JP2021058691A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To execute a game machine provided with a performance button capable of enhancing a game interest.SOLUTION: A shielding member composed of a light-shielding member is provided between a surface area (an adjacent area) adjacent to a pressing surface a player presses among surface areas of depression members and a panel member. As a game progresses, the shielding member is moved from between the adjacent area and the panel member. Although the panel member is formed by a light transmitting member, the adjacent area becomes invisible from the player in the state that the shielding member is positioned between the panel member and the adjacent area. When the shielding member is moved in this state, the player comes to see an area adjacent to the pressing surface as well as the pressing surface that has been visible. Therefore, it is possible to give the player an impression that the pressing surface is widened. Thus, it is possible to attract attention of a player by surprising the player, so that interest of a game can be enhanced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine or a slot machine installed in a gaming hall to allow a player to play a game.

In the game machine installed in the game hall, various production images are displayed on the display screen as the game progresses, and the production music is output from the speaker to enhance the interest of the game. For example, in a pachinko gaming machine, a lottery is performed when a game ball enters the entrance, but various production images and music are displayed between the time the game ball enters the entrance and the time when the lottery result is notified. By outputting it, the fun of the lottery is enlivened. In addition, the production image and music are output when notifying the lottery result, but when the lottery is won, when the lottery is won by outputting the production image and music different from the case where the lottery is not won. (For example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, the game machine does not automatically display the effect image and output the music, but the player operates the so-called effect button provided on the game machine to display the effect image and output the music. A game machine has also been devised to start or switch the production image and music. In this way, when the player presses the effect button, the effect image and music at the time of winning are output and the player operates the effect button with the expectation that he / she will be notified that he / she has won the lottery. It is possible to raise expectations and further enhance the interest of the game.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-81853

However, today, these production buttons have become so commonplace that it is becoming difficult to fully enhance the interest of the game. That is, when it becomes commonplace to operate the effect button, the player does not have high expectations when operating the effect button, and as a result, the interest of the game cannot be sufficiently enhanced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of conventional game machines, and even if the effect buttons are conventional, the game machine is provided with an effect button that can improve the interest of the game. The purpose is to realize.

In order to solve at least a part of the above-mentioned problems, the gaming machine of the present invention adopts the following configuration. That is,
It is a game machine that produces various effects as the game progresses.
A pressing member having a pressing surface that can be pressed by the player on at least a part of the surface,
A panel member made of a translucent member having an exposed portion where the pressing surface is exposed, and provided between the pressing member and the player with the pressing surface exposed from the exposed portion.
A shielding member provided between the panel member and at least a part of an adjacent region which is a surface region adjacent to the pressing surface of the pressing member, and a shielding member made of a light-shielding member.
As the game progresses, the shielding member moving means for moving the shielding member from between the panel member and the adjacent region in a direction intersecting the pressing direction of the pressing surface and along the panel member. When,
A pressing detection means for detecting the pressing of the pressing surface, and
A pressing trigger effect executing means for executing a pressing trigger effect, which is one of the various effects, triggered by pressing the pressing surface.
The gist is to prepare.

In view of the fact that the pressing surface appears to the player as if the pressing surface has expanded, the adjacent region of the pressing member should be adjacent to the surface area provided with the pressing surface as seen by the player. It does not have to be physically adjacent. For example, even if there is a dent, a step, or a seam between the pressing surface and the pressing surface, if the area can be seen adjacent to the player, it seems as if the pressing surface has expanded by making the area visible. It is possible to give an impression to the player. Therefore, such a region also corresponds to the "adjacent region" of the present invention.

Further, the shielding member may be moved in any case, but when a gaming state advantageous to the player occurs (when it is determined that an advantageous gaming state will occur or the probability of occurrence is likely to occur. It is more preferable to move it to (when it exceeds a predetermined probability). Since the player tends to recall that a state advantageous to himself / herself occurs due to the appearance that the pressing surface is widened, the pressing member is pressed with great expectation. As a result, it is possible to improve the effect of the pressing trigger effect and further enhance the interest of the game.

Of course, on the contrary, when the advantageous gaming state does not occur for the player (when it is determined that the advantageous gaming state does not occur, or when the probability of occurrence falls below a predetermined probability), the shielding member is moved. It may be made to. Alternatively, it may be moved regardless of whether or not a gaming state advantageous to the player occurs, or whether or not to move may be randomly determined. Regardless of the case in which the shielding member is moved, the pressing surface appears to expand, which can surprise the player, so that it is possible to improve the interest of the game.

The pressing member does not necessarily have to be integrally formed as a whole, and the individually formed members may be combined to form the pressing member. For example, a region provided with a pressing surface and an adjacent region may be formed on separate members, and these members may be combined to form a pressing member. Even in such a case, if the adjacent area becomes visible, the pressing surface still appears to have expanded, so that it is possible to attract the interest of the player and improve the interest of the game.

It is possible to realize a game machine equipped with a production button that can improve the interest of the game.

It is a front view of the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the game board 20 provided in the ball game machine 10 of this Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the mode that the game ball is switched between the state which is easy to enter the 2nd actuating opening, and the state which is difficult to enter a ball by driving the electric accessory 41 provided in the vicinity of the 2nd actuating opening. It is explanatory drawing which showed the detailed structure of the segment type display device 70 provided in the ball game machine 10 of this Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the structure of the back side of the ball game machine 10 provided with the device for controlling the game played on the game board 20 described above. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the appearance that the effect image is displayed in the effect display device 30. It is a block diagram which showed the structure of the control device of a ball game machine 10. It is a perspective view which showed the structure of the effect button 600 of 1st Example. It is sectional drawing which saw the effect button 600 from the side. It is explanatory drawing which showed how the effect button 600 of 1st Example changes the visual shape of a button member 602. It is explanatory drawing which showed the effect button 1600 of the 1st modification which provided with the spherical button member 1602. It is explanatory drawing which exemplifies the effect button 700 of the 2nd modification which provided the region which the inside of the upper surface panel 610 is visible even in the state which the shield plate 620 is closed. It is explanatory drawing which showed the appearance which the shape of the exposed part 602s was made circular, and the region surrounded by the shielding plate 820 was formed into a quadrangle. It is explanatory drawing which showed the effect button 2600 of the 4th modification which provided the star-shaped shielding plate. It is explanatory drawing which illustrated the appearance of using the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b, and the shielding plate 622a and the shielding plate 622b arranged below the second shielding plate 620b in combination. It is explanatory drawing which showed the appearance which 8 shielding plates 3622 were arranged in an octagonal shape which surrounds an exposed part 602s while overlapping. It is a perspective view which showed the structure of the effect button 5600 of 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the mode that the visible size of the button member 5602 is changed by using the effect button 5600 of 2nd Example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the effect button 6600 of the 1st modification which used the transparent member for the button member 6602. It is explanatory drawing which showed the effect button 7600 of the 2nd modification which provided the transparent part 7610t inside the semipermeable membrane part 7610h. It is explanatory drawing which showed the effect button 8600 of the 3rd modification which changes the visual recognition size and the visual recognition shape of the button member 6602 by using the shielding plate 8620 and the LED array 6640 in combination. It is explanatory drawing which showed the effect button 8600 of the 3rd modification which changes the visual recognition size and the visual recognition shape of the button member 6602 by using the shielding plate 8620 and the LED array 6640 together.

Hereinafter, in order to clarify the contents of the present invention described above, examples will be described in the following order.
A. Device configuration of bullet game machine:
A-1. Front side configuration:
A-2. Game board composition:
A-3. Back side configuration:
B. Game overview:
C. Control unit configuration:
C-1. Main controller configuration:
C-2. Peripheral configuration:
D. Production button of the first embodiment:
E. Modification example of the first embodiment:
E-1. First modification example:
E-2. Second modification example:
E-3. Third modification example:
E-4. Fourth modification example:
E-5. Fifth modification example:
F. Production button of the second embodiment:
G. Modification example of the second embodiment:
G-1. First modification example:
G-2. Second modification example:
G-3. Third modification example:

A. Device configuration of bullet game machine:
A-1. Front side configuration:
FIG. 1 is a front view of the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the front side of the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment is a resin front panel 15 constituting the front surface of the ball game machine 10 and a board surface portion provided in the center of the front panel 15. It is composed of 12 and an upper plate 13 provided slightly below the front panel 15. A glass plate is fitted into the board surface portion 12 from the back side of the front panel 15, and the game board installed on the back side of the front panel 15 can be visually recognized through the glass plate. In FIG. 1, the detailed configuration of the game board is not shown.

The upper plate 13 is composed of a dish-shaped recess and a wall surface surrounding the recess, and it is possible to hold the game ball inside the upper plate 13. Further, the upper plate 13 is connected to a launch unit provided inside the bullet game machine 10, and it is possible to supply the game ball to the launch unit by throwing the game ball into the upper plate 13. A lower plate 16 is provided below the upper plate 13, and the upper plate 13 and the lower plate 16 can be communicated with each other by operating a lever provided in the vicinity of the upper plate 13. .. As will be described later, since the game ball may be paid out to the upper plate 13 in association with the game, the game ball may not fit in the upper plate 13, but the lower plate 16 is provided in this way. By communicating the upper plate 13 and the lower plate 16, it is possible to discharge the game ball that cannot fit in the upper plate 13 to the lower plate 16.

On the right side of the upper plate 13 toward the ball game machine 10, an effect button 600 is provided at a position substantially in front of the player (a position substantially in the center of the front of the ball game machine 10). The effect button 600 is configured to be pressable toward the lower side of the game machine, and various effects are executed when the player presses the effect button 600. The effect button 600 will be described in detail later.

At the lower right of the upper plate 13, a firing handle 11 for launching a game ball onto the game board is provided. The launch handle 11 is connected to the launch unit described above, and the game ball can be launched to the game board by operating the launch handle 11 in a state where the game ball is supplied from the upper plate 13 to the launch unit. is there. Further, the firing handle 11 is provided with a sensor 11s (not shown), and it is possible for the sensor 11s to detect whether or not the player is touching the firing handle 11. Then, by controlling the launch from the launch unit according to the detection result of the sensor 11s, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being launched when the player is not touching the launch handle 11. ..

Two speakers 14 are provided on the left and right above the front panel 15, and it is possible to output sound effects, melody, and other production sounds in association with the game performed by the ball game machine 10. These speakers 14 are attached from the back side to the front side of the front panel 15, and can efficiently deliver the effect sound to the player who plays the game toward the front panel 15.

Further, at the end of the front panel 15 (the right end in FIG. 1), a key portion 17 that can be locked and unlocked by using a cylinder lock is provided, and by locking the key portion 17, the front surface is provided. The panel 15 can be fixed to the main body of the ball game machine 10. Further, if the key portion 17 is unlocked, the front panel 15 can be separated from the main body of the ball game machine 10, and by doing so, various devices provided on the back surface of the front panel 15 and various devices provided on the back surface of the front panel 15 can be separated. It becomes possible to access the device on the main body side. The front panel 15 is pivotally supported by the main body of the ball game machine 10, and the front panel 15 can be separated from the main body by rotating the front panel 15 with respect to the main body of the ball game machine 10. It is possible.

A ball lending machine 4 is provided next to the ball lending machine 10, and a player of the ball lending machine 10 can lend by inserting a bill or a prepaid card into the ball lending machine 4 when playing a game. You can borrow a game ball from the ball machine 4. A nozzle 52 is provided between the ball lending machine 4 and the upper plate 13, and the game ball rented from the ball lending machine 4 can be thrown into the upper plate 13 via the nozzle 52. As described above, when the game ball is thrown into the upper plate 13, the game ball is supplied to the launch unit. Therefore, the player borrows the game ball from the ball rental machine 4 and operates the launch handle 11 to operate the game board. It is possible to fire a game ball at 20 to play a game.

A-2. Game board configuration:
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a game board 20 provided in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment. As described above, such a game board 20 is attached to the board surface portion 12 (see FIG. 1) of the front panel 15 from the back side of the glass plate. As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 20 is provided with a rail 21 provided substantially perpendicular to the base plate 29 near the outer edge of the base plate 29 as a base, and the rail 21 A game area 28 to which a nail 22, a windmill 23, and the like are attached is formed inside. The game ball launched by the launching unit is guided to the game area 28 by the rail 21, and flows down in the game area 28 while being changed in the traveling direction by the nail 22 or the windmill 23. The game area 28 is provided with openings (entrance openings) through which game balls such as a through operating port 24, an operating port 25, and a small winning opening 26 can enter, and the flowing game balls are these operating ports and small. When a ball enters the winning slot, the prize ball is paid out and a big hit lottery, which will be described later, is held.

Of these entry ports, the through operation port 24 is a gate-shaped operation port through which the entered game ball can pass, and the game ball entered into the through operation port 24 is discharged from the game area 28. It passes through the through operation port 24 as it is and continues to flow down on the game board 20. Further, the through operation port 24 is provided with a sensor 24s for detecting the entry of a ball, and the control device of the ball game machine 10 reads the detection state of the sensor 24s to enter the through operation port 24. It is possible to grasp that. When a ball enters the through operating port 24, the control device of the ball game machine 10 pays out a prize ball for entering the through operating port 24 to the upper plate 13 or enters the through operating port 24. Various processes such as drawing a lottery are executed.

On the other hand, the small winning opening 26 is a winning opening of a type that takes in the entered game ball and discharges it to the back side of the game board 20 when the game ball enters. The small winning opening 26 is also provided with the sensor 26s as in the above-described through operating port 24, and the control device detects the entry into the small winning opening 26 by reading the detection state of the sensor 26s, and the small winning opening 26 is small. It is possible to pay out the prize ball for entering the prize opening 26.

Further, the operating ports 25 (first operating port 25a and second operating port 25b) of the bullet game machine 10 of the present embodiment, like the small winning opening 26, place the entered game ball on the back side of the game board 20. It is a type of operation port that discharges to. These operating ports 25 are also provided with sensors (25as, 25bs), and by reading the detection state of the sensors, it is possible to detect the entry into the first operating port 25a and the second operating port 25b, respectively. .. An electric accessory 41 is provided in the vicinity of the second operating port 25b, and by driving the electric accessory 41, a game ball can easily enter the second operating port 25b. It is possible to switch between a state where it is difficult to ball. This point will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the game ball is switched between a state in which it is easy to enter the second operating port and a state in which it is difficult to enter the ball by driving the electric accessory 41 provided in the vicinity of the second operating port. It is explanatory drawing. As shown in FIG. 3A, the electric accessory 41 is assembled to the operation port unit 40 provided with the first operation port 25a at the upper portion, and the electric accessory 41 is located between the two electric accessories 41. Two actuating ports 25b are provided. The electric accessory 41 is connected to a drive mechanism provided inside the operating port unit 40, and the electric accessory 41 can be driven by the drive mechanism.

FIG. 3B shows a state in which the electric accessory 41 is driven to widen the distance between the electric accessory 41 and the electric accessory 41. As shown in the figure, when the electric accessory 41 is driven, the space between the left and right electric accessory 41 is greatly widened. In this state, the upper surface of the electric accessory 41 is inclined toward the second operating port 25b, and therefore, as shown by the arrow in the figure, the game ball received on the upper surface of the electric accessory 41. Can be guided in the direction of the second operating port 25b. By doing so, it is possible to realize a state in which the game ball can easily enter the second operating port 25b as compared with the state in which the space between the left and right electric accessories 41 is not wide open (see FIG. 3A). Can be done. Further, if the electric accessory 41 is driven to return the left and right electric accessory 41 to their original positions (see FIG. 3A), the game ball can be made difficult to enter again. In this way, by driving the electric accessory 41, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which the game ball is easy to enter and a state in which it is difficult for the game ball to enter the second operating port 25b.

In this embodiment, the state in which the distance between the electric accessory 41 is widened so that the game ball can easily enter (see FIG. 3B) is referred to as the open state of the electric accessory 41, and the interval between the electric accessory 41 is defined as an open state. The state in which the game ball is narrowed and it is difficult for the game ball to enter (see FIG. 3A) is referred to as a closed state of the electric accessory 41. Here, from the viewpoint of changing the ease of entering the second operating port 25b by driving the electric accessory 41, it is completely impossible for the game ball to enter in the closed state of the electric accessory 41. It is not always necessary that the second operating port 25b is closed to such an extent, and it is sufficient if it is more difficult to enter the ball than in the open state of the electric accessory 41.

Further, when a game ball enters the first operating port 25a and the second operating port 25b, the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment pays out a prize ball or performs a "big hit lottery" to obtain the result of the lottery. Perform various operations according to the situation. These points will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, a large entrance 60, which is a large entrance, is provided below the operation port unit 40 on the game board 20. The large entry port 60 is provided with a drive mechanism, and by inclining the plate member provided in front of the opening to the front of the game board 20, the opening is closed and the entry is impossible. Therefore, it is possible to switch to an open state in which the opening is open and the ball can enter. In the open state of the large entrance 60, a large number of game balls can easily enter because the opening is wide. Therefore, by opening the large entrance 60, it is very difficult for the player. It is possible to create a game state that is advantageous to the player. In addition, in the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment, "15" prize balls are paid out for the balls entering the large entrance 60.

