JP2016022299A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve amusement of performance using operation means, in a game machine provided with the operation means capable of changing into a state which can be recognized as a state different from a normal state by sensation of a player.SOLUTION: A game machine 1 comprises: operation means 10 that is capable of changing from a first state as a normal state into a second state which can be recognized as a state different from the first state by sensation of a player, and that can be operated by the player; and state changing means that may change the operation means 10 from the first state into the second state even when the operation means 10 is not being operated, within an operation effective time, in a performance where the operation effective time in which an operation of the operation means 10 becomes effective is set.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with operation means that can be operated by a player.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses an operation means (button) that can be operated by a player and that can vibrate.

JP 2007-37972 A

  In a gaming machine equipped with this kind of vibration capable operation means, the operation means is operated within a predetermined period (within the effective operation time) in reach production, etc., and the operation means vibrates when it is a big hit. The operation means may be used as described above. However, since the timing at which the operating means vibrates is the same (when the operating means is operated), there is a problem that the user is quickly bored.

  The present invention improves the preference of performance using the operating means in a gaming machine having operating means that can be changed to a state that can be recognized as being different from the normal state by the player's sense. With the goal.

  The gaming machine according to the invention of claim 1, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, is capable of recognizing from the first state, which is a normal state, that the state is different from the first state. In the operation means that can be changed into two states and that can be operated by the player and the operation effective time during which the operation of the operation means is effective, the operation means is operated within the operation effective time. The state change means may change the operation means from the first state to the second state even if not.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the state changing means changes the operating means from the first state to the second state simultaneously with the start of the operation effective time. It is characterized by cases.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect, the state changing means moves the operating means to the first state when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation effective time. There is a case where the state is changed to the second state.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the operation means includes a sensor that detects that a player has touched or approached the operation means. And the state changing means moves the operating means from the first state to the second state when the sensor detects that the player has touched or approached the operating means within the effective operation time. It is characterized in that it may change to a state.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, when the operating means is operated, the operating means is changed from the first state to the second state. When the operation means changes from the first state to the second state within the operation effective time even though the operation means is not operated, the player is more It is set so that the probability that the profit given after that will become large becomes high.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the operation means in the second state can be recognized by a player's tactile sense. It is characterized by being in a vibrating state.

  In the gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the operation means may change from the first state to the second state within the effective operation time even if the operation means is not operated, It is possible to produce a highly interesting performance in which the timing at which the means enters the second state is not always the same.

  If the operation means changes from the first state to the second state simultaneously with the start of the operation effective time as in the second aspect of the invention, the player tries to operate the operation means. Sometimes, the operating means may already be in the second state, so that it is possible to produce an unexpected effect (impacting the player).

  If the operation means changes from the first state to the second state when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation effective time as in the invention described in claim 3, the player can change the operation means. Before the operation, the operation means may be in the second state, so that it is possible to produce an unexpected effect (impacting the player).

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the sensor detects that the player has touched or approached the operating means, the operating means may change from the first state to the second state. Since the operation means may be in the second state at the moment when the player touches or approaches the operation means, it is possible to produce an unexpected (impact on the player) effect.

  As in the fifth aspect of the invention, the operation means is more effective even when the operation means is not operated than when the operation means is changed from the first state to the second state when the operation means is operated. If the operation means is changed from the first state to the second state within the time, if the probability that the profit given thereafter to the player is increased is increased, the operation means is set to the second state. It is possible to produce a highly interesting performance in which the timing when the state changes and the subsequent profit are linked.

  If the operation means vibrates as in the sixth aspect of the invention, it is difficult to determine whether or not the player vibrates visually or auditorily. Therefore, it is possible to increase the impact when the player recognizes that the operating means vibrates.

It is a front view of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment. It is the figure which looked at the operation means from the side (state in which the operation means was located in the original position). It is the figure which looked at the operation means from the side (state in which the operation means is located at the end position). It is the figure which showed an example of the time display image and the operation instruction image. It is a figure for demonstrating the timing when an operation means becomes a 2nd state from a 1st state. It is the figure which showed the operation means provided with the sensor which detects that the player approached or contacted.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gaming machine 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, description of configurations that are not related to the present invention, such as a frame body of the gaming machine 1, a launching device that launches game balls, and a lower plate or an upper plate that stores game balls, is omitted. About these, the thing of the structure similar to a well-known game machine is applicable.

  The gaming machine 1 includes a game board 90. The game board 90 is formed of a substantially square plywood, and a strip-shaped guide rail 903 made of a thin metal plate for guiding a game ball fired by the operation of the launcher to the game area 902 has a substantially arc shape. Is provided.

