JP2023118266A - game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine that is improved in control for completing display of an operation promotion image for urging a player to perform operation.SOLUTION: A game machine allowing players to play a game includes display means, first operation detection means for detecting first operation, and second operation detection means for detecting second operation. The display means displays a first operation promotion image for promoting first operation while preventing suggestion of operation timing, erases the first operation promotion image on the basis of detection of the first operation, displays a second operation promotion image for suggesting operation timing and promoting second operation, and erases the second operation promotion image on the basis of detection of the second operation. The erasure period of the first operation promotion image is longer than the erasure period of the second operation promotion image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

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

As gaming machines, there are slot machines, pachinko gaming machines, and the like that prompt players to operate switches for effects. For example, a gaming machine described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2020-039419 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Document 1) causes a liquid crystal display to display an operation prompting image that prompts a player to operate a performance switch.

The gaming machine described in Patent Literature 1 is described to suggest the degree of advantage of a privilege that can be granted based on the player's operation of a presentation switch after displaying an operation prompting image. . In such a gaming machine, display of the operation prompting image ends at an arbitrary timing after the player operates the effect switch.

JP 2020-039419 A

In the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is room for improvement regarding the control of ending the display of the operation prompting image based on the operation after displaying the operation prompting image prompting the player to perform the operation.

The present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine in which control for ending display of an operation prompting image prompting a player to perform an operation is improved.

A gaming machine capable of playing games,
Display means (for example, processing for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display 51);
a first operation detection means (for example, a process of detecting an operation on the MAXBET switch 6) for detecting a first operation by the player (for example, an operation on the MAXBET switch 6 shown in FIG. 74);
a second operation detection means (for example, a process for detecting an operation on the lower panel switch 57) for detecting a second operation by the player (for example, an operation on the lower panel switch 57 shown in FIG. 75);
The display means is
prompting the first operation, a first operation prompting image (for example, an operation prompting image Ms6 with a decorative image shown in FIG. 81) with a decorative image (for example, a decorative image ImB1 shown in FIG. 81) on the back; display and
When the first operation-promoting image is displayed and the first operation is detected by the first operation-detecting means, the first operation-promoting image is erased (for example, as shown in FIG. 74). erasing of the operation prompting image Ms1 is started according to the operation so that the
prompting the second operation and displaying a second operation prompting image (for example, an operation prompting image Ms2 shown in FIG. 75) without a decoration image on the back;
When the second operation prompting image is displayed and the second operation is detected by the second operation detecting means, the second operation prompting image is erased (for example, as shown in FIG. 75). erasing of the operation prompting image Ms2 is started according to the operation so that the
During the period from the start of erasing of the first operation prompting image to the completion of erasing of the first operation prompting image (for example, period Dr6 shown in FIG. 81), the erasing of the second operation prompting image is started. is longer than the period (for example, period Dr5 shown in FIG. 80) from when the second operation facilitating image is erased to when the erasing of the second operation prompting image is completed.

1 is a front view of a card unit and a slot machine; FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing internal configurations of the card unit and the slot machine; FIG. It is a figure which shows the pattern arrangement|sequence of a reel. It is a figure for demonstrating the transition of a game state. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining types of winning combinations, symbol combinations for winning combinations, and awarding at the time of winning; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining types of winning combinations, symbol combinations for winning combinations, and awarding at the time of winning; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining types of winning combinations, symbol combinations for winning combinations, and awarding at the time of winning; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining types of winning combinations, symbol combinations for winning combinations, and awarding at the time of winning; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a combination of winning combinations read out as a lottery target combination for each gaming state; FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining reel control when winning a push-in order; It is a diagram showing a command at the time of game start that the main control unit transmits to the effect control unit when the start switch is operated. It is a command at the time of game end that the main control unit transmits to the effect control unit at the time of the third stop. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing types of commands that the main control board transmits to the medal count control board; It is a figure explaining a game machine installation information command. It is a diagram showing the details of the gaming machine characteristics. It is a figure which shows the structure of role item information command. It is a figure which shows the detail of the role product operation|movement information. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of an advantageous section information command; FIG. It is a figure which shows the detail of advantageous area information. It is a figure which shows the structure of an input command. It is a figure which shows the structure of a settlement command. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of a start command; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a termination command; FIG. It is a diagram showing the configuration of a payout pulse command. It is a figure which shows the structure of a jackpot command. It is a figure which shows the detail of a hall computer signal. It is a figure which shows the structure of gaming machine illegal 1 command. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of setting information; It is a figure which shows the structure of gaming machine fraud 2 command. It is a figure which shows the detail of door information. It is a figure which shows the structure of gaming machine illegal 3 command. It is a figure which shows the structure of a main control state command. It is a figure which shows the structure of a main control board error command. It is a figure which shows a main control board error list. It is a figure which shows the structure of a gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. It is a figure which shows the command list from a medal number control board to a main control board. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of a response command; FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the frame side information command. It is a diagram showing an example of communication between the main control board and the number of medals control board. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining communication of a frame-side information command; 4 is a flow chart showing processing when a main control board receives a command; It is a diagram showing the flow of communication between the main control board and the number of medals control board after the power is turned on. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of communication when the serial number is normal; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of communication when a serial number mismatch error occurs; It is a diagram showing an example of communication when an error related to game medals occurs. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which communication occurs before transmission/reception of a gaming machine installation information command; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of timeout at power-on; It is a figure explaining bet number setting operation and settlement operation. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a new bet number setting operation is performed after a bet number setting operation and before a response command is received; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after settlement operation and before receiving a response command; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after the operation for setting the number of bets and before receiving the response command; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a new bet number setting operation is performed after a settlement operation and before a response command is received; It is a figure explaining the serial number error in bet number setting operation. It is a figure explaining the serial number error in settlement operation. It is a figure explaining the confirmation process of frame side information. It is a figure explaining display control of the number of payouts. It is a figure which shows a role ratio monitor. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a role ratio monitor. It is a figure for demonstrating the initialization process of role ratio information. It is an address map of the memory area used by the main control unit. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a register bank included in a CPU of a main control unit; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing activation processing of a main control unit; It is a figure explaining the initial setting process which a main control board performs. It is a figure explaining the control content of the main process which a main control board performs. It is a figure explaining the control content of the RT information output process which a main control board performs. It is a figure explaining the control content of the safety device related process which a main control board performs. 4 is a flow chart showing the control content of error processing performed by a main control unit; It is a figure explaining the control content of the game start waiting process which a main control board performs. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the bet number setting operation acceptance process performed by the main control board; It is a figure explaining the control content of the adjustment|settlement operation reception process which a main control board performs. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card unit and the slot machine when the main control section and medal count control section are integrated; It is a figure for demonstrating communication of the production|presentation control part, the main control part, the number-of-medals control part, and CU control part. FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining an operation surface of a switch provided on the S platform; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation prompting image that prompts the operation of the MAXBET switch without suggesting the operation timing; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of an operation prompting image that suggests operation timing and prompts operation of a lower panel switch; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of an operation prompting image that suggests operation timing and prompts operation of the lower panel switch; FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the slot machine provided with effect switches; FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining an operating surface of a performance switch provided on the S stand; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation prompting image that prompts the operation of the effect switch without suggesting the operation timing; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation prompting image that suggests operation timing and prompts operation of a stop switch; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation prompting image that prompts the user to operate the stop switch without suggesting the operation timing; It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a game information display part. 4 is a flowchart showing external signal processing; FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a lighting mode of an outer end signal lamp in the present embodiment; It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st modification of the lighting mode of an outer end signal lamp. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd modification of the lighting mode of an outer-end signal lamp.

A mode for implementing a slot machine, which is an example of a game machine according to the present invention, will be described below based on an embodiment.

