JP2013013609A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve a game machine that properly determines elapsed number of days after introduced to a store.SOLUTION: An elapsed number of days storage means 152 of a Pachinko game machine 10 maintains elapsed number of days from a prescribed reference day. An operation history storage means 154 maintains, as operation history, information showing presence/absence of operation of a game machine for every day of the week contained in a prescribed unit period. An operation history renewing means 156, in the case where an operation state of a game machine fulfills prescribed conditions, records the operation of the game machine correspondingly to this day of the week of the operation history. An elapsed number of days renewing means 158, in the case where the operation of a game machine on this day of the week of the operation history is already recorded, adds the number of days of a unit period to the elapsed number of days of the elapsed number of days storage means 152 as the fact that the unit period has elapsed.

Description

  It relates to gaming machines.

  Conventionally, among the various ball game machines, a so-called first type pachinko game machine is used while changing a plurality of symbols in a display area such as a liquid crystal display provided substantially at the center of the game board. Display (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol change” or “change display”). This gaming machine shifts to a special game called so-called big hit, in which more prize balls can be obtained than a normal game when the combination of symbols when a plurality of rows of symbol variations are stopped becomes a specific aspect. It is known as a thing (for example, refer patent document 1). The variable display of symbols in the display area is not limited to simply displaying multiple symbols in a variable manner, but the time required for the variable display to be a big hit if one more symbols are aligned, such as the so-called reach screen. For example, an effect is made to increase the player's expectation, such as making it longer. In addition, a character image, background image, etc. can be used to create a story with a variation display of the symbol, probability variation to increase the efficiency of transition to special games, shortening the variation time, and ease of entering the starting prize opening. The player's expectation is also enhanced by the control to shift to the easy entry state.

JP 2003-230714 A

  A clock device that manages the current date (hereinafter also referred to as “real time clock”) is mounted, and an effect (hereinafter also referred to as “special effect”) according to the number of days elapsed from the date of introduction of the gaming machine to the store. ) Has been proposed. In such a gaming machine, it is necessary to set the date of introduction. However, when setting the date manually, it may be a heavy burden on the operator.

  Further, when the date managed by the gaming machine is artificially changed, there may be a difference between the elapsed days determined in the gaming machine and the actual elapsed days. As a result, a special effect may be displayed at an unintended timing in the design of the gaming machine.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for appropriately determining the number of days that have elapsed since a gaming machine was introduced into a store.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a gaming machine according to an aspect of the present invention performs a lottery determination to determine whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, triggered by a predetermined game operation. It is a gaming machine to be executed, and a lottery means for executing the lottery with a game action as a trigger, a special game control means for executing a special game when the result of the lottery is a win, and a result of the lottery The content of the production is determined accordingly, and when a predetermined number of days have passed since the predetermined reference date, the production determining means for determining to output the special production according to the elapsed days, and the number of days elapsed from the predetermined reference date An elapsed day storage means for holding the game history, an operation history storage means for holding information indicating whether or not the gaming machine is operating for each day of the week included in the predetermined unit period, and an operating status of the gaming machine satisfy a predetermined condition did If it is recorded that the gaming machine has been operated in association with today's day of the operation history, and that the gaming machine has already been operated on today's day of the operation history, the unit period has passed Information updating means for adding the number of days in the unit period to the number of elapsed days held by the elapsed day storage means and clearing the operation history so far. The effect determining means determines whether or not to output the special effect according to the elapsed days held by the elapsed days storage means.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements, and the constituent elements and expressions of the present invention are mutually replaced between a method, an apparatus, a system, a computer program, a recording medium storing the computer program, a data structure, and the like. This is effective as an embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the bullet ball gaming machine of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately determine the number of days that have elapsed since the gaming machine was introduced into the store.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the pachinko game machine in a present Example. It is a figure which shows typically a success / failure determination table. It is a figure which shows a symbol determination table typically. It is a figure which shows a fluctuation pattern table typically. It is a figure which shows the fluctuation pattern table for deviation in detail. It is a figure which shows an example of transition of an operation history and elapsed days. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement process in a pachinko game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the effect preparation process of S2 of FIG. 9 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the elapsed days determination process of S206 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. 9 in detail. 13 is a flowchart showing in detail the success / failure determination process of S34 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the special game control process of S16 in FIG. 9 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the release process of S100 in FIG. 14 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the closing process of S102 in FIG. 14 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the small hit game control process of S17 in FIG. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing in detail a release process of S160 in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the closing process of S162 in FIG. 17 in detail.

  FIG. 1 shows a basic structure on the front side of a pachinko gaming machine. Hereinafter, a so-called first type pachinko gaming machine, which is conventionally known as a bullet ball gaming machine, will be described as an example. The pachinko gaming machine 10 is mainly composed of a gaming machine frame and a gaming board. The gaming machine frame of the pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 11, a front frame 12, a transparent plate 13, a door 14, an upper ball dish 15, a lower ball dish 16, and a launch handle 17. The outer frame 11 has an opening and is a frame for fixing the pachinko gaming machine 10 to a position where it should be installed. The front frame 12 is a frame body that aligns with the opening portion of the outer frame 11, and is attached to the outer frame 11 so as to be opened and closed by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The front frame 12 includes a mechanism for launching a game ball, a mechanism for detachably storing a game board, a mechanism for guiding or collecting the game ball, and the like.

  The transparent plate 13 is made of glass or the like and is supported by the door 14. The door 14 is attached to the front frame 12 so as to be openable and closable by a hinge mechanism (not shown). The upper ball tray 15 has a mechanism for storing game balls, sending the game balls to the launch rail, extracting the game balls to the lower ball tray 16, and the like. The lower ball tray 16 has a mechanism for storing and extracting game balls. A speaker 18 is provided between the upper ball tray 15 and the lower ball tray 16, and a sound effect corresponding to the gaming state or the like is output by means for controlling an effect described later.

  The game board 50 has an out port 58, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, and a start winning port (hereinafter referred to as “start port”) 62 on a game area 52 defined by the outer rail 54 and the inner rail 56. , A center ornament 64, a grand prize opening 66, an operation opening 68, and a general prize opening 72. Furthermore, in the game area 52, a plurality of mechanisms such as a game nail and a windmill (not shown) are installed.

  The starting port 62 is a starting port that triggers the entrance of a game ball to perform a lottery determination. The starting port 62 is provided in the starting port 62 and a start winning detection device 74 for detecting the entrance of a game ball. A normal electric accessory solenoid 76 for expanding the expansion mechanism 63 (so-called electric tulip) is provided. The expansion mechanism 63 is composed of two blade members provided at the upper part of the opening of the start port 62, and has a narrow opening width that allows only a game ball falling from just above the start port 62 to enter when closed. Become. On the other hand, when the expansion mechanism 63 is expanded and opened, the opening width of the start port 62 is widened, and not only the start port 62 but also a game ball falling in the vicinity thereof can be guided to the start port 62 and can enter. Ease is improved. This lottery determination is a lottery for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game, and is executed every time there is a ball entering the start port 62. The start winning detection device 74 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the start port 62, and generates start win information indicating the winning at the time of entering.

  The general winning opening 72 includes a general winning detecting device 73 for detecting the entering of a game ball. The general winning detection device 73 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the general winning opening 72, and generates general winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning.

  The special winning opening 66 includes a winning detection device 78 for detecting the entry of a game ball and a special winning opening solenoid 80 for opening the special winning opening 66. The winning detection device 78 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the big winning opening 66, and generates big winning opening winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning. The big winning opening 66 is a horizontal rectangular winning opening that is opened as a “big hit” in a special game that starts when the special symbol 192 stops in a predetermined manner. The big winning opening 66 is provided at a position above the out opening 58, for example. The number of the big winning openings 66 is not limited to a single arrangement, and a plurality of large winning openings 66 may be installed and used depending on the gaming state or the like. The winning detection device 78 of the big winning opening 66 includes a sensor that detects the passage of a game ball.

  The special symbol display device 61 provided on the left side of the game area 52 and the effect display device 60 provided in the approximate center of the game area 52 have a variation of the special symbol 192 on each screen and a decoration linked to the special symbol 192. Changes in the effect image including the pattern 190 are displayed. Hereinafter, such display is referred to as “design variation” or “variation display”.

