JP2013034800A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine accurately notifying "information related to holding" by matching a holding number stored in a game control means and a holding number displayed by a performance control means.SOLUTION: In one-time game control processing in the game control means, the game control means transmits a first in-holding-occurrence command when the holding occurs and when a special symbol does not start variable display, transmits an in-variation-start command when the holding does not occur and when the special symbol starts the variable display, and transmits a second in-holding-occurrence command when the holding occurs and when the variable display of the special symbol starts. When the performance control means receives the second in-holding-occurrence command, the performance control means displays the number of the holding smaller by one than the number of the holding designated by the second in-holding-occurrence command.

Description

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

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known a ball game machine that displays a variation display of a symbol indicating a result of a determination of success / failure when a game ball enters a start port or a game ball passes a start gate. The start port and start gate are provided with detection members such as a sensor and a switch for detecting the occurrence of a game ball entering and passing, and the detection of the game ball by the detection member starts the display of the variation of the symbol. Will be detected. When the start detection occurs, a random number for determining the result of the success / failure determination and a random number for determining the stop display mode of the symbol to be stopped and displayed through the fluctuation display are acquired, and the random number is temporarily stored as a hold. The Based on the stored suspension, a symbol variation display is performed. When the symbol is stopped and displayed through the variation display, a special game advantageous to the player is started.

  This type of ball game machine has a game control unit that performs game control processing for controlling the progress of the game for each timer interrupt, and an effect control process that controls the performance linked to the progress of the game for each timer interrupt. Some have a controller. The timer interrupt is generally generated in an extremely short time such as 2 ms or 4 ms. In such a ball game machine, “process related to occurrence of start detection” and “process related to start of symbol variation display” are performed in one game control process (one timer interrupt process) in the game control unit. Based on these processes, a control command indicating an increase or decrease in the number of holds is transmitted to the effect control unit. On the other hand, in one production control process (one timer interruption process) in the production control unit, “a process related to reception of a command indicating an increase in the number of holds” and “process related to reception of a command indicating a decrease in the number of holds” Based on these processes, a hold display for notifying the player of the number of holds is performed on the effect display device (Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-81327 A

  In the above-described ball game machine, in accordance with the game flow in which the symbols start to be displayed in accordance with the occurrence of the start detection, the “control process related to the occurrence of the start detection” is performed in one game control process in the game control unit. Is generally performed first, followed by “processing related to the start of symbol variation display”. In other words, it is common to perform processing related to on-hold digestion (change display start) after performing processing related to on-hold storage. On the other hand, in one production control process in the production control unit, the “processing related to reception of a command indicating an increase in the number of holds” is performed first, and then “processing related to reception of a command indicating a decrease in the number of holds” is performed. Some perform, and others perform each process in the reverse order.

  When the game is progressed with the above-mentioned bullet ball game machine, the symbol variation display starts immediately after the start detection occurs, the symbol variation display starts simultaneously with the start detection occurrence, or immediately after the symbol variation display starts. “Start detection” and “Start of symbol variation display” can occur at various timings depending on the progress of the game. Under such circumstances, if "Start detection" and "Start symbol change display" occur simultaneously, or "Start detection" occurs immediately after "Start symbol change display", the number of holds, etc. There is a risk that it will not be possible to accurately report the “information on hold”. This is because the processing sequence of “processing related to occurrence of start detection” and “processing related to start of symbol variation display” in the game control unit, and “processing related to reception of a command indicating increase in the number of holds” in the production control unit, and This is due to the relationship between the processing sequence of “processing related to the reception of a command indicating a decrease in the number of holds” and the actual sequence and timing of “starting port detection” and “start of symbol variation display” during the game progression process. This is what happens.

  For example, after performing “a process corresponding to an increase in the number of holds (a process based on command reception indicating an increase in the number of holds)” in one effect control process (one timer interrupt process) in the effect control unit, It is assumed that the processing corresponding to the decrease (processing based on the command reception indicating the decrease in the number of holds) is performed. In this case, if “start detection” occurs immediately after “start of symbol variation display” occurs, and the determination related to the occurrence of these phenomena is performed in one stage of production control processing (one timer interruption processing), Since “actual hold transition (holding number decrease → holding number increase)” and “holding judgment order in one stage of production control processing (holding number increase → holding number decrease)” are different, they are stored in the game control unit. There is a possibility that inconsistency occurs between the number of holds and the number of holds displayed by the effect control unit, so that “information regarding hold” cannot be accurately notified.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and accurately reports “information on hold” regardless of the generation order and timing of “start detection” and “start of symbol variation display”. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine that can be used.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-described problems, the bullet ball game machine of the present invention employs the following configuration. That is,
A game ball flowing down on the surface of the game board is detected by the start detection member to display a variation of the symbol, and when the predetermined winning symbol is stopped and displayed as a result of the variation display, a special game advantageous to the player is performed. A ball game machine to start,
Game control means for performing a game control process for controlling the progress of the game based on a timer interrupt generated at a predetermined period;
Production control means for performing production control processing for controlling production performed as the game progresses based on a timer interrupt generated at a predetermined period;
A hold display means for performing a hold display indicating that the symbol is held without being subjected to the change display of the symbol corresponding to the game ball detection by the start detection member,
The game control means includes
In one game control process, after performing the hold occurrence process related to the occurrence of the hold, performing the change start process relating to the start of the change display of the symbol,
In the hold occurrence processing, when the hold occurs based on the game ball detection of the start detection member, the occurrence of the hold is stored, and a hold occurrence occurs as a hold occurrence command including information related to the number of holds after storage. If the state at the time is in a state in which the change display of the symbol cannot be started, a command at the time of first holding occurs, and if it is in a state in which the change display of the symbol can be started, a command at the time of second hold occurrence is transmitted to the effect control means,
In the variation start processing, the variation display of the symbol is started based on the suspension stored by the suspension occurrence processing, and the suspension that has started the variation display is erased. A change start command including information is transmitted to the effect control means;
The production control means includes
In one presentation control process, after performing a hold decrease process corresponding to reception of the change start command, a hold increase process corresponding to reception of the hold occurrence command is performed,
In the hold increase process, when the first hold occurrence command is received, the information included in the command is stored as hold information in the order of the hold occurrence, and the hold display is performed based on the hold information after storage, and the second hold When a command at the time of occurrence is received, information included in the command is stored as hold information in the order in which the hold was generated, and the hold information in the stored hold information is incremented by one, and the hold display is performed based on the hold information after the carry. It is characterized by.

  In such a ball game machine of the present invention, when “start detection” occurs immediately after “start of symbol change display” occurs in the game progression process, that is, two consecutive games performed by the game control means. Among the control processes, if “pending deletion with the start of symbol variation display” is performed in the previous game control process, and “holding storage due to occurrence of holding” is performed in the subsequent game control process, the “ The “change start command” and the “hold occurrence command” are transmitted in this order from the game control means to the effect control means. When the processing corresponding to these two commands is performed in a single effect control process of the effect control means, in the one effect control process, a “process based on reception of the command at the start of change” is performed first, and then “Processing based on reception of command when hold occurs” is performed. In this case, in the game control means, processing is performed in the order of “decrease in the number of holds” → “increase in the number of holds” in the same manner as in the actual game progress process. The processing is performed in the order of “decreasing number” → “increasing number of holdings”. In this way, in the present invention, even if the “start detection” occurs immediately after the occurrence of “start of symbol variation display”, and the corresponding processing on the effect control means side is performed in one effect control process, Since the holding transition in the game control means (actual holding transition) and the holding transition in the production control means (holding transition in one production control process) coincide with each other, it is possible to accurately notify “information about the holding”. it can.

  In the game progress process, “start detection” and “start of symbol variation display” may occur simultaneously. That is, there is a possibility that “holding storage accompanying the occurrence of holding” and “holding deletion accompanying the start of symbol variation display” are performed in one game control process performed by the game control means. In consideration of this, in the ball game machine of the present invention, “holding storage accompanying the occurrence of holding” and “holding deletion accompanying the start of symbol variation display” are performed in one game control process. The type of the on-hold occurrence command transmitted to the effect control means is different depending on the case where it is not. Specifically, in the case where “holding storage accompanying the occurrence of holding” and “holding deletion accompanying the start of symbol variation display” are performed in one game control process, a “second hold occurrence command” is transmitted. If this is not the case, a “first hold occurrence command” is transmitted.

  Then, when receiving the first on-hold occurrence command, the production control means stores the information included in the command as the hold information in the order in which the hold is generated, and performs the hold display based on the hold information after storage. Execute. On the other hand, when the second hold occurrence command is received, the information included in the command is stored as hold information in the order of the hold occurrence, and the hold occurrence order of the hold information after storage is increased by one, and the hold is performed based on the hold information after the advance. Executes "special hold increase processing" that displays. As a result, when “start detection” and “start of symbol change display” occur simultaneously, the process in one game control process in the game control means is “increase in the number of hold” → “decrease in the number of hold”. In response to this, in the effect control means, processing based on reception of the “second hold occurrence command” in one effect control process is performed in the order of “increase number of hold” → “decrease number of hold”. It will be. Thus, in the present invention, even when "start detection" and "start of symbol variation display" occur at the same time, the hold transition in the game control means and the hold transition in the effect control means match, It is possible to accurately notify “information on hold”.

In addition, the above-described bullet ball game machine of the present invention,
The on-hold occurrence command includes information related to the result of the variable display of the symbol performed based on the on-hold that has occurred,
The production control means stores, in the holding increase process, information related to the number of holdings after storing and information related to the result included in the command at the time of holding occurrence as the holding information, and holding information after storing It is good also as performing the said hold display in the aspect according to the information which concerns on the said result contained in.

  According to the bullet ball game machine of the present invention as described above, the hold information stored by the effect control means includes “information relating to the number of holds after storing the generated hold” and “the pattern performed based on the generated hold”. “Information related to the result of the variable display” is included, and the hold display is performed based on the information. As a result, not only “information related to the number of holds” but also “information related to holds” including “information related to the result of symbol variation display” can be reported accurately.

In addition, the above-described bullet ball game machine of the present invention,
When the game control means transmits the change start time command in the change start time process performed after the hold occurrence processing that has transmitted the first hold occurrence time command in one game control process. The first change start command is transmitted as the first change start command, and the first change start command is transmitted in the first change start process performed after the second hold start time command is transmitted. When transmitting, the second variation start command is transmitted as the variation start command,
When the production control means receives the first fluctuation start command in the hold reduction process, the production control means deletes the oldest hold information in the order of occurrence of the hold from the hold information stored at that time and the remaining hold information When the second fluctuation start command is received, the processing related to the deletion of the oldest hold information and the advance of the hold occurrence order is not performed.
Furthermore, when the production control means receives the second hold occurrence command in the hold increase process performed after the hold reduction process that has received the second variation start time command in one production control process. The information included in the command may be stored as the hold information in the order of the occurrence of the hold, and the hold occurrence order of all the stored hold information including the stored hold information may be incremented by one.

  According to such a ball game machine of the present invention, in the case where “holding storage accompanying the occurrence of holding” and “holding deletion accompanying the start of symbol variation display” are performed in one game control process, A “second hold occurrence command” is sent with the occurrence of hold (hold storage), and a “second change start command” is sent with the start of symbol variation display (hold deletion). A “first hold occurrence command” is transmitted along with the occurrence of hold (hold storage), and a “first change start command” is transmitted along with the start of symbol variation display (hold deletion). Then, the “second hold occurrence command” was received in the “hold increase process” performed after the “hold decrease process that received the second fluctuation start command” in one stage of the effect control process in the effect control means. In this case, in the “hold increase process”, the same “process related to storing hold information” as when the “first hold occurrence command” is received and the same as the case where the first fluctuation start command is received “Processing related to erasure of hold information and advance of the order of occurrence of hold”.

