JP2023005980A - game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To enhance interest in a game.SOLUTION: A game machine in which a lottery is performed on the basis of a game ball flowing down a game area entering a winning port, the result of the lottery is displayed on a display device by the stop display of a symbol, and game balls not entering the winning port enter an out port to be collected from the game area can execute a first performance in which, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the symbol is stopped and displayed, the screen displayed on the display device is switched to a standby screen to execute a demonstration performance. Even after the lapse of a predetermined time after the stop display of the symbol, the execution of the first performance can be blocked when the game ball enters the out port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 23

Description

The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko game machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, gaming machines that use display screens to perform various effects are common (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In such a game machine, when the ball does not easily enter the starting hole even if the game ball continues to be shot, the game machine enters a standby state and performs a demonstration effect using the display screen.

JP 2019-115594 A

However, in the above-described gaming machine, even though the player has started playing the game, in addition to the fact that the game ball does not easily enter the starting hole, furthermore, the demonstration effect is started, causing the player to However, there is a risk that players will become frustrated and lose interest in games, and there is still room for improvement in techniques for improving the interest in games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the enjoyment of games.

The present invention has been made to solve at least part of the above problems, and can be implemented as the following application examples.

[Application example 1]
A lottery is carried out based on the game ball flowing down the game area entering the prize winning opening, the result of the lottery is displayed on the display device by the stop display of the symbol, and the game ball not entering the winning opening is displayed. A gaming machine in which a ball enters an out port and is collected from the game area,
a first effect for executing a demonstration effect by switching the screen displayed on the display device to a standby screen after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the stop display of the symbol;
Execution of the first effect is prevented when a game ball enters the out port even after the predetermined time has passed since the stop display of the symbol.
A gaming machine characterized by:

[Application example 2]
The gaming machine according to Application Example 1,
Inhibition of execution of the first effect is executed when a counter for counting game balls entering the out port is counted up,
A gaming machine characterized by:

[Application Example 3]
The gaming machine according to Application Example 1 or Application Example 2,
For the predetermined time, when a game ball enters the winning hole and there is an undigested reserved ball, the undigested reserved ball is digested and the result of the lottery is displayed on the display device by the stop display of the symbol. It is timed when it is displayed on
A gaming machine characterized by:

[Application example 4]
The gaming machine according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 3,
A game ball entering the winning hole is detected by a winning hole sensor,
A game ball entering the out hole is detected by an out hole sensor provided separately from the winning hole sensor,
A gaming machine characterized by:

[Application example 5]
The gaming machine according to any one of Application Examples 1 to 4,
In the first effect, the standby screen is switched to a video playback screen for waiting for customers or a game explanation screen, and the demonstration effect is executed.
A gaming machine characterized by:

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the interest of the game.

1 is a front view of a gaming machine; FIG. It is an enlarged view of display devices. It is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the main control board side of the gaming machine. It is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the sub-control board side of the gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a main ROM and a main RAM; FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a sub-ROM and a sub-RAM; FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating big-hit determination table T1. It is explanatory drawing of jackpot classification determination table T5. It is explanatory drawing of the fluctuation pattern determination table T6 at the time of a non-work-time-saving state. It is explanatory drawing of the fluctuation pattern determination table T6 at the time of a time saving state. 4 is a flowchart of main control main processing; 8 is a flowchart of main-side timer interrupt processing; 9 is a flowchart of outlet sensor detection processing; 4 is a flowchart of special action processing; It is a flowchart of a special symbol standby process. It is a flowchart of big hit determination processing. 4 is a flowchart showing sub-control main processing; 9 is a flowchart of sub-side timer interrupt processing; 9 is a flowchart of received command analysis processing; It is a flow chart of the fluctuation effect start processing. It is a flow chart of processing in the middle of fluctuation production. 6 is a flowchart of display control processing; FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a cut example A of a demonstration effect for waiting for customers; FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a cut example B of a demonstration effect for waiting for customers;

<First embodiment>
1. Structure of Gaming Machine FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine 1 as one embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the left-right direction of the gaming machine 1 corresponds to the left-right direction viewed from the player facing the gaming machine 1 . Also, the front direction of the gaming machine 1 will be described as the direction from the gaming machine 1 to the player, and the rearward direction of the gaming machine 1 will be described as the direction from the player to the gaming machine 1 .

The game machine 1 is a pachinko game machine that shoots game balls based on a player's shooting operation, and pays out a predetermined number of game balls to the player based on the winning when the game balls win in a specific winning device. be. The game machine 1 includes a game machine frame 50 and a game board 2, and the game board 2 is attached inside the game machine frame 50.例文帳に追加The game machine frame 50 includes a front frame (front frame portion) 53, an outer frame (base frame portion) that forms the outer shell of the game machine, and an inner frame to which the game board 2 is attached inside the outer frame. I have. The front frame (front frame portion) 53 is a vertically rectangular unit arranged on the front side of the outer frame and the inner frame. ) 62 , an effect button 63 , a sword member 64 , a sword button 65 , a frame lamp 66 , a speaker 67 , a select button 68 and a frame movable body 600 . An opening is formed in the center of the front frame 53, and the game area 3 of the game board 2 can be viewed through the opening.

The handle 60 is arranged at the lower end on the right side of the front frame 53, and shoots the game ball with a shooting intensity corresponding to the rotation angle. A batted ball supply tray (upper tray) 61 is provided below the front frame 53 and stores game balls. The surplus ball receiving tray (lower tray) 62 is arranged below the hit ball supply tray (upper tray) 61 and stores game balls that cannot be accommodated in the hit ball supply tray (upper tray) 61 . The production button 63 is an operation unit arranged near the batted ball supply tray (upper tray) 61, and is operated (pressed) by the player at the time of production performed as the game progresses. The sword member 64 is a sword-shaped operation unit, and can be pushed downward by the player during effects that are executed as the game progresses. The sword button 65 is an operation unit provided at the upper end portion of the sword member 64, that is, at the end of the hilt of the sword, and is operated (pressed) by the player during effects that are executed as the game progresses. be. The sword member 64 is configured to be able to perform two different operations: a first operation of pushing the entire sword member 64 downward, and a second operation of pressing the sword button 65 at the tip. The frame lamp 66 is arranged around the opening of the front frame 53, and performs light emission effect during a game or the like. The speakers 67 are arranged on the upper left and upper right sides of the front frame 53, and produce sound during a game or the like. The select button 68 is a so-called cross key and is composed of a left button, a right button, an up button, and a down button, and enables various inputs. The frame movable body 600 is a movable so-called gimmick provided on the upper portion of the front frame 53 . The frame movable body 600 is configured to be displaceable from a retracted state in which it is stored inside the front frame 53 to an exposed state in which it protrudes upward from the front frame 53 .

The game board 2 includes a game area 3, a rail member 4, a board lamp 5, an image display device 7, a center decoration 10, a fixed winning device (navel) 19, and a normal variable winning device (electric chew) 22. , a gate (through chucker) 28, a first big winning device (first attacker) 31, a second big winning device (second attacker) 36, a general winning gate 27 (ordinary winning gate 27), and an out gate. 16 and indicators 40 .

The game area 3 is an area where the game ball shot by the operation of the handle 60 flows down, and a plurality of game nails for guiding the game ball are protruded. The rail member 4 is arranged at the left end of the game area 3 and guides the game ball shot by the operation of the handle 60 toward the upper part of the game area 3 . The board lamp 5 is arranged on the back side of the game area 3 and emits light from the back side of the game area 3 .

The image display device 7 is provided near the center of the game area 3 and has a display screen 7a. The image display device 7 may be a liquid crystal display device, or may be another image display device such as an organic EL display device, a plasma display, a projector, or a dot matrix. The display screen 7a of the image display device 7 includes a production pattern display area in which production patterns (decorative patterns) 8L, 8C, and 8R are variably displayed (also referred to as variable display), and a reserved image display in which reserved images 9A and 9B are displayed. and a pending digested image display region in which the pending digested image 9C is displayed. The pending images 9A and 9B are images representing pending and are also called pending icons 9A and 9B. The pending digest image 9C is an image corresponding to the variation, and is also called the variation image 9C or the variation icon 9C. The suspended digested image 9C is an image corresponding to the change and does not indicate suspension.

The performance symbol display area includes three symbol display areas of "left", "middle" and "right". A left effect pattern (left decorative pattern) 8L is displayed in the left pattern display area. A medium effect pattern (middle decorative pattern) 8C is displayed in the middle pattern display area. A right effect pattern (right decorative pattern) 8R is displayed in the right pattern display area. The production patterns 8L, 8C, and 8R are composed of a plurality of patterns representing numbers "1" to "9", for example. The variable display of the effect symbols 8L, 8C, 8R is synchronized with the variable display of the first special symbol and the second special symbol which will be described later. The image display device 7 displays the first special symbol and the The result of variable display of the second special symbol (big hit lottery result) can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the player.

For example, when a jackpot is won, the production pattern is stopped and displayed with double numbers such as "777". In the case of a miss, the production pattern is stopped and displayed with a loose pattern such as "637". This makes it easier for the player to grasp the progress of the game. The player can grasp the jackpot lottery result by the image display device 7 in addition to the first special symbol display device 41a and the second special symbol display device 41b. The position of the pattern display area does not have to be fixed. Moreover, as a mode of the variable display of the effect symbols, a mode of scrolling in the vertical direction may be used, or a mode other than that may be used. It is not limited to the above, and can be arbitrarily set as to what combination of performance symbols to stop display according to each lottery result. Hereinafter, the effect of displaying the effect symbols 8L, 8C, and 8R is also called "variation effect of effect pattern", "variation effect of decorative symbol", or simply "variation effect". In addition, in this decorative symbol variation effect, the effect in the period from when the special symbol starts to change until it stops (also called a special symbol variation period) is counted as one variation effect. Therefore, even if there is a case in which the decorative symbols are temporarily stopped during the period from when the special symbols start to fluctuate until they stop, the performance of the temporary stop is included in the variable performance of the decorative symbols.

The image display device 7 can display, on the display screen 7a, a big win performance performed in parallel with a big win game (an example of a special game), a demonstration performance for waiting for customers, etc., in addition to the performance symbol variation performance. The demonstration effect for waiting for customers (simply referred to as a demonstration effect) includes a still image effect and a moving image effect. In the production design variation production, production images such as a background image and a character image may be displayed in addition to the production design. In addition to the effect pattern, the image display device 7 also provides an identification display (fourth pattern, not shown) that can suggest that the special pattern is changing, or that the special pattern lottery result can be suggested. may be displayed on the display screen 7a. The identification display (fourth pattern) may be displayed by a light emitter such as an LED provided in the game area 3 .

The reserved image display area is a first reserved display area that displays a reserved image 9A according to the number of memories of the first special figure reservation described later, and a reserved image 9B according to the number of memories of the second special figure reservation that will be described later. and a second reserved display area. By the display of the pending images 9A and 9B, the storage number of the first special figure suspension displayed on the first special figure suspension display 43a described later, and the second special figure suspension displayed on the second special figure suspension display 43b can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the player. The pending digest image display area includes a pending digest display area that displays a pending digest image 9C. The reserved digested image 9C corresponds to the effect symbols (effect symbols 8L, 8C, 8R) that are currently changing on the display screen 7a, and depending on the display of the suspended digested image 9C, the first special figure suspension or the second special figure suspension It is possible to display in an easy-to-understand manner for the player that is digested ("digestion of special figure reservation" described later).

The center decorative body 10 is arranged near the center of the game area 3 and in front of the image display device 7 . A movable board body 15 (also referred to as a movable accessory 15), which is a movable so-called gimmick, is attached to the center decorative body 10.例文帳に追加A stage portion 11 is formed below the center decorative body 10 . The stage portion 11 has a shape capable of guiding a game ball rolling on the upper surface of the stage portion 11 to a first starting port 20 which will be described later. A warp portion 12 is provided on the lower left side of the center decorative body 10 . The warp part 12 has an entrance part into which game balls flow in and an exit part from which game balls flow out, and the game balls flowing in from the entrance part flow out to the stage part 11 from the exit part.

A fixed prize winning device (navel) 19 is arranged below the image display device 7 in the game area 3, and is a first start opening (first start winning opening, first ball entry opening) in which the ease with which a game ball enters is always unchanged. port, fixed starting port) 20. Winning of the game ball to the first starting port 20 triggers a first special symbol lottery (jackpot lottery). In other words, the winning of the game ball to the first starting port 20 is a trigger for the acquisition of the jackpot random number and the like and the jackpot determination and the like.

A normal variable winning device (electric chew) 22 is arranged below the first starting port 20 in the game area 3, and has a second starting port (second starting winning port, second ball entrance, variable starting port) 21. ing. Winning of the game ball to the second starting port 21 triggers a second special symbol lottery (jackpot lottery). The electric chew 22 has a movable member 23 in front of the second starting port 21 , and the second starting port 21 is opened and closed by the operation of the movable member 23 . The movable member 23 is driven by an electric tuning solenoid 24 (FIG. 3). A game ball can enter the second starting port 21 when the movable member 23 is in an open state. It is sufficient for the electric chew 22 to enter the second starting port 21 more easily when the movable member 23 is in the open state than when the movable member 23 is in the closed state. It may be possible to enter the ball into.

The gate (through chucker) 28 is arranged above the first big winning device (first attacker) 31 in the game area 3, and is configured to allow game balls to pass through. Passage of the game ball to the gate 28 triggers a normal symbol lottery for determining whether or not to open the electric chew 22.例文帳に追加In other words, the passage of the game ball to the gate 28 triggers acquisition of a normal symbol random number (hit random number), hit determination, and the like.

Here, the "lottery of special symbols" means that when a game ball wins in the first start port 20 or the second start port 21, a random number for special symbol determination is obtained, and the obtained random number is determined in advance. It is a process of determining whether or not a big win is made by comparing with the value corresponding to the "big win". The lottery result of this "jackpot" is not immediately notified to the player, but the variable display of special symbols is performed on the first special symbol display device 41a or the second special symbol display device 41b, which will be described later, and the predetermined variation is performed. When the time elapses, the special symbol corresponding to the lottery result is stopped and displayed (determined display), and the player is notified of the lottery result. In the image display device 7, a pattern matching game for variably displaying performance patterns is performed in synchronism with the variable display of the special patterns, and the result of the lottery of the big win is reported to the player more effectively by the pattern matching game.

In addition, the ``lottery of normal symbols'' means that when a game ball passes through the gate 28, a random number for normal symbol determination is obtained, and the obtained random number is compared with a value corresponding to a predetermined "hit". By doing so, it means the process of judging whether or not it is a hit. As for the lottery result of this normal pattern, the game ball passes through the gate 28 and the lottery result is not immediately reported, but the normal pattern is displayed in a normal pattern display device 42 to be described later, and the predetermined fluctuation is performed. When the time elapses, the normal symbol corresponding to the lottery result is fixedly displayed (lighted or extinguished), and the player is notified of the lottery result.

The first big winning device (first attacker, first special variable winning device) 31 is arranged above the first starting port 20 in the game area 3, and the first big winning port (first special winning port) 30 and , a V region 39 , a non-V region 70 , and a V opening/closing member 71 . The first big prize winning opening 30 is provided with an opening/closing member (first special winning opening opening/closing member) 32 that permits or inhibits reception of game balls by a swing-type opening/closing operation. The opening/closing member 32 is driven by a first grand prize winning solenoid 33 (FIG. 3). A game ball can enter the first big winning hole 30 when the opening/closing member 32 is in an open state.

The first big prize winning device 31 has a V area (specific area) 39, a V area sensor 39a (FIG. 3), a non-V area (non-specific area) 70, and a non-V area sensor 70a (FIG. 3). , a first prize winning hole sensor 30a (FIG. 3), a V opening/closing member 71, and a V opening/closing member solenoid 73 (FIG. 3). The V area (specified area) 39 and the non-V area (non-specified area) 70 are configured as areas inside the first big winning device 31 through which game balls that have passed through the first big winning hole 30 can pass. . The first big winning hole sensor 30 a is arranged upstream of the V area 39 and the non-V area 70 and detects the winning of the game ball into the first big winning hole 30 . The V area sensor 39 a is arranged in the V area 39 and detects passage of a game ball to the V area 39 . The non-V area sensor 70 a is arranged in the non-V area 70 and detects passage of a game ball to the non-V area 70 . The V opening/closing member 71 distributes the game ball that has passed through the first big winning hole 30 to either the V area 39 or the non-V area 70 . The V opening/closing member solenoid 73 drives the V opening/closing member 71 . The V opening/closing member 71 is configured to rotate (clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the game board 2), and when the V opening/closing member solenoid 73 is energized, it rotates counterclockwise from the origin position to release the game ball. A first state (rotating state) in which the ball is distributed to the V area 39 is entered, and a second state (stopped state) in which the game ball is positioned at the origin and distributed to the non-V area 70 is entered when the V opening/closing member solenoid 73 is not energized. . In addition, the V opening and closing member 71 is not limited to rotational movement, and may have a function of distributing the game ball that has passed through the first big winning hole 30 to either the V area 39 or the non-V area 70. For example, It may be configured to move in the front-rear direction with respect to the game board 2 . That is, when the V opening/closing member solenoid 73 is energized, it becomes a retracted state (first state) in which game balls are distributed to the V area 39, and when the V opening/closing member solenoid 73 is not energized, it is in an advanced state in which game balls are distributed to the non-V area 70. (Second state). In the gaming machine 1, passage of the game ball to the V area 39 triggers a transition to a high probability state, which will be described later. That is, the V region 39 is a variable probability operating port. On the other hand, the non-V region 70 is not a variable probability operating port. The first big winning device 31 of this embodiment further includes a first big winning device discharge sensor (not shown) that counts the number of game balls discharged from the first big winning device 31 . The first big winning device discharge sensor is provided at a point where the V area 39 and the non-V area 70 merge downstream, and counts the number of game balls that have passed through the V area sensor 39a or the non-V area sensor 70a.

The second big winning device (second attacker, second special variable winning device) 36 is arranged above the first big winning port 30 in the game area 3, and the second big winning port (second special winning port) 35 It has The second big prize winning opening 35 includes an opening/closing member (second special winning opening opening/closing member, movable member) 37 that inhibits or allows reception of game balls by a swing-type opening/closing operation. The opening/closing member 37 is driven by a second prize winning opening solenoid 38 (FIG. 3). A game ball can enter the second big winning hole 35 when the opening/closing member 37 is in an open state.

The general winning opening 27 is provided at the bottom of the game area 3 . The out port 16 is provided in the lower part of the game area 3, and collects game balls that have not won in any of the winning holes and discharges them out of the game area 3. - 特許庁The display devices 40 are arranged near the center on the right side of the game board 2 . The details of the display devices 40 will be described later.