  The special symbol display device 61 is a display device composed of, for example, 7 segment LEDs. The special symbol 192 is a symbol corresponding to the result of the lottery performed when the game ball falls into the start port 62. When the symbol mode when the special symbol 192 is stopped is the symbol that is determined in advance, the timing at which the symbol is displayed is the big hit occurrence timing. The stop symbol is a symbol to be displayed at the end of symbol variation. The special symbol 192 in the present embodiment is represented by numbers, characters, symbols such as “0” to “9” that are hit symbol patterns, or a symbol “−” that is an off symbol pattern. These numbers or symbols are replaced one after another at a high speed and displayed on the special symbol display device 61, whereby the symbol variation display of the special symbol 192 is realized. Note that the special symbol 192 is not limited to the above numbers or symbols, and may be letters such as English letters, or may be a generally meaningless symbol formed by a combination of segments constituting a 7-segment LED. May be. Further, the 7-segment LED may be composed of 8 segments including 7 segments forming “eight-letter shape” and 1 segment representing “dot”. In this case, a numerical value for 8 bits can be expressed by combining 8 segments. Further, the special symbol display device 61 may be an LED dot array that is not a 7-segment LED, and a plurality of types of special symbols 192 may be expressed by combinations of lighting patterns and lighting colors.

  The effect display device 60 is a display device configured by a liquid crystal display that displays the decorative symbol 190 in a variable manner in conjunction with the variable symbol display of the special symbol 192. The decorative symbol 190 is a symbol for visually rendering the lottery result display indicated by the special symbol 192. The effect display device 60 displays, for example, a moving image that fluctuates a plurality of rows of symbols simulating a game of a slot machine as a decorative symbol 190 in the central area of the screen. In this embodiment, symbols composed of numbers “0” to “9” are displayed and varied in three columns, and hit or miss is indicated by three symbol combinations that are finally stopped and displayed. Each of the plurality of symbols constituting the decorative symbol 190 is composed of numbers, characters, or symbols that are decorated with colors or patterns, but these symbols, characters, or symbols are common to all symbols. You may comprise in the form which adds a different pattern for every and integrates them. This pattern is a pattern on which a motif related to the theme of decoration or production set for the model of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is drawn, and for example, a pattern on which a character of a person or an animal is drawn may be used. The decorative pattern 190 is switched according to the development of the effect between the case where the design that includes the design is variably displayed and the case where the design is separated and only the numbers, characters, and symbols are variably displayed. It may be a configuration. On the background of the variation display of the decoration symbol 190, a moving image having a staging effect related to the theme of decoration or production set for the model of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is displayed in conjunction with the symbol variation.

  The effect display device 60 is configured by a high-definition dot matrix type display device such as a liquid crystal display in this embodiment, but may be configured by a mechanical display unit such as a drum rotation type or a display unit such as an LED matrix type. Good. Since the special symbol 192 does not necessarily have a role of production, in this embodiment, the special symbol display device 61 on the lower left side of the production display device 60 is displayed in an inconspicuous size. However, in the case of adopting a technique in which the special symbol itself has an effect role to express without using the decorative symbol, the special symbol may be displayed on the liquid crystal display instead of the 7-segment LED.

  The operation port 68 is provided at the left side position of the game board 50. The operation port 68 includes a passage detection device 69. The passage detection device 69 is a sensor that detects the passage of the game ball to the operation port 68, and generates passage information indicating the passage at the time of passage. The passage of the game ball to the operation port 68 triggers an open lottery that determines whether or not the expansion mechanism 63 is expanded. When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, a normal symbol, which is a symbol indicating the result of the open lottery, is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 59. Therefore, the open lottery is also called “ordinary symbol lottery”. The normal symbol display device 59 in this embodiment is composed of two lamps for convenience, and the display state of the normal symbols is expressed by which of these lamps is lit. For example, when the first lamp is turned off and the second lamp is hit, the normal symbol fluctuation display is expressed by alternately turning on and off, and finally one of the lights is turned on. A stop symbol of a normal symbol is expressed by being stopped in the state. The normal symbol display device 59 is provided on the lower right side of the effect display device 60. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the change, the normal symbol change display stops. At this time, in the normal state, the normal symbol stops at the winning symbol with a low probability of, for example, about 1/256, and in the easy entry state described later, the normal symbol is in the winning symbol with a high probability of, for example, about 250/256. Stop. When the normal symbol stops at the winning symbol, the expansion mechanism 63 is expanded for a predetermined time. The opening time of the spreading mechanism 63 is, for example, 0.1 seconds in the normal state, and 6 seconds in the easy entry state.

  A center ornament 64 is provided around the effect display device 60. The center decoration 64 has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the effect display device 60, and decoration. The special symbol hold display device 20 is provided at the lower left portion of the game area 52, and the normal symbol hold display device 22 is provided below the normal symbol display device 59 at the lower right portion of the game area 52, which is the symmetrical position. ing.

  The special symbol hold display device 20 is composed of four lamps, and displays the number of lottery holds depending on the number of lights. The number of lottery holds is the number of lottery results won to the start port 62 during symbol variation or special game, and indicates the number of winning balls for which symbol variation has not yet been executed. When the number of lottery holds is three, the symbol variation time in the case of a loss is shortened from the normal time in order to increase game efficiency (hereinafter also referred to as “shortening variation”). Similarly, when the number of pending lottery holds is 4, in order to further increase the game efficiency, the symbol variation time in the case of losing is further shortened than in the case of the above 3 (hereinafter also referred to as “super shortened variation”). ).

  The normal symbol hold display device 22 is also composed of four lamps, and displays the number of normal symbol fluctuation hold depending on the number of lights. The number of normal symbol fluctuations held is the number of game balls that have passed through the operation port 68 during the fluctuation of the normal symbol, and indicates the number of normal symbol lotteries for which the fluctuation of the normal symbol has not yet been executed.

  Game effect lamps 90 are respectively provided above and below the effect display device 60. The operation button 82 is an operation input unit that is operated by the player to input a predetermined instruction to the gaming machine, and changes are made to the contents of the effect according to the contents of the operation input. The operation button 82 is provided on the outer wall surface near the upper ball tray 15. Although the operation button 82 in this embodiment is composed of one button, it may be composed of a plurality of buttons and direction instruction buttons such as a cross key. The movable accessory 140 is a movable object whose operation is controlled in conjunction with the effect, and plays an effect role by the operation. For example, the movable accessory 140 operates in response to an operation input via the operation button 82 by the player.

  An outline of a game method and a control flow performed in the above configuration will be described. When the player turns the launch handle 17 by hand, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 15 are guided one by one to the inner rail 56 and the outer rail 54 with a strength corresponding to the turning angle, thereby playing the game area. To 52. When the player fixes the rotation position of the firing handle 17 by hand, the game ball is repeatedly fired at regular time intervals. The game ball launched to the upper part of the game area 52 falls in a direction according to the way of hitting while hitting a plurality of game nails and windmills. When a game ball is dropped into each of the general winning port 72, the start port 62, and the big winning port 66, the winning ball corresponding to the type of the winning port is paid out to the upper ball plate 15 or the lower ball plate 16. A game ball dropped into each winning hole such as the general winning hole 72 is processed as a safe ball, and a game ball dropped into the out hole 58 is processed as an out ball. Each winning opening includes a gate type through which a game ball passes. In this application, “incoming”, “entering”, and “winning” include “passing”.

  When the game ball falls into the start port 62, the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 are variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60. The variation display of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is stopped after the lapse of the variation display time determined prior to the display. The special symbol 192 is variably displayed in accordance with a variation pattern in which a variation mode from the variation start to the stop is determined. The decorative symbol 190 is variably displayed according to a variation effect pattern in which a variation mode from the start to the end of the variation is determined. A plurality of types of variation patterns and variation production patterns are prepared, and each has various variation times. While the special symbol 192 is variably displayed according to the variation pattern, the decorative symbol 190 is variably displayed according to the variation effect pattern having the same variation time. In the variation pattern, a variation display time is determined for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the variation of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is stopped when the variation display time elapses.

  As a variation display of the decorative symbol 190, first, as the variation starts, the symbols are varied in all three columns like the reel rotation of the slot machine, and when it approaches the variation end timing, it is stopped one by one as a final stop mode. The symbol combination is displayed. When the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 at the time of the stop are in a stop mode indicating a big hit, the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, and the opening / closing operation of the big prize opening 66 is started. The The stop mode of the decorative symbol 190 indicating a big hit is, for example, a combination mode in which the types of three symbols match.

  The variation effect pattern includes a normal loss effect pattern, a reach failure effect pattern, and a reach jackpot effect pattern. The normal off effect pattern is an effect pattern for displaying a normal off symbol combination. The reach out effect pattern is an effect pattern for displaying an out symbol combination through a reach state, which is a big win if one more symbols are arranged. The reach jackpot effect pattern is an effect pattern when displaying a jackpot symbol combination through the reach state. In particular, the patterns when reaching the reach state include patterns with various long and short fluctuation times. Reach patterns with relatively short fluctuation times are called “normal reach”, and reach patterns with long fluctuation times are called “super reach”. ".