  In this way, the “reservation increasing process” is the “process for deleting the hold information and moving up the order of the hold occurrence” performed in the “hold decrease process” associated with the reception of the first change start command (start of the pattern change display). However, by doing so, it is possible to realize “accurate notification of information regarding suspension” by using the existing “processing at the start of symbol variation display” as it is. As a result, it is not necessary to add a new process that is completely different from the existing process for the effect control process performed by the effect control means, and “accurate notification of information regarding hold” can be realized with a simple configuration.

In addition, the above-described bullet ball game machine of the present invention,
The production control means includes
When the change start time command is received in the hold reduction process, the oldest hold information in the hold occurrence order is deleted from the hold information stored at that time, and the hold occurrence order of the remaining hold information is incremented by one. ,
When the second hold occurrence command is received in the hold increase process, the information included in the command may be stored as hold information in the order of hold occurrence, and only the hold occurrence order of the stored hold information may be incremented by one.

  According to such a ball game machine of the present invention, whether or not “holding storage accompanying the occurrence of holding” and “holding deletion accompanying the start of symbol variation display” are performed in one game control process. Regardless, the game control means may transmit one type of change start command to the effect control means in accordance with the start of symbol change display (hold deletion). As a result, it is possible to realize “accurate notification of information on hold” while suppressing an increase in the number (type) of commands transmitted from the game control means to the effect control means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately notify “information on hold” regardless of the generation order and generation timing of “start detection” and “start of symbol variation display”.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine (bullet ball game machine) of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the board surface structure of a game board. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a symbol display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen structure of an effect display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of a starting port unit. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the control circuit in the pachinko machine of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the display mode of the normal symbol display part. It is explanatory drawing which showed the stop display aspect of the special symbol notionally. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the one aspect | mode of the effect performed with an effect display apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a game control process. It is a flowchart which shows a special figure holding related process. It is the flowchart which showed the first half part of the special symbol game process. It is the flowchart which showed the second half part of the special symbol game process. It is the flowchart which showed the first half part of the special figure fluctuation display process. It is the flowchart which showed the latter half part of the special figure fluctuation display process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the big hit determination table. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the jackpot symbol determination table. It is a flowchart which shows a big hit fluctuation pattern table selection process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the variation pattern table for jackpot winning. It is explanatory drawing which shows the opening pattern of the big prize opening corresponding to the kind of jackpot symbol. It is a flowchart which shows a big hit game process. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of jackpot end. It is a flowchart which shows the presentation control process performed by CPU mounted in the sub control board. It is a flowchart which shows a design fluctuation effect process. It is explanatory drawing which showed a part of effect pattern table notionally. It is a flowchart which shows a pending | holding display process. It is a flowchart which shows a pending | holding display process. It is explanatory drawing which shows the correspondence of the hold information memorize | stored in RAM of a sub control board | substrate, and the hold symbol displayed on the special figure hold display area of an effect display apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the "hold information shift process". It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally the big hit reservation symbol determination table. It is explanatory drawing which shows notionally a reach holding | maintenance symbol determination table and an off-holding symbol determination table. It is explanatory drawing for comparing the control processing content of the conventional pachinko machine and the pachinko machine of a present Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows a problem when the command at the time of 1st holding | maintenance generation | occurrence | production and the command at the time of the 1st change start are transmitted by one game control process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the content of control processing in case the command at the time of 2nd holding | maintenance generation and the command at the time of the 2nd change start are transmitted by one game control processing. It is explanatory drawing of the modification which illustrates the content of the control process at the time of the 2nd holding | maintenance generation | occurrence | production command and the 1st change start time command being transmitted by one game control process.

  In order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a type of pachinko machine called a “seven machine” or “digipachi” will be described.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen configuration of the effect display device 27 mounted on the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. As described above, the effect display device 27 is configured by using a liquid crystal display, and on the display screen, three identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c and a background symbol 27d of the background are displayed. . The three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c start the variable display in synchronization with the start timing of the special symbol variation display in the special symbol display unit 30, and thereafter, in various modes until the variation time of the special symbol elapses. Display fluctuation. Then, the variation display of the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c is completed in synchronization with the end timing of special symbol variation display (special symbol stop display). The symbol variation effect is realized by the variation display and the stop display of the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c. The three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c correspond to the “production symbols” in the present invention. In addition, the area in which the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are variably displayed on the display screen of the effect display device 27 and the area in which the background symbol 27d is displayed correspond to the “effect symbol display unit” in the present invention. Yes.

  At the lower part of the display screen of the effect display device 27, a special figure hold display area 27e for displaying information related to the special figure hold is provided. In the special figure hold display area 27e, the number of special figure holds is indicated by the number of reserved symbols displayed in each area. In FIG. 4, since four reserved symbols are displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e, it is indicated that the number of special figure hold is four. The special figure hold display area 27e on the display screen of the effect display device 27 and the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 (to be described later) that performs display control (hold display process) of the special figure hold display area 27e Corresponds to “display means”.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the start port unit 17 mounted on the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment. As described above, the start port unit 17 has the start port 17a and a pair of blade pieces 17w provided on both sides of the start port 17a. As a result, the start port 17a is of an open / close type (tulip type). It is configured as a entrance. The pair of wing pieces 17w can take two states, a substantially upright closed state (see FIG. 5A) and an open state rotated outward (see FIG. 5B). . As shown in FIG. 5 (a), in a state where the pair of wing pieces 17w are almost upright, the game ball can enter the start port 17a only from substantially vertically above, and the game ball can enter the start port 17a. Entering the ball is relatively difficult. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, in an open state in which the pair of wing piece portions 17w are opened to the outside, the game ball can enter the start port 17a from obliquely above. In this state, it is easier for the game ball to enter the starting port 17a than in the closed state. The game ball that has entered the starting port 17a is guided to the back side of the game board 10 through a passage provided therein. A start port switch 17s is provided in the middle of the passage inside the start port 17a, and a game ball entering the start port 17a is detected by the start port switch 17s. The start port switch 17s corresponds to the “start detection member” of the present invention.

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

  When a detection signal for a game ball is input from the start port switch 17s, the big prize port switch 31s, the gate switches 36s, 37s, etc., the main control board 200 is determined according to the switch to which the detection signal is input. Commands for instructing various operations are transmitted toward the sub-control board 220, the payout control board 240, the launch control board 260, and the like. Further, the main control board 200 has a start opening solenoid 17m for opening and closing a pair of blade pieces 17w provided in the start opening 17a of the start opening unit 17, and a large winning opening for opening and closing the large winning opening 31d. The solenoid 31m and further the symbol display device 28 are connected via a relay terminal board, and the operation of these solenoids 17m and 31m and the symbol display device 28 can be controlled by transmitting drive signals. Do.

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

  The effect control board 230 includes an image ROM 234 and a VDP (not shown) in addition to the CPU 231, the ROM 232, and the RAM 233. When the CPU 231 of the effect control board 230 receives a control command (display control command) from the sub-control board 220, it reads out a control program corresponding to the received command from the ROM 232, and uses the RAM 233 as a work area while using the effect image. Is displayed on the display screen of the effect display device 27. The image ROM 234 stores data of effect images corresponding to various game effects such as symbol variation effects and jackpot game effects (for example, sprite data and moving image data for displaying an image corresponding to a predetermined character). Yes.

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

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

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

  FIG. 7 (a) is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing how ordinary symbols are variably displayed. In the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the normal symbol LED 29a is repeatedly blinked to display the variation of the normal symbol. In FIG. 7, the state in which the normal symbol LED 29a is lit is represented by a radial solid line, and the state in which the normal symbol LED 29a is lit is represented by a broken line. Then, after repeating blinking for a predetermined time, when the normal symbol LED 29a stops in a lighting state, it becomes a hit of the normal symbol and the start port 17a is opened for a predetermined opening time. On the contrary, when it stops in the light-off state, it is usually out of the design and the start port 17a is not opened. Further, when the game ball passes the normal symbol operation left gate 36 or the normal symbol operation right gate 37 during the normal symbol variation display, the passage of the game ball is stored in the RAM 203 as the normal symbol hold (normal figure hold). After the current normal symbol variation display is completed, the variation display is performed based on the ordinary diagram suspension. Up to four common figure holds can be stored, and the number of stored normal symbols (the number of common figure holds) is displayed by the common figure hold display LED 29b.

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

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

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

  In addition, when a game ball enters the starting port 17a, the storage area of the RAM 203 (special figure hold) is used as a special symbol hold (special figure hold) until a special symbol change display is started. Storage area). Up to four special figure holds can be stored, and the number (special figure hold number) of the special figure hold is displayed on the special figure hold display LED 30b and provided on the display screen of the effect display device 27. It is displayed in the display area 27e. The manner in which the number of special symbols held using the special figure hold display LED 30b is displayed is the same as that of the normal symbol hold number display by the general figure hold display LED 29b shown in FIG. To do. In addition, an aspect of displaying the number of special symbols held using the special figure hold display area 27e will be described later.

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

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

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

C. Control details of pachinko machine:
C-1. Game control processing:
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a rough flow of a game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 to control the progress of the game. The CPU 201 of the main control board 200 corresponds to the “game control means” of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the game control process, “Prize ball related process”, “Normal symbol game process”, “Start-up return process”, “Special figure hold related process”, “Special symbol game process”, “Big hit game process”, “Small game process” Each process such as “winning game process” is repeatedly executed. The CPU 201 is configured to perform a game control process based on a timer interrupt that occurs every predetermined cycle. In this embodiment, a timer interrupt is generated every 4 msec. That is, the game control process shown in FIG. 10 is executed as a timer interrupt process every 4 msec in the CPU 201. Then, in each process in the game control process, various commands are transmitted from the main control board 200 to the various control boards including the sub control board 220. By doing so, the game of the entire pachinko machine 1 proceeds, and the sub-control board 220 controls the production in accordance with the progress of the game. The game control process performed by the CPU 201 mounted on the main control board 200 will be described below according to the flowchart.

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

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

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

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

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

  Here, the gaming state of the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment can be broadly divided into a setting state of a probability that the result of the big hit determination is a big hit (big hit probability), and an opening time when the start port 17a is in the open state. It is determined based on the setting status. Among these, the game state based on the setting state of the opening time of the start port 17a is set to either “open extended state” or “non-open extended state”. Compared to “non-open extended state”, the “open extended state” has a higher probability that the result of hitting the normal symbol will be “hit” (probability per ordinary symbol), and the normal symbol variation display time (ordinary symbol variation time) Is short and the opening time of the start port 17a is set to be long. Therefore, in the open extended state, the start opening 17a is frequently opened and the period in which the start opening 17a is in the open state is longer than in the non-open extended state. Becomes higher. Although details will be described later, in order to realize such a configuration, in the pachinko machine 1 of this embodiment, when the gaming state is set to “open extended state”, “open extended flag” and “variable shortened flag” Is set to ON and the game state is set to “non-open extended state”, these flags are set to OFF. Then, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 sets the probability per base map to a high probability (for example, “99/100”) and sets the base map change time to a short time (for example, “99/100”). For example, “1 second” is set, and based on the fact that the “open extension flag” is set to ON, the opening time of the start port 17a is long (for example, “1.5 seconds × 3 times open = 4. 5 seconds "). On the other hand, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 sets the probability per base drawing to a low probability (for example, “2/100”) and sets the base map variation time to a long time (for example, “ 20 seconds "), and based on the fact that the opening extension flag is set to OFF, the opening time of the start port 17a is short (for example," 0.1 seconds × 3 times opening = 0.3 seconds "). Set to. Since the fluctuation shortening flag and the release extension flag are set to ON or OFF at the same timing, only one of the flags may be set and the one flag may be used in place of the other flag. Good.