Embodiment 1.
[Slot machine configuration]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a card unit and slot machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, each game island (not shown) arranged in a game hall (hall) is provided with a slot machine (hereinafter sometimes referred to as S machine) 2. A card unit (hereinafter also abbreviated as CU) 3, which is an example of a gaming device, is installed in a one-to-one correspondence with the S table 2 at a predetermined side position of the S table 2. As shown in FIG. Note that the card unit is also called a "game medal lending device".

The S machine 2 is a gaming machine from which the player does not pick up medals and insert them into an insertion slot, nor does the player receive the medals at hand. Therefore, the game value is directly added to the credits (game points usable in the game (hereinafter also referred to as "game medals")) according to the lending operation or the like.

In addition, unlike conventional slot machines, there is no need to provide a medal selector or a device for controlling inserted medals, such as a medal selector or payout opening. Such a slot machine that does not require any medals is called a "managed game machine" or a "medalless slot machine".

FIG. 1 shows the S platform 2 when viewed from the front (front) side. Inside the S platform 2, reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (hereinafter also referred to as left reel, middle reel, and right reel) having a plurality of patterns arranged on the outer periphery are horizontally arranged. Three consecutive patterns among the patterns arranged in 2L, 2C, and 2R are arranged so as to be visible through the transmission window 3W.

The respective reels 2L, 2C, 2R are rotated by corresponding reel motors 32L, 32C, 32R shown in FIG. As a result, the symbols of the respective reels 2L, 2C and 2R are displayed in the transmissive window 3W while continuously changing. Also, by stopping the rotation of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three consecutive symbols are derived and displayed in the transmissive window 3W as a display result.

A reel LED 55 shown in FIG. 2 is provided inside the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R. The reel LEDs 55 illuminate the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R shown in FIG. 1 from behind. The reel LEDs 55 are composed of 12 LEDs corresponding to three consecutive symbols on the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, and each symbol can be illuminated independently.

A display area of a liquid crystal display 51 is arranged on the front side (player side) of each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R. The liquid crystal display 51 allows the players to visually recognize the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R through the transmissive area corresponding to the transmissive window 3W of the display area and the transmissive window 3W.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a pattern arrangement on reels. As shown in FIG. 3, each reel has a plurality of identifiable symbols (“character”, “black 7”, “white 7”, “BAR”, “replay”, “plum”, “cherry”). , "watermelon", "moon", and "orange") are arranged in a predetermined order.

The protruding portion 94 protrudes toward the front side of the S platform 2 . A top surface 95 is formed on the projecting portion 94 by projecting the projecting portion 94 toward the front side of the S platform 2 . A MAXBET switch 6, a 1BET switch 20, a bet number clear switch 21, and a game information display portion 90 are provided on an upper surface 95 of the projecting portion 94, and a start switch 7 and stop switches 8L and 8C are provided on the front side surface of the projecting portion 94. , 8R and a counting button 10 are provided. Note that the upper surface 95 may be an inclined surface that gently inclines from a position below the transmission window 3W from the back to the front side.

The start switch 7 is a switch for starting rotation of the reels after setting the number of bets. The stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are switches for stopping the rotating reels, and 8L corresponds to the left reel, 8C to the middle reel, and 8R to the right reel. The count button 10 is a switch operated when counting the number of credits (the number of game medals) and converting it into the number of possessed medals.

A door open detection switch 25 shown in FIG. 2 is provided inside the front door of the S platform 2 . Door open detection switch 25 detects the open state of the front door. Furthermore, a power supply box is provided inside the housing. A setting key switch 37 and a reset/setting switch 38 shown in FIG. 2 are provided on the front surface of the power supply box. The setting key switch 37 switches to a setting change state or a setting confirmation state. The reset/setting switch 38 normally functions as a reset switch for canceling an error state or stop state, and in a setting change state for changing the set value of the internal lottery winning probability (ball output rate). function as a setting switch.

In the present embodiment, of the three reels 2L, 2C, and 2R that have started to rotate, the reel that stops first is called the first stop reel, and the stop is called the first stop. Similarly, the reel that stops second is referred to as the second stop reel, the stop is referred to as the second stop, the reel that stops third is referred to as the third stop reel, and the stop is referred to as the third stop. , final stop, or all-reel stop.

Next, the flow of the game on the S platform 2 will be described. When a game is played on the S machine 2, first, a lending operation is performed on the CU3 to secure credits (game medals). This lending operation corresponds to a two-step operation of a "medal lending operation" and "an operation of manually inserting the borrowed medals into the slot" in a conventional medal payout type slot machine.

When the MAXBET switch 6 is operated while credits exist, the bet amount is additionally set to the maximum number within the credit range, and the credit amount is subtracted by the additional set amount. When the number of bets is set, one of the pay lines L1 to L5 determined according to the number of bets and the game state becomes valid, and the operation of the start switch 7 is valid, that is, the state in which the game can be started. becomes.

Here, the winning line is a line set for determining whether the combination of symbols displayed in the transmission windows 3W of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R is a combination of winning symbols. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a winning line L1 is set across the symbols lined up in the middle of each reel 2L, 2C, 2R, and the symbols lined up in the top of each reel 2L, 2C, 2R. A winning line L2 set across, a winning line L3 set across symbols lined up on the bottom of each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, the top of reel 2L, the middle of reel 2C, and the bottom of reel 2R, that is, downward to the right. 5 types of prizes: a pay line L4 set across the symbols lined up, the bottom of the reel 2L, the middle of the reel 2C, and the top of the reel 2R, that is, the pay line L5 set across the symbols lined up to the right. defined as a line.

When the start switch 7 is operated in a state where the game can be started, the reels 2L, 2C and 2R rotate and the symbols on the reels 2L, 2C and 2R continuously change. When one of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R is operated in this state, the rotation of the corresponding reels 2L, 2C, 2R is stopped, and the display result is derived and displayed on the transmissive window 3W.

One game ends when all the reels 2L, 2C and 2R are stopped, and a combination of predetermined symbols is displayed on each of the reels 2L, 2C and 2R on any of the activated pay lines L1 to L5. If it stops as a result, winning occurs. When a prize is won, points determined according to the prize are awarded to the player. This score will be added to your credit.

The credits can be counted and converted into possessed medals by operating the counting button 10.例文帳に追加By converting the medals into possessed medals, the possessed medals can be recorded on the card at the end of the game.

In this embodiment, when the counting button 10 is pressed once, all the game balls currently owned by the player are counted regardless of the pressing time (regardless of long pressing). . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the counting operation is repeatedly executed according to the length of time the count button 10 is kept pressed (for example, each time the count button 10 is kept pressed for 0.3 seconds, the counting process of 50 sheets is executed). can be Moreover, regardless of the pressing duration, when the button is pressed once, a predetermined number (for example, 50) of game balls may be counted to the possessed medals.

Above the liquid crystal display 51, a credit display segment 7S and speakers 53 and 54 are provided. The credit display segment 7S is formed from five 7-segments and displays the number of credits the player has. The credit display segment 7S is provided in the upper part of the S machine 2 to display the number of credits stored in the S machine 2 to players other than players playing games on the S machine 2 or store clerks. can do. Speakers 53 and 54 emit sound effects and the like in accordance with the production.

The lower panel switch 57 is provided substantially in the center of the lower panel positioned below the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R. The lower panel switch 57 is a switch projecting toward the front side of the S platform 2 . The player can operate the lower panel switch 57 by pressing the lower panel switch 57 from the front side of the S table 2 toward the back side. The lower panel switch 57 has an LED inside, and can notify whether or not the player's operation is effectively accepted by lighting and extinguishing.

For example, the lighting of the lower panel switch 57 informs the player that the operation of the lower panel switch 57 is effectively accepted. In this way, by turning on the lower panel switch 57, it is possible to prompt the player to perform an effect operation. On the other hand, when the lower panel switch 57 is turned off, the player is notified that the operation of the lower panel switch 57 is not effectively accepted.

Also, the lower panel switch 57 is provided at a position relatively close to the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, and the operating direction of the lower panel switch 57 is the same as the operating direction of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R. . Therefore, if the player presses the lower panel switch 57 excessively, there is a risk that the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R will be accidentally touched and the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R will be pressed regardless of the player's will. . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the effect operation of the lower panel switch 57 is performed only when the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R does not affect the player's advantage (profit). It is designed to encourage That is, the lower panel switch 57 is a switch used for production.

