JP2019217023A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine excellently capable of maintaining visibility of performance by virtual display.SOLUTION: A Pachinko game machine 1 includes a display unit 5 which enables a player to visually recognize an aerial image 560 based on an image displayed to a liquid crystal display part and an infrared sensor to be detection means detecting that a player has touched a space display 56 in the space display 56 to be a virtual display area which has a liquid crystal display part displaying the image and is provided below an upper tray 135 storing balls. The display unit 5 switches aerial images 560 on the basis that the player has touched the space display 56.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a gaming machine, various effects have been executed in order to increase a player's attention to a game. For example, Patent Literature 1 below describes that a stereoscopic image based on an image displayed on a liquid crystal display panel is virtually displayed. Also, Patent Literature 2 below discloses a technique for allowing a player to visually recognize a virtual display that makes an image displayed on a liquid crystal display panel appear to protrude forward. By using these virtual display technologies, it is possible to execute an effect with a three-dimensional effect, and it is possible to increase the player's attention to the game.

JP 2011-217939 A Patent No. 5667729

  In the virtual display as described above, while the light of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel is focused on a virtual display area, in a game arcade, various illuminations by illumination in the hall are used to increase the player's willingness to visit. The effect is being performed, and the visibility of the virtual display may be impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a gaming machine that can maintain good visibility of an effect by virtual display.

  The gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine that executes a lottery in a special gaming state advantageous to a player and generates a special gaming state in accordance with the winning. The gaming machine includes an image display unit that displays a special image based on an image displayed on the display unit so that the player can visually recognize the special image. In the gaming machine, the image display unit displays a special image in a virtual display area provided below the ball storage unit.

  In a game arcade, effects using various lights are executed in a gaming machine and peripheral devices of the gaming machine. When an effect by light is being performed in the surroundings as described above, the light may have an adverse effect on an effect performed by a predetermined gaming machine. On the other hand, in the configuration of the gaming machine of the present invention, since the virtual display area is provided below the ball storage section, the virtual display area is less likely to be affected by light from the outside, and the visibility of the special image by the virtual display area is improved. Has become.

  As described above, the gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine that can maintain the visibility of the special image in the virtual display region satisfactorily while suppressing the influence of external light.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectional structure of a display unit. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a mode of assembling the display unit. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a pachinko gaming machine. Explanatory drawing which illustrates the notification effect of the jackpot expectation degree by an aerial display. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of another display example on the aerial display.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described using the following examples.
(Example 1)
This example relates to a pachinko gaming machine (an example of a gaming machine) 1 capable of displaying an aerial image (special image) on an aerial display that is an example of a virtual display area. This will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 of FIG. 1 executes a special figure determination that is a jackpot lottery when a ball wins in the start winning section (winning section) 11, stops displaying a symbol corresponding to the lottery result through a symbol variation display. It is a seven machine to make. The pachinko gaming machine 1 generates a jackpot state (special game state) when the lottery result of the special figure determination is a special figure winning (big hit).

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 can execute an effect or the like on the aerial display 56 to notify the winning expectation (big hit expectation) of the special figure determination. In particular, in the configuration of the present example, the aerial image 560 displayed on the aerial display 56 can be operated by the player, and the player can feel an appropriate operation feeling. Hereinafter, the detailed contents of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described.

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 is a gaming machine having an opening / closing door 13 attached to an underframe (not shown), and having a substantially circular gaming area 130 formed on a surface side of a gaming board inside the pachinko gaming machine. A speaker 131 is arranged on the lower right side of the game area 130, and an upper plate 135 is provided below the game area 130 so as to project toward the player (front). The upper plate 135 is a tray that is an example of a ball storage unit that receives a ball of a prize ball paid out according to a prize or a lending ball and stores the ball. At the lower right of the upper plate 135, an operation handle (operation means) 15 operated by a player to fire a ball on a firing device 341 (FIG. 4) which is an example of a firing means is provided upright.

  A large hole 137 having a substantially dome shape is formed in the front panel 134 below the upper plate 135. The hole 137 is located in a region generally sandwiched between the upper plate 135 and the operation handle 15. The display unit 5 forming the aerial display 56 is disposed inside the hole 137, and the opening area of the hole 137 is a formation area of the aerial display 56. Thus, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the present example, the aerial display 56 forming a virtual display area is disposed below the upper plate 135. A bottom plate 135B serving as an inner peripheral bottom surface of the upper plate 135 forms an example of a protruding wall that protrudes forward, and functions as a cover of the aerial display 56. The configuration of the display unit 5 will be described later in detail.

  The opening and closing door 13 is fixed to the underframe in a rotatable state via a hinge 133 located on the left side facing the pachinko gaming machine 1. The opening / closing door 13 is provided with a substantially circular transparent window 139 corresponding to the game area 130 and decorative lamp portions 136 arranged on both upper sides of the transparent window 139.

