JP2015000168A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of executing intelligible step-up forenotice for a player.SOLUTION: A game machine 1 includes game symbols D1-D14, in which at least parts thereof are a plurality of character symbols D10-D14 displaying different characters C1-C5 respectively, and step-up forenotice display means that causes a new character to appear on a screen each time transferring to a next step. In the step-up forenotice, the order causing a character to newly appear on the screen is the order when symbol display means 6 displays a character on a character symbol in a variable display.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine.

  When a conventional gaming machine detects a winning of a game ball at the start winning opening, a plurality of game symbols are displayed in a variable manner in a plurality of areas of the symbol display device, and then stopped and displayed at a predetermined game symbol. When the game symbols stopped and displayed in a plurality of areas are in a predetermined combination, the gaming machine provides a jackpot game.

  In addition, the gaming machine has an effect (reach) that displays game symbols in a combination that may be a big hit in other areas while continuing to display variable display in one area among a plurality of areas of the symbol display device. Display) to increase the expectation that a jackpot game may be provided, and increase the interest of the player (see Patent Document 1).

  A player has a lot of games in a big hit game, and once a big hit game is provided, he likes a game machine in which a big hit game is easy to be provided continuously (so-called high continuous game characteristics). In the machine, in order not to impair the profit of the hall, it is necessary to set the probability of providing the big hit game low (for example, 1/400).

  In this case, the investment for obtaining the big hit game is likely to be enormous, and as a result, there are many players who stop the game without obtaining the big hit game. In view of this, a gaming machine has been proposed that produces an effect that raises a sense of expectation without getting the player bored until the jackpot game is provided.

  As such an effect, a step-up notice is known. The step-up notice is displayed from the start of the variable display on the symbol display device to the reach display. The step-up notice is composed of a plurality of steps having different display contents, and sequentially proceeds to a first step, a second step,. The step-up notice includes one in which more characters are displayed each time the next step is moved, and one in which a story is developed following each step.

  In the step-up notice, the number of steps finally reached varies depending on the case. That is, the step-up notice may be terminated only in the first step, proceeded to the second step and terminated there, proceeded to the third step and terminated there, and so on. In the step-up notice, the higher the number of steps finally reached, the lower the appearance frequency.

  In addition, the number of steps finally reached by the step-up notice is associated with the effect pattern and the big hit game in the subsequent symbol display device. For example, when the first step is completed, the reach display is not performed, and the expected value (probability) at which the big hit game is provided becomes very low.

In addition, when the second step is completed, the normal reach display is always performed among the reach displays, and the probability that the jackpot game is provided is higher than that when the first step is completed.
In addition, when the third step is finished, the special reach display is always performed among the reach displays, and the probability that the jackpot game is provided is higher than when the first step is finished. Also, when the fourth step is finished, a big hit game is always provided.

  Therefore, the player increases the sense of expectation according to how far the step-up notice is displayed and continues the game.

JP 2006-198335 A

  In the conventional step-up notice, it is difficult for the player to know what step is displayed next to the step displayed at that time. For this reason, it was difficult for the player to understand how much expectation he had in the step-up notice. In particular, the effects and game flows in recent gaming machines are many and complex, making it even more difficult for players to understand.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a gaming machine capable of making a step-up notice easy for the player to understand what step is displayed after the step displayed at that time is provided. The purpose is to provide.

The gaming machine of the present invention is
Lottery means for performing a lottery to provide a jackpot game advantageous to the player with a preset probability based on the input of the start signal;
In response to the input of the start signal, a game symbol change display is performed, and then the game symbol is stopped and displayed in a manner corresponding to the lottery result of the lottery unit,
If the lottery result of the lottery means is a result of providing the jackpot game, the jackpot game providing means for providing the jackpot game;
Step-up notice display means for displaying a step-up notice that sequentially shifts from the first step to the N-th step during the variable display;
Step number setting means for setting the value of N from among a plurality of candidate values so that the larger the value of N, the higher the expected value at which a player is provided with an advantageous state regarding the jackpot game;
A gaming machine comprising
At least some of the game symbols are a plurality of character symbols that display different characters, respectively.
The step-up notice display means causes the character to newly appear every time the next step is performed,
The order in which the character newly appears in the step-up notice is the order in which the symbol display means displays the character on the character symbol in the variable display.

  In the gaming machine of the present invention, the step-up notice means sequentially shifts from the first step to the N-th step at the time of the variable display, and performs a notice display corresponding to that step at each step. The step number setting means sets the value of N from among a plurality of candidate values. The larger the value of N, the higher the expected value (probability viewed from the player) that provides the player with an advantageous state regarding the big hit game.

  The display content of each step is at least partially different from the display content of the previous step. Then, the step-up notice means causes a new character to appear each time the process proceeds to the next step.

  In the step-up notice, the order in which characters newly appear is the order in which the symbol display means displays the characters on the character symbol in the variable display. That is, in the variable display, if the symbol design D10 displaying the character C1 → the character design D11 displaying the character C2 → the character design D12 displaying the character C3 → the character design D12 →. In the notice, a new character appears in the order of character C1, character C2, character C3,.

The player can easily know what step is displayed after the step currently displayed.
In the gaming machine of the present invention, the symbol display means has, for example, a plurality of areas for performing the variable display and the stop display, and the order in which the characters newly appear in the step-up notice is the order of the plurality of areas. Of these, in the region where the variable display continues to the end, the order in which the characters on the character symbol are displayed can be set.

The maximum value Nmax that can be set by the step number setting means can be set to a number equal to the number of character symbol types.
By doing so, the player can know the maximum value Nmax that can be set for the number of steps in the step-up notice from the number of types of character designs (the number of types of characters displayed on the character designs). Then, by comparing the number of steps at that time with the maximum value Nmax of the number of steps, the player can know how far the step-up notice has progressed at that time.

