JP2019080740A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To absorb mismatch of the information length by bit operation to appropriately control a performance driver.SOLUTION: Performance control means 334 adds additional bit-unit information necessary for a performance driver, to the lower side of byte-unit performance information on the basis of a performance pattern, and adds predetermined preliminary information to the upper side. Thereby, the expanded byte-unit performance information is generated, and a communication controller 364, out of the expanded byte-unit performance information, outputs the bit-unit performance information used by a performance driver 372, from the lower side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine which determines by lottery whether or not to give a player a gaming benefit.

  In a slot machine as a gaming machine, in accordance with the operation of a bet on a medal (gaming medium) and a start switch by a player, a lottery for winning combination is made, and a plurality of reels having various symbols written thereon are rotated. Then, when the reels are sequentially stopped according to the lottery result and the player's operation of the stop switch, and the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination is displayed on the activated line which is the line to be paid out, the predetermined number is determined. For example, a game profit (hereinafter simply referred to as game profit) is given to the player, such as the medals being paid out.

  In such a gaming machine, in order to give the player an expectation that the variable display on the special symbol display is a big hit, an effect of driving features provided on the gaming machine in accordance with the variable display. Have to do. In order to realize such an effect, for example, there is known a technology for temporarily converting a control signal generated on a sub-substrate into serial data, and performing serial-to-parallel conversion with an effect driver on the slave substrate side to operate goods. (E.g., Patent Document 1).

JP, 2017-131411, A

  As described above, serial communication is performed between the effect driver that executes the effect and the controller that provides information to the effect driver, thereby improving not only the number of harnesses but also the security and communication stability. Can be

  Further, in the effect driver, as the amount of information that can be handled increases, the length of information to be managed is expanded in bit units. On the other hand, in the devices above the controller, information is generally handled in byte units, so that there is a mismatch in the information length between the devices above the controller and the rendering driver, and there is a problem that the rendering driver can not be properly controlled. there were.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such problems, the present invention aims to provide a gaming machine capable of absorbing inconsistencies in information length by bit operation and appropriately controlling a rendering driver.

  In order to solve the above problems, the gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine that performs lottery for giving a player a favorable game profit based on a predetermined opportunity, and proceeds with the game according to the lottery result. At least one effect control means for determining an effect pattern according to the progress of the game, a communication controller for outputting effect information based on the effect pattern through serial communication, and an effect driver for executing effects based on the effect information And the effect control means adds additional information in bit units necessary for the effect driver to the lower side of the effect information in byte units based on the effect pattern, and further, on the upper side, a predetermined spare. The information is added to generate expanded byte unit effect information, and the communication controller is configured to lower order side of the expanded byte unit effect information. Al, and outputs the effect information in bits used in the presentation driver.

  The communication controller receives the expanded presentation information in byte units, and outputs the next expanded presentation information in byte units without outputting the preliminary information, whereby the presentation information in bit units is output. It may be output.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to absorb the mismatch of the information length by the bit operation and appropriately control the effect driver.

FIG. 21 is an external view for illustrating a schematic mechanical configuration of the slot machine. It is an external view in the state where the front door was opened, in order to explain the rough mechanical composition of a slot machine. It is a figure explaining symbol arrangement and an effective line of a reel. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the slot machine. It is an explanatory view for explaining a winning combination. It is an explanatory view for explaining transition of a game state. It is a figure showing a winning combination lottery table. It is the flowchart which showed the main processing of the main control board. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the control aspect of the liquid crystal display part, a speaker, and the apparatus for presentation in a sub control board. It is a flow chart which shows a common control mode. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the control aspect of an effect lamp. It is an explanatory view for explaining a basic setting mode of a DMA program. It is an explanatory view for explaining a setting mode of a DMA program. It is a timing chart for explaining the transfer time of a communication controller. It is an explanatory view showing a processing mode of luminescence information. It is an explanatory view for explaining operation of a communication controller.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values and the like shown in this embodiment are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations will be denoted by the same reference numerals to omit repeated description, and elements not directly related to the present invention will not be illustrated. Do.

  In order to facilitate the understanding of the embodiment of the present invention, first, the mechanical configuration and the electrical configuration of the slot machine (game machine) that can be played by the player will be briefly described, and then the specifics of each substrate of the slot machine Processing (transition of the role configuration and the game state) and characteristic processing in this embodiment will be described, and a flowchart for realizing these will be described in detail.

(Mechanical configuration of slot machine 100)
As shown in the external views of FIGS. 1 and 2, the slot machine 100 includes a housing 102 which is a substantially rectangular box, and a front upper door attached to the front opening of the housing 102 so as to be openable and closable. 104 and the front upper door 104, and like the front upper door 104, the front lower door 106 attached to the front opening of the housing 102 so as to be openable and closable, and the lower part of the front lower door 106 And a receptacle unit 108 for storing medals paid out from the medal discharge port 108a.

  The operation unit installation base 122 is formed on the upper part of the front lower door 106, and the medal insertion unit 124, the bet switch 126, the start switch 128, the stop switch 130 and the like are arranged on the operation unit installation base 122.

  The medal insertion unit 124 located on the right side of the operation unit installation table 122 receives the insertion of medals as gaming media through the medal insertion slot (insertion slot) 124a, and the medal selector (shown in FIG. Send a medal to The medal selector includes a blocker (not shown) for guiding the medals out of the insertion period in which medals can be inserted and medals outside the standard to the medal discharge port 108a, and the medals in the standard inserted in the insertion period. And an inserted medal detecting unit 124b that detects the passage of the mark. Here, the medal guided to the medal discharge port 108 a is discharged to the receiving unit 108. When a player inserts a medal into a predetermined number of medals, which is the number of bets of medals required to start one game, exceeding the maximum number (for example, three), the maximum number of medals is exceeded. The medals are accumulated electrically (hereinafter, simply referred to as credits) inside the main slot machine 100 (main RAM 200c) with a predetermined upper limit (for example, 50) as the upper limit. The details of the one game will be described later.

  In addition, here, a plurality of “1” to “3” are set as the prescribed number. In addition, the player can arbitrarily select a prescribed number of sheets necessary to execute 1 game from a plurality of prescribed numbers, and the largest one among the plurality of prescribed numbers is referred to as the largest prescribed number and the smallest one. It is called the minimum specified number. In the present embodiment, the maximum prescribed number is “3” and the minimum prescribed number is “1”.

  The bet switch 126 is a push-type button switch for betting a maximum number of medals among the credited medals. When the bet switch 126 is pressed in a state where the medals of the maximum prescribed number or more are credited, the medals of the maximum prescribed number are betted, and the stored number is reduced by the maximum prescribed number. When the bet switch 126 is pressed in a state where the medals less than the maximum prescribed number are credited, all the medals of the stored number are betted and the stored number is reduced to zero.

  The start switch 128 located on the left side of the operation unit installation base 122 is constituted by a lever capable of detecting a tilting operation, and detects a start operation of one game by the player. The start switch 128 can also be configured by a button switch capable of detecting a pressing operation.

  A colorless and transparent symbol display window 136 made of a glass plate, a transparent resin plate or the like is provided substantially at the center of the lower part of the front upper door 104, and a reel corresponding to the symbol display window 136 in the housing 102 is a reel. A unit 134 is provided. In the reel unit 134, three reels 134a, 134b and 134c in which a plurality of types of symbols are respectively arranged in each of the equally divided areas 21 as shown in the symbol array of the reel in FIG. It is provided so as to be independently rotatable, and the player can visually recognize the reels 134a, 134b and 134c through the symbol display window 136. The reel unit 134 starts rotation of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c in response to the operation of the start switch 128.