  The game area 130 is an area where a ball as a game medium flows down. In the game area 130, a start winning section 11, a through gate 14, a large winning section 16 and the like are arranged around a display device 19 for changing and displaying symbols. At the lowermost part of the game area 130, an out hole 138 for collecting a ball that has flowed down without winning is opened. The start winning section 11 and the large winning section 16 are arranged in two regions in the lower area of the display device 19 with the start winning section 11 up. The through gate 14 is arranged on the left side of the display device 19 when viewed from the player side.

  The start winning section 11 is a winning section in which a ball flowing down the game area 130 can win a winning, and is a winning section that triggers a special map determination as a jackpot lottery. When a ball is won in the start winning section 11, a random number for lottery in the special figure determination is extracted, and a special figure determination as to whether or not to generate a big hit state is executed. The start winning section 11 is provided with an electric tulip 112 having a pair of movable blades. When the electric tulip 112 is opened, the ball is guided to the start winning section 11, and the winning rate is significantly increased. It should be noted that the number of payouts of the balls according to the winning of the balls to the start winning unit 11 is three.

  The big winning section 16 is a variable winning device that is also called an attacker that is opened under a big hit state. The horizontally long winning section 16 is provided with a lid member that can be opened and closed. The big winning portion 16 is closed when the lid member is positioned so as to be substantially flush with the board surface forming the game area 130. When the lid member turns to the near side, the lid member is opened. When the large winning section 16 is opened, the lid member functions as a tray for guiding the balls, and a high winning rate is realized. In addition, the payout of the balls when the large winning section 16 is won is 15 pieces.

  The through gate 14 is an accessory that only allows a ball to pass through and does not have a payout ball set. When the ball passes through the through gate 14, a random number for lottery for determining whether or not the symbol is normal (hereinafter, referred to as a general figure determination) is extracted and the general figure determination is executed. This universal drawing determination is a lottery to determine whether or not to open the electric tulip 112 of the start winning section 11, and the electric tulip 112 is opened in response to the universal drawing winning. The winning probability of the ordinary figure is set to 1/30 in the normal state and 1/1 in the time saving state including the probable change state. Note that the opening time of the electric tulip 112 differs depending on the gaming state, and is 0.2 seconds × 1 in the normal state, and 1.5 seconds × 3 in the time saving state and the probable change state.

  The display device 19 in FIG. 1 is a device in which a liquid crystal display unit 190 is arranged inside a frame 199. After the symbol change period, the display device 19 stops the three-digit number symbol (any one of 1 to 9) and notifies the lottery result of the special figure determination that is a jackpot lottery, as well as the entertainment of the game. Display various effect images for enhancement.

  At the lower part of the display screen 191 of the liquid crystal display unit 190, a special figure suspension display unit 195 in which four circles imitating lamps are arranged in a horizontal direction is arranged. The special figure reservation display part 195 is a display part of special figure reservation (reservation information) triggered by winning of a ball in the start winning part 11. The special figure reservation display section 195 displays the number of special figure reservations (the maximum number is four) based on the number of lighted circles imitating lamps.

  On a front surface of a frame 199 corresponding to an upper side of the liquid crystal display unit 190, a general-purpose display unit 181 and a general-purpose display unit 182 are arranged. The general-purpose display unit 181 is a display unit that displays whether or not the above-described general-purpose determination is valid or not. The general figure display unit 181 displays the winning of the general figure determination (general figure winning) by lighting a circle, and displays a loss by lighting a cross. Incidentally, the fluctuation time in the normal drawing is 30 seconds in the normal state and 1 second in the time reduction state. The general-purpose reservation display unit 182 is a display unit in which four LEDs are connected so that the number of reservations stored (reserved) as the general-purpose reservation can be displayed. The general-purpose reservation display unit 182 displays the number of general-purpose reservations to be retained (the maximum number is four) based on the number of lighted LEDs.

  Next, the configuration of the display unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional structure of the display unit 5. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mode in which the display unit 5 is incorporated in the pachinko gaming machine 1. Note that FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the depth of the bottom surface on which the air outlets 574 are arranged, the aerial display 56, and the like, and the illustration of the pneumatic circuit constituting the air blowing means.

  The display unit 5 is an example of an image display unit that displays an image on the aerial display 56 that is a virtual display area. The display unit 5 has a function of detecting a hand or a finger of the player who has touched the aerial display 56 in addition to a function of displaying the aerial display 56, or a function of supplying compressed air to the detected hand or finger. It has a function as a blowing means for blowing air.

  The display unit 5 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 50 having an opening 590 surrounded by a frame 59 provided on the front surface (FIG. 2). In the display unit 5, the opening 590 having a substantially rectangular shape is a virtual display area of the aerial display 56. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, the display unit 5 is assembled so that the opening 590 substantially matches the hole 137 formed in the front panel 134.