  The special game is started by displaying an effect screen called start demonstration time. After the start demonstration time is displayed on the screen, the grand prize winning opening 66 is opened, and after the opening continues for about 30 seconds, or after 9 or more game balls are dropped, the game is closed once. From such opening to closing of the big prize opening 66 is basically called a unit game, but it may be repeated a plurality of short-time opening during one unit game. After the opening / closing of the special prize opening 66 or the unit game is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times, the special game is ended by displaying an effect screen called an end demo time. On the other hand, when the winning lottery corresponds to a result called “small hit”, the small hit game is executed. The small hit is a result included as a result of the lottery. The small hit game is a unit game executed in a manner similar to some types of special games. However, the unit game executed as a small hit game is only one time, which is different from a special game in which a plurality of unit games are executed.

  In the normal game after the end of the special game, the fluctuation time of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190, which are one of the specific games, is started (hereinafter referred to as “time reduction” as appropriate). The time shortening of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is a state in which the variation time of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is shortened from the normal state. The variation time of the special symbol 192 and the decoration symbol 190 is returned to the original variation time after a predetermined variation number, for example, 100 variation display, but if the big hit occurs before the variation number is reached, the time is shortened. Also ends. Due to the shortening of time, the variation time of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is shortened, so that it is possible to shorten the time until the big hit occurs compared to the normal state where the symbol variation is performed with the normal variation time. Therefore, it is possible to relatively increase the jackpot acquisition ease.

  During the time shortening of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190, the easy entry state which is one of the specific games is performed. The easy entry state is a state in which the ease of entering the starting port 62 is enhanced by executing the short time of the normal symbol, the probability variation of the open lottery, and the open extension of the expansion mechanism 63. The normal symbol time reduction is a state in which the variation time of the normal symbol is shortened from the normal state. The probability variation of the open lottery is a state in which the winning probability of the open lottery is higher than the normal state. The opening extension of the spreading mechanism 63 is a state in which the opening time of the spreading mechanism 63 is longer than the normal state. As described above, in the easy entry state, the possibility that the number of fluctuations of the normal symbol per certain time increases as compared to the normal state increases, and the ease of entering the start opening 62 also increases. There is a high possibility that the number of entering will increase. Therefore, due to the shortened time of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 and the easy entry state, the chance to obtain a winning ball by entering the starting port 62 increases during that period, and as a result, the player can play the game with little decrease in possession. It is possible to continue.

  Note that the easy entry state in the present embodiment increases the ease of entering the starting port 62 by using three functions such as a short time for a normal symbol, a probability variation of an open lottery, and an open / extended extension of the expansion mechanism 63. However, as a modification, it is good also as a structure which improves the entrance ease to the starting port 62 using one or two functions among these three functions. Thus, even if only a part of the three functions is used, it is possible to improve the ease of entering the starting port 62. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which switches according to a gaming state at least any one of three functions by the period to implement and the period which does not implement.

  When a special game occurs and the winning stop pattern at that time is in a specific mode, the probability variation game of the winning lottery (hereinafter referred to as “probability change” as appropriate) that is one of the specific games after the end of the special game ) Is further started. During the chance change of the winning / failing lottery, the winning / failing lottery with a higher probability of winning than the normal probability state is performed, and a new special game can be generated relatively early. The probability change of the success / failure lottery is continued until the next big hit occurs, but as a modification, it may be configured to end when a predetermined limited number of symbol changes are made. In this embodiment, the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 are started at the same time as when the probability change is started, and the easy entry state is also started. May be executed.

  FIG. 2 shows a basic structure on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine. The power switch 40 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10. The main board 102 controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 and processes all game operations such as a lottery when a winning is made to the start port 62. The sub board 104 includes the liquid crystal unit 42 and controls display contents on the effect display device 60, operations of the plurality of movable objects 140, and lighting of the game effect lamp 90, and in particular, display contents according to the lottery result by the main board 102. And the lighting of the movable accessory 140 and the game effect lamp 90 is activated along with the progress of the production. The main board 102 and the sub board 104 constitute a game control device 100. The back setting mechanism 39 includes a prize ball tank 44, a flow path for prize balls, a payout unit 43 for delivering prize balls. The payout unit 43 pays out the game balls supplied from the winning ball tank 44 to the upper ball tray 15 in accordance with winning in each winning opening. The payout control board 45 controls the payout operation by the payout unit 43. The launching device 46 launches the stored balls in the upper ball tray 15 to the game area 52 one by one. The launch control board 47 controls the launch operation of the launch device 46. The power supply unit 48 supplies power to each part of the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  FIG. 3 shows functional blocks of the pachinko gaming machine 10 in this embodiment. In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the game control device 100 includes a start port 62, a big winning port 66, a general winning port 72, an operating port 68, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, a normal symbol display device 59, and operation buttons 82. The speaker 18, the game effect lamp 90, and the movable accessory 140 are electrically connected to each other, and can transmit and receive various control signals. The game control apparatus 100 controls not only the basic operation of the game but also the staging operations such as the symbol variation display, the movable accessory 140, and the electric decoration. The game control device 100 is configured in such a manner that functions are shared between a main board 102 that controls the overall operation of the pachinko gaming machine 10 including basic operations of the game, and a sub board 104 that controls design effects and the like. The game control device 100 is configured by hardware including elements such as a ROM and a RAM for storing data and programs, and a CPU used for arithmetic processing.

  In the present embodiment, the main board 102 is a ball determination unit 110, a winning / failing lottery unit 112, a symbol determination unit 114, a variation pattern determination unit 115, a hold control unit 116, a main display control unit 118, a special game control unit 120, a specific game. An execution unit 122 and an opening / closing control unit 124 are provided. The sub-board 104 in this embodiment includes a pattern storage unit 130, a design mode determination unit 131, an effect determination unit 132, an effect display control unit 134, an accessory control unit 136, an RTC 150, an elapsed day storage unit 152, and an operation history storage unit 154. , Operation history update means 156, elapsed days update means 158, current day elapsed days determination means 160, and backup means 162. Each functional block included in the main board 102 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the sub board 104 instead of the main board 102. Similarly, each functional block included in the sub-board 104 may be configured such that any one of them is mounted on the main board 102 instead of the sub-board 104.

  However, since the transmission / reception of data between the main board 102 and the sub board 104 is unidirectional from the main board 102 to the sub board 104, each data transmission / reception in such a direction can realize each operation. The configuration is arranged on the main board 102 and the sub board 104. In this way, since the unidirectionality of data transmission from the main board 102 to the sub board 104 is maintained, data cannot be transmitted from the configuration included in the sub board 104 to the configuration included in the main board 102. It is not possible to request data transmission. Therefore, the information generated on the main board 102 cannot be referred to from the sub board 104 unless the main board 102 unilaterally transmits the information to the sub board 104.

  The entrance determination means 110 determines whether or not a game ball has entered each winning opening. When receiving the start winning information, the winning determination means 110 determines that the game ball has won the start opening 62, and when receiving the big winning opening winning information, determines that the game ball has won the big winning opening 66, and the general winning is obtained. When the information is received, it is determined that the game ball has won the general winning opening 72. When receiving the passage information, the ball entering determination unit 110 determines that the game ball has passed through the operation port 68.

  The success / failure lottery means 112 obtains, as a success / failure lottery value, a random number value for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game when the starting hole 62 is entered. To do. For example, the success / failure lottery value is acquired from a value range from “0” to “65535”. The “random number” in the present application may not be a mathematically generated random number, but may be a pseudo-random number generated by a hardware random number, a software random number, or the like. The value acquired as the success / failure lottery value by the success / failure lottery means 112 is temporarily held by the hold control means 116. However, the lottery value is held within a range not exceeding the predetermined holding upper limit number.

  The success / failure lottery means 112 holds a plurality of success / failure tables to be referred to in the success / failure determination. In the plurality of success / failure tables, determination results of big hits, small wins, and misses are associated with the success / failure lottery values, and the success / failure probabilities are determined according to the associated jackpot range settings. The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to the success / failure table based on the normal probability at the normal time, and refers to the success / failure table whose probability of winning is higher than the normal probability when the probability changes. The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to any of the plurality of success / failure tables and determines whether or not the success / failure lottery value is a win.

  The success / failure lottery means 112 acquires a lottery value as an open lottery for determining a normal symbol when the game ball passes through the operation port 68. The success / failure lottery means 112 holds a success / failure table in which the correspondence between the lottery value of the open lottery and the success / failure result is determined, and determines the success / failure result of the open lottery with reference to the success / failure table. In the normal state, the winning / failing table with a probability of 1/256 is referred to, and in the easy entry state, the winning / failing table with a probability of 250/256 is referred to. The lottery value of the normal symbol is temporarily held by the hold control means 116. However, the lottery value is held only when the predetermined hold upper limit number held by the hold control means 116 is not exceeded.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the success / failure determination table. The success / failure determination table in this figure associates determination results of big hits, small hits and misses, and winning / failing lottery values. Depending on the respective range settings, the hit / failure probabilities of big hits and small hits are determined. Is determined. The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to the success / failure determination table of FIG. In the success / failure lottery performed by the success / failure lottery means 112, in the normal state, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), only when the success / failure lottery value falls within the range of 0 to 399 is a big hit. At the time of certainty change, as shown in FIG. 4B, the range of the big hit is expanded, and not only when the winning / losing lottery value falls within the range of 0 to 399 but also when the lottery falls within the range of 400 to 2999. Thus, the range corresponding to the big hit changes according to the gaming state. In the case of hitting a big hit, whether it is a 15R big hit or a 2R big hit and whether or not there is a probability change is determined separately according to the stop symbol of the special symbol. In this figure, the single hit / fail judgment table shows the big hit range for both normal time and probability change, but the success / fail judgment table may be prepared separately for normal time and for probability change.

