JP2015077413A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine smoothly switching a performance mode.SOLUTION: A Pachinko game machine executes a winning/losing lottery with entry of a game ball into a start pocket as an opportunity. When the winning/losing lottery results in winning after variably displaying a special pattern indicating a result of the winning/losing lottery, a special game is executed by opening a major winning hole. When the winning/losing lottery results in specific losing, a shift is performed to a limited mode. In the limited mode, variations in a pattern performance are reduced as compared with a normal mode. In the limited mode, operation continues until the pattern variation reaches a predetermined number of times or a jackpot occurs.

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine such as a pachinko game machine, and more particularly, to an effect control technique in a pachinko game machine.

  Various types of pachinko machines are popular as bullet ball machines. Among conventional pachinko gaming machines, when a game ball is dropped into a starting port formed on a game board, a random determination value is randomly acquired as a result. The acquired winning / losing lottery values are temporarily stored, for example, up to four as reserved balls. The reserved balls are sequentially read one by one. The read / failed lottery value thus read is determined to be a winner, the symbol called a special symbol is variably displayed, and the result of the success / failure determination is notified to the player by the stop display mode of the special symbol.

When the special symbol is stopped and displayed in the winning mode, the gaming state shifts to a special game as a so-called “big hit”. A special game is composed of a plurality of unit games. The big prize opening formed on the game board is opened at the start of the unit game. The unit game ends when a predetermined period, for example, 30 seconds elapses from the start of the unit game, or when nine or more game balls are won in the big prize opening during the unit game. At this time, the grand prize opening is also closed. During a unit game, if the game ball passes through a specific area called a V zone provided in the special winning opening, the unit game is continued to the next unit game. At this time, the grand prize opening is opened again. The unit game can be continued up to a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times. When the game balls fall into the big prize opening, more game balls than usual are paid out as prize balls.
A general player plays a game for the purpose of opening a special winning opening in order to obtain a lot of prize balls, that is, shifting the gaming state to a special game (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As described above, there is a “deviation” between the execution timing of the success / failure determination and the notification timing, that is, a special symbol variation display period. When the variation display of the special symbol is started, the player expects the special symbol to stop in a winning manner. Therefore, in many cases, an effect that further enhances the player's expectation for the jackpot is performed by variably displaying an effect-designated symbol called a decorative symbol or an effect symbol during the special symbol variation display period.

JP 2003-230714 A JP 2004-230017 A

  In recent years, ballistic gaming machines are increasingly expanding their production variations. Among them, there is also a ball game machine that changes the production variation in response to the transition to a predetermined gaming state. The pachinko gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 2 makes a transition to an effect mode different from normal called special effect mode when a win occurs. Therefore, the present invention provides a ball game machine capable of exhibiting a specific effect by continuously selecting a specific variation pattern group until the pattern variation reaches a predetermined number of times when changing the effect mode. The main purpose is to do.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a ball game machine.
This ball game machine is provided at a predetermined position in the game area with a game board formed with a game area, a start winning opening through which a game ball can enter, and a predetermined position in the game area. The winning lottery means that performs a lottery determination to determine whether it is a success or failure, and the result of the lottery result When winning, a special game control means for executing a special game which is a game state advantageous to the player by opening the special winning opening, and a symbol display for variably displaying the symbol for showing the result of the lottery An apparatus, pattern storage means for holding a plurality of fluctuation patterns in which a process of changing the design is defined, pattern determination means for selecting one of the fluctuation patterns from the plurality of fluctuation patterns, and the selected fluctuation pattern. And a display control means for variably displaying the symbols.
When a symbol for indicating the result of the lottery is stopped and displayed in a specific manner, the pattern determining means obtains a variation pattern from only a specific variation pattern group in which the types of symbol variation are reduced as compared to a plurality of variation patterns. The variation pattern belonging to the specific variation pattern group is also selected in the determination of success / failure executed thereafter.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, when changing the effect mode, a ball game machine capable of exhibiting a specific effect by continuously selecting a specific variation pattern group until the symbol variation reaches a predetermined number of times is provided. it can.

It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the front side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the basic structure in the back side of a pachinko game machine. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the pachinko game machine in a present Example. It is a data structure figure of a normal pattern determination table. It is a data structure figure of a limited pattern determination table. It is a mimetic diagram for explaining limited mode transfer based on prior judgment. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement process in a pachinko game machine. It is a flowchart which shows the normal game control process of S14 in FIG. 6 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the success / failure determination process of S34 in FIG. 7 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the continuation of the success / failure determination process of FIG. 8 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the special game control process in S16 of FIG. 6 in detail.

[Overview]
The pachinko gaming machine shown in the present embodiment has a gaming property equivalent to a so-called first type pachinko gaming machine. When a game ball enters the start opening, a winning / losing lottery is executed, and a special symbol for indicating the result of the winning / failing lottery is variably displayed. When a special symbol is stopped and displayed in a winning manner after a predetermined time has elapsed, it becomes a “hit”, the special winning opening is opened, and a special game is started.

