JP2022118158A - game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve visibility of an image related to a game.

SOLUTION: A game machine includes: display means (for example, a main performance display device 9, sub performance display devices 11a to 11d, or LED display panels P1 to P6 in a transformation example shown in Figure 33) capable of displaying an image related to a game; and display control means capable of controlling at least brightness of the display means. The display means includes first display means and second display means placed at the back of the first display means. The display control means can perform brightness control that makes brightness of the first display means different from that of second display means.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 31

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

Conventionally, there has been provided a main image display device capable of displaying an image related to a game and a sub-image display device, and the sub-image display device can be moved to a position superimposed on the main image display device (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

JP 2015-107231 A

However, in Patent Document 1, when the sub-image display device is positioned to overlap the main image display device, the main image display device is positioned behind the sub-image display device. There is a problem that the visibility of the displayed image deteriorates due to the difference in display brightness between the display device and the sub-image display device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a game machine capable of enhancing the visibility of game-related images.

(A) A gaming machine capable of playing games,
a first display means;
a second display means arranged behind the first display means;
a luminous body provided near the first display means and capable of emitting light;
a control means capable of controlling at least luminance of the first display means, the second display means, and the light emitter;
with
The control means is capable of performing luminance control so that the luminance of the first display means is lower than the luminance of the second display means, and the light emission is performed when the specific image is displayed on the second display means. Execute specific control to reduce the brightness of the body and the brightness control,
The control means performs the brightness control by changing the signal width of the applied pulse signal.
A gaming machine characterized by:
The game machine of means 1 is
A gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 1) capable of playing a game,
a first display means (for example, the main effect display device 9);
Second display means (sub effect display devices 11a to 11
d, or the LED display panels P1 to P6 in the modification shown in FIG. 33),
a luminous body provided near the first display means and capable of emitting light;
Control means (for example, effect control CPU 86 or VDP 262) capable of controlling at least the luminance of the first display means, the second display means and the light emitter,
with
The control means is capable of controlling the brightness so that the brightness of the first display means is lower than the brightness of the second display means (for example, the effect control CPU 86 executes the brightness control processing shown in FIG. 31). 33, the brightness of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is set lower than that of the main effect display device 9, and the luminance of the LED display panels P2 and P5 is set to be lower than that of the LED display panels P1 and P5 in the modification shown in FIG. The portion where the luminance is lower than that of P3, P4 and P6, and the portion where the luminance of LED display panels P2 and P5 is reduced and the luminance of LED display panels P1, P3, P4 and P6 is increased), When a specific image is displayed on the second display means, specific control for reducing the luminance of the light emitter and the luminance control are executed.
It is characterized by
According to this feature, it is possible to enhance the visibility of the image related to the game.
In order to solve the above problems, the game machine according to claim 1 of the present invention,
A gaming machine (for example, a pachinko gaming machine 1) capable of playing a game,
Display means capable of displaying game-related images (for example, main effect display device 9, sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, or LED display panels P1 to P6 in the modification shown in FIG. 33);
Display control means (for example, effect control CPU 86 or VDP 262) capable of controlling at least the brightness of the display means;
with
The display means includes first display means (for example, sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d or LED display panels P2 and P5 in the modified example) and second display means (for example, Including the main effect display device 9 and the LED display panels P1, P3, P4, P6 in the modification shown in FIG.
The display control means is capable of performing luminance control to make the luminance of the first display means different from that of the second display means (for example, the effect control CPU 86 executes the luminance control processing shown in FIG. 31). , the brightness of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is lower than that of the main effect display device 9, and in the modification shown in FIG. , P4 and P6, and conversely, a portion where the brightness of the LED display panels P2 and P5 is decreased and the brightness of the LED display panels P1, P3, P4 and P6 is increased).
It is characterized by
According to this feature, it is possible to enhance the visibility of the image related to the game.

The gaming machine of means 1 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1,
The display control means (for example, the production control CPU 86 and the VDP 262) performs control to make the luminance of the second display means higher than the luminance of the first display means as the luminance control (for example, production control The CPU 86 executes the brightness control process shown in FIG. Part where the brightness of the display panels P2 and P5 is lower than the brightness of the LED display panels P1, P3, P4 and P6)
It is characterized by
According to this feature, since the display on the second display means arranged behind the first display means has a higher brightness than the first display means, the first display means and the second display means are displayed at a higher brightness than the first display means. Since the difference in display brightness due to the arrangement can be reduced, the visibility of the image can be improved.

The gaming machine of means 2 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or means 1,
The display means (for example, the main effect display device 9, the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, or the LED display panels P1 to P6 in the modification shown in FIG. 33) is a light emitting means capable of emitting light by applying a pulse signal ( For example, backlight LEDs 9b, 11ab to 11db, and LED elements arranged in a matrix on dot matrix type LED display panels P1 to P6 in the modified example),
The display control means (for example, effect control CPU 86 or VDP 262) controls the luminance control by the signal width (for example, pulse drive signal) of the pulse signal (for example, pulse drive signal) applied to the light emitting means (for example, backlight LEDs 11ab to 11db) For example, the duty ratio) is changed (for example, as shown in FIG. 30, the effect control CPU 86 and VDP 262 instruct the backlight drive circuits 11ak to 11dk of the sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp to Part where the duty ratio of the pulse drive signal applied to the LEDs 11ab to 11db is about 80% of the duty ratio of the pulse drive signal applied to the backlight LED 9b of the main liquid crystal panel 9p)
It is characterized by
According to this feature, luminance control can be performed simply.

The gaming machine of means 3 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or means 1,
The display means includes light emitting means (for example, a backlight using a cold cathode tube in the modified example) whose light emission intensity changes depending on the value of the supplied current,
The display control means performs the brightness control by changing the current value supplied to the light emitting means (for example, by changing the frequency of the alternating current applied to the cold-cathode tube by an inverter in the modification). A portion that controls the current value applied to the cold-cathode tube and controls the brightness of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d according to the light emission intensity of the cold-cathode tube)
It is characterized by
According to this feature, luminance control can be performed simply.

The gaming machine of means 4 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or any of means 1 to 3,
Positions near the display means (for example, positions directly above the sub-effect display devices 11a and 11d, positions directly above the LED display panels P1 and P4 in the modified example of FIG. 33, and lateral positions of the LED display panels P1 to P6 Position sandwiched between LED display panels P1 to P3 and LED display panels P4 to P6) and capable of emitting light (for example, logo panel 500, character gimmick G) When,
Light emitter control means for controlling light emission of the light emitter (for example, effect control CPU 86 and logo panel LED drive circuit 88);
with
The light emitter control means reduces the luminance of the light emitter when displaying an image on the first display means or the second display means (for example, when the cooperative image is displayed in the cooperative effect, the processing of S905 is performed). , the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal applied to the logo panel LED 500′ by the logo panel LED drive circuit 88 is reduced at a predetermined rate, and the emission intensity of the logo panel 500 is reduced. In the portion where the level (brightness) of the logo A portion that lowers the level (brightness) of the emission intensity of the panel 500 and the gimmick (character) G to a predetermined level corresponding to the variable display, which is a level lower than the normal emission intensity)
It is characterized by
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the image from deteriorating due to the light emission of the light emitter.
It should be noted that "lowering the luminance" in the present invention includes making the luminance darker and setting it to a non-luminous state.

The gaming machine of means 5 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or any of means 1 to 4,
Positions near the display means (for example, positions directly above the sub-effect display devices 11a and 11d, positions directly above the LED display panels P1 and P4 in the modified example of FIG. 33, and lateral positions of the LED display panels P1 to P6 Position sandwiched between LED display panels P1 to P3 and LED display panels P4 to P6) and capable of emitting light (for example, logo panel 500, character gimmick G) When,
Light emitter control means for controlling light emission of the light emitter (for example, effect control CPU 86 and logo panel LED drive circuit 88);
with
The light emitter control means changes the luminance of the light emitter in accordance with the luminance of the first display means or the second display means (for example, when the cooperative image is displayed in the cooperative effect, the process of S905 is executed. As a result, the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal applied to the logo panel LED 500' by the logo panel LED drive circuit 88 is sequentially adjusted to a predetermined ratio according to the luminance of the main effect display device 9. In the portion where the level (brightness) of the light emission intensity of the logo panel 500 is reduced by reducing , a portion that changes the level of light emission intensity (luminance) according to the brightness of the display of these LED display panels P1 to P6)
It is characterized by
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the image from deteriorating due to the light emission of the light emitter.
It should be noted that "changing the luminance" of the present invention includes making the luminance dark and setting it in a non-luminous state.

The gaming machine of means 6 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or any of means 1 to 5,
Positions near the display means (for example, positions directly above the sub-effect display devices 11a and 11d, positions directly above the LED display panels P1 and P4 in the modified example of FIG. 33, and lateral positions of the LED display panels P1 to P6 Position sandwiched between LED display panels P1 to P3 and LED display panels P4 to P6) and capable of emitting light (for example, logo panel 500, character gimmick G) When,
Light emitter control means for controlling light emission of the light emitter (for example, effect control CPU 86 and logo panel LED drive circuit 88);
with
The light-emitting body control means changes the luminance of the light-emitting body in accordance with the display of the effect image on the first display means or the second display means (for example, when the link effect in which the link image is displayed is executed). In addition, the portion where the level (brightness) of the light emission intensity of the logo panel 500 is reduced, and in the modification, the image of the production pattern is displayed in one of the LED display panels P1 to P6 to perform the variable display. part that lowers the level (brightness) of the luminous intensity of the logo panel 500 and the gimmick (character) G to a predetermined level lower than the normal luminous intensity)
It is characterized by
According to this feature, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the effect image from deteriorating due to the light emission of the light emitter.
It should be noted that "changing the luminance" of the present invention includes making the luminance dark and setting it in a non-luminous state.

The gaming machine of means 7 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or any of means 1 to 6,
The pixel density of the first display means (for example, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d) is different from the pixel density of the second display means (for example, the main effect display device 9). It has a display pixel density of 800 dots in the axial direction (horizontal direction) and 600 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). (A portion having a display pixel density of 234 dots in the vertical direction)
It is characterized by
According to this feature, for example, by increasing the pixel density of the second display unit in the rear to make the image easier to see, or by increasing the pixel density of the first display unit in the front, the coarseness of the image can be reduced. You can keep it from standing out.

The gaming machine of means 8 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or any of means 1 to 7,
The display control means is capable of controlling at least the light and dark contrast of the image displayed on the first display means, and performs contrast control to lower the light and dark contrast of the image displayed on the first display means (for example, In the modification of FIG. 32, while the contrast of the image on the main effect display device 9 is not changed, the contrast of the images on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is lowered by X),
It is characterized by
According to this feature, by lowering the brightness contrast of the image displayed on the first display means, the visibility of the image displayed on the rear second display means can be improved.

The gaming machine of means 9 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or any of means 1 to 8,
At least one of the first display means and the second display means is provided to be movable, and by the movement, an image can be displayed across the first display means or the second display means (for example, , sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are movably provided, and as shown in FIGS. The part that displays the effect image of the radial lightning bolt)
It is characterized by
According to this feature, an image straddling the first display means or the second display means is displayed by movement, so that the amusement of the game can be enhanced.

The gaming machine of means 10 of the present invention is the gaming machine according to claim 1 or any of means 1 to 9,
a movable body (for example, sub-effect display devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d) that can be displaced to a position overlapping at least part of the display means;
with
The display means on which the movable body overlaps can display an image corresponding to the displacement of the movable body (for example, the main effect display device 9 can , to display the images of FIGS. 23(a) to (c)),
Information about the displacement of the movable body (for example, the displacement of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d uniquely determined by the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor specified by the drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262 ), the correction means for correcting the display data of the image displayed on the display means on which the movable body overlaps (for example, according to the displacement of the sub effect display devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d in FIG. 18). A drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262 that draws the main image data in step S822 and draws and cuts out the main image data in step S833 of FIG. 19,
The movable body can execute an effect related to the game (for example, the drawing control unit 206 executes the processes in FIGS. 18 and 19 so that the sub-effect display devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d to display the image shown in
It is characterized by
According to this feature, display deviation is prevented and display accuracy is improved.

The present invention may include only the matters specifying the invention described in the claims of the present invention, or may include the matters specifying the invention described in the claims of the present invention as well as the matters specifying the invention other than the matters specifying the invention. can be anything.

1 is a front view showing a pachinko gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. (a) is a front view showing each effect display device when the main effect display device and the sub-effect display device are in a non-overlapping state, and a sectional view taken along the line AA in the front view; FIG. 10 is a front view showing each effect display device when the main effect display device and the sub-effect display device are in a superimposed state, and a BB cross-sectional view in the front view; It is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example of the pachinko game machine. It is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration example in the production control board. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a VRAM area in SDRAM; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing drawing areas of each effect display device and main frame buffer when the main effect display device and the sub-effect display device are in a superimposed state; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing drawing areas of each effect display device and main frame buffer when the main effect display device and the sub-effect display device are in a non-overlapping state; (a) is a diagram showing a state in which a main image is drawn in a main frame buffer, and (b) is a diagram showing a state in which a sub-image is drawn in a sub-frame buffer. (a) is a diagram showing a state in which a sub-image is duplicated in a main frame buffer, and (b) is a diagram showing a state in which a sub-image is re-duplicated in a sub-frame buffer. It is a figure which shows the drawing order in the case of performing cooperation production|presentation. It is a figure which shows the drawing order when not performing cooperation production|presentation. It is a figure which shows the drawing order in the case of performing cooperation production|presentation as a modification. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of 2 ms timer interrupt processing; It is a flowchart which shows an example of the program of special design process processing. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the production|presentation control main process which CPU for production|presentation control performs. It is a flow chart which shows an example of production control process processing. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of image data drawing processing; 4 is a first flowchart showing an example of image data drawing processing to a buffer; FIG. 10 is a second flowchart showing an example of image data drawing processing to a buffer; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a table showing the correspondence between the number of steps of the stepping motor and the coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display device; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of drawing to a subframe buffer; FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example of drawing to a subframe buffer; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a change in the display image on the main effect display device accompanying movement of the sub effect display device. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a change in display image accompanying movement of the sub effect display device; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of a change in display image accompanying movement of the sub effect display device; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example of a change in display image accompanying movement of the sub effect display device; 4 is a flowchart showing an example of image data output processing; (a) is a timing chart showing the output of image data to the sub-effect display device and the V-sync and V-blank of the sub-effect display device; (b) is the output of image data to the main effect display device; FIG. 10C is a timing chart showing V sync and V blank of the effect display device, and (c) is a timing chart showing waiting for V blank by VDP and drawing to a buffer. FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of luminance that is perceived as having the same brightness when the same image is displayed on the main effect display device and the sub effect display device; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of driving signal waveforms for backlight LEDs of the main effect display device and the sub-effect display device; 5 is a flowchart showing an example of brightness control processing; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing differences in drive signal waveforms and contrasts for the backlight LEDs of the main effect display device and the sub effect display device in the modified example. It is a front view showing a pachinko gaming machine according to a modification. It is a figure which shows the display apparatus and display mode of the pachinko game machine which concerns on a modification. It is a figure which shows the arrangement|positioning condition of the display apparatus of the pachinko game machine which concerns on a modification.

An embodiment for carrying out a game machine according to the present invention will be described below.

First, the overall configuration of a pachinko game machine, which is an example of the game machine of the present invention, will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 viewed from the front. In the following description, the front side (player side) of FIG. 1 is the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the back side (inner side) is the rear side. Incidentally, the front face of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in this embodiment is a facing surface facing the player when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is viewed from the player side. Also, in the description of each step of the flowchart in the present embodiment, for example, "step S1" may be abbreviated as "S1". Further, in the present embodiment, "execution" and "implementation" are synonymous.

The pachinko game machine 1 is mainly composed of an outer frame (not shown) formed in a vertically long rectangular shape and a front frame (not shown) attached to the outer frame so as to be openable and closable. A glass door frame 102 and a lower door frame 103 are provided on the front surface of the front frame so that they can be opened and closed around one side.

As shown in FIG. 1, a lower door frame 103 attached to the lower side of the glass door frame 102 has a game ball storage section in the upper front portion that can store pachinko balls (hit balls) as game media (game balls). An upper plate portion 3a having a hitting ball supply plate (also referred to as an upper plate) 3 formed on the upper surface protrudes toward the front of the pachinko game machine 1 (in the front direction of the pachinko game machine 1). Under the upper plate portion 3a, an operation lever 600, which will be described later, is rotatably supported, and a lower plate portion 4a (also referred to as a lower plate) is formed on the upper surface of the surplus ball storage plate (also referred to as a lower plate). A projecting portion) projects toward the front of the pachinko game machine 1 (the front direction of the pachinko game machine 1). A hitting ball operation handle (operation knob) 5 for shooting pachinko balls is provided on the right side thereof.

The operation lever 600 includes an operation rod that the player grips, and a trigger switch is provided at a predetermined position of the operation rod (for example, a position where the operator's index finger is placed when the player grips the operation rod). A trigger button is provided. The trigger button can be operated by pushing and pulling with a predetermined operating finger (for example, the index finger) while the player holds the operating rod of the operating lever 600 with the operating hand (for example, the left hand). It should be configured as follows. Lever switches 510a to 510d arranged in four directions may be provided inside the main body of the lower plate portion 4a at the lower portion of the operating lever 600 in order to detect the tilting operation of the operating rod.

In addition, the member forming the upper tray 3 is provided at a predetermined position (for example, above the operation lever 600) on the front side of the main body of the upper tray 3, for example, so that the player can perform a predetermined instruction operation by pressing it. An operation button 516 is provided. The operation button 516 may be configured so as to be able to mechanically, electrically, or electromagnetically detect a predetermined instruction operation such as a pressing operation by the player. A button switch 516a (see FIG. 2) for detecting the player's manipulation of the operation button 516 may be provided inside the main body of the upper tray at the position where the operation button 516 is installed.

A pair of left and right speakers 27a and 27b, which will be described later, are arranged on the left and right sides of the front surface of the lower door frame 103. As shown in FIG. A transparent game board 6 detachably attached to the front frame 101 is arranged on the back of the glass door frame 102 . Incidentally, the game board 6 is a structure including a plate-like body constituting it and various parts attached to the plate-like body. A game area 7 is formed on the front surface of the game board 6 .

In the vicinity of the center of the game area 7, there is a main effect display device 9 including a plurality of variable display areas, each of which variably displays (also referred to as a "decorative pattern") a effect pattern for effect (also referred to as a decorative pattern), and this main effect display. Four sub performance display devices 11a to 11d smaller than the device 9 are provided on the back side of the transparent game board 6 so as to be visible through the game board 6 (see FIG. 2). In the following description, the four sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d may be collectively referred to as the sub-effect display device 11.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11 have different display areas and display pixel densities. In this embodiment, the total number of pixels of the main effect display device 9 is 800 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 600 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). 11d has 480 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 234 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction).

In this embodiment, the actual dimensions of the main effect display device 9 are approximately 12 cm in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and approximately 9 cm in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction), and each sub effect display device 11a 11d is approximately 6 cm in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and approximately 3 cm in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). That is, the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d differ in the number of pixels (pixel density) per square cm.

A main liquid crystal panel 9p having a large display area (display area) is used for the main effect display device 9, and a small display area (display area) is used for the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp are used. The main effect display device 9 and each of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are provided with a frame portion so as to surround each display portion.

The main effect display device 9 has a main liquid crystal panel 9p, a backlight including a backlight LED 9b for supplying light to the main liquid crystal panel 9p, and a backlight driving circuit 9k for driving the backlight LED 9b with a pulse signal. (See Figure 4). Similarly, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d also
Together with the sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp, a backlight including backlight LEDs 11ab to 11db for supplying light to the sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp, and backlight drive circuits 11ak to 11ak to drive the backlight LEDs 11ab to 11db with pulse signals. 11dk (see FIG. 4).

A luminous logo panel 500 is provided directly above the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a and 11b, so that the logo panel 500 emits light during game effects. ing.

Further, as described above, the main effect display device 9 is adapted to variably display the effect patterns for effect, and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d accompanies the variable display of the main effect display device 9. An effect image is displayed (see FIGS. 6 and 7). In other words, the effect control board 80, which will be described later, executes the effect of displaying the display contents in cooperation with the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d not only display display contents linked with the display image of the main effect display device 9, but also display individual effect images that are not linked with the display image of the main effect display device 9. (see FIG. 11).

Further, the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are horizontally long flat displays arranged so that their display screens are parallel to each other. In addition, the vertical arrangement of the main effect display device 9 is the direction recommended when the main effect display device 9 was designed (the direction in which the screen is horizontally long), that is, the horizontal line of the display screen is horizontal. placed. On the other hand, the vertical arrangement of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is the direction recommended when designing the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d (the direction in which the screen is horizontally long), that is, the horizontal line of the display screen is It is not oriented horizontally, but is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal. That is, the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are arranged in a state where the horizontal line of the display screen is rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal (a state rotated by a predetermined angle around the normal line of the display screen).

In the present embodiment, in the initial state, the sub effect display device 11a arranged on the upper left of the main effect display device 9 is rotated counterclockwise at an angle of 45°, and the main effect display device 9 The sub effect display device 11b arranged on the upper right side is rotated clockwise by an angle of 45°, and the sub effect display device 11c arranged on the lower left side of the main effect display device 9 is rotated clockwise by an angle of 45°. A sub-rendering display device 11d, which is rotated at an angle and arranged at the lower right of the main rendering display device 9, is rotated counterclockwise at an angle of 45°.

In addition, in this embodiment, four sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are arranged adjacent to the four corners of the main effect display device 9, and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is arranged from the main effect display device 9. are also arranged on the front side (see the AA sectional view of FIG. 2(a)). Further, in this embodiment, four movement motors 59a to 59d (see FIG. 3) for moving the respective sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are provided on the back side of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. ing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2(a), each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and the movement motors 59a to 59d have the same configuration, so the sub effect display device 11c and the movement motor 59c will be described as an example. . The sub effect display device 11c and the movement motor 59c are connected via a link mechanism 60. As shown in FIG. By driving the movement motor 59c, the sub-effect display device 11c overlaps with the main effect display device 9 at a non-overlapping position (see FIG. 2A) where the sub-effect display device 11c does not overlap with the main effect display device 9. The arrangement position of the sub effect display device 11c can be changed between the superimposed position (see FIG. 2(b)).

The sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are arranged not only at the non-superimposed position or the superimposed position, but also at an intermediate position between the non-superimposed position and the superimposed position. You can also let Further, by driving the moving motor 59c, the sub effect display device 11c maintains the parallel state between the display screen of the sub effect display device 11c and the display screen of the main effect display device 9, and moves the normal line of the display surface. tilts (rotates) around the axis.

Further, the moving motors 59a to 59d of the present embodiment incorporate a first stepping motor for linearly moving the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d between the non-superimposed position and the superimposed position, and the effect control CPU 86 It operates in synchronism with the pulse power, which is the drive signal from, so that the drive can be controlled accurately. Further, the movement motors 59a to 59d of this embodiment incorporate a second stepping motor for tilting the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, and are synchronized with the pulse power that is the drive signal from the effect control CPU 86. It is designed so that the drive can be controlled accurately. In this embodiment, the pulse power output (supply) cycle by the effect control CPU 86 is shorter than the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

In the present embodiment, driving means for moving the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is configured by driving the movement motors 59a to 59d. Driving means for moving the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be configured by driving a cylinder or the like. Furthermore, a chain, belt, or the like may be used to transmit the driving force from the driving means to the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d. Further, in the present embodiment, the sub-effect display device 11c and the movement motor 59c are connected via the link mechanism 60, but by using a rack and pinion, the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d and the movement motor 59c can be connected. It is good also as a structure which meshes|engages and connects.