  In the present embodiment, even if the winning / raising lottery value does not correspond to the big hit range, that is, a so-called out of range, it becomes a small hit if it falls within the predetermined range. In the example of this figure, when the success / failure lottery value acquired by the success / failure lottery means 112 falls within the range of 65000 to 65535, it is a small hit. In this way, if it does not correspond to the big hit, it is all “out”, but in the example in this figure, the winning lottery value range when it does not correspond to the small hit out of the cases where it does not correspond to the big hit Is expressed as “displacement”. In addition, although the example which implement | achieved the determination table of whether it is a big hit and the determination table of whether it is a small win in the figure in the form of a single winning / nothing determination table was shown in this figure, each may be implement | achieved as a separate table Good.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 is variably displayed in a special symbol form on the special symbol display device 61. In addition, a decorative symbol that shows the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 in an effect manner is variably displayed on the effect display device 60. The success / failure lottery means 112 transmits the lottery result corresponding to the symbol variation to the symbol mode determining unit 131 and the effect determining unit 132 together with the symbol variation control command at the timing of starting the symbol variation.

  The symbol determination means 114 determines the stop symbol of the special symbol to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61 according to the lottery result by the success / failure lottery means 112. The symbol determination means 114 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a special symbol stop symbol. The symbol determination means 114 acquires a symbol determination lottery value for determining a special symbol, and determines the stop symbol of the special symbol according to the determination result of the success / failure lottery means 112 and the symbol determination lottery value.

  The symbol determination means 114 determines the stop symbol of the normal symbol to be displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 according to the result of the open lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112. The symbol determination means 114 determines the stop symbol of the normal symbol according to the result of the open lottery in order to display the result of the open lottery in the normal symbol display device 59 in the form of a normal symbol. When the determined stop symbol becomes a predetermined symbol, it is determined that the normal symbol is a hit, and after the change display of the normal symbol is stopped at the stop symbol, the opening / closing control means 124 expands the start port 62. The opening mechanism 63 is expanded for a predetermined time.

  The symbol determination unit 114 sends data indicating the determined stop symbol to the main display control unit 118, the symbol mode determination unit 131, and the effect determination unit 132.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a symbol determination table. FIG. 5A is a table that is referred to when the determination result is a big hit, FIG. 5B is a table that is referred to when the result of determination is wrong, and FIG. This table is referred to when the determination result is a small hit. The symbol determination means 114 refers to the symbol determination table of this diagram in symbol determination. In each symbol determination table, the correspondence between the special symbol represented by the numbers “0” to “9” and the symbol “−” and the symbol lottery value is defined. Each type of special symbol is associated with the result of determining whether or not the big hit, small hit, or missed, the odd number corresponds to the big hit, the even number corresponds to the small hit, and the symbol “-” is out. Correspond.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the special symbols “1”, “3”, “5”, “7”, and “9”, which are odd numbers among the special symbols “0” to “9”, are associated with the jackpot. . Among them, the special symbol “7” indicates a 15R jackpot with certainty and is associated with a symbol lottery value range “0 to 99”. The special symbol “3” indicates a 2R jackpot with certainty and is associated with a symbol lottery value range “100 to 149”. Special symbols “1”, “5”, and “9” indicate 15R big hits without any probability change, the special symbol “1” is associated with the symbol lottery value range “150 to 189”, and the special symbol “190 to 229”. “5” is associated with, and “230 to 255” is associated with the special symbol “9”.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the special symbol “-” is associated with the entire range of symbol lottery values in the case where the determination result is wrong.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, the special symbols “0”, “2”, “4”, “6”, and “8” that are even numbers among the special symbols “0” to “9” are associated with the small hits. Yes. The special symbol “0” is associated with the symbol lottery value range “0 to 49”, and the special symbol “2” is associated with the symbol lottery value range “50 to 99”. The special symbol “4” is associated with the symbol lottery value range “100 to 149”, the special symbol “6” is associated with the symbol lottery value range “150 to 199”, and the special symbol “8” is the symbol lottery. Corresponding to the value range “200 to 255”.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the variation pattern determination unit 115 selects any variation pattern from a plurality of types of variation patterns according to the result of the success / failure lottery. The variation pattern determining means 115 holds a variation pattern table to be referred to in order to determine the variation pattern. The variation pattern determination unit 115 sends data indicating the determined variation pattern to the main display control unit 118, the symbol mode determination unit 131, and the effect determination unit 132. The variation pattern determination unit 115 stores a plurality of types of variation patterns. A plurality of types of variation patterns are defined on the assumption that there are various variation times, short and long, and that symbol variation is also performed by a decorative symbol composed of a plurality of symbols in the variation time. In each variation pattern, a variation display time is defined for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the variation of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is stopped when the variation display time elapses.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the variation pattern table. The variation pattern determining means 115 refers to the variation pattern table for removal shown in FIG. 6A when the result of the determination is wrong. When the determination result is a 15R jackpot, the fluctuation pattern table for 15R jackpot shown in FIG. 6B is referred to. When the determination result is 2R big hit or small hit, the variation pattern table for 2R big hit and small hit shown in FIG. 6C is referred.

  In FIG. 6A, the pattern lottery values 0 to 10 are associated with a super reach “super 1”, and the pattern lottery values 11 to 20 are associated with a super reach “super 2”. The pattern lottery values 21 to 255 are associated with any variation pattern of “normal 1”, “normal 2”, and “no reach”. As described above, when the result of the determination is wrong, any one of super reach, normal reach, and no reach may be selected. In the variation pattern table for detachment, when a variation pattern of “no reach” is selected, a different table is referred to so that a variation pattern having a shorter variation time than the normal state is selected in the short time state. Further, the deviation variation pattern table is defined such that the column to be referred to is different for each number of reservations, and details of the normal state will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 6B, the super lot of “super 1” is associated with the pattern lottery values 0 to 120, and the super reach of “super 2” is associated with the pattern lottery values 121 to 240. The pattern lottery values 241 to 250 are associated with the reach of “normal 1”, and the pattern lottery values 251 to 255 are associated with the reach of “normal 2”. As described above, when the determination result is 15R big hit, the variation pattern with reach is selected.

  In FIG. 6C, the pattern lottery values 0 to 122 are associated with the super reach “super 3”, and the pattern lottery values 123 to 255 are associated with the normal reach “normal 3”. As described above, when the determination result is 2R big hit or small hit, “Super 3” or “Normal 3” is selected with a probability of about 50%.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the fluctuation pattern determination means 115 determines the fluctuation display time of the normal symbol. In the normal state, the variable display time is determined to be 60 seconds, and in the easy entry state, the variable display time is determined to be 6 seconds.

  When there is a new entry at the start port 62 and a new winning / failing lottery is executed, the holding control means 116 displays a new entry when a symbol change corresponding to the previous entry or lottery is displayed. The result of the success / failure lottery based on is suspended until the start of variable display of the symbol corresponding to the lottery. In the present embodiment, as a result of the lottery determination, the number of the lottery is held as a holding ball with an upper limit of four. The success / failure lottery value here includes a success / failure lottery value, a symbol lottery value, and a variation pattern lottery value. The holding control means 116 further holds the usual lottery value acquired by the success / failure lottery means 112 as a holding ball. These numbers of holdings are represented by the number of lighting or blinking numbers of the special symbol holding display device 20 and the normal symbol holding display device 22, respectively.

  The main display control means 118 causes the special symbol display device 61 to display the lottery result by the success / failure lottery means 112 as a variation display of the special symbol 192 according to the variation pattern determined by the variation pattern determination unit 115. The main display control means 118 sets a new symbol variation start condition that the symbol variation display corresponding to the success / failure lottery performed before that has ended. The main display control means 118 transmits a change start command and a change stop command to the effect display control means 134 at the timing for starting and stopping the change display of the special symbol 192. When the variation start command is transmitted, values indicating the determined determination result, the stop symbol, and the variation pattern are transmitted to the effect display control means 134 together with the variation start command. When transmitting the variation stop command, a value indicating the stop symbol is transmitted to the effect display control means 134 together with the variation stop command. Thereby, the fluctuation display by the main display control means 118 and the effect display control means 134 is synchronized, and the interlock is maintained. The main display control means 118 displays the result of the normal symbol lottery on the normal symbol display device 59 as a normal symbol variation display.