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

  Next, the special figure hold determination memorized this time is performed (S262). The determination of S262 is performed prior to the jackpot determination (whether determination) performed at the start of the variation of the special symbol or the selection of the variation pattern, and corresponds to a so-called “hold prefetch”. Hereinafter, the determination in S262 is referred to as “prior determination”. In the prior determination of the present embodiment, the type of symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of the variation display of the special symbol based on the special symbol hold stored in the process of S258 (result of the big hit determination), or the start and end of the variation display ( A determination is made as to the mode of production performed until the stop display). For example, it is determined whether or not the special figure hold stored in the process of S258 is a “big hit hold” that causes a big jackpot symbol stop display to occur, or the reach display device 27 generates a reach presentation. It is determined whether it is “hold”. These determinations are made based on the jackpot determination random number and the reach determination random number among the determination random numbers stored as special figure hold in the process of S258. In this way, when the special figure hold stored this time is determined in advance, a “process for transmitting a hold occurrence command to the sub control board 220” described below is performed.

  In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the current state, that is, the “state when special symbol is stored (occurrence)” is in a state where “variable display of special symbols” can be started (S264). In other words, in one game control process executed by the current timer interrupt, whether or not the special symbol variation display is started in addition to the storage (occurrence) of the special figure hold (S252: yes, S254: no). Determine whether. That is, it is determined whether or not “store special figure hold” and “start special symbol variation display” occur in one (same) game control process (timer interrupt process).

  The special symbol can start the variable display when the special symbol variable display is completed and the special symbol hold is stored. That is, any special display is performed during the variable display time when the special symbol variable display time (variable time) has not elapsed, or during the special symbol stop display time (see S318 in FIG. 12). Since the symbol variation display is not completed, the next variation display cannot be started. In the process of S264, whether or not the “special symbol variation start condition” is established is determined based on such special symbol variation display status and special symbol hold status, and “special symbol hold start” and “special symbol variation display” are determined. It is determined whether or not “start of” occurs in one game control process.

  As a result, if "save special figure hold" and "start special symbol variation display" do not occur in the same game control process, that is, only "save special figure hold" occurs in one game control process If so (S264: no), the first on-hold occurrence command is transmitted from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 (S266). In the first hold occurrence command, information indicating that only the special figure hold has been stored in one game control process, the current special figure hold number including the special figure hold stored this time (the added hold number) And information indicating the result of the above-described prior determination relating to the special figure hold stored this time (whether it is jackpot hold, reach hold, etc.). When the first hold occurrence command is transmitted (S266), the special figure hold related process is terminated and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. In addition, you may make it transmit each information included in the command at the time of 1st holding | maintenance generation | occurrence | production with a respectively different command.

  On the other hand, when “store special figure hold” and “start special symbol display” occur in one game control process (S264: yes), the simultaneous flag is set to ON (S268). The simultaneous occurrence flag is a flag indicating that “special figure hold storage” and “start of special symbol change display” occur in one game control process, and the RAM 203 mounted on the main control board 200. The storage area is secured at a predetermined address. Subsequently, the second on-hold occurrence command is transmitted from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 (S270). The second hold occurrence command includes information indicating that “special figure hold” and “special symbol variation display start” are generated in one game control process, and includes the special figure hold stored this time Information indicating the number of special figure holds (number of holds after addition), and information indicating the result of the above-described prior determination relating to the special figure hold stored this time (whether it is jackpot hold, reach hold, etc.) Yes. When the second hold occurrence command is transmitted (S270), the special figure hold related process is terminated and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. In addition, you may make it transmit each information included in the command at the time of 2nd holding | maintenance generation | occurrence | production with a respectively different command.

  On the other hand, when the game ball is not in the starting port 17a (S252: no), or when the special figure reservation number has reached the upper limit (here, “4”) (S254: yes), the determination random number A series of processes (S256 to S270) of acquiring the determination number, storing the determination random number as a special figure hold, performing a pre-determination, and transmitting a hold occurrence command are omitted.

  As described above, in the special figure hold-related process, if the special figure hold number does not reach the upper limit when the game ball enters the start port 17a, the determination random number is acquired and stored as the special figure hold. , Add special figure hold number. Further, prior determination (holding pre-reading) is performed for the special figure hold, and a hold occurrence command including information indicating the result is transmitted to the sub-control board 220. As a command at the time of the occurrence of a hold, when only “memory of special figure hold” occurs in one game control process, a “command at the time of first hold occurrence” is transmitted, and “memory of special figure hold” and “special hold” When both of “the start of symbol change display” occur in one game control process, a “second hold occurrence command” is transmitted. The reason for transmitting the “first hold occurrence command” or the “second hold occurrence command” as described above will be described in detail later. When the special figure hold related process is completed, the process returns to the game control process of FIG. 10, and the subsequent special symbol game process (S300) is started.

C-3. Special design game processing:
12 and 13 are flowcharts showing the special symbol game process. When starting the special symbol game process, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 determines whether or not a big hit game is being played (S302). If it is a big hit game (S302: yes), the special game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the game is not a big hit game (S302: no), it is determined whether or not the special symbol is in a variable display (S304).

  If the special symbol is not being variably displayed (S304: no), it is determined whether or not it is during the time for displaying the special symbol as a stop symbol (a special symbol stop display time) (S306). That is, for a period of time after the change display of the special symbol ends, a stop display time is provided as a confirmation time for the player to check the symbols that are stopped and displayed with the end of the change display. It is determined whether or not it is during the stop display time. As a result, when it is confirmed that the special symbol is not variably displayed and the special symbol stop display time has elapsed (S306: no), the process for starting the special symbol variability display (special The figure variation display process) is started (S310).

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the first half of the special figure fluctuation display process, and FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the second half of the special figure fluctuation display process. In the special figure variation display processing, processing corresponding to the “variation start processing” of the present invention is performed. As shown in the figure, in the special figure variation display process, first, it is determined whether or not the special figure holding number is “0” (S3100). As a result, if the number of special figure hold is not “0” (number of special figure hold ≧ 1), the oldest special figure hold is read from the stored special figure hold (S3102). In the process of S3102, various determination random numbers stored as special figure hold are read.

  On the other hand, when the special figure hold number is “0” (S3100: yes), it is determined that the special figure hold is not stored, so that the jackpot determination and special symbol variation display described later are started. There is no need. Therefore, the special figure variation display process of FIGS. 14 and 15 is terminated, and the process returns to the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

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

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a jackpot determination table stored in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 16A shows a jackpot determination table for low probability, and FIG. 16B shows a jackpot determination table for high probability. As shown in FIG. 16 (a), in the jackpot determination table for low probability, among the jackpot determination random numbers from “0” to “599”, “big hit” is given for the values “13” to “14”. Judgment result is set. Further, as shown in FIG. 16B, the high probability jackpot determination table includes “13” to “32” values among the values of the jackpot determination random numbers “0” to “599”. “Big hit” judgment result is set.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  When “1” is subtracted from the special figure hold number in this way (S3156), “processing for transmitting a change start command to the sub-control board 220” described below is performed. In this process, first, it is determined whether or not the coincidence flag is set to ON (S3160). As described above, the coincidence flag is a flag indicating that “memory for special figure hold” and “start of special symbol change display” are generated in one game control process. If the “simultaneous flag” is set to ON at the stage of the process of S3160, the same game control process as the game control process related to the start of the special symbol variation display this time, that is, one timer interrupt process Thus, “special drawing hold storage” has also occurred (see S268 in FIG. 11). On the other hand, when the “simultaneous flag” is set to OFF, the same game control process (same timer interrupt process) as the game control process related to the start of the change display of the special symbol this time is set to “ “Memory” does not occur, but only “start of special symbol variation display” occurs.

  As a result, if the simultaneous flag is not ON, that is, if only “start of special symbol variation display” occurs in one game control process (S3160: no), the first variation start command is controlled by the main control. Transmission is performed from the board 200 toward the sub-control board 220 (S3162). In the first change start command, information indicating that only “start of special symbol change display” has occurred in one game control process, special figure hold after being subtracted due to start of special symbol change display Information indicating the number (the number of suspensions after subtraction), information indicating the type of the variation pattern of the special symbol for which variation display is started, and information indicating the stop symbol of the special symbol that is stopped and displayed via the variation display. When the first change start command is transmitted (S3162), the special figure change display process is terminated and the process returns to the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. In addition, you may make it transmit each information contained in a command at the time of a 1st fluctuation | variation by a different command, respectively.

  On the other hand, when the simultaneous occurrence flag is ON, that is, when “memory for special figure hold” and “start of special symbol variation display” occur in one game control process (S3160: yes), the second A change start command is transmitted from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 (S3164). In the second change start command, information indicating that both “save special symbol hold” and “start change display of special symbol” occurred in one game control process, start of special symbol change display Information indicating the number of special symbol hold (subtraction number after subtraction) after subtracting, information indicating the type of variation pattern of the special symbol that started the variable display, stop symbol of the special symbol that is stopped and displayed after the variable display Contains information to indicate. When the second change start command is transmitted (S3164), the simultaneous flag is set to OFF in preparation for the game control process executed by the next timer interrupt (S3166), and the special figure change display process is terminated. 12 and the special symbol game processing shown in FIG. In addition, you may make it transmit each information contained in the command at the time of a 2nd fluctuation | variation by a different command, respectively.

  As described above, whether only “start of special symbol variation display” occurred in one game control process, or “save special symbol hold” and “start special symbol variation display” occurred. Therefore, the reason for transmitting different variation start commands (first variation start command or second variation start command) will be described in detail later.

  In the above, when the result of the big hit determination is a big hit (S3110: yes in FIG. 14), after determining the big hit symbol, the variation pattern table for big hit (big hit variation pattern table) is selected to change the special symbol variation. The process of starting display (S3112 in FIG. 14 to S3166 in FIG. 15) has been described. On the other hand, when the result of the big hit determination is out (S3110: no in FIG. 14), after determining the small hit symbol or the out symbol as follows, Select the variation pattern table.

  If it is determined in the processing of S3110 that the result of the big hit determination is not a big hit, a small hit determination is performed to determine whether or not it is a small hit (S3132). Here, the small hit determination is performed in the same manner as the big hit determination described above, and a reference to a small hit determination table (not shown) is referred to based on the value of the random number for determining the big hit as a result of the big hit determination. Done. In the small hit determination table, similarly to the above big hit determination table, a random value (small hit value) in which the result of the small hit determination is “small hit” is set in advance. It is determined whether or not the value of the jackpot determination random number derived as “out” as the result of the jackpot determination matches. If the two match, “small hit” is obtained (S3132: yes), and if they do not match, “disappear” is obtained (S3132: no).

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

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

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

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

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

  Thus, when the variation pattern table when the result of the big hit determination is not big hit (small hit variation pattern table, out-of-reach variation pattern table, unreachable variation pattern table) is selected, the above-described big hit variation pattern table is selected. Similarly, the variation pattern is determined, the variation display of the special symbol is started, and the number of the special diagram reservation is subtracted by 1 (S3148 to S3156). If only “start of special symbol variation display” occurs in this game control process, the first variation start command is transmitted, and “special symbol hold storage” and “special symbol variation display start” are transmitted. ”Occurs, a second variation start command is transmitted (S3160 to S3166).

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

  When the change start command is transmitted to the sub-control board 220 in this way (S3162), the special figure change display process shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is terminated, and the special symbol game process shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is restored. To do.

