JP2011229587A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily synchronize reproduction of words with the telop of an image in a game machine.SOLUTION: The game machine includes a conversion table for storing relation between an identifier associated with a word sound reproduced by an acoustic device and telop information displayed on a display device in advance. An acoustic control unit reproduces word sound according to control of a sub-substrate, while the conversion table searches for the telop information corresponding to the identifier on the basis of the identifier associated with the word sound, and transmits the searched telop information to the display control unit. The display control unit displays a telop corresponding to the telop information on the display on the basis of the telop information received from the conversion table.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine including a display device and an audio device.

  A gaming machine such as a slot machine is provided with a medal slot so that a player can enjoy a game by inserting a predetermined number of medals. The medals necessary for the game can be borrowed with a medal lending machine provided in the game hall, and the game can be started by inserting it into the medal slot of a desired gaming machine.

The operation of the conventional gaming machine was as follows.
First, when the start switch is operated, the start switch is turned on. In response to this, a lottery process is performed by the winning determination means inside the gaming machine. Here, when a predetermined combination is won, a winning flag is set. The rotating reel starts to rotate. When the stop switch is operated, the stop switch is turned on. Then, the rotation of the corresponding rotating reel is stopped. After the stop switches corresponding to all the rotating reels are operated, whether or not the winning symbols corresponding to the winning flag are aligned on the effective winning line while the winning flag is established, that is, whether or not the winning is confirmed Is determined. When it is determined that the winning is confirmed, a medal corresponding to the winning symbol is paid out.

  For example, when the evaluation of the lottery process is out of place, it is set so that the predetermined symbols are not aligned (so-called kicking). (So-called pull-in). In other words, only when winning in the lottery process, medals are paid out by winning a winning pattern under a predetermined condition, but when not winning, medals are paid out regardless of how the stop switch is operated. There is no. This is to keep the medal payout at a certain probability. In order to realize this, a random number generator is used in the lottery process.

  In addition, a gaming machine such as a slot machine includes a liquid crystal display device (LCD) and an acoustic device (speaker) for effect display. On the liquid crystal display device, an animation related to the effect is displayed, and sound such as narration and dialogue corresponding to the animation is output from the speaker together with music and sound effects.

JP, 04-105363, A When a still picture signal is outputted but there is no audio signal, the output of the video signal or the still picture signal is stopped.

  The gaming machine includes a graphic display controller (VDC) that draws an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device and controls the liquid crystal display device, and a sound controller that generates sound from a speaker. These are constituted by, for example, one or a plurality of ICs, and are mounted on a board (sub board) of a gaming machine or receive a signal from the board to perform processing. The liquid crystal display device is controlled by a graphic display processor, and the speaker is controlled or driven by a sound controller.

  In a conventional gaming machine, a program for executing a process for displaying an animation related to an effect on a liquid crystal display device and a program for executing a process for outputting voices such as narration and dialogue corresponding to the animation from a speaker are created separately. Was. In other words, when a program that displays an animation is executed, a program that outputs voices such as narration or dialogue is executed as necessary, and then a telop (caption or picture) corresponding to the narration or dialogue is displayed on the liquid crystal display device. It was to execute the program to do. With this method, a program for executing a process for outputting sound for each animation and a program for displaying a telop are created, which not only increases the number of man-hours for creating the program, but also makes it difficult to improve the efficiency of the process by the program.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can efficiently perform a process of outputting sound such as narration or dialogue corresponding to animation from a speaker and a process of displaying a telop corresponding to the animation on a display device. An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of relatively easily creating the program.

A gaming machine according to the present invention includes a sub-board that performs processing related to an effect based on a predetermined command, a display device that displays an image related to the effect, an audio device that generates sound related to the effect, and control of the sub-board A display control unit for controlling the display device based on the control circuit, an acoustic control unit for controlling the acoustic device based on the control of the sub-board, an identifier associated with the line sound reproduced by the acoustic device, and the display device. A conversion table that stores in advance the relationship of the telop information to be displayed,
The acoustic control unit reproduces the dialogue sound based on the control of the sub-board,
The conversion table searches the telop information corresponding to the identifier based on the identifier associated with the dialogue sound, and sends the searched telop information to the display control unit,
The display control unit displays a telop corresponding to the telop information on the display device based on the telop information received from the conversion table.
The conversion table stores a duration corresponding to the telop information in advance,
In addition, with a timer,
The conversion table searches for the corresponding duration based on the identifier together with the telop information, and sends the searched duration to the timer.
The timer measures the time based on the duration, and instructs the display control unit to delete the telop based on the time measurement result.
The display control unit may erase the telop displayed on the display device based on the telop erasure command from the timer.