  The failure of the lottery drawing includes a special failure called “specific failure”. When a specific loss occurs, after that, the transition to the production mode called “Limited Mode” is performed until the number of fluctuations of the special symbol reaches a predetermined upper limit number (hereinafter referred to as “Limited Number”) or a big hit occurs. To do. A condition for ending the limited mode is called a “limited end condition”. In addition, a normal performance mode that is not a limited mode is hereinafter referred to as a “normal mode”. The limited mode is started when a specific error occurs, and ends when the limited end condition is satisfied.

  When the mode is shifted to the limited mode, the variation of the effect, in other words, the type of symbol variation is reduced as compared with the normal mode. In the limited mode, the variation time of the special symbol is uniformly fixed at a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds. Since the shift to the limited mode is triggered by the detachment, it is not necessary to control a mechanism such as a big prize opening, and the normal mode can be smoothly shifted to the limited mode. In addition, since the variation time of the symbols is fixed during the limited mode, the progress pace of the game is constant, and the player can evoke a game sensation different from the normal mode.

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

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

  The game board 50 has an out port 58, a special symbol display device 61, an effect display device 60, and a start winning port (hereinafter referred to as “start port”) 62 on a game area 52 defined by the outer rail 54 and the inner rail 56. , A center ornament 64, a grand prize opening 66, an operation opening 68, and a general prize opening 72. Furthermore, in the game area 52, a plurality of mechanisms such as a game nail and a windmill (not shown) are installed. The start port 62 includes a start winning detection device 74 for detecting the entrance of a game ball and a normal electric accessory solenoid 76 for expanding the expanding mechanism of the start port 62. When the expansion mechanism of the start port 62 is expanded, the opening width of the start port 62 is expanded and the ease of entering the ball is improved. The start winning detection device 74 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the start port 62, and generates start win information indicating the winning at the time of entering. The general winning opening 72 includes a general winning detecting device 73 for detecting the entering of a game ball. The general winning detection device 73 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the general winning opening 72, and generates general winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning. The special winning opening 66 includes a winning detection device 78 for detecting the entry of a game ball and a special winning opening solenoid 80 for expanding the special winning opening 66. The winning detection device 78 is a sensor that detects the entry of a game ball into the big winning opening 66, and generates big winning opening winning information indicating the winning at the time of winning.

  The big winning opening 66 is a horizontal rectangular winning opening that is opened as a “big hit” when the special symbol 192 stops in a predetermined manner. The big winning opening 66 is provided above the out opening 58 and the like. The winning detection device 78 of the big winning opening 66 includes a sensor that detects the passage of a game ball.

  The special symbol display device 61 provided on the left side of the game area 52 and the effect display device 60 provided in the approximate center of the game area 52 have a variation of the special symbol 192 on each screen and a decoration linked to the special symbol 192. The variation of the effect image including the symbol 190 is displayed (hereinafter, such display is referred to as “symbol variation” or “variation display”). Here, the special symbol 192 is a symbol corresponding to the result of the lottery (hereinafter referred to as “unsuccessful lottery”) that is triggered by the drop of the game ball into the start port 62, and its variable display is stopped. When the symbol pattern at that time is a symbol determined to be a win, the timing at which the stop symbol is displayed is the jackpot occurrence timing. The special symbol display device 61 is display means composed of, for example, 7 segment LEDs.

  The effect display device 60 is a liquid crystal display that variably displays the decorative symbol 190 in a manner interlocked with the variation display of the special symbol 192. The decorative symbol 190 is a symbol for visually rendering the lottery result display indicated by the special symbol 192. The effect display device 60 displays, as the decorative symbol 190, for example, a plurality of rows of moving images of symbol variation simulating a slot machine game in the central area of the screen. The effect display device 60 is configured by a liquid crystal display in this embodiment, but may be configured by a mechanical rotation device such as a drum or other display means such as an LED. Since the special symbol 192 does not necessarily have a role of production, in this embodiment, the special symbol 192 is displayed in an inconspicuous size on the special symbol display device 61 at the lower left of the production display device 60. In the case of adopting a technique in which a decorative role is not displayed and a decorative symbol is not displayed, the special symbol may be displayed on a liquid crystal display such as the effect display device 60.

  The operation port 68 is provided at the left side position of the game board 50. The operation port 68 includes a passage detection device 69. The passage detection device 69 is a sensor that detects the passage of the game ball to the operation port 68, and generates passage information indicating the passage at the time of passage. The passage of the game ball to the operation port 68 triggers an open lottery for determining whether or not to expand the expansion mechanism of the start port 62. When the game ball passes through the operation port 68, a normal symbol, which is a symbol indicating the result of the open lottery, is variably displayed on the normal symbol display device 59. The normal symbol display device 59 is provided on the lower right side of the effect display device 60. When the change display of the normal symbol stops after the lapse of a predetermined time, the start port 62 is expanded for a predetermined time with a probability of 5% at normal time and 95% at short time.