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

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the fluctuation time has elapsed (S312: yes), a command (design stop command) indicating that the special symbol during the fluctuation display is to be stopped is transmitted to the sub-control board 220. Then, the special symbol during the variable display is stopped and displayed with the symbol set in any of the processing of S3110, S3134 and S3136 in FIG. 14 (S316). Then, after setting a time (stop display time) for holding the special symbol displayed in a stopped state in a stopped state (S318), it is determined whether or not the set stop display time has passed (S320). As a result, if the stop display time has not elapsed (S320: no), the special symbol game process is terminated as it is, and the process returns to the game control process shown in FIG.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  When the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 returns to the game control process, as shown in FIG. 10, after performing a series of various processes after the prize ball related process (S50), the big hit game process (S400) is started again. . In this embodiment, the time required for the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 to execute the game control process (S50 to S600) shown in FIG. 10 is “4 msec”, so the jackpot game process shown in FIG. It is executed every 4 msec. Then, when the special game is started and the big hit game process of FIG. 21 is executed for the first time, the big winning opening 31d is opened in S408 as described above, and the process is ended as it is, but after 4 msec, 2 When performing the process of the round, it is determined in S402 that the special winning opening 31d is open (S402: yes).

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

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

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

  Here, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the big hit symbol is stopped and the big hit game is executed, the big hit symbol after the big hit game is ended according to the type of the big hit symbol that is the start trigger of the big hit game. It is configured to set a gaming state. In other words, the game state after the end of the big hit game is set according to the big hit games AF.

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

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

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

D. Production control process:
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an effect control process executed by the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220. The CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 corresponds to the “production control unit” of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, in the effect control process, effects such as a symbol variation effect process (S5000), a hold display process (S6000), a big hit game effect process (S7000), etc. are realized. Processing is performed. Here, the symbol variation effect process (S5000) is a symbol variation effect using the identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c, the background image 27d, etc. on the screen of the effect display device 27 in conjunction with the variation display of the special symbol. This is a process for execution. The hold display process (S6000) is a process for executing the display of the hold symbol in the special figure hold display area 27e on the display screen of the effect display device 27 in conjunction with the increase or decrease of the hold of the special symbol. . Furthermore, the big hit game effect process (S7000) is a process for executing the big hit game effect according to the type of each big hit game when the big win game 31d is opened and the big hit game is performed.

  The CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 is configured to perform effect control processing based on timer interrupts generated at predetermined intervals. In this embodiment, timer interrupts are generated every 4 msec, as with the CPU 201 of the main control board. It is supposed to be. That is, the effect control process shown in FIG. 23 is executed as a timer interrupt process every 4 msec in the CPU 221. Therefore, the symbol variation effect process (S5000), the hold display process (S6000), and the big hit game effect process (S7000) are executed every 4 msec.

D-1. Design variation effect processing:
In the symbol variation effect processing, the symbols using the identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c, the background image 27d, etc. on the screen of the effect display device 27 in conjunction with the variation display of the special symbol controlled by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. Processing for performing a variation effect is performed.

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the symbol variation effect process of the present embodiment. As shown in the drawing, when the symbol variation effect process is started, it is determined whether or not a variation start command (first variation start command or second variation start command) is received from the main control board 200 ( S5001). As described above with reference to FIG. 15, both the first variation start command and the second variation start command are sent from the main control board 200 in accordance with the start of the special symbol variation display on the symbol display device 28. This command is sent to the sub-control board 220 and is a command for designating a special symbol variation pattern or a stop symbol.

  When the change start command is received (S5001: yes), it is determined whether or not the stop symbol of the special symbol designated by the change disclosure command is the “big hit symbol” (S5008). The variation start time command from the main control board 200 includes information indicating the stop symbol of the special symbol that is stopped and displayed after the variation display. Therefore, by analyzing the received variation start time command, the special symbol is displayed. It is possible to determine whether or not the stop symbol is a “hit symbol”. As a result, when it is determined that the symbol is a big hit symbol (S5008: yes), the big hit symbol for stopping the identification symbols 27a, 27b, 27c on the screen of the effect display device 27 is determined (S5010). On the other hand, if the stop symbol of the special symbol designated by the change start command is not a big hit symbol (S5008: no), it is determined whether or not it is a detachment with a reach effect (S5012). This determination can also be made based on “information indicating the type of variation pattern of the special symbol” included in the variation start command. That is, as described above with reference to FIG. 14, when the result of the big hit determination is out, a different out fluctuation pattern is determined depending on the presence or absence of the reach effect, so information indicating the type of the special symbol fluctuation pattern this time Based on the above, it can be determined whether or not it is out of reach with reach production. And when it is judged that it is a detachment | attachment with reach production (S5012: yes), the reach | removal symbol to stop-display on the screen of the production | presentation display apparatus 27 is determined (S5014). That is, the symbol that generates the reach effect is determined, and two of the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are determined as the symbol. Further, the remaining one identification symbol is determined to be a symbol different from the symbol. On the other hand, if it is determined that the release is not accompanied by the reach effect based on the special symbol variation pattern designation command (S5012: no), the off symbol to be stopped and displayed on the screen of the effect display device 27 is determined (S5016). That is, the stop symbols of the identification symbols are determined so that the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are all different symbols.

  Then, the process which determines the production pattern of a design fluctuation production is performed (S5024). Here, the effect pattern table is stored in the ROM 222 of the sub-control board 220. In the effect pattern table, after the variable display of the three identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c is started on the screen of the effect display device 27, the mode until the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are stopped and displayed with a predetermined stop symbol is displayed. The effect pattern to be shown, that is, the effect pattern from the start to the end of the symbol variation effect is stored in association with each variation pattern of the special symbol.

  FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing a part of the effect pattern table. On the left side of FIG. 25, the big hit low probability variation pattern table described above with reference to FIG. 19 is shown. As described above, the big hit low probability variation pattern table is a table in which a special symbol variation pattern when a big hit occurs in a low probability state is set. In addition, on the right side of FIG. 25, an effect pattern (that is, a part of the effect pattern table) corresponding to the change pattern set in the big hit low probability change pattern table is shown. When the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 receives the variation start command, the CPU 221 identifies the variation pattern of the special symbol this time from the received variation start command, and selects an effect pattern corresponding to this variation pattern from the effect pattern table. To do.

  As described above, the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c to be stopped and displayed on the screen of the effect display device 27 are determined (S5010, S5014, and S5016 in FIG. 24) until the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c are stopped and displayed. When the effect pattern is determined (S5024), the variation display of the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c is started on the screen of the effect display device 27, thereby starting the symbol variation effect (S5026). At this time, the timer mounted on the sub-control board 220 is set to start measuring the fluctuation time. Furthermore, in accordance with the symbol variation effect performed on the screen of the effect display device 27, the game effect is performed by outputting sound effects and lighting various lamps.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 6, it is not the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 but the CPU 231 mounted on the presentation control board 230 that directly controls the operation of the presentation display device 27. Therefore, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 shows the command pattern indicating the effect pattern of the symbol variation effect using the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c, the stop symbol of the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c, and the display pattern of the reserved symbols. The CPU 231 of the effect control board 230 that receives the commands to the effect control board 230 and receives the commands reads the image data from the ROM 232 based on the received command and displays the image data on the screen of the effect display device 27. On-hold display and symbol variation effects are executed. In addition, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 performs a game effect by outputting a sound effect or lighting various lamps in accordance with the symbol variation effect performed on the screen of the effect display device 27. The effect pattern includes data for outputting sound effects and lighting various lamps. Therefore, if the effect pattern is determined, the data regarding the output of these sound effects and the lighting of various lamps are naturally determined.

  As described above, when the change start time command is received, the symbol change effect is started regardless of whether it is the first change start time command or the second change start time command (S5026). When the symbol variation effect is started, it is determined whether or not a symbol stop command is received from the main control board 200 (S5070). As described above with reference to FIG. 12, the symbol stop command is a command transmitted from the main control board 200 toward the sub-control board 220 when the special symbol is stopped and displayed on the symbol display device 28. As a result, if it is determined that the symbol stop command has not been received (S5070: no), the symbol variation effect process is terminated as it is, and the effect control process shown in FIG. 23 is resumed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the symbol stop command has been received (S5070: yes), the identification symbols 27a, 27b, and 27c of the effect display device 27 are stopped and displayed with the symbols determined in advance. The symbol variation effect is terminated (S5072), and the process returns to the effect control process shown in FIG.

D-2. Hold display processing:
When the symbol variation effect process is finished, a hold display process is subsequently executed. In this process, a process for displaying the reserved symbols in the special symbol holding display area 27e on the display screen of the effect display device 27 in conjunction with the increase / decrease of the special symbol holding (special symbol holding) on the main control board 200. Executed.

  In the hold display process, processes corresponding to the “hold decrease process” and the “hold increase process” of the present invention are performed. Specifically, the processing based on the “variation start command” transmitted from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220 when the special symbol fluctuation display is started, and the special symbol hold are stored. The process based on the “command at the time of holding occurrence” transmitted from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 at the time (at the time of special figure holding occurrence) is executed.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 15, the “variation start command” of the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment is transmitted when only “start of special symbol variation display” occurs in one game control process. When both the “first change start command”, “save special figure hold” and “start change display of special symbol” occur in one game control process (same game control process) There is a “second variation start command” to be transmitted.

  Further, as described above with reference to FIG. 11, the “pause occurrence command” of the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment is transmitted when only “store special figure hold” occurs in one game control process. When both the “first hold occurrence command”, “save special figure hold”, and “start change display of special symbols” occur in one game control process (same game control process) There is a “second hold occurrence command” to be transmitted.

  In the following, a hold display process in the case where one of “store special figure hold” and “start special symbol change display” occurs in one game control process in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200, that is, a sub-display process. About the case of performing “hold display processing when a first change start command is received” or “hold display processing when a first hold occurrence command is received” in one presentation control process in the CPU 221 of the control board 220 I will explain it first. Thereafter, in the case where both “memory for special figure hold” and “start of special symbol variation display” occur in one game control process in the CPU 201, that is, in a single effect control process in the CPU 221, A case will be described in which the “holding display process when the second fluctuation start command is received” and the “holding display process when the second hold occurrence command is received” are performed.

D-2-1.1 On-hold display process when one of “save special chart hold” and “start special symbol display” occurs in the game control process of D-2-1.1 times:
26 and 27 are flowcharts showing the hold display process of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, in the hold display process (S6000), first, it is determined whether or not a change start time command (first change start command or second change start command) has been received (S6002). As a result, if it is determined that any variation start command has been received (S6002: yes), it is determined whether or not the received variation start command is a “second variation start command” (S6004). As a result, if it is not the “second variation start command”, that is, if the received variation start command is the “first variation start command” (S6004: no), a hold information shift process is performed (S6006). ).

  Here, the hold information will be described. The hold information is information necessary for performing the hold display in the special figure hold display area 27e (see FIG. 4) of the effect display device 27. Specifically, the hold information is executed in the special figure hold display area 27e. This is information for setting a pattern (holding display pattern). In this embodiment, the information for determining the display pattern of the reserved symbol displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27 corresponds to “hold information”. The hold information is information (holding number information) indicating the number of special figure hold (number of special figure hold) stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200, or when the game ball enters the start port 17a. Information (prefetch information) indicating the result of the prior determination (hold prefetch) is included, and based on these information, the display pattern of the hold symbols displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e (the number of the hold symbols, the type of the hold symbols) Etc.) is determined.

  The CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 indicates information indicating the number of special figure hold included in the “command at occurrence of hold” and the “command at start of change” transmitted from the main control board 200 (the number of hold after addition, the number of hold after subtraction). Based on the above, “holding number information (special figure holding number)” is acquired, and “prefetch information (preliminary determination result)” is acquired based on the information indicating the prior determination result included in the “holding occurrence command”. Based on the acquired information, “holding information” is stored in a predetermined address (holding information storage area) of the RAM 223. This “holding information” is stored in chronological order according to the generation / digestion order of special figure holding. Therefore, by the hold display based on such “hold information”, it is possible to notify the current special figure hold count and the hold prefetching result in the order of the hold occurrence.

  FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a correspondence relationship between the hold information stored in the RAM 223 of the sub-control board 220 and the hold symbol displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27. As shown in the upper part of FIG. 28, the RAM 223 is provided with a hold information storage area corresponding to the upper limit value of the special figure hold number (in this embodiment, “hold 1” to “hold 4”). With the occurrence of “special figure hold storage” in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200, the above-mentioned “prefetch information” is stored in the hold information storage area corresponding to the number of special figure hold (the number of hold after addition). As a result, “hold information storage” is performed. This “hold information storage” is performed based on the reception of a “hold occurrence command” from the main control board 200. In addition, with the start of special symbol variation display based on the oldest special figure hold (digestion of special figure hold), the oldest prefetched information stored in the hold information storage area corresponding to the special figure hold is deleted. When other pre-read information other than the erased pre-read information is stored, the storage order of the stored pre-read information (order of occurrence of special figure hold) is incremented by one (shift) Process). As a result, “deletion of hold information” and “shift processing of hold information” are performed. Such “deletion of on-hold information” and “shift processing on on-hold information” are performed based on reception of a “variation start command” from the main control board 200.

  In the example shown in the upper part of FIG. 28, “hold 1 (special figure hold number = 1)” to “hold 2 (special figure hold number = 2)”, “hold 3 (special figure hold) corresponding to the oldest special figure hold. Number = 3) ”and“ hold 4 (special figure hold number = 4) ”are stored in time series. In the hold information storage area, prefetch information corresponding to each of “hold 1” to “hold 4” (hold number information) is stored. In this embodiment, information relating to “predetermined result of whether or not a big hit” and “predetermined result of whether or not a reach effect occurs” is stored as pre-read information. In the example shown in FIG. 28, the hold information corresponding to “special figure hold number = 1” corresponds to “hold 1 (hold number information) / no reach (pre-read information)” and “special figure hold number = 2”. As the hold information corresponding to “hold 2 (hold number information) / reach out of reach (pre-read information)” and “special figure hold number = 3” as the hold information, “hold 3 (hold number information) / big hit (pre-read information)” Are stored. In the example shown in FIG. 28, since “prefetch information” corresponding to “hold 4” is not stored, there is no special map hold corresponding to “number of special map hold = 4”, and the hold information Does not exist.

  In the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, “normally reserved symbol”, “character A reserved symbol”, “character B reserved symbol”, and “character C reserved symbol” are set as the reserved symbols. Among these holding symbols, the holding symbols displayed in the special figure holding display area 27e of the effect display device 27 are based on “prefetch information” included in the holding information stored in the RAM 223 (holding information storage area). Selected. In the example illustrated in FIG. 28, “normally reserved symbol” and “reserved symbol corresponding to pre-read information” corresponding to the pre-read information corresponding to “prevention without reach” (holding symbol corresponding to hold 1) “Character A hold symbol” is selected as the “Character A hold symbol” as the hold symbol corresponding to the hold 2 and “Character B hold symbol” is selected as the hold symbol corresponding to the pre-read information of the “big hit” (hold symbol corresponding to the hold 3). From the left side of the special figure hold display area 27e of the device 27, a normal hold symbol corresponding to hold 1, a character A hold symbol corresponding to hold 2, and a character B hold symbol corresponding to hold 3 are displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 28, the hold information (prefetch information) corresponding to the hold 4 is not stored, and only three special figure holds are stored, so that the hold symbol corresponding to the hold 4 is not displayed ( (Circle indicated by a broken line in FIG. 28). In addition, as will be described in detail later, depending on the type of reserved symbol (holding display pattern) displayed in the special symbol hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, a special symbol variable display based on the special symbol hold corresponding to the reserved symbol is displayed. Suggests the contents and results. Therefore, for the player, by confirming the reserved symbols displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, it is possible to recognize the current special figure hold number and to deal with each special figure hold. It is possible to predict the contents and results of the special symbol variation display to be performed (such as presence / absence of reach production, possibility of stop display of jackpot symbol).

  Returning to FIG. 26, the processing of S6006 is performed when the first variation start command is received, that is, when only “start of variation display of special symbols” occurs in one game control processing in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. Therefore, the special figure hold is reduced by 1 (digested). Therefore, in the process of S6006, the oldest information (prefetch information corresponding to “hold 1”) is deleted from the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area). If other hold information still remains after the oldest hold information is deleted, the storage order of the remaining hold information is moved to the old one. That is, in order to match the number of special figure hold (the number of hold after subtraction) included in the fluctuation start command received in S6002 with the number of hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area), The information storage order (holding occurrence order) is incremented by one. The process of moving up the storage order (holding occurrence order) of the remaining hold information by one (moving it to the old one) in this way is the “hold information shift process”.

  FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing “hold information shift processing”. In the example shown in FIG. 29, when the special symbol variation display is started in the state of “special figure hold number = 3” and becomes “special figure hold number = 2”, that is, at the time of the first fluctuation start received in S6002. This corresponds to the case where the special figure hold number (hold number after subtraction) included in the command is “2”. In this case, with the reception of the first change start command in S6002, the pre-read information of “no reach” stored corresponding to “hold 1” is erased, and then “hold 2” is handled. The pre-read information of “out of reach” stored and the “big hit” pre-read information stored corresponding to “hold 3” are respectively shifted to the “hold 1” side. As a result, two pieces of hold information “hold 1 / reach out of reach” and “hold 2 · big hit” are stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) as the hold information after the shift process, and the number of hold information after the shift process And the number of special figure hold included in the first change start command received in S6002 match.

  When the hold information shift process is thus performed (S6006 in FIG. 26), the process proceeds to S6020 in FIG. 27, and a hold occurrence command (first hold occurrence command or second hold occurrence time) from the main control board 200. Command) is received. Here, the “holding display process when the first variation start command is received” is described in one presentation control process in the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220. Therefore, in the process of S6020, the hold occurrence command is received. It is assumed that there is no (S6020: no). As described above, when the hold information is shifted based on the reception of the first change start command (S6006 in FIG. 26), a negative determination in S6020 (S6020: no) is performed, and the hold information after the shift process is processed. The reserved symbols are displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27 (S6040). When the hold information after the shift processing is the example shown in FIG. 29, the character A hold symbol corresponding to hold 1 and the character B hold symbol corresponding to hold 2 are sequentially from the left side of the special figure hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27. Is displayed. In order to display the reserved symbol, the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 transmits a command for designating the display of the reserved symbol to the effect control board 230, and the CPU 231 of the effect control board 230 displays an image of the reserved symbol corresponding to the command. This is performed by reading from the ROM 234.

  If the number of hold information after the shift processing and the number of special figure hold included in the first change start command received in S6002 do not match, accurate information regarding the special figure hold can be provided to the player. Disappear. Such inconsistency between the “number of hold information after the shift process” and the “number of special figure hold included in the first change start command” indicates a communication failure between the main control board 200 and the sub control board 220, This is an abnormality (error) that may occur due to a memory failure of the RAM 223 of the control board 220. In this embodiment, when such an abnormality (error) occurs, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 does not perform the hold display by the process of S6040, and the display content of the special figure hold display area 27 of the effect display device 27 is abnormal. The display contents at the time of occurrence. As the display contents at the time of occurrence of abnormality, the reserved symbols in the special figure hold display area 27 of the effect display device 27 are not displayed, the held symbols displayed at the time of occurrence of the abnormality are flashed, or the special figure hold display area is displayed. For example, a message indicating the occurrence of an abnormality can be displayed at 27. The display at the time of occurrence of the abnormality (error display) is a special figure hold number (the hold number after addition, The process is terminated when the number of hold after subtraction) matches the number of hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area). Thereby, the content of the hold display in the special figure hold display area 27 of the effect display device 27 is restored to normal. In addition, processing related to determination of coincidence / mismatch between “number of hold information after shift processing” and “number of special figure hold included in first fluctuation start command”, execution of error display, and normal return of hold display Is performed by the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220.

  The above is the hold display process when only “start of special symbol variation display” occurs in one game control process in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200, that is, one effect control in the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220. This is a hold display process when the first change start command is received in the process. On the other hand, the first hold occurrence command is received in the hold display process when only “save special figure hold” is generated in one game control process in the CPU 201, that is, in one presentation control process in the CPU 221. The hold display process in the case of doing so is as follows.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 11, the command at the time of the occurrence of holding is transmitted from the main control board 200 to the sub-control board 220 when “1” is added to the number of the special figure holding with the occurrence of the special figure holding. Command. In the hold occurrence command, information indicating the number of special figure hold (the number of hold after addition) including the special figure hold (the special figure hold generated this time) newly stored in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200, and the special figure Information indicating the result of pre-determination related to hold (whether it is jackpot hold, reach hold, etc.) is included, and based on these information, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 uses the RAM 223 (hold information storage area). The contents of “holding information (holding number information, prefetching information)” stored in () can be specified.

  When a command at the time of the occurrence of a hold is received (S6020: yes), the newly stored special figure hold is stored based on the information indicating the number of special figure holds (the number of holds after addition) included in the command and the information indicating the prior determination result. The corresponding hold information is stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) (S6021). The storage of the hold information includes the special figure hold number (hold number information) included in the hold occurrence command received in S6020 and the pre-determination result (prefetch information) included in the hold occurrence command received in S6020. This is done by storing them in pairs. For example, if the number of special figure holds included in the hold occurrence command is “3”, “hold 3” in the hold information storage areas “hold 1” to “hold 4” shown in the upper part of FIG. 28 and FIG. In the area “”, information indicating the prior determination result included in the on-hold occurrence command (“big hit” in the examples of FIGS. 28 and 30) is stored.

  When the storage of the hold information is finished, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 uses the pre-read information included in the stored latest hold information, that is, the information indicating the advance determination result included in the hold occurrence command received in S6020. It is determined whether or not the newly stored special figure hold is “big hit hold” (S6022). As described above, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the number of reserved symbols corresponding to the number of special figure reservations is displayed in the special figure reservation display area 27e of the effect display device 27 in the order of occurrence of special figure reservations. . As this reserved symbol, normally, the circular normal reserved symbol shown in FIG. 28 is displayed. On the other hand, when a condition described later is satisfied, a “special reserved symbol” different from the normal reserved symbol such as “character A reserved symbol” or “character B reserved symbol” shown in FIG. 28 is displayed. In order to determine a reserved symbol (holding display pattern) to be displayed in the special symbol hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27 according to the storage of the new special symbol hold from these reserved symbols, in the process of S6022, It is determined whether or not the newly stored special figure hold is “big hit hold”.

  As a result of the processing of S6022, if the newly stored special figure hold is “big hit hold”, the “big hit hold symbol determination table” for determining the hold symbol corresponding to “big hit hold” is selected (S6024). ). FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the jackpot reservation symbol determination table. As shown in FIG. 30, in the jackpot reserved symbol determination table, a reserved symbol is set corresponding to a random number for determining the reserved symbol. That is, a “normally reserved symbol” is set corresponding to the random number “0 to 39” for determining the reserved symbol. Further, “Character A reservation symbol” is set in correspondence with the random numbers “40 to 49” for determining the reservation symbol. Further, “Character B reserved symbol” is set in correspondence with the random numbers “50 to 69” for determining the reserved symbol. Further, “Character C reservation symbol” is set in correspondence with the random numbers “70 to 99” for determining the reservation symbol.