A gaming machine according to the present invention includes a sub-board that performs processing related to an effect based on a predetermined command, a display device that displays an image related to the effect, an audio device that generates sound related to the effect, and control of the sub-board A display control unit that controls the display device based on the sub-board, an acoustic control unit that controls the acoustic device based on the control of the sub-board, an identifier associated with a telop displayed on the display device, and a reproduction by the acoustic device A conversion table that stores in advance the relationship of dialogue sound to be played,
The display control unit displays the telop on the display device based on the control of the sub-board,
The conversion table searches the dialogue sound corresponding to the identifier based on the identifier associated with the telop, sends the searched dialogue sound to the acoustic control unit,
The acoustic control unit reproduces the dialogue sound by the acoustic device based on the dialogue sound received from the conversion table.
The conversion table stores in advance the duration corresponding to the dialogue sound,
In addition, with a timer,
The conversion table searches for the corresponding duration based on the identifier together with the dialogue sound, and sends the searched duration to the timer.
The timer measures the time based on the duration, and instructs the display control unit to delete the telop based on the time measurement result.
The display control unit may erase the telop displayed on the display device based on the telop erasure command from the timer.

A gaming machine according to the present invention controls a sub-board that performs processing related to an effect based on a predetermined command, a display device that displays an image related to the effect, an audio device that generates sound related to the effect, and the display device A display control unit that controls, the acoustic control unit that controls the acoustic device, a dialogue sound that is reproduced by the acoustic device, and a conversion table that stores in advance telop information to be displayed by the display device,
The conversion table receives a command from the sub-board, searches the dialogue sound and the telop information corresponding to the command, sends the searched dialogue sound to the acoustic control unit, and sends the searched telop information to the acoustic control unit. Sent to the display controller,
The acoustic control unit generates sound in the acoustic device based on the dialogue sound received from the conversion table,
The display control unit displays a telop corresponding to the telop information on the display device based on the telop information received from the conversion table.
The conversion table stores a duration corresponding to the telop information in advance,
In addition, with a timer,
The conversion table searches the duration together with the telop information, sends the searched duration to the timer,
The timer measures the time based on the duration, and instructs the display control unit to delete the telop based on the time measurement result.
The display control unit may erase the telop displayed on the display device based on the telop erasure command from the timer.

  According to the present invention, a conversion table for converting an identifier into telop information is provided, a search is performed based on the identifier for the presence of telop information corresponding to the reproduced sound, and a telop is displayed on the screen when the telop information exists. Since it is displayed, it is not necessary to create a program for executing a process of reproducing sound corresponding to each line, and the process can be simplified.

It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which closed the front door. It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which opened the front door 180 degree | times. It is a block diagram of a slot machine. It is a block diagram of an image display system and a sound generation system of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conversion table which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a process flowchart which concerns on Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a block diagram of the image display system and sound generation system of the gaming machine according to the second embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conversion table which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention. It is a process flowchart which concerns on Embodiment 2 of invention. It is a block diagram of an image display system and a sound generation system of a gaming machine according to modifications of Embodiments 1 and 2 of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conversion table which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 1 and 2 of invention. It is a block diagram of the image display system and sound generation system of the gaming machine according to the third embodiment of the invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conversion table which concerns on Embodiment 3 of invention.

Embodiment 1 of the Invention
FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door closed, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door opened 180 degrees.
1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 100 can be opened and closed by a hinge or the like on the slot machine main body 120 and one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120. And a front door 130 attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, a game display unit 131 is provided substantially in the center of the front door 130, and a medal insertion slot 132 for a player to insert medals is provided at the lower right corner of the game display unit 131. Provided below the medal insertion slot 132 is a reject button 133 for forcibly discharging a clogged medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132 to the outside of the slot machine 100.
Further, a start switch 134 for starting a game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and three stop switches 140 are provided corresponding to the three spinning cylinders. A medal payout port 135 is provided at the center of the lower end of the front door. A liquid crystal display device LCD is provided above the game display unit 131.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine main body 120 is fixed to the inner bottom surface, stores a plurality of medals therein, and stores the stored medals at a payout port 135 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. A hopper device 121 for paying out the sheets one by one is installed. An upper portion of the hopper device 121 is provided with a hopper tank 122 that opens upward and stores a plurality of medals therein. Inside the slot machine main body 120, a reel (rotating cylinder) unit 203 including three rotating cylinders is installed at a position where the game display unit 131 comes when the front door 130 is closed. The reel unit 203 includes three spinning cylinders (first to third drums) in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surface. The game display unit 131 is provided with an opening through which the player can see the symbols of the rotating drums of the reel unit 203. A power supply unit 205 is provided on the left side of the hopper device 121.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medal (coin) selector 1 is attached to the back side of the front door 130 on the back side of the medal slot 132 provided on the front surface of the front door 130. This medal selector 1 rolls the medal toward the hopper device 121 while detecting the passage of the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132, and has a different diameter medal or iron or iron whose outer diameter is different from the predetermined dimension. This is an apparatus for selecting and removing illegal medals made of an alloy and selecting and eliminating a predetermined number or more of medals that can be inserted per game.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a lead-out path 136 that covers the lower side and communicates with the payout port 135 of the front door 130 is provided below the medal selector 1. The medals distributed by the medal selector 1 are returned to the player from the payout port 135 via the derivation path 136.

FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the slot machine 100 according to the embodiment of the invention.
In this figure, the display about the power supply system is omitted. Although not shown, the slot machine includes a power supply unit for generating a DC power supply (+5 V or the like) from a commercial power supply (AC 100 V).

