JP2012152429A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of appropriately restraining an illegal act without causing the deterioration of the amusement of a game of a sound player.SOLUTION: The game machine includes an illegal act restraining means for setting an illegal act restraining period in which the release of an error state is rejected after detecting an error or processing in regard to the progress of a game resumed after the release of the error state is delayed, and a determination period setting means for setting a determination period for determining whether to set the illegal act restraining period based on the detection of the error. When the error is not detected in the determination period, the illegal act restraining means sets a first illegal act restraining period, and when the error is detected in the determination period, the illegal act restraining means sets a second illegal act restraining period longer than the first illegal act restraining period.

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine represented by a spinning machine (slot machine) and a ball game machine (pachinko machine).

  In recent game machines (for example, slot machines), a reel is rotated by inserting a medal and operating a start lever, an internal lottery is determined by internal lottery, and a reel is stopped by operating a stop button. When a combination of symbols predetermined according to the internal determination is displayed on the symbol display window, a winning combination is established, and when a winning combination with a medal payout is established, a prescribed number of medals are paid out. It is configured as follows.

  Such a game machine includes a medal selector that accurately detects medals inserted from a medal slot and counts out the number of medals, and a payout device for paying out medals corresponding to the winning combination. . In recent years, an act using an improper instrument for the medal selector or the payout device, for example, an act of misdetecting a sensor for detecting the insertion of a medal and fraudulently exploiting a medal, or a payout device regardless of the formation of a combination The act of fraudulently exploiting medals has been conspicuous.

  In order to prevent such an illegal act, a slot machine has been proposed in which an illegal operation such as detecting an error and stopping the progress of a game is performed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-345940 A

  However, in such a game machine, once an error is detected, a process for uniformly suppressing fraud is performed regardless of whether the person has performed an illegal act or a healthy player. There was a problem of diminishing the fun of gaming.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and provides a gaming table that can accurately deter fraud without diminishing the fun of a healthy player's game. The purpose is to provide.

  According to the present invention, a game progress processing means for executing a process related to game progress, an error detecting means for detecting an error related to a game, and a process related to the progress of the game are interrupted based on the detection of the error by the error detecting means. Error processing means for placing the gaming machine in an error state by executing interruption processing, and error cancellation processing means for executing processing for canceling the error state based on the operation of the error cancellation operation means. The gaming machine further disables cancellation of the error state by the error cancellation operation means after detection of the error, or resumes after cancellation of the error state by the error cancellation processing means. A fraud deterring means for setting a fraud deterrent period for delaying the processing related to the progress of the game, and the error detecting means Determination period setting means for setting a determination period for determining whether to set the fraud suppression period based on the detection of the error, the fraud suppression means in the determination period If the error is not detected by the error detection means, a first fraud suppression period is set. If the error is detected by the error detection means in the determination period, the first fraud suppression period is set. The gaming machine is characterized in that a second fraud prevention period that is longer than the fraud prevention period is set.

  According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, fraudulent acts can be accurately suppressed without diminishing the interest of a healthy player's game.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the slot machine according to the present embodiment. (A) It is a front view which shows the slot machine of the state which opened the front door. (B) It is the elements on larger scale of the site | part shown by the code | symbol A of (a). The circuit block diagram of a control part is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a main control part main process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a main control part timer interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a device monitoring process. (A) is a front view of a medal selector. (B) It is the figure which showed an example of medal insertion abnormality and medal payout abnormality. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an error process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the error process which concerns on a modification. (A) It is a flowchart of the main process which CPU of a 1st sub control part performs. (B) It is a flowchart of the command reception interruption process of a 1st sub control part. (C) It is a flowchart of the timer interruption process of a 1st sub control part. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of production control processing. (A) It is a flowchart of the main process which CPU of a 2nd sub control part performs. (B) It is a flowchart of the command reception interruption process of a 2nd sub control part. (C) It is a flowchart of the timer interruption process of a 2nd sub control part. (D) It is a flowchart of the image control process of a 2nd sub control part. (A) It is the figure which showed an example of the error process when a normal error generate | occur | produces. (B) It is the figure which showed an example of the error process when a goto error generate | occur | produces during the determination period after a normal error generate | occur | produces. (A) It is the figure which showed the modification of the error process when a normal error generate | occur | produces. (B) It is the figure which showed the modification of the error process when a goto error generate | occur | produces during the determination period after a normal error generate | occur | produces. It is an example of the front view of a pachinko machine.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the gaming machine (a spinning machine such as the slot machine 100) according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

<Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment. The slot machine 100 includes a main body 101 and a front door 102 that is attached to the front surface of the main body 101 and that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 101. Inside the center of the main body 101 (not shown), three reels (left reel 110, middle reel 111, right reel 112) having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer peripheral surface are stored and rotated inside the slot machine 100. It is configured to be able to. These reels 110 to 112 are rotationally driven by a driving device such as a stepping motor.

  In the present embodiment, an appropriate number of symbols are printed on the belt-like member at equal intervals, and the reels 110 to 112 are configured by affixing the belt-like member to a predetermined circular cylindrical frame member. When viewed from the player, the symbols on the reels 110 to 112 are generally displayed three in the vertical direction from the symbol display window 113 so that a total of nine symbols can be seen. Then, by rotating the reels 110 to 112, the combination of symbols that can be seen by the player varies. That is, each of the reels 110 to 112 functions as a display device that displays a plurality of combinations of symbols in a variable manner. In addition to the reel, an electronic image display device such as a liquid crystal display device can also be used as such a display device. In this embodiment, three reels are provided in the center of the slot machine 100. However, the number of reels and the installation position of the reels are not limited to this.

  A backlight (not shown) for illuminating the individual symbols displayed on the symbol display window 113 is disposed on the back of each of the reels 110 to 112. It is desirable that the backlight is shielded for each symbol so that the individual symbols can be illuminated evenly. In the slot machine 100, an optical sensor (not shown) including a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit is provided in the vicinity of each of the reels 110 to 112. The light projecting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor are provided. A light shielding piece of a certain length provided on the reel passes between the two. Based on the detection result of the sensor, the position of the symbol on the reel in the rotation direction is determined, and the reels 110 to 112 are stopped so that the target symbol is displayed on the winning line.

  The winning line display lamp 120 is a lamp indicating the winning line 114 that is valid. The effective pay line is determined in advance by the number of medals bet as a game medium. There are five pay lines 114. For example, when one medal is bet, the middle horizontal pay line is valid, and when two medals are betted, the upper horizontal win line and the lower horizontal pay line are added. If three are valid and three medals are bet, five lines including a right-down winning line and an upper-right winning line are valid as winning lines. The number of winning lines 114 is not limited to five. For example, when one medal is bet, the middle horizontal winning line, the upper horizontal winning line, the lower horizontal winning line, the right The down line and the upper right line may be set as valid pay lines, and the same number of pay lines may be set as valid pay lines regardless of the number of bets.

  The notification lamp 123 is, for example, a lamp that informs the player that a specific winning combination (specifically, a bonus) has been won internally in an internal lottery to be described later or that a bonus game is in progress. The game medal insertable lamp 124 is a lamp for notifying that the player can insert a game medal. The replay lamp 122 informs the player that the current game can be replayed (the medal need not be inserted) when winning a replay which is one of the winning combinations in the previous game. It is a lamp. The reel panel lamp 128 is an effect lamp.

  The bet buttons 130 to 132 are buttons for inserting a predetermined number of medals (referred to as credits) stored electronically in the slot machine 100. In this embodiment, each time the bet button 130 is pressed, a maximum of 3 cards are inserted, 2 when the bet button 131 is pressed, and 3 when the bet button 132 is pressed. It has become so. Hereinafter, the bet button 132 is also referred to as a MAX bet button. The game medal insertion lamp 129 lights up the number of lamps corresponding to the number of inserted medals, and when a prescribed number of medals are inserted, the game start is informed that the game can be started. The lamp 121 is turned on.

