JP2011229961A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine creating a possibility to motivate a player to positively participate in a mini-game by enhancing rendering property of probability variable promotion by the smooth progress of rendering according to a player's operation even in the case of determining whether to promote to probability variation by internal lottery processing.SOLUTION: The pinball game machine notifies the player directly or indirectly on whether to vary probability of shifting to a special game at a timing out of two or more timings including at least those during the execution of a special game and after the end of the special game. When the notification is made during the execution of the special game or after the end of the special game, whether to execute notification during the execution of the special game or after the end of the special game is determined according to the result of the game operated by the player.

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine that displays an effect image on an image display device and changes the progress of the ball game based on the result of the effect.

  Conventionally, in a pachinko gaming machine, an image display device is provided on a game board, and an effect image is enhanced by displaying an effect image on the image display device. Such effect image display is used not only to enhance the effect, but also to change the gaming state of the pachinko game. For example, a design image is displayed as an effect image, a game imitating a slot game based on the design image is performed, and the game state of the pachinko game is changed based on the game result. Specifically, when the slot game is a big hit, the pachinko game is changed to a special game so that the game ball is easy to win.

  In addition, as a technique for changing the gaming state of a pachinko game, there is a so-called promotion to probability fluctuation (hereinafter referred to as a probable change promotion). This is to make it easier to change to a special game by increasing the probability that the slot game will be a big hit by probabilistic promotion.

  In the conventional pachinko gaming machine, there is one in which the timing of this probable change promotion is made plural times. For example, an opportunity that can be promoted to a certain degree is provided at three timings before, during, and after the special game. In particular, in the probability change promotion during a special game, there is a game in which a mini game is performed by operating a button separately from a slot game using a symbol image on an image display device. In this case, the mini game is advanced by the operation of the operator, and when the mini game is successful, the probability change is promoted, and when the mini game fails, the probability change is not promoted (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 2854824

  However, in the conventional pachinko gaming machine described above, whether or not to shift to probability change is determined in advance by the internal lottery process, so that if the mini game fails or the player does not play the mini game Even if the probability variation promotion is determined by the internal lottery process, the probability variation promotion effect is immediately performed. For this reason, the progress of the production becomes extremely unnatural, and it has been unavoidable that the player is actively interested in mini-games to entertain them.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to operate the player even when the internal lottery process determines whether or not to promote to the probability variation state. Providing a ball game machine that has the potential to give the player the motivation to actively participate in the mini-game by improving the performance of the promotion to the probability variation state by smoothly performing the production according to the situation It is in.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, when it is determined that the probability that a ball game can be transferred to a special game advantageous to the player is changed, whether the player operation game has been successful or not. The timing of notification that the probability is changed is changed based on whether the failure occurs.

  More specifically, the present invention provides the following.

The ball game machine according to the present invention is
A game board where a ball game is played,
An operation means for issuing an operation signal based on a player's operation;
Image display means provided so as to be visible to the player;
Operation game control means for displaying on the image display means a player operation game that is progressed based on the operation signal and that is determined as success or failure as a game result;
Bullet ball game transition control means for shifting the ball game to a special game advantageous to the player based on a predetermined probability;
Probability changing means for changing the predetermined probability based on a lottery result by lottery processing;
A ball game machine including
When the probability changing means determines to change the predetermined probability, the operation game control means changes the probability between when the player operation game has succeeded and when the player has failed. It is characterized by making the timing of notification to the effect different.

  The above-mentioned “operation means” can be operated by the player of the ball game machine and may be any device that issues an operation signal based on the operation to the operation game control means. This operation means may be one that detects the movement of the player's limbs, for example, the movement of the hand, or one that detects the voice uttered by the player. The player's operation may be mechanically detected or electrically detected.

  Further, the “ball game” may be a game using a game ball, and is a game in which the progress of the game is determined by a game ball in an arrangement ball, a sparrow ball game machine or the like in addition to a general pachinko game machine. The means for determining the probability is preferably one that generates a random number and determines whether or not to shift to an advantageous special game based on the value of the random number.

  Furthermore, the “special game” may be a game in which the game state is advantageous for the player, and “advantage for the player” means that the number of points as a result of the game is increased, or the time and number of times the game is performed. There are some that increase the amount of money, and some that provide the player with some goods. In particular, it is preferable that the player can pay more game balls.

  Furthermore, the “probability changing means” changes the predetermined probability based on the lottery result by the lottery process. This lottery process is preferably performed by generating a random number and performing a lottery based on the value of the random number. The random number may be generated by hardware or software.

