JP2018102418A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of further enhancing game amusement.SOLUTION: As shown in (a), when variation performance is executed by an image display part 114, light emission performance is started by a movable body 52 at an origin point being sifted from a lights-out state to a lighting state. Then, when ready-to-win performance is started, at a scene shown in (b), to the image display part 114, an image (a rising image) of a flow rising from below to above is displayed, and thus an eye line of a player is directed upward. Moreover, at a scene shown in (c), the movable body 52 of a movable performance device 5 eventually rises to a maximum variable position while continuing light emission performance. By maintaining a height position of the movable body 52, performance suggesting that a possibility to shift to a state advantageous to the player is much higher is executed. The image display part 114 displays an image of a straight flow radially extending from above to below, a decorative symbol stops, and jackpot is notified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 42

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  In a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine, a production movable device having a movable body that performs a game production by moving is installed on a frame that is exposed to the outside, and the movable range of the game related area including the game area is The structure set so that it may reach the front surface of the transparent front frame provided over a front surface range is disclosed (for example, refer patent document 1).

JP 2010-246711 A

Here, it is possible to achieve a sense of unity by having a plurality of production devices take part of the production, but with the conventionally proposed configuration, it is sufficient to maintain the player's concentration, etc. It was difficult to achieve.
An object of this invention is to provide the gaming machine which can further improve the interest property of a game.

The present invention that achieves the above object is realized as the following gaming machine. This gaming machine is a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100) that performs an effect, and includes an effecting means (for example, an image display unit 114, a frame lamp 157) that performs a predetermined effect, and an accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position). ) And a movable body (for example, movable body 52) that is in a protruding state (for example, a movable position), and the rendering means (for example, the image display unit 114, the frame lamp 157) is the movable body (for example, the movable body). 52) is displayed when the accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position) is maintained when the accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position) is changed to the protruding state (for example, the state of the movable position). Is characterized in that the predetermined performance is performed in a different manner.
Here, the predetermined effect performed when the movable body (for example, the movable body 52) is in the protruding state (for example, the state of the movable position) is more than the player in the case of the accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position). It is easy to have a gorgeous impression.

  In addition, the said code | symbol in this column is attached | subjected illustratively in the description of this invention, and this invention is not reduced by this code | symbol.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game.

It is a schematic front view of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present embodiment. (A) is an enlarged view showing an example of a display device arranged at the lower left of the game board, (b) is a partial plan view of a pachinko gaming machine. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the control unit of the pachinko game machine of this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the image / sound control part and lamp | ramp control part of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the game control part of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the basic process by a game control part. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the process at the time of the power supply cutoff by a game control part. It is a flowchart which shows the main control processing of a game control part. It is a flowchart which shows the content of a start port switch process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the gate switch process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the special symbol process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the jackpot determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the fluctuation pattern selection process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process during a stop. It is a flowchart which shows the content of a customer waiting | standby setting process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of normal symbol processing. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the big prize opening process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the game state setting process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of an electric tulip process. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the random number used by this Embodiment, (a) is a figure which shows the structural example of jackpot random number, (b) is a figure which shows the structural example of jackpot symbol random number, (c ) Is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a reach random number, and (d) is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a hit random number. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting of the variation pattern used in a variation pattern selection process, and a table. It is a block diagram explaining the structural example of RAM of a game control part, (a) is a block diagram which shows the structure of a storage area, (b) is a block diagram which shows each structure of the memory | storage part shown to (a) It is. It is a block diagram explaining the structural example of RAM of an effect control part, (a) is a block diagram which shows the structure of a storage area, (b) is a block which shows each structure of the memory | storage part shown to (a) FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the prior determination process. It is a figure which shows the structure of a command, (a) is a figure which shows the data structure of a command, (b) is a figure which shows the structure as a bit string of a command. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the command storage area in RAM. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the output process by an output control part. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an effect control part, (a) is a figure which shows a main process, (b) is a figure which shows an interruption process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of command reception processing. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting of a mode flag. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the prior determination effect selection process of FIG. 26, and the effect selection process. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the process during completion | finish of the fluctuation effect of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the big hit effect selection process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the ending effect selection process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of the customer waiting command reception process of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the content of effect button processing. It is a figure explaining a movable production | presentation apparatus, (a) is a front view which shows the state which has a movable body in a movable position, (b) is a front view which shows the state in which a movable body is in an origin position. It is a figure explaining a movable production | presentation apparatus, (a) is a front view which shows the state which has a movable body in an accommodation position, (b) is explanatory drawing explaining the outline | summary of the moving mechanism which moves a movable body. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the 1st moving mechanism of a moving mechanism. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly state of the 1st moving mechanism of a moving mechanism. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the 2nd moving mechanism of a moving mechanism. It is a rear view of the movable production | presentation apparatus explaining the 2nd moving mechanism of a moving mechanism, (a) shows the case of an origin position thru | or a movable position, (b) shows the case of an accommodation position. It is a flowchart explaining the initial operation control in the movable effect device. It is a time chart explaining control of the movable production | presentation apparatus and movable accessory in initial stage, (a) shows the case where a movable production | presentation apparatus is normal, (b) shows the case where a movable production | presentation apparatus is not normal. It is a figure explaining the 1st production which a movable production device cooperates with an image display part, and shows a characteristic scene in order of (a), (b), and (c). It is a figure explaining the 2nd production in which a movable production device cooperates with an image display part, and shows a characteristic scene in order of (a), (b), and (c). It is a figure explaining the 3rd production which a movable production device cooperates with an image display part, and shows a characteristic scene in order of (a), (b), and (c).

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Basic configuration of gaming machine]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment.
A pachinko gaming machine 100 as an example of the gaming machine shown in FIG. 1 is configured to pay out a prize ball when a gaming ball launched by an instruction operation by a player wins. The pachinko gaming machine 100 includes a game board 110 on which game balls are launched, and a frame member 150 that surrounds the game board 110. The game board 110 is detachably attached to the frame member 150.

The game board 110 has, on the front, a game area 111 for playing with a game ball, a rail member 112 that forms a passage where a game ball launched from below rises toward the upper position of the game area 111, and a game A guide member 113 for guiding the game ball is provided on the right side of the region 111.
In the present embodiment, an image display unit 114 that displays various images for production is provided at a position of the game area 111 that is easily visible to the player. The image display unit 114 includes a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, and displays a decorative symbol for notifying the player of a symbol lottery result (symbol variation result), for example, as the game progresses by the player. An effect image by the appearance of a character or the appearance of an item or an effect image using a later-described hold display is displayed.
In addition, a movable accessory 115 and a board lamp 116 used for various effects are provided on the front surface of the game board 110. The movable accessory 115 performs various effects by operating on the game board 110, and the board lamp 116 performs various effects by emitting light.
In addition, the frame member 150 includes a movable effect device 5 used for various effects.

  In the game area 111, a game nail and a windmill (not shown) for changing the direction in which the game ball falls are arranged. Further, in the game area 111, various bonuses relating to winning and lottery are arranged at predetermined positions. In addition, the game area 111 is provided with a discharge port 117 through which game balls launched into the game area 111 that have not been won in the winning area are discharged out of the game area 111.

  In the present embodiment, as various functions related to winning and lottery, a special symbol lottery (a jackpot lottery) starts when a game ball wins, and it is normal when a game ball passes. A start gate (hereinafter simply referred to as a gate) 124 for starting a symbol lottery (open / close lottery) is disposed on the game board 110. In FIG. 1, the gates 124 are provided on the left and right sides of the game area 111, the left gate 124 is indicated as 124L, and the right gate 124 is indicated as 124R. Moreover, the 1st starting port 121 and the 2nd starting port 122 here say the winning opening used as the operation opportunity of the predetermined 1 special symbol display. Specifically, the first start port 121 and the second start port 122 are provided with switches (a first start port switch 211 and a second start port switch 212 described later) that detect the passage of a game ball when winning a prize. It has been. And when a game ball wins the 1st starting port 121 or the 2nd starting port 122, this switch will detect the passage of a gaming ball as an opportunity to operate a special symbol display.

  The second start port 122 includes an electric tulip (opening / closing member) 123 as a normal electric accessory that is turned on and off by a pair of blades in the shape of tulip flowers that are opened and closed by an electric solenoid. In the electric tulip 123, when the blade is closed, it is difficult for the game ball to enter the second start port 122, but when the blade is opened, the entrance of the second start port 122 is expanded and the game ball is moved to the second start port 122. It is configured to be easy to enter. When the electric tulip 123 wins the normal symbol lottery, the blade opens for a specified time (for example, 0.15 to 1.8 seconds) and for a specified number of times (for example, 1 to 3 times) while lighting or blinking.

The pachinko gaming machine 100 has, as gaming states, a low probability state with a low winning probability and a high probability state with a higher winning probability than the low probability state based on the winning probability of the jackpot lottery. Then, the state is controlled to be either a low probability state or a high probability state based on a predetermined condition. In addition to the low probability state and the high probability state, it is possible to set a medium probability state in which the winning probability of the special symbol lottery is higher than the low probability state and lower than the high probability state. In this case, the pachinko gaming machine 100 is controlled to one of a low probability state, a medium probability state, and a high probability state based on a predetermined condition.
Further, the pachinko gaming machine 100 has a short time state where there are few winning opportunities at the second start port 122 and a short state when there are more winning opportunities at the second start port 122 than in the short time state. Then, under a predetermined condition, the state is controlled to either the timeless state or the timeless state. The short-time state is, for example, any one of shortening the special symbol variation time and the normal symbol variation time, extending the opening time of the electric tulip 123, and increasing the probability of winning the normal symbol lottery. A gaming state controlled by one or more combinations.

Also, in this embodiment, as other prizes and lottery items, a lottery is performed even if a game ball wins a grand prize opening 125 as a special electric bonus that opens according to the result of the special symbol lottery. An ordinary winning opening 126 that is not present is arranged on the game board 110. The big prize opening 125 is provided with a big prize opening door 125D for opening and closing the big prize opening 125. In the following description, the opening / closing state and the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening door 125D may be described as the opening / closing state and the opening / closing operation of the special winning opening 125 for convenience.
In the present embodiment, a display 130 for displaying a lottery result and the number of holds is arranged at the lower left position of the game board 110.

  Also, on the back side of the game board 110, a game control board that determines whether or not a special symbol is won, an effect control board that comprehensively controls effects, an image control board that controls effects by images and sounds, various lamps, Various substrates (not shown) such as a lamp control substrate for controlling the effect by the movable accessory 115 are attached. In addition, a switching power supply (not shown) that converts the supplied 24V AC power source into a DC power source and outputs it to various boards and the like is disposed on the back surface of the game board 110.

When the player touches the handle 151 and rotates the lever 152 in the clockwise direction, the frame member 150 moves the game ball at a predetermined time interval (for example, 100 per minute) with a hitting force according to the operation angle. And a launching device (not shown) for electrically firing. In addition, the frame member 150 includes a supply device (not shown) that sequentially supplies game balls to the launching device one by one at a timing in conjunction with the operation of the player's lever 152, and a game ball that the supply device supplies to the launching device. And a plate 153 for temporarily storing. For example, a payout ball by a payout unit is paid out to the plate 153.
In the present embodiment, the plate 153 is configured as an integrated upper and lower plate, but a configuration example in which the upper plate and the lower plate are separated is also conceivable. A configuration example in which the handle 151 of the launching device emits light under a predetermined condition is also conceivable.

The frame member 150 also includes a stop button 154 for temporarily stopping the launch of the game ball even when the player is touching the handle 151 of the launch device, and a game ball stored in the tray 153. A take-out button 155 for dropping and taking out the box (not shown).
Further, the frame member 150 includes a speaker 156 and a frame lamp 157 for notifying the gaming state and situation of the pachinko gaming machine 100 and performing various effects. The speaker 156 performs various effects using music, voice, and sound effects. The frame lamp 157 is composed of a light emitting body such as an LED, and performs various effects by light depending on a pattern due to lighting and blinking, a difference in emission color, and the like. In addition, about the frame lamp | ramp 157, the structural example which enables it to perform the effect which changes the irradiation direction of light can be considered.
The frame member 150 also includes a transparent plate (not shown) for separating the game board 110 from the player.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 2B is a partial plan view of the pachinko gaming machine 100.
As shown in FIG. 2A, the display 130 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 receives a first special symbol display 221 that operates in response to winning of the first starting port 121 and a winning of the second starting port 122. A second special symbol display 222 that operates correspondingly and a normal symbol display 223 that operates corresponding to the passage of the gate 124 are provided. The first special symbol display unit 221 displays the lottery result by stopping and displaying the special symbol based on the winning of the first start port 121 after variably displaying. The second special symbol display 222 displays the lottery result by stopping and displaying the special symbol based on the winning of the second start port 122 after variably displaying. Based on the fact that the game ball has passed through the gate 124, the normal symbol display unit 223 displays the lottery result by stopping and displaying the normal symbol after being variably displayed. In the present embodiment, the first special symbol display 221 and the second special symbol display 222 are each constituted by a display device in which LEDs are arranged, and the lottery result of the special symbol lottery is displayed according to the lighting mode. Similarly, the normal symbol display 223 is also composed of a display device in which LEDs are arranged, and the lottery result of the normal symbol lottery is displayed according to the lighting mode.

  In addition, the indicator 130 operates in response to the hold in the first special symbol display 221 and the first special symbol hold indicator 218 that operates corresponding to the hold in the first special symbol display 221 and the second special symbol display 222. 2 a special symbol hold indicator 219 and a normal symbol hold indicator 220 that operates in response to the hold in the normal symbol indicator 223. In the present embodiment, the first special symbol hold indicator 218, the second special symbol hold indicator 219, and the normal symbol hold indicator 220 are each configured by a display device in which LEDs are arranged, and the number of holds is determined depending on the lighting mode. Is displayed.

Here, the hold will be described. If a game ball wins in the first start port 121 or the second start port 122 during the special symbol change display operation (while the change display for one win is being performed), the special symbol is changing. In addition, the special symbol variation display operation based on the subsequent winning cannot be started. Therefore, the number of subsequent winnings is memorized up to a specified number (for example, 4), and the right to start a special symbol for the winning game ball is until the variable display operation for the previously winning game ball ends. Deferred.
For normal symbols, the same processing as for special symbols is performed. The fact that such a hold has been made and the number of hold (unchanged number) are displayed on the first special symbol hold indicator 218, the second special symbol hold indicator 219 and the normal symbol hold indicator 220.

  Furthermore, the display device 130 includes a state display device 224 that displays the state of the pachinko gaming machine 100. In the present embodiment, the status indicator 224 is configured by a display device in which three LEDs are arranged. One of the three LEDs notifies whether or not the state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in a high probability state where the winning probability of the special symbol lottery is high. The other one is to notify by lighting whether the state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in a short time state in which it is easy to win a prize at the second start port 122. Still another one is to notify by lighting whether or not the player is in a state advantageous to the player by making a right strike (by changing the hitting force of the game ball).

  The state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 displayed by the state display 224 is not limited to the above example, and other states can be displayed. For example, when the state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is set to a medium probability state in which the winning probability is higher than the low probability state and the winning probability is lower than the high probability state, the state indicator 224 indicates whether or not the state indicator 224 is in the medium probability state. May be notified by lighting.

  In addition, the indicator 130 includes a round number indicator 225 for displaying the number of rounds when the big winning opening 125 is operated in the jackpot game performed according to the lottery result of the special symbol lottery. The jackpot game will be described later. The round number display 225 is configured by a display device in which LEDs are arranged, and the number of operating rounds of the big winning opening 125 in the jackpot game is displayed according to the lighting mode.

  The frame member 150 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 includes an input device for a player to input an effect. As shown in FIG. 2B, in the present embodiment, as an example of an input device, an effect button 161, an effect key 162 that is adjacent to the effect button 161 and includes a plurality of keys arranged in a substantially cross shape, Is disposed on the frame member 150. In the example shown in the figure, a case is considered where an effect of accepting an operation of selecting one image from a plurality of images is performed. In this case, for example, when the player operates an effect key 162 including four keys arranged in a cross, one of a plurality of images displayed on the image display unit 114 is instructed, and the effect button 161 is pressed. By performing the operation, it is possible to produce an effect of selecting the instructed image. In addition to the effect buttons 161 and the effect keys 162 shown in the figure, various input forms such as levers, dials, and the like can be adopted as the input device.

[Configuration of control unit]
Next, a control unit that performs operation control and signal processing in the pachinko gaming machine 100 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the control unit of the pachinko gaming machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the image / sound control unit and the lamp control unit of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit includes a game control unit 200 that determines whether a special symbol is won or the like as main control means. In addition, as the sub-control means, an effect control unit 300 that comprehensively controls the effect and a payout control unit 330 that controls payout of the payout ball are provided.

[Configuration and function of game control unit]
The game control unit 200 is used as a CPU 201 that performs arithmetic processing when determining whether or not to win a special symbol, a ROM 202 that stores programs executed by the CPU 201, various data, and the like, a working memory of the CPU 201, and the like. RAM 203 to be provided.

  The game control unit 200 controls the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 in either a high probability state or a low probability state, a time-short state or a time-short state. As a result, the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is a high probability state and a short time state, a high probability short time gaming state, a low probability state and a short time state, low probability short time gaming state, a high probability state, and a short time short state. It is one of a short-probability state with no probability, a low-probability state, and a short-probability state with a low probability. Then, the game control unit 200 switches between the high probability state and the low probability state based on a predetermined condition, and switches between the short time state and the short time state. In addition, the game control unit 200 performs control such as increasing the probability of winning the normal symbol lottery in the short time state, shortening the normal symbol variation time, and extending the opening time of the electric tulip 123 in the short time state. I do.

  The game control unit 200 performs a special symbol lottery when the game ball is won at the first start port 121 or the second start port 122. Then, a special game such as a jackpot game is performed according to the determination result of the special symbol lottery. In the special game, the game control unit 200 performs a predetermined number of rounds that maintain an open state until the special winning opening 125, which is a special electric accessory, satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, 29.5 seconds have passed or 10 game balls have been won). Control to repeat only. And the game control part 200 controls the opening / closing operation | movement space | interval at the time of the special winning opening 125 opening.

In addition, the game control unit 200 performs a normal symbol lottery when the game ball passes through the gate 124. And the action | operation of an electric tulip is controlled according to the determination result of a normal symbol lottery.
In addition, the game control unit 200 holds the game ball when the game ball wins the first start port 121 or the second start port 122 during the special symbol change, or the game ball passes the gate 124 during the normal symbol change. Set the hold that occurs.
Further, the game control unit 200 accompanies the game control such as the determination result of the special symbol lottery and the normal symbol lottery, the change information of the high probability state and the low probability state, the change information of the time short state and the short time state, the setting information of the hold, etc. Information is sent to the production control unit 300 by a command to be described later.

Further, when the game ball is won in the first start port 121, the second start port 122, the big winning port 125, and the normal winning port 126, the game control unit 200 per game ball according to the place where the game ball has won. The payout control unit 330 is instructed to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls. For example, when a game ball wins at the first start port 121, three prize balls, when a game ball wins at the second start port 122, four prize balls, and when a game ball wins the big prize port 125, thirteen prizes. When a game ball wins the ball, the normal winning opening 126, an instruction command (command) is sent to the payout control unit 330 so as to pay out 10 prize balls. Even if it is detected that the game ball has passed through the gate 124, the payout control unit 330 is not instructed to pay out the prize ball in conjunction with it.
When the payout control unit 330 pays out a prize ball in accordance with an instruction from the game control unit 200, the game control unit 200 acquires information on the number of prize balls paid out from the payout control unit 330. As a result, the number of prize balls paid out is managed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the game control unit 200 includes a first start port detection unit (first start port switch (SW)) 211 that detects a winning of a game ball to the first start port 121, as shown in FIG. , A second start port detection unit (second start port switch (SW)) 212 that detects a winning of a game ball to the second start port 122, an electric tulip opening / closing unit 213 that opens and closes the electric tulip 123, and the gate 124. A gate detection unit (gate switch (SW)) 214 for detecting the passage of the game ball is connected.
Furthermore, the game control unit 200 includes a grand prize opening detection unit (large prize opening switch (SW)) 215 that detects the winning of a game ball to the big prize opening 125 and a big prize opening door 125D of the big prize opening 125. A large winning opening door opening / closing unit 216 set to a closed state and an open state with a projecting slope, and a normal winning port detecting unit (normal winning port switch (SW)) 217 for detecting the winning of a game ball to the normal winning port 126, , Is connected.

In addition, the game control unit 200 includes a first special symbol hold indicator 218 for displaying the number of unreserved reserves won in the first start port 121 during the change of the special symbol, and the second special symbol hold indicator 218 during the change of the special symbol. A second special symbol hold indicator 219 that displays the number of unchanged reserves that have been won at the start port 122, and a normal symbol hold indicator that displays the number of unchanged symbols that have passed through the gate 124 while the normal symbol is changing. 220 are connected.
Further, the game control unit 200 includes a first special symbol display 221 for displaying a special symbol variation display and a special symbol lottery result performed by winning a game ball in the first starting port 121, and a second starting port. The second special symbol display 222 that displays the result of the special symbol variation display and special symbol lottery performed by winning the game ball to 122, and the normal symbol display that displays the normal symbol variation display and the normal symbol lottery result A device 223 and a state indicator 224 for displaying the state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 are connected.

  Then, detection signals detected by the first start port switch 211, the second start port switch 212, the gate switch 214, the big winning port switch 215 and the normal winning port switch 217 are sent to the game control unit 200. In addition, the control signal from the game control unit 200 includes an electric tulip opening / closing unit 213, a prize winning door opening / closing unit 216, a first special symbol hold indicator 218, a second special symbol hold indicator 219, and a normal symbol hold indicator 220. The first special symbol display 221, the second special symbol display 222, the normal symbol display 223, and the status display 224. Thereby, the game control unit 200 performs various controls related to the number of payout prize balls.

  Further, a board external information terminal board 350 for transmitting various information to a host computer (not shown) installed in the hall is connected to the game control unit 200. Then, the game control unit 200 transmits the information about the number of paid-out prize balls acquired from the payout control unit 330 and the information indicating the state of the game control unit 200 to the host computer via the board external information terminal board 350. To do.

[Configuration and function of payout control unit]
The payout control unit 330 is a CPU 331 that performs arithmetic processing when controlling payout of payout balls, a ROM 332 that stores programs executed by the CPU 331, various data, and the like, and a RAM 333 that is used as a work memory of the CPU 331. And.
The payout control unit 330 controls payout of the payout ball based on the command sent from the game control unit 200.
Specifically, the payout control unit 330 acquires, from the game control unit 200, a command for paying out a predetermined number of prize balls according to the place where the game ball has won (the first start port 121 or the like). Then, the payout driving unit 334 is controlled so as to pay out the number of prize balls specified by the command. Here, the payout drive unit 334 is constituted by a drive motor that sends out the game ball from the game ball storage unit.

The payout control unit 330 includes a payout ball detection unit 335 that detects the number of prize balls actually paid out from the game ball storage unit by the payout driving unit 334, and a game ball in the storage unit (not shown). Detecting unit 336 for detecting presence / absence of storage of the game, and detecting whether or not the plate 153 for holding the game ball used when the player plays the game or the paid-out prize ball is full. A full tank detection unit 337 is connected. The payout control unit 330 receives the detection signals detected by the payout ball detection unit 335, the ball presence detection unit 336, and the full tank detection unit 337, and performs a predetermined process according to these detection signals.
Further, a frame external information terminal board 340 that transmits various types of information to the host computer installed in the hall is connected to the payout control unit 330. Then, the payout control unit 330, for example, information on the number of prize balls instructed to pay out to the payout driving unit 334, information on the number of prize balls actually paid out detected by the payout ball detection unit 335, etc. Is transmitted to the host computer via the frame external information terminal board 340. Also, similar information is transmitted to the game control unit 200.