The game area 3 includes a left game area 3A on the left side of the center in the horizontal direction and a right game area 3B on the right side. A hitting method of shooting a game ball so that the game ball flows down the left game area 3A is called "left hitting". On the other hand, the hitting method of shooting the game ball so that the game ball flows down the right game area 3B is called "right hitting". In the gaming machine 1, it is possible to aim for winning the first start hole 20 by hitting left. On the other hand, it is configured so that it is possible to aim to pass through the gate 28 and win prizes in the second start hole 21, the first big prize hole 30, and the second big prize hole 35 by hitting to the right.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the indicators 40. As shown in FIG. The display devices 40 include a first special symbol display device 41a, a second special symbol display device 41b, a normal symbol display device 42, a first special symbol reservation display device 43a, and a second special symbol reservation display device 43b. , and a normal map holding display 44 . The first special symbol display 41a variably displays the first special symbol. The second special symbol display 41b variably displays the second special symbol. The normal symbol display 42 variably displays normal symbols. The 1st special figure reservation indicator 43a displays the number of memory of operation reservation (1st special figure reservation) of the 1st special design indicator 41a. The 2nd special figure reservation indicator 43b displays the number of memory of the operation reservation (2nd special figure reservation) of the 2nd special design indicator 41b. The normal pattern holding display 44 displays the number of memory of operation holding (normal pattern holding) of the normal pattern display 42 . The variable display of the first special symbol is triggered by the winning of the game ball to the first starting port 20. - 特許庁The variable display of the second special symbol is performed with the winning of the game ball to the second starting port 21 as a trigger. Below, the 1st special design and the 2nd special design are named generically, and it is also called a "special design." Also, the first special symbol display device 41a and the second special symbol display device 41b are collectively referred to as "special symbol display device 41". In addition, the first special figure reservation display 43a and the second special figure reservation display 43b are also collectively referred to as "special figure reservation display 43".

The special symbol display device 41 variably displays (variable display) the special symbol (identification information), and then displays it in a stopped state, so that a lottery (lottery per special symbol) based on winning the first start port 20 or the second start port 21 is displayed. , jackpot lottery) results. A special symbol to be stopped and displayed (a stop symbol, a special symbol derived and displayed as a display result of variable display) is one special symbol selected from a plurality of types of special symbols by a special symbol lottery. When the stop pattern is a special pattern (jackpot pattern) of a predetermined jackpot stop mode, the first big prize winning port 30 is opened in an opening pattern corresponding to the type of the stopped jackpot pattern (type of jackpot won). Alternatively, a special game (jackpot game) for opening the second big winning hole 35 is performed. The opening patterns of the big winning holes (the first big winning hole 30 and the second big winning hole 35) in the special game will be described later.

The special symbol display device 41 is composed of eight LEDs arranged side by side, and displays a special symbol according to the result of the special symbol winning lottery according to the lighting mode thereof. For example, if you win a jackpot (one of the multiple types of jackpots described later), you can say ``○○●●○○●●'' (○: lit, ●: unlit). , 5th and 6th LEDs light up to display the jackpot symbols. If the game is lost, a lost pattern is displayed in which only the rightmost LED lights up, such as "●●●●●●●○". A mode in which all the LEDs are extinguished may be adopted as the lost pattern. Before the special symbols are stopped and displayed, the special symbols are variably displayed (variably displayed) for a predetermined variation time. As for the aspect of the variable display, for example, each LED may light so that the light repeatedly flows from left to right. The mode of variable display is not limited to the above mode, but can be any lighting mode, as long as each LED is not displayed in a stopped state (lighting display in a specific mode). For example, all LEDs may blink simultaneously in the variable display mode.

In the gaming machine 1, when a game ball enters the first start port 20 or the second start port 21 (enters a ball), the values (numerical information) of various random numbers such as jackpot random numbers acquired for the win are , It is temporarily stored in the special figure reservation storage area 84e (FIG. 5). Specifically, if it is a prize to the first start port 20, it is stored in the first special figure reservation storage area (FIG. 5) as a first special figure reservation, and if it is a prize to the second start opening 21, It is stored in the second special figure reservation storage area (FIG. 5) as the second special figure reservation. There is an upper limit to the number of special figure reservations that can be stored in each special figure reservation storage area 84e, and the upper limit in this embodiment is the first special figure reservation storage area and the second special figure reservation storage area. It has become. The special figure reservation stored in the special figure reservation storage area 84e is consumed when the variable display of the special symbol based on the special figure reservation becomes possible. "Digestion of special figure reservation" means to determine a jackpot random number or the like corresponding to the special figure reservation and execute variable display of special symbols for showing the determination result. Therefore, in the gaming machine 1, when the variable display of the special symbols based on the winning of the game ball to the first start port 20 or the second start port 21 cannot be performed immediately after the winning, that is, the execution of the variable display of the special symbols. Even if a prize is won during execution of a special game, the right of a jackpot lottery for the prize can be reserved with a predetermined number as the upper limit. The number of special figure reservations is displayed on the special figure reservation indicator 43 . The 1st special figure reservation indicator 43a and the 2nd special figure reservation indicator 43b are each constituted by four LEDs, for example. Each special figure reservation indicator 43 displays the number of special figure reservations by turning on LEDs corresponding to the number of special figure reservations.

The variable display of normal symbols is performed when the game ball passes through the gate 28 as a trigger. The normal symbol display device 42 notifies the result of the normal symbol lottery based on the passage of the game ball to the gate 28 by displaying the normal symbols variably (variably displaying) and then stopping the display. A normal pattern to be stopped and displayed (a normal pattern stop pattern, a normal pattern derived and displayed as a display result of variable display) is one normal pattern selected from a plurality of types of normal patterns by a normal pattern lottery. When the normal pattern stop pattern is a predetermined specific normal pattern (a normal pattern of a predetermined stop mode, that is, a normal winning pattern), an auxiliary game that opens the second start port 21 with an opening pattern according to the current game state. is done. The opening pattern of the second starting port 21 will be described later.

The normal symbol display device 42 is composed of two LEDs, and displays a normal symbol according to the result of the normal symbol lottery according to the lighting mode thereof. For example, when the lottery result is a win, a normal win pattern with both LEDs lit up is displayed, such as "○○" (○: lights up, ●: lights out). When the lottery result is a loss, a normal losing pattern in which only the right LED lights up is displayed, such as "●○". A mode in which all the LEDs are extinguished may be employed as a normal losing pattern. Before the normal symbols are stop-displayed, the normal symbols are varied and displayed for a predetermined variation time. As for the aspect of the variable display, for example, both LEDs may alternately light up. The mode of variable display is not limited to the above mode, but can be any lighting mode, as long as each LED is not displayed in a stopped state (lighting display in a specific mode). For example, all LEDs may blink simultaneously in the variable display mode.

In the gaming machine 1, when the game ball passes through the gate 28, the value of the normal symbol random number (hit random number) acquired for the passage is stored in the normal pattern reservation storage area 84f (Fig. 5) as the normal pattern reservation. memorized once. There is an upper limit to the number of normal pattern reservations that can be stored in the general pattern reservation storage area 84f, and the upper limit value in this embodiment is four. The normal pattern reservation stored in the normal pattern reservation storage area 84f is extinguished when the variable display of the normal pattern based on the normal pattern reservation becomes possible. The digestion of the normal pattern reservation means that the normal design random number (hit random number) corresponding to the normal pattern reservation is determined, and the normal design variable display is performed to show the determination result. Therefore, in the gaming machine 1, when the variable display of the normal symbols based on the passage of the game ball through the gate 28 cannot be performed immediately after the passage, that is, during the execution of the variable display of the normal symbols or during the execution of the auxiliary game, a prize is won. Even if there is, it is possible to reserve the right of the normal symbol lottery for the passage, with a predetermined number as the upper limit. The number of normal map reservations is displayed on the normal map reservation display 44 . The normal map hold indicator 44 is composed of, for example, four LEDs, and displays the number of normal map reserves by lighting the LEDs by the number of normal map reserves.

2. Electrical Configuration of Gaming Machine The electrical configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the main control board side of the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the sub-control board side of the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. The gaming machine 1 includes a main control board 80 (FIG. 3), a sub control board 90 (FIG. 4), an image control board 100 (FIG. 4), a lamp control board 107 (FIG. 4), and an audio control board 106 ( 4) and a payout control board 110 (FIG. 3). The main control board 80 is a game control board that controls game profits such as jackpot lottery and game state transition, and constitutes a main control section. The sub-control board 90 is an effect control board that controls effects executed as the game progresses, and constitutes a sub-control section together with the image control board 100, the lamp control board 107, and the sound control board 106. It should be noted that the sub-control section can be configured as long as it includes at least the sub-control board 90 .

The main control board 80 includes a game control microcomputer 81 and an input/output circuit 87 . The game control microcomputer 81 is a one-chip microcomputer mounted on the main control board 80, and controls the progress of the game of the gaming machine 1 according to a program. The game control microcomputer 81 includes a main ROM 83 that stores programs for controlling the progress of the game, a main RAM 84 that is used as a work memory, a main CPU 82 that executes the programs stored in the main ROM 83, and a timer. It includes an RTC 85 and a FRAM® 86 that enable The RTC 85 and FRAM (registered trademark) 86 are backed up by a primary or secondary battery (not shown). Therefore, the RTC 85 continues clocking even when the power of the game machine 1 is turned off, and the FRAM (registered trademark) 86 keeps its memory contents. Details of the data stored in the main ROM 83 and details of the storage areas provided in the main RAM 84 will be described later. The main ROM 83 may be configured as an external ROM. The game control microcomputer 81 transmits and receives data to and from other boards and the like via an input/output circuit (I/O port section) 87 . The input/output circuit 87 may be built in the game control microcomputer 81 .

Various sensors and solenoids are connected to the main control board 80 via an input/output circuit 87 and a relay board 88 . The main control board 80 receives signals output from each sensor and outputs signals to each solenoid. Sensors connected via the relay board 88 include the first starting opening sensor 20a, the second starting opening sensor 21a, the gate sensor 28a, the first big winning opening sensor 30a, the second big winning opening sensor 35a, and the V area. A sensor 39a, a non-V area sensor 70a, a normal prize winning opening sensor 27a, and an out opening sensor 16a are exemplified. Examples of the solenoids connected via the relay board 88 include the electric tuning solenoid 24, the first big winning opening solenoid 33, the second big winning opening solenoid 38, and the V opening/closing member solenoid 73. The first starting hole sensor 20 a is provided inside the first starting hole 20 and detects a game ball that has entered the first starting hole 20 . The second starting hole sensor 21 a is provided inside the second starting hole 21 and detects a game ball that has entered the second starting hole 21 . The gate sensor 28 a is provided inside the gate 28 and detects a game ball that has passed through the gate 28 . The first big winning hole sensor 30 a is provided inside the first big winning hole 30 and detects a game ball that has won the first big winning hole 30 . The second big winning hole sensor 35 a is provided inside the second big winning hole 35 and detects a game ball that has won the second big winning hole 35 . The V area sensor 39 a is provided in the V area 39 inside the first big winning hole 30 and detects a game ball that has passed through the V area 39 . The non-V area sensor 70 a is provided in the non-V area 70 inside the first big winning hole 30 and detects a game ball that has passed through the non-V area 70 . The normal winning hole sensor 27 a is provided inside the normal winning hole 27 and detects a game ball that has entered the normal winning hole 27 . The out-port sensor 16 a is provided inside the out-port 16 , and detects game balls discharged outside the game area 3 by recovering game balls that have not won in any of the winning ports. The electric chew solenoid 24 drives the movable member 23 of the electric chew 22 . The first big winning opening solenoid 33 drives the opening/closing member 32 of the first big winning device 31 . The second big prize opening solenoid 38 drives the opening/closing member 37 of the second big prize winning device 36 . The V opening/closing member solenoid 73 drives the V opening/closing member 71 of the first big winning device 31 .

The display devices 40 are connected to the main control board 80 via an input/output circuit 87 . The game control microcomputer 81 includes a first special symbol display device 41a, a second special symbol display device 41b, a normal symbol display device 42, a first special symbol reservation display device 43a, a second special symbol reservation display device 43b, and a general design reservation. Display control for the display device 44 is performed.

An external terminal board 69 is connected to the main control board 80 via an input/output circuit 87 . The main control board 80, for the external terminal plate 69, the winning ball information, the opening information of the door or frame, the number of fluctuations of the first special symbol or the second special symbol, the first start port 20, the second start port 21 Winning of game balls, whether or not a jackpot is in progress, the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16, and a security signal are output. Especially in this embodiment, it is possible to output schedule information regarding setting changes to the external terminal board 69 .

A setting change device 71 is connected to the main control board 80 via an input/output circuit 87 . The setting change device 71 allows the jackpot probability of the gaming machine to be set in a maximum of six stages. The setting change device 71 will be described later.

A payout control board 110 is connected to the main control board 80 via an input/output circuit 87 . The main control board 80 transmits various commands to the payout control board 110 and receives signals from the payout control board 110 for payout monitoring. The payout control board 110 is connected with a prize ball payout device 120 , a rental ball payout device 130 and a card unit 135 , and is connected with a launcher 112 via a launch control circuit 111 . The prize ball payout device 120 pays out prize balls. The payout control board 110 drives the prize ball motor 121 of the prize ball payout device 120 based on the signal from the game control microcomputer 81 to pay out the prize balls. Prize balls to be dispensed are detected by a prize ball sensor 122 for counting. The rental ball dispensing device 130 discharges the rental balls. The payout control board 110 drives the rented ball motor 131 of the rented ball payout device 130 based on the signal from the card unit 135 connected to the gaming machine 1 to pay out the rented balls. The rented balls to be paid out are detected by a rented ball sensor 132 for counting. The card unit 135 is arranged adjacent to the gaming machine 1, and outputs information regarding ball lending based on information such as the inserted prepaid card. Firing device 112 includes handle 60 ( FIG. 1 ), firing motor 113 , touch switch 114 , and firing volume 115 . When the player operates the handle 60 , the shooting device 112 detects the contact of the handle 60 with the touch switch 114 and detects the amount of rotation of the handle 60 with the shooting volume 115 . Then, the shooting motor 113 is driven so that the game ball is shot with strength corresponding to the magnitude of the detection signal of the shooting volume 115 . Launcher 112 is capable of firing a maximum of approximately 100 balls (no more than 100 balls) per minute.

A sub control board 90 ( FIG. 4 ) is connected to the main control board 80 via an input/output circuit 87 . The main control board 80 transmits various commands to the sub control board 90 . The connection between the main control board 80 and the sub control board 90 is a unidirectional communication connection that allows only transmission of signals from the main control board 80 to the sub control board 90 . That is, between the main control board 80 and the sub-control board 90, a unidirectional circuit (for example, a circuit using a diode) (not shown) is interposed as communication direction control means.

The sub-control board 90 includes a production control microcomputer 91 and an input/output circuit 95 . The effect control microcomputer 91 is a one-chip microcomputer mounted on the sub-control board 90, and controls the game effect of the game machine 1 according to a program. The performance control microcomputer 91 includes a sub ROM 93 for storing programs and the like for controlling the performance as the game progresses, a sub RAM 94 used as a work memory, and a sub ROM 93 for executing the programs stored in the sub ROM 94. It includes a CPU 92 , an RTC 95 that enables timekeeping, and an FRAM (registered trademark) 96 . The RTC 95 and FRAM (registered trademark) 96 are backed up by a primary or secondary battery (not shown). Therefore, the RTC 95 continues clocking even when the gaming machine 1 is powered off, and the FRAM (registered trademark) 96 keeps its memory contents. Details of the data stored in the sub-ROM 93 and details of the storage areas provided in the sub-RAM 94 will be described later. The sub ROM 93 may be configured as an external ROM. The effect control microcomputer 91 transmits and receives data to and from other boards and the like via an input/output circuit (I/O port section) 95 . The input/output circuit 95 may be built in the effect control microcomputer 91 . An image control board 100 , an audio control board 106 , a lamp control board 107 and a relay board 108 are connected to the sub control board 90 via an input/output circuit 95 .

The image control board 100 includes an image control microcomputer 101, an input circuit 105a, and an output circuit 105b. The image control microcomputer 101 is a one-chip microcomputer mounted on the image control board 100, and performs display control of the image display device 7 according to a program. The image control microcomputer 101 includes a CPU 102 , a ROM 103 and a RAM 104 . In the ROM 103, in addition to programs for performing display control, still image data and moving image data to be displayed on the image display device 7, specifically, characters, items, graphics, characters, numbers, symbols, etc. ) and image data such as background images are stored. A RAM 104 is used as a memory for developing image data. The CPU 102 executes programs stored in the ROM 103 . The effect control microcomputer 91 causes the image control microcomputer 101 to control the display of the image display device 7 based on the command received from the main control board 80 . The image control microcomputer 101 reads out image data from the ROM 103 based on a command from the effect control microcomputer 91, and performs display control based on the read image data.

A speaker 67 is connected to the audio control board 106 , and based on commands received from the main control board 80 , the effect control microcomputer 91 outputs sounds, music, and sound effects from the speaker 67 via the audio control board 106 . and so on. Acoustic data such as voice output from the speaker 67 is stored in the sub ROM 93 of the sub control board 90 . Note that the audio control board 106 may have a CPU mounted thereon, and the CPU may execute audio control based on commands. Furthermore, the audio control board 106 may be implemented with a ROM, and the audio data may be stored in the ROM. Alternatively, the speaker 67 may be connected to the image control board 100 to cause the CPU 102 of the image control board 100 to perform voice control. Furthermore, the sound data may be stored in the ROM 103 of the image control board 100. FIG.

The frame lamp 66, the board lamp 5, and the movable accessory 15 are connected to the lamp control board 107, and these are controlled. The effect control microcomputer 91 performs lighting control of lamps such as the frame lamp 66 and the board lamp 5 via the lamp control board 107 based on the command received from the main control board 80 . In other words, the production control microcomputer 91 creates light emission pattern data (data for deciding on/off and emission color, also referred to as lamp data) that determines the light emission mode of the lamps such as the frame lamp 66 and the board lamp 5, and creates light emission patterns. Light emission of lamps such as the frame lamp 66 and the board lamp 5 is controlled according to the data. Data stored in the sub-ROM 93 of the sub-control board 90 is used to create the light emission pattern data. The effect control microcomputer 91 operates the movable accessory 15 based on the command received from the main control board 80 . The movable accessory 15 is a movable so-called gimmick provided on the center decorative body 10 . The effect control microcomputer 91 creates motion pattern data (driving data) that determines the motion mode of each movable accessory 15, and controls the motion of the movable accessory 15 according to the motion pattern data. Data stored in the sub ROM 93 is used to create the operation pattern data. In addition, the effect control microcomputer 91 performs lighting control of the movable accessory 15 via the lamp control board 107 based on the command received from the main control board 80 . The movable accessory 15 has a light-emitting portion, and creates light-emitting pattern data (data for determining lighting/light-out, light-emitting color, etc., also referred to as lamp data) that determines the light-emitting mode of the light-emitting portion, and moves according to the light-emitting pattern data. Light emission of the accessory 15 is controlled. Data stored in the sub-ROM 93 of the sub-control board 90 is used to create the light emission pattern data. Note that the lamp control board 107 may have a CPU mounted thereon, and the CPU may execute lighting control of the lamp and operation control of the movable accessories 14 and 15 based on commands. In this case, the lamp control board 107 may be mounted with a ROM, and the ROM may store data relating to light emission patterns and operation patterns.