  As described above, the hole 137 is a substantially dome-shaped hole formed in the front panel 134 below the upper plate 135. The substantially rectangular opening 590 of the display unit 5 is slightly larger than the opening of the hole 137. Therefore, when viewed from the player side, a substantially dome-shaped area overlapping the opening shape of the hole 137 among the display areas of the aerial display 56 is visually recognized. The hole 137 for viewing the aerial display 56 is located in a region substantially sandwiched between the upper plate 135 and the operation handle 15. The display unit 5 incorporated in the pachinko gaming machine 1 forms the aerial display 56 at a lower position (area) between the upper plate (ball storage unit) 135 and the operation handle (operation means) 15. . According to the display unit 5, the aerial image 560 (special image) can be displayed on the aerial display 56 provided below the upper plate (ball storage section) 135 so that the player can view it.

  Inside the housing 50 of the display unit 5, an internal space 500 through which a player can insert a hand or a fingertip through an opening 590 is formed. The internal space 500 is a space where an optical path for displaying the aerial image 560 on the aerial display 56 of the opening 590 is formed. In this internal space 500, a liquid crystal display unit 52, which is an example of a display unit for displaying an image, is mounted on a ceiling surface, and a light control panel 51 for forming an image of the liquid crystal display unit 52 on an aerial display 56. Is held. The plate-shaped light control panel 51 is supported in a state where both ends are fixed so as to face the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 52 facing downward in the vertical direction at an oblique angle (about 45 degrees). .

  The light control panel 51 is an optical component having the same principle as the light control panel described in Patent Document 2 described above. The light control panel 51 is formed by laminating two sheet-like light control members in each of which a plurality of band-shaped reflection portions are arranged so that the band directions are alternately orthogonal to each other. The reflecting portions arranged at predetermined intervals reflect light incident from one surface of the light control member and emit the light from the back side. The light of the liquid crystal display unit 52 is incident on the light control member on the liquid crystal display unit 52 side, is reflected by the internal reflection unit, is incident on the other light control member, is reflected again by the internal reflection unit, and is again reflected on the aerial display. Proceed to 56. That is, in the light control panel 51, the combination of the reflection portions of the two light control members superimposed functions as a two-plane orthogonal reflector (two-plane corner reflector), and a large number of two-plane orthogonal reflectors are provided in the entire light control panel 51. Has been realized. The image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 52 is formed on the aerial display 56 via the light control panel 51 having a function as a two-plane orthogonal reflector, and when viewed from the player side, a virtual display area located at the opening 590 Is visually recognized so that an image is displayed on the aerial display 56 which is a. That is, the display unit 5 includes the liquid crystal display unit (an example of a display unit) 52 that displays an image, and displays an aerial image 560 (special image) based on the image on the aerial display 56 so that a player can visually recognize the image. Department.

  In the frame 59 of the display unit 5, a plurality of infrared sensors 54 of a pair of upper and lower sides and a pair of left and right beams are arranged at equal intervals. The infrared sensor 54 is an example of a detecting unit that detects that a player has touched the aerial display 56. The pair of upper and lower or left and right infrared sensors 54 form an optical path of a grid-like infrared beam light along the aerial display 56. According to the infrared light beam forming the lattice-shaped optical path, the virtual display area of the aerial display 56 can be divided into lattice-like areas, and the area touched by the player's hand or fingertip can be detected two-dimensionally. That is, in the display unit 5, the aerial display 56 is divided into a plurality of regions, and the infrared sensor (detection means) 54 distinguishably detects which region the player has touched.

  A plurality of air outlets 574 for blowing compressed air toward the aerial display 56 formed in the opening 590 are arranged on the bottom surface of the internal space 500. The air outlets 574 two-dimensionally arranged on the bottom surface are open in an oblique direction toward the opening 590, and can blow air in a spot-like manner toward each two-dimensional position of the aerial display 56. It should be noted that the location where air is blown is different for each air blow port 574.

  An air blowing mechanism 57 that is an example of a blowing unit that blows compressed air from the blowing port 574 includes an air pump 53 that sucks and compresses the atmosphere, an air chamber 530 that stores compressed air, an air flow path 576, and a blowing port 574. And a switching valve 571 provided for each. As shown in FIG. 2, in the display unit 5, a pneumatic circuit such as an air chamber 530, a flow path 576, and a switching valve 571 is built in the housing 50.

  The air pump 53 is a pump that sucks in, compresses, and discharges external air. The air chamber 530 is a tank that stores compressed air discharged from the air pump 53. The air pump 53 is controlled so that the internal pressure of the air chamber 530 becomes a predetermined pressure. The compressed air stored in the air chamber 530 reaches a flow path 576A directly connected to each air outlet 574 via a flow path 576 branched on the way.

  The switching valve 571 is individually provided in the flow path 576 </ b> A directly connected to the air outlet 574. By selectively opening one of the switching valves 571, compressed air can be discharged from the corresponding air outlet 574. Since each air outlet 574 has a different air blowing position, spot-like air blowing to each two-dimensional position of the aerial display 56 can be realized by selectively opening one of the switching valves 571. . In addition, the switching valve 571 can adjust the valve opening degree in steps. By adjusting the valve opening, the pressure loss of the switching valve 571 can be adjusted, whereby the wind pressure acting on the player can be adjusted.