  A center ornament 64 is provided around the effect display device 60. The center decoration 64 has functions such as a flow path of the game ball, protection of the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60, and decoration. A lottery hold lamp 20 is provided below the effect display device 60, and an operation hold lamp 22 is provided below the normal symbol display device 59 at the lower right of the game area 52, which is a symmetrical position. . The lottery hold lamp 20 is composed of four lamps, and displays the number of lottery holds depending on the number of lights. The number of lottery holds is the number of lottery results won to the start port 62 during symbol variation or special game, and indicates the number of winning balls for which symbol variation has not yet been executed. The operation hold lamp 22 is also composed of four lamps, and displays the number of hold of normal symbol fluctuations depending on the number of lights. The number of results of the open lottery in which normal symbol variation has not yet been executed is shown. Furthermore, game effect lamps 90 are respectively provided above and below the effect display device 60. The operation button 82 is a button that the player operates to input a predetermined instruction to the gaming machine. The operation button 82 is provided on the outer wall surface near the upper ball tray 15.

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

  When the game ball falls into the start port 62, the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 are variably displayed on the special symbol display device 61 and the effect display device 60. The variable display of the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 is stopped after the elapse of the display time determined prior to the display. When the special symbol 192 and the decorative symbol 190 at the time of the stop are symbols indicating a big hit, the game shifts to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game, and the opening / closing operation of the big prize opening 66 is started. At this time, the decorative pattern 190 simulating the game of the slot machine takes a display mode in which the three patterns are matched. In the special game, the grand prize winning slot 66 is temporarily closed after being opened for about 30 seconds or after 9 or more game balls are dropped. Such opening / closing of the big prize opening 66 is repeated a predetermined number of times, for example, 15 times.

  In the normal game after the end of the special game, a variable time shortening game (hereinafter referred to as “time reduction” as appropriate) that is one of the specific games is started. In the variation time shortening game, the variation time of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is shortened from the normal time. The variation time of the special symbol and the decorative symbol is returned to the original variation time after the variation display of a predetermined variation number is performed. When a special game occurs and the winning stop symbol at that time is in a specific mode, a probability variation game (hereinafter referred to as “probability change” as appropriate) is started after completion of the special game. Is done. In the probability variation game, a lottery with a higher win probability than the normal probability state is performed, and a new special game is generated relatively early.

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

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

  The main board 102 includes an incoming ball judging means 110, a winning / failing lottery means 112, a symbol determining means 114, a holding control means 116, a main display control means 118, a special game control means 120, a specific game execution means 122, and an opening / closing control means 124. . The sub-board 104 includes a pattern storage unit 130, an effect determination unit 132, an effect display control unit 134, and an accessory control unit 136. Each functional block included in the main board 102 may be configured such that any one of the functional blocks is mounted on the sub board 104 instead of the main board 102. Similarly, each functional block included in the sub-board 104 may be configured such that any one of them is mounted on the main board 102 instead of the sub-board 104.

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

The success / failure lottery means 112 accepts a random number value to determine whether or not to shift to a special game that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game when the game ball enters the start port 62. Get as a value. For example, the success / failure lottery value is acquired from a value range from “0” to “65535”. The “random number” in the present application may not be a mathematically generated random number, but may be a pseudo-random number generated by a hardware random number, a software random number, or the like. The success / failure lottery means 112 holds a plurality of success / failure tables to be referred to in the success / failure determination. In the plurality of success / failure tables, the determination result of winning or losing is associated with the winning / losing lottery value, and the success / failure probability is determined according to the associated winning range setting. The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to a success / failure table for determination of success / failure based on a normal probability in normal times, and refers to a success / failure table in which the winning probability is higher than the normal probability when the probability changes. The success / failure lottery means 112 refers to any of the plurality of success / failure tables and determines whether or not the success / failure lottery value is a win. The determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 is variably displayed in a special symbol form on the special symbol display device 61. In addition, a decorative symbol that shows the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 in an effect manner is variably displayed on the effect display device 60.
In addition, the success / failure lottery means 112 also executes a pre-determination process described later. Depending on the result of the prior determination, the mode is shifted to the limited mode even if a specific deviation does not occur. The relationship between the prior determination and the limited mode will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  The symbol determination unit 114 determines the stop symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbol to be displayed on the special symbol display device 61 according to the lottery result by the success / failure lottery unit 112. Moreover, the symbol determination means 114 determines the stop symbol of the normal symbol displayed on the normal symbol display device 59 by lottery. The stop symbol is a symbol to be displayed at the end of symbol variation. The symbol determination means 114 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a special symbol or a normal symbol stop symbol, or a pattern determination table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

The symbol determination means 114 acquires a symbol determination lottery value for determining a special symbol, and determines the stop symbol of the special symbol according to the determination result of the success / failure lottery means 112 and the symbol determination lottery value. Based on the determination result, whether or not it is possible and the shift to time reduction or probability change is determined. The determination result is shown as a stop symbol. The symbol determination unit 114 also acquires a pattern determination lottery value. The symbol determining means 114 selects one of a plurality of variation patterns based on the pattern determination lottery value. The symbol determination unit 114 sends data indicating the determined stop symbol and variation pattern to the main display control unit 118 and the effect determination unit 132.
There are two types of pattern determination tables: a normal pattern determination table 150 and a limited pattern determination table 160. Each will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). The symbol determining unit 114 selects a variation pattern based on the normal pattern determination table 150 in the normal mode, and selects a variation pattern based on the limited pattern determination table 160 in the limited mode.

