JP2021069820A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine capable of enhancing attraction during variation display.SOLUTION: A game machine 10 performs winning/losing determination on the basis of satisfaction of a predetermined winning/losing determination condition, and a determination result of the winning/losing determination is reported by variable display and then establishing and stopping of special patterns 13A to 13C on a display screen 13G. A time performance for displaying count-down display or count-up display on the display screen 13G for predetermined time becomes executable in parallel with variable display of the special patterns 13A to 13C, and is completed within a period of the variable display or is executed within a period of the variable display and after completion of the variable display.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present disclosure relates to a gaming machine.

Conventionally, a game machine has known that a hit / fail judgment is performed due to the establishment of a predetermined hit / miss judgment condition, and the judgment result of the hit / miss judgment is notified by displaying a variable display of a symbol on a display unit and then displaying a fixed stop. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-104210 (paragraph [0037])

There is a demand for a game machine capable of improving the taste during variable display.

In the invention of claim 1 made to solve the above-mentioned problems, a hit / fail judgment is made due to the establishment of a predetermined pass / fail judgment condition, and the judgment result of the pass / fail judgment is displayed in a variable manner on the display unit. It is a gaming machine that notifies by displaying a fixed stop from, and a time effect in which a countdown display or a countup display is displayed for a predetermined time on the display unit is executed in parallel with the fluctuation display, and the fluctuation is executed. It is a gaming machine provided with a time effect executing means that can be completed within the display period or can be executed within the period of the variable display and after the end.

The invention of claim 2 includes a specific effect executing means for executing a specific effect due to the establishment of a predetermined effect execution condition, and the time effect executing means is the time effect, the execution start timing of the specific effect. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a timer effect for displaying a countdown or a countup of the timer can be executed on the display unit so that the timer reaches a predetermined time.

In the invention of claim 3, when a hit is made in the hit / fail determination, a big hit game in which the big winning opening is opened a predetermined number of times is executed, and the timer effect is the hit / fail determination in which the determination result is a hit. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein execution is started during the variation display, and the timer effect is included in which the timer reaches the predetermined time during the jackpot game corresponding to the hit / fail determination.

The invention of claim 4 has a hold look-ahead means for holding and storing up to a predetermined number of times the judgment information of the hit / fail judgment and pre-reading the judgment result of the hit / fail judgment stored in the hold, and the hit / miss judgment is a hit. When the pre-reading result, which is a hit in the hit / fail judgment after the hit / fail judgment, is obtained during or before the execution of the change display, the change that is performed earlier in the change display of the hit / fail judgment. The gaming machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the timer effect is started to be executed during the display, and the specific effect is executed during the variable display that is performed later.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the time effect executing means hits the time effect which is executed in parallel with the variation display and ends within the period of the variation display by the hit / fail determination corresponding to the variation display. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which can be executed regardless of whether it becomes or is not.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the time effect executing means corresponds to the variation display by executing the time effect in parallel with the variation display and executing the time effect within the period of the variation display and after the end of the variation display. The gaming machine according to claim 5, which can be executed when a hit is made in the above-mentioned hit / fail determination.

In the invention of claim 1, a time effect is executed in which a countdown display or a countup display is displayed on the display unit during the variable display. Therefore, at the end of the time production, it is possible to make the player feel that the fixed stop display, the production, etc. are executed, and it is possible to raise the expectation as the time production progresses and approaches the predetermined time. Therefore, it is possible to improve the taste during variable display. For example, when the time effect is executed during the variable display and after the variable display ends, it is possible to continue the expectation as the time approaches the predetermined time even after the variable display ends, which is more interesting. Can be improved. Further, as in the invention of claim 5, the time effect that is executed in parallel with the variation display and ends within the period of the variation display is out of the question even if the hit / fail determination corresponding to the variation display is successful. Even in the case of, it may be feasible. In addition, the time effect that is executed in parallel with the fluctuation display and is executed within the period of the fluctuation display and after the end can be executed when the hit / fail judgment corresponding to the fluctuation display is successful. It may be (invention of claim 6).

In the invention of claim 2, when the timer displayed on the display unit reaches a predetermined time, the specific effect is started to be executed, so that the player who has been waiting for the timer to reach the predetermined time feels uplifted. It becomes possible to improve the taste.

In the invention of claim 3, the timer effect executed during the variation display of the hit / fail determination in which the determination result is a hit is continued until after the end of the variation display. Therefore, it is possible to give a feeling of expectation that some effect or the like will still be executed when the timer effect reaches a predetermined time, and it is possible to improve the taste. Further, since the specific effect is executed during the big hit game, it is possible to further entertain the player during the big hit game.

In the invention of claim 4, since the remaining time of the timer of the timer effect started during the execution of the variable display still remains when the jackpot game ends, the effect is further executed when the timer time runs out. It is possible to give the player a feeling of expectation that the player will be able to do so, or a feeling of expectation that a new privilege that is advantageous to the player will be obtained, and the taste will be improved. In addition, the timer effect ends and the specific effect is executed during the variable display of the hit / fail determination, which is the next hit. Therefore, when the variable display of the hit / miss determination is executed, the timer effect is continued during that time. As a result, it is possible to give a sense of expectation to the result of the hit / fail determination of the variation display in which the timer effect is completed and the specific effect is executed, and it is possible to further improve the taste.

