JP2012157405A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a demonstration screen having a plurality of patterns in a game machine.SOLUTION: The game machine includes: a main board for executing control related to a game including an internal lottery processing; a sub board for executing processing related to a performance, receiving a command from the main board; a screen display portion for executing the performance thereon; and a screen display portion control portion for controlling the screen display portion based on a command from the sub board. When a command received from the sub board is a specific command, at least a part of the scene displayed by the specific command is selected and the demonstration screen is replaced by data of the scene. When a command received from the sub board is a performance screen display command, the scene is displayed based on the replaced data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine, and particularly to a gaming machine including a display device such as a liquid crystal display device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gaming machine (rotational gaming machine, slot machine) having a plurality of reels having symbols arranged on an outer peripheral surface is known. This type of gaming machine gives a certain game value to a game medium (medal) and performs a game for acquiring such a game medium. Also, this type of gaming machine performs an internal lottery triggered by the player's rotation start operation and starts rotation of a plurality of reels in a mode according to the result of the internal lottery as a player's stop operation trigger. Control is performed to stop a plurality of reels. The game result is determined by the symbol combination displayed on the winning determination line in a state where the plurality of reels are stopped, and medals are paid out according to the game result.

  In the gaming machine, various effects are made to improve the interest of the game. For example, a decorative member, a monitor (screen display device, liquid crystal display device), a speaker, and an LED lamp are attached, and a visual effect, a video effect, a sound effect, a light effect, and the like are performed.

JP, 2007-000199, A In a pachinko machine, a sub board receives a command for instructing a group of variation patterns of effect symbols from the main control unit, and is registered in a group designated by the command by a predetermined selection process. One variation pattern command is selected from one or a plurality of variation pattern commands, and the selected variation pattern command is transmitted to the display control unit. Thereby, the control burden of the main board can be reduced.

  There is a gaming machine that displays a predetermined demonstration screen at a predetermined timing, for example, when a game is not being performed. Many gaming machines are provided with a liquid crystal display device as a display device, and appeal to the player by displaying a predetermined demo screen.

  In order to perform this type of effect (demonstration screen display), a command is sent from the sub-board in charge of the effect in the gaming machine to the substrate that controls the liquid crystal display device. This command instructs, for example, to display a predetermined demo screen. The data for the demo screen is written in the ROM, and the demo screen is displayed when the data is read and processed in response to the command.

  The conventional demo screen itself is fixed, and the same screen is repeatedly displayed in the same order. Even if the demo screen is interesting, the stimulus is weakened by repeatedly viewing it. For this reason, there was a problem that the appeal effect gradually decreased.

  To avoid this, the demo screen can be changed as appropriate. One way to do this is to store a large number of demo screens and switch them accordingly. However, there is a problem in that a large amount of data has to be stored and the memory capacity increases, resulting in an increase in cost. Alternatively, multiple commands can be prepared, each corresponding to a different screen, and the demo screen can be changed each time by a combination of different commands. However, this method has a problem in that the number of types of commands required is increased, the number of command generation and interpretation processes increases, and the memory capacity for storing commands increases, resulting in an increase in cost.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can change a displayed demo screen without increasing the memory capacity and / or the type of command.

The present invention includes a main board that executes control relating to a game including an internal lottery process, a sub board that receives a command from the main board and executes a process related to an effect, a screen display unit for performing the effect, In a gaming machine comprising a screen display unit control unit that controls the screen display unit based on a command from a sub-board,
The screen display control unit is
A first scene storage unit for storing scene data to be displayed on the screen display unit;
A second scene storage unit for storing scene data to be displayed on the screen display unit;
A command determination unit that examines the command received from the sub-board and determines whether the command is a predetermined specific command or a specific effect screen display command (demo screen display command);
When the command received from the sub-board is the specific command, at least a part of the scene displayed on the screen display unit is selected by the specific command, and the data of the scene is stored in the first scene storage unit. A scene storage processing unit for storing;
When the command received from the sub-board is the specific effect screen display command, the first scene storage unit is checked, and if the scene data is stored, the corresponding scene based on the data is A screen generation unit that displays on the screen display unit and displays a predetermined scene on the screen display unit based on the data of the second scene storage unit when the scene data is not stored. is there.