  The symbol determination means 114 stores a plurality of types of variation patterns in which variation modes from the variation start to the stop when the special symbol is variably displayed are defined. Multiple types of variation patterns have various variation times. That is, for each variation pattern, a variation display time is defined for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the variation of the special symbol is stopped when the variation display time elapses.

  The symbol determining means 114 acquires a lottery random number for determining a normal symbol when the game ball passes through the operation port 68, and determines a stop symbol of the normal symbol according to the lottery random number. When the stop symbol of the normal symbol is a specific symbol, the opening / closing control means 124 expands the normal electric accessory at the start port 62 for a predetermined time.

  The hold control means 116 holds the winning / losing lottery value acquired by the winning / failing lottery means 112 as a holding ball. The success / failure lottery value is accumulated until the number of holds reaches a predetermined upper limit. The upper limit of the number of holds is 4.

  The main display control means 118 causes the special symbol display device 61 to display the lottery result by the success / failure lottery means 112 as a special symbol variation display according to the variation pattern determined by the symbol determination unit 114. The main display control means 118 transmits the change start command and the change stop command to the effect display control means 134 at the timing of starting and stopping the change display of the special symbol, so that the main display control means 118 and the effect display are displayed. The fluctuation display by the control means 134 is synchronized and interlocked. The main display control means 118 displays the normal symbol variation on the normal symbol display device 59.

  The special game control means 120 controls the execution process of the special game when the result of the lottery determination by the success / failure lottery means 112 is a win. The special game is a game in which the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 66 is continuously continued a plurality of times, and is constituted by one or a plurality of unit games with one opening / closing as a unit. The unit game is repeated up to 15 times, for example, and the grand prize opening 66 is opened for about 30 seconds in one unit game. If the number of continuations of the unit game has not reached the upper limit number, the special game control means 120 starts the next unit game after the end of the current unit game. When the upper limit number of unit games is exhausted, the special game is terminated.

  The specific game execution means 122 executes control for shifting the game state from the normal state to the specific game state, and control for returning the specific game state to the normal state. The specific game in the present embodiment has a probability change in which the winning probability of the winning / failing lottery is switched from a normal probability state to a high probability state, and a short time in which the symbol variation time is switched from a normal time to a short time.

  The specific game executing means 122 shifts the gaming state after the special game to the probability changing state when the winning / failing lottery value is a value to be shifted to the probability changing state. The probability variation state is continued until the next jackpot is generated in principle, and during that time, the probability of the hit determination by the success / failure lottery means 112 is maintained at a high value. In addition, the specific game executing means 122 shifts the gaming state to a shorter time state after the special game when not shifting to certainty. The short time is continued until the number of changes in the special symbol after the special game reaches a predetermined number, for example, 100 times.

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

Sub-board 104:
The pattern storage means 130 holds a plurality of effect patterns in which effect image contents to be displayed on the effect display device 60 in the variation of the decorative design 190 and the display process thereof are determined. In the effect pattern, a plurality of change patterns in which a change process from start to stop and a change process in the change display of the decorative pattern 190 and a change process are defined, and a change display of the decorative pattern are displayed separately, and the degree of expectation to the jackpot A plurality of notice effect patterns that suggest height in advance are included.

  The fluctuation pattern displays a pattern for displaying a normal out symbol, a pattern for displaying a symbol out of reach after reaching a big win if one more symbols are aligned, and a jackpot symbol through a reach state. When the pattern is included. In particular, the pattern that passes through the reach state includes patterns having various fluctuation times. Each variation pattern has a variation time for each pattern as an end condition of the symbol variation, and the symbol variation is stopped when the variation time elapses. The effect determining means 132 selects the variation pattern of the effect image having the same variation time as that of the special symbol according to the variation pattern of the special symbol.

  The effect determining means 132 determines the combination of the stop symbols of the decorative symbols and their arrangement and variation pattern according to the result of the lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112, according to the stop symbol of the special symbol and the variation pattern of the special symbol. The effect determination unit 132 holds a symbol range table to be referred to in order to determine a stop symbol of a decorative symbol and a pattern determination table to be referred to in order to determine a variation pattern.

  The stop symbol of the decorative symbol is formed as a combination of three symbols. For example, when the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates a shift to a special game, three symbols such as “777” and “111” are arranged. A combination is selected. In this case, it is preferable that the same numbers as the special symbols are selected as the numbers arranged as the decorative symbols. For example, when the special symbol is “3”, the decorative symbol is “333”. In the case where the determination result by the success / failure lottery means 112 indicates that the game does not shift to the special game, a combination that does not have three symbols such as “312” and “946” is selected. However, if the determination result is that the game does not shift to a special game, and a variation pattern of a special symbol indicating a loss with reach is selected, only one such as “191” or “727” is selected. Select a combination that does not have the same pattern. The effect determining unit 132 sends information about the stop symbol of the decorative symbol and the variation pattern of the effect image to the effect display control unit 134.

