JP2014140560A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of preventing a pushing mistake.SOLUTION: A sub control board is equipped with a notification performance execution portion. To the notification execution portion, a main control board inputs information indicating the result of a winning combination lottery when a winning combination lottery is executed, and sends information indicating the validation of a stop button when the stop button is made valid. When information indicating the result of the winning combination lottery is sent from the main control board, the notification performance execution portion decides whether or not the notification performance is to be executed. In the case where the notification performance is executed, a notice performance to notice that the notification performance is executed after the operation of the stop button was made valid, and the input of information indicating the validation of the stop button is awaited. When the signal indicating the validation of the stop button is inputted, the notification performance is executed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine installed in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  Slot machines are widely known as gaming machines installed in amusement halls such as pachinko parlors. In the slot machine, a game is started by betting game media and operating a start switch. When the game is started, a winning combination lottery is performed to determine one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or lose, and a plurality of reels start rotating. Each reel is individually stopped based on the operation of the corresponding stop switch, and whether or not the winning combination has been won is determined by the stop mode when all the reels stop. If the winning combination wins, the process corresponding to the winning winning combination is executed and one game is finished. If the winning combination does not win, one reel is played when all reels stop. The game ends.

  The slot machine has a weight function to prevent the time required for one game from falling below a predetermined time set in advance. For example, after the reel can be stopped in the previous game (reel If the specified time has not elapsed (after the rotation has reached a constant speed), even if the stop switch is operated in this game, the operation is invalidated and the game cannot be progressed. (See Patent Document 1 below).

  In addition, the slot machine is equipped with an assist function that informs (displays on the liquid crystal display) the operation mode of the stop switch for winning the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery using an effect device such as a liquid crystal display. There are also things. As such notification, for example, a winning combination that will not win if the operation order of the stop switch is not correct even if winning in the winning combination lottery is provided, and the operation order of the stop switch is notified when the winning combination is won (See Patent Document 2 below). In addition, as such notification, there is, for example, a notification of the type of winning combination won in the winning combination lottery (notifying the type of winning combination is notifying the symbol to be stopped, that is, the stop switch Is synonymous with notifying the operation timing of the

JP 2004-305565 A JP 2004-290263 A

  However, in a conventional gaming machine with an assist function, a notification is made before the stop switch is activated (when the stop switch is invalidated), which is contrary to the intention of the player. There has been a problem that the stop switch is operated in an operation mode different from that of the notification (the user makes a mistake in pressing).

  Specifically, in a gaming machine that informs the operation procedure of the stop switch, even if the player operates the stop switch in the order in which the player is informed, the operation is invalidated by the wait function until the middle, and the operation can be performed from the middle. May be activated. In such a case, the stop switch whose operation is invalidated is not regarded as operated, and is regarded as operated in a different order from the notification (it is regarded as a pressing error).

  Also, in a gaming machine that notifies the operation timing of the stop switch, even if the stop switch is operated according to the notification, the operation is invalidated by the weight function, which confuses the player, and hurries to operate the stop switch again. There is a risk of misleading (inducing a push error).

  Further, not only when the weight function is activated as described above, but also the state where the reel is not in a steady rotation (the reel is accelerating and has not reached a constant speed), or the rotation position of the reel is not detected. Even in the state, the operation of the stop switch is invalidated. In other words, since the reel stop control is performed on the assumption that the reel is in steady rotation, the intended stop control cannot be performed in a state where the reel is not in steady rotation. For this reason, even if the reel starts to rotate, the operation of the stop switch is invalidated until the reel becomes a steady rotation. The reel is provided with a rotation index (for example, a detection piece detected by an optical sensor). The rotation position is detected by detecting the rotation index, and the reel stop control is performed based on the detected rotation position. Is done. Therefore, the intended stop control cannot be performed until the rotational position of the reel is detected. For this reason, even if the reel starts to rotate, the operation of the stop switch is invalidated until the rotational position is detected.

  As described above, even when the reel is not rotating normally or when the rotation position of the reel is not detected, the operation of the stop switch is invalidated as in the case where the above-described wait function is activated. For this reason, the operation mode of the stop switch is notified in such a state (a state where the reel is not rotating in a steady state or a state where the reel's rotational position is not detected and the stop switch is invalidated). When it was done, there was a problem that it became a push mistake.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of preventing a pressing error.