In this embodiment, since the transparent game board 6 is used, no opening is provided in front of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. Alternatively, the game board 6 may be provided with openings for allowing the player to view the displays of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d.

A special symbol display device (special symbol display device) 8 (see FIG. 3) is provided at a predetermined location of the game board 6 for variably displaying special symbols as a plurality of types of identification information that can be identified. The main effect display device 9 has, for example, three variable display areas (symbol display areas) of "left", "middle", and "right". The main production display device 9 is a pattern for decoration (for production) during the period of variable display of the special pattern by the special pattern display 8, and the fluctuation of the production pattern as a plurality of types of identification information each of which can be identified. (Variable) display. The main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are controlled by respective devices such as the effect control microcomputer 81 (see FIG. 3) mounted on the effect control board 80 which will be described later.

The special symbol display device 8 is realized by a simple and small display device (for example, a 7-segment LED) that can variably display numbers 0 to 9, for example. The special symbol display device 8 includes a first special symbol display device 8a that variably displays a first special symbol as first identification information, and a second special symbol display that variably displays a second special symbol as second identification information. A vessel 8b is provided.

The variable display of the first special symbol is performed after the first start condition, which is the condition for executing the variable display, is satisfied (for example, the game ball has won the first start port 15a described later). , when the number of pending memories is not 0, the state where the variable display of the first special symbol is not executed, and the state where the jackpot game is not executed) is established, and the fluctuation When the time (variable display time) elapses, the display result (stop pattern) is derived and displayed. In addition, the variable display of the second special symbol is a variable display start condition after the second start condition, which is the execution condition of the variable display, is established (for example, the game ball has won a second start port 15b described later). (For example, when the number of pending memories is not 0, a state in which the variable display of the second special symbol is not executed, and a state in which the jackpot game is not executed) is established. , When the variable time (variable display time) elapses, the display result (stop pattern) is derived and displayed. Winning means that the game ball has entered a predetermined winning area such as a winning opening. Deriving and displaying a display result means finally stopping and displaying a pattern (an example of identification information).

The variable display on the first special symbol display device 8a and the second special symbol display device 8b and the variable (variable) display of the effect symbols on the main effect display device 9 are, as will be described later, the first special symbol display device 8a. And the second special symbol display 8b starts interlocking with the start of the variable display, and the first special symbol display 8a and the second special symbol display 8b are interlocked with the stop of the variable display. Synchronized so as to be stopped, the variable (variable) display of the effect symbols, which is the identification information on the main effect display device 9, is also performed when the first start condition or the second start condition, which is the condition for executing the variable display, is met ( For example, after the game ball has won the first start port 15a or the second start port 15b described later), the condition for starting the variable display (for example, when the number of pending memories is not 0, the first special symbol or It is started based on the establishment of a state in which the variable display of the second special symbol is not executed and a state in which the big win game or the small win game is not executed), and the variable display time (variation time) elapses. Then, the display result (stop symbol by combination of effect symbols) is derived and displayed.

Below the main effect display device 9, a starting winning device 15 having a first starting opening 15a and a second starting opening 15b as winning areas capable of receiving pachinko balls is provided. The starting winning device 15 is provided with a first starting port 15a at its upper portion and a second starting port 15b at its lower portion. A pair of movable pieces 13, 13 are provided on the left and right sides of the second starting port 15b so as to be capable of opening and closing. The first starting port 15a is open upward, and is always in a state in which it is possible to enter (accept) a pachinko ball. On the other hand, the second starting port 15b is provided with a structure around the first starting port 15a above, and the movable pieces 13, 13 are provided on the left and right sides. At this point, a pachinko ball cannot be entered (accepted), and the pachinko ball can be entered (accepted) when the movable pieces 13, 13 are open. In this way, the likelihood of winning a prize does not change for the first starting port 15a, and the likelihood of winning a prize changes for the second starting port 15b depending on the opening and closing operations of the movable pieces 13,13.

In the state where the movable pieces 13, 13 are closed, the start winning device 15 is difficult to win the second start opening 15b, but it is possible to win (that is, the pachinko ball wins). difficult). Further, the starting prize winning device 15 may be provided with only the first starting port 15a which does not change the ease of winning as the starting port, and the opening and closing operations of the movable pieces 13, 13 may facilitate the winning of prizes. Only the second starting port 15b with a variable width may be provided.

The movable pieces 13, 13 of the starting prize winning device 15 are driven by a solenoid 16 when an opening condition described later is established, and then closed after being opened for a predetermined period of time. By opening the movable pieces 13, 13 of the start-up winning device 15, the pachinko ball becomes easier to enter the second start-up opening 15b (start-up win becomes easier), which is advantageous to the player (first state). ). On the other hand, since the movable pieces 13, 13 of the starting prize winning device 15 are closed, the pachinko ball does not win the second starting port 15b (difficult to start winning), which is disadvantageous to the player (second state). A winning ball that has entered the first starting port 15a is guided to the back surface of the game board 6 and detected by the first starting port switch 14a. Also, the winning ball that has entered the second starting port 15b is guided to the back surface of the game board 6 and detected by the second starting port switch 14b.

At a predetermined location on the game board 6, there are four indicators that display the number of valid winning balls that have entered the first start switch 14a or the second start switch 14b, that is, the number of pending memories (also referred to as starting memory or starting winning memory). A special symbol reserve memory display 18 (see FIG. 3) is provided. A special symbol reserved memory display 18 displays up to four reserved memory numbers in the winning order. The special symbol reservation memory display 18 increases the storage data of the reservation memory by 1 and increases the number of LEDs in the lighting state by 1 each time the first start opening 15a or the second start opening 15b has a start winning prize. Then, the special symbol reserve memory display 18 decreases the storage data of the reserve memory by 1 every time the variable display is started on the special symbol display 8, and reduces the number of LEDs in the lighting state by 1 (that is, one LED ). Specifically, the special symbol reserve memory display 18 shifts the lighting state every time the special symbol display 8 starts to display a variable display. In this example, an upper limit (up to 4) is provided for the number of pending memories due to the winning of the first starting port 15a or the second starting port 15b. However, this is not limiting, and the upper limit of the number of reserved memories may be a value of four or more, or a value of less than four.

A special variable winning ball device 20 using an opening and closing plate that is opened and closed by a solenoid 21 is provided below the starting winning device 15 . The special variable winning ball device 20 is provided with a large winning opening that is opened and closed by an opening/closing plate, and in a jackpot game state, the opening/closing plate is controlled to an open state (first state) that is advantageous to the player, and the jackpot game state is established. In other states, the opening/closing plate is controlled to a closed state (second state) that is disadvantageous to the player. In this way, the special variable winning ball device 20 satisfies the release condition when the jackpot game state is reached. Of the winning balls that have won the special variable winning ball device 20 and are guided to the back of the game board 6, the winning balls that have entered one (V winning area: special area) and the pachinko balls that have entered the other area are counted as they are. 23 is detected. A solenoid 21a (see FIG. 3) is also provided on the back surface of the game board 6 for switching the path in the big winning opening.

When the pachinko ball passes through the gate 32 and is detected by the gate switch 32a, the normal symbol display 10, which variably displays normal symbols as identification information of a plurality of types, starts to variably display. In this embodiment, variable display is performed by alternately lighting left and right LEDs (the pattern becomes visible when lit), not shown. . Then, when the stop symbol on the normal symbol display 10 becomes a predetermined symbol (hit symbol), the condition for opening the movable pieces 13, 13 of the starting prize winning device 15 is satisfied, and the movable piece 13, 13 of the starting prize winning device 15, 13 is opened a predetermined number of times for a predetermined period of time. In the vicinity of the normal symbol display 10, a normal symbol holding storage display 41 (see FIG. 3) having four LED displays for displaying the number of effective passing balls that have passed through the gate 32, i.e., the number of starting passing memories. ) is provided. Each time the pachinko ball passes through the gate 32, the storage data of the starting passage memory is increased by 1, and the normal symbol holding memory display 41 increases the lighting LED by 1. - 特許庁Then, each time the variable display on the normal symbol display device 10 is started, the data stored in the starting passage memory is decreased by one, and the number of LEDs to be lit is decreased by one.

A game board 6 is provided with a plurality of normal prize winning ports consisting of a first normal prize winning port 29 and a second normal prize winning port 30 as a prize winning area of a prize winning device for receiving pachinko balls and allowing prize winning. The winning of the pachinko ball into the first normal winning hole 29 is detected by the first winning hole switch 29a. The winning of the pachinko ball into the second normal winning hole 30 is detected by the second winning hole switch 30a. The first starting hole 15a, the second starting hole 15b, and the big winning hole also constitute a winning area of a winning device that accepts pachinko balls and permits winning. Decoration light-emitting units 25L and 25R with built-in decoration LEDs 25a blinking during the game are provided around the left and right sides of the game area 7, and an out port 26 for collecting pachinko balls that did not win a prize is provided at the bottom. There is

Two speakers 27L and 27R for emitting sound effects are provided on the upper left and right sides outside the game area 7, and two speakers 27a and 27b for emitting sound effects are provided on the lower left and right sides. In the following description, the speakers 27L, 27R, 27a, and 27b may be collectively referred to as the speaker 27 in some cases. In addition, on the outer periphery of the game area 7, a ceiling lamp module 530 containing various LEDs such as a rotating body LED, a left light emitting part 28L containing a left frame LED 28b (see FIG. 3) and a right frame LED 28c (see FIG. 3) 3) is provided. Furthermore, decorative LEDs are installed around each structure (large winning opening, etc.) in the game area 7 . The rotator LED, the left frame LED 28b, the right frame LED 28c, and the decorative LED are examples of the decorative light emitters provided in the pachinko game machine 1, like the logo panel 500. FIG.

In this example, a prize ball LED 51 that lights up during prize ball payout is provided at a predetermined location on the left light emitting portion 28L, and a ball out LED 52 that lights up when the supply balls run out is provided at a predetermined location on the right frame LED 28c. is provided. These prize ball LED 51, ball out LED 52, decorative LED 25a, left frame LED 28b, right frame LED 28c, ceiling lamp module 530, various LEDs in the logo panel 500, etc. Based on the signal output from the effect control microcomputer 81, lighting control (LED control) is performed. Sound generation control (sound control) from the speakers 27L, 27R, 27a, and 27b is also performed by the effect control microcomputer 81. FIG.

A pachinko ball shot from a hitting ball launching device (not shown) by the player's operation of the hitting ball operation handle 5 passes through a hitting ball guide rail (not shown), enters the game area 7, and then flows down the game area 7.例文帳に追加When a pachinko ball enters the first starting port 15a and is detected by the first starting port switch 14a, or enters the second starting port 15b and is detected by the second starting port switch 14b, a variable display of special symbols is displayed. If it is possible to start, the special symbols start to variably display on the special symbol display device 8. - 特許庁If it is not possible to start variable display of special symbols, the number of pending memories is increased by one.

The variable display of symbols on the special symbol display device 8 and the main effect display device 9 is stopped when the variable display time set each time the variable display is performed elapses. When the pattern at the time of stop (stop pattern) is a big hit pattern as a specific display result (also called a big win display result), it becomes a big win and shifts to a big win game state. In the jackpot game state, the special variable winning ball device 20 is opened until a predetermined time elapses or until a predetermined number (for example, 10) of pachinko balls are won. When the pachinko ball enters the V winning area and is detected by the count switch 23 while the special variable winning ball device 20 is open, the continuation right is generated and the special variable winning ball device 20 is opened again. The generation of the right to continue is permitted with a predetermined number of times, such as 15 rounds, as an upper limit. Such control is called repeat continuous control. In the repeat continuation control, a state in which the special variable winning ball device 20 is open is called a round.

When the symbols on the special symbol display device 8 and the main effect display device 9 at the time of stopping are predetermined special jackpot symbols (probability variable jackpot symbols) among the jackpot patterns, it is determined that a jackpot is made after the jackpot game state. The probability of winning (jackpot probability) is higher than the normal game state, which is a normal state different from the jackpot game state. Hereinafter, the variable probability state is also referred to as a high-probability state (sometimes abbreviated as a high-probability state). In addition, the non-probability variable state is also referred to as a low-probability state (sometimes abbreviated as a low-probability state).

In addition, when the symbol display result at the time when the variable display is stopped on the special symbol display device 8 and the main effect display device 9 is a probability variable big hit symbol, a time saving state in which the variation time is shortened after the big win game state is set. controlled over time. The time saving state means that the variable display time of each of the special symbol display device 8, the main effect display device 9, and the normal symbol display device 10 compared to the normal game state (from the start of variation to the time of derivation display of the display result) time) to derive and display the display results early. Furthermore, during the time-saving state, the probability that the stop pattern on the normal pattern display 10 becomes a winning pattern is increased, and the opening time of the movable pieces 13, 13 of the starting prize winning device 15 is lengthened to increase the number of times of opening. , so-called electric tuning support control is executed. In the time-saving state, since the variable display time of the pattern is shortened, the number of pending memories, which will be described later, is consumed early, and the start-up winning that occurs beyond the upper limit of the number of pending memories (for example, "4") is invalidated. The display result can be reduced, and the display result can be frequently derived and displayed in a short period of time, making it easier to derive and display the big win display result at an early stage. This results in a game state that is advantageous for the player. In this way, in the case of the variable probability big hit, in a predetermined period after the end of the big hit game state, it will be controlled to the high probability state and the time saving state. The time saving state over a predetermined period after the end of the jackpot game state is either until the next jackpot game state occurs, or until the variable display of the special symbols and the performance symbols is performed a predetermined number of times (100 times). continues until the condition is met.

In addition, considering the payout of pachinko balls according to winning, in the time-saving state, compared with the non-time-saving state, the variable display time of normal patterns is shortened, and the stop pattern on the normal pattern display 10 becomes a winning pattern. The probability is increased, the opening time of the movable pieces 13, 13 of the starting prize winning device 15 at the time of winning is lengthened, and the number of times the movable pieces 13, 13 of the starting prize winning device 15 are opened once at the time of winning is increased. Based on this, the movable pieces 13, 13 of the starting prize winning device 15 are more likely to be in the open state than in the normal game state. Therefore, in the time saving state, winning to the second start opening 15b (including both cases where the start winning is valid and invalid) is likely to occur, so the number of pachinko balls hit into the game area 7 ( The ratio of the number of pachinko balls (number of payout balls) paid out as prize balls corresponding to winnings to the number of hit balls) is higher than in the normal game state. In general, the ratio of the number of winning balls paid out to the number of launched balls is called "base". For example, when there are 40 payout balls for 100 hit balls, the base is 40(%). In the case of this embodiment, for example, a time-saving state in which the base is higher than a non-time-saving state such as a normal game state is called a high-base state, and conversely, a normal game state in which the base is lower than such a high-base state Such a non-time-saving state is called a low-base state.

In this way, the ratio of the number of winning balls paid out to the number of balls fired is generally called the "base", but the maximum number of pachinko balls fired per unit time, such as one minute, is limited to a certain number. ing. For this reason, the "base" can also be indicated by the total number of payout balls for winning prizes in a plurality of prize winning holes provided in the game area in a unit time. For example, if the maximum number of pachinko balls fired per unit time is 100, the total number of winning balls paid out per unit time will match the general "base" value. Based on such relationships, in the present embodiment, the first starting hole 15a, the second starting hole 15b, the first normal winning hole 29, and the second normal winning hole 30 are each set as the winning holes to be monitored for abnormality, The total value of the number of paid-out prize balls resulting from the winning of the prize-winning openings subject to abnormality monitoring is called a base, and is used as a target of abnormality monitoring relating to winning.

Whether the probability variable state (high probability state) or the non-probability variable state (low probability state) is determined based on whether or not the probability variable flag, which is a flag set in the probability variable state, is set. . In addition, whether the time saving state (high base state) or non-working time saving state (low base state) is determined based on whether the time saving flag, which is a flag set in the time saving state, is set. be done.

In addition, in the state that is not controlled to the above-mentioned time saving state, every time the number of reserved memories of the special design becomes a predetermined number or more, the memory that controls to the memory fluctuation shortening state that shortens the fluctuation display time of the special design and the production design Variation shortening control is performed. The memory fluctuation reduction control ends when the reserved memory number of special symbols becomes less than a predetermined number. Therefore, even in a state not controlled to the time saving state, the variable display time of the special design and the performance design may be shortened.

The performance symbols variably displayed on the main performance display device 9 are variably displayed having a predetermined relationship with the variable display of the special symbols in order to enhance the decorative effect of the variable display of the special symbols on the special symbol display device 8. The design has a decorative meaning. The predetermined relationship of such symbols includes, for example, the relationship that the variable display of the effect symbols is started when the variable display of the special symbols is started, and the display result of the special symbols at the end of the variable display of the special symbols. is derived and displayed, the display result of the effect pattern is derived and displayed, and the variable display of the effect pattern is ended. When a predetermined big win pattern is derived and displayed as a display result by the special pattern display device 8, a combination of big win patterns in which the left, middle and right patterns are doubles is derived and displayed by the main effect display device 9 as the display result. be done. The display result of the combination of the big-hit symbols by the special symbols and the combination of the big-hit symbols by the performance symbols is called the big-hit display result. Since the special symbol display device 8 and the main effect display device 9 correspond to each other in the variable display results as described above, they may be collectively referred to as a variable display unit in the following description.

Next, the reach display mode (reach) will be described. The ready-to-win display mode (ready-to-win) in this embodiment means that when the stopped symbols constitute a part of the jackpot symbols, the symbols that have not stopped are displayed in a variable manner, and all or This is a state in which some symbols constitute all or part of the jackpot symbols and are synchronously variably displayed.

For example, in the main effect display device 9, an effective line (one horizontal effective line in the case of this embodiment) that becomes a big hit when the symbols stop is predetermined, and a part of the display area on the effective line A state in which variable display is performed in the display areas on the active line that have not yet stopped when the predetermined symbols are stopped (for example, the left, middle, and right variable display areas on the main effect display device 9). of the left and right display areas, the same pattern is still displayed, and the middle display area is still displayed in a variable manner), and all or part of the display area on the active line A state in which the symbols constitute all or part of the jackpot symbols and are synchronously variably displayed (for example, variably displayed in all of the left, middle, and right display areas of the main effect display device 9, A state in which variable display is performed while the same symbols are always aligned is called a ready-to-win display mode or ready-to-win.

Also, during the reach, an unusual effect may be performed with LEDs or sounds. This production is called reach production. Incidentally, these ready-to-win effects include a ready-to-win notification effect for notifying that a ready-to-win situation has occurred (see FIG. 6). In addition, at the time of reach, a character (a performance display that imitates a person, etc., and is different from a pattern (performance pattern, etc.)) is displayed, and the display mode of the background image of the main effect display device 9 (for example, color etc.) may be changed. This change in the character display and background display mode is called a ready-to-win effect display. Also, some reach is set so that when it appears, a big hit is more likely to occur than with a normal reach. Such special (specific) reach is called super reach.

In addition, the main effect display device 9 may perform a big hit announcement effect such as a simulated combination that notifies that there is a possibility of a big win in the variable display that triggers the occurrence of a big win. In the case of this embodiment, a plurality of types of jackpots such as a normal jackpot C and a variable probability jackpot A are provided as jackpots, as will be described later. In the following description, when simply referring to "jackpot" without specifying the type of jackpot, it is representative of these multiple types of jackpots.

The normal jackpot C is a jackpot (non-probability variable jackpot) that is in a low-probability state and a low-base state because the variable probability state and the time-saving state do not occur after the end of the jackpot game state. Such a low probability state and low base state is called a low probability low base state. The variable probability big win A is a high probability state and a high base state in which the variable probability state is reached after the end of the big win game state, and the time saving state is maintained for a predetermined period. Such a high-probability state and high-base state is called a high-probability-high-base state. After the variable probability big hit, the time saving state ends when a predetermined period elapses, and the state becomes a high probability state and a low base state. Such a high probability state and low base state is called a high probability low base state.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration on the main substrate 31. As shown in FIG. 3 also shows the payout control board 37 and the performance control board 80 mounted on the pachinko game machine 1. As shown in FIG. The main board (game control board) 31 includes a game control microcomputer 156, which is a basic circuit for controlling the pachinko game machine 1 according to a program, a gate switch 32a, a first start switch 14a, and a second start switch 14b. , count switch 23, first winning port switch 29a, other signals from second winning port switch 30a, input circuit 58 for giving various signals such as power supply disconnection signal and clear signal to game control microcomputer 156, starting winning The solenoid 16 for opening and closing the movable pieces 13, 13 of the device 15, the solenoid 21 for opening and closing the special variable winning ball device 20, and the solenoid 21a for switching the path in the big winning opening are controlled by commands from the game control microcomputer 156. Therefore, an output circuit 79 for driving is mounted.

The game control microcomputer 156 includes a ROM 54 that stores a program for game control (game progress control), a RAM 55 that is used as a work memory, a CPU 56 that is a processor that performs control operations according to the program, and an I / O Includes port 57 . The game control microcomputer 156 is a one-chip microcomputer.

In the game control microcomputer 156, the CPU 56 executes control according to a program stored in the ROM54. Therefore, the execution (or processing) of the game control microcomputer 156 as described below specifically means that the CPU 56 executes control according to the program. This also applies to microcomputers mounted on boards other than the main board 31 .

The game control microcomputer 156 incorporates a clock circuit for generating a clock signal, a reset controller, a random number circuit, and a CTC for sending an interrupt request signal to the CPU 56 .

The random number circuit is a hardware circuit used to generate a judgment random number for judging whether or not a big win is to be achieved based on the display result of the variable display of special symbols and effect symbols. This random number circuit updates numerical data according to a set update rule within a numerical range in which an initial value (for example, 0) and an upper limit value (for example, 65535) are set, and at random timing It has a random number generation function in which the numerical data to be read out becomes a random number based on the fact that the generated start winning time is the time of reading out (extracting) the numerical data.

The game control microcomputer 156 reads numerical data as a random number value R (random R) from the random number circuit when a start winning to the first starting opening switch 14a or the second starting opening switch 14b occurs, and the numerical data Based on this, it is determined whether or not to make a big hit display result as a specific display result, that is, whether or not to make a big hit. Then, when it is determined to be a big win, the game state is shifted to a big win game state as a specific game state advantageous to the player. It should be noted that the determination as to whether or not the game is a big hit is actually executed based on the random number value extracted at the time of starting winning at the start of the variable display of the special symbols and the performance symbols. In addition, the random number generated by the random number circuit is a random number for determining whether or not to be a probability variation, and a random number for determining a variation pattern that determines the variation pattern of special symbols. It may be used as a random number for judgment other than judgment.

The clock circuit outputs a system clock signal to the CPU 56, and outputs a reference clock signal CLK having a predetermined cycle generated by dividing the system clock signal to each random number circuit. The reset controller outputs a predetermined initialization signal to the CPU 56 and each random number circuit and resets the game control microcomputer 156 when a low level signal is input for a certain period of time.

Also, the RAM 55 is a backup RAM as a volatile storage means, partly or wholly of which is backed up by a backup power supply created on a power supply board (not shown). That is, even when the power supply to the pachinko game machine 1 is stopped, that is, at the time of power failure, a part of the RAM 55 is maintained for a predetermined period (until the capacitor serving as the backup power supply is discharged and the backup power supply becomes unable to supply power). Or the entire content is preserved. In particular, at least data corresponding to the control state of the game (special symbol process flag, etc.) and data indicating the number of unpaid prize balls are stored in the RAM 55 as backup data. The data corresponding to the control state is data necessary for restoring the control state before the occurrence of the power failure or the like based on the data when the system is restored after the power failure or the like.

Further, a power-off signal is input to the input circuit 58 to indicate that the power supply voltage from the power supply board (not shown) has dropped below a predetermined value. The power-off signal is input to the input port of the game control microcomputer 156 via the input circuit 58 . Also, a clear signal indicating that a clear switch for instructing clearing of the contents of the RAM has been operated is input to the input circuit 58 at the input port of the game control microcomputer 156 . The clear signal is input to the input port of the game control microcomputer 156 via the input circuit 58 .