  The stop switch 130 located at the center of the operation unit installation base 122 is a button switch provided corresponding to each of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c and capable of detecting the pressing operation of the player, and the reels 134a, 134b, 134c. A stop operation of the player who tries to stop each is detected. The three button switches relating to the stop switch 130 are referred to as stop switches 130a, 130b, and 130c in order from the left according to their positions.

  Thus, the reels 134a, 134b, 134c are respectively stopped by the stop operation through the stop switches 130a, 130b, 130c. Here, an effective line is provided as shown in FIG. 3B so that the player can grasp the stop mode. The number of effective lines is one, and specifically, among nine symbols (three reels x upper, middle, lower, three steps) facing symbol display window 136, it corresponds to the symbols stopped at the middle of reels 134a, 134b, 134c. The line connecting the positions is set as an effective line A for determining the winning combination of the winning combination. In addition, when it is difficult to grasp the winning combination by only the symbol combination displayed on the effective line A, the invalid line displays other symbol combinations that make it easy to grasp the winning combination. This is a line other than the valid line A which is not used, and in the present embodiment, four invalid lines B1, B2, C1, and C2 shown in FIG. 3B are assumed.

  A liquid crystal display unit (image display unit) 138 is provided substantially at the center of the upper portion of the front upper door 104 to display various images associated with effects. In addition, a rendering device 142 used for rendering is provided on the top of the front upper door 104 and on the left and right. The effect device 142 is, for example, provided on the left and right of the effect lamp 160 constituted by a high-intensity light emitting diode (LED) and the liquid crystal display unit 138, and moving the front surface of the liquid crystal display unit 138 in the left and right There are provided a rendering feature device 162 which looks like a door (shutter) which covers a part of the liquid crystal display unit 138, and a rendering operation device 164 which receives an operation of a player.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, speakers performing auditory effects by sound effects, musical tones, etc. at the right and left positions of the liquid crystal display unit 138 at the back of the front upper door 104 and at the inner left and right positions at the back of the front lower door 106. 140 are provided. Further, below the reel unit 134 in the housing 102, a medal payout device (medal hopper) 264 for paying out medals from the medal discharge port 108a is provided. The medal payout device 264 includes a medal storage portion 264a for storing medals, a payout control portion 264b for discharging the medals stored in the medal storage portion 264a from the medal discharge port 108a, and a medal discharged from the medal discharge port 108a. And a payout medal detecting unit 264c that detects the

  In addition, although not shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, among the symbols applied to each of the reels 134a, 134b and 134c, the symbols correspond to the symbol display window 136 (effective line A and invalid line B1 , B2, C1, C2) is provided with a reel back light 144 (see FIG. 4) for independently irradiating the upper, middle, and lower patterns of the respective reels 134a, 134b, 134c from the back individually. . Further, a reel upper light 146 for directly irradiating the front of all the reels 134a, 134b and 134c is also provided on the upper rear surface of the symbol display window 136.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, on the substantially horizontal surface of the stepped portion 122a provided between the symbol display window 136 and the stop switch 130 in the operation unit installation stand 122, the main credit display unit 152 and the main payout display unit 154 are provided. Further, a sub credit display unit 156 and a sub payout display unit 158 are provided between the symbol display window 136 and the operation unit installation table 122. The stored number stored internally is displayed on the main credit display unit 152 and the sub credit display unit 156, and the number of medals paid out is displayed on the main payout display unit 154 and the sub payout display unit 158. The sub-credit display unit 156 and the sub payout display unit 158 can also display various numerical values associated with the effects.

  In addition, a power switch 148 is provided at an arbitrary position in the housing 102. The power switch 148 is formed of a switch capable of detecting a pressing operation such as a rocker switch, and operated by an administrator managing the slot machine 100 to switch between two states of the power-off state and the power-on state. Used.

  In the present embodiment, in the above-mentioned one game, the insertion of medals through the medal insertion unit 124, the insertion of credited medals through the operation of the bet switch 126, or the replay role is displayed on the effective line A. The reels 134a, 134b, 134c are controlled to rotate and the winning combination lottery is executed according to the player's operation of the start switch 128 after either of the automatic insertion of medals based on the event is performed, and the winning is won The reels 134a, 134b and 134c corresponding to the operated stop switches 130a, 130b and 130c are stop-controlled respectively according to the lottery result of the role lottery and the player's operation of the plurality of stop switches 130a, 130b and 130c. If you win a winning combination that will receive a payout of It refers to the game until payout of is executed. In the case where the winning combination which can receive the payout of medals is not won or won but not won, one game is ended when all the reels 134a, 134b and 134c are stopped. However, the start of one game may be read as the operation of the start switch 128 by the player instead of the above-described insertion of the medal or the winning of the replay role. Also, let the number of such one game repeated be the number of games.

(Electric configuration of slot machine 100)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of slot machine 100. Referring to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the slot machine 100 is mainly controlled by the control board. Here, the main control board 200 and the sub control board 202 which share the function of the control board will be described as an example of the control board. For example, among the programs relating to the progress of the game, particularly important processing such as lottery of winning combination to be provided for the game and the winnings thereof is executed by the main control board 200, and other processing such as effect related to the sub control board 202 Is running on Further, as shown in FIG. 4, transmission of an electrical signal between the main control substrate 200 and the sub control substrate 202 can be performed from the main control substrate 200 to the sub control substrate 202 from the viewpoint of preventing fraud or the like. Restricted to direction only. However, if there is no such limitation, two-way electrical communication is technically possible.

(Main control board 200)
The main control board 200 has various semiconductor integrated circuits including a main CPU 200a which is a central processing unit, a main ROM 200b which stores programs and the like, and a main RAM 200c which functions as a work area. Do. However, a backup power supply (not shown) is connected to the main RAM 200c, and even when the power is turned off, the data is not erased unless the setting is changed and the initialization processing of the main RAM 200c is performed. It is held.

  Further, the main control board 200 functions by the main CPU 200a cooperating with the main RAM 200c based on a program stored in the main ROM 200b. The initialization means 300, the betting means 302, the winning combination lottery means 304, the reel control means 306, it has functional units such as a determination unit 308, a payout control unit 310, a state transition unit 312, a command determination unit 314, and a command transmission unit 316.

  The initialization unit 300 executes an initialization process on the main control board 200. The bet unit 302 bets a medal for use in a game. Here, the bet is based on the case where medals credited through the operation of the bet switch 126 are inserted, the case where medals are inserted through the medal insertion unit 124, and that the replay role is displayed on the effective line A. Includes all cases where medals are automatically inserted. Based on the bet of medals and the operation of the start switch 128, the winning combination lottery means 304 selects a small winning combination, a replay combination, a plurality of types of winning combinations including a bonus combination, and a non-winning one by a winning combination lottery. decide.

  The reel control means 306 controls the rotation of the plurality of reels 134a, 134b and 134c in response to the operation of the start switch 128, and the plurality of stop switches 130a, 130b and 130c respectively corresponding to the rotating reels 134a, 134b and 134c. In response to the operation of 130c, the reels 134a, 134b, 134c corresponding to the operated stop switches 130a, 130b, 130c are stop-controlled respectively. Further, the reel control means 306 activates the operation of the stop switch 130 in the previous game in response to the operation of the start switch 128 and then displays the lottery result of the winning combination lottery of the stop switch 130 of the player. The time until activation of the operation (disabled by completion of operation of the stop switch 130 in the previous game) is extended from a prescribed time (wait time, for example, 4.1 seconds), while the reel 134 a In some cases, a reel effect (freeze effect) may be performed to control the rotation of 134 b and 134 c in various ways. Reel production does not activate any switch that should be effective for a predetermined time, hold processing that should be originally performed for a predetermined time, and send or receive signals of any switch that should be originally transmitted or received for a predetermined time It can also be realized by not doing it.