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

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

  The effect determining means 132 determines whether or not to display the notice effect on the effect display device 60 according to the result of the determination of whether or not, by a predetermined notice lottery, and also determines the notice effect pattern to be displayed. The effect determining means 132 holds a notice determination table that should be referred to in order to determine whether or not to display the notice effect, and a notice type table that should be referred to when selecting the type of the notice effect pattern. The notice determination table is set so that different columns are referred to depending on the result of the success / failure determination, and the determination of success / failure is made so that the notice effect is displayed at a higher probability than the case of losing when the success / failure lottery is won. Correspondence between whether to display the result and the notice effect is determined. Thereby, the high expectation degree to the jackpot can be suggested by displaying the notice effect itself.

  The effect display control means 134 displays the effect image on the effect display device 60 in accordance with the selected variation pattern data as a result of the success / failure lottery by the success / failure lottery means 112. The effect display control means 134 causes the effect display device 60 to display the notice effect according to the selected notice effect pattern when the effect determining means 132 determines to display the notice effect. The effect display control means 134 further controls effect processing such as lighting and extinguishing of the game effect lamp 90 and sound output from the speaker 18.

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

FIG. 4A is a data structure diagram of the normal pattern determination table 150.
The success / failure lottery means 112 obtains a success / failure lottery value and determines whether or not it is successful. The symbol determination unit 114 acquires a pattern determination lottery value, and determines a variation pattern of a special symbol for indicating whether or not it is correct. The pattern determination lottery value is randomly acquired in the range of 0 to 255. Moreover, the symbol determination means 114 determines a stop symbol by the symbol determination lottery value. The symbol determination lottery value is also randomly acquired in the range of 0 to 255. The success / failure column 152 indicates the success / failure. The pattern determination lottery value column 154 shows a pattern determination lottery value. The fluctuation pattern column 156 shows a fluctuation pattern. In the normal mode, the symbol determination unit 114 determines the variation pattern based on the normal pattern determination table 150.

  For example, if the pattern determination lottery value acquired at the time of the big hit is in the range of 171 to 220, the variation pattern named “Pattern per reach B” is selected. Also on the sub-board 104, the effect determining means 132 selects the decorative pattern variation pattern corresponding to the “reach pattern B”.

  If the pattern determination lottery value acquired at the time of detachment is in the range of 11 to 20, “normally losing pattern B” is selected, and if it is in the range of 100 to 110, “reach losing pattern Y” is selected. As described above, various variation patterns are selected with various selection probabilities depending on the combination of the winning / failing lottery value and the pattern lottery value.

  If the symbol determination lottery value is in the range of 0 to 10 at the time of detachment, the stop symbol indicating the specific detachment is determined. For example, when a stop symbol indicating a specific error is selected when the normal error pattern A is selected, “specific error” is indicated when the symbol fluctuation is stopped. When a specific deviation occurs, the normal mode is shifted to the limited mode. A variation pattern when a stop symbol indicating a specific deviation is selected is particularly referred to as a “specific deviation pattern”. Any off pattern other than the normal off pattern A can be a “specific off pattern” depending on the symbol determination lottery value.

FIG. 4B is a data structure diagram of the limited pattern determination table 160.
The success / failure column 162 indicates success / failure. The pattern determination lottery value column 164 shows a pattern determination lottery value. The fluctuation pattern column 166 shows a fluctuation pattern. In the limited mode, the symbol determination unit 114 determines the variation pattern based on the limited pattern determination table 160. The limited pattern determination table 160 includes only “normal detachment pattern B” and “reach detachment pattern Y”. For this reason, in the limited mode, the variation of production is reduced compared to the normal mode. In the limited mode, “normally missed pattern B” is selected for a big hit, and “reach missed pattern Y” is selected for missed. In the present embodiment, in the limited mode, only one of these variation patterns is selected as a selection target depending on whether or not the pattern determination lottery value is used. The fluctuation times of “normal deviation pattern B” and “reach deviation pattern Y” are both 10 seconds and the same.

  As will be described in detail later, when a specific loss occurs, the symbol determination means 114 performs a lottery for determining the limited number of times (hereinafter referred to as “limited number of times lottery”). The limited number of times is selected randomly within a range of 3 to 15 times. For example, when the limited number of times is determined to be 7, the symbol determining unit 114 notifies the effect display control unit 134 of the transition to the limited mode and the limited number of times 7 times. The effect display control means 134 causes the effect display device 60 to display the mission “Let's reach within 7 rotations!”. The limited end condition in the limited mode of the limited number of times is that the symbol variation reaches 7 times or a big hit occurs. When a big hit occurs during the limited mode, the “reach out pattern Y” is always selected, so the mission is also established.

  The mission performance itself, such as “Let's reach within 7 rotations!”, Is common. Conventionally, when such a mission is shown, it has been necessary to perform control so as to select a variation pattern in which reach is not established so that the mission is not established when a deviation occurs within 7 revolutions. Similarly, when a big hit occurs within 7 revolutions, it is necessary to perform control so as to select a variation pattern in which reach is established so that the mission is established. That is, it is necessary to control the selection method of the variation pattern so that the success / failure of the mission matches the result of the determination of success / failure. On the other hand, in the limited mode in the present embodiment, since the non-reach pattern is originally selected if it is off, and the reach pattern is selected if it is a hit, a mission such as “reach within 7 rotations!” Therefore, it is not necessary to control the selection method of the variation pattern according to the contents.