The present invention includes a main board that executes control relating to a game including an internal lottery process, a sub board that receives a command from the main board and executes a process related to an effect, a screen display unit for performing the effect, In a gaming machine comprising a screen display unit control unit that controls the screen display unit based on a command from a sub-board,
The screen display control unit is
A scene storage unit that stores in advance scene data to be displayed on the screen display unit;
A command determination unit that examines the command received from the sub-board and determines whether the command is a predetermined specific command or a specific effect screen display command;
When the command received from the sub-board is the specific command, at least a part of the scene displayed on the screen display unit is selected by the specific command, and the selected scene data is stored in the scene storage unit. A scene storage processing unit for replacing the stored scene data;
A screen generation unit that displays a scene corresponding to data in the scene storage unit on the screen display unit when the command received from the sub-board is the specific effect screen display command.

The scene storage processing unit selects one of a plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by the specific command in a predetermined order, or randomly selects from the plurality of scenes. Also good.
Evaluation values are associated in advance with a plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by the specific command,
The scene storage processing unit selects a scene in which the evaluation value matches a predetermined threshold among a plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by the specific command, or a scene discriminated by the threshold. It may be.
The threshold value may be determined based on the result of the internal lottery process.

  According to the present invention, when the command received from the sub board is a specific command, at least a part of the scene displayed by the specific command is selected, the demo screen is replaced with the data of the scene, and the command is received from the sub board. Since the scene is displayed based on the replaced data when the command is a specific effect screen display command, even if there is only one command sent from the sub-board to the liquid crystal control board to display the demo screen A pattern demo screen can be displayed. As a result, a different demo screen can be displayed each time while reducing the amount of data without increasing the number of commands.

It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which closed the front door. It is a front view of the slot machine which shows the state which opened the front door 180 degree | times. It is a block diagram of a slot machine. It is a flowchart of the gaming process of the slot machine. It is explanatory drawing of the communication system of a sub board | substrate and a peripheral board | substrate. 1 is a block diagram of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the invention. It is a process flowchart of the game machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the buffer for demonstration screen preservation | saves concerning embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the scene selection which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the initial stage demonstration screen which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the demonstration screen which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is another block diagram of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention. It is another process flowchart of the game machine which concerns on embodiment of invention. It is explanatory drawing of the other demonstration screen which concerns on embodiment of invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door closed, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the slot machine with the front door opened 180 degrees.
1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a slot machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 100 can be opened and closed by a hinge or the like on the slot machine main body 120 and one side of the front surface of the slot machine main body 120. And a front door 130 attached thereto. As shown in FIG. 1, a game display unit 131 is provided substantially in the center of the front door 130, and a medal insertion slot 132 for a player to insert medals is provided at the lower right corner of the game display unit 131. Provided below the medal insertion slot 132 is a reject button 133 for forcibly discharging a clogged medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 132 to the outside of the slot machine 100.

  Further, a start switch 134 for starting a game is provided at the lower left of the game display unit 131, and three stop switches 140 are provided corresponding to the three spinning cylinders. A medal payout port 135 is provided at the center of the lower end of the front door. A liquid crystal display device LCD is provided above the game display unit 131.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The main board 10 is paid out from a bet switch BET, a start switch 134, a stop button 140, a reel unit (including a reel driving device) 203, a reel position detection circuit 71, a hopper driving unit 80, a hopper 81 and a hopper 81. A medal detection unit 82 for counting the number of medals (these constitute the hopper device 121 described above) is connected. A peripheral substrate (local substrate) such as a liquid crystal control substrate 200 for controlling the liquid crystal display device, a speaker substrate 201, and an LED substrate 202 is connected to the sub substrate 20. The peripheral board is controlled by the sub-board 20 and produces effects mainly by video, light, and sound. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the liquid crystal control substrate 200 and other peripheral substrates will be described separately.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next, game processing in the gaming machine will be described with reference to FIG.
Generally, in a gaming machine, one game is started from the insertion of medals (insertion of credits) until the end of payout (or until the increase in the number of credits is completed). There is a rule that it is not possible to proceed to the next game until one game is finished.

  First, when a prescribed number of medals are inserted, the start switch 134 is activated, and the processing of FIG. 4 is started.

  In step S1, the start switch 134 is turned on by operating the start switch 134. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S2.

  In step S2, a lottery process is performed by the main board 10. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S3.

  In step S3, the rotation of the first reel to the third reel starts. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S4.

  In step S4, when the stop button 140 is operated, the stop button 140 is turned ON. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S5.