[Configuration and function of production control unit]
The effect control unit 300 includes a CPU 301 that performs calculation processing when controlling the effect, a ROM 302 that stores programs executed by the CPU 301 and various data, a RAM 303 that is used as a work memory of the CPU 301, and the like. And a real-time clock (RTC) 304 for measuring.
The effect control unit 300 sets the contents of the effect, for example, based on the determination result of whether or not the winning in the special symbol lottery sent from the game control unit 200 and the variation pattern. At that time, in response to an operation input from the user using the effect button 161 or the effect key 162, the effect content corresponding to the operation input may be set. In this case, for example, a signal (operation signal) corresponding to an operation is received from a controller (not shown) such as the effect button 161, and the operation content identified by the operation signal is reflected in the setting of the effect.
In addition, when the game is interrupted for a predetermined period, the effect control unit 300 instructs the setting of the screen display for waiting for a customer as one of the effects.
Furthermore, the production control unit 300 sets the production content based on the change information of the high probability state and the low probability state received from the game control unit 200, and the change information of the short time state and the short time state.
Further, the effect control unit 300 sends a command for instructing execution of the set effect contents to the image / sound control unit 310 and the lamp control unit 320.

  Furthermore, the effect control unit 300 is connected to an image / sound control unit 310 that controls an effect using an image and sound, and a lamp control unit 320 that controls an effect using various lamps and the movable accessory 115. Has been.

[Configuration / Function of Image / Sound Control Unit]
As shown in FIG. 4, the image / sound control unit 310 stores an image that expresses the contents of presentation and a CPU 311 that performs arithmetic processing when controlling sound, a program executed by the CPU 311, various data, and the like. A ROM 312, a RAM 313 used as a working memory for the CPU 311, a VDP (Video Display Processor) 314, a CGROM 315, and an SNDROM 316 are provided.

Then, the image / sound control unit 310 controls the image displayed on the image display unit 114 and the sound output from the speaker 156 based on the command sent from the effect control unit 300.
Specifically, in the CGROM 315, a symbol image or background image displayed during the game on the image display unit 114, a decorative symbol for notifying the player of the lottery result, and a character for displaying a pre-determination effect to the player Image data such as items and items are stored. The SNDROM 316 stores various types of acoustic data such as music and sound output from the speaker 156 in synchronization with the image data or independently of the image data, and sound effects such as jingles.
The CPU 311 performs analysis of the animation pattern, creation of a display list in which commands related to drawing are created, transmission of the display list to the VDP 314, and the like based on the hold number command or the variable effect start command sent from the effect control unit 300. Do.

Based on the display list received from the CPU 311, the VDP 314 reads image data and acoustic data stored in the CGROM 315 and SNDROM 316, respectively. Furthermore, the VDP 314 performs drawing processing for background image display, symbol image display, symbol image variation, character / item display, and the like, and audio processing using the read acoustic data, using the read image data. . The VDP 314 controls screen display on the image display unit 114 based on the image data subjected to the drawing process. The VDP 314 controls the sound output from the speaker 156 based on the sound data that has been subjected to sound processing.
In the present embodiment, the VDP 314 is configured to perform audio processing in addition to the drawing processing.

[Configuration and function of lamp control unit]
The lamp control unit 320 is a CPU 321 that performs arithmetic processing when controlling the light emission of the panel lamp 116 and the frame lamp 157, the operation of the movable accessory 115, the operation of the movable effect device 5, and the like, and a program executed by the CPU 321 And a ROM 322 storing various data and the like, and a RAM 323 used as a working memory for the CPU 321 and the like.
The lamp control unit 320 controls lighting / flashing of the panel lamp 116 and the frame lamp 157, the emission color, and the like based on the command sent from the effect control unit 300. Further, the operation of the movable accessory 115 and the movable effect device 5 is controlled.

Specifically, the ROM 322 of the lamp control unit 320 stores lighting / flashing pattern data and emission color pattern data (emission pattern) for the panel lamp 116 and the frame lamp 157 according to the production contents set by the production control unit 300. Data) is stored. The CPU 321 selects and reads out the light emission pattern data stored in the ROM 322 corresponding to the command sent from the effect control unit 300. The lamp controller 320 controls the light emission of the panel lamp 116 and the frame lamp 157 based on the read light emission pattern data.
In addition, the ROM 322 of the lamp control unit 320 stores the movable accessory 115 and the operation pattern data of the movable effect device 5 according to the effect contents set by the effect control unit 300. The CPU 321 controls the operation of the movable accessory 115 and the movable effect device 5 based on the read operation pattern data.

  In the present embodiment, game control unit 200, effect control unit 300, image / sound control unit 310, lamp control unit 320, and payout control unit 330 are each a main board disposed on the rear surface of game board 110. The game control board, the effect control board as the sub board, the image control board, the lamp control board, and the payout control board are individually configured.

[Functional configuration of game control unit]
Next, the functional configuration of the game control unit 200 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the game control unit 200. As shown in FIG. 5, the game control unit 200 includes a random number acquisition unit 231, a normal symbol determination unit 232, a special symbol variation control unit 233, and a special symbol determination unit 234 as functional units that execute various lottery processes. And a normal symbol fluctuation control unit 236.
In addition, the game control unit 200 includes a variation pattern selection unit 235 as a functional unit that executes a process associated with special symbol variation.
In addition, the game control unit 200 is a function unit that executes operation control of various types of objects and data processing related to a prize ball, etc. As a function unit, a prize winning opening operation control unit 237, an electric tulip operation control unit 238, and a prize ball processing unit 239 are provided. And an output control unit 240 and a random number control unit 241.

The random number acquisition unit 231 acquires a random number value used for the special symbol lottery and a random value used for the normal symbol lottery. In the case of a random number value used for the special symbol lottery, specifically, on the condition that a game ball has won a prize at the first starting port 121 or the second starting port 122, a numerical value within a predetermined range for each type of random number. One numerical value (random number value) is selected (obtained) from the inside. The acquired random number value is used for determination by the special symbol determination unit 234. As will be described in detail later, the random numbers used in the special symbol lottery include a jackpot random number indicating whether or not the jackpot, a symbol random number indicating the type of jackpot, a variation pattern random number, a reach random number, and the like.
Further, in the case of a random number value used in the normal symbol lottery, specifically, one numerical value (random number value) is selected (obtained) from a predetermined range of values on the condition that the game ball has passed through the gate 124. ) The acquired random number value is used for determination by the normal symbol determination unit 232. In addition, as a random number used for the normal symbol lottery, a symbol random number indicating a winning type, a variation pattern random number, or the like may be set in addition to a winning random number indicating whether or not the winning is made.
When the special symbol lottery is performed, the special symbol fluctuation control unit 233 controls the fluctuation of the special symbol in the first special symbol indicator 221 or the second special symbol indicator 222 according to the lottery result.

  The special symbol determination unit 234 uses a random number table as shown in FIG. 20 at the start of the variation of the special symbol, and determines whether the lottery result of the special symbol lottery is “hit or not”, "," Whether it is a small hit or not when a big win is not won "is determined. That is, the random number acquisition unit 231 acquires a random number value related to a special symbol when the first starting port switch 211 or the second starting port switch 212 serving as a detection unit detects passage of a game ball, and determines a special symbol. The unit 234 determines based on the acquired random number value whether or not to play a special game (such as a big hit game) advantageous to the player. The special symbol lottery (big hit lottery) described above refers to processing in the random number acquisition unit 231 and the special symbol determination unit 234.

  Here, the “hit” is divided into a plurality of types according to the gaming state that occurs after the end of the jackpot game. Specifically, the type of jackpot is determined depending on the combination of the short-time state or the short-time state and the high-probability state or the low-probability state. That is, the types of jackpots based on the gaming state that occurs after the end of the jackpot game are the jackpots that become the short game state with a high probability after the jackpot game ends (hereinafter, the jackpot of the short game state with a high probability), the short game state with a low probability Jackpot to become a jackpot (hereinafter referred to as a jackpot of a low probability short game state), a jackpot to be a high probability short gameless state (hereinafter a jackpot of a high probability short gameless state), a jackpot to become a low probability short gameless state (hereinafter low) There is a possibility of a jackpot of probable short gameless state). Each of these jackpots is associated with an individual special symbol, and the type of jackpot is determined according to the type of special symbol won in the special symbol lottery.

  In addition, the “hit” may be divided into a jackpot that can be expected to pay out a large amount of game balls for a long time, and a jackpot that can hardly be expected to be paid out. The former is called “long hit” and the latter is called “short hit”. For example, in “long win”, a round that is maintained until the open state of the grand prize opening 125 satisfies a predetermined condition (for example, 29.5 seconds have passed or 10 game balls have been won) is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 15 times). It is. In the “short win”, a round in which the special winning opening 125 is opened for a certain time (for example, 0.1 second) is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 15 times).

In addition, in the case of “small winning” when the big winning is not won, for example, a small winning game is performed in which the big winning opening 125 is opened for a predetermined number of times (for example, 15 times) for 0.1 seconds. At the time of winning the small hit, the game state before the small win is continued even after the small hit game is completed. That is, when the game state at the time of winning the small hit is the high probability short game state, the high probability short time gaming state is continued even after the small hit game ends, and the gaming state does not shift. Similarly, when the game state at the time of winning the small hit is the low probability short-time non-game state, the low-probability short short no-game state is continued even after the small hit game ends, and the game state does not shift.
Further, “small hit” is a kind of “out of game”, and none of the above gaming states that are advantageous to the player is set.

The variation pattern selection unit 235 selects a variation pattern (variation time) of a special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display 221 or the second special symbol display 222. Specifically, the variation pattern selection unit 235 determines a variation pattern based on a determination result whether or not to play a jackpot game, a determination result whether or not to reach, and the like. Then, based on the variation pattern selected by the variation pattern selection unit 235, the special symbol variation control unit 233 controls the variation of the special symbol. Details of operations of the fluctuation pattern selection unit 235 and the special symbol fluctuation control unit 233 will be described later.
Here, “reach” is an effect for causing a player to expect a big hit in a decorative pattern to be described later.

The normal symbol determination unit 232 determines whether or not the lottery result of the normal symbol is “winning” using a random number table as shown in FIG. That is, the normal symbol determination unit 232 determines whether or not to perform an auxiliary game that opens and closes the electric tulip 123 based on the random number value for normal symbol lottery acquired by the random number acquisition unit 231. When a plurality of types of winning are set in the normal symbol lottery, the normal symbol determining unit 232 determines “winning type” when the determination result is winning. The normal symbol lottery is a process performed by the random number acquisition unit 231 and the normal symbol determination unit 232.
When the normal symbol lottery is performed, the normal symbol fluctuation control unit 236 controls the fluctuation of the normal symbol by the normal symbol display unit 223 according to the lottery result.
The electric tulip movement control unit 238 opens the electric tulip 123 for a predetermined time and a predetermined number of times when the normal symbol determination unit 232 determines “winning” in the normal symbol lottery, and a game ball is placed at the second start port 122. Generate a state that makes it easy to win. Further, when it is determined as “displacement”, such an open state of the electric tulip 123 is not generated.

When the special symbol determination unit 234 determines that it is a “big hit” in the special symbol lottery, the big winning mouth operation control unit 237 uses the operation pattern specified based on the type of the winning jackpot as the jackpot game. The opening operation of 125 is controlled. Further, the special winning opening operation control unit 237 opens the special winning opening 125 as a small winning game for a specified time and a predetermined number of times when the special symbol determining unit 234 determines “small winning” in the special symbol lottery. .
The prize ball processing unit 239 sets commands for controlling the number of prizes received for various types of winning-related items and lottery, and for controlling the payout of prize balls according to the prizes.
The output control unit 240 controls the output of control commands from the game control unit 200 to the effect control unit 300 and the payout control unit 330.
The random number control unit 241 updates various random number values that the random number acquisition unit 231 acquires at a predetermined timing.

[Basic operation of gaming machine]
Next, the basic operation of the pachinko gaming machine 100 will be described.
When the power is turned on, the game control unit 200 of the pachinko gaming machine 100 performs initialization and initial setting of various devices as a basic process at the time of activation. And after performing a basic process, the game control part 200 repeatedly performs the main control process which is a series of processes regarding progress of a game. In addition, when the power is shut off, the game control unit 200 executes a series of power-off processing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the basic processing performed by the game control unit 200.
When the power of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is turned on, the game control unit 200 first permits access to the RAM 203 (see FIG. 3) (step (hereinafter, “step” will be referred to as “S”) 601). Then, the game control unit 200 determines whether or not a RAM clear switch for clearing the RAM 203 is ON (S602).
When the RAM clear switch is OFF (No in S602), the game control unit 200 next determines whether or not the backup flag related to the operation at the time of power-off is ON (S603).
If the backup flag is ON (Yes in S603), the game control unit 200 next determines whether the checksum created when the power is turned off is normal (S604).
If the checksum is normal (Yes in S604), the game control unit 200 next executes a return process (S605). In this return process, the game control unit 200 performs setting of the sub-control means such as the effect control unit 300 accompanying the return from the state where the power is cut off. Specifically, the game control unit 200 determines the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 when the power is cut off (whether it is a big hit game, either a high probability state or a low probability state, a short time state and a short time state) The command for setting the sub-control means is output to the effect control unit 300 so that any one of them is reflected. In this return process, the game control unit 200 turns off the backup flag.

  On the other hand, if the RAM clear switch is ON (Yes in S602), the backup flag is OFF (No in S603), and the checksum is abnormal (No in S604), then the game control unit 200 is initialized. As processing, the stored contents of the RAM 203 are cleared (S606), and the work area of the RAM 203 is set (S607). Then, the game control unit 200 outputs a command for setting (initializing) the sub control means to the effect control unit 300, and sets the sub board (sub control means) (S608). The setting of the sub board includes clearing the RAM 303, RAM 313, and RAM 323 mounted on each sub board.

After the return process (see S605) is completed or after the setting of the sub-board (see S608) is completed, the game control unit 200 sets various counters and timers used for game control (S609). Then, the game control unit 200 determines whether or not the interrupt permission (S610), the interrupt prohibition (S611), the symbol random number control process (S612), the initial value random number update process (S613), and the power cutoff flag are ON. (S614) is repeatedly executed as a loop process.
Here, interrupt enable (S610) and interrupt disable (S611) are provided to enable execution of interrupt processing during execution of the loop processing (S610 to S614). In the present embodiment, main control processing in game control is executed by this interrupt processing. Details of the main control process will be described later.
In the symbol random number control process (S612), the game control unit 200 updates the variation pattern random number used in the special symbol lottery.
In the initial value random number update process (S613), the game control unit 200 updates initial values of various random values used in the game control.
In the determination of the power cut-off flag, if the power cut-off flag is OFF (No in S614), the power of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is not cut off, and the game control unit 200 performs main control by interruption together with the loop processing (S610 to S614). Repeat the process. On the other hand, when the power shut-off flag is ON (Yes in S614), the game control unit 200 starts a process for shutting off the power of the pachinko gaming machine 100 (power shut-off process).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of power-off processing performed by the game control unit 200.
In the power-off process, the game control unit 200 first clears the setting of the output port for performing various outputs (S701). Next, the game control unit 200 creates a checksum and stores it in the RAM 203 (S702). Next, the game control unit 200 turns on the backup flag (S703), prohibits access to the RAM 203 (S704), and shifts to an infinite loop.

[Main control processing of gaming machines]
Next, main control processing of the pachinko gaming machine 100 will be described.
In the main control process, the game control unit 200 controls the game in the pachinko gaming machine 100, instructs the effect control unit 300, which is a sub-control means, to control the effect, and gives a prize ball to the payout control unit 330. Instructs payout control.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing main control processing of the game control unit 200.
The main control process includes a series of processes in game control, and is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals (for example, 4 milliseconds). In the present embodiment, the game control unit 200 generates an interrupt every predetermined time set in advance, and when the interrupt is permitted in the loop process shown in FIG. 6 (see S610), the main control is performed as the interrupt process. Execute the process. As shown in FIG. 8, in the main control process, a random number update process, a switch process, a symbol process, an electric accessory process, a prize ball process, and an output process are sequentially executed (S801 to S806).

  In the random number update process (S801), the game control unit 200 calls a function (subroutine) of the random number control unit 241, and updates various random number values used in the game control by the game control unit 200. Details of the setting of the random number and the update of the random value will be described later.

As the switch process (S802), a start port switch process and a gate switch process are performed.
In the start port switch process, the game control unit 200 calls the function (subroutine) of the random number acquisition unit 231, monitors the states of the first start port switch 211 and the second start port switch 212 in FIG. If this happens, a special symbol lottery process is executed. In addition, as will be described in detail later, when pre-determination processing is performed in the first start port switch 211 and the second start port switch 212, each function (subroutine) of the special symbol determination unit 234 and the variation pattern selection unit 235 is called, Execute processing for pre-determination.
In the gate switch process, the game control unit 200 calls the function (subroutine) of the random number acquisition unit 231 to monitor the state of the gate switch 214 in FIG. 3, and when the switch is turned on, for the normal symbol lottery. Execute the process.
The detailed contents of these switch processes will be described later.

As the symbol processing (S803), special symbol processing and normal symbol processing are performed.
In the special symbol process, the game control unit 200 calls the functions (subroutines) of the special symbol variation control unit 233, the special symbol determination unit 234, and the variation pattern selection unit 235, and executes the special symbol variation and the process associated with this symbol variation. To do.
In the normal symbol process, the game control unit 200 calls the functions (subroutines) of the normal symbol determination unit 232 and the normal symbol variation control unit 236, and executes the normal symbol variation and the process associated with this symbol variation.
The detailed contents of these symbol processes will be described later.

As the electric accessory process (S804), a big prize opening process and an electric tulip process are performed.
In the special prize opening process, the game control unit 200 calls a function (subroutine) of the special prize opening operation control unit 237 and controls the opening operation of the special prize opening 125 that is a special electric accessory based on a predetermined condition.
In the electric tulip process, the game control unit 200 calls the function (subroutine) of the electric tulip operation control unit 238 and controls the opening operation of the electric tulip 123 that is a normal electric accessory based on a predetermined condition.
The detailed contents of these electric accessory processing will be described later.

  In the prize ball processing (S805), the game control unit 200 calls a function (subroutine) of the prize ball processing unit 239, and sets a command for controlling the number of winning prizes and a control for paying out prize balls according to the winning prize.

  In the output process (S806), the game control unit 200 calls a function (subroutine) of the output control unit 240, outputs a command for effect control to the effect control unit 300, and sends a command for payout control to the payout control unit 330. Output. The effect control command is generated in each process from S802 to S804, and stored (set) in the control command storage area provided in the RAM 203. The payout control command is generated in the processing of S805 and stored (set) in the control command storage area provided in the RAM 203. A storage area is set in the RAM 203 for each type of control command.

  The output control unit 240 sequentially checks the storage area of each control command in the RAM 203, and if the control command is stored in each storage area (that is, the control command is generated in the processing of S802 to S805). The control command is read out and output to the output destination (the effect control unit 300 or the payout control unit 330).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, output processing is performed at the end of a series of main control processing. That is, the command generated in each process of S802 to S805 by the above functions as the first processing means is stored in a corresponding storage area of the RAM 203 in each process. After these processes, the output control unit 240 as a second processing unit collectively outputs the commands generated in each process accumulated in the storage area of the RAM 203. In other words, in this embodiment, when the main control process is executed for one cycle, the command generated in the execution of the one cycle is output after the last command generation in the execution of the one cycle is performed.

[Modified example of basic operation of gaming machine]
In the operation example described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, the interrupt is permitted in the loop process portion of the basic process, and the main control process including a series of processes is executed as the interrupt process. However, the main control process only needs to be configured to be repeatedly executed at regular intervals, and the specific implementation means (execution procedure) is not limited to the examples illustrated in FIGS. For example, the main control process may be incorporated in a series of operations of the basic process, the elapsed time may be measured at a predetermined timing, and the process may return to the main control process every predetermined time (eg, 4 milliseconds). If the main control process is incorporated into the series of operations of the basic process, an interrupt is generated at regular intervals as in the operation described with reference to FIGS. It may be configured to return to the main control process incorporated in the basic process.

  When a command generated by basic processing is output, in principle, every time a command is generated, the command is stored in the command storage area of the RAM 203, and the function of the output control unit 240 as the second processing means is called. Output. Unlike the main control process related to the progress of the game, the basic process is a special process such as an initial operation performed only when the power is turned on. In addition, since the processing procedure may vary depending on the branching based on conditions such as the state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 when the power is turned on, the generated command is promptly output so that there is no omission in the output processing. It is processing. In addition, when a command is continuously generated by a plurality of related processes, a process procedure for storing a plurality of commands in the command storage area of the RAM 203 and outputting them in response to a specific process request is adopted. May be.

[Random number update processing by game control unit]
A random number value as determination information used for various types of lotteries in game control such as special symbol lottery is counted by a counter, and a random number update process (S801) of the main control process shown in FIG. 8 starts from a predetermined initial value. Each time it is done, it is incremented by one. Then, the values at the time each lottery is performed are acquired by the start opening switch process (FIG. 9) and the gate switch process (FIG. 10), and used in the special symbol process (FIG. 11) and the normal symbol process (FIG. 16). The This random number counter is an infinite loop counter, and after the counted random number value reaches the set random number maximum value (for example, 299 for the jackpot random number shown in FIG. 20A described later) Return to the initial value again. In addition, since the random number update process is performed at regular time intervals, if the initial value of each random number is specified, the winning value may be estimated based on the update interval and the initial value information. Therefore, after returning from the main control process to the basic process shown in FIG. 6, in the initial value random number update process of S613, the initial value of each random number is randomly changed.

[Start-up switch processing by game control unit]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the start port switch process in the switch process shown in S802 of FIG.
In the start port switch process, a process for winning at the first start port 121 and a process for winning at the second start port 122 are sequentially performed. Referring to FIG. 9, the game control unit 200 first determines whether or not a game ball has won the first start port 121 and the first start port switch 211 has been turned on (S901). If the first start port switch 211 is turned on, the game control unit 200 next determines whether or not the unchanged hold number U1 in the winning of the first start port 121 is less than the upper limit value (S902). . In the example shown in FIG. 9, the upper limit value is four. If the number of holds U1 has reached the upper limit value (No in S902), it is not possible to hold any more unchanging winnings, so the process for winning at the first start port 121 is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the pending number U1 is less than the upper limit value (Yes in S902), the random number acquisition unit 231 of the game control unit 200 acquires a random value for determination by the current winning and stores it in the RAM 203 (S903). . Here, since the first starting port 121 is won, a random number value for special symbol lottery is acquired. The random value acquired at this time is a value updated by the random number update process of S801. Then, the result of the special symbol lottery is determined in the later special symbol processing by this random number value. Random numbers here include jackpot random numbers that determine jackpot, jackpot or loss, jackpot type (short or short state after the end of jackpot game, short or short state, high probability state and low probability state, long hit, short Symbol random number value to determine the winning), variation pattern random value to identify the variation pattern in the symbol variation, reach random number value to determine whether or not to have the effect with reach described later , Etc. are included.

  Next, the game control unit 200 performs a prior determination process (S904). The pre-determination process means that a random number is obtained by a special symbol process for a winning ball (holding ball) for which a random number has already been acquired by a winning at the starting opening but a random symbol has not yet been determined by a special symbol process to be described later. This is a process of determining the random number before the determination (preliminary determination).

