every 2 ms or 4 ms) by a clock circuit provided inside or outside the MPU 80a. When the clock circuit is formed inside the MPU 80a, the expression “input” or “reception” is not used. However, here, the expression “input” or “reception” is used regardless of the inside or outside of the MPU 80a.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the “interrupt (INT) process”, first, a software random number update process (S300) for updating the values of the various software random numbers, a timer update process for counting the number of INT interrupts ( S301), various input processes for processing signals input from various switches or commands input from the payout control device 51 (S302), special symbol game processing for performing display control and various selections regarding special symbols ( S303), a normal symbol game process (S304) for performing display control and various selections regarding the normal symbol is executed.

Next, the INT interrupt count is added (S305), and it is confirmed whether the interrupt count after addition is “1” (S306). If the interrupt count is “1” (S306: yes), sub integration An effect command transmission process (S307) for transmitting various commands to the device 83 is executed.
On the other hand, if the interrupt count is not “1” (S306: no), the interrupt count is cleared (S308), and a prize ball command transmission process (S309) for transmitting various commands to the payout control device 81 is executed. To do.
Subsequent to the processing of S307 or S309, various output processing (S310) is performed for driving the ordinary electric solenoid, the big prize opening solenoid, etc., outputting information to the hall computer, and the like.

FIG. 8 shows a “start winning process” which is a subroutine of the input process (S302) of the “interrupt (INT) process” (FIG. 7). In the process of S400, it is confirmed whether the start port input bit is “1” indicating that a game ball has entered the start port 22 (S400). If the start port input bit is “1”, (S400: yes), it is confirmed whether the stored number of reserved memories is not the maximum value (S401).
If the number of reserved memories is not the maximum value (S401: yes), a fetch register for requesting fetching of hardware random numbers from the hardware random number generation circuit 80c to the CPU 80b is set (S402).

In the next process of S403, various software random numbers are fetched.
In the subsequent processing of S404, it is confirmed whether or not the latch register indicating that the hardware random number is set in the random number status is “1”. When it is confirmed that the latch register is “1”, the hardware random number is set in the random number register, and the hardware random number can be captured (S404: yes), the hardware random number is transferred from the random number register to the RWM. The big hit determination random number is loaded into the storage area (S405). In the subsequent process of S406, the number of unset times described later is cleared. The processes in S402 and S404 are hardware random number acquisition determination processes, and the process in S405 is a random number acquisition process.

  On the other hand, even if the acquisition register is set (S402) and a hardware random number is requested, the acquisition register cannot be set to "1" due to some trouble such as noise or failure (damage), or the latch register is " There is a risk of not being “1”. In any case, since the latch register does not become “1” in the process of S404 and it cannot be confirmed that the hardware random number is set in the random number register (S404: no), the error determination process (S407) is performed. Execute.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the “error determination process”, in response to a request for a hardware random number, a state in which the hardware random number is not set in the random number register is counted as an unset number, and the unset number is added. (S500).
The subsequent processing of S501 is a lost random number fetching process, in which a lost value set in advance so that the result of the lottery lottery is lost, instead of a hardware random number, is stored in the storage area for the big hit determination random number. Do. In this example, the process is to capture a preset loss value. However, any value may be used as long as it satisfies that the loss value is satisfied, and any value selected from a plurality of values may be used. Absent.

In the subsequent processing of S502, it is confirmed whether or not the hardware random number unset state has continuously occurred and the number of unset times has reached a predetermined number. If the number of unset times is not a predetermined number (S502: no), the process returns.
If the hardware random number unset state continues, there is a possibility that a failure such as a failure has occurred in the hardware random number generation circuit 80c. If the number of unset times reaches a predetermined number (S502: yes), hardware random number generation is performed. Assume that an error has occurred in the circuit 80c.
The process of S503 is an error notification process, and a command indicating that an error has occurred is transmitted from the main control device 80 to the effect symbol control device 82 and the sub integrated control device 83. As a result, various lamps, voices, and effect symbol display device 15 display an error. In this process, the main controller 80 communicates error information to the hall computer.