In order to achieve the above object, the gaming machine of the present invention includes a reel having a plurality of types of symbols arranged on the outer periphery, a stop switch for stopping the reel, and a plurality of types of winning combinations. A winning combination lottery means for determining whether or not to lose, and an informing means for notifying an operation mode of the stop switch for winning the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery, and the reel at the start of the game In the gaming machine in which the operation of the stop switch is validated after the start of rotation, and the rotation of the reel is stopped in accordance with the operation of the validated stop switch, the notifying means operates the stop switch. The notification is prohibited until is activated, and the notification is executed after the operation of the stop switch is validated.
In addition, the operation mode of the stop switch for winning the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery, the operation sequence of the stop switch for winning the winning combination winning in the winning combination lottery, and the winning combination lottery Both stop switch operation timings for winning the winning combination are included. In addition, in order to notify the operation timing of the stop switch for winning the winning combination in the winning combination lottery, in addition to lighting the lamp and outputting a sound at the timing when the stop switch should be operated, This includes notifying the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination won in the winning lottery.

  In the case of performing the notification, the notification means preferably performs a notification that the notification is performed until the operation of the stop switch is validated.

  According to the present invention, as the operation of the stop switch is validated, the notification of the operation mode of the stop switch for winning the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery is performed, so that an erroneous pressing can be prevented.

  Also, in the case of notification, if the advance notice of the notification is made until the operation of the stop switch is enabled, the notification of the notification will not be made and the stop button will be pressed in the same manner as when there is no notification. When the user notices the notification, the problem that the stop switch has been operated in an operation mode different from that of the notification (a mistake in pressing) can be prevented.

It is an external view of a slot machine. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of an electrical structure of a slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which alerting | reporting effect is performed. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in which a notification effect and a notice effect are performed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine (game machine) 10 includes a storage box 11 and a front door 12. The storage box 11 stores a reel unit in which first to third reels 20a to 20c to be described later are unitized, a hopper device for paying out medals to a medal tray 34 through a payout port 32 to be described later, and the like. Yes. The front door 12 is divided into an upper door 12a and a lower door 12b, and the upper door 12a and the lower door 12b are respectively pivotally attached to the storage box 11 and supported so as to be freely opened and closed.

  The upper door 12a is provided with a liquid crystal display 13 for displaying various images and a speaker 14 for outputting various sounds. In the slot machine 10, various effects are performed. The upper door 12a is provided with a display window 16, and behind the display window 16, rotatable first to third reels 20a to 20c are provided. Plural kinds of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 20a to 20c, and three symbols per reel are displayed through the display window 16 when the reels 20a to 20c are stopped.

  The lower door 12b has a medal slot 22 for inserting medals, a bet button 24 that is operated when betting credited medals, a start lever 26 that is operated when starting a game, and a rotating reel. First to third stop buttons (stop switches) 30a to 30c for stopping, a payout port 32 for paying out medals, and a medal tray 34 for receiving medals paid out from the payout port 32 are provided.

  The slot machine 10 inserts a medal into the medal insertion slot 22 or operates the bet button 24 in a state where a credited medal exists, and the start lever 26 is activated. When the activated start lever 26 is operated, the game is started accordingly. When the game is started, a winning combination lottery is performed to determine one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or a loss, and the reels 20a to 20c start rotating. Thereafter, the operation of each of the stop buttons 30a to 30c is validated based on the fact that each of the reels 20a to 20c is in a steady rotation, and the corresponding operation is performed when the activated stop buttons 30a to 30c are manipulated. Reel rotation is stopped individually.

  When all the reels are stopped, if the combination of symbols corresponding to the winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery is displayed, the winning combination is won. The winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery is roughly divided into three types: replay, small role, and bonus. When the replay wins, the next game can be performed without inserting a new medal, and when the small role wins, the hopper device Is activated, the number of medals corresponding to the type of the winning combination is paid out to the medal tray 34, and when the bonus is won, the game in the bonus mode is executed from the next game.

  In addition, the slot machine 10 is provided with a selection combination that can be awarded when the operation order of the stop buttons 30a to 30c is correct as a kind of small combination. Then, in the slot machine 10, when a winning combination is won in the winning combination lottery, a notification effect is provided for notifying the operation order of stop buttons for winning the winning combination.