As described above, the MAXBET switch 6 is a switch used to maximize the number of bets. That is, the MAXBET switch 6 is used for progressing the game. Moreover, the MAXBET switch 6 in the present embodiment is also used for production. That is, when the same operation is performed on the MAXBET switch 6, the process to be executed is changed depending on whether the operation is a valid operation or an invalid operation. As a result, the MAXBET switch 6 is used for both game progression and performance.

Validation and invalidation of the MAXBET switch 6 will be described below. A valid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is an operation performed on the MAXBET switch 6 in a bet number settable state in which the bet number can be set. A bet amount can be set is, for example, a period during which a bet amount can be accepted, such as "a situation in which 1 or more credits remain and a bet amount of less than 3 is set" or "credit 1 or more remain and the number of bets is not set”. When the MAXBET switch is operated in a ``situation in which 1 or more credits remain and the number of bets less than 3 is set on the BET counter'', only the remaining credits, with an upper limit of 3 , the number of bets is set. When the MAXBET switch is operated in a ``situation where 1 or more credits remain and the bet amount is not set'', the bet amount is set for the remaining credits, with an upper limit of 3. . In this way, the MAXBET switch 6 is used as a switch for progressing a game in which the bet amount is set by performing a valid operation in a bet amount setting possible state.

On the other hand, the invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is an operation performed on the MAXBET switch 6 when the bet amount cannot be set. The bet-number-unsettable situation includes "a period from the start of a game to the end of the game". That is, while the reels are spinning and the game is being played, the operation on the MAXBET switch 6 becomes an invalid operation. In the present embodiment, on the S platform 2, an operation prompting image prompting the invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 can be displayed while the reels are spinning. At this time, when the player operates the MAXBET switch 6 to disable it, an effect of displaying an image or the like suggesting the degree of advantage is performed. As described above, the MAXBET switch 6 in the present embodiment is used as a trigger for displaying an effect image when an invalid operation is performed in a state in which the number of bets cannot be set. That is, the MAXBET switch 6 is used for the progress of the game during the valid operation reception period, and is used for the effect during the invalid operation reception period.

[Card unit configuration]
The configuration of CU3 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This CU3 can be a visitor card (also called a general card) with a prepaid function, which is a game storage medium issued to general players who have not registered as members, or a member player who has registered as a member of the game parlor. A member card, which is a game storage medium issued to a player, is accepted. A visitor card or a membership card is composed of an IC card.

CU3, which has accepted those cards, converts the game value owned by the player specified by the stored information of the card (for example, the prepaid balance, the number of owned medals, or the number of accumulated medals (also referred to as "the number of accumulated balls") into the number of credits ( number of game medals).

On the front side of the CU3, there are a banknote insertion slot 302 for inserting banknotes, an overhanging portion 305 projecting from the front of the device toward the front of the device, and a card insertion/ejection port 309 for inserting a member card or a visitor card. etc. are provided. A card reader/writer (not shown) accepts a member card or visitor card inserted into the card insertion/ejection port 309, and reads information recorded on the card.

On the surface facing the player in the projecting portion 305 described above, there is a display 312, and when a membership card is accepted, a membership card ID recorded on the membership card (simply referred to as card ID or C-ID). ) and a replay button 319 for executing a replay game using the number of accumulated medals (number of accumulated balls) specified by the member card ID, and an infrared signal from a remote controller (not shown) possessed by a game hall attendant. An IR sensitive unit 320 is provided for receiving and converting to an electronic signal for output.

The display 312 displays the prepaid balance (card balance or simply balance) recorded in the inserted game recording medium (card), the number of medals possessed, the number of credits (number of game medals), and various other information. The display is possible and the surface is composed of a transparent touch panel. Various operations can be input by touching various display items displayed on the display unit of the display device 312 with a finger.

When the possessed medal button 324 is operated, part of the number of possessed medals recorded in the inserted card is withdrawn and converted into the number of credits (the number of game medals). When the replay button 319 is operated and the number of owned medals acquired by the player is stored in the inserted card, part of the number of owned medals is withdrawn and converted into credits, and based on the converted credits. It becomes possible to play a game using the S table 2 .

On the other hand, if the inserted card is a membership card and the number of medals held is not stored and the accumulated medals are stored in the hall management computer or the like, part of the accumulated medals is withdrawn and credited. , and a game can be played on the S machine 2. In other words, when both stored medals and owned medals are stored in association with the inserted card, the owned medals are preferentially withdrawn. In addition to the replay button 319, a dedicated medal payout button for withdrawing the medals in hand may be provided, and the replay button 319 may be a button dedicated to withdrawing stored medals.

Here, the "number of credits (number of game medals)" is data that can be used for setting the number of bets and can be converted into "number of medals possessed". The "credit amount" is generated in exchange for withdrawing the balance of the prepaid card, the number of possessed medals, or the number of stored medals.

The “number of medals possessed” is obtained by converting the number of credits (number of game medals) possessed by the player as a result of the player playing a game on the gaming machine. This "number of medals possessed" is stored so as to be identifiable by the player's card. The number of possessed medals may be managed by a management device for managing the number of possessed medals set in the game hall.

“Number of stored medals (number of stored balls)” is the number of owned medals deposited in the game hall. The number of possessed medals obtained by the player in the game is managed as the number of possessed medals during the day, but is managed as "the number of stored medals" after the day after the acquisition. That is, the number of credits (the number of game medals) acquired and counted by the player on the day in the game hall is called "points", and the number of medals that the player has acquired and deposited in the game hall on the previous day is called "storage points". number of medals." This "stored medal count" is generally managed by a hall management computer or other management computer installed in the game arcade.

Arrows indicate the directions in which each of the above data, "balance", "number of accumulated medals (number of accumulated balls)", "number of owned medals", and "number of credits (number of game medals)" can be converted. number, number of possessed medals"→"Number of credits"→"Number of possessed medals"→"Number of stored medals"".

In this embodiment, the accumulated medal number data is not recorded directly on the member card, but is stored in a host server such as a hall management computer in association with the member card number, so that the corresponding accumulated medal number can be retrieved based on the member card number. is configured as On the other hand, the number of medals possessed is recorded directly on the card.

However, both of them may be stored in the host server in association with the card number. In the case of the visitor card, the number of medals possessed is recorded directly on the visitor card. However, the number of medals possessed may be stored in the host server in association with the card number. When the card number is stored in the host server in correspondence with the card number, data that can specify the time stored in the host server may be written in the card (member card, visitor card) and ejected. Also, the prepaid balance is directly written on the card (membership card, visitor card) and ejected.

The timing for storing the number of medals in the card (member card, visitor card) or the host server is, for example, the timing at which the count button 10 is operated and the counting process is performed. However, instead of this, the card may be stored collectively when the card is returned.

Also, when the player finishes the game and returns the card from the CU3, the medals stored in the CU3 are once stored in the hall server as accumulated balls, and the day the player receives the card is returned. When the card is inserted again in the same or another CU3 on the same day, only the possessed medals for the day once stored as accumulated balls are again stored in the CU3, and credits are added within the range of the possessed medals so that the game can be played. can be

A bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 302 is taken in by a bill validator (not shown), and its authenticity and bill type are identified.

A lending button 321 and a card returning button 322 are further provided on the front side of the CU3. The lending button 321 is a button for withdrawing the balance recorded in the inserted card to obtain the number of credits. Specifically, the number of credits is added according to the balance to be withdrawn by operating the lending button 321 . The card return button 322 is operated when the player ends the game, and the number of owned medals determined at the end of the game to the inserted card (the number of owned medals at the time of card insertion - the number of owned medals to the number of credits). This is an operation button for storing and discharging the converted number + the number counted by the counting operation.