  Furthermore, the “player-operated game” is a game that is progressed based on an operation signal issued from the operation means, and that either success or failure is determined as the game result. The success indicates a mode in which the player operation game is desired by the player, and the failure indicates a mode in which the player operation game is not desired by the player.

  Further, the “symbol image game” is a game in which a game result is determined by the display mode of the symbol image determined based on the above-described predetermined probability. Furthermore, the symbol image game is a game that is a big hit when the symbol image display mode is one of a plurality of predetermined specific display modes. The symbol image game may be a game that displays a symbol that can identify the progress and result of the game as an image. In particular, a game that displays images of a plurality of symbols and imitates a so-called slot game is preferable.

  Further, the “notification that the probability is changed” may be any notification that allows the player to recognize that the probability is changed, and is text information or image information that directly includes a message whose probability is changed. However, it may be indirect character information or image information that allows the player to derive or come up with a probability change. In addition, the “notification that the probability is changed” may be a notification that can be recognized by the player, may be any method that can stimulate the player's five senses, and the notification means that is controlled by the control means. It is desirable to have. In particular, it is preferable to notify using image display means in which the above-described symbol image game is performed.

  In addition, “differentiating the timing of notification that the probability is changed” means that notification is made at different timings when the player recognizes that the player-operated game is successful and when the player recognizes that the game has failed. That means. For example, when a player operation game is successful, it is notified immediately, and when a player operation game fails, it is preferable to notify after a predetermined time. Further, the reference timing of the notification may be a predetermined progress stage of the player-operated game, for example, when the player-operated game is started or ended. In particular, it is preferable that the time of the notification timing is a time when success or failure of the player-operated game is clearly indicated.

Further, the image display means described above is
If the game result of the player-operated game is successful, notify that the probability will be changed when the player-operated game is finished, and
When the game result of the player-operated game is the failure, the probability that the probability is changed is not notified when the player-operated game is finished, and the probability is then changed at a predetermined timing. What notifies the effect is preferable.

Furthermore, the ball game machine is preferably
When the game result is determined by the display mode of the symbol image determined based on the predetermined probability, and the display mode of the symbol image is one of a plurality of predetermined display modes. A symbol image game control means for displaying on the image display means a symbol image game that is a big hit.

Further, the bullet ball game transition control means shifts the bullet ball game to a special game when the symbol image game is a jackpot, and
The jackpot includes a normal jackpot and a specific jackpot, and when the symbol image game is the specific jackpot, the probability changing means changes the predetermined probability after the special game is over,
More preferably, the operation game control means notifies that the specific jackpot is changed as the probability is changed.

  Further, the operation game control means performs the player operation game while the special game is being performed, and

  When the game result of the player-operated game is successful, it is desirable to notify that the probability is changed while the special game is being performed.

  Even if it is determined by internal lottery processing whether or not to be promoted to the probability variation state, the direction is smoothly advanced according to the player's operation to improve the performance of the promotion to the probability variation state. There is a possibility of motivating the user to actively participate in the mini game.

It is a front view showing the outline of an example of the pachinko gaming machine which is one embodiment of the ball game machine concerning the present invention. It is a rear view which shows the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of control functions in the pachinko gaming machine 10. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a winning process executed in the main control circuit 50. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the special winning opening control process by which a process is started in FIG.4 S20. 4 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of image display processing executed in a sub control circuit 52. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the process of the symbol image game called and performed in step S55 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the process of the symbol image game called and performed in step S61 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the process of a mini game execution called and performed in step S89 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the image of one example of the effect of a probable change promotion. It is a figure which shows the image of the example of the start of a mini game, and its description. It is a figure which shows the image of one example of the mini game imitating a crane game. It is a figure which shows the image (a) of one example of the aspect which the crane moved to the perpendicular direction, and acquired the prize, and the image (b) of one example of the aspect which could not acquire the prize. It is a figure which shows the image (a) of the aspect which drops the acquired premium to the insertion hole, and the image (b) which shows one example of the probability change promotion effect image displayed after completion | finish of a mini game.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing an outline of an example of a pachinko gaming machine that is one embodiment of a ball and ball game machine according to the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 1 is a view showing the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 12, a front frame 14, and a game board 24.

<Outer frame 12>
The outer frame 12 constitutes an outline of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and has a rectangular shape. In the pachinko hall, the pachinko gaming machine 10 is attached to a support member (not shown) of the game island through the outer frame 12.