  The special game control means 120 indicates that the special game operation condition is established when the special symbol 192 is stopped in a predetermined big hit mode when the success / failure lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112 results in the transition to the special game. A special game is executed by determining and opening the special winning opening 66. The special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is continuously performed a plurality of times, and is configured by a plurality of unit games with one opening / closing as a unit. Special games include a 15R jackpot that repeats a unit game 15 times and a 2R jackpot that repeats a unit game that has a shorter opening time than the 15R jackpot only twice. In the case of 15R jackpot, in principle, the big winning opening 66 is opened for about 30 seconds in one unit game. In the case of 2R big hit, the big winning opening 66 is opened for about 0.5 seconds in one unit game. The special game control means 120 ends the special game when the set round number of unit games is exhausted. Even in the case of 2R big hit, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, the big winning opening 66 may be opened in the same manner as the 15R big hit.

  The specific game executing means 122 controls the normal game in the probability changing state, the short time state, and the easy-to-enter state. The specific game execution means 122 shifts the game state to the time-saving state and the easy-to-enter state after the end of the special game. On the other hand, the transition to the probability variation state after the end of the special game is limited to the case where the symbol determined by the symbol determination means 114 is a big hit symbol accompanied by the transition to probability variation. The short-time state and the easy-to-enter state are continued until the number of times of display of the special symbol 192 reaches a predetermined number of end conditions, for example, 100 times from the end of the special game. However, when the state changes to the probability changing state at the same time, as long as the probability changing state continues, the short time state and the easy entry state are continued. That is, it continues until the next big hit occurs. Thus, the end of the short time state and the easy entry state is determined according to the gaming state. In the short time state, the fluctuation pattern determining means 115 selects a fluctuation pattern having a short fluctuation time so that the fluctuation display time of the special symbol 192 is substantially shortened. However, in a normal state, a variation pattern table corresponding to the number of holds of the result of lottery determination by the hold control unit 116 is referred to, and a change pattern with a long variation time is likely to appear as the number of hold by the hold control unit 116 decreases. In the easy entry state, the normal symbol time is shortened, the normal symbol probability change, and the expansion mechanism 63 is opened and extended. On the other hand, the probability variation state is continued until a special game with the next jackpot is executed. During the probable change state, the probability that the success / failure determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 is a big hit is maintained at a high value.

  The opening / closing control means 124 controls the opening / closing of the ordinary electric accessory at the start opening 62 and the special winning opening 66. When the normal symbol is stopped at a specific symbol, the opening / closing control unit 124 sends an opening instruction to the ordinary electric accessory solenoid 76 to open the start port 62. Further, the opening / closing control means 124 sends an opening instruction to the special winning opening solenoid 80 during the special game, and opens the special winning opening 66.

  The pattern storage means 130 holds a plurality of effect patterns in which effect image contents to be displayed on the effect display device 60 in the variation of the decorative design 190 and the display process thereof are determined. The effect pattern is displayed separately from a plurality of variable effect patterns in which the change process from start to stop of the change and the change process in the change display of the decorative pattern 190 and the change display of the decorative pattern are displayed, and the degree of expectation for the jackpot And a plurality of notice effect patterns that suggest the height of the notice before the change display stops.

  The effect determining means 132 determines the contents of the effect displayed on the effect display device 60 by the effect display control means 134 according to the result of the success / failure lottery received from the success / failure lottery means 112. The effect determining means 132 selects one of a plurality of change effect pattern data corresponding to the change pattern of the special symbol determined by the change pattern determining means 115, reads out the data from the pattern storage means 130, and obtains information on the change effect pattern. This is sent to the effect display control means 134. The effect determining means 132 holds a pattern table that should be referred to in order to select a variable effect pattern.

  Each variation effect pattern has a variation time for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the symbol variation is stopped when the variation time elapses. The effect determining unit 132 selects a variation effect pattern of the effect image having the same variation time according to the variation pattern of the special symbol.

  The symbol form determining means 131 determines the combination of stop symbols of the decorative symbol 190 and their arrangement according to the result of the lottery by the winning / failing lottery means 112, the special symbol stop symbol, the special symbol variation pattern, and the decorative symbol variation effect pattern. decide. The symbol form determination unit 131 transmits information indicating the determined combination of stop symbols to the effect display control unit 134. The symbol form determining means 131 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine the stop symbol of the decorative symbol.

  The stop symbol of the decorative symbol 190 is formed as a combination of three symbols. For example, when the determination result of the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates a transition to a special game of 15R jackpot, a specific combination such as “777” or “ A combination of three symbols such as “111” is selected. In this case, it is preferable that the same numbers as the special symbols 192 are selected as the numbers to be arranged as the decorative symbols 190, but the numbers may not necessarily be the same. For example, when the special symbol 192 is “7”, the decorative symbol 190 is “777”. A specific combination, for example, a predetermined combination such as “357” is also selected when the result of the determination is a 2R big hit or a small hit, but the specific combination is not necessarily a combination of three symbols. It does not have to be. When the determination result is neither big hit nor small hit, it is a combination in which three symbols such as “312” and “946” are not arranged, and a specific combination selected at the time of 2R big hit or small hit A combination that does not apply is selected. When the determination result is not 15R big hit, and a variation pattern indicating a loss with reach is selected, a combination with only one symbol such as “191” or “727” is selected. .

  The notice effect pattern is an effect pattern for temporarily displaying an image, animation, video, or the like of a specific character or motif, or an effect pattern for outputting a specific sound. The effect by the notice effect pattern is executed in parallel with the symbol variation, and suggests that the symbol variation is highly expected to stop in the big hit mode. For example, there are a normal notice effect in which only one character image is displayed on the screen, and a group notice effect in which a large number of characters are displayed so as to pass from one end to the other end of the screen. Further, the display process of the notice effect is divided into a plurality of stages, and the number of stages to be displayed is made variable, and a step-up notice effect that is set such that the greater the number of stages is, the higher the degree of expectation for the big hit is included.

  The notice effect pattern includes a pattern in which the effect is executed at a timing after the display form of the decorative symbol 190 reaches the reach state and the final stop state of the symbol is notified, and no decorative symbol 190 is stopped. There is a pattern in which the performance is executed at the timing and the reach is reached at the same time.

  The effect determining means 132 determines whether or not to display the notice effect on the effect display device 60 according to the result of the lottery determination, makes a pre-effect setting, and determines the notice effect pattern to be displayed. To do. The effect determining means 132 holds a notice determination table that should be referred to in order to determine whether or not to display the notice effect, and a notice type table that should be referred to when selecting the type of the notice effect pattern. The notice decision table is set so that different columns are referred to depending on the result of the lottery, and if the lottery is a win, the notice lottery will be displayed with a higher probability than if it was missed. Correspondence between whether to display the result and the notice effect is determined. Thereby, the high expectation degree to the big hit can be suggested by displaying the notice effect itself.

  The effect display control means 134 causes the effect display device 60 to variably display the effect image including the decorative pattern according to the selected change effect pattern data as a result of the success / failure lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112. The effect display control means 134 starts a new symbol variation when a variation start command for the decorative symbol 190 is received.

  The effect display control means 134, when the effect determining means 132 determines to display the notice effect, causes the effect display control means 134 to superimpose the notice effect according to the selected notice effect pattern on the effect display device 60 in the form of superimposing the symbol effect. Display. The effect display control means 134 further controls effect processing such as lighting and extinguishing of the game effect lamp 90 and sound output from the speaker 18.

  In accordance with the instruction received from the effect display control means 134, the accessory control means 136 causes the movable accessory 140 to act in an effect manner in accordance with the effect contents in the effect display device 60 and the blinking process of the game effect lamp 90.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing in detail a variation pattern table for detachment. In the variation pattern table 210 of this figure, the range of the pattern lottery value associated with the variation pattern is different for each number of holds. Specifically, the smaller the number of holds, the wider the range of pattern lottery values assigned to variation patterns with relatively long variation times, and the probability that variation patterns with long variation times will be selected is increased. . Therefore, the average fluctuation time becomes longer as the number of holdings by the holding control means 116 is smaller. Accordingly, when the number of holds by the hold control unit 116 is less than a predetermined number, for example, 1 to 2, the selection probability of the change pattern having a long change time becomes higher than usual, and the change time tends to be relatively long.

  The first column 212 shows the correspondence between the pattern lottery value range and the variation pattern when the number of holds as a result of the lottery determination by the hold control means 116 is one. Similarly, in the second column 214, the third column 216, and the fourth column 218, the correspondence between the pattern lottery value range and the variation pattern in the case where the number of holdings as a result of the lottery determination by the holding control means 116 is 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The relationship is shown. That is, it can be considered that the first column 212, the second column 214, the third column 216, and the fourth column 218 indicate the variation pattern table for each number of holds. In this figure, an example will be described in which a plurality of variation patterns that can be selected at the time of deviation are classified into five types according to variation time, but actually, a plurality of variation effect patterns are prepared for each of these classifications. This is equivalent to the fact that dozens of types of variation effect patterns are associated with the lottery value ranges for each category. In order to compare the ratio of each pattern lottery value range in the second column 214, the third column 216, and the fourth column 218 in this figure with the ratio of the pattern lottery value range in the first column 212, Broken lines indicating the ratio of the pattern lottery value range are drawn in the second column 214, the third column 216, and the fourth column 218.