As described above, according to the S machine 2 according to the present embodiment, the number of possessed medals specified by the card is converted into the number of credits (the number of game medals), and furthermore, the number of credits is used to bet. Since the number can be set, it is suitable for players who are accustomed to conventional slot machines in which the number of bets is set by receiving tokens, inserting the tokens to secure credits, and using the credits to set the number of bets. It is possible to provide a game by a new slot machine (management game machine) without using medals without causing confusion.

[Internal configuration of card unit and slot machine]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card unit and slot machine. The outline of the control circuit for the CU 3 and the S stand 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The CU3 is provided with a CU control board 32, and the CU control board 32 is provided with a CU control section 323 comprising a microcomputer or the like. The CU control unit 323 is the main control function unit of the CU 3, and includes a CPU as a control center, a ROM that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, a RAM that functions as a work area for the CPU, peripheral An input/output interface and the like are provided to maintain signal consistency with equipment.

The CU control unit 323 is provided with an external output terminal (not shown) for communicating with a hall management computer and a hall server for security management. The CU3 transmits the state of the CU3 and the gaming machine state information received from the S stand 2 to the outside such as a hall management computer (hall controller) or a hall server that performs security management, through an external output terminal. The CU control unit 323 communicates with the medal number control board 17 of the S stand 2 via the communication control IC 325 . The communication control IC 325 and the medal number control board 17 are connected by, for example, an asynchronous serial communication port. Communication between the communication control IC 325 and the medal number control board 17 is performed via the connection terminal board 1000 .

Communication between the CU control unit 323 and the medal count control board 17 is carried out using lending information (information on the operation for withdrawing the balance stored in the inserted card and using it for a game on the S machine 2) and lending response information (lending information (response information to information), and other counting information (information related to the counting process from credits to medals in hand) and game machine information are sent from the medal count control board 17 to the CU control unit 323 in one direction. communication. Therefore, the S machine 2 side does not recognize whether or not the CU 3 has received the counting information and the gaming machine information. The CU3 is provided with a connection portion (not shown) connected to the S table 2 side, and the S table 2 is provided with a connection portion (not shown) connected to the CU3 side. These connecting portions are configured by connectors, for example.

The CU control unit 323 manages and stores the medals owned by the player while the player is playing. The display 312 displays an image corresponding to data such as the balance or the number of medals output from the CU control unit 323 . Also, when the player operates the touch panel provided on the surface of the display device 312 , the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323 . When the player operates the lending button 321 , the operation signal is input to the CU control section 323 . Note that the lending button 321 is not limited to being provided on the CU 3 , and may be provided on the S platform 2 to input an operation signal to the CU control unit 323 . When the player operates the card return button 322 , the operation signal is input to the CU control section 323 .

The S machine 2 has a main control board 16 for controlling the progress of the game on the S machine 2, a medal number control board 17 for controlling the credits owned by the player, and an effect control board for controlling the effect according to the game state. A substrate 15 and a power supply substrate 101 are provided. A drive power source for the electrical components forming the S-table 2 is generated by the power source substrate 101 and supplied to each portion.

The power supply board 101 is supplied with an AC 100V power supply from the outside, and from this AC 100V power supply, a DC voltage necessary for driving the electric parts constituting the S stand 2 is generated. 17 and the effect control board 15.

A payout control microcomputer, which is a medal number control unit 171, is mounted on the medal number control board 17. FIG. The medal number control unit 171 has a CPU 171a as a control center, a ROM 171b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 171a, a RAM 171c that functions as a work area for the CPU 171a, and maintains signal consistency with peripheral devices. An input/output interface and the like are provided for this purpose.

A RAM clear switch 293 for erasing information stored in the RAM 171c and a door open detection switch 25 are connected to the medal number control board 17, and detection signals of these connected switches are input. The counting button 10 is connected to the medal count control board 17, and the detection signal of the counting button 10 is input.

A role ratio monitor 89 is connected to the medal number control board 17 , and display is controlled by the medal number control section 171 . A backup memory 294 is connected to the medal count control board 17 and backs up the role ratio information for the medal count control board 17 to display on the role ratio monitor 89 .

The role ratio monitor 89 normally displays a numerical value indicating the performance of the slot machine (hereinafter also referred to as "role ratio information"). Numerical values indicating the performance of the slot machine are, for example, the instructed accessory payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number, the continuous accessory payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the accessory payout ratio for the past 6000 games, and the continuous accessory payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number. They are the accessory payout ratio, the accessory payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, and the accessory condition ratio to the total cumulative payout number. Details of these pieces of information will be described later.

The main control board 16 is equipped with a game control microcomputer, which is the main control section 161 . The main control unit 161 includes a CPU 161a as a control center, a ROM 161b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 161a, a RAM 161c that functions as a work area for the CPU 161a, and a controller for maintaining signal consistency with peripheral devices. input and output interfaces, etc. are provided.

Reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R are connected to the main control board 16 and driven under the control of the main control section 161. FIG. A setting key switch 37, a reset/setting switch 38, and a start switch 7 are connected to the main control board 16, and detection signals of these connected switches are input. Also, the main control board 16 is connected to the game auxiliary display 12 , and the display is controlled by the main control section 161 .

In addition, a bet clear switch 21, a 1BET switch 20, stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, a door open detection switch 25, and a MAXBET switch 6 are connected to the main control board 16 via a relay board 1100. Detection signals of connected switches are input. Further, 1-3 BETLEDs 14-16 are connected to the main control board 16 via the relay board 1100, and the display is controlled by the main control section 161. FIG. When the main control unit 161 detects that the MAXBET switch 6 has been operated during the acceptance period of the invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6, the main control unit 161 sends an operation command indicating that the MAXBET switch 6 has been invalidated to the effect control unit 151. Send.

The performance control board 15 is equipped with a performance control microcomputer, which is a performance control unit 151 . The production control unit 151 includes a CPU 151a as a control center, a ROM 151b that stores programs and control data for the operation of the CPU 151a, a RAM 151c that functions as a work area for the CPU 151a, and a signal to maintain consistency with peripheral devices. input and output interfaces, etc. are provided.

A lower panel switch 57 is connected to the effect control board 15, and a detection signal of the lower panel switch 57 is input. The effect control board 15 is also connected to effect devices such as a liquid crystal display 51, effect LED 52, speakers 53 and 54, reel LED 55, and credit display segment 7S. It is designed to be driven based on control.

A light amount/sound volume adjustment board 111 is connected to the performance control board 15 . Switches for adjusting the light amount and volume are connected to the light amount/volume adjustment board 111, and detection signals from these switches are input to the effect control board 15 via the light amount/volume adjustment board 111. be done.

The main control section 161 transmits various commands to the effect control section 151 . A command transmitted from the main control unit 161 to the production control unit 151 is sent only in one direction, and no command is sent from the production control unit 151 to the main control unit 161.例文帳に追加The effect control unit 151 receives commands transmitted from the main control unit 161 and performs various controls for effecting.

The medal count control section 171 transmits various commands to the main control section 161 . The main control section 161 also transmits various commands to the medal number control section 171 . That is, the communication between the medal count control section 171 and the main control section 161 is two-way communication. Backup power is supplied to the main control board 16 from the medal count control board 17 .

Also, the medal count control section 171 stores credits in a predetermined area of the RAM 171c. Specifically, the number of credits is stored in a credit counter. The medal number control unit 171 updates the credits stored in the predetermined area of the RAM 171c in the credit addition process or the credit subtraction process.

The set number of bets is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c. Specifically, the set number of bets is stored as a BET counter. When the value stored in the BET counter is "3", the game can be started. Hereinafter, the value stored in the BET counter may simply be referred to as "bet number".

A medal-less slot machine that does not require medals, as described above, is provided with a medal count control board 17 . The medal number control board 17 is centralized to the medal insertion and payout functions of the conventional slot machine. In addition, conventional slot machines that require medals need to be equipped with devices related to inserting and dispensing medals, such as medal selectors and hoppers. No need.