Front view of the game machine according to the first embodiment Schematic diagram of the display screen on which the variable display and stop display of the special symbol are executed. Schematic diagram of the display screen on which the special timer effect is executed Schematic diagram of the display screen on which the special timer effect is executed Schematic diagram of the display screen showing another example of the special timer effect Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the game machine (A) Time chart showing the special timer effect of the first embodiment, (B) Time chart showing the special timer effect of the second embodiment Schematic diagram of a display screen on which a special timer effect is executed in the gaming machine according to the third embodiment. Schematic diagram of a display screen on which a special timer effect is executed in the gaming machine according to the third embodiment. Flowchart of main program Flowchart of main interrupt processing Flowchart of special operation processing Flowchart of special symbol standby processing Flowchart of processing during special symbol change Flowchart of special symbol confirmation process

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment is a pachinko gaming machine, which is provided with a front frame 10Z on the front surface, and is shown in FIG. 2 through a glass window 10W provided inside the front frame 10Z. The game area R1 formed on the front surface of the game board 11 shown is visible.

An upper plate 26 and a lower plate 27 are provided in two upper and lower stages below the glass window 10W of the front frame 10Z, and a firing handle 28 is provided on the right side of the lower plate 27. Then, when the launch handle 28 is rotated, the game ball housed in the upper plate 26 is ejected toward the game area R1. In the front frame 10Z, side lamps 22 and 22 are provided on the left and right sides of the glass window 10W, and speakers (not shown) are provided above the glass window 10W. Further, below the glass window 10W of the front frame 10Z, an operation button 29 that can be operated by the player according to the progress of the game is provided.

The game area R1 is provided with, for example, a display device 13 composed of a liquid crystal module. The display device 13 has a rectangular display screen 13G on the front surface, and the display screen 13G is arranged at a position slightly higher than the center in the game area R1. On the display screen 13G, various effects related to the game are displayed.

In the game area R1, below the display screen 13G, a first starting winning section 14A, a second starting winning section 14B, a large winning section 15, and an out opening 16 are provided side by side at intervals from the top. There is. A start gate 18 is provided on the right side of the display screen 13G. Further, the game area R1 is provided with a plurality of general winning portions (not shown). In the game area R1, in addition to various winning portions 14A, 14B, 15 and starting gate 18, obstacle nails, windmills, and the like that change the flow direction of the game ball are arranged.

Next, the configuration of each of the above-mentioned accessories will be described in detail. The starting gate 18 has a gate-shaped structure through which a game ball can dive. The game ball that has passed through the starting gate 18 is detected by a gate sensor 73 (see FIG. 2) built in the starting gate 18, and based on the detection signal, a normal symbol hit / miss judgment (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as a normal symbol judgment). Is done. The determination result of the normal figure determination is displayed in a variable manner on the normal symbol display device 18X (see FIG. 2), and then stopped and displayed.

When the game ball passes through the start gate 18 during the fluctuation display of the normal symbol display device 18X, the fluctuation display of the normal symbol display device 18X due to the passage is held and stored up to a predetermined upper limit number (for example, 4). Then, when the variable display of the normal symbol display device 18X is completed and the stop display is performed, the normal symbol display device 18X is variablely displayed again based on the hold storage after the predetermined stop display time has elapsed. The number of reserved storages for the variable display of the normal symbol is displayed in the normal symbol hold display unit (not shown).

The first start winning portion 14A has a so-called pocket structure in which the first starting winning opening is provided on the upper surface of a member protruding from the game board 11. The first starting winning opening has an opening width into which game balls can be inserted one by one.

The second start winning section 14B is provided with a second starting winning opening on the upper surface of a member protruding from the game board 11. Further, the second start winning portion 14B is provided with a pair of opening / closing members 14C, 14C that can rotate around the axis penetrating the game board 11. The opening / closing members 14C, 14C, usually standing up to block the second starting winning portion 14B (second starting entrance), while lying down on the second side when the above-mentioned normal drawing determination is successful. The start winning section 14B of the above is opened, whereby the game ball can enter the second starting winning section 14B. It should be noted that the opening / closing members 14C and 14C perform an opening operation of opening the second start winning portion 14B once or a plurality of times when the normal drawing determination is made once.

When a game ball enters each of the starting winning units 14A and 14B, the game ball is detected by the first starting winning unit sensor 71 and the second starting winning unit sensor 72 (see FIG. 2), and the detection signals thereof. Based on the above, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the upper plate 26 as prize balls, and a special symbol winning / failing judgment (corresponding to the “winning / failing judgment” described in the claims. Hereinafter, it is referred to as a special symbol judgment as appropriate. ) Is performed.

The determination result of this special symbol determination is displayed on the special symbol display device 14X (see FIG. 2) and is displayed in a combination of symbols on the display screen 13G of the display device 13. Specifically, on the display screen 13G, the special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C are stopped and displayed in a combination indicating the determination result of the special symbol determination after the variation display, and the determination notification effect in which the determination result is notified by the combination is performed. Will be done. In the following, the display of the special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C in a combination indicating the determination result of the special symbol determination is referred to as "fixed stop display".

More specifically, the liquid crystal display device 13 displays three left, middle, and right special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C side by side. Each of these special symbols 13A, 13B, and 13C is composed of, for example, a plurality of types in which the numbers "0" to "9" are indicated. Then, when the game ball wins the first start winning section 14A or the second starting winning section 14B, the three special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C are scrolled in the vertical direction, and a fixed stop display is displayed after a predetermined time. Will be done. When the special symbol determination result is "big hit", the special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C corresponding to the jackpot (for example, all the same symbols (doubles) as shown in FIG. 1) are fixed and stopped. It is displayed and the game shifts to "big hit game". If the hit / fail judgment result is incorrect, a combination of special symbols other than the special symbol corresponding to the jackpot is displayed as a fixed stop, and a normal game that is not a "big hit game" continues.

In the game machine 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, the right to determine whether or not to receive the first and second special figure determinations is generated by the entry of the game balls into the starting winning units 14A and 14B, respectively. Then, it is a condition that the big hit game is executed that the result of the special figure judgment based on the right or wrong judgment right becomes a big hit. In the present embodiment, a special figure determination (first special figure determination) based on the entry of the game ball into the first start winning section 14A and the entry of the game ball into the second start winning section 14B The probability of becoming a big hit is the same in the special figure judgment based on (the second special figure judgment).