  The first range 222 includes any of the first column 212, the second column 214, the third column 216, and the fourth column 218 as a variation pattern when the lottery value corresponds to a pattern lottery value from 0 to 10. A super reach variation pattern of “super 1” is associated. The second range 224 includes any of the first column 212, the second column 214, the third column 216, and the fourth column 218 as a variation pattern when the lottery value corresponds to a pattern lottery value from 11 to 20. A super reach variation pattern of “super 2” is associated. Thus, in the case of the pattern lottery value with the lottery value from 0 to 10 and the pattern lottery value with the lottery value from 11 to 20, the variation pattern having the same variation time is selected regardless of the number of holdings.

  The third range 226 includes normal reach in the first column 212, the second column 214, the third column 216, and the fourth column 218 as a variation pattern when the lottery value corresponds to a pattern lottery value from 21 to 255, respectively. “Normal 1”, “Normal 2”, and “Reach without reach” are associated with each other. However, the range of pattern lottery values associated with each variation pattern varies depending on the number of holds. In the first column 212, the sizes of the lottery value ranges to which “normal 1”, “normal 2”, and “no reach” are associated are approximately equal, and the ranges obtained by dividing 21 to 255 into approximately three equal portions are associated with each other. Yes. On the other hand, in the second column 214, the size of the lottery value range associated with “normal 1” and “normal 2” is smaller than the lottery value range associated with “no reach”. Further, in the third column 216 and the fourth column 218, the size of the lottery value range associated with each of “normal 1” and “normal 2” is further reduced.

  The fluctuation time of “Normal 1” and “Normal 2” may be longer than the fluctuation time of “Out of reach”, and in the case of “Out of reach”, the fluctuation time may be shortened like a short time state. Depending on the setting contents of the third range 226, the average variation time varies. The pattern lottery value range for “Normal 1” and “Normal 2” decreases as the number of holds increases from 0 to 1, 2, 3, 4, and conversely the pattern lottery value range for “out of reach” increases. Therefore, the average fluctuation time becomes shorter as the number of holds increases, and conversely, the average change time becomes longer as the number of holds decreases. In this way, by using a variation pattern table in which the correspondence between the pattern lottery value range and the variation pattern is different for each number of holdings, control that makes it easy to select a variation pattern with a long variation time when the number of holdings decreases is realized. be able to.

  The variation pattern of “out of reach” associated with the third column 216 has a shorter variation time than the “out of reach” associated with the first column 212 and the second column 214, so-called “shortening variation”. This is the fluctuation pattern. Further, the fluctuation pattern of “out of reach” associated with the fourth column 218 has a shorter variation time than the “out of reach” associated with the first column 212 and the second column 214, and the third column This is a fluctuation pattern of so-called “super-shortening fluctuation” in which the fluctuation time is shorter than “216 shortening fluctuation”.

Hereinafter, a characteristic configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
The RTC 150 is a real-time clock, and holds the current date and time and the current day of the week (hereinafter also referred to as “current Sunday”). The elapsed days storage unit 152 is a storage area that holds the number of days elapsed since the day when the pachinko gaming machine 10 was introduced to the store.

  The operation history storage unit 154 stores information on whether or not the pachinko gaming machine 10 is operated for each day of the week (that is, month to day), with a plurality of days (one week in this embodiment) as a unit period. As a storage area. In the operation history in the initial state, information indicating that the pachinko gaming machine 10 is not in operation is associated with each day of the week.

  The operation history update unit 156 starts measuring the duration of the power-on state when the pachinko gaming machine 10 is turned on. When the power-on state continues for a predetermined time (5 hours in this embodiment) or longer, the operation history in the operation history storage unit 154 is updated. Specifically, the current day of the week is acquired from the RTC 150, and information indicating that the pachinko gaming machine 10 has been operated (hereinafter also referred to as an “operation flag”) is recorded in association with the current day of the operation history.

  The elapsed days update means 158 appropriately updates the elapsed days held in the elapsed days storage means 152 when the pachinko gaming machine 10 is turned on. Specifically, first, the current day of the week is acquired from the RTC 150, and it is determined whether or not the operation flag for the current day of the operation history storage unit 154 has been set. When the operation flag has been set on the current day and the number of days for which the operation flag has been set in the operation history is 5 days or more, the elapsed day storage unit 152 holds that the unit period (one week in this embodiment) has elapsed. The number of days in the unit period (7 days in this embodiment) is added to the elapsed days. On the other hand, if the operation flag has been set on the current day and the number of days for which the operation flag has been set in the operation history is less than five days, the number of days for which the operation flag has been set is added to the number of days that the elapsed day storage unit 152 holds. To do.

  Here, the threshold value of 5 days is reduced from 1 week (7 days) to 2 days of a spare day corresponding to a day when the game machine cannot be operated due to a closed day of the store or due to an unexpected trouble. Period. This threshold value is not limited to five days, and another number of days may be adopted as the threshold value depending on the closed state of the store or the operating state of the gaming machine. For example, when the regular holiday of the store is 2 days a week, the threshold value may be 7 days-business holiday (2 days) -preliminary date (1 day) = 4 days.

  When the elapsed days stored in the elapsed days storage unit 152 is updated, the operation history update unit 156 clears the operation history held in the operation history storage unit 154 until then. Specifically, the operation flag associated with each day of the week in the operation history is cleared, and the operation history is returned to the initial state.

  The day elapsed day determination means 160 determines the number of days elapsed from the day when the pachinko gaming machine 10 was introduced to the store to the present day as the day elapsed days. Specifically, the total of the elapsed days held in the elapsed days storage unit 152 and the days for which the operation flag has been set in the operation history of the operation history storage unit 154 is determined as the number of days elapsed.

  The effect determining means 132, when the current day elapsed days determined by the current day elapsed days determining means 160 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of days, a special effect according to the elapsed days, in other words, an aspect different from that It decides to output the production. Specifically, it may be determined to output an effect indicating that a predetermined date has elapsed since the introduction of the pachinko gaming machine 10. In addition, for a premium effect whose appearance frequency is relatively low while the number of days elapsed is less than a predetermined number of days, the appearance frequency becomes relatively high when the number of days elapsed is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of days. It may be changed as follows. For example, while the number of days elapsed is less than a predetermined number of days, the production pattern is determined with reference to a pattern table with a premium production selection probability set to 0%, while the number of days elapsed is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of days. After that, the effect pattern may be determined with reference to a pattern table in which the selection probability of the premium effect is set to 20%.

  The backup unit 162 backs up predetermined information to a storage area (hereinafter also referred to as “continuous storage area”) that can keep the information while the external power supply is stopped. Specifically, when the backup means 162 detects that the external power supply to the pachinko gaming machine 10 is stopped, the elapsed days stored in the elapsed days storage means 152 during the predetermined backup period, and the operation history The operation history held by the storage unit 154 is acquired and stored in the continuous storage area. When the external power supply is resumed, the backup unit 162 stores the elapsed days recorded in the continuous storage area in the elapsed days storage unit 152 and stores the operation history in the operation history storage unit 154. Note that the backup unit 162 may acquire information indicating whether power is supplied to the pachinko gaming machine 10 from the power supply unit 48 of FIG.

  The continuous storage area may be a storage area (memory) in which power supply from a predetermined backup power source is continuously performed while external power supply is stopped, and may be a non-volatile storage medium such as an EEPROM. It may be a configured storage area. It should be noted that power supply from a predetermined backup power source is continuously performed to the RTC 150 while the external power supply is stopped, and the RTC 150 continues to manage the current date.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the transition of the operation history and the elapsed days. FIG. 8A shows the initial state of the pachinko gaming machine 10, the operation flag is not set in the operation history of the operation history storage unit 154, and the elapsed day number of the elapsed day storage unit 152 is 0 days. Stored. When the pachinko gaming machine 10 is introduced to the store, in other words, when the first pachinko gaming machine 10 is operated for five hours or more on a Friday, as shown in FIG. 8B, the operation history storage means 154 An operation flag is set in the Friday field. FIG. 8C shows a situation in which the operation flag is sequentially set until Thursday of the next week except for Wednesday, which is a closed day of the store.

