JP2019024567A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine that can shorten time until power-up of a game machine can be confirmed as much as possible.SOLUTION: After power-up of a game machine 1 is started, no image is displayed on a liquid crystal display 51 until a start-up period (t1 to t2) elapses but a lower panel 50 runs start-up lighting in the start-up period.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of playing a game.

  As a gaming machine, a predetermined number of bets are set, and a slot machine in which a plurality of types of identification information are variably displayed based on a start operation, and a gaming medium such as a gaming ball is played by a launching device. And a pachinko gaming machine in which a plurality of types of identification information are variably displayed when a game medium is won in a starting area such as a prize opening provided in the gaming area.

  As such a gaming machine, nothing is displayed on the screen of the display device during the initialization process of the gaming machine after the power is turned on, after displaying the loading image after the initialization process, and further displaying the image in preparation Some display normal images (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-123680

  However, in the case of the gaming machine of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that it is not possible to confirm whether or not the gaming machine is turned on until at least a period when nothing is displayed on the screen of the display device has elapsed.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of shortening the time until the power-on of the gaming machine can be confirmed as much as possible.

(1) A gaming machine capable of playing a game (for example, slot machine, pachinko gaming machine, illustrated gaming machine 1),
Display means (for example, liquid crystal display 51);
Production means (for example, the lower panel 50),
After the power supply to the gaming machine is started, no image is displayed on the display means until a predetermined period (for example, an activation period) elapses, and an image is displayed on the display means after the predetermined period elapses ( For example, as shown at t1 to t2 in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display 51 does not display an image until the activation period elapses after the power supply to the gaming machine 1 is started, and after the activation period elapses. Image in preparation)
The effect means performs an effect during the predetermined period (for example, as shown at t1 to t2 in FIG. 2, the lower panel 50 is lit at start-up during the start-up period).

(2) In the gaming machine of (1) above,
The display means displays a preparation image (for example, an image in preparation) indicating that preparation for display control is being performed after the predetermined period has elapsed (for example, as shown at t2 to t3 in FIG. 2) The display unit 51 displays a preparation image indicating that the display control is being prepared after the activation period has elapsed).

(3) In the above gaming machine (1) or (2),
The effect means ends the effect after the elapse of the predetermined period (for example, as shown at t3 in FIG. 2, the lower panel 50 ends the lighting at the time of activation after the elapse of the activation period).

(4) In any of the gaming machines (1) to (3) above,
It further comprises an operating means (for example, the operating unit 7) operated to advance the game,
After the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the acceptance of the operation to at least the operation means is not validated until the predetermined period elapses (for example, as shown in FIG. After the start of power supply and after the elapse of the activation period at t2, the reception of the operation to the operation unit 7 is not validated until the start command output timing at t3).

(5) In any one of the above gaming machines (1) to (4),
The effect means does not execute an effect suggesting a game result, or the effect means suggests a game result less frequently than other effect means (for example, the effect effect is executed in the liquid crystal display 51). The frequency at which the suggestive effect is executed in the lower panel 50 is lower than the frequency.)

(6) In any one of the above gaming machines (1) to (5),
The area where the effect means produces an effect (for example, the display area of the lower panel 50 shown in FIG. 1B) is the display area of the display means (for example, the display area of the liquid crystal display 51 shown in FIG. 1B). ) Wider than.

(7) In any of the above gaming machines (1) to (6),
Game control means (for example, main control unit 41) for controlling the progress of the game;
Production control means for controlling the production (for example, sub-control unit 91);
Movable means (for example, an accessory 200);
Light emitting means (for example, LED 52),
The effect control means can control the effect means, the movable means, and the light emitting means according to a command output by the game control means,
When the game control means starts the normal control for proceeding with the game, the game control means outputs a start command indicating the start of the normal control to the effect control means (for example, the main control unit 41 receives the t4 in FIG. 2). When the normal control is started at t3, a start command is output to the sub-control unit 91 at t3).
The effect control means causes the effect means to start executing the effect before receiving the start command (for example, the sub-control unit 91 performs the lowering at t1 before receiving the start command at t4 in FIG. 2). The panel 50 is lit at startup).

FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a main internal configuration of the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the gaming machine. It is a timing chart for demonstrating the execution example of lighting at the time of starting.

The form for implementing the game machine 1 which concerns on this invention is demonstrated below based on an Example.
[Main internal configuration of gaming machine 1]
FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a main internal configuration of the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The gaming machine 1 is, for example, a slot machine or a pachinko gaming machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 includes a main control unit 41 that controls the progress of the game, and a sub-control unit 91 that controls the production.