  In step S5, rotation stop processing is performed on the reel corresponding to the pressed stop button 140 among the first to third reels. Then, the process proceeds to the next step S6.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not the operation of the stop button 140 corresponding to the three reels has been performed. If it is determined that all three stop buttons 140 corresponding to the three reels have been operated, the process proceeds to the next step S7.

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not the winning symbols corresponding to the lottery flag are aligned on the effective winning line while the lottery flag is established, that is, whether or not the winning is confirmed. If it is determined that the winning is confirmed, the process proceeds to the next step S8. If the winning is not confirmed, no medals are paid out even if the lottery flag is established.

  In step S8, medals corresponding to winning symbols are paid out.

  The process from the insertion of the medal to the completion of the execution of step S8 is one game. When the standby process in step S8 ends, the process returns to the beginning of the flowchart. In other words, the next game is possible (transition to the next game).

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the connection between the sub-board 20 and its peripheral board. As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid crystal control board 200, a speaker board 201, and an LED board 202 are connected to the sub board 20. These should be called peripheral substrates of the sub-substrate 20.

  The plurality of peripheral boards are connected as shown in FIG. 5 (the display of the speaker board 201 is omitted). That is, a plurality of peripheral boards are connected to a common bus, and communicate with the sub board 20 through the bus. The signal flowing through the bus is a signal on two lines, a data line and a clock line, such as a parallel signal (for example, a signal transmitted by an 8-bit line) or a serial signal (for example, I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit)). ). In the example of FIG. 5, the signal output from the sub-board 20 is returned to the sub-board 20, but this is an example, and the end opposite to the connection end is opened as in a general bus structure. Also good.

  Data is transmitted from the sub board 20 to the peripheral board by designating an address. For example, when data is sent to the liquid crystal control board 200 as a peripheral board, an address previously associated with the liquid crystal control board 200 is designated and the data is sent to the bus. When the liquid crystal control board 200 recognizes that the data is addressed to itself by the address, the liquid crystal control board 200 takes in the data following the address into the latch. A predetermined operation is performed according to the fetched data. If the fetched data is a command for transmitting data acquired or obtainable by the liquid crystal control board 200 to the sub-board 20, the data is sent to the sub-board 20 (after receiving predetermined data, it is determined in advance. Data can always be transmitted to the sub-board 20).

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a liquid crystal control board (screen display control unit) 200 according to the embodiment of the invention. Only the part relevant to the processing according to the embodiment of the invention is shown, and the display of other elements is omitted.

  2001 is a command determination for examining a command received from the sub-board 20 and determining whether this is a predetermined specific command (command for performing a specific effect) or a specific effect screen display command (demo screen display command). Part. In order to perform this process, the command determination unit 2001 stores a specific command table 2001a for storing data for identifying the specific command (for example, the command itself) and data for identifying the demonstration screen display command. A demo screen display command table 2001b.

  2002, when the command received from the sub-board 20 is a predetermined specific command, selects at least a part of the scene displayed on the liquid crystal display device by the specific command, and saves the data of the scene on the demo screen This is a scene storage processing unit stored in the buffer 2003 for use.

  2003 is a demonstration screen storage buffer (first data stored in the scene storage processing unit 2002) that stores scene data (screen data itself or index data indicating screen data) to be displayed on a liquid crystal display device (LCD, screen display unit). 1 scene storage unit).

An initial demo screen storage unit (second scene storage unit) 2004 stores in advance scene data (screen data itself or index data indicating screen data) to be displayed on a liquid crystal display device (LCD, screen display unit). is there. The scene stored here is an initial demonstration screen, for example, written in advance in a factory.
Note that the contents of the demonstration screen storage buffer 2003 may be cleared by turning on the power, returning from the demonstration screen display, or a predetermined clear operation.

  In 2005, when the command received from the sub-board 20 is the demonstration screen display command, the demonstration screen storage buffer 2003 is checked, and if the data is stored, the corresponding scene based on the data is displayed on the liquid crystal display device. When the data is not stored, the screen generation unit displays a predetermined scene based on the data in the initial demonstration screen storage unit 2004 on the liquid crystal display device.

  FIG. 7 is a process flowchart of the liquid crystal control board 200 of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the invention. Hereinafter, the operation will be described with reference to this.

S10: The liquid crystal control board 200 receives a command from the sub-board 20.