  In the gaming machine of the present invention, examples of a state in which the player is advantageous with respect to the jackpot game include provision of a jackpot game, a probable change state, and a state in which the profit obtained by the player in the jackpot game is greater than usual.

  In the step-up notice, the character newly appearing when moving to the next step can be displayed, for example, until the end of the step-up notice.

1 is an overall perspective view of a gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment. 1 is an overall front view of a gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment. It is a front view of the game board 21 concerning this embodiment. It is a front view of the display assembly board 45 concerning this embodiment. It is a top view of the dish unit 24 concerning this embodiment. It is a principal block diagram of the gaming machine control device 100 provided on the back side of the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the relationship between the main control circuit 44 and the display control circuit 111 which comprise the gaming machine control apparatus 100 concerning this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing showing step-up notice. It is explanatory drawing showing a game symbol. It is explanatory drawing showing the correspondence of the random numbers r1 and r2 and the group of a definite symbol arrangement | sequence. It is a flowchart showing the process which selects a fluctuation pattern. It is explanatory drawing showing the 1st fluctuation pattern group. It is explanatory drawing showing the 2nd fluctuation pattern group. It is explanatory drawing showing the 3rd fluctuation pattern group. It is a flowchart showing the process which selects a fluctuation pattern. It is explanatory drawing showing another form of a character design.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
1. Overall Configuration of Gaming Machine 1 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes an outer frame 22 fixed to a gaming island (not shown), and an inner frame 23 attached to the outer frame 22. The inner frame 23 is detachably provided with a game board 21 for providing a player with a pachinko game, and is provided with a glass door frame 17 at an upper portion thereof and a dish unit 24 at a lower portion thereof. A game effect lamp 15 is provided at the top to notify the payout of a winning ball in response to winning, clogging of a ball, abnormality, and the like.

  The game board 21 includes a ball guide rail 3 for guiding a game ball launched by a ball launch device 43 described later, and a game area forming rail 4 provided so that the launched game ball can fly within a certain range. The game area 5 surrounded by the ball striking guide rail 3 and the game area forming rail 4 and the game ball launched into the game area 5 are returned between the ball striking guide rail 3 and the game area forming rail 4 to generate a foul ball. A foul ball prevention valve 28 for preventing the game ball, a windmill 20 for changing the game ball launched into the game area 5 in an unexpected direction, and a pseudo-variable display (hereinafter referred to as scrolling) showing the game symbol rotating. (Also referred to as a display) or a game symbol display device (LCD) or the like configured with a liquid crystal display (LCD) that displays various effects when a predetermined gaming state (for example, reach or big hit) is reached. One embodiment of the pattern display means and the step-up notice display means) and the game symbol display device 6 and the special symbol display device 47 to be described later display the game symbol variation display and the special symbol variation display when the game ball wins. When the game ball wins the start winning opening 11 such as the chucker type starting winning opening 11a to be started, the electric tulip type start winning opening 11b (hereinafter, both are also simply referred to as the start winning opening 11), the change display is displayed. After the completion, four hold LEDs 25 that sequentially perform turn-on display of the hold memory for notifying the player of how many times the display is changed (up to 4 times) and a predetermined image in the game symbol display device 6 are displayed. Display unit 30, and the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10, which display three game symbols individually on the display unit 30 (game symbol change) One embodiment of a display and stop display area) and a winning prize opening (attacker) that is advantageously opened to the player when the display result in the game symbol display device 6 is in a predetermined mode (big hit) 7, a normal symbol operation gate 19 for starting normal symbol display on the normal symbol display device 18 (see FIG. 4) when the game ball passes, and a normal winning opening 14 through which a winning ball is paid out by winning. , An out port 16 for collecting game balls provided in the lowermost part of the game area 5, a star-shaped movable object 32 that rotates when a predetermined game state is reached, and an ghost that moves downward when a predetermined game state is reached There are provided three movable objects 31 of the mold, and a display collective board 45 on which LEDs for lighting and the like are collected when a predetermined gaming state is reached.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the display collective board 45 is provided along the game area forming rail 4 in the middle of the left side of the game area 5. The display collective plate 45 has a special symbol display device 47 composed of a 7-segment LED that displays a special symbol in the upper part, and a probability change LED 48a that is arranged on the right side of the lower part of the special symbol display device 47 and lights up in a probability variation state. The time change display device 48 composed of a time reduction LED 48b that lights up in the time reduction state, a special symbol display device 47, and a probability change time reduction display device 48 are arranged in a triple manner to light up and display the number of rounds of big hits 3 The round display device 46 composed of two round display LEDs 46a, 46b, 46c, and an electric tulip that is arranged below the round display device 46, displays a normal symbol in a variable manner, and serves as a start winning opening 11b when winning A normal symbol display device composed of LEDs 18b that are separated from the LEDs 18a when the blades are opened for a predetermined time. 8 and when the game ball passes through the normal symbol operation gate 19 when the game ball passes through the normal symbol display device 18, the number of times that the variation display is finished is displayed (up to 4 times). Four hold LEDs 26 that sequentially turn on and display the hold memory for notifying the player are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the hitting operation handle 2 that operates the hitting ball launching device 43 when operated by the player and the game ball are supplied to the hitting ball launching device 43. And a surplus ball receiving tray 13 that can store a ball that cannot fit in the hit ball supply tray 12 and can move a game ball to a storage ball box (not shown), and a hit ball supply tray. 12 and a push-type effect button 51 that is operated when the player enters a predetermined gaming state.