<Front frame 14>
The outer frame 12 is provided with a front frame 14 that is pivotally supported so as to be freely opened and closed. The front frame 14 is provided with various members such as a glass door 16, an upper plate 18 and a lower plate 20 for receiving game balls, a hitting ball handle 22, and a storage unit for storing the game board 24.

<Game board 24>
The game board 24 is provided with a game area 28 partitioned by rails 26. An image display device 30 for displaying various images such as images of symbols is provided at a substantially central portion of the game area 28. Further, the game area 28 includes a start winning port 32 that defines conditions for starting the variation of symbols, a special winning port 34 that opens and closes when a game is a big hit, normal symbol variation display ports 36 and 38, and a plurality of others. Are also provided with general winning ports 39a to 39d, windmills 40 and 42 that affect the fall of the game ball, a number of game nails (not shown), and an out port 44.

  When the player rotates the hitting ball handle 22 described above, the game balls are supplied one by one from the upper plate 18 to the hitting ball launching unit (not shown). With high strength, it is launched as a hit ball into the game area 28 by a hit ball launching device (not shown).

  The hit ball launched into the game area 28 falls while changing the moving direction by repeatedly contacting the windmill and the game nail described above, and flows into the various winning holes 32 to 38 and 39a to 39d and the out hole 44 described above. It will be. When the hit ball wins any one of the winning openings 32 to 38 and 39a to 39d, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the upper plate 18 or the lower plate 20 as winning balls.

<Image display device 30>
As described above, the image display device 30 is provided in a substantially central portion of the game area 28. As will be described later, various images such as a pattern image and a character image are displayed as effect images on the image display device 30. In the image display device 30, a game based on a graphic image, that is, a graphic image game simulating a slot game performed in a so-called slot machine is executed. The symbol consists of identification information for indicating the result of the image game, for example, identification information by numbers or characters such as “0”, “1” to “9”, etc. It is an image shown to be visible. The symbol image is displayed in a variable manner or stopped. The variable display of the symbol image is a display method in which the identification information constituting the symbol image is displayed in such a manner that it is sequentially changed, or the symbol image is displayed in such a manner that the display position of the symbol image is changed. The time when the symbol image variation display is started is the start of the symbol image game. The variably displayed symbol image is stopped and displayed after a predetermined time has elapsed. The stop display of the symbol image displays certain identification information at a certain position of the image display device 30.

  Further, not only the symbol image but also the character image and the background image for enhancing the effect of the symbol image game are displayed on the image display device 30. As will be described later, in the present embodiment, the effect by the character image is displayed on the image display device 30 as an effect image that progresses separately from the symbol image game by the symbol image.

<Starting prize opening 32>
Further, when a hit ball is won at the start winning opening 32 of the winning openings, the pattern image displayed on the image display device 30 starts to be displayed in a variable manner, and a predetermined moving image or a pattern variation mode is displayed for a predetermined time. After that, the variable display of the symbol image is stopped. When the image of the symbol displayed on the image display device 30 becomes a specific one when the symbol image is stopped and displayed, for example, the numerical value indicated by the symbol is a so-called grey-scaled number 1 to 9 In such a case, the symbol image game is a so-called jackpot. When the symbol image game is a big hit, a special game is executed in the pachinko game. This special game is a game in which a predetermined demo image is displayed on the image display device 30 and the above-described special prize opening 34 is opened to make the game ball easy to win, so that the game ball easily flows into the special prize opening 34. It is.

  Two movable pieces 33a and 33b are provided in the vicinity of the left and right sides of the start winning opening 32 so as to be operable. When the game ball passes through the above-described normal symbol variation display ports 36 and 38, the normal symbol game is started in the normal symbol display unit 31 provided on the left side of the game board 24. When the game result of this normal symbol game is a win, the two movable pieces 33a and 33b are opened, and it becomes easy to win the game ball at the start winning opening 32. The normal symbol display unit 31 shown in FIG. 1 includes two lamps. When the game ball passes through the normal symbol variation display ports 36 and 38, the two lamps start blinking. After that, only one of the lights is turned on after a predetermined time has elapsed, and hit or miss is determined by the lamp that is turned on.