At the bottom of the game area 28, an out port 50 for collecting game balls that have not entered any of the small winning opening 26, the operating opening 25, the large entering ball opening 60, and the like is provided. The game ball that has entered the out port is discharged from the game board 20 and collected by a ball collecting device provided in the ball game machine 10. In addition, the prize ball is not paid out to the game ball that has reached the out opening 50. Since the out port 50 is provided below the other operating port or the winning ball opening, the player can enter one of the operating ports or the winning ball before the game ball reaches the out opening 50. Play the game as you wish. This makes it possible to attract the player's consciousness to the game.

At the right end on the right side of the game board 20, a segment type display device 70 capable of displaying a predetermined symbol is provided. A plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are provided inside the segment type display device 70, and it is possible to display a design by causing the LEDs to emit light. In addition, each of these plurality of LEDs can emit light individually. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 below, various characters and numbers can be displayed by appropriately combining the LEDs to emit light. It is possible.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of the segment type display device 70 provided in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4A, the segment type display device 70 of the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment has three display units of a left display unit 72, a center display unit 74, and a right display unit 76. Each display unit has seven LEDs arranged in the shape of a number "8" (LEDs 72a to 72g in the left display unit 72) and dot-shaped LEDs arranged in the lower right (left display). The unit is composed of LEDs 72p). As described above, these LEDs can be individually turned on or off, and by combining the LEDs that are turned on or off, it is possible to express letters and numbers. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4B, the number "2" is displayed on the left display unit by turning on the hatched LED on the left display unit 72.

It is also possible to display characters as well as numbers. For example, in the example of FIG. 4B, the letter "H" of the alphabet is displayed on the central display section 74, and the letter "L" is displayed on the right display section 76. By combining LEDs that turn on or off in this way, it is possible to display letters and numbers. Of course, the characters and numbers that can be displayed are not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4B, and various characters and numbers, as well as symbols such as "-" can be displayed. Further, in the example of FIG. 4B, numbers are displayed on the left display unit 72, and characters are displayed on the center display unit 74 and the right display unit 76. Contrary to this example, the center display unit is displayed. It is possible to display numbers on the 74 and the right display unit 76, and it is also possible to display alphabets on the left display unit 72.

It is also possible to light each LED of the segment type display device 70 in a combination that does not form letters or numbers. For example, if the LED 72a and the LED 72e are turned on, it is possible to display a mode that cannot be called a number or a character. If such a display that cannot be called a letter or a number is performed, it becomes difficult for the player to immediately understand the meaning of the display. For this reason, the player may be expected to have a game state that is advantageous to the player, such as a "big hit game state" or a "probability change state", which will be described later, or an advantageous game state may occur. It is possible to avoid being easily detected by the player, to enhance the player's uplifting feeling when notifying the player of the occurrence of an advantageous gaming state, and to improve the interest of the game. is there.

Each LED of the segment type display device 70 is connected to a main control device 100 described later, and the main control device 100 turns on or off each LED of the segment type display device 70 to turn on or off various characters, numbers, and symbols. Etc. can be displayed. Further, by switching the LEDs to be turned on one after another, it is possible to display characters and numbers on the segment type display device 70 while changing them one after another (variable display of symbols). In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the variation display of such a symbol is started when the ball enters the operating port 25.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a through segment type display device 80 is provided below the segment type display device 70. Like the segment type display device 70, the through segment type display device 80 is also provided with a plurality of LEDs, and each LED can be turned on or off individually. Further, by switching the LEDs to be turned on one after another, it is possible to display the fluctuation of the symbol. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the variation display of the symbol on the through segment type display device 80 is performed when the ball enters the through operation port 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, an effect display device 30 provided with a liquid crystal display device is provided in the center of the game area 28, and various effect images are displayed on the effect display device 30 according to the progress of the game. By displaying the display, it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game of the ball game machine 10. The effect display device 30 is controlled by a display control device 300 provided on the back side of the ball game machine 10, and the ball game machine 10 transmits a predetermined command to the display control device 300 according to the progress of the game. By doing so, it is possible to display various production images according to the progress of the game.

An effect item 35 is provided above the effect display device 30. The effect object 35 can emit light by providing a light source inside, and can be further rotated by a drive device provided on the back side of the game board 20. Then, it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game by emitting light while rotating in conjunction with the effect image displayed on the effect display device 30, or by suddenly emitting light or rotating regardless of the effect image. It is possible. Further, although detailed illustration is omitted, various lamps are provided on the game board 20 and the front panel 15 in addition to the production accessory 35, and each lamp lights up as the game progresses to play the game. It is possible to get excited. Such an effect display device 30, an effect accessory 35, various lamps, and the like are also controlled by a group of devices provided on the back side of the ball game machine 10.

A-3. Back side configuration:
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration on the back side of the ball game machine 10 provided with a device for controlling the game played on the game board 20 described above. As shown on the back side of the ball game machine 10, a main control device 100 for controlling the game, a sub control device 200 for controlling various effects associated with the game, and commands from the sub control device 200. According to this, the liquid crystal display device of the effect display device 30 is provided with a display control device 300 or the like for displaying various images. The main control device 100 is equipped with an MPU 102 having a RAM 140, a ROM 110, and the like, and the game is controlled by the cooperation of the MPU 102, the RAM 140, the ROM 110, and the like. Like the main control device 100, the sub control device 200 also has an MPU, and the MPU and the RAM and ROM in the MPU cooperate to control the effect associated with the game. The configurations of the main control device 100, the sub control device 200, and the display control device 300 will be described in detail later.

The main control device 100 and the sub control device 200 are mounted on the back side of the ball game machine 10 in a state of being housed in a transparent plastic case. This plastic case has a structure in which the case members are connected to each other with the two case members surrounding the electronic circuit of the main control device 100 from both sides, and the plastic case is removed to access the electronic circuit. For that purpose, it is necessary to destroy the joint portion of the case member and the case member itself. In general, a game machine installed in a game hall operates the game machine to pay out a prize ball by crafting the game machine, or illegally obtains a prize ball by malfunctioning the game machine. However, if the main control device is covered with a plastic case in this way, if the main control device 100 is crafted, the joint part of the case member may be destroyed or the case may be damaged. It can be discovered that the work was done because the member itself was destroyed. As a result, even if a person is cheated, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of damage.

On the back side of the ball game machine 10, there is a directing accessory driving device 350 for driving the directing accessory 35, and a power supply device for supplying electric power to each device such as the main control device 100 and the sub control device 200. 240 and the like are also provided. In addition, a game ball tank 400 that receives game balls from the island equipment provided in the game hall is provided in the upper part on the back side. A payout device (not shown) for paying out prize balls is connected to the game ball tank 400, and the payout device is driven by a payout control device 410 (not shown) in the game ball tank 400. It is possible to pay out the game ball of the above to the upper plate 13 of the ball game machine 10.

Further, on the back side of the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment, an external output terminal 910 to which a cable can be connected is provided. Generally, in a game hall, a computer (hall computer) for collecting information on each game machine installed in the hall is installed, and in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, a cable from such a hall computer is externally installed. By connecting to the output terminal 910, it is possible to transmit various information related to the game performed by the ball game machine 10 to the hall computer. For example, a signal indicating that the game ball has been launched from the launching unit, a signal indicating that the game ball has been discharged from the out port 50, a signal indicating that the prize ball has been paid out, or a prize ball paid out. It is possible to send information indicating the number of. By collecting this information, the hall computer can grasp the number of game balls thrown into the bullet game machine 10 of this embodiment and the number of game balls acquired by the player. Yes, and by extension, it is possible to grasp the profit status of the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment.

Further, the external output terminal 910 outputs a signal indicating that the game ball has entered the through operation port 24 or the operation port 25 described above, or the segment type display device 70 (see FIG. 4) described above. It is also possible to output a signal indicating that the variation display of the symbol has started, a signal indicating that the variation display is in progress, and a signal indicating that the variation display has ended.

As shown in FIG. 5, a frame plate 902 is attached to the ball game machine 10 via a hinge portion 904, and by fixing the frame plate 902 to the island equipment of the game hall, the frame plate 902 is attached. It is possible to install the ball game machine 10 in the game hall. Further, even when the ball game machine 10 is installed in the game hall, it is possible to access each device on the back side by rotating the ball game machine 10 in the front direction around the hinge portion 904. Is.

B. Outline of the game:
In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the progress of the game is controlled by using each of the above-described configurations, but before explaining the details of such control, the outline of the game performed by the ball game machine 10 will be described. Keep it.

First, when the player throws a game ball into the upper plate 13 and operates the launch handle 11, the game balls supplied from the upper plate 13 to the launch unit are launched one by one into the game area 28 of the game board 20. .. In the launch unit, the speed at which the game ball is launched changes according to the rotation angle of the launch handle 11. Therefore, the player adjusts the rotation angle of the launch handle 11 to launch the game ball. It is possible to aim at the position to be done.

The game ball launched into the game area 28 flows down on the board surface of the game board 20 while being changed in the traveling direction by a nail 22 or a windmill 23. At this time, the game ball flows down over time while being blocked by the nail 22 and the windmill 23, so that the player can enjoy the movement of the game ball by following the movement of the game ball with his / her eyes. It is possible to enjoy the fun of the game by watching over the game ball while expecting the game ball to enter the operating port 25 or the small winning opening 26.

When the game ball flowing down on the board surface of the game board 20 enters the through operation port 24, the above-mentioned through segment type display device 80 (see FIG. 2) starts the variable display of the symbol. The variation display of such a symbol is continued until a predetermined time (variation display time) elapses from the start of the variation display, and when the variation display time elapses, the symbol is displayed in a stopped state this time. When a predetermined hit symbol is displayed at the time of the stop display of this symbol, it becomes a hit of the through symbol.

In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, when the through symbol hits, the electric accessory 41 of the operating port unit 40 described above is opened for a predetermined time (for example, 0.5 seconds) (FIG. 3). (B). As described above, since it is easy for the game ball to enter the second operating port 25b in the open state of the electric accessory 41, the player can enter the game ball into the second operating port 25b during this predetermined time. It will be in an advantageous state where it is easy to make it. If a player is given an advantageous state due to the entry of the ball into the through operation port 24 in this way, the player can set the launch position of the game ball aiming at the entry of the game ball into the through operation port 24. Since the movement of the game ball is followed while expecting that the game ball adjusted or launched enters the through operating port 24, it is possible to enhance the interest of the game. In this embodiment, when a hit of the through symbol occurs, the ball entering the second operating port 25b is supported by the electric accessory 41 in this way. Therefore, the hit of the through symbol is referred to as "support winning". Shall be.

As described above, in the through segment type display device 80, the variable display of the symbol continues for a predetermined time. Therefore, another game ball may enter the through operation port 24 while the symbol is being displayed in a variable manner. In this case, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the entry of the game ball is stored as a hold (hold of the through operation port), and after the change display of the symbol is completed, the hold amount of change. Display. Further, the number of holds that can be stored is not limited to one, and a plurality of holds can be stored. It should be noted that the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment will be described as being able to store up to four holds.

In the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment, the number of holdings of the through operation port can be confirmed by the indicator lamp 82 (see FIG. 2) provided on the game board 20. As shown in FIG. 2, four display lamps 82 are provided below the effect display device 30, and the number of the lit display lamps 82 among the four display lamps 82 is the through operation port. It corresponds to the number of holds. For example, when there is no hold, none of the indicator lamps 82 is lit. Then, when one hold is stored, one of the indicator lamps 82 is lit, and when two holds are stored, the two indicator lamps 82 are lit. Similarly, the three indicator lamps 82 are lit when three holds are stored, and the four indicator lamps 82 are lit when four holds are stored. Further, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, as the number of holds increases, the indicator lamp 82 lights up in order from the leftmost indicator lamp 82, and as the hold is exhausted, the indicator lamp 82 Turns off in order from the right side. As a result, it becomes possible for the player to intuitively grasp how the hold is increased or decreased, and the labor for the player to grasp the situation of the game is reduced so that the player can enjoy the game more.

When a game ball flowing down the game board 20 enters the operating port 25 (first operating port 25a or second operating port 25b), the segment type display device 70 (see FIG. 4) displays a variation of the symbol. To be started. In the variation display of the symbol on the segment type display device 70, the variation display of the symbol continues for a predetermined time as in the above-described variation display of the symbol on the segment type display device 80 for through, and then the symbol is stopped. Is displayed. At this time, when the symbol is stopped and displayed at a predetermined hit symbol, it becomes a "big hit" and the ball game machine 10 shifts to the "big hit game state". In the "big hit game state", the large entrance 60 provided in the game board 20 is opened, and the player can easily enter the launched game ball into the large entrance 60 to win a large number of prize balls. It becomes possible to do. As described above, since the jackpot game state is a very advantageous state for the player, the player usually plays the game aiming at the occurrence of the jackpot game state.

Whether or not the symbol of the segment type display device 70 stops at the hit symbol (whether or not a jackpot game state occurs) is determined by a jackpot lottery performed by the main control device 100 of the bullet game machine 10. .. Such a jackpot lottery will be described later. Further, when the game ball enters the operating port 25, a series of games from the variable display of the symbol to the stop display is performed, so that this series of games can be regarded as one unit of the game. For this reason, in this embodiment, a series of games from entering the ball into the operating port to displaying the stop of the symbol is referred to as "1 game".

When the jackpot game state is started and the jackpot 60 is opened, the jackpot 60 is reached until a predetermined time elapses or a predetermined number of game balls enter the jackpot 60. Keeps open. Then, when a predetermined time elapses or a predetermined number of game balls enter the large entrance 60, the large entrance 60 returns to the closed state. The game from the opening of the large entrance 60 to the closing is called a "round game" or simply a "round". In the jackpot game state, such a round is repeated a predetermined number of times, and then the jackpot game state ends.

In addition, since the sensor 60s is provided in the large entry ball opening 60 and can detect the entry balls of the game balls one by one, a predetermined number of game balls can be detected by counting the number of the detected game balls. It is possible to detect that the ball has entered the large ball entrance 60. Here, depending on the position of the sensor 60s and the detection timing, even if the large ball entry port 60 is closed at the timing when a predetermined number of balls are detected, more game balls than the predetermined number have already entered at that timing. There may be. In such a case, the player can win more prize balls than usual. Therefore, if the detection timing of the sensor 60s and the position of the sensor 60s are adjusted so that more game balls than a predetermined number may occasionally enter (for example, the position of the sensor 60s is set on the game board). (Place a few game balls behind the surface of 20), the player wishes that as many game balls as possible can enter, and the player enters the large ball until the moment when the large ball opening 60 closes. We will pay attention to the trend of the mouth 60. This makes it possible to attract the player's interest more strongly to the round game. Further, when the sensor 60s detects that a predetermined number of game balls have entered and then closes the large entrance 60, the large entrance 60 opens before the predetermined number of game balls enter. Since it does not close, there is no risk that the player will be dissatisfied with the fact that the large entrance 60 is closed even though only a small number of game balls have been inserted, which is preferable.

On the other hand, when the large entrance 60 is closed after a predetermined time has elapsed, the player tries to allow more game balls to enter the large entrance 60 before the large entrance 60 is closed. The launch handle 11 is operated so that the game ball is directed toward the large entrance 60 to aim at the ball. This makes it possible to enhance the interest of the game by firing the game ball at the target location. Further, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the large entrance 60 is provided inside the game board 20 rather than the windmill 23 (see FIG. 2), and therefore, the course of the game ball is the windmill 23. When it is turned inward, it becomes easier to enter the large entrance 60. Therefore, the player plays the game while expecting that the path of the game ball is directed inward by the windmill 23, and as a result, attracts the player's attention to the windmill 23 and improves the interest of the windmill 23. Can be done.

Further, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, a plurality of types of "big hit game states" having different numbers of rounds and the like can be generated, and when a big hit occurs, any one of these plurality of types is a big hit. It shifts to the game state. Here, in order to facilitate the understanding of the following explanations, various types of jackpot game states will be described.

The "2R jackpot game state (or simply the 2R jackpot)" is a jackpot game state in which the above-mentioned round is repeated twice. In this jackpot gaming state, the jackpot gaming state ends when the round is repeated twice, so that the jackpot gaming state can be quickly terminated. In the ball game machine 10, it is possible to improve the interest of the game by changing the game state one after another, but in this case, the game state changes rapidly, so that the interest of the game is effectively enhanced. It is possible. In addition, it is possible to give the player the impression that the game progresses at a good tempo and improve the exhilaration of the game.

In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, as will be described later, it is possible to change the probability of occurrence of a jackpot after the jackpot gaming state has occurred. In this embodiment, a state in which the probability of occurrence of a jackpot is changed to a high probability (a state in which a jackpot is easily won) is called a "probability fluctuation state" or a "probability change state", and a state in which the probability of a jackpot is not changed to a high probability is "non-probability". It shall be called "probability fluctuation state" or "non-probability change state". In addition, the jackpot that accompanies the transition to the probabilistic state is called a "probability change jackpot", and the other jackpots are called "normal jackpots".