  An operation unit 7 is connected to the main control unit 41. When the gaming machine 1 is under normal control to be described later, it becomes possible to play a game by operating the operation unit 7 by the player. When the gaming machine 1 is a slot machine, the operation unit 7 includes a bet number setting button capable of setting the bet number, a start switch for starting rotation of the reel, a stop switch for stopping the reel, and the like. When the gaming machine 1 is a pachinko gaming machine, it is a hitting operation handle for launching a game ball.

  The sub control unit 91 performs various controls for performing effects, and controls gaming parts such as the lower panel 50, the liquid crystal display 51, the LED 52, and the accessory 200 connected to the sub control unit 91. Note that FIG. 1 is merely an example, and other configurations are also provided inside the gaming machine 1.

  The main control unit 41 outputs various commands such as a start command as the game progresses. The sub control unit 91 controls the effect based on the control information of the command output from the main control unit 41. The production is performed using, for example, the lower panel 50, the liquid crystal display 51, the LED 52, the accessory 200, and the like. Further, the present invention is not limited to this, and a speaker may be used for the production.

  FIG. 1B is a front view of the gaming machine. In FIG. 1 (B), a state in which lighting at the time of starting described later is executed in the gaming machine 1 is shown. The display area of the lower panel 50 is wider than the display area of the liquid crystal display 51.

  The accessory 200 is an example of a shielding member. The shielding member is a member that is installed on the front side of the liquid crystal display 51 and is driven to shield a part of the screen of the liquid crystal display 51. The accessory 200 can be driven left and right, for example. At the time of production, the accessory 200 moves to the production position at the center of the liquid crystal screen. The sub-control unit 91 causes the accessory 200 to start an initial operation when a start command is received after the power to the gaming machine 1 is turned on. For example, the accessory 200 performs an operation of returning to the other end after moving to the position of one end of the liquid crystal display 51 as an initial operation.

  Further, after the game is started by the operation of the operation unit 7 of the player, it is possible to shift to an advantageous state advantageous to the player according to the result of the game. When the gaming machine 1 is a slot machine, the game machine 1 shifts to an advantageous state according to the symbol derived by stopping the reel. Also, when the gaming machine 1 is a pachinko gaming machine, the game ball starts displaying the symbols when the game ball wins the start winning opening, and after the variation display is finished, it shifts to an advantageous state according to the derived symbols. To do.

  The advantageous state is, for example, a bonus that improves the winning probability of a small role in a slot machine, or an AT in which navigation is performed by notifying an operation procedure advantageous to a player. The pachinko gaming machine is a big hit gaming state in which a round game advantageous to the player can be executed a predetermined number of times.

  When the main control unit 41 determines the transition to the advantageous state, the sub-control unit 91 can execute the suggestive effect that suggests the transition to the advantageous state. The suggestion effect is an example of an effect suggesting a game result. The effect suggesting the result of the game is an effect suggesting what the result of playing the game will be. The effect suggesting the result of the game is, for example, an effect suggesting that the small role has been won or that the small role has not been won in the slot machine. For example, in the slot machine, the suggestion effect is a continuous effect that is executed over a plurality of games in order to suggest AT winning. In pachinko machines, this is a reach production that suggests a transition to a big hit gaming state. The suggestion effect may be executed even when the transition to the advantageous state is not determined.

  In the production suggesting the game result, for example, the game result is suggested to the player by the production using the liquid crystal display 51. Further, in the effect suggesting the game result, effects such as blinking of the lower panel 50, blinking of the LED 52, and movement of the accessory 200 to the effect position can be executed.

[Lights up at startup]
In the present embodiment, the sub-control unit 91 causes the lower panel 50 to light up at startup. The lighting at start-up means that the lower panel 50 is turned on during the start-up period of the sub-control unit 91. In addition, lighting at the time of activation is a kind of effect that indicates to the player that the power supply of the gaming machine is activated. The activation period is a period during which the sub-control unit 91 is performing activation processing. During the startup period, no image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51. The activation process is a process in which the sub control unit 91 executes an initialization process or the like.

  The initialization process includes an initialization process for controlling the liquid crystal display 51, the LED 52, and the accessory 200. However, the lower panel 50 can be lit without requiring an initialization process. For this reason, the sub-control unit 91 lights the lower panel 50 before executing the initialization process in the startup process.

  In the present embodiment, when the activation period ends, the preparation period starts. In addition, the preparation period ends when normal control, which will be described later, is performed.