  The slot machine 100 includes a main substrate (processing unit) 10 and a sub substrate 20 that operates in response to a command from the main substrate (processing unit) 10 as main processing devices. At least the main substrate 10 is accommodated inside the case so that it cannot be contacted from the outside, and is sealed so that traces remain when these substrates are removed.

  The main board 10 is for performing an internal lottery in response to a player's operation, and performing processing (game processing) such as reel rotation / stop and medal payout. The main board 10 includes a CPU that performs a control operation according to a preset program, a ROM that is a storage unit that stores the program, and a RAM that temporarily stores processing results and the like.

  The sub board 20 is for receiving a command signal from the main board 10 and notifying the result of the internal lottery and performing various effects. The sub-board 20 includes a CPU that performs a control operation in accordance with a preset program corresponding to the command signal, a ROM that is a storage unit that stores the program, and a RAM that temporarily stores processing results and the like. Only one command flows from the main board 10 to the sub board 20, and conversely, no command is issued from the sub board 20 to the main board 10.

  The main board 10 is paid out from a bet switch BET, a start switch 134, a stop button 140, a reel unit (including a reel driving device) 203, a reel position detection circuit 71, a hopper driving unit 80, a hopper 81 and a hopper 81. A medal detection unit 82 for counting the number of medals (these constitute the hopper device 121 described above) is connected. A peripheral substrate (local substrate) such as a liquid crystal control substrate 200 for controlling the liquid crystal display device, a speaker substrate 201, and an LED substrate 202 is connected to the sub substrate 20.

  Further, medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1 are connected to the main board 10.

  The medal selector 1 is provided with medal sensors S1 and S2 for counting medals. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are provided on the downstream side (near the exit) of a medal passage (not shown) provided in the medal selector 1 (the upstream side of the medal passage communicates with the medal slot 132). The two medal sensors S1 and S2 are arranged side by side at a predetermined interval along the medal traveling direction. The medal sensors S1 and S2 are, for example, photointerrupters that have a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion that face each other, are formed in a U-shaped cross section, and are positioned so that the detection optical axis faces the medal passage from above. . Each photo interrupter detects the passage of a medal sent without being blocked on the way. The reason why two photo interrupters are adjacent is not only to detect the number of medals but also to monitor whether or not the passage of medals is normal. That is, by providing two photo interrupters adjacent to each other, it is possible to detect the passing speed and passing direction of medals, thereby detecting not only the number of medals but also an illegal act moving in the reverse direction.

  The hopper driving unit 80 rotates the hopper 81 and performs an operation of paying out medals of the payout number instructed by the main board 10. The gaming machine includes a medal detection unit 82 that operates every time a medal is paid out, and the main board 10 receives a medal actually paid out from the hopper 81 based on an input signal from the medal detection unit 82. You can manage the number.

  The insertion accepting unit 1050 receives the outputs of the medal sensors S1 and S2 of the medal selector 1, accepts the insertion of medals for each game, and determines that the medal corresponding to the specified number of insertions has been inserted. A process of permitting the rotation start operation of the first reel to the third reel is performed. Note that the pressing operation of the start switch 134 is an opportunity to start rotation of the first reel to the third reel and an opportunity to execute the internal lottery. Also, a prescribed number of throws is set according to the gaming state, the prescribed number of throws is set to 3 in the normal state and the bonus established state, and the prescribed number of throws is set to 1 in the bonus state.

  When medals are inserted, the inserted medals are set to the inserted state up to a specified number of insertions according to the gaming state. Alternatively, when the bet switch BET is pressed in a state where medals have been credited to the gaming machine, the credited medals are set to the inserted state by limiting the prescribed number of insertions according to the gaming state. The main board 10 controls whether or not to accept a medal. When it is not in a state of accepting insertion of medals (when not permitted), even if medals are inserted, they are not counted by the medal sensors S1 and S2 and are returned as they are. Similarly, the main board 10 controls the validity / invalidity of the bet switch BET. When the bet switch BET is not valid (when not permitted), even if the bet switch BET is pressed, it is ignored.

  The main board 10 incorporates random number generating means 1100. The random number generation means 1100 is a means for generating a random number for lottery. The random value can be generated based on, for example, a count value of an increment counter (a counter that counts numerical values so as to circulate a predetermined count range). In this embodiment, the “random number value” is not only a value that is randomly generated in a mathematical sense, but even if the generation itself is regular, the acquisition timing and the like are irregular. Includes a value that can function as a random number.

  The internal lottery means 1200 performs an internal lottery in which the player determines whether or not the winning combination is based on a start signal from the start switch 134. That is, a lottery table selection process for selecting a lottery table (not shown) stored in a memory (not shown) of the main board 10, a random number determination process for determining the winning of a random number obtained from the random number generation means 1050, The lottery flag setting process for setting a flag to that effect when a big win or the like is won by the determination result is performed.

  In the lottery table selection process, a lottery table (not shown) stored in a storage unit (ROM) (not shown) is used to determine which lottery table is used for internal lottery. In the lottery table, for each of a plurality of random values (for example, 65536 random values from 0 to 65535), replay, small role (bell, cherry), regular bonus (RB: bonus), and big bonus (BB :), etc., are associated with each other. In addition, a normal state, a bonus establishment state, and a bonus state can be set as the gaming state, and a replay lottery state, a replay low probability state, and a replay high probability state can be set as replay lottery states.