  The determination means 308 determines whether or not the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery is displayed on the valid line A. Here, it may be simply referred to as a prize that the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery is displayed on the activated line A. The payout control means 310 pays out the medals for the number corresponding to the winning combination based on the fact that the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination determined in the winning combination lottery is displayed on the activated line A (winning). . The state transition means 312 changes the gaming state based on the winning or winning of the bonus combination.

  The command determination means 314 sequentially determines the game-related commands accompanying the operations of the betting means 302, the winning combination lottery means 304, the reel control means 306, the determination means 308, the payout control means 310, the state transition means 312 and the like. The command transmission unit 316 sequentially transmits the commands determined by the command determination unit 314 to the secondary control board 202.

  The main control board 200 receives various detection signals from the inserted medal detection unit 124b, the bet switch 126, the start switch 128, and the stop switch 130, and based on the received detection signals, the bet unit 302 and the winning combination lottery unit A reel control unit 306 and a determination unit 308 execute the various processes described above. In addition, a main credit display unit 152 and a main payout display unit 154 are connected to the main control board 200, and the payout control means 310 displays the number of medals stored and the number of payouts on both display units 152 and 154. Control.

  Further, a reel drive control unit 258 is connected to the main control substrate 200. The reel drive control unit 258 drives the stepping motor 262 based on the rotation start signal of each of the reels 134 a, 134 b and 134 c transmitted from the reel control unit 306 in response to the operation signal of the start switch 128, as well as a stop switch. In response to the operation signal 130, the driving of the stepping motor 262 is stopped based on the stop signals of the respective reels 134a, 134b and 134c and the detection signals of the rotational position detection circuit 260, which are transmitted from the reel control means 306.

  Further, a medal payout device 264 is connected to the main control board 200. A detection signal of the payout medal detection unit 264c is input to the main control board 200, and the payout control unit 310 counts the number of medals paid out from the payout control unit 264b according to the detection signal. Control the discharge of medals.

  In addition, the main control board 200 is provided with a random number generator 200d. The random number generator 200 d sequentially increments the count value, causes the loop (0 to 65535) to loop within a predetermined total number (for example, 65536), and generates (acquires) a random number by extracting the count value at a predetermined time. The random number generated by the random number generator 200d of the main control board 200 (hereinafter referred to as a winning combination lottery random number) is given to the player, a game profit advantageous to the player, for example, the winning combination lottery means 304 has a winning combination. Used to make decisions.

(Sub control board 202)
Further, like the main control board 200, the sub control board 202 has various semiconductor integrated circuits including a sub CPU 202a which is a central processing unit, a sub ROM 202b storing programs and the like, and a sub RAM 202c which functions as a work area. In particular, the effect is controlled based on a command from the main control board 200. Similarly to the main RAM 200c, a backup power supply (not shown) is connected to the sub RAM 202c, and the data is held without being erased even when the power is turned off. Similar to the main control board 200, the sub control board 202 is also provided with a random number generator 202d, and the random numbers generated by the random number generator 202d (hereinafter, referred to as effect lottery random numbers) Used to make decisions.

  In addition, the sub control board 202 functions by the sub CPU 202a cooperating with the sub RAM 202c based on the program stored in the sub ROM 202b, such as the initialization determining means 330, the command receiving means 332, the effect control means 334, etc. It has a functional part.

  The initialization determination unit 330 executes an initialization process on the sub control substrate 202. The command receiving unit 332 receives a command from another control board such as the main control board 200 and performs processing on the command. The effect control means 334 determines the effect of the game played on each device of the liquid crystal display unit 138, the speaker 140, and the effect device 142 based on the winning combination command. Specifically, the effect control means 334 includes the image data displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 138, the effect lamp 160, the reel backlight 144, the upper reel light 146, the sub credit display unit 156, the sub payout display unit 158, etc. , Effect lamp 160, reel back light 144, reel upper light 146, sub-credit display unit 156, sub payout display unit 158 may be simply referred to as "effect lamp 160") for the effect through the lighting equipment of While determining the light emission pattern and the drive pattern of the effect role object device 162, the sound data that constitutes the sound to be output from the speaker 140 is determined. Then, the effect control means 334 executes the determined effect of the game.

  The effects include effects performed by the main control substrate 200 such as the above-described reel effects and effects performed by the sub control substrate 202. The effect executed by the sub control board 202 is a visual and auditory expression means provided through the liquid crystal display unit 138, the speaker 140, the effect lamp 160 and the like as the game progresses, It is possible to give or suggest the result of the winning combination lottery with a more dynamic image. In such an effect, for example, an effect that suggests winning of a bonus game can be performed over a plurality of games, and the player's sense of expectation can be enhanced. Also, even if none of the winning combinations have been won, it is possible not to make the player bored by giving the player a feeling of high payout expectation through the effect as if the whistle is also won. It becomes possible. By interlocking the main control board 200 and the sub control board 202 described above, various game characteristics can be constructed. Hereinafter, the main game modes will be described in detail.

(Table used in main control board 200)
In the slot machine 100, a plurality of gaming states are provided, and the gaming states transition according to the progress of the game. Then, in the main control board 200, a plurality of winning combination lottery tables and the like corresponding to the gaming state managed by the state transition means 312 are stored in the main ROM 200b. The winning combination lottery means 304 extracts and extracts a corresponding winning combination lottery table from the main ROM 200b in accordance with the current gaming state (a gaming state based on presence or absence of a bonus combination described later) stored in the main RAM 200c. Based on the winning combination lottery table and the current setting value, it is determined whether the winning combination lottery random number acquired according to the operation signal of the start switch 128 corresponds to which winning combination or non-win in the winning combination lottery table. Here, the setting value indicates the ease of obtaining the gaming profit in stages, and the higher the numerical value of the setting value, the easier it is to obtain the gaming profit. The set value is generally determined by the hall manager at least at the start of the game, and the player can not obtain or change the set value during the game.

  Here, the winning combinations extracted in the winning combination lottery table include a replay combination, a small combination, and a bonus combination. The symbol combination corresponding to such a winning combination is referred to as "display or winning" in a state in which it is arranged on the effective line A, and the winning combination is won and the condition until the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination is displayed is internal Be in the winning state. Among the winning combinations, the replay role is a role that allows the player to execute one game again without betting new medals by the player when the symbol combination corresponding to the replay role is displayed on the activated line A. The small combination is a combination that can display the payout of a predetermined number of medals according to the symbol combination by displaying the symbol combination corresponding to the small combination on the effective line A. Further, the bonus combination is a winning combination in which the gaming state managed by the state transition means 312 can be shifted to the bonus gaming state by displaying the symbol combination corresponding to the bonus combination on the activated line A. . Hereinafter, the gaming benefits provided to the winning combination and the player will be described.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a winning combination, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining transition of a gaming state.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the winning combinations "Replay", "Bell", "Cherry", "Watermelon", and "Big bonus (hereinafter referred to as" BB ")" are provided as shown in FIG. It is done. Among them, the winning combination "Replay" corresponds to the replay role, the winning combinations "Bell", "Cherry" and "watermelon" correspond to the small combination, and the winning combination "BB" corresponds to the bonus combination.

(Replay role)
As a result of the winning combination lottery, when the winning combination "Replay" is won, the symbol "Replay" written on each of the reels 134a, 134b and 134c is a symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Replay" shown in FIG. When the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Replay" is displayed on the activated line A, it becomes possible to display on the activated line A, and as described above, the bet is not made by the player and one game is played again (replay ) Can be performed.