  Until the start-up period ends, the sub-control unit 91 performs initialization processing and the like, and thus the liquid crystal display 51 cannot display an image. On the other hand, during the preparation period, the liquid crystal display 51 can display an image.

  During the preparation period, since the sub-control unit 91 is preparing for display control, the liquid crystal display 51 cannot display an effect image or the like. The preparation period ends when the main control unit 41 completes the activation process. Therefore, even if the preparation for display control is completed in the sub-control unit 91, the effect image or the like cannot be displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 until a start command described later is received from the main control unit 41.

  In the preparation period, the liquid crystal display 51 displays the image being prepared. The in-preparation image is an image indicating that the display control of the image executed by the sub-control unit 91 is being prepared. The preparation for image display control is, for example, processing for transferring image data from a storage area stored in advance to a working storage area.

  In addition, after the power supply to the gaming machine 1 is started, the main control unit 41 also executes an activation process for executing an initialization process and the like. The initialization process includes an initialization process for controlling the operation unit 7. When the main control unit 41 completes the activation process, control for advancing the game becomes possible. Hereinafter, the control for advancing the game is referred to as “normal control”, and the state in which the control for advancing the game is possible is referred to as “during normal control”.

  When normal control can be started, the main control unit 41 outputs a start command to the sub-control unit 91. The start command is a command indicating the start of normal control. When receiving the start command from the main control unit 41, the sub control unit 91 causes the liquid crystal display 51 to display that normal control is being performed.

[Execution timing of lighting at startup]
FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining an execution example of lighting at startup. t indicates the timing at which the event occurred. Also, in FIG. 2, in order from the top, whether or not the game machine 1 is turned on, whether or not a start command is output, a display example of the liquid crystal display 51, whether or not the lower panel 50 is lit and lit, and whether or not the LED 52 is lit and lit , And the operation of the accessory 200.

  Prior to t1, the gaming machine 1 is not supplied with power. At this time, since no power is supplied to the liquid crystal display 51, nothing is displayed on the screen.

  When power supply to the gaming machine 1 is started at t1, the main control unit 41 starts the startup process, and the sub control unit 91 also starts the startup process.

  The main control unit 41 does not validate the operation of the operation unit 7 connected to the main control unit 41 until the activation process of the main control unit 41 is completed. In addition, the sub control unit 91 does not start the operation of the liquid crystal display 51, the LED 52, and the accessory 200 connected to the sub control unit 91 until the start process of the sub control unit 91 is completed.

  However, the lower panel 50 can be turned on immediately after the start of power supply to the gaming machine 1 without waiting for the end of the activation process of the sub-control unit. For this reason, at the time t1 when the power supply is started, the lower panel 50 is lit at startup (lights on).

  When the activation process of the sub-control unit 91 ends at t2, the activation period ends. That is, the period from t1 to t2 is the activation period. When the start-up period ends, a preparation period starts, and an image in preparation is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51.

  At t2, the lower panel 50 finishes lighting at start-up (turns off). Further, at t2, the LED 52 starts to light. This is because the sub-control unit 91 can execute the lighting control of the LED 52 at t <b> 2 when the activation process is completed.

  On the other hand, when the activation process of the main control unit 41 is completed, normal control is in progress at t3. As a result, a game-related operation becomes possible, and the acceptance of the operation to the operation unit 7 is validated. At this time, the main control unit 41 outputs a start command to the sub-control unit 91.

  When receiving the start command at t4, the sub-control unit 91 causes the liquid crystal display 51 to display an image indicating that the normal control is being performed. Further, the accessory 200 starts an initial operation upon receiving the start command of the sub-control unit 91.

  When the initial operation of the accessory 200 ends at t5, the accessory 200 stops at the normal position (for example, the position of one end of the liquid crystal display 51). Note that the accessory 200 may start the initial operation as long as the start command is received even when the image being prepared is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51.

  It is assumed that the suggestive effect suggesting the transition to the advantageous state is started at t6. At this time, on the liquid crystal display 51, for example, a suggestion effect is displayed in which an image in which an enemy character and a teammate character fight is displayed. The lower panel 50 and the LED 52 perform an effect by blinking. The accessory 200 moves to the effect position.

  When the suggestion effect ends at t7, the liquid crystal display 51, the lower panel 50, the LED 52, and the accessory 200 return to their original states.

  Here, from t6 to t7, the lower panel 50 performed an effect suggesting a game result such as a suggestion effect, but the lower panel 50 does not always execute an effect suggesting a game result. The frequency at which the effect suggesting the game result is executed on the lower panel 50 is lower than the frequency at which the effect suggesting the game result is executed on the liquid crystal display 51.