  And the production | generation control part 300 of this Embodiment determines a random number by the special symbol process based on the determination result (predetermined result) of the random number determined by the prior determination process, and notifies the determination result. Before that, a pre-decision effect that suggests the result of the decision can be performed. This pre-decision effect is, for example, an image display in response to the occurrence of a winning ball (holding ball) for which random number acquisition has already been performed by winning at the start opening but random number determination has not yet been performed by special symbol processing. This is performed using a hold display effect (described later) displayed on the unit 114. With the pre-decision effect based on this pre-determination, the player is informed of the determination result when a random number is subsequently determined by special symbol processing for the reserved ball corresponding to the pre-determination related to the pre-determination effect. Thereby, the player can play a game while expecting the reserved ball. Details of the advance determination effect based on the advance determination will be described later.

Then, the game control unit 200 adds 1 to the value of the holding number U1 (S905).
Thereafter, the game control unit 200 sets a pre-determination result command including the pre-determination information by the pre-determination process in S904 in the RAM 203 in order to notify the effect control unit 300 of the pre-determination result (S906).
Furthermore, the game control unit 200 sets a hold number increase command for notifying the effect control unit 300 of an increase in the hold number U1 in S905 (S907), and ends the process for winning in the first start port 121. .

  Next, a process for winning in the second start port 122 is performed. Referring to FIG. 9, next, the game control unit 200 determines whether or not the game ball has won the second start port 122 and the second start port switch 212 is turned on (S908). If the second start port switch 212 is turned on, the game control unit 200 next determines whether or not the number of unreserved hold numbers U2 in the winning of the second start port 122 is less than the upper limit value (S909). ). In the example shown in FIG. 9, the upper limit value is four. If the number of holds U2 has reached the upper limit (No in S909), it is not possible to hold any more unchanging winnings, and the process for winning at the second start port 122 is terminated.

  On the other hand, if the pending number U2 is less than the upper limit value (Yes in S909), the random number acquisition unit 231 of the game control unit 200 acquires a random number value for the lottery by the current winning and stores it in the RAM 203 (S910). . Here, since the winning of the second starting port 122 is won, random numbers for special symbol lottery (big hit random number value, big hit symbol random number value, reach random number value, fluctuation pattern random number value, etc.) are acquired as in S903 above. Is done. The random value acquired at this time is a value updated by the random number update process of S801. Then, the result of the special symbol lottery is determined in the later special symbol processing by this random number value.

Next, the game control unit 200 performs a prior determination process (S911). The content of this pre-determination process is the same as that of said S904.
Then, the game control unit 200 adds 1 to the value of the holding number U2 (S912).
Thereafter, the game control unit 200 sets a pre-determination result command including pre-determination information obtained by the pre-determination process of S911 in the RAM 203 in order to notify the effect control unit 300 of the pre-determination result (S913).
Furthermore, the game control unit 200 sets a hold number increase command for notifying the effect control unit 300 of the increase in the hold number U2 in S912 in the RAM 203 (S914), and ends the process for winning at the second start port 122. .

[Gate switch processing by game control unit]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of the gate switch process when a game ball passes through the gate 124.
In this gate switch process, the game control unit 200 first determines whether or not the game ball has passed through the gate 124 and the gate switch 214 is turned on (S1001). If the gate switch 214 is turned on, the game control unit 200 next determines whether or not the unchanged holding number G is less than the upper limit value (S1002). In the example shown in FIG. 10, the upper limit value is four. If the number of reserves G has reached the upper limit (No in S1002), no more unchanging winnings can be reserved, and the gate switch processing is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the number G of holding is less than the upper limit value (Yes in S1002), the random number acquisition unit 231 of the game control unit 200 acquires a random value for the lottery by the current winning and stores it in the RAM 203 (S1003). . Here, since the gate 124 is won, a random number value (such as a winning random number value) for normal symbol lottery is acquired.

Next, the game control unit 200 adds 1 to the value of the holding number G (S1004).
After the value of the holding number G is added in S1004, the game control unit 200 sets a holding number G increase command for notifying the effect control unit 300 of the increase in the holding number G in S1004 in the RAM 203 (S1005). The process for winning in the gate 124 is terminated.

[Special symbol processing by game control unit]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of the special symbol processing in the symbol processing shown in S803 of FIG.
In this special symbol process, the special symbol variation control unit 233 of the game control unit 200 first checks whether or not the jackpot game flag is ON in the setting of a flag set in the RAM 203 (hereinafter, flag setting) ( S1101). Here, the jackpot game flag is a flag that is set to identify that the result of the special symbol lottery is a jackpot. Depending on the type of jackpot, either a long hit game flag or a short hit game flag is set. In the present embodiment, these are collectively referred to as a jackpot game flag.

  When the jackpot game flag is ON, the pachinko gaming machine 100 is already in the jackpot, so the special symbol processing is terminated without starting the special symbol variation (Yes in S1101). On the other hand, if the jackpot game flag is OFF (No in S1101), the special symbol variation control unit 233 next determines whether or not the current state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in the special symbol variation (S1102). If the special symbol is not changing (No in S1102), then the special symbol fluctuation control unit 233 performs processing related to the number U1 and U2 (see FIG. 9) of the special symbols that have not been changed (S1103 to S1106). In the present embodiment, the number of holds U1 related to winning of the first start port 121 and the number of holds U2 related to winning of the second start port 122 are distinguished, so this processing is also performed for each corresponding start port. .

Specifically, the special symbol variation control unit 233 first determines whether or not the number of holds U2 related to winning in the second start port 122 is 1 or more (S1103). When the number of reservations U2 is 1 or more (Yes in S1103), the special symbol fluctuation control unit 233 subtracts 1 from the value of the number of reservations U2 (S1104). On the other hand, if the hold number U2 = 0 (No in S1103), the special symbol variation control unit 233 next determines whether the hold number U1 related to winning in the first start port 121 is 1 or more (S1105). When the number of reservations U1 is 1 or more (Yes in S1105), the special symbol fluctuation control unit 233 subtracts 1 from the value of the number of reservations U1 (S1106). On the other hand, if the holding number U1 = 0 (No in S1105), it means that there is no winning for starting the special symbol lottery, so the special symbol variation is not started, and the waiting process for waiting for customers set in another routine To finish the process (S1116).
In the present embodiment, priority is given to the processing related to the holding number U2 related to winning in the second start port 122. That is, when the number of holdings U2 is 1 or more, the processing related to the number of holdings U2 is performed, and when the number of holdings U2 = 0, the processing related to the number of holdings U1 is performed (see S803 to S806). On the other hand, regardless of whether the first start port 121 or the second start port 122 is won, it is also possible to perform control such that the hold numbers U1 and U2 are subtracted in the order of winning.

  After subtracting the holding number U1 or the holding number U2 in S1104 or S1106, the special symbol fluctuation control unit 233 turns off the customer waiting flag set in the flag setting of the RAM 203 (S1107). The customer waiting flag is a flag for identifying that the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in the customer waiting state, and is set in the customer waiting setting process (S1116, see FIG. 15).

  Next, the special symbol variation control unit 233 executes jackpot determination processing and variation pattern selection processing by separate routines (S1108, S1109). Although details will be described later, the setting information for changing the special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display 221 and the second special symbol display 222 by the jackpot determination processing and the variation pattern selection processing (the jackpot symbol, game State, variation pattern, etc.) are determined. These pieces of information are included in a change start command sent to the effect control unit 300.

  Thereafter, the special symbol variation control unit 233 is displayed by the first special symbol display unit 221 and the second special symbol display unit 222 shown in FIG. 2 based on the setting contents determined in the jackpot determination process and the variation pattern selection process. The special symbol change is started (S1110). Then, a change start command including setting information (a jackpot symbol, a gaming state, a change pattern, etc.) indicating the setting contents is generated and set in the RAM 203 (S1111). The variation start command set in S1111 is transmitted to the effect control unit 300 by the output process shown in S806 of FIG.

  When it is determined in S1102 that the special symbol is changing (Yes in S1102), or after the change start command is set in S1111, the special symbol fluctuation control unit 233 determines whether or not the fluctuation time has elapsed (S1112). ). That is, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of the variation of the special symbol in S1110 has reached the variation time set in the variation pattern selection process in S1109. If the variation time has not passed (No in S1112), the special symbol variation is continued, and the special symbol processing is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, when the variation time has elapsed (Yes in S1112), the special symbol variation control unit 233 first determines the variation of the special symbol in the first special symbol display 221 and the second special symbol display 222 as a big hit determination process in S1108. It stops at the symbol determined in (S1113). A change stop command for stopping a decorative design to be described later is set in the RAM 203 (S1114). Then, a stop routine process of another routine is executed (S1115). The contents of the stop process will be described later. The change stop command set in S1114 is transmitted to the effect control unit 300 by the output process shown in S806 of FIG.

[Big hit judgment processing by game control unit]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the contents of the jackpot determination process (S1108 in FIG. 11).
In this jackpot determination process, the special symbol determination unit 234 of the game control unit 200 first determines a jackpot random number value in the current special symbol lottery (S1201), and determines whether or not the jackpot or small hit is made (S1202). , S1205). Whether the jackpot or the jackpot is determined is whether the jackpot random number obtained in S903 or S910 in FIG. 9 matches the value set as the jackpot winning value or the value set as the jackpot winning value It is determined by judging whether (refer Fig.20 (a)).

  If the result of the random number determination in S1201 is a big hit (Yes in S1202), then the special symbol determination unit 234 determines a big hit symbol random number value (S1203). Depending on the result of this determination, the type of jackpot (high probability state or low probability state, time-short state or time-short state, long hit, short hit) is determined. Which jackpot is determined is determined by whether the value of the jackpot symbol random number acquired in S903 or S910 in FIG. 9 matches one of preset values for each jackpot type (FIG. 20 ( b)).

  After the above determination, the special symbol determination unit 234 sets the symbol representing the jackpot type determined by the determination of the jackpot symbol random number (the jackpot symbol) in the RAM 203 as setting information (S1204).

  If the result of the random number determination in S1201 is a small hit (No in S1202, Yes in S1205), then the special symbol determination unit 234 uses a symbol indicating that it is a small hit (hereinafter referred to as a small hit symbol) as setting information. It is set in the RAM 203 (S1206).

  If the result of the random number determination in S1201 is neither big win nor small win (No in S1202 and S1205), then the special symbol determination unit 234 uses the symbol indicating that the lottery is lost (hereinafter referred to as a lost symbol) as setting information in the RAM 203. (S1207).

[Change pattern selection process by game control unit]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of the variation pattern selection process (S1109 in FIG. 11).
In this variation pattern selection process, the variation pattern selection unit 235 of the game control unit 200 first refers to the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 (whether it is a short time state or a short time state, and a high probability state or a low probability state). (S1301). Then, using the determination result of S1202 of the jackpot determination process (FIG. 12), it is determined whether or not the jackpot was won in this special symbol lottery (S1302). If it is a big hit (Yes in S1302), the fluctuation pattern selecting unit 235 reads the big hit fluctuation pattern table from the ROM 202 and sets it in the RAM 203 (S1303).

On the other hand, if the jackpot has not been won (No in S1302), the variation pattern selection unit 235 then determines a random value for determining whether or not to perform a so-called reach effect for causing the player to expect a jackpot. (S1304). Whether or not the reach effect is performed is determined by determining whether or not the reach random number value acquired in S903 or S910 in FIG. 9 matches a preset value (see FIG. 20C). .
As a result of the determination using the random number value, when the reach effect is performed (Yes in S1305), the variation pattern selection unit 235 reads the variation pattern table for reach from the ROM 202 and sets it in the RAM 203 (S1306). When the reach effect is not performed (No in S1305), the variation pattern selection unit 235 reads the variation pattern table for loss from the ROM 202 and sets it in the RAM 203 (S1307).
Here, the fluctuation pattern table includes a plurality of fluctuation patterns prepared in advance (fluctuation time 3 seconds, 7 seconds, 13 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, etc.) and values of fluctuation pattern random numbers. Is a table in which

  Next, the variation pattern selection unit 235 determines the variation pattern random value using the variation pattern random value acquired in S903 or S910 of FIG. 9 and the variation pattern table set in S1303, S1306, and S1307 (S1308). ). That is, the fluctuation pattern selection unit 235 refers to the fluctuation pattern table set in the RAM 203 and selects a fluctuation pattern corresponding to the random value of the fluctuation pattern random number. Therefore, even if the same random number value is acquired, the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 (whether it is a short-time state or no-short-time state, and a high-probability state or a low-probability state), the result of a special symbol lottery (whether or not it is a big hit The variation pattern table to be referred to differs depending on the difference in whether or not the reach effect is performed when the jackpot is not hit.

  Thereafter, the variation pattern selection unit 235 sets the variation pattern selected in S1308 as setting information in the RAM 203 (S1309). The variation pattern setting information set in S1309 is included in the variation start command set in S1111 of FIG. 11, and is transmitted to the effect control unit 300 by the output process shown in S806 of FIG. Details of the variation pattern selected in this embodiment and its setting will be described later.

[Processing during stop by game control unit]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the contents of the suspension process (S1115 in FIG. 11).
In this stop process, the game control unit 200 first checks whether or not a flag indicating that the time is short (hereinafter, a time short flag) is turned on in the flag setting of the RAM 203 (S1401). When the time reduction flag is ON (Yes in S1401), the game control unit 200 subtracts 1 from the value of the number of lotteries (number of fluctuations) J in the time reduction state (S1402), and whether or not the number of lotteries J has become zero. (S1403). If the number of lotteries J = 0 (Yes in S1403), the time reduction flag is turned OFF (S1404). It should be noted that the operation for turning on the hourly flag and the setting of the initial value of the lottery count J are performed in a game state setting process (FIG. 18) in a special winning opening process (FIG. 17) described later.

  If the time reduction flag is OFF (No in S1401), or after the time reduction flag is turned OFF in S1404, or if the value of the lottery count J after subtraction in S1402 is not 0 (No in S1403), then game control The unit 200 checks whether or not a flag indicating a high probability state (hereinafter referred to as a high probability flag) is ON in the flag setting of the RAM 203 (S1405). If both the high-accuracy flag and the previous time-short flag are ON, the high-probability time-short gaming state is selected. is there.

  If the high-accuracy flag is ON (Yes in S1405), the game control unit 200 subtracts 1 from the value of the number of lotteries (number of fluctuations) X in the high probability state (S1406), and whether the number of lotteries X has become 0. It is checked whether or not (S1407). If the number of lotteries X = 0 (Yes in S1407), the high-accuracy flag is turned off (S1408). Note that the operation for turning on the high-accuracy flag and the setting of the initial value of the lottery number X are performed in a game state setting process (FIG. 18) in a special prize opening process (FIG. 17) described later.

  If the high-accuracy flag is OFF (No in S1405), or after the high-accuracy flag is turned OFF in S1408, or if the value of the number of lotteries X after subtraction in S1406 is not 0 (No in S1407), then The game control unit 200 determines whether or not a big win has been won in this special symbol lottery (S1409). If it is a big hit (Yes in S1409), the game control unit 200 next determines whether or not the type of the big win is a long win (S1410).

  Here, the determination of whether or not the jackpot is possible can be made based on the determination result of the jackpot determination process (FIG. 12). For example, if any of the symbols shown in the diagram of FIG. 20B to be described later is set, Yes is obtained in S1409. If a lost symbol or a small bonus symbol is set in the RAM 203 by the big hit determination process, No in S1409.

  If the jackpot type is a long win (Yes in S1410), the game control unit 200 turns on the long win game flag (S1411). Thereby, the setting of the gaming state in the RAM 203 becomes a jackpot gaming state (long winning gaming state) in which the jackpot type is long winning. In addition, here, in the long hit, it is not distinguished whether it is a high probability state or a low probability state. Whether the state is a high probability state or a low probability state is specified by turning on a corresponding flag in a game state setting process (FIG. 18) in a special prize opening process (FIG. 17) described later.

  If the jackpot type is not long hit (No in S1410), the game control unit 200 turns on the short hit game flag (S1412). Thereby, the setting of the gaming state in the RAM 203 becomes a big hit gaming state (short winning gaming state) in which the big hit type is short hit. Similar to the case of long hit, the case of short hit does not distinguish between a high probability state and a low probability state.

  After turning on the jackpot game flag in S1411 or S1412, the game control unit 200 initializes the values of the lottery times J and X (S1413). Further, the game control unit 200 turns off the time reduction flag when the time reduction flag is ON in S1401 and the lottery count J is not 0 in S1403 (S1414). Similarly, if the high-accuracy flag is ON in S1405 and the lottery count X is not 0 in S1407, the high-accuracy flag is turned OFF (S1414).

After initializing the values of the lottery times J and X in S1413, the game control unit 200 starts an opening operation (S1417). Here, the content of the opening operation differs depending on whether the winning game flag is turned ON in S1411 or S1412. That is, depending on the state of the big hit game flag, one of the opening operations set in each of the long win games and the short win game state is performed.
Thereafter, the game control unit 200 sets an opening command for performing an effect in the opening operation according to the jackpot game flag in the effect control unit 300 in the RAM 203 (S1418), and ends the in-stop process. This opening command is transmitted to the effect control unit 300 in the output process shown in S806 of FIG.

On the other hand, when the result of the special symbol lottery this time is not a big hit (No in S1409), the game control unit 200 determines whether or not the result of the special symbol lottery this time is a big hit (S1415). ). If it is not a small hit (No in S1415), the in-stop process is terminated.
On the other hand, when it is a small hit (Yes in S1415), the game control unit 200 starts a small hit game (S1416). Thereby, the setting of the gaming state in the RAM 203 becomes the small hit gaming state. In the small hit game, as described above, the special winning opening 125 is opened and closed a predetermined number of times, and is ended after a predetermined time.

[Customer waiting setting process by game control unit]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the contents of the customer waiting setting process (S1116 in FIG. 11).
In this customer waiting setting process, the game control unit 200 first checks whether or not the customer waiting flag is ON in the flag setting of the RAM 203 (S1501). Here, the customer waiting flag is a flag that is set to identify that the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in a customer waiting state.

  If the customer waiting flag is ON, the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in a customer waiting state, and thus the processing is terminated as it is (Yes in S1501). On the other hand, when the customer waiting flag is OFF, the game control unit 200 generates a customer waiting command and sets it in the RAM 203 (S1502), and turns on the customer waiting flag (S1503). The customer waiting command set in S1502 is transmitted to the effect control unit 300 in the output process shown in S806 of FIG. The customer waiting flag is set in a state where there is no suspension with the special symbol change stopped.

[Normal symbol processing by game control unit]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the contents of the normal symbol processing in the symbol processing shown in S803 of FIG.
In this normal symbol process, the normal symbol variation control unit 236 of the game control unit 200 first checks whether or not the auxiliary game flag is ON in the flag setting of the RAM 203 (S1601). Here, the auxiliary game flag is a flag that is set when a normal symbol lottery is won. The state in which the auxiliary game flag is set is a state in which the electric tulip 123 is opened in accordance with the electric tulip process (FIG. 19) described later and it is easy to win the second start port 122 (auxiliary game state).

  When the auxiliary game flag is ON, since the auxiliary game state has already been reached and the normal symbol is stopped, the normal symbol process is terminated without starting the normal symbol variation (Yes in S1601). On the other hand, if the auxiliary game flag is OFF (No in S1601), then the normal symbol variation control unit 236 determines whether or not the current state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in the normal symbol variation (S1602). If the normal symbol is not changing (No in S1602), then the normal symbol variation control unit 236 determines whether the number G of the normal symbols remaining unchanged (see FIG. 10) is 1 or more (S1603). If the holding number G = 0 (No in S1603), it means that there is no winning for starting the normal symbol lottery, and therefore the processing is terminated without starting the normal symbol variation.

  On the other hand, when the reserved number G is 1 or more (Yes in S1603), the normal symbol variation control unit 236 subtracts 1 from the value of the reserved number G (S1604). Then, the normal symbol determination unit 232 determines a winning random number in the current normal symbol lottery to determine whether or not the normal symbol lottery has been won (S1605). Whether or not the winner has been won is determined by determining whether or not the value of the winning random number acquired in S1003 in FIG. 10 matches the value set as the winning value in the table shown in FIG. It is determined.

  Next, the normal symbol fluctuation control unit 236 sets the normal symbol according to the result of the normal symbol lottery (S1606). That is, when a normal symbol lottery is won, a symbol representing the winning (hereinafter referred to as a winning symbol) is set in the RAM 203 as setting information. On the other hand, when the normal symbol lottery is not won, a symbol indicating that the lottery has been lost (hereinafter referred to as a lost symbol) is set in the RAM 203 as setting information.

  Next, the normal symbol variation control unit 236 sets the variation time of the normal symbol (S1607). This variation time is set based on the time reduction flag set in the processes of S1404 and S1414 in FIG. 14, and S1804 and S1807 in FIG. That is, when the time reduction flag is ON in the setting in S1607, it is set to a short time (for example, 1.5 seconds), and when the time reduction flag is OFF, it is set to a long time (for example, 4.0 seconds). Is done. After this setting, the normal symbol fluctuation control unit 236 starts normal symbol fluctuations in the normal symbol display 223 shown in FIGS. 2A and 3 based on the setting contents of S1607 (S1608). In addition, the fluctuation pattern of a normal symbol can also be determined by lottery. In this case, for example, when the game ball passes through the gate 124, the random number acquisition unit 231 acquires the normal pattern variation pattern random value, and in S1607, the normal symbol variation control unit 236 generates the normal symbol variation pattern random value. By determining, the variation time is set.

  After starting the change of the normal symbol in S1608 or when it is determined that the normal symbol is changing in S1602 (Yes in S1602), the normal symbol change control unit 236 determines whether or not the change time has passed (S1609). ). That is, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time from the start of fluctuation of the normal symbol in S1608 has reached the fluctuation time set in S1607. If the variation time has not passed (No in S1609), the normal symbol variation is continued, and the normal symbol processing is terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, when the fluctuation time is over (Yes in S1609), the normal symbol fluctuation control unit 236 stops the fluctuation of the normal symbol in the normal symbol display 223 (S1610). Then, the normal symbol variation control unit 236 determines whether or not the determination result in S1605 is a win (S1611). If it is a win (Yes in S1611), the auxiliary game flag is turned ON (S1612). On the other hand, if the lottery is off (No in S1611), the normal symbol processing is terminated without turning on the auxiliary game flag.

[Large winning mouth processing by game control unit]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the contents of the special prize opening process in the electric accessory process shown in S804 of FIG.
In this big prize opening process, the big prize opening operation control unit 237 of the game control unit 200 first checks whether or not the big hit game flag is ON in the flag setting of the RAM 203 (S1701). When the big hit game flag is OFF, there is no winning in the big winning opening 125, and the big winning opening process is terminated (No in S1701). On the other hand, when the jackpot game flag is ON (Yes in S1701), the big prize opening operation control unit 237 opens in the operation control at the time of jackpot that is started in the pachinko gaming machine 100 being stopped (FIG. 14). It is determined whether or not the operation is in progress (S1702).

  If the pachinko gaming machine 100 is opening (Yes in S1702), the next prize opening operation control unit 237 determines whether or not a predetermined time (opening time) for performing the opening operation has elapsed. (S1703). If the opening time has not elapsed, the opening operation at the special winning opening 125 is continued, and the special winning opening process is terminated (No in S1703). On the other hand, if the opening time has elapsed (Yes in S1703), the special prize opening operation control unit 237 performs the operation setting of the special prize opening 125 (S1704), and initializes the winning number C (C = 0). Then, the value of the number R of rounds of operation of the big prize opening 125 is incremented by 1 from the current value (S1706), and the big prize opening 125 is started (opened) (S1707).