In the limited mode, if the reach is established, the winning content is simplified. In the limited mode, the pattern variation time is fixed to 10 seconds. For this reason, in the limited mode, the progress pace of the symbol variation itself is also constant. In the normal mode, while the elaboration of the effect is elaborated, in the limited mode, a simple effect is executed, so that the feeling of inflection of the effect in the entire game can be realized. Further, as will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5, the limited mode is controlled so that the player's sense of expectation for jackpot is higher than that in the normal mode.
In the following, the variation pattern selected based on the normal pattern determination table 150 is referred to as “normal pattern”, and the variation pattern selected based on the limited pattern determination table 160 is referred to as “limited pattern”.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining limited mode transition based on prior determination.
The holding control means 116 holds up to four winning / failing lottery values as holding balls in a first-in first-out (FIFO) system. Even if a game ball enters the start port 62 when there are already four hold balls, the winning / failing lottery value is not held. This figure shows a state where a new winning / raising lottery value R4 is acquired when the winning / raising lottery values R1, R2, and R3 are held. When a new symbol variation start timing is reached, the success / failure lottery means 112 takes out the first success / failure lottery value R1 and makes a success / failure determination. At this time, a stop symbol, a variation pattern, and the like are also determined, and symbol variation is started. If the winning / raising lottery value R1 is not specified, the process shifts to the limited mode.

Even if the winning / raising lottery value R1 is not unspecified, there may be an exception to the limited mode. This is a case in which the winning lottery value that is a big hit is included in any of the winning lottery values R2 to R4 held at the time of taking out the winning lottery value R1. For this reason, even when the success / failure lottery value is suspended, the success / failure lottery means 112 determines the success / failure in advance (hereinafter, such determination is referred to as “preliminary determination”). For example, it is assumed that the winning / raising lottery value R4 is a big hit as a result of the prior determination. In this case, the success / failure lottery means 112 turns on the jackpot notice flag with a predetermined probability, for example, a probability of 20%. Thereafter, when the winning lottery value R1 is taken out, if it is off and the jackpot notice flag is on, in other words, if the occurrence of a future jackpot is confirmed, the winning lottery value R1 is set. Even if the stop symbol does not deviate from the specific state, the mode is shifted to the limited mode. The symbol determination lottery value for the success / failure lottery value R1 may be rewritten to a symbol determination lottery value corresponding to a specific deviation.
In summary, the conditions for entering limited mode are:
C1. Specific deviation occurs C2. One of the things that has been confirmed that jackpots will occur in the future. Therefore, when shifting to the limited mode, the player expects the possibility of shifting to the limited mode with C2 as an opportunity. In other words, it will arouse expectations for future jackpots.
Note that even if the winning or failing lottery value indicating the big hit is held, the big hit notice flag is not necessarily turned on. The jackpot can be generated not only in the limited mode but also in the normal mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a basic operation process in the pachinko gaming machine.
First, processing is performed when the game ball has won the start port 62, the general winning port 72, the big winning port 66, or the like, or when the game ball has passed the operation port 68 (S10). When a winning at the start port 62 occurs and a winning / losing lottery value is acquired, the winning / losing lottery means 112 further performs a preliminary determination. In the case of a jackpot, the jackpot notice flag is turned on with a probability of 20%.
Note that the probability of turning on the jackpot notice flag may be determined by a winning symbol or a variation pattern. For example, in the case of a jackpot in which a winning symbol of 20% of a plurality of types of winning symbols is selected by the prior determination, the jackpot notice flag may be turned on. Similarly, in the case of a jackpot in which a hit variation pattern of 20% of a plurality of types of hit variation patterns is selected by prior determination, the jackpot notice flag may be turned on.
Next, if it is not in a special game (N in S12), a control process for a normal game such as a winning lottery is executed (S14), and if it is in a special game (Y in S12), a special game control process is executed. (S16), and award ball payout according to various winnings in the processing from S10 to S16 is processed (S18).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing in detail the normal game control process of S14 in FIG.
In the normal game control process, if the winning / losing lottery value is on hold (Y in S30) and the symbol variation is not being displayed (N in S32), the winning / losing lottery means 112 executes the determining process. (S34). Details of the success / failure determination process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In accordance with the determination result, the main display control means 118 starts changing display, transmits a change start command to the effect display control means 134, and the effect display control means 134 that receives the command displays the effect image according to the change pattern data. The fluctuation display is started (S36). If the winning or failing lottery value is not held in S30 (N in S30), the processing from S32 to S36 is skipped, and if the symbol variation is being displayed in S32 (Y in S32), S34 and S36 Is skipped. Subsequently, if the symbol variation display has already started (Y in S38), the symbol variation display process is executed (S40). If the symbol variation display has not started (N in S38), S40 is skipped. .

