JP2019010592A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine which reduces possibility that shifting to a standby state irritates a player.SOLUTION: In a game machine 1, a game state where a player is playing a game and a standby state where the player does not play the game are set. While a game ball is being shot, the game machine 1 is controlled to avoid shifting from the game state into the standby state. It is better that the game machine 1 is provided with a shooting device 10 having a touch sensor 12 to detect a contact by the player, and allowed to shift from the game state to the standby state on condition that the touch sensor 12 goes from a detecting state into a non-detecting state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  A gaming machine that shifts to a standby state triggered by the fact that a state in which no winning has been continued for a predetermined period is known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

JP, 2015-131194, A

  Despite the fact that the game ball is being fired, there is a risk that the player may become frustrated if the state where there is no winning for a predetermined period of time continues and shifts to the standby state.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of reducing the possibility that a player becomes frustrated by shifting to a standby state.

  In the gaming machine according to the present invention made to solve the above-described problems, a gaming state in which the player is playing and a standby state in which the player is not playing are set. A gaming machine is configured so as not to shift from the gaming state to the standby state when a game ball is being fired.

  According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the player becomes frustrated by shifting to the standby state.

It is a front view of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment. It is an external appearance perspective view of a launcher. It is a figure for demonstrating the conditions which transfer to a standby state from a game state. It is a figure for demonstrating the conditions on which a start effect is performed. It is a figure for demonstrating the example set as a start effect that the movable body which was located in the production | presentation position in the standby state returns to an original position.

1) Overall Configuration of Gaming Machine Hereinafter, an embodiment of a gaming machine 1 (pachinko gaming machine) according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  The gaming machine 1 includes a game board 90. The game board 90 is formed of a substantially square plywood so that the guide rail 20, which is a passage for guiding a game ball launched by the operation of the launching device 10 (handle) to the game area 902, has a substantially arc shape. Is provided.

  In the game area 902, a display device 91, a start winning opening 904, a big winning opening 906, an out opening 907, and the like are provided. The display area 911 of the display device 91 is an area that can be viewed through an opening 901 formed in the game board 90. In some drawings, the display region 911 is roughly described, but the shape and the like can be changed as appropriate (the shape and size of the opening 901 and the shape and size of the display device 91 itself can be changed). The shape and the like of the display area 911 can be changed with (

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

  In such a gaming machine 1, a game ball is launched toward the game area 902 by operating the launching device 10. When a game ball flowing down the game area 902 wins a winning opening such as a start winning opening 904 or a grand winning opening 906, a predetermined number of gaming balls (hereinafter referred to as winning a gaming ball at the winning opening) are paid out. A game ball is called a prize ball).

  Note that the description of the components of the gaming machine 1 that are not related to the present invention, such as the frame of the gaming machine 1, the lower plate and the upper plate for storing the game balls, is omitted. About these, the thing of the structure similar to a well-known game machine is applicable.

  The jackpot lottery is executed by a winning determination means provided on a control board (not shown) triggered by winning a game ball in the start winning opening 904 (a plurality of such starting winning openings may be provided). Specifically, when a game ball is won at the start winning opening 904, a numerical value (win / fail judgment information) is acquired from a random number source, and if the numerical value is the same as a predetermined jackpot value, the jackpot If they are different, they will be out of sync. Detailed description is omitted because it is the same as a known gaming machine, but in the case of a big hit, the identification symbol 80 (the symbol for notifying the determination result; see FIG. 1 etc.) is a predetermined combination (for example, the same When a combination of three symbols is displayed, a combination is displayed.

2) Transition control to standby state The state of the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment is roughly divided into a gaming state and a standby state. It can be said that it is in the gaming state except when it is in the standby state (the gaming state and the standby state are contradictory events). The game state is a state when the player is actually playing a game. Even if the player quits the game, the gaming state is maintained to some extent (at least until a waiting state transition condition described later is satisfied). The waiting state is a so-called “customer waiting state”. During the standby state, a standby image (including both moving and still images) created for the standby state is displayed in the display area 911. Hereinafter, the same applies to “image” unless otherwise specified). Is. The standby image includes an image that introduces the gaming machine 1 (an image that introduces various effects performed by the gaming machine 1), an image that describes a gaming method, and an image that displays the name of the manufacturer that manufactured the gaming machine 1, etc. It can be illustrated. Further, in the present embodiment, when in a standby state, a customization function that enables customization of a target setting that is at least a part of various settings relating to a game is enabled (the target setting is customized when in a gaming state). Can not do it). Examples of target settings include settings related to the frequency (occurrence rate) of various effects, settings of main characters appearing in the effects, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, the transition from the gaming state to the standby state is allowed when one or more standby state transition conditions (hereinafter also referred to as standby state transition conditions) are satisfied. As one of the standby state transition conditions, a condition that “the game ball is not being fired” (hereinafter also referred to as a specific condition) is set (see FIG. 3). When the game ball is fired, there is a player's intention to play. That is, as long as the player intends to play a game, the transition from the gaming state to the standby state is not allowed (does not occur). For example, even if the state where there is no winning at the start winning hole 904 or other winning holes continues for a predetermined period, the transition to the standby state does not occur as long as the game ball is being fired. In addition, as other standby state transition conditions, it is conceivable to set “the change of the identification symbol is not performed” (the effect of notifying the determination result is not performed) (see FIG. 3). .