  In the operation setting of S1704, the operation pattern of the special winning opening 125 and the number of rounds (operation round number) operated by the operation pattern are set. As the case where the big prize opening 125 is operated, there are a case where it is a big win per long or short in a special symbol lottery and a case where it is a small win. The operation pattern and the number of rounds are variously set according to the hit type. In the jackpot game, it is stipulated that the winning prize opening 125 is continuously operated a plurality of times (a plurality of rounds). As an example, in the case of a long hit, for example, 15 rounds (15R) are operated, and 29.5 seconds are released once in one round. In the case of a short hit, for example, 15 rounds (15R) are operated, and one round is performed once for 0.1 seconds. In the case of a small hit, for example, one round (1R) is operated, and 0.1 second is released 15 times in this round. Here, when the operation with short hits and the operation with small hits are compared in the above examples, both 0.1 seconds of opening is performed 15 times. That is, the action of the big winning opening 125 that can be seen by the player is the same for the case of short win and the case of small win, and the short win and the small win are distinguished only from the action of the big winning opening 125 on the game board 110. I can't do it.

  As another example, 15 rounds (15R) are activated per long, 29.5 seconds are released once per round, 2 rounds (2R) are activated per short, and 0 are rounded per round. .9 seconds are opened twice, and with a small hit, one round (1R) is operated, and 0.9 seconds is opened twice in this round. In this case as well, when the operation with short hits and the operation with small hits are compared, both 0.9 seconds are released twice, and the action of the big prize opening 125 that can be seen by the player is in the case of short hits. It is the same in the case of small hits.

  The law stipulates that the cumulative opening time of the special winning opening 125 must be set within 1.8 seconds for a small hit. On the other hand, in the case of a big hit (long hit or short win), the big winning opening 125 must be continuously opened a plurality of times. Therefore, when trying to make it difficult to visually distinguish the operation with a small hit and the operation with a short hit as described above, within the range that satisfies the cumulative open time within 1.8 seconds in one operation, An operation mode in which the big prize opening 125 is opened two or more times is set, and in the short win, the same number of rounds as the number of small hits is set.

  Next, the special winning opening operation control unit 237 determines whether or not the opening time in the operation pattern set in S1704 has elapsed (S1708). If the open state at the big prize opening 125 has not passed the opening time (No in S1708), then the big prize opening operation control unit 237 has a predetermined number (for example, 9) It is determined whether or not (S1709). If the opening time has not elapsed and the number C of winning prizes is less than the prescribed number, the operating state (open state) of the big winning opening 125 is continued, so the big winning opening process is terminated (No in S1709). ). On the other hand, if the opening time has elapsed (Yes in S1708) or the winning number C reaches the specified number (Yes in S1709), the special winning opening operation control unit 237 terminates the operation of the special winning opening 125 (closing). (S1710).

  Next, the special winning opening operation control unit 237 determines whether or not the number R of rounds of operation of the special winning opening 125 has reached the maximum value set in S1704 (S1711). If the maximum value has not been reached, the remaining operations are performed, and the special winning opening process is terminated (No in S1711).

If the number R of rounds of operation of the special prize opening 125 has reached the maximum value (Yes in S1711), the special prize opening operation control unit 237 then starts an ending operation (S1712). Here, the content of the ending operation corresponds to the state of the big hit game flag among the ending operations set in the long win game and the short win game.
Thereafter, the special winning opening operation control unit 237 sets an ending command for performing an effect in the ending operation according to the big hit game flag in the effect control unit 300 in the RAM 203 (S1713). This ending command is transmitted to the effect control unit 300 in the output process shown in S806 of FIG.

  Next, the special winning opening operation control unit 237 resets the round number R of the operation of the special winning opening 125 to 0 (S1714), and then performs an ending operation in which an elapsed time from the start of the ending operation is set in advance. It is determined whether the power time (ending time) has elapsed (S1717). If the ending time has not elapsed, the ending operation is continued, and thus the big prize opening process is terminated (No in S1717). On the other hand, if the ending time has elapsed (Yes in S1717), next, the big prize opening operation control unit 237 goes through the game state setting process by the game control unit 200 (S1718), and then turns off the big hit game flag. The big prize opening process is terminated (S1719). The contents of the game state setting process will be described later.

  If it is determined in S1702 that the pachinko gaming machine 100 is not opening (No in S1702), the special winning opening operation control unit 237 determines whether or not it is ending (S1715). If the ending is in progress (Yes in S1715), the operations after S1717 are executed.

On the other hand, if the pachinko gaming machine 100 is not ending (No in S1715), the special winning opening operation control unit 237 next determines whether or not the special winning opening 125 is operating (opening) (S1716). If it is not in operation (No in S1716), the operation after S1705 is executed. If it is in operation (Yes in S1716), the operation after S1708 is executed.
The effect performed in the small hit game described above is the same as the effect performed in the short hit game, and it is not possible to distinguish short hit and small hit from the effect.

[Game state setting process]
FIG. 18 shows the content of the game state setting process (S1718) performed by the game control unit 200 when the ending time has elapsed (Yes in S1717).
When the game state setting process is performed, the jackpot game flag is set to ON in S1701 of FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, the game control unit 200 first determines the type of jackpot (S1801, S1802, S1803, S1806). These determinations can be made based on, for example, the type of symbol set as setting information in the RAM 203 in the jackpot determination process (FIG. 12). Since these determinations are substantially the same as S1202, S1203, and S1205 in the jackpot determination process (FIG. 12), the determination results of S1202, S1203, and S1205 may be used.

If it is a small hit (Yes in S1801), the gaming state is not changed, so the gaming state setting process is terminated.
When the type of jackpot is a jackpot in the low probability short game state (No in S1801, Yes in S1802 and S1803), the game control unit 200 turns on the short flag (S1804). Thereby, the setting of the gaming state in the RAM 203 becomes the low gaming state with a low probability. In addition, the game control unit 200 sets an initial value of the lottery count J (S1805) and ends the game state setting process. The initial value of the lottery number J is 100 in the illustrated example. Therefore, if the lottery in the low probability short game state is performed 100 times, the low probability short game state is ended and the low probability short short game state is entered.

  On the other hand, when the type of jackpot is a jackpot of the low probability short-time non-game state (No in S1801, Yes in 1802, No in S1803), the game control unit 200 does not turn on both the short-time flag and the high-accuracy flag. finish. Therefore, the setting of the game state of the RAM 203 for the game after the jackpot becomes a low probability short time no game state.

  When the type of jackpot is a jackpot of the short game state with a high probability (No in S1801, S1802, Yes in S1806), the game control unit 200 sets the hour flag to ON (S1807) and sets the initial value of the number of lotteries J. (S1808). In this case, the initial value of the number of times of lottery J is 10,000 in the illustrated example. Further, the game control unit 200 turns on the high-accuracy flag (S1809), and sets an initial value of the number of lotteries X (S1810). The initial value of the number of times of lottery X is 10,000 in the illustrated example. As a result, the setting of the gaming state in the RAM 203 becomes a high probability and short gaming state. If the lottery in the high probability short game state is performed 10,000 times, the high probability short game state is terminated and the low probability short short game state is entered.

  On the other hand, when the type of jackpot is a jackpot of the high probability short-time non-game state (No in S1801, S1802, and S1806), the game control unit 200 turns on only the high-accuracy flag (S1809), and the initial value of the number of lotteries X (10000 times) is set (S1810). Thereby, the setting of the gaming state in the RAM 203 becomes a high probability short time no gaming state. Then, if the lottery in the high probability short-time non-game state is performed 10,000 times, the high-probability short-time non-game state is finished and the low-probability short-time non-game state is entered.

[Electric tulip processing by game control unit]
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the contents of the electric tulip process in the electric accessory process shown in S804 of FIG.
In the electric tulip process, the electric tulip operation control unit 238 of the game control unit 200 first checks whether or not the auxiliary game flag is ON in the flag setting of the RAM 203 (S1901). When the auxiliary game flag is OFF, the electric tulip 123 is not released, and thus the electric tulip process is terminated (No in S1901). On the other hand, when the auxiliary game flag is ON (Yes in S1901), the electric tulip operation control unit 238 determines whether or not the electric tulip 123 is operating (S1902).

  When the electric tulip 123 is not in operation (No in S1902), the electric tulip operation control unit 238 sets the operation pattern of the electric tulip 123 (S1903), and operates the electric tulip 123 with the set operation pattern (S1904). . Here, the operation pattern is set based on the time reduction flag set in the processes of S1404 and S1414 in FIG. 14, S1804 and S1807 in FIG. For example, when the time reduction flag is OFF at the time of setting in S1903, an operation pattern that opens once with an opening time of 0.15 seconds is set, and when the time reduction flag is ON, the opening time of 1.80 seconds is set. An operating pattern that opens three times in time is set. Thus, normally, when the time reduction flag is ON (when it is in the time reduction state), the electric tulip 123 is opened a plurality of times for a long time, and the winning support that makes it easy to win the second start port 122 (electricity chewing support). Is done. A plurality of operation patterns (types of auxiliary games) of the electric tulip 123 when the time flag is ON or OFF are prepared, and the operation is performed according to the type determined in the normal symbol processing (see FIG. 16). You may comprise so that a pattern may be set.

  When it is determined in S1902 that the electric tulip 123 is in operation (Yes in S1902), or after the electric tulip 123 is operated in S1904, the electric tulip operation control unit 238 passes the open time in the set operation pattern. It is determined whether or not it has been done (S1905). If the opening time has not elapsed, the operation state (open state) of the electric tulip 123 is continued, and thus the electric tulip process is terminated (No in S1905). On the other hand, if the opening time has elapsed (Yes in S1905), the electric tulip operation control unit 238 sets the auxiliary game flag to OFF and ends the electric tulip process (S1906).

[Random number judgment method]
Here, a determination method using random numbers performed in the jackpot determination process (FIG. 12), the variation pattern selection process (FIG. 13), the normal symbol process (FIG. 16), and the like will be described in detail.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a random number (determination table) used in the special symbol lottery and the normal symbol lottery in the present embodiment.
FIG. 20 (a) shows a configuration example of jackpot random numbers used in the special symbol lottery, FIG. 20 (b) shows a configuration example of jackpot symbol random numbers used in the special symbol lottery, and FIG. 20 (c) shows a special symbol lottery. A configuration example of reach random numbers used, and a configuration example of hit random numbers used in normal symbol lottery are shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 20 (a), as the jackpot random number determination value, the jackpot when the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 at the time of jackpot determination is a low probability state and the jackpot when the game state at the jackpot determination is a high probability state 2 types and small hits are set. The range of values of random numbers (big hit random numbers) is 300 from 0 to 299 in all cases. In the case of a special symbol lottery in a low probability state (a jackpot lottery), only one winning value is set, and the winning probability is 1/300. In the case of a special symbol lottery in a high probability state, 10 winning values are set, and the winning probability is 10/300 (= 1/30). That is, in the example shown in the figure, if the winning symbols 121 and 122 are won in the high probability state and the special symbol lottery is performed, the winning probability is 10 times that in the case where the special symbol lottery is performed in the low probability state. Further, three winning values are set regardless of the low probability state or the high probability state, and the winning probability is 3/300 (= 1/100).

  Referring to FIG. 20B, five types of jackpot symbols are prepared: low probability symbol A, low probability symbol B, high probability symbol A, high probability symbol B, and latent symbol symbol. Here, the low-probability symbol A and the low-probability symbol B are symbols indicating that the low-probability state is a big hit. Of these, the low-probability symbol A is a long win (low-probability short-time gaming state), and the low-probability symbol B is Represents each short hit (low probability, short no-game state). The high-probability symbol A and the high-probability symbol B are symbols representing a jackpot of a high-probability state. Among these symbols, the high-probability symbol A is a long win (high-probability short-time gaming state) and the high-probability symbol B is a short-win High probability short-time non-game state). The latent symbol is a symbol representing that it is a big hit in a high probability short-time no-game state. Therefore, the high probability symbol B and the latent probability symbol have the same gaming state after the jackpot game, but the latent probability symbol is a condition for performing a latent effect that does not clearly notify the player that the probability state is high. Therefore, it is provided separately from the high probability symbol B. The range of random number values is 250 from 0 to 249. In addition, in the jackpot symbol random number, a winning value is set for each of the first start port 121 and the second start port 122 that trigger the special symbol lottery.

In the low probability pattern A, 35 values are assigned as winning values in both the first start port 121 and the second start port 122. Therefore, the probability of winning with the low probability symbol A when winning a jackpot is 35/250 (= 7/50).
In the low probability symbol B, 15 values are assigned as winning values for both the first start port 121 and the second start port 122. Therefore, when winning the jackpot, the probability of winning with the low probability symbol B is 15/250 (= 3/50).

In the high probability symbol A, 25 values are assigned as winning values when winning in the first start port 121. Therefore, the probability of winning with the high-probability symbol A is 25/250 (= 1/10) in the case of winning the jackpot in the special symbol lottery started by winning the first starting port 121.
On the other hand, 175 values are assigned as winning values when winning at the second start port 122. Therefore, the probability of winning with the high-probability symbol A is 175/250 (= 7/10) in the case of winning the jackpot in the special symbol lottery started by winning the second starting port 122.

In the high probability symbol B, 75 values are assigned as winning values when winning in the first start port 121. Therefore, the probability of winning with the high-probability symbol B in the special symbol lottery started by winning the first starting port 121 is 75/250 (= 3/10).
On the other hand, 25 values are assigned as winning values when winning at the second start port 122. Therefore, the probability of winning with the high-probability symbol B in the special symbol lottery started by winning the second starting port 122 is 25/250 (= 1/10).

In the latent symbol, 100 values are assigned as winning values when winning at the first start port 121. Therefore, the probability of winning in the latent symbol when winning a big win in the special symbol lottery started by winning the first starting port 121 is 100/250 (= 2/5).
On the other hand, the winning value in the latent symbol is not assigned to the second starting port 122, and when winning in the second starting port 122, it is not won in the latent symbol.

  As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 20B, the jackpot when winning the first starting port 121 has a probability of becoming a jackpot (high probability symbol B, latent probability symbol) of the high probability short-time non-game state. The probability that the jackpot when winning the second start port 122 is high is a jackpot (high probability symbol A) in the short game state with high probability is high. In this way, by making the winning probabilities of the jackpot types different when winning at the first start port 121 and when winning at the second start port 122, various game characteristics can be provided. Further, the arrangement of the first start port 121 and the second start port 122 on the game board 110 is devised so that it is easy to aim at either the first start port 121 or the second start port 122 in a specific state (mode). By configuring the above, it is possible to encourage the player to participate in more aggressive games.

Next, the determination of reach random numbers will be described.
Referring to FIG. 20C, the range of random number values is 250 from 0 to 249, and 22 random numbers are assigned to the lottery result (with reach) for performing the reach effect, and the reach effect is not performed. 228 random numbers are assigned to the result (no reach). In other words, in the illustrated example, when a special symbol lottery is not won, a reach effect is performed with a probability of 22/250 (= 11/125). Here, the reach effect is an effect performed in the image display unit 114 when the special symbol changes. Hereinafter, the effect at the time of the special symbol change that does not perform the reach effect is referred to as an effect without reach, and the reach effect is also referred to as an effect with reach correspondingly.

  In many cases, when the special symbol changes, the first special symbol display 221 and the second special symbol display 222 (hereinafter referred to as the special symbol display units 221 and 222 if they are not distinguished) are linked with display control. In the image display unit 114, an effect using a decorative design is performed. The decorative design is configured, for example, by displaying three rows of symbols composed of a number sequence in which numbers 1 to 9 are continuously written in the vertical direction. Then, at the same time when the special symbol display on the special symbol indicators 221 and 222 is started, the decorative symbol displayed on the image display unit 114 starts scrolling. Also, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the special symbol variation display (decorative symbol scroll start), the special symbol is stopped and displayed at the same time. Generally, when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is a big hit, three identical numbers are arranged on a straight line extending horizontally or diagonally in the stop display of the decorative symbol. An effect using a decorative symbol performed in accordance with the variation display of the special symbol is referred to as a variation effect.

In the production with reach, the following operation is performed on the decorative design as a variation production. First, when the decorative symbol scrolling stops and each symbol is stopped and displayed, first, any two symbols (sequence) stop first. At this time, the same number is stopped and displayed on a straight line extending horizontally or diagonally. Next, the last row gradually slows down the scroll speed, giving the player a sense of expectation that three identical numbers will be aligned on a straight line. In such an effect with reach, a so-called SP (super) reach effect or SP / SP reach effect in which various characters appear or stories develop before the last one column of scrolling stops. There is a case. Further, as shown in FIG. 21, which will be described later, in this embodiment, when the variation time is longer (for example, 90 seconds or 60 seconds), the SP reach or SP / SP reach effect is set to be executed. . Note that the above-described variation effect performed together with the reach effect is also referred to as a reach variation effect.
On the other hand, in the non-reach effect, the design is stopped and displayed in a state where the same numbers are not aligned on a straight line extending horizontally or diagonally without producing an effect that gives the player a sense of expectation like the effect with reach.

As described above, the reach random number is used to determine whether to perform an effect with reach or an effect without reach in the image display unit 114 when the determination result of the jackpot random number is a loss. A reachable effect appears with a probability, so that the player is appropriately expected.
In other words, when a big win is won, an effect with reach is performed, and finally the decorative symbols are stopped and displayed in a state where the same numbers are aligned on a straight line extending horizontally or diagonally. On the other hand, in the case of winning with a small win or loss, the decorative symbols are stopped and displayed in a state where the same numbers are not aligned on the straight line.

Next, the determination of the winning random number used for the normal symbol lottery will be described.
Referring to FIG. 20 (d), the range of random number values is 10 from 0 to 9, and one value is assigned as the winning value when the time-short flag is OFF, and the winning value when the time-short flag is ON. Nine values are assigned. Therefore, when the game ball passes through the gate 124 and the normal symbol lottery is performed in the timeless state, it is won with a probability of 1/10. On the other hand, if the game ball passes through the gate 124 and the normal symbol lottery is performed in the short-time state, the player wins with a probability of 9/10.
In addition, although not particularly illustrated, it is possible to set a plurality of hits with different contents of the auxiliary game (open pattern of the electric tulips 123) performed when it is determined that the normal symbol lottery is won. In this case, for example, the winning symbol random number for specifying the winning type in the normal symbol lottery is set in the same manner as the jackpot symbol random number for specifying the winning symbol type in the special symbol lottery (see FIG. 17B). Then, the game control unit 200 acquires the random number value of the winning design random number together with the random number value of the winning random number in the gate switch process (see FIG. 7) by the random number acquiring unit 231, and is acquired by the normal symbol determining unit 232. The hit type is specified based on the random value.
Note that the random number range, winning value ratio, and winning value shown in the configuration example of each random number in FIG. 20 are merely examples, and are not limited to the illustrated values.

[Setting example of fluctuation pattern]
Next, an example of setting the variation pattern and table used in the variation pattern selection process shown in FIG. 13 will be described.
FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a setting example of a variation pattern and a table used in the variation pattern selection process illustrated in FIG. FIG. 21 shows a setting example that is selected when a game ball is won at the first start port 121 and the gaming state is the low probability short-time non-game state or the high probability short-time non-state. .

  Although not shown in the present embodiment, as the setting of the variation pattern used for the variation pattern selection process, the variation selected when the gaming state is the low probability short gaming state or the high probability short gaming state. There are also patterns. Then, a variation pattern table for a short time state that is referred to when selecting those variation patterns is provided, and has different setting contents from the variation pattern table for a short time state. Furthermore, regarding the case where a game ball wins at the second start port 122, a table for setting a variation pattern selected in the variation pattern selection process may be provided individually, or a game ball wins at the first start port 121. In this case, the table to be referenced may be shared and referenced.

  As illustrated in FIG. 21, the variation patterns A to D are variation patterns that are selected when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is a big hit (Yes in S1302 in FIG. 13). The variation patterns E to H are variation patterns that are selected when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is out of order and the reach effect is performed (Yes in S1305 in FIG. 13). The variation patterns I to K are set as variation patterns that are selected when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is out of order and the reach effect is not performed (No in S1305 in FIG. 13). Since the reach effect is always performed when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is a big hit, the presence or absence of the reach effect is not referred to when the variation patterns A to D are selected.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 21, four types of variation patterns A to D are set as variation patterns when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is a big hit (in the case of Yes in S1302 in FIG. 13). Also, seven types of variation patterns E to K are set as variation patterns when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is out of place (in the case of No in S1302 in FIG. 13). The fluctuation time is 90 seconds for fluctuation pattern A, 60 seconds for fluctuation pattern B, 30 seconds for fluctuation pattern C,
Fluctuation pattern D is 15 seconds, fluctuation pattern E is 90 seconds, fluctuation pattern F is 60 seconds, fluctuation pattern G is 30 seconds, fluctuation pattern H is 15 seconds, fluctuation pattern I is 13 seconds, fluctuation pattern J is 7 seconds, fluctuation Pattern K is set to 3 seconds.

Further, as shown in FIG. 21, the range of the random number (variation pattern random number) value is 250 from 0 to 249 in all cases.
When the determination result of the special symbol lottery is a big hit, 100 random numbers are assigned to the variation pattern A, and a variation time of 90 seconds is set with a probability of 100/250. Also, 75 random numbers are assigned to the fluctuation pattern B, and a fluctuation time of 60 seconds is set with a probability of 75/250. Furthermore, 50 random numbers are assigned to the variation pattern C, and a variation time of 30 seconds is set with a probability of 50/250. Then, 25 random numbers are assigned to the variation pattern D, and a variation time of 15 seconds is set with a probability of 25/250.
That is, among the variation patterns A to D selected when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is a big hit, the variation pattern A is selected at the highest rate, the variation pattern B is selected at the next highest rate, and the next It is possible to set so that the variation pattern C is selected at a higher rate and the variation pattern D is selected at the lowest rate. And, when winning the jackpot, it is easy to execute the variation effect over a relatively long time.

Also, when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is out of order and an effect with reach is performed, 25 random numbers are assigned to the variation pattern E, and a variation time of 90 seconds is set with a probability of 25/250. The Further, 50 random numbers are assigned to the variation pattern F, and a variation time of 60 seconds is set with a probability of 50/250. Furthermore, 75 random numbers are assigned to the fluctuation pattern G, and a fluctuation time of 30 seconds is set with a probability of 75/250. Then, 100 random numbers are assigned to the variation pattern H, and a variation time of 15 seconds is set with a probability of 100/250.
In other words, the variation pattern H is selected at the highest rate among the variation patterns E to H selected when the determination result of the special symbol lottery is out of order and the effect with reach is performed, and the variation pattern at the next highest rate. It can be set such that G is selected, the variation pattern F is selected at the next highest rate, and the variation pattern E is selected at the lowest rate. When the effect with reach and the effect with reach is performed, the variation effect over a relatively short time is easily executed.

  When the determination result of the special symbol lottery is out of order and a reachless effect is performed, 250 random numbers are assigned to the variation patterns I to K. The variation pattern I is selected when the number of holdings is 0, the variation pattern J is selected when the number of holdings is 1 or 2, and the variation pattern K is selected when the number of holdings is 3 or 4. Is set as a fluctuation pattern. That is, in the case where an effect without reach and a reachless effect is performed, the average time of symbol variation is set to be shorter as the number of pending determinations in the special symbol lottery is larger.