2. Configuration of Gaming Machine Control Device 100 Next, the gaming machine control device 100 provided on the back side of the gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The gaming machine control device 100 is configured as shown in FIG. 6, and the main control circuit 44 mainly constituting the gaming machine control device 100 includes an input circuit 101, an output circuit 110, a one-chip microcomputer 27, and a bus connecting them. 115 (data bus, address bus, control bus, etc.), and the one-chip microcomputer 27 is connected to the output circuit 110 based on signals from each sensor, switch, etc. acquired via the input circuit 101. A predetermined control program for controlling various circuits and devices is executed. The one-chip microcomputer 27 includes a CPU 102 that executes a control program, a ROM 103 that stores a control program executed by the CPU 102, and a RAM 104 that temporarily stores data processed by the CPU 102.

  In the input circuit 101, when a winning of a game ball provided in the start winning opening 11 is detected, a start winning detection sensor 116 that sends a change start signal of a game symbol and a special symbol, and a gaming ball won in the starting winning opening 11 are detected. When the game switch provided in the normal symbol operation gate 19 is detected, the operation gate detection sensor 121 that sends a normal symbol variation start signal and the big prize opening 7 are opened. A count switch 117 that detects a game ball that has won a prize, a continuous prize switch 118 that detects a game ball that has passed a specific area of the big prize opening 7, and a batting operation handle 2 are rotated to fire the game ball. The ball-hitting operation handle switch 119 that is turned on when the ball-hitting operation is performed, and the ball-hitting device 43 is operated by pressing the ball-hitting operation handle switch 2 at a predetermined position A hit ball operation stop switch 120 that turns off and stops the launch of the game ball, and a safe ball detection that outputs the safe signal necessary for counting the game ball that has won the winning prize as a safe ball and paying out the game ball as a prize. A sensor 122 is connected.

  The output circuit 110 includes a normal symbol display device 18 hit LED 18a and a missed LED 18b, a game symbol display device 6 and a special symbol display device 47 hold LED 25, a normal symbol display device 18 hold LED 26, a round display device 46 round display LED 46a. 46b, 46c, a probability change LED 48a and a time reduction LED 48b of the probability change time display device 48, a ball lending LED 60, a power indicator 62, various display lamps (for example, the game effect lamp 15), etc. Solenoid 106 for opening the attacker as the big prize opening 7, a solenoid 107 for opening the electric tulip as the starting prize opening 11b, and voice control for amplifying various sound effects from the speaker 113 Voice control circuit 38 to perform and ghost type possible A motor 105 for dropping operation objects 31, a motor 108 for rotating operating the movable object 32 of the star, and an external information terminal 109 connected to the hall management computer (not shown) or the like is connected.

  Further, a payout control circuit 40 and a display control circuit 111 are connected to the output circuit 110. Although not shown, the payout control circuit 40 includes a payout control CPU, a work area of the payout control CPU, There are provided a RAM having a storage area for storing and holding the number of prize balls corresponding to each prize ball command, and a ROM for storing control data, a control program for paying out a prize ball, and the like. The payout control circuit 40 drives and controls the prize ball payout device 41 according to the prize ball command instructed from the CPU 102 of the main control circuit 44, and performs prize ball payout control. In addition, the payout control circuit 40 is connected to a hitting ball launching device 43 for emitting a game ball toward the game area 5 via the launching control circuit 42. And control.

  Next, the display control circuit 111 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the display control circuit 111 includes a CPU 140 that executes a display control program therein, a ROM 142 that stores a display control program executed by the CPU 140, and a RAM 141 that is built in the CPU 140 that forms a work area of the CPU 140. ing. The display control circuit 111 controls VDP 143 that controls an image to be displayed on the game symbol display device 6 as an LCD, display control data corresponding to each command read by the VDP 143, characters, symbols, backgrounds, and the like. A CGROM 145 for stored image data and a VRAM 144 having a storage area for temporarily storing image data processed by the VDP 143 are provided.

  That is, the display control circuit 111 receives a control signal such as a one-way strobe signal or a display control command signal from the CPU 102 of the main control circuit 44 via an input circuit (not shown). The control CPU 140 recognizes the display control command. Then, the VDP 143 reads display control data and characters, symbols, backgrounds, and the like from the data area corresponding to the display control command from the CGROM 145 and stores them in the VRAM 144 that temporarily stores the image data. The VDP 143 reads the stored image data from the VRAM 144 when the display order is reached, and displays the effect on the LCD (game symbol display device 6) in a predetermined manner in accordance with a command from the CPU 140.

  Note that the display control circuit 111 has a RAM and a VRAM backup 146 circuit that can retain the stored contents of the RAM 141 and VRAM 144 even when the power is turned off. Further, the CPU 140 passes through a driver circuit (not shown). Thus, a special symbol display device 47 as a 7-segment LED is connected.

  The main control circuit 44 has a RAM backup 130 circuit that can retain the stored contents of the RAM 104 even when the power supply similar to that of the display control circuit 111 is turned off. A test terminal 131 for testing the contents of 44, for example, a connector is also provided.

  In addition to the RAM 104 of the main control circuit 44 and the RAM 141 and VRAM 144 of the display control circuit 111, this backup function is also provided in the RAM of other control circuits such as the RAM of the payout control circuit 40 that controls the payout of the prize balls. May be. Further, the above-described RAM 141 may not be built in the CPU 140 and may be external to the CPU 140.

  Further, the special symbol display device 47 connected to the display control circuit 111 may be directly connected to the output circuit 110 of the main control circuit 44, or the lamp control circuit directly connected to the output circuit 110 of the main control circuit 44. 37 and the voice control circuit 38 may be connected to the display control circuit 111 or the payout control circuit 40. Furthermore, the hitting operation handle switch 119 and the hitting operation stop switch 120 connected to the input circuit 101 may be directly connected to the launch control circuit 42 or the payout control circuit 40.