  In the random number determination process, a random value (lottery random number) is acquired from the random number generation means (not shown) for each game based on a start signal from the start switch 134, and the lottery table is referred to for the acquired random value. Then, it is determined whether or not the winning combination is won.

  In the lottery flag setting process, the lottery flag of the winning combination determined to be won based on the result of the random number determination process is changed from the non-winning state (first flag state, off state) to the winning state (second flag state, on Status). When two or more types of winning combinations are won, a lottery flag corresponding to each of the two or more types of winning winning combinations is set to the winning state. The lottery flag setting information is stored in storage means (RAM).

  A lottery flag (possible carryover flag) that can carry over the winning state for the next game until winning, and a lottery flag that is reset to the non-winning state without bringing the winning state to the next game regardless of winning Carry-over impossible flag) may be provided. In this case, there are a regular bonus (RB) and a big bonus (BB) as a combination to which the former carry-over possible flag is associated, and other combinations (for example, small role, replay) correspond to the latter carry-over impossible flag. It is attached. In other words, in the lottery flag setting process, if a regular bonus is won by internal lottery, the winning state of the regular bonus lottery flag is carried over until the regular bonus is won, and if the big bonus is won by internal lottery, the big bonus lottery A process of carrying over the winning state of the flag until the big bonus is won is performed. At this time, the main board 10 determines whether or not a role other than the regular bonus and the big bonus (small role and replay) is used even in a game in which the winning state of the regular bonus or big bonus lottery flag is carried over by the internal lottery function. An internal lottery is performed. In other words, in the lottery flag setting process, in a game in which the winning state of the regular bonus lottery flag is carried over, if a small role or replay is won in the internal lottery, the regular bonus lottery flag and the internal lottery already won In a game in which the lottery flags corresponding to two or more types of winning combinations or replay lottery flags won in the win state are set to the winning state and the winning state of the big bonus lottery flag is carried over, it is small in the internal lottery When a winning combination or replay is won, a lottery flag corresponding to two or more kinds of winning combinations including a big bonus lottery flag that has already been won and a small bonus or replay lottery flag that has been won in an internal lottery is set to a winning state. Set.

  The replay processing unit 1600 may perform control to change the winning probability of replay in the internal lottery under a predetermined condition. The replay processing unit 1600 will be described later again. The replay lottery states include a replay no lottery state in which replay is excluded from the internal lottery, a replay low probability state in which the replay winning probability is set to about 1 / 7.3, and a replay winning probability of about 1 / A plurality of lottery states such as a high replay probability state set to 6 can be set. By changing the replay lottery state, the winning probability of the replay in the internal lottery is changed.

  The reel control means 1300 rotates the first to third reels by a stepping motor based on a start signal generated by the player pressing the start switch 134 (rotation start operation), and the first to third reels are driven. Control that permits the pressing operation (stop operation) of the three stop buttons 140 respectively corresponding to the rotating reels in a state in which the rotation speed of the motor reaches a predetermined speed (about 80 rpm: a rotation speed of about 80 rotations per minute). And a control to stop the first reel to the third reel, which are rotationally driven by the stepping motor, according to the lottery flag setting state (result of the internal lottery).

  In addition, the reel control means 1300 receives the reel stop signal when the player presses the three stop buttons 140 in a state where the pressing operation (stop operation) with respect to the three stop buttons 140 is permitted (validated). Based on this, by stopping the supply of drive pulses (motor drive signals) to the stepping motor of the reel unit 203, control is performed to stop each of the first to third reels.

  That is, each time the three stop buttons 140 are pressed, the reel control means 1300 determines the reel stop position corresponding to the pressed button among the first to third reels. The reel is stopped at the stop position. Specifically, referring to a stop control table (not shown) stored in the storage means (ROM), the first reel according to the pressing timing, pressing order, etc. (stop operation mode) of the three stop buttons. The stop position of the third reel is determined, and the first reel to the third reel are stopped at the determined stop position.

  Here, in the stop control table, the position of the first reel to the third reel (press detection position) at the time when the stop button 140 is operated and the actual stop position (or the slip from the press detection position) of the first reel to the third reel. (Number of frames) is set. Depending on the setting state of the lottery flag, a stop control table for determining the stop positions of the first reel to the third reel may be prepared.

  In the gaming machine, the reel unit 203 includes a reel index (not shown) made of a photosensor, and the reel control means 1300 is based on a reference position signal detected by the reel index every time the reel rotates once. By determining the rotation angle (the number of rotation steps of the rotation axis of the step motor) from the reel reference position (the frame detected by the reel index), the current rotation state of the reel can be monitored. . That is, the main board 10 can obtain the position of the reel when the stop switch 140 is operated by obtaining the rotation angle from the reference position of the reel.