S11: The command determination unit 2001 determines the received command.
When the received command is a demonstration screen display command (YES in S11), the processes after S12 are performed.
When the received command is a specific command (a command for displaying a specific effect screen) (NO in S11 and YES in S15), the process of S16 is performed.
When the received command is neither a demonstration screen display command nor a specific command (NO in S11 and NO in S15), the process returns to the process of S10 (or another process not shown, for example, a process corresponding to the received command) May be performed).

S12: It is checked whether or not there is data in the demonstration screen storage buffer 2003.
S13: If there is data, the demo screen is displayed according to the data in the demo screen storage buffer 2003. The demo screen is a screen displayed on the liquid crystal display device LCD at a predetermined timing (for example, when a game is not being performed), and is a screen that draws a part of a plurality of effect screens, particularly a win effect. It is a screen that displays one after another.

S14: When there is no data, a demonstration screen is displayed according to data prepared in advance in the initial demonstration screen storage unit 2004.

S15: It is determined whether the received command is a specific command. When the command received from the sub-board 20 is a predetermined specific command, the process of S16 is performed. When the received command is not a specific command (NO), the process returns to the first process S10.
S16: The screen corresponding to the specific command is stored in the demo screen storage buffer 2003.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the contents stored in the demo screen storage buffer 2003. The figure shows a case where four commands for performing effects a to d, which are specific commands, are received. Corresponding to the production commands a to d, data of scenes E to H are stored, respectively. Note that it is not necessary to store the specific command type on the left side of the figure, and it is sufficient if the data of the scenes E to H on the right side are stored. Incidentally, the specific command table 2001a stores the production commands a to d themselves or their identification information. When only the data of the scenes E to H are stored in the demonstration screen saving buffer 2003, identification information corresponding to the data of the scenes E to H is stored in the specific command table 2001a.

  A scene is a group of related screens in which images (moving images, still images) displayed in each effect are collected from a predetermined viewpoint (for example, for each theme). For example, a screen group performing a lottery, a screen group displaying a lottery result, a screen group celebrating the victory when the lottery result is a win, a screen group promoting a game, and the like. These divisions are for convenience. Data stored in the demo screen storage buffer 2003 or the like is a group of screen data itself constituting the scene, or index data indicating them.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a scene. The effect a is composed of four scenes α to δ, and the scene saving processing unit 2002 selects a scene γ as a part thereof. Which scene is selected is arbitrary, but it is desirable to select a scene suitable for the demo screen. Examples of selection methods include the following.

(A) A scene in a predetermined order is selected from a plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by a specific command.
For example, if it is determined that the third scene from the top is selected, the scene γ in FIG. 9 is selected.
This method is advantageous in that the processing is simple and the processing unit (CPU) is not burdened.

(A) Randomly select from a plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by a specific command.
A random number sequence is generated by a counter or the like, and the one corresponding to the random number value extracted therefrom is selected. For example, the remainder of 4 of the random value is obtained, and when it is 0, 1, 2, 3, scenes α, β, γ, and δ are selected, respectively.
This method never gets bored because the stored scenes change randomly, the displayed demo screens are different each time, and are difficult to predict.

(C) A plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by the specific command are associated with evaluation values in advance, and among the plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by the specific command, evaluation values are determined in advance. Scenes that match or are discriminated (scenes greater than or less than the threshold) are selected.

  Since the contents of the production are predetermined, it is possible to evaluate in advance which scene is an interesting highlight scene. Therefore, it is digitized in advance for each scene. Then, for example, a threshold is set according to the result of the internal lottery process, and a scene is selected based on the threshold.

  For example, assume that the evaluation values of the scenes α, β, γ, and δ are 0, 1, 3, and 2 (in other words, the scenes γ, δ, β, and α look good in the order). At this time, if the internal lottery result is a win, the scene γ that is the highlight scene is selected with threshold = 3 in order to raise the player's mood. If the internal lottery result is off, the threshold value = 1 is set so that the scene β that does not look so much is selected.

  Alternatively, if the internal lottery result is a win, the threshold value = 2 is set, and scenes γ and δ having an evaluation value of 2 or more are selected. Select scenes α and β.

  According to this method, a scene to be selected can be suitably selected, and a demonstration screen according to a desired intention can be displayed.

  The demonstration screen storage buffer 2003 is a RAM, a flash memory, or the like. By securing a sufficient memory capacity, the number of scenes on the demonstration screen displayed by the demonstration screen generation unit 2005 can be arbitrarily increased. When the capacity of the demo screen storage buffer 2003 is limited, the demo screen can be updated at any time by configuring it as a ring buffer, FIFO, LIFO, etc., and overwriting it as necessary.