  The medal slot 141 is an slot for a player to insert a medal when starting a game. That is, the medal can be inserted electronically by the bet buttons 130 to 132, or an actual medal can be inserted (insertion operation) from the medal insertion slot 141. is there. The stored number display 125 is a display for displaying the number of medals stored electronically in the slot machine 100. The game information display 126 is a display for displaying various types of internal information (for example, the number of medals paid out during a bonus game) as numerical values. The payout number display 127 is a display for displaying the number of medals to be paid out to the player as a result of winning a winning combination. The stored number display 125, the game information display 126, and the payout number display 127 are 7-segment (SEG) displays.

  The start lever 135 is a lever type switch for starting the rotation of the reels 110 to 112. That is, when a desired medal number is inserted into the medal insertion slot 141 or when the bet buttons 130 to 132 are operated and the start lever 135 is operated, the reels 110 to 112 start to rotate. The operation on the start lever 135 is referred to as a game start operation.

  The stop button unit 136 is provided with stop buttons 137 to 139. The stop buttons 137 to 139 are button-type switches for individually stopping the reels 110 to 112 that have started rotating by operating the start lever 135, and are associated with the reels 110 to 112. Hereinafter, the operation on the stop buttons 137 to 139 is referred to as a stop operation, the first stop operation is referred to as a first stop operation, the next stop operation is referred to as a second stop operation, and the last stop operation is referred to as a third stop operation. Note that a light emitter may be provided inside each stop button 137 to 139, and when the stop button 137 to 139 can be operated, the light emitter may be turned on to notify the player.

  The medal return button 133 is a button that is pressed to remove a medal when the inserted medal is jammed. The payment button 134 is a button for adjusting the medals electronically stored in the slot machine 100 and the bet medals and discharging them from the medal payout exit 155. The door key hole 140 is a hole into which a key for unlocking the front door 102 of the slot machine 100 is inserted.

  Below the stop button unit 136 is provided a title panel 162 for displaying the model name and pasting various types of certificate. At the lower part of the title panel 162, a medal payout opening 155 and a medal tray 161 are provided.

  The sound hole 180 is a hole for outputting the sound of speakers 272 and 277 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) provided inside the slot machine 100 to the outside. The side lamps 144 provided on the left and right portions of the front door 102 are decorative lamps for exciting games. An effect device 160 is disposed above the front door 102, and a sound hole 143 is provided above the effect device 160. The effect device 160 includes a shutter (shielding device) 163 including two right shutters 163a and a left shutter 163b that can be opened and closed in a horizontal direction, and an effect image display device 157 (effect) disposed on the back side of the shutter 163. When the right shutter 163a and the left shutter 163b are opened outward in the horizontal direction in front of the effect image display device 157, the display screen of the effect image display device 157 is displayed on the front side (player side) of the slot machine 100. It has a structure that appears. In addition, the display device is not limited to a liquid crystal display device, but may be any display device that can display various effect images and various game information. , A reel (drum), or a display device including a projector and a screen. Further, the display screen has a rectangular shape and is configured so that the player can visually recognize the entire display screen. In the case of this embodiment, the display screen is rectangular, but may be square. In addition, a decorative object (not shown) may be provided on the periphery of the display screen, and a part of the peripheral edge of the display screen may be hidden by the decorative object, so that the display screen looks irregular. In the present embodiment, the display screen is a flat surface, but may be a curved surface.

  2A is a front view showing the slot machine 100 in a state where the front door 102 is opened, and FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged view of a portion indicated by reference numeral A in FIG.

  The main body 101 is a box that is surrounded by the upper surface plate 261, the left side plate 260, the right side plate 260, the lower surface plate 264, and the back plate 242, and that opens to the front. Inside the main body 101, a main control board storage case 210 that stores the main control board is disposed at a position that does not overlap with the ventilation port 249 provided on the upper portion of the back plate 242. Below the three reels 110 to 112 are arranged. On the side plate 260 on the left side of the main control board storage case 210 and the reels 110 to 112, a sub control board storage case 220 containing a sub control board is disposed. Further, an external concentrated terminal plate 248 that is connected to the main control board and outputs the information of the slot machine 100 to an external device is attached to the side plate 260 on the right side.

  The lower surface plate 264 is provided with a medal payout device 180 (device for paying out medals accumulated in a bucket), and has a power supply board above the medal payout device 180, that is, below the reels 110 to 112. A power supply 252 (a power management unit 350 to be described later) is disposed, and a power switch 294 for switching on / off of power supply from the power supply 252 is disposed in front of the power supply 252.

  A medal auxiliary storage 240 is arranged on the right side of the medal payout device 180, and an overflow terminal is arranged behind this (not shown). The power supply device 252 is provided with a power cord connecting portion for connecting a power cord 264, and the power cord 264 connected thereto extends to the outside through a power cord hole 262 provided in the back plate 242 of the main body 101. Yes.

  The front door 102 is hinged to the left side plate 260 of the main body 101 via a hinge device 276, and an effect device 160 and an effect control board (which controls the effect device 160) are provided above the symbol display window 113. An upper speaker 272 is provided. Below the symbol display window 113, there are provided a medal selector 170 for selecting inserted medals, and a passage 266 through which medals pass when the medal selector 170 drops illegal medals etc. on the medal tray 161. Yes. Further, a bass speaker 277 is provided at a position corresponding to the sound hole 180.

  In addition, a reset button 290, a setting change button 291 and a setting value display 292 are provided below the symbol display window 113 as shown in FIG. The reset button 290 is a button for resetting (initializing) the slot machine 100 or canceling the error state. The setting change button 291 is a setting value of the slot machine 100 that is any of setting 1 to setting 6. It is a button for switching between crab. The set value display 292 is a display for displaying the current set value. Further, on the right side of the reels 110 to 112, a setting change key 293 for enabling the setting value to be changed by the setting change button 291 is provided.

<Control unit>
Next, the circuit configuration of the control unit of the slot machine 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This figure shows a circuit block diagram of the control unit.

  The control unit of the slot machine 100 can be broadly divided into main effects according to a main control unit 300 that controls the progress of the game and a command signal (hereinafter simply referred to as “command”) transmitted by the main control unit 300. And a second sub-control unit 500 that controls various devices based on a command transmitted from the first sub-control unit 400.

<Main control unit>
First, the main control unit 300 of the slot machine 100 will be described. The main control unit 300 includes a basic circuit 302 that controls the entire main control unit 300. The basic circuit 302 includes a CPU 304, control program data, lottery data used in the internal lottery of a winning combination, and reel stop. ROM 306 for storing position, RAM 308 for temporarily storing data, I / O 310 for controlling input / output of various devices, counter timer 312 for measuring time, number of times, and the like WDT (watchdog timer) 314 is mounted. Note that other storage devices may be used for the ROM 306 and the RAM 308, and this is the same for the first sub-control unit 400 and the second sub-control unit 500 described later. The CPU 304 of the basic circuit 302 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 314 as a system clock. Further, when the power is turned on, the CPU 304 transmits the frequency division data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 306 to the counter timer 312. The counter timer 312 sets the interrupt time based on the received frequency division data. An interrupt request is transmitted to the CPU 304 at every interrupt time. In response to this interrupt request, the CPU 304 monitors each sensor and transmits a drive pulse. For example, when the clock signal output from the crystal oscillator 314 is set to 8 MHz, the frequency division value of the counter timer 312 is set to 1/256, and the data for frequency division of the ROM 306 is set to 47, the interrupt reference time is 256 × 47 ÷ 8 MHz. = 1.504 ms.

  The main control unit 300 includes a random number generation circuit 316 that is used as a hardware random number counter that fluctuates a numerical value in the range of 0 to 65535, and a start signal output circuit that outputs a start signal (reset signal) when the power is turned on. When the activation signal is input from the activation signal output circuit 338, the CPU 304 starts game control (starts main processing main processing described later).