  Next, an electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The pachinko gaming machine 1 is configured around a main circuit 20. For the main circuit 20, a payout control circuit 33 for controlling the payout of the ball, a firing control circuit 34 for controlling the driving of the ball, a display control circuit 35 for controlling a game effect including a variable display of symbols, a winning ball or The passing ball sensors 312 to 315, the electric tuy solenoid 322 for opening the electric tulip 112 (start winning section 11), the big winning solenoid 324 for opening the big winning section 16, the power supply circuit section 328 for power supply, and the like are electrically operated. Connected. The display unit 5 is connected to a display control circuit 35.

The payout control circuit 33 controls the payout device 331 in accordance with an instruction from the main circuit 20 that a prize has occurred in any of the prize sections, and causes a predetermined number of balls to be paid out.
The launch control circuit 34 is a circuit that controls a launch device 341 that is an example of launch means that launches balls stored in the upper plate (ball storage unit) 135 to the game area 130 in response to a player's firing operation. . The launch control circuit 34 controls the launching strength of the ball by the launch device 341 according to the operation angle of the operation handle 15.

  As a sensor for detecting a winning or passing ball, a starting winning portion sensor 313 for detecting a winning ball to the starting winning portion 11, a gate passing portion sensor 312 for detecting a passing ball of the through gate 14, and a winning for the large winning portion 16. There is a large winning section sensor 314 for detecting a ball, and a ball discharging section sensor 315 for detecting and counting a ball that has flown into the out hole 138 without winning.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main circuit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 28, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 29 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 24, which are storage elements, and a random number generator 27 that generates random numbers in a predetermined range. , A random number extracting unit 26 for extracting random numbers for lottery, and an input / output (I / O) 25 serving as an input / output interface.

  The RAM 24 is a readable and writable storage element used for a work area of the CPU 28 and temporary writing. In the storage area of the RAM 24, a special figure reservation area 241 and a general figure reservation area 243 for four data are allocated. The special figure reservation area 241 is a storage area for special figure reservation which is a lottery result of the special figure determination (big hit lottery). The public figure holding area 243 is a storage area for the public figure determination result.

The ROM 29 of the main circuit stores various processing programs to be executed by the CPU 28, and also stores a special drawing determination lottery table and a general figure determination lottery table (not shown).
In the special drawing determination lottery table, a jackpot random number is defined for each of the normal state and the probable change state. For the time reduction state, a winning random number defined for the normal state is applied. In this example, the winning random number is defined such that the jackpot winning probability in the normal state and the time saving state is 1/300, and the jackpot winning probability in the probability change state is 1/60. In addition, the ratio of the probability change jackpot in the jackpot winning is set to 50% of the jackpot winning.

  The display control circuit 35 has a function of controlling sound and light effects by the amplifier / speaker 131 and the decorative lamp unit 136, a function of executing display control of the liquid crystal display unit 190 and the display unit 5, and the like. The display control circuit 35 includes a CPU 351, ROMs 352 and RAM 353 serving as storage elements, and an I / O 354 serving as an input / output interface. The display control circuit 35 is electrically connected to an amplifier / speaker 131, a decorative lamp unit 136, and the like, in addition to the liquid crystal display unit 190. Further, the liquid crystal display unit 52, the air pump 53, and the switching valve 571 constituting the display unit 5 , And the infrared sensor 54 are electrically connected.

  The ROM 352 of the display control circuit 35 stores various processing programs to be executed by the CPU 351 and also stores an effect lottery table (not shown) for determining an effect for notifying the lottery result of the special figure determination. . As the effect lottery table, there are a table applied when the lottery result of the special figure determination is the probability change big hit, a table at the time of the normal big hit win, and a table at the time of the loss. The probability that a special effect such as a notification effect of a jackpot expectation degree or a super reach effect is determined is as follows: loss time <normal jackpot time <probably variable jackpot time.

  The main circuit 20 and the display control circuit 35 realize functions as the following units (1) to (9) by causing the CPU 28 or the CPU 351 to execute a processing program read from the ROM 29 or the ROM 352. Each of the means (1) to (6) is realized by the main circuit 20, and the means (7) to (9) are realized by the display control circuit 35.