In the process of S504, the error of the hardware random number generation circuit 80c is regarded as equivalent to a power failure, and the power failure detection flag is set to “1” to execute the backup process, and the process returns. S504 is backup migration processing.
Here, the predetermined number used in the comparison in S502 is set to at least a plurality of times (about 3 to 5 times) in consideration of the noise width in order to reduce the possibility of handling the error caused by the noise as an error. However, it is necessary to consider that the larger the value, the more disadvantageous the player is.

  Returning to FIG. 8, in the process of S408, the software random number captured in the process of S403, the hardware random number captured in the random number storage area for jackpot determination in the process of S405, or the S501 of “error determination process” (FIG. 9). The lost value fetched into the big hit determination random number storage area in the process is stored as a pending storage. Then, a hold number signal is transmitted from the main control device 80 to the effect symbol control device 82 via the sub integrated control device 83 (S409), and the special figure hold number display device 17 is directly controlled to display the hold number. The symbol control device 82 causes the effect symbol display device 15 to display the number of holds.

  The stored storage is used for determination of success / failure, determination of jackpot symbol, determination of reach and variation pattern in special symbol game processing (S404) of "interrupt (INT) processing" (FIG. 7).

  In the “error determination process” (FIG. 9), when it is considered that an error has occurred in the hardware random number generation circuit 80c and “1” is set in the power failure detection flag (S404), “interrupt (INT) process” When the process ends and the process returns to the basic process of the “game process” (FIG. 5), the process proceeds from the power failure detection flag confirmation process (S111) of the basic process to the “backup process”, and the game state at the time of error detection is changed. It is memorized and waits for a restart after the power is shut off.

  According to the pachinko machine 50 of the present embodiment, the CPU 80b requests the hardware random number generation circuit 80c to fetch the hardware random number, but the hardware random number is set in the random number register of the hardware random number generation circuit 80c due to some trouble. If it is not possible to confirm that the acquisition is possible, it is not necessary to wait until the confirmation of the hardware random number as in the conventional pachinko machine, but in the jackpot determination random number storage area for acquiring the hardware random number. The game value can be advanced without the CPU 80b freezing because the lost value that causes the winning / failing lottery to be lost is captured.

  Further, if a state in which hardware random numbers cannot be taken in (a state in which hardware random numbers are not set) occurs continuously, the winning lottery continues to be lost, which is disadvantageous to the player, and the hardware random number generation circuit 80c has some sort of error. There may be a problem. Therefore, if a state in which hardware random numbers cannot be taken in continuously occurs, it is regarded as an error, and an error display can be performed to notify the player to stop the game. In addition, when an error occurs, the game state at the time of game stop is stored by backup processing according to the same procedure as the detection of power failure, so that the game state at the time of game stop can be ensured after restart with power interruption. Therefore, even if an error occurs during probability change or time reduction, if the problem is resolved after restart, the probability change function and time reduction function are maintained, so that there is no penalty for the player.

  In the above-described embodiment, in the “start winning process” which is a subroutine of the input process (S302) of the “interrupt (INT) process” (FIG. 7), the hardware random number is jackpoted from the random number register of the hardware random number generation circuit 80c. Although the process of fetching into the determination random number storage area is performed, the present invention is not limited to this, and the process may be performed by “basic process” of “game process 1” as shown in FIG.

In “game process 1” shown in FIG. 11, “power-on process” and “backup process” are the same as “game process” in the previous embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted.
In the “basic process” of “game process 1”, first, an interrupt prohibition process for prohibiting reception of a normal interrupt signal (INT signal) is executed (S130). Next, the fetch register of the hardware random number generation circuit 80c is set, and a request is made to set the hardware random number in the random number register (S131).

Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not the power failure detection flag is set (S132). If the power failure detection flag is set (S132: no), “backup processing” is executed.
If the power failure detection flag is not set (S132: yes), in the subsequent processing of S133, it is confirmed whether or not the latch register is set. The processes in S131 and S133 are hardware random number fetch determination processes.