  In addition, the main control unit 300 includes a sensor circuit 320, and the CPU 304 is inserted from various sensors 318 (a bet button 130 sensor, a bet button 131 sensor, a bet button 132 sensor, and a medal slot 141 at every interruption time. Medal reception sensor, start lever 135 sensor, stop button 137 sensor, stop button 138 sensor, stop button 139 sensor, checkout button 134 sensor, medal payout sensor for medals paid out from the medal payout device 180, index sensor for reel 110 , The index sensor of the reel 111, the index sensor of the reel 112, the reset button sensor for detecting the pressing of the reset button 290, and the setting change button set for detecting the pressing of the setting change button 291. Sa, it monitors the status of the power switch sensor) for detecting the on / off operation of the setting change key sensors, a power switch 294 for detecting the operation of the setting change key 293.

  When the sensor circuit 320 detects the H level of the start lever sensor, a signal indicating this detection is output to the random number generation circuit 316. Receiving this signal, the random number generation circuit 316 latches the value at that timing and stores it in a register that stores the random value used for the lottery.

  Two medal acceptance sensors are installed in the internal passage of the medal insertion slot 141 and detect whether or not a medal has passed. Two start lever 135 sensors are installed inside the start lever 135 and detect a start operation by the player. The stop button 137 sensor, the stop button 138 sensor, and the stop button 139 are installed in each of the stop buttons 137 to 139, and detect the operation of the stop button by the player.

  The bet button 130 sensor, the bet button 131 sensor, and the bet button 132 sensor are installed in each of the medal insertion buttons 130 to 132, and the medals stored electronically in the RAM 308 are inserted as inserted medals into the game. Detecting the input operation when The settlement button 134 sensor is provided on the settlement button 134. When the settlement button 134 is pressed once, the medals stored electronically are settled. The medal payout sensor is a sensor for detecting a medal paid out by the medal payout device 180. Each of the above sensors may be a non-contact type sensor or a contact type sensor.

  The index sensor of the reel 110, the index sensor of the reel 111, and the index sensor of the reel 112 are installed at predetermined positions on the mounting bases of the reels 110 to 112, and each time a light shielding piece provided on the reel frame passes. Becomes L level. When detecting this signal, the CPU 304 determines that the reel has made one rotation, and resets the rotational position information of the reel to zero.

  The main control unit 300 is provided in a drive circuit 322 for driving a stepping motor provided in the reel devices 110 to 112, a drive circuit 324 for driving a solenoid provided in a medal selector 170 for selecting inserted medals, and a medal payout device 180. A drive circuit 326 for driving the motor, various lamps 338 (a winning line display lamp 120, a notification lamp 123, a game medal insertion possible lamp 124, a re-game lamp 122, a game medal insertion lamp 129, a game start lamp 121, and a stored number display. A driving circuit 328 for driving the device 125, the game information display 126, and the payout number display 127).

  Further, an information output circuit 334 (external concentration terminal board 248) is connected to the basic circuit 302, and the main control unit 300 is connected to an external hall computer (not shown) or the like via the information output circuit 334. The game information (for example, game state) of the slot machine 100 is output to the information input circuit 652 provided.

  In addition, the main control unit 300 includes an output interface for transmitting a command to the first sub control unit 400 and enables communication with the first sub control unit 400. Note that information communication between the main control unit 300 and the first sub control unit 400 is one-way communication, and the main control unit 300 is configured to be able to transmit signals such as commands to the first sub control unit 400. However, the first sub-control unit 400 is configured not to transmit a signal such as a command to the main control unit 300.

<Sub control unit>
Next, the first sub control unit 400 of the slot machine 100 will be described. The first sub-control unit 400 includes a basic circuit 402 that receives a control command transmitted from the main control unit 300 via an input interface and controls the entire first sub-control unit 400 based on the control command. The basic circuit 402 includes a CPU 404, a RAM 408 for temporarily storing data, an I / O 410 for controlling input / output of various devices, and a counter timer 412 for measuring time and frequency. It is installed. The CPU 404 of the basic circuit 402 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 414 as a system clock. The ROM 406 stores a control program and data for controlling the entire first sub-control unit 400, a backlight lighting pattern, data for controlling various displays, and the like.

  The CPU 404 transmits the frequency division data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 406 to the counter timer 412 via the data bus at a predetermined timing. The counter timer 412 determines an interrupt time based on the received frequency dividing data, and transmits an interrupt request to the CPU 404 at each interrupt time. The CPU 404 controls each IC and each circuit based on the interrupt request timing.

  The first sub-control unit 400 is provided with a sound source IC 418, and the sound source IC 418 is provided with speakers 272 and 277 via an output interface. The sound source IC 418 controls sound output from the amplifiers and speakers 272 and 277 in accordance with a command from the CPU 404. The sound source IC 418 is connected to an S-ROM (sound ROM) in which audio data is stored. The audio data acquired from the ROM is amplified by an amplifier and output from the speakers 272 and 277.

  The first sub-control unit 400 is provided with a drive circuit 422, and various lamps 420 (upper lamp, lower lamp, side lamp 144, title panel 162 lamp, etc.) are provided to the drive circuit 422 via an input / output interface. It is connected.

  In addition, the CPU 404 transmits and receives signals to the second sub control unit 500 via the output interface. Second sub-control unit 500 performs various controls of effect device 160 including display control of effect image display device 157. The second sub-control unit 500 is, for example, a control unit that controls display of the effect image display device 157, a control unit that controls various drive devices for effect (for example, a control unit that controls motor driving of the shutter 163). ), And the like.

  The second sub-control unit 500 includes a basic circuit 502 that receives the control command transmitted from the first sub-control unit 400 via the input interface and controls the entire second sub-control unit 500 based on the control command. The basic circuit 502 includes a CPU 504, a RAM 508 for temporarily storing data, an I / O 510 for controlling input / output of various devices, and a counter timer for measuring time and frequency 512. The CPU 504 of the basic circuit 502 operates by inputting a clock signal of a predetermined period output from the crystal oscillator 514 as a system clock. The ROM 506 stores a control program and data for controlling the entire second sub control unit 500, data for image display, and the like.

  The CPU 504 transmits the frequency division data stored in the predetermined area of the ROM 506 to the counter timer 512 via the data bus at a predetermined timing. The counter timer 512 determines an interrupt time based on the received frequency division data, and transmits an interrupt request to the CPU 404 at each interrupt time. The CPU 504 controls each IC and each circuit based on the interrupt request timing.

  The second sub-control unit 500 is provided with a drive circuit 530 that drives a motor of the shutter 163, and the drive circuit 530 is provided with a shutter 163 via an output interface. The drive circuit 530 outputs a drive signal to a stepping motor (not shown) provided in the shutter 163 in response to a command from the CPU 504.

  The second sub-control unit 500 is provided with a sensor circuit 532, and a shutter sensor 538 is connected to the sensor circuit 532 via an input interface. The CPU 504 monitors the state of the shutter sensor 538 every interruption time.

  The second sub-control unit 500 is provided with a VDP 534 (video display processor), and a ROM 506 and a VRAM 536 are connected to the VDP 534 via a bus. The VDP 534 reads out image data and the like stored in the ROM 506 based on a signal from the CPU 504, generates a display image using the work area of the VRAM 536, and displays the image on the effect image display device 157.