  When the jackpot reserved symbol determination table is selected (S6024), a lottery (holding symbol determination lottery) for determining a reserved symbol corresponding to the newly stored special symbol hold (the special symbol hold generated this time) is executed (S6032). ). In this lottery, a random number (holding symbol determination random number) generated by a random number counter included in a control program (production control processing execution program) executed by the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 is acquired, and the acquired random number value is obtained. The corresponding reserved symbol is selected from the “big hit reserved symbol determination table”. The reserved symbol selected by the lottery is determined as the reserved symbol displayed in the special diagram reserved display area 27e of the effect display device 27.

  The above is the determination process of the holding symbol when the special figure holding newly stored by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 is “big hit holding”. On the other hand, when the newly stored special figure hold is not “big hit hold” (S6022: no), it is determined whether or not the hold is “reach hold” (S6026). This determination is also made based on the pre-read information included in the latest hold information stored in the process of S6021, that is, information indicating the result of the prior determination included in the hold occurrence command received in S6020. As a result, when the newly stored special figure hold is “reach hold” (S6026: yes), the reach hold symbol determination table is selected (S6028), and the newly stored special figure hold is “reach hold”. If it is not “pending”, that is, if the change display of the special symbol does not go through the reach effect and ends with stop display of the symbol (S6026: no), the symbol table for determining whether to hold off is displayed. Select (S6030). In this way, when the reserved symbol determination table is selected according to each case (S6028, S6030), the reserved symbol determination lottery is executed in the same manner as when the big hit reservation is generated to determine the reserved symbol (S6032).

  FIG. 31 (a) is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the reach hold symbol determination table, and FIG. 31 (b) is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing the release reserve symbol determination table. As apparent from a comparison between the two reserved symbol determination tables shown in FIG. 31 and the jackpot reserved symbol determination table shown in FIG. 30, the “Character B reserved symbol” or “Character C reserved symbol” is determined in the reserved symbol determination lottery. The probability of being determined is highest when the jackpot reservation symbol determination table is selected, that is, when a jackpot reservation occurs. Therefore, when “Character B hold symbol” or “Character C hold symbol” is displayed in the special figure hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, the occurrence of a big hit triggered by the special figure hold corresponding to the hold symbol It is possible to suggest that the possibility (big hit reliability) is high, and it is possible to increase the player's expectation for the big hit. In particular, since “Character C reserved symbol” is not set in the off-holding symbol determination table, when “Character C reserved symbol” is displayed, a big hit is generated when the special symbol corresponding to the reserved symbol is displayed. Even if the big hit does not occur, the reach effect is executed. In other words, when “Character C hold symbol” is displayed, it is determined that the special symbol hold corresponding to the hold symbol is not simply “out hold hold” but “reach hold” or “big hit hold”.

  In this way, after the newly stored hold symbol corresponding to the special figure hold is determined (S6032), it is determined whether or not the hold occurrence command received this time (the command received in the processing of S6020) is the second hold occurrence command. Judgment is made (S6036). As a result, when the command is not the second hold occurrence command, that is, when the hold occurrence command received this time in the processing of S6020 is the first hold occurrence command (S6036: no), it is stored in the processing of S6021. The holding information storage state of the RAM 223 (holding information storage area) including the holding information is maintained as it is, and the holding symbol determined in the process of S6032 is displayed (S6040).

  Here, in this embodiment, as described above, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 is configured to perform “game control processing” as timer interrupt processing every 4 msec. In this game control process, the process related to storing special figure hold is performed first (S250 in FIG. 10), and the process related to the start of special symbol variation display is performed later (S300 in FIG. 10). In this embodiment, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 is configured to perform “effect control processing” as timer interrupt processing every 4 msec. Among the effect control processes, in the hold display process (S6000 in FIG. 23), in contrast to the game control process, the process related to the start of the variable symbol display is performed first (S6002 to S6006 in FIG. 26). Processing related to the occurrence of the figure hold is performed later (S6020 to S6038 in FIG. 27). This is to solve the problem of “cannot provide the player with accurate information regarding special figure hold” that may occur in a conventional pachinko machine. Hereinafter, this point will be described.

  FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram for comparing the contents of control processing between the conventional pachinko machine and the pachinko machine of the present embodiment. FIG. 32A shows the contents of control processing of the conventional pachinko machine, and FIG. 32B shows the contents of control processing of the pachinko machine of this embodiment. The upper side of each of FIGS. 32A and 32B shows a state in which the game control process is performed as a timer interrupt process by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200, and the lower side of the sub control board 220 is shown on the lower side. A state in which the effect control process is performed as a timer interrupt process by the CPU 221 is shown.

  In addition, “○” in the figure indicates “processing related to storage of special figure hold” performed in the game control process, and “☆” relates to “start of special symbol variation display” performed in the game control process. Process ". Also, “●” in the figure indicates “process related to special figure storage” performed in the effect control process (hold display process), and “★” is performed in the effect control process (hold display process). “Processing related to start of variable symbol display” is shown. Further, the figure consisting of four squares in the figure shows the storage state of the special figure hold in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200 and the storage state of the hold information in the RAM 223 of the sub control board 220. And “outside” written in the 4 squares figure indicates a hold (off hold) to stop display with the out symbol without performing the reach effect when the special symbol is variably displayed based on the special figure hold. Similarly, “Re” indicates that the special symbol is variably displayed based on the special symbol hold, and indicates a hold (reach hold) that stops the display with the out symbol after reaching the reach effect. When the special symbol is variably displayed based on the hold, the hold (big hit hold) that stops and displays the jackpot symbol is shown. In addition, “communication” written in the four-square graphic indicates that the reserved symbol displayed based on the prior determination result (prefetch information) is “normally reserved symbol”, and similarly “A” indicates the preliminary determination result. The reserved symbol displayed based on (pre-reading information) indicates “Character A reserved symbol”. Similarly, “B” indicates that the reserved symbol displayed based on the prior determination result (pre-reading information) is “Character B reserved symbol”. ".

  In the conventional pachinko machine, in both the game control process and the effect control process, the “process related to storing special figure hold” is performed first in one control process (timer interrupt process), and “variable display of special symbols” The processing relating to the start of “is performed later”. This is because the special program hold is memorized when the game ball enters the starting port, and the special program starts to be displayed based on the special figure hold. This is because it is customary to configure. In such a conventional pachinko machine, as shown in FIG. 32 (a), the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 is in accordance with the start of the special symbol variation display in one of the game control processes. A command at the start of change accompanying the start of the change display of the special symbol is sent as “Process” (☆), and the next game control process immediately after that is accompanied by the storage of the special figure hold as “Process related to storing special figure hold” Assume that the command at the time of the occurrence of hold is sent (○). That is, in the two game control processes of the game control process based on one timer interrupt and the subsequent game control process based on the next timer interrupt, each of the commands in the order of “change start command” and “pending occurrence command” It is assumed that a command is transmitted to the sub control board 220. Such a case of command transmission can occur when the game ball enters the start port 17a and the special figure hold increases by one immediately after the special symbol starts to display the change (after 4 msec).

  In this case, the “variation start command” and “hold occurrence command” transmitted in the two consecutive game control processes are handled as those received by the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 in one presentation control process. In the one-time effect control process, the “process related to storing special figure hold” (●) corresponding to the “command at the time of hold occurrence” transmitted in the subsequent game control process by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 is performed. The “process related to the start of variation display of special symbols” (★) corresponding to the “command at the start of variation” transmitted in the previous game control process is performed later. That is, among the two consecutive game control processes in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200, the number of special figure holds decreases in the previous game control process (for example, the number of special figure holds = 1), and the subsequent game control In spite of the increase in special figure hold (for example, the number of special figure hold = 2) in the process, the special figure hold number has increased (for example, the special figure hold number is increased in one presentation control process by the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220). The figure is processed as having been reduced (for example, the number of special figure holds = 1).

  Here, the transition of the actual number of special figure hold in the game progress process, that is, the increase / decrease order of special figure hold on the main control board 200 side and the increase / decrease order of special figure hold (hold information) on the sub-control board 220 side coincide with each other. Otherwise, the “special drawing hold stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200” and the “hold information stored in the RAM 223 of the sub control board 220” are not matched. As a result, a mismatch occurs between “the actual storage status of special figure hold” and “the type and number of hold symbols displayed in the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27”. Such a phenomenon may occur when the timer interrupt generation timing in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 and the timer interrupt generation timing in the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 do not match (synchronize). The greater the deviation, the higher the probability of occurrence.

  This point will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the main control board 200, the process related to the start of the special symbol variation display is performed once in a state in which “reservation hold” is stored as the special figure hold 1 and “reach hold” is stored as the hold 2. (☆), the “reach hold” is shifted to hold 1 with the start of the change display of the special symbol based on the “off hold” of the hold 1 and the current special figure hold number is “1” A change start command designating this is transmitted to the sub-control board 220. Thereafter, in the next game control process, a process related to storing a new special figure hold is performed (○), and if the special figure hold is “hit-hit hold”, the “hit-hit hold” is held as a special figure hold 2 And a command at the time of a hold occurrence designating that the result of the pre-judgment is a big hit (big hit hold) and the current special figure hold count is “2” is transmitted to the sub-control board 220. As a result of these processes, two special figure holds, that is, “reach hold” (hold 1) and “hit hold” (hold 2) from the oldest are stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200.

  On the other hand, in the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, “release hold” is set as hold 1 until the CPU 220 of the sub control board 220 performs processing corresponding to the above-described command transmitted from the main control board 200. “Normal hold symbol” corresponding to “H” is displayed, and “Character A hold symbol” corresponding to “Reach hold” is displayed as hold 2. In this state, when each command is transmitted in the order of “variation start command” and “holding occurrence command” from the main control board 200 by two consecutive game control processes, the corresponding sub control board 220 side As a process, the CPU 221 performs a process based on a “holding occurrence command” transmitted from the main control board 200 in a later game control process (a process related to storing special figure hold) as a single effect control process (hold display). (Process)) first (●). In this case, the hold occurrence command includes information indicating that the result of the prior determination is “big hit” and information indicating that the current special figure hold number is “2”. The CPU 221 of the substrate 220 stores “holding 2 (holding number information) / big hit (prefetching information)” as holding information. Along with this, the holding symbol corresponding to the holding 2 (the jackpot holding) is determined to be the “character B holding symbol”.

  Thereafter, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 performs the same effect (processing related to the start of the change display of the special symbol) based on the “change start command” transmitted from the main control board 200 in the previous game control process. This is performed in the control process (hold display process) (★). In this process, the currently stored hold information is shifted, and the storage content of the hold information is updated to “hold 1 (holding number information) / big hit (prefetch information)”. Then, the “character B hold symbol” corresponding to the hold information (hold 1 / big hit) is displayed in the hold display area 27 e of the effect display device 27. In this case, the special figure hold number designated by the “change start command” is “1”, and the number is the number of hold information after the shift process (hold 1) stored in the RAM 223 of the sub-control board 220. Therefore, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 treats the above processing as normal.