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing in detail the success / failure determination process of S34 in FIG.
First, the success / failure lottery means 112 retrieves the pending success / failure lottery value and executes a success / failure determination (S100). If the probability change is in progress, the success / failure table is a big hit with a high probability. If it is in the limited mode (Y in S102), the limited number that has already been set is decremented (S104). If the result of the lottery is a big hit (Y in S110), the limited end condition is satisfied, so the limited mode is ended by resetting the limited number of times to zero (S112). The symbol determination means 114 selects a limited pattern with reference to the limited pattern determination table 160 for the symbol variation (S116). If the result of the lottery determination is not specified (N in S110, Y in S113), the limited number is reset (S115), and then the limited pattern is selected (S116). If a normal failure other than a specific failure occurs during the limited mode (N at S110, N at S113), S115 is skipped. However, when the limited number of times after decrement has reached zero in S104, the normal mode is entered from the next symbol variation.

  When not in the limited mode, in other words, in the normal mode (N in S102), if a specific deviation occurs (Y in S106), the symbol determining means 114 sets an initial value of the limited number by limited number lottery ( S114). The symbol determining means 114 selects a normal pattern for the symbol variation with reference to the normal pattern determining table 150 (S118). Since the limited number of times is a non-negative value, the limited mode is entered from the next symbol variation.

  In the normal mode (N in S102), when a loss occurs and the jackpot notice flag is on, in other words, when the winning lottery value indicating the jackpot is held (Y in S108), the limited number of lotteries An initial value for the limited number of times is set (S114). The symbol determining means 114 selects a normal pattern for the symbol variation with reference to the normal pattern determining table 150 (S118). At this time, the “specific failure pattern” may be selected as in the case of a specific failure. If the “specific failure pattern” is selected, the player cannot recognize from the variation mode of the symbol whether the limited mode transition due to the specific failure or the limited mode transition based on the jackpot determination. Since the limited number of times becomes a non-negative value, the limited mode is entered from the next fluctuation.

  During the normal mode (N in S102), when there is a situation other than “specific off” or “out of place and the jackpot notice flag is on” (N in S106, N in S108), the normal mode continues. The symbol determination means 114 selects a normal pattern with reference to the normal pattern determination table 150 (S118).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing in detail the continuation of the success / failure determination process of FIG.
If the result of the lottery determination is a big hit (Y in S52), the special game control means 120 turns on the special game flag (S54). When the special game flag is on, the special game is executed after the end of the change.

If it is a probability change hit (Y in S58), the specific game executing means 122 turns on the probability change flag (S60). When the probability variation flag is on, the success / failure lottery executed next to the symbol variation is executed by a high probability success / failure table. After the special game is executed by turning on the special game flag in S54, the probability change game is executed by turning on the probability change flag in S60. If it is a normal hit (N in S58), the specific game executing means 122 turns off the probability variation flag (S62). When the probability variation flag is off, the success / failure lottery executed next to the symbol variation is executed by a low probability success / failure table. After the special game is executed by turning on the special game flag in S54, the fluctuation shortening game is executed by turning off the probability change flag in S60.
If the winning / losing lottery is off (N in S52), the special game control means 120 turns off the special game flag (S56).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing in detail the special game control process in S16 of FIG.
First, if the big prize opening 66 has not been opened (N in S70), the production display control means 134 starts the special game production process (S72), and the open / close control means 124 opens the special prize opening 66 (S74). ). If the big winning opening 66 has been opened, S72 and S74 are skipped (Y in S70). When the predetermined opening time has elapsed since the grand prize opening 66 was opened (Y in S76), or the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76), there are nine or more game balls to the big winning opening 66 When the player has entered the ball (Y in S78), the opening / closing control means 124 closes the special winning opening 66 (S80). If the opening time has not elapsed (N in S76) and the number of balls entered into the grand prize winning opening 66 has not reached nine or more (N in S78), the processing after S80 is skipped and the flow of S16 Exit.

If the number of rounds of the unit game has reached 15 after closing the special winning opening 66 in S80 (Y in S82), the effect display control means 134 ends the effect processing of the special game (S84), and the special game control means 120 ends the special game (S86). Note that, when it is a probable change, the specific game execution means 122 sets a high-probability success / failure table as a success / failure table for the success / failure lottery, and when it is a normal success, sets a low-probability success / failure table. In the case of a normal hit, the specific game execution means 122 starts a variation shortening game.
If the number of rounds has not reached 15 (N in S82), 1 is added to the number of rounds and the flow of S16 is terminated (S90).

As described above, the pachinko gaming machine 10 shown in the present embodiment shifts to the limited mode in response to the occurrence of “specific failure” among a plurality of types of failures. When shifting to the limited mode, the production variation is reduced as compared to the normal mode. By changing the width of the production variation according to the progress of the game, the production value of the normal pattern can be increased. In the limited mode, the production variation is reduced and the variation time is fixed, so the production content is speedy and easy to understand. In particular, since the shift to the limited mode is triggered by the detachment, it is not necessary to secure time for the mechanism control by the opening / closing control means 124, and smooth switching from the normal mode to the limited mode can be realized.
Further, if the limited pattern group is a part of the normal pattern group, it is not necessary to prepare a variation pattern for the limited mode separately.

  Even if the pachinko gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment is not out of the specified state, when the winning / losing lottery value indicating the winning is held, the game is shifted to the limited mode with a predetermined probability. According to such an aspect, when shifting to the limited mode, the player expects that the winning lottery value indicating the winning is held, and it is easy to evoke the player's expectation in the limited mode. . The predetermined probability here may be 100%. In this case, since the jackpot is always generated only in the limited mode, it is easier to evoke the player's expectation in the limited mode.