  Here, in the present embodiment, when the symbol constituting the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination is on the effective line A when the stop switch 130 is pressed by the player, the reel control unit 306 The stop control is performed so that the symbol stops on the effective line A. Also, when the stop switch 130 is pressed, the symbols constituting the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination are not on the effective line A, but in the direction opposite to the rotational direction of the respective reels 134a, 134b, 134c. If the symbol is within a range (retracting range) corresponding to four symbols, the number of symbols away is the number of sliding symbols by the reel control means 306, and the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination is formed. The stop control is performed so as to stop after maintaining the rotation for the number of sliding pieces so as to draw the design onto the effective line A. Also, when there are a plurality of symbols corresponding to the winning combination in each reel 134a, 134b, 134c, and all exist within the lead-in range of each reel 134a, 134b, 134c, according to the predetermined priority order It is determined which symbol is drawn onto the effective line A, and stop control is performed so as to stop after maintaining the rotation for the number of sliding symbols so as to draw the prioritized symbol onto the effective line A. When the symbol constituting the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination other than the winning combination is won when the stop switch 130 is pressed, the symbol is displayed by the reel control means 306. A so-called kicking process is also performed in parallel, so as not to stop on the effective line A.

  In each of the reels 134a, 134b and 134c, the symbols constituting the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Replay" are arranged so as to be able to be displayed on the effective line A by the above-mentioned stop control. 3 and 5). Specifically, since the symbols constituting the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Replay" are separated by only four symbols at the maximum within each reel 134a, 134b, 134c, the stop control is always on the effective line A Can be displayed. Thus, when the winning combination "Replay" is won, the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Replay" is always displayed on the activated line A. In this way, when the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Replay" is displayed on the activated line A, it becomes possible to start the next one game without inserting a medal.

(Small part)
Further, when the winning combination "bell" is won as a result of the winning combination lottery, the symbol "bell" written on each of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c is a symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "bell". When the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BELL" can be displayed on the valid line A, and the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "A" is displayed on the valid line A, the number of medals (here, nine) corresponding to the winning combination is given to the player. Be paid out. Here, since the symbols "bells" constituting the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "bell" are separated by only the maximum of four symbols in each reel 134a, 134b, 134c (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 5) And the same as the winning combination "Replay", it can always be displayed on the activated line A by the above stop control.

  When the winning combination "cherry" is won as a result of the winning combination lottery, the symbol "cherry" written on the reel 134a, which is a symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "cherry", can be displayed on the effective line A, When the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "cherry" is displayed on the effective line A, the medals of the number (3 here) corresponding to the winning combination are paid out to the player. In addition, "ANY" shown in the winning combination "cherry" indicates that any symbol may be stopped on the corresponding activated line A. However, on the reel 134a, the symbol "Cherry" that composes the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Cherry" is arranged so that it may not be displayed on the effective line A even by the above stop control ( 3 and 5). Therefore, even if the winning combination "Cherry" is won, so-called dropping may occur, and the player is not necessarily able to display the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Cherry" on the effective line A.

  Further, when the winning combination "watermelon" is won as a result of the winning combination lottery, the symbol "watermelon" written on each of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c, which is a symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "watermelon" is effective line A When the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "watermelon" is displayed on the activated line A, the medals of the number (15 in this case) corresponding to the winning combination are paid out to the player. However, in each of the reels 134a, 134b and 134c, the symbol "watermelon" which constitutes the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "watermelon" may not be displayed on the effective line A even by the above stop control. Arranged (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Therefore, even if the winning combination "watermelon" is won, so-called dropping may occur, and the player is not necessarily able to display the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "watermelon" on the effective line A.

(Bonus role)
Further, when the winning combination "BB" is won as a result of the winning combination lottery, the symbol "red" written on each of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c is a symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BB" shown in FIG. When the symbol 7 "can be displayed on the effective line A and the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination" BB "is displayed on the effective line A, the gaming state is set to the bonus gaming state, and the next one game (hereinafter, The game can be executed in the bonus game state until a predetermined number of medals (for example, 297) are paid out after the next game). In each of the reels 134a, 134b and 134c, the symbols "red 7" are arranged so that they may not be displayed on the effective line A even by the above stop control (see FIGS. 3 and 5). ). Therefore, even if the winning combination "BB" is won, the player does not necessarily have the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BB" displayed on the effective line A.

  When one of the above mentioned winning combinations is won, the internal winning flag corresponding to each winning combination is established (ON), and each of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c is selected according to the status of the internal winning flag. Stop control will be performed. At this time, if it is not possible to display the symbol combination corresponding to the small combination on the effective line A in the one game although the small combination is won, an internal winning flag after the one game is over. Is turned off. That is, the right to win the small winning combination is limited to only one game winning the small winning combination, and the right can not be carried over to the next game. In addition, when the internal winning flag corresponding to the winning combination "Replay" which is the replay role is established, the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "Replay" is always displayed on the effective line A, and the next time without requiring the medal After the processing required to play the game is performed, the internal winning flag is turned off. On the other hand, when the winning combination "BB" is won, the internal BB winning flag is established (ON), and until the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BB" is displayed on the effective line A, The BB internal winning flag is carried over across games.

(Transition of gaming state)
Here, the BB internal winning flag will be specifically described in conjunction with the transition of the gaming state. When the BB internal winning flag is established, the gaming state managed by the main control board 200 is a bonus combination, as shown in (1) of FIG. 6, according to the establishment status of the BB internal winning flag. From the bonus non-established gaming state not winning the BB ", the bonus established gaming state corresponding to the preparation state of the bonus gaming state is entered, and the stop control of each of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c is performed based on the bonus established gaming state. At this time, when the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BB" can not be displayed on the activated line A, the BB internal winning flag is carried over to the next game as it is (the bonus establishment gaming state is maintained). The symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BB" can be displayed on the effective line A also in the next and subsequent games. Then, when the player causes the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BB" to be displayed on the activated line A, the gaming state shifts from the bonus establishment gaming state to the bonus gaming state as shown in (2) of FIG. Do. Also, in the bonus gaming state, when medals exceeding a predetermined number (for example, 297) are paid out, the gaming state shifts from the bonus gaming state to the bonus non-established gaming state as shown in (3) of FIG. . However, as indicated by the broken arrow in (4) of FIG. 6, in the game in which the winning combination "BB" in the bonus non-established gaming state is established, the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BB" is placed on the effective line A. If it is displayed, the game is transferred directly to the bonus gaming state without passing through the bonus establishment gaming state.

(Winning combination lottery table)
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a winning combination lottery table used when determining the winning combination random numbers. In the winning combination lottery table, a plurality of winning areas are divided, and the winning combinations to be selected for the lottery may differ depending on each gaming state. FIG. 7 represents a winning area (winning combination) allocated for each gaming state (bonus not established gaming state, bonus established gaming state, bonus gaming state) by “o”. Therefore, a winning area in which “o” is not described indicates that the game state is not assigned. A predetermined combination (a winning range value), which is a numerical value indicating a winning range, is associated with a winning combination in each divided winning area, and the number of all winning areas allocated for each gaming state Is the total number (65536) of the winning combination lottery random numbers. Therefore, the probability that each winning combination is determined is a value obtained by dividing the number associated with the winning area by the total number of winning combination random numbers. Based on the gaming state at that time, the winning combination lottery means 304 sequentially acquires the numerical value from the higher number among the plurality of winning areas in the winning combination lottery table, and selects the numerical value as the winning combination lottery random number. If the subtraction value is less than 0 by subtracting from the value, the winning combination associated with the winning area at that time is set as the lottery result. The procedure of the lottery can be applied to other lotterys.