  FIG. 8D shows a state where the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is turned on on Friday one week later and the elapsed days are updated. That is, since the operation flag has been set in the Friday field of the operation history storage unit 154 and the operation flag has been set for 6 of the 7 days of the operation history storage unit 154, the elapsed time storage unit 152 has elapsed. 7 days are added to the number of days. At the same time, the operation history of the operation history storage unit 154 is cleared. Thereafter, when the pachinko gaming machine 10 is operated for 5 hours or more, an operation flag is newly set in the Friday field of the operation history storage means 154 as shown in FIG. When the power of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is turned on on the next Saturday, the current day elapsed time determining means 160 and the elapsed days "7 days" in the elapsed day storage means 152 and the number of days for which the operation flag has been set in the operation history "1" “8 days”, which is the sum of “days”, is determined as the number of days elapsed.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a basic operation process in the pachinko gaming machine. First, an effect preparation process is executed (S2). Then, a process is executed when the game ball enters the start port 62, the general winning port 72, the big winning port 66, etc. (S10). A game control process is executed (S14), and if it is not in a normal game (N in S12), a special game control process (S16) or a small hit game control process is executed (S17), and a winning process in S10 In accordance with the number of prize balls set at, prize ball payout according to various winnings is processed (S18). When it is detected that the power supply from the outside is stopped, for example, when the power source is switched from ON to OFF (Y in S20), the backup unit 162 displays the elapsed days stored in the elapsed day storage unit 152 and the operation history. The operation history held by the storage unit 154 is backed up to the continuous storage area (S22). If the stop of power supply is not detected (N in S20), S22 is skipped.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail the effect preparation processing in S2 of FIG. If it is the timing when power supply from the outside is started, for example, immediately after the power source is switched from OFF to ON (Y in S200), if measurement of the operating time has not started (N in S202), The operation history update unit 156 starts measuring the operation time (S204). If the measurement of the operation time has already been started (Y in S202), S204 is skipped. Then, the elapsed days determination process is executed to determine the elapsed days on the current day (S206).

  When the number of days elapsed on the current day is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of days (Y in S208), the effect determining means 132 prepares for output of the special effect, in other words, the appearance rate of various effects, in other words, the selection rate of various effect patterns Is changed to a different value (S210). The effect determining unit 132 may change the pattern table to be referred to when determining the effect pattern. For example, from the pattern table so far, the selection rate of the first production pattern as the normal production is set to a relatively high value, and the selection rate of the second production pattern as the special production is set to a relatively low value. The selection rate of the second effect pattern may be a relatively high value, and the selection rate of the first effect pattern may be switched to another pattern table set to a relatively low value.

  If the number of days elapsed on that day is less than a predetermined number of days (N in S208), S210 is skipped. If it is not immediately after the power supply from the outside is started, for example, immediately after the power source is switched from OFF to ON (N in S200), S202 to S210 are skipped. When the operation time of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is 5 hours or more (Y in S212), the operation history update unit 156 acquires the current Sunday from the RTC 150 and sets an operation flag in association with the current day of the operation history. (S214). If the operating time of the pachinko gaming machine 10 is less than 5 hours (N in S212), S214 is skipped.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing in detail the elapsed days determination process in S206 of FIG. The backup unit 162 restores the elapsed days backed up in the continuous storage area to the elapsed days storage unit 152 and restores the operation history to the operation history storage unit 154 (S220). The day elapsed day determination means 160 acquires the current day of the week from the RTC 150, and if the operation flag has been set for that day in the operation history (Y in S222), executes the subsequent S224 to S230. If the operation flag is not set for the current Sunday (N in S222), S224 to S230 are skipped.

  If the number of days for which the operation flag is set in the operation history is 5 days or more (Y in S224), the elapsed day update means 158 is 7 days as a unit period with respect to the elapsed days held in the elapsed day storage means 152 Are added (S226). If the number of days for which the operation flag is set in the operation history is less than 5 days (N in S224), the elapsed day update means 158 has set the operation flag for the elapsed days held in the elapsed day storage means 152. The number of days is added (S228). When the elapsed days in the elapsed days storage unit 152 is updated, the operation history update unit 156 clears the previous operation history (S230). The current day elapsed days determination means 160 determines the current day elapsed days based on the elapsed days held by the elapsed days storage means 152 and the operation history held by the operation history storage means 154 (S232).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. In the normal game control process, if the winning / losing lottery value is on hold (Y in S30) and the symbol variation is not being displayed (N in S32), the winning / losing lottery means 112 executes the determining process. (S34). In accordance with the determination result, the main display control means 118 starts changing display, transmits a change start command to the effect display control means 134, and the effect display control means 134 that receives the command displays the effect image according to the change effect pattern. The fluctuation display is started (S36). If the winning / losing lottery value is not held in S30 (N in S30), the processing from S32 to S36 is skipped, and if the symbol variation is being displayed in S32 (Y in S32), S34 and S36. Is skipped. Subsequently, if the symbol variation display has already started (Y in S38), the symbol variation display process is executed (S40). If the symbol variation display has not started (N in S38), S40 is skipped. .

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing in detail the success / failure determination process of S34 in FIG. First, the success / failure lottery means 112 reads the success / failure lottery value (S42), and determines the success / failure based on the success / failure lottery value (S44). The symbol determination unit 114 determines a special symbol stop symbol based on the result of the determination (S46), and the variation pattern determination unit 115 selects the variation pattern of the special symbol (S48). The effect determining means 132 determines the stop symbol combination of the decorative symbols based on the determination result and the special symbol (S50), and selects the variation effect pattern of the decorative symbols according to the variation pattern of the special symbols (S52).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing in detail the special game control process of S16 in FIG. If the result of the lottery is a big hit (Y in S90), the special game has already started (Y in S92), and the grand prize opening 66 has not been opened (N in S98), the big prize opening The release process 66 is executed (S100). At this time, display of the set jackpot effect is also started. If the big prize opening 66 has been opened (Y of S98), the closing process of the big prize opening 66 is executed (S102). As a result, if the special winning opening 66 is closed (Y in S104), the process proceeds to S106. If it is not in the closed state (N in S104), the process after S106 is skipped, and this process is temporarily ended. On the other hand, if the special game has not started in S92 (N in S92), the special game is started (S94), the display of the start demonstration effect is started (S96), and this process is temporarily ended.

  In S106, it is determined whether or not a demonstration production, which is a production during a special game, is being performed. Note that the “demonstration effect” here includes a start demonstration effect and an end demonstration effect. If the demonstration is not in progress (N in S106), it is determined whether or not a special game end condition is satisfied with reference to an end flag described later (S110), and if the special game end condition is satisfied (S110). Y) After the end flag is turned off (S112), display of the end demonstration effect is started (S114). If the special game end condition is not satisfied (N in S110), this process is temporarily ended. If it is determined in S106 that the demonstration effect is being performed (Y in S106), and the end demonstration effect is completed (Y in S116), the special game is terminated (S118), and the specific game, that is, the probability change, the time reduction, and the entry The easy state is started (S120). If the end demonstration effect has not ended (N in S116), the processes in S118 and S120 are skipped. If it is not a big hit (N in S90), the flow after S92 in this figure is skipped.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing in detail the release process of S100 in FIG. When the opening timing of the special winning opening 66 based on the set opening / closing pattern is reached (Y in S122), the opening / closing control means 124 uniformly turns off the passage flag and sets the operation of the opening / closing pattern (S124). The special winning opening 66 is opened (S126). In addition, a big hit effect corresponding to the number of repetitions of the current unit game or a big hit effect corresponding to the number of repetitions being different is set and started. When it is not the opening timing (N of S122), the processes of S124 and S126 are skipped.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing in detail the closing process of S102 in FIG. When the closing timing of the special winning opening 66 based on the set opening / closing pattern is reached, the open / close control means 124 closes the special winning opening 66. That is, during a special game, whether the end condition based on the number of balls is satisfied (Y in S130) or the end condition based on the number of balls is not satisfied (N in S130), the end condition based on the opening time is satisfied ( (Y of S132), the special winning opening 66 is closed (S134). If the termination condition based on the opening time is not satisfied (N in S132), the flow after S134 is skipped.

  The end condition based on the number of balls in the 15R jackpot is 10 or more balls entering the grand prize opening 66, and the end condition based on the opening time is a set time according to the opening / closing pattern from the opening start of the big prize opening 66. It is progress. In the case of 15R big hit, 30 seconds have elapsed since the start of opening, and in the case of 2R big hit, 0.5 seconds have elapsed since the start of opening. However, since the opening for 0.5 seconds is extremely short, it is difficult to enter more than 10 balls as well as to enter the ball itself. Even if a game ball is launched at the same time as the opening of the grand prize opening, it is difficult to enter the game, so it is predicted that the 2R big hit will be opened before the grand prize opening 66 is opened. It is necessary to launch a game ball. On the other hand, the end condition based on the number of balls in the 15R jackpot is 10 or more balls entering the grand prize opening, and the end condition based on the opening time is 30 seconds from the start of opening the big prize opening 66. At this time, if the maximum number of continuations has been reached (Y in S136), the end flag is turned on (S138). If the maximum number of continuations has not been reached (N in S136), the process in S138 is skipped. In this embodiment, the upper limit number of continuations is 15 times. If neither the end condition based on the number of entered balls nor the end condition based on the opening time is satisfied (N in S130, N in S132), the processes after S134 are skipped.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing in detail the small hit game control process of S17 in FIG. If the result of the lottery is a small hit (Y in S150), the small hit game has already started (Y in S152), and the big winning opening 66 has not been opened (N in S158). A process for opening the winning opening 66 is executed (S160), and if it is already opened (Y in S158), a closing process for the big winning opening 66 is executed (S162). As a result, if the special winning opening 66 is closed (Y in S164), the process proceeds to S166. If it is not in the closed state (N of S164), the process after S166 is skipped and this process is temporarily ended. On the other hand, if the small hit game has not started in S152 (N in S152), the small hit game is started (S154), and the display of the start demonstration effect similar to the 2R big hit is started (S156). Exit once.