Also, each of the plurality of switches is connected to the input port of the game control microcomputer 156 via the input circuit 58 . Thereby, the game control microcomputer 156 receives an input detection signal indicating the input state of each switch from each of the plurality of switches.

In addition, the output circuit 78 mounted on the game control microcomputer 156 transmits (outputs) the effect control command output by the CPU 56 to the effect control board 80 . In addition, the output circuit 78 transmits (outputs) the control signal output by the CPU 56 to the special symbol display 8, the special symbol reservation storage display 18, the normal symbol display 10, and the normal symbol reservation storage display 41.

The game control microcomputer 156 outputs an effect control command (effect control signal) as a control signal for commanding effect control including display control, sound control, and LED control to the effect control board 80, and outputs the output circuit 78. Send via.

The effect control commands that the game control microcomputer 156 transmits to the effect control board 80 include a customer waiting demonstration designation command and a variable display command.

The customer waiting demonstration designation command is an effect control command (customer waiting demonstration designation command) that the game control microcomputer 156 designates the display at the time of the customer waiting demonstration, and a predetermined time has passed since the special symbol variation ended. When the customer waiting demonstration designation command is sent to the production control board 80, a predetermined customer waiting demonstration screen is displayed on the main production display device 9. - 特許庁In other words, since there is usually a period during which the player is absent when the player changes, it is assumed that the player is absent due to the change of the player. sometimes output.

In addition, the variable display command is an effect control command that is transmitted at the start of variation in order to specify the variation pattern of the effect symbols that are variably displayed on the main effect display device 9 corresponding to the variable display of the special symbols. This command is for specifying the start.

The effect control board 80 receives the effect control command from the game control microcomputer 156, and controls display of effect display and effect sound (effect sound) on the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. A production control microcomputer 81 or the like for controlling the output of is mounted.

In this embodiment, the effect control microcomputer 81 mounted on the effect control board 80 receives the effect control command from the game control microcomputer 156, and displays the main effect display device 9 that variably displays the effect pattern. It performs control, display control of the four sub performance display devices 11a to 11d, and sound output control from the speakers 27L, 27R, 27a, and 27b.

The main effect display device 9 is directly connected to a main display system output section MK (one output section) of the VDP 262 mounted on the effect control board 80 and described later. On the other hand, the four sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are sub-display system output units SK (other output and common output).

The main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display device 11 have a main liquid crystal panel 9p and sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp. ) is formed. Thus, in this embodiment, the main liquid crystal panel 9p and the sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp are used to configure the display section, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the main effect display device 9 And the sub effect display device 11 is a display device having an image display form other than liquid crystal, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube ), FED (Field Emission Display), PDP (Plasma Display Panel), dot matrix LED, organic or inorganic electroluminescence (EL) panel, or the like. Further, in the main effect display device 9, the effect symbols are variably displayed while the special symbol display device 8 is performing the variable display period of the special symbols.

In addition, the production control microcomputer 81 mounted on the production control board 80 detects detection signals from the lever switches 510a to 510d and the button switch 516a, so that the operation of the operation lever 600 and the operation button 516 are performed by the player. Detects operations by

In addition, the effect control microcomputer 81 performs display control of the stage LED 25b provided on the game board 6, and the prize ball LED 51 provided on the frame side, the ball running out LED 52, the left frame LED 28b, the right frame LED 28c, Also, lighting control of each LED in the ceiling lamp module 530 is performed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the production control board 80 is connected with four movement motors 59a to 59d for operating (moving) the four (plural) sub production display devices 11a to 11d. , the effect control microcomputer 81 controls the operation of each of the movement motors 59a to 59d, thereby controlling the movement of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the effect control board 80 is equipped with a effect control microcomputer 81 including a effect control CPU 86 and a RAM 85 . In the effect control board 80 , the effect control CPU 86 operates according to a program stored in the built-in ROM 84 and receives effect control commands via the input circuit 260 . Of these, the ROM 84 stores data related to images to be displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d in various effects, time charts such as display start timing and end timing, etc. for each type of effect. remembered. In addition, based on the effect control command, the effect control CPU 86 instructs the VDP (video display processor) 262 to generate an image to be displayed on the main effect display device 9 and adjust the emission intensity of the backlight LED 9b. 9, the generation of images to be displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d, and the adjustment of the emission intensity of the backlight LEDs 11ab-11db. A second display control process for performing display control is performed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a driving signal (pulse) is output to a logo panel LED 500' provided in the logo panel 500 for causing the logo panel 500 to emit light, thereby turning on the logo panel LED 500'. A logo panel LED drive circuit 88 that emits light is mounted on the effect control board 80, and by changing the signal width (pulse width) of the drive signal (pulse) from the logo panel LED drive circuit 88, the logo panel The effect control board 80 (the effect control CPU 86) can perform control to change the light emission intensity of the LED 500'. In this embodiment, the logo panel LED drive circuit 88 is mounted on the presentation control board 80, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the logo panel LED drive circuit 88 is not limited to this. may be provided on the logo panel 500 or a relay board or the like provided between the logo panel 500 and the effect control board 80 .

In this embodiment, the effect control board 80 is equipped with a VDP (display control means) 262 that controls the display of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d in cooperation with the effect control microcomputer 81. ing.

As shown in FIG. 4, the VDP 262 stores data such as characters (image data such as people, animals, characters, figures, symbols, etc., also called CG data) as image element data (original image) used as a sprite image. A display control circuit is constructed together with a CGROM 205 used as a VRAM area (image data storage means) and an SDRAM 210 (synchronous DRAM) used as a VRAM area (image data storage means).

The effect control CPU 86 outputs to the VDP 262 a command for reading necessary data from the image data ROM 263 storing various image data in accordance with the received effect control command. The image data ROM 263 stores character image data and moving image data to be displayed on the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. , and a ROM for pre-storing the image data of the background image. The VDP 262 reads image data from the image data ROM 263 in accordance with instructions from the effect control CPU 86 . The VDP 262 then executes display control based on the read image data.

The VDP 262 includes a system register 202 that stores various settings of the VDP 262, attributes (parameters used when drawing a character, and character drawing order, number of colors, scaling ratio, palette number, coordinates, etc.). designated data), a drawing control unit 206 (arranging means) for controlling the drawing of images in each frame buffer and composite image storage area in the VRAM area, and CG data stored in the CGROM 205. to the VRAM area, data signals (R (red), G (green), B ( It is an integrated circuit equipped with a display control section 213 (output section) for outputting a blue)) signal and a synchronizing signal to the main effect display device 9 and sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d.

A system bus and a CG bus are provided inside the VDP 262. The system bus and the CG bus are connected to the effect control CPU 86 of the effect control microcomputer 81 via the CPU interface 201, and the CG bus is It is connected to the CGROM 205 via the CG bus interface 204 . A system register 202 is connected to the system bus, and an attribute register 203 is connected to the CG bus.

The drawing control unit 206, the data transfer control unit 211, and the display control unit 213 are connected to the system bus and can access the system register 202. FIG. The drawing control unit 206 and data transfer control unit 211 are connected to the CG bus so that they can access the CGROM 205 and attribute register 203 .

A VRAM bus is further provided inside the VDP 262 , and the VRAM bus is connected to the SDRAM 210 via the VRAM bus interface 209 . The drawing control unit 206, the data transfer control unit 211, and the display control unit 213 are connected to the VRAM bus so that the VRAM area of the SDRAM 210 can be accessed via the VRAM bus.

The system register 202 includes a system control register for storing commands such as initialization, drawing, and data transfer; an interrupt control register for storing interrupt signal output commands; A drawing register that stores the placement area, etc., a data transfer register that stores the transfer source address and the transfer destination address when transferring data, and a display register that stores the address of the image display area in the VRAM area, etc. are allocated. .

In the system register 202 of the VDP 262, each area data (address) of the first drawing area (first storage area) and each second drawing area (second storage area) in the main frame buffer of the VRAM area is registered. Based on the movement distance of each sub effect display device 11a to 11d, the effect control microcomputer 81 controls each sub effect display device 11a to 11d to correspond to the position of the display area of the system register 202. Each area data of the second drawing area is updated.

The CPU interface 201 outputs a V blank interrupt signal to the effect control CPU 86 and the drawing control unit 206 each time a V blank (image update cycle) corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d starts. Other various interrupt signals are output to the effect control CPU 86 . The V-blank is a period during which an image can be drawn, and the start timing of the V-blank differs between the main effect display device 9, the main effect display device 9, and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. The start timing of the V blank corresponding to the main effect display device 9 is the timing at which the output of one frame of image data to the main effect display device 9 ends. On the other hand, the V-blank timing corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is the timing at which the output of one frame of image data is completed for all of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. In this embodiment, the time required to output one frame of image data to all of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is longer than the time required to output one frame of image data to the main effect display device 9. It's becoming The CPU interface 201 monitors the end of the output of one frame of image data to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d by the display control unit 213, and at the timing of the end, the V display corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Output a blank interrupt signal. Here, the output of image data for one frame to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d by the display control section 213 is performed within one frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Therefore, the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is output for each frame period of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, and the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is output. The average cycle of the interrupt signal is the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

The display control unit 213 outputs the image data in the VRAM area designated by the display register and the output image data Z stored in the later-described synthesized image storage area as data signals.

The VDP 262 of this embodiment mounted on the effect control board 80 includes a main display system output unit MK to which a data signal of the main image data to be displayed on the main effect display device 9 is transmitted, and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. and a sub-display system output section SK to which a data signal of image data for output to be displayed on the display is transmitted, which will be described later. Of the two signal output lines, the main display system output section MK is connected to the liquid crystal panel side receiving circuit 225 of the main effect display device 9, and is output from the VDP 262 via the liquid crystal panel side receiving circuit 225. A signal is input to the main liquid crystal panel 9p.

In addition, as will be described later, the sub-display system output unit SK is provided with a signal for transmitting a data signal for transmitting image data output from the sub-display system output unit SK to each of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. A separation board 220 is connected, and through this signal separation board 220, each liquid crystal panel side receiving circuit of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is connected. Data signals output from the VDP 262 are input to the sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp via the respective liquid crystal panel side receiving circuits. Incidentally, the signal separation board 220 is mounted on the pachinko game machine 1 as a separate board different from the effect control board 80 .

In addition, the signal separation board 220 includes a primary separation circuit that separates the data signal of the sub-display system output section SK (one system) output from the sub-display system output section SK of the VDP 262 into two systems, and a primary separation circuit that separates the data signal into two systems. two secondary separation circuits for separating the signals of each system (each one system) that are separated and output into two systems, and the data signals of each system (each one system) that are separated and output by the secondary separation circuit to each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

The display control unit 213 of the VDP 262 is designed to send out a data signal at a frequency of 40 MHz with a dot clock value (cycle for outputting image data for one dot). The same dot clock value receives a data signal with a frequency of 40 MHz to display an image. On the other hand, each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d receives a data signal having a dot clock value of 10 MHz and displays an image, as will be described later. Therefore, the data signal with a dot clock value of 40 MHz output from the VDP 262 is converted by the signal separation board 220 into a data signal with a dot clock value of 10 MHz and output. In the signal separation board 220, the data signal with a dot clock value of 40 MHz output from the VDP 262 is converted into a data signal with a dot clock value of 20 MHz by the primary separation circuit. converts the dot clock value into a data signal with a frequency of 10 MHz and outputs it.

In this embodiment, the display control unit 213 of the VDP 262 displays image data output to the main display system output unit MK to display an image on the main effect display device 9, and displays images on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. To do so, the image data output to the sub-display system output unit SK is subjected to color tone correction. Color tone correction includes, for example, brightness correction for adjusting the brightness and contrast of images displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, and gamma correction for adjusting numerical values indicating the response characteristics of image gradation. There are other methods such as Specifically, the image data output from the display control unit 213 is filtered using a mask pattern prepared by recording it in the ROM 84 or RAM 85 in advance. and corrects the color tone of the image displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

In this embodiment, the images displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d with small display areas are subjected to color tone correction so as to match the main effect display device 9 with a large display area. Specifically, first, a reference color (for example, white) is specified, and the color tone of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is corrected so as to match the main effect display device 9 with respect to the specified color. The amount of correction is recorded in a predetermined area of the ROM 84 or RAM 85 as a mask pattern or the like, and all colors other than the specified color are also corrected using the mask pattern or the like.

As a result, for example, even if a portion displayed in white on the main effect display device 9 is displayed bluish or yellowish on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, by correcting the color tone, The difference in color from the main effect display device 9 can be suppressed. That is, even when the same image data is displayed on a plurality of effect display devices having different characteristics, such as the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, a display that does not give a sense of incongruity among the plurality of effect display devices is realized. be able to. In addition, since it is matched with the main effect display device 9 having a large display area, it is possible to reduce discomfort by matching it with a large and conspicuous part. Furthermore, by correcting all colors based on a specific color, it is possible to realize a display that does not cause a sense of incongruity among a plurality of display devices such as the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. In addition, the brightness (luminance) of the entire display device by the backlight of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d arranged in front and the main effect display device 9 arranged in the rear (back side) is controlled by the luminance control process described later. (Fig. 31), the brightness (luminance) is almost the same, so that the visibility of the displayed image is reduced due to the difference in brightness between the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the case of cooperative effects in which images are displayed across the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, the images displayed across these devices can be visually recognized. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of the quality and the feeling of discomfort given to the player.

The image displayed on the main effect display device 9 may be subjected to color tone correction so as to match the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Further, by matching the color tone of the main effect display device 9 to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and matching the color tone of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d to the main effect display device 9, the main effect display device 9 and the color tones of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. As a result, for example, it is possible to cope with a case where correction cannot be performed beyond the color tone correctable range, such as when white is to be made whiter.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2B, the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d may overlap, and as shown in FIG. When the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are physically superimposed on the front surface of the effect display device 9, the main effect display device 9 has a display area (overlapping area) covered by the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. . As shown in FIG. 7B, the main frame buffer in the VRAM area has a first drawing area and a second drawing area according to the physical layout of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. A region is set. As a result, the same image is displayed on the superimposed area of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. The same image displayed in the changes in the same manner. However, some images in the superimposed area of the main effect display device 9 can be controlled so as not to be displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

Even if the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are physically superimposed in front of the main effect display device 9, in principle, the images displayed in the display areas of the superimposed sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are the superimposed main effect display devices. It is displayed in the superimposed area of the effect display device 9 . For this reason, even if it is visually recognized through a gap or the like, it can be made to look good.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the VRAM area of the SDRAM 210. As shown in FIG. The VRAM area includes a palette area in which palette data is arranged, a character buffer in which necessary characters are read out from the image data ROM and stored, and palette data (character display area) used when the drawing control unit 206 draws an image. areas such as CG buffers for temporarily storing data defining colors) and for temporarily storing CG data when the drawing control unit 206 draws an image. .

A buffer A area and a buffer B area are allocated to the VRAM area. The buffer A and the buffer B are image display areas in which each image data to be displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are stored, and the main effect display device 9 and each sub effect display device 11a. 11d is an image drawing area where each image data displayed is drawn. In this embodiment, the time required to draw the image data in the image drawing area is longer than one frame period of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and shorter than two frame periods. Therefore, the image display area and the image drawing area are changed every time the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is input to the drawing control unit 206 twice, that is, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are switched. 11d, and when one of the buffers A and B becomes an image display area, the other of the buffers A and B becomes an image drawing area. More specifically, at the timing when a V-blank interrupt signal corresponding to one of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d is input, the buffer A becomes an image drawing area and drawing of the image data of each image is started. The buffer B becomes an image display area, and image data of each image that has already been drawn starts to be output. Also, at the timing when the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is input two times later, the buffer A becomes the image display area, and the image data of each image that has already been drawn starts to be output. At the same time, the buffer B becomes an image drawing area, and drawing of image data of each image is started.

Each image drawing area (each image display area) in the VRAM area has a first drawing area (first storage area) in which main image data to be displayed on the main effect display device 9 is stored, as will be described later. a main frame buffer, a sub-frame buffer having storage areas (second storage areas) for storing sub-image data to be displayed on the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d, and storage areas of the sub-frame buffers A composite image storage area is allocated in which sub image data is composited and stored as image data Z for output. By specifying each of these areas in the display register, the display control unit 213 outputs the main image data to the main effect display device 9, and the output image data Z to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. output to. As a result, the image drawn and stored in the first drawing area is displayed on the main effect display device 9, and the images stored in the composite image storage area are displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. In this embodiment, the display control unit 213 outputs image data at V-sync timings corresponding to sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d, which will be described later, and outputs the same image data from the buffer A two times in succession. and the process of outputting the same image data from the buffer B consecutively twice are alternately repeated.

As described above, the effect control CPU 86 can access the system register 202 and the attribute register 203 via the CPU interface 201, and the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The VDP 262 is indirectly controlled by storing execution instructions and necessary data in the system register 202 and attribute register 203 according to the process data defining the display pattern.

In the process data, setting contents to be performed to the system register 202 and the attribute register 203 by the effect control CPU 86 are defined for each V blank corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The setting contents of the system register 202 include drawing and data transfer commands, CG data and palette data for data transfer, attribute settings, a dot clock value that is the output cycle of image data, and the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9. and the number of dots for each frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Here, the number of dots for the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is specified by the number of dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and the number of dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). It is set larger than the physical number of dots in the X-axis direction and the number of dots in the Y-axis direction that constitute the display unit. Similarly, the number of dots for each frame period of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is specified by the number of dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and the number of dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). It is set larger than the physical number of dots in the X-axis direction and the number of dots in the Y-axis direction that constitute the display units of the display devices 11a to 11d.

In this embodiment, the main effect display is performed based on the dot clock value (40 MHz), the number of dots for the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9, and the number of dots for the frame cycle of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. One frame cycle is set for the device 9, and one frame cycle is set for the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Specifically, the frame period matches the period of the Vsync, for example, 1/60 second, and the start timing of the frame period matches the timing of the Vsync.

However, the cycle of the V sync, which is the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9, is added to the dot clock value, the number of dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction), which is the number of dots for the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9, and the number of dots in the Y-axis direction. It is calculated by multiplying the number of dots in the direction (vertical direction). On the other hand, the frame period of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is determined by the dot clock value of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, and the dot number of the corresponding sub effect display devices 11a to 11d in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). number and the number of dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction), and further add the multiplied values. Therefore, the frame period of the main effect display device 9 and the frame period of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d cannot be strictly set to 1/60 second, and the frame period of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display device A difference occurs between the frame cycles of the display devices 11a to 11d.

In this embodiment, the frame period of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is longer than that of the main effect display device 9 in the initial state (the state before the frame period of the main effect display device 9 is changed). However, the effect control CPU 86 determines that the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 obtained by multiplying the dot clock value by the number of dots for the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is equal to the dot clock value of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The number of dots for the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is increased from the initial value so that it becomes longer than the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d obtained by multiplying the number of dots for the frame cycle of . and set it in the system register 202. As a result, the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is longer than the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and longer than the frame cycle unique to the main effect display device 9.

The setting contents of the attribute register 203 are the attributes themselves, that is, the parameters used when drawing the character. Attributes are set in the process data so that the image is updated for each V blank corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Therefore, the image is updated for each V blank corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

Here, drawing control will be briefly described. In order for the drawing control unit 206 to perform drawing processing, characters required for drawing must be placed in the VRAM area. In other words, it is necessary to place characters, which are image element data of sprite images, in the VRAM area.

Therefore, when executing various effects, the effect control CPU 86 issues a transfer command from the CGROM 205 to the VRAM area of all the characters necessary for executing the effect. Along with this, the data transfer control unit 211 arranges all the characters necessary for the execution of the effect in the VRAM area. When executing the effect, the same character is often used repeatedly for drawing. By arranging all necessary characters in the VRAM area at the first stage of rendering, the time required for drawing can be reduced compared to reading data from the CGROM 205 for each frame. In this embodiment, when the effect control CPU 86 executes the effect, it issues a transfer command from the CGROM 205 to the VRAM area for all the characters necessary for reproducing the moving image. A character transfer command may be issued each time.

In order for the drawing control unit 206 to perform drawing processing, attributes must be set in the attribute register 203 . Since the attribute differs for each V blank corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the attribute according to the process data is stored in the attribute register 203 for each V blank corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

After starting the effect, the effect control CPU 86 sets the attribute in the attribute register 203 for each V blank corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, and then commands the execution of reading the attribute. Along with this, the drawing control unit 206 reads the attribute of the attribute register 203, and when the reading is completed, issues an instruction to output a read end interrupt signal. In response to this, the effect control CPU 86 commands execution of drawing, and the drawing control unit 206 draws each image data in each frame buffer according to the read attribute. Details of the drawing process will be described later.

Next, details of processing in each frame buffer storing each image data to be displayed on the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the synthesized image storage area, and the signal separation board 220 are shown in FIGS. 12 for details. Note that each frame buffer and synthesized image storage area allocated to each image drawing area (each image display area) in the VRAM area described above have the same configuration and common processing contents are executed, so one image drawing area ( Each frame buffer of the image display area) and the synthesized image storage area will be described as an example.

As shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 7(a), the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are used in the movable display effect, the advance notice effect, the ready-to-win effect, the effect in the jackpot game state, and the like. Images, videos, etc. are displayed in combination. At that time, as shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 7(b), the images and the like displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are first displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect displays. Drawing is performed in the first drawing area and the second drawing area of the main frame buffer according to the physical layout of the devices 11a to 11d. 6 shows the case where the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed, and FIG. 7 shows the case where the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are not superimposed. state.

Also, as described above, the VRAM area is allocated with a main frame buffer, a sub-frame buffer, and a composite image storage area. As shown in FIG. 8(a), the main frame buffer is assigned a first drawing area in which main image data to be displayed on the main effect display device 9 is stored. A memory area capable of storing pixel data of 800 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 600 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction) is allocated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the sub-frame buffer is assigned storage areas for storing sub-image data to be displayed on the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. is allocated a memory area capable of storing pixel data of 480 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 234 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11, the composite image storage area in which the sub-image data in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer is synthesized and stored as image data for output has 1920 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). A memory area capable of storing 234 dots of pixel data is allocated in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). That is, the number of dots in the X-axis direction assigned to the composite image storage area corresponds to four dots in the X-axis direction (for four display devices) of the storage area of the subframe buffer.

In this embodiment, when an image is displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, the drawing control unit 206 of the VDP 262 first generates image data such as characters, which are image element data of the sprite image. It draws in the first drawing area of the main frame buffer and draws in the second drawing area of the sub-frame buffer (see FIGS. 10A and 10B). Here, when the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d perform cooperative effects in which display contents are displayed in cooperation with each other, each sub-image data drawn in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer ( Unprocessed image) is duplicated in the main frame buffer, and effect processing (predetermined drawing processing) is performed to draw effect image data (common image data) used for cooperative effects in the main frame buffer. . The effect image is, for example, an image of radial lightning that is commonly drawn over the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d (see FIG. 9A).

As shown in FIG. 9A, the main frame buffer can be assigned with second drawing areas in which each sub-image data drawn in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer is duplicated and drawn. Each of the second drawing areas is set according to the physical arrangement state of each of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d, and each of the second drawing areas is arranged adjacent to each of the four corners of the first drawing area. . Furthermore, each second drawing area is set in a state rotated by a predetermined angle according to the physical rotation state of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

In this embodiment, when each sub-image data is copied from the second drawing area of the sub-frame buffer by the drawing control unit 206 of the VDP 262, in the main-frame buffer, the first drawing area arranged at the upper left of the first drawing area is displayed. The sub-image data to be duplicated in the second drawing area is rotated counterclockwise at an angle of 45° and arranged, and the sub-image data to be duplicated in the second drawing area arranged to the upper right of the first drawing area is The sub-image data that is rotated clockwise by an angle of 45° and is duplicated in the second drawing area that is arranged to the lower left of the first drawing area is arranged by being rotated clockwise by an angle of 45°. , the sub-image data to be duplicated in the second drawing area arranged at the bottom right of the first drawing area is rotated counterclockwise by an angle of 45°.