  In addition, the winning combinations to be selected for the lottery differ depending on each gaming state. For example, in FIG. 7, when the bonus non-established gaming state and the bonus established gaming state are compared, the former performs the lottery for the winning combination "BB" while the latter performs the lottery for the winning combination "BB". Not. This is because, in the latter case, since the winning combination "BB" has already been won, the winning combination "BB" can not be won again. Also, in the latter, the winning probability of the winning combination "Replay" is set higher than in the former. Further, according to the bonus gaming state of FIG. 7, the lottery of the winning combination "BB" is not repeated, and the lottery of the winning combination "Replay" and the winning combination "watermelon" is not conducted. Further, since the winning combination "BELL" is set to be won with high probability, the expected winning number indicating the average value of the number obtainable in one game is lower than the bonus non-established gaming state or the bonus established gaming state. It's getting higher. It should be noted that "non-winning" is associated with the winning area 0 of the winning combination lottery table, and if "non-winning" is determined by the winning combination lottery, the symbol combination corresponding to any winning combination shown in FIG. Also, the medals are not paid out without being displayed on the effective line A. However, in the bonus establishment gaming state (BB internal winning flag is ON), when “not winning” is determined by the winning combination lottery, the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination “BB” can be displayed on the valid line A.

  Hereinafter, specific processing in the main control board 200 will be described based on a flowchart.

(Main processing of main control board 200)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing main processing of the main control board 200. Here, first, along with the main processing of the main control board 200, an outline of one game after initialization will be described. Further, although detailed description will be omitted, as each process is performed, the switches (bet switch 126, start switch 128, stop switches 130a, 130b, 130c) used in each process are validated at the start of the process. , At the end of the process is invalidated.

(Step S100)
When the slot machine 100 is powered on via the power switch 148 and turned on, the initialization unit 300 executes initialization processing in preparation for the start of the game. While the power is turned on, the initialization unit 300 generates backup data as needed, and holds the backup data in the main RAM 200c. Therefore, even if an unexpected power failure occurs, it is possible to restore the state before the power failure by using the stored backup data in this initialization process. For example, even if an unexpected power interruption occurs during the rotation of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c, it is started from the state where the respective reels 134a, 134b, 134c are again rotated after the return operation. Therefore, in the initialization process, basically, the initialization (clearing of the RAM) of the main RAM 200c is not performed.

(Step S200)
In addition, when there is a change in the bet number, the command determination means 314 generates an insertion command indicating the changed bet number and the storage number, and the command transmission means 316 generates the insertion command generated by the secondary control board 202. Send to The bet process S200 will be described in detail later.

(Step S300)
Next, the winning combination lottery means 304 validates the game start operation to the start switch 128, and shifts to a state of waiting for the operation of the start switch 128. Here, the winning combination lottery means 304 is operated at the time when the start switch 128 is operated from the winning combination lottery random number updated by the random number generator 200 d of the main control board 200 according to the operation of the start switch 128 by the player. 1 winning combination lottery random number is acquired. Then, based on the winning combination lottery table shown in FIG. 7 and the currently set gaming state, the winning combination drawing means 304 determines which winning area corresponds to the obtained winning combination random number. The winning combination or non-winning of the determined winning area is determined as the lottery result. In addition, after the lottery result is determined according to the operation of the start switch 128, the command determination means 314 generates a winning combination command including the lottery result (winning combination or non-winning) of the winning combination drawing, information on the gaming state, etc. The command transmission unit 316 transmits the generated winning combination command to the sub control board 202. Further, the state transition means 312 changes the gaming state from the bonus non-established gaming state to the bonus established gaming state based on the winning combination "BB" being won in the bonus non-established gaming state.

(Step S400)
When the start switch 128 is operated, the reel control means 306 drives the stepping motor 262 to rotate the reels 134a, 134b and 134c. In this reel rotation process, when a predetermined time (for example, 4.1 seconds) has elapsed from the start of rotation of the reels 134a, 134b, 134c in the previous one game (wait), the reels 134a, 134b, 134c in the game The rotation is started, and when all the reels 134a, 134b and 134c have been rotated at a constant speed, the process is transferred to step S500. Also, the reel control unit 306 may execute reel effects.

(Step S500)
Subsequently, the reel control unit 306 activates the stop switches 130a, 130b and 130c, and when the player operates the stop switches 130a, 130b and 130c, any one of the reels 134a, 134b and 134c corresponding to the operation. Stop control. In addition, the command determination means 314 is a stop command (first stop command, second command) indicating information of the stop switches 130a, 130b, 130c which have been operated when any one of the stop switches 130a, 130b, 130c is operated. The stop command (third stop command) is generated at each operation, and the command transmission unit 316 sequentially transmits the generated stop commands to the sub control board 202.

(Step S600)
Next, the determination means 308 determines which of the predetermined combinations the symbol combination displayed on the pay line A shown in FIG. 3 (b) corresponds, and the gaming state is determined according to the symbol combination. Execute various processes required for change and replay. In addition, the command determination means 314 generates a winning command including the symbol combination displayed on the activated line A, and the number of medals paid out when the symbol combination corresponding to the small combination is displayed on the activated line A, etc. The command transmission unit 316 transmits the generated winning command to the sub control board 202. In addition, the state transition means 312 causes the gaming state to transition from the bonus establishment gaming state to the bonus gaming state based on the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination "BB" being displayed on the valid line A in the bonus establishment gaming state. .

(Step S700)
Subsequently, based on the determination result in step S600, for example, when the symbol combination corresponding to the small winning combination is displayed on the activated line A, the payout control unit 310 executes payout processing of medals corresponding to the small winning combination. When the symbol combination corresponding to the replay role is displayed on the activated line A, processing for automatically betting the next game is executed. In addition, when the payout of the predetermined number of medals is executed in the bonus gaming state, the state transition means 312 shifts the gaming state from the bonus gaming state to the bonus non-established gaming state. As described above, the payout control means 310 performs various processes in accordance with the symbol combinations displayed on the pay line A, and ends the one game. In addition, when the medal payout process is performed, the command determination unit 314 generates a payout command indicating that the payout process is performed, and the command transmission unit 316 transmits the generated payout command to the sub control board 202. .

  One game is executed through a series of processes from step S200 to step S700. After that, steps S200 to S700 are repeated.

  As described above, in the sub control board 202, the effect control means 334 is a game performed by the liquid crystal display unit 138, the speaker 140, and the effect device 142 (effect lamp 160, effect role device 162, effect operation device 164) Determine the production.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram for explaining the control mode of the liquid crystal display unit 138, the speaker 140, and the effect device 142 in the sub control board 202, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control mode common to them. . The sub CPU (CPU) 202 a provided on the sub control board 202 functions as the effect control means 334 in cooperation with the program stored in the sub ROM 202 b and the sub RAM 202 c. The effect control means 334 decodes the command transmitted from the main control board 200, and determines an effect pattern (content indicating a series of effects of the effect) corresponding to the command. Then, the effect control means 334 transmits a command to each device such as the image IC 360a, the music IC 362a, and the communication controller 364 based on the determined effect pattern to execute the effect.

  Such an effect is always performed as an interrupt process while the power is on, and is completed within a predetermined interrupt cycle (for example, 33 msec). For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the effect control means 334 waits for the arrival of a predetermined interrupt cycle (for example, 33 msec) (NO in S10), and when the predetermined interrupt cycle arrives (YES in S10), the effect pattern Image data (data corresponding to an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 138 among effects indicated by the effect pattern) is determined (S11). Then, the effect control means 334 transmits an image command capable of specifying the image data to the image IC 360a (S12), and repeats the process from step S10. The image IC 360 a is also referred to as a VDP (Video Display Processor), reads out image data specified by an image command from the image ROM 360 b to the image RAM (VRAM) 360 c, and sequentially outputs the image data to the liquid crystal display unit 138. The liquid crystal display unit 138 always displays an image of some sort. Therefore, the effect control means 334 always determines the image data for each interrupt cycle. The image RAM 360 c has a plurality of different layers, and each layer can hold different image data. Then, the image IC 360 a superimposes the image data held in a plurality of layers, and outputs the superimposed image data to the liquid crystal display unit 138.

