JP2012245033A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine capable of enhancing the amusement of a game by carrying out variation suggesting rendering desired by a player while carrying out suspension urging rendering and variation urging rendering at the same time.SOLUTION: When a player operation part is operated during the execution of suspension urging rendering, the pinball game machine carries out suspension suggesting rendering which is rendering for suggesting a possibility of making a stop display in a winning mode in the case of variably displaying special symbols based on suspension information. When the player operation part is operated during the execution of variation urging rendering, the pinball game machine carries out variation suggesting rendering which is rendering for suggesting a possibility of making a stop display in a winning mode of special symbols in a variable display. When the player operation part is operated during the execution of both of the suspension urging rendering and variation urging rendering, the pinball game machine permits the execution of only the variation suggesting rendering.

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine that plays a game by firing a game ball on a game board on which a game area is formed.

  When a game ball enters the start opening provided in the game area on the game board, the fact that the ball has been entered is temporarily stored as hold information, and after the symbols are variably displayed based on the hold information, the display is stopped and displayed. As a result, there is known a ball game machine that executes a hit game for paying out a predetermined amount of game balls when the stop display mode of the symbol is a hit mode.

  In a ball game machine that stores such hold information, an effect suggesting the possibility of stopping display in a hit mode when the change display is performed before the change display based on the hold information is started. (Hereinafter also referred to as “hold suggestion effect”). Among the ball game machines that perform such a holding suggestion effect, first, a “holding reminding effect” that is an effect of prompting the player's operation to a predetermined operation unit provided in the ball ball game machine is performed, When a player operates the operation unit during the hold prompting effect, there is a ball game machine that performs a hold suggesting effect. In such a ball game machine, by allowing a player to operate a predetermined operation unit, it is possible to guess the possibility that a variable display of a symbol that starts later will be stopped and displayed in a hit state (Patent Document) 1).

  In addition, in a ball game machine that displays symbols as described above, it is normal to execute various effects in conjunction with the symbols' variable display. An effect (hereinafter, also referred to as “variation suggestion effect”) that suggests the possibility that the aspect is a winning aspect is performed. Among the ball game machines that perform such change suggestion effects, during the change display of the symbols, first, “change” is an effect that prompts the player to operate a predetermined operation unit provided in the ball game machine. There is a bullet ball game machine that performs a change suggestion effect when a player operates the operation unit during the change prompt effect. In such a ball game machine, it is possible to make it possible to guess the possibility that the symbol being changed and displayed is stopped and displayed in a hit state by causing the player to operate a predetermined operation unit (Patent Document 2).

  In recent years, a ball game machine has been developed that performs both the above-mentioned on-hold prompting effect and variable prompting effect. In such a ball game machine, when a predetermined operation unit is operated in a state in which the hold prompting effect and the variable prompting effect are simultaneously performed, both the hold suggesting effect and the change suggesting effect corresponding to these effects are displayed. Done.

JP 2010-154927 A JP 2010-22542 A

  Some players want to confirm the possibility that a symbol that is being displayed in a variation display will stop and display in a hit state, but without confirming the possibility that a variable display of a symbol that starts later will stop and display in a hit state. There is a person who wants to keep it as “fun” until the start of the variable display. However, in the conventional technology that executes both the above-mentioned hold prompting effect and the variable prompting effect, when the variable prompting effect is performed in a state where the hold prompting effect is being performed, the player tries to confirm the change suggesting effect. When a predetermined operation unit is operated, not only a change suggestion effect but also a hold suggestion effect is performed. In other words, contrary to the intention of the player who tried to confirm only the possibility that the symbol in the variable display is stopped and displayed in the hit mode, the possibility that the variable display of the symbol starting later will stop and display in the hit mode is also confirmed. As a result, the player's “fun” is deprived, and there is a risk of lowering the gaming interest.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and performs a change suggestion effect desired by a player while simultaneously performing a holding prompting effect and a variable prompting effect as described above. An object is to provide a ball game machine that can enhance interest.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the bullet ball game machine of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
A ball game machine that advances a game by firing a game ball toward a game area,
A player control unit that can be operated by the player;
Hold information storage means for storing hold information indicating that a game ball has entered the start opening provided in the game area;
Special symbol display means for stopping and displaying the special symbol after variably displaying based on the hold information;
A winning game execution means for executing a winning game advantageous to the player when the special symbol is stopped and displayed in a winning manner;
A hold information display unit in which the storage number of the hold information that does not satisfy the start condition for allowing the start of variable display of the special symbol is recognizable, and
In the hold information display unit, a hold effect execution means for executing an effect corresponding to the hold information for which the start condition is not satisfied,
An effect symbol display unit in which an effect symbol to be variably displayed in conjunction with the variation display of the special symbol is displayed,
The effect symbol display unit includes a variation effect executing means for executing an effect corresponding to the special symbol for which the start condition is established and the variable display is being executed,
The hold effect executing means executes a hold reminder effect that is an effect for prompting an operation to the player operation unit, and when the player operation unit is operated when the hold reminder effect is being executed. , Changing the display mode of the hold information display unit, and executing a hold suggesting effect that suggests the contents of the variable display executed when the start condition is satisfied,
When the player operation unit is operated while the variation prompting effect is being executed, the variation effect executing means executes a change prompting effect that is an effect of prompting an operation to the player operation unit. , By changing the display mode of the special symbol display unit, to execute a variation suggestion effect that suggests the content of the variation display during the variation display,
When both the holding reminder effect and the variable reminder effect are executed, when the player operation unit is operated, only the change suggesting effect is executed out of the hold suggesting effect and the change suggesting effect. It is characterized by.

  In the ball and ball game machine of the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the player operation unit is operated while the hold prompting effect is being executed, the hold suggesting effect is executed, and the variable prompting effect is executed. When the player operation unit is operated while the player is in motion, the variation suggestion effect is executed. However, if the player operation unit is operated while both the hold prompting effect and the variable prompting effect are being executed, only the change suggesting effect is executed among the hold suggesting effect and the change suggesting effect. In other words, the player wants to confirm “the possibility that the symbol in the variable display is stopped and displayed in a hit state (variation suggestion effect)”, but “starts later (the variation start condition is not satisfied). There is a person who wants to keep it as “fun” until the change display starts without confirming the “possibility that the change display of the symbol is stopped and displayed in a hit state (holding suggestion effect)”. In this regard, according to the present invention, when both the hold prompting effect and the variable prompting effect are performed, when the player operates the player operation unit, the hold suggesting effect is not performed and only the change suggesting effect is performed. Accordingly, since it is possible to confirm only the possibility that the symbol being displayed is stopped and displayed in a hit state, it is possible to execute a variation suggestion effect desired by the player, and to enhance the gaming interest.

  “I suggest the contents of the variable display that is executed when the start condition is satisfied” means that a special symbol related to the hold information for which the change start condition is not satisfied is displayed in a variable manner (the change start condition is satisfied). ), It is possible to exemplify a mode that suggests a possibility that a winning game is executed. Further, when the variable display is performed, it can be suggested which of the plurality of reach modes is executed. In other words, the “contents of fluctuation display” means the possibility that a winning game is executed (high, low, or what percentage), which reach is executed, which notice is executed, Or a normal hit (whether the hit is high or low for the player). Similarly, “suggest the contents of the fluctuation display during the execution of the fluctuation display” indicates the possibility of the stop display in the hit mode (winning pattern) when the special symbol currently being displayed in the fluctuation display is stopped. The mode to do can be illustrated. In other words, the change suggestion effect means that the special symbol is suggested to be a win or a miss when the special symbol is stopped and displayed. In addition, as the contents of the variable display, there is a possibility that a hit game will be executed (high, low, or what percentage), which reach will be executed (which reach will be developed), which notice Or whether it is a probability change or a normal hit (a hit with a high or low advantage for the player).

In addition, the above-described bullet ball game machine of the present invention,
When both the holding reminder effect and the variation prompting effect are executed, only the change suggesting effect is executed among the hold suggesting effect and the change suggesting effect by operating the player operation unit. The hold suggesting effect may be executed when the player operation unit is operated after the change suggesting effect is executed.

  According to such a ball game machine of the present invention, when both the holding prompting effect and the variable prompting effect are performed, when the player operation unit is operated and the change suggesting effect is performed, the holding prompting is performed. Only the production is continuously performed. In this state, when the player operation unit is operated, the hold suggesting effect is executed. Therefore, not only “the possibility that the symbol being changed and displayed is stopped and displayed in a hit state (change suggestion effect)” but also “the change and display of a symbol that starts later may be stopped and displayed in a hit state (hold suggestion effect). It is possible to enhance the gaming interest for a player who also wants to confirm “”.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to enhance the gaming interest by executing only the change suggestion effect desired by the player while simultaneously performing the hold prompting effect and the change prompting effect.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine (bullet ball game machine) of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the board surface structure of a game board. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a symbol display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen structure of an effect display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a starting port unit. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the control circuit in the pachinko machine of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the display mode of the normal symbol display part. It is explanatory drawing which showed the stop display aspect of the special symbol notionally. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the one aspect | mode of the effect performed with an effect display apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a game control process. It is a flowchart which shows a special figure holding related process. It is the flowchart which showed the first half part of the special symbol game process. It is the flowchart which showed the second half part of the special symbol game process. It is the flowchart which showed the first half part of the special figure fluctuation display process. It is the flowchart which showed the latter half part of the special figure fluctuation display process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the big hit determination table. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the big hit symbol determination table. It is a flowchart which shows a big hit fluctuation pattern table selection process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the variation pattern table for jackpot winning. It is explanatory drawing which shows the opening pattern of the big prize opening corresponding to the kind of jackpot symbol. It is a flowchart which shows a big hit game process. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of jackpot end. It is explanatory drawing put together about the kind of jackpot game of a present Example. It is a flowchart which shows the game effect process performed by CPU mounted in the sub control board. It is a flowchart which shows a pending | holding display process. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the big hit hold | maintenance display mode determination table. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the holding | maintenance symbol display information displayed corresponding to each holding | maintenance is memorize | stored. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally a detachment hold display mode determination table with reach and a detachment hold display mode determination table without reach. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the reservation symbol is displayed on the special figure reservation display area on the display screen of an effect display apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a design fluctuation effect process. It is a flowchart which shows a design fluctuation effect process. It is a flowchart which shows a design fluctuation effect process. It is explanatory drawing which showed a part of effect pattern table notionally. It is a flowchart which shows a player operation response process. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a prompt display and a response display are performed in an effect display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that reserving symbol display information is rewritten. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the display of a pending | holding symbol is updated when the pending | holding symbol display information is rewritten. It is explanatory drawing which shows the game property obtained with the pachinko machine of a present Example.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, examples will be described in the following order.
A. Device configuration of pachinko machine (ball game machine):
A-1. Configuration on the front side of the device:
A-2. Game board configuration:
A-3. Configuration of control circuit:
B. Overview of the game:
C. Overview of control:
C-1. Game control processing:
C-2. Special figure hold related processing:
C-3. Special design game processing:
C-4. Jackpot game processing:
D. Game direction processing:
D-1. Hold display processing:
D-2. Design variation effect processing:
D-3. Player operation support processing:
E. Playability obtained with the pachinko machine of this embodiment:

A. Pachinko machine configuration:
A-1. Configuration on the front side of the device:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the front part of the pachinko machine 1 is mainly composed of a front frame 4, an upper dish part 5, a lower dish part 6, a game board 10, and the like. In FIG. 1, detailed illustration of the game board 10 is omitted. The front frame 4 is attached to a middle frame 3 (not shown), and the middle frame 3 is attached to a main body frame 2 (not shown). The middle frame 3 is formed of a plastic material and is attached to the inside of the main body frame 2. The main body frame 2 is a substantially rectangular frame formed by assembling wooden plate-like members, and forms an outer frame of the pachinko machine 1. One end of the front frame 4 is pivotally supported with respect to the middle frame 3, and one end of the middle frame 3 is pivotally supported with respect to the main body frame 2. The game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3, and the front side is covered with the front frame 4.

  The front frame 4 is formed of a plastic material, and a circular window portion 4a is formed at a substantially central portion. A transparent plate such as a glass plate is fitted in the window portion 4a so that the board surface of the game board 10 disposed on the back side can be visually recognized. Further, the front frame 4 is provided with various lamps 4b to 4f for enhancing the game effect. An upper dish portion 5 is provided below the front frame 4, and a lower dish portion 6 is provided below the upper dish portion 5. A locking device 9 is provided on the right side of the front frame 4, and a prepaid card type ball lending device 13 (CR unit) is provided on the left side of the front frame 4.

  The upper dish portion 5 is provided with a dish-shaped recess and a dish outer edge portion 5a formed so as to surround the recess. The game ball is thrown into a recess formed in the upper plate part 5 and supplied to the launching device unit 12 (see FIG. 6). The dish outer edge 5a is provided with various buttons such as a game ball lending switch 5b, a return switch 5c, and a discharge button for discharging the inserted game ball. A speaker 5 y is provided on the left side of the upper plate part 5. An effect button BT is provided at the center of the front side of the upper plate 5. The player can intervene in the progress of the game effect by operating the effect button BT.

  The lower plate part 6 is provided with a discharge port 6 a for discharging game balls from the inside of the pachinko machine 1, and the discharged game balls are stored in the lower plate part 6. A firing handle 8 is provided at the right end of the lower plate portion 6. The firing handle 8 is provided with a touch switch 8a for detecting that the player is touching the handle. The rotation axis of the launching handle 8 is connected to a launching device unit 12 (not shown) mounted on the back side of the lower pan 6, and when the player rotates the firing handle 8, the movement of the launching handle 8 is caused to the launching device unit 12. Then, a launch motor (not shown) built in the unit rotates, and a game ball is launched with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle. On the left side surface of the launch handle 8, a launch stop switch 8b that is operated by the player to temporarily stop the launch of the game ball is disposed.

A-2. Game board configuration:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a board surface configuration of the game board 10. As described above, the game board 10 is detachably attached to the front side of the middle frame 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially circular game area 11 surrounded by an outer rail 14 and an inner rail 15 is formed at the center of the game board 10. The game ball fired from the launching device unit 12 described above passes between the outer rail 14 and the inner rail 15 and is released to the game area 11, and flows down from above the game area 11.