<Main control unit main processing>
Next, main control unit main processing executed by the CPU 304 of the main control unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of main processing of the main control unit.
In step S101, medal insertion / start operation acceptance processing is executed. Here, it is checked whether or not a medal has been inserted, and the winning line display lamp 120 is turned on in response to the insertion of the medal. Note that when a re-win is won in the previous game, a process of inserting the same number of medals as the number of medals inserted in the previous game is performed, so that it is not necessary for the player to insert medals. Further, it is checked whether or not the start lever 135 has been operated. If there is an operation of the start lever 135, the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S102, the number of inserted medals is determined and an effective winning line is determined. In step S103, the random number generated by the random value generation circuit 316 is acquired. In step S104, the winning combination lottery table stored in the ROM 306 is read according to the current gaming state, and an internal lottery is performed using this and the random number value acquired in step S103. As a result of the internal lottery, when any winning combination (including an operating combination) is won internally, the flag of the winning combination is set to ON. In step S105, reel stop data is selected based on the internal lottery result.

  In step S106, rotation of all the reels 110 to 112 is started. In step S107, the stop buttons 137 to 139 can be received. When any one of the stop buttons is pressed, the reel stop control in which one of the reels 110 to 112 corresponding to the pressed stop button is selected in step S105. Stop based on data. When all the reels 110 to 112 are stopped, the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, a winning determination is performed. Here, when a picture combination corresponding to some winning combination is displayed on the activated winning line 114, it is determined that the winning combination is won. For example, if “bell-bell-bell” is aligned on the activated winning line, it is determined that the player has won the bell.

  In step S109, if a winning combination with a payout has been won, the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out according to the number of winning lines. In step S110, game state control processing is performed. In the game state control process, a process related to transition of each game state of normal game, BB game, RB game, and internal winning game is performed, and the game state is shifted when those start conditions and end conditions are satisfied. Thus, one game is completed. Thereafter, returning to step S101, the game proceeds by repeating the processing of steps S101 to S110.

<Main controller 300 timer interrupt processing>
Next, the main control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 304 of the main control unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of the main control unit timer interrupt process.

  The main control unit 300 includes a counter timer 312 that generates a timer interrupt signal at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, about once every 2 ms), and the main control unit timer interrupt is triggered by this timer interrupt signal. The process is started at a predetermined cycle.

  In step S201, a timer interrupt start process is performed. In this timer interrupt start process, a process of temporarily saving each register value of the CPU 304 to the stack area is performed. In step S203, the WDT is periodically updated (so that the count value of the WDT 314 exceeds the initial setting value (32.8 ms in the present embodiment) and no WDT interruption occurs (so as not to detect a processing abnormality). In the embodiment, the restart is performed once every about 2 ms, which is the period of the main control unit timer interrupt.

  In step S205, input port state update processing is performed. In this input port status update process, the detection signals of the sensor circuits 320 of the various sensors 318 are input via the input ports of the I / O 310 to monitor the presence or absence of the detection signals, and each of the various sensors 318 is partitioned in the RAM 308. Store in the provided signal state storage area.

  In step S207, various game processes are performed. Specifically, an interrupt status is acquired (various interrupt statuses are acquired based on signals from various sensors 318), and processing according to this status is performed (for example, the interrupt status of each acquired stop button 137 to 139). Based on the stop button reception process). In step S209, timer update processing is performed. In this timer update process, various timers are updated in respective time units. For example, when an initial value is set in the determination timer in the device monitoring process described later, for each timer interrupt process A process of subtracting 1 from the value of the determination timer is performed.

  In step S211, command setting transmission processing is performed, and various commands are transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400. Note that the output schedule information transmitted to the first sub-control unit 400 is composed of 16 bits in the present embodiment, bit 15 is strobe information (indicating that data is set when ON), bit 11 -14 are command types (in this embodiment, basic command, start lever reception command, production command accompanying production lottery processing, rotation start command accompanying the start of rotation of reels 110 to 112, and operation of stop buttons 137 to 139. Bits 0 to 10 are command data (a stop button reception command accompanying the stop processing of the reels 110 to 112, a payout number command accompanying the medal payout processing, a payout end command, a command indicating a gaming state, etc.). Predetermined information corresponding to the command type).

  In the first sub-control unit 400, it is possible to determine the production control according to the change of the game control in the main control unit 300 by the command type included in the received output schedule information, and it is included in the output schedule information. Based on the information of the command data, the contents of effect control can be determined.

  In step S213, an external output signal setting process is performed. In this external output signal setting process, game information stored in the RAM 308 is output to an information input circuit 652 separate from the slot machine 100 via the information output circuit 334.

  In step S215, device monitoring processing is performed. Although details will be described later, in this device monitoring process, the signal states of the various sensors 318 stored in the signal state storage area in the above-described step S205 are read, and the presence or absence of errors relating to medal insertion abnormality and medal payout abnormality is monitored. If it is detected, error processing is executed.

  In step S217, it is monitored whether the low voltage signal is on. Then, when the low voltage signal is on (when power supply shutoff is detected), the process proceeds to step S221. When the low voltage signal is off (power supply shutoff is not detected), the process proceeds to step S219.

  In step S219, various processes for ending the timer interrupt end process are performed. In this timer interrupt end process, the value of each register temporarily saved in step S201 is set in each original register. Then, the process returns to the main control unit main process. On the other hand, in step S221, a specific variable or stack pointer for returning to the power-off state at the time of power recovery is saved as a return data in a predetermined area of the RAM 308, and power-off processing such as initialization of input / output ports is performed. After that, the process returns to the main process of the main control unit.

<Device monitoring processing>
Next, the device monitoring process (step S215) in the above-described main control unit timer interrupt process will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of device monitoring processing.

  In step S301, an error monitoring process is performed. Here, an example of the error monitoring process in step S301 will be described with reference to FIG. 2A is a front view of the medal selector 170, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of medal insertion abnormality and medal payout abnormality.

  The medal selector 170 passes the medal entrance through which the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 141 enters, the medal passage for guiding the medal entered from the medal entrance to the medal exit at the lower right of the front view, and the medal passage. A medal outlet for discharging medals in the direction of the medal payout device 180. Further, above the medal exit of the medal selector 170, medal insertion sensors 1 and 2 that can detect the passage of the medal are arranged side by side, and from the medal exit of the medal selector 170 to the medal payout device 180. A medal insertion sensor 3 that can detect the passage of medals is also disposed on the medal path. The medal selector 170 is configured to monitor a medal insertion abnormality and a dispensing abnormality by using these medal insertion sensors 1 to 3 and a medal dispensing sensor (not shown).

  For example, the medal insertion abnormality 1 (error code: C0, error type: normal error) is detected from the rising detection (medal presence detection) of the signal of the medal insertion sensor 1 by a medal to the falling detection of the signal of the medal insertion sensor 2 (no medal) This is an error for determining that a medal has stayed in the medal passage when a predetermined time (for example, 1.011 seconds) or more has elapsed. Further, the medal insertion abnormality 2 (error code: C1, error type: normal error) is detected before the falling of the medal insertion sensor 2 is detected from the detection of the rising of the medal insertion sensor 1 (the medal is the medal insertion sensors 1 and 2). If the rise of the medal insertion sensor 1 is detected again before passing (), it is an error to determine that the token has passed abnormally.

  In addition, the medal insertion abnormality 3 (error code: C2, error type: goto error (incorrect error)) is detected when the medal insertion sensor 1 or 2 detects the passage of medals while the medal blocker is in the return state. It is an error that determines that an illegal entry has been made. Note that the medal blocker is in a return state means a state other than the state in which a medal is received in the medal insertion start operation reception (step S101) of the main control unit main process described above. Further, in the medal insertion abnormality 4 (error code: C3, error type: goto error), the rising of the signal of the medal insertion sensor 3 is detected after the medal has passed the medal insertion sensors 1 and 2 normally, and thereafter six medals are detected. When the rising edge of the signal of the medal insertion sensor 3 is not detected while the five medals normally pass, and when the sixth medal has successfully passed the medal insertion sensors 1 and 2. This is an error that determines that an illegal insertion of a medal has been performed.