  Further, the presentation control means 334, when the predetermined interruption cycle comes, continues to the control for the image IC 360a described above, music data based on the presentation pattern (equivalent to the music output to the speaker 140 among the presentation indicated by the presentation pattern) To determine which Then, the effect control means 334 transmits a music command capable of specifying music data to the music IC 362a. The music IC 362 a reads the music data specified by the music command from the music ROM 362 b to the music IC 362 a and sequentially outputs the music data to the speaker 140. In addition, to the speaker 140, some music is always output. Therefore, the effect control means 334 always determines the music data every interruption period. The music IC 362a has a plurality of music buffers (buffers), and can be used to hold different music data in each music buffer. Then, the music IC 362a superimposes music data held in a plurality of music buffers, and outputs the superimposed music data to the speaker 140.

  In addition, when the predetermined interruption cycle arrives, the effect control means 334 continues the control of the image IC 360a and the music IC 362a as described above, a light emission pattern based on the effect pattern (a series of effect lamps 160 among effects indicated by the effect pattern The content which shows the lighting mode of and the drive pattern (The content which shows a series of drive modes of the production-effects apparatus 162 among the effects which a production pattern shows) are determined. Then, the effect control means 334 transmits a command to the communication controller 364 based on the light emission pattern and the drive pattern. According to the command, the communication controller 364 independently generates information (light emission information) on light emission for each of the plurality of effect lamps 160 and the effect role object device 162, or, for example, the rotation direction (traveling direction) of the motor Information (drive information) such as rotation amount (travel amount) and rotation speed (travel speed) is generated, and the generated light emission information and drive information are transmitted through serial communication. The light emission information and the drive information are treated as effect information responsible for the effect. Here, serial communication is used in order to simplify the control and management of the number of harnesses. Thus, the lighting effects of the plurality of effect lamps 160 are independently controlled, and the driving effects of the plurality of effect role devices 162 are independently controlled. Note that the effect lamp 160 is constantly on or off. Therefore, the effect control means 334 always determines the light emission pattern for each interrupt cycle. Also, the effect role device 162 operates only when the drive pattern is determined. Therefore, the drive pattern is determined less frequently than the image data, the light emission pattern, and the music data.

  The communication controller 364 also transmits light emission information and drive information through serial communication, and acquires input information (operation presence / absence, operation timing, number of operations, operation time length, etc.) of the rendering operation device 164 etc. through serial communication. . The effect control means 334 determines various effects such as displaying a predetermined image on the liquid crystal display unit 138 according to the input information.

  Here, a series of functional units such as the sub CPU 202a, the sub RAM 202c, the image IC 360a, the image ROM 360b, the image RAM 360c, the music IC 362a, the music ROM 362b, and the communication controller 364 constitute one integrated circuit as SoC (System-on-a-Chip). Are accumulated in However, which functional unit is to be integrated in such SoC can be set arbitrarily.

(Control of production lamp 160)
FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining a control mode of the effect lamp 160. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, in particular, a control mode of the effect lamp 160 through serial communication will be described. Here, only elements and signals related to the present embodiment will be described, and descriptions of elements and signals not related to the present embodiment will be omitted.

  As described above, the effect control means 334 determines the effect pattern according to the progress of the game. The effect pattern also includes a light emission pattern related to the effect lamp 160. Then, the effect control means 334 transmits a command to the communication controller 364 through the bus 366 based on the light emission pattern of the effect patterns.

  However, the effect control means 334 can not only control the communication controller 364 directly via the bus 366, but also can indirectly control the communication controller 364 via the DMA controller 368. Among the effect patterns, in particular, the light emission pattern includes luminance information for a large number of LEDs 370, and it takes a long time to transfer the luminance information. Here, the transfer efficiency is improved by controlling the effect lamp 160 via the DMA controller 368.

  The DMA controller 368 (368a, 368b) receives the light emission pattern from the effect control means 334, and then performs processing based on the light emission pattern independently of the processing of the effect control means 334. Specifically, the DMA controller 368 sequentially transfers (outputs) light emission information (rendering information) used by the effect driver 372, which will be described later, to the communication controller 364 based on the light emission pattern.

  The communication controller 364 (364a, 364b, 364c) receives light emission information from the DMA controller 368, temporarily stores it in an internal buffer, and sequentially transfers (outputs) it to the effect driver 372 through serial communication.

  The effect driver 372 (372a, 372b, 372c) executes an effect based on the light emission information received from the DMA controller 368. Specifically, the effect driver 372 outputs a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal indicating the luminance to each LED 370 connected to the effect driver 372 based on the light emission information. The effect driver 372 and the LED 370 function as the effect lamp 160.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for describing a basic setting mode of the DMA program. In the DMA program, as shown in FIG. 12A, at least (1) address of transfer source, (2) number of repetitions, (3) address of transfer destination, and (4) increment information are described. Here, (1) the start address (start address) of the light emission information to be transferred in the sub RAM 202c is described as the address of the transfer source, and (2) the number of repetitions of the light emission information transfer, for example If there are 100 LEDs, then 100 is described, (3) the address of the transfer destination, for example, the physical address of the communication controller 364a is described, (4) as the increment information, It is described whether the transfer source address and the transfer destination address are incremented at each transfer, for example, the transfer source address is incremented and the transfer destination address is not incremented (fixed).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), when the predetermined interrupt cycle comes and the light emission pattern is determined (YES in S20), the effect control means 334 calls the DMA program based on the light emission pattern, and performs DMA 1 The controller 368, for example, the DMA controller 368a is specified, and the called DMA program is set in the DMA controller 368a (S21). Once the DMA program is set, the DMA controller 368a operates independently of the effect control means 334, so that the effect control means 334 can perform other processing during that time. The DMA controller 368a reads the light emission information from the sub RAM 202c based on the DMA program, and (2) causes the effect control means 334 to generate a transfer completion interrupt when the light emission information is transferred the number of times described in the repeat count. . When a transfer completion interrupt occurs (YES in S22), the effect control unit 334 executes transfer end processing based on the transfer completion interrupt (S23), and waits for the next interrupt cycle.

  The effect lamp 160 is divided into three effect drivers 372 a, 372 b and 372 c shown in FIG. For example, the effect lamp 160 provided on the front upper door 104 including the reel backlight 144 and the reel upper light 146 is managed by the effect driver 372a, and the symbol display window 136 including the sub credit display unit 156 and the sub payout display unit 158. The effect lamp 160 provided at the lower side is managed by the effect driver 372 b, and the effect lamp 160 provided at the front lower door 106 is managed by the effect driver 372 c. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, communication controllers 364a, 364b, and 364c are associated with the three effect drivers 372a, 372b, and 372c, respectively. Then, by setting the light emission information to the communication controllers 364a, 364b, and 364c by the DMA controller 368 independent of the effect control unit 334, it is possible to achieve the processing efficiency.

  However, in the SoC of this embodiment, the number (the number of channels) of DMA controllers 368 is only two, which is less than the number of communication controllers 364a, 364b, and 364c. Therefore, if it is attempted to simply correspond the DMA controller 368 to each of the communication controllers 364, one of the communication controllers 364 can not be associated with the DMA controller 368. In this case, the effect control means 334 itself must be responsible for the transfer load that can be left to the DMA controller 368, which does not reduce the processing load of the effect control means 334. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the DMA controller 368 is efficiently managed, and the plurality of communication controllers 364 are collectively controlled.