  In this embodiment, as the selection combination, the selection combination A that can be won when the stop button 30a is operated prior to the other stop buttons 30b and 30c, and the stop button 30b precedes the other stop buttons 30a and 30c. And a select combination B that can be won when the stop button 30c is operated prior to the other stop buttons 30a and 30b.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as the notification effect, when the winning combination A is won in the winning combination lottery, the message “forward push” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 13, and when the selecting combination B is won in the winning combination lottery, “ The message “reverse press” is displayed, and when the selected combination C is won in the winning combination lottery, the message “middle press” is displayed on the liquid crystal display 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, inside the slot machine 10, a main control board 50 that controls the execution and progress of the game by controlling each part of the slot machine 10, and the liquid crystal display 13 and the speaker 14 are controlled. A sub-control board 52 that controls the execution and progress of the performance is provided.

  The main control board 50 and the sub control board 52 can transmit various information such as information indicating a game state from the main control board 50 to the sub control board 52. No information can be transmitted to (the information communication is one-way from the main control board 50 to the sub-control board 52).

  The main control board 50 is provided with a winning combination lottery section (winning combination lottery means) 54 and a timer 56. The winning combination lottery unit 54 performs the winning combination lottery with the start of the game. The timer 56 starts timing when the reels 20a to 20c start rotating as the game starts (the activated start lever 26 is operated), and the reels 20a to 20c start when a new game starts. Each time the rotation of 20c is started, the time value is reset and a new time measurement is started. As described above, the main control board 50 measures the elapsed time from the start of rotation of the reels 20 a to 20 c by the timer 56.

  Reels 20 a to 20 c are connected to the main control board 50 via a reel drive controller 58. The reel drive controller 58 is connected to first to third stepping motors 60a to 60c and first to third sensors 62a to 62c. First to third reels 20a to 20c are attached to the rotation shafts of the first to third stepping motors 60a to 60c. The first to third stepping motors 60a to 60c rotate the rotation shaft by an amount (angle) corresponding to the number of supplied drive pulses as is well known. The first to third sensors 62a to 62c output detection signals when facing the first to third indexes 64a to 64c provided upright on the first to third reels 20a to 20c.

  The reel drive controller 58 can grasp the rotational positions of the reels 20a to 20c from the output of detection signals from the first to third sensors 62a to 62c and the number of drive pulses supplied to the stepping motors 60a to 60c. The reel drive controller 58 controls the number of drive pulses supplied to the stepping motors 60a to 60c based on the recognized rotational position of the reels 20a to 20c, thereby determining the rotational position of the reels 20a to 20c. It can be controlled freely. Further, the reel drive controller 58 can freely control the rotation speed of each of the reels 20a to 20c by controlling the supply speed (supply amount per unit time) of the drive pulse supplied to each of the stepping motors 60a to 60c.

  When the game is started, the main control board 50 refers to the timer 56 accordingly, and a specified time (for example, 4.1 seconds) has elapsed since the rotation of the reels 20a to 20c was started in the previous game. It is determined whether or not. If the specified time has elapsed, the reel drive controller 58 is operated to start the rotation of the reels 20a to 20c. If the specified time has not elapsed, the process waits for the specified time to elapse. The rotation of the reels 20a to 20c is started. Each of the reels 20a to 20c is accelerated to a predetermined constant speed through a predetermined acceleration period, and after reaching the constant speed, it is rotated (steady rotation) at this constant speed.

  In the main control board 50, the reels 20a to 20c are normally rotated, and the rotational positions of the reels 20a to 20c are detected (the first to third indexes 64a to 64c are detected by the first to third sensors 62a to 62c). ), The stop buttons 30a to 30c are activated. When the activated stop buttons 30a to 30c are operated, the main control board 50 responds to this by operating the reel drive controller 58 to stop the reels corresponding to the pressed stop buttons 30a to 30c. Take control.

  The sub-control board 52 is provided with a notification effect execution unit (notification means) 70. Information indicating the result of the winning combination lottery is input from the main control board 50 to the notification effect execution unit 70 when the winning combination lottery is executed, and when the stop buttons 30a to 30c are activated. Information indicating that is transmitted. The notification effect execution unit 70 executes the notification effect based on the information transmitted from the main control board 50.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, when information indicating the winning combination lottery result is transmitted from the main control board 50, the notification effect executing unit 70 determines whether to execute the notification effect (winning combination lottery). In the case where the selection combination A to C is won) and the notification effect is executed, input of information indicating the activation of the stop buttons 30a to 30c is awaited. And if the signal which shows validation of stop button 30a-30c is made, notification effect will be performed.