The large winning portion 15 has a horizontally long rectangular large winning opening, and the large winning opening is normally closed by a movable door 15T. Then, when the "big hit game" is executed, the movable door 15T is tilted forward for a predetermined period to open the big winning opening, and the movable door 15T is used as a guide to open many game balls in the big winning opening. It will be possible to win a prize. Here, if the operation of the movable door 15T from opening to closing is referred to as a "round", one big hit game continues until a predetermined number of rounds are executed. One round ends when a predetermined number of game balls enter the large winning opening or when a predetermined time has elapsed after the large winning opening is opened. When a game ball wins in the large prize section 15 (large prize opening), for example, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the upper plate 26 as a prize ball for each prize.

If the special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C are variablely displayed (see FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B)) or the game ball wins the first starting winning section 14A during the jackpot game, the winning is won. The judgment notification effect for the resulting right / wrong judgment right (first right / wrong judgment right) is suspended up to a predetermined upper limit number of times (4 times in the example of the present embodiment). As shown in FIG. 2, the number of holdings of the winning / failing determination right is displayed on the special symbol holding display unit 14H located at the lower end of the liquid crystal display device 13 (in FIG. 2, the number of holdings of the first winning / failing determination right). An example of the display of is shown). On the special symbol hold display unit 14H, the hold display bodies 14Z are displayed side by side in a horizontal row in the order in which they are held from the left end, and the number of hold display bodies 14Z of the right / wrong determination right is notified to the player by the number of hold display bodies 14Z. Then, when the fixed stop display of the special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C (see FIG. 2C) ends or the jackpot game ends, the special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C are displayed in a variable manner again based on the next hold. At the same time (see FIG. 2D), the leftmost hold display body 14Z corresponding to the hold disappears (the number of holds is reduced by one), and the hold display body 14Z on the right side is moved and displayed to the left. To. Further, when a new hit / fail determination right is generated, the newly appearing hold display body 14Z is displayed in addition to the right side of the last hold display body 14Z that has already been displayed.

Even if the special symbols 13A, 13B, 13C are in variable display (see FIG. 2 (A)) or the game ball wins in the second starting winning section 14B during the jackpot game, the winning / failing judgment due to the winning is made. The judgment notification effect for the right (second right / wrong judgment right) is suspended up to a predetermined upper limit number of times (4 times in the example of the present embodiment). In this case as well, as in the case of the first pass / fail determination right, the number of pending second pass / fail determination rights is displayed, for example, at the lower end of the liquid crystal display device 13.

Further, in the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, the determination result of the special figure determination stored on hold is pre-read. In addition, it may be possible to execute a suggestion effect that suggests this look-ahead result by, for example, a change in the display mode of the hold display body 14Z (for example, a change in color, etc.).

By the way, in the gaming machine 10, the time effect in which the countdown display or the countup display is performed is executed on the display screen 13G. The time effect can be executed in parallel with the variable display of the special figure determination. In the present embodiment, as such a time effect, a timer effect for advancing the timer time can be executed. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the timer 40 is displayed on the display screen 13G, and the time of the timer 40 is counted down. The timer effect is executed for a predetermined time. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the timer effect may be temporarily stopped in the middle, but the total execution time is predetermined and the remaining time of the timer does not increase.

The timer effect 40 is started by back calculation so that the remaining time just runs out at a predetermined timing. For example, the timer effect is started during the variable display of the special figure determination as shown in FIGS. 2 (A) to 2 (C). In the present embodiment, the timer effect is set so that the remaining time of the timer is exhausted at the start of a specific effect. In addition to the timer effect, the above-mentioned time effect may be prepared so that a specific effect is not executed at the end.

Here, in the present embodiment, the timer effect includes a general timer effect that is executed during the variable display of the special figure determination and ends during the variable display, and during and after the variable display of the special figure determination. There is a special timer effect that is executed across. In the present embodiment, the special timer effect is executed during the variable display of the special figure determination that is a hit, while the general timer effect is executed during the variable display of the special figure determination that is a hit. It should be noted that the general timer effect may be executed during the variable display period of a part of the special figure determination that is a hit.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which the general timer effect is executed during the variable display of the special figure determination of the deviation. First, the special symbols 13 to 13C are displayed in a variable manner depending on the entry of the game ball into the first or second starting winning units 14A and 14B. Then, during this variable display, the general timer effect is started to be executed. Specifically, the timer 40 is displayed (in the example of FIG. 2A, the timer 40 is displayed as "2 minutes"), the timer 40 is counted down, and the timer 40 is set to 0 during the fluctuation display. (See Fig. 2 (B)). At this time, a specific effect is executed. After that, the special symbols 13A to 13C are disengaged and the fixed stop display is displayed (see FIG. 2C).

FIG. 3 shows an example of a special timer effect. In the present embodiment, as the specific effect executed at the end of the special timer effect, an operation effect in which an image prompting the operation of the operation button 29 is displayed on the display screen 13G is executed (see FIG. 4B). .. This operation effect is executed during the jackpot game, with the condition that the jackpot game is executed (the jackpot is determined by the first or second special figure determination).

Specifically, when a big hit is obtained in the pre-reading result of the special figure judgment, a special timer effect is executed during the variable display of the special symbols 13A to 13C for the special figure judgment (Fig.). 3 (A)). As described above, the special timer effect is started by calculating back so that there is no remaining time at the start of execution of the operation effect. In the example of FIG. 3, for example, when the special timer effect is executed, "5 minutes" is displayed on the timer 40.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the timer 40 counts down and the remaining time decreases as the variable display is executed. Here, in the present embodiment, when the special symbols 13A to 13C are displayed as a fixed stop, the progress of the time of the timer 40 is temporarily stopped (see FIG. 3C). That is, at the start of the fixed stop display (at the end of the variable display), the special timer effect is temporarily stopped. Then, at the end of the fixed stop display, the special timer effect is restarted (see FIG. 7A). In this way, by stopping the special timer effect during the fixed stop display, it is possible to make it easier for the player to understand that the special symbols 13A to 13C have been fixed stop displayed.