  In the present embodiment, when it is detected that all of the standby state transition conditions are satisfied, a predetermined time period is detected after it is detected that all of the standby state transition conditions are satisfied, instead of immediately shifting to the standby state. After the elapse of time (hereinafter referred to as “transition time”), a transition is made to a standby state (see FIG. 3). If a plurality of standby state transition conditions are set and the specific condition is finally satisfied, the transition time has elapsed since it was detected that the game ball has not been fired. As a result, the system shifts to a standby state.

  Various methods are conceivable as a method for determining whether or not the specific condition is satisfied. As a first method, a determination is made based on whether or not the launching device 10 is being operated. Since the launching device 10 itself can be adopted as having the same structure as a known device, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The firing device 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) includes a firing handle 11 and a sensor. The sensor is a touch sensor 12 that detects whether or not a part (hand) of a player's body is touching a detection unit formed of a conductive material (only the detection unit is illustrated as a touch sensor 12 and is controlled. The illustration of the part is omitted). A player who wants to fire a game ball rotates the launch handle 11 to adjust the launch strength of the game ball. When the firing handle 11 is in the original position (when the firing handle 11 is not operated), the game ball is not fired. At the time of operating the launch handle 11, the player's hand touches the detection unit of the touch sensor 12 (provided along the circumferential direction of the launch handle 11). That is, when the touch sensor 12 is in a detection state (ON) that detects the player's body (hand), it is determined that the launching device 10 is being operated, and when it is in a non-detection state (OFF). It is determined that the launching device 10 is not operated. Therefore, when the touch sensor 12 is in the detection state, it is not determined that the specific condition is satisfied, and it is determined that the specific condition is satisfied when the touch sensor 12 is in the non-detection state.

  As a second method, a sensor (hereinafter referred to as a ball sensor 21) that detects a released game ball is provided, and a predetermined time has elapsed since the game ball was last detected by the ball sensor 21. This is a technique for determining that a game ball has not been fired. The position where the ball sensor 21 is provided is preferably in the guide rail 20 through which a game ball launched toward the game area 902 inevitably passes (see FIG. 1). The ball sensor 21 may be provided at a position as close as possible to the exit of the guide rail 20 (the entrance of the game area 902). If the state in which the launching device 10 is operated is maintained and the game ball is continuously fired toward the game area 902, the game ball will pass through the guide rail 20 at regular time intervals. The predetermined time is set to a time longer than the certain time. Thereby, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the game ball was last detected by the ball sensor 21, it can be considered that the player has no intention to fire the game ball.

  It is good also as a structure which applied the 1st method and the 2nd method together. That is, it may be determined that the specific condition is satisfied when the touch sensor 12 is in a non-detection state and a predetermined time has elapsed since the game ball was last detected by the ball sensor 21.

  Thus, in the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, the transition from the gaming state to the standby state is not permitted unless the specific condition (the gaming ball is not being fired) is satisfied. Therefore, when the player is playing a game continuously (launching a game ball), there is no situation of shifting to the standby state. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the player becomes irritated due to a situation in which the player enters the standby state because no winning is made at the start winning opening 904 even though there is a willingness to play.

  If the first method is used to determine whether or not the specific condition is satisfied, there is an advantage that it is possible to immediately know that the player has stopped firing. On the other hand, since the second method directly detects whether or not a game ball is actually being fired, it is possible to reliably determine whether or not a specific condition is satisfied.

  Hereinafter, specific examples in which matters relating to the transition control to the standby state in the above embodiment are improved, embodied, and modified will be described. In addition, it is good also as a structure which applied combining the technique demonstrated using the following specific examples.

-First specific example In the above embodiment, it has been described that the transition to the standby state is controlled when the transition time elapses after it is detected that all the standby state transition conditions are satisfied. The configuration may be such that, after it is detected that all of the standby state transition conditions are satisfied, the state is controlled so as to immediately transition to the standby state. That is, the transition time = 0 may be set. In this way, since the player shifts to the standby state at a relatively early timing after the player quits the game, it is possible to quickly indicate that the player is in the so-called “customer waiting state”.