<Special prize opening 34>
As described above, when the symbol image game in the image display device 30 is a big hit, in the pachinko game, the special prize opening 34 is opened and the special game is executed. The easy winning state of the special winning opening 34 is, for example, 30 seconds until a predetermined number of hit balls are won in the special winning opening 34, for example, ten pieces are won, or until a predetermined time elapses after the special winning opening 34 is opened. Continue until it has passed. Thereafter, the special winning opening 34 is closed to make it difficult to win. The special prize opening 34 is provided with a specific area (not shown). If the hit ball passes through the specific area while the special prize opening 34 is open, the special prize opening 34 is once closed and then opened again. The operation of opening and closing the special prize opening 34 is repeated a plurality of times, for example, 15 times, and then the special prize opening 34 is closed. In the following, a game from when the special winning opening 34 is opened until it is closed is referred to as a unit game, and the number of times a unit game is played is referred to as a round number.

<Operation button 46>
An operation button 46 is provided on the left side of the above-described upper plate 18 so as to be capable of being pushed. The operation button 46 is electrically connected to a main control circuit 50 described later. When the operator pushes the operation button 46, an operation signal is generated and supplied to the main control circuit 50. When the operator releases his / her hand from the operation button 46, the supply of the operation signal to the main control circuit 50 is stopped.

  FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the back of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

<Main control circuit 50>
As shown in FIG. 2, a main control circuit 50 is provided in the lower part of the back surface. The main control circuit 50 performs overall control of the pachinko gaming machine 10. For example, the main control circuit 50 performs control for paying out the number of game balls corresponding to the winning opening as winning balls when winning a winning ball such as the start winning opening 32 or the special winning opening 34.

  The main control circuit 50 includes a CPU (central processing unit) (not shown) that performs operations and the like, a ROM (read only memory) (not shown) that stores a program for controlling the entire pachinko gaming machine 10, and A random access memory (RAM) (not shown) for temporarily storing each data is included. These CPU, ROM, and RAM are electrically connected by an input / output bus so that data signals and address signals can be input / output. Of the programs for controlling the entire pachinko gaming machine 10, the programs for controlling the winning process and the special winning opening 34 are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to be described later.

<Sub control circuit 52>
An image display device 30 is provided above the main control circuit 50, and a sub control circuit 52 is provided on the back surface of the image display device 30. The sub control circuit 52 is electrically connected to the main control circuit 50 and controls the image display device 30 based on a control signal issued from the main control circuit 50. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) that performs arithmetic operations, a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown) that stores a program for controlling the image display device 30, and each data are temporarily stored. RAM (random access memory) (not shown) etc. are included. The ROM stores a program for controlling an operation game and a symbol image game, which will be described later, and these subroutines are shown in FIGS. In addition, the ROM stores image data of images used for operation games and symbol image games. One example of this image is shown in FIGS. These CPU, ROM, and RAM are electrically connected by an input / output bus so that data signals and address signals can be input / output. The sub-control circuit 52 controls the display of the image on the image display device 30 and determines the display mode of the above-described operation game and symbol image game.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an outline of control functions in the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  The pachinko gaming machine 10 includes a control unit 500, an operation unit 400, and an image display unit 300. The control unit 500 is electrically connected to the operation unit 400 and the image display unit 300.

  The operation unit 400 can be operated by a player of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and may be any device that issues an operation signal based on the operation to the control unit 500. The operation means 400 by the player may be one that detects movements of the limbs of the player, for example, movements of the hands, or one that detects sound emitted by the player. The operation button 46 is most preferable. The operation button 46 may be one that mechanically detects the player's operation or one that is electrically detected.

  The control unit 500 includes a main control circuit 50 and a sub control circuit 52. The main control circuit controls the entire pachinko gaming machine 10 as described above. The main control circuit 50 includes a ball game transition control unit 510 and a probability changing unit 520.

  The bullet ball game transition control means 510 shifts the bullet ball game to a special game advantageous to the player based on a predetermined probability. This bullet ball game may be a game using a game ball, and is a game in which the progress of the game is determined by a game ball in an arrangement ball, a sparrow ball game machine or the like in addition to a general pachinko game machine. The means for determining the probability is preferably one that generates a random number and determines whether or not to shift to an advantageous special game based on the value of the random number. Furthermore, the special game only needs to be a game in which the game state is advantageous to the player. “Advantageous to the player” means that the number of points as a result of the game is increased, and the time and number of times of the game are increased. And some items are provided to the player. In particular, it is preferable that the player can pay more game balls.

  Further, the probability changing means 520 changes a predetermined probability based on the lottery result by the lottery process. This lottery process is preferably performed by generating a random number and performing a lottery based on the value of the random number. The random number may be generated by hardware or software.

  The sub-control circuit 52 described above includes an operation game control means 530 and a symbol image game control means 540.