In this embodiment, the main effect display device 9 is a display device with a lower resolution (display pixel density) than the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. , according to the ratio of the physical size (actual size) of the display unit of each sub effect display device 11a to 11d to the display unit of the main effect display device 9 (ratio of the display area of each display unit), each second The drawing area is set to be smaller (lower resolution) than each storage area of the subframe buffer. Then, each sub-image data drawn in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer is copied to each second drawing area of the main-frame buffer in a reduced (reduced resolution) state.

By doing so, the first drawing area and the second drawing areas in the main frame buffer are physically larger than the display section of the main effect display device 9 and the display sections of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. When drawing the effect image data used for the cooperative effect over the first drawing region and each second drawing region, the first drawing region and the second drawing region are set according to the ratio of the height. It becomes possible to draw as a single region.

Note that the drawing control unit 206 (see FIG. 4) of the VDP 262 controls the drawing of each image data in each drawing region of the main frame buffer. Each region data (address) of the drawing region is referenced, and the X value in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and the Y value in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction) in the main frame buffer, that is, the memory address of the SDRAM 210 are set, Each image data is drawn in the set drawing area (see FIG. 9A).

Then, when drawing the effect image data used for the cooperative effect over the first drawing region and each of the second drawing regions, by drawing the first drawing region and the second drawing region as a single region, the effect The information of the X value and Y value of the image element data, which is the original image of the image data, can be used as it is for specifying the X value and Y value in the main frame buffer, that is, the memory address of the SDRAM 210, and the main frame buffer. It is possible to simplify the control for drawing to

Furthermore, the effect control microcomputer 81 (see FIG. 4) grasps the movement distance of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d based on the pulse power sent to the movement motors 59a to 59d, and controls this effect. Based on the movement distance of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the display microcomputer 81 adjusts the area of the second drawing region of the system register 202 so as to correspond to the position of the display area of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Update data.

As shown in FIG. 6(a), when each of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d is in a superimposed position overlapping with the main rendering display device 9, each second drawing area in the main frame buffer also overlaps with the first drawing area. It is set to the superimposed position (see FIG. 6b)). Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, when each of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d is in a non-overlapping position where it does not overlap with the main rendering display device 9, each of the second drawing regions in the main frame buffer also becomes the first drawing region. is set to a non-overlapping position (see FIG. 7B).

As shown in FIG. 9A, in the cooperative effect, after effect processing is performed in the main frame buffer, each sub image data of each second drawing area in the main frame buffer is stored in each storage area of the sub frame buffer. Duplicate again (see FIG. 10(c)). When each sub-image data is re-copied from the main frame buffer to the sub-frame buffer, each sub-image data is rotated by a predetermined angle in the opposite direction to the above-described copying from the sub-frame buffer to the main frame buffer. is to be performed.

In this embodiment, when each piece of sub-image data is re-copied, the sub-image data stored in the second drawing area arranged on the upper left of the first drawing area of the main frame buffer is rotated 45 degrees clockwise. The sub-image data rotated by an angle and re-duplicated in the storage area of the sub-frame buffer and stored in the second drawing area located to the upper right of the first drawing area of the main frame buffer is rotated counterclockwise by 45°. The sub-image data rotated by an angle and re-duplicated in the storage area of the sub-frame buffer and stored in the second drawing area located to the lower left of the first drawing area of the main frame buffer is rotated counterclockwise by 45°. The sub-image data rotated by an angle and re-duplicated in the storage area of the sub-frame buffer and stored in the second drawing area located at the bottom right of the first drawing area of the main frame buffer is rotated clockwise by 45°. It is rotated by an angle and re-duplicated in the storage area of the sub-frame buffer (see FIG. 9b)).

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, when each sub-image data is reproduced again, a rectangular range around the second drawing area is set as the duplication range in the main frame buffer. , the sub-image data is rotated for each duplication range and re-duplicated in the sub-frame buffer. By doing so, in the main frame buffer, in accordance with the physical rotation state of each of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d, compared to the case where only each second drawing area rotated by a predetermined angle is re-copied. This simplifies specification of the X and Y values required for re-duplication in the mainframe buffer, that is, the memory addresses of the SDRAM 210. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9(b), the sub-image data including the duplication range re-duplicated from the main frame buffer is reduced to the main frame buffer and enlarged to the original size before being duplicated (higher resolution). ) is duplicated again (see FIG. 10(e)). In addition, the sub-image data including the duplication range is arranged so that each storage area storing each sub-image data is separated from each other by a predetermined distance (empty drawing area) so that the duplication ranges do not overlap each other in the sub-frame buffer. be done. By doing so, when the sub-image data read from the second rendering area of the main frame buffer is reversely rotated by a predetermined angle and stored in the storage area, the mutual storage area and the duplication range in the rotation range are Since it is possible to prevent interference, it is possible to prevent inappropriate error images from being displayed on each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

Further, even if the copy range includes a part of the main image data drawn in the first drawing area of the main frame buffer, each storage area is set to a predetermined value so that the copy range does not overlap. By arranging them apart with a distance (empty drawing area), there is no possibility that part of the main image data included in the duplication range around one storage area will interfere with another storage area.

Each sub-image data A to D stored in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer by the drawing control unit 206 of the VDP 262 is divided in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction), and each dot in the X-axis direction Image data (configuration data) aligned in the (vertical direction) is generated.

Then, by the drawing control unit 206 of the VDP 262, the image data of each column divided from the sub-image data A to D are sequentially arranged in the reading direction (X-axis direction) in the composite image storage area, and the composite image is stored. It is stored in the area and output image data Z is generated. Note that in the present embodiment, image data in row A1 divided from sub-image data A, image data in row C1 divided from sub-image data C, image data in row B1 divided from sub-image data B, sub-image data Image data of each column of sub-image data A to D are stored in the composite image storage area in the order of image data of column D1 divided from image data D. FIG.

The size of the output image data Z stored in the composite image storage area is 1920 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 234 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). That is, the output image data Z has an image size obtained by combining four pieces of each of the sub-image data A to D. FIG. Then, the output image data Z is subjected to color tone correction as described above, and then output from the sub-display system output unit SK of the VDP 262 toward the signal separation board 220 (see FIG. 4) (see FIG. 10 ( g)). The main image data stored in the first drawing area of the main frame buffer described above is directly read from the first drawing area and output from the main display system output section MK of the VDP 262 to the main effect display device 9. be done. Then, the main effect display device 9 displays the main image data directly received from the VDP 262 on the display section (see FIG. 10(d)).

Further, when the output image data Z is output from the sub-display system output section SK of the VDP 262, it is output one dot at a time in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). The output image data Z input to the signal separation board 220 one dot at a time is alternately distributed by the primary separation circuit of the signal separation board 220, separated into two systems, and directed to each secondary separation circuit. output. That is, the output image data Z is separated for each cycle of the predetermined frequency and output. Here, among the 1-dot data in each row arranged in the X-axis direction of the output image data Z, the 1-dot data (data of the sub-image data A and C) in which the X-axis is an odd-numbered row is a secondary separation. 1-dot data (data of sub-image data B and D) whose X-axis is an even-numbered column is output to another secondary separation circuit.

By separating the image data of each of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d in this way, the data signal with a dot clock value output from the VDP 262 with a frequency of 40 MHz is output from the primary separation circuit. will be converted to a data signal with a frequency of 20 MHz (divide by 1/2).

Further, the image data composed of the data signal input to one of the secondary separation circuits is defined as separated image data V (image data obtained by synthesizing the sub-image data A and C), and is input to the other secondary separation circuit. If the image data composed of the data signals is described as separated image data W (image data in which the sub-image data B and D are synthesized), the size of the separated image data V and W is in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). 960 dots in the vertical direction, and 234 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). That is, the size of each of the separate image data V and W is the image size obtained by combining two pieces of sub-image data.

The separated image data V and W are alternately distributed and separated by the secondary separation circuits when output from the secondary separation circuits. That is, among the 1-dot data in each column arranged in the X-axis direction of the separated image data V output from one of the secondary separation circuits, the 1-dot data (data of the sub-image data A) in which the X-axis is an odd-numbered column is 1-dot data (data of sub-image data B), which is output to one transmission circuit and whose X-axis is an even-numbered column, is output to another transmission circuit. That is, the separated image data V is separated for each cycle of the predetermined frequency and output.

Similarly, among the 1-dot data in each column arranged in the X-axis direction of the separated image data W output from the other secondary separating circuit, the 1-dot data (data of the sub-image data C) in the odd-numbered columns on the X-axis ) is output to one transmission circuit, and 1-dot data (data of sub-image data D) whose X-axis is an even-numbered column is output to the other transmission circuit. That is, the separated image data W is separated for each cycle of the predetermined frequency and output.

Also, at the stage of output from each secondary separation circuit, the image size of each of the sub-image data A to D is the same as the image size stored in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer, in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). There are 480 dots and 234 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). The data signal with a dot clock value of 20 MHz output from the primary separation circuit is converted into a data signal with a dot clock value of 10 MHz at the stage of being output from each secondary separation circuit (1/2 division).

Then, each sub image data A to D transmitted from each transmission circuit is received by each reception circuit of each sub effect display device 11a to 11d. Furthermore, each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d displays the received sub image data A to D on the display section (see FIG. 10(h)). The sub image data A to D input to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are data signals with a dot clock value of 10 MHz frequency. corresponds to a data signal with a dot clock value of 10 MHz, it is possible to display each of the sub-image data A to D received.

Next, with reference to FIG. 11, the case where the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d do not perform cooperative effects will be described. Incidentally, in the example of FIG. 13, when the cooperative effect is performed, each sub-image data drawn in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer is duplicated in the main frame buffer, and the effects used for the cooperative effect are reproduced in the main frame buffer. A step of copying each sub-image data in the sub-frame buffer to the main-frame buffer and each sub-image data copied to the main-frame buffer when the image data is to be drawn but the cooperative effect is not performed. to the sub-frame buffer is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the cooperative effect is not performed, the main image data is first drawn in the first drawing area of the main frame buffer (see FIG. 11(a)). Then, the main image data stored in the first drawing area of the main frame buffer is output from the main display system output section MK of the VDP 262 toward the main effect display device 9, and the main effect display device 9 outputs the main image data. is displayed on the display unit (see FIG. 11(d)).

Further, each sub-image data A to D is drawn in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer, and each sub-image data A to D stored in each storage area of this sub-frame buffer is displayed in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). Image data (configuration data) that is divided and arranged in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction) for each dot in the X-axis direction is generated (see FIG. 11B). Then, the image data of each column divided from each of the sub-image data A to D are sequentially arranged in the readout direction (X-axis direction) in the composite image storage area, and stored in the composite image storage area to form an output image. Data Z is generated (see FIG. 11(f)).

Further, the output image data Z is subjected to color tone correction and then output from the sub-display system output unit SK of the VDP 262 toward the signal separation board 220 (see FIG. 4) (see FIG. 11(g)). Then, the output image data Z is divided into sub-image data A to D by the signal separation board 220, and the sub-image data A to D are transmitted to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d displays the received sub image data A to D on the display section (see FIG. 11(h)).

FIG. 12 is an example showing the drawing order (when using the preliminary virtual drawing area) when cooperative effects are performed. In the example of FIG. 10, the main image data displayed on the main effect display device 9 is first drawn in the first drawing area of the main frame buffer. The main image data is drawn in the preliminary virtual drawing area before the main image data is stored in the .

As shown in FIG. 12, in this example, a spare virtual drawing area is provided in which the main image data is drawn. Allocated with storage space. The total number of pixels capable of storing pixel data having the same size as that of the first drawing area of the main frame buffer is allocated to the memory area of the preliminary virtual drawing area. Then, the main image data drawn in the preliminary virtual drawing area is duplicated in the first drawing area of the main frame buffer (see FIG. 1).
2(a)).

Each sub-image data A to D is drawn in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer, and each sub-image data A to D stored in each storage area of this sub-frame buffer is drawn in each second drawing of the main frame buffer. It is reduced to an area and duplicated (see FIG. 12(b)). Then, effect processing for drawing effect image data to be used for cooperative effects is performed in this main frame buffer (see FIG. 12(c)).

Furthermore, after performing effect processing in the main frame buffer, each sub image data in each second drawing area in the main frame buffer is enlarged and re-copied in each storage area of the sub frame buffer (FIG. 12(e)). reference). Each of the sub-image data A to D stored in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer is divided, and the divided image data of each column is sequentially read in the readout direction (X-axis direction) in the composite image storage area. are arranged and stored in the composite image storage area to generate output image data Z (see FIG. 12(f)).

The output image data Z is subjected to color tone correction and then output from the sub-display system output section SK of the VDP 262 toward the signal separation board 220 (see FIG. 5) (see FIG. 12G). The output image data Z is divided into sub-image data A to D by the separation board 220, and the sub-image data A to D are transmitted to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d to display the sub-effects. The devices 11a to 11d display the received sub-image data A to D on their display units (see FIG. 12(h)).

Also, the main image data stored in the first drawing area of the main frame buffer is output from the main display system output unit MK of the VDP 262 toward the main effect display device 9, and the main effect display device 9 outputs the main image data. The information is displayed on the display unit (see FIG. 12(d)). This form is particularly effective when the main effect display device 9 is physically rotated. For example, in the preliminary drawing area, the main image data is drawn in the same state as when the main effect display device 9 is not physically rotated, and then the main effect display device 9 is physically rotated. Accordingly, the main image data drawn in the preliminary drawing area is duplicated in the main frame buffer set in a state rotated by a predetermined angle, and effect processing is performed together with the sub image data. By doing so, it is possible to simplify processing such as designation of pixel positions when processing the main image data in the preliminary drawing area.

Next, the processing contents of each sub effect display device 11a to 11d and each image data displayed on each sub effect display device 11a to 11d will be described. In order to simplify the explanation, the drawing order will be described as an example when the cooperative effect is not performed, but it is needless to say that the drawing order can be applied even when the cooperative effect is performed.

The total number of pixels of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d of this embodiment is, as described above, 800 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 480 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). The size of the original images of the sub image data A to D displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is 400 dots (pixels) in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 240 dots (pixels) in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). (pixels).

In this embodiment, when drawing the original image of each sub-image data A to D in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer, the number of dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction) of each sub-image data A to D is doubled. Enlarge to draw. Each storage area of the sub-frame buffer has 400 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 480 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). Each of the sub-image data A to D stored in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer is divided, and the divided image data of each column is sequentially read in the readout direction (X-axis direction) in the composite image storage area. are arranged and stored in the composite image storage area to generate output image data Z. FIG. Here, the size of the output image data Z stored in the composite image storage area is 1600 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 480 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). That is, the output image data Z has an image size obtained by combining four pieces of each of the sub-image data A to D. FIG.

The size of a general high-definition image is 1920 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 1080 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). is 800 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction), which is the same as the total number of pixels of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The image size of the data Z is 3200 dots, which exceeds the 2050 dots that can be controlled (mapped) in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) by the general-purpose high-definition VDP. can no longer be used. However, since the output image data Z has the above image size, it is possible to use a generally distributed VDP corresponding to a high-definition image, so that the VDP can be procured at a low cost.

Further, the output image data Z is output from the sub-display system output section SK of the VDP 262 toward the signal separation board 220 . As described above, the output image data Z input to the signal separation board 220 is alternately distributed by the primary separation circuit of the signal separation board 220, separated into two systems, and directed to each secondary separation circuit. output as The data signal with a dot clock value of 40 MHz output from the VDP 262 is converted into a data signal with a dot clock value of 20 MHz when it is output from the primary separation circuit.

Image data composed of data signals input to one secondary separation circuit is defined as separated image data V (image data obtained by synthesizing sub-image data A and C), and is input to another secondary separation circuit. If the image data composed of the data signals is described as separated image data W (image data in which the sub-image data B and D are synthesized), the size of the separated image data V and W is in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). 800 dots in the vertical direction, and 480 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). That is, the size of each of the separate image data V and W is the image size obtained by combining two pieces of sub-image data.

The separated image data V and W are alternately distributed and separated by the secondary separation circuits when output from the secondary separation circuits. Also, at the stage of output from each secondary separation circuit, the image size of each of the sub-image data A to D is the same as the image size stored in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer, in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction). There are 400 dots and 480 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction).

The data signal with a dot clock value of 20 MHz output from the primary separation circuit is converted into a data signal with a dot clock value of 10 MHz when output from each secondary separation circuit. Furthermore, when the data signal output from each secondary separation circuit is output from each transmission circuit, the frequency of the data signal is doubled (one pixel signal is doubled into two pixel signals). . As a specific method, each transmission circuit inputs a double frequency of 20 MHz as an operation clock (transmission timing clock), and outputs two signals that are the same as one input signal. As a result, the data signal for one pixel becomes the data signal for two pixels expanded in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction).

Then, each sub image data A to D transmitted from each transmission circuit is received by each reception circuit of each sub effect display device 11a to 11d. Here, each of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d corresponds to a data signal with a dot clock value of 20 MHz due to the large number of display pixels. Then, as described above, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d that have received the data signals output from the transmission circuits 223a to 223d and whose frequencies have been doubled transmit the sub image data A to D in the X-axis direction ( displayed in a state magnified twice in the horizontal direction). Each of the sub-image data A to D is an image of 800 dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) and 480 dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction), similar to the total number of pixels of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. displayed in size.

In this way, when each of the sub-image data A to D is transmitted one dot at a time in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction), each transmission circuit sets the dot clock value output from each secondary separation circuit at a frequency of 10 MHz. When transmitting the data signal of one dot among the data signals of the sub-image data A to D, the dot clock value is doubled to a frequency of 20 MHz. A data signal for one pixel is input to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d as a data signal for two pixels enlarged in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction).

Specifically, when the 1-dot data signal input from each secondary separation circuit to each transmission circuit is a red 1-dot data signal, the frequency is doubled when it is transmitted from each transmission circuit. 1-dot red data signal is input to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d twice in succession. Furthermore, from each secondary separation circuit, a data signal of 1 dot for each color is sent to each transmission circuit, such as 1 dot of yellow, 1 dot of orange, 1 dot of pink, and so on. When input, each transmission circuit sends a data signal of 2 dots for each color, such as 2 dots of yellow, 2 dots of orange, 2 dots of pink, etc., to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. Send. That is, each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d displays the received sub image data A to D with the number of dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction) enlarged by a factor of two.

Next, the operation of the pachinko game machine 1 will be described. When power is turned on to the pachinko game machine 1 and power supply is started, the input level of the reset terminal to which the reset signal is input becomes high level, and the game control microcomputer 156 (specifically, the CPU 56) After executing a security check process, which is a process for confirming whether or not the contents of the program are valid, the main process (not shown) after S1 is started. In the main process, the CPU 56 first performs necessary initial settings.

In the initial setting process, the CPU 56 first disables interrupts (S1). Next, the interrupt mode is set to interrupt mode 2 (S2), and the stack pointer designation address is set to the stack pointer (S3). After initialization of the built-in devices (initialization of CTC (counter/timer) and PIO (parallel input/output port) which are built-in devices (built-in peripheral circuits)) (S4), the RAM is made accessible. Set (S5). In interrupt mode 2, the address synthesized from the value (1 byte) of a specific register (I register) built in the CPU 56 and the interrupt vector (1 byte: least significant bit 0) output by the built-in device is This mode indicates an interrupt address.

Next, the CPU 56 checks the state of the output signal (clear signal) of the clear switch (for example, mounted on the power supply board) input via the input port (S6). If the ON is detected in the confirmation, the CPU 56 executes normal initialization processing (S10 to S15).

If the clear switch is not in the on state, confirm whether or not the data protection processing of the backup RAM area (for example, the processing when the power supply is stopped such as addition of parity data) was performed when the power supply to the game machine was stopped. (S7). After confirming that such protection processing is not performed, the CPU 56 executes initialization processing. Whether or not there is backup data in the backup RAM area is confirmed by, for example, the state of the backup flag set in the backup RAM area in the power supply stop processing.

After confirming that the power supply stop processing has been performed, the CPU 56 checks the data in the backup RAM area (S8). In this embodiment, parity check is performed as data check. Therefore, in S8, the calculated checksum is compared with the checksum calculated by the same process in the power supply stop process and stored. If the power supply is restored after an unexpected power outage or other power failure, the data in the backup RAM area should be saved, so the check result (comparison result) will be normal (match). If the check result is not normal, it means that the data in the backup RAM area is different from the data when the power supply was stopped. In such a case, the internal state cannot be returned to the state at the time when the power supply was stopped, so the initialization process that is executed when the power is turned on, not when the power supply is restored from the stoppage of the power supply, is executed.

If the check result is normal, the CPU 56 returns the internal state of the game control means (CPU) 56 and the control state of the electric component control means such as the effect control means (performance control CPU) 86 to the state at the time of power supply stop. game state recovery processing (processing of S41 to S43) for the purpose. Specifically, the head address of the setting table for backup stored in the ROM 54 is set as a pointer (S41), and the contents of the setting table for backup are sequentially set in the work area (area within the RAM 55) (S42). The working area is backed up by a backup power supply. Initialization data for an area that may be initialized in the work area is set in the backup time setting table. By the processing of S41 and S42, the saved contents remain as they are for the portion of the work area that should not be initialized. The parts that should not be initialized include, for example, data indicating the game state before the power supply is stopped (special symbol process flag, probability variable flag, time saving flag, etc.), the area where the output state of the output port is saved (output port buffer ), and a portion in which data indicating the number of unpaid prize balls is set.

In addition, the CPU 56 transmits a power failure restoration designation command as an initialization command when the power supply is restored (S43). Then, the process proceeds to S14. In addition, in this embodiment, the CPU 56 also transmits to the effect control board 80 a total pending storage number designation command in which the value of the total pending storage number counter stored in the backup RAM is set in the process of S43. In this embodiment, both the backup flag and the check data are used to confirm whether or not the data in the backup RAM area is saved, but only one of them may be used. That is, either the backup flag or the check data may be used as a trigger for executing the game state recovery process.

In the initialization process, the CPU 56 first performs a RAM clear process (S10). By the RAM clearing process, predetermined data (for example, the data of the count value of the counter for generating the random number for determining the normal per symbol) is initialized to 0, but any value or predetermined value may be initialized to In addition, without initializing the entire area of the RAM 55, the predetermined data (for example, the data of the count value of the counter for generating the random number for judging normal symbols) may be left as it is. Also, the head address of the table set at initialization stored in the ROM 54 is set as a pointer (S11), and the contents of the table set at initialization are sequentially set in the work area (S12).

By the processing of S11 and S12, for example, a random number counter for judging a normal symbol, a special symbol buffer, a buffer for storing the total number of winning balls, a special symbol process flag, etc., according to the control state, the initial value of the flag for selectively performing the process. is set.

In addition, the CPU 56 is an initialization designation command (a command indicating that the game control microcomputer 156 has executed initialization processing) for initializing the sub-board (a board on which a microcomputer other than the main board 31 is mounted) Yes.) is sent to the sub board (S13). For example, when the effect control microcomputer 81 receives an initialization designation command, the main effect display device 9 displays a screen to notify that the control of the gaming machine has been initialized, that is, performs initialization notification. .

The CPU 56 also executes random number circuit setting processing for initializing the random number circuit 503 (S14). The CPU 56 performs settings for updating the value of random R in the random number circuit 503, for example, by executing processing according to a random number circuit setting program.