  In the game area 902, a display device 91, a start winning opening 904, a big winning opening 906, an out opening, and the like are provided. The display device 91 is used for a notification effect and a selection effect described later. The display screen of the display device 91 is visible through an opening 901 formed in the game board 90.

  In addition, the game area 902 is provided with a plurality of game nails as obstacles that change the flow-down mode of the game balls when the flow-down game balls collide. The game ball flowing down the game area 902 changes into various modes depending on the condition when it collides with the game nail.

  In such a gaming machine 1, a game ball is launched toward the game area 902 by operating the launching device. When a game ball flowing down the game area 902 wins a winning opening such as the start winning opening 904 or the big winning opening 906, a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out by the payout device.

  The jackpot lottery is executed by a winning determination means provided on a control board (not shown) triggered by winning a game ball in the start winning opening 904 (a plurality of such starting winning openings may be provided). Other configurations and the like can be the same as those of a known gaming machine, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment can execute various effects for notifying the determination result by the determination unit. In these effects, in order to give the player the impression that he / she is involved in the effects, a time may be set for the player to operate the operation means 10 (the operation of the operation means 10 becomes effective). .

[Configuration of operation means]
The configuration of the operation means 10 in the present embodiment is as follows. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the operating means 10 in the present embodiment is a structure that imitates a “sword” provided on the right front side of the gaming machine. The “sword” is provided so as to be slidable substantially in the vertical direction, and is biased upward by a biasing member (not shown). Therefore, when no force is applied to the operating means 10, the urging force of the urging member is located at the original position that is the uppermost position (see FIG. 2). When the player applies a downward force to the operation means 10 against the urging force of the urging member, the operation means 10 slides downward. Specifically, the player holds the “handle portion” of the “sword” as the operation means 10 and slides the operation means 10 downward by applying a downward force. When the operation means 10 reaches the end position (see FIG. 3) which is the lowest position, it is detected by a sensor not shown that the operation means 10 has reached the end position. In the present embodiment, “the operating means 10 has been operated” refers to a time when the sensor detects that the operating means 10 has reached a predetermined position, and the player simply touches the operating means 10. It does not mean that state. In the present embodiment, the operation means 10 is provided so as to pass through the opening 121 formed in the fixing member 12 fixed to the gaming machine main body.

  Further, the operation means 10 in the present embodiment is provided with a vibration mechanism 11. The vibration mechanism 11 is provided in a “handle portion” of the “sword”, that is, a portion touched by a player who operates the operation means 10. When the vibration mechanism 11 is driven, the “handle portion” of the “sword” vibrates, so that a player touching the portion can sense the vibration. Since the vibration mechanism 11 for generating vibrations may have any configuration, detailed description thereof is omitted (a known vibrator can be applied).

  As described above, the operating means 10 in the present embodiment includes a normal state in which vibration is not generated (hereinafter also referred to as the first state) and a state in which the vibration mechanism 11 is driven and vibrated (hereinafter referred to as the second state). (In this embodiment, the means for controlling the vibration mechanism 11 corresponds to the state changing means in the present invention). In addition, the thing for producing the difference of the 1st state which is a normal state, and the 2nd state which is a different state is not restricted to a "vibration". Any player can recognize that the second state is different from the first state, which is the normal state, by the player's senses (tactile sense, vision, hearing, etc.). For example, when the second state is entered, a configuration in which a part of the operating means 10 that was not illuminated in the first state is illuminated (the player recognizes the second state by visually recognizing the light) Configuration). However, if the difference between the first state and the second state is “vibration” where it is difficult to visually and auditorily understand that the state is changing, the impact on the player can be improved. There is an advantage that it can be done (the reason is described later).

[Direction using operation means]
Hereinafter, effects using the operation means 10 will be described. In the production using the operation means 10, an operation valid time during which the operation of the operation means 10 is effective is set. The operation of the operation unit 10 being effective means a time during which the operation of the operation unit 10 is reflected in the production. That is, even if the operation means 10 is operated at a time other than the operation effective time, the operation is not reflected in the production. When the operation effective time is set, a time display image 20 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display device 91 together with the operation instruction image 30. The time display image 20 is an image that displays an operation effective time during which the operation of the operation means 10 is effective. The time display image 20 in the present embodiment indicates to the player that the effective operation time is decreasing by displaying the meter 21 that is gradually decreasing. The operation instruction image 30 includes an image imitating the operation means 10 (an image of “sword” in the present embodiment) 31 and an image (an image showing an arrow or the like) 32 indicating the direction in which the operation means 10 should be operated. It is good to be. Thereby, the player can easily recognize that it is time to operate the operation means 10 imitating a sword.