  A central device 26 is provided in the approximate center of the game area 11, a variable winning device 18 is provided in a lower portion of the gaming area 11, and between the central device 26 and the variable winning device 18. A starting port unit 17 is provided. As will be described later, the starting port unit 17 is a so-called tulip-type entrance that is configured so that a starting port and a pair of blade pieces provided on both sides of the starting port can be opened and closed. The detailed configuration of the start port unit 17 will be described later with reference to another drawing.

  An effect display device 27 is provided substantially in the center of the central device 26. The effect display device 27 is composed of a liquid crystal display, and on the display screen, various effect symbols such as an identification symbol and a background symbol can be variably displayed and stopped. Various effect symbols displayed on the display screen of the effect display device 27 will be described later.

  A symbol display device 28 is provided diagonally to the left of the effect display device 27. In the symbol display device 28, normal symbols and special symbols can be displayed in a variable stop manner. The detailed configuration of the symbol display device 28 will be described later. Hereinafter, the special symbol may be simply abbreviated as “special symbol”.

  A normal symbol operation left gate 36 and a normal symbol operation right gate 37 are provided on the left and right sides of the game area 11, and gate switches 36s and 37s for detecting the passage of the game ball are provided inside these gates. Are provided. Further, lamp wind turbines 24 and 25 are provided between the left and right normal symbol operation gates 36 and 37 and the central device 26. A number of obstacle nails 23 are provided between and around each of these gaming devices.

  In the variable winning device 18 provided below the central device 26, a large winning device 31 is provided substantially in the center. The big winning device 31 includes a big winning opening 31d that opens largely in a substantially rectangular shape, an opening / closing member 31e for opening and closing the big winning opening 31d, a big winning opening solenoid 31m (see FIG. 6) for operating the opening / closing member 31e, and the like. It is composed of When a predetermined condition, which will be described later, is satisfied, the special winning device 31 starts operating, the special winning opening solenoid 31m opens the opening / closing member 31e, and the special winning opening 31d is opened. As a result, the game ball enters the big winning opening 31d with a high probability, and the big hit gaming state, which is a gaming state advantageous to the player, is started. In addition, a big prize opening switch 31s is provided inside the big prize opening 31d, and it is possible to detect a game ball won in the big prize opening 31d. An out port 48 is provided below the game board 10, and a back ball preventing member 58 is provided below the out port 48. The back ball prevention member 58 has a function of preventing a game ball that has returned without reaching the game area 11 from returning to the launch position.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the symbol display device 28 mounted on the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the symbol display device 28 of this embodiment is configured by incorporating 12 small light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a substantially rectangular area. Of these 12 LEDs, 3 LEDs normally constitute the symbol display unit 29, and the remaining 9 LEDs constitute the special symbol display unit 30. Furthermore, the normal symbol display unit 29 has one LED for displaying a normal symbol (hereinafter referred to as a normal symbol LED 29a) and two LEDs for displaying the number of reserved normal symbols (hereinafter, a normal symbol). Called hold display LED 29b). The special symbol display unit 30 includes seven LEDs for displaying special symbols (hereinafter referred to as special symbol LEDs 30a) and two LEDs for displaying the number of special symbols held (hereinafter referred to as special symbols). Called hold display LED 30b). The manner in which the symbol display device 28 of this embodiment uses these 12 LEDs to display normal symbols, special symbols, and the number of reserved symbols will be described later. In the following description, it is assumed that special symbol hold is referred to as “special figure hold” and the special symbol hold number is referred to as “special figure hold number”. The special figure hold corresponds to “hold information” in the present invention.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen configuration of the effect display device 27 mounted on the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. As described above, the effect display device 27 is mainly configured by using a liquid crystal display, and on the display screen, three identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c and a background symbol 27d of the background are displayed. Has been. Among these, three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are linked to the special symbol display unit 30 shown in FIG. 3 being variably displayed (the start timing and end timing of the variability display coincide with each other). ) It is displayed in a variety of ways to produce a game. The three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c correspond to the “production symbols” in the present invention. On the display screen of the effect display device 27, the area where the three identification symbols 27a, 27b and 27c are variably displayed and the area where the background symbol 27d is displayed correspond to the “effect symbol display section” in the present invention. ing.

  In addition, a special figure hold display area 27e for displaying special figure hold is provided at the lower part of the display screen of the effect display device 27. In the special figure hold display area 27e, the number of special figure holds is indicated by the number of reserved symbols displayed in each area. In FIG. 4, since four reserved symbols are displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e, it is indicated that the number of special figure hold is four. The manner in which special figure hold is displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e will be described later. The special figure hold display area 27e on the display screen of the effect display device 27 corresponds to the “hold information display section”.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the start port unit 17 mounted on the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment. As described above, the start port unit 17 has the start port 17a and a pair of blade pieces 17w provided on both sides of the start port 17a. That is, the start port 17a is an open / close (tulip type) inlet. It is a ball outlet. The pair of blade pieces 17w can take two states, a substantially upright closed state (see FIG. 5A) and an open state rotated outward (see FIG. 5B). is there. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the wing piece 17w is almost upright (when the start port 17a is in a closed state), the game ball can enter the start port 17a only from substantially vertically above. In other words, it is relatively difficult for a game ball to enter the start port 17a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), when the pair of wing pieces 17w are opened outward (when the start port 17a is open), the game ball is also viewed obliquely from above. It is possible to enter the starting port 17a, and it is easier for the game ball to enter the starting port 17a than in the closed state. In addition, the game ball that has entered the start port 17a is guided to the back side of the game board 10 through a passage provided therein. A start port switch 17s is provided in the middle of the passage inside the start port 17a, and a game ball that has entered the start port 17a is detected by the start port switch 17s.

A-3. Control circuit configuration:
Next, the configuration of the control circuit in the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control circuit in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the control circuit of the pachinko machine 1 is composed of a number of control boards, various boards, relay terminal boards, and so on. The main control board 200 that controls the success / failure involved, the sub-control board 220 that controls the control of the game using stage symbols, lamps and sound effects, and the effect display device 27 under the control of the sub-control board 220 It includes an effect control board 230 that performs specific control, a payout control board 240 that controls the operation of paying out rental balls and prize balls, and a launch control board 260 that controls control related to the release of game balls. These control boards include various types of CPUs, such as a CPU that executes various logical operations and calculation operations, a ROM that stores various programs and data executed by the CPU, and a RAM that stores temporary data when the program is executed. Peripheral LSIs are connected to each other via a bus. Further, the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 6 represents the direction in which data or signals are input / output. In FIG. 6, the configuration mounted on each control board includes a CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, a CPU 221 mounted on the sub-control board 220, a ROM 222, a RAM 223, and an effect control board 230. Only the mounted CPU 231, ROM 232, RAM 233, and image ROM 234 are shown.

  As shown in the figure, the main control board 200 receives the detection signal of the game ball from the start port switch 17s, the big prize port switch 31s, the gate switches 36s, 37s, etc., and the basic progress of the game and the prize ball After deciding whether or not to be involved, commands for instructing various operations are transmitted to the sub-control board 220, the payout control board 240, the launch control board 260, and the like. Further, the main control board 200 has a start opening solenoid 17m for opening and closing a pair of blade pieces 17w provided in the start opening 17a of the start opening unit 17, and a large winning opening for opening and closing the large winning opening 31d. A solenoid 31m and further a symbol display device 28 are connected via a relay terminal board, and these various solenoids 17m and 31m and signals are transmitted to the symbol display device 28 to control these operations. .

  When the sub-control board 220 receives various commands from the main control board 200, the sub-control board 220 analyzes the contents of the command and produces a game according to the result. That is, a command for designating display contents is transmitted to the effect control board 230 that performs display control of the effect display device 27 described above, the amplifier board 224 that drives the speaker 5y, and various decorative LEDs and lamps are driven. A game effect is performed by transmitting a drive signal to the decorative drive board 226. Further, when the sub-control board 220 detects that the effect button BT has been operated via the effect button board 228, the sub-control board 220 performs the above-described game effect with contents corresponding to the operation. The effect button BT corresponds to the “player operation section” in the present invention.

  The effect control board 230 includes an image ROM 234 and a VDP (not shown) in addition to the CPU 231, the ROM 232, and the RAM 233. When the CPU 231 of the effect control board 230 receives a control command (display control command) from the sub-control board 220, it reads out a control program corresponding to the received command from the ROM 232 and uses the RAM 233 as a work area. Control for displaying the effect image on the display screen of the effect display device 40 is performed. The image ROM 234 stores data of effect images corresponding to various game effects such as symbol variation effects and jackpot game effects (for example, sprite data and moving image data for displaying an image corresponding to a predetermined character). Yes.

  The payout control board 240 is responsible for various controls relating to so-called ball rental and prize ball payout. For example, when the player operates the ball lending switch 5b or the return switch 5c provided in the upper platen 5 described above, this signal is transmitted to the ball lending device 13. The ball lending device 13 pays out a ball while communicating data with the payout control board 240. When the main control board 200 transmits a prize ball payout command, the payout control board 240 receives this command and outputs a drive signal to the payout motor 109m, whereby the prize ball is paid out.

B. Overview of the game:
Next, an outline of a game performed in the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be briefly described.

  In the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, a game is performed as follows. First, when a player throws a game ball into the recess of the upper plate portion 5 and rotates the launch handle 8, the game balls thrown into the upper plate portion 5 are supplied to the launcher unit 12 one by one, The game area 11 is fired as described above with reference to FIG. The strength at which the game ball is launched can be adjusted by the rotation angle of the launch handle 8, and the player can aim the game ball by changing the rotation angle of the launch handle 8.

  When the launched game ball passes through either the normal symbol operation left gate 36 or the normal symbol operation right gate 37 provided on the left and right of the game area 11, the symbol display device 28 provided on the lower left side of the effect display device 27. Normal pattern variation display is started at. As described above with reference to FIG. 4, the normal symbol display unit 29 is provided in the symbol display device 28, and the normal symbol display unit 29 is mounted with the normal symbol LED 29 a and the universal symbol hold display LED 29 b. Of these, the normal symbol LED 29a is used to display the variation of the normal symbol.

  FIG. 7 (a) is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing how ordinary symbols are variably displayed. In the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the normal symbol LED 29a is repeatedly blinked to display the variation of the normal symbol. In FIG. 7, the state in which the normal symbol LED 29a is lit is represented by a radial solid line, and the state in which the normal symbol LED 29a is lit is represented by a broken line. Then, after repeating blinking for a predetermined time, when the normal symbol LED 29a stops in a lighting state, it becomes a hit of the normal symbol and the start port 17a is opened for a predetermined opening time. On the contrary, when it stops in the light-off state, it is usually out of the design and the start port 17a is not opened. If the game ball passes through the normal symbol operation left gate 36 or the normal symbol operation right gate 37 during the normal symbol variation display, the passage of the game ball is stored as a normal symbol hold (ordinary symbol hold). After the current normal symbol variation display is completed, the variation display is performed. It is possible to store up to four common figure holds, and the number of reserved normal symbols stored (the number of common figure holds) is displayed by the common figure hold display LED 29b.

  FIG. 7B is an explanatory view showing a state in which the number of universal symbols on hold is displayed by the universal symbol hold display LED 29 b provided on the symbol display device 28. When there is no general map hold (that is, when there is no general map hold), both of the two general map hold display LEDs 29b are turned off. When there is one common map hold, the left general map hold display LED 29b is turned off and the right general map hold display LED 29b is lit. When there are two common map holds, the left general map hold display LED 29b is lit in addition to the right general map hold display LED 29b. Next, when there are three common map holds, the right general map hold display LED 29b blinks and the left general map hold display LED 29b lights. Further, when the number of normal map hold increases to the upper limit of four, the left and right general map hold display LEDs 29b blink. As described above, the normal symbol display unit 29 can display 0 to 4 universal symbol hold numbers by turning on, off, or blinking the two universal symbol hold display LEDs 29b.

  Further, as described above with reference to FIG. 3, the symbol display device 28 is provided with the special symbol display unit 30 so that the special symbols can be displayed in a variable manner. The special symbol starts changing display when a game ball enters the start port 17a.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory view conceptually showing the stop display mode of special symbols. As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the special symbol display unit 30 includes seven LEDs, and displays these special symbols by lighting them. As shown in FIG. 8, in the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, as a special symbol stop symbol, there are six big hit symbols (A, B, C, D, E, F) and two small symbols. There are 10 symbols in total, including the winning symbol and the two deviating symbols. In the special symbol display unit 30 of the symbol display device 28, the special symbol is displayed by blinking the seven LEDs (special symbol LED 30a) over a predetermined variation time. Stop the stop symbol. Then, when any of the jackpot symbols A to F is stopped and displayed (a jackpot is generated), a jackpot game in which the jackpot 31d is opened is started. When any of the small winning symbols is stopped and displayed (small winning occurs), the small winning game in which the big winning opening 31d is opened for a shorter time than the big winning game is started.

  In addition, a game ball entering the start port 17a is stored as a special symbol hold (special figure hold) until the special symbol is displayed in a variable manner with the pitch (that is, a hold described later) as a trigger. The number of special figure hold (number of special figure hold) is displayed in the special figure hold display LED 30 b and the special figure hold display area 27 e provided on the display screen of the effect display device 27. The mode of displaying the number of special symbols held using the special figure hold display LED 30b is exactly the same as the case of the general figure hold display LED 29b shown in FIG. In addition, an aspect of displaying the number of special symbols held using the special figure hold display area 27e will be described later.

  In accordance with the above-described change display and stop display of special symbols, the effect display device 27 performs various effects using effect symbols (identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c, background symbols 27d, etc.). FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an aspect of the effect performed by the effect display device 27. As described above with reference to FIG. 4, three identification symbols 27 a, 27 b and 27 c are displayed on the liquid crystal display screen constituting the effect display device 27. When the variation display of the special symbol is started in the symbol display device 28 described above, also in the effect display device 27, these three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c start the variation display all at once. In the present embodiment, a design in which nine numbers from “1” to “9” are designed as identification symbols is prepared.