  The operation game control means 530 displays the player operation game on the image display means 300 described later. This player operation game is progressed based on the operation signal issued from the operation means 400, and either success or failure is determined as the game result. The success indicates a mode in which the player operation game is desired by the player, and the failure indicates a mode in which the player operation game is not desired by the player. The symbol image game control means 540 displays the symbol image game on the image display means 300. In this symbol image game, the game result is determined by the display mode of the symbol image determined based on the above-described predetermined probability. Furthermore, the symbol image game is a game that is a big hit when the symbol image display mode is one of a plurality of predetermined specific display modes. The symbol image game may be a game that displays a symbol that can identify the progress and result of the game as an image. In particular, a game that displays images of a plurality of symbols and imitates a so-called slot game is preferable.

  The control means 500 issues a control signal to the image display means 300 so that the above-described operation game or symbol image game is displayed on the image display means 300 as an effect image.

  The image display means 300 displays an operation game or a design image game as an effect image based on a control signal issued from the control means 500. The image display means 300 is preferably the image display device 30.

<< Control processing >>
Hereinafter, various controls performed in the main control circuit 50 and the sub control circuit 52 described above will be described. In the following, the pachinko gaming machine 10 has been activated in advance, and in the main control circuit 50 and the sub control circuit 52 described above, the activation processing such as initialization of various variables used for control is completed, and the pachinko gaming machine 10 10 is assumed to be in steady operation.

  4 and 5 shown below show subroutines executed in the main control circuit 50, and FIGS. 6 to 9 show subroutines executed in the sub-control circuit 52. Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 to 9 show only one example for executing the control process in the main control circuit 50 or the sub control circuit 52, and are not limited to this process procedure.

<Winning process>
FIG. 4 shows a subroutine of a winning process executed in the main control circuit 50 described above. The subroutine shown in FIG. 4 is called from a main program (not shown) previously executed by the main control circuit 50 at predetermined timings and repeatedly executed.

  First, it is determined whether or not the game ball moving on the game board 24 has won the start winning opening 32 (step S11). The start winning opening 32 is provided with a sensor (not shown) that detects that a game ball has passed and generates a detection signal to the main control circuit 50. Judgment is made based on whether or not the main control circuit 50 is supplied.

  When it is determined in step S11 that the game ball has not won the start winning opening 32, it is determined whether or not the game ball has won the other winning openings 36, 38, etc. (step S12). When it is determined that no game ball has been won in other winning holes 36, 38, etc., this subroutine is immediately terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the game ball has won the other winning holes 36, 38, etc., a winning process such as a game ball payout process is executed according to the type of the winning hole (step S13), and this subroutine is terminated. .

  If it is determined in step S11 described above that the game ball has won the start winning opening 32, an internal lottery process is executed (step S14). This internal lottery process determines whether the pachinko game is a big hit or miss based on the value of the random number generated by the random number generating means. Specifically, the lottery result by the internal lottery process is “big hit and positive hit”, “big hit and normal hit”, or “out”. As described above, when the pachinko game is a big hit by the lottery process, the special game is executed. This special game is a game in which the above-described special prize opening 34 is opened so that game balls can easily flow into the special prize opening 34. In addition, the probability variation is a so-called probability variation state, and is hereinafter referred to as probability variation.

  Next, a winning process such as a game ball payout process is executed (step S15), and the lottery result of the lottery process executed in step S14 is transmitted to the sub-control circuit 52 (step S16). Note that the lottery result transmitted to the sub-control circuit 52 in step S16 is information on either “big hit and positive hit” or “big hit and normal hit”. Next, it is determined whether or not the lottery result of the lottery process is a big hit (step S17). That is, it is determined whether the lottery result is “big hit and positive hit” or “big hit and normal hit”. When it is determined that the lottery result of the lottery process is not a big hit, this subroutine is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the lottery result is either “big win and positive hit” or “big win and normal win”, it is determined whether or not a special winning opening control process described later is already executed ( Step S18). When it is determined that the special winning opening control process has already been executed, this subroutine is terminated. When it is determined that the special prize opening control process has not been executed yet, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds has elapsed (step S19). When it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the determination process in step S19 is repeated. The process of determining whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed is a delay process for waiting until the jackpot effect performed in the sub-control circuit 52 described later is completed.

  When it is determined in step S19 that the predetermined time has elapsed, execution of a special prize opening control process shown in FIG. 5 described later is started (step S20), and this subroutine is ended.