Here, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the "explicit probability variation 2R jackpot game state (or simply the explicit probability variation 2R jackpot)" and the "unexplicit probability variation 2R jackpot gaming state (or simply the non-explicit probability variation 2R jackpot)" Two types of 2R jackpot gaming states are feasible. Each of these jackpot gaming states is a jackpot that involves a transition to a probabilistic state while the round is repeated twice, but it differs depending on whether or not the player can easily recognize that the transition to the probabilistic state has occurred. Details will be described later, but for example, when the "explicit probability variation 2R jackpot game state" occurs, the electric accessory 41 (see FIG. 3) opens and closes at a low frequency until then, but as soon as it occurs. By starting to open and close frequently, the player can recognize that a probabilistic state has occurred. On the other hand, in the "unspecified probability change 2R jackpot game state", such a change does not occur in the operation of the electric accessory 41, and therefore, it is difficult for the player to easily recognize that the probability change state has occurred. It has become. For this reason, in the "unspecified probability change 2R jackpot game state", it is possible to generate the probability change state without noticing the player, and by extension, the player is surprised that the probability change state has occurred unknowingly. It is possible to give the player a sense of expectation that a probabilistic state may have occurred, or to enhance the interest of the game.

The "15R jackpot game state (or simply 15R jackpot)" is a jackpot game state in which the above-mentioned round is repeated 15 times. In this state, the player can play many round games, so that a large number of prize balls can be obtained. For this reason, the player tends to desire that the 15R jackpot gaming state be generated, and therefore, by making the bullet game machine 10 capable of generating the 15R jackpot gaming state, the player has an expectation for the 15R jackpot. It is possible to attract the player's interest to the ball game machine 10.

Further, as for the 15R jackpot gaming state, there may be a plurality of modes of the 15R jackpot gaming state as in the 2R jackpot gaming state. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, there are two types of jackpots as such 15R jackpots: "normal 15R jackpot game state (or simply normal 15R jackpot)" and "probability variation 15R jackpot gaming state (or simply probability variation 15R jackpot)". The game state is executable. Of these, in the "probability variation 15R jackpot", the probability of occurrence of the jackpot is changed to a high probability at a predetermined timing after the jackpot gaming state occurs (for example, when the jackpot gaming state ends). In this way, when the "probability variation 15R jackpot" occurs, it becomes easy to win the jackpot after the jackpot game, which is a very advantageous state for the player. In addition, since the probability of a jackpot occurring is high, it is possible to win a jackpot by a jackpot lottery with a smaller number of times than usual. Therefore, by making it possible to generate a probabilistic 15R jackpot, the player has the expectation that a plurality of jackpot gaming states will occur in a short period of time and a large number of game balls can be acquired in a short period of time. It is possible to strongly attract the player to the game. In addition, when the probability variation 15R jackpot actually occurs, the player's sense of accomplishment is greatly enhanced, so that it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game.

On the other hand, in the "normal 15R jackpot game state", the transition to the probability change state is not performed after the end of the jackpot game state. Further, if it is in the probabilistic state when the normal 15R jackpot game state occurs, it shifts from the probable change state to the non-probable change state. In this way, even if the probabilistic state that is advantageous to the player ends by changing from the probable state to the non-probable state, it is possible to prevent the player from being greatly disappointed due to the occurrence of the jackpot game state. it can. As a result, it is possible to shift from the probabilistic state to the non-probable change state without significantly impairing the interest of the player.

As described above, when these jackpot gaming states occur, the large entry ball opening 60 opens and the game ball can enter the ball. The opening and closing modes of the large entry ball opening 60 at this time are described in each of the above-described modes. It may be different depending on the type of jackpot. For example, in the case of an unspecified probability variation 2R jackpot, the jackpot 60 may be opened for a short time (for example, 0.2 seconds). In this way, even if the large entrance 60 is opened and closed, it is difficult for the player to notice that the large entrance 60 is opened and closed. Therefore, the player causes a big hit due to the opening and closing of the large entrance 60. The risk of recognition can be reduced. Therefore, as described above, if the player is changed to the probabilistic state after the occurrence of the unspecified probabilistic 2R jackpot, it is possible to surely give the player the surprise that the probabilistic state has been reached. Alternatively, it is possible to execute a plurality of opening / closing modes for one jackpot type. For example, in the case of a normal 15R jackpot, it is determined by lottery whether to execute a round with a short opening time 15 times or a round with a longer opening time repeated 15 times. May be good. In such a case, the player waits for the start of the jackpot game state while paying attention to which mode the jackpot 60 starts opening and closing, so that the player is relieved to be interested in the game by winning the jackpot. It is possible to avoid the possibility that

Further, in the case of the explicit probability variation 2R jackpot, the large entry ball opening 60 may be opened for a short time as in the case of the non-explicit probability variation 2R jackpot. Then, in the case of the explicit probability variation 2R jackpot, after the large entry ball opening 60 performs the opening / closing operation, the electric accessory 41 may shift to the gaming state in which the opening / closing operation is frequently performed. In this way, the occurrence of the probabilistic state can be noticed by the operation of the electric accessory 41, instead of being noticed by opening and closing the large entrance 60. As described above, since the electric accessory 41 may open and close due to the ball entering the through operating port 24, the player can see that the electric accessory 41 is caused by the ball entering the through operating port 24. It is difficult to immediately identify whether the electric accessory 41 has been opened / closed or the electric accessory 41 has been opened / closed due to the occurrence of a big hit. Therefore, it is possible to make the player expect that the explicit probability change 2R jackpot has occurred, and to attract the player's interest to the electric accessory 41, and as a result, it is possible to enhance the interest of the game. Become.

On the other hand, in the case of a normal 15R jackpot or a probability variation 15R jackpot, the jackpot 60 may be opened for a longer time (for example, about 30 seconds) than in the case of a 2R jackpot. By doing so, the player can fully recognize that the large entrance 60 has opened, and by visually recognizing how the game ball enters the large entrance 60, a feeling of exhilaration due to the occurrence of a big hit. It will be possible to enjoy more. In addition, since it is possible to visually recognize how the game ball enters the large entrance 60, it is possible to further enjoy the game of aiming by operating the launch handle 11 so that the game ball enters the large entrance 60. It will be possible.

In this embodiment, the operating state (game state) in which the large entrance 60 repeatedly opens and closes is referred to as an "opening / closing mode". Further, the above-described embodiment in which the large entrance 60 opens only for a short time is called a "low-frequency entry mode" because it is difficult for a game ball to enter, and the large entry 60 is longer than the low-frequency entry mode. The above-described embodiment that opens over time is referred to as a "high-frequency ball-entry mode" because it is easier for a game ball to enter than a low-frequency ball-in mode.

Further, the operating state (gaming state) in which the electric accessory 41 repeatedly opens and closes is a state in which the ball is urged to enter the second operating port 25b, and thus is referred to as a "support mode". Further, as for the electric accessory 41, similarly to the large entry port 60, if the time during which the electric accessory 41 is open is shortened, it becomes difficult for the game ball to enter the ball, and conversely, the time during which the electric accessory 41 is open. The longer the ball, the easier it is for the game ball to enter. Therefore, it is possible to change the ease of entering the ball into the second operating port 25b by changing the opening time of the electric accessory 41. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, two types of support modes in which the electric accessory 41 opens at different times can be executed, and of the two types of support modes, the electric accessory 41 is in the open state. The support mode in which the opening time (opening time) is shorter than that of the other support mode is called "low support mode", and the support mode in which the opening time of the electric accessory 41 is longer than that of the other support mode is called "high support mode". It shall be called.

In such a support mode, it is possible to change the ease of entering the ball into the second operating port 25b by changing the number of times the electric accessory 41 is opened per unit time. For this reason, when a plurality of types of support modes are provided, the number of times the electric accessory 41 is opened and closed per unit time may be different between the support modes. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the number of times of opening and closing of the electric accessory 41 per unit time is larger in the high support mode than in the low support mode. It is easier to enter the ball into the operating port 25b than in the low support mode.

Further, when the support mode is started after the jackpot game state ends, the type of the support mode to be started may be different depending on the type of the jackpot. Alternatively, depending on the type of jackpot, the support mode may not be started. In addition, a jackpot may be won while the support mode is being executed. In such a case, the type of the support mode may be changed after the jackpot game state ends. In this way, the operation mode of the electric accessory 41 can be changed due to the occurrence of the jackpot gaming state. In the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment, the high support mode is started in the case of "normal 15R jackpot", "probability variation 15R jackpot", or "explicit probability variation 2R jackpot" (during low support mode). If these jackpots are won, the support mode is switched to the high support mode), and in the case of "unspecified probability variation 2R jackpot", the high support mode is not started (the implicit probability variation 2R during the low support mode). If the jackpot is won, the low support mode will be continued without switching the support mode to the high support mode).

As described above, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, when the game ball enters the operating port 25, the segment type display device 70 displays the fluctuation of the symbol and the stop display, and the symbol is a predetermined hit symbol. When the stop is displayed with, the game shifts to the jackpot game state. At the time of the variable display and the stop display of the symbol, various images and symbols are displayed not only on the segment type display device 70 but also on the liquid crystal display device of the effect display device 30 to perform the effect.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating how the effect image is displayed on the effect display device 30. As shown in FIG. 6A, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the character symbol 32 with a number is displayed on the effect display device 30. The character symbol 32 is divided into three stages in the vertical direction of the effect display device 30 (see each stage shown as "upper stage", "middle stage", and "lower stage" in the drawing), and the character symbols 32 are arranged in a horizontal row in each stage. Further, a sub symbol 34 is drawn between the character symbol 32 and the character symbol 32 in each stage. Then, when the segment type display device 70 performs variable display of the symbols, the character symbols 32 and the sub symbols 34 of each stage move in the horizontal direction of the effect display device 30 while maintaining the state of being lined up in a horizontal row. The situation is displayed.

As described above, in the segment type display device 70, when a predetermined fluctuation time elapses from the start of the fluctuation display of the symbol, the symbol is stopped and displayed. At this time, also in the effect display device 30, the character symbol 32 and the sub symbol 34 that have been moving in the lateral direction are stopped, and the character symbol 32 and the sub symbol 34 are stopped and displayed. Here, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to make the mode of the stop display of the character symbol 32 and the sub symbol 34 correspond to the mode of the stop display of the symbols on the segment type display device 70. There is. For example, when the symbol corresponding to the jackpot is stopped and displayed on the segment type display device 70, the character symbols 32 with the same number are arranged in a row on the effect display device 30 in response to this. Is stopped and displayed.

FIG. 6B exemplifies a state in which character symbols 32 having the same number are stopped and displayed in a state of being lined up in a vertical direction. As shown in the figure, the character symbols 32 with the number "3" are displayed side by side on the line indicated by "L1" in the figure. By displaying the character symbols 32 having the same numbers side by side in this way, it is possible to make the player easily recognize that a big hit has occurred.

Further, when the character symbol 32 is stopped and displayed, the upper, middle, and lower stages may be stopped at the same time, but each stage may be stopped at different timings. For example, the upper and lower rows are first stopped and displayed, and finally the middle row is stopped and displayed. At this time, if the same character symbols 32 are arranged in a row in the upper and lower rows and then stopped, the player is expected that the same character symbols 32 will be stopped in the middle row and a jackpot state will occur. Because it can be done, it is possible to enhance the interest of the game. In this embodiment, the display mode in which the two-stage symbols are aligned and stopped and displayed is called a reach display, and the effect using the reach display is called a reach effect.

Further, in FIG. 6B, an embodiment in which the same character symbols 32 are arranged on the line indicated by “L1” is illustrated, but the embodiment in which the character symbols 32 are arranged in a row is not limited to this embodiment, and various aspects are available. It is possible. That is, in the effect display device 30 of the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the same character symbol is on any one of the five lines from "L1" to "L5" shown in FIG. 6 (b). It is possible to display the 32 stops side by side. Even if they are lined up on any of the multiple lines in this way, the player expects that the same symbol will be lined up on any of the many lines if the jackpot game state occurs. It is possible to further raise the expectations of the player and enhance the interest of the game.

Further, when the character symbol 32 is stopped and displayed, it may be stopped and displayed in a different manner depending on the type of jackpot. For example, in a jackpot that shifts to a probability variation state such as a probability variation 15R jackpot (probability variation jackpot), character symbols 32 with odd numbers such as "1" and "3" are aligned in a row and stopped and displayed, and usually a 15R jackpot or the like In the jackpot that shifts to the non-probability state, the character symbols 32 with even numbers such as "2" and "4" may be aligned in a row and stopped and displayed. In this way, it is possible for the player to recognize that the jackpot shifts to the probabilistic state and that the jackpot shifts to the non-probability change state by the effect display device 30.

On the contrary, in the case of the unspecified probability variation 2R jackpot, the character symbols 32 may not be aligned in a row. By doing this, it is possible to avoid the risk that the player will know that the jackpot has occurred by the effect display device 30, and to be surprised that the jackpot game state has occurred before he knows it, or that he has shifted to the probabilistic state before he knows it. Can be given more reliably.

Since the effect display device 30 is provided near the center of the game board 20 and has a large size, it is easily noticed by the player. Therefore, the player usually plays the game while looking at the effect display device 30. Therefore, it is possible to effectively perform the effect by using the effect display device 30. Further, since the effect display device 30 has a large area and can display a fine image by increasing the number of pixels of the liquid crystal display device, it is possible to display a high-quality image. By displaying such a high-quality image, it is possible to further enhance the effect of the production.

Further, when a game ball enters the operating port 25, the prize ball may be paid out as well as the effect on the effect display device 30 and the variable display of the symbol on the segment type display device 70. In this way, when the game ball enters the operating port 25, not only the variable display of the symbol starts and the state may shift to the jackpot state, but also the prize ball can be obtained, so that the player enters the operating port 25. The game will be played with a stronger desire to play the ball. Therefore, it is possible to draw more attention to the player whether or not the game ball enters the operating port 25, and it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game. Further, since the player can play the game for a long time by the amount of the prize balls paid out, the player can be attracted to the game for a long time. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, "3" prize balls are paid out for entering the first operating port 25a, and "4" are paid out for entering the second operating port 25b. The prize ball will be paid out.

When the game ball enters the operating port 25 while the effect display device 30 or the segment type display device 70 is performing the variable display of the symbol, the ball enters the game ball as in the case of the through operating port 24. Is stored as a hold (hold of the operation port), and after the change display of the symbol is completed, the change display of the held amount is performed. In the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment, the number of holdings of the first operating port 25a can be confirmed by the indicator lamp 83a (see FIG. 2) provided on the game board 20, and similarly, the indicator lamp 83b can be used to confirm the number of reservations. 2 The number of holdings of the operating port 25b can be confirmed. As shown in FIG. 2, four indicator lamps 83a and four indicator lamps 83b are provided, and the number of lit indicator lamps among them corresponds to the number of holdings of each operating port. doing. That is, when there is no hold, all the indicator lamps are turned off, and when there is one hold, one of the indicator lamps is turned on. Similarly, when there are two holds, the two indicator lamps are lit, when there are three holds, there are three indicator lamps, and when there are four holds, there are four indicator lamps. Each is lit.

Further, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, as the number of holds increases, the indicator lamps light up in order from the leftmost indicator lamp, and as the hold is exhausted, the indicator lamps in order from the right side. Turns off. This makes it possible for the player to easily grasp how the hold increases or decreases. Since the larger the number of holds, the more times the jackpot lottery is held, the player tends to desire a state in which the number of holds is large. It is possible to further entertain the player with the interest of the game due to the increase or decrease.

In addition, in the ball game machine 10 of this embodiment, it is also possible to display such a hold number by the effect display device 30. That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, by displaying the design symbol in a part of the area (first operating port holding display area and second operating port holding display area) of the effect display device 30. It is possible to display the number of holds by using the effect display device 30. Here, the "first operating port hold display area" in the drawing is an area for displaying the number of holdings of the first operating port 25a, and as shown in the figure, the first area a1 and the second area a2. It is composed of four display areas, a third area a3 and a fourth area a4. Then, by displaying the same number of design symbols as the number of holdings of the first operating port 25a in order from the left of the display area, it is possible to display the number of holdings of the first operating port 25a.

For example, if the number of holdings of the first operating port 25a is "2", the design symbols correspond to the two areas (first area a1 and second area a2) from the left of the first operating port holding display area. By displaying, it is possible to display that the number of holdings of the first operating port 25a is "2". Similarly, the second operating port hold display area is composed of four display areas of the first area b1, the second area b2, the third area b3, and the fourth area b4, and the number of holdings of the second operating port is increased. By displaying the corresponding number of design symbols in the display area, it is possible to display the number of holdings of the second operating port 25b.

As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 20 is also provided with a small winning opening 26. When a game ball enters the small winning opening 26, the bullet game machine 10 of this embodiment pays out a predetermined number of game balls as prize balls to the upper plate 13. In this way, if the prize ball is paid out when the ball enters the small prize opening 26, the player can play the game ball to the small winning opening 26 even if the big hit lottery is not performed when the ball enters the small winning opening 26. There is a tendency to play the game while expecting the ball to enter. Therefore, by providing the small winning opening 26, it is possible to attract the interest of the player to the game and enhance the interest of the game without increasing the number of big hit lottery.