(1) Lottery means: means for executing a lottery in a jackpot state (special game state) that is advantageous to the player when a ball is won in the start winning section (winning section) 11. The lottery means determines that the lottery condition is satisfied when the ball is won in the start winning section 11 and obtains a random number for the lottery extracted by the random number extracting section 26, thereby determining the special figure that is a jackpot lottery (in the special game state). Lottery). In this special figure determination, the fluctuation time of the special figure (symbol fluctuation time) is also determined.
(2) Storage means: means for storing a random number for lottery, which is an example of a lottery result by the lottery means, as a special figure reservation. The storage means stores the special figure reservation in the special figure reservation area 241 up to four, which is an example of the predetermined upper limit reservation number. In addition, the general figure determination result is stored in the general figure holding area 243 as a general figure holding, with four being the upper limit.
(3) Reading means: means for reading out the special figure reservations stored by the storage means one by one and reducing the number of reservations in the storage means (the number of special figure reservations stored) according to the reading of the special figure reservations. When reading out the special figure reservation, the reading means reads out the storage time from the oldest one. It should be noted that the general-purpose reservation in the general-purpose reservation area 243 is also read out.
(4) Winning / Failing judgment means: means for judging whether or not to hold the special figure read by the reading means (whether or not a big hit has been won).
(5) Privilege granting means: means for granting a privilege to a player when a lottery result of the lottery means corresponds to granting a privilege. When the lottery result of the special figure determination by the lottery means is a big hit, the privilege giving means gives the player a bonus called a big hit state. In addition, the notification of the jackpot, which is the special map winning, is executed by display or the like on the liquid crystal display unit 190 as an image display unit.
(6) Special game state generating means: means for generating a big hit state (special game state) when a lottery of the lottery means is won (big hit win). Following the stop display of a three-digit numeric pattern such as "777" or "888" on the liquid crystal display 190, a big hit state is generated. In addition, the combination of odd-numbered numeric symbols is a notification pattern of a probability variable jackpot in which an advantageous probability-change state occurs after the end of the jackpot state, and the combination of even-numbered numeric symbols is a notification symbol of a normal jackpot. Has become.
(7) Effect lottery means: means for executing an effect lottery for determining an effect for notifying the lottery result of the special figure determination. The effect lottery means executes the effect lottery by switching the effect lottery table to be applied according to the lottery result of the special figure determination input from the main circuit 20 (whether or not, and the fluctuation time of the special figure).
(8) Effect control means: controls the display on the liquid crystal display unit 190 and executes control to display an aerial image (special image) 560 based on the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 52 on the aerial display 56 of the display unit 5. means. The effect control means switches the aerial image (special image) 560 displayed by the display unit 5 serving as the image display unit based on the player touching the aerial display 56, and causes the blower mechanism 57 to transmit a predetermined wind ( (Wind pressure).
(9) Game data storage means: means for counting and storing the number of executions of symbol fluctuation (number of starts), the number of big hits, and the like.

  Next, the basic operation of the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be outlined. When the operation handle 15 is operated in the clockwise direction, the pachinko gaming machine 1 fires balls at an intensity corresponding to the operation angle. The shot ball flows down the game area 130 where the through gate 14 and the like are arranged. The ball which has not won is collected from the out hole 138 provided at the lowermost part of the game area 130.

  When detecting a ball passing through the through gate 14, the main circuit 20 executes a lottery process of extracting a random number for lottery determination from the random numbers generated by the random number generation unit 27. The main circuit 20 determines the result of the general drawing determination by comparing the random number for the lottery with the lottery table for the general drawing determination. At this time, the main circuit 20 refers to the gaming state, and also determines the fluctuating time of the general figure, which is the time for performing the variable display on the general figure display unit 181. The normal time fluctuating time is determined to be 30 seconds when the game state is the normal state, and is determined to be 1 second when the game time is short. When the result of the general figure determination is a winning, after the variable display in which the XX of the general figure display unit 181 is alternately lit, the ○ is turned on. In the case of a loss, X is turned on after the fluctuation display. The main circuit 20 opens the electric tulip 112 of the start winning unit 11 when the normal drawing determination is won.

  When the main circuit 20 detects a ball that has won the start winning section 11, it executes extraction of a random number for lottery for special figure determination, and stores it in the special figure reservation area 241 as special figure reservation. However, when the reserved number of the special figure reservation area 241 is the upper limit number of four, the random number for lottery is deleted without being stored in the special figure reservation area 241.

  When the jackpot state is not occurring, the main circuit 20 reads out the special figure reservation in the special figure reservation area 241 one by one in order from the oldest one while the symbol change is stopped. Then, the read special figure holding lottery random number is collated with the special figure determination lottery table to determine whether the special figure determination is correct or not and the special figure fluctuation time.

  The main circuit 20 inputs to the display control circuit 35 the lottery result of the special figure determination (whether a jackpot is won or not, and the fluctuation time of the special figure). The display control circuit 35 that has acquired the lottery result of the special figure determination performs the effect lottery based on the effect lottery table described above. In this effect lottery, the method and content of the effect when notifying the lottery result of the special figure determination including the effect by the display unit 5 are determined. An effect example of the effect by the display unit 5 will be described later in detail.

  The display control circuit 35 starts the notification effect by the liquid crystal display unit 190 (display device 19) according to the lottery result of the effect lottery. In the case of a jackpot winning, the display control circuit 35 displays a symbol change display including a reach effect in which the symbol of the same number is stopped and displayed on both sides while leaving the central symbol, and then displays the jackpot symbol which is a combination of the symbols of the same number on the liquid crystal. The display is stopped on the display screen 191 of the display unit 190. It should be noted that, in the case of a winning win, the combination of odd-numbered symbols is stopped and displayed. In the case of normal jackpot, the combination of even-numbered symbols is stopped and displayed.

  On the other hand, in the case of a losing, a losing symbol which is not a uniform symbol is stopped and displayed on the display screen 191 of the liquid crystal display section 190. In addition, even in the case of a loss, a case is set where an effect including a special effect such as a super reach effect is executed. Whether or not a special effect is executed is determined based on the lottery result of the above-described effect lottery.