  Alternatively, an effect control circuit connected to the output circuit 110 of the main control circuit 44 may be newly provided, and the display control circuit 111 and the lamp control circuit 37 may be connected to the effect control circuit. These may be designed as appropriate according to the functions and arrangement of various devices constituting the gaming machine control device 100, the processing speed of each CPU, the capacity of a storage device such as ROM, RAM, and the like.

3. Basic processing executed by the gaming machine 1 In the gaming machine 1 configured as described above, first, a gaming ball is launched from the hitting ball launcher 43 by the operation of the hitting operation handle 2 of the player, and the hitting guide rail 3 A game ball is launched into the game area 5 on the game board 21 through the space between the game area forming rails 4. Then, the game ball falls in the game area 5 by its own weight, and in the process of falling, the game ball 21 is changed in the direction of falling by the game nail or the windmill 20 implanted in the game board 21, and the start winning opening 11 or the normal prize is received. If a prize is won in the mouth 14, the normal symbol operating gate 19 is passed, or if all the prize winning holes are not won, the prize is collected in the out mouth 16.

  When the game ball wins the normal winning opening 14, a predetermined prize ball is given to the player. When a game ball wins the start winning opening 11 (start winning opening 11a, start winning opening 11b), a predetermined prize ball is given to the player, and the game ball is detected by the start winning detection sensor 116, and a start signal is received. Is output.

  When the start winning detection sensor 116 detects a game ball and outputs a start signal, the one-chip microcomputer 27 to which the start signal is input sets a random number and performs lottery based on the random number. The random number setting is started at regular intervals, and each generated random number is stored in a random number storage area secured in the register area of the one-chip microcomputer 27, so that each stored random number has a maximum value from the initial value. Is incremented by one until the so-called “+1 method”.

  For random numbers, the random number r1 for the big hit lottery, the random number r2 for the lottery regarding the occurrence of the probability variation state, the random numbers r3A, r3B, r3C for the variation pattern lottery in the slot game, which will be described later, and the scroll of the game symbol which will be described later are completed. Then, a random number r4 for drawing a symbol array (hereinafter referred to as a fixed symbol array) when the game symbol is fixed, a random number r5 for lottery of the number of rounds in the jackpot game, and the number of times that are given after the jackpot game And a random number r6 for lottery.

  The random number r1 is composed of numerical values from 0 to 315, and each numerical value is associated with one of “big hit”, “out of”, and “big hit in normal state and out of normal time”. In the following, the random number r1 corresponds to “big hit” or the state of the gaming machine 1 is in a probable state, and the random number r1 corresponds to “big hit in the probable state and out of normal time”. In this case, it is assumed that the random number r1 corresponds to a big hit.

  On the other hand, when the random number r1 corresponds to “out of” or the state of the gaming machine 1 is not in the probability variation state, and the random number r1 corresponds to “a big hit in the probability variation state and out of normal time”. Suppose that the random number r1 does not correspond to the big hit. That is, the gaming machine 1 uses the random number r1 to perform a lottery to determine whether or not to provide a big hit game.

The random number r2 is composed of numerical values of 0 to 13, and each numerical value is associated with one of a normal big hit and a probable big hit.
The random number r3A is composed of numerical values of 1 to 10, and each numerical value is associated with a predetermined variation pattern belonging to the first variation pattern group. The random number r3B is composed of numerical values 1 to 9, and each numerical value is associated with a predetermined variation pattern belonging to the second variation pattern group. The random number r3C is composed of numerical values 1 to 8, and each numerical value is associated with a predetermined variation pattern belonging to the third variation pattern group. The variation pattern is a display mode in the slot game. Each of the first variation pattern group, the second variation pattern group, and the third variation pattern group is a set (group) of variation patterns.

The random number r4 is composed of numerical values of 0 to 13, and each numerical value is associated with a fixed symbol array.
The random number r5 is composed of numerical values from 0 to 23, and each numerical value is associated with a predetermined number of rounds (either 15 rounds or 2 rounds) in the jackpot game.

The random number r6 is composed of numerical values of 0 to 3, and each numerical value is associated with a predetermined number of times.
In addition, when the start winning detection sensor 116 detects a game ball and outputs a start signal, the gaming machine 1 has 14 types in the symbol display units 8, 9, 10 of the game symbol display device 6 based on the start signal. A slot game in which the game symbols are scroll-displayed (one embodiment of variation display), and after a predetermined time, the game symbols are stopped and displayed in the order of the left symbol display unit 8, the right symbol display unit 10, and the middle symbol display unit 9 in that order. Do.

  The display mode in this slot game is the variation pattern described above. The variation pattern is selected from any one of the first variation pattern group, the second variation pattern group, and the third variation pattern group stored in advance in the ROM 103 of the one-chip microcomputer 27 in the slot game. Those corresponding to the random numbers r3A, r3B, and r3C (set by the detection by the start winning detection sensor 116 that triggered the slot game) are selected and used. Details of selection of the variation pattern will be described later.

  In the game symbol scroll display, the game symbols D1 to D14 shown in FIG. 9 are scroll-displayed in each of the left symbol display unit 8, the right symbol display unit 10, and the middle symbol display unit 9. The scroll display is a display mode in which the game symbols D1 to D14 are arranged in the order shown in FIG. 9 on the outer peripheral surface of the drum, and the drum appears to rotate in a certain direction.

  Therefore, paying attention to a certain place in the left symbol display section 8, the game symbols displayed at the place change in the order of D1, D2, D3, D4, D5,. After D14, the process returns to D1. In the right symbol display unit 10 and the middle symbol display unit 9, the same scroll display as that of the left symbol display unit 8 is performed.

  The game symbols D1 to D9 are game symbols representing numbers 1 to 9, respectively. No characters are displayed on the game symbols D1 to D9. The game symbol D10 is a character symbol that displays the character C1, the game symbol D11 is a character symbol that displays the character C2, the game symbol D12 is a character symbol that displays the character C3, and the game symbol D13 is The character design that displays the character C4, and the game design D14 is a character design that displays the character C5.