A performance button 63 , a select button 68 , and a frame movable body 600 are connected to the relay board 108 . The effect button 63 outputs a switch signal to the sub-control board 90 via the relay board 108 when pressed (depressed) by the player. Also, the effect control microcomputer 91 operates the effect button 63 based on the command received from the main control board 80 . The production button 63 is not only pressable, but also position-changeable between a normal position (recessed position) in which the upper surface of the button body part slightly protrudes, and a protruding position in which most of the button body part protrudes. It's becoming That is, the production button 63 is raised as one of the productions. The production control microcomputer 91 creates position change data (driving data) for changing the position of the production button 63, and controls the operation of the production button 63 according to the position change data. Data stored in the sub ROM 93 is used to create position change data. The select button 68 outputs a switch signal to the sub-control board 90 via the relay board 108 when pressed (depressed) by the player.

The effect control microcomputer 91 operates the frame movable body 600 based on the command received from the main control board 80 . The frame movable body 600 is a movable so-called gimmick provided on the upper part of the front frame 53 (Fig. 1). The effect control microcomputer 91 creates motion pattern data (driving data) that determines the motion mode of the frame movable body 600, and controls the motion of the frame movable body 600 according to the motion pattern data. Data stored in the sub ROM 93 is used to create the operation pattern data. A touch sensor or the like that is provided on the front frame 53 and outputs a detection signal when a human body touches the relay board 108 may be connected to the relay board 108 .

3. Data Configuration of Gaming Machine The data configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining a table stored in the main ROM 83. FIG. FIG. 5B is a diagram for explaining storage areas provided in the main RAM 84. As shown in FIG. FIG. 6A is a diagram for explaining the table stored in the sub ROM 93. As shown in FIG. FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining storage areas provided in the sub-RAM 94. As shown in FIG.

The main ROM 83 (FIG. 5(A)) contains a jackpot determination table T1, a reach determination table T2, a normal symbol hit determination table T3, a normal symbol variation pattern determination table T4, a jackpot type determination table T5, and a variation pattern. A judgment table T6, an electric chew opening pattern judgment table T7, a big winning opening pattern judgment table T8, and a V opening/closing member opening pattern judgment table T9 are stored. These determination tables are referred to by the game control microcomputer 81 in main control main processing (described later) executed by the game control microcomputer 81 .

The main RAM 84 (FIG. 5(B)) includes a command set area 84a, a flag set area 84b, a counter set area 84c, a special action status set area 84d, a special figure pending storage area 84e, and a normal figure pending storage. An area 84f and a setting information storage area 84g are provided. The command set area 84a is an area (output buffer) in which a command to be output from the main control unit side to the sub control unit side is set in the main control main processing (described later), and is a pre-determining command, a pending pitch command, A fluctuation start command, a fluctuation stop command, an opening command, a round designation command, an ending command, a game state designation command, a V passage command, a customer waiting standby command, a customer waiting standby release command, a 10-ball collection command, and the like are set. The flag set area 84b is an area where flags indicating the state of the gaming machine and the game state are set in the main control main process (described later), and the jackpot flag, jackpot end flag, V flag, variable probability flag, time saving flag, demo A production execution inhibition flag or the like is set. The counter set area 84c is an area where counters used in main control main processing (described later) are set, and a random number counter, a round counter, a variable probability counter, a time saving counter, an outlet counter, etc. are set. The special action status set area 84d is an area in which a status is set for special action processing, which will be described later. The special figure reservation storage area 84e includes a first special figure reservation storage area in which the first special figure reservation is stored and a second special figure reservation storage area in which the second special figure reservation is stored. In the first special figure reservation storage area, a random number group (reservation information) such as a random number per special symbol corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth of the first special figure reservation is stored. A first storage area, a second storage area, a third storage area, and a fourth storage area are provided for this purpose. In the second special figure reservation storage area, the first memory for storing the random number group (reservation information) corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth of the second special figure reservation A second storage area, a third storage area, and a fourth storage area are provided. The general pattern reservation storage area 84f stores a random number group (reservation information) such as a general pattern random number (per random number) corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth general pattern reservation. A first storage area, a second storage area, a third storage area, and a fourth storage area are provided.

The setting information storage area 84g is an area for storing the setting information of the game machine set by the setting change device 71 (FIG. 3). The setting information is numerical information that is set in six stages of setting 1 to setting 6. FIG. The setting information storage area 84g is backed up by a backup power supply (not shown), and the contents stored in the setting information storage area 84g are retained even when the gaming machine 1 is powered off.

The sub-ROM 93 (FIG. 6A) contains a look-ahead effect pattern determination table T51, a basic effect pattern determination table T52, a chance-up effect pattern determination table T53, a stop symbol pattern determination table T54, and a setting suggestion effect pattern determination table. Table T55 and are stored. These determination tables are referred to by the effect control microcomputer 91 in sub-control main processing (described later) executed by the effect control microcomputer 91 .

The sub-RAM 94 (FIG. 6B) is provided with a command storage area 94a, an effect command set area 94b, a counter set area 94c, and a setting information storage area 94d. The command storage area 94a is an area (input buffer) in which commands input from the main control unit side are stored in the sub-control main process (described later). A stop command, an opening command, a round designation command, an ending command, a game state designation command, a V passage command, a customer waiting standby command, a customer waiting standby release command, a 10-ball collection command, and the like are stored. The effect command set area 94b is an area ( It is an output buffer), and a variable production start command, a command before the end of fluctuation, a variable production end command, an opening production start command, a round production start command, an ending production start command, etc. are set. The counter set area 94c is an area where the counter used in the sub-control main process (described later) is set, and includes a random number counter, a first special figure pending effect counter, a second special figure pending effect counter, a general figure pending effect counter. , Probable variation production counter, time saving production counter, setting suggestion production counter, prefetch production counter, out mouth production counter, etc. are set. The setting information storage area 94d is an area in which setting information output from the main control unit is stored. The setting information storage area 94d is backed up by a power source (not shown), and retains its contents even when the gaming machine 1 is powered off.

In addition to these various storage areas 94a to 94d, the sub-RAM 94 includes the jackpot advance judgment result (jackpot judgment information), the jackpot type advance judgment result (jackpot type information), and in addition to the variation pattern preliminary determination result (variation pattern information), there is provided a preliminary determination information storage area (not shown) in which prefetch effect pattern information and the like are stored. The look-ahead effect pattern information is information indicating the content of the look-ahead effect executed during the variable effect. In the prior determination information storage area, the 1st to 4th storage area corresponding to the 1st to 4th special figure 1 pending, and the 1st to 4th corresponding to the 1st to 4th special figure 2 pending There is a storage area and

Various random numbers acquired by the game control microcomputer 81 in the gaming machine 1 will now be described.
The game control microcomputer 81 acquires a "jackpot random number", a "jackpot type random number", a "reach random number", a "fluctuation pattern random number", and a "normal symbol random number (hit random number)" at the timing described later. is configured as
The “jackpot random number” is a random number used for lottery (jackpot determination) to determine whether or not a jackpot will be won, and takes a value ranging from 0 to 65,535.
The “jackpot type random number” is a random number used for the lottery (jackpot type determination) of the type of the winning jackpot, and takes a value in the range of 0-127.
"Reach random number" is a random number used to determine whether or not to generate a reach in the effect symbol variation effect that indicates the result when the big hit determination is a loss, and is a value in the range of 0 to 127. take. Reach is a state in which only one of the plurality of production patterns (decorative patterns) that is displayed in a variable manner remains, and it depends on which design the variable display design is stopped and displayed. It is a state (for example, the state of "7↓7") that is a combination of performance symbols indicating a jackpot winning. In addition, the effect symbol that is stopped and displayed in the ready-to-win state may be displayed as if it is shaking within the display screen 7a.

“Variation pattern random number” is a random number used to determine a variation pattern including variation time, and takes a value in the range of 0-127.
“Normal symbol random number (hit random number)” is used for a lottery (normal symbol lottery) for determining whether or not to perform an auxiliary game for opening the electric chew 22 . The normal symbol random number takes a value in the range of 0-255.
The "jackpot random number", "jackpot type random number", "reach random number", and "fluctuation pattern random number" are obtained based on the ball entering the starting port (first starting port 20 or second starting port 21). The random value group obtained based on the entry into the first start port 20 is stored in the first special figure reservation storage area, and the random value group obtained based on the entry into the second start port 21 is stored in the first 2 It is stored in the special figure reservation storage area. “Normal symbol random number (hit random number)” is acquired based on passing through the gate 28 . The acquired normal symbol random number value is stored in the normal symbol reservation storage area 84f.

Next, various random numbers acquired by the effect control microcomputer 91 in the gaming machine 1 will be described.
The effect control microcomputer 91 is configured to acquire a "read-ahead effect random number" and a "chance-up random number". "Read-ahead effect random number" is a random number obtained as a value of the look-ahead effect counter set in the counter set area 94c and used to determine the look-ahead effect at the time of the variable effect. Take. The “chance-up random number” is a random number used for determining the chance-up effect during the variable effect, and takes a value in the range of 0-127. The "read-ahead effect random number" is acquired based on the output of a pre-determination command from the main control section to the sub-control section. The acquired random value group is stored in the sub-RAM 94 . The "chance-up random number" is acquired based on the output of a variation start command from the main control section to the sub-control section. The acquired random number value is stored in the sub-RAM 94 .

4. Description of Various Tables FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing the jackpot determination table T1.
The jackpot determination table T1 determines whether the jackpot random number value (one of 0 to 65535) obtained by the game control microcomputer 81 in the main control main process (described later) corresponds to a "jackpot" or a "loss". It is a table referred to for determination. The big win determination in the big win determination table T1 is performed based on the game state of the gaming machine 1 and the setting information stored in the setting information storage area 84g (FIG. 5). For example, if the setting information is "setting 1" in the "normal probability state", if the jackpot random value is "0 to 409", it is determined as a "jackpot", and the jackpot random value is a number other than "0 to 409" (410 to 65535)” is determined to be “losing”. The game state of the gaming machine 1 will be described later.

In the reach determination table T2, the game control microcomputer 81 obtains a reach random number (any of 0 to 127) in the main control main process (described later) corresponds to "with reach" or "without reach". This table is referenced to determine whether The reach determination in the reach determination table T2 is performed based on the gaming state of the gaming machine 1. FIG. In this embodiment, in the "non-time-saving state", if the reach random number is "0 to 13", it is determined that there is a reach, and the reach random number is a number other than "0 to 13 (14 to 127) , it is determined that there is no reach. Also, in the "time saving state", if the reach random number is "0 to 5", it is determined that there is reach, and if the reach random number is "a number other than 0 to 5 (6 to 127)" is determined to be "no reach".

In the normal symbol hit determination table T3, the normal symbol random number value (one of 0 to 255) acquired by the game control microcomputer 81 in the main control main process (described later) corresponds to "win" or "loss". This table is referenced to determine whether to Determination in the normal symbol hit determination table T3 is performed based on the game state of the gaming machine 1. FIG. In this embodiment, in the "non-time saving state", if the normal symbol random number is "0 to 2", it is determined to be "hit", and the normal symbol random number is a numerical value other than "0 to 2 (3 to 255 )”, it is determined as “losing”. Also, in the "time saving state", if the normal symbol random number is "0 to 254", it is determined to be "hit", and if the normal symbol random number is "a number other than 0 to 254 (255)" , is determined to be “losing”.

In the normal symbol variation pattern determination table T4, the game control microcomputer 81 determines how many seconds the normal symbol variation time is according to the game state (whether it is a non-time saving state or a time saving state) in the main control main process (described later). This table is referenced to In this embodiment, the variation time of normal symbols is determined to be "30 seconds" in the "non-time-saving state", and the variation time of normal symbols is determined to be "1 second" in the "time-saving state".

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the jackpot type determination table T5. The jackpot type determination table T5 is used by the game control microcomputer 81 to determine the "jackpot type" according to the jackpot type random number value (any of 0 to 127) acquired in the main control main process (described later). It is a referenced table.

In FIG. 8, when winning in the lottery of the first special symbol (special figure 1), if the jackpot type random number is "0 to 82", the jackpot type is determined as "16RV passage scheduled jackpot", and the jackpot type When the random number is "83 to 127", the jackpot type is determined as "11R (actually 10R) V non-passing scheduled jackpot". On the other hand, when winning in the lottery of the second special symbol (special figure 2), if the jackpot type random number is "0 to 127", that is, in all cases, the jackpot type is determined to be "16RV passage scheduled jackpot". be done. In addition, in the jackpot type determination table T5, the special game "opening (OP) command", "round designation command", and "ending (ED) command" may also be specified.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the variation pattern determination table T6 during the non-time saving state. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the variation pattern determination table T6 during the time saving state. Variation pattern determination table T6 is a table referred to for determining a variation pattern according to the variation pattern random number value (0 to 127) acquired by the game control microcomputer 81 in the main control main process (described later). .

In FIG. 9, for example, the first start port 20 is won in a non-time saving state, it is determined as "losing" in the big hit determination table T1, and it is determined as "with reach" in the reach determination table T2, and the number of retained balls is "1 ~ 2" and the variation pattern random number is "0 to 60", the variation pattern is determined to be "P7". In FIG. 10, for example, the second start port 21 is won in the time saving state, it is determined as "jackpot" in the jackpot determination table T1, and it is determined as "16RV passage scheduled jackpot" in the jackpot type determination table T5, variation pattern random value is "0 to 10", the variation pattern is determined to be "P61". As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, once the variation pattern is determined, the variation time is also determined. Also, when reach is achieved, it is also determined whether the reach is normal reach or super reach (SP reach). Super reach is a reach production with a longer fluctuation time after reach than normal reach. Here, three types of super reach (SP1, SP2, SP3) with different fluctuation times are set. In SP1-3, it is executed progressively through normal reach. The difference between SP1-3 may be, for example, the presence or absence of pseudo-reams.

The electric chew opening pattern determination table T7 is used by the game control microcomputer 81 in the main control main process (described later) in order to determine the opening pattern of the electric chew 22 according to the game state (whether it is a non-time saving state or a time saving state). It is a referenced table. In this embodiment, the opening pattern of the electric tube 22 is determined as "opening pattern 11" in the "non-time saving state", and the opening pattern is determined as "opening pattern 12" in the "time saving state". In the opening pattern 11, the power tube 22 is opened once for 0.2 seconds. In the opening pattern 12, the power tube 22 is opened three times with an opening time of 2.0 seconds per opening and an interval (opening interval) of 1.0 second. However, the opening of the electric chew 22 is closed even if the opening time remains when a predetermined number of game balls have won a prize (prescribed number of winning prizes, maximum 10).

The large winning opening pattern determination table T8 is a table that the game control microcomputer 81 refers to in order to determine the opening pattern of the first large winning opening 30 and the second large winning opening 35 in the main control process (described later). is. In the present embodiment, in the case of the "16RV passage scheduled jackpot", it is determined as the "open pattern 21". In the "opening pattern 21", the number of times of opening is 1 in the 1st to 10th and 12th to 16th rounds, and the opening time is 29.5 seconds (long opening). Once, the first big prize winning opening 30 is opened (long opening) with an opening time of 29.5 seconds. On the other hand, in the case of "11R (substantially 10R) V non-passing scheduled jackpot", it is determined as "open pattern 22". In the "opening pattern 22", the number of openings is 1 in the 1st to 10th rounds and the opening time is 29.5 seconds (long opening). .Opening (short opening) of the first big prize winning opening 30 for 1 second. However, the opening of the first big winning hole 30 and the second big winning hole 35 is, if there is a predetermined number of game ball wins (regular winning number, maximum 9), even if the opening time remains Closed.

The V opening/closing member opening pattern determination table T9 is a table referred to by the game control microcomputer 81 in order to determine the opening pattern of the V opening/closing member 71 in the main control process (described later). In the present embodiment, in the case of the "16RV passage scheduled jackpot", it is determined as the "open pattern 31". In the "opening pattern 31", when the first prize is won in the first prize-winning opening 30 in the 11th R, the V opening/closing member 71 is short-opened with an opening time of 0.1 second, and the second prize is won. The V opening/closing member 71 is opened for a long time with an opening time of 31.5 seconds maximum. On the other hand, in the case of "11R (substantially 10R) V non-passing scheduled jackpot", it is determined as "open pattern 32". In the "opening pattern 32", when the first prize is won in the first big prize winning opening 30 in the 11th R, the V opening/closing member 71 is short-opened with an opening time of 0.1 second.

5. Explanation of Big Wins, etc. In the gaming machine 1, there are "big wins" and "losses" as a result of a big win lottery (special symbol lottery). In the case of "big win", the special symbol display 41 stops displaying "big win". In the case of "losing", the special symbol display 41 stops and displays "losing". When a jackpot is won, a "jackpot game" is executed to open the jackpots (the first jackpot 30 and the second jackpot 35) in an opening pattern corresponding to the type of jackpot. A jackpot game is an example of a special game. The jackpot game includes multiple round games (unit open games), an opening (OP) before the first round game starts, and an ending (ED) after the final round game ends. there is Each round begins with the end of the opening or the end of the previous round and ends with the beginning of the next round. The closing time (interval time) of the big winning opening between round games is included in the open round game before closing.

There are multiple types of jackpots. There are two types of jackpots, namely, "16RV passage scheduled jackpot" and "11R (substantially 10R) V non-passage scheduled jackpot". The ``16RV passage scheduled jackpot'' operates the opening/closing member 32, the opening/closing member 37 and the V opening/closing member 71 in an opening pattern (V passage scheduled opening pattern) that allows the game ball to pass through the V area 39 during the jackpot game. It's a big hit. The combination of the above-described opening patterns allows the game ball to pass through the V area 39 during the jackpot game. In this embodiment, the open pattern 21 and the open pattern 31 are combined. The "11R (substantially 10R) V non-passing scheduled jackpot" is an opening pattern (V non-passing scheduled opening pattern) in which the game ball cannot pass through the V area 39 during the jackpot game. and a jackpot that activates the V opening/closing member 71 . Due to the combination of the opening patterns described above, it becomes impossible for the game ball to pass through the V area 39 during the jackpot game. In this embodiment, the open pattern 22 and the open pattern 32 are combined. In addition, in the "11R (substantially 10R) V non-passing jackpot", the opening time of the 11th round first big winning hole 30 is 0.1 seconds, and the 11th round is a round in which no prize balls are expected. ing.

In this way, in the "16RV passage scheduled jackpot", the passage of the game ball to the V area 39 in the first big winning hole 30 is facilitated, and the game state after the jackpot is a high probability time-saving state (high probability high base state). On the other hand, in the "11R (substantially 10R) V non-passing scheduled jackpot", it is almost impossible for the game ball to pass through the V area 39 in the first big winning hole 30, and the game state after the jackpot is It becomes a low-probability short-time state (low-probability high base state).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the distribution ratio of the jackpot in the lottery of the first special symbol (special figure 1) is 83/128 (about 64.8%) for the V-passing scheduled jackpot and V non-passing scheduled jackpot 45/128 (about 35.2%). On the other hand, the distribution rate of the jackpot in the lottery of the second special symbol (special figure 2) is 128/128 (100%) for the V passing schedule jackpot. As described above, in the gaming machine 1, the jackpot lottery (lottery of the first special symbol) is performed by winning a game ball in the first start port 20, and the jackpot is performed by winning a game ball in the second start port 21. The lottery (lottery for the second special symbol) is set to be more advantageous for the player.