<Special prize opening control process>
FIG. 5 shows a subroutine of the special prize opening control process that is started in step S20 of FIG. 4 described above. The subroutine shown in FIG. 5 is called and executed repeatedly at predetermined timings after the process is started in step S20 of FIG. This special winning opening control process is a process for mainly controlling the opening or closing of the special winning opening 34 described above, and is a process for shifting a pachinko game to a special game.

  First, information indicating that a special game has been started in the main control circuit 50 is transmitted to the sub-control circuit 52 (step S31). Next, the value of the variable round is initialized, for example, set to 0 (step S32). This variable round is the number of rounds described above, and indicates the number of times of opening and closing when the special winning opening 34 is opened and then closed once.

  Next, the special winning opening 34 is controlled to be opened (step S33). A motor (not shown) is connected to the special prize opening 34, and the special prize opening 34 is opened by driving the motor. Next, the value of the variable round is increased by 1 (step S34), and the value is transmitted to the sub control circuit 52 (step S35).

  Further, it is determined whether or not the condition for closing the special prize opening 34 is satisfied (step S36). Specifically, the conditions for closing the special prize opening 34 are: whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 30 seconds has elapsed since the special prize opening 34 was opened, and the number of game balls won in the special prize opening 34 Whether or not has reached 10 or more. When it is determined that the condition for closing the special prize opening 34 is not satisfied, the determination process in step S36 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the condition for closing the special prize opening 34 is satisfied, the special prize opening 34 is closed (step S37). This closing control is also performed by driving a motor connected to the special prize opening 34. Next, it is determined whether or not to continue the next round (step S38). Specifically, whether or not to continue the round is determined by whether or not the value of the variable round is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, for example, 15 or greater, and the so-called V zone formed in the special winning opening 34. It is whether or not the game ball has passed through the area called. If it is determined that the next round will continue, the process returns to step S33 described above.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the next round will not be continued, the main control circuit 50 transmits information indicating that the special game has ended to the sub control circuit 52 (step S339), and this subroutine is ended.

<Image display processing>
FIG. 6 shows a subroutine of image display processing executed in the sub-control circuit 52 described above. The subroutine shown in FIG. 6 is called from a main program (not shown) previously executed by the sub-control circuit 52 at predetermined timings and repeatedly executed.

  First, the lottery result issued from the main control circuit 50 is received (step S51). This process is a process corresponding to the process of step S16 in FIG. 4 described above, and the lottery result received is information indicating “big hit and positive hit” or “big hit and normal hit”.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the lottery result received in step S51 is a big hit and a probable hit (step S52). When it is determined that the received lottery result is not “big hit and probable hit”, the lottery process for the normal symbol image is executed (step S53). On the other hand, when it is determined that the received lottery result is a “big hit and a probable hit”, a lottery process for a probable variation symbol and a normal symbol image is executed (step S54).

  Next, a subroutine of symbol image game processing shown in FIG. 7 described later is called and executed (step S55). Next, it is determined whether or not a special game is performed in the main control circuit 50 from the lottery result received in step S51 described above (step S56). When the main control circuit 50 determines that no special game is performed, this subroutine is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, in step S54 described above, it is determined whether or not a probable variation symbol has been drawn (step S57). When it is determined that the probable variation symbol has been drawn, an effect image indicating that the probability variation state has been promoted as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the image display device 30 (step S58). In the example shown in FIG. 10, as shown in FIG. 10A, the three symbol images become so-called “bottled eyes”, and an aspect that is sequentially displayed in a variably manner is displayed. Specifically, symbol images such as “1”-“1”-“1” → “2”-“2”-“2” →... → “9”-“9”-“9” Is displayed fluctuating. Eventually, as shown in FIG. 10B, a symbol image of “7”-“7”-“7” called a so-called probability variation symbol is stopped and displayed to be promoted to a probability variation state. Informed.

  When it is determined in step S57 that the probability variation symbol is not drawn, or when the process of step S58 is executed, it is determined whether or not special game start information issued from the main control circuit 50 has been received (step S59). . This processing corresponds to the processing in step S31 in FIG. When it is determined that the special game start information has not been received, the determination process in step S59 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the special game start information issued from the main control circuit 50 has been received, it is determined whether or not the normal symbol is drawn in step S53 or step S54 (step S60). When it is determined that the normal symbol has been drawn, a mini game processing subroutine shown in FIG. 8 to be described later is called and executed (step S61).