Further, by configuring the medalless slot machine as in the present embodiment, parts can be shared with conventional slot machines. Specifically, since the function of updating credits (the function of inserting and paying out medals) is centralized in the medal count control board 17, replacing the medal count control board 17 of the medalless slot machine allows the conventional slots to be used. machine can be configured. When constructing a conventional slot machine, the medal number control board 17 is provided with a function related to the insertion and withdrawal of medals, and then the medal selector, the hopper, and other devices related to the insertion and withdrawal of medals are used to control the number of medals. It may be connected to the substrate 17 . By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to achieve compatibility with the conventional slot machine, and to reduce costs in designing and manufacturing the slot machine by using common parts.

When a detection signal is input from the start switch 7, the main control section 161 rotates the reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R and draws a winning combination.

The types of winning hands are determined according to the game state, but they can be broadly classified into a special winning combination accompanied by transition to a big bonus (BB) or a regular bonus (RB), a small winning combination accompanied by payout of medals, There is a replay combination that allows the next game to be started without the need to set the bet amount.

The main control unit 161 draws a winning combination, rotates the reels, and then waits for the player to stop the reels. The main control unit 161 stops rotation of the reel corresponding to the stop switch 8L, 8C, 8R when one of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R is operated. The main control unit 161 stops the three symbols and executes winning determination processing for determining whether or not there is a winning. When the winning is determined, the number of credits corresponding to the type of winning is awarded to the player. A power-on switch 102 is connected to the power supply substrate 101, and a detection signal of the power-on switch 102 is input.

Note that the "game" in the present embodiment refers to the period from when the start switch 7 is operated until the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are stopped. It should be noted that when the game is played, the number of bets is set before the start switch 7 is operated, and medals are paid out and the game state is changed after the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are stopped. are also included in "games" in a broad sense.

Further, in the present embodiment, the operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is the MAXBET operation, the operation of the start switch 7 is the start operation, the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R is the stop operation, the operation of the counting button 10 is the counting operation, and the lending button The operation of 321 is also called lending operation, and the operation of card return button 322 is also called return operation.

In addition, the S table 2 is configured such that the payout rate of medals changes according to the set value. More specifically, the payout rate of medals is changed by using a winning probability corresponding to a set value in a lottery such as an internal lottery that affects the degree of advantage for a player. The set value consists of 6 stages from 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest payout rate, and 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 decreasing the value in order, lowering the payout rate. That is, when 6 is set as the set value, the degree of advantage for the player is the highest, and as the value decreases in the order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1, the degree of advantage decreases stepwise.

In order to change the set value, it is necessary to turn on the power of the S-table 2 after turning on the setting key switch 37 . When the setting key switch 37 is turned on and the power is turned on, the setting value read from the RAM 161c is displayed on the setting value display, and the setting value can be changed by operating the reset/setting switch 38. transition to state. When the reset/setting switch 38 is operated in the setting change state, the display value displayed on the setting value display is updated by 1 (when the operation is further performed from the setting value 6, the setting value returns to 1). ). Then, when the start switch 7 is operated, the displayed value is determined as the set value. Then, when the setting key switch 37 is turned off, the determined display value (set value) is stored in the RAM 161c of the main control section 161, and the state shifts to a state in which the game can proceed.

[state transition]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the transition of game states. As shown in FIG. 4, the states managed by the main control unit 161 include game states related to the payout rate.

Playing states include non-internal, internal, and BB. The internal state is a state in which a game can proceed and a payout rate of medals based on a predetermined design value is ensured. In the S machine 2 of the present embodiment, most of the games are played internally by the players.

On the other hand, during the non-internal state, the player does not play the game, or if the player does play the game, the time is extremely short. In the non-internal mode, when a BB is won and the winning of the BB is lost, the game state shifts to the internal mode from the next game. That is, inside, the winning of BB is carried over.

A BB-winable game (hereinafter also referred to as a "BB-winable game") may be played both during non-internal and internal operations. Specifically, in the non-internal game, if the BB symbol combination can be derived according to the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R in the game in which the BB is won, the player wins the BB. In this case, the game state is controlled to BB from the next game. In other words, in the non-internal game, the game that wins the BB is the game that can win the BB.

Inside, the BB win is carried over. Here, when the BB and the small combination are won at the same time, the reel control is performed so as to preferentially derive the symbol combination of the small combination. Furthermore, if the small winning combination is a winning combination, the small winning combination always wins and the BB wins regardless of the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R in a game in which BB and a small winning combination are won at the same time. can't Similarly, when the BB and the replay combination are won at the same time, the reel control is performed so as to preferentially derive the symbol combination of the replay combination. In general, the replay role is a role that is not left out, so in a game in which the BB and the replay role are simultaneously won, the replay role always wins regardless of the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, and the BB. cannot win. Therefore, internally, only in a game where the internal lottery resulted in a loss (a game in which no hand is won), if the BB symbol combination can be derived according to the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R. , BB. In this case, the game state is controlled to BB from the next game. That is, in the internal game, the game that is lost in the internal lottery becomes the BB winning game.

During the BB, games are played for a predetermined number of games (for example, 60G), but since the payout rate during the BB is about 101%, the net increase in the number of balls hardly increases. Therefore, for the player, BB is nothing more than a state in which a predetermined number of games (for example, 60G) have been completed. When BB ends, the game state shifts to non-inside again.

The states in the interior include normal intervals and advantageous intervals. The normal section is a state in which navigation is not executed, and is a non-notification state in which navigation information cannot be notified. The advantageous section is a state in which navigation can be performed, and is a notification state in which navigation information can be notified. In the present embodiment, navigation is not normally performed in advantageous sections among the advantageous sections, but navigation can be performed in any of the high probability state, the AT1 state, the AT2 state, and the ending state. In addition, navigation may be executed even in the normal advantageous section, but in the high probability state, AT1 state, AT2 state, and ending state, the leading role will be won when the winning order is pushed compared to the normal advantageous section. The execution probability of the navigation for making it is high. Thus, in the high probability state, the AT1 state, the AT2 state, and the ending state, navigation is performed with a higher probability than in the normal advantageous section.

In the normal section, when winning (advantageous section winning) in the advantageous section transition lottery, the state is controlled to the advantageous section. In the present embodiment, winning of most of the combinations that can be won normally is a condition for winning an advantageous section, so the normal stay in the game is about 1G. Note that the condition for winning the advantageous section may be established when one of all winning combinations that can be won normally is won.

In the normal section, navigation is not executed in the game in which the player wins the order, so the net increase in the number of medals that the player can obtain per game is 0 or become negative. The net increase in number per game is the number of medals paid out per game minus the number of medals used for setting the bet amount per game. In this embodiment, the normal payout rate is set at 40%. In this way, the payout rate is usually 1 or less (100% or less) or less than 1 (less than 100%).

The advantageous interval includes an advantageous interval normal state, a high probability state, an AT1 state, an AT2 state, and an ending state. Advantageous section Normally, navigation is not executed in the game in which the player wins the order, so the net increase in the number of medals that the player can obtain per game is 0, considering the number of medals used to set the bet amount. or become negative. In the present embodiment, the normal ball payout rate in the advantageous section is set to 40%. Thus, in the normal advantageous section, the payout rate is 1 or less (100% or less) or less than 1 (less than 100%).

In this embodiment, the AT1 state ends when a predetermined number of games are completed. That is, as shown in the figure, it shifts to the normal section. The predetermined number of games in the AT1 state can be increased by winning a particular symbol (eg, watermelon, strong cherry). That is, in the present embodiment, winning a specific symbol (watermelon, strong cherry) increases the player's advantage.

In the normal advantageous section, processing such as lottery related to control to high probability state and AT1 state is performed. In addition, in the normal advantageous section, the main control unit 161 performs a lottery for the AT1 state by a point acquisition lottery. The points updated by the point acquisition lottery are managed by the main control unit 161 . The main control unit 161 includes a point counter (not shown) for counting points inside. Also, when the value of the point counter reaches a specified value, the main control unit 161 executes an AT lottery to determine whether or not to control to the AT1 state. Note that the main control unit 161 may execute an AT lottery based on the fact that a specific symbol (watermelon, strong cherry) is won without using points. The high-probability state is a state in which the number of points to be given is larger than normal in the advantageous section. That is, the high-probability state is a state in which it is easier to shift to the AT1 state than in the normal advantageous section.