  The medal payout abnormality 1 (error code: H0, error type: normal error) is an error that determines that a medal payout abnormality has occurred when there is no medal payout for a certain period of time when the medal payout device 180 is driven. The medal payout abnormality 2 (error code: H1, error type: normal error) is an error that determines that a medal payout abnormality has occurred when a medal stays when the medal payout device 180 is driven. In addition, the medal payout abnormality 3 (error code: H2, error type: goto error) is an illegal medal payout when the medal payout sensors 1 and 2 (not shown) detect the medal payout except during the medal payout process. It is an error to judge. The errors monitored in the error monitoring process are not limited to these, and include, for example, a door opening error when the front door 102 is opened during a game.

  Returning to FIG. 6, in step S302, it is determined whether or not an error is detected in the error monitoring process in step S301. If an error is detected, the process proceeds to step S303. If no error is detected, the process proceeds to step S303. The process ends. In step S303, an error code (for example, C0 to C3, H0 to H2) indicating the content of the error detected by the error monitoring process in step S301 (for example, medal insertion abnormality 1 to 4, medal payout abnormality 1 to 3 or the like). Is stored in the error status stored in the RAM 408.

  In step S304, the value of the determination timer stored in the RAM 408 is referred to determine whether or not the current state is in the continuous error determination period. If applicable, the process proceeds to step S307. Then, the process proceeds to step S305. Here, whether or not it is in the continuous error determination period is in the determination period when the value of the determination timer is a numerical value other than the initial value (when the determination timer is being updated in the timer update process described above). On the other hand, when the value of the determination timer is the initial value, it can be determined that it is not in the determination period.

  In step S305, after the above-described determination timer is initialized to an initial value (for example, a numerical value corresponding to 120 seconds), the delay counter stored in the RAM 408 is set to an initial value (for example, 0), and the process proceeds to step S307. move on.

  In step S307, the process ends after updating the value of the delay counter in accordance with the error type. The ROM 406 of the first sub-control unit 400 stores a predetermined addition value corresponding to the error type in a predetermined storage area of the ROM 406. In this embodiment, a numerical value corresponding to the normal error is stored. 1 is stored, and the numerical value 5 is stored corresponding to the goto error. In this step S307, when the error type is a normal error, 1 is added to the current delay counter value, which is an addition value corresponding to the normal error. When the error type is a goto error, the current delay counter is added. A process of adding 5 which is an addition value corresponding to the goto error is performed.

<Error handling>
Next, error processing will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a flowchart showing the flow of error processing.

  This error process is a process executed at a plurality of places such as the medal insertion start operation reception (step S101) of the main control unit main process described above, and acquires the error status updated in the device monitoring process described above, If there is, perform processing corresponding to the error.

  Specifically, in step S401, the error status described above is acquired, and in the next step S402, it is determined whether an error code is set in the acquired error status (whether there is an error or not), and an error is detected. If there is, the process proceeds to step S403, and if there is no error, the process is terminated.

  In step S403, various error processes corresponding to the error code stored in the error status are performed. In the various error processes, for example, a process of displaying an error code on the game information display 126, a process of outputting the error code to the information input circuit 652 via the information output circuit 334 in the above-described external output signal setting process, etc. I do. In step S <b> 404, preparation for transmitting an error occurrence command for notifying that an error has occurred to the first sub-control unit 400 is performed.

  In step S405, it is determined whether or not an error canceling operation has been performed (in this embodiment, whether or not a reset button 290 pressing operation has been detected by the reset button sensor). If applicable, the process proceeds to step S405. Step S405 is repeatedly executed until there is an error canceling operation.

  In step S406, it is determined whether or not the delay counter is greater than or equal to the prescribed number (5 in the present embodiment). If the delay counter is greater than or equal to the prescribed number, the process proceeds to step S407 and the delay counter is less than the prescribed number. In that case, the process proceeds to step S408. In step S407, the value of the second delay timer based on the delay counter (in this embodiment, a value corresponding to the time obtained by multiplying the delay timer value by 10; for example, 60 seconds when the delay timer value is 6). Then, the process proceeds to step S409. In step S408, the value of the first delay timer based on the delay counter (in this embodiment, a value corresponding to the time obtained by multiplying the value of the delay timer by 10). For example, when the value of the delay timer is 1, a numerical value corresponding to 10 seconds) is set, and the process proceeds to step S409. Note that the values of the first and second delay timers are not limited to the above-described values, and for example, values corresponding to 0 seconds may be set.

  In step S409, it is determined whether or not the delay timer is 0 (whether or not a predetermined fraud suppression time has elapsed). If the delay timer is 0, the process proceeds to step S410. If the delay timer is not 0, the delay is delayed. The process of step S409 is repeatedly executed until the timer reaches 0.

  In step S410, it is determined whether or not an error canceling operation has been performed (in this embodiment, whether or not a pressing operation of the reset button 290 has been detected by the reset button sensor). If applicable, the process proceeds to step S411. Step S410 is repeatedly executed until there is an error canceling operation.

  In step S411, preparation for transmitting an error cancel command for notifying that the error has been canceled to the first sub-control unit 400 is performed, and in step S412, the contents of the error status are cleared (initialized). The process ends later.

  Note that the gaming machine error processing according to the present invention is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 8, and for example, error processing as shown in FIG. 9 may be applied. In this error process, the process of step S410 is deleted from the error process shown in FIG. 8, and the execution order of the process of steps S406 to S409 and the process of steps S411 to S412 is changed. After the cancellation, the delay counter determination process and fraud suppression time setting are performed in steps S406 to S409 (details will be described later with reference to FIG. 14).

<Processing of First Sub-Control Unit 400>
Next, processing of the first sub control unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A is a flowchart of main processing executed by the CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400. FIG. 5B is a flowchart of command reception interrupt processing of the first sub control unit 400. FIG. 5C is a flowchart of the timer interrupt process of the first sub control unit 400.

  When the power switch 294 is turned on, the slot machine 100 is powered on, and when power is supplied from the power management unit 350 to the first sub control unit 400, the CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400 performs the same operation. The main process shown in FIG.

  In step S1001, various initial settings are performed. In this initial setting, initial setting of the input / output port, initialization processing of the storage area in the RAM 408, and the like are performed. In step 1002, it is determined whether or not the timer variable is 10 or more. This process is repeated until the timer variable becomes 10, and when the timer variable becomes 10 or more, the process proceeds to step S1003. In step S1003, 0 is assigned to the timer variable.

  In step S1004, command processing is performed. Although details will be described later, in this command processing, processing according to the command received from the main control unit 300 is performed.

  In step S1005, an effect control process is performed. Although details will be described later, in this effect control process, for example, when there is a new command in step S1004, a process corresponding to this command is performed. This processing includes, for example, performing processing such as reading out the production instruction information from the RAM 408 and performing production data update processing when the production data needs to be updated.

  In step S1006, sound control processing is performed based on the processing result of step S1005. In this sound control process, for example, when there is a command to the sound source IC 418 in the effect instruction information read in step S1005, this command is output to the sound source IC 418.

  In step S1007, lamp control processing is performed based on the processing result of step S1005. In this lamp control process, for example, if there is a command to the various lamps 420 in the effect instruction information read in step S1005, this command is output to the drive circuit 422.

  In step S1008, information output processing is performed to perform setting for transmitting a control command to the second sub-control unit 500 based on the processing result of step S1005. For example, when there is a control command to be transmitted to the second sub-control unit 500 in the effect instruction information read out in step S1005 (when there is information on the effect image display device 157, etc.), a setting for outputting this control command is made. And return to step S1002.

  Next, the command reception interrupt process of the first sub-control unit 400 will be described using FIG. This command reception interrupt process is a process executed when the first sub-control unit 400 detects a strobe signal output from the main control unit 300. In step S1101 of the command reception interrupt process, the command output from the main control unit 300 is stored in the command storage area provided in the RAM 408 as an unprocessed command.