  FIG. 10 shows a display example of the initial demonstration screen. When S12 in FIG. 7 is NO, scene data is read from the initial demo screen storage unit 2004, and the demo screens are displayed in the order shown in FIG. That is, the scenes A, B, C, and D are displayed in the order, and after the scene D, the manufacturer's logo screen is displayed. The above display is repeated. Scenes A, B, C, and D are stored in advance in the gaming machine and are not changed.

  FIG. 11 shows a display example other than the initial demonstration screen. When YES is obtained in S12 of FIG. 7, scene data is read from the demo screen storage buffer 2003, and the demo screens are displayed in the order as shown in FIG. That is, scenes E, F, G, and H are displayed in this order, and after scene D, the manufacturer's logo screen is displayed. The above display is repeated. This corresponds to the stored contents of FIG. Since the contents of the demonstration screen storage buffer 2003 are sequentially updated in S16 of FIG. 7, the demonstration screen of FIG. 11 always changes.

  If sufficient data (four in the example of FIG. 11) is stored in the demonstration screen storage buffer 2003, data storage (the process of S16 in FIG. 7) may not be performed thereafter. In this way, the update of the demonstration screen is stopped, but since the stored scenes are different for each gaming machine, there is an appealing effect to the player. You can use this approach if you don't want to change the demo screen frequently. Data storage (the process of S16 in FIG. 7) may be resumed by turning the power off and on.

Note that the screen generation unit 2005 can take various reproduction methods as follows, for example.
Reproduce the stored scenes in order (example in FIG. 11).
・ Play the stored scene at random.
-When the above-mentioned evaluation value is given, it reproduces according to the evaluation value. For example, when the evaluation values of scenes E, F, G, and H are 1, 3, 2, and 2, respectively, the scenes E, G, H, and F are reproduced in the order.
-Play back after editing to a specific length rather than showing the specific production as it is. For example, if the internal lottery is a win, scenes G, H, and F having a high evaluation value are reproduced in the above example, and if the internal lottery is lost, scenes E, G, and H having a low evaluation value are reproduced in the above example. To do.

  6 and 7 are provided with two memories, the demo screen storage buffer 2003 and the initial demo screen storage unit 2004, but both may be shared.

  In the embodiment of the invention, the following (a) to (c) can be applied.

(A) In the above example, up to four scenes could be stored in the demonstration screen storage buffer 2003 (this is an example, and the number of scenes that can be stored can be arbitrarily determined according to the memory capacity. However, even when the maximum number of scenes is not stored (in other words, even when the buffer 2003 has an empty space), when the demo screen display command is received, the demo screen is based on the stored contents of the demo screen storage buffer 2003. Display may be performed.
In this case, the length of one cycle of the demo screen may be changed according to the number of stored scenes. For example, when only one scene is stored, the display time of the demonstration screen may be shortened such that the scene is reproduced and then the logo is displayed. When the display time of the demo screen is constant, the display time of each scene may be changed according to the number of scenes stored. For example, if the total length is 20 seconds and there is one stored scene, the scene may be displayed for 20 seconds, and if there are two scenes, each scene may be displayed for 10 seconds.

(B) If the number of scenes to be displayed on the demonstration screen is predetermined, and the number of scenes stored in the demonstration screen storage buffer 2003 does not reach the predetermined number, the shortage May use the scene of the initial demo screen storage unit 2004 (see FIG. 14 and its description).

(C) When the maximum number of scenes that can be stored in the demonstration screen storage buffer 2003 is determined, when another scene is written after the maximum number of scenes is written, one of the following is performed. Can do.
-Overwrite the oldest scene currently stored.
-Overwrite the currently evaluated scene with the lowest evaluation value.
The evaluation value A of the scene to be stored this time is compared with the lowest evaluation value B of each currently stored scene. If (Evaluation value A)> (Evaluation value B), the newest scene A scene with a low evaluation value B is overwritten, and if (evaluation value A) ≦ (evaluation value B), the scene is not overwritten (the scene to be stored this time is discarded).

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a process flowchart thereof.

  The demo screen storage buffer 2003 of FIG. 12 stores scenes A to D for the initial demo screen in advance (see FIG. 10). When the command is received and it is determined YES in S15 of FIG. 13, the predetermined scene of the specific command is overwritten and saved (when the effect a command to the effect d command are received in this order, as shown in FIG. In addition, the initial scenes A to D are overwritten with the scenes E to H of the specific command, respectively).