  The game control unit 200 determines the variation pattern random number value (see S903 and S910 in FIG. 9) acquired when the game ball wins the start openings 121 and 122, the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100, presence / absence of reach effect, The variation pattern of the special symbol is determined based on the condition such as the number. Then, the information of the determined variation pattern of the special symbol is included in the variation start command and is sent from the game control unit 200 to the effect control unit 300. As will be described later, in the effect control unit 300, an effect corresponding to a change time specified based on information of a change pattern included in the change start command (executable during the change time) as an effect when the special symbol changes Is selected and executed.

[Configuration of RAM of Game Control Unit and RAM of Effect Control Unit for Performing Pre-decision Production Based on Prior Judgment]
Next, the configuration of the RAM 203 of the game control unit 200 and the RAM 303 of the effect control unit 300 in the present embodiment for executing a predetermination effect based on the predetermination will be described.
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the RAM 203 (see FIG. 3) of the game control unit 200 according to the present embodiment. 22A is a block diagram showing the configuration of the storage area 204, and FIG. 22B is a block diagram showing the configuration of each storage unit shown in FIG. 22A.

  As shown in FIG. 22A, the RAM 203 includes a storage area 204 as a special symbol holding storage area for storing the jackpot random number acquired by the jackpot random number lottery. This storage area 204 has eight storage units corresponding to the maximum number of reservations of the first start port 121 and the number of reservations of the second start port 122 (when the upper limit value of each reservation number is 4). . Specifically, the storage area 204 includes a first storage unit 204a, a second storage unit 204b, a third storage unit 204c, a fourth storage unit 204d, a fifth storage unit 204e, a sixth storage unit 204f, and a seventh storage. Part 204g and eighth storage part 204h.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.22 (b), each of these memory | storage parts 204a-204h is an area | region where the information showing the distinction of the winning start port (the 1st start port 121 or the 2nd start port 122) is memorize | stored. And an area for storing the acquired jackpot random number, an area for storing the design random number, an area for storing the reach random number, and an area for storing the variation pattern random number. That is, the jackpot random number, the design random number, the reach random number, and the variation pattern random number are stored in each of the storage units 204a to 204h.

  Here, each random number is stored in order from the first storage unit 204a. More specifically, for example, when no random number is stored in any of the first storage unit 204a to the eighth storage unit 204h, the acquired random number is stored in the first storage unit 204a. Further, for example, when random numbers are already stored in the first storage unit 204a to the fourth storage unit 204d, the acquired random number is stored in the fifth storage unit 204e.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the RAM 303 (see FIG. 3) of the effect control unit 300 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 23A is a block diagram showing the configuration of the reserved storage areas 305 and 306, and FIG. 23B is a block diagram showing the configuration of each storage unit shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 23A, the RAM 303 includes a first reserved storage area 305 and a second reserved storage area 306 as a reserved status storage area for storing a status where a reserved ball is held. The first holding storage area 305 and the second holding storage area 306 correspond to holding for winning in the first starting port 121 and holding for winning in the second starting port 122, respectively. Have. Specifically, the first reserved storage area 305 includes a first storage unit 305a, a second storage unit 305b, a third storage unit 305c, and a fourth storage unit 305d. The second reserved storage area 306 includes a first storage unit 306a, a second storage unit 306b, a third storage unit 306c, and a fourth storage unit 306d.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 23B, each of these storage units 305a to 305d and 306a to 306d has a hold flag storage area for turning ON / OFF the hold flag, and a notification flag storage for turning ON / OFF the notification flag. And a region. The hold flag is a flag for identifying the presence or absence of a hold ball for each of the storage units 305a to 305d and 306a to 306d. That is, for example, when the number of holds due to winning at the first start port 121 is 3, the hold flag is turned ON in the three hold flag storage areas of the first to third storage units 305a, 305b, and 305c. The notification flag is a flag for setting whether or not to perform a pre-decision effect based on a pre-determination result for each reserved ball. In the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment, the effect control unit 300 can set whether or not to perform a pre-decision effect based on the pre-determination result according to the gaming state and the state of the effect. Therefore, the notification flag is set to ON when the advance determination effect is performed, and the notification flag is set to OFF when the advance determination effect is not performed. For example, when performing a pre-decision effect on the third reserved ball among the three reserved balls, the notification flag is turned ON in the notification flag storage area of the third storage unit 305c.

  That is, the RAM 203 and the RAM 303 function as a storage unit that stores hold information that is start information based on establishment of a predetermined start condition with a predetermined number as a limit in the game control unit 200 and the effect control unit 300. In addition, the game control unit 200, based on the hold information that is the start information, before the determination of the special symbol determination unit 234 triggered by the establishment of the start condition corresponding to the start information, It is a prior determination means which performs the prior determination process regarding whether to transfer to. The effect control unit 300 is an effect control unit that performs an advance determination effect for notifying (implying) an advance determination result.

  Although not particularly shown, the RAM 203 has an area for storing prior determination information (hereinafter referred to as a prior determination information storage area) separately from the configuration shown in FIG. The pre-determination information is information obtained by the pre-determination process based on each random number (see S904 and S911 in FIG. 9). The content of the prior determination information is the same as the information obtained as various determination results in the special symbol processing (see FIG. 11), and specifically, whether or not a big hit (and whether or not a big hit), a big hit If it is, the type of the jackpot and the content of the production are information for indicating whether the production is a reachable or non-reach production, or the content of the variation pattern (variation time). The pre-determination information stored in the pre-determination information storage area is unique or independent from the hold information corresponding to the winning ball (holding ball) subjected to the pre-determination process (hereinafter referred to as hold information). At the timing, it is included in the prior determination result command and sent from the game control unit 200 to the effect control unit 300.

[Preliminary judgment processing]
Next, the prior determination process (see S904 and S911 in FIG. 9) will be described in detail.
In the pre-determination process in the present embodiment, the game control unit 200 makes a pre-determination using the same random number table as the random number configuration example described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21 as follows.

FIG. 24-1 is a flowchart showing the contents of the pre-determination process (S904, S911 in FIG. 9) according to the present embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 24-1, the game control unit 200 first determines whether or not the gaming state is a high probability state (S2401), and if it is determined that the gaming state is a high probability state (Yes in S2401), the high probability state. Is selected, and a jackpot random number and a jackpot symbol random number are pre-determined (S2402). On the other hand, if it is determined No in S2401, the table for the low probability state is selected, and the jackpot random number and the jackpot symbol random number are determined in advance (S2403).

After pre-determination of the jackpot random number and jackpot symbol random number in S2402 or S2403, the game control unit 200 determines whether or not the gaming state is a short-time state (S2404), and determines that it is a short-time state (Yes in S2404), The table for the short time state is selected, and the reach random number is determined in advance (S2405). Further, the table for the short time state is selected, and the fluctuation pattern random number is determined in advance (S2406).
On the other hand, if it is determined No in S2404, a table for time reduction and no state is selected and a reach random number is determined in advance (S2407). Further, a table for timelessness and no-time state is selected, and a variation pattern random number is preliminarily determined (S2408).

  Thereafter, the game control unit 200 obtains the results of the jackpot random number prior determination obtained as described above, the results of the jackpot symbol random number prior determination, the reach random number prior determination result, and the variation pattern prior determination result. It is stored in the advance determination information storage area as advance determination information (S2409). Further, in order to transmit the advance determination information to the effect control unit 300, the advance determination result command including the advance determination information is set in the RAM 203 (S2410).

  Here, the above-described prior determination includes a random number value (see S903 and S910 in FIG. 9) acquired according to the winning of a game ball to the start ports 121 and 122, and a determination table used in the jackpot determination process (FIG. 20). And a determination table having the same configuration as that of the reference). That is, the determination itself after selecting the determination table to be used is the same as the determination in the jackpot determination process (see S1201 in FIG. 12). Therefore, in this embodiment, the jackpot determination processing subroutine (see S1108 in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12) used in the special symbol processing (see FIG. 11) is called to determine the random number in the above-described prior determination.

  With this configuration, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to prepare a processing function (subroutine) for determining a random number separately from the jackpot determination process in order to determine a random number in the prior determination process. Therefore, the number of control instructions can be reduced, and an increase in the size of the program related to the jackpot determination process and the prior determination process can be suppressed. Further, as described above, when the determination table used for the pre-determination is configured similarly to the determination table used for the jackpot determination, the determination table used for the jackpot determination may also be used for the pre-determination.

  Also, here, only the prior determination (whether or not a big win) related to the special symbol lottery has been described, but in this embodiment, the prior determination (prefetching) is also performed for the variation pattern when the special symbol variation display and stop display are performed. I do. The selection of the variation pattern in the special symbol lottery is performed by selecting a variation pattern selection random number (see S903 and S910 in FIG. 9) and a variation pattern table (FIG. 21) acquired in accordance with the winning of the game ball to the start ports 121 and 122. (See S1109 in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13). Therefore, even in the pre-determination of the variation pattern, selection is made using a random value for variation pattern selection acquired at the time of winning and a pre-determination table having the same configuration as the variation pattern table used in the variation pattern selection processing of the special symbol processing. The variation pattern to be performed can be determined in advance.

  In this case, in order to preliminarily determine the variation pattern selected in the variation pattern selection process, the variation pattern selection process subroutine (see S1109 in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13) used in the special symbol process (see FIG. 11) is called. Can be used. In addition, regarding the prior determination table used for the prior determination of the variation pattern selection, the variation pattern table used in the variation pattern selection processing of the special symbol processing may be used. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of control instructions related to the prior determination of variation pattern selection and to suppress an increase in the size of the program.

  Note that if the pre-determination process and the jackpot determination process at the time of special symbol change are performed in the same subroutine using the same determination table group, the execution time of each process is different, so the pre-determination result and the special symbol change time There is a case where the determination result by the jackpot determination process is different. That is, it is a case where the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 (high probability state or low probability state, short time state or short time state) changes after the execution of the pre-determination process until the start of the special symbol change. In this case, since different types of determination tables are used depending on the gaming state, the specific determination table used for determination differs between the execution of the pre-determination process and the execution of the jackpot determination process. . Therefore, even if the same random number value acquired at the time of winning the start openings 121 and 122 is used, the prior determination result and the determination result of the jackpot determination process may be different. In such a case, in the effect control unit 300, if the game state changes before the start of the special symbol variation after the execution of the pre-determination process, the control based on the pre-determination result is not executed (prohibition). You may do.

[Command structure and transmission method]
Here, the configuration and transmission method of commands (effect control commands and setting commands) output from the game control unit 200 to the effect control unit 300 will be described.
FIG. 24-2 is a diagram illustrating a command configuration. FIG. 24-2 (a) shows the data structure of the command, and FIG. 24-2 (b) shows the structure of the command as a bit string.

  As shown in FIG. 24-2 (a), the command output from the game control unit 200 to the effect control unit 300 is composed of 2 bytes. This command is composed of a 1-byte “code” as the first data portion and a 1-byte “data” as the second data portion. “Code” indicates the type of command, and “Data” indicates the value of the command. This command is transmitted from the game control unit 200 to the effect control unit 300 using asynchronous synchronization by one serial signal. More generally, the “code” that is the first data part has a size of a bit (a is an integer of 2 or more), and the value of the leading 1 bit is specified as either 1 or 0. The “data” as the second data part has a size of n × a bits (n is an integer of 1 or more), and the value of the first 1 bit is different from the value of the first 1 bit of the first data part. Specific to the value.

  Since start-stop synchronization is used, a start bit (bit indicated as “S” in the figure) is provided at the head of each of “code” and “data” constituting the command, and 1 at the end. End bits of bits (bits indicated as “E” in the figure) are provided. Each of the “code” and “data” constituting the command is provided with one parity bit (bit indicated as “P” in the figure).

  As shown in FIG. 24-2 (a), both the “code” and “data” constituting the command have a data size of 1 byte (8 bits). When transmitted, the “code” and “data” are provided with a start bit, an end bit, and a parity bit, respectively. For this reason, it is not easy for the presentation control unit 300 that receives a command to identify whether the received data string is a “code” or “data” of the command from the outline of the data string. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a flag for identifying “code” and “data” is set. Specifically, the value of the specific portion of the 8-bit value constituting the “code” is made different from the value of the portion corresponding to the specific portion of the “code” among the 8-bit values constituting the “data”. .

  In the example shown in FIG. 24-2 (b), the first 1 bit of each of “code” and “data” is used as a flag. That is, in the 8-bit value constituting the “code”, the first 1-bit value is “1”, and in the 8-bit value constituting the “data”, the first 1-bit value is “0”. . Thereby, the effect control unit 300 can identify whether the data string is “code” or “data” by examining the value of the first 1 bit following the start bit of the received data string. The specific value of the flag is merely an example, and a value different from the above value may be used as long as “code” and “data” can be identified.

  Here, since the value of the first bit of “code” is specified as “1”, the range of values that can be taken by “code” is 128 from 10000000B (= 80H) to 11111111B (= FFH). It is. Note that the letter “B” attached to each value indicates binary notation, and the letter “H” indicates hexadecimal notation. In addition, since the value of the first 1 bit of “data” is specified as “0”, the range of values that “data” can take is 128 from 00000000B (= 00H) to 01111111B (= 7FH). is there. That is, according to the configuration shown in FIGS. 24-2 (a) and (b), it is possible to set 128 types of commands, each of which can take 128 types of values.

  By the way, in the pachinko gaming machine 100, many types of effects are executed according to the gaming state, the determination result of the special symbol lottery, and the like. Therefore, a large number of commands are prepared for the commands for effect control. In particular, the “data” that is the value indicating the specific content of the command may be insufficient with the above 128. On the other hand, the “code” indicating the type of command is usually smaller than the above 128. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a part of the bit string of “code” to describe the value of “data”.

  For example, consider the case where the last 1 bit of “code” is used to describe the value of “data”. Hereinafter, each bit in the 8-bit bit string constituting “code” and “data” is referred to as first to eighth bits. Separately from the bit string that makes up the “code”, the “code” value that actually indicates the type of command is called the “code value”, and separately from the bit string that makes up the “data”, the actual command value is The value of “data” shown is called “data value”. Then, the code value is described using the first to seventh bits in the “code” bit string, and the data value is all of the “data” bit string (from the first bit to the eighth bit). , And the 8th bit of “code”.

  With this configuration, the possible range of the code value is that the value of the first bit is specified as “1” and the total size is 7 bits, so that the range from 1000000B (= 40H) to 1111111B (= 7FH) ) Up to 64). The possible range of the data value is 128 values represented by 8 bits of “data” in which the value of the first bit is specified as “0”, and values “0” and “8” of the 8th bit of “code”. 1 ”is 256. Therefore, it is possible to set a command having 256 types of values as data values.

  Note that the above configuration in the case where a data value is described using a part of the “code” is merely an example, and the specific number of bits and value are not limited to the above configuration example. For example, the data value may be described using the seventh bit and the eighth bit of the “code”. More generally, a predetermined type of data (data value) using a predetermined bit constituting “code” as the first data portion and a bit constituting “data” as the second data portion. Is recorded. Then, by using the remaining bits excluding the predetermined bits in the “code” which is the first data portion, other types of data (code values) different from the predetermined types of data (data values) are recorded. The In other words, a bit constituting “data” as the second data part and b bit (b is smaller than a−1 and an integer of 1 or more) constituting “code” as the first data part. In use, a data value having a size of (a + b) bits is recorded.

  Further, as a means for increasing the number of data values that can be handled, it is conceivable to increase the bit string of “data” describing the data values. For example, it is conceivable to prepare “first data” and “second data” as bit strings describing data values. In this case, if each bit string is 8 bits, a data value can be described by a bit string of 16 bits in total. In order to distinguish between “first data” and “second data”, if the second bit of the 8-bit bit string is used as a flag, for example, the first bit and the second bit of “first data” Can be “00B”, and the first and second bits of “second data” can be “01B”. The first bit has a value “0” as a flag for identifying “code”. That is, the “data” that is the second data portion is a bit string (“first data”, “second data”,...) That represents each data value every 8 bits (more generally, For each a bit), the same value as the value of the first 1 bit is set.

  With this configuration, the range of values that the “first data” can take is 64 from 00000000B (= 00H) to 00111111B (= 3FH), and the range of values that the “second data” can take is Since there are 64 from 01000000B (= 40H) to 01111111B (= 7FH), the total is 4096 (= 64 × 64). Here, the first bit is used as a flag for identifying “code” and “data” (“first data” and “second data”), and “first data” and “second data” Although the second bit is used as a flag for identifying the bit, a flag for identifying four types of bit strings may be set using the first and second bits. For example, “code” may have the value of the first and second bits “11B”, and “data” may have the value of the first and second bits “00B”, “01B”, and “10B”. Conceivable.

[Configuration Example for Command Output in RAM of Game Control Unit]
FIG. 24C is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a command storage area in the RAM 203.
As shown in FIG. 24-3, the RAM 203 of the game control unit 200 has a command storage area (storage area) to which individual commands generated by various processes such as the main control process shown in FIG. 8 are assigned. . In the example illustrated in FIG. 24-3, 31 command storage areas from the area 01 to the area 031 are set in the RAM 203. Here, the command allocation to each command storage area does not necessarily have a one-to-one correspondence. For example, a plurality of commands that are not generated at the same time can be assigned to the same command storage area. In the example shown in FIG. 24-3, a plurality of commands are assigned to the area 01, area 09, area 012, area 019, area 020, area 021, area 022, area 023, and area 030. One command is assigned to each storage area.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 24-3, a command related to power-on is assigned to the area 01. Commands relating to power-on include a command for controlling power-on at the time of RAM clear and a command for controlling power-on at the time of recovery. Since these commands are generated in different scenes, these commands are not generated at the same time, and are all assigned to the area 01.

  In the area 02 to the area 04, three commands related to winning at the first starting port 121 (described as “starting port 1 winning” in the figure) are assigned. One of the commands related to winning at the first starting port 121 is a command (in the figure, "Special Fig. 1") showing a determination (pre-reading) result in a prior determination based on winning at the first starting port 121 (see S904 in FIG. 9). This is assigned to the area 02. The other one is a command (denoted as “special figure 1 variation pattern prefetch” in the figure) indicating the prefetching (preliminary judgment) result of the variation pattern specified together with the judgment result, and is assigned to the area 03. Another one is a command ("Special figure 1 hold (+1)" in the figure) indicating that the number of special symbol lottery reservations has been updated (in this case, the value is increased by 1) based on the winning at the first starting port 121. And assigned to the area 04.

  In the area 05 to the area 07, three commands (denoted as “starting opening 2 winning” in the figure) related to winning in the second starting opening 122 are assigned. One of the commands related to winning at the second starting port 122 is a command ("special figure 2 pattern look-ahead" in the figure) indicating the determination result in the prior determination based on winning at the second starting port 122 (see S911 in FIG. 9). And assigned to the area 05. The other one is a command (described as “special figure 2 variation pattern prefetch” in the figure) indicating the variation pattern prefetching result specified together with the determination result, and is assigned to the area 06. Another one is a command ("Special figure 2 hold (+1)" in the figure) indicating that the number of special symbol lottery reservations has been updated (in this case, the value is increased by 1) based on the winning at the second starting port 122. And is assigned to the area 07.

  In the area 08 to area 010, there are five commands related to the normal symbol lottery (in the figure, "Pending map", "Plot type", "Pix map", "Plot open / close", "Plot hold" Described) is assigned. Of the normal symbol lottery commands, one of the “general symbol hold” commands indicates that the number of normal symbol lotteries has been updated (in this case, the value is increased by 1) based on the fact that the game ball has passed through the gate 124. It is a command (denoted as “general map hold (+1)” in the figure) and is assigned to the area 08. The “ordinary symbol type” command designates a normal symbol representing the determination result in the normal symbol lottery, and indicates that the variable symbol display on the normal symbol indicator 223 is started (denoted as “normal symbol variation start” in the diagram). And is assigned to area 09. The “general symbol confirmation” command is a command that indicates that the normal symbol display 223 is stopped and displayed in the normal symbol lottery and the normal symbol representing the determination result of the normal symbol lottery is fixed (“normal symbol confirmation” in the figure). And is assigned to the area 09. The “open / close map” command is a command (indicated as “open / close of normal train”) indicating that the electric tulip 123, which is a normal electric accessory, is operated (auxiliary game) based on the determination result of the normal symbol lottery. Yes, assigned to area 09. Another one of the “pending custom map” commands is a command indicating that the number of holdings has been updated (in this case, the value is decreased by 1) due to the normal symbol lottery process (in the figure, “pending general drawing (- 1) ”) and assigned to the area 010.

  Here, in the normal symbol lottery process, the normal symbol variation display, the normal symbol stop display, and the operation of the electric tulip 123 by the auxiliary game are sequentially executed as a series of operations. Then, the normal symbol variation display based on the fact that another game ball has passed through the gate 124 during the operation of the electric tulip 123 is not started (see FIG. 16). For this reason, the above three types of commands “general map type”, “general map confirmation”, and “general power open / close” are not generated at the same time. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 24-3, these three types of commands are assigned to the same command storage area (area 09).

  Nine commands related to special symbol lottery (in the figure, described as “special figure variation” and “special figure special electricity”) are assigned to the areas 011 to 014. Of the commands related to the special symbol lottery, one of the “special diagram change” commands is a command (indicating whether the current gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 100 (high probability state or low probability state, short time state or short time state). In the figure, it is described as “gaming state”) and is assigned to the area 011. Another one of the “special symbol change” commands is to designate a special symbol representing the determination result of the special symbol lottery in the special symbol lottery, and display the fluctuation on the first special symbol indicator 221 and the second special symbol indicator 222. Is a command (denoted as “special drawing designation” in the figure) indicating that it has started, and is assigned to the area 012. Still another of the “special pattern variation” commands is a command (described as “variation pattern” in the figure) for specifying a variation pattern of special symbol variation performed in the special symbol lottery, and is assigned to the region 013. Still another of the “special figure change” commands is a command (in the figure, “special figure hold (in the figure) indicating that the number of holds has been updated (here, the value is decreased by 1) due to the special symbol lottery process being performed. -1) ”) and assigned to the area 014.

  On the other hand, one of the “special drawing special electric power” commands is a command indicating that the pachinko gaming machine 100 is in a customer waiting state (denoted as “customer waiting” in the figure), and is assigned to the area 012. Another one of the “Special Figure Special Electric” commands is a command (in the figure, “Special Electric, Special Bonus Games”) indicating that the special winning combination 125 is operated based on the determination result of the special symbol lottery. And is assigned to the area 012. Still another special command special command is a command (denoted as “big jack OP” in the figure) indicating that the opening operation of the jackpot game has been started, and is assigned to the area 012. Still another special command special command is a command (denoted as “big jack ED” in the figure) indicating that the jackpot game ending operation has started, and is assigned to the area 012. Yet another one of the “Special Figure Special Electric” commands is that the first special symbol display 221 and the second special symbol display 222 are stopped and displayed, and the special symbol representing the determination result of the special symbol lottery is confirmed. Command (denoted as “special figure confirmation” in the figure), and is assigned to the area 012.

  Here, in the special symbol lottery process, the change display of the special symbol, the special symbol stop display, and the operation of the special winning opening 125 by the special game are sequentially executed as a series of operations. Then, during the execution of the special game, the special symbol variation display based on the winning of another game ball is not started (see FIG. 11). In the jackpot game, the opening operation, the operation of the big prize opening 125, and the ending operation are sequentially executed as a series of operations. Therefore, the “special drawing designation” command and the five types of “special drawing special electricity” commands in the above “special figure change” command are not generated at the same time. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 24-3, these six types of commands are assigned to the same command storage area (area 012).