As shown in FIG. 5A, after the special symbols 13A to 13C of the jackpot are displayed as a fixed stop, the jackpot game is started. In the present embodiment, the special timer effect continues the countdown of the timer 40 even after the jackpot game is started. Then, when the predetermined time during the jackpot game elapses, the remaining time of the timer 40 becomes 0, and the operation effect is executed (see FIG. 5B). As described above, in the game machine 10 of the present embodiment, the special timer effect is executed during the variation display of the special figure determination and after the variation display (see FIG. 7A).

In the example of the present embodiment, the operation effect is an effect that urges the player to repeatedly hit the operation button 29, as shown in FIG. 5 (B). Then, when the operation button 29 is pressed a predetermined number of times within the time limit, the special effect is executed next. Specifically, in the present embodiment, on the display screen 13G, a battle effect in which the ally character and the enemy character play against each other is executed in parallel with the operation effect, and the operation button 29 is specified above within the time limit in the battle effect. When pressed many times, the ally character wins. The special effect after the operation effect may be, for example, a suggestion effect that suggests the pre-reading result of the special figure determination that is held and stored as described above (see FIG. 4C). In this case, only the mode of the hold display body 14Z, which is a big hit in the look-ahead result, may be changed. With this configuration, it is possible to make it appear that the expectation of becoming a big hit has increased in the special figure determination that is stored on hold. The special effect may be an effect of playing a special movie displayed on the display screen 13G only in the special effect. The special effect may be executed even if the operation of the operation button 29 is not pressed the specified number of times within the time limit.

It should be noted that the timer effect may or may not be executed during the variable display of the special figure determination in which the determination result is out of alignment. In the former case, for example, the timer effect may end within the period of the variable display (for example, in the middle of the variable display or at the end of the variable display), or within the fixed stop display period (for example, the fixed stop display). It may end in the middle of, or at the end of the fixed stop display, etc.).

The special timer effect may be configured as follows. As shown in FIGS. 5 (A) to 5 (C), when the remaining time of the timer 40 of the special timer effect is just exhausted, the above special effect is executed, and when the remaining time of the timer 40 is short. (For example, when the remaining 10 seconds are reached), an operation effect may be executed, and an image prompting the player to repeatedly press the operation button 29 during the remaining time may be displayed on the display screen 13G. In this case, the execution start of the operation effect is set to be during the big hit game.

Next, the electrical configuration of the gaming machine 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, reference numeral 50 is a main control board 50, which comprises a microcomputer having a CPU 51A, a RAM 51B and a ROM 51C, a plurality of counters, and an input / output circuit connecting the microcomputer and the sub control board 52. In addition to being provided, a relay circuit to which the first start winning sensor 71, the second starting winning sensor 72, the gate sensor 73, the general winning sensor, the center winning sensor, the side winning sensor, etc. are connected, and the touch sensor of the firing handle 28 It also has an input / output circuit connected to the payout control board to which the 28S and the payout sensor for detecting the payout prize ball are connected, and performs main control related to the game. The CPU 51A is provided with a hit / fail judgment unit, a control unit, an arithmetic unit, various counters, various registers, various flags, etc., performs arithmetic control, and also generates random numbers related to special symbol hits and ordinary symbol hits, and sub-controls control signals. It is configured so that it can be output (transmitted) to the board 52 or the like. The RAM 51B includes a storage area for various random values generated by the CPU 51A, a storage area and a flag for temporarily storing various data, and a work area of the CPU 51A. In the ROM 51C, the main program executed by the CPU 51A, control data, and the like are written, as well as the determination values for the special symbol and the normal symbol and the determination values for the probability variation transition lottery.

Like the main control board 50, the sub control board 52 includes a CPU 52A, a RAM 52B, a ROM 52C, and a microcomputer 52M having a plurality of counters. Further, the sub control board 52 includes an input / output circuit that connects the microcomputer 52M and the main control board 50, and also includes an input / output circuit that connects the display control board 54, the lamp control circuit, the effect operation unit 29, and the like. The CPU 52A includes a control unit, a calculation unit, various counters, various registers, various flags, timers, etc., performs arithmetic control, and outputs (transmits) control signals to a display control board 54, a lamp control circuit, a voice control circuit, and the like. It is configured to be possible. The RAM 52B has a storage area for various data and a work area by the CPU 52A. The ROM 52C stores a main program executed by the CPU 52A, control data for various effects, and the like.

The display control board 54 is provided in the display device 13, and the CPU reads predetermined display control data from the ROM based on the control signal from the sub control board 52, generates control data in the storage area of the RAM, and VDP. Output to (not shown). The VDP reads necessary data from the ROM based on a command from the CPU, and displays a display image (special symbol, various effects including a big hit game effect, and a display image of the presence or absence of transition to a probabilistic game state) on the display screen 13G. Etc.) and store it in VRAM. The image data stored and stored in the VRAM is converted into an RGB signal by the D / A conversion circuit provided in the input / output circuit and output to the display screen 13G.

The main control board 50, the sub control board 52, the display control board 54, and other circuits (voice control circuit, lamp control circuit, etc.) operate by receiving power supply from the power supply board 60.

The above is a description other than the control flow of the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment. The control flow will be described in detail later.