Further, if the small winning opening 26 is provided below the operating opening 25, there is a possibility that the small winning opening 26 will enter the small winning opening 26 even if the game ball does not enter the operating opening 25. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the player from being distracted by the fact that the game ball does not enter the operating port 25. This makes it possible to attract the player more strongly to the game.

On the other hand, when the game ball does not enter any of the entry ports such as the through operation port 24 and the operation port 25, the game ball is collected in the out port 50 provided at the lower part of the game board 20. It is discharged to the outside of the game board 20. In this case, the player cannot win the prize ball. In this way, in the bullet game machine 10, a game is performed in which the player fires a game ball and enters the ball into the operating opening 25 or the small winning opening 26 on the game board 20, and the prize ball is played as the game progresses. Is paid out, and the game progresses while various productions are performed. Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of a control device that controls such a game will be described.

C. Control device configuration:
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device of the ball game machine 10. As shown in the figure, the control device of the game machine is composed of a main control device 100, a sub control device 200, a display control device 300, and the like. The main control device 100 mainly plays a role of controlling the progress of the game, such as performing the above-mentioned jackpot lottery and shifting to the jackpot gaming state according to the result of the jackpot lottery. Further, by transmitting commands for instructing various operations to the sub control device 200 and the payout control device 410, these devices are made to execute various operations. In FIG. 7, the direction in which data or a signal is input / output is indicated by a black arrow.

C-1. Main controller configuration:
The main control device 100 is provided with a one-chip type MPU 102 equipped with an arithmetic unit 104, a ROM 110, a RAM 140, and the like. Inside the chip of the MPU 102, the arithmetic unit 104, the ROM 110, and the RAM 140 are bus-connected to each other, and data can be transmitted and received between them. The MPU 102 can read a program from the ROM 110 using such a bus connection, and can execute various instructions described in the read program in the arithmetic unit 104. In addition, arithmetic calculations such as addition and subtraction can be performed using the arithmetic unit 104. Further, the MPU 102 has a program register for temporarily storing the read program, a program counter for storing the address (address in the program) of the instruction being executed in the arithmetic device 104, and an arithmetic in the arithmetic device 104. It is also equipped with working registers that store various types of data to be used, and it is possible to appropriately execute programs using these configurations.

Further, the MPU 102 has a timer interrupt function that generates an interrupt for a running program at regular time intervals. When an interrupt by the timer interrupt function occurs, the MPU 102 interrupts the execution of the program and stores the value of the program counter in the stack memory in the MPU 102. Further, the value of each register such as the working register is also stored in the memory in the MPU 102. Then, the start address of the program to be interrupted and executed is acquired from the program register of the MPU 102, and the program is executed. When the interrupted and executed program ends, the value of the program register stored in the stack memory in the MPU 102 is read, and the value of each register stored in the memory in the MPU 102 is returned to each register. .. Then, by starting the execution of the original program from the address stored in the program register, the original program can be restarted from the continuation. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the timer interrupt function is used to execute a process of detecting the ball entering the through operating port 24, a process of detecting the ball entering the operating port 25, and the like.

The ROM 110 is provided with a plurality of storage areas that can store various types of data, and among them, the program area 111 stores a program to be executed by the MPU 102. In addition, various data necessary for executing the program, such as the start address of the program, are also stored in the program area 111. The MPU 102 controls the ball game machine 10 by reading these programs and data from the program area 111 of the ROM 110 and executing the programs.

In the lottery table area 112 of the ROM 110, a "big hit lottery table" referred to when a big hit lottery is performed by the main control device 100 is stored. In the jackpot lottery table of the bullet game machine 10 of this embodiment, each numerical value from "0" to "599" is associated with the winning / failing result of the jackpot lottery for each numerical value, and "0" to "599". By acquiring any of the numerical values up to "" from the jackpot random number counter and referring to the jackpot lottery table, it is possible to determine whether or not the jackpot lottery is successful with respect to the acquired numerical value.

In the distribution table area 113, a "distribution table" that is referred to when a big hit occurs is stored. As described above, in the ball gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to generate a plurality of types of jackpot gaming states such as an unspecified probability variation 2R jackpot and a normal 15R jackpot. Therefore, when a jackpot occurs, which of these jackpot gaming states is to be executed is determined by referring to the distribution table.

In the stop mode table area 114, a "stop mode table" to be referred to when the symbol is stopped and displayed on the segment type display device 70 is stored. In the stop mode table, whether or not to turn on each LED of the segment type display device 70 is determined for each LED, and by turning on or off each LED according to the stop mode table, the segment type display device 70 can be turned on. It is possible to display a predetermined stop symbol.

In the variation display time table area 115, a "variation display time table" in which the time (variation display time) for displaying the variation of the symbol on the segment type display device 70 is set is stored. In this variable display time table, a plurality of variable display times having different lengths are set in a state in which a number for identifying each variable time is assigned. When performing variable display of a symbol, the variable display time of the symbol is determined by reading the variable display time corresponding to the number by referring to the variable display time table after determining the variable display time number. ..

In the command information storage area 116, various commands transmitted by the main control device 100 to the sub control device 200, the payout control device 410, and the like are stored. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, these commands are binary data having a predetermined data length (number of bytes), and therefore can be stored in the ROM 110. If the command is stored in the ROM 110 in this way, when the main control device 100 transmits the command to the sub control device 200, the payout control device 410, or the like, the stored command is read out and the sub control device is used. It may be transmitted to 200 or the payout control device 410. In this way, it is not necessary to generate a new command each time a command is sent, so that the command can be sent quickly.

The above-mentioned classification of each storage area of the ROM 110 focuses on the contents to be stored, and it is not always necessary that these storage areas are actually divided and configured on the ROM 110. Of course, it is also possible to actually divide and configure the ROM 110. For example, in the address space of the ROM 110, the address may be divided for each storage area, or each storage area may be assigned to a different bank by using a so-called bank structure. If each storage area is actually divided and configured on the ROM 110 in this way, the data in each storage area is stored in the ROM 110 in a state of being collected, so that the data can be read out more quickly from each storage area. It becomes.

The RAM 140 of the main control device 100 is a random access memory capable of temporarily storing various data used for the progress of the game. Like the ROM 110, the RAM 140 is also connected to the arithmetic unit 104 by bus, and the MPU 102 can store the data of the arithmetic unit 104 in the RAM 140 or read the data of the RAM 140 and transfer the data to the arithmetic unit 104. It is also possible to store the data in the ROM 110 in the RAM 140 by reading the data from the ROM 110 and writing the data in the RAM 140. Further, since the RAM 140 and the ROM 110 are connected by a bus, when the data of the ROM 110 is stored in the RAM 140, the data of the ROM 110 can be directly written to the RAM 140 without going through the arithmetic unit 104. By doing so, it is possible to write the data of the ROM 110 to the RAM 140 more quickly, and it is possible to reduce the processing load of the arithmetic unit 104 when writing the data of the ROM 110 to the RAM 140.

Although not shown in FIG. 7, the main control device 100 is also provided with a backup device. This backup device monitors the voltage supplied from the power supply device 240 to the main control device 100, and when the voltage falls below a predetermined voltage, determines that a power failure has occurred and sends a power failure notification signal to the main control device 100. Send. When the main control device 100 receives the power failure notification signal, it performs power failure processing such as closing the large entrance 60 and stops the operation of the MPU 102. At this time, a backup voltage is supplied to the RAM 140 from a backup capacitor, so that the data stored in the RAM 140 can be retained as it is even during a power failure. The backup capacitor has a large capacitance, and the RAM 140 does not require so much power if it only maintains the storage state. Therefore, by supplying a voltage from the backup capacitor in this way, the RAM 140 It is possible to keep the memory state for a long time. As a result, when the power is recovered from the power failure, the operation can be resumed with the storage state of the RAM 140 restored to the original state.

Focusing on the contents of the data to be stored and the functions realized by the stored data, the RAM 140 has a plurality of storage areas (counter area 141, hold storage area 142, flag area 143, etc.) as shown in FIG. It can be considered that the electric accessory holding area 144, the command buffer 145, and the general-purpose area 146) are provided. The details of the processing using these storage areas will be described later, but for ease of understanding, each storage area will be briefly described.

The "counter area 141" is provided with a jackpot random number counter used for determining whether or not a jackpot lottery is successful, a jackpot type counter used for determining a jackpot type, and the like. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not the jackpot lottery is successful by acquiring the value of the jackpot random number counter and referring to the jackpot lottery table stored in the lottery table area 112 of the ROM 110. Is. Further, the jackpot type can be determined by acquiring the value of the jackpot type counter and referring to the sorting table stored in the sorting table area 113 of the ROM 110.

The “hold storage area 142” is a storage area for storing the ball entering the operating port 25 as a hold. That is, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, when another game ball enters the operating port 25 while the segment type display device 70 is performing the variable display of the symbol, the ball is inserted. In order to store it as a hold, a value is acquired from a jackpot random number counter or a jackpot type counter and stored in the hold storage area 142. Further, in the present embodiment, the hold storage area 142 is referred to as a "first operation port hold storage area", corresponding to the provision of the first operation port 25a and the second operation port 25b. Two hold storage areas of "second operation port hold storage area" are provided, and it is possible to individually store the hold for each operation port.

The "flag area 143" is an area for holding various flags set to ON or OFF when the game state changes with the progress of the game, the occurrence of a big hit, or the like. For example, as described above, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to shift to a plurality of types of jackpot gaming states such as a normal 15R jackpot and a probability variation 15R jackpot. A "normal 15R jackpot flag" and a "probability variation 15R jackpot flag" are provided in the flag area 143. Then, when a big hit occurs, the big hit flag corresponding to the type of the big hit is set (set to ON). Also, when the jackpot game state ends, the corresponding jackpot flag is reset (set to OFF). Therefore, by referring to each jackpot flag, it is possible to determine whether or not the jackpot gaming state is a jackpot gaming state, and it is possible to determine which type of jackpot gaming state the jackpot gaming state is.

The "electric accessory holding area 144" is an area for storing the entry into the through operating port 24 as a hold. That is, as described above, when the game ball enters the through operation port 24, the through segment type display device 80 displays the fluctuation of the symbol, but the game ball is displayed while the fluctuation of the symbol is displayed. When the ball enters the through operation port 24, the entry is stored as a hold. The electric accessory holding area 144 is a storage area for storing such holding. The numerical value read from the electric accessory opening counter 141f is once stored in the electric accessory holding area 144, and when the symbol variation display ends, the numerical value is read from the electric accessory holding area 144 and the symbol variation display. Is done to digest the hold.

The "command buffer 145" temporarily stores commands to be transmitted to peripheral devices (sub-control device 200, electric accessory drive unit 42, large entry port drive unit 62, etc.) connected to the main control device 100. This is the buffer area to be stored. The main control device 100 of the ball game machine 10 stores various commands in the command buffer 145 according to the progress of the game, and outputs the commands to the sub control device 200, the electric accessory drive unit 42, and the like at a predetermined timing. Thereby, it is possible to control the operation of each of these devices.

The "general-purpose area 146" is a general-purpose storage area in which various data can be temporarily stored when the main control device 100 controls a game, and the calculation result of the arithmetic unit 104 can be temporarily stored. Is. The MPU 102 of the main control device 100 can accurately execute the process by appropriately using the general-purpose area 146 when executing various programs for controlling the game.

As described above, the main control device 100 controls the progress of the game by using each of these configurations. At this time, various processes are performed according to signals from various sensors (11s, etc.) connected to the main control device 100 and the payout control device 410. Further, by transmitting various commands from the main control device 100 to each device such as the sub control device 200 and the electric accessory drive unit 42 connected to the main control device 100, the operation of each of these devices can be performed. Control. Hereinafter, the configurations of these peripheral devices connected to the main control device 100 will be described.

C-2. Peripheral configuration:
The sub control device 200 is a control device that receives a command transmitted from the main control device 100 and performs various controls according to the command, and mainly plays a role of controlling various effects associated with the game. Although detailed description will be omitted, the sub control device 200 also includes an MPU, a ROM, and a RAM like the main control device 100, and various processes can be executed using each of these devices. Further, a display control device 300 is connected to the sub control device 200, and the display control device 300 displays various effect images and effect symbols on the effect display device 30 in accordance with a command from the sub control device 200. It is possible to perform an effect using the display device 30.

When the sub control device 200 receives a command from the main control device 100, the sub control device 200 analyzes the command, acquires various information included in the command, and performs various effect processing according to the acquired information. For example, when a command (variation start command) including information on the symbol variation display time of the segment type display device 70 and the symbol variation pattern is received, it is connected to the display control device 300 by sending an instruction to the display control device 300. The effect display device 30 is made to display the effect symbol in a variable manner. At this time, since the command sent from the main control device 100 includes information on the fluctuation display time of the symbol on the segment type display device 70, the sub control device 200 is the effect display device 30. It is possible to execute the variation display of the effect symbol in accordance with the variation display of the symbol on the segment type display device 70. Further, it is also possible to stop (confirm) the variable display of the effect symbol on the effect display device 30 in accordance with the stop display of the symbol on the segment type display device 70.

Further, as described above, the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment can perform a reach effect, and the sub control device 200 also performs a predetermined process for such a reach effect in response to a command from the main control device 100. It is realized by doing. That is, when the sub control device 200 receives the fluctuation start command from the main control device 100, it determines whether or not there is time required to perform the reach effect based on the information regarding the fluctuation display time included in the fluctuation start command. To do. Then, when it is determined that the reach effect can be executed, it is determined whether or not the reach effect is actually performed, and when the reach effect is performed, a predetermined command is transmitted to the display control device 300. The reach effect is executed by the effect display device 30. Not only such a reach effect but also various other effects are realized by transmitting a command from the main control device 100 to the sub control device 200.

In addition, the effect button 600 described above is also connected to the sub control device 200. A push button type electric switch is incorporated in the effect button 600, and when the player presses the effect button 600, the connection state of the electric switch changes, so that the effect button 600 is pressed. It can be detected with. By using such an effect button 600, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to start a special effect or change the content of the effect when the effect button 600 is pressed.

For example, when the value acquired from the jackpot random number counter is a predetermined value, the main control device 100 notifies the sub control device 200 to that effect via a command. In response to this, the sub control device 200 displays an image prompting the player to press the effect button 600 on the effect display device 30. Then, when it is detected that the effect button 600 is pressed by the player, the effect image displayed on the effect display device 30 and the sound effect output to the speaker 14 are switched. For example, if the result of the lottery is a big hit, the image (video or still image) displayed on the effect display device 30 is changed from the image displayed up to that point to the effect image (video or still image) for notifying the winning of the big hit. Switch. Alternatively, if the result of the lottery is out of order, the production image (moving image or still image) corresponding to the out of place is switched. In this way, the player presses the effect button 600 with the expectation that a big hit may occur, and the player himself presses the effect button 600 to reveal the result of the lottery. , It is possible to excite the interest when notifying the lottery result.

Further, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is also possible to transmit a control signal from the sub control device 200 to such an effect button 600. The effect button 600 of the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a mechanism for receiving and driving the control signal, which makes it possible to further improve the interest of the effect using the effect button 600. This point will be described in detail later.

Like the main control device 100 and the sub control device 200, the display control device 300 includes a control circuit equipped with an MPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and various processes can be executed using each of these configurations. .. In addition, image data of various images to be displayed on the effect display device 30 is stored in advance. These image data are stored in a state where various encoding processes have been performed, and by doing so, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the storage area for storing the image data becomes excessive. The display control device 300 decodes the encoded image data using an MPU, a decoding LSI, or the like, and outputs the decoded image data to the effect display device 30. By doing so, even the encoded image data can be quickly displayed on the effect display device 30.

As shown in FIG. 7, not only the sub control device 200 but also the sensors provided in the through operation port 24, the operation port 25, and the like are connected to the main control device 100. When each sensor provided in such a ball entry port detects the entry of a game ball, a signal is sent to the main control device 100, and in response to this, a latch circuit (not shown) provided in the main control device 100 receives the signal. By entering the latch state, the entry of the game ball is memorized. The MPU 102 of the main control device 100 can detect the entry of a ball into the through operating port 24 or the operating port 25 by reading the state of the latch circuit.

The electric accessory drive unit 42 includes an actuator that opens and closes the electric accessory 41, a drive circuit that drives the actuator, and the like. The main control device 100 can open and close the electric accessory 41 by transmitting a signal to the electric accessory drive unit 42 to operate the electric accessory drive unit 42. Further, the large entry port drive unit 62 is also composed of an actuator for opening and closing the large entry port 60, a control circuit for driving the actuator, and the like, like the electric accessory drive unit 42. By transmitting a signal to 62, it is possible to open and close the large entrance 60.

The segment type display device 70 described above is also connected to the main control device 100. Therefore, the main control device 100 can output a signal to the segment type display device 70 to display the fluctuation of the symbol or the stop display on the segment type display device 70.