  Next, the first sub control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 404 of the first sub control unit 400 will be described with reference to FIG. The first sub-control unit 400 includes a hardware timer that generates a timer interrupt at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, once every 2 ms), and the timer interrupt process is performed by using the timer interrupt as a trigger. Execute in the cycle.

  In step S1201, 1 is added to the value of the timer variable storage area of the RAM 408 described in step S1002 in the first sub-control unit main process shown in FIG. Therefore, in step S1002, the value of the timer variable is determined to be 10 or more every 20 ms (2 ms × 10). In step 1202, transmission of a control command to the second sub-control unit 500 set in step S1008, an effect random number update process, and the like are performed.

<Production control processing>
Next, the effect control process (step S215) in the first sub-control unit main process described above will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the figure is a flowchart which shows the flow of an effect control process.

  In step S1301, it is determined whether an error occurrence command has been received from the main control unit 300. If applicable, the process proceeds to step S1302, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1303. In step S1302, effect data corresponding to the error occurrence command (for example, image data or audio data for notifying the occurrence of the error) is read from the ROM 406, and effect data update processing is performed.

  In step S1303, it is determined whether or not an error cancel command has been received from the main control unit 300. If applicable, the process proceeds to step S1304, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1305. In step S1304, effect data (for example, image data or audio data for notifying error cancellation) corresponding to the error cancel command is read from the ROM 406, and effect data update processing is performed. In step S1305, the process is terminated after the process corresponding to the other command is performed.

<Processing of Second Sub-Control Unit 500>
Next, processing of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A is a flowchart of main processing executed by the CPU 504 of the second sub-control unit 500. FIG. 7B is a flowchart of command reception interrupt processing of the second sub control unit 500. FIG. 8C is a flowchart of the timer interrupt process of the second sub control unit 500. FIG. 4D is a flowchart of the image control process of the second sub control unit 500.

  When the power switch 294 is turned on, the slot machine 100 is powered on, and when power is supplied from the power management unit 350 to the second sub control unit 500, the CPU 504 of the second sub control unit 500 performs the same operation. The main process shown in FIG.

  In step S1401, various initial settings are performed. When power is turned on, initial setting is first executed in step S1401. In this initial setting, input / output port initial setting, storage area initialization processing in the RAM 508, and the like are performed.

  In step S1402, it is determined whether or not the timer variable is 10 or more. This process is repeated until the timer variable becomes 10. When the timer variable becomes 10 or more, the process proceeds to step SF05.

  In step S1403, 0 is assigned to the timer variable. In step S1404, command processing is performed. In this command processing, it is determined whether or not a command has been received from the CPU 404 of the first sub-control unit 400.

  In step S1405, effect control processing is performed. In this effect control process, for example, when there is a new command in step S1403, a process corresponding to this command is performed. This process includes, for example, performing a process such as reading effect data from the ROM 506 and performing an effect data update process when the effect data needs to be updated.

  In step S1406, shutter control processing is performed based on the processing result in step S1405. For example, if there is a shutter control command in the effect data read in step S1405, shutter control corresponding to this command is performed.

  In step S1407, image control processing is performed based on the processing result in step S1405. For example, if there is an image control command in the effect data read in step S1405, image control corresponding to this command is performed (details will be described later), and the process returns to step S1402.

  Next, the command reception interrupt process of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. This command reception interrupt process is a process executed when the second sub control unit 500 detects the strobe signal output from the first sub control unit 400. In step S1501 of the command reception interrupt process, the command output from the first sub control unit 400 is stored as an unprocessed command in a command storage area provided in the RAM 508.

  Next, the second sub control unit timer interrupt process executed by the CPU 504 of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. The second sub-control unit 500 includes a hardware timer that generates a timer interrupt at a predetermined cycle (in this embodiment, once every 2 ms), and the timer interrupt process is predetermined by using the timer interrupt as a trigger. Execute in the cycle.

  In step S1601, 1 is added to the value of the timer variable storage area of the RAM 508 described in step S1402 in the second sub-control unit main process, and the result is stored in the original timer variable storage area. Therefore, in step S1402, the value of the timer variable is determined to be 10 or more every 20 ms (2 ms × 10). In step S1602, an effect random number update process is performed.

  Next, the image control process in step S1407 in the main process of the second sub control unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of image control processing.

  In step S1701, an instruction to transfer image data is issued. Here, the CPU 504 first swaps the designation of the display areas A and B in the VRAM 536. As a result, an image of one frame stored in the display area not designated as the drawing area is displayed on the effect image display device 157. Next, the CPU 504 sets ROM coordinates (transfer source address of the ROM 506), VRAM coordinates (transfer destination address of the VRAM 536), and the like in the attribute register of the VDP 534 based on the position information table and the like, and then the image from the ROM 506 to the VRAM 536. Set an instruction to start data transfer. The VDP 534 transfers the image data from the ROM 506 to the VRAM 536 based on the command set in the attribute register. Thereafter, the VDP 534 outputs a transfer end interrupt signal to the CPU 504.

  In step S1702, it is determined whether or not a transfer end interrupt signal from VDP 534 is input. If a transfer end interrupt signal is input, the process proceeds to step S1703. If not, a transfer end interrupt signal is input. Wait for it. In step S1703, parameters are set based on the production scenario configuration table and attribute data. Here, in order to form a display image in the display area A or B of the VRAM 536 based on the image data transferred to the VRAM 536 in step S1701, the CPU 504 sets information on image data (coordinate axes and image sizes of the VRAM 536). , VRAM coordinates (arrangement coordinates, etc.) are instructed to the VDP 534. The VDP 534 performs parameter setting in accordance with the attribute based on the instruction stored in the attribute register.

  In step S1704, a drawing instruction is performed. In this drawing instruction, the CPU 504 instructs the VDP 534 to start drawing an image. The VDP 534 starts drawing an image in the frame buffer in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 504.

  In step S1705, it is determined whether or not a generation end interrupt signal from the VDP 534 is input based on the end of image drawing. If the generation end interrupt signal is input, the process proceeds to step S1706. If not, the generation end interrupt signal is determined. Wait for input. In step S1706, a scene display counter that is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 508 and counts how many scene images have been generated is incremented (+1), and the process ends.

<Processing when an error occurs>
Next, processing when an error occurs will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing an example of error processing when a normal error occurs, and FIG. 10B shows error processing when a goto error occurs during the determination period after the normal error occurs. It is the figure which showed an example.

<Processing when an error occurs / normal error>
FIG. 8A shows an example of error processing when a normal error occurs, and is processing when the former is applied among the two types of error processing shown in FIGS. Specifically, each time the main control unit timer interrupt process is performed, the main control unit 300 monitors the presence or absence of error detection in the device monitoring process in step S215. For example, the medal shown in FIG. Consider a case where an error is detected when the error detection condition of throwing error 1 (error code: C0, error type: normal error) is satisfied.

  In this case, the main control unit 300, in step S303 of the device monitoring process, displays an error code (C0 in this example) indicating the content of the error detected in the error monitoring process (in this example, medal insertion abnormality 1). The error status stored in the RAM 408 is stored and the error status is updated.