6. Explanation of Game State The game state of the gaming machine 1 will be explained. The game control microcomputer 81 can execute "probability variation control" and "variation time shortening control" for the special symbols displayed on the special symbol display device 41 and the normal symbols displayed on the normal symbol display device 42, respectively. is. Here, the state in which the game control microcomputer 81 is controlling the probability variation with respect to the special symbols of the special symbol display device 41 is called "high probability state", and the state in which the probability variation is not controlled is simply "normal probability state ( non-high-probability state, low-probability state). The game control microcomputer 81 uses a jackpot determination table (FIG. 7) in which the number of jackpot random numbers determined to be jackpots is larger in the high probability state than in the normal probability state as the probability fluctuation control of the special symbols. A high-probability state is realized by performing Therefore, in the high-probability state, the probability of winning a jackpot is higher than in the normal-probability state. That is, when the game control microcomputer 81 is executing the probability variation control for the special symbols of the special symbol display device 41, compared with the case where the probability variation control is not performed, the special symbol display device 41 The probability that the display result (stopped pattern) of the variable display of the special pattern becomes a jackpot pattern increases.

In addition, the state in which the game control microcomputer 81 performs variable time shortening control on the special symbols of the special symbol display 41 is referred to as a "time saving state", and the state in which the variable time shortening control is not performed is simply a "non-time saving state". It says. In the time saving state, the fluctuation time of the special symbol (the time from the start of the fluctuation display to the time of derivation display of the display result) is shorter than the non-time saving state. The game control microcomputer 81, when in the time saving state, the variation pattern determination table T6 (FIGS. 9 and 10) is determined so that the variation pattern with a short variation time is selected more often than in the non-time saving state. The variation pattern used is determined. That is, when the game control microcomputer 81 is executing the variation time shortening control for the special symbols of the special symbol display device 41, the special symbols are variable compared to the case where the variation time shortening control is not performed. A short variation time is likely to be selected as the display variation time. As a result, in the time saving state, the pace of digestion of the special figure reservation becomes faster, and the effective winning of the starting opening (the winning that can be stored as the special figure reservation) is likely to occur. As a result, it is possible to aim for a big hit under the smooth progress of the game. Incidentally, the game control microcomputer 81 may simultaneously execute the probability fluctuation control and the fluctuation time shortening control for the special symbols of the special symbol display 41, or may execute only one of them.

The game control microcomputer 81 executes probability variation control and variation time shortening control for the normal symbols of the normal symbol display 42 in parallel with variation time shortening control for the special symbols of the special symbol display 41 . That is, the game control microcomputer 81 normally executes the probability fluctuation control and the fluctuation time shortening control for the symbol in the case of the time saving state, and does not execute it in the case of the non-time saving state. The game control microcomputer 81 creates a normal symbol hit determination table T3 in which the number of normal symbol random numbers (hit random numbers) determined to be hit is larger in the time saving state than in the non-time saving state as the normal symbol probability variation control. Using, hit judgment (ordinary design judgment) is performed. Therefore, in the time saving state, the probability of winning is higher than in the normal symbol normal probability state. That is, when the game control microcomputer 81 is performing the probability variation control on the normal symbols of the normal symbol display device 42, compared with the case where the probability variation control is not performed, the normal symbol display device 42 The probability that the display result (stopped pattern) of the variable display of the normal pattern becomes a winning pattern increases. In the time saving state, the fluctuation time of the normal pattern is shorter than the non-working time saving state. Here, the variation time of the normal pattern is 30 seconds in the non-time saving state, but is 1 second in the time saving state. Furthermore, in the time-saving state, the opening time of the electric chew 22 in the auxiliary game is longer than in the non-time-saving state. That is, the game control microcomputer 81 is executing opening time extension control for the electric chew 22 . In addition, in the time-saving state, the number of times the electric chew 22 is opened in the auxiliary game is greater than in the non-time-saving state. That is, the game control microcomputer 81 is executing the control for increasing the number of times of opening the electric chew 22 . game control microcomputer 81, the probability variation control and variation time shortening control for the normal symbol of the normal symbol display 42, and the opening time extension control and opening frequency increase control for the electric chew 22, Compared to the case where these controls are not executed, the electric chew 22 is opened more frequently, and the game balls enter the second starting port 21 more frequently. As a result, the base, which is the ratio of the number of balls awarded to the number of balls fired, increases. Therefore, the state in which these controls are executed is called the "high base state", and the state in which they are not executed is called the "low base state". In the high base state, you can aim for a big hit without greatly reducing the number of game balls you have. Note that the high base state is a state in which so-called electric support control (control for supporting winning to the second starting port 21 by the electric chew 22) is being executed. The high base state (electric sapo control state) does not have to execute all of the above controls. That is, the probability variation control for the normal pattern of the normal symbol display device 42, the variation time shortening control for the normal symbol of the normal symbol display device 42, the opening time extension control for the electric chew 22, and the opening frequency increase control for the electric chew 22 By executing one or more controls, it is sufficient that the electric chew 22 is more likely to be opened than when the controls are not executed. Further, the high base state (electrical support control state) may be independently controlled without accompanying the time saving state.

In the game machine 1, the game state after the jackpot game by winning the V passage scheduled jackpot is a high-probability state, a short-time state and a high-base state if the passage to the V area 39 is made during the jackpot game. . This game state is particularly referred to as a "high probability high base state" or a "high probability short working time state". The high-probability-high base state ends when the variable display of the special symbols is executed a predetermined number of times (here, 120 times), or when a big win is won and the big win game is executed. In addition, the game state after the jackpot game by winning the V non-passing scheduled jackpot is normal probability state (non-high probability state (i.e., low-probability state) and time-saving state and high-base state. This game state is particularly referred to as "low probability high base state" and "low probability time saving state". The low-probability-high base state ends when the variable display of the special symbols is executed a predetermined number of times (here, 100 times), or when a big win is won and the big win game is executed. When the game machine 1 is played for the first time, the game state after power-on is a normal probability state, a non-time-saving state, and a low-base state (non-electric support control state). This game state is particularly referred to as a "low probability low base state". The low-probability low base state may be referred to as "normal game state" or "low-probability non-time-saving state (simply referred to as non-time-saving state)". Also, the state during execution of the special game (jackpot game) is referred to as "special game state (jackpot game state)". Furthermore, the state controlled to at least one of the high probability state and the high base state is referred to as a "specific game state".

In high-base states such as high-probability-high base state and low-probability-high base state, it is possible to advance the game more advantageously by entering the game ball into the right game area 3B (FIG. 1) by hitting to the right. Due to the electric sapo control, it is easier to open the electric tube 22 than in the low base state, and it is easier to win the second start opening 21 than the first start opening 20. be. From this, in the high base state, while passing the game ball to the gate 28 which triggers the normal symbol lottery, the game ball is struck to the right to win the game ball to the second start port 21.例文帳に追加As a result, it is possible to obtain a larger number of starting prizes (winning at the starting opening) than when hitting left. In addition, in the gaming machine 1, the game is played by hitting to the right even during the jackpot game. On the other hand, in the low base state, it is possible to advance the game more advantageously by entering the game ball into the left game area 3A (FIG. 1) by hitting to the left. Since the electric sapo control is not executed, it is difficult to open the electric chew 22 compared to the high base state, and it is easier to win the first start opening 20 than the second start opening 21. This is because For this reason, in the low base state, left-handed hitting is performed in order to win the game ball to the first start hole 20. - 特許庁This allows you to get more starting prizes than hitting right.

7. Operation of Game Control Microcomputer 81 Operation of the game control microcomputer 81 provided on the main control board 80 (FIG. 3) will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 16. FIG. Counters, flags, statuses, buffers, etc. appearing in the description of the operation of the game control microcomputer 81 are provided in the main RAM 84 .

[Main control main processing]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of main control main processing. When the game machine 1 is powered on, the game control microcomputer 81 reads a program for executing main control main processing from the main ROM 83 . In the main control main process, the game control microcomputer 81 first performs an initialization process (step S001). In the initialization process, for example, settings of the main CPU 82, resetting of various flags, statuses, counters, and the like are performed. The initial value of the flag is "0" or "OFF", the initial value of the status is "1", and the initial value of the counter is "0". Note that the initialization process is executed only once after the power is turned on, and is not executed thereafter.

After the initialization process, the game control microcomputer 81 prohibits the interruption of the interruption process (step S002), and performs normal design/special design main random number update process (step S003). In this normal symbol/special symbol main random number update process, the game control microcomputer 81 sets various random number counter values (jackpot random number, jackpot type random number, reach random number, fluctuation pattern random number, normal symbol random number) to 1. Add and update. When each random number counter value reaches the set upper limit value, it returns to "0" and is added again. The initial value of each random number counter may be a value other than "0", or may be changed randomly. Also, each random number may be a so-called hardware random number generated using a known random number generation circuit such as a counter IC.

After the normal symbol/special symbol main random number update process, the game control microcomputer 81 permits the interruption of the interruption process (step S004). While interrupts are enabled, it is possible to execute main-side timer interrupt processing (step S005). The main-side timer interrupt processing is executed based on interrupt pulses that are repeatedly input to the main CPU 82 at a predetermined cycle (for example, a 4 msec cycle). That is, the main-side timer interrupt process is executed at predetermined intervals (for example, at intervals of 4 msec). Then, after the main side timer interrupt processing is finished, until the next main side timer interrupt processing is started, the update processing of various counter values by the normal symbol/special symbol main random number update processing is repeatedly executed. . If an interrupt pulse is input to the main CPU 82 while interrupts are disabled, the main-side timer interrupt processing is not started immediately, but is started after interrupts are enabled.

[Main-side timer interrupt processing]
FIG. 12 is a flow chart of main-side timer interrupt processing (FIG. 11: step S005). In the main timer interrupt process, the game control microcomputer 81 first performs random number update process (step S101). Specifically, the game control microcomputer 81 updates various random number counter values. This random number update process is the same as the normal symbol/special symbol main random number update process performed in the main control main process (FIG. 11) described above. That is, the processing for updating the various random number counter values consists of the execution period of the main-side timer interrupt processing and the other period (the period from the end of the main-side timer interrupt processing to the start of the next main-side timer interrupt processing). and both.

After the random number update process, the game control microcomputer 81 performs an input process (step S102). In the input process, the game control microcomputer 81 reads detection signals detected by various sensors attached to the game machine 1 . Further, in the input process, the game control microcomputer 81 outputs payout data for paying out prize balls corresponding to the type of the winning opening based on the detection signal detected by the sensor related to payout among the various sensors. set to The various sensors include, for example, the first starting opening sensor 20a, the second starting opening sensor 21a, the gate sensor 28a, the first big winning opening sensor 30a, the second big winning opening sensor 35a, the V area sensor 39a, and the non-V area sensor. 70a, a normal prize winning opening sensor 27a, and an out opening sensor 16a (FIG. 3).

After the input process, the game control microcomputer 81 performs a starting opening sensor detection process (step S103). In the starting opening sensor detection process, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the passage of the game ball through the gate 28, acquires the value of the normal symbol random number counter, stores the acquired random number in the normal symbol reservation storage area 84f of the main RAM 84. Among the first to fourth storage areas, it is stored in a storage area corresponding to the current number of normal symbol reserved balls. In addition, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the winning of the game ball to the first start port 20, the value of the jackpot random number counter, the value of the jackpot type random number counter, the value of the reach random number counter, and the value of the fluctuation pattern random number counter. get. The game control microcomputer 81 stores the obtained random value group in a storage area corresponding to the current special figure 1 reserved ball number among the first to fourth storage areas of the first special figure reserved storage area. Furthermore, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the winning of the game ball to the second start port 21, the value of the jackpot random number counter, the value of the jackpot type random number counter, the value of the reach random number counter, and the value of the variation pattern random number counter. to get The game control microcomputer 81 stores the acquired random value group in a storage area corresponding to the current special figure 2 reservation ball number among the first to fourth storage areas of the second special figure reservation storage area.

The game control microcomputer 81 performs a jackpot prior determination in the starting opening sensor detection process. Based on the above-described random number group, it is determined in advance whether or not it is a jackpot, and if it is a jackpot, the type of jackpot and the variation pattern. Then, a pre-determination command is created from the pre-determination result and set in the command set area 84 a of the main RAM 84 . The pre-determination command includes a jackpot pre-determination result, (jackpot type pre-determination result in the case of a jackpot), and a variation pattern pre-determination result.

Next, the game control microcomputer 81 performs out-port sensor detection processing (step S1034). In the out-port sensor detection process, the game control microcomputer 81 counts the number of game balls that enter the out-port 16 and are collected. This outlet sensor detection processing will be described later.

Next, the game control microcomputer 81 performs normal operation processing (step S104). In normal operation processing, the game control microcomputer 81 controls the operation of the electric chew 22 . Specifically, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the number of reserved balls of the normal symbol is "0", and when the number of reserved balls is 1 or more, refers to the normal symbol hit determination table T3. hit judgment. Next, the game control microcomputer 81 selects a variation pattern with reference to the normal symbol variation pattern determination table T4. The game control microcomputer 81 sets the selected normal symbol variation pattern, thereby starting the variable display of the normal symbol. After that, the variable display is stopped, and in the case of "hit", the electric chew opening pattern determination table T7 is referred to set the electric chew opening pattern, and the electric chew 22 is operated.

Next, the game control microcomputer 81 performs special operation processing (step S105). This special action process will be described later.
Next, the game control microcomputer 81 performs V area sensor detection processing (step S106). In the V area sensor detection process, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not the game ball has been detected by the V area sensor 39a, and if there is detection, determines whether or not it is during the V valid period. is performed, and if it is during the V effective period, the V flag is turned ON and the V passage command is set.

Next, the game control microcomputer 81 performs a reserved ball number process (step S107). The game control microcomputer 81 first reads out the number of special figure 1 reserved balls, the number of special figure 2 reserved balls, and the number of normal symbol reserved balls stored in the main RAM 84 . Next, the game control microcomputer 81 sets a reserved ball number command in the command set area (output buffer) 84 a of the main RAM 84 . The number of reserved balls command is a command for notifying the number of reserved balls to the sub-control board 90, and includes information on the number of special figure 1 reserved balls, the number of special figure 2 reserved balls, and the number of normal symbol reserved balls. .

After the reserved ball number processing, the game control microcomputer 81 performs output processing (step S108). In the output process, the game control microcomputer 81 outputs to the sub-control board 90 the commands set in the command set area 84a of the main RAM 84 in each process described above. After the output process, the game control microcomputer 81 performs other processes (step S109). In other processing, for example, various information is output from the external terminal board 69, the second special figure reservation display 43b is controlled to a display mode indicating the number based on the number of special figure 2 reservation balls described later, and the special figure Based on the number of 1 reserved balls, the first special figure reservation display 43a is controlled to display the number.

[OUT port sensor detection processing]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the outlet sensor detection process (FIG. 12: step S1034). In the out-port sensor detection process, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not the game ball enters the out-port 16 provided at the bottom of the game area 3 (step S10341). This determination is made based on the logic of reading the detection signal from the outlet sensor 16a in the input process of step S102 in the main-side timer interrupt process of FIG. In this input processing, the game control microcomputer 81 determines that the game ball has entered the out port 16 when the logic of the detection signal from the out port sensor 16a is the ball entry logic, and determines that the game ball has entered the out port 16. When the logic of the detection signal is the non-entering logic obtained by inverting the entering logic, it is determined that the game ball has not entered the out port 16.例文帳に追加

The game control microcomputer 81, when the detection signal from the out-port sensor 16a read in the input processing of step S102 in the main-side timer interrupt processing of FIG. It is determined that the game ball has not entered at 16, and this processing is finished as it is.

The game control microcomputer 81, when the detection signal from the out-port sensor 16a read in the input processing of step S102 in the main-side timer interrupt processing of FIG. It is determined that the game ball has entered at 10342, and the value 1 is added (incremented) to the out port counter OUTC (step S10342). The out port counter OUTC counts the number of game balls that enter the out port 16 (that is, the number of game balls that enter the out port 16 and are collected).

Subsequently, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the OUT counter OUTC has reached the value 10 (step S10343). This determination determines whether or not the number of game balls entering the out port 16 (that is, the number of game balls recovered after entering the out port 16) has reached 10. .

The game control microcomputer 81 finishes this process as it is when the OUT counter OUTC has not reached the value 10 (step S10343: NO).

The game control microcomputer 81 performs output setting to the external terminal board 69 when the out port counter OUTC has reached the value 10 (step S10343: YES) (step S10344). When the out port counter OUTC reaches a value of 10, it means that the number of game balls entering the out port 16 and collected has reached 10 balls. In other words, the game control microcomputer 81 transmits collected ball number information indicating that 10 balls have been collected from the external terminal plate 69 every time the number of game balls collected by entering the outlet 16 reaches 10. It is designed to complete preparations for output. As a result, the hall computer connected to the external terminal plate 69 grasps the number of game balls collected by entering the outlet 16 based on the collected ball number information output from the external terminal plate 69. be able to. The information on the number of collected balls is output to the external terminal board 69 in other processes of step S109 in the main-side timer interrupt process of FIG. 12 described above.

Following step S10344, the game control microcomputer 81 sends a 10-ball recovery command to the command set area 84a of the main RAM 84 each time the number of game balls recovered by entering the out port 16 reaches 10. set (step S10345). The 10-ball collection command is output to the sub-control board 90 in the output process of step S108 in the main-side timer interrupt process of FIG. 12 described above.

Following step S10345, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is ON (step S10346). The demonstration effect execution blocking flag determines whether or not to block (cut) the execution of the demonstration effect for waiting customers, or whether to block (cut) the demonstration effect for waiting customers that is already being executed. It is a thing to decide whether or not. When the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is turned ON, it is possible to block (cut) the execution of the demonstration effect for customer waiting, or to block (cut) the demonstration effect for customer waiting that is already being executed. On the other hand, when the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is turned OFF, the customer waiting demo effect can be executed or the already executed customer waiting demo effect can be continued.

When the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is OFF (step S10346: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 turns ON the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag (step S10347), and inhibits (cuts) the execution of the demonstration production for customer waiting. or to interrupt (cut) the demonstration effect for waiting customers that is already being executed.

The game control microcomputer 81 proceeds to step S10348 when the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is ON (step S10346: NO). As a result, it is possible to execute the demonstration effect for customer waiting or to continue the demonstration effect for customer waiting which is already being executed.