  The main circuit 20 generates a jackpot state after the jackpot winning notification by the stop display of the jackpot symbol on the liquid crystal display unit 190. In the big hit state, the round process of opening the big winning portion 16 is repeated 15 times until 30 seconds elapse or 10 winnings are made. The expected number of payouts (difference = payout-drive-in) when one big hit state occurs is about 1500.

  After the end of the normal jackpot state, the main circuit 20 generates a time-saving state with the electric support in which the start winning unit (electric chew) 11 is opened over 50 rotations of the symbol fluctuation. In addition, a probable change state is generated after the end of the probable change jackpot state. This probability change state occurs with a time saving state, and ends in response to the occurrence of a new jackpot state. Therefore, if a probable change jackpot condition occurs, it will always be a holiday home.

  Next, the contents of the effect realized by the display control circuit 35 as the effect control means controlling the display unit 5 which is an image display unit capable of displaying the aerial image 560 will be described. Hereinafter, (1) notification effect of the jackpot expectation degree and (2) gaming machine information display will be described.

(1) Notification effect of the jackpot expectation information The notification effect of the jackpot expectation degree is an effect of notifying the jackpot expectation degree which is the winning expectation degree of the special figure determination as shown in FIG. In the notification effect of the jackpot expectation, the display of the aerial image 560 and the touch of the fingertip or the like touching the aerial image 560 indicate the jackpot expectation. The notification effect of the jackpot expectation degree is started while the liquid crystal display unit 190 is displaying the symbols in a variable manner.

  The notification production of the jackpot expectation degree, which is one of the special productions, is executed when the lottery is won by the production lottery. The winning probability of this notification effect when a jackpot (special figure winning) occurs is 50%, and the notification effect of the jackpot expectation degree is executed in 50% of the symbol fluctuations for notifying the jackpot. There are three types of notification effects: an information effect with a jackpot expectation of 75%, an information effect with a jackpot expectation of 50%, and an information effect with a jackpot expectation of 10%. In the notification effect, any of the three types of notification effects may be won.

  In addition, the information production may be won not only in the case of the jackpot but also in the production lottery in the case of a loss, and the execution of the information production does not necessarily determine the jackpot. The probability of winning the notification effect in the notification effect in the case of a loss differs depending on the above three types of notification effects. The higher the information production with the higher jackpot expectation, the lower the probability of winning in the production lottery under the loss. By setting the probability of such a production lottery, the probability of the actual jackpot being about 75% when a notification production with a jackpot expectation of 75% occurs, and the actual jackpot being generated when a notification production with a jackpot expectation of 50% occurs. Is about 50%, and the probability of actually being a jackpot is about 10% when a notification effect with a jackpot expectation of 10% occurs.

  When the notification effect is won, the display content of the aerial display 56 is switched to, for example, an aerial image 560B of a large round push button in the center against the starry sky in response to the start of the symbol change by the liquid crystal display unit 190 (FIG. )). At this time, in order to inform the player that the notification effect on the display unit 5 has been started, a message such as "Attention beneath the upper plate!" May be displayed on the liquid crystal display section 190 during the symbol variation display. When the player touches the aerial image 560B of the push button ((b) in the figure), the fact that the player has touched the aerial image 560B and the position (detection position) of the fingertip or the like is indicated by the blocking beam type infrared sensor 54. Is detected.

  When it is detected that the player has touched the aerial image 560B of the push button, an aerial image 560M notifying the jackpot expectation degree is displayed on the aerial display 56 and an aerial image for a predetermined time (for example, one second). The compressed air is blown toward the fingertip or the like touching the 560B. That is, in the notification effect, when it is detected by the infrared sensor 54 that a player has touched any region of the aerial display 56, the detection region is moved from the depth side of the aerial display 56 to the near side. The air is blown toward.

  For example, when the jackpot expectation of 75% is notified, an aerial image 560M of the character “Daichi !!” is displayed above the aerial image 560B of the push button, and compressed air is blown most strongly to the fingertip of the player. (FIG. 5C). For example, when notifying the 50% of the jackpot expectation, an aerial image 560M of the character "Nakayoshi!" Is displayed on the upper side of the aerial image 560B of the push button, and compressed with an intermediate strength on the fingertip of the player. Air is blown (FIG. 5D). Also, for example, at the time of notifying the jackpot expectation degree of 10%, the aerial image 560M of the character “Kei ...” is displayed above the aerial image 560B of the push button, and the compressed air is blown weakly to the fingertip of the player. (FIG. 5E).

  Thus, in the notification effect of FIG. 5, when the player touches the aerial image 560B of the push button with the fingertip or the like, the compressed air is blown to the fingertip or the like. The blowing of the compressed air generates a reaction force that presses the fingertip or the like that operated the imaginary push button, which is the aerial image 560B, so that the player can feel a sense of operation close to that when the actual push button is operated. it can. Further, in this notification effect, compressed air having a strength corresponding to the jackpot expectation is blown to the fingertips of the player. The higher the jackpot expectation degree, the stronger the operational feeling of the imaginary push button that is the aerial image 560B is obtained. The player can grasp the jackpot expectation degree not only from the aerial image 560M representing the degree of the jackpot expectation in characters but also from the strength of the operational feeling when touching the aerial image 560B.