  In the scroll display, the order in which the game symbols D10 to D14 are displayed is the order of D10 → D11 → D12 → D13 → D14 as described above. Therefore, the order in which the characters C1 to C5 on the game symbols D10 to D14 are displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the right symbol display unit 10, and the middle symbol display unit 9 during scroll display is C1 → C2 → C3 → C4. → The order is C5. This order is the same as the order in which characters newly appear in a step-up notice to be described later.

  When a part of the variation pattern is selected, reach display is performed during the slot game. The reach display is a display in which the left symbol display unit 8 and the right symbol display unit 10 stop at a game symbol constituting a part of a jackpot symbol to be described later, and the middle symbol display unit 9 is still scrolling. Say. In the case of a variation pattern in which step-up notice and reach display are performed, the step-up notice is executed before the end of reach display.

  After the change display, when the game symbol of the middle symbol display unit 9 is stopped, the game symbols of the symbol display units 8, 9, 10 are determined. The combination of the game symbols of each symbol display part 8, 9, and 10 at this time is a definite symbol arrangement. The confirmed symbol arrangement includes a big hit symbol and a deviating symbol. If it is a jackpot symbol, then a jackpot game is provided, and if it is a missed symbol, it is missed. Furthermore, the jackpot symbols include a probabilistic jackpot symbol and a normal jackpot symbol.

  The confirmed symbol arrangement is determined by lottery as follows. First, on the basis of the random numbers r1 and r2, a group of confirmed symbol arrays, which is a target for drawing a determined symbol array, is determined. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, when the random number r1 corresponds to the big hit and the random number r2 corresponds to the normal big hit, a group of definite symbol arrays including only the normal big hit symbol (hereinafter, If the random number r1 corresponds to the big hit, and the random number r2 is associated with the probable big hit, the group of the definite symbol array including only the probable big hit symbol When the random number r1 corresponds to a loss, a group of a definite symbol array including only a definite symbol (hereinafter, a group of deviant symbols) is determined. To decide.

  Next, a determined symbol array corresponding to the random number r4 is determined from the determined symbol array group determined as described above. Therefore, when the random number r1 corresponds to the big hit and the random number r2 is usually assigned to the big hit, the determined symbol arrangement is always a normal big hit symbol. In addition, when the random number r1 corresponds to a big hit and the random number r2 is associated with a probable big hit, the definite symbol array is always a probable big hit symbol. Further, when the random number r1 corresponds to a loss, the confirmed symbol array is always a loss symbol. That is, the fixed symbol arrangement is in a mode corresponding to the result of the lottery regarding the big hit.

  In principle, the slot game described above is performed as many times as the number of times that the start winning detection sensor 116 has detected a game ball once. When the start winning detection sensor 116 detects a game ball during the execution of the slot game, as many reserved memories as the detected number are stored. However, up to four reserved memories are stored, and when four reserved memories are already stored, even if the start winning detection sensor 116 detects a game ball, the reserved memory is not added (the winning is invalidated). Become). The number of on-hold memories is indicated to the player by the number of on-hold LEDs 25 that are lit.

  The reserved storage is storage that holds the random numbers r1 to r6. When the slot game that has been in progress in the state where the reserved memory exists (when the result of the slot game is a big hit, after the big hit game is performed), the random numbers r1 to r1 of the oldest of the held memories are stored. The next slot game is played using r6. The hold memory used in this way is erased, and the number of lighting of the hold LED 25 decreases by one. In the following, the slot game is performed using the hold memory in this manner, and the deletion of the hold memory is referred to as digestion of the hold memory. When there are a plurality of reserved memories, the stored timings are digested in order from the oldest.

  When the jackpot symbol is displayed as the confirmed symbol array (that is, when the random number r1 corresponds to the jackpot), the jackpot game is subsequently provided. In the jackpot game, a predetermined jackpot effect image is displayed on the display unit 30 of the game symbol display device 6 as the number of rounds set in advance for each jackpot, and an attacker serving as the jackpot 7 for each round. The jackpot game is executed to open the game in a predetermined manner. The number of rounds in the jackpot game is determined based on the random number r5.

  When the random number r1 used in the slot game corresponds to a big hit and the random number r2 is associated with a probable big hit, the big hit probability is increased until the next big hit after the subsequent big hit game. As it rises (shifts to a probable change state), the symbol variation time is shortened (shifts to a time-short state). At this time, the probability change LED 48a is turned on, and since the confirmed symbol array is the probability variation big hit array as described above, it is clearly shown to the player that the big hit probability has increased. The number of time reductions in the time reduction state is determined based on the random number r6.

  In addition, when the random number r1 used in the slot game corresponds to the big hit and the random number r2 is usually assigned to the big hit, after the subsequent big hit game is finished, Do not migrate.

  In addition, the order in which the game symbols of the left symbol display unit 8, the middle symbol display unit 9, and the right symbol display unit 10 are stopped in the game symbol display device 6 is not particularly limited. A small hit may be provided, and the special winning opening 7 (attacker) may be opened in a predetermined manner.

  Further, when the game ball wins the start winning opening 11, the special symbol display device 47 is activated at the same time when the game symbol display device 6 is operated, and the special symbol is variably displayed. When the game symbols that have been variably displayed on the game symbol display device 6 are stopped and fixedly displayed, they are simultaneously stopped and fixedly displayed. That is, the variation display of the game symbol display device 6 and the variation display of the special symbol display device 47 are synchronized. Note that the variable display of the special symbol display device 47 is executed by lighting the segments of the 7-segment LED in a predetermined order.