  FIG. 9A conceptually shows a state in which the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are variably displayed at the same time. When a predetermined time elapses after the variable display is started, the left identification symbol 27a is first stopped and displayed in any one of “1” to “9”, and then the right identification symbol 27c is stopped and displayed. The middle identification symbol 27b is stopped and displayed. The combination of the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c that are stopped and displayed on the effect display device 27 is configured to be interlocked with the stop display mode of the special symbols that are stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 described above. For example, when the special symbol stops at the “big hit symbol”, the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c of the effect display device 27 are stopped and displayed with the same symbol. In addition, when the special symbol stops at the “small hit symbol” or the “off symbol”, the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are stopped and displayed in a combination that does not align with the same symbol.

  In this way, the special symbols displayed on the symbol display device 28 and the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c displayed on the effect display device 27 correspond (interlock) with each other, and the display is variable. When the special symbol in the middle is stopped and displayed, the three identification symbols 27a, 27b and 27c are also stopped and displayed. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the effect display device 27 is provided at a position that is more easily noticeable than the symbol display device 28, and the display screen is large and the display content is easy to understand. It is normal to play a game while watching 27 screens. Accordingly, when the left identification symbol 27a that is first stopped and displayed on the display screen of the effect display device 27 and the right identification symbol 27c that is subsequently stopped and displayed are the same symbol, it is stopped and displayed last. The medium identification symbol 27b also stops at the same symbol, and the player pays attention to the variation of the symbol so that a so-called big hit game is started. In this way, the effect performed in a state where the two identification symbols are stopped with the same symbol (a mode that can be a big hit symbol) and the last identification symbol is variably displayed is called “reach effect”. By generating it, it is possible to enhance the game entertainment.

C. Game machine control contents:
Below, in order to implement | achieve the game mentioned above, the control content which the pachinko machine 1 of a present Example is performing is demonstrated in detail.

C-1. Game control processing:
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a rough flow of a game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 to control the progress of the game. As shown in the figure, in the game control process, each process such as a prize ball related process, a normal symbol game process, a start opening return process, a special figure hold related process, a special symbol game process, a big hit game process, a small hit game process, etc. It is executed repeatedly. The time required for one round of processing is about 4 msec. Therefore, these various types of processing are repeatedly executed about every 4 msec. Then, during these processes, various commands are transmitted from the main control board 200 to the various control boards including the sub control board 220. By doing so, the game of the entire pachinko machine 1 proceeds, and the sub-control board 220 controls the production in accordance with the progress of the game. The game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 will be described below according to the flowchart.

  When starting the game control process, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 performs a process (pay ball related process) for paying out a game ball as a prize ball (S50). In this processing, among the switches connected to the main control board 200, whether or not a game ball has entered a game ball winning switch (such as the start opening switch 17s or the big winning opening switch 31s). Is detected. When a game ball is detected, the number of prize balls to be paid out is calculated, and then a prize ball number designation command is transmitted to the payout control board 240. When the payout control board 240 receives the prize ball number designation command transmitted from the main control board 200, the payout control board 240 interprets the content of the command, and according to the result, a drive signal is sent to the payout motor 109m mounted on the payout device (not shown). Is sent out to actually pay out a prize ball.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 performs a process related to the prize ball (S50), this time, whether or not to perform the normal symbol game process, that is, whether to perform the process of variably displaying the normal symbol and stopping and displaying it It is determined whether or not (S100). This determination is made by detecting whether or not the start port 17a is in an open state. If the start port 17a is not open, it is determined that the normal symbol game process is performed (S100: yes), and if the start port 17a is open, it is determined that the normal symbol game process is not performed (S100: no). . When it is determined that the normal symbol game process is to be performed (S100: yes), the normal symbol game process described below is performed (S150). On the other hand, when it is determined that the normal symbol game process is not performed (S100: no), the normal symbol game process (S150) is omitted.

  In the normal symbol game process (S150), the following processes are mainly performed. First, it is determined whether or not a normal symbol hold (ordinary symbol hold) exists (whether or not it is “0”). If a general symbol hold exists, a normal symbol hit determination is performed. Here, the universal figure hold is for storing a random number per universal figure obtained when the game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gates 36 and 37, and in this embodiment, an upper limit value of the reserved number is set. “4”. Based on the result of the normal symbol hit determination, it is determined whether the normal symbol is to be stopped and displayed with the winning symbol (see FIG. 7A) or stopped with the off symbol. Subsequently, after the normal symbol fluctuation display time is set, the normal symbol fluctuation display is started. When the normal symbol variation display time elapses, the normal symbol is stopped and displayed with the determined symbol. At this time, when the normal symbol is stopped and displayed, the start solenoid 17m is operated. Then, by rotating the wing piece 17w provided at the start port 17a to both sides, the start port 17a is opened (see FIG. 5B).

  When the normal symbol game process is completed as described above, it is determined whether or not the start port 17a is in an open state (S190). And when it is an open state (S190: yes), the process (starting port return process) for making the starting port 17a into a closed state from an open state is performed (S200). On the other hand, when the start port 17a is not in an open state (S190: no), it is not necessary to perform the start port return process, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In the starting port return process (S200), if any of the following conditions is satisfied, that is, whether the opening time of the starting port 17a has elapsed, or whether a prescribed number of game balls have entered the starting port 17a It is determined whether or not any of the above conditions is satisfied, and when any of the conditions (start port opening end condition) is satisfied, a process of variably controlling the open start port 17a to the closed state is performed. On the other hand, when the opening time of the start port 17a has not elapsed and the number of balls entering the start port 17a has not reached the specified number (when the start port opening end condition is not satisfied), the start port 17a is The start port return process (S200) is terminated while the open state is maintained.

  Here, the gaming state of the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment can be broadly divided into a setting state of a probability that the result of the big hit determination is a big hit (big hit probability), and an opening time when the start port 17a is in the open state. It is determined based on the setting status. Among these, the gaming state based on the setting state of the opening time of the start port 17a is set to either “open extended state” or “non-open extended state”. The period during which the gaming state is set to “open extended state” (open extended period) is compared with the period set to “non-open extended state” (non-open extended period) for the above-described normal symbol hit determination. The probability that the result is “winning” (probability per ordinary figure) is high, the normal symbol variation display time (ordinary diagram variation time) is short, and the opening time of the start port 17a is set long. Therefore, since the start opening 17a is frequently opened and the period during which the start opening 17a is in the open state is longer in the open extension period than in the non-open extension period, there is a possibility that a game ball can enter the start opening 17a. Becomes higher. Although details will be described later, in order to realize such a configuration, in the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, when the gaming state is set to “open extended state”, “open extended flag” and “variable shortened flag” Is set to ON and the game state is set to “non-open extended state”, these flags are set to OFF. The CPU 201 of the main control board 200 sets the probability per base map to a high probability (99%) and the base map change time to a short time (1 second) based on the fact that the “variation shortening flag” is set to ON. Each is set, and based on the fact that the “open extension flag” is set to ON, the opening time of the start port 17a is set to a long time (1.5 seconds × 3 times opening = 4.5 seconds). On the other hand, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 sets the probability per ordinary figure to a low probability (10%) and the usual figure variation time to a long time (20 seconds) based on the fact that the fluctuation shortening flag is set to OFF. Based on the fact that the opening extension flag is set to OFF, the opening time of the start port 17a is set to a short time (0.1 seconds × 3 times opening = 0.3 seconds). Since the fluctuation shortening flag and the release extension flag are set to ON or OFF at the same timing, only one of the flags may be set and the one flag may be used in place of the other flag. Good.

  Thus, when the start port return process is completed and the game control process is resumed, the special figure holding related process (S250) described below is started.

C-2. Special figure hold related processing:
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing special figure hold related processing. In the special figure hold related process (S250), first, it is determined whether or not a game ball has entered the start port 17a (S252). As a result, when a game ball enters the starting port 17a (S252: yes), whether or not the number of special symbols held (special figure holding number) has reached the upper limit ("4" in this embodiment). Is determined (S254). If the special figure hold number has not reached the upper limit (S254: no), a determination random number is acquired (S256). Here, as the determination random number, the big hit determination random number used for performing the big hit determination which will be described later, or the big hit symbol determination random number used for determining the symbol to be stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 (big hit symbol determination random number, missed) A random number such as a reach determination random number for determining whether or not the above-described reach effect is performed as an effect performed by the effect display device 27 in conjunction with the change display of the special symbol. Subsequently, these determination random numbers are stored in the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200 as a special figure hold (S258). When the special figure hold is stored in this way (S258), "1" is added to the special figure hold number (S260).

  Next, the special symbol hold memorized this time is whether or not the big hit symbol is stopped when the special symbol is variably displayed with the special symbol hold as an opportunity (whether or not the big hit hold), and the big hit symbol If it is not a stop to be displayed, it is determined whether or not it is a hold for performing a reach effect as an effect performed by the effect display device 27 in conjunction with the change display of the special symbol (whether it is a release reach effect hold). These determinations are made based on the jackpot determination random number and the reach determination random number among the determination random numbers stored as special figure hold in the process of S258. In addition, since these determinations are made when special figure hold is stored (when special figure hold occurs), that is, for starting the variable symbol display in response to the special figure hold. Since it is performed before the process (a special chart fluctuation display process described later with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15), it is also referred to as a prior determination in the following. In this way, when the prior determination is made for the special figure suspension generated this time, a suspension occurrence command including the result of the prior determination is transmitted to the sub-control board 220 (S264). When the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 receives the hold occurrence command, the special figure hold has occurred, and the preliminary determination result relating to the special figure hold (whether or not the big hit hold has occurred, and the release reach production hold has occurred. Or not). In addition, although a game ball has entered the starting port 17a, a special figure holding (holding information) relating to the entry before the entry is stored, or a change display relating to the entry before the entry When is running, special figure hold (holding information, pre-determined result) is stored until the start condition is satisfied, assuming that the start condition that allows the start of variable symbol display is not satisfied It becomes a state.

  On the other hand, when a game ball does not enter the start port 17a (S252: no), or when the number of special figure reservations reaches an upper limit (here, “4”) (S254: yes) A series of processing (S256 to S264) for obtaining a determination random number, storing the determination random number as a special figure hold, or performing a prior determination is omitted.

  When a game ball enters the start port 17a (in other words, when a game ball is detected by the start port switch 17s), a determination random number (a big hit determination random number, a big hit symbol determination random number) according to the input (detection). , A reach determination random number, etc.) and the determination random number is stored as special figure hold (hold information) is performed by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 executing a special figure hold related process. Therefore, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 corresponds to the “hold information storage unit” in the present invention.

  When the process related to the special figure hold is completed as described above, the special figure hold related process shown in FIG. 11 is ended and the process returns to the game control process of FIG. When returning from the special figure hold-related process, the game control process starts a special symbol game process (S300) described below.

C-3. Special design game processing:
12 and 13 are flowcharts showing the special symbol game process. When starting the special symbol game process, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 first determines whether or not a big hit game is being played (S302). If it is a big hit game (S302: yes), the special game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the game is not a big hit game (S302: no), it is determined whether or not the special symbol is in a variable display (S304). As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment is provided with the symbol display device 28, and the symbol display device 28 is capable of displaying special symbols in a variable manner.

  If the special symbol is not being variably displayed (S304: no), it is determined whether or not it is during the time for displaying the special symbol as a stop symbol (a special symbol stop display time) (S306). In other words, during a period of time after the symbol change of the special symbol is stopped and displayed, a stop display time is provided as a confirmation time for the player to confirm the symbol that has been stopped and displayed. Judge whether or not. As a result, when it is confirmed that the special symbol is not variably displayed and the special symbol stop display time has elapsed (S306: no), the process for starting the special symbol variability display (special The figure variation display process) is started (S310).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the first half of the special figure variation display process. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the latter half of the special figure variation display process. As shown in the figure, in the special figure variation display process, first, it is determined whether or not the special figure holding number is “0” (S3100). That is, it is determined whether or not any special figure hold is stored. As a result, if at least one special figure hold is stored, the oldest stored special figure hold among the stored special figure hold (that is, various determination random numbers stored as special figure hold) Is read (S3102). As described above, in the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, the oldest stored special figure hold is read when starting the later-described fluctuation display of the special figure.

  On the other hand, if the special figure hold number is “0” (S3100: yes), it is determined that the special figure hold is not stored, so the jackpot determination and special symbol change display described later are started. do not have to. Therefore, the special figure variation display process of FIGS. 14 and 15 is terminated, and the process returns to the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

  When the special figure hold is read as described above (S3102), it is determined whether or not the high-accuracy flag is set to ON (S3104). Here, the gaming state of the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment is set to either the above-mentioned “open extended state” or “non-open extended state”, and the probability that the special symbol is stopped and displayed as a jackpot symbol (special feature). "High probability state" with a high probability per figure or big hit probability) or a "low probability state" with the probability per special figure lower than the high probability state. The high-accuracy flag is a flag that is set to ON when setting a high-probability state (a state in which the probability variation function is activated), and a predetermined address of the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200 is assigned as the high-accuracy flag. It has been. The CPU 201 of the main control board 200 determines whether or not the current state is a high probability state from the setting state of the high probability flag. As a result of S3104, if the high-accuracy flag is set to ON (S3104: yes), a high-probability jackpot determination table is selected (S3106), and if the high-accuracy flag is not set to ON (S3104: no) ), A jackpot determination table for low probability is selected (S3108). The big hit determination table is a table in which determination results of “big hit” or “out” are set in association with the big hit determination random numbers “0” to “599”, and are stored in advance in the ROM 202 of the main control board 200. Has been.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a jackpot determination table stored in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 16A shows a jackpot determination table for low probability, and FIG. 16B shows a jackpot determination table for high probability. As shown in FIG. 16 (a), in the jackpot determination table for low probability, the “big hit” determination result is set in association with the big hit determination random numbers “13” to “14”. Also, as shown in FIG. 16B, in the jackpot determination table for high probability, the determination result of “big hit” is set in association with the big hit determination random numbers “13” to “32”.