  When it is determined in step S60 that the normal symbol has not been drawn, or when the process of step S61 is executed, it is determined whether or not special game end information issued from the main control circuit 50 has been received (step S61). S62). This process corresponds to the process in step S39 of FIG. If it is determined that the game end information has not been received, the determination process in step S62 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the game end information has been received, it is determined whether or not a normal symbol is drawn in step S54 and the value of a flag F_game described later is 0 (step S63). When the value of the flag F_game is 1, it indicates that the mini game is successful, and when the value of the flag F_game is 0, it indicates that the mini game has failed.

  If it is determined in step S63 that the normal symbol is drawn in step S54 and the value of the flag F_game is 0, an effect image indicating that the state is promoted to the probability variation state shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the image display device 30. It is displayed (step S64).

  When it is determined in step S63 described above that the normal symbol is not drawn in step S54 or the value of the flag F_game is not 0, or when the process of step S64 is executed, this subroutine is terminated.

  FIG. 7 shows a subroutine of symbol image game processing that is called and executed in step S55 of FIG.

  First, the design image data, background image data, and character image data are read from the ROM (not shown) of the sub-control circuit 52, and the position where the image is to be displayed on the image display device 30 is determined (step S71). . Next, the read design image data is written into a video RAM (not shown) of the image display device 30 to display the design image on the image display device 30 (step S72), and the read background image data is displayed on the image display device. 30 is written in the video RAM (not shown) and the background image is displayed on the image display device 30 (step S73), and the read image data of the character is written in the video RAM (not shown) of the image display device 30. The character image is displayed on the image display device 30 (step S74). By executing the processes of steps S71 to S74 described above, the symbol image and the background image are displayed on the image display device 30 while the symbol image is variably displayed.

  After executing step S74 described above, it is determined whether or not it is time to stop and display the symbol image (step S75). When it is determined that it is time to stop and display the symbol image, one symbol image of the three symbol images is stopped and displayed (step S76).

  In step S75 described above, when it is determined that it is not time to stop and display the symbol image, or when the process of step S76 is executed, it is determined whether or not all the symbol images have been stopped and displayed (step S77). When it is determined that all the symbol images are not stopped and displayed, the process returns to step S71 described above. If it is determined that all the symbol images have been stopped and displayed, this subroutine is terminated.

FIG. 8 shows a subroutine of symbol image game processing called and executed in step S61 of FIG.
First, a flag F_game_end and a variable game_count are initialized, for example, a value is set to 0 (step S81). This flag F_game_end is a flag indicating whether or not to end the mini game. When the value of F_game_end is 0, the mini game should be continued. When the value of F_game_end is 1, the mini game is ended. Indicates what to do. The variable game_count indicates the number of times the mini game has been played.

  Next, information indicating the number of rounds of the special game issued from the main control circuit 50 is received, and the number of rounds is stored in the variable round (step S82). Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable round is a predetermined value or more, for example, 15 or more, or the value of the flag F_game_end is 1 (step S83). When it is determined that the value of the variable round is equal to or greater than the predetermined value or the value of the flag F_game_end is 1, this subroutine is immediately terminated.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the variable round is less than the predetermined value and the value of the flag F_game_end is 0, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable round is 8 or more (step S84). When it is determined that the value of the variable round is less than 8, an image for explaining the rules of the mini game or the like is displayed on the image display device 30 as shown in FIG. 11 (step S85), and the above-described step S82 is performed. Return processing. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the characters “probability promotion! Game” are initially displayed (FIG. 11A), and a notification that the mini game is started is given. Subsequently, a screen to the effect that the operation button 46 is operated is displayed (FIG. 11B).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S84 that the value of the variable round is 8 or more, the value of the variable game_count is increased by 1 (step S86), and a mini game image as shown in FIG. S87). The mini game in the example shown in FIG. 12A is a game that imitates a so-called crane game, and is a game in which a prize below the crane is acquired by the crane.

  When the mini-game image is displayed in the process of step S87, it is next determined whether or not the operator has pushed the operation button 46 (step S88). This determination is made based on whether or not an operation signal issued from the operation button 46 is detected. When it is determined that the operator has pushed the operation button 46, a subroutine for mini game execution processing shown in FIG. 9 described later is called and executed (step S89). After executing the mini game execution process, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable game_count is 2 or more (step S90). When it is determined that the value of the variable game_count is less than 2, that is, when it is determined that the mini game has not been played twice, the process returns to step S82 described above. On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the variable game_count is 2 or more, that is, when it is determined that the mini game has already been performed twice, the value of the flag F_game_end is set to 1 (step S91), and the process proceeds to step S82 described above. To return.