  As an example of the effect using the operation means 10, that is, the effect in which the operation effective time is set, there is a so-called reach effect for notifying whether or not the determination result is a big hit. In this type of reach production, when the operation effective time is set and the operation means 10 is operated, the production (image or the like) corresponding to the big win is the corresponding production (image or the like), and the production (corresponding to the production) Image). That is, when the operation means 10 is operated, it is notified whether the determination result is a big hit. In this embodiment, when the determination result is a big hit, the operation means 10 vibrates at any timing. That is, the operating means 10 that was in the first state changes to the second state at any timing. In the present embodiment, when the result of the determination is wrong, the operation unit 10 does not vibrate even if the operation unit 10 is operated within the operation effective time.

In the present embodiment, the determination result is a big hit, and the operating means 10 changes from the first state to the second state, that is, the vibration mechanism 11 is driven by the state changing means and the operating means 10 vibrates. The following three are set.
1) When the operating means 10 is operated 2) Simultaneously with the start of the operation effective time (see FIG. 5)
3) When a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the effective operation time (see FIG. 5)

  Basically, when the operating means 10 of 1) is operated, the operating means 10 vibrates. That is, when the operating means 10 is operated, an image indicating that it is a big hit is displayed on the display device 91 and the operating means 10 vibrates. This understands that the player has won a jackpot.

  On the other hand, at the same time when the operation effective time of 2) is started, or when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation effective time of 3), the operation means 10 vibrates even though the operation means 10 is not operated. This is a production mode. Since the operation means 10 vibrates simultaneously with the start of the operation effective time of 2), or at the same time as the operation effective time starts (may be slightly before and after), the operation means 10 is seen by looking at the time display image 20. When the player who has tried to operate the operation means 10 recognizes that the operation means 10 has already vibrated by touching the operation means 10. A big impact can be given to a player who recognizes that the operating means 10 vibrates when the operating means 10 is operated when a big hit is made. After that, when it is detected that the operating means 10 is operated, the vibration of the operating means 10 may be continued or the vibration may be stopped.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation effective time of 3), the operation means 10 is not oscillating when the operation effective time is started (first state), but the timing at which the predetermined time has elapsed. It vibrates at (changes to the second state). When such a timing is set, when a player who tries to operate the operation means 10 touches the operation means 10, the operation means 10 begins to vibrate suddenly even though the operation means 10 does not vibrate. It is possible to make a big impact on the player. In addition, when the operation means 10 is operated before a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation effective time, it is preferable that the operation means 10 vibrate when it is detected that the operation is performed. In this case, the impression received by the player is the same as in the above aspect 1). Further, when it is detected that a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation effective time and the operation means 10 is operated in a state where the operation means 10 vibrates, the vibration of the operation means 10 may be continued, You may make it a vibration stop. In addition, the “predetermined time” at which the operating means 10 starts to vibrate may be set to a plurality of times, or a configuration determined by lottery every time an effect is executed by a timer or the like (timing to start vibration). May be an infinite number of configurations).

  Thus, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the operation unit 10 may change from the first state to the second state even if the operation unit 10 is not operated within the operation effective time. Therefore, it is possible to produce a highly interesting performance in which the timing when the operation unit 10 enters the second state is not always the same. That is, unlike the conventional gaming machine, the timing at which the operating means 10 is in the second state is not only the timing of the above 1), so that it is possible to produce an effect that has a large impact on the player.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the difference between the first state and the second state of the operation means 10 is due to the presence or absence of “vibration” that is difficult to discriminate visually or auditorily. For example, if it can be visually or auditorily determined that the operating means 10 has changed from the first state to the second state, the player has been informed that the operating means 10 has changed before the operating means 10 is operated. Since it is grasped, the impact on the player may be reduced. In this embodiment, since the change of the state is realized by vibration, the operation is performed even though the operation means 10 is not operated. It is possible to increase the impact when the player recognizes that the means 10 vibrates.

  In addition, the change from the first state to the second state of the operation means 10 at the timings 1) to 3) may be a configuration in which all may occur, or a configuration in which any one may not occur. It may be. Further, when the operation means 10 is not operated even though the determination result is a big hit, it is notified that it is a big hit using the display device 91 or the like as it is. After the operation effective time elapses, the operation means 10 may be changed from the first state to the second state, or may remain in the first state. In the present embodiment, whether or not the determination result is a big hit is determined in advance regardless of whether or not the operation unit 10 is operated, and the determination result does not change depending on whether or not the operation unit 10 is operated.