In the present embodiment, during the variable display of the special symbols 13A to 1C, a time effect is executed in which the countdown display or the countup display is displayed on the display screen 13G. Therefore, at the end of the time production, it is possible to make the player feel that the fixed stop display, the production, etc. are executed, and as the time production progresses and approaches the predetermined time, the feeling of excitement and excitement is enhanced. This makes it possible to improve the taste during variable display. Further, in the timer effect, when the timer 40 displayed on the display screen 13G reaches a predetermined time, the specific effect is started to be executed, so that the player who has been waiting for the timer 40 to reach the predetermined time feels uplifted. It is possible to make people feel it, and it is possible to improve their taste. In addition, as a time effect, it is possible to execute a special timer effect that straddles during the variable display of the special figure judgment and after the end of the variable display, so it is possible to provide an unprecedented novel timer effect, which is a taste. It can be improved. Further, by this special timer effect, it is possible to continue the feeling of excitement and excitement as the time approaches the predetermined time even after the end of the fluctuation display, and it is possible to further improve the taste.

In the present embodiment, the special timer effect straddling during the fluctuation display and after the confirmation stop display is executed when the judgment result is a big hit and the hit / fail judgment is changed, and when the judgment result is out of order, the hit / fail judgment is changed. do not. Then, by limiting the end time of the special timer effect to the jackpot game, the execution start timing of the operation effect is limited to the jackpot game, and the control of the effect can be facilitated.

Hereinafter, the details of the internal processing of the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 10 to 15.

When the power supply 60 of the game machine 10 is turned on, the main control board 50 provided in the game machine 10 executes the main program PG1. As shown in FIG. 10, the main program PG1 first performs initial settings such as a CPU (S1). The initial setting (S1) is executed only when the main control circuit main program PG1 is run for the first time after the power is turned on, and is not executed thereafter. In the initial setting (S1), various flags, counters, statuses, etc. are reset. The initial value of the flag is "0" (that is, "OFF"), the initial value of the counter is "0", and the initial value of the status is "1".

After the initial setting (S1), each process of the following steps S2 to S4 is looped for the remaining time until the interrupt process (S5) described later is executed. First, interrupts are disabled (S2), and even if a timer interrupt comes in, interrupt processing is not performed until the interrupt is enabled. Subsequently, the normal symbol / special symbol main random number update process (S3) is executed. In this process (S3), a random number counter for determining a special symbol or a normal symbol is added and updated by 1. The updated counter value is stored in the updated value storage area of the RAM one by one. When the normal symbol / special symbol random number update process (S3) is completed, the interrupt is enabled (S4) and the main interrupt process (S5) can be executed.

It should be noted that each of the above-mentioned random number counter values is added by 1 when the random number update process (S3, S11 (described later)) is performed starting from 0 when the power supply 60 of the game machine 10 is turned on, and the set numerical range is set. When the maximum value (upper limit value) of is reached, it is set to 0 and the above addition is repeated again.

In the random number storage area of the RAM 50B of the main control board 50, a special symbol-related counter value acquired when a prize is won in the start winning unit and a normal symbol-related counter value acquired when the game ball passes through the start gate 18 are stored. Each can store up to the upper limit of hold. Then, each counter value (random number value) stored in the random number storage area is used for the game in order from the oldest one.

The interrupt processing (S5) is executed according to, for example, an interrupt pulse input in a cycle of 4 msec. Then, during the residual processing period from the end of the interrupt process (S5) to the start of the next interrupt process (S5), various counter value update processes by the normal symbol / special symbol random number update process (S3) are performed. Repeat it multiple times. If an interrupt pulse is input while the interrupt is disabled, the interrupt processing (S5) is not started immediately, but is started after the interrupt is enabled (S4).

The main interrupt processing (S5) will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, in the main interrupt processing (S5), first, command processing (S10) is performed. In the command process (S10), various commands set in the output buffer of the RAM 50B are output to the corresponding sub-control device (for example, display control board 54, lamp control circuit, etc.).

The normal symbol / special symbol main random number update process (S11) performed next is the same as the normal symbol / special symbol main random number update process (S3) performed in the loop process of the main program PG1 described above. That is, the update processing of various counter values is performed within the execution period of the main interrupt processing (S5) and the remaining processing period (after the end of the main interrupt processing (S5) until the next main interrupt processing (S5) is started. It is done in both of the period).

Following the normal symbol / special symbol main random number update process (S11), the start winning sensor detection process (S12) is executed. In the start winning sensor detection process (S12), according to the passage or winning of the starting gate 18, the first starting winning section 14A, and the second starting winning section 14B (that is, the first starting winning sensor 71, the second). (According to the detection results of the start winning sensor 72 and the gate sensor 73), the corresponding number of reserved balls is added, and a random number for winning / failing determination is acquired.

Specifically, when the game ball passes through the starting gate 18, if the number of normal symbol holding balls is less than the upper limit value (for example, 4), the normal symbol holding ball number is added by 1 and the normal symbol random number acquisition process is performed. To execute. Specifically, the normal figure determination counter value is acquired as a random number from the update value storage area of the RAM 50B and stored in the random number storage area of the RAM 50B. Then, the determination result of the normal figure determination is acquired based on the acquired counter value, the content is set in the winning command, and the winning command is set in the output buffer of the RAM 50B.

Further, when a game ball wins in the first start winning section 14A, if the number of reserved balls for the first special figure determination (the number of reserved balls for the first special figure) is less than the upper limit value, the first special figure The number of reserved balls is added by 1, and the special figure-related random number acquisition process is executed. Specifically, the special symbol-related counter values are acquired from the update value storage area of the RAM 50B, and these are stored in the random number storage area of the RAM 50B. When the game ball wins the second starting winning section 14B, the same processing as when the game ball wins the first winning section 41 is performed.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the main interrupt process (S5), the start winning sensor detection process (S12) is followed by the normal operation process (S13) related to the normal figure determination. When the normal operation process (S13) is executed, the special operation process (S14) related to the special figure determination is executed, and then the other processes (S15) are executed, and then the main interrupt process (S5) ends. In the normal operation process (S13), processing is executed for the normal symbol display device 14X (see FIG. 6), the second start winning unit 14B (opening operation, etc.), and the like. Hereinafter, the special operation process (S14) will be described in detail.