  As described above, in the slot machine 10, the notification effect is executed after the stop button operation is validated without executing the notification effect in a state where the operation of the stop button is invalidated. As a result, the notification effect is executed even though the operation of the stop button is invalidated, and the operation is invalidated and erroneously pressed even though the stop button is operated according to the notification. Can be prevented.

  In the present invention, it is only necessary to execute the notification effect after waiting for the operation of the stop button to be validated. Therefore, the detailed configuration is not limited to the above embodiment and can be changed as appropriate.

  For example, the time from the start of the game until the winning combination lottery is executed and the execution of the notification effect is determined is an instant (the fact that the notification effect is executed is determined almost simultaneously with the start of the game). By the time the production is executed (the operation of the stop button is validated), it takes time to detect the acceleration of the reel and the detection of the rotation index. During this period (from the start of the game until the notification effect is executed), even if it is determined that the notification effect is executed, the player cannot know this. For this reason, the stop button is operated in the same manner as when there is no notification effect without knowing that the notification effect is performed, and when the notification effect is noticed, the stop switch is operated in a different operation mode from the notification. There was a problem such as that had become (it was a push mistake).

  In order to prevent such a problem, as shown in FIG. 4, when it is decided to execute a notification effect (in this example, it is the time when the winning combination is won in the winning combination lottery, which is almost the same as the start of the game. At the same time, a notice effect for notifying that the notification effect is executed after the operation of the stop button is validated may be performed. By doing so, it is possible to prevent erroneous pressing more reliably.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the notification effect was always performed when the selection combination was elected, the notification effect was executed only in a special game state which is shifted when a predetermined condition is satisfied, In the gaming state, the notification effect may not be performed even if the selected combination is won. In addition, when the winning combination is won, a lottery according to the gaming state or the like is performed to determine whether or not to execute the notification effect, and the notification effect may be executed only when it is determined to be executed. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and it is possible to freely set in what case the notification effect is performed.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the example which alert | reports by displaying a message on a liquid crystal display was demonstrated in alerting | reporting effect, you may alert | report by outputting an audio | voice from a speaker. Furthermore, notification may be performed using an effect device (an electric decoration device such as a lamp or a movable accessory movable by an actuator) other than the liquid crystal display and the speaker. Of course, the notification mode (such as what kind of image is displayed on the liquid crystal display and what kind of sound is output from the speaker) is not limited to the above-described example, and can be freely set.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which three types of selection combinations corresponding to three pressing orders (stop button operation order) of forward pressing, reverse pressing, and middle pressing are provided, but a slot having three stop buttons. Since there are six stop button operation orders in the machine, six types of selection combinations corresponding to these six operation orders may be provided. Of course, the pressing order of the stop buttons, the type and number of the selected combinations, and the combinations are not limited to the above-described example and can be freely set.

  Furthermore, in the gaming machine in which the operation of the stop button is validated after a time from the start of the game or the rotation of the reel as in the above embodiment, the operation of the stop button is invalidated, Not only is it inconvenient to know if the stop button operation is enabled, but it is the same as when the notification effect is not performed even though the notification effect is performed after the stop button operation is enabled. There is also a risk of operating the stop button and making a mistake. For this reason, it is preferable to notify that the operation of the stop button is invalidated and how long the operation of the stop button is validated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the description is given of an example in which the present invention is applied to a gaming machine of a type that notifies the operation order of the stop button for winning the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery by the notification effect. The present invention may be applied to a gaming machine of a type that notifies the operation timing of a stop button for winning a winning combination won in a winning combination lottery by a notification effect. Further, the present invention may be applied to a gaming machine of a type that notifies the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery by the notification effect. Of course, it is not limited to the type of gaming machine that performs only one type of notification among the above-described notification of the operation order, notification of the operation timing, notification of the winning winning combination, etc. The present invention may be applied to a type of gaming machine that switches which of the notifications is executed according to the gaming state or the like.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the example has been described in which the present invention is applied to a gaming machine that activates a stop button when the reel is in a steady rotation and the rotation position of the reel is detected. It is not limited to. The present invention is applied to a gaming machine that is configured to detect the rotation position of a reel after it is detected that the reel has reached a steady rotation, and that enables a stop button when the rotation position of the reel is detected. Also good. In addition, the present invention is applied to a gaming machine that is configured to always grasp the rotation position of the reel without re-recognizing the rotation position of the reel for each game, and that activates the stop button when the reel becomes a steady rotation. May be.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the time from the predetermined trigger time of the previous game to the predetermined trigger time of the current game is configured not to be less than the specified time, and the predetermined trigger time described above is the rotation of the reel. Although an example in which the present invention is applied to a gaming machine at the start time has been described, the present invention is applied to a gaming machine in which a timing other than the above is set, such as when a stop button is activated as a predetermined opportunity. May be.

  Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which information indicating that the operation of the stop button has been activated is transmitted from the main control board to the sub control board, and when the sub control board receives this information, the notification effect is executed immediately. That is, although an example in which the notification effect is executed simultaneously with the activation of the stop button (including almost simultaneously) has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. The timing of executing the notification effect can be set to any timing after the activation of the stop button operation. For example, a certain time has elapsed after receiving information indicating that the operation of the stop button has been activated. A notification effect may be performed later.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given of the example in which the notification effect is executed in response to the information that the operation of the stop button is activated (in response to the fact that the operation of the stop button is actually activated). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a preset set time has elapsed from the start of rotation of the reel, it may be configured that the operation of the stop button is considered to be activated and the notification effect is executed. In this case, a sufficient amount of time to consider that the stop button has been activated from the start of reel rotation is stored as a set time, and when this set time has elapsed, it is assumed that the stop button has been activated and a notification effect is executed. do it.

  The timing at which the operation of the stop button is validated is “when the reel is in a steady rotation and the rotation position of the reel is detected”, “when the rotation position of the reel is detected”, “ Various cases are conceivable, such as when the reel is in steady rotation. For this reason, the length of the set time described above is “a sufficient time from the start of rotation of the reel until the reel becomes a steady rotation and the rotation position of the reel is detected” or “from the start of rotation of the reel. It can be set or changed appropriately according to the specifications of the gaming machine, such as “a sufficient time until the reel rotation position is detected” and “a sufficient time from the start of reel rotation until the reel is in steady rotation”. That's fine.

  Of course, the timing for starting the measurement of whether or not the set time has passed is not limited to the timing at which the rotation of the reel is started as described above. Good. In this case, for example, the notification effect may be executed when a preset time has elapsed from a predetermined timing such as the start of a game. In this case as well, the length of the set time or the like may be set or changed in accordance with the specifications of the gaming machine (when to start measuring whether the set time has passed).

  Depending on the specifications of the gaming machine, the wait function may be activated while measuring whether the set time has elapsed. As a gaming machine with such a specification, for example, “the weight function is activated so that the time from when the reel has made steady rotation in the previous game to when the reel has made steady rotation in this game does not fall below a specified time. In addition, the “game machine that executes a notification effect when a set time has elapsed since the start of reel rotation” or “from the time the reel starts rotating in the previous game until the reel starts rotating in the current game” A gaming machine that activates a wait function so that the time does not fall below a specified time and performs a notification effect when a set time has elapsed since the start of the game ”. In a gaming machine with such specifications, the length of time to be set as the set time (a stop button from a predetermined timing) depends on whether or not the weight function is activated and the length of time that the weight function is activated. The length of time that can be considered to have been activated) is different. Therefore, in the gaming machine having such a specification, it is preferable to set or change the length of the set time in consideration of whether or not the weight function is activated, the length of time that the weight function is activated, and the like. .

  As described above, regardless of whether the operation of the stop button is actually enabled or not, when the set time has elapsed from a predetermined timing, it is considered that the operation of the stop button has been enabled and the notification effect is executed. Even if it is the structure to perform, the effect similar to embodiment mentioned above can be acquired.

10 Slot machines (gaming machines)
13 Liquid crystal display 14 Speaker 20a-20c Reel 30a-30c Stop button (stop switch)
50 Main control board 52 Sub control board 54 Winning part lottery section (Winning part lottery means)
56 timer 70 notification production execution unit (notification means)

Claims (2)

A reel in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer periphery, a stop switch for stopping the reel, a winning combination lottery means for determining one of a plurality of types of winning combinations or losing by performing a winning combination lottery, Informing means for notifying the operation mode of the stop switch for winning the winning combination won in the winning combination lottery, and the operation of the stop switch is validated after the reel starts rotating at the start of the game In the gaming machine in which the rotation of the reel is stopped in accordance with the operation of the activated stop switch,
The notifying means prohibits the notification until the operation of the stop switch is validated, and executes the notification after the validation of the operation of the stop switch.   2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein when the notification is performed, the notification means performs a notification that the notification is performed until an operation of the stop switch is validated.

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