(2) Gaming Machine Information Display During the period in which the symbols on the liquid crystal display section 190 are not changing, as shown in FIG. 6A, for example, an aerial image 560S of a switch for displaying various kinds of information of the pachinko gaming machine 1 has a starry sky. Is displayed as a background. In the example shown in the figure, the aerial image 560S of the “spec” switch for displaying the model specifications of the pachinko gaming machine 1, the aerial image 560S of the “production introduction” switch for introducing various effects performed by the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the jackpot of the day An aerial image 560S of a “table data” switch for displaying game data such as the number of times and the number of starts is displayed on the aerial display 56.

  For example, when the fingertip of the player touches the "effect introduction" switch 560S, the compressed air is weakly blown toward the fingertip, thereby producing an operational feeling of the switch (FIG. 6B). Subsequently, an aerial image 560C of the character appearing in the effect performed by the pachinko gaming machine 1 is displayed on the aerial display 56. Note that the aerial image 560V of the “return” button is displayed on the aerial display 56 that is switched and displayed according to the operation of the aerial image 560S of the switch. When the player operates the aerial image 560V of the “return” button or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the display of FIG. 6C ends and the screen returns to the screen of FIG. When the symbol change by the liquid crystal display unit 190 is started, the display of FIG. 6A on the aerial display 56 ends.

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 configured as described above includes the display unit 5 that displays the aerial image 560 based on the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 52 so that the player can view it. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, the display unit 5 displays an aerial image 560 on the aerial display 56, which is a virtual display area provided below the upper plate (ball storage unit) 135.

  In many amusement arcades, effects using various lights are executed in gaming machines and peripheral devices of the gaming machines. When an effect using strong light is being performed around a gaming machine, there is a possibility that the effect performed by the gaming machine using light is difficult to see, and this may have an adverse effect. On the other hand, in the configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the present example, since the aerial display 56 is provided below the upper plate 135, the aerial display 560 is hardly affected by external light and the visibility of the aerial image 560 by the aerial display 56 is improved. Is getting better. As described above, the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the present example is a gaming machine having excellent characteristics in which the influence of external light can be kept low and the visibility of the aerial image 560 on the aerial display 56 can be maintained well.

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 also includes an infrared sensor (detection means) 54 for detecting that the player has touched the aerial display 56, and switches the aerial image 560 according to the player's operation on the aerial display 56. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, the player can operate the aerial display 56. For example, unlike the case of actually touching and operating the display surface of the touch panel display, the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment has a novel operation feeling of operating without touching the aerial image without physically touching it. realizable.

  In particular, in the pachinko gaming machine 1, a virtual area is sandwiched between an upper plate 135, which is an example of a ball storage unit, and an operation handle 15, which is an example of operation means operated by a player to shoot a ball. An aerial display 56, which is a display area, is arranged. If it is below the upper plate 135, as described above, it is possible to suppress the influence of various lights due to the effects performed on other gaming machines in the game arcade and peripheral devices of the gaming machines. Further, in a region sandwiched between the upper plate 135 and the operation handle 15, since the arm (generally, the right hand) of the player for operating the operation handle 15 acts like a shade, the outside The influence of the light from the air on the aerial display 56 can be further suppressed.

  The bottom plate 135B of the upper plate (ball storage portion) 135 located above the display unit 5 functions as a protruding wall that protrudes forward (on the player side). According to the upper plate 135 having the protruding wall as described above, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the light or light emitted from another gaming machine is incident on the aerial display 56, and suppress the influence of external light on the aerial display 56.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 1, the virtual display area of the aerial display 56 is divided into a plurality of areas, and which area is touched by the player is detected in a distinguishable manner by the infrared sensor 54, which is an example of a detecting unit. When the infrared sensor 54 detects that the player has touched any one of the virtual display areas, the air is blown toward the near side from the back of the aerial display 56 to the detection area. . In this way, the air blown to the detection area hits the fingertip of the player who touched the aerial display 56 and becomes wind pressure, and the wind pressure allows the player to feel the feeling of operating the aerial display 56 which is the virtual display area.

Instead of or in addition to the configuration of this example, the following configuration may be adopted. Further, the following configurations may be appropriately combined and adopted.
In this example, a pachinko gaming machine has been illustrated, but the invention may be applied to other gaming machines. For example, an enclosed pachinko game machine that has balls enclosed and consumes points and fires balls, a slot machine where the game progresses by consuming medals and performing lottery, and a lottery by consuming points. A credit-type slot machine or the like in which a game progresses by performing the game is considered. In the case of the slot machine, when the lever is operated by the player, it is determined that the lottery condition is satisfied, a lottery for generating a special game state such as a bonus game is executed, and the lottery is performed by a combination of symbols stopped on the liquid crystal display unit 190. A configuration for notifying the result is conceivable. That is, the privilege to be given according to the lottery method or the lottery result can be changed as appropriate.