Second Specific Example In order to determine whether or not a specific condition is satisfied, it may be detected whether or not the firing handle 11 (see FIG. 2) is operated. That is, since the firing handle 11 is being rotated, it means that the firing handle 11 is not in the original position, and therefore whether or not “a game ball has not been fired” is detected by detecting it. May be determined.

3) Control of start effect The gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment can execute the start effect. The start effect is an effect that occurs when the player tries to start a game. This is not an effect that occurs when a game ball enters a specific area (a predetermined area in the game area 902). For example, it is not an effect of notifying the result of the determination of success or failure when the game ball enters the start winning opening 904 (not an effect related to the direct profit of the player). By generating the start effect, it contributes to the improvement of the player's willingness to play. The start effect is generated when a game is to be started in a standby state that is a so-called customer waiting state (when a game start condition described later is satisfied). When the start effect is started, the standby state is canceled and the game state is shifted substantially simultaneously or immediately after the start effect.

  In the present embodiment, an effect in which a predetermined effect sound is output from the speaker 50 (see FIG. 1) is set as the start effect (see FIG. 4). Any aspect of the production sound may be used. It is set to a mode that improves the game motivation (for example, a mode in which the voice of “Ikuze” of the character appearing in the production is output). A configuration in which a plurality of types of start effects are set may be employed.

  The start effect occurs when the game start condition is satisfied. In this embodiment, at least two conditions (first condition and second condition) are set as game start conditions (see FIG. 4). The first condition is that it is detected that the touch sensor 12 has changed from the non-detection state (OFF) to the detection state (ON). That is, it is detected that a player who is about to start a game touches the detection unit of the touch sensor 12 by operating the firing handle 11.

  The second condition is a condition that is established when the firing handle 11 is operated. That is, it is a condition that does not hold if the firing handle 11 remains in the original position. In this way, the start effect is prevented from being executed only when the first condition is satisfied.

  In the present embodiment, the second condition is that the firing handle 11 is detected to be displaced from the original position. Since the game ball is not fired unless the firing handle 11 is displaced (rotated) from the original position, the displacement of the firing handle 11 from the original position is intended to cause the game ball to be fired. Is recognized. Any method may be used to detect that the firing handle 11 has been displaced from its original position. A sensor (not shown) for detecting that the firing handle 11 has been displaced from the original position by a predetermined amount is provided, and it is detected that the firing handle 11 has been displaced from the original position when the sensor has changed from the non-detection state to the detection state. It is good also as what to do. That is, it is possible to detect that the firing handle 11 is displaced from the original position by directly detecting the position of the firing handle 11. Further, when the launch handle 11 is displaced from the original position, the hammer that plays the game ball is driven by the motor (the description of the motor driving mechanism of the hammer itself is well known, and thus the description thereof is omitted). It may be determined that the firing handle 11 has been displaced from the original position with the movement of. In other words, it may be determined that the firing handle 11 has been indirectly displaced from the original position by the operation of other elements constituting the firing device 10 or the like.

  In the present embodiment, not only the first condition but also the start effect is not executed unless the second condition is satisfied. That is, the start effect is not executed only by the player touching the detection unit of the touch sensor 12, and the start effect is not executed unless the firing handle 11 is actually operated. Since it is conceivable that the player touches the detection unit of the touch sensor 12 unintentionally, if the start effect occurs with this as a trigger, the player may be surprised that the start effect has occurred. is there. In particular, such a risk becomes conspicuous when the predetermined effect sound is output from the speaker 50 as in the present embodiment. On the other hand, since the operation of the firing handle 11 (displacement of the firing handle 11 from the original position) is an event that must be executed by the player with a clear intention, such an event occurs. Even if the start effect is generated at the opportunity, the probability that the player will be surprised at the occurrence of the start effect is low.

  Hereinafter, specific examples in which the matters relating to the control of the start effect in the embodiment are improved, embodied, and modified will be described. In addition, it is good also as a structure which applied combining the technique demonstrated using the following specific examples.

First Specific Example In the above embodiment, it has been described that the output of a predetermined effect sound from the speaker 50 is set as the start effect, but the aspect of the start effect is not limited to this. For example, in a gaming machine provided with a movable body 40 (so-called movable accessory), the configuration may be such that the movable body 40 returns to the original position as a start effect. Note that the original position refers to the position of the movable body 40 in a state where no effect using the movable body 40 is generated in the gaming state.