  As described above, in the conventional pachinko machine, the actual number of special figure hold is “2”, and even though the hold 1 is “reach hold” and the hold 2 is “hit hold”, the sub-control The hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) of the substrate 220 is “hold 1 (hold number information) / big hit (pre-read information)”, and the hold display area 27 e of the effect display device 10 has the “big hit” as the hold 1. “Character B hold symbol” corresponding to “hold” is displayed. This makes it impossible to provide the player with “accurate information regarding special figure hold”. Therefore, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27, the effect control process in the CPU 221 of the sub control board 220 is opposite to the game control process in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. The process related to the start of the special symbol variation display (FIG. 26) is performed first, and the process related to the storage of the special symbol hold (S6020 to S6038 in FIG. 27) is performed later.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 32 (b), the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 in the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment is a game based on one timer interrupt as in the conventional pachinko machine shown in FIG. 32 (a). Subsequent to the two game control processes of the control process and the game control process based on the next timer interrupt, each command is sub-sequenced in the order of “first variation start command” and “first hold occurrence command”. Assume that the data is transmitted to the control board 220. In this case, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 transmits the “first variation start command” and the “first hold occurrence command” transmitted in two consecutive game control processes to the effect control process (one If it is treated as being received in the timer interruption process of (1), in one stage of the effect control process, “corresponding to the“ first variation start command ”transmitted in the previous game control process by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200“ “Process related to start of special symbol change” (★) is performed first, and “Process related to storage of special figure hold” corresponding to “first hold occurrence command” transmitted in the subsequent game control process (●) will be performed later. That is, in the pachinko machine 1 of the present embodiment, the “order of increase / decrease of special figure hold on the main control board 200 side” corresponding to the transition of the actual number of special figure hold in the game progression process, and the special order on the sub control board 220 side "Order of increase / decrease in the figure hold (hold information)" matches.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 32 (b), “first variation start command” and “first hold occurrence” sequentially transmitted from the main control board 200 to the hold display area 27 e of the effect display device 27. Until the CPU 220 of the sub-control board 220 performs the process related to “time command”, “normal hold symbol” corresponding to “off hold” is displayed as hold 1 and “character A hold” corresponding to “reach hold” as hold 2 "Design" is displayed. In this state, when each command is transmitted in the order of “variation start command” and “holding occurrence command” from the main control board 200 by two consecutive game control processes, the corresponding sub control board 220 side As a process, the CPU 221 executes a process based on the “first variation start command” transmitted from the main control board 200 in the previous game control process (a process related to the start of variation display of special symbols) as a single effect control process. (Pending display processing) is performed first (★). In this process, the hold information is shifted, and the storage content of the hold information is updated so that the hold 1 corresponding to the special figure hold number “1” becomes “reach hold (reach off)”.

  Thereafter, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 executes the process (process related to the storage of the special figure hold) based on the “first hold occurrence command” transmitted in the subsequent game control process from the main control board 200 with the same effect. Performed in control processing (hold display processing) (●). In this case, the first hold occurrence time command includes information indicating that the result of the prior determination is “big hit” and information indicating that the current special figure hold number is “2”. The CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 stores “holding 2 (holding number information) / big hit (prefetching information)” as holding information. Accordingly, the holding symbol corresponding to the holding 2 (hit jackpot holding) is determined to be the “character B holding symbol”. Then, as the holding symbols corresponding to the holding information (“holding 1 · reach out of reach”, “holding 2 · big hit”), “character A holding symbol” and holding 2 (holding big hit hold) corresponding to hold 1 (reach hold) ) Is displayed in the hold display area 27 e of the effect display device 27.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the hold display of the effect display device 27 corresponds to the two special figure hold where the hold 1 is “reach hold” and the hold 2 is “hit hold”. In the area 27e, “Character A hold symbol” corresponding to “Reach hold” is displayed as hold 1, and “Character B hold symbol” corresponding to “Hit jackpot hold” is displayed as hold 2. In other words, the correspondence between “the special figure hold stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200” and “the hold information stored in the RAM 223 of the sub control board 220” matches (matches), so that “the actual special figure hold” Is consistent with “the type and number of reserved symbols displayed in the reserved display area 27e of the effect display device 27”. As a result, even if the game ball enters the start port 17a and the special figure hold increases by one immediately after the special symbol starts to change (4 msec) in the game progress process, Accurate information "can be provided to the player.

  On the other hand, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, “game related to storing special figure hold” (S250 in FIG. 10) and “start of special symbol variation display” in one game control process in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. In the case where both of “the process related to the process” (S300 in FIG. 10) are performed, that is, in the process of the game, “the entry of the game ball to the start port 17a (the storage of the new special figure hold)” and “the special symbol of If the “start of variable display” occurs at the same time (within 4 msec), it may not be possible to provide the player with “accurate information on special figure hold”.

  FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the cause of such a problem. As shown in FIG. 33, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 transmits a first on-hold occurrence command that accompanies storage of the special figure hold as a “process related to special figure hold” in one game control process ( In addition, it is assumed that the first change start command accompanying the start of the variation display of the special symbol is transmitted (☆) as “a process related to the start of the variation display of the special symbol”. That is, it is assumed that in the game control process based on one timer interrupt, the commands are transmitted to the sub-control board 220 in the order of “first hold occurrence command” and “first change start command”. In the case of such command transmission, “the game ball enters the start port 17a (a new special figure holding memory)” and “the start of the special symbol variation display” occur at the same timing (within 4 msec). Can happen.

  In this case, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 receives the “first hold occurrence command” and the “first variation start command” transmitted in one game control process in one presentation control process. In the one-time effect control process, “a process related to the start of the special symbol variation display” corresponding to the “first variation start command” transmitted later in one game control process by the CPU 201 ( ★) will be performed first, and “Process related to storing special figure hold” (●) corresponding to the “first hold occurrence command” transmitted earlier in the same game control process will be performed later. . In other words, in one game control process in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200, the number of special figure holds decreases (for example, the number of special figure holds = 3) and then decreases (for example, the number of special figure holds = 2). In spite of the above, in one effect control process performed by the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220, the number of special figure hold increases (for example, the special figure hold number = 2) and then increases (for example, the special figure hold number = 3). In this case, the special figure holding increase / decrease order (processing order) in one interrupt process (game control process) on the main control board 200 side and the special interrupt process (effect control process) in one interrupt process (effect control process) on the sub control board 220 side are now set. The increase / decrease order (processing order) of the figure hold (hold information) does not match, and “special drawing hold stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200” and “hold information stored in the RAM 223 of the sub control board 220” match. No longer. As a result, a mismatch occurs between “the actual storage status of special figure hold” and “the type and number of hold symbols displayed in the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27”.

  This point will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In the state in which “remove hold” is stored as the special figure hold 1 and the “reach hold” is stored as the hold 2 in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200, a process related to the storage of the new special figure hold is performed (◯), If the special figure hold is “Hits jackpot hold”, the “Big jackpot hold” is stored as special figure hold 3 and the pre-determined result is a big jackpot (big hit hold) and the current number of special figure holds. Is transmitted to the sub-control board 220. The first on-hold occurrence command designating that “3” is “3”. After that, when the processing related to the start of the variable symbol display is performed (☆), the variable symbol variable display based on the “off hold” of the hold 1 is started, the “reach hold” is the hold 1, the “big hit hold” Are shifted to hold 2 respectively, and a first change start command designating that the current special figure hold number is “2” is transmitted. As a result of these processes, two special figure holds, that is, “reach hold” as hold 1 and “hit hold” as hold 2 are stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200.

  On the other hand, in the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, the CPU 220 of the sub-control board 220 performs “off hold” as the hold 1 until the CPU 220 of the sub control board 220 performs the process related to the above-described command transmitted from the main control board 200. Corresponding “normal hold symbol” is displayed, and “Character A hold symbol” corresponding to “reach hold” is displayed as hold 2. In this state, when each command is transmitted in the order of “first hold occurrence command” and “first change start command” from the main control board 200 by one game control process, the corresponding sub control board 220 is transmitted. As the processing on the side, the CPU 221 performs processing based on the “first variation start command” (★: processing related to the start of special symbol variation display) and processing based on the “first hold occurrence command” (●: special diagram) The process related to the storage of the hold) is performed in the order in one presentation control process. Among them, in the processing (★) based on the “first change start command” to be performed first, the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) is shifted to “hold 1 (hold number information) / reach”. Update to “Existence (prefetch information)”. At this time, since the current special figure hold number included in the “first change start command” is “2”, inconsistency with the hold number information “hold 1” included in the hold information after the shift occurs. .

  Further, in the processing (●) based on the “first hold occurrence command” to be performed later in the one-time effect control processing described above, information indicating that the result of the prior determination is “big hit” and the current special figure Since the information indicating that the number of holds is “3” is included in the “first hold occurrence command”, “hold 3 (holding number information), jackpot (pre-read information) ) ". Accordingly, the reserved symbol corresponding to the reserved 3 (big hit reserved) is determined to be the “character B reserved symbol”. As a result, the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) includes “hold 1 (hold number information) / reach out of reach (pre-read information)” and “hold 3 (hold number information) / big hit (pre-read information). ) ”, And the hold information related to“ hold 2 ”between“ hold 1 ”and“ hold 3 ”is thinned out.

  As described above, when the “first hold occurrence command” and the “first variation start command” are transmitted from the main control board 200 to the sub control board 220 in one game control process, the RAM 203 of the main control board 200 The number of special figure hold stored is “2”, and the breakdown is “hold 1 / reach hold”, “hold 2 / big hit hold”, but the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) of the sub-control board 220 The hold information stored in) is “hold 1 (holding number information) / reach out of reach (pre-reading information)” and “holding 3 (holding number information) / bonus (pre-reading information)”. There will be no information. In this state, in the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, “Character A hold symbol” corresponding to “Reach hold” is displayed as hold 1 and “Character B” corresponding to “Hit big hold” is held as hold 3. “Pending design” is displayed, and the holding design corresponding to “Pending 2” is not displayed. As described above, when “memory for special figure hold” and “start of special symbol variation display” occur in one game control process, that is, “the entry of a game ball into the start port 17a (new special figure) When “holding storage” and “start of special symbol change display” occur at the same timing, “special drawing holding stored in RAM 203 of main control board 200” and “RAM 223 of sub control board 220 store” Inconsistency occurs with the “holding information to be performed”, and there is a problem that it becomes impossible to provide the player with “accurate information regarding the special figure holding”.

  Therefore, in the pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above with reference to FIGS. 11 and 15, the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 performs the “store special figure hold” and “start the special symbol variation display”. When it occurs in one game control process, instead of the first hold occurrence command and the first change start command, the second hold occurrence command (S270 in FIG. 11) and the second change start command (see FIG. 11). 15 S3164). When the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 receives the second hold occurrence time command and the second change start time command, “special drawing hold” and “start special symbol change display” are 1 based on these commands. Recognizing that it has occurred in one game control process, the following process for avoiding the above-mentioned problem is performed.

D-2-2.1 On-hold display processing when both of “Memory of special figure hold” and “Start of change display of special symbol” occur in the game control process of D-2-2.1:
As described above with reference to FIG. 26, when the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 receives the first change start command (S6004: no), the CPU 221 performs the hold information shift process (S6006). On the other hand, when the second change start command is received (S6004: no), the hold information shift process is not performed, and the process proceeds to the process after S6020 (FIG. 27). That is, when the second variation start command is received, the “pending display process corresponding to the start of variation display of special symbols” is not performed.

  In addition, as described above with reference to FIG. 27, when the first hold occurrence command is received (S6036: no), the hold information storage in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) including the hold information stored in the process of S6021 While maintaining the situation as it is, a process (S6040) of displaying the reserved symbols determined in the process of S6032 was performed. On the other hand, when the second hold occurrence command is received (S6036: yes), the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) is shifted including the hold information stored in the process of S6021. Processing is performed (S6038).

  FIG. 34 is an explanatory view exemplifying a case where a “second variation start command” and a “second hold occurrence command” are transmitted in one game control process in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. In FIG. 34, the game control process by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 transmits a second hold occurrence command instead of the first hold occurrence command, and a second change start command instead of the first change start command. Is the same as the processing described above with reference to FIG. Therefore, when the “second variation start command” and the “second hold occurrence command” are transmitted, the special figure hold number stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200 is “2”. “Hold 1, Reach Hold” and “Hold 2, Jackpot Hold”.