The payout control device 410 is a device that controls the payout device connected to the game ball tank 400 (see FIG. 5) as described above, and by operating the payout device via the payout control device 410, the game ball It is possible to pay out the game ball in the tank 400 to the upper plate 13 (see FIG. 1) of the ball game machine 10. By operating the payout device through the payout control device 410, the main control device 100 receives a prize ball for entering a ball into an operation port such as a through operation port 24 or an operation port 25, a small prize opening 26, or a large entry. The prize ball for entering the winning opening such as the ball opening 60 is paid out. Further, the payout device is provided with a counter for counting the number of game balls paid out, and the main control device 100 is determined for each entry port by referring to this counter via the payout control device 410. It is possible to confirm that a predetermined number of game balls have been paid out. Further, the payout device is provided with an abnormality sensor that detects an abnormality such as when the inside of the game ball tank 400 is empty or when the passage for paying out the game ball is clogged and the game ball cannot be paid out normally. ing. By examining the output signal of the abnormality sensor, the main control device 100 can also detect whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the payout status of the prize ball.

As shown in FIG. 7, an external output terminal 910 is also connected to the main control device 100. As described above, the external output terminal 910 is provided on the back side of the ball game machine 10, and it is possible to connect the cable from the hall computer installed in the game hall to the external output terminal 910 (Fig.). 5). If a signal is output from the main control device 100 to the external output terminal 910 with the cable from the hall computer connected to the external output terminal 910, various signals are transmitted to the hall computer via the external output terminal 910. Is possible.

Although various signals can be output to the external output terminal 910, the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment can transmit a "big hit signal" indicating that a big hit has occurred. There is. Further, various modes can be adopted as the mode for outputting the jackpot signal, but simply, when the result of the jackpot lottery is a jackpot, a pulse may be output. In this way, the hall computer can easily detect that a big hit has occurred by detecting the pulse. Alternatively, instead of temporarily outputting a signal when a big hit occurs, the signal may be continuously output while the big hit occurs and the big hit gaming state continues. For example, the voltage level is kept at a low level (“Low” state) while not in the jackpot game state, while the voltage level is kept at a high level (“High” state) during the duration of the jackpot game state. In this way, the hall computer can detect that a jackpot has occurred by detecting a change in the voltage level. In addition, since the voltage level corresponds to the current gaming state (in this case, whether it is a jackpot gaming state or not), it is easy to check whether the jackpot gaming state is still ongoing by checking the voltage level. It is possible to detect.

Further, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to output a predetermined signal even when the game ball of the game ball tank 400 is insufficient. In this way, the game hall can detect the shortage of the game ball with the hall computer, and as a result, the ball game machine 10 can be operated normally by taking measures such as replenishing the game ball. It becomes.

Further, it is possible to output a signal indicating that the game ball has been paid out and a signal indicating that the game ball has been discharged from the out port 50. Various modes can be adopted for outputting these signals, but for example, a pulse may be output each time the game ball is paid out or discharged from the out port 50. In such a case, a pulse may be output for each game ball, or a pulse may be output for each predetermined number of game balls (for example, every 10 balls). In either case, the hall computer can grasp the number of game balls paid out and the number of game balls discharged from the out port 50 by counting the pulses. Further, the number of launched game balls may be grasped by the hall computer by outputting a pulse each time the game balls are launched. In this way, it is possible to grasp not only the number of game balls discharged from the out port 50 (so-called out number) but also the difference between the number of launched game balls and the number of outs (so-called safe number). ..

In addition, it is possible to output a signal indicating that the front panel 15 (see FIG. 1) has been opened. In order to output such a signal, a sensor or a switch may be provided between the front panel 15 and the main body, and the open / closed state of the front panel 15 may be detected by the sensor or the switch. Alternatively, instead of directly detecting the open / closed state of the front panel 15, it may be indirectly detected based on the state of the key unit 17. For example, a sensor is provided in the key unit 17, and the sensor detects the locked state of the key unit 17. Normally, when the ball game machine 10 is installed in the game hall, the key portion 17 is locked. Therefore, when the key portion 17 is unlocked, it is presumed that the front panel 15 is opened. be able to. Therefore, if a signal indicating the sensor state provided on the key unit 17 is output, the open / closed state of the front panel 15 can be detected by the hall computer. In addition, if the state of the key portion 17 is detected in this way, even if the key portion 17 is forgotten to be locked after the front panel 15 is closed, it is possible to detect that the key portion 17 is not locked by the hall computer. .. As a result, it is possible to avoid the risk of being cheated due to improper locking of the key unit 17.

It should be noted that these various signals may be output using different signal lines or terminals for each signal, or may be output by sharing the signal lines or terminals among a plurality of signals. Good. For example, by performing so-called serial communication or encoding a plurality of signals into one signal, it is possible to share a signal line or a terminal among the plurality of signals. In this way, it is possible to output a large number of types of signals even when the number of signal lines and the number of terminals are limited.

The launch control device 500 is connected to a launch unit that launches the game ball, and the launch control device 500 controls the launch unit to appropriately launch the game ball. Further, a pulse signal having a predetermined period is transmitted from the main control device 100 to the launch control device 500, and the launch unit launches the game ball based on the pulse signal to appropriately shoot the game ball. It is possible to fire at various time intervals. Further, a touch sensor 11s provided on the launch handle 11 is connected to the main control device 100, and the main control device 100 can grasp whether or not the player is touching the launch handle 11. Therefore, when the player is not touching the launch handle 11, the main control device 100 stops the pulse signal transmitted to the launch control device 500, so that the game ball is not touched by the player. It is possible to avoid the situation where the is fired.

Further, a variable resistor provided on the launch handle 11 is also connected to the launch control device 500. The resistance value of this variable resistor changes according to the rotation angle of the firing handle 11, and therefore, the firing control device 500 determines the firing strength of the game ball based on the resistance value of the variable resistor. By controlling, it is possible to launch the game ball with a strength corresponding to the rotation angle of the launch handle 11.

In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the progress of the game is controlled by using each of the above-described configurations, and various effect images are displayed on the effect display device 30 and sound effects are produced from the speaker 14 as the game progresses. And output music. At this time, as described above, it is also possible to switch the effect mode when the effect button 600 is pressed. In the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, by adopting the following configuration for the effect button 600, it is possible to further improve the interest of the effect using the effect button 600.

D. Production button of the first embodiment:
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the effect button 600 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8A, the effect button 600 of the first embodiment is provided with a disk-shaped button member 602. The central portion of the button member 602 is projected from the upper surface panel 610, and the player can operate the effect button 600 by pressing down the exposed portion 602s (white arrow in the figure). See).

Below the button member 602, an electric switch 604 that switches between a connected state and a disconnected state in conjunction with the vertical movement of the button member 602 is provided on the lower surface panel 612. As described above, the electric switch 604 is connected to the sub control device 200. Therefore, the sub control device 200 detects that the effect button 600 is pressed and displays the effect image displayed on the effect display device 30. It is possible to switch and change the music and sound effects output from the speaker 14. Although not shown, a spring member is incorporated below the button member 602, and plays a role of urging the button member 602 upward (direction toward the upper surface panel 610).

The top panel 610 constitutes a part of the surface of the ball game machine 10 (see FIG. 1), and from the player's point of view, the inside of the top panel 610 is hidden by the top panel 610. .. Here, in the upper surface panel 610, the range where the button member 602 is provided (the range shown as “610t” with rough hatching in FIG. 8A) is made of a transparent plastic material. .. Therefore, when viewed from above the top panel 610 (on the player's side), the inside of the top panel 610 can be visually recognized in this range (transparent portion 610t).

Here, in the effect button 600 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8B, the protruding portion of the button member 602 is surrounded between the lower side of the upper surface panel 610 and the button member 602. A pair of shielding plates 620 (first shielding plate 620a and second shielding plate 620b) are provided in this state. The first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b are each connected to an actuator (not shown), and each of them can be moved in a direction along the upper surface panel 610 (horizontal direction in the figure).

These actuators are connected to the sub-control device 200, and the sub-control device 200 moves the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b in the left-right direction in the drawing by transmitting a control signal to the actuator. Is possible. In the effect button 600 of the first embodiment, the shape (visual shape) of the button member 602 as seen by the player is changed as follows by using such a configuration.

9 and 10 are explanatory views showing how the effect button 600 of the first embodiment changes the visual shape of the button member 602. FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the effect button 600 as viewed from the lateral direction. The electric switch 604 and the lower panel 612 are not shown in order to avoid complicating the drawings. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b are closed (the state of FIG. 8B). As shown, in this state, the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b are located between the upper surface panel 610 and the button member 602. Therefore, when viewed from the upper side (player's side) of the upper surface panel 610, the inside of the upper surface panel 610 can be seen through the transparent portion 610t, but the button member is blocked by the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b. The inner part of 602 is invisible. Therefore, the button member 602 is in a state where only the central exposed portion 602s can be seen.

Here, when the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b are moved, the shielding plate is pulled out from between the upper surface panel 610 and the button member 602 as shown in FIG. 9B. Eventually, the top panel 610 and the button member 602 are completely pulled out (see FIG. 9C). By moving the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b from between the button member 602 and the upper surface panel 610 in this way, the shape of the button member 602 as seen by the player can be changed as follows. Is.

FIG. 10 shows a state of the effect button 600 when the first shield plate 620a and the second shield plate 620b are moved as viewed from the player's side (upper side of the upper surface panel 610). In FIG. 10, the top panel 610 is omitted in order to avoid complicated illustration. FIG. 10A shows a state seen from the player side in the state shown in FIG. 9A (cross section cut by a broken line shown as AA'in FIG. 10A). Corresponds to FIG. 9A). As described above, in the state where the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b are not moving (the states of FIGS. 8 and 9A), the shielding plate surrounds the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602 and the game is played. Since the person and the button member 602 are shielded, only the exposed portion 602s can be seen by the player.

Here, when the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b are moved, as shown in FIG. 10B, the portion hidden in the shielding plate 620 of the button member 602 gradually becomes visible. (See the rough hatched part in the figure). Then, when the shielding plate 620 is completely moved from between the upper surface panel 610 and the button member 602 (the state shown in FIG. 9C), the button member 602 is shown in FIG. 10C. The whole is visible.

In this way, to the player, the button member 602 (see FIG. 10 (a)), which initially appeared to be small in size, appears to be enlarged to a large size (see FIG. 10 (c)). .. This makes it possible to surprise the player and improve the interest of the game.

As described above, in the ball game machine 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to change the size (visual recognition size) of the button member 602 as seen by the player. Normally, it is difficult for the player to imagine that the size of the button member 602 changes, so that it is possible to give the player a great surprise. Further, since the button member 602 becomes large, it is possible to remind the player that a gaming state that is advantageous to the player, such as a jackpot gaming state, occurs. This makes it possible to greatly improve the interest of the game.

Further, in the effect button 600 of the first embodiment, a part of the button member 602 is hidden by a shielding plate 620, and the size (visual size) of the button member 602 as seen by the player is expanded by removing the shielding plate. I'm letting you. In this way, even if the button member 602 is provided with a complicated mechanism to actually change the size, or two button members 602 with different sizes are provided to switch between them, the shielding plate can be provided. It is possible to give the player the impression that the button member 602 has become larger by using a simple mechanism that only moves the button member 602. Therefore, it is possible to keep the configuration of the ball game machine 10 simple while making it possible to improve the interest of the game.

Further, when changing the visual shape of the button member 602, for example, the button member 602 may be divided into a plurality of segments, a light source may be charged in each segment, and the visual shape may be changed by controlling the light source to emit light. Conceivable. However, in such a case, it may be difficult for the player to surprise the player because the effect button can be predicted to light up for each segment from the appearance that the button member is divided into segments. is there. On the other hand, in the effect button 600 of the present embodiment, it is difficult for the player to predict that the visual shape of the button member 602 will change even when the effect button 600 is viewed. This makes it possible to surely give the player a surprise.

The above-mentioned operation for changing the visible size of the button member 602 can be executed in various cases, and may be performed in any case. In either case, since the visible size of the button member 602 changes, it is possible to surprise the player and improve the interest of the game. For example, it is preferable to change the visible size of the button member 602 in the following cases.

As described above, in the ball game machine 10, the effect of prompting the player to press the effect button (for example, the effect of displaying an image prompting the effect display device 30 or outputting a sound effect from the speaker 14) is displayed in a segmented manner. It can be executed during the variation display on the device 70. In such a case, the player is urged to press the effect button 600 in both the case where the big hit (normally 15R big hit, the probability variation 15R big hit, etc.) is actually won in the lottery accompanying the variable display, and the case where it is not. It is also possible to produce. In this way, the player presses the production button 600 with the expectation that if the production button 600 is pressed, a big hit will occur, so that it is possible to raise the player's expectation and improve the interest of the game. is there. Further, even when a big hit does not occur, it is possible to make the player have expectations and avoid the game from becoming monotonous.

However, since there is a case of a big hit as well as a case of a miss, the player may not have expectations even if the effect of prompting the player to press the effect button 600 is performed. In particular, since the probability that a big hit will occur is limited, if you try to increase the execution frequency of such an effect so that the game does not become monotonous, the number of cases where it is not a big hit will increase, and as a result, the player will have expectations. The tendency to disappear becomes stronger.

Therefore, if the visible size of the button member 602 is increased in this way, the player can be surprised. Therefore, even if the player does not have expectations, the player will be interested and a big hit will occur. It is possible to have the expectation that it may be. This makes it possible to improve the interest of the game.

Further, in the effect button 600 of the first embodiment, although the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b open and close, the player opens and closes inside the upper surface panel 610, so that the player pinches his or her finger in the shielding plate 620. It is possible to avoid the risk of injury due to the opening / closing operation of the shielding plate 620. In this way, even if a member (shielding plate 620) that hides the button member 602 is provided to perform the opening / closing operation, if the opening / closing operation is performed inside the upper surface panel 610, the risk of injury to the player can be avoided. It is possible. Further, at this time, if a transparent portion 610t is provided in a part of the upper surface panel 610 so that the inside of the upper surface panel 610 can be seen, even if the shielding plate 620 opens and closes inside the upper surface panel 610, the button member 602 can be visually recognized. The size can be changed as the shielding plate 620 is opened and closed. This makes it possible to achieve both safety and a function of changing the visible size of the button member 602 by opening and closing the shielding plate.

In addition, in the effect button 600 of the first embodiment, the visible size of the button member 602 can be returned to the original size by moving the shielding plate 620 to the original position. Therefore, it is possible to easily increase or decrease the visible size according to the progress of the game. As a result, it is possible to attract the interest of the player more strongly, and by extension, it is possible to further enhance the interest of the game.

E. Modification example of the first embodiment:
Hereinafter, a modified example of the effect button 600 of the first embodiment described above will be described. The same configurations as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

E-1. First modification example:
In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that a part of the disk-shaped button member 602 is projected and exposed from the upper surface panel 610. However, the button member may be formed in a spherical shape so that a part of the spherical shape is exposed from the upper surface panel 610.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the effect button 1600 of the first modification example including the spherical button member 1602. As shown in FIG. 11A, in the effect button 600 of the first modification, the button member 1602 is formed in a hemispherical shape. A part of this spherical shape is exposed from the upper surface panel 610, and the player can push the exposed portion 1602s (see the white arrow in the figure).

Further, the effect button 1600 of the first modification is also provided with a pair of shielding plates 620 (first shielding plate 620a and second shielding plate 620b), and the peripheral portion of the exposed portion 1602s of the button member 1602 is shielded. It is possible to hide by 620 so that the peripheral portion of the exposed portion 1602s of the button member 1602 cannot be seen by the player.

As shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, when the shielding plate 620 is moved from this state, the peripheral portion of the exposed portion 1602s is exposed to the player via the transparent portion 610t of the upper surface panel 610. Will be visible. As a result, as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to give the player a surprise as if the button member 1602 was deformed and enlarged, and to attract the player's interest.

Further, in the effect button 1600 of the first modification, since the exposed portion 1602s of the button member 1602 and the peripheral portion of the exposed portion 1602s are connected in a spherical shape, when the shielding plate 620 is moved, the exposed portion 1602s It is possible to make the boundary between the peripheral portion and the exposed portion 1602s inconspicuous. From the player's point of view, this boundary is the contour of the button member 602 before moving the shielding plate 620, so if this boundary is made inconspicuous, it is as if the button member 602 was deformed and enlarged. It is possible to give a more reliable impression. In addition, with the button member 1602 having such a shape, it is sufficient to form the member into a spherical shape, and it is not necessary to form the member into a complicated shape, so that the manufacturing process of the gaming machine can be kept simple. Suitable.

E-2. Second modification example:
In the effect button 600 of the first embodiment described above, it has been described that the inside of the upper surface panel 610 cannot be visually recognized when the shielding plate 620 is closed. However, a region where the inside of the upper surface panel 610 can be visually recognized may be provided even when the shielding plate 620 is closed.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view illustrating the effect button 700 of the second modified example in which the inside of the upper surface panel 610 is provided with a visible region even when the shielding plate 620 is closed. As shown in FIG. 12A, in the effect button 700 of the second modification, the range surrounded by the first shielding plate 720a and the second shielding plate 720b is larger than the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602. (See the portion indicated by the arrow in FIG. 12 (a)). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12B, the upper surface of the shielding plate 720 is hidden between the hidden portion (the portion surrounding the exposed portion 602s) and the exposed portion 602s even when the shielding plate 720 is closed. A region is provided in which the inside of the panel 610 can be visually recognized (see the portion of FIG. 12B with fine hatching).