Then, in S15, the CPU 56 sets the register of the CTC built in the game control microcomputer 156 so that the timer interrupt is periodically applied every predetermined time (for example, 2 ms). For example, a value corresponding to 2 ms is set in a predetermined register (time constant register) as an initial value. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a timer interrupt occurs periodically every 2 ms.

When the execution of the initialization process (S10 to S15) is completed, the CPU 56 repeats the display random number update process (S17) and the initial value random number update process (S18) in the main process. When executing the random number update process for display and the random number update process for initial value, the interrupt prohibition state is set (S16), and when the execution of the random number update process for display and the random number update process for initial value is completed, the interrupt enable state is set. (S19). In this embodiment, the random number for display is a random number for determining the stop symbol of the special symbol when it is not a big hit, and a random number for determining whether or not it is a ready-to-win when it is not a big hit. Random number update processing is processing for updating the count value of a counter for generating display random numbers. The initial value random number update process is a process of updating the count value of the counter for generating the initial value random number. In this embodiment, the random number for the initial value determines the initial value of the count value of the counter (random number generation counter for normal symbol hit determination) for generating a random number for determining whether or not the normal symbol is a hit. It is a random number for A game control process for controlling the progress of the game (to be described later) (the game control microcomputer 156 controls the game devices such as the performance display device, the variable winning ball device, and the ball payout device provided in the game machine by itself) processing, or processing of transmitting a command signal to cause another microcomputer to control, also referred to as gaming device control processing), the count value of the normal per symbol determination random number is one cycle (normal per symbol determination random number After stepping by the number of numerical values between the minimum and maximum possible values, an initial value is set in the counter.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, the ready-to-win effect is executed using effect symbols (effect symbols) that are variably displayed on the main effect display device 9 . Also, when the display result of the special symbol is to be a big win symbol, the ready-to-win effect is always executed. When the display result of the special symbol is not a big hit symbol, the game control microcomputer 156 determines whether or not to execute the ready-to-win effect by lottery using random numbers. However, it is the production control microcomputer 81 that actually executes control of the ready-to-win production.

When a timer interrupt occurs, the CPU 56 executes timer interrupt processing of S20 to S34 shown in FIG. In the timer interrupt process, first, a power-off detection process is executed to detect whether or not a power-off signal has been output (whether or not the power has turned on) (S20). The power-off signal is output when, for example, a power monitoring circuit mounted on the power board detects a drop in the voltage of the power supplied to the gaming machine. In the power-off detection process, when the CPU 56 detects that the power-off signal has been output, the CPU 56 executes the power-supply-off process for saving necessary data in the backup RAM area. Next, detection signals of the gate switch 32a, the first starter switch 14a, the second starter switch 14b, and the count switch 23 are inputted through the input circuit 58, and their states are determined (switch processing: S21).

Next, the CPU 56 controls the display of the first special symbol display 8a, the second special symbol display 8b, the normal symbol display 10, the special symbol reservation storage display 18, and the normal symbol reservation storage display 41. Processing is executed (S22). For the first special symbol display device 8a, the second special symbol display device 8b and the normal symbol display device 10, control to output a drive signal to each display device according to the contents of the output buffer set in S32 and S33 to run.

Further, a process of updating the count value of each counter for generating each judgment random number such as a normal symbol per judgment judgment random number used for game control is performed (judgment random number update process: S23). The CPU 56 further performs a process of updating the count value of the counter for generating the initial value random number and the display random number (initial value random number update process, display random number update process: S24, S25).

Furthermore, the CPU 56 performs a special symbol process (S26). In the special symbol process process, the corresponding process is executed according to the special symbol process flag for controlling the first special symbol display device 8a, the second special symbol display device 8b and the big winning opening in a predetermined order. The CPU 56 updates the value of the special symbol process flag according to the game state.

Then, normal design process processing is performed (S27). In the normal design process process, the CPU 56 executes the corresponding process according to the normal design process flag for controlling the display state of the normal design display device 10 in a predetermined order. The CPU 56 normally updates the value of the symbol process flag according to the game state.

Further, the CPU 56 performs a process of sending an effect control command to the effect control microcomputer 81 (effect control command control process: S28). Further, the CPU 56 performs information output processing for outputting data such as jackpot information, starting information, and probability variation information to be supplied to the hall management computer (S29).

Further, the CPU 56 executes prize ball processing for setting the number of prize balls based on the detection signals of the first start switch 14a, the second start switch 14b and the count switch 23 (S30). Specifically, the payout control micro mounted on the payout control board 37 in response to the winning detection based on any one of the first starter switch 14a, the second starter switch 14b and the count switch 23 being turned on. A payout control command (a signal for the number of prize balls) indicating the number of prize balls is output to the computer. The payout control microcomputer drives the ball payout device 97 according to a payout control command indicating the number of prize balls.

In this embodiment, a RAM area (output port buffer) corresponding to the output state of the output port is provided. is output to the output port (S31: output processing).

In addition, the CPU 56 performs special symbol display control processing for setting special symbol display control data for effecting display of special symbols according to the value of the special symbol process flag in an output buffer for setting special symbol display control data ( S32). For example, when the start flag set in the special symbol process process is set, until the end flag is set, every time 0.2 seconds pass if the fluctuation speed is 1 frame/0.2 seconds. , the value of the display control data set in the output buffer is incremented by one. In addition, the CPU 56 outputs the drive signal in S22 according to the display control data set in the output buffer, so that the first special symbol and the second special symbol on the first special symbol display device 8a and the second special symbol display device 8b are displayed. 2 Execute the variable display of special symbols.

Furthermore, the CPU 56 performs a normal symbol display control process of setting normal symbol display control data for performing a normal symbol effect display in an output buffer for normal symbol display control data setting according to the value of the normal symbol process flag ( S33). The CPU 56 switches the display state ("○" and "X") every 0.2 seconds until the end flag is set, for example, when the start flag relating to the fluctuation of the normal symbols is set. With such a speed, the value of the display control data set in the output buffer (for example, 1 indicating "o" and 0 indicating "x") is switched every 0.2 seconds. In addition, the CPU 56 outputs a drive signal in S22 in accordance with the display control data set in the output buffer, thereby executing the normal symbol effect display on the normal symbol display device 10 . After that, the interrupt enabled state is set (S34), and the process ends.

By the above control, in this embodiment, the game control process is started every 2 ms. Incidentally, the game control process corresponds to the process of S21 to S33 (excluding S29) in the timer interrupt process. Also, in this embodiment, the game control process is executed in the timer interrupt process, but in the timer interrupt process, for example, only a flag indicating that an interrupt has occurred is set, and the game control process is performed in the main process. may be executed.

When the losing pattern is stopped and displayed on the first special pattern display device 8a or the second special pattern display device 8b and the main effect display device 9, the variable display state of the effect pattern after the variable display of the effect pattern is started. does not enter a ready-to-win state, and a combination of predetermined performance symbols that do not become a ready-to-win state may be stopped and displayed. Such a variable display mode of effect symbols is referred to as a "non-reach" (also referred to as "normal losing") variable display mode when the variable display results in a losing pattern.

When the losing pattern is stopped and displayed on the first special pattern display device 8a or the second special pattern display device 8b and the main effect display device 9, the variable display state of the effect pattern after the variable display of the effect pattern is started. After entering a ready-to-win state, a ready-to-win performance is executed, and a combination of predetermined performance symbols that do not finally result in a big win pattern may be stopped and displayed. Such a variable display result of the production pattern is referred to as a variable display mode of "ready to hit" (also referred to as "ready to miss") when the variable display result is "losing".

In this embodiment, when the jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed on the first special symbol display device 8a or the second special symbol display device 8b, the ready-to-win effect is executed after the variable display state of the effect symbol becomes the ready-to-win state. Finally, all the performance symbols are stop-displayed in the “left”, “middle” and “right” symbol display areas of the main effect display device 9 .

When a predetermined symbol (predetermined symbol corresponding to the type of the small win) is stopped and displayed on the first special symbol display 8a or the second special symbol display 8b, the main effect display device 9: After the variable display of the production design is performed in the same way as when the variable display mode of the production design is "probability variation big hit B" to be described later, a predetermined small hit design (the same design as the probability variation big hit B design. For example, "355" etc. ) may stop appearing. The display effect on the main effect display device 9 corresponding to the stop display of a predetermined symbol (symbol), which is a small win symbol, on the first special symbol display device 8a or the second special symbol display device 8b is changed to "small win". This is called a variable display mode.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing an example of a program of special symbol process processing (S26) executed by the game control microcomputer 156 (specifically, the CPU 56) mounted on the main substrate 31. As shown in FIG. As described above, in the special symbol process processing, the processing for controlling the first special symbol display device 8a or the second special symbol display device 8b and the big winning opening is executed. In the special symbol process processing, the CPU 56 determines that the first start opening switch 14a for detecting that the game ball has entered the first start opening 15a is turned on, that is, the start winning to the first start opening 15a is detected. If it has occurred, in the variable display corresponding to the start winning, determine whether it will be a big hit or a super reach, etc., and send a start winning judgment result designation command including the judgment result First start opening switch Passage processing is executed (S311, S312).

Further, the CPU 56, if the second start opening switch 14b for detecting that the game ball has entered the second start opening 15b is turned on, that is, if the start winning to the second start opening 15b has occurred, It determines whether it will be a big hit or a super reach, etc., and executes a second start opening switch passing process for transmitting a determination result specifying command at the time of starting winning including the determination result (S313, S314).

Then, one of the processes from S300 to S310 is performed. If the first start winning opening switch 13a or the second starting opening switch 14b is not turned on, one of S300 to S310 is performed according to the internal state. The processing of S300 to S310 is as follows.

Special symbol normal process (S300): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is zero. When the game control microcomputer 156 is ready to start variable display of special symbols, it confirms the number of numerical data stored in the buffer for the number of reserved memories (total number of reserved memories). The number of numerical data stored in the reserved storage number buffer can be confirmed by the count value of the total reserved storage number counter. Also, if the count value of the total pending memory number counter is not 0, it is determined whether or not the display result of the variable display of the first special symbol or the second special symbol is a big win. A big win flag is set when it is determined as a big win. Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (1 in this example) corresponding to S301. Incidentally, the jackpot flag is reset when the jackpot game ends.

Variation pattern setting process (S301): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 1. In addition, a variation pattern is determined, and the variation time in the variation pattern (variable display time: the time from the start of the variation display to the derivation display (stop display) of the display result) is the variation time of the special symbol variation display. decide to do. Also, a variable time timer for measuring the variable time of the special symbol is started. Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (2 in this example) corresponding to S302.

Display result designation command transmission process (S302): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 2. Control is performed to transmit a display result specification command to the effect control microcomputer 81 . Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (3 in this example) corresponding to S303.

Special symbol fluctuation process (S303): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 3. When the fluctuation time of the fluctuation pattern selected in the fluctuation pattern setting process elapses (the fluctuation time timer set in S301 times out, i.e. the value of the fluctuation time timer becomes 0), the internal state (special symbol process flag) is changed to S304. Update to the corresponding value (4 in this example).

Special symbol stop processing (S304): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 4. The variable display on the first special symbol display device 8a or the second special symbol display device 8b is stopped, and the stop symbol is derived and displayed. Further, control is performed to transmit a pattern determination designation command to the performance control microcomputer 81 . Then, when the jackpot flag is set, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (5 in this example) corresponding to S305. Also, when the small hit flag is set, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (8 in this example) corresponding to S308. When neither the big hit flag nor the small hit flag is set, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (0 in this example) corresponding to S300. Incidentally, the effect control microcomputer 81 controls the main effect display device 9 so that the effect symbols are stopped when it receives the symbol confirmation designation command transmitted by the game control microcomputer 156 .

Big winning opening pre-processing (S305): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 5. In the big winning hole opening pre-processing, control to open the big winning hole is performed. Specifically, a counter (for example, a counter that counts the number of game balls that have entered the large winning opening) or the like is initialized, and the solenoid 21 is driven to open the large winning opening. Also, the timer sets the execution time of the process during the opening of the big winning opening, and updates the internal state (special symbol process flag) to a value (6 in this example) corresponding to S306. Incidentally, the big winning opening pre-opening process is executed for each round, but when the first round is started, the big winning opening pre-opening process is also the process of starting the jackpot game.

Large winning opening opening process (S306): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 6. It performs control for transmitting the effect control command for the round display during the jackpot game state to the effect control microcomputer 81, processing for confirming the establishment of the condition for closing the big winning hole, and the like. If the conditions for closing the big winning opening are met and there are still rounds remaining, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (5 in this example) corresponding to S305. Also, when all the rounds have been completed, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (7 in this example) corresponding to S307.

Jackpot ending process (S307): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 7. Control is performed to cause the production control microcomputer 81 to perform display control for informing the player that the big win game state has ended. In addition, a process of setting a flag indicating the game state (for example, a variable probability flag or a time saving flag) is performed. Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (0 in this example) corresponding to S300.

Minor hit opening preprocessing (S308): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 8. In the small hit opening preprocessing, control to open the big winning opening is performed. Specifically, a counter (for example, a counter that counts the number of game balls that have entered the large winning opening) or the like is initialized, and the solenoid 21 is driven to open the large winning opening. Also, the timer sets the execution time of the process during opening of the big winning opening, and updates the internal state (special symbol process flag) to a value (9 in this example) corresponding to S309. In addition, although the small hit opening preprocessing is executed for each round, when starting the first round, the small hitting opening preprocessing is also processing for starting a small winning game.

Processing during small hit opening (S309): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 9. A process for confirming whether or not the condition for closing the big prize opening is satisfied is performed. If the conditions for closing the big winning opening are met and there are still rounds remaining, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (8 in this example) corresponding to S308. Also, when all the rounds have been completed, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (in this example, 10 (decimal number)) corresponding to S310.

Small hit end process (S310): Executed when the value of the special symbol process flag is 10. Control is performed to cause the performance control microcomputer 81 to perform display control for informing the player that the small winning game state has ended. Then, the internal state (special symbol process flag) is updated to a value (0 in this example) corresponding to S300.

Next, the operation of the effect control board 80 will be described. FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing main processing executed by the effect control microcomputer 81 (specifically, the effect control CPU 86) mounted on the effect control board 80. As shown in FIG. The effect control CPU 86 starts executing the main process when the power is turned on. In the main process, the effect control CPU 86 first clears the RAM area, sets various initial values, and initializes a timer for determining the activation interval (for example, 2 ms) of the effect control. (S700).

In the initialization process, the effect control CPU 86 determines the V-sync timing, which is the start timing of the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9, and the V-sync timing, which is the start timing of the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. to match. For example, the effect control CPU 86 instructs the VDP 262 to start V-sync, which is the start timing of the frame period of the main effect display device 9, and V-sync, which is the start timing of the frame cycle of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. at the same time as the instruction to start

Thereafter, the effect control CPU 86 performs recovery processing (S700a). As described above, the CPU interface 201 outputs the V-blank interrupt signal to the effect control CPU 86 each time the V-blank corresponding to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d starts. The effect control CPU 86, for example, starts a timer (not shown) at the timing when the V blank interrupt signal is input, and then when the value of the timer becomes a value corresponding to a predetermined time, in other words, V blank When the interrupt signal is not input for a predetermined time or longer, recovery processing is performed. The predetermined time is longer than the frame period, for example, 1/30 second which is twice the frame period.

In the recovery process, the effect control CPU 86 restarts the main effect display device 9, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and the VDP 262. FIG. For example, the effect control CPU 86 stops the power supply to the main effect display device 9, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, and the VDP 262, and then controls the supply again. The effect control CPU 86 may restart only the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, or may restart only the VDP 262. FIG.

After that, the effect control CPU 86 executes a random number update process for updating the count value of a counter for generating random numbers such as big hit symbol determination random numbers (S701). After that, the process shifts to loop processing for monitoring the timer interrupt flag (S702). When a timer interrupt occurs, the effect control CPU 86 sets a timer interrupt flag in timer interrupt processing. In the main process, if the timer interrupt flag is set, the effect control CPU 86 clears the flag (S703) and executes the following effect control process. If no timer interrupt has occurred, the recovery process of S700a and the random number update process of S701 are performed, and the process returns to S702 again.

In the effect control process, the effect control CPU 86 first analyzes the received effect control command, and performs processing such as setting a flag corresponding to the received effect control command (command analysis process: S704). Next, the effect control CPU 86 executes the luminance control process (S706) after performing the effect control process (S705). After that, the process proceeds to S700a. In the effect control process processing, the process corresponding to the current control state (effect control process flag) is selected from among the processes corresponding to the control state, and the display control of the main effect display device 9 is executed.

Incidentally, the effect control command transmitted from the game control microcomputer 156 is received by interrupt processing based on the effect control INT signal and stored in a buffer area formed in the RAM. In the command analysis process, it is analyzed which command is the effect control command saved in the buffer area.

In addition to the processing of S703 to S706, a reserved memory display area for displaying the number of reserved memories displayed on the special symbol reserved memory display 18, which is set within the display area of the main effect display device 9. A pending storage display control process for controlling the display of may be performed. In addition, in this holding memory display control process, it is determined that it will be a super reach or a big hit from the start winning judgment result designation command transmitted in the above-described first start opening switch passage process or second start opening switch passage process. By changing the display of the reserved memory to a special display mode different from the normal display mode with a predetermined probability, the variable display corresponding to the reserved memory has a high possibility of super reach or big win. You may make it implement the process for performing the pre-reading advance notice production to carry out.

In addition, similar to these pre-reading advance notice effects, the high possibility of super reach or big win in the variable display corresponding to the reserved memory is displayed multiple times before the variable display corresponding to the reserved memory is performed. For example, in addition to the processes of S703 to S706, a pre-reading continuous notice process for performing a pre-reading continuous notice by performing a countdown display or the like may be performed.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the effect control process (S705) in the effect control main process shown in FIG. In the effect control process process, the effect control CPU 86 performs one of S450 to S456 according to the value of the effect control process flag. In each process, the following processes are executed. Incidentally, in the effect control process processing, the display state of the main effect display device 9 is controlled, and the variable display of the effect pattern (effect pattern) is realized. The control regarding the variable display of , and the control regarding the variable display of the performance symbol (performance symbol) synchronized with the variation of the second special symbol are executed in one performance control process.

Variation pattern command reception waiting process (S450): Executed when the value of the effect control process flag is zero. It is confirmed whether or not a variation pattern command is received from the game control microcomputer 156.例文帳に追加Specifically, it is checked whether or not the variation pattern command reception flag set in the command analysis process is set. If the fluctuation pattern command is received, the value of the production control process flag is changed to a value corresponding to the production pattern fluctuation start process (S451).

Effect symbol variation start process (S451): Executed when the value of the effect control process flag is 1. Control is performed so that the variation of the production pattern (production pattern) is started. Then, the value of the production control process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the production design changing process (S452).

Effect symbol change processing (S452): Executed when the value of the effect control process flag is 2. It controls the switching timing of each variation state (variation speed) that constitutes the variation pattern, and monitors the end of the variation time. Then, when the fluctuation time ends, the value of the production control process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the production symbol fluctuation stop processing (S453). When it is time to generate a reach during fluctuation, a screen for notifying the occurrence of a reach to the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d (for example, a reach notification screen shown in FIG. 7, etc.) Performs production control to display .

Effect symbol variation stop process (S453): Executed when the value of the effect control process flag is 3. Based on the reception of a performance control command (designation designating command) for instructing the stop of all patterns, the variation of the performance pattern (performance pattern) is stopped and the display result (stop pattern) is derived and displayed. Then, the value of the effect control process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the winning display process (S454) or the variation pattern command reception waiting process (S450).

Hit display processing (S454): Executed when the value of the effect control process flag is 4. After the end of the variable time, effect control for displaying a screen for notifying the occurrence of a big win or a small win (for example, a big win notification screen shown in FIG. 7) on the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. I do. Then, the value of the effect control process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the process during the winning game (S455).

Winning game processing (S455): Executed when the value of the effect control process flag is 5. Control is performed during the big winning game or the small winning game. For example, when a designation command during the opening of the big winning opening or a designated command after opening the big winning opening is received, display control of the number of rounds on the main effect display device 9, etc. is performed. Then, the value of the effect control process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the winning end effect process (S456).

Hit end effect processing (S456): Executed when the value of the effect control process flag is 6. In the main effect display device 9, display control is performed to inform the player that the big winning game state or the small winning game state has ended. Then, the value of the effect control process flag is updated to a value corresponding to the variation pattern command reception waiting process (S450).

In addition, in this embodiment, when a small hit occurs, in S454 to S456, by performing the same effect processing as when the probability variable big hit B occurs, A player cannot determine whether a big win B or a small win which does not shift to a variable probability state has occurred.

In addition, in the effect symbol variation start process, as a notice effect that suggests the possibility of a big hit in the variation, a message prompting the operation of the operation button 516 or the operation lever 600 is displayed, and the condition is that the operation is performed. In addition, a setting for performing an operation announcement effect in which one of a plurality of characters with different expectations for a big hit is displayed may be performed at a predetermined rate.

Next, when an image is displayed in the effect control process described above, image data drawing processing in the VDP 262 is performed in synchronism with the frame cycle, and from the VDP 262, the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11a. 11d will be described below.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing image data drawing processing in the VDP 262 . The drawing process of the image data in the VDP 262 is performed every cycle that is twice the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

The effect control CPU 86 outputs a command to instruct the VDP 262 to start drawing (drawing start instruction command) at a predetermined timing. When the drawing start instruction command is input, the VDP 262 starts drawing processing of the image data shown in FIG. First, the drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262 determines whether or not a V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d has been input for the second time after starting drawing of image data in the previous frame buffer. (S801). For example, the system register 202 is provided with a counter for counting the number of inputs of the V-blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The drawing control unit 206 resets the value of this counter each time drawing of image data to the frame buffer is started, and increases it by one at the timing when the V blank interrupt signal is input. When the value of this counter reaches 2, the drawing control unit 206 outputs the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d for the second time after the start of the drawing of the image data in the previous frame buffer. It is determined that the input has been made.

If the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d has not been input for the second time after the start of drawing the image data in the previous frame buffer (S801; No), the image data drawing process is started. finish. On the other hand, when the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is input for the second time after the start of the drawing of the image data in the previous frame buffer (S801; Yes), the drawing control section 206 determines whether or not the previous drawing of image data for the frame buffer is drawing for buffer A (S802). For example, in the system register 202, a flag (drawing flag) is set which is turned on when writing to buffer A is started and turned off when drawing to buffer B is started. The drawing control unit 206 refers to this drawing flag to determine whether or not the previous drawing of the image data to the frame buffer was to the buffer A.

If the previous drawing of image data in the frame buffer was not drawing in buffer A (S802; No), the drawing control unit 206 draws main image data corresponding to the main effect display device 9 in buffer A. The drawing control unit 206 also draws the sub image data corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d in the buffer A, and draws the output image data Z generated from the sub image data (S803). Note that if the above-described drawing flag is set, the drawing control unit 206 changes the drawing flag from OFF to ON in S803.

On the other hand, if the previous drawing of the image data to the frame buffer was drawing to the buffer A (S802; Yes), the drawing control unit 206 draws the main image data corresponding to the main effect display device 9 to the buffer B. The drawing control unit 206 also draws the sub image data corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d in the buffer B, and draws the output image data Z generated from the sub image data (S804). Note that if the above-described drawing flag is set, the drawing control unit 206 changes the drawing flag from OFF to ON in S804.

By performing the drawing process of the image data, the drawing of the image data in the buffer A and the drawing of the image data in the buffer B are alternately performed every cycle twice the frame cycle of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. will be done.

Next, the details of the drawing processing of image data to the buffer in S803 and S804 of FIG. 17 will be described. 18 and 19 are flowcharts showing image data drawing processing to a buffer. The first flowchart shown in FIG. 18 is drawing processing according to the drawing order of FIGS. On the other hand, the second flowchart shown in FIG. 19 is drawing processing according to a drawing order different from the drawing orders of FIGS.