  As is clear from comparison between FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, the high-probability jackpot determination table shown in FIG. 16B is the low-probability determination table shown in FIG. The determination result of “big hit” is set to more random numbers than the big hit determination table. In other words, in the high probability jackpot determination table, a larger number of “random numbers from which a jackpot determination result can be obtained” is set than in the low probability jackpot determination table (high probability jackpot determination table). The decision table is set so that a big hit decision result can be obtained in 1/30, and the low probability big hit decision table is set so that a big hit decision result can be obtained in 1/300). Accordingly, when the big hit determination is performed using the high probability jackpot determination table of FIG. 16B, the big hit determination is performed using the low probability jackpot determination table of FIG. 16A. However, the determination result of “big hit” is obtained with high probability.

  In the following, the fact that the determination result of the jackpot is obtained is also referred to as “a jackpot is generated” or “a jackpot winning is generated”. The low probability jackpot determination table and the high probability jackpot determination table are both stored in advance in the ROM 202 of the main control board 200.

  Subsequently, in the special figure fluctuation display process of FIG. 14, with reference to the big hit determination table selected in the process of S3106 or S3108, it is determined whether or not the big hit determination random number read as special figure hold is a random number corresponding to “big hit”. Judgment (determines whether or not the result of the jackpot determination is a jackpot) (S3110). As a result, when it is determined that the result of the big hit determination is a big hit (when a big hit win is generated) (S3110: yes), a process for determining the big hit symbol (a big hit symbol determination process) is performed. In this process, the big hit symbol corresponding to the big hit symbol determination random number is determined with reference to the big hit symbol determination table using the big hit symbol determination random number among the determination random numbers read out as the special symbol hold in S3102 (S3112).

  FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the jackpot symbol determination table. The jackpot symbol determination table is a table in which a plurality of jackpot symbols (stop symbols) are set in association with the jackpot symbol determination random number, and is stored in advance in the ROM 202 of the main control board 200. As described above with reference to FIG. 8, the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes six types of jackpot symbols “A” to “H” as the jackpot symbols that may be stopped when the jackpot determination result is a jackpot. “F” is set. In the jackpot symbol determination table, as shown in the figure, 100 jackpot symbol determination random numbers “0 to 99” are set, and in particular, the jackpot symbol determination random number “0 to 29” (30/100 = 30) %) Is set to the jackpot symbol “A”. The big hit symbol “B” is set corresponding to the big hit symbol determining random number “30 to 39” (10/100 = 10%), and the big hit symbol determining random number “40 to 59” (20/100 = 20%). ) Is set corresponding to the jackpot symbol “R”, and the jackpot symbol “D” is set corresponding to the jackpot symbol determining random number “60 to 64” (5/100 = 5%). The jackpot symbol “E” is set corresponding to “65 to 89” (25/100 = 25%), and the jackpot symbol corresponding to the jackpot symbol determining random number “90 to 99” (10/100 = 10%) “F” is set. In the process of S3106, the jackpot symbol corresponding to the jackpot symbol determination random number is determined with reference to such a jackpot symbol determination table. In this way, when the jackpot winning is generated, the jackpot symbol is determined as the jackpot symbol “A” with a probability of 30%, the jackpot symbol “B” with a probability of 10%, and the jackpot symbol “B” with a probability of 20%. C ”, a jackpot symbol“ D ”with a probability of 5%, a jackpot symbol“ E ”with a probability of 25%, and a jackpot symbol“ F ”with a probability of 10%.

  When the big hit symbol is determined in this way (S3112), the determined big hit symbol is stored as a symbol for stopping and displaying (stop symbol) (S3114), and then the big hit variation pattern table selection process (big hit variation pattern table selection processing) is performed. (S3130 in FIG. 15). Here, the variation pattern table is a table that is referred to in order to determine a variation pattern from the start of the variation display of the special symbol to the stop display on the symbol display device 28. Among them, the jackpot variation pattern table is a table that is referred to in order to determine a variation pattern (a jackpot variation pattern) until the special symbol is stopped and displayed with the jackpot symbol. Note that the special symbol is displayed in a variably displayed manner by actually switching the plurality of types of display modes shown in FIG. 8 one after another, so that the special symbol variation pattern is substantially different from the special symbol. Corresponds to the time to be displayed. However, as described above, in the pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment, the special symbol variation display performed by the symbol display device 28 and the variation display of the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c performed by the effect display device 27 are linked to each other. Therefore, when the variation pattern of the special symbol is determined, the time during which the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are displayed in a variable manner is determined. Then, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 determines the contents of the symbol variation effect for variably displaying the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c on the screen of the effect display device 27 within the range of the variation display time. ing.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the big hit variation pattern table selection process. When the big hit variation pattern table selection process is started, first, it is determined whether or not the high-accuracy flag is set to ON (whether or not it is set to a high probability state) (S3200). As a result, when the high-accuracy flag is set to ON (S3200: yes), it is a variation pattern table for winning a big hit when the gaming state is set to a high probability state. “Table” is selected (S3206). On the other hand, if the high-accuracy flag is not set to ON, a “big hit low probability variation pattern table” which is a variation pattern table for big hit when the gaming state is set to a low probability state is selected ( S3204). These fluctuation pattern tables will be described later.

  FIG. 19 is an explanatory view exemplifying the variation pattern table for winning a jackpot described above. FIG. 19A is an explanatory diagram illustrating a big hit high probability variation pattern table, and FIG. 19B is an explanatory diagram illustrating a big hit low probability variation pattern table. As illustrated, a plurality of types of variation pattern identification information is set in the variation pattern table in association with the variation pattern determination random number. The variation pattern identification information is information for the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 and the CPU 221 mounted on the sub control board 220 to identify the type of the variation pattern. The variation pattern identification information is associated with the variation time of the special symbol (that is, the time of the symbol variation effect performed by the effect display device 27). As described above, in the big hit variation pattern table selection process, either the big hit low probability variation pattern table or the big hit high probability variation pattern table is selected according to the gaming state. The variation pattern table is stored in advance in the ROM 202 mounted on the main control board 200.

  When the variation pattern table is selected in this way, the process proceeds to S3148 in FIG. 15, and a variation pattern determination random number is acquired (S3148). Then, using the obtained variation pattern determination random number, the variation pattern is determined by referring to the variation pattern table selected previously (variation pattern identification information and variation time are stored) (S3150). Subsequently, the variation time of the determined variation pattern is set in a predetermined timer (variation time measurement timer), and the variation display of the special symbol is started on the symbol display device 28 (S3154). "Is subtracted (S3156).

  When “1” is subtracted from the number of special figure reservations (S3156), a variation pattern designation command (including variation pattern identification information) for designating the variation pattern type of the special symbol for which variation display has been started this time, A stop symbol designating command for designating a stop symbol of a special symbol that is stopped and displayed through the display is transmitted to the sub-control board 220 as a change start time command (S3162).

  When the CPU 221 mounted on the sub-control board 220 receives the above-described change start command, the CPU 221 selects an identification symbol to be stopped and displayed on the effect display device 27 based on the stop symbol designation command, and based on the variation pattern designation command. A variation pattern (effect pattern) of the identification symbol on the effect display device 27 is selected. Then, the symbol variation effect display is executed by variably displaying the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c on the display screen of the effect display device 27 according to the selected effect pattern.

  In the above, when the big hit determination result is a big hit (when the big hit win occurs) (S3110: yes in FIG. 14), after determining the big hit symbol, the big hit variation pattern table (big hit variation pattern table) is The process of selecting and starting the variation display of the special symbol (S3112 in FIG. 14 to S3162 in FIG. 15) has been described. On the other hand, when the result of the big hit determination is out (S3110: no in FIG. 14), after determining the small hit symbol or the out symbol as follows, Select the variation pattern table.

  First, when it is determined in the process of S3110 that the result of the big hit determination is not a big hit, a small hit determination is performed to determine whether or not the big hit is determined (S3132). Here, the big hit determination is performed in the same manner as the big hit determination described above, and referring to a small hit determination table (not shown) on the basis of the big hit determination random number derived as “out” as a result of the big hit determination. Done. In the small hit determination table, similarly to the above big hit determination table, a random value (small hit value) in which the result of the small hit determination is “small hit” is set in advance. It is determined whether or not the jackpot determination random number derived as “out” as a result of the jackpot determination matches. If the two match, “small hit” is obtained (S3132: yes), and if they do not match, “disappear” is obtained (S3132: no). Hereinafter, obtaining such a “small hit” determination result is also referred to as “small win wins”.

  When it is determined that the game is a small hit in the process of S3132 (S3132: yes), among the determination random numbers read out as the special figure hold in S3102, a determination random number for determining the small hit symbol (small hit symbol determination random number) Is used to determine and store the small hit symbol corresponding to the determination random number by referring to a small hit symbol table (not shown) (S3134). On the other hand, if it is determined in the processing of S3132 that it is not a small hit, that is, it is out of place (S3132: no), among the determination random numbers read out as special figure hold in S3102, a determination random number (out of place) for determining an out symbol Using the symbol determination random number), an outlier corresponding to the determined random number is determined and stored by referring to a not-shown out symbol table (S3136).

  Here, as described above with reference to FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, two types of symbols are set as the small hit symbol and the lost symbol, respectively. Two types of symbols are set. Further, the small hit symbol determination table and the off symbol determination table are stored in advance in the ROM 202 of the main control board 200 in the same manner as the big hit symbol determination table shown in FIG. In this example, a new determination random number (outgoing symbol determination random number, small hitting symbol determination random number) is used to determine a small hit symbol and a loss symbol. Instead of providing a random number, the big hit symbol determination random number stored as the special symbol hold may be used as the off symbol determination random number and the small hit symbol determination random number.

  When the small hit symbol or the lost symbol is determined in this way (S3134, S3136), a variation pattern table corresponding to “small hit” or “loss” is selected. The small hit variation pattern table selection processing (S3140) for selecting the variation pattern table corresponding to the small hit is formally similar to the big hit variation pattern table selection processing shown in FIG. A corresponding variation pattern table is selected. Of course, the variation pattern identification information associated with each variation pattern is different from the variation pattern set in the variation pattern table for winning a big win shown in FIG. It is information that can be identified as a fluctuation pattern.

  On the other hand, when selecting a variation pattern table according to the deviation, it is first determined whether or not a reach effect is to be performed on the display screen of the effect display device 27 (S3142). This determination is made based on the reach determination random number read out as the special figure hold in S3102 after the special figure variation display process is started. That is, when the read reach determination random number value is in a predetermined random number range, it is determined that the reach effect is performed, and conversely, the reach determination random number random value is within the predetermined random number range. If not, it is determined that no reach production is performed. As a result, if it is determined that the reach effect is to be performed (S3142: yes), the reach / decrease variation pattern table selection process is performed (S3144), and if it is determined that the reach effect is not performed (S3142: no), A reachless variation pattern table selection process is performed (S3146).

  The reach variation pattern table selection process with reach and the reach variation pattern selection process without reach are also formally similar to the big hit variation pattern table selection process shown in FIG. 18, and a variation pattern table corresponding to each gaming state select. Of course, the variation pattern identification information associated with each variation pattern is different from the variation pattern set in the variation pattern table for jackpot winning shown in FIG. Or it is the information which can discriminate | determine that it is a fluctuation pattern for detachment without reach.

  In this way, when the variation pattern table (small hit variation pattern table, unreachable variation pattern table, unreachable variation pattern table) when the big hit determination result is not a big hit is selected, it is the same as when the big hit variation pattern table described above is selected. In addition, the processing of S3148 to S3162 is performed.

  As described above, when the CPU 221 mounted on the sub-control board 220 receives the above-described change start command, the CPU 221 selects an identification symbol to be stopped and displayed on the effect display device 27 based on the stop symbol designation command, and the change Based on the pattern designation command, an effect pattern of the identification symbol on the effect display device 27 is selected. That is, if the variation pattern identification information included in the variation pattern designation command indicates a big hit variation pattern, an effect pattern in which the identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c are stopped and displayed in a big hit mode is selected through a reach effect. . Further, if the variation pattern identification information included in the variation pattern designation command indicates a small hit variation pattern, an effect pattern in which the identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c are stopped and displayed in the small hit mode is selected. In addition, if the variation pattern identification information included in the variation pattern designation command indicates a variation pattern with reach, an effect pattern in which the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are stopped and displayed in a disengagement mode through a reach effect is selected. Is done. Further, if the variation pattern identification information included in the variation pattern designation command indicates a variation pattern without reach, an effect pattern in which the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are stopped and displayed in a disengagement mode without undergoing reach effect. Is selected. The CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 executes symbol variation effect display on the display screen of the effect display device 27 using the selected effect pattern and identification symbol.

  When the fluctuation start command (fluctuation pattern designation command and stop symbol designation command) is transmitted to the sub-control board 220 in this way (S3162), the special figure fluctuation display processing shown in FIGS. Return to the special symbol game processing of 12 and FIG.

  In the above, when the special symbol game process shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 is started, it is determined that the jackpot game is not being played (S302: no), and the special symbol is not variably displayed (S304: no). The processing in the case of being performed has been described. On the other hand, although it is not in the big hit game (S302: no), if it is determined that the special symbol is in the variable display (S304: yes), the variation pattern and the stop symbol of the special symbol are already determined. This corresponds to the case where the variable symbol display is started. Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the special symbol fluctuation display time (fluctuation time) has elapsed (S312). As described above, since the variation time of the special symbol is determined in advance according to the variation pattern, by setting the variation time to a predetermined timer (variation time measurement timer) at the same time as starting the variation display of the special symbol, It can be determined whether a predetermined fluctuation time has elapsed (fluctuation time measuring means). As a result, if the variation time has not yet elapsed (S312: no), the special symbol game process of FIGS. 12 and 13 is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the fluctuation time has elapsed (S312: yes), a command (design stop command) indicating that the special symbol during the fluctuation display is to be stopped is transmitted to the sub-control board 220. Then, the special symbol during the variable display is stopped and displayed at a preset symbol (S3110 in FIG. 14, S3134, S3136 in FIG. 15) (S316). Then, after setting a time (stop display time) for holding the special symbol displayed in a stopped state in a stopped state (S318), it is determined whether or not the set stop display time has passed (S320). As a result, if the stop display time has not elapsed (S320: no), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. Note that the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 performs the above-described process to display the special symbol in a variable manner based on the special symbol hold (hold information) and then stop the special symbol. Therefore, the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 corresponds to the “special symbol display means” in the present invention.