In this way, in the state after the shielding plate 720 is moved (the state in which the visible size of the button member 602 is expanded), the button member 602 is in the original state (the state before the visible size of the button member 602 is increased). The player hardly knows where the contour was. Therefore, it is possible to surely give the player the impression that the button member 602 itself has become larger.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the shape of the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602 and the shape surrounded by the shielding plate 720 have been described as having the same shape (circular shape in the example of FIG. 12), but different shapes. May be. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the shape of the exposed portion 602s may be circular, while the area surrounded by the shielding plate 820 may be quadrangular. When the different shapes are used in this way, the portion having the different shape is not hidden by the shielding plate 820 even when the shielding plate 820 is closed, so that this portion can be visually recognized inside the upper surface panel 610 (“B” in the drawing. See the part marked with). By doing so, only by forming the shape of the region surrounded by the shielding plate 820 and the shape of the exposed portion 602s into different shapes, the button member 602 does not know the contour position of the button member 602 before moving the shielding plate 820. It is preferable because it is possible to easily give an enlarged impression.

E-3. Third modification example:
In the above-described embodiment, the shielding plate 620 is moved until the button member 602 is completely visible. However, since the visible size of the button member 602 can be changed by moving the shielding plate 620, the shielding plate 620 does not necessarily have to be moved to a position where the entire button member 602 can be seen, but is moved halfway. May be.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the shielding plate 620 may be moved to a state where the shielding plate 620 hides the button member 602 by about half. In the state of FIG. 10B, it is possible to give the player the impression that the button member 602 is deformed and spread in the vertical direction of the drawing, so that the player is surprised as in the above-described embodiment. It is possible to attract the interest of the player.

Further, a state in which the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602 is surrounded by the shielding plate 620 (see FIG. 10A) and a state in which the shielding plate 620 hides the button member 602 by about half (see FIG. 10B). And the state in which the shielding plate 620 is sufficiently moved so that the entire button member 602 can be seen (see FIG. 10C), the three states are changed according to the progress of the game in the ball game machine 10. It may be a thing. For example, the state in which the entire button member 602 can be seen is considered to attract the player's interest most strongly because the button member 602 looks the largest among the three states. Therefore, when there is a high possibility that the jackpot lottery has been won (expected jackpot value), the effect button 600 is changed to this state. Further, when the expected jackpot value is lower than that, but higher than usual, the effect button 600 is changed so that the shielding plate 620 hides the button member 602 by about half. In this way, the expected jackpot value can be reflected in the visible size of the button member 602, so that the change in the visible size of the button member 602 surprises the player and attracts the player's interest even more strongly. Is also possible.

When changing the visual shape of the button member 602 according to the expected jackpot value, the following may be performed. First, based on the command sent from the main control device 100, the sub control device 200 grasps the winning / failing determination result of the big hit lottery. If the result of the winning / failing determination is winning, the visible size of the button member 602 is increased. Here, even if the winning / failing determination result is not won, the visible size of the button member 602 is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, when the value of the jackpot random number counter is acquired by the main control device 100, if the value is a predetermined value set in advance, the visible size of the button member 602 is increased.

In this way, when the visible size of the button member 602 is expanded, the probability of actually winning the jackpot (expected value of the jackpot) is that the visible size of the button member 602 is expanded due to the fact that the jackpot actually occurred. It is determined by the ratio between the probability of making it and the probability of expanding the visual size even if the rejection judgment result is not winning. For example, it is assumed that the value of the jackpot random number counter takes a value from "0" to "599", and "7" among them corresponds to the jackpot. Further, when "0" is acquired, the visible size of the button member 602 is increased even if it is not a big hit. At this time, the ratio of the probability of expanding the visible size of the button member 602 due to the actual occurrence of the jackpot and the probability of not increasing the jackpot is 1: 1, so the expected jackpot value is "1/2". ("1" for "1 + 1"). In such a case, if the shielding plate 620 is completely moved to make the entire button member 602 visible (see FIG. 10C), a jackpot expectation when the button member 602 is in this state is expected. The value is halved.

Further, even if the jackpot is not won, the expected jackpot value can be lowered by increasing the probability of increasing the visible size of the button member 602. For example, in the above-mentioned example, when the value of the jackpot random number counter is from "0" to "3", the visible size of the button member 602 is expanded even if it is not a jackpot. In this way, the ratio between the probability that the visible size of the button member 602 is expanded even though it is not a big hit and the probability that the visual size of the button member 602 is expanded when a big hit actually occurs becomes 4: 1. As a result, the expected jackpot value is "1/5" ("1" for "4 + 1"). In such a case, if the shielding plate 620 is moved to a state where the button member 602 can be seen by about half (see FIG. 10B), the expected value of the jackpot is one-fifth of this state of the button member 602. It becomes possible to correspond to.

E-4. Fourth modification example:
In the above-described embodiment, the size (visual size) of the button member 602 as seen by the player is changed. However, from the viewpoint of giving a surprise to the player, the shape (visual shape) of the button member 602 as seen from the player may be changed.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an effect button 2600 of a fourth modification in which a star-shaped shielding plate is provided in addition to the shielding plate 620 of the above-described embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14A, in the effect button 2600 of the fourth modification, a pair of shielding plates different from the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b are placed below the shielding plate 620. (First shielding plate 2620a and second shielding plate 2620b) are provided. The first shielding plate 2620a and the second shielding plate 2620b are also connected to the actuator in the same manner as the shielding plate 620, and can be moved in the direction along the upper surface panel 610.

14 (b) and 14 (c) show a state in which the effect button 2600 of the fourth modification is viewed from the upper side (player's side) of the upper surface panel 610. In FIG. 14B, the first shielding plate 2620a and the second shielding plate 2620b are pressed in a state where the shielding plate 620 is moved and the entire button member 602 is visible (a state corresponding to FIG. 14A). A state of moving the member 602 in the direction of the member 602 is shown. The outline of the inside of the first shielding plate 2620a and the second shielding plate 2620b (the side of the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602) has a star shape, and therefore, the first shielding plate 2620a and the second shielding plate 2620a and the second shielding plate When the 2620b surrounds the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602, the button member 602 looks like a star from the player's point of view. By forming the shape of the shielding plate (the shape surrounding the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602) into a desired shape in this way, the shape (visual shape) of the button member 602 as seen by the player can be changed to the shielding plate. Can be used to change the shape to a desired shape.

Further, since the effect button 2600 of the fourth modification includes the same shielding plate 620 as in the above-described embodiment, if the shielding plate 620 is used to surround the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602, the above-described implementation will be performed. Similar to the example, the visible shape of the button member 602 can be made circular (see FIG. 10A). Although it is not always necessary to provide a plurality of shielding plates in this way, if a plurality of shielding plates having different shapes surrounding the exposed portion 602s are provided, the visible shape of the button member 602 can be varied depending on which shielding plate is used. It becomes possible to switch. In this way, it is possible to give a greater surprise to the player, which is preferable. Further, since the variation of the visual shape of the button member 602 can be increased, it is possible to reduce the risk that the player becomes accustomed to the change in the visual shape of the button member 602 and to more surely enhance the interest of the game. ..

E-5. Fifth modification example:
Further, when a plurality of shielding plates are provided, not only one of the plurality of shielding plates may be used, but also the plurality of shielding plates may be used in combination.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view illustrating how the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b are used in combination with the shielding plate 622a and the shielding plate 622b arranged below the second shielding plate 620b. In the example shown in FIG. 15A, a shielding plate 622a and a shielding plate 622b are provided below the second shielding plate 620b, and the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b form a button member 602. The shielding plate 622a and the shielding plate 622b are moved with the shielding plate 622a and the shielding plate 622b covered in half. Then, as shown in FIG. 15B, the button member 602 is covered with the first shielding plate 620a and the second shielding plate 620b, and the two shielding plates 622a and the second shielding plate 622b. Can be done. In the example of FIG. 15, the shielding plate 622a and the shielding plate 622b cover both end portions (upper and lower sides in the drawing) of the button member 602, and as a result, the button member 602 is formed into a shape in which the button member 602 is extended in the lateral direction. It is possible to change the visual shape.

By using a plurality of shielding plates in combination in this way, the visible shape of the button member 602 can be switched in various ways according to the combination of the shielding plates, so that the player can increase the variation of the visible shape of the button member 602. It is possible to avoid the risk of getting bored. Further, if a plurality of shielding plates are arranged so as to be overlapped between the button member 602 and the upper surface panel 610, it is possible to keep the configuration of the effect button 600 compact even if a plurality of shielding plates are provided, which is preferable. is there.

Further, a plurality of shielding plates may be overlapped and arranged so as to surround the exposed portion 602s of the button member 602 in a polygonal shape. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 16, eight shielding plates 3622 are overlapped and arranged in an octagonal shape surrounding the exposed portion 602s. When the shielding plate is arranged in this way, it is possible to move the shielding plate while maintaining its polygonal shape even when the shielding plate is moved. For example, in the example of FIG. 16, when moving each shielding plate 3622, as shown in FIG. 16B, it is possible to move the shielding plate 3622 while maintaining the octagonal shape.

By doing so, it is possible to change only the size of the button member 602 without significantly changing the visual shape of the button member 602. As a result, the player can surely give the impression that the button member 602 itself is deformed and enlarged. Further, since the size of the polygon surrounding the exposed portion 602s can be controlled by adjusting the amount of movement of the shielding plate, the size of the button member 602 can be easily changed to a desired size. Therefore, it is possible to change the size to a desired size according to the progress of the game, and as a result, it is possible to further diversify the effect using the effect button 600 and further enhance the interest of the game.

F. Production button of the second embodiment:
In the effect button 600 of the first embodiment described above, the visual size and the visual shape of the button member 602 are changed by moving the shielding plate 620 that covers a part of the button member 602. However, it is also possible to change the visible shape and the visible size of the button member by using a method different from this. Hereinafter, the effect button of the second embodiment in which the visible shape and the visible size of the button member are changed by using the transmitted light from the inside of the upper surface panel will be described.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment is also provided with the button member 5602. A part of the button member 5602 is exposed to the surface from the hole of the upper surface panel 5610, and the player can push down the exposed portion 5602s. An electric switch 5604 is provided below the button member 5602, and the connection state of the electric switch 5604 changes in conjunction with the upper and lower sides of the button member 5602. Since the electric switch 5604 is connected to the sub control device 200, the sub control device 200 can detect that the electric switch 5604 is pressed.

The top panel 5610 is a plastic panel that forms a part of the surface of the ball game machine 10, similar to the effect button of the first embodiment described above. As described above, the exposed portion 5602s of the button member 5602 is in a state of being exposed from the hole provided in the upper surface panel 5610. Here, in the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment, the portion of the upper surface panel 5610 that surrounds the exposed portion 5602s of the button member 5602 (see the portion indicated as 5610h with hatching in the drawing) is semipermeable. It is made of sex members. The semipermeable membrane 5610h blocks most of the light from the outside (player's side) of the top panel 5610 and transmits the light from the inside of the top panel 5610 (the side where the button member 5602 is provided). It has properties. Various members having such properties can be used for the semipermeable membrane portion 5610h, but in this embodiment, an acrylic half mirror (magic mirror) panel will be used.

Inside the top panel 5610 (the side on which the button member 5602 is provided), LED arrays 5640 (5640a and 5640b) in which a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged are provided. The LED array 5640 is connected to the sub control device 200, and can be turned on or off in response to a control signal from the sub control device 200. Using such a configuration, in the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment, the visible size of the button member 5602 is changed as follows.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing how the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment is used to change the visible size of the button member 5602. FIG. 18A shows a state in which the LED array 5640 is turned off. When this state is viewed from the player's side, as described above, the semipermeable membrane 5610h has the property of a half mirror, so that the light from above the upper panel 5610 is reflected by the semipermeable membrane 5610h. As a result, the button member 5602 inside the top panel 5610 cannot be visually recognized (see the solid arrow in the figure). Therefore, the player can see only the exposed portion 5602s of the button member 5602.

On the other hand, FIG. 18B shows a state in which the LED array 5640 is turned on. As shown, when the LED array 5640 is turned on, the button member 5602 provided inside the upper surface panel 5610 is irradiated with light to illuminate the button member 5602. Then, the light is scattered on the surface of the button member 5602, and a part of the scattered light is directed to the semipermeable membrane portion 5610h. At this time, since the semipermeable membrane portion 5610h has a property of transmitting light from the inside of the upper surface panel 5610 (opposite side of the player), the light from the button member 5602 is transmitted through the semipermeable membrane portion 5610h for the game. Will reach the person. As a result, the button member 5602 inside the upper surface panel 5610 becomes visible to the player. As a result, the button member 5602, which could only see the exposed portion 5602s, can now see the peripheral portion of the exposed portion 5602s, and as a result, gives the player the impression that the button member 5602 has become larger. Is possible.

As described above, in the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment, a part of the button member 5602 is concealed by using the semipermeable member (semipermeable portion 5610h), and the button member 5602 is illuminated with light. By transmitting the light through a semipermeable member (semipermeable portion 5610h), the visible shape (visual size) of the button member 5602 is changed. As a result, it is possible to surprise the player and attract the player's interest to the game. In addition, since the light scattered on the surface of the button member 5602 is visually recognized, it is possible to give the impression that the button member 5602 itself is emitting light. This makes it possible to attract the interest of the player more strongly.

From the viewpoint of emitting light from the side of the button member 5602 toward the upper side of the upper surface panel 5610, it is conceivable to incorporate a light source in the button member 5602 itself. However, since the button member 5602 moves up and down, when a light source is provided on the button member 5602, it is necessary to firmly fix the light source so that the light source does not fall off. Further, since the button member 5602 may be roughly handled by the player, it is necessary to have durability. For this reason, if a light source is to be provided on the button member 5602 itself, a strong structure is inevitably required.

In this regard, in the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment, the light source (LED array 5640) is provided in a place (upper panel 5610) different from the button member 5602, and the light from the light source is scattered on the surface of the button member 5602. By causing the light to be emitted above the top panel 5610. In this way, since the light source does not have to be provided on the button member 5602, a strong structure is not required, and the configuration of the button member 5602, the LED array 5640, and the like can be kept simple. Further, since the light source is provided at a position different from that of the button member 5602, even if the button member 5602 is roughly handled, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the light source is significantly damaged. This makes it possible to improve the durability of the effect button 5600.

G. Modification example of the second embodiment:
Hereinafter, a modified example of the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment described above will be described. The same components as those in the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

G-1. First modification example:
A transparent member may be used for the button member, and the light transmitted through the button member may be emitted through the semipermeable membrane 5610h of the upper panel 5610.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing an effect button 6600 of the first modification using a transparent member for the button member 6602. As shown, in the effect button 6600 of the first modification, the LED arrays 6640 (6640a and 6640b) are provided below the button member 6602. The button member 6602 is made of a colored transparent acrylic material, so that light from the LED array 6640 passes through the button member 6602 and is emitted toward the upper panel 5610.

Even in such a case, since the light is transmitted through the semipermeable membrane 5610h of the upper panel 5610, the player can visually recognize the light from the button member 6602 inside the upper panel 5610. As a result, the state in which only the exposed portion 6602s of the button member 6602 is visible is changed to the state in which the periphery of the exposed portion 6602s is also visible, giving the player the impression that the shape of the button member 6602 has changed. It becomes possible.

Further, when the light is transmitted through the inside of the button member 6602 in this way, the light that has entered the inside of the button member 6602 is not only transmitted through the button member 6602 but also scattered on the surface of the button member 6602 at a wide angle. As it spreads, it spreads throughout the inside of the button member while reflecting and scattering on the surface of the button member 6602. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the variation in the amount of light for each location of the button member 6602 and make the entire 6602 shine uniformly, and as a result, it is possible to make the button member 6602 stand out more clearly. As a result, the player can be surely given the feeling that the shape of the button member 6602 has changed, and the interest of the game can be improved more surely.

G-2. Second modification example:
In the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment described above, it has been described that the semipermeable semipermeable membrane 5610h is provided around the exposed portion 5602s of the button member 5602. Here, in addition to the semipermeable membrane portion 5610h, a transparent portion made of a transparent member may be provided between the semipermeable membrane portion 5610h and the exposed portion 5602s.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing the effect button 7600 of the second modification in which the transparent portion 7610t is provided inside the semipermeable membrane portion 7610h. FIG. 20A shows a state in which the effect button 7600 is viewed from the upper side (player's side) of the upper surface panel 7610. As shown, a transparent portion 7610t is provided around the exposed portion 5602s of the button member 5602 (the ring-shaped portion indicated by the solid arrow in the drawing).

FIG. 20B shows a state in which the effect button 7600 of the second modification is viewed from the side. As shown, the transparent portion 7610t is provided between the semipermeable portion 7610h and the exposed portion 5602s of the button member 5602. Since the transparent portion 7610t transmits light, when viewed from the upper side (player's side) of the upper surface panel 7610, the inside of the upper surface panel 7610 can be visually recognized through the transparent portion 7610t for the transparent portion 7610t. is there. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20A, the exposed portion 5602s and the portion around the exposed portion 5602s of the button member 5602 can be seen from the player's point of view.