If the latch register is not set (S133: no), the "error determination process" (FIG. 9) is executed in the process of S134 as in the previous embodiment. According to this processing, the lost value is taken into the RWM jackpot determination random number storage area. Further, if it is considered that an error has occurred in the hardware random number generation circuit 80c, a “backup process” is performed through the power failure detection flag confirmation process (S132).
Here, the predetermined number used in the determination in S502 of the “error determination process” (FIG. 9) is significantly different from the previous embodiment. In the previous embodiment, since it was executed when the start port input bit was 1 and the latch register was not set, it was possible to cope with a small number of times. Since there are many, it is desirable to set it as about 3000-5000 times, and even if it is such a numerical value, unlike the previous embodiment, there is no fear of giving a big disadvantage to a player. (As long as it is not intended to treat an error caused by noise as an error, there is no problem even if it is about 3-5 times as in the previous embodiment.)

  When it is confirmed in the process of S133 that the latch register is “1” and the hardware random number is set in the random number register (S133: yes), the hardware random number is fetched from the random number register into the jackpot determination random number storage area ( S135), the number of unset times is cleared (S136). The process of S135 is a random number fetch process.

  Subsequently, the initial value random number update process (S137) is executed, the interrupt permission process (S138) for permitting reception of the normal interrupt signal (INT signal) is executed, and then the process returns to S130 to receive the INT signal or the NMI signal. Unless otherwise, the processes of S130 to S138 are repeatedly executed.

The hardware random number fetched into the jackpot determination random number storage area is stored as reserved storage due to the entrance to the start port 22 by the “start winning process 1” shown in FIG. The “start winning process 1” is a subroutine of the input process (S302) of the “interrupt (INT) process” (FIG. 6).
In the “start winning process 1”, it is confirmed that a ball entering the starting port is detected by the starting port input bit (S420: yes), and if the number of reserved memories is not the maximum value (S421: yes), The software random number fetching process is performed (S422).

  In the subsequent process of S423, the software random number captured in the process of S422, the hardware random number captured in the big hit determination random number storage area in the “basic process of game process 1”, or the S501 of “error determination process” (FIG. 9). The lost value fetched into the big hit determination random number storage area in the process is stored as a pending storage. Then, the random number area for jackpot determination is cleared (S424), and a special figure reservation number signal is transmitted to the special figure reservation number display device 17, the sub integrated control device 83, and the effect symbol control device 82 (S425).

  According to the present embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the previous embodiment can be obtained, and the hardware random number fetching process can be suitably performed by the “game process basic process”.

  Further, when hardware random numbers are taken in by “basic processing of game processing”, the following configuration may be used. In the “basic process of game process 2” shown in FIG. 13, an interrupt prohibition process for prohibiting reception of a normal interrupt signal (INT signal) is executed (S140), and then an initial value random number update process (S141) is executed. Next, the acquisition register of the hardware random number generation circuit 80c is set, and a request is made to set the hardware random number in the random number register (S142, random number acquisition determination process).

Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not a power failure is detected by the power failure detection flag (S143). If a power failure is detected (S143: no), "backup processing" is executed.
If no power failure is detected (S143: yes), in the subsequent process of S144, it is confirmed whether or not a hardware random number is set in the random number register by the latch register (random number fetching determination process).

  When it is confirmed that the latch register is “1” and the hardware random number is set in the random number register (S144: yes), the unset count is cleared (S145), and the hardware random number is determined from the random number register for the big hit determination random number. (S146, random number fetching process). Then, after executing the interrupt permission process (S147) for permitting the reception of the normal interrupt signal (INT signal), the process returns to S140.

On the other hand, if the hardware random number cannot be confirmed in the processing of S144 (S144: no), the “error determination processing” (FIG. 9) is executed in the processing of S148 as in the previous embodiment, and the big hit determination random number storage area The loss value is taken into.
After the “error determination process” is completed, the process returns to the process of confirming whether a power failure is detected by the power failure detection flag (S143). Therefore, it is confirmed that the latch register is set to “1” and the hardware random number is set in the random number register, or “1” is set in the power failure detection flag by assuming that an error has occurred by the “error determination process”. Until it is set, the processes of S143, S144, and S148 are repeated in order.