  When the out-of-game or jackpot symbol is confirmed and displayed on the game symbol display device 6, the predetermined off-chip or jackpot symbol is also displayed on the special symbol display device 47. Also, in the special symbol display device 47, there is one type of special symbol at the time of a loss, while there are a plurality of types (for example, 20 types) of special symbols for jackpots. (For example, the number of rounds, the presence or absence of probability variation and time reduction, the number of times, etc.) are different.

  When the big hit is reached, the round display LEDs 46a, 46b, 46c of the round display device 46 are turned on according to the number of rounds of the big hit. For example, if the special symbol for the big hit this time is a big hit for two rounds, the round display LED 46a is lit while the special prize opening 7 is operating, and if the special symbol for the big hit is a round 15 big hit, For example, the round display LEDs 46b and 46c are lit during the operation of No.7. Of course, the combination in which the round display LEDs 46a, 46b, 46c are lit may be set as appropriate according to the special symbol for the big hit.

4). About Step-Up Notice As described above, the gaming machine 1 executes a slot game, and the mode of the slot game is defined by a variation pattern. The variation pattern is selected by the process shown in FIG. 11 for each slot game.

  In step 1, it is determined whether or not the random number r1 corresponds to a big hit. If it does not correspond to the big hit, the process proceeds to Step 2, and if it corresponds to the big hit, the process proceeds to Step 3.

In step 2, a variation pattern associated with the random number r3C is selected from the third variation pattern group.
In step 3, it is determined whether or not the random number r2 corresponds to the probability variation big hit. If it corresponds to a probable big hit, the process proceeds to step 4. If it corresponds to a normal big hit, the process proceeds to step 5.

  In step 4, a variation pattern associated with the random number r3A is selected from the first variation pattern group. In Step 5, a variation pattern associated with the random number r3B is selected from the second variation pattern group.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 12, the first variation pattern group includes variation patterns P1 to P10, and each variation pattern is associated with one of the random numbers r3A. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the second variation pattern group includes variation patterns P11 to P19, and each variation pattern is associated with one of the random numbers r3B. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the third variation pattern group includes variation patterns P20 to P27, and each variation pattern is associated with one of the random numbers r3C.

  When P1 to P24 are selected from the variation patterns P1 to P27, a step-up notice is executed. The step-up notice is a kind of effect displayed on the game symbol display device 6 while the game symbols are scrolled. The step-up notice is superimposed and displayed as the background of the game symbol.

  The step-up notice sequentially shifts from the first step to the Nth step. There are five types of step-up notices depending on the value of N. That is, a step-up notice ending only in the first step, a step-up notice ending from the first step to the second step, and a step ending from the first step to the third step through the second step Advance notice, transition from the first step to the fourth step through the second and third steps, and finish the step up notice, transition from the first step to the fifth step through the second, third, and fourth steps There is a step-up notice to end. In the following, the step-up advance notice that finally proceeds to the N-th step is referred to as a step-up advance notice with N steps (N = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

  The number N of step-up notices in the variation patterns P1 to P24 is shown in FIGS. Here, out of all the variation patterns for which the step-up notice is executed, the ratio of the big hit (including both the probable big hit and the normal big hit) is 19/24. Of all the fluctuation patterns in which the step-up notice with the number of steps N of 2 or more is executed, the ratio of the big hit (including both the probable big hit and the normal big hit) is 17/19. Of all the fluctuation patterns in which the step-up notice with the number of steps N of 3 or more is executed, the ratio of the big hit (including both the probable big hit and the normal big hit) is 15/16. Of all the fluctuation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 4 or more is executed, the ratio of the big hit (including both the probable big hit and the normal big hit) is 11/11. Of all the fluctuation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 5 is executed, the ratio of the big hit (including both the probable big hit and the normal big hit) is 5/5. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the player, the larger the step number N for step-up notice, the higher the expected value for jackpot.

  The ratio of the variation pattern per probability variation is 10/24 out of all variation patterns for which the step-up notice is executed. The ratio of the variation pattern per probability variation is 9/19 out of all variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 2 or more is executed. The ratio of the variation pattern per probability variation is 8/16 out of all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 3 or more is executed. The ratio of the variation pattern per probability variation is 7/11 among all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 4 or more is executed. The ratio of the variation pattern per probability variation out of all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 5 is executed is 5/5. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the player, the larger the number N of steps for the step-up notice, the higher the expected value for the probability variation big hit.

  FIG. 8 shows a step-up notice with 5 steps. In this step-up notice, first, the first step shown in FIG. 8A is displayed. In this first step, a character C1 (Dracula) appears. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the display content shifts from the first step to the second step shown in FIG. 8B. In this second step, the character C1 continues to be displayed and a new character C2 (werewolf) appears.

  When a predetermined time further elapses, the display content shifts from the second step to the third step shown in FIG. 8C. In this third step, the characters C1 and C2 continue to be displayed and a new character C3 (Franken) appears.

  When a predetermined time further elapses, the display content shifts from the third step to the fourth step shown in FIG. 8D. In this fourth step, the characters C1, C2, and C3 continue to be displayed, and a new character C4 (mummy man) appears.

  When the predetermined time further elapses, the display content shifts from the fourth step to the fifth step shown in FIG. 8E. In this fifth step, the characters C1, C2, C3, and C4 continue to be displayed, and a new character C5 (witch) appears. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the display of the fifth step, the five-step step-up notice ends.

  The step-up notice with the number of steps 1 to 4 starts in the same manner as the step-up notice with the number of steps 5, but ends in the middle without reaching the fifth step. In other words, the step-up notice with the number of steps of 1 displays only the first step and ends (without moving to the second step). The step-up notice with a step number of 2 displays the first and second steps in sequence and ends (without shifting to the third step). The step-up notice of step number 3 displays the first, second, and third steps in sequence and ends (without moving to the fourth step). The step-up notice with a step number of 4 displays the first, second, third, and fourth steps in sequence, and ends (without shifting to the fifth step).