  On the other hand, in the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, processes related to the “second hold occurrence command” and the “second variation start command” that are sequentially transmitted from the main control board 200 in one game control process. Until the CPU 220 of the sub-control board 220 performs, “normal hold symbol” corresponding to “release hold” is displayed as hold 1, and “character A hold symbol” corresponding to “reach hold” is displayed as hold 2. Yes. In this state, when each command is transmitted in the order of “second hold occurrence command” and “second variation start command” from the main control board 200 by one game control process, the corresponding sub control board 220 is transmitted. As a process on the side, the CPU 221 does not perform a process based on the “second variation start command” (★: a process related to the start of variation display of the special symbol), and a process based on the “second hold occurrence command” (●: Only processing related to special figure storage is performed. In other words, the second hold occurrence command in this case includes information indicating that the result of the prior determination is “big hit” and information indicating that the current special figure hold number is “3”. Therefore, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 stores “holding 3 (holding number information) / big hit (prefetching information)” as the holding information. Accordingly, the reserved symbol corresponding to the reserved 3 (big hit reserved) is determined to be the “character B reserved symbol”. Subsequently, the “second hold occurrence command” includes information indicating that “special figure hold” and “start of special symbol change display” occur in one game control process. Therefore, based on the information, a process for shifting the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) is performed. As a result, the hold information after the shift processing is “hold 1 (holding number information) / reach out of reach (pre-reading information)” “holding 2 (holding number information) / big hit (pre-reading information)”. In the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, “Character A hold symbol” corresponding to “Reach hold” is displayed as hold 1, and “Character B hold symbol” corresponding to “Hit big hold” is displayed as hold 2. Is done. The contents of the hold display at this time, that is, the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) (“hold 1 / reach with / without reach” and “hold 2 / big hit”) are stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200. It matches the special figure hold ("hold 1 / reach hold" and "hold 2 / big hit hold").

  As described above, when “save special chart hold” and “start change display of special symbol” occur in one game control process, that is, “enter a game ball into the start port 17a (new special Even if the “save of figure hold” ”and“ start of special symbol variation display ”occur simultaneously,“ the special figure hold stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200 ”and“ the RAM 223 of the sub control board 220 are There is no inconsistency with the “holding information to be stored”, and it is possible to provide the player with “accurate information on special figure holding”.

  When the second fluctuation start command is received, the hold information is not shifted. When the second hold occurrence command is received, the hold is the same as when the first hold occurrence command is received. Since the information storage process and the hold information shift process similar to when the first change start command is received, there is no need to perform any special processing on the hold information, and the program for the hold display process Can be prevented and the processing can be stabilized.

  Note that the CPU 221 mounted on the sub-control board 220 executes the above-described processing, thereby executing the “hold increase confirmation process” and the “hold decrease check process” in the present invention.

E. Modified example:
In the above-described embodiment, when “store special figure hold” and “start special symbol change display” occur in one game control process, the first hold occurrence command and the first change start command are used. Instead, a configuration has been described in which processing related to the second hold occurrence time command and the second change start time command is performed. Separately from this configuration, when “store special figure hold” and “start change display of special symbol” occur in one game control process, the first change start command is used as it is and the first hold Instead of the occurrence time command, a process related to the second hold occurrence time command may be performed (modified example).

  FIG. 35 is an explanatory view exemplifying a case where a “second hold occurrence command” and a “first variation start occurrence command” are transmitted (modified example) in one game control process in the CPU 201 of the main control board 200. It is. In FIG. 35, the game control process by the CPU 201 of the main control board 200 is the same as the process described above with reference to FIG. 33 except that the second hold occurrence command is sent instead of the first hold occurrence command.

  As shown in FIG. 35, in the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, “second hold occurrence command” and “first change start time” sequentially transmitted from the main control board 200 in one game control process. Until the CPU 220 of the sub-control board 220 performs the processing related to the “command”, the “normal hold symbol” corresponding to “release hold” is displayed as the hold 1 and the “character A hold symbol” corresponding to “reach hold” as the hold 2 Is displayed. In this state, when each command is transmitted in the order of “second hold occurrence command” and “first change start command” from the main control board 200 by one game control process, the corresponding sub control board As a process on the 220 side, the CPU 221 first performs a process based on the “first variation start command” (★: a process related to the start of variation display of special symbols) in one presentation control process (hold display process), Thereafter, a process based on the “second on-hold occurrence command” (●: process related to storing special figure hold) is performed in the same effect control process (hold display process). Among them, in the processing (★) based on the “first change start command” to be performed first, the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) is shifted to “hold 1 (hold number information) / reach”. Update to “Existence (prefetch information)”. At this time, since the current special figure hold number included in the “first change start command” is “2”, inconsistency with the hold number information “hold 1” included in the hold information after the shift occurs. . Up to this processing, the processing is the same as that described above with reference to FIG.

  Further, in the process (●) based on the “second hold occurrence command” to be performed later in the one-time effect control process described above, information indicating that the result of the prior determination is “big hit” and the current special figure Since the information indicating that the number of holds is “3” is included in the “second hold occurrence command”, based on the information, “hold 3 (hold number information) / big hit (pre-read information) ) ". Accordingly, the reserved symbol corresponding to the reserved 3 (big hit reserved) is determined to be the “character B reserved symbol”. As a result, the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) includes “hold 1 (hold number information) / reach out of reach (pre-read information)” and “hold 3 (hold number information) / big hit (pre-read information). ) ”, And the hold information related to“ hold 2 ”between“ hold 1 ”and“ hold 3 ”is thinned out.

  Further, since the “second hold occurrence command” includes information indicating that “memory for special figure hold” and “start of special symbol change display” occur in one game control process. Based on the information, the CPU 221 of the sub-control board 220 sets only one new storage information stored this time among the storage information stored in the RAM 223 (holding information storage area), and stores the storage order (holding generation order) one. A process of moving up (moving one to the old holding side) is performed. That is, in the “hold information shift process” based on the reception of the “second hold occurrence command” described above with reference to FIG. 34, all the hold data stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area) at the time of the process. Although the information is shifted, in this modification, only the new hold information stored this time is shifted. As a result, the state in which the hold information related to “hold 2” between “hold 1” and “hold 3” is thinned is canceled, and “hold 1 (holding number information) / reach out of reach (pre-read information)” Two pieces of hold information “hold 2 (holding number information) / big hit (prefetch information)” are stored in the RAM 223 (holding information storage area). Further, since the number “2” of the hold information stored at this time coincides with the current special figure hold number “2” included in the previous “first change start command”, the previous “first” Inconsistency between “Special figure hold count” and “Hold information” (“Special figure hold count“ 2 ”, hold count information“ Pending 1 ”) generated as a result of the process (★) based on“ change start command ” It will be resolved.

  Thus, the hold information stored in the RAM 223 (hold information storage area), that is, “hold 1 (hold number information) / reach out of reach (pre-read information)” and “hold 2 (hold number information) / big hit (pre-read information)” Based on the two pieces of hold information, in the hold display area 27e of the effect display device 27, “Character A hold symbol” corresponding to “Reach hold” is displayed as hold 1, and “Hit big hold” is held as hold 2 “Character B hold symbol” is displayed. The content of the hold display at this time coincides with the special figure hold (“hold 1 / reach hold” and “hold 2 / big hit hold”) stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200.

  As described above, even if this modification is adopted, there is no inconsistency between the “special drawing hold stored in the RAM 203 of the main control board 200” and the “hold information stored in the RAM 223 of the sub control board 220”. Thus, it becomes possible to provide the player with “accurate information regarding the special figure hold”.

  In addition, even when “store special figure hold” and “start change display of special symbol” occur in one game control process, the “first change start command” is transmitted and received as the change start command. Therefore, it is not necessary to process a special change start command, and it is possible to prevent an enormous number of programs for holding display processing from becoming enormous and to stabilize processing.

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

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

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine (bullet ball game machine), 17a ... Start-up port, 27 ... Production display device (holding display means), 28 ... Symbol display device, 31d ... Big prize opening, 200 ... Main control board, 201 ... CPU (game) Control means), 220... Sub-control board, 221... CPU (effect control means, hold display means).

Claims (4)

A game ball flowing down on the surface of the game board is detected by the start detection member to display a variation of the symbol, and when the predetermined winning symbol is stopped and displayed as a result of the variation display, a special game advantageous to the player is performed. A ball game machine to start,
Game control means for performing a game control process for controlling the progress of the game based on a timer interrupt generated at a predetermined period;
Production control means for performing production control processing for controlling production performed as the game progresses based on a timer interrupt generated at a predetermined period;
A hold display means for performing a hold display indicating that the symbol is held without being subjected to the change display of the symbol corresponding to the game ball detection by the start detection member,
The game control means includes
In one game control process, after performing the hold occurrence process related to the occurrence of the hold, performing the change start process relating to the start of the change display of the symbol,
In the hold occurrence processing, when the hold occurs based on the game ball detection of the start detection member, the occurrence of the hold is stored, and a hold occurrence occurs as a hold occurrence command including information related to the number of holds after storage. If the state at the time is in a state in which the change display of the symbol cannot be started, a command at the time of first holding occurs, and if it is in a state in which the change display of the symbol can be started, a command at the time of second hold occurrence is transmitted to the effect control means,
In the variation start processing, the variation display of the symbol is started based on the suspension stored by the suspension occurrence processing, and the suspension that has started the variation display is erased. A change start command including information is transmitted to the effect control means;
The production control means includes
In one presentation control process, after performing a hold decrease process corresponding to reception of the change start command, a hold increase process corresponding to reception of the hold occurrence command is performed,
In the hold increase process, when the first hold occurrence command is received, the information included in the command is stored as hold information in the order of the hold occurrence, and the hold display is performed based on the hold information after storage, and the second hold When a command at the time of occurrence is received, information included in the command is stored as hold information in the order in which the hold was generated, and the hold information in the stored hold information is incremented by one, and the hold display is performed based on the hold information after the carry. A ball game machine characterized by In the ball game machine according to claim 1,
The on-hold occurrence command includes information related to the result of the variable display of the symbol performed based on the on-hold that has occurred,
The production control means stores, in the holding increase process, information related to the number of holdings after storing and information related to the result included in the command at the time of holding occurrence as the holding information, and holding information after storing The bullet ball game machine, wherein the hold display is performed in a mode corresponding to information relating to the result included in the game. In the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2,
When the game control means transmits the change start time command in the change start time process performed after the hold occurrence processing that has transmitted the first hold occurrence time command in one game control process. The first change start command is transmitted as the first change start command, and the first change start command is transmitted in the first change start process performed after the second hold start time command is transmitted. When transmitting, the second variation start command is transmitted as the variation start command,
When the production control means receives the first fluctuation start command in the hold reduction process, the production control means deletes the oldest hold information in the order of occurrence of the hold from the hold information stored at that time and the remaining hold information When the second fluctuation start command is received, the processing related to the deletion of the oldest hold information and the advance of the hold occurrence order is not performed.
Further, the effect control means receives the second hold occurrence command in the hold increase process performed after the hold decrease raw process that has received the second fluctuation start time command in one effect control process. Then, the information included in the command is stored as the hold information in the order of the occurrence of the hold, and the hold occurrence order of all the hold information including the stored hold information is incremented by one each. Machine. In the bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The production control means includes
When the change start time command is received in the hold reduction process, the oldest hold information in the hold occurrence order is deleted from the hold information stored at that time, and the hold occurrence order of the remaining hold information is incremented by one. ,
When the second hold occurrence command is received in the hold increase process, information included in the command is stored as hold information in the order of hold occurrence, and only the hold occurrence order of the stored hold information is incremented by one. A ball game machine.

Images