  It is known that the movable body 40 is positioned at a position different from the original position when in a standby state. For example, when the movable body 40 can reciprocate between the original position and the effect position, the movable body 40 is positioned at the effect position when in the standby state (FIG. 5A). )reference). By doing so, there are advantages such that it becomes easy to understand that it is in the standby state (the gaming machine 1 in the standby state is conspicuous), and it becomes an indication of how the movable body 40 operates. When moving from the standby state to the gaming state, it is necessary to position the movable body 40 at the original position, so that the movable body 40 moves toward the original position is set as a start effect. (See FIG. 5).

-2nd specific example Although the said embodiment demonstrated that the 1st condition and the 2nd condition were set as game start conditions, conditions other than that may be set. For example, if the start effect is to be generated only when it is confirmed that the player's intention to actually fire the game ball exists, “the stop button 13 of the launching device 10 is operated. It is conceivable to set “not yet” as one of the game start conditions. The stop button 13 (see FIG. 2) itself is well known and will not be described in detail. However, when the stop button 13 is operated, the firing handle 11 is rotated from its original position. The game ball is not fired (the motor that operates the hammer is not driven). When such a stop button 13 is operated, it is conceivable that the start effect is not started on the assumption that the player does not intend to start the game.

  In addition, the gaming machine 1 is provided with a known rental button 30 (a game ball is lent to a player by operating the button) (see FIG. 1). It is conceivable that “the button 30 has been operated” is set as one of the game start conditions. Since the intention of the player trying to fire the game ball is that the lending button 30 is operated, the start effect may not be generated unless the lending button 30 is operated. Conceivable.

-Third Specific Example In the above embodiment, it has been described that the first condition and the second condition are set as the game start condition. However, one of the conditions may not be set. For example, when the firing handle 11 is operated, it is almost certain that the player is touching the detection unit of the touch sensor 12 (the touch sensor 12 is in a detection state), and therefore the touch sensor 12 detects Whether or not it is in a state (first condition described above) may not be set as a game start condition.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment at all, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  Specific means (game machines) obtained from the above embodiment are listed below.

・ Means 1-1
A gaming machine in which a gaming state in which the player is playing and a standby state in which the player is not playing are set, and when the game ball is being fired, the game A gaming machine that is controlled so as not to shift from a state to the standby state.
In this way, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the player becomes irritated by shifting to the standby state despite playing.

・ Means 1-2
A device operated when firing a game ball, comprising a launch device having a touch sensor for detecting that a player is in contact, and unless the touch sensor goes from a detection state to a non-detection state, The gaming machine according to means 1-1, wherein transition from the gaming state to the standby state is not allowed.
In this way, as long as the player continues to operate the launching device, the standby state is not shifted.

・ Means 1-3
The transition from the gaming state to the standby state is not allowed unless a predetermined time has elapsed since the last sensing of the gaming ball by the ball sensor provided in the guide rail through which the gaming ball entering the gaming area passes. The gaming machine according to Means 1-1 or Means 1-2, which is characterized.
By doing so, as long as the player continues to fire the game ball, it does not shift to the standby state.

・ Means 2-1
And an effect executing means for executing a start effect when a game start condition is established in a standby state, and a launch device having a touch handle for detecting that the launch handle and the player are in contact with each other. The condition includes a first condition in which the touch sensor is changed from a non-detection state to a detection state, and a second condition that is established when the firing handle is operated.
According to the gaming machine, since the start effect is not generated unexpectedly, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the player will be surprised when the start effect occurs.

・ Means 2-2
The gaming machine according to means 2-2, wherein the second condition is determined to be satisfied when it is detected that the launch handle is displaced from the original position.
Since the launch handle does not move from the original position without the player's intention, the start effect is generated only when the player has a clear intention to play. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 10 Launching device 11 Launching handle 12 Touch sensor (detection part)
13 Stop button 20 Guide rail 21 Ball sensor 40 Movable body 50 Speaker 91 Display device 911 Display area

Claims (3)

A gaming machine in which a gaming state in which a player is playing and a standby state in which the player is not playing are set,
A gaming machine that is controlled so as not to shift from the gaming state to the standby state when a gaming ball is being fired. A device operated when firing a game ball, comprising a launch device having a touch sensor for detecting that a player is in contact;
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a transition from the gaming state to the standby state is not allowed unless the touch sensor is changed from a detection state to a non-detection state.   The transition from the gaming state to the standby state is not allowed unless a predetermined time has elapsed since the last sensing of the gaming ball by the ball sensor provided in the guide rail through which the gaming ball entering the gaming area passes. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gaming machine is characterized.

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