JP2012135440A5 - - Google Patents

Description

In this type of gaming machine, when a big hit game is started, game balls are continuously fired aiming at the big prize opening. There are many things (waste balls) that become invalid balls and are discharged out of the machine through the out port without winning the winning port. However, the out mouth is generally provided at the bottom of the gaming area in a state separated from the big prize opening, so that the player can clearly see both the big prize opening and the out mouth. Yes. For this reason, it is easy for the player to notice that “the game ball that did not win the big winning opening during the big hit game” becomes an invalid ball (waste ball) and is discharged from the out port to the outside of the machine. This puts unnecessary stress on the player (for example, gives an irritating feeling based on “I feel like I wo n’t win as if I was able to start a big hit game, but I thought it was a big win)” There is a risk of lowering interests.

On the other hand, a gaming machine having a “configuration for suppressing the occurrence of invalid balls (waste balls) during a big hit game” is disclosed. That is, a gaming machine is disclosed in which an out port and a prize winning port are provided in the out region at the lower end of the game region (hereinafter referred to as “conventional example”; see Patent Document 1). In this conventional example, the out port is provided in a mode in which a lower surface in the front-rear direction (depth direction) of the game board is opened, and a big winning port is provided above the back side of the out port .

In the gaming machine according to this conventional example, the movement of the game ball guided to the out mouth (vertical drop) and the movement of the game ball guided to the prize winning opening (horizontal inflow to the back side) are completely different. The player can easily identify whether the game ball has won the big winning opening or whether it has become an invalid ball and has been discharged from the out opening . For this reason, depending on this conventional example, it is difficult to suppress the above-mentioned “decrease in gaming interest during a big hit game”.

The gaming machine according to claim 1,
A game area is provided on the front to allow the game balls to flow down, and a plurality of winning holes including a start winning opening and a large winning opening, and game balls that have not won any of the winning openings are discharged as invalid balls outside the machine. A game board disposed in the game area,
When the game balls flowing down the game area win the winning prize opening, a lottery is performed to determine whether or not to generate a big hit, and when the lottery result is a win, the large A gaming machine that executes a jackpot game that changes the winning opening to an open state,
A game ball inflow region for allowing a game ball that has flowed down the game region to flow in is formed across the left and right sides at the lower part of the game region, and a plurality of game ball receiving ports are arranged side by side in the game ball inflow region. And
Among the plurality of game ball entrances, one or more predetermined game ball entrances that are not located at the left end and the right end are used as the big prize opening, and among the game ball entrances located on both the left and right sides of the big prize opening , And at least the game ball entrance located on the left side of the grand prize winning opening,
On the front side of the plurality of game ball inlets in the game ball inflow region, a decorative body that covers the out port and the grand prize port is provided,
A first guiding path for guiding a game ball flowing down on the gaming area to the big winning opening and a gaming ball flowing down on the gaming area are guided to the out opening above the big winning opening and the out opening. And the second taxiway that is in close proximity to each other,
An operating piece that can be projected and retracted vertically with respect to the game area is provided, and when the operating piece protrudes toward the front side, the large winning opening is in the closed state, and a game ball flowing down the first guiding path is provided. When the operating piece is guided to the out port and the operating piece is immersed in the back side, the large winning port is in the open state so that the game ball flowing down the first guiding path is guided to the large winning port. It is characterized by comprising.

In the gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, the big winning opening and the out opening are arranged in a state adjacent to each other in the lateral direction, and the big winning opening and the out opening are covered with a decorative body, It is difficult to understand the boundaries of Moreover, since the first guiding path for guiding the game ball to the big winning opening and the second guiding path for guiding the game ball to the out opening are provided in close proximity to each other, the player flows down around the big winning opening. It can be difficult to identify whether a game ball has won a big winning opening or an invalid ball has been discharged from the out opening .