Control to the AT2 state can be performed when in the Advantageous Zone Normal and High Probability states. The AT2 state is a so-called pseudo-bonus that allows the player to increase the number of net additions that can be obtained by following the navigation. Winning that is controlled directly from the advantageous section normal or high probability state to the AT2 state without going through the AT1 state is also referred to as “direct hit pseudo bonus winning”. Also, the winning that is controlled from the AT1 state to the AT2 state is also referred to as "pseudo bonus winning". In the pseudo-bonus, navigation is executed in the game in which the player wins the first prize, so the net increase in the number of medals that the player can obtain per game is be a plus.

In the advantageous section, when the number of acquired medals in the advantageous section reaches a predetermined number of ED transitions, the game is controlled to the ending state. The number of medals acquired in the advantageous section is a value obtained by subtracting the number of medals used by the player from the number of medals given to the player by winning after the start of control to the advantageous section. The ending state is, for example, a state in which it is determined that the control to the advantageous section state will continue until the total number of medals acquired during the advantageous section reaches the upper limit number (for example, 2400 medals).

The ED transition number is set when the normal section shifts to the advantageous section. Note that the ED shift number may be determined by lottery, or may be determined in advance. The ED shift number is managed by the main control unit 161 . That is, the RAM 161c of the main control unit 161 stores the ED shift number. The main control unit 161 accumulatively counts the ED transition number, and terminates the advantageous section in accordance with the counting process.

When the limiter condition is satisfied in the advantageous section, the advantageous section is controlled to the normal section. Specifically, when the number of medals acquired in the advantageous section reaches 2400, the advantageous section ends and the game is controlled to the normal section. It should be noted that the number of medals acquired during the advantageous section is counted by a counter stored in the RAM 161c. That is, it is said that the "limiter condition" is established when the number of medals acquired in the advantageous section reaches the upper limit number.

When the advantageous section is controlled to the normal section, the number of medals obtained during the advantageous section counted in the advantageous section and points obtainable during the game are also initialized. The number of medals acquired during the advantageous section is updated not only during the advantageous section but also during the BB, and is not updated during the normal section.

The S stand 2 of the present embodiment changes the payout rate of medals according to the set value. More specifically, the payout rate of medals is changed by changing the winning probability in a predetermined lottery such as a point earning lottery according to a set value (for example, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6). . A game store clerk or the like can change the setting value by changing the setting.

In this way, the conditions for transitioning the state from the advantageous interval to the normal interval include limiter conditions and arbitrary end conditions that are established based on the progress of the game, and conditions that the settings are changed.

In addition, in the S machine 2 of the present embodiment, the upper limit of the number of games is set in the normal advantageous section. By reaching a predetermined upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous section, the AT right is given to forcibly shift to the AT1 state regardless of the reached point. The upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous section is, for example, 1280 games. The upper limit of the number of games is called a so-called "ceiling". The main control unit 161 has a lottery counter in the RAM 161c in order to determine whether or not the ceiling has been reached. That is, the main control unit 161 stores the number of games executed in the normal advantageous section in the lottery counter in the RAM 161c. The main control unit 161 increments the value of the lottery counter each time the game is executed in the normal advantageous interval. For example, if the upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous section is set to 700 games, when the value of the lottery counter reaches 700, the main control unit 161 grants the AT right. The upper limit of the number of games in the normal advantageous interval is not limited to 700 games, and may be, for example, 1280 games.

[Winner]
FIGS. 5 to 8 are diagrams for explaining types of winning combinations, symbol combinations for winning combinations, and awarding at the time of winning. The names of the winning combinations are shown in the name columns of FIGS. 5 to 8, and the combinations of symbols that make the winning combination a prize are shown in the symbol combination columns. In addition, the value given at the time of winning (number of medals paid out, replay given, etc.) is indicated in the given column.

As shown in FIG. 5, Lip 1 to Lip 6 are provided as replay hands. As shown in FIG. 6, BB is provided as a special combination. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, plums 1 to 6, watermelons, and one-piece hands 1 to 33 are provided as small wins. Plums 1 to 6 are the leading characters who can win prizes when they win the first place, and nine medals, which are more than the number of medals (three) used for the number of bets, are paid out when they win a prize. Plums 1 to 6 are also collectively referred to as "plum role". 1-card hands 1 to 33 are sub-parts that can be won when the first hand is won, and when winning, one medal less than the number of medals (three) used for betting is paid out. The 1-card roles 1 to 33 are also collectively referred to as "1-card roles".

As shown in FIG. 7, when "character-character-black 7" is derived from the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R among the symbol combinations that result in the winning of the single win 22, three character symbols line up on the reels. placed. Specifically, the character symbols are drawn out from the lower stage of the left reel 2L, the middle stage of the middle reel 2C, and the upper stage of the right reel 2R, so that the character symbols are arranged in a row upward to the right. It should be noted that arranging the character patterns side by side is also referred to as "character matching".

As shown in FIG. 8, when "character-character-plum" or "character-plum-plum" is derived from reels 2L, 2C, and 2R among the symbol combinations that result in the winning of the single win 23, 7 symbols are obtained. 3 are arranged on the reel side by side. Specifically, 7 symbols are derived from each of the upper stage of the left reel 2L, the upper stage of the middle reel 2C, and the upper stage of the right reel 2R, so that the 7 symbols are arranged side by side on the upper stage. It should be noted that arranging 7 patterns side by side is also referred to as "7 patterns".

[Lottery target role]
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a combination of winning combinations read out as a lottery target combination for each gaming state. The win number column in FIG. 9 indicates the win number determined for each lottery target role, the flag category column indicates the flag category assigned to each type of the lottery target win, and the lottery target win column indicates the flag category. , its name is indicated, the game state column indicates that the lottery target combination is the lottery target with a circle mark for each game state, and the advantageous section winning column indicates whether or not the advantageous section is won. ing. In addition, in the winning combination column in FIG. 9, combinations of winning combinations included in each lottery target combination are shown.

As shown in FIG. 9, BB is provided as a lottery target combination for a special combination. As the lottery target roles for the replay role, there are provided a normal replay, a 7 matching replay, a 7 non-matching replay, a character matching replay, and a non-matching character replay. The lottery target roles for small roles are: common plum, 213-choice A-D, 231-choice A-D, 312-choice A-D, 321-choice A-D, watermelon, 7 matching 1, 2, One sheet of characters, weak cherries, strong cherries, and chances A and B are provided. As small wins in the BB, a BB medium and small win and one in the BB are provided. The 213-choice A to D, the 231-choice A to D, the 312-choice A to D, and the 321-choice A to D are the roles in which navigation can be executed when they are won. It is one kind. The 213 alternatives A to D, the 231 alternatives A to D, the 312 alternatives A to D, and the 321 alternatives A to D are also collectively referred to as "push order bells". In addition, 1 sheet of 7-matching 1 and 2 is collectively referred to as "1 sheet of 7-matching".

In the non-internal mode, it is possible to win any combination except BB medium and small and 1 out of BB. The ticket has become unwinnable.

Common flag categories are assigned to each hand in non-internal, internal, and BB. Further, the winning combination number is determined for each lottery-targeted combination, whereas the flag category is assigned for each type of the lottery-targeted combination. Therefore, the number of flag categories is smaller than the number of winning numbers. Also, the point acquisition lottery in the normal advantageous section and the privilege lottery in the advantageous section (hereinafter collectively referred to as "lottery related to AT control") are both performed based on the flag category. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the processing load compared to performing a lottery related to control of these AT states based on the win number.