  Further, the lower panel 50 may not be used at all for an effect suggesting a game result. For example, the model name of the gaming machine 1 and the like are described on the lower panel 50, and the lower panel 50 may be turned on only for easy display of the information.

  Further, as described above, the liquid crystal display 51 performs display during normal control based on the start command output from the main control unit 41 at t3, whereas the lower panel 50 performs t1 before receiving the start command. It is possible to execute lighting at start-up.

[Main effects]
In the present embodiment, as shown at t1 to t2 in FIG. 2, no image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 until the start-up period elapses after the power supply to the gaming machine 1 is started. The image under preparation is displayed after the start-up period has elapsed, and the lower panel 50 is lit at start-up during the start-up period. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the time until a store clerk or the like of the game store can confirm power-on of the gaming machine 1 as much as possible.

  As shown in t2 to t3 of FIG. 2, the liquid crystal display 51 displays a preparation-in-progress image indicating that the display control is being prepared after the start-up period has elapsed. Can specify that the liquid crystal display 51 is preparing for display control.

  As shown at t2 in FIG. 2, the lower panel 50 ends the lighting at the start-up after the start-up period has elapsed. At the same time, since an image in preparation is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51, a store clerk or the like of the game store can confirm that the game machine 1 has been turned on.

  Since the power supply to the gaming machine 1 is started at t1 in FIG. 2 and the start command output timing of t3 after the elapse of the activation period of t2, the operation reception to the operation unit 7 is not validated. It is possible to prevent a game from being played in a situation where no display is made on the liquid crystal display 51 before t2.

  Since the frequency at which the suggestion effect is executed on the lower panel 50 is lower than the frequency at which the suggestion effect is executed on the liquid crystal display 51, the lighting at the start of the lower panel 50 is less likely to be misunderstood as the suggestion effect, and is turned on at the start It is easy to understand that

  Since the display area of the lower panel 50 shown in FIG. 1B is larger than the display area of the liquid crystal display 51, it is easier for a store clerk or the like in the amusement store to confirm that the power is turned on.

  The main control unit 41 outputs a start command to the sub-control unit 91 when starting normal control at t3 in FIG. The sub-control unit 91 turns on the lower panel 50 at t1 (lights up at startup) before receiving the start command. Therefore, a store clerk or the like of the game store can confirm that the gaming machine 1 is turned on regardless of the state of the main control unit 41.

[Modification]
As mentioned above, although main embodiment in this invention has been described, this invention is not restricted to said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation and application are possible. Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment applicable to the present invention will be described.

[About gaming machines]
The gaming machine 1 described above includes a plurality of variable display units capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information that can each be identified. After the variable display unit is variably displayed, the variable display unit displays the variable display by stopping the variable display. A slot machine that derives a result and can generate a prize according to a display result combination that is a combination of display results of a plurality of variable display units may be used. The gaming machine 1 described above may be a pachinko gaming machine that can be controlled to a big hit gaming state that is advantageous to the player according to the result of the variable display of a plurality of types of identification information that can each be identified.

[Lighting at startup]
In the present embodiment, as shown at t1 to t2 in FIG. 2, the lower panel 50 is turned on during the start-up period in which no image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51. You may do it. For example, instead of using the lower panel 50, a back lamp or LED that is connected to the sub-control unit 91 and can be turned on without waiting for the completion of the startup process may be used. Moreover, you may use the exclusive goods which are not used for an effect.

  In the present embodiment, as shown at t2 in FIG. 2, when the activation period ends, the lower panel 50 is turned off. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light may continue to be lit after the activation period ends. . Further, the lower panel 50 may be turned off at the timing when the normal control is being performed.

  In the present embodiment, after the power supply to the gaming machine 1 is started at t1, the acceptance of the operation to the operation unit 7 is effective after the start period of t2 and after the start command output timing of t3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the acceptance of the operation to the operation unit 7 may be validated immediately after the activation period of t2.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  1 gaming machine, 7 operation unit, 41 main control unit, 91 sub control unit, 50 lower panel, 51 liquid crystal display, 52 LED, 200 accessory.

Claims (1)

A gaming machine capable of playing a game,
Display means;
Directing means,
After power supply to the gaming machine is started, no image is displayed on the display means until a predetermined period elapses, and an image is displayed on the display means after the predetermined period elapses,
The effect means is a gaming machine that executes an effect during the predetermined period.

Images