Following step S10347, or when the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is ON (step S10346: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 sets the value 0 (zero) to initialize the outlet counter OUTC. (Step S10348), this processing ends. By setting the out-port counter OUTC to a value of 0 (zero), it is determined whether or not the number of gaming balls collected by entering the out-port 16 has reached 10 in the determination of step S10343 described above. Furthermore, in the process of step S10344 described above, every time the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 reaches exactly 10, the collected ball number information is sent to the external terminal board. 69, and in the process of step S10345 described above, a 10-ball recovery command is stored in the main RAM 84 each time the number of game balls recovered by entering the out port 16 reaches exactly 10. It can be set in the command set area 84a and output to the sub-control board 90, and furthermore, in the process of step S10347 described above, the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 is exactly 10. Since the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 is counted up by reaching the exit 16, the execution of the demonstration effect for waiting for customers is blocked (cut), and the customer who is already in progress is stopped. A state can be created in which the waiting demonstration effect can be blocked (cut) during execution.

It should be noted that even when the player is seated in front of the gaming machine 1 and performs a game by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot the game ball toward the gaming area 3, even if the game is played by chance. , if the state of not winning any of the winning openings continues, the game ball flows down toward the out opening 16, enters, is recovered, and is discharged out of the game area 3. , the game control microcomputer 81, in the output process of step S108 in the main side timer interrupt process of FIG. Although it cannot be output to 90, it is possible to output the 10-ball collection command to the sub-control board 90, so the sub-control board 90 can grasp that the player is playing a game. ing.

[Special action processing]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of special operation processing (FIG. 12: step S105). Here, the processing relating to the special symbol display device 41 and the big winning device (the first big winning device 31 and the second big winning device 36) is divided into four stages, each of which has a "special action status" of "1", Call them "2", "3" and "4". When the "special action status" is "1" (step S1301: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 performs a special symbol standby process (step S1302). In the special symbol standby process, big hit determination, variation pattern selection, and the like are executed. When the "special action status" is "2" (step S1301: NO, step S1303: YES), special symbol fluctuation processing is performed (step S1304). In the special symbol fluctuation process, the output of the fluctuation stop command and the like are executed after the fluctuation time has elapsed. Specifically, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not the fluctuation time of the special symbols has passed and ends. Set the status to "3". When the "special action status" is "3" (steps S1301, S1303: NO, step S1305: YES), special symbol confirmation processing is performed (step S1306). In the special symbol confirmation process, the output of the opening command and the like are executed at the time of the big hit. Specifically, the game control microcomputer 81 first executes a game state management process. The game state management process is a process for managing the number of times of ST and the number of time saving. Next, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the special action status to "1" when the jackpot flag is OFF. On the other hand, when the jackpot flag is ON, the opening pattern of the jackpot and the V opening/closing member is set according to the type of jackpot won. After setting the release pattern, the game control microcomputer 81 performs game state reset processing. The game state reset process is a process for resetting the probability variation flag and the time saving flag. After the game state reset process, a jackpot opening command is set to start the jackpot game. Then set the special action status to "4". When the "special action status" is "4" (steps S1301, S1303, S1305: NO), special electric accessory processing is performed (step S1308). In the special electric accessary product process, a jackpot game is executed. Specifically, the opening of the first big prize opening 30 and the second big prize winning opening 35 is controlled according to the opening pattern based on the round counter, and a round designation command and an ending command are set. In addition, the V opening/closing member 39 is controlled in parallel with the opening of the first big winning hole 30 . Furthermore, at the end of the jackpot, a time-saving counter and a variable probability counter are set.

[Special symbol standby process]
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the special symbol standby process (FIG. 14: step S1302). In the special symbol standby process, the game control microcomputer 81 first determines whether or not the number of special figure 2 reserved balls is "0" (step S1401). If the number of special figure 2 reserved balls is "0" (step S1401: YES), that is, the random value group acquired due to the winning of the second start port 21 is stored in the second special figure reservation storage area If not, the process moves to step S1407. When the number of special figure 2 reserved balls is "1" or more (step S1401: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 executes a big hit determination process (step S1402). The details of the big hit determination process will be described later. Next, the game control microcomputer 81 executes variation pattern selection processing (step S1403). In the variation pattern selection process, with reference to the variation pattern determination table T6 (FIGS. 9 and 10), the game state of the gaming machine 1 (whether it is a time saving state or a non-time saving state), the judgment result of the jackpot judgment processing (step S1402), pending Select a variation pattern based on the number of balls. After the variation pattern selection process, to decrement the number of special figure 2 pending balls (step S1404). Next, the game control microcomputer 81 moves the storage location of the pending information (various random numbers) stored in the first to fourth storage areas of the second special figure pending storage area to the side where it is read from the current position. While shifting one, clear the pending information stored in the farthest place from the read side in the second special figure pending storage area (step S1405). For example, when pending information is stored in the first to third storage areas, the pending information stored in the third storage area is cleared, and pending information is stored in the first to fourth storage areas. If so, clear the pending information stored in the fourth storage area. By the above steps, the second special figure reservation is digested in the order in which it was reserved. In this case, on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7, the reserved image 9B (of the four reserved images 9B, the leftmost reserved image 9B) corresponding to the first storage area of the second special figure reserved storage area is reserved. It shifts to the digested image display area side and is displayed as a pending digested image 9C. In addition, the reserved images 9B corresponding to the second to fourth storage areas of the second special figure reserved storage area (of the four reserved images 9B, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th reserved images 9B from the left) are each 1 on the left side (Fig. 1). Thereby, the player can recognize that one second special figure reservation has been consumed. Next, the game control microcomputer 81 performs special figure 2 fluctuation start processing (step S1406). In the special figure 2 fluctuation start process, the fluctuation start command is set in the command set area 84a of the main RAM 84, the fluctuation display of the second special symbol is started, and the fluctuation time timer is set. The variable time timer is set with a variable time determined according to the variable pattern selected in the variable pattern selection process. In addition, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the special action status to "2". In addition, the variation start command (special figure 2 variation start command) set in the special figure 2 variation start process includes information on the special figure stop pattern data set in the big hit determination process (step S1402) and variation pattern selection process ( It contains information on the variation pattern set in step S1403) (including information on variation time).

In step S1401, when the number of special figure 2 reserved balls is "0" (step S1401: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the number of special figure 1 reserved balls is "0" ( step S1407). If the number of special figure 1 reserved balls is "0" (step S1407: YES), that is, the random value group acquired due to the winning of the first start port 20 is stored in the first special figure reserved storage area If not, the process moves to step S1413a. When the number of special figure 1 reserved balls is "1" or more (step S1407: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 executes a jackpot determination process (step S1408). The details of the big hit determination process will be described later. Next, the game control microcomputer 81 executes variation pattern selection processing (step S1409). In the variation pattern selection process, with reference to the variation pattern determination table T6 (FIGS. 9 and 10), the game state of the gaming machine 1 (whether it is a time saving state or a non-time saving state), the judgment result of the jackpot judgment processing (step S1408), pending Select a variation pattern based on the number of balls. After the variation pattern selection process, the number of special figure 1 reserved balls is decremented (step S1410). Next, the game control microcomputer 81 shifts the storage location of various random numbers stored in the first to fourth storage areas of the first special figure reservation storage area to the side where it is read from the current position by one. , Clear the pending information stored in the farthest place from the read side in the first special figure pending storage area (step S1411). By the above steps, the first special figure reservation is digested in the order it was reserved. In this case, on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7, the reserved image 9A (of the four reserved images 9A, the rightmost reserved image 9A) corresponding to the first storage area of the first special figure reserved storage area is reserved. It shifts to the digested image display area side and is displayed as a pending digested image 9C. In addition, reserved images 9A corresponding to the second to fourth storage areas of the first special figure reserved storage area (out of the four reserved images 9A, the second, third, and fourth reserved images 9A from the right) are each 1 on the right side (Fig. 1). Thereby, the player can recognize that one first special figure reservation has been consumed. Next, the game control microcomputer 81 performs special figure 1 fluctuation start processing (step S1412). In the special figure 1 fluctuation start process, the fluctuation start command is set in the command set area 84a of the main RAM 84, the fluctuation display of the first special symbol is started, and the fluctuation time timer is set. The variable time timer is set with a variable time determined according to the variable pattern selected in the variable pattern selection process. In addition, the game control microcomputer 81 sets the special action status to "2" (step S1412). In addition, the variation start command (special figure 1 variation start command) set in the special figure 1 variation start process includes information on the special figure stop pattern data set in the big hit determination process (step S1408) and variation pattern selection process ( It contains information on the variation pattern (including information on variation time) set in step S1409).

In step S1407, when the number of special-figure 1 reserved balls is "0" (step S1407: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether the display screen 7a of the image display device 7 is a standby screen (step S1413a). The standby screen is a demo screen for waiting for customers. The game control microcomputer 81 may determine, for example, by ON/OFF of a demonstration screen display flag for customer waiting.

In step S1413a, if it is not the standby screen (step S1413a: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 starts timing a predetermined standby time (step S1413b). This predetermined standby time is the time (period) for switching to the standby screen, and is used for determining whether or not the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 is counted up. It is time (period), and is set to 3 minutes in this embodiment. In addition, when the game ball enters the first start port 20 or the second start port 21 before the predetermined wait time elapses after the predetermined wait time is started, the timer of the predetermined wait time is reset. It has become so.

In step S1413b, when the predetermined waiting time has already started, the predetermined waiting time is continued. A game control microcomputer 81 turns off a demonstration performance execution inhibition flag when starting to measure a prescribed waiting time, and does not turn off the demonstration performance execution inhibition flag when already starting to measure the prescribed waiting time. As described above, the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag determines whether or not to block (cut) the execution of the demonstration effect for customer waiting, or interrupts the demonstration effect for waiting customers that is already being executed. It is a thing to decide whether to (cut) or not. When the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is turned ON, it is possible to block (cut) the execution of the demonstration effect for customer waiting, or to block (cut) the demonstration effect for customer waiting that is already being executed. On the other hand, when the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is turned OFF, the customer waiting demo effect can be executed or the already executed customer waiting demo effect can be continued. In step S1413b, the game control microcomputer 81 turns off the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag when starting to count the predetermined waiting time, thereby executing the demonstration effect for waiting for the customer or the already executing demonstration effect. A state is created in which a certain customer waiting demonstration performance can be continued. As a result, in the processing of step S10346, the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 through the determination of step S10345 (step S10345: YES) in the out port sensor detection process shown in FIG. By accurately reaching 10 balls, the number of game balls collected after entering the out port 16 is counted up. It is possible to set a state in which the demonstration effect for customer waiting which is being executed can be interrupted (cut) in the middle of the execution.

After step S1413b, it is determined whether or not a predetermined waiting time has elapsed (step S1413c). In step S1413c, if the predetermined standby time has not elapsed (step S1413c: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 ends this process as it is. In step S1413c, when the predetermined waiting time has elapsed (step S1413c: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is ON (step S1413d). This determination is made through the determination of step S10346 (step S10346: YES) in the out-port sensor detection process shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 has been counted up when the number of balls has reached exactly 10.例文帳に追加In other words, the number of game balls collected after entering the out port 16 reaches 10 by the time the predetermined waiting time elapses after the start of the predetermined waiting time, and the out port 16 It is determined whether or not the number of game balls that have been entered and collected has been counted up.

In step S1413d, if the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is ON (step S1413d: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 determines that the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 does not reach 10 balls. , it is determined that the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 is not counted up, and the process is finished as it is. In step S1413d, if the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is not ON (step S1413d: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 sets the customer waiting standby command for displaying the standby screen in the command set area 84a of the main RAM 84 ( Step S1414a), this processing ends.

In step S1413a, if the screen is the standby screen (step S1413a: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is ON (step S1413e). This determination is made through the determination of step S10346 (step S10346: YES) in the out-port sensor detection process shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 has been counted up when the number of balls has reached exactly 10.例文帳に追加In other words, in the case of the standby screen (demonstration demonstration for customer waiting which is already being executed), the number of game balls collected after entering the out port 16 reaches 10, and the out port is reached. It is determined whether or not the number of game balls collected after hitting 16 has been counted up.

In step S1413e, if the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is not ON (step S1413e: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 determines that the number of game balls collected after entering the out port 16 does not reach 10, It is determined that the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 is not counted up, and the processing is finished as it is. In step S1413e, if the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is ON (step S1413d: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 releases the setting of the standby screen (that is, cancels the display of the standby screen). is set in the command set area 84a of the main RAM 84 (step S1414b), and the process ends. In response to the customer waiting standby cancellation command, the display screen 7a of the image display device 7 switches from this standby screen to the contents (screen) immediately before the standby screen is displayed.

As described above, according to the special symbol standby process of the present embodiment, the variable display of the special symbol based on the first special symbol reservation is executed only when the second special symbol reservation is "0". That is, digestion of the second special figure reservation is executed with priority over digestion of the first special figure reservation. Also, according to the jackpot type determination table T5 (FIG. 8) of the present embodiment, the lottery based on the second special figure reservation is a jackpot (V It is designed to be elected to the planned passing jackpot).

Also, when a player is playing a game by sitting in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot a game ball toward the game area 3, one of the Even if the state in which no prize is won in the winning opening continues, and the state in which the effect symbol is stopped and displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7 continues, if it is determined in step S1413a that it is not a standby screen (step S1413a: NO), the standby time has elapsed in the judgment of step S1413c (step S1413c: YES), and when the gaming ball enters the out port 16 in the judgment of step S1413d (step S1413d: YES), the standby screen is displayed. It is designed to be able to prevent it from being done.

In the state where the standby screen is displayed, the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 to start the game. When it does, there is a case where the state in which no prize is won continues, but if the standby screen is displayed in the judgment of step S1413a (step S1413a: YES), and the game is played at the out exit 16 in the judgment of step S1413e. When the ball hits the ball (step S1413e: YES), the setting of the standby screen is canceled (that is, the display of the standby screen is canceled). The content (screen) becomes a screen to which the player returns immediately after starting the game.

[Jackpot determination process]
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the big hit determination process (FIG. 15: steps S1402 and S1408). Special Figure 2 big hit determination process (step S1402) and special figure 1 big hit determination process (step S1408) are similar in process flow, so they will be described collectively. In the jackpot determination process, first, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not the probability variation flag is ON (step S1501). If the probability variation flag is ON (step S1501: YES), refer to the table for high probability state of the jackpot determination table T1 (FIG. 7), and based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage area 84g, jackpot determination (step S1502). Specifically, the game control microcomputer 81 first reads out a big hit random number value as a determination value. For example, in the special figure 2 jackpot determination process, the jackpot random value stored in the first storage area of the second special figure reservation storage area (corresponding to the first second special figure reservation) is read. In the special figure 1 jackpot determination process, the jackpot random value stored in the first storage area of the first special figure reservation storage area (corresponding to the first one of the first special figure reservation) is read. Next, the game control microcomputer 81 determines whether or not it is a big hit by using the big hit determination table T1 and the big hit random number value to refer to. Here, since it is in a high probability state (probability variation flag is ON), it is determined whether or not it is a big hit based on the setting information (settings 1 to 6) by referring to the table for the high probability state among the big hit determination tables T1. do. For example, when the setting information is "setting 1", it is determined as a big hit when the big hit random number is between "0" and "936", and is determined as a loss when it is any other value.

In step S1501, if the variable probability flag is OFF (step S1501: NO), the game control microcomputer 81 refers to the normal probability state table of the big hit determination table T1 (FIG. 7) to make the big hit determination ( step S1504). Specifically, the game control microcomputer 81 first reads out the jackpot random number value by the same method as in step S1502. Next, here, since the normal probability state (probability variation flag is OFF), the table for the normal probability state is referred to among the big hit determination tables T1, and whether it is a big hit or not based on the setting information (settings 1 to 6) determine whether For example, when the setting information is "setting 1", it is determined that the jackpot random number is between "0" and "409" and that it is a big hit, and if it is any other value, it is determined to be a loss.

If the result of the jackpot determination is "jackpot" (steps S1503, S1505: YES), the game control microcomputer 81 turns on the jackpot flag (step S1506) and determines the jackpot type (step S1507). Specifically, the game control microcomputer 81 first reads out the jackpot type random number value as the determination value. For example, in the special figure 2 jackpot determination process, the jackpot type random value stored in the first storage area of the second special figure reservation storage area is read. In the special figure 1 jackpot determination process, the jackpot type random value stored in the first storage area of the first special figure reservation storage area is read. Next, the game control microcomputer 81 determines the jackpot type based on the read jackpot type random number value and the jackpot type determination table T5 (FIG. 8). After judging the jackpot type, information corresponding to the specified special figure stop symbol data is set in the jackpot type buffer provided in the main RAM 84, and this processing is finished. On the other hand, in step S1503 or step S1505, if the result of the big hit determination is "losing", information corresponding to the special figure stop pattern data corresponding to the losing is set in the big hit type buffer provided in the main RAM 84, and this processing is performed. finish.

8. Operation of Production Control Microcomputer 91 The operation of the production control microcomputer 91 provided on the sub-control board 90 (FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIGS. Counters, flags, statuses, buffers, and the like that appear in the description of the performance control microcomputer 91 are provided in the sub-RAM 94 .

[Sub-control main processing]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing sub-control main processing. When the gaming machine 1 is powered on, the effect control microcomputer 91 reads out a program for executing a sub-control main process from the sub-ROM 93 . In the sub-control main process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first performs an initialization process (step S4000). In the initialization process, for example, settings of the sub CPU 92, resetting of various flags, statuses, counters, and the like are performed. The initial value of the flag is "0" or "OFF", the initial value of the status is "1", and the initial value of the counter is "0". Note that the initialization process is executed only once after the power is turned on, and is not executed thereafter.

After the initialization processing, the effect control microcomputer 91 prohibits interrupt processing (step S4001), and performs random number update processing (step S4002). In this random number update process, the effect control microcomputer 91 adds 1 to the random number counter value shown in FIG. 6(B) and updates it. When each random number counter value reaches the set upper limit value, it returns to "0" and is added again. The initial value of each random number counter may be a value other than "0", or may be changed randomly. Moreover, the random number may be added by 2 or more instead of adding 1 each time. Each random number may be a so-called hardware random number.

After the random number update process, the effect control microcomputer 91 permits the interruption of the interruption process (step S4003). While interrupts are enabled, sub-side timer interrupt processing (step S4004) can be executed. The sub-side timer interrupt processing is executed based on interrupt pulses that are repeatedly input to the sub CPU 92 at predetermined intervals. That is, the sub-side timer interrupt processing is executed at predetermined intervals. After the sub-side timer interrupt processing ends, the random number update processing is repeatedly executed until the next sub-side timer interrupt processing is started.

[Sub-side timer interrupt processing]
FIG. 18 is a flowchart of sub-side timer interrupt processing (FIG. 17: step S4004). The effect control microcomputer 91 first performs received command analysis processing (step S4100). Details of the received command analysis processing will be described later. After the received command analysis process, the effect control microcomputer 91 performs the process during the variation effect (step S4110). During the variable effect processing, a command before the end of the variation is set in the effect command set area 94b (output buffer) of the sub-RAM 94 at a specific timing during the variable effect, and the display screen 7a executes a specific display effect. is. After the processing during the variation production, the production control microcomputer 91 performs switch processing (step S4120). In the switch process, the effect control microcomputer 91 sets the display contents of the display screen 7a based on the switch data (edge data and level data) output from the effect button 63, and the like. After the switch process, the effect control microcomputer 91 performs command transmission process (step S4130). In the command transmission process, the effect control microcomputer 91 transmits various commands set in the effect command set area 94b (output buffer) of the sub-RAM 94 in the received command analysis process, etc. , to the relay board 108 . The image control board 100 that has received various commands uses the image display device 7 to execute a display effect according to the received command. In addition, the audio control board 106 that has received various commands executes an audio effect of outputting audio from the speaker 67 in accordance with the received commands. Upon receiving various commands, the lamp control board 107 executes a lamp effect that controls light emission of the board lamp 5 and the frame lamp 66 according to the received command. After the command transmission process, the effect control microcomputer 91 performs other processes (step S4140), and ends this process. In other processing, random number update processing and the like are performed.