In the drawing process, a program for drawing processing when the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d move and a program for drawing processing when the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d do not move are prepared. And in the process of FIG. 19, a drawing process program is executed when the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d move.

In the drawing process shown in FIG. 18, first, the drawing control unit 206 uses a first stepping motor for linearly moving the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and a motor for rotating (tilting) the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The positions of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d that move in accordance with the driving of the second stepping motor are specified (S821).

For example, when the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d are in the initial state and the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor are both zero, the drawing control unit 206 Start counting the number of pulse powers (number of steps) supplied to each of the first stepping motor and the second stepping motor. Here, the drawing control unit 206 may directly monitor the pulse power supplied by the effect control CPU 86 to count the number of steps, or each time the effect control CPU 86 supplies the pulse power, A signal indicating the number of steps may be output to the drawing control unit 206, and the drawing control unit 206 may count the number of steps according to this signal. The rotation directions of the first and second stepping motors are reversed depending on whether the pulse power is positive or negative. That is, the direction of linear movement and the direction of tilting of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are reversed depending on whether the pulse power is positive or negative. In response to this, the drawing control unit 206 increases the step number by 1 when the pulse power is positive, and decreases the step number by 1 when the pulse power is negative.

Further, the drawing control unit 206 refers to the table shown in FIG. 20 stored in the RAM 85, for example, and sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d uniquely determined by the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor. Identify the coordinates of the four corners of . The table shown in FIG. 20 is an example in which the cycle of the pulse power is 1/10, which is twice the frame cycle of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. The coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are associated with every 10 steps corresponding to the fact that they are performed at a cycle twice the frame cycle of 11a to 11d. At the timing of S821, if the current number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor are not integral multiples of 10, the drawing control unit 206 controls the current number of steps of the first stepping motor and The coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are specified according to the number of steps obtained by rounding off the number of steps of the second stepping motor. The configuration of the table is not limited to this, and the coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be associated with each step, or the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be associated with each predetermined step. may be associated with the coordinates of

Again, returning to FIG. 18, description will be made. Next, the drawing control unit 206 corrects the main image data according to the displacement of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d and draws it in the main frame buffer, as well as the positions (coordinates of the four corners) of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. is corrected according to the displacement of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and drawn in the sub frame buffer (S822). For example, as shown in FIGS. 10(a), 11(a), and 12(a), the drawing control unit 206 stores character images, effect symbol images corresponding to variable display of special symbols, The data of each image such as a reserved memory image indicating the number of reserved memories, a progress state image indicating the progress state of the game, a background image, etc. is drawn.

Here, the drawing control unit 206 controls the sub effect display during the period from when the main image data is drawn in the main frame buffer to when the image corresponding to the drawn main image data is displayed (main display delay time). Displacements (movement amounts) of the devices 11a to 11d are calculated. Specifically, the drawing control unit 206 grasps an average interval of pulse power for driving the first stepping motor and the second stepping motor in a predetermined period. Furthermore, the drawing control unit 206 divides the predetermined main display delay time by the grasped average interval of the pulse power corresponding to the first stepping motor. is multiplied by the movement amount to calculate the displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d due to the driving of the first stepping motor within the main display delay time.

Similarly, the drawing control unit 206 divides the predetermined main display delay time by the grasped average interval of the pulse power corresponding to the second stepping motor, and further divides the predetermined one step of the second stepping motor. By multiplying the movement amount per hit, the displacement (movement amount) of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d caused by driving the second stepping motor within the main display delay time is calculated. Next, the drawing control unit 206 determines the displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d due to the driving of the first stepping motor within the main display delay time, and the displacement (movement amount) of the second stepping motor within the main display delay time. The displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d within the main display delay time is obtained by synthesizing the displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d by driving.

Further, the drawing control unit 206 selects predetermined image data in the main image data (for example, out of the images continuously displayed across the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, the main effect (Image data corresponding to the image displayed on the display device 9) is drawn by moving the drawing position in the main frame buffer by an amount corresponding to the displacement (movement amount) of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. , the main image data is corrected according to the displacement of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d and drawn in the main frame buffer.

10B, 11B, and 12B, the drawing control unit 206 draws the data of each image in the sub-frame buffer. Here, the drawing control unit 206 controls the sub-effect display during the period (sub-display delay time) after the sub-image data is drawn in the sub-frame buffer until the image corresponding to the drawn sub-image data is displayed. The displacement (movement amount) of the devices 11a to 11d is grasped. The sub-image display time can be regarded as the same as the main display delay time, and the displacement (movement amount) of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d within the sub-display delay time is equal to the displacement (movement amount) of the sub-effect display device 11a within the main display delay time. 11d is the same as the displacement (movement amount). Hereinafter, the main display delay time and the sub-display delay time are collectively referred to as display delay time as appropriate.

Furthermore, the drawing control unit 206 selects predetermined image data in the sub-image data (for example, out of the images continuously displayed across the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d), the sub-effect (Image data corresponding to images displayed on the display devices 11a to 11d) is drawn by moving the drawing position in the sub-frame buffer by an amount corresponding to the displacement (movement amount) of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. 2, the sub-image data is corrected in accordance with the displacement of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d and drawn in the sub-frame buffer.

By superimposing the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d on the main effect display device 9, an area (overlapping region) where the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed may be formed in the main effect display device 9. be. Therefore, the drawing control unit 206 identifies the presence or absence of the superimposed area and the position of the superimposed area based on the positions (coordinates of the four corners) of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d.

Furthermore, the drawing control unit 206 also draws image data corresponding to the image to be displayed in the superimposed area in the sub-frame buffer. Here, when only part of the image displayed on the main effect display device 9 is included in the superimposed area, the drawing control unit 206 sub-processes the image data corresponding to the part of the image included in the superimposed area. Also draw to the framebuffer. In this case, the drawing position in the sub-frame buffer is the position corresponding to the drawing position of the image data corresponding to the image to be displayed in the superimposed area in the main frame buffer. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 24(a) to (c) and FIGS. 25(a) to (c), the character image 601 is displayed across the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display device 11c. A part of the image 601a of the character image 601 is displayed on the main effect display device 9, and a part of the image 601b of the character image 601 is displayed on the sub effect display device 11c.

In addition, the drawing control unit 206 does not draw the image data corresponding to the progress image among the image data corresponding to the image to be displayed in the superimposed area in the sub-frame buffer. The image data corresponding to the special figure reduced image which reduced the image is always drawn in the subframe buffer. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 24(a) to (c), the pending storage image 602b is displayed on the sub effect display device 11c, and the special figure reduced image 604 is displayed on the sub effect display device 11d, The progress image 603 is displayed only on the main effect display device 9, and is not displayed on the sub effect display device 11c. Further, as shown in FIGS. 25(a) to (c), the pending storage image 602b2 is displayed on the sub effect display device 11d, and the special figure reduced image 604 is displayed on the sub effect display device 11d, while the progress state image 603 is displayed only on the main effect display device 9 and not displayed on the sub effect display device 11d.

In addition, when the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed on the main effect display device 9, the retained stored image in the main effect display device 9 is gradually included in the superimposed area, and the mode of the retained stored image is When changing from the normal mode to the mode indicating that the possibility of a super reach or a big hit is high, the drawing control unit 206 changes the mode of only the superimposed area of the pending stored image on the main effect display device 9. Then, the image data of the pending stored image is drawn in the main frame buffer. In addition, the drawing control unit 206 changes the image data of the pending storage image so that the mode of the pending storage image on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is changed in the same mode as the mode of the pending storage image on the main effect display device 9. to the subframebuffer. For example, when the pending memory image is displayed, the effect control CPU 86 super reach based on the start winning judgment result designation command transmitted in the first start opening switch passage process or the second start opening switch passage process. And the reserved memory that will be a big hit is determined. When there is a super reach or a big hit pending memory, a variable display corresponding to the pending memory is performed by changing a pending memory image corresponding to the pending memory to a mode different from a normal display mode with a predetermined probability. A pre-reading forewarning effect for notifying that there is a high possibility of becoming a super reach or a big hit is executed.

In the pre-reading notice effect processing, the effect control CPU 86 designates super reach or big hit pending storage to the drawing control unit 206, and instructs a change in the mode of the pending storage image corresponding to the pending storage. In response to this instruction, the drawing control unit 206 identifies the superimposed area based on the current coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d stored in the RAM85. Furthermore, if the superimposed area includes a part of the pending memory image, and the pending memory corresponding to the pending memory image is the super reach or big hit designated by the effect control CPU 86, the drawing control unit 206 draws the image data of the retained stored image in which only the superimposed region portion is changed, at the drawing position corresponding to the image data of the retained stored image in the main frame buffer.

As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 23(a) to 23(c), the mode of the pending memory image 602a on the main effect display device 9 changes. On the other hand, the drawing control unit 206 renders the image data of a portion of the retained stored image (the portion corresponding to the superimposed region) of the retained stored image in the same manner as the mode of the superimposed region portion of the retained stored image to the retained stored image in the sub-frame buffer. Draw at the drawing position corresponding to some image data. At this time, the drawing control unit 206 copies the image of the superimposed region portion of the reserved storage image, and draws it at the drawing position corresponding to the superimposed region portion of the reserved storage image among the drawing positions in the sub-frame buffer. good too. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 24(a) to 24(c), in the sub effect display device 11c, the mode of the pending memory image 602b changes in the same mode as the portion of the pending memory image in the main effect display device 9. do. Further, as shown in FIGS. 25(a) to (c), in the sub effect display device 11d, among the retained stored images 602b1 and 602b2, the mode of the retained stored image 602b1 is the portion of the retained stored image in the main effect display device 9. changes in the same manner as

Further, when the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed on the main effect display device 9 so that the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front, the drawing control unit 206 controls the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. In 11d, the image data of the contour image is drawn in the sub-frame buffer so that the contour image showing the pseudo outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is displayed at a position outside the outer edge of the main effect display device 9. . For example, the effect control CPU 86 determines whether or not to execute the ready-to-win effect based on the effect control command output from the CPU 56 . When the ready-to-win effect is executed, the effect control CPU 86 instructs the drawing control unit 206 to display a contour image with a predetermined probability.

In response to this instruction, the drawing control unit 206 displays the current coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d stored in the RAM 85 in a state in which the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front. Determine whether or not there is Here, the coordinates of the lower right corner of the sub-effect display device 11a, the coordinates of the lower left corner of the sub-effect display device 11b, the coordinates of the upper right corner of the sub-effect display device 11c, and the coordinates of the upper right corner of the sub-effect display device 11d are matched. Alternatively, if the difference in distance between the coordinates is within a predetermined range, it can be determined that the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front. When the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front, the drawing control unit 206 reads from the SDRAM 210 to a drawing position corresponding to the outside of the outer edge of the main effect display device 9 in the sub-frame buffer. Draw the image data of the contour image. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 26A to 26C, when the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d can Outline images 605b1, 605b2, 605b3 and 605b4 are displayed at positions outside the outer edges 605a1, 605a2, 605a3 and 605a4 of the effect display device 9.

In addition, the drawing control unit 206, when drawing the image data corresponding to the reserved storage image, the special figure reduced image and the outline image in the sub-frame buffer, even if the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d move, the game area Do not change the absolute position of the pending stored image in . For example, the drawing control unit 206 first draws the image data corresponding to the reserved storage image, the special figure reduced image and the outline image, the drawing position in the sub-frame buffer, and the coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are stored in the RAM 85 in association with each other. After that, when the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d change due to movement, the drawing control unit 206 changes the current sub-effect display from the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d stored in the RAM 85. A change amount (distance and direction) to the coordinates of the four corners of the devices 11a to 11d is specified.

Next, the drawing control unit 206 specifies the amount of change in the sub-frame buffer corresponding to the amount of change whose distance is the same as the specified amount of change and whose direction is opposite to the specified amount of change. A new drawing position is specified as a new drawing position that is moved from the drawing position in the specified subframe by the amount of change in the specified subframe. Furthermore, the drawing control unit 206 draws the image data corresponding to the reserved storage image, the special figure reduced image and the contour image at the specified new drawing position, and the drawing position in the sub-frame buffer stored in the RAM 85, The coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are updated.

Next, the drawing control unit 206 copies the image data (sub-image data) in the sub-frame buffer to the main-frame buffer, and performs effect processing to draw the effect image data in the main-frame buffer (S823). Then, the sub-image data in the main frame buffer is re-copied to the sub-frame buffer (S824). Further, the drawing control unit 206 arranges each sub-image data corresponding to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d in the re-copied sub-frame buffer in the composite image storage area (S825).

In the drawing process shown in FIG. 19, the drawing control unit 206 first specifies the positions of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d that move according to the driving of the first and second stepping motors (S831). For example, as in S821 of FIG. 18, the drawing control unit 206 sets the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d to their initial positions, and the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the second stepping motor are both zero. When, start counting the number of pulse power supplied to each of the first stepping motor and the second stepping motor from the effect control CPU86 (number of steps).

Further, the drawing control unit 206 refers to the table shown in FIG. 20 stored in the RAM 85, for example, and sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d uniquely determined by the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor. Identify the coordinates of the four corners of . If the current number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor are not integral multiples of 10 at the timing of S831, the drawing control unit 206 controls the current number of steps of the first stepping motor and The coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are specified according to the number of steps obtained by rounding off the number of steps of the second stepping motor.

Again, returning to FIG. 19, description will be made. Next, the drawing control unit 206 reads out each image data from the SDRAM 210, and converts the image data of one image (whole image data) corresponding to the entirety of the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d to is drawn in both the main frame buffer and the sub-frame buffer (S832).

Here, the image data read from the SDRAM 210 includes image data corresponding to the pending storage image, the progress image, the background image, the effect symbol image, the special figure reduced image, the contour image, etc., and the image data other than the contour image The entire image data is constructed by drawing the corresponding image data in the main frame buffer and the sub-frame buffer respectively. When drawing the entire image data in the sub-frame buffer, for example, one of the following two techniques is adopted.

In the first method, the drawing positions corresponding to the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d in the sub-frame buffer change according to the movement of the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d. In this case, the drawing control unit 206 draws the entire image data at a predetermined drawing position within the sub-frame buffer regardless of the positions of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b), in the sub-frame buffer, the drawing position of the image data corresponding to the entire image 501 does not change according to the movement of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. However, the drawing positions 502 corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d change.

On the other hand, in the second method, even if the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d move, the drawing positions corresponding to the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d in the sub-frame buffer do not change. In this case, the drawing control unit 206 changes the drawing mode of the entire image data to the sub-frame buffer based on the positions (coordinates of the four corners) of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. For example, the drawing control unit 206 preliminarily sets the coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d when the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor are both 0, and the drawing position (drawing position) in the subframe buffer. (reference position) are stored in the RAM 85 .

After that, when the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d change due to movement, the drawing control unit 206 changes the current sub-effect display from the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d stored in the RAM 85. A change amount (distance and direction) to the coordinates of the four corners of the devices 11a to 11d is specified. Next, the drawing control unit 206 specifies the amount of change in the sub-frame buffer corresponding to the amount of change whose distance is the same as the specified amount of change and whose direction is opposite to the specified amount of change. A drawing position moved from the drawing reference position in the specified subframe by the amount of change in the specified subframe is specified as a new drawing position. Furthermore, the drawing control unit 206 draws the entire image data at the specified new drawing position.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b), in the sub-frame buffer, the drawing position of the image data corresponding to the entire image 501 changes according to the movement of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. However, the drawing positions 502 corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d do not change. In the present embodiment, the main effect display device 9 does not move and its position does not change. are all fixed.

Further, the drawing control unit 206 does not draw in the sub-frame buffer the image data corresponding to the progress image among the image data corresponding to the image to be displayed in the superimposed area. Image data corresponding to the reduced image is always drawn in the subframe buffer. For example, as shown in FIGS. 24(a) to (c), the pending storage image 602b is displayed on the sub-effect display device 11c, and the special figure reduced image 604 is displayed on the sub-effect display device 11d. 603 is displayed only on the main effect display device 9 and not displayed on the sub effect display device 11c. Further, as shown in FIGS. 25(a) to (c), the pending storage image 602b2 is displayed on the sub effect display device 11d, and the special figure reduced image 604 is displayed on the sub effect display device 11d, while the progress state image 603 is displayed only on the main effect display device 9 and not displayed on the sub effect display device 11d.

In addition, when the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed on the main effect display device 9, the retained stored image in the main effect display device 9 is gradually included in the superimposed area, and the mode of the retained stored image is When the mode changes from the normal mode to the mode indicating that the possibility of a big hit is high, the drawing control unit 206 changes the mode of only the portion of the superimposed region of the suspended stored image on the main effect display device 9 to the suspended mode. Draw the image data of the stored image to the main frame buffer. In addition, the drawing control unit 206 changes the image data of the pending storage image so that the mode of the pending storage image on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is changed in the same mode as the mode of the pending storage image on the main effect display device 9. to the subframebuffer.

For example, as in S822 of FIG. 18, the drawing control unit 206 includes a part of the suspended stored image in the superimposed area, and the aspect of the suspended stored image is changed from the normal aspect to the aspect indicating that the possibility of a big hit is high. , the image data of the retained stored image, in which only the form of the superimposed area is changed, is drawn at the drawing position corresponding to the image data of the retained stored image in the main frame buffer. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 23(a) to 23(c), the mode of the pending memory image 602a on the main effect display device 9 changes. On the other hand, the drawing control unit 206 renders the image data of a portion of the retained stored image (the portion corresponding to the superimposed region) of the retained stored image in the same manner as the mode of the superimposed region portion of the retained stored image to the retained stored image in the sub-frame buffer. Draw at the drawing position corresponding to some image data. At this time, the drawing control unit 206 copies the image of the superimposed region portion of the reserved storage image, and draws it at the drawing position corresponding to the superimposed region portion of the reserved storage image among the drawing positions in the sub-frame buffer. good too. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 24(a) to 24(c), the mode of the reserved storage image 602b changes in the sub effect display device 11c. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 25(a) to (c), in the sub effect display device 11d, the mode of the reserved memory image 602b1 changes among the reserved memory images 602b1 and 602b2.

Further, when the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed on the main effect display device 9 so that the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front, the drawing control unit 206 controls the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. In 11d, the image data of the contour image is drawn in the sub-frame buffer so that the contour image showing the pseudo outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is displayed at a position outside the outer edge of the main effect display device 9. . For example, similar to S822 in FIG. 18, the drawing control unit 206 moves the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 to the front based on the current coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d stored in the RAM 85. It is determined whether or not it is in a non-exposed state.

When the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front, the drawing control unit 206 places the contour image at the drawing position corresponding to the outside of the outer edge of the main effect display device 9 in the sub-frame buffer. Draw image data. As a result, for example, as shown in FIGS. 26A to 26C, when the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d can Outline images 605b1, 605b2, 605b3 and 605b4 are displayed at positions outside the outer edges 605a1, 605a2, 605a3 and 605a4 of the effect display device 9.

In addition, the drawing control unit 206, when drawing the image data corresponding to the reserved storage image, the special figure reduced image and the outline image in the sub-frame buffer, even if the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d move, the game area Do not change the absolute position of the pending stored image in . For example, as in S822 of FIG. 18, the drawing control unit 206 first draws the image data corresponding to the reserved storage image, the special figure reduced image, and the contour image, and the drawing position in the sub-frame buffer and the sub effect display. The coordinates of the four corners of the devices 11a to 11d are associated with each other and stored in the RAM 85. FIG. After that, when the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d change due to movement, the drawing control unit 206 changes the current sub-effect display from the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d stored in the RAM 85. A change amount (distance and direction) to the coordinates of the four corners of the devices 11a to 11d is specified.

Next, the drawing control unit 206 specifies the amount of change in the sub-frame buffer corresponding to the amount of change whose distance is the same as the specified amount of change and whose direction is opposite to the specified amount of change. A new drawing position is specified as a new drawing position that is moved from the drawing position in the specified subframe by the amount of change in the specified subframe. Furthermore, the drawing control unit 206 draws the image data corresponding to the reserved storage image, the special figure reduced image and the contour image at the specified new drawing position, and the drawing position in the sub frame buffer stored in the RAM 85 and the sub The coordinates of the four corners of the effect display devices 11a to 11d are updated.

Again, returning to FIG. 19, description will be made. Next, the drawing control unit 206 cuts out main image data, which is image data corresponding to the drawing position corresponding to the main effect display device 9, from the image data corresponding to the entire image drawn in the main frame buffer, Erase other image data. In addition, the drawing control unit 206 sub-image data corresponding to the drawing positions corresponding to the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d from the image data corresponding to the entire image drawn in the sub-frame buffer. The clipping position is corrected and clipped according to the displacement of the effect display devices 11a to 11d, and other image data is deleted (S833).

Here, in the process of cutting out the main image data, which is the image data corresponding to the drawing position corresponding to the main effect display device 9, from the image data corresponding to the entire image drawn in the main frame buffer, in S832, the first The clipping position is fixed regardless of which of the method and the second method is adopted.

On the other hand, in the process of extracting the sub-image data corresponding to the drawing positions corresponding to the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d from the image data corresponding to the entire image drawn in the sub-frame buffer, the sub-rendering display device The cutout position is corrected according to the displacement of 11a to 11d.

For example, when the first method is adopted, the drawing control unit 206 preliminarily sets the coordinates of the four corners of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d when the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor are both zero. and cutout positions (cutout reference positions) corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d in the subframe buffer are stored in the RAM85. After that, when the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d change due to movement, the drawing control unit 206 changes the current sub-effect display from the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d stored in the RAM 85. A change amount (distance and direction) to the coordinates of the four corners of the devices 11a to 11d is specified. Next, the drawing control unit 206 specifies the amount of change in the sub-frame buffer corresponding to the amount of change whose distance is the same as the specified amount of change and whose direction is opposite to the specified amount of change. A clipping position moved from the clipping reference position in 1 by the specified change amount on the subframe is specified as a new clipping position.

Next, the drawing control unit 206 controls the sub-effect display during the period (sub-display delay time) after the sub-image data is drawn in the sub-frame buffer until the image corresponding to the drawn sub-image data is displayed. The displacement (movement amount) of the devices 11a to 11d is grasped. Further, the drawing control unit 206 performs a correction process of moving the new clipping position by an amount corresponding to the displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d within the sub display delay time. Furthermore, the drawing control unit 206 cuts out the image data at the new cut-out position after the correction. As a result, when the first method is adopted, as shown in FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b), the sub-effect display device 11a in the sub-frame buffer is changed according to the movement of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. The rendering position (cutting position) 501 corresponding to 11d changes.

On the other hand, when the second method is adopted, as shown in FIGS. 22(a) and 22(b), even if the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d are moved, the drawing corresponding to the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d The position (cutout position) 501 does not change significantly. However, similarly to the above, the drawing control unit 206 grasps the displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d within the sub display delay time. Further, the drawing control unit 206 performs correction processing to move the clipping position by an amount corresponding to the displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d within the sub display delay time, and the image data of the clipping position after correction. cut out.

Next, the drawing control unit 206 arranges each of the sub-image data corresponding to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d in the cut-out sub-frame buffer in the composite image storage area (S834).

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing image data output processing from the VDP 262 to the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. The display control unit 213 in the VDP 262 determines whether or not it is time for V-sync corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d (S851). As described above, the system register 202 stores the dot clock value, which is the output cycle of image data, the number of dots for the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9, and the number of dots for the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. is set. For each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the display control unit 213 determines the dot clock value of the corresponding sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the number of dots in the X-axis direction (horizontal direction), and the number of dots in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction). ) and further add the multiplied values to calculate the frame period of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Further, the display control unit 213 starts a timer (not shown) at the timing when the V sync is started in S700 of FIG. Furthermore, every time the time corresponding to the timer value reaches an integral multiple of the frame period corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the display control unit 213 displays the frame corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The cycle start timing is specified, and this timing is set as the V-sync timing corresponding to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d.