When the LED array 5640 is turned on in this state, the entire button member 5602 can be seen through the semipermeable membrane portion 7610h, similarly to the effect button 5600 of the second embodiment described above. As a result, the visual shape of the button member 5602 can be changed even in the effect button 7600 of the second modification.

Here, since the effect button 7600 of the second modification is provided with the transparent portion 7610t, when the visual shape of the button member 5602 is changed, the impression is as if the button member 5602 is deformed and enlarged. Can be more reliably embraced by the player. That is, both in the state before changing the visual shape and in the state after changing the visual shape, when the player sees the button member 5602, the portion forming the contour of the button member 5602 is the upper surface panel 7610. Inside (opposite the player). Therefore, it is possible to avoid the possibility that the appearance of the contour of the button member 5602 will be significantly different between the state before the visual shape is changed and the state after the visual shape is changed. This makes it possible to change the visual shape of the button member 5602 while giving a more natural impression, and as a result, the player surely feels as if the button member 5602 is deformed and enlarged. It becomes possible.

G-3. Third modification example:
Further, similarly to the effect button 600 of the first embodiment described above, a shielding plate is provided between the button member and the upper surface panel, and the shielding plate and the light source are used in combination to determine the visible shape and the visible size of the button member. It may be changed.

21 and 22 are explanatory views showing an effect button 8600 of a third modified example in which the shielding plate 8620 and the LED array 6640 are used in combination to change the visible size and the visible shape of the button member 6602. As shown in FIG. 21, in the effect button 8600 of the third modification, a pair of shielding plates 8620 (8620a and 8620b) are provided inside the upper surface panel 5610. Further, the LED array 6640 (6640a and 6640b) is provided, and it is possible to make the LED array 6640 emit light to illuminate the button member 6602. In the example shown in FIG. 21, the light from the LED array 6640 is transmitted through the transparent button member 6602 as in the second modification described above, but the light may be transmitted through the button member 6602. Instead, light may be scattered on the surface of the button member 6602 as in the second embodiment described above (see FIG. 18).

FIG. 21B shows how the shielding plate 8620a and the shielding plate 8620b are moved in the direction of the exposed portion 6602s of the button member 6602 while the LED array 6640 is lit. Since the shielding plate 8620a and the shielding plate 8620b are made of a material that blocks light, when the shielding plate 8620a and the shielding plate 8620b are moved in this way, the light from the button member 6602 is blocked by the shielding plate 8620a and the shielding plate 8620b. Will be.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the effect button 8600 of the second modification is viewed from the upper side (player's side) of the upper surface panel 5610. FIG. 22A shows a state in which the LED array 6640 is turned off. As described in the second embodiment described above, in this state, the portion of the button member 5602 inside the upper surface panel 5610 is invisible, and only the exposed portion 5602s is visible. Further, when the LED array 6640 is turned on, the light from the button member 6602 passes through the semipermeable membrane 5610h and reaches the player. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22B, the entire button member 6602 is lit. It becomes visible to the player.

Here, when the shielding plate 8620a and the shielding plate 8620b are moved in the direction of the exposed portion 6602s (see the solid line arrow shown in FIG. 22B), the shielding plate 8620a and the shielding plate 8620b are covered as described above. The light is blocked in the damaged part and the light does not reach the player. As a result, as shown in FIG. 22 (c), the player can see only the portion not covered by the shielding plates 8620a and 8620b. As a result, the visible shape of the button member 6602 can be changed to a shape surrounded by the shielding plate 8620a and the shielding plate 8620b (star shape in the example of FIG. 22).

In this way, if the light from the button member 6602 is blocked by the shielding plate, the visible shape of the button member 6602 can be changed to a shape corresponding to the shielding plate. As a result, it is possible to give the player the impression that the button member 6602 is deformed and attract the player's interest. Further, since the button member 6602 is illuminated by the light source (LED array 6640 in the example of FIG. 21), the shape of the button member 6602 can be more clearly highlighted. Therefore, even when the shape of the shielding plate is made more complicated and the visible shape of the button member 6602 is made complicated, it is possible to surely change the shape to that shape. For example, it is possible to make the shape of the shielding plate into a complicated shape such as a paper cutout, and change the visual shape of the button member 8602 to such a complicated shape. In this way, the player's interest can be strongly attracted to the effect button 8600.

Although the effect buttons of the present embodiment and the modified examples have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modified examples, and can be implemented in various modes as long as the gist thereof is not deviated. ..

[Invention embodied in the above-mentioned Examples and Modifications]:
In general, in a game machine installed in a game hall, various production images are displayed on a display screen as the game progresses, and production music is output from a speaker to perform a production that excites the interest of the game. For example, in a pachinko gaming machine, a lottery is performed when a game ball enters the entrance, but various production images and music are displayed between the time the game ball enters the entrance and the time when the lottery result is notified. By outputting it, the fun of the lottery is enlivened. In addition, the production image and music are output when notifying the lottery result, but when the lottery is won, when the lottery is won by outputting the production image and music different from the case where the lottery is not won. The fun of the game is greatly enlivened.

In addition, the game machine does not automatically display the effect image and output the music, but the player operates the so-called effect button provided on the game machine to display the effect image and output the music. A game machine has also been devised to start or switch the production image and music. In this way, when the player presses the effect button, the effect image and music at the time of winning are output and the player operates the effect button with the expectation that he / she will be notified that he / she has won the lottery. It is possible to raise expectations and further enhance the interest of the game.

However, today, these production buttons have become so commonplace that it is becoming difficult to fully enhance the interest of the game. That is, when it becomes commonplace to operate the effect button, the player does not have high expectations when operating the effect button, and as a result, the interest of the game cannot be sufficiently enhanced.

Therefore, in order to solve at least a part of these problems, the game machine A1 adopts the following configuration. That is,

Game machine A1:
It is a game machine that produces various effects as the game progresses.
A pressing member provided with a pressing surface that can be pressed by the player in at least a part of the surface area visible to the player playing the game.
A pressing detection means for detecting the pressing of the pressing surface, and
A pressing trigger effect executing means for executing a pressing trigger effect, which is one of the various effects, triggered by pressing the pressing surface.
As the game progresses, the adjacent area of the pressing member, which is a surface area adjacent to the surface area provided with the pressing surface, is switched from an invisible state to a visible state by the player. A game machine A1 provided with a visible area expanding means for expanding a visible area, which is an area of the pressing member as seen by the player.

The gaming machine A1 is provided with a pressing member having a pressing surface that can be pressed by the player, and when the pressing surface is pressed, the pressing trigger effect is executed. Here, the pressing surface is provided in a surface area visible to the player, but in the game machine A1, the surface area (adjacent area) adjacent to the visible surface area is set as the game progresses. The player switches from an invisible state to a visible state.

By doing so, in addition to the area originally visible to the player (the area where the pressing surface is provided), the area adjacent to that area can also be seen, so it is as if the pressing surface has expanded to the player. It is possible to give a good impression. This makes it possible to surprise the player and attract the player's interest, and as a result, it is possible to press the pressing portion while attracting the player's interest, improving the interest of the game. It becomes possible.

Various methods can be used to switch the adjacent region from the invisible state to the visible state. For example, the adjacent region can be blindfolded with another member, and the member can be moved to switch to a visible state. Alternatively, a device (for example, a liquid crystal panel) whose light transmittance changes according to an electric signal is provided between the adjacent region and the player so that the light can be transmitted by changing the transmittance. It may be switched from an impossible state to a visible state.

In any case, the state may be switched to a visible state. For example, it may be switched to the case where an advantageous gaming state occurs for the player (when it is determined that an advantageous gaming state will occur or when the probability of occurrence exceeds a predetermined probability). In this way, the player tends to associate that a state advantageous to himself / herself occurs due to the appearance that the pressing surface is widened, so that the pressing member is pressed with great expectations. .. This makes it possible to further enhance the interest of the game.

Of course, on the contrary, even if it is switched to the case where the advantageous gaming state does not occur for the player (when it is determined that the advantageous gaming state does not occur or when the probability of occurrence falls below a predetermined probability). Good. Further, the switching may be performed regardless of whether or not a gaming state advantageous to the player occurs, or whether or not the switching may be performed may be randomly determined. Regardless of the case, by expanding the visible area of the pressing member, the player can be surprised and the player's interest can be attracted, so that the interest of the game can be improved.

The pressing member does not necessarily have to be a member in which the entire member is integrally formed, and a plurality of separately formed members may be combined to form the pressing member. For example, a region provided with a pressing surface and an adjacent region may be formed on separate members, and these members may be combined to form a pressing member. Even in such a case, if the adjacent area is switched from the invisible state to the visible state, it is still possible to increase the visible area of the pressing member, which attracts the interest of the player. It is possible to improve the interest of the game.

Further, in view of making the pressing surface appear as if it has expanded to the player, the adjacent region of the pressing member should be adjacent to the surface region provided with the pressing surface in a state seen from the player. It does not have to be physically adjacent. For example, even if there is a dent, a step, or a seam between the pressing surface and the surface area where the pressing surface is provided, if the area can be seen adjacent to the player, the pressing can be made visible. It is possible to give the player the impression that the lower surface has expanded. Therefore, such an area also corresponds to the "adjacent area" of the game machine A1.

Game machine A2:
It ’s a game machine A1.
A visible area reducing means for reducing the visible area by switching at least a part of the adjacent region switched to the visible state from the visible state to the invisible state as the game progresses. A game machine A2 to be equipped.

In such a game machine A2, at least a part of the adjacent region switched to the visible state is switched to the invisible state.

By doing so, since the adjacent area that has been visible until then becomes invisible, it is possible to give the player the impression that the pressing surface has become smaller. Even in such a case, it is possible to surprise the player and improve the interest of the game.

When switching the adjacent region from the visible state to the invisible state, various methods can be used in the same manner as when switching from the invisible state to the visible state. For example, an adjacent region may be blinded by using a member, or a device (for example, a liquid crystal panel) whose light transmittance changes according to an electric signal is provided between the adjacent region and the player. By changing the transmittance to block the transmission of light, the state may be switched from a visible state to an invisible state.

Game machine A3:
Game machine A1 or game machine A2
The game machine A3 is a means for switching from the invisible state to the visible state by moving a shielding member provided between the player and the adjacent area.

In such a game machine A3, a shielding member is provided between the player and the adjacent area. The adjacent area is hidden by the shielding member and becomes invisible, but if the shielding member is moved, the adjacent area becomes visible.

In this way, it is possible to switch from the invisible state to the visible state by a simple configuration in which the shielding member is simply moved, so that the device configuration of the gaming machine can be kept simple. As a result, it is possible to keep the manufacturing process of the gaming machine simple, which is preferable.

Game machine A4:
It ’s a game machine A2,
The visible area expanding means is a means for switching from the invisible state to the visible state by moving a shielding member provided between the player and the adjacent area.
The viewing area reducing means is a means for switching from the visible state to the invisible state by moving the shielding member between the player and the adjacent region.

In such a game machine A4, a shielding member is provided between the player and the adjacent area. The adjacent area is hidden by the shielding member and becomes invisible, but if the shielding member is moved, the adjacent area becomes visible. Further, by moving the shielding member again between the player and the adjacent area, the shielding area is switched from a visible state to an invisible state.

In this way, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which the adjacent region is visible and a state in which the adjacent region is invisible by a simple configuration in which the shielding member is simply moved. As a result, it is possible to keep the device configuration of the game machine and the manufacturing process of the game machine simple, which is preferable.

Game machine A5:
Game machine A3 or game machine A4,
A translucent panel member formed in a plate shape extending in a direction intersecting the pressing direction of the pressing surface while covering at least a part of the adjacent region is provided.
The shielding member is a gaming machine A5 which is a member that moves from between the panel member and the adjacent region in a direction along the panel member.

In such a game machine A5, a translucent panel member covers at least a part of an adjacent region, and a shielding member is provided between the plate-shaped member and the adjacent region. When moving the shielding member, it is moved in the direction along the panel member.

By doing so, since the shielding member moves inside the panel member as seen from the player, it is possible to avoid the risk of the player being injured by touching the shielding member when the shielding member moves. It will be possible. Further, if the panel member is formed of a translucent member, even if the adjacent area of the pressing member is covered with the panel member, the adjacent area can be visually recognized in the state where the shielding member is moved. It is possible to expand the visible area. On the other hand, when the shielding member is located between the panel member and the adjacent region, the adjacent region is hidden by the shielding member, so that the visible area can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to change the visible area of the pressing member by the shielding member while avoiding the possibility that the player is injured by the shielding member. In addition, if the shielding member is moved in the direction along the panel member, it is not necessary to secure an excessive space for moving the shielding member, so that the device configuration of the gaming machine can be kept compact.

Game machine A6:
It ’s a game machine A1.
A panel member formed in a plate shape that extends in a direction intersecting the pressing direction of the pressing member while covering at least a part of the adjacent region.
A light source provided on the side of the adjacent region with respect to the panel member and irradiating the adjacent region with light is provided.
The panel member is a semipermeable member that transmits more than half of the light incident from the side of the adjacent region of the panel member and blocks the transmission of more than half of the light incident from the side opposite to the adjacent region. Formed,
The game machine A6 is a means for expanding the visible area by irradiating the adjacent region with light using the light source to transmit light from the adjacent region through the panel member.

In such a game machine A6, an adjacent region is covered with a semipermeable panel member. This panel member transmits more than half of the light incident from the side of the adjacent region, but blocks the transmission of more than half of the light incident from the side opposite to the adjacent region (player's side). Therefore, more than half of the light incident from the player's side is blocked by the panel member and cannot reach the adjacent region, so that the adjacent region cannot be seen from the player's side. Here, when the adjacent region is irradiated with light, the light emitted from the adjacent region can pass through the panel member, so that the light from the adjacent region can be delivered to the player. As a result, the adjacent area can be visually recognized by the player, and as a result, the visible area of the pressing member can be expanded.

In this way, it is possible to expand the visible area of the pressing member with a simple configuration of irradiating the adjacent region with light. As a result, it is possible to realize a game machine that can strongly attract the interest of the player and improve the interest of the game while keeping the device configuration of the game machine simple. In addition, since the visible area can be restored only by stopping the irradiation of light, it is possible to easily increase or decrease the visible area according to the progress of the game, which is preferable.

In each of the above-mentioned gaming machines, the shape of the pressing member visually recognized by the player while the adjacent region is visible (the shape of the region including the "visible surface region" and the "adjacent region" of the gaming machine A1). ) And the shape of the pressing member (the shape of the "visible region" of the game machine A1) that the player can see in a state where the adjacent region is invisible may be substantially similar to each other. By doing so, since the shape of the pressing member visually recognized by the player is substantially similar in these two states, switching between the two states gives a stronger impression as if the pressing member is deformed and enlarged. It is possible. As a result, it is possible to surely give the player a surprise and further enhance the interest of the game.

Game machine B1:
It is a game machine that produces various effects as the game progresses.
A pressing member having a pressing surface that can be pressed by the player on at least a part of the surface,
A panel member made of a translucent member having an exposed portion where the pressing surface is exposed, and provided between the pressing member and the player with the pressing surface exposed from the exposed portion.
A shielding member provided between the panel member and at least a part of an adjacent region which is a surface region adjacent to the pressing surface of the pressing member, and a shielding member made of a light-shielding member.
A shielding member moving means for moving the shielding member from between the panel member and the adjacent region as the game progresses.
A pressing detection means for detecting the pressing of the pressing surface, and
A pressing trigger effect executing means for executing a pressing trigger effect, which is one of the various effects, triggered by pressing the pressing surface.
Game machine B1 equipped with.

In such a game machine B1, a part (pressing surface) of the pressing member is exposed from the translucent panel member, and the player can press this portion. Further, among the pressing members, a shielding member made of a light-shielding member is provided between the surface region (adjacent region) adjacent to the pressing surface and the panel member. In the game machine B1, this shielding member is moved from between the adjacent region and the panel member as the game progresses.

Although the panel member is made of a translucent member, the adjacent region cannot be seen by the player when the shielding member is located between the panel member and the adjacent region. When the shielding member is moved from this state, the player can see the area adjacent to the pressing surface in addition to the pressing surface that has been visible until then. Therefore, it is possible to give the player the impression that the pressing surface has expanded. By doing this, it is possible to surprise the player and attract the player's interest, so even if pushing the pressing member becomes commonplace for the player, the player's interest can be attracted. It is possible to push the pressing part in the attracted state. As a result, it is possible to enhance the effect of the effect triggered by the pressing of the pressing portion and improve the interest of the game.

In view of the fact that the pressing surface appears to the player as if the pressing surface has expanded, the adjacent region of the pressing member should be adjacent to the surface area provided with the pressing surface as seen by the player. It does not have to be physically adjacent. For example, even if there is a dent, a step, or a seam between the pressing surface and the pressing surface, if the area can be seen adjacent to the player, it seems as if the pressing surface has expanded by making the area visible. It is possible to give an impression to the player. Therefore, such an area also corresponds to the "adjacent area" of the game machine B1.

Game machine B2:
It ’s a game machine B1.
A game machine B2 comprising a shielding member inserting means for inserting the shielding member moved from between the panel member and the adjacent region between the panel member and the adjacent region as the game progresses.