  The reel control means 1300 performs so-called pull-in processing and kick-out processing as control for stopping the reel. The pull-in process is a control process for stopping the reel so that the symbol corresponding to the combination whose lottery flag is set to the winning state is stopped on the winning determination line (so that the winning combination can be won). It is. On the other hand, the kicking process means that the reel corresponding to the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the non-winning state does not stop on the valid winning determination line (so that the non-winning combination cannot be won) This is a control process to be stopped. That is, in the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the lottery flag setting state, the stop button 140 pressing timing, the pressing order, and the stop position of the reels that have already stopped (types of display symbols) in order to realize the pull-in processing and kicking processing. ) Etc., the stop control table is set so that the stop position of each reel changes. In this way, the main board 10 can stop the symbol of the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the winning state in a winning form, while the symbol of the combination for which the lottery flag is set to the non-winning state is in the winning form. Control is performed to stop the first reel to the third reel so as not to stop.

  In the gaming machine of the present embodiment, the first to third reels are set to a control state in which the rotating reel corresponding to the pressed stop button is stopped within 190 ms from the time when the stop button 140 is pressed. ing. That is, in the stop control table for determining the stop position of each rotating reel, the number of frames required from when the stop button 140 is pressed until each reel stops is in the range of 0 to 4 frames (predetermined pull-in range). Is set in

  The winning determination means 1400 performs a process of determining whether or not a winning combination has been won based on the stop mode of the first reel to the third reel. Specifically, referring to the winning determination table stored in the storage means (ROM), the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line when all of the first reel to the third reel are stopped, It is determined whether or not it is a predetermined winning combination.

  The winning determination means 1400 executes a winning process based on the determination result. As a process at the time of winning a prize, for example, when a small role wins, the hopper 81 is driven to perform a medal payout control process, or a credit is increased (a predetermined maximum number is increased to 50, for example, When the replay is won, a replay process is performed. When a big bonus or a regular bonus is won, a game state transition control process for shifting the game state is performed.

  The payout control means 1500 performs payout control processing relating to the payout of medals according to the game result. Specifically, when a small combination wins, the number of medals to be paid out in the game is determined based on a payout predetermined for each combination, and the medals corresponding to the determined number of payouts are determined by the hopper driving unit 80. Then, the hopper 81 is driven to pay out. At this time, a current flows through a motor (not shown) built in the hopper 81.

  When medal credits (internal storage) are permitted, instead of actually paying out medals by the hopper 81, the number of credits stored in a credit storage area (not shown) of the storage means (RAM) (not shown) A credit addition process for adding the number of payouts to the number of credited medals is performed to virtually pay out medals.

  When the replay is won, the replay processing means 1600 performs a replay process (regame process) for setting the same preparatory state as the previous game without requiring insertion of medals owned by the player for the next game. When a replay wins, an automatic insertion process is performed in which the same number of medals as the previous game is automatically set to the insertion state without using the player's own medals (including credit medals). The game machine is set in a state of waiting for a rotation start operation (pressing operation of the start switch 134 by the player) in the next game in a state where the same winning determination line as the previous game is validated.

  Further, the main board 10 may perform control to shift the gaming state between the normal state, the bonus establishment state, and the bonus state (gaming state transition control function). As the game condition transition condition, one condition may be defined, or a plurality of conditions may be defined. When a plurality of conditions are established, transitioning the gaming state to another gaming state based on the fact that one of the plurality of conditions is satisfied or all of the plurality of conditions are satisfied Can do.

  The normal state is a game state corresponding to the initial state among a plurality of types of game states, and a transition from the normal state to the bonus establishment state is possible. The bonus establishment state is a gaming state that shifts when a big bonus or a regular bonus is won in the internal lottery. In the bonus establishment state, when the big bonus is won in the internal lottery in the normal state, the lottery flag corresponding to the big bonus is maintained in the winning state until the big bonus is won, and the regular bonus is won in the internal lottery in the normal state Until the regular bonus is won, the lottery flag corresponding to the regular bonus is maintained in the winning state. In the bonus state, it is determined whether or not the end condition is satisfied based on the total number of medals paid out by the bonus game, and medals exceeding a predetermined payout limit number are paid out according to the type of bonus won. The bonus state is terminated and the gaming state is returned to the normal state.

  The reel unit 203 includes three reels (not shown), and one stepping motor is attached to each of the three reels. A stepping motor includes a gear-shaped iron core or permanent magnet as a rotor (rotor), a plurality of windings (coils) as a stator (stator), and is rotated by switching windings through which current flows. is there. That is, a current is passed through the windings of the stator to generate a magnetic force, and the rotor is rotated by attracting the rotor. Since the rotation axis can be stopped at a specified angle, it is used to drive the rotation of the reel of the slot machine. A plurality of windings constitute one phase. As the number of phases, for example, there are two (two phases), four (four phases), and five (five phases).

  The stepping motor can change its characteristics (excitation mode changes) by changing the way of applying current to the windings of each phase. The two-phase type is as follows.

• Single-phase excitation Always allow current to flow through only one phase of the winding. Positioning accuracy is good.

・ Two-phase excitation
Current flows in two phases. An output torque approximately twice that of single-phase excitation can be obtained. The positioning accuracy is good and the stationary torque is large when stopped, so that the stop position can be held reliably.

・ One-two-phase excitation
A current is passed by alternately switching between one phase and two phases. Since the step angle can be halved in the case of one-phase excitation and two-phase excitation, smooth rotation can be obtained.