[Another example of timing when the state of the operating means changes]
The timing at which the operating means 10 changes from the first state to the second state may be set to 4) when it is detected that the player has touched or approached the operating means 10. In this case, the operation means 10 is provided with a sensor 13 for detecting that a player (human body) has come into contact or approached (see FIG. 6). As this sensor 13, a known contact sensor or proximity sensor can be applied. If it is the operation means 10 in this embodiment, it will be provided in the "handle part" of the "sword" which the player who operates the operation means 10 touches with a hand. In this way, the operation effective time is set, and at the moment when the player who is going to operate the operation means 10 contacts or approaches the operation means 10, that is, the moment when the player touches the operation means 10, the operation means 10 Since the state changes to the second state, it is possible to produce an effect that has a large impact on the player.

[Relationship between the timing when the state of the operating means changes and the jackpot]
Compared to the case where the operating means 10 changes from the first state to the second state when the operating means 10 is operated, the operating means 10 is changed from the first state to the second state even though the operating means 10 is not operated. In the case of changing to the above, it is preferable that the probability that the profit to be subsequently given to the player is increased is set higher. In the present embodiment, since the operation means 10 is used as an effect to notify whether or not the determination result is a jackpot, the profit difference is a profit difference obtained by the jackpot.

  Examples of the profits obtained by the jackpot include the average number of game balls that can be obtained during the jackpot game (so-called average number of balls), and whether the gaming state becomes advantageous after the jackpot game ends. The advantageous gaming state includes a so-called probability variation state in which the probability of winning a jackpot rises, or a so-called time in which a gaming ball can frequently win a winning opening for determining whether or not a game ball is won. A shortened state can be exemplified.

  That is, when at least one of the timing 1) and 2) to 4) is set as the timing at which the operation means 10 changes from the first state to the second state, the player is determined based on the jackpot type. For this reason, it is configured such that a mode in which the operating means 10 is in the second state is more likely to occur at the timings 2) to 4) as the profit is larger. If it sets in this way, it can be set as the highly interesting production which the timing when the operation means 10 changed to the 2nd state, and the subsequent profit linked.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the operation unit 10 vibrates at any timing when the determination result is a big hit. However, it may be configured to vibrate when it is out of place. For example, simultaneously with the start of the operation effective time, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation effective time, when the operation means 10 vibrates when it is detected that the player has approached or touched the operation means 10, that is, When the operating means 10 vibrates even though the operating means 10 is not operated, if the operating means 10 vibrates before the operating means 10 is operated, the probability of a big hit increases, but the operating means 10 is operated. There may be a flow effect in which the vibration stops and the fact that the vibration is reported is reported. In other words, any configuration may be used as long as the operation means 10 may be in the second state when the operation effective time is set even though the operation means 10 is not operated.

  In the above embodiment, it has been described that the operation means 10 (vibration of the operation means 10) is used in a reach effect that informs whether or not it is a big hit, but may be used in other effects. . That is, the above-described technical idea can be applied to any production in which the operation effective time is set.

  The aspect of the operation means 10 in the said embodiment is an example. Any sensor may be used as long as it can change from the first state to the second state where a sensor for detecting the operation is provided and the difference can be recognized by the player's senses.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 10 Operation means 11 Vibration mechanism 13 (Detecting that the player approached or contacted) Sensor 20 Time display image

Claims (6)

An operation means operable by the player, which is changeable from the first state, which is a normal state, to a second state in which the player can recognize that the state is different from the first state;
In an effect in which an operation effective time in which the operation of the operation unit is effective is set, the operation unit is changed from the first state to the second state even if the operation unit is not operated within the operation effective time. State change means that may change;
A gaming machine comprising:   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the state changing means may change the operating means from the first state to the second state simultaneously with the start of the operation effective time.   3. The state change means may change the operation means from the first state to the second state when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation effective time. The gaming machine described in 1. The operation means is provided with a sensor for detecting that the player has contacted or approached the operation means,
The state change means changes the operation means from the first state to the second state when the sensor detects that the player has touched or approached the operation means within the operation effective time. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein there is a case.   Compared to the case where the operation means is changed from the first state to the second state when the operation means is operated, the operation means is within the operation effective time even though the operation means is not operated. 2. The system is set so that the probability that the profit given thereafter to the player increases is higher when the player changes from the first state to the second state. Item 5. The gaming machine according to any one of Items4.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the operation means in the second state is in a state of being vibrated so as to be recognized by a player's tactile sense.

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