  According to the present embodiment, the same operation effect as the previous embodiment is obtained, and if the hardware random number is not set in the random number register, the power failure detection confirmation process until it is set or an error is assumed. Since the hardware random number confirmation process and the error determination process are repeated, when an error occurs, the power failure detection confirmation process can be quickly transferred to the backup process, which is advantageous for maintaining the gaming state in preparation for restart.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, Of course, it can implement variously in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. In the above-described embodiment, the configuration is such that when the hardware random number cannot be taken in and is regarded as an error, the backup process is executed together with the error display. However, the backup may be performed only by the error display. In this case, a backup is made when the power is turned off to restart, so that the original gaming state can be restored after the restart.
In addition, the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine equipped with one start opening and one special drawing. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention has a plurality of start openings and a plurality of special drawings. It may be applied to a pachinko machine that performs lottery determination, and a special figure and a common machine are used for a pachinko machine (so-called ordinary machine, general electric machine) that performs a main game using ordinary figures instead of special figures. The figure may be read and applied.
Furthermore, the interrupt signal at every predetermined time is described as an INT signal, and the signal at the time of power failure detection by the power supply board 85 is described as an NMI signal. However, the interrupt signal is input to the XINT terminal or XNMI terminal of the MPU 80a of the main controller 80. Needless to say, the signal is not limited to a signal input to the input terminal (port) or the signal in the MPU 80a.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Game board 15 Production | presentation symbol display apparatus 16 Special symbol display apparatus 22 Starting port 50 Pachinko machine (bullet ball game machine)
80 Main controller 80a MPU (game control means)
80b CPU
80c Hardware random number generator (random number generator)

Claims (5)

When a game ball launched on the game board enters a predetermined game area, a lottery determination is performed, and a special game advantageous for a player to acquire a prize ball can be executed according to the result of the lottery. In
Game control means for controlling the progress of the game including the success / failure lottery by executing a game control program;
Provided in the game control means, comprising a random number generator for generating random numbers used in the winning / losing lottery by control of a system different from the game control program,
The game control means, according to the game control program, determines whether or not the random number generation unit is ready to fetch the random number after requesting the random number generation unit to fetch the random number. Capture decision processing;
A random number fetching process for fetching the random number into a predetermined storage area when it is confirmed by the random number fetching determination process that the random number can be fetched;
Loss random number acquisition process that is executed when it is not confirmed by the random number acquisition determination process that the random number can be acquired, and the predetermined random number is a winning random number that is not won in the lottery determination A ball game machine characterized by comprising the above. In the ball game machine according to claim 1,
The game control means counts the number of times the lost random number fetching process is executed, and when the number of execution times reaches a predetermined number, an error determination process that considers an error of the random number generation unit;
A bullet ball game machine configured to have an error notification process that is executed at the time of error determination and notifies an error occurrence. In the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The game control means counts the number of times the lost random number fetching process is executed, and when the number of execution times reaches a predetermined number, an error determination process that considers an error of the random number generation unit;
A ball game machine configured to include a backup transfer process that is executed at the time of error determination and shifts to a backup process for maintaining the current gaming state. In the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1,
The game control means includes a power-on process and a basic process that is repeatedly executed after the power-on process,
The basic process includes a power outage detection process for detecting the occurrence of a power outage, and when the power outage is detected, the backup process for maintaining the gaming state at that time is executed,
Each time the basic process is executed, the power failure detection process and the random number acquisition determination process are executed,
When it is not confirmed that the random number can be captured by the random number capture determination process, the lost random number capture process and the error determination process are executed.
In addition, when the error determination is made in the error determination process, the ball game machine has a configuration in which the backup process is executed from the power failure detection process by the backup migration process in the same manner as when a power failure is detected. In the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1,
The game control means includes a power-on process and a basic process that is repeatedly executed after the power-on process,
The basic process includes a power outage detection process for detecting the occurrence of a power outage, and when the power outage is detected, the backup process for maintaining the gaming state at that time is executed,
Each time the basic process is executed, the power failure detection process and the random number acquisition determination process are repeated until the random number acquisition determination process confirms that the random number can be acquired. Let it run,
When it is not confirmed that the random number can be captured by the random number capture determination process, the lost random number capture process and the error determination process are executed.
In addition, when the error determination is made in the error determination process, the ball game machine has a configuration in which the backup process is executed from the power failure detection process by the backup migration process in the same manner as when a power failure is detected.

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