  Note that “driving” a stepping motor includes rotating the motor by the above-described excitation and exciting each phase in order to stop at a desired position and hold the position.

  In the slot machine, for example, a four-phase stepping motor having a basic step angle of 1.43 degrees is used, and one-two-phase excitation is adopted as a pulse output method.

  As described above, the sub-substrate 20 is connected to the liquid crystal control substrate 200 and the speaker substrate 201 for controlling the liquid crystal display device LCD. FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an image display system and a sound generation system of the gaming machine. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an apparatus for performing speech and displaying a telop according to the embodiment of the invention.

  In FIG. 4, VDC is a video display controller that controls the display of the liquid crystal display device LCD. Although not shown, the VDC includes an interface I / F with the CPU of the sub-board 20, a drawing engine that draws an image according to a command from the CPU, a video memory that stores the drawn image, and a video memory that stores the drawn image A display engine that reads out the transmitted image and sends it to the liquid crystal display device LCD. Regarding the display of the telop according to the embodiment of the invention, the VDC receives the telop information from the outside and displays the telop on the liquid crystal display device LCD.

  SC is a sound controller that emits sound from the speaker SP. The sound controller SC outputs a predetermined speech sound from the speaker SP based on a command from the sub-board 20.

  TBL is a conversion table that receives a phrase number corresponding to the spoken dialogue from the sound controller SC and converts it into dialogue telop information to be displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD.

  The video display controller VDC is built in, for example, the liquid crystal control board 200, but may be built in the sub board 20. Similarly, the sound controller SC is built in the speaker substrate 201 or the sub substrate 20. The conversion table TBL may also be built in the sub board 20.

  FIG. 5A shows a correspondence table of speech sounds and phrase numbers built in the sound controller SC. The phrase number functions as an identifier for the dialogue sound. The sub-board 20 gives a command to the sound controller SC so as to utter a speech sound by designating a phrase number or designating a specific speech sound. Alternatively, a command is given to utter the dialogue sound with the dialogue sound attached. In any case, a unique phrase number corresponds to any dialogue sound. In the example of the figure, the phrase numbers “001”, “002”, “003”,... Correspond to the dialogue sounds “Serif 1,” “Serif 2,” “Serif 3,”.

  The speech sound is voice data, and is generally a voice waveform represented by a voltage sampled at a specific bit depth and a fixed interval (sampling frequency) for each channel. This data is stored uncompressed or stored compressed to reduce size. This technique is publicly known and will not be described in detail.

  FIG. 5B is a table showing the correspondence between the phrase number and the telop information stored in advance in the conversion table TBL. When a phrase number is received from the sound controller SC, telop information corresponding to the phrase number is output. In the example shown in the figure, the phrase numbers “001”, “002”, “003”,... Correspond to “Serif 1”, “Serif 2”, and “Serif 3” as telop information.

  The telop information is information for displaying a telop (characters or pictures) on the screen of the liquid crystal display device LCD, and is, for example, text data or bitmap data. These are well known and will not be described in detail.

  FIG. 6 is a process flowchart of the apparatus of FIG. The operation will be described based on this figure.

S1: It is determined whether or not a sound reproduction signal is generated.
Various sounds including the dialogue sound are reproduced under the control of the sub-board 20 according to the progress of the performance. For example, when a predetermined animation is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display device LCD and the character has a conversation, the dialogue sound of the conversation is reproduced. In such a case, S1 is YES.

S2: A sound is transmitted.
For example, when a speech sound is reproduced (YES in S1), the sub-board 20 designates a phrase number or a specific speech sound to the sound controller SC and utters the corresponding speech sound. A command is given to utter a dialogue sound with a dialogue sound attached. Note that the same processing is performed for sounds other than the dialogue sound, but since the processing is known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The sound controller SC drives the speaker SP based on the command from the sub-board 20, and reproduces the specified speech sound.

S3: It is determined whether there is a telop command corresponding to the reproduction command.
For example, if the reproduced line sound is “Serif 1” in FIG. 5A, the phrase number is “001”. The conversion table TBL performs a search using a phrase number as a search key (note that sound data itself such as “Serif 1” or text data can also be used as a search key. This is also an identifier). Alternatively, the sound controller SC may search the conversion table TBL. If telop information corresponding to the phrase number is found, YES is obtained in S3.

  Although not shown in FIG. 5, the sound reproduced by the sound controller SC is not limited to speech but may be music or sound effects. In this case, there is no corresponding phrase number. Alternatively, even if a phrase number exists, there is no corresponding telop information in the conversion table. For this reason, YES is obtained in S3 only when a telop exists.

S4: A telop command is transmitted to the liquid crystal display device.
The telop information (telop command) found in S3 is sent from the conversion table TBL to the video display controller VDC. Based on the telop information, the video display controller VDC displays the telop “Serif 1” on the liquid crystal display device LCD.

  The video display controller VDC processes the telop information (telop command) together with another command (such as a drawing command) received from the sub-board 20, and displays the processing result on the liquid crystal display LCD. May be.