  After returning to the game control process of FIG. 10 with the special symbol stopped and displayed, when the special symbol game process of FIGS. 12 and 13 is started again, it is determined that the special symbol is not in a variable display. (S304: no) Subsequently, since it is determined that it is during the stop display time in the determination of whether or not it is during the special symbol stop display time (S306: yes), it is determined again whether or not the stop display time has elapsed. (S320). While it is determined that the stop display time has elapsed while repeating such determination (S320: yes), the special symbol that has been stopped (the stop symbol stored in the special symbol variation display process) is now displayed. It is determined whether or not (S3110 in FIG. 14, S3234, S3136 in FIG. 15) is a big hit symbol (S322 in FIG. 13). As a result, if the special symbol that has been stopped is a jackpot symbol (S322: yes), the type of the jackpot symbol (any one of the jackpot symbols A to F) is mounted on the main control board 200. The data is stored at a predetermined address in the RAM 203 (S324). As will be described in detail later, in the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, when the big hit symbol is stopped and displayed and the big hit game is executed, the contents of the big hit game and the game state after the big hit game are stopped and displayed this time. It is configured so as to be set in accordance with the “type of jackpot symbol”. Therefore, in the process of S324, “type of jackpot symbol” used in the process of setting the contents of the jackpot game (opening pattern of the jackpot 31d described later) and the process of setting the game state after the jackpot game is stored. . Subsequently, an opening pattern of the big winning opening 31d during the big hit game is set (S326). In the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, an opening pattern of the big winning opening 31d during the big hit game is set according to the type of the big hit symbol that is stopped and displayed.

  FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the opening pattern of the big winning opening corresponding to the type of the big hit symbol. These release patterns are stored at predetermined addresses of the ROM 202 mounted on the main control board 200. In the process of S326, an opening pattern corresponding to the jackpot symbol that is stopped and displayed this time is read out from these opening patterns, and set as a jackpot game opening pattern that starts this time. That is, in the big hit game that starts when the big hit symbol A is stopped and displayed (hereinafter also referred to as “big hit game A”), the round game in which the big winning opening 31d is opened for 30 seconds is performed through the closing time of 1 second. Performed once.

  Also, in the big hit game that starts when the big win symbol B is stopped and displayed (hereinafter also referred to as “big hit game B”), the round game in which the big winning opening 31d is opened for 30 seconds is performed through the closing time of 1 second. In a jackpot game that is started once when the jackpot symbol C is stopped and displayed (hereinafter, also referred to as “jackpot game C”), a round game in which the jackpot 31d is opened for 30 seconds passes through a closing time of one second. In a jackpot game that is started eight times and starts when the jackpot symbol E is stopped and displayed (hereinafter also referred to as “jackpot game E”), the round game in which the prize winning opening 31d is opened for 30 seconds is the closing time of one second. In the jackpot game that is started seven times through the game and starts when the jackpot symbol F is stopped and displayed (hereinafter also referred to as “jackpot game F”), the jackpot 31d is 30. Round game that during opening is performed twice through the closing time of one second. As described above, the jackpot games A, B, C, E, and F have the same opening time of the big prize opening 31d during the round game, so the number of game balls that enter the big prize opening 31d through the big hit game The bigger the number of rounds, the larger the hit game. As will be described in detail later, when a predetermined number (10 in this case) of game balls enter the big winning opening 31d during the round game of the above big hit game, the opening time of the big winning opening 31d reaches 30 seconds. It will be closed even before and the round game will end.

  Also, in the big hit game that starts when the big hit symbol D is stopped and displayed (hereinafter also referred to as “big hit game D”), the round game in which the big winning opening 31d is opened for 0.1 second is the closing time of 0.1 second. Is performed 8 times. In this way, in the round game of the jackpot game D, the opening time of the big prize opening 31d is extremely short compared to other round games of the big prize game, so that a game ball may enter the big prize opening 31d. rare. In this embodiment, the opening time of the jackpot game D is set to 0.1 seconds, which is extremely difficult to enter, but it is set to about 6 seconds, compared with other jackpot games (for example, the jackpot game A). It is also possible to set the opening time so that it is difficult to enter the ball (the opening time is short). Similarly, the closing time (1 second) may be the same as that of other jackpot games.

  Thus, when the opening pattern of the big winning opening 31d is set, the big hit flag is set to ON in order to start the big hit game (S328). The jackpot flag is a flag indicating that a jackpot game is being executed (during a jackpot game), and a predetermined address of the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200 is secured as a storage area for the jackpot flag. . The CPU 201 of the main control board 200 grasps whether or not the big hit game is being executed according to the set state of the big hit flag. As will be described in detail later, when the big hit flag is set to ON and the game control process of FIG. 10 is resumed, the big hit game is started.

  Further, when the big hit game is started, if flags (open extension flag, fluctuation shortening flag, high-accuracy flag) related to various game states are set to ON, the flag is set to OFF. These flags are set again when the game state is set at the end of the big hit game. When the flag setting process for starting the big hit game is completed (S328 and S330), a command indicating that the big hit game is started (a big hit game start command) is transmitted to the sub-control board 220 (S332). When receiving the jackpot game start command, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 executes a display effect corresponding to the jackpot game on the liquid crystal screen of the effect display device 27. When the big hit game start command is transmitted (S332), the special symbol game process shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 is terminated, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

  The above is a description of processing when the special symbol stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28 is a jackpot symbol (S322: yes), but when the special symbol that is stopped and displayed is not a jackpot symbol (S322: no), it is determined whether or not the special symbol that has been stopped is a small hit symbol (S334). As a result, when the special symbol stopped and displayed is a small hit symbol (S334: yes), an opening pattern of the big winning opening 31d during the small hit game is set (S336). The opening pattern during the small hit game is set such that the opening of the special winning opening 31d for 0.1 seconds is performed 8 times through the closing time of 0.1 seconds. Since the operation of the big winning opening 31d is the same as the big hit game D described above with reference to FIG. 20, whether the big winning game D is started or the small hit game is started from the operation of the big winning opening 31d. The player cannot be identified. As with the big hit game D, the opening time or the closing time may be changed for the small hit game.

  Thus, when the opening pattern of the special winning opening 31d is set, the small hit flag is set to ON in order to start the small hit game (S338). The small hit flag is a flag indicating that the small hit game is being executed (during the small hit game), and a predetermined address of the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200 is used as a small hit flag storage area. It is secured. The CPU 201 of the main control board 200 grasps whether or not the small hit game is being executed according to the setting state of the small hit flag. When the small hit flag is set to ON and the process returns to the game control process of FIG. 10, the small hit game is started. In the case of playing a small hit game, unlike the case of playing a big hit game (S330), the process of setting a flag related to the game state is not performed. In other words, the game state is configured so as not to change before and after the small hit game.

  When the setting process regarding the small hit game is performed (S336, S338), or when it is determined that the stop symbol is not the small hit symbol (is a missed symbol) in the process of S334 (S334: no), the sub control board After the game state designation command is transmitted to 220 (S349), the special symbol game process is terminated and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. Here, the gaming state designation command is a command that designates the gaming state determined according to the setting of the high-accuracy flag, the variation shortening flag, the release extension flag, or the like to the sub-control board 220.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the game control process, when returning from the special symbol game process, it is determined whether or not the big hit flag is set to ON (S350). As described above, the big hit flag is a flag indicating that the gaming state is a big hit game. Therefore, when the big hit flag is set to ON (S350: yes), the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 starts the big hit game process described below (S400).

C-4. Jackpot game processing:
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the big hit game process. By executing this jackpot game process, a jackpot game is performed. Hereinafter, the big hit game process will be described with reference to FIG.

  When starting the big hit game process (S400), the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 first determines whether or not the big winning opening 31d is open (S402). The big winning opening 31d is closed as long as the big hit game or the small winning game is not started. Therefore, the big winning opening 31d is closed immediately after the big hit game is started. Therefore, it is determined that the special winning opening 31d is not open (S402: no), and it is determined whether or not the number of rounds has reached a predetermined number (S404). As described above, during the big hit game, the big winning opening 31d is opened and a predetermined number of round games are repeated. Corresponding to this, when the special winning opening 31d is closed (S402: no), the number of opening (round number) of the special winning opening 31d is a predetermined number of times (the opening pattern set in S326 in FIG. 13). It is determined whether or not (the number of times of opening) has been reached (S404).

  As a matter of course, immediately after the big hit game is started, the number of rounds has not reached the predetermined number (S404: no), and it is determined whether or not the closing time of the special winning opening 31d has elapsed (S406). The closing time of the grand prize winning port 31d is the time during which the grand prize winning port 31d is in a closed state between rounds (the time set as the closing time, the jackpot games A, B, C, E, F are “1 second” and the jackpot game D is “0.1 second”). Immediately after the big hit game is started, the big prize opening 31d is in a closed state, so it is naturally determined that the closing time of the big prize opening 31d has passed (S406: yes), and the big prize opening 31d is opened. The game is released and a new round game is started (S408). And after transmitting the command (round start command) which shows the start of a round game (S410), the jackpot game process shown in FIG. 21 is once complete | finished, and it returns to the game control process of FIG.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 returns to the game control process, as shown in FIG. 10, after performing a series of various processes after the prize ball related process (S50), the big hit game process (S400) is started again. . As described above, the time required for the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 to execute the game control process shown in FIG. 10 once is about 4 msec. Therefore, the big hit game process shown in FIG. 21 is also executed about every 4 msec. Then, when the special game is started and the big hit game process of FIG. 21 is executed for the first time, as described above, the big winning opening 31d is opened in S408, and the process is ended as it is, but after about 4 msec, 2 When performing the process of the round, it is determined in S402 that the special winning opening 31d is open (S402: yes).

  Subsequently, the opening time of the special winning opening 31d is a predetermined opening time (the opening time of the opening pattern set in S326 of FIG. 13, the jackpot games A, B, C, E, F are “30 seconds”, the jackpot It is determined whether or not the game D has reached “0.1 second” (S412). As described above, in the big hit game, the big winning opening 31d is in the open state, but the opening time set as the opening pattern elapses, or a predetermined number (10 in this case) of gaming balls in the big winning opening 31d. Is closed when the ball enters. In response to this, in S412, it is determined whether or not a predetermined opening time has elapsed since the special winning opening 31d was opened. If the opening time has elapsed (S412: yes), the special winning opening 31d is closed (S416), and then the big hit game process shown in FIG. 21 is exited and the game control process shown in FIG. 10 is resumed. On the other hand, if the predetermined opening time has not elapsed (S412: no), it is determined whether or not the number of game balls that have entered the special winning opening 31d has reached a specified number (S414). When the number of game balls reaches the specified number (S414: yes), the special winning opening 31d is closed (S416). On the other hand, if the specified number has not been reached (S414: no), a game that has not yet passed the predetermined opening time since the grand prize winning opening 31d has opened and has entered the big winning prize opening 31d. Since the number of balls has not reached the prescribed number, the big hit game process shown in FIG. 21 is exited while the special winning opening 31d is opened, and the process returns to the game control process of FIG.

  While the game control process of FIG. 10 is repeatedly executed, whether a predetermined opening time elapses after the special winning opening 31d is opened (S412: yes), or a prescribed number of special winning openings 31d. When the game ball enters (S414: yes), the special winning opening 31d is closed (S416). When the special winning opening 31d is closed, a round end command is transmitted to the sub-control board 220 (S418). When the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 receives the round end command, the CPU 221 recognizes that the round game has ended.

  Thus, one round game is completed. Then, when the jackpot game process is executed next, it is determined in S402 that the jackpot 31d is closed (S402: no), a predetermined number of round games ("16 times" for the jackpot game A, and for the jackpot game B) "12 times", jackpot games C and D are "8 times", jackpot game E is "7 times" and jackpot game F is "2 times") (S404), and all rounds are judged. If the game has not ended (S404: no), after confirming that the closing time of the grand prize opening has reached a predetermined time (S406: yes), the grand prize opening 31d is opened again to start a new round game. After starting (S408), a round start command is transmitted toward the sub-control board 220 (S410). On the other hand, if it is determined in S404 that the predetermined number of round games have ended (S404: yes), the big hit flag is changed to OFF to end the big hit game (S418), indicating the end of the big hit game. After transmitting the command (big hit game end command) to the sub-control board 220 (S420), the big hit end processing is started (S450).

  Here, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the big hit symbol is stopped and displayed and the big hit game is executed, the game state after the big hit game is set according to the type of the big hit symbol. Has been. In other words, the game state after the end of the big hit game is set according to the big hit games AF.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the big hit end process. When the jackpot end process is started, first, the jackpot symbol (type of jackpot symbol) that triggered the start of the jackpot game that ends this time is the jackpot symbol A, B, C , D, that is, whether the jackpot game to be ended this time is one of the jackpot games A, B, C, D (S4500). This determination is made based on the contents (S324 in FIG. 13) stored when the jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed during the special symbol game process. As a result, when one of the big hit games A, B, C, and D ends (S4500: yes), the high probability flag is set to ON to set the gaming state after the big hit game to a high probability state. (S4502), the release extension flag and the fluctuation reduction flag are set to ON in order to set the gaming state to the release extension state (S4504). Thereafter, the big hit end process is terminated and the big hit game process shown in FIG. 21 is resumed. Thus, when the gaming state is set to the open extended state and the high probability state, these gaming states are not changed until the next big hit game is started (the next time the big hit game is started, a flag corresponding to these states is set. It is set continuously until it is set to OFF (S330 in FIG. 13).

  On the other hand, if the jackpot game to be terminated this time is not any of the jackpot games A, B, C, or D, that is, if the jackpot game is E or F (S4500: no), the process at the end of the jackpot is performed as it is. Is finished, and the process returns to the big hit game process shown in FIG. In this case, since the high-accuracy flag, the release extension flag, and the fluctuation reduction flag are not set to ON but are set to OFF, the gaming state after the big hit game is in a low probability state and a non-open extension state. Is set.