  In the present embodiment, it has been described that the limited mode ends when the limited number of times becomes zero. However, the limited mode may be continued until a big hit occurs during the limited mode. In the present embodiment, the description is given on the assumption that the mission is shown at the time of shifting to the limited mode. However, as a modification, a configuration in which the player is not notified of the shift to the limited mode may be used. According to such an aspect, it is possible to arouse the player's expectation that the player may be in the limited mode. In the present embodiment, it has been described that there are two types of limited patterns, which are determined based only on whether or not the pattern is valid. However, the number of types of limited patterns only needs to be smaller than the type of normal patterns. A limited pattern may be selected based on the above. Further, in the present embodiment, the “reach out-of-reach pattern Y” has been described as the hit pattern in the limited mode. However, the hit fluctuation pattern in the normal mode, such as “pattern per reach A”, is used as the hit fluctuation pattern in the limited mode. It may be adopted. There may be multiple types of specific deviations. For example, when the specified deviation is A, the limited mode based on the limited pattern determination table A may be used. When the specific deviation is B, the limited mode may be shifted to another limited pattern determining table B.

  In this embodiment, it has been described that the reach pattern is selected when a big hit occurs in the limited mode. In other words, when the reach pattern is selected in the limited mode, the player can recognize the jackpot. However, the variation pattern for notifying the player of the hit in such a limited mode may not be the “reach pattern”. For example, when a big hit occurs in the limited mode, a variation pattern in which a predetermined character appears may be selected.

  In the limited mode, a fluctuation pattern having a fluctuation time of a predetermined time or more may be excluded from selection targets. For example, the super reach pattern may be excluded from the limited pattern. In this case, since the progress of the symbol variation during the limited mode increases, the sense of speed of the game can be improved.

The limited number of times may not be selected at random, but may be a fixed value. As described with reference to FIG. 5, the condition for shifting to the limited mode is:
C1. Specific deviation occurs C2. One of the things that has been confirmed that jackpots will occur in the future. Here, the limited number of times of the limited mode based on the condition C1 and the limited number of times of the limited mode based on the condition C2 may be different values.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. This embodiment is merely an example, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

  It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the functions to be fulfilled by the constituent elements described in the claims are realized by the individual function blocks shown in the present embodiment or their linkage.

10 Pachinko machines, 11 Outer frame, 12 Front frame, 13 Transparent plate, 14 Doors, 15 Upper ball dish, 16 Lower ball dish, 17 Launch handle, 18 Speaker, 20 Lottery hold lamp, 22 Operation hold lamp, 39 Set base , 40 power switch, 42 liquid crystal unit, 43 payout unit, 44 prize ball tank, 45 payout control board, 46 launching device, 47 launch control board, 48 power supply unit, 50 game board, 52 game area, 54 outside rail, 56 inside Rail, 58 Out port, 59 Normal symbol display device, 60 Production display device, 61 Special symbol display device, 62 Start port, 64 Center decoration, 68 Working port, 69 Pass detection device, 72 General winning port, 74 Start winning detection device 73 General winning detection device, 76 Ordinary electric accessory solenoid, 78 Winning detection device, 80 Grand prize Solenoid, 82 operation button, 90 game effect lamp, 100 game control device, 102 main board, 104 sub-board, 110 entry determination means, 112 pass / fail lottery means, 114 symbol determination means, 116 hold control means, 118 main display control means , 120 special game control means, 122 specific game execution means, 124 opening / closing control means, 130 pattern storage means, 132 effect determination means, 134 effect display control means, 136 character control means, 140 movable accessory, 150 normal pattern determination table , 152 winning / notifying column, 154 pattern determination lottery value column, 156 variation pattern column, 160 limited pattern determination table, 162 success / failure column, 164 pattern determination lottery value column, 166 variation pattern column, 190 decoration symbol, 192 special symbol.

Claims (1)

A game board in which a game area is formed;
A start prize opening provided at a predetermined position in the game area, into which a game ball can enter;
A large winning opening which is provided at a predetermined position in the game area and can be opened so that a game ball can enter;
A success / failure lottery means for executing a success / failure lottery for determining whether or not the game is successful, triggered by the game ball entering the start winning opening;
Special game control means for executing a special game which is a game state advantageous to a player by opening the big winning opening when the result of the winning / losing lottery is a win,
A symbol display device in which a symbol for indicating the result of the winning / failing lottery is variably displayed;
Pattern storage means for holding a plurality of variation patterns in which the design variation process is defined;
Pattern determining means for selecting any variation pattern from the plurality of variation patterns;
Display control means for variably displaying symbols according to the selected variation pattern,
When the symbol for indicating the result of the success / failure lottery is stopped and displayed in a specific manner, the pattern determining means only from a specific variation pattern group in which the type of symbol variation is reduced as compared with the plurality of variation patterns A bullet ball game machine, wherein a variation pattern is selected, and a variation pattern belonging to the specific variation pattern group is selected even in the determination of success / failure executed thereafter.

Images