  According to the first embodiment of the invention, a conversion table for converting a phrase number (identifier) into telop information is searched for telop information corresponding to the reproduced sound, and when the telop information is present, Since the telop is displayed on the screen, it is not necessary to create a program for executing a process of reproducing sound corresponding to each line, and the process can be simplified. In addition, the contents of the telop can be easily changed.

  That is, a program for executing a process for displaying an animation related to an effect on a liquid crystal display device and a process for outputting a voice such as narration or dialogue corresponding to the animation from a speaker as in a conventional gaming machine This eliminates the need to separately create a program for displaying the telop corresponding to the narration or dialogue on the liquid crystal display device. This not only increases the number of man-hours for creating a program, but also solves the problem that it is difficult to improve the processing efficiency of the program.

Embodiment 2 of the Invention
In the conversion table TBL, the time for displaying the telop (in other words, the duration of the sound, hereinafter referred to as “duration” or “sound time”) is stored in advance in association with each speech sound, Based on this, the telop may be erased. As a result, the telop can be erased at the end of the dialogue. This process can be easily performed, and the change (adjustment of the display time of the telop) can be easily performed by changing the contents of the table.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the invention. In this figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in FIG. 4, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 7, TMR is a timer that receives the duration from the conversion table TBL, times it, and sends telop erasure to the video display controller VDC when the timekeeping is completed (timeout). The timer TMR is realized by hardware such as an IC, for example, but may be realized by a program on the sub-board 20.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the conversion table TBL according to the second embodiment of the present invention stores in advance the duration time together with the telop information corresponding to the phrase number. In the example of FIG. 8B, for the phrase numbers “001”, “002”, “003”,..., The telop information “Serif 1”, “Serif 2”, “Serif 3”,. “T001”, “T002”, “T003”,... Correspond.

  FIG. 9 is a process flowchart of the apparatus of FIG. In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in FIG. 6, and the description thereof is omitted.

S5: The corresponding sound time (duration) is subtracted.
Along with the transmission of the telop information in S4, the duration is sent from the conversion table TBL to the timer TMR. In response to this, the timer TMR sets the duration and counts (subtracts) the time.

S6: It is determined whether the subtraction time corresponding to the sound has become zero.
Although the timer TMR is counting in S5, when it becomes zero (when time-out occurs), it is determined as YES.

S7: A telop erase command is transmitted.
When YES is obtained in S6, it is understood that it is time to delete the telop. Therefore, the timer TMR sends a telop erase command to the video display controller VDC. As a result, the telop is erased.

  According to the second embodiment of the invention, the telop can be automatically deleted at a desired time. The telop can be deleted at the end of the dialogue. Moreover, the setting of the time is simply the setting of the data in the table, which is very simple. In general, the display time of the telop is the same as the time during which the dialogue is reproduced, but in the second embodiment of the invention, it can be arbitrarily set regardless of it.

  Conventionally, since the telop erasure was also described by the program, the man-hours were increased. In addition, in order to manage the weight in the program, it is necessary to describe it on the program, which is troublesome. The second embodiment of the invention can solve such a problem.

Modifications of Embodiments 1 and 2 of the Invention
In the first and second embodiments of the invention, the flow of signals (processing) is the sound controller SC, the conversion table TBL, and the video display controller VDC. However, as shown in FIG. 10, the video display controller VDC and the conversion table TBL are used. A signal (processing) flow of sound controller SC may be used.

  In the example of FIG. 10, the contents of the table TBL are as shown in FIG. 11, and the telop number is used as an identifier. That is, when receiving a command to display a predetermined telop from the sub-board 20, the video display controller VDC performs display processing of the telop and gives a telop number (identifier) corresponding to the telop to the conversion table TBL. The conversion table TBL sends the corresponding speech sound to the sound controller SC based on the received telop number (identifier).

  According to the modification of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, each telop display and dialogue sound can be easily linked as in the first embodiment of the invention. It is no longer necessary to create a telop display program and a dialogue sound playback program, and the processing can be simplified. In addition, the dialogue sound can be easily changed simply by changing the contents of the conversion table TBL.

  In Embodiments 1 and 2, the telop can be easily changed, but the dialogue sound is difficult to change. On the other hand, in the above-described modification, the dialogue sound can be easily changed. According to which one is frequently changed, any one of the first and second embodiments and the modifications thereof may be adopted. Or if both the table of FIG. 7 and the table of FIG. 11 are provided, both telop and dialog sound can be changed easily.

Embodiment 3 of the Invention
4 and 7, each of the video display controller VDC and the sound controller SC receives a command from the sub board 20, but the conversion table TBL receives a command from the sub board 20 as shown in FIG. The telop information and dialogue sound corresponding to the above may be given to the video display controller VDC and the sound controller SC.

The conversion table TBL configured as shown in FIG. 12 stores, for example, the contents as shown in FIG. Since the dialogue sound and the telop information are associated in advance, there is no phrase number (identifier) shown in FIG.
In the example of FIG. 13, the sub-board 20 passes data specifying “Serif 1” or the like (or “Serif 1” data itself). When the data of “Serif 1” itself is included in the command, the data amount of the command increases, but instead, the data amount of the conversion table TBL decreases.
In FIG. 13, the phrase number (identifier) shown in FIG. 5 may be used. In this case, the sub-board 20 can designate a dialogue sound based on the phrase number (identifier).