  Here, the processing load of the three effect drivers 372a, 372b and 372c, that is, the time required to transfer all the light emission information for one interrupt cycle in the corresponding communication controllers 364a, 364b and 364c , “Transfer time”), the communication controller 364a <communication controller 364b <communication controller 364c according to the difference in the number of LEDs. In other words, the transfer time of the communication controller 364a is the shortest, the transfer time of the communication controller 364b is the second longest, and the transfer time of the communication controller 364c is the longest. Therefore, the communication controller 364a and the communication controller 364b whose transfer time is relatively short are controlled by one DMA controller 368a (first DMA controller) at different timings, and the communication controller 364c having the longest transfer time is additionally controlled. Control by one DMA controller 368b (second DMA controller).

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a setting mode of the DMA program in this embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a timing chart for explaining the transfer time of the communication controller 364. As shown in FIG. 13A, the effect control means 334 calls the DMA program based on the light emission pattern when the predetermined interrupt cycle arrives and the light emission pattern is determined (YES in S30). However, here, the DMA program corresponding to the communication controller 364a is called based on the light emission pattern (first effect pattern) corresponding to the communication controller 364a. Then, the effect control means 334 sets a DMA program corresponding to the communication controller 364a called to the DMA controller 368a (first DMA controller) (S31). Therefore, the address of the communication controller 364a is described in the (3) transfer destination address of the DMA program (see FIG. 12A). The effect control means 334 can perform other processing after setting the DMA program. During this time, the DMA controller 368a sequentially transfers the light emission information to the communication controller 364a. Then, when a transfer completion interrupt occurs (YES in S32), the effect control means 334 executes a transfer end process based on the transfer completion interrupt (S33).

  Further, when the transfer end processing based on the transfer completion interrupt is completed, the effect control unit 334 calls the DMA program again based on the light emission pattern. However, here, the DMA program corresponding to the communication controller 364b is called based on the light emission pattern (second effect pattern) corresponding to the communication controller 364b. Then, the effect control means 334 sets a DMA program corresponding to the communication controller 364b called to the DMA controller 368a (S34). Therefore, the address of the communication controller 364b is described in the (3) transfer destination address of the DMA program (see FIG. 12A). The effect control means 334 can perform another process again after setting the DMA program. During this time, the DMA controller 368a sequentially transfers the light emission information to the communication controller 364b. Then, when a transfer completion interrupt occurs (YES in S35), the effect control means 334 executes transfer end processing based on the transfer completion interrupt (S36), and waits for the next interrupt cycle to arrive.

  In this manner, the effect control means 334 sets the DMA programs based on the light emission patterns of the communication controller 364a and the communication controller 364b to the one DMA controller 368a at different timings, whereby the communication controller 364 and the DMA controller 368 It becomes possible to absorb the difference in the number in a software manner and to make the processing more efficient.

  On the other hand, when the predetermined interrupt cycle arrives and the light emission pattern is determined as shown in FIG. 13B in parallel with the process of FIG. 13A (YES in S40), the effect control means 334 emits the light emission The DMA program is called based on the pattern, and the called DMA program is set in the DMA controller 368b (second DMA controller) (S41). However, here, the DMA program corresponding to the communication controller 364c is called based on the light emission pattern (third effect pattern) corresponding to the communication controller 364c, and the DMA program's (3) transfer destination address communicates The address of the controller 364c is described (see FIG. 12A). The effect control means 334 can perform other processing after setting the DMA program. During this time, the DMA controller 368b sequentially transfers the light emission information to the communication controller 364c. Then, when a transfer completion interrupt occurs (YES in S42), the effect control means 334 executes transfer end processing based on the transfer completion interrupt (S43), and waits for the next interrupt cycle to arrive.

  Here, the transfer time of the light emission information based on the light emission pattern (third effect pattern) corresponding to the communication controller 364c, the transfer time of the light emission information based on the light emission pattern (first effect pattern) corresponding to the communication controller 364a, The transfer time of the light emission information based on the light emission pattern (second effect pattern) corresponding to the communication controller 364b is longer. Therefore, when it is attempted to process the light emission pattern corresponding to the two communication controllers 364 by the DMA controller 368 of 1, the two communication controllers 364 from the shorter transfer time, ie, the communication controller 364a and the communication controller 364b are selected. It is good to do. With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 14, even if there are only two DMA controllers 368, light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364a during a 33 msec interrupt cycle, the communication controller 364b All the light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364c can be transferred.

  In the case where one DMA controller 368 transfers light emission information based on a plurality of light emission patterns, the effect control means 334 sets the light emission information based on the light emission pattern having a shorter transfer time to the light emission pattern having a longer transfer time. The light emission information is transferred to the DMA controller 368 earlier. For example, in the example of FIG. 14, the transfer time of the light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364a is shorter than the transfer time of the light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364b. Therefore, the effect control means 334 first transfers light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364a to the DMA controller 368a, and thereafter transfers light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364b.

  Further, as described above, the effect control means 334 determines the light emission pattern when 33 msec, which is an interruption period, comes. However, even if 33 mesec arrives, while the communication controller 364 set at the time of the previous interruption is transferring the light emission information (the transfer is started and the transfer is continued), the transfer of the next light emission information is performed. Not start. Therefore, the communication controller 364 can complete the transfer of the light emission information as long as the transfer of the light emission information is started. Here, since the light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364a and the light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364b are continuously transferred at different timings, the transfer time is short first. By transferring the light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364a, there is a possibility that the light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the next communication controller 364b has started to transfer when the interrupt cycle arrives Becomes higher. Thus, the effect control means 334 first transfers light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364a to the DMA controller 368a, and then light emission information based on the light emission pattern corresponding to the communication controller 364b By transferring, it is possible to increase the probability that any light emission information will be completely transferred.

  Here, the effect control means 334 transfers two light emission patterns to one DMA controller 368a at different timings, and transfers one light emission pattern to another DMA controller 368b. As described above, the transfer by the other DMA controller 368 is not essential, and it is sufficient if the two light emission patterns can be transferred to the one DMA controller 368a at different timings.

  Further, although the example in which the effect control means 334 transfers the two light emission patterns to the one DMA controller 368a at different timings has been described here, the present invention is not limited to this case, and three or more light emission patterns may be transmitted. May be transferred to one DMA controller 368a at different timings.

(Light emission information)
The effect driver 372 executes effects based on the light emission information received from the DMA controller 368 through serial communication. In recent years, the performance of the rendering driver 372 has also been improved, and the amount of information that can be handled has increased, and the length of the information to be managed has been expanded in bit units accordingly. For example, the effect driver 372 according to the present embodiment can process 8-bit light emission information used by the effect control means 334 with the amount of information (8 bits) as it is. However, to the data received by the effect driver 372, additional information (1 bit) indicating the communication ACK (acknowledgement or acknowledgment) required by the effect driver 372 is always added to the lower side of the light emission information. Then, the information (light emission information + additional information) actually received by the effect driver 372 is 9 bits (bit unit).