  As described above, in the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the big hit games A, B, C, and D are finished, the gaming state is set to the open extended state and the high probability state, and when the big hit games E and F are finished, the gaming state is set. Is set to a non-open extended state and a low probability state.

  FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram summarizing the types of jackpot games realized by the CPU 221 mounted on the main control board 200 executing the above-described processing. In FIG. 23, “type of jackpot game”, “round game”, “opening time”, “after the jackpot game is finished”, and “other name” are shown for each column from the left. The jackpot games A to F are shown in the “type of jackpot game” column. In the “round game” column, the number of round games to be performed from the start to the end of the big hit game is shown. In the “opening time” column, whether the opening time of the grand prize winning opening 31d in the round game is long (here 30 seconds) or short (here 0.1 seconds), that is, whether there is substantially a ball. Whether or not is shown. Also, in the “after big jackpot” column, the gaming state after the big jackpot game is set to a high probability state and an open extension state (high probability + open extension), or the gaming state is a low probability state and not open Whether extended state is set (low probability + non-open extension) is shown. In the column of “other names”, different names corresponding to the characteristics of the respective jackpot games are shown.

  As shown in FIG. 23, in the big hit game A, the round game with a long open time is played 16 times, and after the game is finished, the game state is set to a high probability state and an open extended state. For this reason, it is also called “16R probability variation big hit game”. In the big hit game B, the round game with a long open time is played 12 times, and after the game is finished, the game state is set to the high probability state and the open extended state. For this reason, it is also called “12R probability variation big hit game”. In addition, in the big hit game C, a round game with a long open time is played eight times, and after the game is finished, the game state is set to a high probability state and an open extended state. For this reason, it is also called “8R probability variation big hit game”.

  In addition, in the big hit game D, a round game with a short opening time is played eight times, and after the game is finished, the gaming state is set to a high probability state and an open extension state. That is, in the big hit game D, although the round game is played eight times, the game ends immediately because the opening time is short, and the player feels that a high probability state is suddenly set. Is also called.

  In addition, the big hit game E has seven round games with a long release time, and after completion, the game state is set to a low probability state and a non-open extension state. That is, after the big hit game E is ended, it is not set to a high probability state or an open extended state advantageous to the player (the same applies to the big hit game F described later), so it is also called “7R normal big hit game”. In the big hit game F, a round game with a long open time is played twice, and after the game is finished, the game state is set to a low probability state and a non-open extended state. For this reason, it is also called “2R normal jackpot game”.

  Of course, for a player, more game balls can be paid out when a lot of round games with long open times are performed. Therefore, the player can be expected to start a big hit game in which more round games with a long open time are performed.

  In addition, when the gaming state is set to the high probability state and the open extension state, the gaming ball enters the start port 17a rather than the case where the gaming state is set to the low probability state and the non-open extension state. It is easy for the player to play, and the special symbol is likely to be stopped and displayed as a big hit symbol, and the next big hit game can be started with less reduction of the game ball, which is advantageous for the player. Therefore, it can be expected that the big hit game in which the gaming state is set to the high probability state and the open extended state is started rather than the big hit game in which the gaming state is set to the low probability state and the non-open extended state. In this example, as shown in FIG. 23, after the big hit game (big hit games A to D) in which the round game is eight or more times, the gaming state is set to a high probability state and an open extension state. The player can be expected to start a big hit game with eight or more round games.

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 performs the above-described processing, if the special symbol is stopped and displayed in the big hit symbol (hit mode), the big hit game (hit game) is executed. Therefore, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 corresponds to the “winning game execution means” in the present invention.

  Below, the effect performed in conjunction with the above-described special symbol variation display and jackpot game will be described. This effect is performed when the CPU 221 mounted on the sub-control board 220 executes a game effect process.

D. Game direction processing:
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a game effect process executed by the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220. As shown in the figure, in the game effect process, the hold display process (S6000), the symbol variation effect process (S7000), the player operation response process (S8000), the big hit game effect process (S9000), and the like are repeated. It has been broken. Here, the hold display process (S6000) is a process for displaying a hold symbol in the special figure hold display area 27e on the display screen of the effect display device 27. The symbol variation effect process (S7000) is a process for executing a symbol variation effect using the identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c and the background image 27d on the screen of the effect display device 27. The player operation handling process (S8000) is a process for executing an effect corresponding to an operation on the effect button BT by the player. Further, the big hit game effect process (S9000) is a process for executing the big hit game effect according to the type of the big hit game when the big win game 31d is opened and the big hit game is performed.

  A timer (not shown) is mounted on the sub-control board 220, and a timer interrupt is generated every 2 msec. Each time a timer interruption occurs, the game effect process shown in FIG. 24 is executed. Therefore, the hold display process (S6000), the symbol variation effect process (S7000), the player operation response process (S8000), and the big hit game effect process (S9000) are executed every 2 msec. In addition, these processes are executed based on various commands transmitted from the main control board 200 and operation commands transmitted from the effect button board 228 when the effect button BT is operated. These various commands are stored in the RAM 223 mounted on the sub-control board 220 so that the reception order can be grasped, and the CPU 221 mounted on the sub-control board 220 reads out these commands in the order received and corresponds to the commands. Execute the process.

D-1. Hold display processing:
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the hold display process. As shown in the figure, in the hold display process (S6000), first, it is determined whether or not a hold occurrence command is received from the main control board 200 (S6002). As described above with reference to FIG. 11, the hold occurrence command is sent from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 when “1” is added to the number of special figure hold due to the hold of the special symbol. This command is transmitted (see S264 in FIG. 11). In addition, as described above, this command includes “whether or not the big hit symbol is stopped when the variable display based on the special figure hold that triggered the command is performed (that is, the big hit hold occurs). And “If the jackpot symbol is not stopped when the variable display based on the special symbol hold that triggered the command is performed, the reach effect linked to the variable display is executed. Whether the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 can determine whether or not (that is, whether or not an outreach effect production hold has occurred) is included. In the following, since these pieces of information are information on the results of prior determination (see S262 in FIG. 11), these pieces of information are also referred to as “preliminary determination result information”.

  When a hold occurrence command is received (S6002: yes), it is determined whether or not the special figure hold that triggered the command (the special figure hold that has occurred this time) is a special figure hold (a big hit hold) in which a big hit occurs ( S6004). This determination is made based on prior determination result information included in the hold occurrence command.

  Here, as described above, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the number of reserved symbols is displayed in the number of special figure hold in the special figure hold display area 27e on the display screen of the effect display device 27. As the reserved symbol, the circular symbol shown in FIG. 4 (hereinafter also referred to as “normally reserved symbol”) is usually displayed. On the other hand, if the conditions described later are satisfied, it indicates “possibility to stop display with a special symbol when the special symbol related to the reserved symbol (when triggered) is displayed”. The reserved symbol is displayed in a manner. For this reason, in the process of S6004, it is first determined whether or not the special figure hold that has occurred this time is a big hit hold. As a result, if the special figure hold that occurred this time is a jackpot hold, select a table (a jackpot hold display mode determination table) for determining the hold display mode (hold display mode) for when a jackpot hold occurs (S6012).

  FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a jackpot hold display mode determination table. As shown in FIG. 26, in the jackpot hold display mode determination table, a hold display mode is set corresponding to a random number for determining the hold display mode. That is, a “normal” hold display mode is set in which “normal hold symbol” is displayed as the hold symbol in association with the random number “0 to 39” for determining the hold display mode. Further, after the “prompt hold symbol” for prompting the player to operate the effect button BT is displayed as the hold symbol in correspondence with the random number “40 to 49” for determining the hold display mode, When an operation is detected, a hold display mode called “reminder A” is set to display “character A hold symbol” instead of the “reminder hold symbol”. Further, after the “prompt hold symbol” for prompting the player to operate the effect button BT is displayed as the hold symbol in correspondence with the random number “50 to 69” for determining the hold display mode, When an operation is detected, a hold display mode called “reminder B” is set to display “character B hold symbol” instead of the “reminder hold symbol”. Further, after the “prompt hold symbol” for prompting the player to operate the effect button BT is displayed as the hold symbol in correspondence with the random number “70 to 99” for determining the hold display mode, When an operation is detected, a hold display mode called “reminder C” is set to display “character C hold symbol” instead of the “reminder hold symbol”. In addition, although each holding | maintenance display aspect is demonstrated in detail later, as a "promotion holding | maintenance symbol" which prompts the player to operate the effect button BT, for example, a normal holding symbol can be blinked. Further, as the “reminder hold symbol”, the effect button BT may be characterized and displayed at a predetermined hold symbol display position. In addition, in a state in which a normal reserved symbol is displayed at the reserved symbol display position, an LED provided inside the effect button BT is lit or blinked, or driving means provided inside the effect button BT is driven, It is possible to drive (instruct) the operation of the effect button BT by driving the effect button BT. In addition, a plurality of characters are prepared as a reminder hold symbol, and a symbol (question,?, Etc.) that means that it is not known until the operation button BT is operated as to which character the hold symbol is changed to is a reserved symbol. It may be displayed. Moreover, you may implement combining these display modes.

  Further, when the operation of the effect button BT is detected in a state where the “reminder hold symbol” is displayed, the “reminder hold symbol” changes to any of the characters A to C. Then, the player confirms which character the changed holding symbol is, so whether or not the result of determining whether or not the holding is related to the holding is a hit or miss, or whether the hit possibility is high or low Can be recognized. In the present embodiment, the characters A to C are illustrated, but a larger number of characters may be set. As a character to be displayed in place of the reminder hold symbol, a hit-confirmed character that notifies that the hit is fixed when displayed, a character that is expected to hit the hit probability of 50%, a hit-per-expected character, and a hit probability of 10 Characters suggesting various possibilities, such as a character with a low expectation level for notifying that it is% and a character with a high expectation level for notifying that the hit probability is 70%, can be set.

  When the big hit hold display mode determination table is selected (S6012), a lottery (hold display mode determination lottery) for determining the current hold display is executed (S6014). This lottery is performed by determining the hold display mode corresponding to the above-mentioned “random number for determining the hold display mode” acquired at a predetermined timing from the “big hit hold display mode determination table”. And the information which designates the hold | maintenance symbol corresponding to the hold display mode determined as a result of the hold display mode determination lottery is memorize | stored (S6016).

  FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which information for designating a reserved symbol to be displayed corresponding to each hold (hereinafter also referred to as “held symbol display information”) is stored. A storage area of the reserved symbol display information is secured at a predetermined address of the RAM 223 mounted on the sub-control board 220. As shown in FIG. 27, the information for designating the reserved symbols stored in the processing of S6016 is stored in association with the respective holdings ("holding 1" to "holding 4"). In other words, the information specifying the hold symbol of the hold display mode determined when a new hold occurs in a state where there is no hold (in a state where no information specifying the hold symbol is stored) is “hold 1”. Of the hold display mode determined when a new hold occurs in a state where there is one hold (in a state where information specifying the hold pattern of “hold 1” is stored). Information for designating the reserved symbol is stored in an address corresponding to “suspended 2”. In addition, in the state where there are two holds (with information specifying the hold symbols of “hold 1” and “hold 2” stored), the hold display mode hold determined when a new hold occurs The information for designating the symbol is stored at the address corresponding to “Pending 3”, and the information for designating the holding symbols of “Pending 1”, “Pending 2” and “Pending 3” is stored in the state where there are three holdings. The information designating the hold symbol of the hold display mode determined when a new hold is generated is stored in the address corresponding to “hold 4”. In the example shown in FIG. 27 (a), there are two holds, and a third hold is generated in a state where information specifying "normal hold symbol" is stored as the hold symbol, The hold display mode is determined as the “normal” hold display mode (S6014 in FIG. 25), and the information indicating “normal hold symbol” is stored in the address corresponding to “hold 3” (S6016). ing.

  In the example shown in FIG. 27 (b), there are three holds, and information specifying "normally reserved symbol" is stored as the first ("hold 1") hold symbol, and the second ("hold 2") is stored. Information) for designating “reservation reserved design” and information for designating “Character A reservation design” are stored, and “reservation reserving design” is designated as the third (“hold 3”) design. With the information and information designating “Character B hold symbol” stored, a fourth hold occurs, and the hold display mode of the hold is determined as the hold display mode of “reminder C” (FIG. 25). S6014), the information corresponding to “reservation 4” and the information specifying “character C reservation” are stored in the address corresponding to “hold 4” (S6016). In the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27B, when the hold display mode is determined as “reminder A”, “reminder B”, or “reminder C”, a plurality of reserving symbols (characters) Information for designating any one of the A holding symbol, the character B holding symbol, and the character C holding symbol and the reminder holding symbol) is stored. In the following description, when the character A reserved symbol, the character B reserved symbol, and the character C reserved symbol are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as “character reserved symbols”. In addition, the process of displaying the reserved symbols in the special symbol holding display area 27e on the display screen of the effect display device 27 based on the reserved symbol display information described above with reference to FIG. 27 will be described later.

  As described above, when the hold generated this time is a jackpot hold (S6004: yes), the hold display mode is determined (S6014), and the information specifying the hold symbol corresponding to the hold display mode is stored (S6016). The process has been described. On the other hand, when the hold that has occurred this time is not a jackpot hold (S6004: no), the table for determining the hold display mode (hold display mode determination table) is different from the case where the jackpot hold has occurred, Other processes (S6014, S6016) are the same. In other words, if the hold that has occurred this time is not a jackpot hold (S6004: no), this time, the special symbol will be displayed in a variable manner triggered by the hold that has occurred this time. It is determined whether or not the production is on hold (whether or not the release reach production is on hold) (S6006). This determination is made based on the above-described prior determination result information included in the hold occurrence command. As a result, if the hold that occurred this time is a release reach hold (S6006: yes), select the reach release hold display mode determination table (S6010), and if the hold that occurred this time is not a release reach hold, In other words, when the change display of the special symbol triggered by the hold is not displayed through the reach effect and is stopped and displayed as a stop symbol (S6006: no), the reachless hold-off display mode determination table is selected (S6008). . Thus, when the hold display mode determination table is selected according to each case (S6008, S6010), the hold display mode determination lottery is executed (S6014) in the same manner as when the big hit hold occurs, and the determined hold display mode is determined. The reserved symbol corresponding to is stored as the reserved symbol display information described above with reference to FIG. 27 (S6016).