  4 and 7 are suitable for the case where a conversion table is added to the circuit of an existing game machine, but when a circuit is newly designed, the configuration shown in FIG. 12 can be adopted. In the configuration of FIG. 12, the video display controller VDC and the sound controller SC are under the control of the conversion table TBL. For this reason, the conversion table TBL interprets commands from the sub-board 20 in addition to the memory such as ROM, selects the corresponding speech sound, telop information and duration based on the interpretation, and converts them to the video display controller VDC. A CPU that performs processing to send to the sound controller SC is provided.

  In the configuration of FIG. 12, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD and the sound sent from the speaker SP are limited to those stored in the conversion table TBL. When various images and sounds other than dialogue are used, a configuration for controlling the video display controller VDC and the sound controller SC by the sub-board 20 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 is provided together with the configuration of FIG. (The conversion table TBL in FIGS. 4 and 7 is not necessary in this configuration). Alternatively, various kinds of image and sound data other than the dialogue sound and telop information may be stored in advance in the conversion table TBL.

  Since operations related to dialogue sound, telop information, and duration are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, description thereof is omitted.

Embodiments 1 to 3 of the invention can be used in appropriate combination. For example, Embodiments 1 and 3 of the invention can be combined and switched appropriately. For example, when displaying a telop exclusively, the third embodiment of the invention is selected, and when displaying many other images, the first embodiment of the invention is selected. Alternatively, the second embodiment of the invention and the third embodiment of the invention are combined.
In the above description, the slot machine has been described as an example, but the embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine. As with slot machines, many pachinko machines include a sub board, a video display controller, a display device, a sound controller, and speakers, and the embodiment of the present invention can be applied as it is.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

10 Main board 20 Sub board LCD Liquid crystal display device (display device)
SC sound controller (acoustic control unit)
SP speaker (acoustic device)
TBL conversion table TMR timer VDC Video display controller (display controller)

Claims (6)

Control the display device based on the control of the sub-board that performs processing related to the production based on the predetermined command, the display device that displays the image related to the production, the acoustic device that generates the sound related to the production, and the sub-board The relationship between the display control unit, the acoustic control unit that controls the acoustic device based on the control of the sub-board, the identifier associated with the speech sound that is reproduced by the acoustic device, and the telop information that is displayed on the display device in advance. With a conversion table stored therein,
The acoustic control unit reproduces the dialogue sound based on the control of the sub-board,
The conversion table searches the telop information corresponding to the identifier based on the identifier associated with the dialogue sound, and sends the searched telop information to the display control unit,
The display control unit displays a telop corresponding to the telop information on the display device based on the telop information received from the conversion table. The conversion table stores a duration corresponding to the telop information in advance,
In addition, with a timer,
The conversion table searches for the corresponding duration based on the identifier together with the telop information, and sends the searched duration to the timer.
The timer measures the time based on the duration, and instructs the display control unit to delete the telop based on the time measurement result.
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit erases the telop displayed on the display device based on an instruction to erase the telop from the timer. Control the display device based on the control of the sub-board that performs processing related to the production based on the predetermined command, the display device that displays the image related to the production, the acoustic device that generates the sound related to the production, and the sub-board A display control unit, an acoustic control unit that controls the acoustic device based on the control of the sub-board, an identifier associated with a telop displayed on the display device, and a dialogue sound that is reproduced on the acoustic device are stored in advance. Conversion table and
The display control unit displays the telop on the display device based on the control of the sub-board,
The conversion table searches the dialogue sound corresponding to the identifier based on the identifier associated with the telop, sends the searched dialogue sound to the acoustic control unit,
The game machine, wherein the sound control unit plays the line sound with the sound device based on the line sound received from the conversion table. The conversion table stores in advance the duration corresponding to the dialogue sound,
In addition, with a timer,
The conversion table searches for the corresponding duration based on the identifier together with the dialogue sound, and sends the searched duration to the timer.
The timer measures the time based on the duration, and instructs the display control unit to delete the telop based on the time measurement result.
4. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit erases the telop displayed on the display device based on an instruction to erase the telop from the timer. A sub-board that performs processing related to the effect based on a predetermined command, a display device that displays an image related to the effect, an audio device that generates sound related to the effect, a display control unit that controls the display device, and the sound An acoustic control unit that controls the device, a dialogue sound that is reproduced by the acoustic device, and a conversion table that stores in advance telop information to be displayed by the display device;
The conversion table receives a command from the sub-board, searches the dialogue sound and the telop information corresponding to the command, sends the searched dialogue sound to the acoustic control unit, and sends the searched telop information to the acoustic control unit. Sent to the display controller,
The acoustic control unit generates sound in the acoustic device based on the dialogue sound received from the conversion table,
The display control unit displays a telop corresponding to the telop information on the display device based on the telop information received from the conversion table. The conversion table stores a duration corresponding to the telop information in advance,
In addition, with a timer,
The conversion table searches the duration together with the telop information, sends the searched duration to the timer,
The timer measures the time based on the duration, and instructs the display control unit to delete the telop based on the time measurement result.
6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit erases the telop displayed on the display device based on an instruction to erase the telop from the timer.

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