  In the area 015 to area 018, four commands related to switch detection (indicated as “switch passing” in the figure) are assigned. One of the commands related to the switch detection is a command indicating that the game ball has passed through the gate 124L on the left side of the game area 111 (denoted as “pass left gate” in the figure), and is assigned to the area 015. Another command related to the switch detection is a command indicating that the game ball has passed through the right gate 124R of the game area 111 (denoted as “passing right gate” in the figure), and is assigned to the area 016. . Still another command related to the switch detection is a command (denoted as “passing through the starting port SW2 (electrical chew)” in the figure) indicating that a game ball has won the second starting port 122, and is assigned to the area 017. It has been. Still another command related to the switch detection is a command indicating that a game ball has won the big winning opening 125 (denoted as “big winning opening winning” in the figure), and is assigned to the area 018.

  Commands relating to errors (described as “error” in the figure) are assigned to the areas 019 to 030. As an error detected by the game control unit 200 of the pachinko gaming machine 100, for example, a full error indicating that the payout ball is full in the tray 153 (see FIGS. 1 and 2B), the front surface of the frame member 150 A door opening error indicating that the frame is open, a payout error indicating that the payout unit can no longer pay out game balls, and various detection switches such as the gate switch 214 and the start port switches 211 and 212 have not been detected. There is a switch disconnection error indicating that the connection is established. In the example shown in FIG. 24-3, these errors are assigned to the areas 019 to 023, respectively. In addition, for each error, a command indicating that each error has occurred (described as “˜error start” in the figure) and a command indicating that each error has been resolved (described as “˜error end” in the figure). Are assigned to the same command storage area.

  In addition, various control items and error items are set according to the specifications and functions of the pachinko gaming machine 100, and the error is resolved depending on the command according to the control item, the command indicating that an error has occurred, and the type of error. A command or the like indicating that may be generated. These commands can be appropriately assigned to the command storage area. In the example illustrated in FIG. 24-3, commands relating to various errors are individually assigned to the areas 024 to 030. Also, a command (denoted as “winning notification designation” in the figure) for detecting and notifying a specific winning is assigned to the area 031.

As described above, in the command storage area provided in the RAM 203 of the game control unit 200, one or more types of commands are associated with one command storage area. In the main control process shown in FIG. 8, the game control unit 200 stores the generated command in the command storage area associated with the command.
Here, in the main control process, not every command is necessarily generated every time one cycle of the process is executed. For example, when there is no winning at the first starting port 121 or the second starting port 122, the above-mentioned commands relating to winning at the starting ports 121 and 122 and the “special figure change” command are not generated. Of the commands related to the normal symbol lottery, the “open / close map” command and the “special drawing special electricity” command are not generated unless it is time to operate these electric accessories. In addition, a command related to the occurrence of an error is not generated unless an error has occurred.
Therefore, when the output process of the main control process (see S806 in FIG. 8) is performed, commands are usually stored in some command storage areas among the command storage areas provided in the RAM 203. Commands are not stored in other command storage areas.

[Command output operation]
FIG. 24-4 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of output processing by the output control unit 240.
In the present embodiment, the output control unit 240 pays attention to the command storage areas of the RAM 203 shown in FIG. 24-3 in order (in order of area numbers), and outputs the commands stored in the command storage areas. .

  As shown in FIG. 24-4, the output control unit 240 of the game control unit 200 first has a command storage area at the head of the command storage areas provided in the RAM 203 (area 01 in the example shown in FIG. 24-3). (S2411), it is checked whether a command is stored (S2412). If the command is stored (Yes in S2412), the output control unit 240 reads out the stored command and outputs it to the effect control unit 300 (S2413).

  If no command is stored in the focused command storage area (initially area 01) (No in S2412), or after outputting the command stored in the command storage area in S2413, the output control unit 240 It is checked whether there is a command storage area of the next area number (S2414). When there is a next command storage area (Yes in S2414), the output control unit 240 pays attention to the command storage area (S2415), returns to S2412, confirms the presence / absence of a command (S2412), and outputs (S2413). repeat. If the last command storage area (area 031 in the example shown in FIG. 24-3) is processed, there is no command storage area of the next area number (No in S2414), and the output process is terminated. To do.

[Set command output order]
In the main control process, when a command is generated in each process described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 19, the generated command is usually stored in a corresponding command storage area of the RAM 203. That is, commands are generally stored in the command storage area in the order in which the commands are generated.
On the other hand, as described with reference to FIG. 24-4, in the output processing by the output control unit 240, the command storage areas are stored in a fixed order (in the order of area numbers in the above example). Output the command. In other words, the commands are output in a predetermined specific order regardless of the order in which the commands are generated. This is because it may be desirable to transmit specific commands to the effect control unit 300 in a specific order in order to prevent confusion in the effect control of the effect control unit 300 based on the command. That is, since the effect control unit 300 performs effect control based on commands in the order received from the game control unit 200, confusion such as inconsistency in effect control may occur due to a difference in the order of receiving commands. Need to prevent this.

[Operation of production control unit]
Next, the operation of the effect control unit 300 will be described.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the operation of the effect control unit 300.
The operation of the effect control unit 300 includes a main process shown in FIG. 25A and an interrupt process shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 25 (a), the production control unit 300 first performs initial setting at the time of activation (S2501), sets the cycle of the CTC (Counter / Timer Circuit) (S2502), and then follows the set cycle. The interrupt process is accepted while updating the random number used in the production control (S2503).

  The interrupt process is periodically performed according to the cycle set in S2502. Referring to FIG. 25B, in this interruption process, the effect control unit 300 receives a command from the game control unit 200 and performs a command reception process (S2511). In this command reception process, the effect content (effect pattern) is selected. In addition, the effect control unit 300 performs effect button processing for accepting an operation of the effect button 161 and the like by the player (S2512). Thereafter, the effect control unit 300 performs a command transmission process of transmitting a command including information on the selected effect pattern to the image / sound control unit 310 and the lamp control unit 320 (S2513). As a result, effects such as image display and sound output on the image display unit 114, operations of the movable accessory 115 and the movable effect device 5, light emission of the panel lamp 116 and the frame lamp 157 are performed.

[Command reception processing by the production control unit]
FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the contents of the command reception process (S2511 in FIG. 25B).
In this command reception process, the effect control unit 300 first determines whether or not a prior determination result command and a pending number increase command have been received (S2601). Note that the advance determination result command and the hold number increase command are set in the start port switch process shown in FIG. 9 in the game control unit 200 (S906, S907, S913, S914), and the output process (S806) shown in FIG. ) Is a command transmitted to the production control unit 300.
Then, when it is determined that the advance determination result command and the hold number increase command are received (Yes in S2601), the effect control unit 300 adds 1 to the value of the hold number held in the RAM 303 (S2602). Further, the effect control unit 300 performs a pre-decision effect selection process based on the pre-decision result command and the hold number increase command (S2603). The contents of the advance determination effect selection process will be described later.

If the received command is not a prior determination result command or a pending number increase command (No in S2601), the effect control unit 300 determines whether the received command is a change start command (S2604). This variation start command is a command that is set in the special symbol process shown in FIG. 11 in the game control unit 200 (S1111) and transmitted to the effect control unit 300 in the output process (S806) shown in FIG.
When the received command is a change start command (Yes in S2604), the effect control unit 300 executes an effect selection process (S2605). When a change start command is received, a random number value for effect control used in the effect selection process is acquired. This random number value is a random value that is periodically updated in S2503 of the main process shown in FIG. Details of the effect selection process will be described later.

When the received command is not a prior determination result command, a pending number increase command, or a change start command (No in S2601 and S2604), the effect control unit 300 determines whether the received command is a change stop command (S2606). This variation stop command is a command set in the special symbol process shown in FIG. 11 in the game control unit 200 (S1114) and transmitted to the effect control unit 300 in the output process (S806) shown in FIG.
If the received command is a variation stop command (Yes in S2606), the effect control unit 300 executes a process during the end of the variation effect (S2607). Details of the process during the end of the variation effect will be described later.

When the received command is not a prior determination result command, a pending number increase command, a change start command, or a change stop command (No in S2601, S2604, and S2606), the effect control unit 300 starts the opening operation of the jackpot game It is determined whether or not it is an opening command (S2608). This opening command is a command that is set in the stop process shown in FIG. 14 (S1418) and transmitted to the effect control unit 300 in the output process (S806) shown in FIG.
When the received command is an opening command (Yes in S2608), the effect control unit 300 executes a jackpot effect selection process (S2609). Details of the jackpot effect selection process will be described later.

When the received command is not a prior determination result command, a pending number increase command, a change start command, a change stop command, or an opening command (No in S2601, S2604, S2606, and S2608), the effect control unit 300 determines that the received command is a big hit game It is determined whether or not the ending command is for starting the ending operation (S2610). This ending command is a command that is set in the special prize opening process shown in FIG. 17 (S1713) and transmitted to the effect control unit 300 in the output process (S806) shown in FIG.
When the received command is an ending command (Yes in S2610), the effect control unit 300 executes an ending effect selection process (S2611). Details of the ending effect selection process will be described later.

  When the received command is not a prior determination result command, a pending number increase command, a fluctuation start command, a fluctuation stop command, an opening command, or an ending command (No in S2601, S2604, S2606, S2608, and S2610), the effect control unit 300 then Then, a customer waiting command reception process for shifting the received command to the customer waiting state is executed (S2612). Details of the customer waiting command reception process will be described later.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a setting example of the mode flag.
When an effect is performed by the effect control unit 300, various effect patterns are selected and executed based on the set effect mode. This effect mode is determined by a mode flag set in the RAM 303. Here, the mode flag is set to any value from 0 to 4, and five types of effect modes from A mode to E mode are assigned to each mode flag. The mode flag is set according to the lottery result of the special symbol lottery or the number of lotteries of the special symbol lottery.
Mode flag 1 for jackpot of high probability symbol A, mode flag 2 for jackpot of low probability symbol A, mode flag 3 for jackpots of high probability symbol B and low probability symbol B, and jackpot of latent symbol symbol A mode flag 4 is assigned to each small hit. Here, the types of these symbols are the same as those shown in FIG. The mode flag 0 is not assigned to any jackpot. In mode flags 1 to 4, mode flag 0 is set by executing special symbol lottery a predetermined number of times.
Further, in the example shown in FIG. 27, the parameter M (M value) used in the process during the end of the changing effect is individually set for each mode except the A mode. As will be described later, the value of the parameter M undergoes special symbol variation, and is decremented by 1 each time it stops.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the contents of the advance determination effect selection process (S2603) and the effect selection process (S2605) of FIG.
In the advance determination effect selection process, the effect control unit 300 first analyzes the advance determination result command received from the game control unit 200 (S2801). Further, the effect control unit 300 analyzes the pending number increase command received from the game control unit 200 (S2802). Then, the effect control unit 300 selects an effect pattern (pre-determined effect pattern) used in the advance determination effect based on the advance determination result command and the pending number increase command (S2803).

  Here, as the pre-decision effect pattern, various effect patterns can be provided so as to notify the determination result of the random number by the special symbol process before the start of the variation based on the determination result of the random number by the special symbol process. For example, an effect such as a hold display effect or a continuous notice effect can be provided as a prior determination effect pattern. In the present embodiment, when a reserved ball is generated, a display indicating the number of held balls is displayed on the first special symbol hold indicator 218 and the second special symbol hold indicator 219 of the display 130 (see FIG. 2). At the same time, the image display unit 114 performs a hold display that suggests the occurrence of a hold or the number of holds (hold display effect). Therefore, in this hold display effect, by reflecting the prior determination result on the display mode of the hold display, etc., the determination result when the random number is determined by special symbol processing for the hold ball is then given to the player. It can be a preliminary determination effect to suggest.

  In addition, although the case where the hold display effect is used as the predetermination effect has been described here, various predeterminations can be made by reflecting the contents in various effects performed before the start of variation based on the random number determination result by the special symbol processing. It is possible to produce a performance. For example, an effect using an effect image displayed on the image display unit 114, an effect due to light emission of the panel lamp 116 or the frame lamp 157, an effect due to the operation of a movable accessory, an effect due to sound output such as music or sound effects, etc. It can be set as a determination effect pattern.

  In addition, the pre-decision effect is executed in accordance with the symbol variation for the other winning spheres performed before the symbol variation for the winning ball (holding ball) for which the pre-determination is performed. In the present embodiment, the upper limit of the number of holding balls is four per one start port (first start port 121 or second start port 122) (see FIG. 9). In addition, priority is given to the digestion of the reserved balls in the second start port 122. In this case, for example, if a determination is made in advance for the reserved ball with the second start port 122, before the symbol variation for the reserved ball is performed, the currently changing variation (referred to as the variation) is included. The symbol variation for up to four winning balls will be performed. In a pre-decision effect related to a reserved ball for which a prior determination has been made, if a plurality of symbol variations are performed before the symbol variation for the reserved ball is performed, a pre-decision effect (continuous) over the multiple symbol variations is performed. (Notice production) may be performed.

  Then, the effect control unit 300 sets the number-of-holds command including the value of the number of hold after the addition and information on the pre-decision effect pattern selected in the pre-decision effect selection process in the RAM 303 (S2804). In addition, the number-of-holds command includes information indicating the pattern in order to notify the CPU 311 of the image / sound control unit 310 of the selected pre-decision effect pattern. By receiving the hold number command, the CPU 311 creates a display list or the like for drawing and outputting the image and sound corresponding to the selected pre-decision effect pattern on the VDP 314. Based on the display list or the like, the VDP 314 reads image data and sound data for representing the selected pre-decision effect pattern from the CGROM 315 or SNDROM 316 and expresses the pre-determination effect using the image display unit 114 or the speaker 156. .

  In the effect selection process, the effect control unit 300 first analyzes the received change start command (S2811). Further, the effect control unit 300 refers to the current mode flag of the pachinko gaming machine 100 from the setting of the RAM 303 (S2812), and subtracts 1 from the value of the number of reservations held in the RAM 303 (S2813). Then, the effect control unit 300 is based on various setting information (information about jackpot type, gaming state after jackpot game, variation pattern, etc.) obtained from the analysis result of the change start command and the effect mode determined by the mode flag. Then, the variation effect pattern of the symbol variation by the image displayed on the image display unit 114 in the effect mode is selected (S2814).

  Finally, the effect control unit 300 sets a variable effect start command for instructing the execution start of the selected effect in the RAM 303 (S2815). Note that the change effect start command includes information indicating the selected change effect pattern to notify the CPU 311 of the selected change effect pattern. The CPU 311 receives the variation effect start command, and creates a display list or the like for drawing and outputting the image and sound corresponding to the selected variation effect pattern on the VDP 314. Based on the display list or the like, the VDP 314 reads image data and acoustic data for representing the selected variation effect pattern from the CGROM 315 and the SNDROM 316, and expresses the variation effect using the image display unit 114 and the speaker 156.

  Although not described in detail, in the selection process of the variation effect pattern of symbol variation in S2814, the effect mode, the variation pattern, and the effect random number (one of the random numbers updated in S2503 of FIG. The random production pattern is determined based on the fact that the production random number value is sometimes obtained). Based on the variation effect pattern determined here, a variation display of a decorative symbol, a background effect, a prior determination effect, and the like are determined. The decorative symbol variation display is an effect display performed by the image display unit 114 in accordance with the special symbol variation display performed by the first special symbol display 221 or the second special symbol display 222. In this variable display of decorative symbols, a reach effect or the like is executed.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the contents of the changing effect end process (S2607) of FIG.
In this variation effect end process, the effect control unit 300 first analyzes the received variation stop command (S2901). Further, the effect control unit 300 refers to the current mode flag of the pachinko gaming machine 100 from the setting of the RAM 303 (S2902). Then, the production control unit 300 determines whether or not the lottery result of the special symbol lottery is a big hit or a small hit based on the information indicating the type of the symbol when the special symbol fluctuation is obtained from the analysis result of the fluctuation stop command. Judgment is made (S2903). If it is a big hit or a small hit (Yes in S2903), the mode flag set in the RAM 303 is changed based on the setting example shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when the lottery result of the special symbol lottery is not a big win or a small win (No in S2903), the effect control unit 300 next checks whether the value of the mode flag is 0 (S2905). When the mode flag is not 0 (No in S2905), the effect control unit 300 subtracts 1 from the parameter M (S2906) and checks whether the value of M has become 0 (S2907). That is, the value of the parameter M is decremented by 1 each time a variation stop command is received (that is, every time a special symbol variation stops), unless it is 0 when the variation stop command is received. If the value of M becomes 0 (Yes in S2907), the effect control unit 300 sets the mode flag to 0 (S2908).

  If the mode flag is 0 in S2905 (Yes in S2905), if the value of the parameter M is not 0 in S2907 (No in S2907), or after setting the mode flag to 0 in S2908, or in S2904 After changing the mode flag, the effect control unit 300 sets a change effect end command for instructing the end of the effect of symbol change in the RAM 303, and ends the process during end of change effect (S2909). Here, referring to FIG. 27, when the mode flag is changed in S2904, the effect mode after the end of the change effect is an effect mode corresponding to the type of jackpot. If the mode flag is 0 in S2905 and if the mode flag is set to 0 in S2908, the effect mode after the end of the change effect is the A mode. If the value of the parameter M does not become 0 in S2907, the previous production mode is continued.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the contents of the jackpot effect selection process (S2609) of FIG.
In this jackpot effect selection process, the effect control unit 300 first analyzes the received opening command (S3001), and selects an effect pattern (a jackpot effect pattern) according to the contents of the effect mode based on the mode flag (S3002). . Then, the effect control unit 300 reads image data and sound data used for the effect by the selected jackpot effect pattern from the ROM 302, and sets a jackpot effect start command for instructing the selected effect in the RAM 303 together with these data. The jackpot presentation selection process is terminated (S3003). As a result, the performance during the big hit is determined. In the selection of the jackpot effect pattern (S3002), the determination may be made based on the random value acquired when the command is received.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the contents of the ending effect selection process (S2611) of FIG.
In this ending effect selection process, the effect control unit 300 first analyzes the received ending command (S3101), and selects an effect pattern (ending effect pattern) according to the contents of the effect mode based on the mode flag (S3102). . Then, the effect control unit 300 reads image data and sound data used for the effect by the selected ending effect pattern from the ROM 302, and sets an ending effect start command for instructing the selected effect in the RAM 303 together with these data. The ending effect selection process is terminated (S3103). In the selection of the ending effect pattern (S3102), the determination based on the random value acquired at the time of command reception may be performed.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the contents of the customer waiting command reception process (S2612) of FIG.
The production control unit 300 determines whether or not a customer waiting command for shifting to the customer waiting state has been received (S3201). When the customer waiting command is received (Yes in S3201), the effect control unit 300 starts measuring the elapsed time (S3202) and turns on the measurement flag in the RAM 303 (S3203). On the other hand, when the received command is not a customer waiting command (No in S3201), the effect control unit 300 determines whether or not the measurement flag held in the RAM 303 is ON (S3204). If the measurement flag is OFF (No in S3204), the customer waiting command reception process is terminated.

  When the measurement flag is ON (Yes in S3204 or after being turned ON in S3203), the effect control unit 300 next determines whether or not the measurement time has reached a predetermined time-up time (S3205). . If the time is not up (No in S3205), the customer waiting command reception process is terminated. On the other hand, when the time is up (Yes in S3205), the production control unit 300 turns off the measurement flag held in the RAM 303 (S3206), and sets a customer waiting production command for performing the customer waiting production in the RAM 303. The customer waiting command reception process is terminated (S3207).

  When the command reception process is completed as described above, the RAM 303 is set with any one of a variation effect start command, a variation effect end command, a jackpot effect start command, an ending effect start command, and a customer waiting effect command.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the contents of the effect button process (S2512 in FIG. 25B).
In this effect button process, the effect control unit 300 first determines whether or not an operation means such as the effect button 161 by the player has been operated (S3301). Here, the operation of the operation means includes turning on the effect button 161 and turning it on when the center key and the surrounding keys of the effect key 162 are pressed. In addition, when an operation device other than the effect button 161 and the effect key 162 such as a touch panel is provided in the pachinko gaming machine 100, this includes detecting the operation of the device. The effect control unit 300 receives an operation signal from the controller of these devices and detects that an operation has been performed.

  If the operation means such as the effect button 161 is operated (Yes in S3301), the effect control unit 300 sets an effect button command including information indicating the operation content of the operation means in the RAM 303, and ends the effect button process. (S3302).

  Thereafter, the effect control unit 300 performs the command transmission process (S2513) of FIG. 25B, and the command set in the RAM 303 by the command reception process and the effect button process described above is displayed in the image / sound control unit 310 and the lamp. It transmits to the control part 320. Based on the received commands, the image / sound control unit 310 and the lamp control unit 320 display an image on the image display unit 114, output sound, operation of the movable accessory 115 and the movable effect device 5, the panel lamp 116 and the frame. The set effect is executed by controlling the light emission and the like of the lamp 157.

[About the movable effect device 5]
Next, the movable frame effect device or the movable effect device 5 (see FIG. 4) provided in the pachinko gaming machine 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. Such a movable effect device 5 is mainly responsible for effects including motion effects, and is performed when a variable effect for notifying a jackpot determination result by variation and stop, a jackpot effect performed during a jackpot game, or a short-time state is completed. In the case of a production after a short end, a predetermined production is performed. In addition, the movable effect device 5 performs an initial operation for confirming the operation when the power is turned on.

FIG. 34 and FIG. 35 are diagrams for explaining the movable effect device 5 and for explaining the movement of the movable body 52 provided in the movable effect device 5. More specifically, FIG. 34A shows a state in which the movable body 52 is in the movable position (maximum movable position, maximum protruding position), and FIG. 34B shows a state in which the movable body 52 is in the origin position. FIG. 35A shows a state where the movable body 52 is in the storage position. In these FIG. 34 (a), (b) and FIG. 35 (a), the movable production | presentation apparatus 5 is shown alone. FIG. 35B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the outline of the moving mechanism 53 for moving the movable body 52.
As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the movable effect device 5 is movable so as to be displaceable to the main body 51 and the origin position shown in FIG. 34 (b) and the movable position shown in FIG. A body 52 and a moving mechanism 53 for moving the movable body 52 are provided.

Such a movable effect device 5 is disposed in the upper part of the pachinko gaming machine 100, and the display surface of the image display unit 114 is located below the movable effect device 5 (see FIG. 1). The movable effect device 5 is a so-called frame accessory. The movable accessory 115 is a so-called board accessory.
When the movable body 52 is in the storage position shown in FIG. 35A, foreign matter such as game balls may be thrown into the movable effect device 5, but such foreign matter is discharged by its own weight or the like. Can be considered.
As for the storage position, the movable body 52 is in the storage position only in a specific situation such as factory shipment or moving a table in a hall store. That is, in the present embodiment, in a state such as shipping, the movable body 52 is outside the movable range of the drive source and does not include a detection unit that detects the shipping position. Not limited to.

[About the main body 51 of the movable effect device 5]
The main body 51 of the movable effect device 5 is disposed on a frame member 150 (see FIG. 1) surrounding the game board 110. More specifically, the frame member 150 includes a game board holding frame that holds the game board 110, a transparent board holding frame that holds a transparent board that partitions the game board 110 and the player in a predetermined position with respect to the game board 110, and It is comprised including. And in this Embodiment, the main body 51 of the movable production | presentation apparatus 5 is attached to the above-mentioned transparent plate holding frame, and the movable production | presentation apparatus 5 accompanies when a transparent plate holding frame is opened.
In addition, the example which attaches the main body 51 of the movable production | presentation apparatus 5 not to a transparent board holding frame but to a game board holding frame is also considered, and a part of the movable presentation apparatus 5 is attached to a transparent board holding frame, and the remainder is a game board holding frame. An example of attaching to can also be considered.