For this reason, it is possible to give the player the impression that many of the game balls that flow down around the big winning opening during the big hit game win the big winning opening (impression that no invalid ball is generated). Therefore, according to the gaming machine of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the “decrease in gaming interest caused by invalid balls (waste balls) generated during big hit games”. In the present invention, the placement and adjustment of the obstacle nails around the big prize opening is a disadvantageous aspect for the player, and the game ball flowing down around the big prize opening is likely to be guided to the second taxiway. Even underneath, it has great significance in that it is difficult to give unnecessary stress to the player.
In the present invention, the range covered with the “decorative body” can be selected from among the out mouth and the big prize opening. For example, (a) all of the out mouth and the big prize opening may be covered, or (b) a part of the out mouth and the big prize opening (for example, a portion excluding the upper part) may be covered. However, it is particularly desirable that (c) “cover all the out- ports and cover the portion excluding the upper part of the big winning port”. By covering and not covering the “upper part of the big prize opening” with a decorative body, the impression that many of the game balls flowing down around the big prize opening during the big hit game are winning the big prize opening (invalid balls are generated. This is because it is easier to give a player an unnotified impression). Here, in (c) “embodiment covering the part excluding the upper part of the big prize opening with the decoration body”, “the part not covered with the decoration body in the big prize opening (that is, the upper part of the big prize opening)” , Can be selected from the following ranges. In other words, if the vertical width of the big prize opening is “L”, it can be selected from a range that is “L / 10” or more and “2L / 3” or less from the upper end of the big prize opening. If it is in the range of “L / 10” or more from the upper end of the big prize opening, it becomes easier for the player to be aware of the existence of the big prize opening (the presence of the big prize opening can be made conspicuous), and the upper end of the big prize opening. This is because, if the range exceeds “2L / 3” from the department, it is easier to stand out that “the game ball was not won in the big winning opening”.
Moreover, in the above-mentioned (a)-(c), the height position of the upper end part of the special winning opening and the out opening arrange | positioned next to it may be the same, and may differ. For example, a mode in which the height position of the upper end portion of the special winning opening is made higher than the height position of the upper end portion of the out port arranged next thereto (hereinafter referred to as the “former mode”) or conversely low. (Hereinafter referred to as “the latter embodiment”). In the “form of the former”, even if it is a “simple-shaped decorative body having a substantially horizontal upper edge (for example, a belt-shaped decorative body)”, the upper edge is the same height as the upper end of the out mouth. Or above the upper end portion of the out-out opening , and lower than the upper end portion of the big winning opening, the above-mentioned “(c) mode (covering the entire out opening and A mode of covering the portion excluding the upper part) ”can be realized. Further, in the "latter aspect of" also the height position of the upper edge portion of the decorative body, by lowering the portion to be disposed in front of the special winning opening, the aforementioned "aspect (Out port of (c) A mode that covers the whole and covers the portion excluding the upper part of the big prize opening) can be realized.

In the gaming machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the outlets are arranged on both the left and right sides of the big prize opening located at the center of the game ball inflow area, the game balls can reach the periphery of the big prize opening from either the left or right direction Even in such a case, it can be difficult to identify whether the reached game ball has won the big prize opening or has become an invalid ball and has been discharged from the out mouth . In the present invention, when a plurality of game ball entrances are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, even if the game ball arrives around the big prize opening from either the left or right direction, It can be made equally difficult to identify whether it has become an invalid ball and discharged from the outlet .

In the invention of claim 3, since the opening shape of the big prize opening is a substantially mountain shape, the opening width of the big prize opening (the width along the lateral direction of the big prize opening) expands downward (a divergent shape). Becomes). In the big prize opening, the “upper part of the big prize opening” is arranged above the decorative body, and a portion having an opening width larger than the upper part is covered with the decorative body. For this reason, a game ball (a game ball that flows down the first taxiway or the second taxiway and flows behind the decorative body) flowing around the decorative body around the grand prize winning opening is awarded to the grand prize opening. It is even more difficult to discriminate whether it is an invalid ball or discharged from the outlet .