In the special operation processing (S14), the processing related to the special symbol display device 14X and the center grand prize unit 15 is divided into five stages, and special operation statuses 1, 2, 3, and 4 are assigned to each stage. As shown in FIG. 12, when the special operation status is "1" (YES in S141), the special symbol standby process (S142) is performed. When the special operation status is "2" (NO in S141, YES in S143), the special symbol change processing (S144) is executed. When the special operation status is "3" (NO in S141 and S143, YES in S145), the special symbol determination process (S146) is executed. When the special operation status is "4" (NO in S141, S143, S145, YES in S147), the special character processing (big hit game processing. S148) is executed. The special operation status is "1" by default.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the special symbol standby process (S142), first, it is determined whether or not the number of reserved balls (the number of reserved balls of the second special figure) of the second start winning unit 14B is "0". (S2001). When the number of reserved balls in the second special figure is "0" (YES in S2001), that is, when there is no memory of the random number counter value group acquired due to the winning of the second starting winning unit 14B, It is determined whether or not the number of reserved balls (that is, the number of reserved balls in the first special figure) of the first starting winning unit 14A is "0" (S2007). Then, when the number of reserved balls in the first special figure is also "0" (YES in S2007), that is, when there is no memory of the random number counter value group acquired due to the winning of the first starting winning unit 14A. Determines whether or not the display screen 13G of the image display device 13 is set as the standby screen (customer waiting screen) (S2013), and if so (YES in S2013), finishes this process (S142), and so on. If not (NO in S2013), the standby screen setting process (S2014) is performed, and then the special symbol standby process (S142) is completed. In the standby screen setting process (S2014), a customer waiting standby command for displaying the standby screen is set after waiting for the elapse of a predetermined waiting time.

When the number of reserved balls in the second special figure is not "0" in step S2001 (NO), that is, the memory of the random number counter value group acquired due to the winning of the second starting winning section 14B (second special figure). If there is determination pending information), the special figure 2 jackpot determination process (S2002) described later is executed, and then the special figure 2 variation pattern selection process (S2003) is executed.

Here, in the special figure 2 variation pattern selection process (S2003), the information of the variation pattern of the second special figure determination is set. Specifically, the time for displaying the fluctuation of the second special figure determination, the time for displaying the fixed stop, and the like are set. These times are set based on a time determination table provided in the microcomputer 53. For example, in the time determination table, a plurality of patterns according to the game state may be prepared for the set time set.

When the special figure 2 variation pattern selection process (S2003) is completed, the number of the second special figure reserved balls is subtracted by 1 (S2004). Then, the storage locations of various counter values in the second special figure reservation storage unit are shifted by one to the read side, and the storage locations corresponding to the upper limit number of reservations in the second special figure reservation storage unit (from the read side). The farthest storage location) is cleared (S2005). In this way, the hold of the second special figure determination is digested in the order in which it is held.

Next, the special figure 2 fluctuation start process (S2006) is executed. In this process (S2006), the special operation status is set to "2", the fluctuation start command is set in the output buffer of the RAM 50B, and the fluctuation display of the special symbol of the second special symbol determination is started. The fluctuation start command (special figure 2 fluctuation start command) set in the special figure 2 fluctuation start process (S2006) includes information on the special figure confirmation stop symbol data set in the special figure 2 jackpot determination process (S2002) described later. , The determination result of the second special figure determination, the execution time of the timer effect, and the information of the fluctuation pattern set in the special figure 2 fluctuation pattern selection process (S2003) are included. As described above, the information on the fluctuation pattern includes information on the fluctuation display time, the fixed stop time, and the like. Here, in the present embodiment, when the jackpot is reached, the above-mentioned operation effect is executed during the jackpot game, and the time from the start of the jackpot game to the start of the operation effect is predetermined. Therefore, from this time, the fixed stop display time, and the time from the end of the fixed stop display to the start of the jackpot game, to the start time of the special timer effect (that is, from the start of the variable display to the start of the special timer effect). Time) is calculated (back calculation). The above-mentioned fluctuation start command also includes information on the start time of this special timer effect. In addition, the fluctuation start command includes the start time of the general timer effect (from the start of the fluctuation display to the general timer effect) set based on the execution time of the general timer effect set in the special figure 2 jackpot determination process (S2002). Information on (time to start) is also included.

Further, when the number of reserved balls in the second special figure is "0" but the number of reserved balls in the first special figure is not "0" (YES in S2001, NO in S2007), that is, the holding information for the second special figure determination. However, if there is one or more memories (holding information of special figure 1) of the random number counter value group acquired due to the winning of the first starting winning unit 14A, the special figure 1 jackpot determination described later The process (S2008) and the special figure 1 variation pattern selection process (S2009) are executed. After that, the number of reserved balls in the first special figure is subtracted by 1 (S2010). Then, the storage location of various counter values in the first special figure reservation storage unit is shifted by one to the read side, and the storage area corresponding to the upper limit number of reservations in the first special figure reservation storage unit (most from the read side). Clear the distant memory location) (S2011). In this way, the first special figure hold is digested in the order in which it was held. Next, the special figure 1 fluctuation start process (S2012) is executed. In this process (S2012), the special operation status is set to "2" and the fluctuation start command is set in the output buffer of the RAM to start the fluctuation display of the special symbol of the first special symbol determination. The fluctuation start command (special figure 1 fluctuation start command) set in the special figure 1 fluctuation start process (S2012) includes information on the special figure stop symbol data and the special figure set in the special figure 1 jackpot determination process (S2008). 1 Information on the fluctuation pattern set in the fluctuation pattern selection process (S2009) (information on the fluctuation display time and the fixed stop time, etc.), information on the execution time, start time, end time, etc. of the timer effect is included.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the variation display of the special symbol based on the hold of the first special figure determination is performed only when the second special figure hold is "0" (when YES in S2001). , The digestion of the second special figure hold has priority over the digestion of the first special figure hold.