In the present embodiment, a flag category is assigned also to a loser and BB, and FC1, which is the same as other winnings such as a normal reply, is assigned to BB. Common plums are assigned the same FC4 as watermelons.

[Reel control for push order]
10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining reel control at the time of winning a pushing first hand. As described above, in the present embodiment, in a game in which a winning hand is won in an advantageous section, navigation is executed and the correct answer procedure is notified to the player. By operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R according to the correct procedure according to the navigation, the player can win a winning combination (leading role) advantageous to the player.

For example, as shown in FIG. 10, in a game in which one of 213-choice A to D, 231-choice A to D, 312-choice A to D, and 321-choice A to D is won, the correct answer procedure is stopped. When the switches 8L, 8C and 8R are operated, the leading plum role is won, and when the stop switches 8L, 8C and 8R are operated in the incorrect answer procedure, the secondary role of one piece is won. Incidentally, when the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R are operated in the incorrect answer procedure, and if the winning of the one-piece winning combination, which is the secondary winning combination, is missed, no winning may occur.

The 'normal procedure' is not set as the 'correct procedure', while the 'irregular procedure' can be set as the 'correct procedure'. That is, the player can use the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in the game in which one of the 213-choice A to D, 231-choice A to D, 312-choice A to D, and 321-choice A to D is won. As long as is operated according to the normal procedure, it is not possible to win the role of plum, which is the leading role. This may cause the player to operate the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R in an irregular procedure. A penalty is imposed on the player that is unfavorable to Therefore, the player is prompted to operate the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R in a normal procedure in a game in which navigation is not executed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a game start time command that the main control section 161 transmits to the effect control section 151 when the start switch 7 is operated. The main control unit 161 executes an internal lottery process when the start switch 7 is operated (start operation), and outputs a command group including predetermined information according to the result of the internal lottery process. 151. Hereinafter, the command group No. 1 to No. 13 shown in FIG. 11 will be simply referred to as "game start command". The main control unit 161 transmits each command in order from No. 1 to No. 13 as a game start command. Each command is assigned a serial number as a "set serial number", which is the same number as the number. Each command stores various information managed by the main control unit 161 .

For example, no. The command "instruction number" of 2 stores information about the navigation. That is, No. The command 2 stores information that can specify the pressing order in the game in which the start switch 7 is operated. Specifically, the command "instruction number" stores information indicating the order of pressing the stop switch 8L, the stop switch 8C, and the stop switch 8R. The production control unit 151 is No. When the command "instruction number" of No. 2 is received, the navigation effect is executed on the liquid crystal display 51 based on the operation procedure that can be specified from the command "instruction number". Note that the effect control unit 151 causes the speaker 53 to output a sound for notifying the player of the operation procedure based on the operation procedure that can be specified from the command "instruction number".

For example, no. The command 3 "minor winning combination" stores information that can specify whether the winning combination won by the internal lottery is a minor winning combination, a replay winning combination, or a special winning combination. Also, No. The command "section state" 6 stores information that can specify which state of the internal state shown in FIG. 4 the game in which the start switch 7 is operated is. Specifically, No. The 6 command "section state" includes whether the state currently under control is a normal section or an advantageous section, whether the advantageous section is a normal section or a high probability state among the advantageous sections, AT1 Information indicating whether the state is the AT2 state or the ending state is stored. The production control unit 151 is No. 6, it is possible to specify which interval state the game in which the start switch 7 was operated is based on. Also, No. In the command 4 "out of balls state" as well, information that can specify the playing state of the game in which the start switch 7 was operated can be stored. No. The number of AT continuous effect games is stored in the command 9 "ART sign G number". No. in the command at the start of the game. 10 command "points" stores the number of points earned in the previous game. Also, No. 11 command "winning number" stores information that can specify the winning combination number of the winning combination by the internal lottery.

Further, when the main control unit 161 transmits a command at the time of game start, No. Information indicating that a medal has been bet is stored in command 12 "insert medal". No. When information indicating that medals have been bet is stored in command 12 "insert medals", the effect control unit 151 can determine that the game start command has been received.

FIG. 12 shows a game end command that the main control unit 161 transmits to the effect control unit 151 at the time of the third stop. The main control unit 161 outputs the command group from No. 1 to No. 13 in order from No. 1 to No. 13 not only when the start switch 7 is operated but also when the stop switch is stopped at the third stop. It is transmitted to the production control section 151 . Hereinafter, the group of commands No. 1 to No. 13 shown in FIG. 12 will simply be referred to as "game end commands". Among the commands transmitted at the time of the third stop, No. 11 is different from the No. 11 command transmitted when the start switch 7 is operated. No. 11 is a command for storing information on prize winning. In other words, at the time of the third stop, the main control unit 161 transmits information about the prize instead of information about the winning number.

No. in the command at the end of the game. The number of points acquired in the point acquisition lottery process at the time of the third stop, which will be described later, is stored in the 10 command "points". Further, when the main control unit 161 transmits a game end command, No. Information indicating that the reel is stopped is stored in the command 13 "stop reel". No. When information indicating that the reels are stopped is stored in the command 13 "rotating reel stop", the effect control unit 151 can determine that the game end command is received. That is, the effect control unit 151, No. 12 command "insert medal" and No. Based on the command 13 "rotating drum stop", it is determined whether the received command group is a game start command or a game end command. When the main control unit 161 transmits a game start command, No. If the command at the time of game end is transmitted without transmitting the command "rotating drum stop" of No. 13, No. 13 is transmitted. 12 command "Insert medal" may not be transmitted.

[Mode of transmission and reception between the main control board and the medal count control board]
A mode of transmission and reception between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 will be described. In this embodiment, communication by command is performed between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 . The main control board 16 transmits a predetermined command to the medal count control board 17 each time an event occurs. The events include pressing of the start switch 7, pressing of the 1BET switch 20 and the MAXBET switch 6, and stopping of all reels.

The medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 when the predetermined command transmitted from the main control board 16 is a command requiring a predetermined response. For example, when the power is turned on while the S machine 2 is installed in a game arcade and is electrically connected, the main control board 16 detects the main chip ID (main control chip ID). An information command is transmitted to the medal count control board 17. When the power is turned on thereafter, the gaming machine installation information including the main chip ID (main control chip ID) is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 . That is, when the power of the S table 2 is turned on, the main control board 16 transmits to the medal count control board 17 a gaming machine installation information command capable of specifying the main chip ID of the unique information possessed by the main control board 16. .

Both the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17 attach a "serial number" to the command and transmit it. Both the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17 store the received "serial number". By adding a "serial number" to the command, the S platform 2 prevents a person who illegally obtains medals (hereinafter referred to as a fraudulent person) from operating the S platform 2 illegally. An illegal operation is, for example, an operation that alters a command sent and received between the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17, or an illegal person's operation that controls the main control board 16 or the medal number control board 17. etc. An unauthorized person performs an unauthorized operation by connecting a device or the like (hereinafter referred to as an unauthorized device) to the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17, for example.

The initial value and added value of the “serial number” are determined by the medal count control board 17 and the main control board 16 respectively. The medal number control board 17 determines the initial value and the added value of the “serial number” based on the gaming machine installation information command received from the main control board 16 . The main chip ID included in the gaming machine installation information command includes a 4-byte long chip unique number register. Each byte in the main chip ID stores a hexadecimal chip-specific value. The medal number control board 17 adds the hexadecimal values stored in each byte included in the main chip ID to calculate the total value. The medal number control board 17 determines the initial value of the "serial number" by converting the value indicated by the lower two bytes of the calculated total value into a decimal number.

For example, if the total value is "189h" (h indicates that "189" is a hexadecimal number), the initial value for the serial number is "89h" expressed in decimal. That is, the initial value of "serial number" is "137".

Further, the medal number control board 17 divides the initial value by a predetermined number. When the predetermined number is, for example, "5", there are four types of remainders calculated as a result of division: "0", "1", "2", "3", and "4". . The medal count control board 17 predetermines and stores additional values corresponding to the four types of remainders. For example, the medal count control board 17 stores "7" corresponding to "0", "11" corresponding to "1", and "13" corresponding to "2". , "19" is stored corresponding to "3", and "23" is stored corresponding to "4". After dividing the initial value by a predetermined number, the medal count control board 17 uses the stored value corresponding to the remainder of the division as the added value.