  On the other hand, in the effect control means 334, the light emission pattern, the light emission information, etc. are handled in byte units, that is, 1 byte (8 bits) or 2 bytes (16 bits). Then, the bit lengths of the information handled by the effect control means 334 and the information handled by the effect driver 372 do not match, and when light emission information is simply generated based on the light emission pattern, some bits may be missing. , The rendering driver 372 can not be properly controlled. So, in this embodiment, the non-matching of the information length is absorbed by bit operation, and the rendering driver 372 is controlled appropriately.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a processing mode of light emission information. In the effect control means 334 and its upper device, the light emission information (effect information) is represented by 1 byte (8 bits) which is a byte unit. The light emission information (rendering information) in byte units may be simply referred to as non-expanded byte unit light emission information (non-expanded byte unit effects information, first effect information).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 15A, the effect control means 334 acquires light emission information in byte units (here, 1 byte) based on the light emission pattern, and on the lower side, bit units required by the effect driver 372 While adding additional information (here, 1 bit) and adding predetermined preliminary information to the upper side thereof, light emission information of an expanded byte unit (here, 2 bytes) is generated and temporarily stored in the sub RAM 202c. To store. Such extended byte unit light emission information (rendering information) may be simply referred to as extended byte unit light emission information (extended byte unit rendition information, second light emission information). Specifically, the effect control means 334 overwrites the light emission information of the byte unit in the expanded byte unit (here, 2 bytes) memory area from the lower side, and shifts the light emission information of the byte unit to the left by 1 bit. Here, the additional information is indicated by a numerical value of 1 to 8 bits indicating a communication ACK, and is fixed to "0d" here. Note that the operation of securing a memory area expanded in byte units (here, 2 bytes) is an operation of adding predetermined spare information. Here, “0000000 d” is used as the content of the preliminary information, but any numerical value can be adopted, and it may be undefined (no value operation is performed at all). This is because such preliminary information only functions as a dummy and is eventually deleted.

  In this way, it is possible to generate light emission information of an expanded byte unit (here, 2 bytes) including the light emission information of a bit unit (here, 9 bits) available in the effect driver 372 on the lower side. Then, as shown in FIG. 15B, the DMA controller 368 sequentially transfers the expanded light emission information in byte units (here, 2 bytes) to the communication controller 364.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 15C, the communication controller 364 acquires the light emission information of the expanded byte unit (here, 2 bytes) from the DMA controller 368 and stores it in the buffer. However, in the communication controller 364, among the light emission information of the expanded byte unit (here, 2 bytes), the light emission information of the bit unit (here, 9 bits) used by the effect driver 372 is sent to the effect driver 372 from the lower side. Output. This is realized by the following functions in the communication controller 364. Such light emission information (representation information) in bit units may be simply referred to as bit unit light emission information (bit unit effect information, third light emission information).

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the communication controller 364. Individual squares in FIG. 16 indicate each bit of the reception buffer or transmission buffer, and the cross-hatched portions indicate that light emission information is present in the buffer.

  When the communication controller 364 acquires the light emission information of the byte unit (here, 2 bytes) expanded from the DMA controller 368, it first stores it in the reception buffer (1). The reception buffer is configured of a 16-bit shift register, and functions as a so-called FIFO that stores light emission information from the lower bits and carries out the light emission from the lower bits to the transmission buffer. In addition, the transmission buffer is provided with 16 stages of 16-bit shift registers in parallel, and functions as a FIFO that carries out the light emission information in the order of storage. Therefore, the reception buffer carries out the light emission information to the shift register of one stage of the transmission buffer in which the light emission information is not stored (2), and the transmission buffer has the timing when the light emission information is stored independently of the reception buffer. The light emission information of the old stage is sequentially carried out from the lower bit.

  However, the transmission buffer does not carry out all the stored 16 bits of light emission information, but carries out only a predetermined number of bits (which can be arbitrarily selected among 8 to 16 bits) of light emission information set in advance from the lower side ( 3). Here, the predetermined number of bits is set to 9 bits. Therefore, the communication controller 364 receives the light emission information of the expanded byte unit (here, 2 bytes), and outputs the next expanded light emission information of the byte unit without outputting the preliminary information (7 bits) on the upper side. Repeat the operation to output. In this way, only the lower 9 bits of the expanded light emission information in byte units (here, 2 bytes) can be output to the effect driver 372. Here, the remaining preliminary information (7 bits) that has not been transmitted remains in the transmission buffer and will not be output thereafter.

  Thus, the communication controller 364 outputs only light emission information (light emission information + additional information in byte units) in bit units (here 9 bits) while receiving light emission information in expanded byte units (here 2 bytes). can do. In this way, it is possible to absorb the mismatch of the information length by the bit operation and appropriately control the rendering driver 372.

  Here, although an example in which the light emission information is transmitted by the communication controller 364 has been described, the present invention is not limited to the light emission information, and any information relating to an effect may be sufficient. For example, image data based on the effect pattern described above, music data , Drive information, etc. can also be applied.

  Further, although the example has been described here in which the additional information and the preliminary information are added to the light emission information in byte units in the effect control means 334 to generate the light emission information in byte units expanded, but this is not limited to such a case. The bit length update of the light emission information may be executed by the DMA controller 368 that is the latter stage.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. It is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various changes or modifications within the scope of the claims, and it is naturally understood that they are also within the technical scope of the present invention. Be done.

  Further, in the embodiment described above, the main control board 200 and the sub control board 202 are arranged to share the functional units for advancing the game, but the functional sections of the main control board 200 may be used as the sub control substrate 202. Alternatively, the functional units of the sub control substrate 202 may be disposed on the main control substrate 200, or all the functional units may be disposed collectively on one control substrate.

  In the embodiment described above, although the bonus game has been described as the game profit, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and it is a selection winning type in which the selection winning combination having a large game benefit and the other winning combination are duplicated. The operation mode of the switches 130a, 130b and 130c is a predetermined operation mode (correct operation mode) among a plurality of operation modes, that is, in a predetermined operation order (strike order) or a predetermined operation timing or a combination thereof When the selected winning category set as the winning condition of the selected winning combination is determined by the winning combination lottery, the effect control means 334 provides an assistance effect notifying of the correct operation mode to be the winning condition of the selected winning combination. By doing this, the player can easily display the symbol combination corresponding to the selected winning combination on the activated line A, so-called RT (RT time) to execute T (assist time) and increase the lottery chance of winning combination for consumption of medals by suppressing consumption of medals by setting it so that the winning probability of replay role is higher than normal game, RT (Replay time) A game or an ART game in which the above AT and RT games are simultaneously advanced may be provided.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the slot machine 100, the bit length of the effect information for producing the effect such as light emission information is changed or the plural transmission patterns are transmitted to the DMA controller 368. Thus, the bit length of the effect information may be changed, or a plurality of effect patterns may be transmitted to the DMA controller 368. Here, the pachinko machine causes the symbol display portion to display the symbol when a predetermined variation time has elapsed since the symbol determination means determines one of a plurality of types of symbols including the big hit symbol and the symbol is determined. When a big hit symbol is displayed on the symbol display unit, the symbol display unit, a main character game execution device that executes a main character game consisting of a plurality of round games, and a preset specific round of round games in the main character game. Even if a game ball entering a special winning opening enters a specific area during a game, a game profit giving means for giving a predetermined game profit, and an effect execution means for executing an effect in a major game Good.

  The processes performed by the main control board 200 and the sub control board 202 described above do not necessarily have to be processed chronologically in the order described as the flowchart, and may include processes in parallel or by a subroutine.

100 slot machines (game machines)
142 production device 160 production lamp 202c sub RAM
334 effect control means 364 communication controller 368 DMA controller 372 effect driver

Claims (2)

It is a gaming machine that draws a lottery for giving a player an advantageous gaming profit based on a predetermined opportunity, and advances the game according to the lottery result,
Effect control means for determining an effect pattern according to the progress of the game;
A communication controller that outputs effect information based on the effect pattern through serial communication;
An effect driver that executes an effect based on the effect information;
Equipped with
The effect control means adds additional information in bit units necessary for the effect driver to the lower side of the effect information in byte units based on the effect pattern, and adds predetermined preliminary information to the upper side. To generate extended byte unit presentation information,
The gaming machine, wherein the communication controller outputs bit-based effect information used by the effect driver from the lower side of the expanded byte-based effect information.   The communication controller receives the expanded presentation information in byte units, and outputs the next expanded presentation information in byte units without outputting the preliminary information, whereby the presentation information in bit units is output. The gaming machine according to claim 1, which outputs.

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