  Subsequently, in step S304 of the device monitoring process, the main control unit 300 determines whether or not it is during the continuous error determination period. In this example, the main control unit 300 determines that it is not in the determination period, and steps S305 and S306. , The determination timer and the delay timer are initialized (this starts the countdown of the determination timer in the timer update process). Further, in step S307 of the device monitoring process, the main control unit 300 updates the delay counter value according to the error type. In this example, the main control unit 300 sets the current delay counter value (in this example, 0) to the normal value. The addition value 1 corresponding to the error is added, and the value of the delay counter is updated to 1.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 300 determines that there is an error in the above-described error processing, and performs various error processing in step S403. In this example, the main control unit 300 displays the error code (C0) on the game information display 126. In the external output signal setting process described above, a process for outputting the error code (C0) to the information input circuit 652 via the information output circuit 334 is performed. In addition, it prepares to send an error occurrence command to the first sub-control unit 400. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received the error occurrence command receives the effect data (for example, image data or audio data for notifying the occurrence of the error) in the effect control process described above. Reading from the ROM 406 and effect data update processing are performed.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 300 determines whether or not there is an error canceling operation (in this example, whether or not the pressing operation of the reset button 290 is detected by the reset button sensor), and until the pressing operation of the reset button 290 is performed. Maintains an error state. If there is an operation of pressing the reset button 290 in this error state, it is determined in step S406 whether or not the delay counter is greater than or equal to a specified number (5 in this embodiment). It is determined that the counter is less than the prescribed number, and in step S408, the value of the first delay timer based on the delay counter (in this example, a value corresponding to 10 seconds, which is obtained by multiplying the delay counter value 1 by 10). Set. In this example, 10 seconds corresponds to the first fraud prevention period shown in FIG.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 300 determines whether or not an error canceling operation has been performed after the first fraud prevention period has elapsed (in this example, whether or not the pressing operation of the reset button 290 is detected by the reset button sensor). The error state is maintained until the reset button 290 is pressed. If there is an operation of pressing the reset button 290 in this error state, after making preparations for canceling the error in steps S411 and S412, the process returns to the main process of the main control unit.

  Thereby, the main control unit 300 resumes the interrupted main control unit main process (process related to the progress of the game), and shifts the gaming state from the error state to the normal gaming state. In addition, the main control unit 300 prepares to transmit an error release command to the first sub control unit 400. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received this error cancel command receives effect data (for example, image data or audio data for notifying error cancel) in the effect control process described above. Reading from the ROM 406 and effect data update processing are performed.

<Processing when an error occurs / Normal error + Goto error>
FIG. 8B is an example of error processing when a goto error occurs during the continuous error determination period after the occurrence of a normal error. The former is applied to the two types of error processing shown in FIGS. Process. Since the processing up to the detection of the goto error is the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 5A, the processing after the occurrence of the goto error will be described below.

  Specifically, each time the main control unit timer interrupt process is performed, the main control unit 300 monitors the presence or absence of error detection in the device monitoring process in step S215. For example, the medal shown in FIG. Let us consider a case where an error is detected when the error detection condition of throwing error 3 (error code: C2, error type: goto error) is satisfied.

  In step S307 of the device monitoring process, the main control unit 300 updates the delay counter value in accordance with the error type. In this example, the current delay counter value (in this example, a normal error has already occurred). Therefore, 5 is added to 1) corresponding to the goto error, and the value of the delay counter is updated to 6.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 300 determines that there is an error in the above-described error processing, and performs various error processing in step S403. In this example, the main control unit 300 displays the error code (C2) on the game information display 126. In the external output signal setting process described above, a process for outputting the error code (C2) to the information input circuit 652 via the information output circuit 334 is performed. In addition, it prepares to send an error occurrence command to the first sub-control unit 400. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received the error occurrence command receives the effect data (for example, image data or audio data for notifying the occurrence of the error) in the effect control process described above. Reading from the ROM 406 and effect data update processing are performed.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 300 determines whether or not there is an error canceling operation (in this example, whether or not the pressing operation of the reset button 290 is detected by the reset button sensor), and until the pressing operation of the reset button 290 is performed. Maintains an error state. If there is an operation of pressing the reset button 290 in this error state, it is determined in step S406 whether or not the delay counter is greater than or equal to a specified number (5 in this embodiment). Since the counter is 6, it is determined that the counter is equal to or greater than the specified number. In step S407, the second delay timer value is calculated based on the delay counter (in this example, the delay counter value 6 multiplied by 10 is 60 seconds). Value). In this example, 60 seconds corresponds to the second fraud prevention period shown in FIG. 5B, which is longer than the above-mentioned first fraud prevention period of 10 seconds.

  Subsequently, the main control unit 300 determines whether or not an error canceling operation has been performed after the second fraud suppression period has elapsed (in this example, whether or not the pressing operation of the reset button 290 is detected by the reset button sensor). The error state is maintained until the reset button 290 is pressed. If there is an operation of pressing the reset button 290 in this error state, after making preparations for canceling the error in steps S411 and S412, the process returns to the main process of the main control unit.

  Thereby, the main control unit 300 resumes the interrupted main control unit main process (process related to the progress of the game), and shifts the gaming state from the error state to the normal gaming state. In addition, the main control unit 300 prepares to transmit an error release command to the first sub control unit 400. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received this error cancel command receives effect data (for example, image data or audio data for notifying error cancel) in the effect control process described above. Reading from the ROM 406 and effect data update processing are performed.

  With such error processing, when the time interval between the occurrence of the first error (normal error in this example) and the occurrence of the second error (goto error in this example) is short, the second error Since the second fraud deterrence period longer than the first fraud deterrence period can be provided after the occurrence of the occurrence of the situation, it is possible to prevent a situation in which fraudulent acts are continuously performed in advance. Fairness can be ensured.

<Modification of processing when an error occurs>
Next, a modified example of processing when an error occurs will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a modified example of error processing when a normal error occurs, and FIG. 10B is an error processing when a goto error occurs during the determination period after the normal error occurs. It is the figure which showed the modification of these.

<Modification of processing when an error occurs / normal error>
FIG. 9A shows a modified example of error processing when a normal error occurs, and is processing when the latter of the two types of error processing shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is applied. Since the processing up to the first reset operation is the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 13A, the processing after the reset operation will be described below.

  Specifically, when there is an operation of pressing the reset button 290 in the error state, the main control unit 300 prepares to cancel the error in steps S411 and S412. Subsequently, the main control unit 300 returns to the main control unit main process after the first fraud prevention period has elapsed.

  Thereby, the main control unit 300 resumes the interrupted main control unit main process (process related to the progress of the game), and shifts the gaming state from the error state to the normal gaming state. In addition, the main control unit 300 prepares to transmit an error release command to the first sub control unit 400. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received this error cancel command receives effect data (for example, image data or audio data for notifying error cancel) in the effect control process described above. Reading from the ROM 406 and effect data update processing are performed.

<Processing when an error occurs / Normal error + Goto error>
FIG. 7B is an example of error processing when a goto error occurs during the determination period after the occurrence of a normal error. Processing when the latter is applied among the two types of error processing shown in FIGS. It is. Since the processing up to the second reset operation is the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 13B, the processing after the reset operation will be described below.

  Specifically, when there is an operation of pressing the reset button 290 in the error state, the main control unit 300 prepares to cancel the error in steps S411 and S412. Subsequently, the main control unit 300 returns to the main control unit main process after the second fraud suppression period has elapsed.

  Thereby, the main control unit 300 resumes the interrupted main control unit main process (process related to the progress of the game), and shifts the gaming state from the error state to the normal gaming state. In addition, the main control unit 300 prepares to transmit an error release command to the first sub control unit 400. The first sub-control unit 400 that has received this error cancel command receives effect data (for example, image data or audio data for notifying error cancel) in the effect control process described above. Reading from the ROM 406 and effect data update processing are performed.

  With such error processing, when the time interval between the occurrence of the first error (normal error in this example) and the occurrence of the second error (goto error in this example) is short, the second error Since the second fraud deterrence period longer than the first fraud deterrence period can be provided after the occurrence of the occurrence of the situation, it is possible to prevent a situation in which fraudulent acts are continuously performed in advance. Fairness can be ensured.