In the above-mentioned special figure 2 big hit determination process (S2002) and special figure 1 big hit determination process (S2008), a special symbol-related random number counter value is read out as a determination value. Specifically, in the special figure 2 jackpot determination process (S2002), the special symbol related to the special symbol stored in the second special figure reservation storage unit (specifically, the first hold of the second special figure determination) of the RAM 50B. The random number counter value (special symbol-related random number counter value acquired in the start winning sensor detection process (S12)) is read out. Further, in the special figure 1 jackpot determination process (S2008), the special symbol-related random number counter value (specifically, the first of the first special figure determination hold) stored in the first special figure hold storage unit of the RAM 50B (specifically, the first of the first special figure determination hold). (The one acquired in S12) is read. Next, it is determined whether the jackpot is a jackpot or a miss according to the jackpot determination table. If the determination result is a jackpot, the jackpot flag is turned on, the hit type random number is determined, the jackpot symbol is set, and the timer effect time for the jackpot (special timer) is displayed from the timer effect time table provided in the microcomputer 53. The execution time of the effect. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, 5 minutes) is set. After that, this process (S2002, S2008) is completed. If the judgment result is out of order, set the out-of-order symbol and set the out-of-order timer effect time (execution time of general timer effect, for example, 2 minutes in the example of FIG. 2) from the timer effect time table. set. After that, this process (S2002, S2008) is terminated. The gaming machine 10 can also be configured to perform the hit / fail determination of the special figure determination in S12 instead of in S2002 or S2008.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the special symbol change processing (S144), first, it is determined whether or not a predetermined change time has elapsed from the start of the change display (S1441). If the fluctuation time has not elapsed (NO in S1441), it is determined whether the timer effect is being executed (S1446). When the timer effect is not executed, it is divided into whether the special timer effect is executed or the general timer effect is executed depending on whether or not the variable display of the special figure determination is a hit. Then, when it is the start time of each timer effect, each timer effect is started to be executed. On the other hand, in S1446, when the timer effect is executed, if it is a general timer effect and the end time is reached, the timer effect is terminated.

On the other hand, if the fluctuation time has elapsed in S1441 (YES), the fluctuation stop command is set (S1442), and the special operation status is set to "3" (S1443). Then, the variable display of the special symbols 13A to 13C is fixedly stopped and displayed with a symbol (big hit symbol or out-of-order symbol) corresponding to the set special symbol stop symbol data (S1444). At this time, if the special timer effect is being executed, the special timer effect is temporarily stopped. After that, other processing (S1445) is executed, and then the special symbol changing processing (S144) is completed.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the special symbol confirmation process (S146), first, it is determined whether or not the confirmation stop display time of the special symbols 13A to 13C has elapsed (S3001). If the confirmation stop time of the special symbols 13A to 13C has not elapsed in S3001 (NO), the special symbol determination process (S146) is completed. On the other hand, when the fixed stop time has elapsed (YES in S3001), it is determined whether or not the jackpot flag is ON (S3002). If the jackpot flag is ON (YES in S3002), the special operation status is set to "4" (S3003). Then, the setting reset process (S3004) is executed. By this setting reset process, it is controlled to the non-time saving state during the execution of the big hit game. After that, in order to start the big hit game, the big hit opening command is set (S3006), and the opening of the big hit game is started (S3007). At this time, the special timer effect that has been temporarily stopped is resumed. After S3007, the opening pattern of the center big prize section 15 according to the type of the winning big hit symbol is set (S3008).

On the other hand, in step S3002, if the jackpot flag is not ON (NO), the special operation status is set to "1" (S3008), and then the special symbol determination process (S146) is completed.

The special accessory process (S148) shown in FIG. 12 is a process for executing a jackpot game. In this process, it is determined whether the end condition of the jackpot game is satisfied (for example, whether a predetermined number of rounds have been completed). When the end condition is not satisfied, the opening operation of the center grand prize unit 15 is processed based on the opening condition according to the round. Further, when the start time of the above-mentioned operation effect is reached, the special timer effect is ended and the operation effect is executed. On the other hand, when the end condition of the big hit game is satisfied, the special operation status is set to "1" and the special character processing (S148) ends. The above is the description of the main program PG1.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the end of the special timer effect is during the jackpot game, but in the present embodiment, the end of the special timer effect is after the jackpot game. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7B, in the present embodiment, the special timer effect is started during the variable display of the special figure determination, which is a big hit, as in the first embodiment. Here, if a pre-reading result that is a big hit is obtained as a pre-reading result of the special figure determination from the next time onward during or before the execution of this variation display, the special timer effect is the special figure determination from the next time onward. Exits during execution of the variable display of. Then, the operation effect is executed during the execution of the variable display. In the meantime, if the variable display of the special figure determination that is out of order is executed, the special timer effect is continued. The start timing of the special timer effect can be back-calculated in the same manner as in the first embodiment from the fluctuation display, the fixed stop display time, and the like.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the remaining time of the timer of the special timer effect started during the execution of the variable display still remains when the jackpot game ends, so that the effect is further executed when the timer time runs out. It is possible to give the player a sense of expectation that the player will be able to obtain a new benefit that is advantageous to the player, and the taste will be improved. Further, in the present embodiment, the special timer effect started during the variation display of the hit special figure determination ends during the variation display of the next hit special figure determination, and the specific effect is performed during the variation display. Will be executed. Therefore, when the variable display of the special figure determination that is out of order is executed, the special timer effect is continued during that time. As a result, it is possible to give a sense of expectation to the result of the special figure determination of the variable display in which the special timer effect is completed and the specific effect is executed, and it is possible to further improve the taste. It should be noted that this special timer effect may be terminated during the jackpot game corresponding to the special figure determination in which the look-ahead result that becomes the jackpot is obtained. In this case, the special timer effect is executed across a plurality of jackpot games. The special timer effect may be set to temporarily stop during the jackpot game.