In other words, in the irregular jackpot round, the chance to win a game ball at the big prize opening is larger than the basic jackpot round because the big prize opening is repeatedly opened and closed during a single big hit round. (Possibility) becomes low (difficult to win). Therefore, if it is easy for the player to notice that the “game ball that did not win the big winning opening during the big hit game” becomes an invalid ball (waste ball) and is discharged from the out port to the outside of the machine, Opportunities for applying unnecessary stress to the players are further increased, and there is a risk of further decline in interest during the big hit game. On the other hand, in the present invention, whether the gaming ball flowing down around the big prize opening in the gaming machine with an irregular big hit round has won the big prize opening or is an invalid ball discharged from the out mouth ? Since it is difficult to identify the game, it is easy to maintain the interest during the big hit game. The “first time” can be any one of “20 to 30 seconds”, and the “second time” can be any one of “0.05 to 10 seconds”. Can be exemplified. In addition, the total opening time in the “abnormal jackpot round” (the total opening time of the big prize opening, that is, the total immersion time of the operating piece) is any one of “0.1 to 13 seconds”. Can be illustrated.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 14, the decorative plate 85 has a portion excluding the upper part of the game ball receiving opening A6 that constitutes the big winning opening 31a (from the lower end to the upper end of the game ball receiving opening A6). 2/3 portion) and other “game ball receiving ports (A1 to A5, A7 to A11)” (see FIG. 12) are also covered. For this reason, the decorative board 85 is in a state of covering all of the left and right out-out ports 32a and 32b of the big winning opening 31a and covering the portion excluding the upper portion of the big winning opening 31a. And since the decoration board 85 is a translucent board with which the process which reduces a transparency is given, it is difficult for a player to identify the back state. For this reason, from the front (front side) of the decorative plate 85, it is difficult to identify the boundary between the special prize winning port 31a and the left and right out ports 32a and 32b.

The special prize opening unit 31 is a unit (device) for opening and closing the aforementioned special prize opening 31a, and constitutes a special prize winning device together with the special prize opening 31a. As shown in FIG. 9, the special winning opening unit 31 is incorporated in the lower unit 80 and disposed below the first start winning device 17a. As shown in FIG. 10, the main component of the big prize opening unit 31 is behind the big prize opening 31a, and “processes game balls discharged from the left outlet 32a of the big prize opening 31a. Ball passage member 86 (indicated as 86 (L) in FIG. 10) ”and“ ball passage member 86 (86 (R in FIG. 10) for processing game balls discharged from the right outlet 31a on the right outlet 32b ”. ) And notation) ”.

Among the “left-handed balls”, those that reach the periphery of the big winning opening 31a pass through the vicinity of the left side of the first starting winning device 17a, and among the “right-handed balls”, around the big winning opening 31a. What arrives passes near the right side of the first start winning device 17a. The first guiding paths 11S and 11T and the second guiding paths 11L and 11R are provided in close proximity to each other, and the decorative plate 85 covers a portion excluding the upper portion of the big winning opening 31a. It is in the state which covers all the out mouths 32a and 32b of the both right and left sides of the mouth 31a. In addition, the decorative plate 85 is subjected to a process of reducing the degree of transparency, and from the front, it is difficult to identify the boundary between the special winning opening 31a and the left and right out openings 32a and 32b.

Therefore, whether the game ball that reaches the periphery of the big winning opening 31a is either the “left hit ball” or the “right hit ball”, whether the game ball has won the big win opening 31a, It is difficult to identify whether it is received by the side out ports 32a and 32b. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, when the big prize opening 31a is in an open state, the game ball Y1 that has reached the vicinity of the left side of the first start prize-winning device 17a is guided to the first guiding path 11S and won a big prize. It is difficult to identify whether the mouth 31a has won a prize or whether it has been received by the left-side out mouth 32a. In addition, as shown in FIG. 26, when the big winning opening 31a is in the closed state, whether the game ball Y2 guided to the first guiding path 11S has won the big winning opening 31a or the left side out opening 32a. It has become difficult to identify what has been accepted. Unlike this embodiment, all “right-handed balls” may be discharged out of the machine as “out-balls”.

(7) Effects of the Example In the gaming machine 1 of the present example, the big winning opening 31a and the out outlets 32a and 32b are arranged in a state adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction, and the portion excluding the upper portion of the big winning opening 31a. And the structure which covers all the out mouths 32a and 32b with the decorative board 85 is employ | adopted. In addition, the first guide paths 11S and 11T for guiding the game balls to the grand prize winning port 31a and the second guide paths 11L and 11R for guiding the game balls to the out ports 32a and 32b are provided in close proximity to each other. For the player, it can be difficult to identify whether the game ball flowing down around the big winning opening 31a has won the big winning opening 31a or discharged as an invalid ball from the out openings 32a, 32b.