  In S166, it is determined whether or not a demonstration effect which is an effect during the small hit game is being performed. If the demonstration effect is not in progress (N in S166), it is determined whether or not the small hit game end condition is satisfied. Here, if an end flag, which will be described later, is on, the small hit game end condition is satisfied. If the small hit game end condition is satisfied (Y in S170), the end flag is turned off (S172), and the display of the end demonstration effect is started (S174). If the small hit game ending condition is not satisfied (N in S170), this process is temporarily ended. When it is determined in S166 that the demonstration effect is being performed (Y in S166) and the end demonstration effect is completed (Y in S176), the small hit game is terminated (S178). If the end demonstration effect has not ended (N in S176), the process of S178 is skipped. If it is not a small hit (N in S150), the flow after S152 in this figure is skipped.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing in detail the release process of S160 in FIG. When it is the opening timing of the big winning opening 66 based on the set opening / closing pattern (Y in S180), the opening / closing control means 124 sets the operation of the opening / closing pattern (S182) and starts opening the big winning opening 66. (S184). When it is not the opening timing (N of S180), the processing of S182 and S184 is skipped.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing in detail the closing process of S162 in FIG. When the end timing of the special winning opening 66 based on the set opening / closing pattern is reached (Y in S190), the end flag is turned on (S192), and the special winning opening 66 is closed (S194). This closing timing is the timing when 0.5 seconds have elapsed since the opening of the special winning opening 66. If it is not the closing timing (N of S190), the processes of S192 and S194 are skipped.

  According to the pachinko gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is not necessary for an operator such as a store employee to manually set the introduction date to the store, and the number of days elapsed from the introduction date to the store is automatically determined. . This can reduce the burden on the operator. In addition, since the number of days elapsed since the introduction date is managed based on the passage of the day of the week instead of the date, even if the date of the RTC 150 is artificially changed, it is possible to eliminate the influence on the number of days elapsed as a condition for special effects. . Therefore, a special effect can be output at the timing intended by the designer of the pachinko gaming machine 10. For example, by advancing the RTC date, it is possible to prevent the special effect from appearing earlier than other stores.

  Further, in the pachinko gaming machine 10, when the number of days for which the operation flag has been set in the operation history is 5 days or more, 7 days are added to the elapsed days held by the elapsed day storage unit 152. As described above, the five days are a period obtained by subtracting two days from the week of the store holidays and the spare days from one week (seven days). As a result, even if there are different days off between different stores, or even when a day when the gaming machine cannot be operated due to unforeseen troubles, etc., a plurality of gaming machines (game machines installed in different stores) Difference) in elapsed days can be made difficult. For example, it is difficult for a difference in the number of elapsed days between gaming machines introduced in different stores on the same day, and a difference in output timing of special effects is also difficult.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 10, when the number of days for which the operation flag has been set in the operation history is less than 5 days, the number of days for which the operation flag has been set is added to the number of days that the elapsed day storage unit 152 holds. As a result, at least the number of days that the gaming machine is actually operated is counted as the number of elapsed days, and it is possible to prevent the number of elapsed days from becoming smaller than the total of the actual operating days.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A component can be deform | transformed and embodied in the range which does not deviate from a summary. In addition, various inventions may be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the above embodiment, or some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the above embodiment. . Furthermore, it is possible to appropriately combine the constituent elements over a plurality of embodiments.

  In the above-described embodiment, the effect determining unit 132 determines whether or not to output the special effect based on the number of days elapsed on the day determined by the day elapsed day determining unit 160. In the modification, the effect determining unit 132 may determine whether or not to output the special effect based on the elapsed days itself stored in the elapsed days storage unit 152. In this variation, the number of elapsed days as an output condition for special effects increases in units of 7 days. Therefore, between gaming machines introduced on the same day in different stores, the number of elapsed days even if the closed days differ for each store. Are less likely to appear, and the difference is less likely to occur in the output timing of special effects.

  Although not mentioned in the above embodiment, the operation history update unit 156 holds the business hours of the store, and the time when the power-on in the pachinko gaming machine 10 is detected (the current time acquired from the RTC 150) is within the business hours. The measurement of the operation time may be started on the condition that there is. In addition, the operation history update unit 156 may periodically acquire the current time from the RTC 150 during the measurement of the operation time, and may end the measurement of the operation time when the end time of the store business hours is passed. . As a result, the operating time of the pachinko gaming machine 10 can be measured within the time range in which the player can actually play in the pachinko gaming machine 10.

  Although not mentioned in the above embodiment, when the operation time is measured by the operation history update unit 156, the backup unit 162 backs up the operation time when the power supply is detected to the continuous storage area. Also good. Then, the operation time held in the continuous storage area when the power ON is detected may be restored to the operation history update unit 156. When the operation history update unit 156 receives the notification of the operation time from the backup unit 162, the operation history update unit 156 may restart the operation time of the pachinko gaming machine 10 with the operation time notified from the backup unit 162 as an initial value. According to this modification, even when a power interruption is inserted during the measurement of the operation time of the pachinko gaming machine 10, the operation time of the pachinko gaming machine 10 can be appropriately measured.

  In the above embodiment, the reference date that is the starting point of the elapsed days is the date of introduction of the pachinko gaming machine 10 into the store, but other than the introduction date may be used as the reference date. For example, it may be a specific date determined in advance, or may be a date (New Year's Day or the beginning of the month) as a separator on the calendar. Further, a date that has passed a predetermined number of days from the introduction date may be set as the reference date. In this modification, the operation history update unit 156 may hold a predetermined reference date and start the operation history update process on condition that the reference date has been reached.

  In the above embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine has been described as an example. However, in a modified example, a spinning-type gaming machine may be used as a gaming machine and a gaming medal may be used as a gaming medium.

  10 pachinko machines, 112 winning / losing lottery means, 120 special game control means, 132 effect determining means, 150 RTC, 152 elapsed days storage means, 154 operation history storage means, 156 operation history update means, 158 elapsed days update means, 160 Elapsed days determination means, 162 backup means.

Claims (4)

A gaming machine that executes a lottery determination for determining whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than a normal game with a predetermined game operation as a trigger,
A success / failure lottery means for executing the success / failure lottery triggered by the gaming operation;
Special game control means for executing the special game when the result of the success / failure lottery is a win,
Effect determination means for determining the contents of the effect according to the result of the success / failure lottery, and when a predetermined number of days have elapsed from a predetermined reference date, an effect determining means for determining to output a special effect according to the elapsed days;
Elapsed days storage means for holding the number of days elapsed from the predetermined reference date;
An operation history storage means for holding, as an operation history, information indicating whether or not the gaming machine is operating for each day of the week included in the predetermined unit period;
If the operating status of the gaming machine satisfies a predetermined condition, it is recorded that the gaming machine has been operated in association with today's day of the operating history, and that the gaming machine has already been operated on today's day of the operating history. If it has been recorded, adding the number of days of the unit period to the number of elapsed days held by the elapsed days storage means as having passed the unit period, information update means to clear the operation history until then,
With
The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the effect determination means determines whether or not to output a special effect according to the number of elapsed days held by the elapsed day storage means.   The information update means has already recorded that the gaming machine has been operated on today's day of the operation history, and the operation days indicated by the operation history are not less than the number of days obtained by subtracting a predetermined number of days from the number of days in the unit period. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein in some cases, the number of days in the unit period is added to the number of elapsed days held by the elapsed day storage means. The unit period is one week,
The information update means has already recorded that the gaming machine has been operated on today's day of the operation history, and the number of operation days indicated by the operation history is the number of days in which the store closed days and the spare days are subtracted from 7 days. If it is above, 7 days is added to the elapsed days which the elapsed days storage means holds.   The information update means has already recorded that the gaming machine has been operated on today's day of the operation history, and the operation days indicated by the operation history are less than the number of days obtained by subtracting a predetermined number of days from the number of days in the unit period. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein, if there is, the gaming days are added to the elapsed days held by the elapsed days storage means.

Images