[Receive command analysis processing]
FIG. 19 is a flow chart of the received command analysis process (FIG. 18: step S4100). The effect control microcomputer 91 first determines whether or not a pre-determination command has been received from the main control board 80 (step S4180). If it has been received (step S4180: YES), prefetch effect determination processing is performed (step S4190). "Prefetching effect determination processing" is a process of determining whether or not to execute a prefetching effect, and determining a prefetching effect pattern in the case of execution.

Specifically, the effect control microcomputer 91 is first included in the advance judgment command received from the main control board 80 as the advance judgment information rewriting process, the jackpot advance judgment result (jackpot judgment information), the jackpot type advance judgment result ( Jackpot type information) and the variation pattern pre-determination result (variation pattern information) are stored in a pre-determination information storage area (not shown) in the sub-RAM 94 . In the advance determination information storage area, in addition to the above-described jackpot determination information, jackpot type information, and variation pattern information, prefetch effect pattern information is stored. The look-ahead effect pattern information is information indicating the content of the look-ahead effect executed during the variable effect.

Then, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the pre-determination result included in the received pre-determination command is "big hit" or "losing with reach". Whether or not it is a “big hit” or a “losing with reach” can be determined by, for example, a variation pattern preliminary determination result (variation pattern information). Then, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not to execute the look-ahead effect when the pre-determination result included in the received pre-determination command is "big win" or "losing with reach". For example, the value of the counter of the look-ahead effect random number is acquired, and the acquired random value and the look-ahead effect pattern determination table T51 stored in the sub ROM 93 are referred to determine whether or not to perform the look-ahead effect, and to perform the look-ahead effect. A pre-reading effect pattern is determined in the case, and when it is decided that the pre-reading effect is to be executed, the pre-reading effect pattern is stored as pre-reading effect pattern information in a preliminary determination information storage area. On the other hand, if not received (step S4180: NO), the above-described look-ahead effect determination process is skipped. Thus, the reading effect pattern information is stored in the pre-determination information storage area when the pre-reading effect is performed, but is not stored in the pre-determination information storage area when the pre-reading effect is not performed. It should be noted that the look-ahead effect is a effect suggesting that there is a high possibility that the reservation information newly stored in the special figure reservation storage area 84e of the main RAM 84 contains a jackpot, and is executed during the variable effect. .

Next, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not a command for the number of pending balls is received from the main control board 80 (step S4200). If received (step S4200: YES), hold display processing is performed (step S4210). In the pending display process, based on the information on the special figure 1 reserved ball number, the special figure 2 reserved ball number, and the normal symbol reserved ball number included in the reserved ball number command, the counter set area 94c of the sub RAM 94 is provided. The values of the first special figure reservation effect counter, the second special figure reservation effect counter, and the normal figure reservation effect counter are updated. As a result, not only the main control board 80 side but also the sub-control board 90 side can hold the information of each reserved ball number. In addition, the effect control microcomputer 91 is based on the values of the first special figure pending effect counter, the second special figure pending effect counter, and the general figure pending effect counter, the pending image 9A displayed on the display screen 7a, Update 9B. On the other hand, if the command for the number of pending balls has not been received (step S4200: NO), the above-described pending display processing is skipped.

Subsequently, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not a variation start command is received from the main control board 80 (step S4230). When receiving (step S4230: YES), change production start processing is performed (step S4240). "Variation production start processing" is a process of selecting a variation production pattern (contents) to be executed during special symbol fluctuation. The details of the fluctuation effect start processing will be described later. On the other hand, when it has not received (step S4230: NO), it skips the above-mentioned fluctuation production|presentation start processing.

Subsequently, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the fluctuation stop command is received from the main control board 80 (step S4250). If it is received (step S4250: YES), change effect end processing is performed (step S4260). "Variation effect end processing" is a process for stopping the variation effect that is executed during the special symbol variation. In the fluctuation production end processing, the production control microcomputer 91 sets a counter and the like based on the analysis result of the fluctuation stop command, and sets a fluctuation production end command for ending the fluctuation production. As a result, the effect symbol corresponding to the special figure 1 or the special figure 2 during fluctuation is stopped and displayed. In addition, when the fluctuation stop command is not received (step S4250: NO), the above-mentioned fluctuation production end processing is skipped.

Subsequently, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not an opening command is received from the main control board 80 (step S4270). If received (step S4270: YES), an opening effect pattern determination process is performed (step S4280). The "opening effect pattern determination process" is a process of selecting an opening effect pattern (contents) to be executed at the start of a special game (jackpot game). In the opening performance pattern determination processing, the performance control microcomputer 91 first analyzes the opening command and sets the information on the special figure stop pattern data set at the time of judging the winning of the jackpot, which is included in the opening command, in the sub-RAM 94.例文帳に追加Then, the effect pattern of the opening effect set in advance corresponding to the winning type indicated by the special figure stop pattern data is selected, and the opening effect start command for starting the selected opening effect is sent to the effect command set area of the sub RAM 94. Set to 94b. When the opening effect start command set in the effect command set area 94b is transmitted to the image control board 100 in the command transmission process (FIG. 18: step S4130), the CPU 102 of the image control board 100 stores a predetermined opening effect image in the ROM 103. , and displayed on the display screen 7 a of the image display device 7 . In addition, in step S4270, when the opening command is not received (step S4270: NO), the above-mentioned opening effect pattern determination processing is skipped.

Subsequently, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not a round designation command is received from the main control board 80 (step S4290). If received (step S4290: YES), round effect pattern determination processing is performed (step S4300). "Round effect pattern determination process" is a process of selecting an open game effect pattern (contents) to be executed during the opening of the big winning opening or during the interval between openings in a special game (jackpot game). In the round effect pattern determination process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first analyzes the round designation command, and sets information on the special figure stop pattern data and information on the number of rounds contained in the round designation command in the sub-RAM 94. do. Then, the effect pattern of the round effect preset corresponding to the special figure stop pattern and the number of rounds is selected, and a round effect start command for starting the selected round effect is stored in the effect command set area 94b of the sub RAM 94. set. When the round effect start command set in the effect command set area 94b is transmitted to the image control board 100, the CPU 102 reads a predetermined round effect image from the ROM 103 and displays it on the display screen 7a. In addition, in step S4290, when the round designation|designated command is not received (step S4290: NO), the above-mentioned round production|presentation pattern determination process is skipped.

Subsequently, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not an ending command is received from the main control board 80 (step S4310). If received (step S4310: YES), ending effect pattern determination processing is performed (step S4320). "Ending effect pattern determination process" is a process of selecting an ending effect pattern (contents) to be executed during the ending of a special game (big hit game or small hit game). In the ending effect pattern determination process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first analyzes the ending command, and sets information on the special figure stop symbol data included in the ending command in the sub-RAM94. Then, an ending effect pattern corresponding to the special figure stop symbol data is selected, and an ending effect start command for starting the selected ending effect is set in the output buffer of the sub RAM94. When the ending effect start command set in the effect command set area 94b is transmitted to the image control board 100, the CPU 102 reads a predetermined ending effect image from the ROM 103 and displays it on the display screen 7a. If the ending command has not been received (step S4310: NO), the above ending effect pattern determination process is skipped.

Subsequently, the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not a customer waiting standby command is received from the main control board 80 (step S4330). If received (step S4330: YES), a customer waiting effect pattern determination process is performed (step S4340). The "customer waiting effect pattern determination process" is a process of selecting an effect pattern (contents) of a standby screen to be displayed after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed after the gaming machine 1 has stopped operating. In the customer waiting effect pattern determination process, the effect control microcomputer 91 first analyzes the customer waiting standby command and sets information contained in the customer waiting standby command in the sub-RAM 94 . Then, an effect pattern of the standby screen is selected, and a customer waiting standby command for starting the selected effect is set in the output buffer of the sub RAM 94.例文帳に追加When the customer waiting standby command set in the effect command set area 94b is transmitted to the image control board 100, the CPU 102 reads a predetermined effect image from the ROM 103 and displays it on the display screen 7a. In addition, when the customer waiting standby command is not received (step S4330: NO), the above-described customer waiting effect pattern determination processing is skipped.

Subsequently, the effect control microcomputer 91 performs other processing (step S4350). In other processing, for example, when the performance control microcomputer 91 receives the game state designation command, the game state information included in the game state designation command (whether it is a high probability state, whether it is a time saving state, counter, time-saving counter value, etc.) are held in the sub-RAM 94. Moreover, the microcomputer 91 for production|presentation control makes sub RAM94 hold|maintain the information which V passed, when V passage command is received. Also, the effect control microcomputer 91 adds (increments) a value of 10 to an out-out effect counter provided in the counter set area 94c of the sub-RAM 94 when receiving the 10-ball recovery command. The out effect counter is initialized and set to zero when the power is turned on. In addition, when the production control microcomputer 91 receives a customer waiting standby cancellation command, it performs processing for switching from the standby screen to the contents (screen) immediately before the standby screen is displayed, and the production control microcomputer 91 Processing based on commands other than the above (customer waiting standby command, RAM clear notification command, etc.) is performed, and this processing ends.

[Variation production start processing]
FIG. 20 is a flow chart of the variable effect start process (FIG. 19: step S4240). The effect control microcomputer 91 first analyzes the variation start command (step S4400). Here, the effect control microcomputer 91 sets the information on the special figure stop design data included in the variation start command and the information on the variation pattern to the sub-RAM 94 . The set information includes the game state information indicating the current game state, the pattern information indicating the pattern as the determination result of the hit determination process of the special figure 1 or the special figure 2, and the like. The game state information and the symbol information acquired here can be appropriately referred to by the effect control microcomputer 91 .

Subsequently, the production control microcomputer 91 performs basic production pattern determination processing (step S4410). The basic production pattern determination process includes the basic configuration of the variable production (for example, the display of the background image on the image display device 7 and its switching, the display of a predetermined character and its operation, the output of the melody and sound effect using the speaker 67). , lighting control of lamps, etc.). The variable production is completed by superimposing an additional production such as a chance-up production on this basic production.

The effect control microcomputer 91 refers to a basic effect pattern determination table T52 stored in the sub ROM 93 to determine a basic effect pattern. In addition, when it is decided to execute the look-ahead effect, the look-ahead effect pattern is stored in the sub-RAM 94 . Therefore, when the look-ahead production pattern is stored in the sub-RAM 94, the basic production pattern corresponding to the variation pattern is switched to the basic production pattern (prefetch) (for example, the performance based on the previous variation is superimposed on the current variation). If the ending is such that it continues to reach (SP reach), this time, switch to a basic production pattern (prefetching) that suddenly starts super reach (SP reach)).

After determining the basic effect pattern, the effect control microcomputer 91 performs chance-up effect pattern determination processing (step S4420). The chance-up effect pattern determination process is a process for determining an additional effect to be superimposed on the variable effect. The performance control microcomputer 91 acquires the counter value of the chance-up random number, refers to the acquired random number and the chance-up performance pattern determination table T53 stored in the sub ROM 93, and determines the chance-up performance pattern. . After determining the chance-up production pattern, the production control microcomputer 91 further refers to the random number value and the stop pattern pattern determination table T54 to determine the combination of the production patterns 8L, 8C and 8R to be stopped and displayed. good.

After determining the chance-up effect pattern, the effect control microcomputer 91 performs setting suggestion effect pattern determination processing (step S4430). The setting suggestion effect pattern determination process is a process of determining an effect pattern suggesting the setting information stored in the setting information storage area 84g. The setting information set in the setting information storage area 84g of the main RAM 84 is transmitted to the sub-control board 90 in the initialization process of the main control main process (FIG. 11: step S001), and the initialization process of the sub-control main process (FIG. 17). : When step S4000) is executed, the setting information storage area 94d of the sub-RAM 94 is stored by the effect control microcomputer 91. A performance control microcomputer 91 acquires the value of a setting suggesting performance counter, refers to the acquired random number value and a setting suggesting performance pattern determination table T55 stored in a sub ROM 93, and determines a setting suggesting performance pattern.

The effect control microcomputer 91 sets the variable effect start command in the effect command set area 94b (output buffer) of the sub RAM 94 so that the variable effect based on the variable effect pattern determined in steps S4400 to S4430 is realized ( step S4440). When the variable effect start command set in the effect command set area 94b of the sub RAM 94 is transmitted to the image control board 100 in the command transmission process ( FIG. 18 : step S4130), the CPU 102 of the image control board 100 displays the variable effect image. It is read out from the ROM 103 and displayed on the display screen 7 a of the image display device 7 .

Subsequently, the effect control microcomputer 91 sets a variable effect timer (step S4450), and terminates this process. A variable time corresponding to the variable pattern variable pattern included in the variable start command is set in the variable effect timer.

[Processing during fluctuation effect]
FIG. 21 is a flow chart of the processing during the fluctuation effect ( FIG. 18 : step S4110). The production control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not the variable production is in progress (step S4500). Whether or not the variable effect is being performed can be determined by, for example, whether or not the variable effect timer is zero. If the variable effect is not in progress (step S4500: NO), this process is terminated. On the other hand, if the variation effect is being performed (step S4500: YES), the effect control microcomputer 91 determines whether or not it is time to set the pre-variation end command in the effect command set area 94b of the sub RAM 94 (step S4510). The pre-variation end command is a command that the effect control microcomputer 91 notifies the image control board 100 or the like that it is a specific timing during the change effect. When the image control board 100 receives the pre-variation end command , the effect content is switched, a specific image is displayed, etc., in accordance with the information included in the command before the end of variation.

If it is not the timing to set the pre-fluctuation end command (step S4510: NO), this processing ends. On the other hand, if it is time to set the pre-variation end command (step S4510: YES), it is determined whether or not there is prefetch effect pattern information in the area of the advance determination information storage area 94c (step S4520). If there is prefetch effect pattern information in the area (step S4520: YES), the pre-variation end command containing the prefetch effect pattern information is set in the effect command set area 94b of the sub RAM 94 (step S4530), and this process is finished. On the other hand, if there is no pre-reading effect pattern information in the area (step S4520: NO), the pre-variation end command that does not include the pre-reading effect pattern information is set in the effect command set area 94b of the sub RAM 94 (step S4530). Finish processing.

As a result, when there is prefetch effect pattern information in the area, before the end of the variable effect (for example, 2 seconds to 10 seconds before), a pre-variation end command including the prefetch effect pattern information is sent to the image control board 100. sent. Then, the image control microcomputer 101 starts a look-ahead effect for displaying a look-ahead effect image on the display screen 7 a of the image display device 7 . On the other hand, even when there is no prefetch effect pattern information in the area, a pre-change end command is transmitted to the image control board 100 seconds before the end of the change (for example, 2 to 10 seconds). Here, when the preview image is already displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7, the image control microcomputer 101 starts the preview fade effect of fading the preview image.

9. Operation of Image Control Microcomputer 101 The operation of the image control microcomputer 101 provided on the image control board 100 (FIG. 4) will be described with reference to FIG. A RAM 104 is provided with buffers and the like that appear in the description of the operation of the image control microcomputer 101 . FIG. 22 is a flowchart of display control processing. When the game machine 1 is powered on, the image control microcomputer 101 reads a program from the ROM 103, and after the CPU initialization process, the display control process is repeatedly executed. In the display control process, first, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not it has received a variation effect start command from the sub-control board 90 (step S5001). If received (step S5001: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 starts the variable effect display (step S5002). Specifically, the image control microcomputer 101 analyzes the received variable effect start command, reads out a predetermined variable effect image instructed in the variable effect start command from the ROM 103, and displays it on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7. display. On the other hand, if not received (step S5001: NO), the above processing is skipped.

Subsequently, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not a pre-change end command has been received from the sub-control board 90 (step S5003). If it has been received (step 5003: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 starts the look-ahead effect display (step S5004). On the other hand, if not received (step S5003: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 skips the above process.

Subsequently, the image control microcomputer 101 determines whether or not it has received a command to end the variation effect from the sub-control board 90 (step S5005). If it is received (step 5005: YES), the image control microcomputer 101 reads out the image in which the variable effect is stopped and displayed from the ROM 103, and performs the variable effect stop display to be displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7. (Step S5006). On the other hand, if not received (step S5005: NO), the image control microcomputer 101 skips the above process.

Subsequently, the image control microcomputer 101 performs other processing (step S5007). In other processing, for example, when the image control microcomputer 101 receives the opening effect start command, the image control microcomputer 101 reads out from the ROM 103 a predetermined opening effect image instructed in the opening effect start command, and displays it on the display screen of the image display device 7. 7a. Further, when a round effect start command is received, a predetermined round effect image instructed in the round effect start command is read from the ROM 103 and displayed on the display screen 7a. Further, when the ending effect start command is received, a predetermined ending effect image instructed in the ending effect start command is read out from the ROM 103, displayed on the display screen 7a, and this processing ends.

10. Effect Examples of Present Embodiment Below, each effect example (display effect example) of the present embodiment will be described. The effects described below are effects realized by the effect control microcomputer 91 (image control microcomputer 101) based on various commands transmitted from the game control microcomputer 81, as described above.

Here, in particular, when the player is seated in front of the gaming machine 1 and performs a game by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 (in other words, Then, the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates the handle 60 (shooting operation) to launch the game ball toward the game area 3 and enter the game ball into the first start port 20. ), the state in which no prizes were won in any of the prize-winning openings continued, and the state in which the effect symbols were stopped and displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7 occurred. A cut example A of a demonstration effect for waiting for customers, which prevents the standby screen from being displayed even if it is continued, will be described.

Subsequently, in a state in which the standby screen is displayed, the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and turns the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 to start the game. Since there is a case where the player did not win any prizes at the start of the game, the content (screen) that was displayed immediately before the standby screen was displayed after the game started. A cut example B of a demonstration effect for waiting for customers will be described. The "demonstration effect for customer waiting" includes a screen for reproducing moving images for customer waiting and a game explanation screen. The moving image playback screen for waiting customers includes, for example, explanations of various characters appearing in the game production, explanations of the world view of the game production, introduction of a part of Super Reach (SP Reach), and the like. On the game explanation screen, for example, an introduction to the specs, an explanation of the game flow, an introduction to the three major key point effects (effects in which the expectation of winning is set higher than other effects in advance), and a major advance notice effect. It includes the introduction of (pending change notice, group notice, continuous notice, etc.). It should be noted that the following display effect example is executed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7. FIG. Also, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that no game ball enters the second starting port 21 .