  In any step-up notice, the order in which characters newly appear when moving to the next step is the same. That is, in any step-up notice, the character that appears in the first step is C1, the character that newly appears in the second step is C2, and the character that newly appears in the third step is C3. The character that newly appears in the fourth step is C4, and the character that newly appears in the fifth step is C5.

This order is the same as the order in which the characters C1 to C5 on the game symbols D10 to D14 are displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the right symbol display unit 10, and the middle symbol display unit 9 during scroll display.
The characters C1 to C5 that appear in the step-up notice may be exactly the same as the characters C1 to C5 on the game symbols D10 to D14, or may be different to the extent that the identity of the characters can be identified. For example, the characters C1 to C5 that appear in the step-up notice are different in color, size, posture, face and body orientation, facial expression, costume, and the like compared to the characters C1 to C5 on the game symbols D10 to D14. Also good.

5. Regarding Effects Played by the Gaming Machine 1 (1) The gaming machine 1 displays a step-up notice that sequentially shifts from the first step to the Nth step according to the selected variation pattern. In the step-up notice, a new character appears each time the process proceeds to the next step.

  In the step-up notice, the order in which characters newly appear is the order C1 → C2 → C3. This order is the same as the order in which the characters C1 to C5 on the game symbols D10 to D14 are displayed on the left symbol display unit 8, the right symbol display unit 10, and the middle symbol display unit 9 during scroll display.

Therefore, the player knows what number the character newly appearing in the step-up notice is the character displayed in the scroll display, and from that point, the step-up notice proceeds to the number of steps at that time. You can easily know if. Further, the player can easily know what step is displayed after the step displayed at that time.
(2) The maximum value of the step number N in the step-up notice is 5, which is equal to the number of types of game symbols D10 to D14 that are character symbols.

Therefore, the player can know the maximum value of the number of steps in the step-up notice from the number of types of character designs (the number of types of characters displayed on the character designs). Then, the player can know how far the step-up notice has progressed by comparing the number of steps at that time with the maximum value of the number of steps.
(3) In the step-up notice, characters newly appearing when moving to any step are displayed until the end of the step-up notice. This makes it easier to understand the progress of the step-up notice.
(4) In the step-up notice executed by the gaming machine 1, the larger the number N of steps, the higher the expected value for jackpots and the expected value for a probable change state. Therefore, the interest of the game can be enhanced.
<Second Embodiment>
1. Configuration of gaming machine 1 and processing to be executed The configuration and operation of gaming machine 1 are basically the same as those in the first embodiment, but are partly different. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

In the present embodiment, the variation pattern is selected by the process shown in FIG.
In step 11, it is determined whether or not the random number r1 corresponds to a big hit. If it does not correspond to the big hit, the process proceeds to step 12, and if it corresponds to the big hit, the process proceeds to step 13.

In step 12, a variation pattern associated with the random number r3C is selected from the third variation pattern group.
In step 13, it is determined whether or not the random number r5 corresponds to 15 rounds. If it corresponds to 15 rounds, the process proceeds to step 14, and if it corresponds to 2 rounds, the process proceeds to step 15.

  In step 14, a variation pattern associated with the random number r3A is selected from the first variation pattern group. In step 15, a variation pattern associated with the random number r3B is selected from the second variation pattern group.

The first to third variation pattern groups and the variation patterns P1 to P27 belonging to the first to third variation pattern groups are the same as those in the first embodiment.
As a result of selecting the variation pattern as described above, as is clear from FIGS. 12 to 14, among all the variation patterns for which the step-up notice is executed, the big hit (the number of rounds is 15 rounds and the case of 2 rounds) The ratio of the variation pattern (including both) is 19/24. The ratio of the jackpot variation pattern among all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 2 or more is executed is 17/19. The ratio of the jackpot variation pattern among all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 3 or more is executed is 15/16. Of all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 4 or more is executed, the ratio of the big hit variation pattern is 11/11. Of all the fluctuation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 5 is executed, the ratio of the big hit fluctuation pattern is 5/5. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the player, the larger the step number N for step-up notice, the higher the expected value for jackpot.

  In addition, the ratio of the variation pattern in which the 15-round big hit game is provided among all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice is executed is 10/24. The ratio of the variation pattern in which the 15-round jackpot game is provided out of all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 2 or more is executed is 9/19. The ratio of the variation pattern in which the 15-round jackpot game is provided is 8/16 out of all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 3 or more is executed. The ratio of the variation pattern in which the 15-round jackpot game is provided out of all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 4 or more is executed is 7/11. The ratio of the variation pattern in which the 15-round jackpot game is provided out of all the variation patterns in which the step-up notice with the step number N being 5 is executed is 5/5. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the player, the larger the number N of step-up notices, the higher the expected value at which a 15-round big hit game is provided.

2. Effects produced by the gaming machine 1 (1) The gaming machine 1 can produce the same effects as in the first embodiment.
(2) In the step-up notice executed by the gaming machine 1, the larger the step number N, the larger the expected value of the jackpot and the number of rounds in the jackpot game (the player's profit at the time of the jackpot game is higher than usual) One embodiment of large state) Expected value is high. Therefore, the interest of the game can be enhanced.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment at all, and it cannot be overemphasized that it can implement with a various aspect in the range which does not deviate from this invention.
For example, in the i-th step of the step-up notice, only characters that newly appear when the step is shifted to are displayed, and characters that have already appeared from the first step to the (i-1) -th step are not displayed. Can be. In this case, for example, when shifting to the i-th step, a character corresponding to the i-th step can newly appear and the character displayed in the (i-1) -th step can be deleted. Note that i is a natural number of 1 to N.