[About the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5]
As shown in FIG. 34 (b), the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5 protrudes upward from the main body 51 as shown in FIG. 34 (b). As described above, the amount of protrusion from the main body 51 changes. More specifically, the upper portion of the movable body 52 protrudes upward from the main body 51 regardless of the origin position shown in FIG. 5B or the movable position shown in FIG. In this case, the amount of protrusion of the movable body 52 is larger than that at the origin position.
In other words, the movable body 52 is a part exposed to the outside at any of the origin position shown in FIG. 34 (b), the movable position shown in FIG. 34 (a), and the storage position shown in FIG. 35 (a). For example, a player can touch it.

In addition, a decoration area is provided on the front surface of the movable body 52. In the present embodiment, the decoration area is configured so that a smile can be recalled. And in the movable position shown to Fig.34 (a), the whole decoration area | region appears and it can visually recognize. In addition to an example in which a part of the decoration area is visible at the origin position shown in FIG. 5B, an example in which the entire decoration area is difficult to visually recognize is also conceivable.
As described above, when moving from the origin position to the movable position or when moving from the movable position to the origin position, the amount of protrusion of the movable body 52 relative to the main body 51 changes, and the appearance of the decoration region changes.

In other words, the movable body 52 positioned above the player who is playing the game tilts forward and tilts downward so that the decoration area faces the player. In other words, the upper part in the decoration area of the movable body 52 is approaching the player side. For this reason, the decoration area of the movable body 52 can be easily visually recognized when the player in the game raises his / her line of sight. The movable body 52 is located farther from the player at the movable position shown in FIG. 34A than at the origin position shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, the movable body 52 can be moved up and down while maintaining the posture of the movable body 52. That is, it raises / lowers the forward tilt angle as it is. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and an example in which the posture of the movable body 52 changes according to the position in the vertical direction is also conceivable.
In addition, as the manner of movement of the movable body 52, in this embodiment, a manner in which the ascending and descending operations are performed is adopted. An example of adopting can also be considered.

The movable body 52 can be moved with respect to the main body 51 by the moving mechanism 53. In the present embodiment, the movable body 52 can also be displaced to the storage position shown in FIG. In other words, the movable body 52 can be displaced to at least two positions (the origin position and the movable position) by the moving mechanism 53.
As shown in FIG. 35A, the movable body 52 has a lower portion protruding downward from the main body 51 and an upper portion not protruding upward from the main body 51 at the storage position. That is, the storage position of the movable body 52 is lower than the origin position. As shown in FIGS. 34 (a), 34 (b) and 35 (a), the movable position is located above the origin position (projecting state), and the storage position is located below the origin position. .

Thus, a novel effect by the movable body 52 can be realized by a motion effect between the origin position and the movable position. Moreover, the mode which shows the movement between an origin position and a storage position, or the movement between a movable position and a storage position as an effect can be considered.
As an effect by the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5, in addition to such a motion effect, a light effect by light emission and an image effect by installing a small image display unit (not shown) capable of displaying an image. It can be included. It is also conceivable to perform the light effect by the movable body 52 in conjunction with or in association with the light effect performed by the main body 51 of the movable effect device 5.

[About the moving mechanism 53 of the movable effect device 5]
Here, in addition to the example (first example) in which the moving mechanism 53 for moving the movable body 52 is configured to be displaceable by the driving force of the driving source (first example), an example (first example) in which the moving mechanism 53 is configured to be displaceable manually. Example 2) is conceivable.
Further, an example (third example) in which the moving mechanism 53 (see, for example, FIG. 36) is configured to be displaceable by a driving force of a driving source and also manually is conceivable. More specifically, an example (fourth example) that can be displaced between two positions by a driving force of a driving source but can also be manually displaced can be given. Further, the moving mechanism 53 is arranged so that the first section between two positions among the plurality of positions can be displaced by the driving force of the driving source, and the second section, which is the other section, can be manually displaced. A configuration example (fifth example) is conceivable.
In the present embodiment, the above-described fifth example is adopted as the moving mechanism 53. That is, the moving mechanism 53 includes an origin position and a movable position among the three positions of the origin position shown in FIG. 34 (b), the movable position shown in FIG. 34 (a), and the storage position shown in FIG. 35 (a). The section between the first position and the movable body 52 can be displaced by the driving force of the drive source, and the section between the origin position and the storage position is the second section. Thus, the movable body 52 can be displaced.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 35 (b), the moving mechanism 53 of the movable effect device 5 includes the first section, that is, the origin position shown in FIG. 34 (b) and the movable position shown in FIG. 34 (a). The first moving mechanism 531 for displacing the movable body 52 in the section between the second and the second section for displacing the movable body 52 in the second section, that is, the section between the origin position and the storage position shown in FIG. Moving mechanism 532.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 35B, the second moving mechanism 532 can move the movable body 52 and the first moving mechanism 531, and as such, A first moving mechanism 531 that can be moved by the moving mechanism 532 can move the movable body 52.
A more specific configuration of the moving mechanism 53 of the movable effect device 5 will be described later.

[Specific Configuration of Moving Mechanism 53]
Next, a specific configuration of the moving mechanism 53 that moves the movable body 52 relative to the main body 51 will be described. The moving mechanism 53 includes a first moving mechanism 531 and a second moving mechanism 532. Hereinafter, the second moving mechanism 532 will be described after the first moving mechanism 531 is described.

[Regarding the first moving mechanism 531 of the moving mechanism 53]
FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the first moving mechanism 531 of the moving mechanism 53, and FIG. 37 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state. FIG. 37 shows a case where the movable body 52 is at the origin position (see FIG. 34B).
As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the first moving mechanism 531 of the moving mechanism 53 includes a motor 531a that generates a driving force under the control of the lamp control unit 320 (see FIG. 3). The driving force of the motor 531 a is used to move the movable body 52 relative to the second moving mechanism 532.
The first moving mechanism 531 includes a universal joint 531b connected at one end to the output shaft of the motor 531a and fixed by a key, and a worm gear 531c connected to the other end of the universal joint 531b. Yes. The first moving mechanism 531 includes a worm wheel gear 531d that meshes with the worm gear 531c, a clutch gear 531e that is arranged coaxially with the worm wheel gear 531d, and a pinion 531f that meshes with the clutch gear 531e. It is configured. The first moving mechanism 531 includes a rack 531g that is formed on the movable body 52 side and meshes with the pinion 531f. The rack 531g is formed to extend in the vertical direction (see also FIGS. 34 (a) (b) to 35 (a)).

The first moving mechanism 531 includes an end surface gear 531d1 formed on a peripheral surface or end surface of the worm wheel gear 531d on the clutch gear 531e side, and a peripheral surface or surface of the clutch gear 531e on the worm wheel gear 531d side. And an end face gear 531e1 formed on the end face. The end surface gear 531d1 of the worm wheel gear 531d and the end surface gear 531e1 of the clutch gear 531e are formed to be able to mesh with each other.
More specifically, the worm wheel gear 531d and the clutch gear 531e are rotatably held by a common rotating shaft 541a, and a compression coil spring 541b passed through the rotating shaft 541a is in contact with the bearing 541c. Since the bearing 541c is held by the cover member 541d, the clutch gear 531e is pressed against the worm wheel gear 531d by the urging force of the compression coil spring 541b. With such an urging force, the end surface gear 531d1 of the worm wheel gear 531d and the end surface gear 531e1 of the clutch gear 531e are engaged with each other, and an engagement structure is formed.
When the first moving mechanism 531 includes such a meshing structure, that is, a so-called dog clutch, when an external force that impedes movement of the movable body 52 in the moving direction by the driving force of the motor 531a acts, the compression coil spring 541b. The clutch gear 531e moves in a direction away from the worm wheel gear 531d against the urging force. For this reason, the meshing between the end face gear 531d1 of the worm wheel gear 531d and the end face gear 531e1 of the clutch gear 531e is released, thereby allowing the movement of the movable body 52 in the direction opposite to the moving direction. Therefore, even if an action that hinders the movement of the movable body 52 is performed, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the first moving mechanism 531 is damaged.

Here, a configuration for detecting that the movable body 52 is at the origin position (see FIG. 34B) or the movable position (see FIG. 34A) described above will be described. As described above, the movable position here is the maximum movable position.
The first moving mechanism 531 includes a detected portion 551 for detecting the position of the movable body 52, and the second moving mechanism 532 detects origin position detection for detecting that the movable body 52 is at the origin position. And a movable position detector 562 for detecting that the movable body 52 is in the movable position.
That is, when the detected piece 551a of the detected portion 551 is detected by the origin position detecting portion 561, the movable body 52 is at the origin position (see FIG. 34B), and the detected piece 551a is in the movable position. When detected by the detection unit 562, the movable body 52 is in the movable position (see FIG. 34A). FIG. 37 shows the case where the movable body 52 is at the origin position (see FIG. 34B) since the origin position detection unit 561 is in a state of detecting the detected piece 551a of the detected unit 551.

In the present embodiment, there is no configuration for detecting that the movable body 52 is in the storage position (see FIG. 35A). However, for example, in the case of the storage position, the position of the first moving mechanism 531 is determined. An example including a detection unit (not shown) for detection is also conceivable.
In addition, in the present embodiment, although the configuration for directly detecting that the movable body 52 is in the storage position is not provided, as described above, the movable body 52 is at the origin position (see FIG. 34B). In addition, it is possible to detect that there is no movable position (see (a) in the figure). Therefore, when the movable body 52 is moved by the first moving mechanism 531, if it is detected that the movable body 52 is neither at the origin position nor the movable position, the motor control is performed on the assumption that the movable body 52 may be at the storage position. Can be done. Details of such control will be described later.

[About the second moving mechanism 532 of the moving mechanism 53]
FIG. 38 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the second moving mechanism 532 of the moving mechanism 53. 39 is a rear view of the movable effect device 5 for explaining the second moving mechanism 532 of the moving mechanism 53, and among (a) and (b) of FIG. 39, (a) is the origin position (FIG. 34 (b)). )) To a movable position (see (a) in the figure), (b) shows a case of a storage position (see (a) in FIG. 35).
As shown in FIG. 38 and FIG. 39, the second moving mechanism 532 includes an upright portion 532a that is erected and to which the movable body 52 (see FIGS. 34 to 35) is attached, and the upright portion 532a. A pair of sliding portions 532b attached to the left side and the right side, and a pair of guide portions 532c attached to the main body 51 and guiding the standing portion 532a in the vertical direction by sliding with the sliding portion 532b. Yes. The standing portion 532a has a placement portion 532a1 on which the movable body 52 is placed.

  In addition, the second moving mechanism 532 is located on the rear side of the standing portion 532a, a back portion 532d attached to the main body 51, a connecting portion 532e that connects the standing portion 532a to the back portion 532d, It has. The connecting portion 532e is formed in a longitudinal shape, and one end portion 532e1 is rotatably attached to the rear portion 532d, and the other end portion 532e2 is rotatably attached to the standing portion 532a. The above-described standing portion 532a has a notch portion 532a2 that extends obliquely in the up-down direction, and the other end portion 532e2 of the connecting portion 532e is movable along the notch portion 532a2 of the standing portion 532a.

  As described above, the second moving mechanism 532 includes the guide portion 532a and the back portion 532d that are attached to the main body 51 on the fixed side, and the standing portion 532a is provided with respect to the guide portion 532a and the back portion 532d. The sliding part 532b and the connection part 532e for raising and lowering are provided.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 39, the posture of the connecting portion 532e is changed by the rotation of the connecting portion 532e around the one end 532e1 of the connecting portion 532e, so that the standing portion 532a is positioned on the upper side or the lower side. Or is displaced. That is, as shown in FIG. 39A, when the connecting portion 532e extends in the lateral direction, the movable body 52 attached to the standing portion 532a is at the origin position (see FIG. 34B). In addition, as shown in FIG. 39B, when the connecting portion 532e extends in the vertical direction as compared with FIG. 39A, the movable body 52 attached to the standing portion 532a is in the storage position. Yes (see FIG. 35 (a)).
As described above, such switching between the origin position and the storage position is not performed by motor driving but manually, but is not limited to this, and an example of motor driving is also conceivable.

Here, the movable effect device 5 is controlled by the CPU 301 of the effect control unit 300 in response to a command from the CPU 201 (see FIG. 3) of the game control unit 200. That is, when the CPU 301 of the effect control unit 300 receives a change start command or the like from the CPU 201, the CPU 301 controls various effect devices for performing effects accompanying the game. In addition, when the CPU 301 of the effect control unit 300 receives, for example, a power-on command (power-on designation command or recovery command) from the CPU 201 when the power is turned on, the CPU 301 controls various effect devices for confirming the operation.
In this way, the various production devices operate as production (production operation), and operate for operation confirmation when the power is turned on (confirmation operation or initial operation, each accessory initialization).

[Initial operation control of movable effect device 5]
First, the control (sequence) at the time of the initial operation in the movable effect device 5 will be described. The confirmation operation control is performed when a predetermined operation by the store clerk of the hall store, for example, when the power switch (not shown) is turned on while the RAM clear switch (not shown) of the switching power supply (not shown) is pressed. Although not performed when the effect control unit 300 receives the RAM clear acceptance command output from the unit 200, it may be performed as a trigger.
The confirmation operation control at power-on is performed when the effect control unit 300 receives the RAM clear acceptance command, and is performed even when the effect control unit 300 receives the power-on command. It may not be.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart for explaining the initial operation control in the movable effect device 5. The initial operation control is performed by the CPU 301 (see FIG. 3) of the effect control unit 300 or the CPU 321 (see FIG. 4) of the lamp control unit 320 based on the detection of the origin position detection unit 561 and / or the movable position detection unit 562. Is to be done. In the present embodiment, the initial operation of the movable effect device 5 is performed prior to the initial operation of the movable accessory 115. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an example may be performed in the reverse order. Examples are also possible.
In the processing procedure shown in FIG. 40, when a power-on command is received (S4001), the CPU 301 of the effect control unit 300 uses the motor 531a (see FIG. 36 or FIG. 37) to confirm the initial operation of the movable effect device 5. It operates (S4002), and it is confirmed whether a sensor detection signal has been received (S4003). That is, the CPU 301 confirms ON detection (or OFF detection) from the origin position detection unit 561 or the movable position detection unit 562 (S4003). The ON detection here means that either the origin position detecting unit 561 or the movable position detecting unit 562 detects the detected piece 551a (see FIG. 36 or 37) of the detected unit 551 in the first moving mechanism 531. When the ON detection is made, it can be confirmed that the movable body 52 is at the origin position (see FIG. 34B) or the movable position (see FIG. 34A).

When the sensor detection signal is not received (No in S4003), the CPU 301 adds 1 to the variable N (S4004), and further determines whether the variable N is larger than the threshold value S (S4005). When the variable N is larger than the threshold value S, that is, when N> S (Yes in S4005), the CPU 301 stops the motor 531a (see FIG. 36 or FIG. 37) (S4006) and performs error processing (S4007).
When such a sensor detection signal is not received (No in S4003), it is assumed that the movable body 52 is in the storage position (see FIG. 35A). More specifically, in the present embodiment, it is difficult to raise the movable body 52 with the driving force of the motor 531a in the storage position (a situation due to physical interference). Therefore, when the detection by the movable position detecting unit 562 for detecting the maximum movable position of the movable body 52 is not performed a predetermined number of times, the motor 531a is stopped and error processing is performed. Thus, it corresponds to the position error of the movable body 52 when the power is turned on.

As described above, the configuration in which the movement from the storage position to the origin position (see FIG. 34B) is performed manually is adopted in this embodiment, so the motor 531a is stopped. Even if it is the structure performed by the drive force of a drive source without an example, the example which employ | adopts such control can be considered. Further, as described above, since a configuration that does not include a detection unit that detects that the movable body 52 is in the storage position is adopted, such initial operation control is performed, but a configuration that includes such a detection unit. Even if it is adopted, an example of performing initial operation control can be considered.
In addition, when the motor 531a is stopped and error processing is performed, it is conceivable to adopt a control of not performing or interrupting the confirmation operation of another accessory (for example, a board accessory such as the movable accessory 115). Regardless of the result of the initial operation of the movable effect device 5, it may be possible to adopt a control that employs a control that executes or continues the confirmation operation of another accessory.

When the sensor detection signal is received (Yes in S4003), the initial operation control process is terminated. More specifically, the detection of the sensor detection signal is preferably detected by the movable position detector 562, but may be detected by the origin position detector 561. It is also preferable to initialize the variable N when a sensor detection signal is received.
If the variable N is not greater than the threshold value S, that is, if N <S or N = S (No in S4005), the process returns to S4003.

As the threshold value S used in the determination of S4005 described above, for example, “0” is conceivable. In such a case (S = 0), the number of confirmations of the sensor detection signal performed at a predetermined timing is only once. If a sensor detection signal is not received at that time, error processing is performed. For example, the threshold value S may be set to “2”. In such a case (S = 2), the number of sensor detection signal confirmations performed with a time interval is three, and three consecutive times. If no sensor detection signal is received, error processing is performed.
In the error processing in S4007 described above, for example, the frame lamp 157 is lit red, the panel lamp 116 is completely turned off, and a message to that effect (for example, that the movable effect device 5 is in an error state) is displayed on the display surface of the image display unit 114. ) Is displayed (error display). The error processing here does not include a retry operation. That is, when the variable N> the threshold value S, the movable effect device 5 is stopped without being reactivated.
Such an error is released by a power-off operation for turning on the power again after the power is turned off.
In addition, in the error process in the initial operation control for the board accessory such as the movable accessory 115, it is possible to include a retry operation that is performed by satisfying a condition such as the elapse of a predetermined time without displaying an error. It is also conceivable to perform an error display and retry operation.

FIG. 41 is a time chart for explaining the control of the movable effect device 5 and the movable accessory 115 in the initial operation. FIG. 41A shows the case where the movable effect device 5 is normal, and FIG. Indicates a case that is not normal.
In the case shown in FIG. 41A, after confirming the initial operation of the movable effect device 5 as the frame accessory, the initial operation of the movable accessory 115 as the board accessory is confirmed. That is, when the movable effect device 5 starts the initial operation at time t1, and when the confirmation of the initial operation is completed at time t2, the initial operation of the movable accessory 115 is started at the same time t2, and the initial operation is confirmed at time t3. Finish. The movable accessory 115 is driven by a driving force of a motor (not shown), and is driven and controlled according to a detection result of a detection unit (not shown). That is, the detection result of the detection unit (not shown) for the movable accessory 115 is output to the CPU 301 (see FIG. 3) of the effect control unit 300 or the CPU 321 (see FIG. 4) of the lamp control unit 320, and the motor ( Drive control (not shown) is executed.
In addition, although the case where the initial operation start timing of the movable accessory 115 is the time t2 has been described, an example in which the initial operation of the movable accessory 115 is started at a later timing, or conversely at an earlier timing than this. An example of starting the initial operation of the movable accessory 115 is conceivable.

The case shown in FIG. 41B is a case where the initial operation of the movable effect device 5 could not be confirmed. That is, this is a case where the motor 531a (see, for example, FIG. 36) of the movable effect device 5 is stopped during the initial operation (time t1 ′) (see S4006 in FIG. 40). Even in such a case, the initial operation of the movable accessory 115 is started at the timing of time t2.
As described above, the initial operation of the board combination is executed regardless of the result of the initial operation of the frame combination. Note that, as described above, when the initial operation of the movable effect device 5 ends in the middle and error processing is performed, the frame lamp 157 is lit red, the panel lamp 116 is completely turned off, and an error display is displayed on the image display unit 114. Done.

In addition, it is assumed that the movable effect device 5 described above may make it difficult to see the display unit on the island facility side or to operate the operation unit on the island facility side when the movable body 52 is in the movable position. Therefore, when the movable body 52 is in the movable position (see FIG. 34A), the movable body 52 is moved to the origin position (see FIG. 34B) by, for example, long pressing the effect key 162 (see FIG. 2B). An example of executing the control to return to () is conceivable (operation by dual-purpose switch). An example in which a dedicated operation unit for returning the movable body 52 to the origin position is also conceivable.
More specifically, it is conceivable that the light emitting effect of the movable body 52 is continued even when the origin position is returned by the player's operation.
In other words, it can be considered that such a movable body 52 returns to the origin position, and the origin position remains until the next motion effect is produced by the movable body 52, and control is performed without moving to the movable position.

Further, an example of performing error processing when the door (transparent plate holding frame) is opened during the initial operation of the movable effect device 5 can be considered. Even in that case, it is conceivable to adopt control for executing the initial operation of the board accessory.
In addition, in FIG. 41, the case of the initial operation control of the movable accessory 115 as the board accessory has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an air device provided in the handle 151, a motor when the effect button 161 protrudes, or the like It is conceivable to apply to initial operation control.

[Regarding the production in which the movable production device 5 cooperates with the image display unit 114]
Next, various rendering modes in which the movable rendering device 5 cooperates with the image display unit 114 will be described. The configuration necessary for such cooperation effects will be described in a confirming manner. As described above, the movable effect device 5 can move between the origin position (see FIG. 34 (b)) and the maximum movable position or the movable position (see FIG. 34 (a)), thereby taking the motion effect. Is possible. Further, the movable effect device 5 can bear a part of the light emission effect by the light source (for example, LED or the like) that the movable effect device 5 has.
The display surface of the image display unit 114 is positioned below the movable effect device 5. In other words, the movable effect device 5 and the image display unit 114 are located away from each other in the vertical direction. That is, the area of the movable effect device 5 and the area of the image display unit 114 are not continuous with each other.
As described above, such a linkage effect is performed in the case of a fluctuating effect for notifying the jackpot determination result by variation and stop, a jackpot effect performed during the jackpot game, an effect after a short-time end performed when the short-time state ends, and the like. Is called.
In addition, such a collaboration effect is a promotion effect that informs that the jackpot is to shift to a high probability state, a pre-decision effect or a continuous notice effect that suggests or informs the result of the prior determination performed before the jackpot determination for the holding ball It is also conceivable to use it for a pseudo-continuous effect that repeats the variable display in a mode (temporary stop) that makes it appear that the player has pseudo-stopped the change before displaying the decorative symbol image in a variably displayed state.

[First collaboration effect]
FIG. 42 is a diagram for explaining a first effect (first cooperation effect) in which the movable effect device 5 cooperates with the image display unit 114. The first effect is in the order of (a), (b), and (c). The characteristic scenes of the collaboration production are shown in time series. The first linkage effect is executed by adding a motion effect, a light emission effect, or the like by the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5 to the image effect by the image display unit 114. For convenience of explanation, only the movable effect device 5, the movable body 52, and the image display unit 114 are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 42 (a), the first cooperation effect here is a movable body at the origin position (see FIG. 34 (b)) when the decorative display pattern effect is performed on the image display unit 114. The light emission effect starts when 52 shifts from the unlit state to the lit state.

  Thereafter, in the image display unit 114, the decorative symbol becomes, for example, reach, an effect with reach or a variation effect during reach is started, and an image that is not displayed in the normal variation effect is displayed. Specifically, in the example illustrated in FIG. 42B, an image of the flow rising from the bottom (upward image) is displayed on the image display unit 114. Such a flow is a visualization of the flow of air and energy, such as a tornado, for example, and is one of the indication effects that indicate the beginning of something that may be advantageous to the player . In other words, the effect is such that energy is supplied and gathered by the image displayed on the image display unit 114 toward the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5 positioned above the image display unit 114 in the vertical direction. You can say that.