23 and 24, cut examples A and B of the demonstration effect for customer waiting will be described below. In FIGS. 23 and 24, various background images displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7 are omitted for ease of viewing. FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining cut example A of the demonstration effect for customer waiting, and FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining cut example B of the demo effect for customer waiting.

Here, first, the production patterns will be briefly explained, and then the cut example A of the demonstration production for waiting customers and the cut example B of the demonstration production for waiting customers will be explained in order.

[Production pattern]
On the display screen 7a of the image display device 7, for example, as shown in FIG. A variable performance (variable display) of performance symbols (symbols: number “1” to number “9”) is started in a display mode in which the reels are rotated from the upper side to the lower side. In the variable production (variable display) of multiple production patterns, each production pattern is number “1” → number “2” → number “3” → number “4” → number “5” → number “6” → number “7”. ] → number "8" → number "9" → number "1" → number "2" → .

When the variable effect (variable display) of the effect pattern is started, the stop-displayed effect pattern once moves upward in a floating display mode for a predetermined distance (for example, about 5 mm) and then slowly (low speed) moves ( In other words, after the stop display of the production pattern is canceled, the production pattern is in a display mode in which it is about to move, and then the speed is gradually increased from a low speed toward the bottom to change from an opaque state to a translucent state. It changes to a state and becomes a display mode that fluctuates at high speed. As a result, the background image arranged behind the production pattern can be visually recognized through the semi-transparent production pattern that is changing at high speed. The performance pattern is decelerated immediately before it stops and changes from a translucent state to an opaque state again, and is temporarily stopped or stopped (displayed temporarily and then stopped). In the state of the temporary stop display, the effect pattern is displayed in a mode of slowly moving up and down in small steps.

Briefly explaining the fluctuation icon and the pending icon, for example, as shown in FIG. The variable icon 9C is displayed (placed) at a variable display position 9Cd (above the rectangular image (pedestal image)) displayed in the lower center of the display screen 7a of the image display device 7 . In the region of the display screen 7a on the left side of the variable display position 9Cd, a first reservation display area is provided as a first special figure reservation. In this first pending display area, the pending icons 9A can be displayed (can be placed) at four pending display positions 9Ad (on the rectangular image (pedestal image)), and a maximum of four pending icons 9A are stocked. It is possible to do so. The four reserved display positions 9Ad are a first reserved display position 9Ad, a second reserved display position 9Ad, a third reserved display position 9Ad, and a fourth reserved display position 9Ad from a position near the variable display position 9Cd toward the left side of the display screen 7a. They are linearly arranged and displayed along the lower side of the display screen 7a in the order of the display position 9Ad.

Although both the variable display position 9Cd and the reserved display position 9Ad have a rectangular shape, they may have the same size or different sizes. In this embodiment, both the variable display position 9Cd and the reserved display position 9Ad have a rectangular shape, and the size of the variable display position 9Cd (horizontal distance dimension) is equal to the size of the reserved display position 9Ad (horizontal distance dimension). dimension) (both distance dimensions in the vertical direction are the same distance dimension). This is for distinguishing between the variable icon 9C displayed at the variable display position 9Cd and the suspended icon 9A displayed at the suspended display position 9Ad.

Briefly describing the pending icon 9A and the variable icon 9C (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "icons"), the difference in shape and color indicates the difference in the degree of expectation of winning during the lottery corresponding to the icon. . For example, among the six icons: a yellow (gold) star icon, a purple sphere icon, a smiling sphere icon, a red sphere icon, a blue sphere icon, and a white sphere icon, the yellow (gold) star The shape icon has the highest probability of winning, the purple spherical icon has the second highest probability of winning, the smiling sphere icon has the third highest probability of winning, and the red spherical icon has the fourth highest probability of winning. Expectations are high, the blue spherical icon has the fifth highest expectation of winning, and the white spherical icon has the lowest expectation of winning.

[Cut example A of demonstration production for waiting customers]
Next, a cut example A of a demonstration effect for waiting for customers will be described with reference to FIG. Here, when a player is playing a game by sitting in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot a game ball toward the game area 3, one day, by chance, As a result, the pending icon 9A is not displayed at the first pending display position 9Ad to the fourth pending display position Ad. In other words, there is no stocked icon 9A that has not been digested.

As shown in FIG. 23(A), the variable effect (variable display) of the effect pattern by the variable icon 9C is started, and the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R are simultaneously (simultaneously) opaque. to a semi-transparent state, resulting in a display mode that fluctuates at high speed. At this time, the player continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation), but the game ball does not enter the first start hole 20. , and the game ball enters the out port 16 and is collected.

After that, as shown in FIG. 23(B), among the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C and the right effect pattern 8R which fluctuate at high speed, first the left effect pattern 8L decelerates and changes from a translucent state to an opaque state again. , the left effect pattern 8L is temporarily stopped and displayed with the number "1", and then the right effect pattern 8R decelerates and changes from a translucent state to an opaque state again, and the right effect pattern 8R is displayed with the number "3". , and then the middle effect pattern 8C decelerates and changes from the translucent state to the opaque state again, and the middle effect pattern 8C is temporarily stopped and displayed with the number "2". , is stopped without being aligned with the same pattern, and the misalignment is confirmed. Accordingly, the variable icon 9C disappears from the display screen 7a. At this time, the player continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation), but the game ball does not enter the first start hole 20. , and the game ball enters the out port 16 and is collected.

Thereafter, even after two minutes have passed since the left effect symbol 8L, the middle effect symbol 8C, and the right effect symbol 8R are stopped and displayed, the player rotates (shoots) the handle 60 to play the game ball. Although the game ball continues to be shot toward the region 3, the state where the game ball has not yet entered the first start hole 20 continues, and the game ball enters the out hole 16 and is collected. there is At this time, as shown in FIG. 23(C), the content (screen) displayed in FIG. 23(B) remains on the display screen 7a. That is, on the display screen 7a, the left effect symbol 8L is stop-displayed with the number "1", the middle effect symbol 8C is stop-displayed with the number "2", and the right effect pattern 8R is stop-displayed with the number "3". condition continues.

After that, even after 3 minutes have passed since the left production pattern 8L, the middle production pattern 8C, and the right production pattern 8R are stopped and displayed (in other words, the operation of the first special design indicator 41a is suspended (first special figure suspension) is all consumed, and the variable display of the first special symbol is completed on the first special symbol display device 41a and 3 minutes have passed since it was stopped and displayed), the player rotates the handle 60. Although the motion operation (shooting operation) continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3, the state where the game ball has not entered the first start hole 20 still continues, and the game ball enters the out hole 16. It is in a state of being collected by entering the ball. At this time, as shown in FIG. 23(D), the content (screen) displayed in FIG. 23(B) remains on the display screen 7a. That is, on the display screen 7a, the left effect symbol 8L is stop-displayed with the number "1", the middle effect symbol 8C is stop-displayed with the number "2", and the right effect pattern 8R is stop-displayed with the number "3". condition continues. In addition, the time (period) of 3 minutes after the left production pattern 8L, the middle production pattern 8C, and the right production pattern 8R are stopped and displayed, that is, the operation suspension of the first special symbol display device 41a (first special figure suspension) is all. The time (period) of 3 minutes from the end of the variable display of the first special symbol on the first special symbol display device 41a and the state of being stopped and displayed is the time (period) in the first starting port When the state in which the game ball has not entered 20 continues, the standby time is the time (period) for starting the display of the standby screen.

During this standby time, the player continues to rotate the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3, but the game ball still enters the first start hole 20. Even if the state of not playing continues, since the game balls enter the out port 16 and are collected, the number of the game balls collected in the out port 16 increases. there is As the number of game balls collected to the out port 16 increases, that is, the number of game balls entering the out port 16 in the out port sensor detection process of FIG. 13 during the standby time increases. When the number of balls reaches 10, a demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is turned ON to prevent (cut) the execution of the demonstration effect for waiting for customers.

After that, the player continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 by turning the handle 60 (shooting operation), and when the game ball finally enters the first start hole 20, FIG. ), the variable effect (variable display) of the effect pattern by the variable icon 9C is started, and the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R all at once (simultaneously) change from an opaque state to a translucent state. It changes to a state and becomes a display mode that fluctuates at high speed. At this time, the player continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation).

After that, the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R are stopped and displayed in the same pattern, and the winning is confirmed, and the winning game is generated (started), whereas the left effect pattern is displayed. When the 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C and the right effect pattern 8R are stopped and displayed without aligning with the same pattern, the misalignment is determined.

Thus, during the period from FIG. 23(B) to FIG. 23(E), the player rotates the handle 60 (shooting operation) to continuously shoot the game ball toward the game area 3. 23(B), the player rotates the handle 60 (fire operation) is stopped and the game ball is not fired toward the game area 3, following FIG. Even after 2 minutes have elapsed since is stopped and displayed, the state in which the game ball has not entered the first start port 20 continues and the game ball has not entered the out port 16.例文帳に追加At this time, as shown in FIG. 23(F), the content (screen) displayed in FIG. 23(B) remains on the display screen 7a. That is, on the display screen 7a, the left effect symbol 8L is stop-displayed with the number "1", the middle effect symbol 8C is stop-displayed with the number "2", and the right effect pattern 8R is stop-displayed with the number "3". condition continues. In other words, the screen displayed on the display screen 7a in FIG. 23(F) and the screen displayed on the display screen 7a in FIG. 23(C) are the same screen.

After that, even after 3 minutes have passed since the left production pattern 8L, the middle production pattern 8C, and the right production pattern 8R are stopped and displayed (in other words, the operation of the first special design indicator 41a is suspended (first special figure suspension) is all consumed, and the variable display of the first special symbol on the first special symbol display device 41a is terminated and three minutes have passed since it was stopped and displayed), the player rotates the handle 60. Since the operation (shooting operation) is stopped and the game ball is not shot toward the game area 3, the state where the game ball has not entered the first start hole 20 continues, and the game ball is out. 16 has not entered the ball. At this time, as shown in FIG. 23(G), the display screen 7a switches from the screen in which the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R are stopped to the standby screen DG, and is used for waiting for customers. The demonstration production will start. In addition, the time (period) of 3 minutes after the left production pattern 8L, the middle production pattern 8C, and the right production pattern 8R are stopped and displayed, that is, the operation suspension of the first special symbol display device 41a (first special figure suspension) is all. The time (period) of 3 minutes from the end of the variable display of the first special symbol on the first special symbol display device 41a and the state of being stopped and displayed is the time (period) in the first starting port When the state in which the game ball has not entered 20 continues, the standby time is the time (period) for starting the display of the standby screen.

Thereafter, while the customer waiting demonstration effect is being performed (that is, during the standby screen), the player rotates (shoots) the handle 60 again to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3. When the game ball enters the out port 16 and is collected, as shown in FIG. , the screen switches to the screen shown in FIG. 23(F), which is the original screen where the right effect symbol 8R is stopped and displayed (returns to the screen shown in FIG. 23(F), which is the original screen). At this time, the player continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation).

After that, the player rotates the handle 60 (shooting operation) to continuously shoot the game ball toward the game area 3. When the game ball finally enters the first start hole 20, the variation icon A variable performance (variable display) of the performance pattern by 9C is started, and the left performance pattern 8L, the middle performance pattern 8C, and the right performance pattern 8R all change at once (simultaneously) from an opaque state to a translucent state and fluctuate at high speed. It becomes the display mode to do. At this time, the player continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation).

After that, the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R are stopped and displayed in the same pattern, and the winning is confirmed, and the winning game is generated (started), whereas the left effect pattern is displayed. When the 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C and the right effect pattern 8R are stopped and displayed without aligning with the same pattern, the misalignment is determined.

Thus, in cut example A of the demonstration effect for waiting for customers, the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates (shoots) the handle 60 to shoot a game ball toward the game area 3. (in other words, the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3). 1) when playing a game called left-handed aiming at entering the game ball into the starting hole 20), the state in which none of the winning holes happened to win continues, and the display screen of the image display device 7 At 7a, the state where the performance symbols are stopped and displayed continues, all the reserved icons 9A are digested, and the variable performance (variation display) of the left performance symbols 8L, the middle performance symbols 8C, and the right performance symbols 8R is started by the variation icons 9C. 3 minutes after the production pattern 8L, the medium production pattern 8C, and the right production pattern 8R are stopped and displayed (in other words, the operation suspension of the first special symbol display device 41a (first special figure suspension) is all digested, and the first special The game ball enters the out port 16 and is collected within the waiting time of 3 minutes after the variable display of the first special symbol is finished and the symbol display 41a is stopped and displayed. By being in the state (that is, by increasing the number of game balls collected in the out port 16), the left production pattern 8L, the middle production pattern 8C, and the right production pattern 8R were stopped and displayed. The state is maintained, the screen is switched from this screen to the standby screen DG, and the start of the demonstration effect for waiting for customers is prevented. As a result, even if the player continues to play a game and does not win the first start hole 20 by chance, the game ball enters the out hole 16 within the waiting time. When collected, the left production pattern 8L, the medium production pattern 8C, the right production pattern 8R stop display is maintained (in other words, the left production pattern 8L, the medium production pattern 8C, the right (Since the screen in which the performance pattern 8R is stopped and displayed is switched to the standby screen DG to prevent the start of the demo performance for waiting for customers), the game ball does not easily enter the first start port 20. - 特許庁In addition to this, by starting the demonstration effect for waiting for customers, which is the standby screen DG, it is possible to prevent the player from feeling frustrated and losing interest in the game. Therefore, it is possible to improve interest.

[Cut example B of demonstration production for customer waiting]
Next, a cut example B of a demonstration effect for waiting for customers will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the player does not sit down in front of the gaming machine 1, and the standby screen DG is already displayed on the display screen 7a as shown in FIG. It is in a state where

After that, while the customer waiting demonstration effect is being performed (that is, during the standby screen), the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates (fires) the handle 60 to play the game. Immediately after the ball is launched toward the game area 3 and the game is started, the game ball enters the out port 16 and is not collected, so as shown in FIG. The performance continues.

After that, while the customer waiting demonstration effect is being performed (that is, during the standby screen), the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates (fires) the handle 60 to play the game. A game is started by shooting balls toward the game area 3, the game balls enter the out port 16 and are collected, and when the number of the game balls collected in the out port 16 increases, FIG. ), on the display screen 7a, from the standby screen DG, the left effect symbol 8L is stop-displayed with the number "1", the middle effect symbol 8C is stop-displayed with the number "2", and the right effect symbol 8R is displayed. It switches to the screen stopped by the number "3". In this screen, immediately before the standby screen DG is displayed, the left effect symbol 8L is stopped and displayed with the number "1" on the display screen 7a, the middle effect symbol 8C is stopped and displayed with the number "2", and the right effect symbol 8R is displayed. It is a screen that is stopped and displayed with the number "3", and in FIG. 24(C), the display screen 7a has returned from the standby screen DG to the original screen. At this time, the player continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation).

While the customer waiting demonstration effect is being performed (that is, during the standby screen), the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates (shoots) the handle 60 to shoot the game ball. Immediately after the game is started by shooting toward the game area 3, the game ball enters the out port 16 and is not collected. After that, while the customer waiting demonstration effect is being performed (that is, during the standby screen), the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates (fires) the handle 60 to play the game. A game is started by shooting a ball toward the game area 3, and even if the state in which the game ball does not enter the first start hole 20 continues, the game ball enters the out hole 16.例文帳に追加When it starts to be collected, when the number of game balls entering the out port 16 increases and reaches 10 in the out port sensor detection process of FIG. A state is set in which the demonstration effect for customer waiting that is being executed is interrupted (cut) in the middle of execution.

After that, the player rotates the handle 60 (shooting operation) to continuously shoot the game ball toward the game area 3, and when the game ball finally enters the first start hole 20, FIG. ), the variable effect (variable display) of the effect pattern by the variable icon 9C is started, and the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R all at once (simultaneously) change from an opaque state to a translucent state. It changes to a state and becomes a display mode that fluctuates at high speed. At this time, the player continues to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 by rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation).

After that, the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R are stopped and displayed in the same pattern, and the winning is confirmed, and the winning game is generated (started), whereas the left effect pattern is displayed. When the 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C and the right effect pattern 8R are stopped and displayed without aligning with the same pattern, the misalignment is determined.

Thus, in cut example B of the demo effect for customer waiting, the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 while the demo effect for customer waiting is being performed (that is, during the standby screen). Then, the handle 60 is rotated (shooting operation) to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 to start the game, and the game ball enters the out port 16 and is collected, and is collected in the out port 16. When the number of game balls displayed increases, the screen is switched to the screen displayed on the display screen 7a immediately before the standby screen DG is displayed. As a result, the game ball enters the out port 16 and is collected even if the state in which the player has not won the first start port 20 happens to continue despite the fact that the game is started. Then, the standby screen DG does not continue to be displayed, and is switched to the screen that was displayed on the display screen 7a immediately before the standby screen DG was displayed. In addition to the fact that a game ball does not easily enter the game ball, furthermore, the continuation of the demonstration effect for waiting for customers, which is the standby screen DG, makes the player feel frustrated and suppresses the decrease in interest in the game. can. Therefore, it is possible to improve interest.

11. Effect example, modification example, and aspect example of the present embodiment

[Effect example]
An example of the effect of a cut example of the demonstration effect for customer waiting is shown below.
[Effect 1]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above-described embodiment, in the cut example A of the demonstration effect for customer waiting in FIG. A lottery is carried out, and the lottery result (lottery result) of "hit" or "lose" is image displayed by the stop display of the left production pattern 8L (design), the middle production design 8C (design), and the right production design 8R (design). Displayed on the device 7 (display device), the game ball that did not enter the first starting hole 20 (winning hole) enters the out hole 16 and is collected from the game area 3, and the reserved icon 9A is completely extinguished. 3 minutes after the left production pattern 8L, middle production pattern 8C and right production pattern 8R fluctuation production (variation display) by the fluctuation icon 9C is started and the left production pattern 8L, middle production pattern 8C and right production pattern 8R are stopped and displayed. (In other words, the operation suspension (first special symbol suspension) of the first special symbol display device 41a is all digested, and the variable display of the first special symbol ends in the first special symbol display device 41a and is stopped and displayed. After 3 minutes have elapsed (after a predetermined time has passed since the stop display of the pattern), the screen displayed on the image display device 7 (display device) is switched to the standby screen DG, and a demonstration effect for waiting for customers ( The first effect ((G) in FIG. 23 in the cut example A of the demonstration effect for customer waiting) can be executed. All of the reserved icons 9A are digested, and a variable effect (variable display) of the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R by the variable icon 9C is started, and the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R are started. 3 minutes after the stop display (in other words, the operation suspension (first special symbol suspension) of the first special symbol display device 41a is all digested, and the variable display of the first special symbol ends on the first special symbol display device 41a Even after 3 minutes have passed since the symbol was stopped and displayed (even after a predetermined time has passed since the symbol was stopped and displayed), when the game ball entered the out port 16, the second Execution of the effect 1 can be blocked ((D) and (H) in FIGS. 23A and 23B in the cut example A of the demonstration effect for customer waiting). According to this configuration, when a player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates (shoots) the handle 60 to shoot game balls toward the game area 3, By chance, even if the state in which the winning at the first starting port 20 (the prize winning port) is not continued, and the state in which each effect pattern is stopped and displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7 continues, the out port 16 When the game ball is entered and collected, the display of the standby screen DG is blocked, and the state in which the performance symbols are stopped and displayed is maintained, so that the player can play the game. Even though the player is in the game, the state of not winning the first start gate 20 (winning gate) by chance continues, and the waiting screen DG is displayed. can. With such improvements, it is possible to improve interest.