  As described above, the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment has a game progress processing means (for example, main control unit main process) for executing a process related to game progress and an error detection means (for example, a main control section main process). , Device monitoring processing step S301), and error processing means for placing the gaming machine in an error state by executing interruption processing for interrupting processing relating to the progress of the game based on detection of the error by the error detection means ( For example, error processing steps S403 and S404) and an error cancellation processing unit (for example, a process for canceling the error state based on the operation of an error cancellation operation unit (for example, reset button 290)) Error processing steps S411 and S412), and The stand further disables cancellation of the error state by the error cancellation operation means after detection of the error, or processing related to the progress of the game resumed after cancellation of the error state by the error cancellation processing means. A fraud suppression unit for setting a fraud suppression period to be delayed (for example, steps S407 to S409 of error processing) and whether to set the fraud suppression period based on the detection of the error by the error detection unit. Determination period setting means (for example, step S305 of device monitoring processing) for setting a determination period for determining whether the error is detected by the error detection means during the determination period. If not, the first fraud prevention period (for example, the first fraud shown in FIG. 13 (a), FIG. 14 (a)). A fraud suppression period) is set, and when the error is detected by the error detection means in the determination period, a second fraud suppression period (for example, FIG. 13 (b) and the second fraud prevention period shown in FIG. 14 (b) are set.

  According to the slot machine 100 according to the present embodiment, when the interval between errors is short and the suspicion of fraud is high, by providing a fraud suppression period, without reducing the interest of a healthy player's game, In some cases, fraudulent acts can be accurately suppressed.

  The gaming machine further includes a storage unit (for example, a RAM 308) that stores the number of error detections in which the error is detected by the error detection unit during the determination period, and the fraud suppression unit includes the error detection number. When a determination process (for example, step S406) is performed to determine whether or not the predetermined number of times has been reached, and it is determined by the determination process that the number of detections has not reached the predetermined number, the first The fraud prevention period may be set, and if it is determined by the determination process that the number of detections has reached the predetermined number, the second fraud prevention period may be set. The “predetermined number of times” is not limited to the case where 1 is added every time an error occurs. For example, as described in the above embodiment, the normal error is one time and the goto error is five times. The weighting of the number of errors may be changed according to the type.

  By adopting such a configuration, the fraud prevention effect can be enhanced without reducing the interest of the player by providing the fraud prevention period in consideration of not only the interval between errors but also the frequency of error occurrence. There is a case.

  The error detecting means detects a plurality of types of errors related to the game (for example, a normal error and a goto error) in an identifiable manner, and the storage means further corresponds to each of the plurality of types of errors in advance. A predetermined value (for example, 1 for a normal error and 5 for a goto error) is stored, and an addition result obtained by adding the value corresponding to the error every time the error is detected in the determination period is stored The fraud suppression unit performs a determination process for determining whether or not the addition result (for example, a delay counter) stored in the storage unit has reached a predetermined threshold (for example, a numerical value of 5). When it is determined by the determination process that the addition result has not reached the threshold value, the first fraud prevention period is set, and the addition result is determined by the determination process. If it is determined to have reached the threshold value may be configured to perform the setting of the unauthorized second prohibition period.

  With such a configuration, the fraud prevention effect is enhanced without reducing the player's interest by setting the fraud prevention period in consideration of the type of error that occurred in addition to the frequency of error occurrence. May be possible. In addition, by adding and storing values corresponding to each error, it is possible to reduce the data capacity necessary to store the error that has occurred, and to prevent the determination process from becoming complicated. In some cases, the control can be performed more smoothly.

  Further, the fraud deterrence unit may be configured to determine the length of the second fraud deterrence period based on the addition result stored in the storage unit (for example, a delay counter value) A value multiplied by 10 (= delay counter value × 10 seconds) is set as the length of the second fraud suppression period).

  With such a configuration, the length of the second fraud deterrence period is set according to the type and number of errors that have occurred, thereby increasing the fraud deterrence effect without diminishing the interest of the player. There are cases where it is possible. In addition, by determining the length of the second fraud prevention period based on the addition result, it may be possible to suppress an increase in data capacity and processing complexity when the second fraud prevention period is made variable. .

  Note that the configuration of the gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the slot machine 100 according to the above embodiment. For example, the first fraud deterrence period and the second fraud deterrence period are the above-described times. Other than that. In addition, the first fraud prevention period includes 0 seconds, and the second fraud prevention period may be longer than the first fraud prevention period.

In the above embodiment, an example of a slot machine using medals (coins) as a game medium has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a game ball (for example, a pachinko ball) is used as a game medium. The present invention can also be applied to the slot machines and pachinko machines described above.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, the gaming table according to the present invention can enter “a launching device 1010 for launching a game ball in a predetermined game area 1002 and a game ball launched from the launching device 1010. A winning opening 1006 configured in the above, a detecting means for detecting a game ball that has entered the winning opening 1006, a payout means 1012 for paying out a gaming ball (prize ball) when the detecting means detects a gaming ball, The variable display device 1004 that variably displays the symbol (identification information) is displayed, and when the game ball enters the winning opening 1006 and wins, the variable display device 1004 stops the display after changing the symbol, and the game It is also suitable for a pachinko machine 1000 "that notifies the state transition.

  If the present invention is applied to such a pachinko machine 1000, when the interval between errors is short and the suspicion of fraud is high, an illegal deterrence period is provided to reduce the interest of a healthy player's game. In some cases, fraudulent acts can be accurately suppressed.

Furthermore, even if the present invention is applied to an arrangement ball game machine, a ball ball game machine, a smart ball, and a casino machine, the same effect can be obtained.

  In addition, the actions and effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are only the most preferable actions and effects resulting from the present invention, and the actions and effects according to the present invention are described in the embodiments of the present invention. It is not limited to things.

  The game machine of the present invention can be used particularly in the field of game machines represented by a spinning machine (slot machine) and a ball game machine (such as a pachinko machine).

100 slot machine 135 start lever 137 to 139 stop button 290 reset button 291 setting change button 292 setting change key 294 power switch 300 main control unit 330, 430 power monitoring circuit 350 power management unit 352 external power source 400 first sub control unit 500 first 2 sub-control unit

Claims (4)

Game progress processing means for executing processing related to the progress of the game;
An error detection means for detecting an error relating to the game;
An error processing means for setting the gaming machine into an error state by executing an interruption process for interrupting a process relating to the progress of the game based on the detection of the error by the error detection means;
An error cancellation processing means for executing a process for canceling the error state based on the operation of the error cancellation operation means,
The game table further comprises:
Improper deterrence that disables cancellation of the error state by the error cancellation operation means after detection of the error, or delays processing related to the progress of the game resumed after cancellation of the error state by the error cancellation processing means Fraud deterrence means to set the period,
Determination period setting means for setting a determination period for determining whether to set the fraud suppression period based on detection of the error by the error detection means,
The fraud suppression means
If the error is not detected by the error detection means in the determination period, a first fraud suppression period is set, and if the error is detected by the error detection means in the determination period, A gaming machine characterized by setting a second fraud prevention period that is longer than the first fraud prevention period. The game stand according to claim 1,
The game table further comprises:
Storage means for storing the number of times the error has been detected by the error detection means in the determination period;
The fraud suppression means
A determination process is performed to determine whether or not the error detection count has reached a predetermined number. If the determination process determines that the detection count has not reached the predetermined count, the first fraud A game machine characterized by setting a suppression period and setting the second fraud suppression period when it is determined by the determination process that the number of detections has reached the predetermined number. The game stand according to claim 2,
The error detection means includes
It detects multiple types of errors related to games in an identifiable way,
The storage means further includes
A predetermined value corresponding to each of the plurality of types of errors is stored, and an addition result obtained by adding the values corresponding to the errors each time the error is detected in the determination period is stored. Yes,
The fraud suppression means
When a determination process is performed to determine whether or not the addition result stored in the storage means has reached a predetermined threshold, and when it is determined by the determination process that the addition result has not reached the threshold Is configured to set the first fraud suppression period, and when the determination process determines that the addition result has reached the threshold, the fraud second suppression period is set. To play. The game stand according to claim 3,
The fraud suppression means
A game table, wherein a length of the second fraud prevention period is determined based on the addition result stored in the storage means.