Further, the game symbols displayed on the game symbol display device 6 may be composed only of character symbols such as the game symbols D10 to D14.
In addition, the character design may be one in which the character is displayed alone, for example, as shown in FIG. 16A, or includes a character and a number, as shown in FIGS. Also good. The character design shown in FIG. 16B has characters and numbers displayed on the frame. The character design shown in FIG. 16C is displayed so that a number partially overlaps the character. The character design shown in FIG. 16D is obtained by superimposing characters on numbers. In this case, the character may be translucent so that the numbers behind it can be seen through the character.

  Of the left symbol display unit 8, the right symbol display unit 10, and the middle symbol display unit 9, those that display characters in the order of C1, C2, C3, C4, C5,. Only the symbol display unit 9 (the symbol display unit that continues to scroll to the end when reaching) may be used. The left symbol display unit 8 and the right symbol display unit 10 may display characters in different orders, or may not display some or all characters.

  Further, the step-up notice may be displayed in a form other than the display on the game symbol display device 6. For example, a form in which a three-dimensional (three-dimensional) character structure appears every time the next step is performed may be used.

  In addition, the timing at which a character newly appears may be the beginning of the i-th step, may be in the middle of the i-th step, or may be the timing at which the character is scroll-displayed.

  Further, in the order of displaying the game symbols in the scroll display, game symbols other than the character symbols may be included between the character symbols. For example, a game symbol other than the character symbol (for example, a symbol symbol only) may be displayed next to the symbol D10, and then the symbol D11 may be displayed.

Further, other states (for example, provision of a short-time game) may be applied as a state in which the player is advantageous for the big hit game.
Moreover, you may use another thing as a character, for example, a vehicle (a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, a ship, an airplane, a rocket) etc. can be used.

  The game symbol display device 6 may display a character symbol including a character that does not appear in the step-up notice in the slot game.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine, 2 ... Hitting ball operation handle, 3 ... Hitting ball guide rail, 4 ... Game area formation rail, 5 ... Game area, 7 ... Grand prize opening, 11 ... Start winning opening, 11a, 11b ... Starting winning opening, 12 ...... Hit ball supply tray, 13 ... excess ball receiving tray, 14 ... normal winning port, 15 ... game effect lamp, 16 ... out port, 17 ... glass door frame, 18a ... hit LED, 18b ... off LED, 20 ... windmill, 21 ... Game board, 22 ... outer frame, 23 ... inner frame, 24 ... dish unit, 25, 26 ... hold LED, 27 ... one-chip microcomputer, 28 ... foul ball prevention valve, 30 ... display unit, 31, 32 ... movable 37 ... Lamp control circuit, 38 ... Voice control circuit, 40 ... Dispensing control circuit, 41 ... Prize ball dispensing device, 42 ... Launch control circuit, 43 ... Hitting ball launching device, 44 ... Main control circuit, 45 ... Display assembly board, 46 ... Round table Device, 46a, 46b, 46c ... Round display LED, 48 ... Probability change short display device, 48a ... Probability change LED, 48b ... Time reduction LED, 51 ... Production button, 60 ... Ball rental LED, 62 ... Frequency indicator, 100 ... Gaming machine Control device, 101 ... Input circuit, 102 ... CPU, 103 ... ROM, 104 ... RAM, 105 ... Motor, 106, 107 ... Solenoid, 108 ... Motor, 109 ... External information terminal, 110 ... Output circuit, 111 ... Display control circuit , 113 ... Speaker, 115 ... Bus, 116 ... Start winning detection sensor, 117 ... Count switch, 118 ... Continuous winning switch, 119 ... Hitting ball operation handle switch, 120 ... Hitting ball operation stop switch, 121 ... Operation gate detection sensor, 122 ... Safe ball detection sensor, 123 ... count switch, 130 ... RAM back Up, 131 ... test terminals, 140 ... CPU, 141 ... RAM, 142 ... ROM, 143 ... VDP, 144 ... VRAM, 145 ... CGROM, 146 ... VRAM backup

Claims (7)

Lottery means for performing a lottery to provide a jackpot game advantageous to the player with a preset probability based on the input of the start signal;
In response to the input of the start signal, a game symbol change display is performed, and then the game symbol is stopped and displayed in a manner corresponding to the lottery result of the lottery unit,
If the lottery result of the lottery means is a result of providing the jackpot game, the jackpot game providing means for providing the jackpot game;
Step-up notice display means for displaying a step-up notice that sequentially shifts from the first step to the N-th step during the variable display;
Step number setting means for setting the value of N from among a plurality of candidate values so that the larger the value of N, the higher the expected value at which a player is provided with an advantageous state regarding the jackpot game;
A gaming machine comprising
At least some of the game symbols are a plurality of character symbols that display different characters, respectively.
The step-up notice display means causes the character to newly appear every time the next step is performed,
The gaming machine characterized in that the order in which the characters newly appear in the step-up notice is the order in which the symbol display means displays the characters on the character symbol in the variable display. The symbol display means has a plurality of areas for performing the variation display and the stop display of the game symbol,
The order in which the character newly appears in the step-up notice is the order in which the character on the character symbol is displayed in the area where the variable display continues to the end of the plurality of areas. The gaming machine according to claim 1.   The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum value Nmax that can be set by the step number setting means is equal to the number of types of character designs.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the player's advantageous state regarding the jackpot game is provision of a jackpot game. Probability changing means for setting a probability change state in which the probability that the lottery result of the lottery means provides the jackpot game is higher than the normal probability,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a state in which the player is advantageous with respect to the jackpot game is the probability variation state.   The game according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the player's advantageous state with respect to the jackpot game is a state in which the profit that the player obtains during the jackpot game is larger than usual. Machine.   The said character that newly appeared when shifting to the next step in the step-up notice is displayed until the end of the step-up notice. Gaming machine.