  If the command is received and it is a demo screen display command (YES in S11), the current scene is read from the demo screen storage buffer 2003 and the demo screen is displayed.

If the initial scenes A to D are overwritten by the scenes E to H of the specific command, they are displayed as shown in FIG.
Note that after all of the initial scenes A to D are overwritten with the scene of the specific command, a new scene may be written as shown in (c) above.

  Further, when the initial scenes A and B are received with the demonstration screen display command immediately after being overwritten by the scenes E and F by the specific command, the screens are displayed in the order of scenes E, F, C, and D as shown in FIG. Is displayed.

  According to FIGS. 12 and 13, as shown in FIG. 14, a demo screen may be a mixture of an initial scene and a scene updated by a specific command.

  In any of the above embodiments, the demonstration screen is updated sequentially.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, even if one command is sent from the sub-board to the liquid crystal control board in order to display the demonstration screen, a plurality of patterns of the demonstration screen can be displayed. As a result, a different demo screen can be displayed each time while reducing the amount of data without increasing the number of commands. You can also enjoy the demo screen like a video library.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the memory capacity and the types of commands are not increased. According to the configuration of FIG. 12, the capacity of the demo screen storage buffer is the same as the capacity of the conventional initial demo screen storage unit. In the above description, there are two types of commands, a specific command and a demonstration screen display command. The specific command is for displaying a specific screen, and is a command for presentation in a conventional gaming machine. This is not a new requirement for realizing the embodiment. And as before, a single demo screen display command is sufficient. Therefore, the types of commands have not increased compared to conventional gaming machines.

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

10 Main board 20 Sub board 200 Liquid crystal control board (screen display control unit)
2001 Command determination unit 2002 Scene storage processing unit 2003 Demo screen storage buffer (first scene storage unit, scene storage unit)
2004 Initial demonstration screen storage unit (second scene storage unit)
2005 Demo screen generator (screen generator)
LCD screen display

Claims (5)

A main board that executes control related to a game including an internal lottery process, a sub board that receives a command from the main board and executes a process related to an effect, a screen display unit for performing the effect, and a sub-board In a gaming machine comprising a screen display unit control unit that controls the screen display unit based on a command,
The screen display control unit is
A first scene storage unit for storing scene data to be displayed on the screen display unit;
A second scene storage unit for storing scene data to be displayed on the screen display unit;
A command determination unit that examines the command received from the sub-board and determines whether the command is a predetermined specific command or a specific effect screen display command;
When the command received from the sub-board is the specific command, at least a part of the scene displayed on the screen display unit is selected by the specific command, and the data of the scene is stored in the first scene storage unit. A scene storage processing unit for storing;
When the command received from the sub-board is the specific effect screen display command, the first scene storage unit is checked, and if the scene data is stored, the corresponding scene based on the data is A screen generation unit that displays on the screen display unit and displays a predetermined scene on the screen display unit based on the data in the second scene storage unit when the scene data is not stored. A featured gaming machine. A main board that executes control related to a game including an internal lottery process, a sub board that receives a command from the main board and executes a process related to an effect, a screen display unit for performing the effect, and a sub-board In a gaming machine comprising a screen display unit control unit that controls the screen display unit based on a command,
The screen display control unit is
A scene storage unit that stores in advance scene data to be displayed on the screen display unit;
A command determination unit that examines the command received from the sub-board and determines whether the command is a predetermined specific command or a specific effect screen display command;
When the command received from the sub-board is the specific command, at least a part of the scene displayed on the screen display unit is selected by the specific command, and the selected scene data is stored in the scene storage unit. A scene storage processing unit for replacing the stored scene data;
A screen generation unit for displaying a scene corresponding to data in the scene storage unit on the screen display unit when the command received from the sub-board is the specific effect screen display command. Gaming machine.   The scene storage processing unit selects one of a plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by the specific command in a predetermined order or randomly selects from the plurality of scenes. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2. Evaluation values are associated in advance with a plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by the specific command,
The scene storage processing unit selects a scene whose evaluation value matches a predetermined threshold among a plurality of scenes displayed on the screen display unit by the specific command, or a scene discriminated by the threshold. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.   The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the threshold is determined based on a result of the internal lottery process.

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