  More specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 42 (b), since an image that faces upward is displayed on the image display unit 114, it is expected that the player's eyes are directed upward. Since the player often pays attention to the image display unit 114 during the game, the player does not pay attention to the effect of the movable body 52 and can be noticed even if the movable body 52 moves to the movable position. Not expected. Therefore, the effect of the image display unit 114 is an image that allows the player to unconsciously pay attention to the movable body 52, and the operation of the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5 is combined with the effect of the image display unit 114. Run.

Moreover, in the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5, the light emission effect is continued as shown in FIG. An example in which the light emission effect is temporarily stopped is also conceivable.
Here, although not shown in FIG. 42B, in addition to such a light emission effect, an example (addition effect) in which the movable body 52 adds another effect can be considered.
For example, this is an effect in which the movable body 52 rises from the origin position (see FIG. 34B). More specifically, the movable body 52 does not rise to the movable position (see FIG. 5A), but rises to an intermediate position located between the origin position and the movable position. The movable body 52 that has risen to the intermediate position begins to descend and descends to the origin position or a position before the origin position. The movable body 52 performs such an effect of repeating ascending and descending. That is, it is a swinging motion that does not move in the section between the origin position and the movable position, but repeatedly moves up and down with a shorter stroke (distance). Such a swinging motion is intended to further increase the player's expectation in the changing performance.
Further, as an additional effect of the movable body 52, the content of the light emission effect changes with the origin position or the swinging motion of the movable body 52. More specifically, an example of performing a light emission effect in which the movable body 52 blinks, an example of performing a light emission effect in which the color of light emission changes, an example of performing a light emission effect in which the light emission area in the movable body 52 changes, and the like can be considered.

It should be noted that a display (not shown) that plays the same role as the decorative symbol shown in FIG. 42 (a) is provided in a variation effect that suggests the variation and stoppage of the special symbol. Such a display emits light in different modes depending on the fluctuation and stoppage of the special symbol.
Light emission or display by a display (not shown) may be referred to as a so-called fourth symbol for the three decorative symbols (first symbol, second symbol, and third symbol). By using such a 4th symbol, it becomes clear that even if the display of the decorative symbol is omitted from the image display unit 114, the variation effect is still continued. For this reason, when the 4th symbol is used, it is possible to secure a wider effect display area in the image display unit 114, and it is possible to increase the completeness of the changing effect.
In addition, an example in which the decorative design is displayed small on the image display unit 114 without using such a fourth design is also conceivable.

  Furthermore, in the scene shown in FIG. 42 (c), the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5 finally rises to the movable position (maximum movable position) while continuing the light emission effect. And the movable body 52 performs the production | presentation which suggests that possibility that it will shift to a state advantageous to a player is still higher by maintaining a movable position as it is. It is also conceivable that the movable body 52 is moved up and down in the vicinity of the movable position, and an effect suggesting that a series of effects shifts to the next stage is also conceivable.

Then, in the image display unit 114, as shown in FIG. 42C, an image effect different from that in FIG. That is, the image display unit 114 displays a linear flow image extending radially from top to bottom. It is easier to recognize that such an image flows downward rather than gathering on the upper side of the image display unit 114. That is, it can be said that the effect has an impression that light or energy is released from the movable body 52 protruding upward.
In addition, in the scene shown in FIG.42 (c), the production example which outputs a special sound with the protrusion of the movable body 52 can be considered.

Following the effect shown in FIG. 42 (c), in the image display unit 114, for example, an effect of notifying that the numbers of decorative symbols are all together and that is a big hit is performed.
To explain further, the first cooperation effect shown in FIG. 42 is not necessarily limited to performing (a) to (c) in the same figure, but only in (a) in the same figure, the decorative symbols stop and notify the loss. An example or an example of an effect mode in which the decorative symbol stops and notifies the loss without shifting to the figure (c) although the figure (b) is performed after the figure (a) can be considered. In such an embodiment of the loss notification effect of FIG. 42 (a) or (b), the movable body 52 remains at the origin position. On the other hand, in the aspect of the big hit notification effect, the movable body 52 is not the origin position but the movable position.
In this sense, the case where the movable body 52 is in the movable position is a hot effect rather than the case where the movable body 52 is in the origin position, and the player is expected to have high expectation.

As described above, the production mode is different between the case where the movable body 52 is at the origin position and the case where the movable body 52 is in the movable position. However, the different production mode here is not limited to this, and is applied to, for example, a light emission production. It is possible to do. For example, when the movable body 52 is at the origin position, the movable body 52 and / or the frame lamp 157 (see FIG. 1) is monochromatic light, for example, red, whereas when the movable body 52 is at the movable position, the movable body 52 is movable. 52 and / or the frame lamp 157 is a light emission effect that becomes rainbow color.
In addition to an example in which such an additional light emission effect is always performed at the movable position and is not performed at the origin position, an example of determining by effect lottery by the effect control unit 300 can be considered. In such effect lottery, when the movable body 52 is in the movable position, the probability of executing an additional light emission effect is higher than in the case of the origin position. Therefore, when the movable body 52 is in the movable position, there is a higher possibility of performing an effect that makes it easier to increase the decorativeness than in the case of the origin position. In other words, when the movable body 52 protrudes more than usual, there is a high possibility that the player is likely to have a gorgeous impression.

[Second collaboration effect]
FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating a second effect (second cooperative effect) in which the movable effect device 5 cooperates with the image display unit 114, and the second effect is in the order of (a), (b), and (c). The characteristic scenes of the collaboration production are shown in time series. Note that the second cooperative effect in FIG. 43 is common to the above-described first cooperative effect (see FIG. 42). Specifically, FIGS. 43 (a) and (b) correspond to FIGS. 42 (a) and (b). Therefore, the description of FIGS. 43A and 43B may be omitted.
In the second cooperation effect, for example, in the variable effect, as shown in FIG. 43A, when the light emitting effect is performed in a state where the movable body 52 of the movable effect device 5 is at the origin position, as shown in FIG. As described above, an image that is not likely to appear in a normal variation effect is displayed on the image display unit 114.

  In the subsequent second collaborative effect, unlike the first collaborative effect (see FIG. 42), as shown in FIG. 43 (c), the fluctuating display of the decorative symbol is stopped in the image display unit 114, and the symbol is displayed. It is reported that it is out of order. In addition, although the light emission effect of the movable body 52 has stopped, the example which continues is also considered. For example, the symbol stop shown in FIG.43 (c) is a temporary stop, and is a case of the pseudo | simulation continuous effect by which a fluctuation | variation is restarted after that. That is, the player can recognize that there is the next variation effect by confirming the effect mode of the movable body 52 although it is difficult to understand with the decoration image on the image display unit 114.

[Third collaboration production]
FIG. 44 is a diagram for explaining a third effect (third cooperative effect) in which the movable effect device 5 cooperates with the image display unit 114. The third effect is in the order of (a), (b), and (c). The characteristic scenes of the collaboration production are shown in time series. Note that, in the stage before FIG. 44A, for example, the variation effect of FIG. 42A is executed.
In the scene shown in FIG. 44A, for example, in the changing effect, the image display unit 114 displays an image that is not likely to be displayed in the normal effect. The image shown in FIG. 44 (a) is different from the case of FIG. 42 and FIG. More specifically, in FIG. 44A, the energy mass is displayed on the image display unit 114, thereby producing an effect that the energy mass exists near the movable body 52.
Also, in the scene shown in FIG. 44A, the movable body 52 performs the light emission effect at the origin position (see FIG. 34B).

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 44 (b), nothing is displayed on the display surface of the image display unit 114, and the state is black (dark). In this dark display effect in the image display unit 114, the movable body 52 is turned off, and the panel lamp 116 and / or the frame lamp 157 are turned off (board surface darkening and / or frame darkening). It has a sense of unity in 114 darkening effects.
By performing such a darkening effect, it can be assumed that the player's expectation that has been increased by the effects of the movable body 52 and the image display unit 114 will be lost. On the other hand, there is a player who has an expectation due to execution of a darkening effect that is difficult to perform normally. However, the production of the movable body 52 may also be stopped, and generally, the player feels uneasy about the future development of the variable production, and the player becomes nervous and watches the next production. In this way, it becomes possible for the player who is playing the game to maintain or recover his / her concentration by the cooperation effect.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 44 (c), the movable body 52 rises to the movable position and starts a light emission effect, and the image display unit 114 displays a radiation image. Further, the panel lamp 116 and / or the frame lamp 157 that have been turned off until then are also turned on. Thus, the player's sense of expectation increases at a stretch by switching from the darkening effect to the effect in which the amount of light emitted from the pachinko gaming machine 100 increases at a stroke.
The production mode in FIG. 44C is the same as that in FIG. 42C described above, but a different production mode may be considered.

[Significance of initial motion control for movable effect device 5 and the like]
Here, the initial operation performed in a predetermined case for each of the plurality of presentation devices included in the pachinko gaming machine 100 needs to consider such conditions when installation conditions, operation conditions, and the like are different.
Therefore, the following configuration is adopted to make it possible to confirm the initial operation of the rendering device more reliably.
In other words, the gaming machine according to the present embodiment includes a first movable body (for example, the movable effect device 5) that is in the housed state (for example, the state of the origin position) and is in the protruding state (for example, the state of the movable position), The state of the second movable body (for example, the movable accessory 115) other than one movable body (for example, the movable rendering device 5) and the state of the first movable body (for example, the movable rendering device 5) can be detected. Detection means (for example, an origin position detection unit 561, a movable position detection unit 562, a detection unit for the movable combination 115, etc.) capable of detecting the state of the movable combination 115 (for example, the movable combination 115) and the first movable body (for example, movable When the stage device 5) and the second movable body (for example, the movable accessory 115) are operated, the detection means (for example, the origin position detection unit 561, the movable position detection unit 562, the detection unit for the movable combination 115, etc.). If the detection result is Then, control means (for example, the effect control unit 300) that performs control to continue the operation of the second movable body (for example, the movable accessory 115) without continuing the operation of the first movable body (for example, the movable effect device 5). CPU 301), a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100).

[Significance of production mode using movable production device 5]
Here, it is possible to achieve a sense of unity by having a plurality of production devices take part of the production, but with the conventionally proposed configuration, it is sufficient to maintain the player's concentration, etc. It was difficult to achieve.
Therefore, in order to further enhance the fun of the game, the following configuration is adopted.
That is, the gaming machine according to the present embodiment is a gaming machine that performs an effect (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100), and an effecting unit that performs a predetermined effect (for example, the image display unit 114, the frame lamp 157), A movable body (for example, the movable body 52) that is in a housed state (for example, the state of the origin position) and is in a protruding state (for example, the state of the movable position), When the movable body (for example, the movable body 52) is changed from the accommodated state (for example, the state of the origin position) to the protruding state (for example, the state of the movable position), the accommodated state (for example, the state of the origin position) is maintained. The predetermined effect is performed in a mode different from the mode displayed in the case of displaying.
Here, the predetermined effect performed when the movable body (for example, the movable body 52) is in the protruding state (for example, the state of the movable position) is more than the player in the case of the accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position). It is easy to have a gorgeous impression.

[Modification of the present embodiment]
In the above description, it has been described in detail that the movable effect device 5 is provided in the pachinko gaming machine 100, but it may be provided in a gaming machine other than the pachinko gaming machine 100.
For example, the movable effect device 5 may be provided in the slot machine.
For further explanation, although not shown in the drawings, the slot machine referred to here includes a reel that displays a plurality of types of symbols while rotating, for example, from top to bottom, and a medal slot into which a medal is inserted. , An operation lever operated to start the rotation of the reel, a stop button operated to stop the rotation of the reel, a medal payout exit from which a medal is paid out, and an effect or information display by display according to the game And a transparent plate that covers the front surface of the liquid crystal display.

  The slot machine also includes a movable effect device 5 at the top of the machine body. In addition, an example in which the slot machine includes the movable effect device 5 in a space in the front-rear direction between the liquid crystal display and the transparent plate is also conceivable. Then, the movable effect device 5 executes the effect of the motion effect described above.

  As described above, the various structures, controls, and the like in the movable effect device 5 have been described in this document. However, all or part of the described contents may be applied to or combined with other structures, controls, and the like unless otherwise described in this document. It is possible even if it exists. Although various modifications are also mentioned, it is possible to apply or combine the contents of such modifications to other structures, controls, and the like even when there is no mention in this document.

In the present embodiment, in the main control process of the game control unit 200, the operation of finally outputting the commands generated in each process of the main control process to the effect control unit 300 has been described (see FIG. 8). .
In the present embodiment, in the basic process that is initially executed by the game control unit 200 when the power is restored, the main control process is performed in order to output a command or the like for instructing the initialization to the effect control unit 300. The function (subroutine) of the output control unit 240 used in the above is called and executed (see FIG. 6).
In this embodiment, the command output from the game control unit 200 to the effect control unit 300 is composed of a “code unit” and a “data unit”, and an identification flag is provided for each head bit. This has been explained (see FIG. 24-2).
Further, in the present embodiment, a configuration has been described in which a part of a “code part” of a command output from the game control unit 200 to the effect control unit 300 is used to describe a data value.

[Technical features of the present embodiment]
As described above, in this embodiment, in the main control process repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals by the game control unit 200 in order to reduce the increase in the control command for controlling the operation of the game control means, one cycle At the end of the main control process, the commands generated by the execution of the one cycle are collected and output to the effect control unit 300. In other words, a gaming machine that achieves the above-described purpose is a gaming machine that produces an effect according to the progress of the game (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100), and performs a main control process that is a series of processes related to the progress of the game. A game control means (for example, a game control unit 200) that repeatedly executes according to conditions and generates data including information on a game obtained by executing the main control process, and executes a series of the main control processes in one cycle Output means (for example, the output control unit 240) for outputting the data generated by the execution of the one cycle after the last data is generated in the execution of the one cycle, and the output means (For example, an effect control unit 300) that receives data output from the output control unit 240 and performs an effect based on the received data. Equipped with a.
In this way, since it is not necessary to perform output processing for each generated data, control instructions for performing output processing can be reduced, and an increase in program size can be suppressed. In addition, since it is not necessary to perform output processing every time data is generated, the time required for the entire output processing can be shortened.
More specifically, in the above gaming machine, storage means (for example, RAM 203) for storing the data generated by the main control processing in a storage area (for example, command storage area) set for each data is provided. The game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) further stores the data generated in the main control process in the storage area (for example, command storage area) associated with the generated data, The output means (for example, the output control unit 240) checks whether data is stored in each storage area of the storage means (for example, the RAM 203), and obtains data from the storage area where the data is stored. Read and output.
In this way, each time the output process is performed, each storage area is checked and the stored data is output, so that leakage of data output can be prevented.

Another game machine that achieves the above object is a game machine (for example, pachinko game machine 100) that produces an effect according to the progress of the game, and is a series of processes related to the progress of the game. Is repeatedly executed according to a predetermined condition, and a game control means (for example, a game control unit 200) for executing a special process different from the main control process according to a condition different from the main control process, and the game control means ( For example, it includes an effect control unit (for example, an effect control unit 300) that receives data output from the game control unit 200) and performs a process related to the effect based on the data, and the game control unit in the main control process The process (for example, the game control unit 200) performs a process based on the progress of the game and generates data including information obtained by executing the process 1 Or the part which calls and executes a plurality of first processing means (for example, the game control unit 200) and the data generated by the execution of the first processing means (for example, the game control unit 200) are the effect control. A second processing means (for example, the output control section 240) that outputs to the means (for example, the effect control section 300), and executes the game control means (for example, the game control section) in the special processing. 200) includes a part for executing a setting process for setting a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100), and data generated in the setting process as the second processing means in the main control process ( For example, the output control unit 240) can be called and output to the effect control means (for example, the effect control unit 300).
In this way, there is no need to prepare individual control instructions for the output processing of data generated by special processing, so control instructions for output processing are reduced and the increase in program size is suppressed. can do.
More specifically, the above gaming machine further comprises storage means (for example, a RAM 203) for storing the data generated in the main control process in a storage area set for each data, and the main control process The first processing means (for example, the game control unit 200) in the table sequentially stores the data generated by executing the process in the storage area (for example, command storage area) associated with the generated data, The second processing means (for example, the output control unit 240) in the main control process checks whether data is stored in each storage area of the storage means (for example, the RAM 203), and stores the data. The data is read out from the storage area that is being output and output, and in the setting process in the special process, the data generated in the setting process is憶 means (e.g., RAM 203) is stored in a predetermined said memory area in.
In this way, each time the output process is performed, each storage area is checked and the stored data is output, so that leakage of data output can be prevented.

Also, in this embodiment, in order to improve the accuracy of data transmission from the game control means to the effect control means, a predetermined bit of “code” as the first data portion and “data” as the second data portion A predetermined bit of “is used as a flag for identifying“ code ”and“ data ”. In other words, a gaming machine that achieves the above-described purpose is a gaming machine that produces an effect in accordance with the progress of the game (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100), and executes a main control process related to the progress of the game, and the main control process The game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) that generates and outputs data including information relating to the game obtained by executing the game, and the data output from the game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) And an effect control means (for example, the effect control unit 300) that performs processing related to the effect based on the received data, and the data generated by the game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) includes: a A first data portion (for example, “code”) having a size of bits (a is an integer of 2 or more) and the value of the first 1 bit specified as either 1 or 0, and n × a The first 1-bit value is specified to be different from the first 1-bit value of the first data portion (for example, “code”). 2 data portions (for example, “data”).
In this way, since the first data portion and the second data portion can be clearly distinguished by recognizing the value of the leading 1 bit, data transmission from the game control means to the effect control means Accuracy can be improved.
More preferably, in the gaming machine, the second data portion (for example, “data”) of the data generated by the game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) is a bit from the beginning. Is set to the same value as the value of the first one bit.
In this way, even when the size of the second data portion is large, it is easy to identify each of the second data portions by dividing each specific size.

In the present embodiment, the data sent from the game control means to the effect control means even when it is necessary to send large-size data, such as when a command specifying a variation pattern to be executed is sent In order to suppress an increase in the overall size, a predetermined bit of “code” that is the first data portion is used to describe the data value, and a part of “code” and “data” that is the second data portion In this paper, we proposed a method for describing data values. In other words, a gaming machine that achieves the above-described purpose is a gaming machine that produces an effect in accordance with the progress of the game (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100), and executes a main control process related to the progress of the game, and the main control process The game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) that generates and outputs data including information relating to the game obtained by executing the game, and the data output from the game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) And an effect control means (for example, the effect control unit 300) that receives and processes the effect based on the data, and the data generated by the game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) is a bit A first data portion (for example, “code”) having a size of (a is an integer of 3 or more) and the value of the first 1 bit specified as either 1 or 0, and n × a bits n is an integer greater than or equal to 1), and the first 1-bit value is specified to be different from the first 1-bit value of the first data portion (for example, “code”). (For example, “data”), and a predetermined bit constituting the first data part (eg “code”) and a bit constituting the second data part (eg “data”) The data of a predetermined type is recorded, and other types different from the data of the predetermined type are used by using the remaining bits except the predetermined bit in the first data portion (for example, “code”). The data can be recorded.
Another gaming machine according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100) that produces an effect in accordance with the progress of the game, and executes main control processing relating to the progress of the game. From the game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) that generates and outputs data including information related to the game obtained by executing the main control process, and the game control means (for example, the game control unit 200) Production control means (for example, production control unit 300) that receives the output data and performs processing related to production based on the data, and is generated by the game control unit (for example, game control unit 200). The data has a size of a bit (a is an integer of 3 or more), and the first data portion (for example, “code”) in which the value of the first 1 bit is specified as either 1 or 0, A second data portion (eg, “data”) having a bit size and a value of the leading 1 bit different from a value of the leading 1 bit of the first data portion (eg, “code”) ), And b bits (b is smaller than a-1 and an integer greater than or equal to 1) constituting the first data portion (for example, “code”) and the second data portion (for example, “data”) )) And data having a size of (a + b) bits can be recorded.
With the above configuration, the size of data to be recorded in the second data portion can be increased without changing the total size of the first data portion and the second data portion. When large data is sent from the game control means to the effect control means, an increase in the size of the entire transmitted data can be suppressed.

  The pachinko gaming machine 100 (see FIG. 1) is an example of a gaming machine. The game control unit 200 (see FIG. 3) is an example of a game control unit. The production control unit 300 (see FIG. 3) is an example of production control means. The output control unit 240 (see FIG. 5) is an example of an output unit. The RAM 203 (see FIG. 3) is an example of a storage unit. The command storage area is an example of a storage area.

52. Movable body (an example of a movable body)
100 ... Pachinko machine (an example of a game machine)
114 ... Image display section (an example of production means)
157 ... Frame lamp (an example of production means)

The present invention that achieves the above object is realized as the following gaming machine. This gaming machine is a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100) that performs an effect, and includes an effecting means (for example, an image display unit 114, a frame lamp 157) that performs a predetermined effect, and an accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position). ) And a movable body (for example, the movable body 52) that protrudes (for example, the movable position), and the movable body (for example, the movable body 52) in the accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position) A first operation that enters a protruding state (for example, a movable position), and moves in a direction from the accommodation state (for example, the original position) to the protruding state (for example, a movable position). second operation and return to the not reach the state) housed state (e.g. state origin position) is capable of executing, the presentation means (for example, the image display unit 114, the frame ramp 157), the movable body (eg When the movable body 52 is changed from the housed state (for example, the state of the origin position) to the projecting state (for example, the state of the movable position), it is displayed when the housed state (for example, the state of the origin position) is maintained. embodiments have line said predetermined effect in a different manner from either the movable body (e.g. a movable member 52) when performing the first operation or the second operation, the projecting state (e.g. state of the movable position) It is possible to perform an effect suggesting whether or not .
Here, the effect means (for example, the image display unit 114 and the frame lamp 157) can perform a dark effect as the suggested effect .

The present invention that achieves the above object is realized as the following gaming machine. This gaming machine is a gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 100) that performs an effect, and includes an effecting means (for example, an image display unit 114, a frame lamp 157) that performs a predetermined effect, and an accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position). ) And a movable body (for example, the movable body 52) that protrudes (for example, the movable position), and the movable body (for example, the movable body 52) in the accommodation state (for example, the state of the origin position) A first operation that enters a protruding state (for example, a movable position), and moves in a direction from the accommodation state (for example, the original position) to the protruding state (for example, a movable position). The second action of returning to the accommodated state (for example, the state of the origin position) without reaching the state) can be executed, and the rendering means (for example, the image display unit 114, the frame lamp 157) is the movable body (for example, When the movable body 52 is changed from the housed state (for example, the state of the origin position) to the projecting state (for example, the state of the movable position), it is displayed when the housed state (for example, the state of the origin position) is maintained. Whether or not the predetermined effect is performed in a mode different from the mode, and when the movable body (for example, the movable body 52) performs the first operation or the second operation, the projecting state (for example, the state of the movable position) is set. or Ri can der to perform the effect suggests, when the movable body (e.g. a movable member 52) is in the protruding state, the movable body than in the said accommodating state (e.g. the movable member 52) The light emitting unit (for example, the image display unit 114, the frame lamp 157) and the light emitting unit (for example, the frame lamp) included in the image display unit (for example, the image display unit 114) and the frame member (the frame member 150) that constitute a part of the rendering means 15 ) Is likely to perform easily produce increasing decorativeness due, it is characterized in.
Here, the effect means (for example, the image display unit 114 and the frame lamp 157) can perform a dark effect as the suggested effect.

Claims (2)

A gaming machine that produces a performance,
Production means for performing a predetermined production;
A movable body that is housed and protrudes;
With
When the movable body changes from the housed state to the projecting state, the effect means performs the predetermined effect in a mode different from a mode displayed when the housed state is maintained. To play.   2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined performance performed when the movable body is in the projecting state is more likely to have a gorgeous impression to the player than in the housing state. .

Images