If it is not the V-sync timing corresponding to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d (S851; No), the image data output process ends. On the other hand, if it is the V-sync timing corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d (S851; Yes), the display control unit 213 determines whether or not the previous two image data outputs have been executed from the buffer A. is determined (S852). For example, the system register 202 is provided with a counter for counting the number of times image data is output from buffer A (buffer A counter) and a counter for counting the number of times image data is output from buffer B (buffer B counter). The display control unit 213 resets the value of the buffer A counter each time the output source of image data is switched from buffer A to buffer B, and resets the value of the buffer B counter each time the output source of image data is switched from buffer B to buffer A. reset. Further, the display control unit 213 increments the value of the buffer A counter by 1 each time image data is output from the buffer A, and increments the value of the buffer B counter by 1 each time image data is output from the buffer B. In S852, the display control unit 213 determines that the previous two image data outputs have been executed from the buffer A when the counter value of the buffer A is 2.

If the previous two image data outputs have not been executed from the buffer A (S852; No), the display control unit 213 determines whether or not the previous two image data outputs have been executed from the buffer B ( S853). For example, when the above-described buffer A counter and buffer B counter are provided, the display control unit 213 determines that the last two image data outputs have been executed from the buffer B when the counter value of the buffer B is 2. judge.

If the previous two image data outputs have not been executed from the buffer B (S853; No), the display control unit 213 determines whether or not the previous one image data output has been executed from the buffer B ( S854). For example, when the above-described buffer A counter and buffer B counter are provided, the display control unit 213 determines that the last image data output was executed from the buffer B when the counter value of the buffer B is 1. judge.

If the previous two image data outputs have been executed from the buffer B (S852; No), or if the previous image data output has not been executed from the buffer B (S854; No), the display control unit 213 resets the V sync corresponding to the main effect display device 9 (S855). For example, the display control unit 213 calculates the frame period corresponding to the main effect display device 9 by multiplying the dot clock value by the number of dots for the frame period of the main effect display device 9 . Further, the display control unit 213 starts a timer (not shown) at the timing when the V-sync is started in S700 of FIG. , the start timing of the frame cycle corresponding to the main effect display device 9 is specified, and this timing is set as the V sync timing corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. In this case, the display control section 213 resets the V sync corresponding to the main effect display device 9 by resetting the timer.

By resetting the V sync corresponding to the main effect display device 9, the V sync corresponding to the main effect display device 9 and the V sync corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d match in timing. That is, the start timing of the frame period of the main effect display device 9 specified by the V sync corresponding to the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display device 11a specified by the V sync corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. 11d coincides with the start timing of the frame cycle.

After that, the display control section 213 outputs the image data from the buffer A to the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d (S856). Specifically, the display control unit 213 outputs the main image data in the buffer A to the main display system output unit MK, and outputs the output image data Z composed of the sub image data in the buffer A to the sub display system output unit. output to section SK. Here, when the buffer A counter and the buffer B counter described above are provided, the display control unit 213 increases the value of the buffer A counter by one. In addition, if the previous two image data outputs have been executed from the buffer B (S853; Yes), then in S856, from the buffer A to the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d When outputting the image data, the display control unit 213 further resets the value of the buffer B counter.

On the other hand, if the previous two image data outputs were executed from the buffer A (S852; Yes), or if the previous image data output was executed from the buffer B (S854; Yes), the display control unit 213 resets the V sync corresponding to the main effect display device 9 (S857). Specific processing is similar to that of S855.

After that, the display control section 213 outputs the image data from the buffer B to the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d (S858). Specifically, the display control unit 213 outputs the main image data in the buffer B to the main display system output unit MK, and outputs the output image data Z composed of the sub image data in the buffer B to the sub display system output unit. Output to section SK. Here, when the buffer A counter and the buffer B counter described above are provided, the display control unit 213 increases the value of the buffer B counter by one. Also, if the previous two image data outputs have been executed from the buffer A (S852; Yes), the image data is output from the buffer B to the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. When outputting, the display control unit 213 further resets the value of the buffer A counter.

FIG. 28 is a timing chart for drawing and outputting image data. FIG. 28(a) shows output of image data to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, and V-sync and V-blank of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. (b) is a timing chart showing output of image data to the main effect display device 9, V sync and V blank of the main effect display device 9, (c) is a V blank by VDP 262 10 is a timing chart showing waiting and drawing to a buffer;

The effect control CPU 86 sets the dot clock value, the number of dots for the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9, and the number of dots for the frame cycle of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d in the system register 202. In this case, the main effect display device 9 is configured so that the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is longer than the frame cycle of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d and longer than the frame cycle unique to the main effect display device 9. Sets the number of dots for the frame period of As a result, as shown in FIG. 28(b), the V-sync of the main effect display device 9 is changed from the timing of the initial state indicated by the dotted line to the timing after setting indicated by the one-dot chain line.

The drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262, as shown in FIG. , the drawing of the image data in the buffer A and the drawing of the image data in the buffer B are alternately repeated. When the drawing of the image data is completed, the drawing control unit 206 waits for the V-blank, that is, waits for the input of the V-blank interrupt signal corresponding to the next sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d.

On the other hand, the display control unit 213 in the VDP 262, as shown in FIGS. When the V-sync, which is the start timing of the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d calculated by the number of dots of , arrives, the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is reset, and the V-sync timing, which is the start timing thereof, is reached. is matched with the V-sync timing, which is the start timing of the frame cycle of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d.

Further, when the V sync, which is the start timing of the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, arrives, the display control unit 213 transfers the image data from the buffer B to the main effect display device 9 and The process of outputting to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is performed twice, and if the image data is being drawn to the buffer B, the image data is output from the buffer A to the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The processing to do is performed twice. The CPU interface 201 outputs a V-blank interrupt signal each time the output of this image data ends.

Next, the brightness control processing executed in S706 of FIG. 15 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 29 to 32. FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 29, each sub effect display device 11a to 11d is positioned in front of the main effect display device 9 so that it can be moved from a position not superimposed on the main effect display device 9 to a position superimposed thereon. are arranged (see FIG. 2).

Since the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are arranged in the front-rear direction in this manner, the distance between the player and the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is reduced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 29, when the same image A, for example, an effect image of lightning, is displayed on the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, The brightness of the displayed image A is seen by the player to be different, the visibility of the image A is deteriorated, and the player feels uncomfortable. It is necessary to adjust the brightness of 11a-11d so that the player sees images of the same brightness.

In particular, the difference in brightness between the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is that the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed on the main effect display device 9 as shown in FIG. In this case, it becomes easier to understand, and when the images are superimposed, when the images are displayed across the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the difference in brightness can be recognized even more. becomes easier.

The luminance (brightness) when the luminance (brightness) of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is almost the same at a predetermined position where the player is playing the game is Assuming that the luminance of the main effect display device 9 is 100%, as shown in FIG. %.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the brightness control processing shown in FIG. is changed by changing the duty ratio, which is the pulse width of the pulse drive signal applied to the backlight LEDs 9b, 11ab to 11db, as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the backlight drive circuits 9k, 11ak-11dk that apply pulse drive signals to the backlight LEDs 9b, 11ab-11db to emit light are, as shown in FIG. Since it is provided in the display devices 11a to 11d, the effect control CPU 86 provides these backlight drive circuits 9k, 11ak to 11dk, and the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal output to the backlight LED 9b, 11ab to 11db , the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal applied to the backlight LEDs 9b, 11ab to 11db is changed.

In the luminance control process of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. ) (S900). Then, the brightness of the specified main effect display device 9 and the brightness specified in the previous time are compared to determine whether or not they are the same (S901).

If the brightness of the main effect display device 9 has not changed in the determination of S901, that is, if it is the same as the brightness specified in the previous time, the process returns to S900. On the other hand, if the brightness of the main effect display device 9 has changed in the determination of S901, that is, if it is not the same as the brightness specified in the previous time, the brightness specified in S900 this time is replaced with the stored brightness of the previous time. , the brightness of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d corresponding to the specified brightness in S900, that is, the brightness of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d that appear to have the same brightness as the brightness of the main effect display device 9. The signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal for the purpose is specified (S902).

Specifically, for example, when the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal instructing the main effect display device 9 is 100%, that is, when the luminance of the main effect display device 9 is 100%, the main effect Since the brightness of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d that appear to have the same brightness as the brightness of the display device 9 is about 80% as described above, in S902, the brightness appears to be the same as the brightness of the main effect display device 9. A signal width (duty ratio) of 80% is specified as the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal for setting the brightness of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

Further, in S900, when the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse driving signal instructing the main effect display device 9 is 80% and the luminance of the main effect display device 9 is 80%, the main effect display device 9 Since the brightness of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, which appear to have the same brightness as the brightness of the effect display device 9, is about 80% of the brightness of the main effect display device 9, it can be set to about 64%. A signal width (duty ratio) of 64% is specified as the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal for making the brightness of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d that appear the same as the brightness of the main effect display device 9. (See FIG. 30).

Then, the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal specified in S903 is instructed to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d (backlight drive circuits 11ak to 11dk) (S903). As a result, the luminance (brightness) of the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d perceived by the player can be substantially the same.

Furthermore, the effect control CPU 86 determines whether or not it is during the cooperation effect period in which an image (specific image) such as an effect image that straddles the main effect display device 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is displayed. is determined (S904). If it is not during the collaboration effect period, the process returns to S900.

On the other hand, if it is during the cooperation effect period, the process proceeds to S905, and by changing the light emission intensity level of the logo panel 500 according to the luminance of the main effect display device 9, the light emission of the logo panel 500 This prevents the images displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d from becoming difficult to see (S905). Specifically, similar to the pulse drive signal applied to the backlight LEDs 11ab to 11db of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the logo panel LED drive circuit 88 causes the logo panel LED 500′ provided in the logo panel 500 to The signal width (duty ratio) of the applied pulse driving signal is reduced at a predetermined rate according to the luminance of the main effect display device 9 specified in S900, and the level of light emission intensity of the logo panel 500 (luminance ) to prevent the images displayed across the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d from becoming difficult to see.

In the present embodiment, by performing the determination in S904, an image displayed across the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, which is a specific effect image, is displayed. Only during the period, the level of the light emission intensity of the logo panel 500 is changed according to the luminance of the main effect display device 9, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is not limited to these cooperation effect periods. In the other effect period, the level of the light emission intensity of the logo panel 500 may be changed according to the luminance of the main effect display device 9, or the light emission intensity of the logo panel 500 is always maintained regardless of the effect. The level may be changed according to the brightness of the main effect display device 9. FIG.

Further, in the present embodiment, the brightness of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is exemplified by constantly changing according to the brightness of the main effect display device 9, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d move, that is, when the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d overlap the main effect display device 9, the sub-effect display devices are displayed according to the luminance of the main effect display device 9. The luminance of 11a to 11d is changed, or in the case where an image is displayed across the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, depending on the luminance of the main effect display device 9 The luminance of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be changed.

In the present embodiment, by changing the signal width of the pulse driving signal applied to the backlight LEDs 11ab to 11db of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, the main effect display device 9 and each sub-effect display that the player feels. Although the luminance (brightness) of the devices 11a to 11d is set to be substantially the same, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to changing the signal width of the pulse driving signal, the brightness contrast of the image may be changed. In other words, when adjusting the luminance (brightness) by changing the signal width of the pulse drive signal, it may be difficult to finely adjust the luminance (brightness). However, fine adjustment of brightness (brightness), which is difficult, may be performed by changing the light-dark contrast of the image. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 32, when the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal is set to 80% and the brightness of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is set to 80%, the main effect display device 9 displays The brightness (brightness ) may be fine-tuned.

In the example of FIG. 32(a), only the brightness contrast of the images displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is changed, but the present invention is not limited to this. The brightness contrast of both images is changed so that the brightness contrast of the image displayed on the display device 9 is changed by +α and the brightness contrast of the images displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is changed by -β. Alternatively, the brightness contrast of the image displayed on the main effect display device 9 may be changed by +X, and the brightness contrast of the images displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d may not be changed.

In this way, the brightness of the images displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, that is, the brightness of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is the brightness of the image. The contrast can also be changed, but these changes change depending on the displayed image, and the difference between the bright and dark parts increases. , the VDP 262 needs to perform image processing, and the processing load required for adjustment becomes large. On the other hand, adjusting the brightness by changing the signal width of the pulse drive signal applied to the backlight LEDs 11ab to 11db does not require image processing, etc., so that the processing load required for adjustment can be reduced. In addition, the width of the pulse drive signal can be changed if the required brightness adjustment range can be obtained by adjusting the brightness contrast. It is also possible to use only the adjustment based on the light-dark contrast without adjusting the brightness.

Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the form in which the brightness is changed by changing the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal applied to the backlight LEDs 11ab to 11db is exemplified. is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 32(b), even if the signal width (duty ratio) is the same, the output current amount is adjusted (10 The luminance may be changed by thinning out two pulse signals out of the total to reduce the current value by 20%. The mode of changing the current value is not limited to the mode described above, and may be performed by a method other than the method of thinning out the pulse signals (such as a reduction in the applied voltage).

In this embodiment, the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are provided with a main liquid crystal panel 9p and sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp provided with backlight LEDs 9b and 11ab to 11db that emit light by pulse drive signals. Although the form used is exemplified, the present invention is not limited to this, and as the backlight of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, the backlight is composed of a cold cathode tube and a light guide plate. In this case, the effect control CPU 86 and VDP 262 apply to the cold-cathode tubes by changing the frequency of the alternating current applied to the cold-cathode tubes by an inverter. The luminance of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d may be controlled by controlling the current value applied by the cold-cathode tube. In other words, when the luminescence intensity of the light emitting device used changes with the current value, the luminescence intensity is controlled not by the signal width (duty ratio) of the pulse drive signal, but by the current value. The luminance of the devices 11a to 11d may be controlled, and in this way the luminance can be easily controlled.

Further, in the present embodiment, the backlight LEDs 9b, 11ab to 11db are exemplified as light emitting devices that emit light with a pulse drive signal, but the present invention is not limited to this, and emits light with a pulse drive signal. Other light-emitting devices, such as organic EL devices, may also be used. Further, instead of the backlight, the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d themselves may be composed of organic EL displays.

In this embodiment, the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d use the main liquid crystal panel 9p and the sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11dp, but the present invention is limited to this. Instead, for example, as shown in FIG. 33, dot matrix type LED display panels P1 to P6 in which a predetermined number of LED elements, which are light emitting elements, are arranged vertically and horizontally in a matrix form are used. good too.

In the modification of FIG. 33, in order to reduce the cost of the pachinko game machine 1, six identical LED display panels are used, and these are divided into left and right and arranged three each, as shown in FIG. The three LED display panels P1 to P3 arranged on the right side cooperate to perform the variable display of the production patterns, and the three LED display panels P4 to P6 arranged on the left side cooperatively perform the variable display of the production patterns. , when the combinations of performance symbols stop-displayed on the LED display panels P2 and P5 become a specific combination (for example, the same performance symbols), a big hit is achieved. In FIG. 33, between the LED display panels P1 to P3 and the LED display panels P4 to P6, a character gimmick (role) G is arranged, and the gimmick (role) G is also the gimmick (role). Object) The LED provided in G emits light, and the LED is also connected to the logo panel LED drive circuit 88, so that the light emission intensity is controlled by the logo panel LED drive circuit 88. be.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, the LED display panel P5 is arranged in front of the LED display panels P4 and P6, and the LED display panels P4 and P6 are inclined. The lower part of the LED display panel P4 and the upper part of the LED display panel P6 are arranged so as to be hidden (covered) by the LED display panel P5, and the LED display panels P4 to P6 are variably displayed. The pattern is made to look as if it is rotating and fluctuating.

Similarly, the LED display panel P2 is also arranged in front of the LED display panels P1 and P3, and the LED display panels P1 and P3 are arranged with an inclination. and the upper part of the LED display panel P3 are arranged so as to be hidden (covered) by the LED display panel P5, and the production patterns variably displayed on the LED display panels P1 to P3 rotate and variate. It is designed to look like Incidentally, in FIG. 35, the gimmick (accessory) G is omitted.

In this modification, as in the above-described embodiment, the distances between the LED display panels P2 and P5 and the player differ from the distances between the LED display panels P1, P3, P4 and P6 and the player. , the brightness of the front LED display panels P2 and P5 appears higher than the brightness of the rear LED display panels P1, P3, P4 and P6 from the player's point of view, making it difficult to visually recognize the display of the performance symbols. In addition, since there is a possibility that the player may feel uncomfortable, the brightness of the display of the LED display panels P2 and P5 in front is set to be the same as the brightness of the display of the LED display panels P1, P3, P4, and P6. A duty ratio lower than the duty ratio of the pulse driving signal applied to each LED mounted on the LED display panels P1, P3, P4, P6 is specified so as to match the brightness and the brightness perceived by the player. A pulse driving signal having a specified duty ratio is applied to each LED mounted on the LED display panels P2 and P5.

In the case of this modification, when the variable display is executed in any one of the LED display panels P1 to P3 and the LED display panels P4 to P6, the logo panel 500 and the gimmick G emit light. The intensity level (luminance) is lowered by the logo panel LED drive circuit 88 to a predetermined level corresponding to the variable display, which is a level lower than the normal emission intensity. This prevents the variable display of the performance symbols on the panels P4 to P6 from becoming difficult to see. It should be noted that the predetermined level may be such that the luminous intensity of the logo panel 500 and the gimmick (character object) G is set to "0", that is, the logo panel 500 and the gimmick (character object) G do not emit light. In addition, the luminous intensity levels of the logo panel 500 and the gimmick (character object) G may be adjusted when the brightness of the variable display on the LED display panels P1 to P6 is brightly displayed by, for example, reverse display. The level of light emission intensity (luminance) may be changed according to the display brightness of the panels P1 to P6. In short, the level of the light emission intensity is appropriately changed according to the brightness of the display of the LED display panels P1 to P6, instead of always decreasing to a predetermined level in the variable display (to be a non-light-emitting body). ), and by doing so, the visibility of the images displayed on the LED display panels P1 to P6 is reduced by the light emission of the logo panel 500 and the gimmick (character object) G, which are light emitters. You can prevent it from happening.

Further, in this modified example, the form using the same LED display panel was exemplified from the viewpoint of cost, but the present invention is not limited to this. The resolution (dot (pixel) density) of P4 and P6 is made higher than the resolution (dot (pixel) density) of the front LED display panels P2 and P5 to make the rear image easier to see, or vice versa. 2, the resolution (dot (pixel) density) of the front LED display panels P2 and P5 is higher than the resolution (dot (pixel) density) of the rear LED display panels P1, P3, P4, and P6, and the front The resolution (dot (pixel) density) of the LED display panels P2 and P5 in the front and the resolution (dot (pixel) density) of the LED display panels P1 and P3 in the rear are adjusted so as to suppress the roughness of the images of the LED display panels P2 and P5. , P4 and P6 may have different resolutions (dot (pixel) densities).

In addition, in this modified example, the LED display panels P1 to P6 are in a form that does not move, but the present invention is not limited to this, and some or all of these LED display panels P1 to P6 move. can be anything.

According to the above embodiment, the luminance of the main effect display device 9 arranged in the rear is higher than the luminance of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d arranged in front, so that the player feels By reducing the difference between the display brightness of the main effect display device 9 and the display brightness of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, the brightness of each display can be made substantially the same from the player's point of view. Therefore, the visibility of the game-related images displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, especially the images displayed across the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. can increase

Further, according to the above embodiment, the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are provided with the main liquid crystal panel 9p and the sub liquid crystal panels 11ap to 11d, which are provided with the backlight LEDs 9b and 11ab to 11db that emit light in response to pulse drive signals. Since 11 dp is used, brightness control can be performed easily.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the level (luminance) of the emission intensity of the logo panel 500, which is a light-emitting body provided in the vicinity of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, corresponds to the main effect display. Since the level is set to a low level during the cooperative effect period in which the effect images are displayed across the device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the image from being lowered by the light emission of the logo panel 500.例文帳に追加be able to. As described above, in the present invention, the level of light emission intensity (luminance) of the logo panel 500 is set to a low level during the cooperation effect period in which the effect image of the cooperation effect is displayed, but the present invention is limited to this. Instead, images are always displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d during the period when the images are displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The emission intensity level (luminance) may be lower than the emission intensity level (luminance) of the logo panel 500 when it is not present.

Further, according to the modification shown in FIG. 32, contrast control is executed to lower the contrast of the images displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d located in front of the main effect display device 9. The visibility of the image displayed on the main effect display device 9 can be improved.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d can be moved to a position superimposed on the main effect display device 9, and the movement straddles the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Since the image is displayed, the interest in the game can be enhanced.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262 specifies the displacement of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d within the display delay time based on the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor. Then, according to the displacement, correction processing for drawing and clipping of the main image data is performed. As a result, it is possible to display images on the main effect display device 9 in consideration of the movement of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d during the display delay time. The display accuracy can be improved by preventing display deviation between the two.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262 specifies the displacement of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d within the display delay time based on the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor. Then, according to the displacement, correction processing for drawing and clipping of the sub-image data is performed. In other words, the movable body can display an image related to the game, and the correction means performs correction when an image having continuity is displayed between the display device and the movable body, so that the sub effect display device can be displayed during the display delay time. In consideration of the movement of 11a-11d, image display on the sub-rendering display devices 11a-11d becomes possible, and display deviation between the main rendering display device 9 and the sub-rendering display devices 11a-11d is prevented. , the display accuracy can be improved.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the sub-effect display devices 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are provided, and the sub-effect display device 11c can display the images 605b1 to 605b4 of FIG. 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d are to display images 605b1 to 605b4 in FIG. 18, the main image data is drawn, the main image data is drawn and cut out in step S833 in FIG. 19, the sub-image data is drawn in step S822 in FIG. In S833, the clipping position of the sub-image data is corrected and clipped. In other words, a plurality of movable bodies are provided, and the plurality of movable bodies can display images related to the game. It is possible to prevent display deviation between and improve the presentation effect.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the VDP 262, which is display control means for controlling image display, and the effect control means, which controls the operation of the movable body and instructs the VDP 262 (display control means) to perform display control. The production control CPU 86 (production control means) replaces the drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262, and is a sub that is uniquely determined by the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor. Position information of the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d (movable bodies) is specified by specifying displacements of the effect display devices 11a-11d (movable bodies), and drawing control in the VDP 262 (display control means) is performed based on the position information. Display control is instructed by instructing the processing of FIGS. 18 and 19 to the unit 206, so the role of specifying the position of the movable body and the display control between the effect control means and the display control means are shared, and the processing burden is reduced.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d (movable bodies) are provided with the contour images 605b1, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b2, 605b3 and 605b4 are displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d. In other words, the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d (movable bodies) are provided at positions outside the outer edge of the main effect display device 9 (display device). Since the image is displayed, the contour image showing the pseudo outer edge of the display device is displayed at a position outside the outer edge of the display device on the movable body, so that the player can see the main display device in actual size. It can be made to look larger than the original, and the amusement of the game is improved.