  FIG. 28 (a) is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a reach / removal hold display mode determination table, and FIG. 28 (b) is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a reach / removal hold display mode determination table. As is clear from comparison between the hold display mode determination table and the jackpot hold display mode determination table described above with reference to FIG. 26, the hold display mode of “prompt B” or “prompt C” in the hold display mode determination lottery. The probability of being determined is the highest when the jackpot hold display mode determination table is selected, that is, when the jackpot hold occurs. Therefore, when a hold display is made in the hold display mode of “Reminder B” or “Reminder C”, there is a possibility that a big hit will occur due to the hold, compared to a case where the hold display is made in another hold display mode It is possible to increase the player's expectation for the occurrence of the big hit. In particular, since the hold display mode of “reminder C” is not set in the non-reach out of hold display mode determination table, when the hold display is made in the hold display mode of “reminder C”, the hold is triggered. Even if a big hit occurs or a big hit does not occur, a reach effect is executed triggered by the hold. And since a reach effect is performed even when a big hit occurs, suggesting that a reach effect is executed at least by the hold by performing the hold display in the hold display mode of “reminder C” Can do. If the operation of the effect button BT is detected after the reminder hold symbol related to the reminder C is displayed and the character C is displayed, it is possible to further increase the player's expectation for the occurrence of the big hit.

  In the above, the processing when the hold occurrence command transmitted from the main control board 200 is received has been described. On the other hand, this time, it is determined whether or not a change start command has been received (S6020 in FIG. 25). As described above with reference to FIG. 15, the change start time command is a command transmitted from the main control board 220 when the change display of the special symbol is started and the special figure holding number is reduced by one. As a result, if the change start time command is received (S6020: yes), the information specifying the oldest stored symbol (information specifying the reserved symbol stored in “Pending 1” in FIG. 27) Since the variable display corresponding to is started, after the information designating the reserved symbol is deleted, if the information designating another reserved symbol is stored, the storage position is shifted (see FIG. 27). The information designating the reserved symbols stored after “hold 2” is shifted to the “hold 1” side).

  As described above, processing for newly storing information for designating a pending symbol when a pending occurrence command is received, and deleting the information for designating the oldest pending symbol when a change start command is received and remaining 27 is stored by performing the process of shifting the information for designating the reserved symbols, the special figure hold display on the display screen of the effect display device 27 based on the hold symbol display information. The reserved symbol displayed in the area 27e is updated.

  FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a reserved symbol is displayed in a special figure holding display area on the display screen of the effect display device. In particular, FIG. 29 (a) shows a reserved symbol displayed based on the reserved symbol display information described above with reference to FIG. 27 (a), and FIG. 29 (b) shows FIG. 27 (b). The reserved symbol displayed based on the reserved symbol display information used above is shown.

  In the example of the hold display information shown in FIG. 27A, three pieces of information for designating “normal hold symbol” are stored as the first to third hold symbols, so that FIG. 29 is based on the hold display information. As shown in (a), three normal reserved symbols are displayed. In addition, the circle shown with the broken line in Fig.29 (a) has shown that the pending | holding symbol is not displayed.

  On the other hand, in the example of the hold display information shown in FIG. 27 (b), information specifying “normal hold symbol” is stored as the first hold symbol, and as shown in FIG. 29 (b), the first hold information is stored. A normal reserved symbol is displayed as a symbol. In the example of the hold display information shown in FIG. 27B, information specifying “reminder hold symbol” and information specifying each “character hold symbol” are stored as the second to fourth hold symbols. . In the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the information for designating the “reminder hold symbol” and the information for designating each “character hold symbol” are stored as shown in FIG. “Reminder hold symbol” (a symbol with “?” In a circle) is displayed. That is, even if the hold display mode determined in the hold display mode determination lottery described above with reference to FIG. 25 is “reminder A”, “reminder B”, or “reminder C” ( The information stored together with the information for designating the “reserved symbol” includes information for designating the “character A retained symbol”, information for designating the “character B retained symbol”, and information for designating the “character C reserved symbol”. In any case, when the hold display is started (until the operation of the effect button BT is detected), the “reminder hold symbol” is displayed. Therefore, when the hold display mode starts the hold display of “Reminder A”, “Reminder B”, and “Reminder C”, the player is not allowed to recognize which hold display mode, so the player If the effect button BT is operated, only one of the character holding symbols is displayed. That is, when the “reminder hold symbol” is displayed, the player still cannot recognize how high the possibility of holding the hold is. Each of the “character hold symbols” is displayed when a predetermined condition is satisfied, which will be described in detail later.

D-2. Design variation effect processing:
When the hold display process is thus completed, the symbol variation effect process is subsequently performed (S7000 in FIG. 24). This process is a process for causing the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 to execute an effect on the display screen of the effect display device 27 in conjunction with the special symbol variable display controlled by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. .

  FIGS. 30-32 is a flowchart which shows the symbol fluctuation effect process of a present Example. As shown in the figure, when the symbol variation effect process is started, it is determined whether or not a variation start command is received from the main control board 200 (S7001). As described above with reference to FIG. 15, the change start time command is used to designate a change pattern of special symbols or a stop symbol in accordance with the start of change display of special symbols on the symbol display device 28. This is a command transmitted from the control board 200 toward the sub-control board 220.

  When the change start command is received (S7001: yes), it is determined whether or not the special symbol stop symbol specified by the change disclosure command is a jackpot symbol (S7008). The fluctuation start command from the main control board 200, that is, the fluctuation pattern designation command and the stop symbol designation command contain information about the result of the big hit determination, so by analyzing the received fluctuation start command It can be determined whether or not the special symbol stop symbol is a big hit symbol. As a result, when it is determined that the symbol is a big hit symbol (S7008: yes), the big hit symbol for stopping the identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c on the screen of the effect display device 27 is determined (S7010). On the other hand, if the stop symbol of the special symbol designated by the stop symbol designation command among the fluctuation start commands is not a big hit symbol (S7008: no), it is determined whether or not it is out of reach. (S7012). This determination can also be made based on the variation pattern of the special symbol designated by the variation pattern designation command among the variation start commands. That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 15, a different deviation variation pattern is determined depending on the presence / absence of reach, so it is determined whether or not there is a reach or deviation according to the variation pattern designated by the variation pattern designation command. can do. If it is determined that the release is accompanied by reach (S7012: yes), the reach-removed symbol to be stopped and displayed on the screen of the effect display device 27 is determined (S7014). That is, the symbol that generates the reach effect is determined, and two of the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are determined as the symbol. Further, the remaining one identification symbol is determined to be a symbol different from the symbol. On the other hand, if it is determined that the release is not accompanied by the reach effect based on the special symbol variation pattern designation command (S7012: no), the off symbol to be stopped and displayed on the screen of the effect display device 27 is determined (S7016). That is, the stop symbols of the identification symbols are determined so that the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are all different symbols.

  Then, the process which determines the production pattern performed in conjunction with the design variation production is performed (S7024). Here, the effect pattern table is stored in the ROM 222 of the sub-control board 220. In the effect pattern table, after the variable display of the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c is started on the screen of the effect display device 27, the mode until the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are stopped and displayed with a predetermined stop symbol is displayed. The effect pattern to be shown, that is, the effect pattern from the start to the end of the symbol variation effect is stored in association with each variation pattern of the special symbol.

  FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a part of the effect pattern table. On the left side of FIG. 33, the big hit low probability variation pattern table described above with reference to FIG. 19 is shown. As described above, the big hit low probability fluctuation pattern table is a table in which a special symbol fluctuation pattern when a big hit occurs in a low probability state is set. In addition, on the right side of FIG. 33, an effect pattern (that is, a part of the effect pattern table) corresponding to the change pattern set in the big hit low probability change pattern table is shown. When the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 receives the variation start command, the CPU 221 identifies the variation pattern of the current special symbol from the variation start command and selects an effect pattern corresponding to this variation pattern from the effect pattern table.

  Here, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 33, production patterns (“EP06”, “EP07”, “EP08”) for executing “reminding display” and “correspondence display” are set. . The “prompting display” is performed during the symbol variation effect, and is an effect that prompts the player to operate the effect button BT. Then, when the operation of the effect button BT is detected within a predetermined period after the “prompt display”, an effect display that suggests the possibility that the symbol being changed and displayed is stopped and displayed in a hit state is executed. In addition, as the start timing and end timing of “reminder display”, a time after the start of the symbol variation effect is set. For example, when the production pattern “EP06” shown in FIG. 33 is selected, the prompt display “SH-A” is started “after 5 seconds” after the design variation production based on this production pattern is started, It is set to end “after 10 seconds” after the symbol variation effect is started. The “correspondence display” is a display effect that is performed when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the prompt display. The contents of “reminder display” and “correspondence display” will be described in detail later.

  As described above, the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c to be stopped and displayed on the screen of the effect display device 27 are determined (S7010, S7014, and S7016), and the effect patterns until the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are stopped and displayed. Is determined (S7024), the symbol variation effect is started by starting the variation display of the identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c on the screen of the effect display device 27 (S7026). At this time, the timer mounted on the sub-control board 220 is set to start measuring the fluctuation time. Further, in accordance with the symbol variation effect performed on the screen of the effect display device 27, a game effect is performed by outputting sound effects or lighting various lamps.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 5, it is not the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 but the CPU 231 mounted on the presentation control board 230 that directly controls the operation of the presentation display device 27. Therefore, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 transmits a command indicating the determined reserved symbol, the effect pattern, and the stop symbols of the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c to the effect control board 230, whereby the hold display and the symbol are displayed. Perform fluctuating effects. The CPU 231 of the effect control board 230 reads out image data from the ROM 232 one after another and displays it on the screen of the effect display device 27 in accordance with a command from the sub control board 220, thereby executing the hold display and the symbol variation effect. become. In addition, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 performs a game effect by outputting a sound effect or lighting various lamps in accordance with a symbol variation effect performed on the screen of the effect display device 27. The effect pattern includes data for outputting sound effects and lighting various lamps. Therefore, if the effect pattern is determined, the data regarding the output of these sound effects and the lighting of various lamps are naturally determined.

  When the symbol variation effect is started as described above (S7026), it is next determined whether or not the symbol variation effect is being performed (S7050 in Fig. 31). As a result, when the symbol variation effect is being performed (S7050: yes), it is determined whether or not the effect pattern during the symbol variation effect is an effect pattern for performing prompt display (S7052). That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 33, it is determined whether or not “prompting display” is set for the effect pattern during the symbol variation effect. As a result, when the symbol variation effect based on the effect pattern for performing the prompt display is being executed (S7052: yes), it is determined whether it is the start timing of the prompt display (S7054). That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 33, when “prompting display” is set in the effect pattern, the time from the start of the symbol variation effect is set as the “start timing”. In the process of S7054, it is determined whether or not the time has elapsed since the start of the symbol variation effect.

  As a result, when it is the start timing of the prompt display (S7054: yes), the prompt display is started (S7056), and the prompt change display flag is set to ON (S7058). The prompt change display flag is a flag indicating that the prompt display is being executed, and the storage area is secured at a predetermined address of the RAM 223 mounted on the sub-control board 220.

  Thus, when the prompt display is started (S7056, S7058), or when the prompt change display is being performed but the prompt display start timing is not reached (S7054: no), the prompt change display flag is set to ON. It is determined whether or not a prompt is being displayed (S7060). As a result, when the prompt display is being performed (S7060: yes), it is determined whether or not the prompt display end timing is reached (S7062). That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 33, when “prompting display” is set in the effect pattern, the time from the start of the symbol variation effect is set as the “end timing”. In the process of S7062, it is determined whether or not the time has elapsed since the start of the symbol variation effect. As a result, when it is the end timing of the prompt display (S7062: yes), the prompt display is ended (S7064), and the prompt change display flag is set to OFF (S7066).

  As described above, during the symbol variation effect that performs the prompt display (that is, based on the effect pattern for which the reminder display is set), the prompt display is started at the start timing of the reminder display set in the effect pattern. The reminder display is terminated at the end timing of the reminder display set to.

  Next, it is determined whether or not a symbol stop command has been received from the main control board 200 (S7070 in FIG. 32). As described above with reference to FIG. 12, the symbol stop command is a command transmitted from the main control board 200 toward the sub-control board 220 when the special symbol is stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28. As a result, when it is determined that the symbol stop command has not been received (S7070: no), the symbol variation effect process is terminated as it is, and the game effect process shown in FIG. 24 is resumed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the symbol stop command has been received (S7070: yes), the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c of the effect display device 27 are stopped and displayed with the symbols determined in advance. The symbol variation effect is terminated (S7072).

D-4. Player operation support processing:
When the symbol variation effect process ends, the game effect process shown in FIG. 24 is resumed, and the player operation corresponding process is performed (S8000). In the player operation handling process of this embodiment, a process corresponding to the player's operation on the effect button BT described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 is performed.

  FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a player operation handling process according to the present embodiment. When the player operation handling process is started, the CPU 221 mounted on the sub control board 220 first determines whether or not the effect button BT has been operated (S8002). That is, it is determined whether or not an operation command has been received from the effect button board 228 (see FIG. 6) by operating the effect button BT. If the effect button BT is not operated (S8002: no), the player operation corresponding process is ended as it is, and the process returns to the game effect process shown in FIG.

  When the effect button BT is operated (S8002: yes), it is determined whether or not the prompt change display flag is ON, that is, whether or not the prompt display is being performed (S8004). As a result, when the prompt display is being performed (S8004: yes), the prompt display is terminated (S8005), and the prompt change display flag is set to OFF (S8006), and the corresponding display is executed (S8007).