That is, when the special winning opening 31a is in an open state, the game ball that has reached the periphery of the special winning opening 31a has been guided to the special winning opening 31a by the first guiding paths 11S and 11T, or the second guiding path. It is difficult to identify whether it is guided to the outlets 32a and 32b by 11L and 11R, compared to conventional gaming machines (game machines that arrange the entire prize winning opening and the out mouth in a vertically visible state). It becomes. Further, the shutter member 31e for switching the prize winning opening 31a between the open state and the closed state slides (slides) in the front-rear direction of the game board 10, and is provided on the front side and the back side of the game board surface. Since it is a structure that appears and disappears, for a player who is located (sitting) on the front side of the game board 10, just looking at the periphery of the big winning opening 31 a covered with the decorative board 85, the size It is difficult to identify whether the winning opening 31a is in the open state or the closed state. For this reason, even when the grand prize winning port 31a is in a closed state, whether the game ball guided to the first guiding paths 11S and 11T has won the grand prize winning port 31a or is accepted by the left side out port 32a. It is difficult to identify what happened.

In particular, in this gaming machine 1, since the shape of the opening of the big prize opening 31a is substantially mountain-shaped, the opening width of the big prize opening 31a (the width along the horizontal direction of the big prize opening 31a) expands downward. To do. And in the special winning opening 31a, the upper part is arrange | positioned upwards rather than the decoration board 85, and the part whose opening width is larger than the upper part is covered with the decoration board 85. FIG. Therefore, a game ball that flows to the rear of the decorative board 85 around the special winning opening 31a (a game ball that flows down the first guide path 11S, 11T or the second guide paths 11L, 11R and flows behind the decorative board 85). However, it becomes more difficult to identify whether the winning prize opening 31a has been won or whether it has become an invalid ball and is discharged from the out openings 32a, 32b.

Claims (4)

A game area is provided on the front to allow the game balls to flow down, and a plurality of winning holes including a start winning opening and a large winning opening, and game balls that have not won any of the winning openings are discharged as invalid balls outside the machine. A game board disposed in the game area,
When the game balls flowing down the game area win the winning prize opening, a lottery is performed to determine whether or not to generate a big hit, and when the lottery result is a win, the large A gaming machine that executes a jackpot game that changes the winning opening to an open state,
A game ball inflow region for allowing a game ball that has flowed down the game region to flow in is formed across the left and right sides at the lower part of the game region, and a plurality of game ball receiving ports are arranged side by side in the game ball inflow region. And
Among the plurality of game ball entrances, one or more predetermined game ball entrances that are not located at the left end and the right end are used as the big prize opening, and among the game ball entrances located on both the left and right sides of the big prize opening , And at least the game ball entrance located on the left side of the grand prize winning opening,
On the front side of the plurality of game ball inlets in the game ball inflow region, a decorative body that covers the out port and the grand prize port is provided,
A first guiding path for guiding a game ball flowing down on the gaming area to the big winning opening and a gaming ball flowing down on the gaming area are guided to the out opening above the big winning opening and the out opening. And the second taxiway that is in close proximity to each other,
An operating piece that can be projected and retracted vertically with respect to the game area is provided, and when the operating piece protrudes toward the front side, the large winning opening is in the closed state, and a game ball flowing down the first guiding path is provided. When the operating piece is guided to the out port and the operating piece is immersed in the back side, the large winning port is in the open state so that the game ball flowing down the first guiding path is guided to the large winning port. A gaming machine that is configured as described above.   Among the plurality of game ball inlets, at least a game ball inlet located in the center of the game ball inflow region is set as the big prize opening, and game ball inlets located on both right and left sides of the big prize opening are the out holes. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein:   The opening shape of the prize winning opening is a substantially mountain shape, and the operating piece is inclined downwardly from the center of the upper part of the winning prize opening along the opening shape, and the upper part of the winning prize opening and the operating piece is The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a lower end spread portion other than the lower end is covered with the decorative body. In the jackpot game, the jackpot round in which the jackpot in the closed state is changed to an open state according to a predetermined mode is performed a plurality of times,
As the jackpot game,
A basic jackpot game that repeats the basic jackpot round, which includes performing the operation piece in an immersive state for the first time once, a plurality of times;
An irregular jackpot game in which an irregular jackpot round is performed with the content that the actuating piece is immersed several times for a second time shorter than the first time;
The game machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the game machine is executed.