By reinserting the shielding member between the panel member and the adjacent region, it is possible to return from the state in which the pressing surface appears to be widened to the original state in which the adjacent region is hidden. By doing so, it is possible to make the pressing surface appear to expand or narrow according to the progress of the game, so that it is possible to attract the player's interest more strongly and further improve the interest of the game.

It should be noted that the shielding member may be moved in any case, but when a game state advantageous to the player occurs (when it is determined that an advantageous game state will occur or the probability of occurrence is likely to occur). It is more preferable to move it to (when it exceeds a predetermined probability). Since the player tends to recall that a state advantageous to himself / herself occurs due to the appearance that the pressing surface is widened, the pressing member is pressed with great expectation. As a result, it is possible to improve the effect of the pressing trigger effect and further enhance the interest of the game.

Of course, on the contrary, when the advantageous gaming state does not occur for the player (when it is determined that the advantageous gaming state does not occur, or when the probability of occurrence falls below a predetermined probability), the shielding member is moved. It may be made to. Alternatively, it may be moved regardless of whether or not a gaming state advantageous to the player occurs, or whether or not to move may be randomly determined. Regardless of the case in which the shielding member is moved, the pressing surface appears to expand (or narrow), which can surprise the player, so that it is possible to improve the interest of the game.

The pressing member does not necessarily have to be integrally formed as a whole, and the individually formed members may be combined to form the pressing member. For example, a region provided with a pressing surface and an adjacent region may be formed on separate members, and these members may be combined to form a pressing member. Even in such a case, if the adjacent area becomes visible, the pressing surface still appears to have expanded, so that it is possible to attract the interest of the player and improve the interest of the game.

Further, the shape of the pressing member (the shape of the "adjacent region" of the game machine B1) that the player visually recognizes while the shielding member is moved from between the panel member and the adjacent region, and the panel member and the adjacent region. The shape of the pressing member (the shape of the "pressing surface" of the game machine B1) visually recognized by the player with the shielding member positioned between the two may be substantially similar to each other. By doing so, since the shape of the pressing member visually recognized by the player is substantially similar in these two states, switching between the two states gives a stronger impression as if the pressing member is deformed and enlarged. It is possible. As a result, it is possible to surely give the player a surprise and further enhance the interest of the game.

Game machine C1:
It is a game machine that produces various effects as the game progresses.
A pressing member having a pressing surface that can be pressed by the player on at least a part of the surface,
It is provided between the pressing member and the player with the pressing surface exposed from the exposed portion, transmits more than half of the light incident from the pressing member side, and is incident from the player side. A panel member formed of a semipermeable member that blocks the transmission of more than half of the light
A light source provided on the side of the pressing member with respect to the panel member and irradiating the adjacent region of the pressing member, which is a surface region adjacent to the pressing surface, with light.
A light source control means for turning on or off the light source as the game progresses,
A pressing detection means for detecting the pressing of the pressing surface, and
A gaming machine C1 provided with a pressing trigger effect executing means for executing a pressing trigger effect, which is one of the various effects, triggered by pressing the pressing surface.

In such a game machine C1, the region adjacent to the pressing member is covered with a semipermeable panel member. This panel member transmits more than half of the light incident from the side of the adjacent region, but blocks the transmission of more than half of the light incident from the side opposite to the adjacent region (player's side). Therefore, more than half of the light incident from the player's side is blocked by the panel member and cannot reach the adjacent region, and as a result, the adjacent region becomes invisible from the player's side. Here, when the adjacent region is irradiated with light, the light from the adjacent region can pass through the panel member, so that the light from the adjacent region can be delivered to the player so that the player can visually recognize the adjacent region.

By doing so, in addition to the pressing surface that was previously visible to the player, the area adjacent to the pressing surface can also be seen, giving the player the impression that the pressing surface has expanded. Is possible. As a result, it is possible to surprise the player and attract the player's interest, so that even if the game machine that pushes the pressing member has become commonplace for the player, the player's interest can be attracted. It is possible to have the player operate the pressing portion in the attracted state. As a result, it is possible to enhance the effect of the effect triggered by the pressing of the pressing portion and improve the interest of the game.

In addition, if the irradiation of light is stopped, the adjacent area can be returned to an invisible state, so by turning on or off the light source, it seems that the pressing surface expands or narrows as the game progresses. It is also possible to realize a game machine. As a result, it becomes possible to attract the interest of the player more strongly and further enhance the interest of the game. In addition, since a simple configuration that only irradiates the adjacent region with light is sufficient, it is possible to keep the device configuration of the gaming machine simple, which is preferable.

The operation of turning on the light source to make the pressing surface appear to be expanded may be performed in any case, but when a gaming state advantageous to the player occurs (an advantageous gaming state may occur). It is more preferable to perform it when it is confirmed or when the probability of occurrence exceeds a predetermined probability). That is, since the player tends to associate that a state advantageous to himself / herself occurs due to the appearance that the pressing surface is widened, he / she presses the pressing member with great expectation. As a result, it is possible to improve the effect of the pressing trigger effect and further enhance the interest of the game.

Of course, on the contrary, when the advantageous gaming state does not occur for the player (when it is determined that the advantageous gaming state does not occur, or when the probability of occurrence falls below a predetermined probability), the light source is turned on. You may. Alternatively, the lights may be turned on regardless of whether or not a gaming state advantageous to the player occurs, or whether or not the lights may be turned on may be randomly determined. Regardless of the case in which the light source is turned on, the player can be surprised by the appearance that the pressing surface is widened, so that it is possible to improve the interest of the game.

The pressing member does not necessarily have to be integrally formed as a whole, and the individually formed members may be combined to form the pressing member. For example, a region provided with a pressing surface and an adjacent region may be formed on separate members, and these members may be combined to form a pressing member. Even in such a case, if the adjacent area becomes visible, the pressing surface still appears to have expanded, so that it is possible to attract the interest of the player and improve the interest of the game.

In view of the fact that the pressing surface appears to the player as if the pressing surface has expanded, the adjacent region of the pressing member should be adjacent to the surface area provided with the pressing surface as seen by the player. It does not have to be physically adjacent. For example, even if there is a dent, a step, or a seam between the pressing surface and the pressing surface, if the area can be seen adjacent to the player, it seems as if the pressing surface has expanded by making the area visible. It is possible to give an impression to the player. Therefore, such an area also corresponds to the "adjacent area" of the game machine C1.

Further, as described in the above-described embodiment, not only the area of the pressing member seen from the player is expanded, but also the shape of the pressing member seen from the player is changed to surprise the player. It is possible. Therefore, the invention embodied in the above-described embodiment can also be regarded as a gaming machine of the following aspects.

Game machine D1:
It is a game machine that produces various effects as the game progresses.
A pressing member having a pressing surface that can be pressed by the player on at least a part of the surface,
A panel member made of a translucent member having an exposed portion where the pressing surface is exposed, and provided between the pressing member and the player with the pressing surface exposed from the exposed portion.
A light-shielding member that is displaceable in a direction intersecting the pressing direction of the pressing surface between at least a part of an adjacent region that is a surface region adjacent to the pressing surface of the pressing member and the panel member. Shielding member consisting of
A shielding member position control means for controlling the position of the shielding member as the game progresses, and
A pressing detection means for detecting the pressing of the pressing surface, and
A pressing trigger effect executing means for executing a pressing trigger effect, which is one of the various effects, triggered by pressing the pressing surface.
Game machine D1 equipped with.

In such a game machine D1, a part (pressing surface) of the pressing member is exposed from the translucent panel member, and the player can press this portion. Further, among the pressing members, a light-shielding shielding member is provided so that the position can be displaced between the surface region (adjacent region) adjacent to the pressing surface and the panel member. The game machine D1 controls the position of the shielding member as the game progresses.

Although the panel member is made of a translucent member, if the shielding member is located between the panel member and the adjacent region, the portion of the adjacent region hidden by the shielding member becomes invisible to the player. Therefore, by moving the shielding member, it is possible to change the shape of the region visible to the player. In this way, the player looks as if the shape of the pressing surface has changed, so that it is possible to surprise the player and attract the player's interest. As a result, even when pushing the pressing member has become commonplace for the player, it is possible to push the pressing portion in a state of attracting the player's interest. As a result, it is possible to enhance the effect of the effect triggered by the pressing of the pressing portion and improve the interest of the game.

In view of the fact that the shape of the pressing surface is made to appear to the player as if the shape of the pressing surface has changed, the area adjacent to the pressing member is in a state as seen by the player with respect to the surface area provided with the pressing surface. It suffices if they are adjacent to each other, and does not necessarily have to be physically adjacent to each other. For example, even if there is a dent, a step, or a seam between the pressing surface and the pressing surface, if the area is visible to the player adjacent to the pressing surface, the shape of the pressing surface can be changed by hiding the area with a shielding member. It is possible to give the player such an impression. Therefore, such an area also corresponds to the "adjacent area" of the game machine D1.

Game machine E1:
It is a game machine that produces various effects as the game progresses.
A pressing member having a pressing surface that can be pressed by the player on at least a part of the surface,
A panel member made of a translucent member having an exposed portion where the pressing surface is exposed, and provided between the pressing member and the player with the pressing surface exposed from the exposed portion.
A plurality of plates of the pressing member, which are provided so as to be insertable between an adjacent region which is a surface region adjacent to the pressing surface and the panel member, and whose contour shapes on the pressing surface side in the inserted state are different from each other. Shape member and
As the game progresses, the plate-shaped member to be inserted between the adjacent region and the panel member is determined from the plurality of plate-shaped members, and the plate-shaped member into which the determined plate-shaped member is inserted is determined. Insertion means and
A pressing detection means for detecting the pressing of the pressing surface, and
A pressing trigger effect executing means for executing a pressing trigger effect, which is one of the various effects, triggered by pressing the pressing surface.
Game machine E1 equipped with.

In such a game machine E1, a part (pressing surface) of the pressing member is exposed from the translucent panel member, and the player can press this portion. Further, a plurality of plate-shaped members are provided so as to be insertable between the surface region (adjacent region) adjacent to the pressing surface and the panel member. The plurality of plate-shaped members have different contour shapes on the side facing the pressing surface when inserted between the adjacent region and the panel member. In the game machine E1, as the game progresses, a plate-shaped member to be inserted between the adjacent region and the panel member is determined from among these plate-shaped members.

Although the panel member is formed of a translucent member, when the plate-shaped member is located between the panel member and the adjacent region, the adjacent region is hidden by the plate-shaped member. Therefore, from the player's point of view, it looks as if the shape of the pressing surface has changed. At this time, since the shape seen by the player is a shape corresponding to the contour shape of the plate-shaped member on the pressing surface side, a plurality of plate-shaped members having different shapes on the pressing surface side are provided, and the plate-shaped member to be used is used. By selecting it, it is possible to control the shape as seen by the player. Further, by switching the plate-shaped member to be used, it is possible to easily switch the shape as seen by the player. In this way, it is possible to surprise the player and attract the player's interest, and as a result, even if pushing the pressing member becomes commonplace for the player, the player It is possible to push the pressing part while attracting the interest of. As a result, it is possible to enhance the effect of the effect triggered by the pressing of the pressing portion and improve the interest of the game.

In view of the fact that the shape of the pressing surface is made to appear to the player as if the shape of the pressing surface has changed, the area adjacent to the pressing member is in a state as seen by the player with respect to the surface area provided with the pressing surface. It suffices if they are adjacent to each other, and does not necessarily have to be physically adjacent to each other. For example, even if there is a dent, a step, or a seam between the pressing surface and the pressing surface, if the area is visible to the player adjacent to the pressing surface, the shape of the pressing surface can be changed by covering the area with a plate-shaped member. It is possible to give the player such an impression. Therefore, such an area also corresponds to the "adjacent area" of the game machine E1.

Further, the plate-shaped member does not necessarily have to be a member that can completely block light, and may be, for example, a translucent member or a transparent member having a color. Even in such a case, the part covered with the plate-shaped member changes in color when viewed from the player, so that it is possible to give the impression that the shape of the contour has changed. is there. Of course, if a light-shielding member is used, the shape of the contour can be changed more clearly, which is preferable.

The following invention is also embodied in the above-described embodiment.

Game machine F1:
In any one of the gaming machines A1 to A6, the gaming machines B1 to B2, the gaming machine C1, the gaming machine D1, and the gaming machine E1, the gaming machine is the gaming machine F1 which is a pachinko gaming machine.

Here, as the pachinko gaming machine, for example, a pachinko gaming machine having the following configuration can be adopted. That is, an operation means operated by the player (for example, an operation handle), a game ball launching means for launching a game ball based on the operation of the operation means, a ball passage for guiding the launched game ball to a predetermined game area, and the like. A game machine that includes each game part arranged in the game area and gives a privilege to the player when the game ball passes through a predetermined passing portion of each game part.

Game machine F2:
In any of the game machines A1 to A6, the game machines B1 to B2, the game machine C, the game machine D1, and the game machine E1, the game machine is a slot machine, the game machine F2.

Here, as the slot machine, for example, a slot machine having the following configuration can be adopted. That is, it is provided with a variable display means for dynamically displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information and then confirming and displaying the identification information, and the identification information is caused by the operation of the starting operation means (for example, an operation lever or an operation handle). The dynamic display of the identification information is started, and the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation means (for example, the stop button) or when a predetermined time elapses. A gaming machine provided with a special gaming state generating means for generating a special gaming state advantageous to the player, provided that the information is specific identification information. As a game medium of such a game machine, coins, medals, and the like can be mentioned as typical examples.

Game machine F3:
In any one of the gaming machines A1 to A6, the gaming machines B1 to B2, the gaming machine C1, the gaming machine D1, and the gaming machine E1, the gaming machine is a gaming machine C3 which is a fusion of a pachinko gaming machine and a slot machine.

Here, as a gaming machine in which a pachinko gaming machine and a slot machine are fused, for example, a gaming machine having the following configuration can be adopted. That is, it is provided with a variable display means for dynamically displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information and then confirming and displaying the identification information, and the identification information is caused by the operation of the starting operation means (for example, an operation lever or an operation handle). The dynamic display of the identification information is started, and the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation means (for example, the stop button) or when a predetermined time elapses. A special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player is provided on the condition that the information is specific identification information, a ball is used as a game medium, and the dynamic display of the identification information is started. In this case, a predetermined number of balls are required, and it is possible to adopt a game machine configured so that a large number of balls are paid out when a special gaming state occurs.

10 ... Bullet game machine, 11 ... Launch handle, 12 ... Board surface,
13 ... Upper plate, 14 ... Speaker, 15 ... Front panel,
16 ... Lower plate, 17 ... Key part, 20 ... Game board,
21 ... rails, 22 ... nails, 23 ... windmills,
24 ... Through operating port, 25a ... 1st operating port, 25b ... 2nd operating port,
26 ... Small winning opening, 28 ... Game area, 30 ... Production display device,
35 ... Directing character, 41 ... Electric character, 50 ... Out port,
60 ... Large entrance, 70 ... Segment type display,
72 ... left display, 74 ... center display, 76 ... right display,
80 ... Segment type display device for through, 100 ... Main control device,
102 ... MPU 102, 110 ... ROM, 140 ... RAM,
160 ... Most recent hold storage area, 200 ... Sub control device, 240 ... Power supply device,
300 ... Display control device, 350 ... Production accessory drive device,
400 ... Game ball tank, 410 ... Payout control device, 500 ... Launch control device,
600 ... Directing button, 602 ... Button member, 602s ... Exposed part,
604 ... Electric switch, 610 ... Top panel, 610t ... Transparent part,
612 ... Bottom panel, 620 ... Shielding plate, 700 ... Direction button,
720 ... Shielding plate, 820 ... Shielding plate, 1600 ... Direction button,
1602 ... Button member, 1602s ... Exposed part, 2600 ... Direction button,
3622 ... Shielding plate, 5600 ... Directing button, 5602 ... Button member,
5602s ... exposed part, 5604 ... electric switch, 5610 ... top panel 5610h ... semipermeable membrane, LED array 5640, 6600 ... directing button,
6602 ... Button member, 6602s ... Exposed part, LED array 6640,
7600 ... Directing button, 7610 ... Top panel, 7610h ... Semipermeable membrane,
7610t ... transparent part, 8600 ... directing button, 8602 ... button member,
8620 ... Shielding plate

Claims (1)

It is a game machine that produces various effects as the game progresses.
A pressing member having a pressing surface that can be pressed by the player on at least a part of the surface,
A panel member made of a translucent member having an exposed portion where the pressing surface is exposed, and provided between the pressing member and the player with the pressing surface exposed from the exposed portion.
A shielding member provided between the panel member and at least a part of an adjacent region which is a surface region adjacent to the pressing surface of the pressing member, and a shielding member made of a light-shielding member.
As the game progresses, the shielding member moving means for moving the shielding member from between the panel member and the adjacent region in a direction intersecting the pressing direction of the pressing surface and along the panel member. When,
A pressing detection means for detecting the pressing of the pressing surface, and
A pressing trigger effect executing means for executing a pressing trigger effect, which is one of the various effects, triggered by pressing the pressing surface.
A game machine equipped with.

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