[Third Embodiment]
In the above embodiment, in the special timer effect, the timer 40 counts down, but the count up may be performed. In this case, it is desirable to indicate how far the timer will expire when the count is increased. 8 and 9 show an example of this case. In this example, a special timer effect is executed in which the timer 40 is counted up and displayed on the display screen 13G during the variable display of the special figure determination which is a big hit (FIG. 8 (A)). Then, a suggestion message indicating that something will happen when the timer 40 reaches a predetermined predetermined time (3 minutes and 33 seconds in the example of the figure) is displayed (FIG. 8 (B)). This special timer effect is executed straddling the variable display and the subsequent big hit game. For example, the timer 40 may be temporarily stopped during the fixed stop display (FIG. 8C). Then, when the timer 40 reaches the predetermined predetermined time and the time expires (FIG. 9 (A)), the count-up of the timer 40 ends and the specific effect is executed (FIG. 9 (B)). In the specific effect, for example, "chance!" Is displayed on the display screen 13G, and it is notified that the game state after the big hit game will be in a probable change state (FIG. 9 (C)). Note that the notification that the probability change state is reached may be performed during the round after the timer 40 reaches the above-mentioned specified time in the jackpot game (FIG. 9 (C)).

[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the above embodiment, the end of the special timer effect is after the execution of the jackpot game is started, but the fixed stop display may be displayed, or the jackpot game is started after the fixed stop display is finished. It may be before.

(2) In the above embodiment, the special timer effect has been temporarily stopped during the fixed stop display, but may remain continued.

(3) In the second embodiment, the special timer effect may be temporarily stopped during the jackpot game.

(4) In the above embodiment, the execution of the operation effect may be started at a predetermined time. In this case, the start of the operation effect may be controlled based on the real-time clock.

(5) In the above embodiment, when the timer 40 reaches a predetermined time (for example, 0 seconds or 3 minutes 33 seconds), the effect is executed, but the effect does not have to be executed. Even with this configuration, when the timer 40 reaches a predetermined time, it is possible to make the player think that some effect will be performed, and it is possible to improve the taste. Further, the display of the timer 40 may end before the timer 40 counts down to 0 seconds.

(6) In the above embodiment, the timer effect executed during the variation display of the special figure determination in which the determination result is a hit is within the period of the variation display (for example, in the middle of the variation display or at the end of the variation display). It may end after reaching a predetermined time, or may end after reaching a predetermined time within the period of the fixed stop display (for example, in the middle of the fixed stop display or at the end of the fixed stop display).

(7) In the present embodiment, the general timer effect that ends within the period of the fluctuation display of the special figure determination may be performed when the special figure determination is a hit. Specifically, a jackpot without probability change and a jackpot with probability variation are provided as hits for the special figure determination, and the general timer effect is executed during the variable display of the special figure determination which is the jackpot without probability variation. In addition, the special timer effect is executed during the variable display of the special figure determination, which is a big hit with a probability variation. In the gaming machine 10 of the present embodiment, the gaming state after the big hit game is set to either a normal state or a probability variation state in which the probability of winning in the special figure determination is higher than that of the normal gaming state. Then, in the big hit without probability change, the game state after the big hit game is set to the normal state, and in the big hit with probability change, the game state after the big hit game is set to the probability change state.

10 Pachinko machine 13G display screen 40 Timer 50 Main control board 52 Sub control board

Claims (6)

It is a gaming machine that makes a hit / fail judgment due to the establishment of a predetermined hit / miss judgment condition, and notifies the judgment result of the hit / fail judgment by displaying a variable display of a symbol on the display unit and then displaying a fixed stop.
A time effect in which the countdown display or the countup display is displayed on the display unit for a predetermined time is executed in parallel with the fluctuation display and ended within the fluctuation display period, or within the fluctuation display period. A game machine equipped with a time production execution means that can be executed across the time and after the end. A specific effect execution means for executing a specific effect is provided due to the establishment of a predetermined effect execution condition.
As the time effect, the time effect executing means can execute a timer effect that counts down or counts up the timer on the display unit so that the timer reaches a predetermined time at the execution start timing of the specific effect. The gaming machine according to claim 1. When a hit is made in the hit / fail judgment, a big hit game in which the big winning opening is opened a predetermined number of times is executed.
In the timer effect, execution is started during the variation display of the hit / fail determination in which the determination result is a hit, and the timer reaches the predetermined time during the jackpot game corresponding to the hit / fail determination. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 2. It has a hold look-ahead means for holding and storing the judgment information of the hit / fail judgment up to a predetermined number of times and pre-reading the judgment result of the hit / fail judgment stored in the hold.
When the pre-reading result that is a hit is obtained in the hit / fail judgment after the hit / fail judgment during or before the execution of the variation display of the hit / fail judgment, among the fluctuation displays of the hit / fail judgment, The gaming machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the timer effect is started to be executed during the variation display that is performed first, and the specific effect is executed during the variation display that is performed later. When the time effect executing means is executed in parallel with the variation display and ends within the period of the variation display, even if the time effect is hit in the hit / fail determination corresponding to the variation display, it is out of the question. However, the gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is feasible. The time effect executing means hits the time effect, which is executed in parallel with the variation display and is executed within the period of the variation display and after the end, in the hit / fail determination corresponding to the variation display. The gaming machine according to claim 5, which can be executed in the case of

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