[Effect 2]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above-described embodiment, the prevention of execution of the first effect in cut example A of the demo effect for customer waiting in FIG. counter) is being counted up. Specifically, it is determined whether the number of special-figure 2 reserved balls in step S1401 in the special symbol standby process of FIG. The flow proceeds in order, the operation suspension of the second special symbol display device 41b (second special symbol suspension), the operation suspension of the first special symbol display device 41a (first special symbol suspension) are both zero, that is, all are digested, When the game ball enters the out port 16 while the state in which the game ball has not entered either the second start port 21 or the first start port 20 continues, the out port sensor of FIG. 13 is detected. At step S10342 in the process, an out-port counter OUTC (counter) for counting the game balls that entered the out port 16 is counted up, and the number of game balls that entered the out port 16 is counted up at step S10343 in the same process. When 10 balls are reached, it is determined whether or not the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag in step S10346 in the same process is OFF. By doing so, it is determined whether or not the standby time (3 minutes) of step S1413c in the special symbol standby process of FIG. When the demonstration effect execution inhibition flag is ON, the same processing is terminated as it is. As a result, the out port counter OUTC (counter) for counting the game balls entering the out port 16 is replaced by the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C and the right effect pattern 8R by the variable icon 9C after all the reserved icons 9A are digested. 3 minutes after the variable effect (variable display) is started and the left effect pattern 8L, the middle effect pattern 8C, and the right effect pattern 8R are stopped and displayed (in other words, the operation of the first special symbol display device 41a is suspended (first special symbol hold) are all digested, and the variable display of the first special symbol on the first special symbol display device 41a is completed and the state is stopped and displayed 3 minutes) (predetermined time) When the count is up, Execution of a demonstration effect for waiting for customers is prevented. According to this configuration, even if the player sits in front of the game machine 1 and does not simply touch the handle 60 to actually shoot the game ball toward the game area 3, the execution of the first effect can be prevented. It is not executed (that is, the execution of the demonstration effect for waiting customers is not blocked), and the player rotates the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot the game ball toward the game area 3 and the out port. It is possible to prevent the execution of the first effect on the premise that the player who has actually entered the game ball at 16 is playing the game without fail (that is, for waiting customers). Execution of the demonstration effect is blocked).

[Effect 3]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above-described embodiment, all of the reserved icons 9A are consumed, and the variable effect (variable display) of the left effect symbol 8L, the middle effect symbol 8C, and the right effect symbol 8R by the variable icon 9C is started, and the left effect symbol 8L and the middle effect symbol 8R are started. Three minutes after the production pattern 8C and the right production pattern 8R are stopped and displayed (in other words, the operation suspension (first special pattern suspension) of the first special symbol display 41a is all digested, and the first special symbol display 41a 3 minutes (predetermined time) after the variable display of the first special symbol ends and it is stopped and displayed, the game ball enters the first start opening 20 (winning opening) and is not consumed. When there is a ball, this undigested reserved ball is digested and the lottery result (lottery result) of "hit" or "miss" is left production pattern 8L (design), middle production design 8C (design), right production When the symbol 8R (symbol) is stopped and displayed on the image display device 7 (display device), the time is counted. Specifically, the determination of whether or not the special figure 2 reserved ball number of step S1401 in the special symbol standby process of FIG. 15 is zero, and whether or not the special figure 1 reserved ball number of step S1407 The flow proceeds in the order of determination, and the operation suspension (second special symbol suspension) of the second special symbol display device 41b and the operation suspension (first special symbol suspension) of the first special symbol display device 41a are both zero, that is, they are all digested. Then, the game ball enters neither the second start port 21 nor the first start port 20, and it is determined whether or not the standby screen is displayed in step S1413a in the same processing, and the standby screen is not displayed. Sometimes, in step S1413b in the same process, the clocking of the waiting time (3 minutes) is started. For a predetermined time, when there is an undigested reserved ball, the image display device 7 (display device) displays the lottery result (lottery result) of "hit" or "lose" after the undigested reserved ball is digested. , and is reset when a game ball enters the first starting hole 20 (winning hole) within this predetermined time. According to this configuration, after the player leaves the gaming machine 1, all of the reserved icons 9A are consumed for a predetermined period of time, and the fluctuation effects (variation display) is started and the left production pattern 8L, the middle production pattern 8C, and the right production pattern 8R are stopped and displayed for 3 minutes (in other words, the operation suspension of the first special symbol display device 41a (first special figure suspension) is all After 3 minutes have passed since the variable display of the first special symbol was completed and stopped and displayed on the first special symbol display device 41a, the first effect is displayed on the image display device 7 (display The screen displayed on the device) can be switched to the standby screen DG, and a demonstration effect for waiting for customers (demonstration effect) can be executed.

[Effect 4]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment, the game ball entering the first starting hole 20 (winning hole) is detected by the first starting hole sensor 20a (winning hole sensor), and the game ball enters the out hole 16. is detected by an outlet sensor 16a provided separately from the first start sensor 20a (winning sensor). According to this configuration, the game ball entering the first starting hole 20 (winning hole) and the game ball entering the out hole 16 can be detected by separate sensors. It is possible to prevent the game ball that entered the first starting hole 20 (winning hole) from being detected as the game ball that entered the out hole 16, and the game ball that entered the out hole 16 is the first ball. It is possible to prevent the game ball from being detected as having entered the starting hole 20 (winning hole).

[Effect 5]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above-described embodiment, the first effect in cut example A of the demonstration effect for customer waiting in FIG. A demonstration effect for waiting for customers (demonstration effect) can be executed. According to this configuration, on the video playback screen for waiting customers, for example, explanations of various characters appearing in the game production, explanation of the world view of the game production, introduction of a part of Super Reach (SP Reach), etc. are performed. On the game explanation screen, for example, introduction of pecks, explanation of game flow, introduction of three major key point effects (effects in which the expectation of winning is set higher than other effects in advance), It is possible to introduce major announcement effects (holding change announcement, group announcement, continuous announcement, etc.).

[Modification]
Modified examples such as a cut example of the demonstration effect for waiting for customers are shown below.
[Modification 1]
In cut example A of the demonstration effect for customer waiting in FIG. However, it may be performed in a so-called right-handed game state in which the game ball is aimed at entering the second starting hole 21 .

[Modification 2]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment, in the determination of step S1413a in the special symbol standby process of FIG. 15, it is determined whether or not the standby screen is in progress. When the time (three minutes) has passed, the customer waiting command is set in the waiting screen setting process of step S1414a in the same process. In other words, the main control board 80 determines whether or not to display the standby screen. However, whether or not to display the standby screen may be determined not on the main control board 80 side but on the sub control board 90 side. Specifically, the game control microcomputer 81 of the main control board 80 determines that the number of game balls collected by entering the out port 16 reaches 10 in step S10345 in the out port sensor detection process of FIG. Each time, the 10-ball recovery command is set in the command set area 84a of the main RAM 84, and the 10-ball recovery command is output to the sub-control board 90 in the output processing of step S108 in the main-side timer interrupt processing of FIG. As described above, when a player is playing a game by sitting in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotating the handle 60 (shooting operation) to shoot a game ball toward the game area 3, by chance, Even if the state in which the first starting port 20 (winning port) did not win continues, and the state in which each effect symbol is stopped and displayed on the display screen 7a of the image display device 7 continues (in other words, the main control board 80 (output) from the game control microcomputer 81, such as a pre-determination command, a variation start command, a command for the number of reserved balls, etc., cannot be received on the sub-control board 90 side), the game ball enters the out port 16. When the 10-ball collection command transmitted (output) from the game control microcomputer 81 of the main control board 80 can be received on the sub-control board 90 side, the game is played on the sub-control board 90 side. It can be determined that a person is playing a game. Thereby, the processing (here, the processing of each step after step S1413a in the special symbol standby processing of FIG. 15) regarding whether or not to switch to the standby screen is performed by the game control microcomputer 81 side of the main control board 80 instead of the sub Since it can be processed by the control board 90 (the effect control microcomputer 91), it can contribute to reducing the processing load on the game control microcomputer 81 of the main control board 80. The processing capability of the sub-control board 90 (performance control microcomputer 91 ) is extremely high compared to the processing capability of the game control microcomputer 81 of the main control board 80 .

[Modification 3]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment, the first start port 20 (winning By preventing the execution of the first effect when the game ball enters the out hole 16 even if the game ball does not enter the exit, the image is displayed on the image display device 7 (display device). The left effect symbol 8L is stopped and displayed with the number "1", the middle effect symbol 8C is stopped and displayed with the number "2", and the right effect symbol 8R is stopped and displayed with the number "3". was supposed to maintain. However, instead of the out-port sensor 16a that detects the entry of a game ball into the out-port 16 provided in the lower part of the game area 3, a shot ball sensor that detects the game ball actually shot by the launching device 112 detects the ball. The detection signal, the first start opening 20, the second start opening 21, the general winning opening 27 (ordinary winning opening 27), the first big winning opening (first special winning opening) 30, the second big winning opening (second special Each winning hole sensor (specifically, the first starting hole sensor 20a, the second starting hole sensor 21a, the normal winning hole sensor 27a, the first Based on detection signals from the big winning hole sensor 30a and the second big winning hole sensor 35a), the result of calculating the number of game balls entering the out hole 16 may be used.

[Modification 4]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment, the first start port 20 (winning By preventing the execution of the first effect when the game ball enters the out hole 16 even if the game ball does not enter the exit, the image is displayed on the image display device 7 (display device). The left effect symbol 8L is stopped and displayed with the number "1", the middle effect symbol 8C is stopped and displayed with the number "2", and the right effect symbol 8R is stopped and displayed with the number "3". was supposed to maintain. In other words, the detection signal from the outlet sensor 16a is used to block execution of the first effect. However, the detection signal from the outlet sensor 16a is used not only to prevent the execution of the first effect, but also for example, a 7-segment display provided on the main control board 80 (a so-called 7-segment display arranged in a line from left to right). In this case, it is composed of four 7-segments.) may be used to display the base (ball payout rate). This base (ball output rate) is the ratio of the total number of prize balls won by the player to the number of game balls shot by the player. For example, the base (ball output rate) is based on the detection signal from the out-port sensor 16a that detects the game ball entered in the out-port 16, the first start port 20, the second start port 21, and the general winning port 27 (normal Winning hole 27), first big winning hole (first special winning hole) 30, second big winning hole (second special winning hole) 35, etc. Each winning hole sensor that detects a game ball entering each winning hole (Specifically, detection signals from the first starting opening sensor 20a, the second starting opening sensor 21a, the normal winning opening sensor 27a, the first big winning opening sensor 30a, and the second big winning opening sensor 35a) the number of out balls calculated based on the detection signal from the out hole sensor 16a, the number of non-out balls (the number of safe balls) calculated based on the detection signal from each winning hole sensor, is regarded as the number of game balls fired by the launching device 112 from the sum of the values, and each winning opening sensor (specifically, the first start opening sensor 20a, the second The number of game balls paid out to the player as prize balls ( In other words, it is possible to calculate the ratio of the total prize balls).

[Modification 5]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment, the first start port 20 (winning By preventing the execution of the first effect when the game ball enters the out hole 16 even if the game ball does not enter the exit, the image is displayed on the image display device 7 (display device). The left effect symbol 8L is stopped and displayed with the number "1", the middle effect symbol 8C is stopped and displayed with the number "2", and the right effect symbol 8R is stopped and displayed with the number "3". was supposed to maintain. In other words, the detection signal from the outlet sensor 16a is used to block execution of the first effect. However, instead of the outlet sensor 16a, when the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and touches the handle 60 (that is, based on the detection signal from the touch switch 114), the first effect is executed. may be used to perform blocking of In this case, even if the player is not seated in front of the game machine 1 and simply touches the handle 60 to actually shoot the game ball toward the game area 3, the execution of the first effect is prevented. Execution of the demonstration effect for waiting for customers is blocked.

[Modification 6]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above-described embodiment, the standby time was set to 3 minutes. However, it may be shorter than 3 minutes (eg, 1 minute or 2 minutes) or longer than 3 minutes (eg, 4 minutes or 5 minutes).

[Modification 7]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment, after the left effect symbol 8L, the middle effect symbol 8C, and the right effect symbol 8R are stop-displayed and the standby time elapses (within the standby time), the out-port sensor detection process of FIG. 13 is performed. When the number of game balls entering the out port 16 increases and reaches 10, the execution of the demonstration performance for waiting customers is blocked (cut) by turning ON the demonstration performance execution inhibition flag. was in a state. However, instead of 10 balls, the number of balls may be less than 10 (for example, 5 or 8) or more than 10 (for example, 20 or 30).

[Modification 8]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment, the player sits in front of the gaming machine 1 and rotates the handle 60 while the customer waiting demonstration effect is being performed (that is, during the standby screen). (shooting operation) to launch the game ball toward the game area 3 to start the game, and even if the state where the game ball does not enter the first start port 20 continues, the game ball is out. When the ball enters the exit 16 and starts to be collected, the number of game balls entered into the exit exit 16 increases and reaches 10 in the exit exit sensor detection process of FIG. By turning it ON, a state is set in which the already-executed demonstration effect for waiting for customers is interrupted (cut) in the middle of execution. However, instead of 10 balls, the number of balls may be less than 10 (for example, 5 or 8) or more than 10 (for example, 20 or 30).

[Modification 9]
In the gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment, the first start port 20 (winning By preventing the execution of the first effect when the game ball enters the out hole 16 even if the game ball does not enter the exit, the image is displayed on the image display device 7 (display device). The left effect symbol 8L is stopped and displayed with the number "1", the middle effect symbol 8C is stopped and displayed with the number "2", and the right effect symbol 8R is stopped and displayed with the number "3". was supposed to maintain. In other words, the detection signal from the outlet sensor 16a is used to block execution of the first effect. However, by detecting the game balls that have entered the various winning holes and the game balls that have been collected at the out hole 16 on the most downstream side, a discharge sensor that detects all the game balls that have been launched into the game area 3 can be used. Provided on the back side of the board 2, instead of the out-port sensor 16a, the execution of the first performance is triggered by counting by a discharge sensor when a state in which game balls do not enter various prize-winning ports continues. It may be used to implement blocking. When the state in which the game balls have not entered the various prize-winning openings continues, counting by the discharge sensor means that the game balls that have entered the out-opening 16 are collected from the game area 3. When a state in which game balls do not enter the prize winning opening continues, the execution of the first performance is inhibited with the counting by the ejection sensor as a trigger, thereby executing the demonstration performance for waiting for customers. can be prevented.

[Mode example]
The gaming machine of this embodiment can implement the following aspects.
◇[Aspect 1]
A lottery is carried out based on the game ball flowing down the game area entering the prize winning opening, the result of the lottery is displayed on the display device by the stop display of the symbol, and the game ball not entering the winning opening is displayed. A gaming machine in which a ball enters an out port and is collected from the game area,
a first effect for executing a demonstration effect by switching the screen displayed on the display device to a standby screen after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the stop display of the symbol;
Execution of the first effect is prevented when a game ball enters the out port even after the predetermined time has passed since the stop display of the symbol.
A gaming machine characterized by:

◇[Aspect 2]
The gaming machine according to aspect 1,
Inhibition of execution of the first effect is executed when a counter for counting game balls entering the out port is counted up,
A gaming machine characterized by:

◇[Aspect 3]
The gaming machine according to aspect 1 or aspect 2,
For the predetermined time, when a game ball enters the winning hole and there is an undigested reserved ball, the undigested reserved ball is digested and the result of the lottery is displayed on the display device by the stop display of the symbol. It is timed when it is displayed on
A gaming machine characterized by:

◇[Aspect 4]
The gaming machine according to any one of aspects 1 to 3,
A game ball entering the winning hole is detected by a winning hole sensor,
A game ball entering the out hole is detected by an out hole sensor provided separately from the winning hole sensor,
A gaming machine characterized by:

◇ [Aspect 5]
The gaming machine according to any one of aspects 1 to 4,
In the first effect, the standby screen is switched to a video playback screen for waiting for customers or a game explanation screen, and the demonstration effect is executed.
A gaming machine characterized by:

[Other Modifications]
The various display effects described above may include a configuration that does not include some of the effects, or may include effects other than those described above.

The gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment has been described by taking a pachinko gaming machine as an example, but it is not limited to this. For example, instead of the pachinko game machine, the present invention may be applied to a reel-type game machine such as a slot machine, an arrange ball game machine, or a mahjong ball game machine. When the game machine 1 is a slot machine, the game medium may be changed from game balls to game medals.

The gaming machine 1 of the above embodiment is a gaming machine equipped with a payout device for paying out balls, but is not limited to this. For example, instead of the game machine 1, the present invention may be applied to a game machine without a payout device, such as a so-called enclosed game machine.

In addition, among the plurality of production examples and/or modifications described above, two or more production examples and/or modifications may be combined. Furthermore, the gaming machine 1 may include a sub-display device in addition to the image display device 7 . In this case, the display effects described above may be executed by the sub-display device.

The present aspect has been described above based on the embodiments and modifications, but the above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present aspect, and do not limit the present aspect. This aspect may be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and this aspect includes equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Game machine 3... Game area 7... Image display device 7a... Display screen 81... Game control microcomputer 91... Production control microcomputer 101... Image control microcomputer

Claims (5)

A lottery is carried out based on the game ball flowing down the game area entering the prize winning opening, the result of the lottery is displayed on the display device by the stop display of the symbol, and the game ball not entering the winning opening is displayed. A gaming machine in which a ball enters an out port and is collected from the game area,
a first effect for executing a demonstration effect by switching the screen displayed on the display device to a standby screen after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the stop display of the symbol;
Execution of the first effect is prevented when a game ball enters the out port even after the predetermined time has passed since the stop display of the symbol.
A gaming machine characterized by: The gaming machine according to claim 1,
Inhibition of execution of the first effect is executed when a counter for counting game balls entering the out port is counted up,
A gaming machine characterized by: The gaming machine according to claim 1 or claim 2,
For the predetermined time, when a game ball enters the winning hole and there is an undigested reserved ball, the undigested reserved ball is digested and the result of the lottery is displayed on the display device by the stop display of the symbol. It is timed when it is displayed on
A gaming machine characterized by: The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A game ball entering the winning hole is detected by a winning hole sensor,
A game ball entering the out hole is detected by an out hole sensor provided separately from the winning hole sensor,
A gaming machine characterized by: The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
In the first effect, the standby screen is switched to a video playback screen for waiting for customers or a game explanation screen, and the demonstration effect is executed.
A gaming machine characterized by:

Images