In the above embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 draws the image data of the contour image in the sub-frame buffer so that the absolute position of the contour image in the game area does not change according to the movement of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. change position. As a result, even if the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d move, the absolute position of the contour image in the game area does not change, so the player does not feel uncomfortable.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 draws the image data of the image to be displayed in the superimposed area of the main effect display device 9 in the sub-frame buffer, thereby displaying the image in the superimposed region of the main effect display device 9. Images to be played are displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. As a result, the image displayed in the superimposed area of the main effect display device 9, which is not exposed when the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed, is displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, so that the player feels uncomfortable. There is no need to memorize the game, the effect of performance is enhanced, and the amusement of the game is improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 does not draw the image data of the progress image displayed on the main effect display device 9 in the sub-frame buffer, so that the progress image is not displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. It will not be displayed. As a result, the images displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d can be restricted, the images can be displayed appropriately, and the interest in the game can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 controls the superimposed area of the reserved storage image displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the special symbol reduced image obtained by reducing the effect symbol image corresponding to the variable display of the special symbol. is always drawn in the sub-frame buffer, and the reserved storage image and the special figure reduced display image are displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. Since the reserved memory image and the special figure reduced image are important images indicating the state of the game, by ensuring that these reserved memory images and special figure reduced images are always displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d , it is possible to prevent the player from erroneously recognizing the game state.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 selects the image data of a part of the character image corresponding to the superimposed area for the character image displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. The character images are drawn in the sub-frame buffer and displayed over the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, thereby increasing the effect of the effect and enhancing the interest in the game.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the mode of the reserved storage image changes, the drawing control unit 206 changes the image data of the reserved storage image that has been displayed in the superimposed area according to the movement of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The image data of the retained stored image different from the image data is drawn in the sub-frame buffer so that the retained stored image after the change in mode is displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Thus, as time elapses, the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d display different pending stored images, thereby increasing the effect of the effect and increasing the interest in the game.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 changes the absolute position in the game area of the reserved storage image and the reduced special figure image displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d according to the movement of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Change the drawing position of the image data of the reserved storage image and the special figure reduced image in the sub-frame buffer so that does not change. As a result, even if the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d move, the absolute positions of the reserved storage image and the special figure reduced image in the game area do not change, so the player does not feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, by not changing the absolute position of the reserved memory image and special figure reduced image, which indicate the state of the game and are important images in the game, it is possible to prevent the player from erroneously recognizing the image in the game.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 controls the image data of the pending storage images so that the pending storage images displayed on the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d change in the same manner. to the main frame buffer and subframe buffer. As a result, the reserved memory image changes in the same manner on the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, so that it is possible to prevent misrecognition of the reserved memory by the player. In addition, by including the reserved memory image in the superimposed area, it is possible to change the reserved memory image in the same manner in the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, resulting in the effect of the effect. increases and the amusement interest improves.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206 may include a part of the reserved storage image in the superimposed area, and the state of the reserved storage image changes from a normal state to a state indicating that the possibility of a big hit is high. , the image data of the retained stored image, in which only the superimposed region portion is changed, is drawn at the drawing position corresponding to the image data of the retained stored image in the main frame buffer, and the superimposed region portion of the retained stored image is drawn. The image data of the reserved stored image in the same mode as the mode is drawn at the drawing position corresponding to the image data of the reserved stored image in the sub-frame buffer. As a result, in the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, the mode of the reserved memory image changes in the same manner as the reserved memory image portion in the main effect display device 9, so that the effect of the effect is enhanced and the game interest is enhanced.

In the above-described embodiment, the effect control CPU 86 outputs pulse power to the movement motors 59a to 59d including the first and second stepping motors at a cycle shorter than the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are driven by the movement motors 59a to 59d. The positions of the effect display devices 11a to 11d are specified. As a result, the superimposed area is specified in synchronization with the frame cycle, which is the cycle in which the pulse power is input a plurality of times. It is possible to reduce the specific load of the superimposed area and the control load related to image display.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drawing control unit 206, based on a table that associates the number of steps of the first and second stepping motors with the coordinates of the four corners of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, The coordinates of the four corners of 11a to 11d and also the overlapping area are specified. In this way, by using the table, it is possible to reduce the burden of specifying the superimposed area and further the burden of controlling image display.

In addition, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d perform linear movement and tilting, and the drawing control unit 206, when drawing the image data of the reserved storage image and the special figure reduced image to the sub frame buffer, the reserved storage image etc. Image data is drawn according to the positions of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d so that the absolute position in the game area does not change. As a result, even if the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d perform linear movement and tilting, the absolute positions of the reserved storage image and the special figure reduced image in the game area do not change, so that the player does not feel uncomfortable. indicates the state of the game, and can prevent the player from erroneously recognizing the reserved memory image and special figure reduced image, which are important images in the game.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the output of image data to the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is started at the timing of the V sync of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. The output cycle of the image data to the effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are all synchronized with the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Further, the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is set to be longer than the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and longer than the frame cycle unique to the main effect display device 9, and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Since the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is reset in synchronization with the frame cycle of , the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is synchronized with the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. That is, the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9 is synchronized with the output cycle of the image data to the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. For this reason, image display by changing the time difference between the start timing of outputting image data to the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d and the start timing of the frame cycle of the main effect display device 9. , and the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d can be properly synchronized. Also, in synchronization with the frame cycle of the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d, it generates output image data Z, which is image data processed based on the sub-image data, and outputs it to the sub-effect display devices 11a-11d. Even in this case, by performing processing in synchronization with the frame cycle of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of image display problems due to the start of display during image processing.

Further, according to the above embodiment, in the initialization process in S700 of FIG. 15, by starting the frame cycles of the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d at the same timing, the subsequent frame cycle Until resetting, the time difference between the start timing of the image data output to the main effect display device 9 and the start timing of the image data output to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d increases to the extent that image display defects occur. Therefore, it is possible to set the frame period appropriately.

Further, according to the above embodiment, in the recovery process of S700a of FIG. 17, if the V-blank interrupt signal is not input for a predetermined time, either the main effect display device 9 or the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d Since the main effect display device 9, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, and the VDP 262 are restarted assuming that an abnormality has occurred, the main effect display device 9, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, and the VDP 262 are abnormal. It is possible to appropriately perform the detection and the countermeasures in the case of the abnormality detection.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, when the coordinated effect is not being executed, the image data drawn directly in the storage area of the sub-frame buffer is output to the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. It is possible to reduce the image processing load when it is not executed.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the main frame buffer stores the image data for the main effect display device 9, and the sub frame buffer stores the image data for the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. This prevents the control when drawing the image data from becoming complicated, and does not require a high-performance processing circuit for performing these complicated controls, so the cost of the pachinko game machine 1 can be reduced.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, image data whose color tone is corrected in accordance with the characteristics of the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is generated. Even when displayed on the effect display devices 11a to 11d, the color tone can be unified, and a display without a sense of incongruity can be realized.

Further, according to the above embodiment, the time required to draw image data in the image drawing area is longer than one frame period of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d and shorter than two frame periods. The switching between the buffer A and the buffer B serving as the image drawing areas is performed every time the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is input to the drawing control unit 206 twice, that is, the sub effect display device. It is performed every two times the frame period of 11a to 11d. Therefore, it is possible to prevent problems such as starting the drawing of the next image data before finishing the drawing of the image data, and appropriately draw the image data.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any changes or additions within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. be

For example, in the above embodiment and the like, the display brightness of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d felt by the player is exemplified to be substantially the same brightness, but the present invention is limited to this. For example, when the images displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are desired to be particularly conspicuous, as shown in FIG. and the main effect display device 9 is superimposed so as not to be visually recognized, the brightness of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is increased and the brightness of the main effect display device 9 is decreased. The visibility of the images displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be enhanced by increasing the difference in brightness of the images. Conversely, if it is desired to make the image displayed on the main effect display device 9 stand out, the brightness of the main effect display device 9 is increased and the brightness of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is decreased. The visibility of the image displayed on the main effect display device 9 may be enhanced by increasing the difference in brightness between the images displayed.

In addition, although not particularly implemented in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. , the brightness of the main effect display device 9 is not changed (brightness control is not performed), and the image is not drawn in the main frame buffer. By doing so, the processing load due to the brightness control and the processing load of image drawing processing to the main frame buffer may be reduced.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment and the like, the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d move and the main effect display device 9 does not move. The main effect display device 9 may be moved together with the devices 11a to 11d, or only the main effect display device 9 may be moved without moving the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

Also, in the above embodiment, all of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are described as moving, but only some of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be moved. For example, when only the sub effect display device 11a among the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d moves, the drawing control unit 206 moves the sub effect display device 11a and the other sub effect display devices according to the displacement of the sub effect display device 11a. Correction processing is performed for drawing the sub-image data of the sub-effect display devices 11b to 11d and cutting out the sub-image data by correcting the cut-out position. In this case, it is possible to perform various aspects of production, and in the various aspects of production, display deviation is prevented between the main production display device 9 and the sub-production display devices 11a to 11d, and display accuracy is improved. can be improved.

Further, in the above embodiment, the same brightness control is performed for all of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, but the present invention is not limited to this. When only some of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are moved and only some of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are moved to a position overlapping the main effect display device 9, Only a main effect display device 9 and some of the sub-effect display devices that are moved to a position overlapping the main effect display device 9 are subjected to luminance control to change the luminance, and the position overlapping the main effect display device 9 is performed. The brightness control for changing the brightness may not be performed for some of the sub effect display devices that are not moving. In other words, when the sub-effect display device does not overlap the main effect display device, the sub-effect display device that does not overlap may not have its luminance changed in accordance with the luminance of the main effect display device.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the form in which the luminance (light emission intensity) of the logo panel 500 is changed during the period of the cooperative effect is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the logo panel 500 Similar to the luminance (luminescence intensity), these linked effect images are displayed only during the linked effect period in which the linked effect images are displayed across the main effect display device 9 and any of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. Brightness control may be performed to change the brightness of either the main effect display device 9 or the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. That is, when the cooperative effect image is not displayed across the main effect display device 9 and any of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, the luminance of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is set to the luminance of the main effect display device 9. may not be changed according to

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the logo panel 500, which is the luminous body of the present invention, is arranged directly above the sub-effect display devices 11a and 11b, which are positions near the sub-effect display devices 11a and 11b, which are display means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these light emitters are located in the vicinity of any of the sub effect display devices 11c and 11d other than the sub effect display devices 11a and 11b. A position or a position near the main effect display device 9 may be used. In addition, the vicinity position in the present invention means the position around the vicinity adjacent to any display device constituting the display means, or the region of the window portion in the case where a window portion through which the display device can be visually recognized is provided. Includes locations within and around regions.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments and the like, the logo panel 500 and the gimmick (character object) G are exemplified as light emitters, but the present invention is not limited to these, and any other light emitter can be used as long as it emits light. For example, it may be a game effect lamp, a versa writer that is a rotating light emitter, a light guide plate, or the like.

In addition, the drawing control unit 206 determines whether or not an image having continuity across at least any two of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is displayed based on the image drawing position. However, the correction process may be performed only when a continuous image is displayed. For example, the main effect display device 9 displays a partial image 601a of the character image 601 shown in FIGS. 601, the drawing control unit 206 draws the main image data in S822 of FIG. The main image data may be drawn and cut out in S833 of FIG. 18, the sub-image data may be drawn in S822 of FIG. 18, and the cutting position of the sub-image data may be corrected and cut out in S833 of FIG. . As a result, it is possible to make corrections as necessary, prevent display deviation between the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, and improve the effect of the effect.

Further, for example, when the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are to display the images 605b1 to 605b4 in FIG. 18, drawing of the main image data in S822 of FIG. 18, and correction processing of drawing and clipping of the main image data in S833 of FIG. Correction processing is performed to correct and cut out the sub-image data cut-out position, and when the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d perform independent image display, the correction processing is not performed. You may do so. As a result, it is possible to prevent display deviation among the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d and improve the effect of the effect.

Also, for example, the effect control CPU 86, instead of the drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262, controls the displacement of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d uniquely determined by the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the number of steps of the second stepping motor. 18 and 19, the drawing control unit 206 in the VDP 262 is instructed to control drawing. good. As a result, roles of identifying the displacement of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d and controlling drawing according to the displacement are shared between the effect control CPU 86 and the drawing control unit 206, thereby reducing the processing load. .

Further, in the above embodiment, the displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d is calculated based on the number of steps of the first stepping motor and the second stepping motor, but based on the stepping motor control information, The positions (coordinates) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be calculated. In addition, sensors or the like are used to detect the positions (coordinates) of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, or sensors or the like are used to detect the speeds of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, and based on the speeds. , the displacement (movement amount) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be calculated. The positions (coordinates) of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are detected, and the speeds of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are detected. ), when some trouble occurs and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d move differently than they should, correction processing can be performed according to the actual movement.

Furthermore, the displacements (movement amounts) of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d obtained using sensors or the like are input to the drawing control unit 206, and the drawing control unit 206 inputs the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. In accordance with the displacement (movement amount) of 11d, correction processing such as drawing and clipping of the main image data, drawing of the sub-image data, and clipping of the sub-image data after correcting the clipping position are performed. may

Further, in the above embodiment, in the pachinko game machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the main effect display device 9 performs the variable display of the effect symbols. Alternatively, the main effect display device 9 may not perform the variable display of the effect symbols, and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be partially or entirely displayed with the effect symbols. may be displayed. Also, in the pachinko game machine 1 shown in FIG. Only one executes a game-related effect, and the other executes a non-game-related effect (e.g., constantly displaying characters, terms, and expectations for effects, mini-games not related to games using operation means, etc.) It may be something to do. Here, the effect related to the game is not limited to the variable display of the effect pattern, even if it is to display animation, characters, background in the ready-to-win effect, notice effect, or icon indicating the notice effect good. Further, the display means is not limited to a liquid crystal display or a dot matrix type LED display panel in the modified example, but may be an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, a transparent liquid crystal, a matrix display composed of a light guide plate, or a 7-segment display. It may be a device, a display device for operating a drum type movable body, or the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, when the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are superimposed on the main effect display device 9 so that the entire outer edge of the main effect display device 9 is not exposed to the front, the drawing control unit 206 In the effect display devices 11a to 11d, the image data of the contour image is drawn in the sub-frame buffer so that the contour image is displayed at a position outside the outer edge of the main effect display device 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when one or more outer edges out of the outer edges of the main effect display device 9 are not exposed, the drawing control unit 206 causes the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d to display the main effect. The image data for the contour image may be drawn into the sub-frame buffer so that the contour image is displayed at a position outside the unexposed outer edge or edges of device 9 .

In the above embodiment, the positions of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d are specified by the cycle of the image data drawing process in the VDP 262, specifically, the cycle twice the frame cycle of the sub-rendering display devices 11a-11d. done every time. However, specifying the positions of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d only needs to be synchronized with the frame cycle of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d. may be performed for each frame period of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the reserved memory image included in the superimposed area and the special symbol reduced image obtained by reducing the effect symbol image corresponding to the variable display of the special symbol are always displayed on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. And, it is controlled so that the absolute position in the game area does not change. However, even for images other than the reserved storage image and the special figure reduced image, when included in the superimposed area, it is always displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, and the absolute position in the game area does not change. It may be controlled. For example, when the image of the fourth symbol corresponding to the special symbol displayed on the special symbol display device 8, which is an important image in the game, is included in the superimposed area, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are always included. , and may be controlled so that the absolute position in the game area does not change. Also, when a background image or the like that is not important for the game is included in the superimposed area, it may always be displayed on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are linearly moved and tilted by the first and second stepping motors, but are linearly moved and tilted by other motors and further by other drive mechanisms. may be performed. Also in this case, the drawing control unit 206 specifies the positions of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d based on the signals for driving the drive mechanism, and further specifies the superimposed area.

Also, in the above embodiment, the case where only the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are moved has been described as an example, but both the main effect display device 9 and the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be moved. In this case, the drawing control section 206 identifies the relative positions of the main effect display device 9 and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d, and identifies the superimposed area based on the relative positions.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image of the superimposed area on the main effect display device 9 and the image of the portion corresponding to the superimposed region on the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d change in the same manner. , the image of the superimposed area on the main effect display device 9 and the image of the portion corresponding to the superimposed region on the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may be different.

Further, in the above embodiment, the time required to draw image data in the image drawing area is longer than one frame period of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d and shorter than two frame periods. The area and the image drawing area are switched every cycle twice the frame cycle of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. However, the switching period between the image display area and the image drawing area is not limited to this, and the switching period between the image display area and the image drawing area is an integral multiple of the frame period of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d according to the time required to draw the image data in the image drawing area. should be set to

Further, in the above embodiment, the switching between the buffer A and the buffer B serving as the image drawing areas is performed every time the drawing control unit 206 receives the V blank interrupt signal corresponding to the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d twice. However, it may be switched every time the V-sync timing of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d comes twice.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments and the like, it is assumed that the plurality of sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and the LED display panels P1 to P6 all have the same resolution and the same total number of pixels. 11a to 11d and LED display panels P1 to P6 may have different resolutions and total pixel counts. Furthermore, when the plurality of sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and the LED display panels P1 to P6 have different resolutions and total pixel counts, each sub image data to be drawn in each storage area of the sub frame buffer is After drawing with a common image size, each sub image data is stored in the combined image storage area to generate output image data, and the output image data is separated as each sub image data by the signal separation board 220. , the data signal of each of the sub image data is enlarged or reduced according to the resolution and the total number of pixels of each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, and the enlarged or reduced data signal is sent to each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. or LED display panels P1 to P6 to display each image data.

Further, in the above embodiment, the four sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d are installed in the pachinko game machine 1, but the number of sub-effect display devices to be installed is not limited to four. A sub effect display device may be mounted, or five, six or more sub effect display devices may be mounted. Even when three sub-effect display devices are mounted, one signal separation board 220 corresponding to the above-described four sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d can be used. For example, four storage areas are provided in the sub-frame buffer, sub-image data A to C are stored in three of the storage areas, and blank image data is stored in the remaining one storage area. to store Then, in the order of image data divided from sub-image data A, image data divided from sub-image data C, image data divided from sub-image data B, and image data divided from blank image data, each sub-image data Image data A to C and blank image data are stored in the composite image storage area to generate output image data Z. FIG. In addition, the output image data Z is output from the VDP 262 to the signal separation board 220 as a data signal of one system. Further, when the signal separation board 220 separates the output image data Z into four lines and outputs them, three of the four transmission circuits 223a to 223d of the signal separation board 220 are sent from the three transmission circuits, respectively. Sub image data A to C are transmitted to the device, and blank image data are transmitted from transmission circuits 223a to 223d to which the sub effect display devices are not connected.

In addition, in the above embodiment, each of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d smaller than the main effect display device 9 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. The effect display devices 11a to 11d may have the same size, or the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d larger than the main effect display device 9 may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the first drawing area and each second drawing area are set in the main frame buffer, and the setting of each second drawing area is changed according to the movement of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. However, the setting of the drawing area that is changed according to the display device is not limited to the main frame buffer, and may be another aspect. For example, in the virtual drawing space before drawing in the main frame buffer, a first drawing area and each second drawing area are set, and each second drawing area is set in accordance with the movement of each of the sub-rendering display devices 11a to 11d. After rendering primitives in these virtual rendering spaces, the primitives in the first and second rendering regions of the virtual rendering space are transferred to the first and second rendering regions of the main frame buffer. A mode of drawing in a drawing area may be employed. Further, after the primitives are drawn in the virtual drawing space, the primitives in the first drawing area and the second drawing area of the virtual drawing space are individually transferred to the first drawing area of the main frame buffer and the storage area of the subframe buffer. may be drawn on the

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the VRAM area, an area having a storage area is used as a sub-frame buffer. A composite image storage area for storing output image data to be output to the effect display devices 11a to 11d may be used as a frame buffer.

Further, in the above embodiment, the vertical arrangement of the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d is not so that the horizontal line of the display screen is horizontal, but arranged in a state rotated clockwise or counterclockwise with respect to the horizontal line. However, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d may not be rotated.

Further, in the above embodiment, each sub-image data A to D stored in the storage area of the sub-frame buffer is divided, and each divided image data is read out in the composite image storage area (X-axis direction). The output image data Z are sequentially arranged and stored in the composite image storage area to generate the output image data Z. The output image data Z is output from the sub-display system output section SK of the VDP 262, and the output image data Z is subjected to signal separation. After being separated as sub image data A to D by the substrate 220, they are input to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d. Often, for example, the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are connected directly to the sub display system output section SK of the VDP 262 without going through the signal separation board 220, and each sub image data A stored in the storage area of the sub frame buffer. to D are directly transmitted from the sub display system output unit SK of the VDP 262 to the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d, and the sub image data A to D received directly from the VDP 262 by the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d are displayed on the display unit. may be configured to be displayed on.

Further, in the above embodiment, each of the sub-image data A to D drawn in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer is reduced and duplicated in each of the second drawing areas of the main-frame buffer, and effect processing is performed in the main-frame buffer. , each of the sub-image data A to D in each of the second drawing areas in the main frame buffer is enlarged and re-copied in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer. 9 and each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d have the same resolution (display pixel density), each of the sub image data A to D stored in each storage area of the sub frame buffer is stored in the main frame buffer. and each sub-image data A to D of each second drawing area in the main frame buffer are re-replicated in each storage area of the sub-frame buffer. The image data may be duplicated or re-duplicated at the same size without performing the .

In the above embodiment, the main effect display device 9 capable of displaying game-related images and the sub-effect display devices 11a to 11d have different luminances. , and character objects are arranged at different positions in the front and rear, the brightness of each lamp and each character object arranged at different positions may be different.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the form in which the level (brightness) of the emission intensity of the logo panel 500 is changed is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in the gimmick G of the modified example, For example, a luminous body such as an attacker is present in the area of the window for making the display device capable of displaying an image visible, and the display device displays an effect image related to the luminous body, such as "Aim at the attacker". is displayed, the luminance of the light emitter may be changed according to the display of the effect image. In other words, in order to make the attacker who is a light-emitting body win the ball, when the light-emitting body (attacker) emits light to notify the promotion of winning, the display means and the light-emitting body (attacker) have different luminance, specifically, The luminance of the light emitter (attacker) may be greater than the luminance of the display means.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mode in which brightness control is executed regardless of the state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited to this. By not performing brightness control while the error display is being displayed, it is possible to prevent the error notification from being properly recognized due to the brightness control, or to prevent the player from playing the game. By not executing it, brightness control is not performed in the state where the customer waiting demo screen is displayed (non-game state), so as to prevent an increase in processing load and power consumption due to brightness control. good too.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is exemplified as a gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a slot machine in which games are played using medals as game media good. When the gaming machine is a slot machine, for example, when a bonus flag is set by an internal lottery, each of the sub effect display devices 11a to 11d and the main effect display device 9 displays the bonus flag. is an image suggesting that is set, and a suggesting effect of displaying effect images linked to each other may be executed. In addition, game machines other than these, for example, game media are enclosed inside the game machine, and the number of pachinko balls and medals lent out and the number of pachinko balls and medals awarded according to winnings are added. On the other hand, there are enclosed type game machines in which the number of pachinko balls and medals used in the game is subtracted and stored, and values such as points and points lent out in response to a lending request, for example, without using pachinko balls and medals. The game machine may store all values such as points and scores given in accordance with winning prizes as credits, and play a game using only the values stored as credits. In this case, the points, points, etc. correspond to the game medium, and the credits correspond to the game value.

1 pachinko machine 8 special symbol display 9 main effect display 9a frame 10 normal symbol display 11a-11d sub effect display 31 main board 80 effect control board 81 effect control microcomputer 88 logo panel LED drive circuit 156 Game control microcomputer 206 Drawing control unit 210 SDRAM
213 display control unit 220 signal separation substrate 262 VDP
500 Logo panel 500' LED for logo panel

Claims (1)

A game machine capable of playing,
a first display means;
a second display means arranged behind the first display means;
a luminous body provided near the first display means and capable of emitting light;
a control means capable of controlling at least luminance of the first display means, the second display means, and the light emitter;
with
The control means is capable of performing luminance control so that the luminance of the first display means is lower than the luminance of the second display means, and the light emission is performed when the specific image is displayed on the second display means. Execute specific control to reduce the brightness of the body and the brightness control,
The control means performs the brightness control by changing the signal width of the applied pulse signal.
A gaming machine characterized by:

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