  FIG. 35 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a reminder display is performed in the effect display device, and FIG. 35 (b) is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a corresponding display is performed in the effect display device. After starting the symbol variation effect for performing the prompt display, the prompt display is started at the start timing of the prompt display. In the example shown in FIG. 35 (a), the display of “PUSH !!!!” denoted by reference numeral 27f is a prompt display, and an effect of prompting the player to operate the effect button BT is executed. When the effect button BT is operated in such a state that the prompt display is performed, the corresponding display is executed. In the example shown in FIG. 35B, the display of “BIG CHANCE” denoted by reference numeral 27g is a corresponding display, and there is a possibility that a big hit will occur in the current variable display effect (that is, the variable display effect is linked). As a result of the variation display of the special symbol, an effect that suggests the possibility of stopping display with the jackpot symbol is executed. For example, if the predetermined correspondence display is performed by changing the probability that the predetermined correspondence display is performed between the variable display effect in which the big hit occurs and the variable display effect in which the big hit does not occur, the big hit is generated. It is possible to make the player guess the possibility of doing. When “BIG CHANCE” is displayed as the corresponding display, the probability of occurrence of jackpot related to the change display (the possibility that the changing symbol is stopped and displayed with the jackpot symbol) is high (for example, 60%) However, when “SMALL CHANCE” is displayed as the corresponding display, the probability of occurrence of a jackpot related to the change display (the possibility that the changing symbol is stopped and displayed as a jackpot symbol) is low (for example, 3%) to the player. In addition, it is possible to indicate that the occurrence of the big hit has been confirmed by displaying “big hit” or “confirmed” as the corresponding display. In addition, when the operation button BT is not operated within a predetermined period in a state where the “PUSH !!!!” prompt display is made, the prompt display is terminated without displaying the correspondence, and at a predetermined symbol stop timing. A special symbol corresponding to the determination result is stopped and displayed.

  As described above, when the effect button BT is operated (S8002: yes), if the prompt display is performed (S8004: yes), that is, when the effect button BT is operated during the prompt display, the prompt display is performed. Is terminated (S8005), and the corresponding display is executed (S8007). In this embodiment, when the effect button BT is operated during the prompt display, the prompt display is ended (S8005). However, whether the effect button BT is operated as a condition for the end of the prompt display, Alternatively, it may be established when a predetermined period has elapsed. Moreover, it is good also as what is materialized only when the predetermined period passes. Further, it may be established when the effect button BT is operated a predetermined number of times.

  On the other hand, when the effect button BT is operated (S8002: yes) and the prompt display is not performed (S8004: no), this time, the special figure hold display area on the display screen of the effect display device 27 It is determined whether or not a reminder hold symbol is displayed at 27e (hereinafter also referred to as “reminder hold display”). That is, it is determined whether or not any one of the above-described reminder holding symbols is displayed using FIG. 29B (S8008). This determination is made by determining whether or not information designating the reminder hold symbol is stored as the hold symbol display information described above with reference to FIG. As a result, if the reminder hold display is in progress (S8008: yes), the hold symbol display information is rewritten (S8010), and then the display of the hold symbol is updated based on the hold symbol display information (S8012).

  FIG. 36 is an explanatory diagram showing how reserved symbol display information is rewritten. FIG. 37 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the display of the reserved symbol is updated when the reserved symbol display information is rewritten. FIG. 36 shows the reserved symbol display information in the state described above with reference to FIG. 27B before the effect button is operated. When a reserved symbol is displayed based on such reserved symbol display information, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 37 (similar to the case described above with reference to FIG. 29B), one normal reserved symbol and 3 One reminder hold symbol is displayed.

  In this state, when the effect button BT is operated once, as shown in the middle part of FIG. 36, the oldest stored “information for designating the reminder hold symbol” is deleted, and the “reminder hold symbol is displayed. The “information indicating the character holding symbol” stored corresponding to the “designating information” is shifted to the position (address) where the “information specifying the reminder holding symbol” is stored. When the display of the hold symbol is updated in the state where the hold symbol display information is rewritten in this way, as shown in the middle part of FIG. 37, the reminder hold symbol related to the hold information stored the oldest among the reminder hold symbols is shown. Is switched to the “character hold symbol” corresponding to the reminder hold symbol (? → character A).

  In addition, when the effect button BT is further operated twice in this state (the state where the reminder hold symbol is changed to the character A), the same processing as described above is performed, and as shown in the lower part of FIG. 36 and the lower part of FIG. It changes from the reminder hold symbol related to the hold information stored the oldest to the character hold symbol in order (switching display in the order of character B and character C).

  As described above with reference to FIG. 26 and FIG. 28, each character hold symbol may cause a big hit in the variable display effect triggered by the hold corresponding to the character hold symbol (that is, linked to the variable display effect). As a result of the change display of the special symbol, the possibility of stopping display with the big hit symbol) is suggested. Therefore, it is possible to cause the player who has displayed the character hold symbol by operating the effect button to guess the possibility that a big hit will occur in the variable display effect corresponding to the hold. Needless to say, if the player does not operate the effect button BT in a state where the reminder hold symbol is displayed, the reminder hold symbol does not change to the character hold symbol. Each time the change display is completed, the display is shifted while displaying “?”.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the effect button BT is operated while the prompt display is performed in the symbol variation effect, the corresponding display is performed regardless of whether the prompt hold display is performed. Execute. That is, when the prompt display is performed in the symbol variation effect (when the prompt variation display flag is set), only the corresponding display is displayed even if the prompt hold display is performed together (simultaneously). Is executed, and the character hold symbol is not displayed. On the other hand, when the effect button BT is operated when the prompt display is not performed in the symbol variation effect and only the prompt hold display is performed, the character hold symbol is displayed.

  The CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 executes the above-described game effect processing to indicate that the special figure hold is stored by displaying the hold symbol (show that the hold information is stored). Execute the effect), display the reminder hold symbol which is the effect of prompting the operation to the effect button BT (player operation unit) (holding reminder effect), and when the reminder hold symbol is displayed When the button BT is operated, it is suggested that the jackpot symbol when the special symbol is variably displayed based on the special symbol hold (holding information) corresponding to the reminder hold symbol may be stopped (in a hit state). The display of the character hold symbol which is an effect (hold suggestion effect) is executed. Accordingly, the CPU 221 mounted on the sub-control board 220 corresponds to “holding effect executing means” in the present invention.

  In addition, the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 executes the above-described game effect processing, thereby executing the effect in conjunction with the special symbol variation display, and prompting an operation to the effect button BT (player operation unit). When the effect button BT is operated while the reminder display is being executed, the special symbol that is currently being displayed is stopped and displayed as a big hit symbol (winning manner). Correspondence display (variation suggestion effect) that is an effect suggesting the possibility is executed. Therefore, the CPU 221 mounted on the sub-control board 220 corresponds to “variation effect execution means” in the present invention.

  In addition, when the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 executes the above-described game effect processing, the effect button is displayed when both the display of the reminder hold symbol (holding reminder effect) and the reminder display (variable prompting effect) are executed. When a BT (player operation unit) is operated, only the corresponding display is executed (displaying only the change suggestion effect is permitted) among the display of the reminder hold symbol (hold suggestion effect) and the corresponding display (variation suggestion effect). ).

E. Playability obtained by the pachinko machine of this embodiment:
Next, a description will be given of the playability obtained by the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment. First, a conventional pachinko machine will be described in order to facilitate understanding of the playability.

  FIG. 38 (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which correspondence display and character hold symbol display are performed in a conventional pachinko machine. As shown in FIG. 38 (a), in the conventional pachinko machine, when the effect button is operated in a state where the display of the reminder hold symbol and the prompt display are simultaneously performed, the display of the character hold symbol and the display of the correspondence display are performed. Both are done. Therefore, when the effect button is operated in a state where the display of the reminder hold symbol and the reminder display are performed at the same time, the player is told that “the contents of the character hold symbol display, that is, the start condition of the variable display is still satisfied. The possibility of a big hit as a result of a special symbol fluctuation display that is not performed later ”and“ The contents of the corresponding display, that is, the possibility of a big jackpot as a result of the current special symbol fluctuation display. "Will be confirmed.

  However, some players would like to confirm that "the possibility of a big hit as a result of the special symbol change display currently being made" (because we cannot postpone the timing of knowing the result of this decision) ), “The condition for starting the variable display has not yet been met, and there is a possibility that a jackpot will occur as a result of the variable display of the special symbol that will be performed later”. Some people want to keep it as “fun”. Because if you change the reminder hold symbol to the character hold symbol and you know that the hold information is likely to be a big hit, you might increase interest, but if you find that the possibility of a big hit is low This is because, even though it has not yet begun to fluctuate, it is already impossible to expect a big hit, and the interest will be reduced (the expectation that it may be a big hit is lost).

  In the conventional pachinko machine, when both the display of the reminder hold symbol and the reminder display are performed, when the player operates the effect button, contrary to the intention of the player, As a result of the change display of the special symbol that is displayed, even the possibility that a big hit will occur will be confirmed, so that the player will be deprived of “fun” and there is a possibility that the game entertainment will be reduced.

  On the other hand, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the character hold symbol display and the corresponding display are performed as follows. FIG.38 (b) is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a corresponding | compatible display and the display of a character reservation symbol are performed in the pachinko machine of a present Example. As shown in FIG. 38 (b), in the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the effect button BT is operated in a state where the display of the reminder hold symbol and the prompt display are simultaneously performed, first, the character hold symbol is displayed. Of the display and the corresponding display, only the corresponding display is performed. Therefore, when the effect button is operated in a state where the display of the reminder hold symbol and the reminder display are performed at the same time, first, the player first gives the “contents of the corresponding display, that is, the special symbol currently being performed. As a result of the variable display, the possibility of a big hit occurring will be confirmed. In other words, let's confirm only “the possibility of a big hit as a result of the fluctuation display of the special symbol currently being performed”, and “the possibility of a big hit as a result of the fluctuation display of the special symbol performed later” is Since the confirmation is not performed, it is possible to perform the corresponding display without taking away the “fun” of the player as described above, and it is possible to enhance the gaming interest.

  In addition, after only the corresponding display is performed as described above, the display of the reminder hold symbol is still performed. Therefore, when the effect button BT is operated in this state, the player is notified of the character hold symbol. The content of the display, that is, the possibility that a big hit will occur as a result of the variable display of the special symbol performed later will be confirmed. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the gaming interest even for a player who wishes to confirm “a possibility that a jackpot will be generated as a result of a special symbol change display performed later”. Of course, if the player does not operate the effect button in a state in which the reminder hold symbol is displayed, the character hold symbol is not displayed and remains the reminder hold symbol. Each time the change display of the special symbol is finished, the hold information related to the reminder hold symbol is shifted to the hold 1 side, and the production button is not operated until the change start condition of the hold information related to the reminder hold symbol is satisfied. In this case, the variable information display of the hold information related to the reminder hold symbol is started.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention is not limited to the wording of each claim without departing from the scope described in each claim. Can be easily replaced by these, and improvements based on knowledge that a person skilled in the art normally has can be added as appropriate.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, when both the display of the reminder hold symbol and the prompt display are being executed, if the corresponding display is executed by operating the effect button BT, the display of the reminder hold symbol is continued as it is. Although it is configured, it may be configured to display a normal holding symbol instead of displaying the reminder holding symbol.

  In the above-described embodiment, when a plurality of reminder hold symbols are displayed, when the effect button BT is operated, one of the earliest reminder hold symbols is updated and displayed on the character hold symbol. However, when the production button BT is operated, all the reminder hold symbols may be updated and displayed on the character hold symbols.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the prompt display and the prompt hold display in the symbol variation effect are generated at the same time, both of them are continuously displayed. However, the prompt in the symbol change effect is not performed without the prompt hold display. It is good also as a structure which performs only a display. In this way, it is possible to prevent a player who wants to confirm the character hold display from operating the effect button by mistake and confirming the corresponding display. In other words, if the display conditions for both the reminder display and the reminder hold display are satisfied, the display of the reminder hold display that is invalidated is temporarily terminated, only the reminder display is displayed, and the display of the reminder display is terminated. In addition, if the condition for the reminder hold display is still satisfied (the change start condition for the change display related to the reminder hold display that has been terminated is not yet satisfied), the reminder hold display may be redisplayed. .

  The present invention can be used for a ball game machine used in a game hall.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine (bullet ball game machine), 17a ... Start-up opening, 27 ... Production display device (holding information display part, production design display unit), 28 ... Design display device, 31d ... Grand prize opening, 200 ... Main control board , 201 ... CPU (holding information storage means, special symbol display means), 220 ... sub-control board, 221 ... CPU (holding effect execution means, variation effect execution means).

Claims (2)

A ball game machine that advances a game by firing a game ball toward a game area,
A player control unit that can be operated by the player;
Hold information storage means for storing hold information indicating that a game ball has entered the start opening provided in the game area;
Special symbol display means for stopping and displaying the special symbol after variably displaying based on the hold information;
A winning game execution means for executing a winning game advantageous to the player when the special symbol is stopped and displayed in a winning manner;
A hold information display unit in which the storage number of the hold information that does not satisfy the start condition for allowing the start of variable display of the special symbol is recognizable, and
In the hold information display unit, a hold effect execution means for executing an effect corresponding to the hold information for which the start condition is not satisfied,
An effect symbol display unit in which an effect symbol to be variably displayed in conjunction with the variation display of the special symbol is displayed,
The effect symbol display unit includes a variation effect executing means for executing an effect corresponding to the special symbol for which the start condition is established and the variable display is being executed,
The hold effect executing means executes a hold reminder effect that is an effect for prompting an operation to the player operation unit, and when the player operation unit is operated when the hold reminder effect is being executed. , Changing the display mode of the hold information display unit, and executing a hold suggesting effect that suggests the contents of the variable display executed when the start condition is satisfied,
When the player operation unit is operated while the variation prompting effect is being executed, the variation effect executing means executes a change prompting effect that is an effect of prompting an operation to the player operation unit. , By changing the display mode of the special symbol display unit, to execute a variation suggestion effect that suggests the content of the variation display during the variation display,
When both the holding reminder effect and the variable reminder effect are executed, when the player operation unit is operated, only the change suggesting effect is executed out of the hold suggesting effect and the change suggesting effect. A ball game machine characterized by In the ball game machine according to claim 1,
When both the holding reminder effect and the variation prompting effect are executed, only the change suggesting effect is executed among the hold suggesting effect and the change suggesting effect by operating the player operation unit. When the player operation unit is operated after execution of the change suggestion effect, the hold suggestion effect is executed.

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