  When it is determined in step S88 described above that the operator has not pushed the operation button 46, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed, for example, whether or not 5 seconds have elapsed (step S92). This predetermined time is a time assumed to be required for one mini game. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S82 described above, and it is determined again whether or not the operator has pushed the operation button 46 (step S88).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S92 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the value of the flag F_game is set to 0 (step S93), and the process proceeds to step S90 described above. This flag F_game is a flag indicating whether or not a mini game described later has been hit or not. When the value of the flag F_game is 1, it indicates that the player has hit a mini game. When the value of the flag F_game is 0, the flag has lost the mini game. It shows that. When it is determined that the operator has not pushed the operation button 46 twice by the processing of Step S88 and Step S92 described above, the value of the flag F_game is set to 0 (Step S93), and it is assumed that the player has come out of the mini game. At the same time, the value of the flag F_game_end is set to 0 (step S91), and it is assumed that the mini game is finished.

  FIG. 9 shows a subroutine of mini game execution processing called and executed in step S89 of FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the lottery result received in step S51 of FIG. When it is determined that the lottery result is a “big hit and a promising win”, a lottery process is executed to determine whether the result of the mini game is a win or not (step S102). When the lottery process results in a lottery result that sets the mini game to “win”, the flag F_game value is set to 1. When the lottery result sets the mini game to “Exit”, the flag F_game value is set. Set to 0. In step S101, when it is determined that the received lottery result is not “big win and positive change”, that is, when it is determined that it is “big hit” but “normal hit”, the value of flag F_game is set to 0. (Step S103). As described above, when the lottery result in the main control circuit 50 is “big hit” and “normal hit”, the mini game is always “disconnected”.

  After performing the process of step S102 or S103 mentioned above, the image of the aspect which a crane moves to a horizontal direction is displayed on the image display apparatus 30 (step S104). This process is continuously performed while the operator pushes the operation button 46. For example, as shown in FIG. 12B, an image of a mode in which the crane moves left and right on the upper side of the screen is displayed. Next, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S105). This predetermined time is determined in advance as a time to the extent that one mini game is completed within a predetermined number of rounds of the special game being executed in the main control circuit 50. If it is determined in step S105 that the predetermined time has not elapsed, it is determined whether or not the operator has finished pushing the operation button 46 (step S106). This determination process is determined based on whether or not an operation signal is no longer issued from the operation button 46. If it is determined that the operator is still pushing the operation button 46, the process returns to step S104.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S105 that the predetermined time has elapsed, or when it is determined in step S106 that the operator has finished pushing the operation button 46, an image of a mode in which the crane moves in the vertical direction is displayed on the image display device 30. (Step S107).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the value of the flag F_game is 1 (step S108). When it is determined that the value of F_game is 1, an image in a mode in which the prize can be acquired by the crane is displayed on the image display device 30 (step S109). For example, as shown in FIG. 13A, an image of a mode in which the crane is holding a doll that is a prize is displayed. Next, the probability variation promotion effect image is displayed on the image display device 30 (step S110), the value of the flag F_game_end is set to 1 (step S111), and this subroutine is terminated. As an example of the probable promotion effect image in step S110, for example, as shown in FIG. 14 (a), the crane moves to the right end while holding the acquired doll, and is at the right end as shown in FIG. 14 (b). While displaying an image of a mode in which a doll is dropped into the insertion hole, “7”-“7”-“7”, which are probable variations, are displayed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S108 that the value of F_game is 0, an image of a mode in which a prize could not be acquired by the crane is displayed on the image display device 30 (step S112), and this subroutine is terminated. For example, as shown in FIG.13 (b), the image of the aspect in which the crane was not able to grasp the prize is displayed.

24 game board 30 image display device (image display means)
46 Operation buttons (operation means)
50 Main control circuit (ball game transition control means, probability change means)
52 Sub-control circuit (operation game control means, symbol image game control means)

Claims (1)

A game board where a ball game is played,
An operation means for issuing an operation signal based on a player's operation;
Image display means provided so as to be visible to the player;
Operation game control means for displaying on the image display means a player operation game that is progressed based on the operation signal and that is determined as success or failure as a game result;
Bullet ball game transition control means for shifting the ball game to a special game advantageous to the player based on a predetermined probability;
Probability changing means for changing the predetermined probability based on a lottery result by lottery processing;
A ball game machine including
When the probability changing means determines to change the predetermined probability, the operation game control means changes the probability between when the player operation game has succeeded and when the player has failed. A ball game machine characterized in that the timing of notification to the effect is made different.

Images