  In the present example, the aerial image (special image) 560 is visually recognized as being displayed on the aerial display 56 using the light control panel 51; however, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a configuration is conceivable in which a left-eye image and a right-eye image are displayed, and the player three-dimensionally recognizes the image through a lenticular lens or the like.

  Further, the formation position of the aerial display 56, which is a virtual display area, may be changed. For example, the aerial display 56 may be formed at a position closer to the player than the pachinko gaming machine 1. As a method of adjusting the formation position of the aerial display 56, a method of changing the specification of the light control panel 51, a method of adjusting the parallax balance of the left-eye image and the right-eye image, and the like can be appropriately and selectively adopted.

In this example, the liquid crystal display unit 52 is provided above the light control panel 51. However, the liquid crystal display unit 52 may be provided below the light control panel 51. In this case, the arrangement of the air outlet 574 may be changed as appropriate such as on the ceiling side of the housing 50.
Further, in the present example, the aerial image 560 related to the information of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is displayed on the aerial display 56 when the symbol change is not executed on the liquid crystal display unit 190, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration in which the aerial image is not displayed on the aerial display 56 except when the symbol variation is performed, or an aerial image of the same color as the front panel 134 is displayed on the aerial display 56, so that the aerial display 56 surrounds the surrounding front panel. For example, a configuration in which it is made to appear to be integrated with 134 can be considered.

In this example, the bottom plate 135B of the upper plate 135 is used as a protruding wall. However, a protruding wall including a portion that protrudes from the front surface of the upper plate 135 to the player side, such as an eave, may be employed.
In this example, a beam cut-off type infrared sensor is illustrated as a means for detecting a hand or finger touching the aerial display 56, but a photosensor or the like including a light receiving unit and a light emitting unit may be provided in the opening 590. . In the case of a detection sensor such as a photo sensor, a plurality of edges may be arranged at the vertical edge and the horizontal edge of the edge forming the opening 590. Alternatively, a combination of a light source and a PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) element may be employed. In the case of a one-dimensional PSD element, one of the edges of the opening 590 may be arranged at each of the vertical edge and the horizontal edge. In the case of a two-dimensional PSD element, one may be arranged at any one of the edges of the opening 590.

  The effect by the aerial display 56 is not limited to the notification effect illustrated. The effect in cooperation with the display effect by the display device 19 may be executed by the aerial display 56 installed below the display device 19. For example, after displaying a scene in which the heroine character falls off the cliff on the display device 19, an effect in which the hero character appears on the aerial display 56 to catch the heroine and assist may be executed. If the heroine is saved, it is better to have a bigger jackpot expectation, and if the result is disappointing, it should have a smaller jackpot expectation.

  As described above, specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail as in the embodiments, but these specific examples only disclose examples of the technology included in the claims. Needless to say, the scope of the claims should not be interpreted in a limited manner by the configuration, numerical values, and the like of the specific examples. The scope of the claims encompasses a technique in which the above-described specific examples are variously modified, changed, or appropriately combined using known techniques or knowledge of those skilled in the art.

1 Pachinko machines (game machines)
11 Startup prize section (prize section)
130 Gaming area 135 Upper plate (ball storage section)
137 holes 15 Operation handle (operation means)
16 Grand Prize Winner (Attacker)
Reference Signs List 19 display device 190 liquid crystal display unit 20 main control circuit (lottery means, storage means, reading means, success / failure determination means, privilege giving means, special game state generating means)
341 Launching device (Launching means)
35 display control circuit (effect lottery means, effect control means, game data storage means)
5 Display unit (image display unit, blowing means)
51 light control panel 52 liquid crystal display unit (display unit)
54 infrared sensor (detection means)
56 Aerial display (virtual display area)
560 Aerial image (special image)
57 Blowing mechanism (blowing means)
574 air outlet

Claims (4)

A ball storage unit for storing balls,
A firing means for firing the ball stored by the ball storage unit to the game area,
A prize section in which balls flowing down the game area can be awarded,
Lottery means for executing a lottery in a special game state advantageous to the player when a ball wins in the winning section,
A special game state generating means for generating the special game state when the lottery means is selected,
An image display unit that has a display unit that displays an image, and enables a player to visually recognize a special image based on the image in a virtual display area provided below the ball storage unit.
Detecting means for detecting that a player has touched the virtual display area,
The gaming machine, wherein the image display unit switches the special image based on a player touching the virtual display area. An operating means operated by a player to fire a ball on the firing means,
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the virtual display area is provided in an area between the ball storage section and the operation means in the image display section.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball storage section includes a protruding wall protruding forward. The detection means divides the virtual display area into a plurality of areas, and detects which area the player has touched so as to be distinguishable,
A blower that blows air from the back of the virtual display area toward the near side toward the detected area when the detection means detects that the player has touched any of the virtual display areas; The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

Images