For example, when the initial value "137" is divided by 5, the remainder is "2". As described above, the medal number control board 17 stores "13" corresponding to "2" which is the remainder of the division result. Therefore, the medal number control board 17 determines the added value for the serial number as "13". In this way, the medal number control board 17 determines whether or not the command sent from the main control board 16 is normal based on the main chip ID specified from the gaming machine installation information command. Generate an addition value. The main control board 16 also generates an initial value and an added value by performing similar calculations. As a result, both the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17 store similar initial values and added values.

As described above, in this embodiment, the main control board 16 sends a predetermined command to the medal count control board 17 when an event occurs. The main control board 16 assigns serial numbers to the predetermined commands. For example, a game machine installation information command is transmitted to the medal number control board 17, and after both the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17 determine the initial value and the added value of the serial number, a predetermined event A occurs. An example is explained.

The main control board 16 transmits a command A to the medal number control board 17 based on the occurrence of a predetermined event A. At this time, the main control board 16 gives the initial value of the serial number to the command A which is transmitted for the first time after transmitting the gaming machine installation command. That is, the main control board 16 assigns the serial number "137" to the command A and transmits it.

The medal number control board 17 stores "137" as an initial value, and since the serial number given to the command A received for the first time after receiving the gaming machine installation command is "137", the communication is normal. judge there is.

Subsequently, when a new event B occurs, the main control board 16 transmits a command B to the medal number control board 17 . At this time, the main control board 16 transmits the command B to which the added value is added to the previously transmitted serial number value. That is, the main control board 16 adds "150", which is a value obtained by adding the added value "13" to the previously transmitted "137", to the command B and transmits the command. Before receiving the command B, the medal number control board 17 calculates in advance that the serial number to be given to the next command to be transmitted is "150". The medal number control board 17 determines that communication with the main control board 16 is normal because the serial number assigned to the received command B is "150" and matches the serial number calculated in advance. .

That is, each time a command is sent, the main control board 16 assigns a serial number obtained by adding an additional value to the previously sent serial number. Since the medal count control board 17 also stores the initial value and the added value, it is possible to calculate in advance the value of the serial number to be assigned to the command to be received next. It can be judged whether it is normal or not. If the serial number assigned to the received command does not match the calculated serial number value, the medal number control board 17 determines that a communication error has occurred between the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17. do.

If the value obtained by adding the added value to the previously transmitted serial number exceeds 255, the main control board 16 transmits the value obtained by subtracting 255 as the serial number. When the main control board 16 receives a response command indicating that an error has occurred from the medal number control board 17, it does not add the additional value to the serial number of the command sent after the response command, and repeats the same Assign a serial number and send.

[Commands sent from the main control board to the medal count control board]
FIG. 13 shows the types of commands that the main control board 16 transmits to the medal number control board 17. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the main control board 16, as shown in the command name column of FIG. Start command, payout pulse command, jackpot command, gaming machine fraud 1 command, gaming machine fraud 2 command, gaming machine fraud 3 command, main control state command, main control board error command, gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command, It is transmitted to the medal count control board 17 . The number column shows the command number preset for each command. Further, the message length column indicates the message length of each command, that is, the byte length.

The two-way column shows whether or not the medal count control board 17 needs to transmit a response command after the main control board 16 has transmitted the command. For example, when the medal count control board 17 receives a start command from the main control board 16, it does not transmit a response command in response to the start command. That is, the main control board 16 does not wait for reception of a response command from the medal number control board 17, and controls the spinning drum of the reel.

On the other hand, when the medal count control board 17 receives the input command, the settlement command, and the end command from the main control board 16, it transmits a response command to the main control board 16 in response to receiving these commands. do. The input command, the settlement command, and the end command are commands that directly affect the number of credits managed by the medal number control board 17 . Therefore, the main control board 16 performs the following control on the condition that a response command from the medal number control board 17 is received after transmitting the input command, the settlement command, and the end command. Commands sent from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 14 to 35. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a gaming machine installation information command. As shown in FIG. 14, the gaming machine installation information command is a command having a length of 22 bytes. The first byte stores the message length of the gaming machine installation information command. A serial number is transmitted in the second byte. Since the gaming machine installation information command is a command transmitted after the power is turned on and before the medal count control board 17 determines the initial value and the additional value of the serial number, the value "0" is fixed and stored as the serial number. be. Values indicating the command number, game machine characteristics, game model type, and identification code are stored in the 3rd to 6th bytes, respectively. The 7th to 10th bytes store the values of the 1st to 4th bytes of the unique number register of the main chip ID. The medal number control board 17 uses the values of the main chip IDs of the 7th to 10th bytes to determine the initial value and the added value of the serial number.

A manufacturer code is stored in the 11th to 13th bytes. A product code is stored in the 14th to 21st bytes. The 22nd byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 21st bytes.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing details of the gaming machine characteristics. Details of the gaming machine characteristics indicated in the 4th byte of the game installation information command will be described below. The gaming machine characteristics are 1-byte data from the 0th bit to the 7th bit. The 0th bit indicates whether or not the S machine 2 is equipped with RB (regular bonus). If the S machine 2 is equipped with RBs, the 0th bit is "1", and if the S machine 2 is not equipped with RBs, the 0th bit is "0".

The first bit indicates whether or not the S machine 2 is equipped with a BB (big bonus). If the S machine 2 is equipped with a BB, the first bit is "1", and if the S machine 2 is not equipped with a BB, the first bit is "0". The second bit indicates whether or not the S machine 2 is equipped with a CT (challenge time). If the S platform 2 is equipped with a CT, the second bit is "1", and if the S platform 2 is not equipped with a CT, the second bit is "0". The third bit indicates whether or not the S machine 2 is equipped with a CB (challenge bonus). If the S machine 2 is equipped with a CB, the third bit is "1", and if the S machine 2 is not equipped with a CB, the third bit is "0".

The 4th bit indicates whether or not the S machine 2 is equipped with an SB (single bonus). If the S machine 2 is equipped with the SB, the 4th bit is "1", and if the S machine 2 is not equipped with the SB, the 4th bit is "0". The 5th bit indicates whether or not the S unit 2 is equipped with an instruction function. If the S machine 2 is equipped with the pointing function, the 5th bit is "1", and if the S machine 2 is not equipped with the pointing function, the 5th bit is "0". The 6th bit indicates the instruction type of the S 2 . When the instruction type of the S machine 2 is the 7P type, the 6th bit is "1", and when the instruction type of the S machine 2 is the 7U type, the 6th bit is "0". The 7th bit is not used and stores "0".

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the configuration of the role item information command. The role item information command is a command for the medal number control board 17 to update the gaming machine performance information and role ratio monitor information. The role item information command is transmitted to the medal number control board 17 after the end command is transmitted.

The role item information command is composed of 5-byte data. The first byte stores the telegram length of the accessory information command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the role item information command is "1".

The 4th byte stores role product actuation information. The accessory actuation information stores information indicating whether or not any bonus is currently being won. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing details of the accessory actuation information. The role product operation information is data stored in the 4th byte of the role product information command. The role product operation information is composed of 1-byte data from the 0th bit to the 7th bit. The 0th bit stores "type" information indicating whether the RB is in operation. The 1st bit stores "single series" information indicating whether the BB is in operation. The second bit stores "two types" of information indicating whether the CT is in operation. The 3rd bit stores "duplicate" information indicating whether the CB is in operation. The 5th bit stores information of "ordinary character" indicating whether the SB is in operation. The 4th, 6th, and 7th bits are not used and "0" is stored.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the structure of an advantageous section information command. The advantageous section information command is a command for the medal count control board 17 to update the game machine performance information and role ratio monitor information. The advantageous section information command is sent after the end command is sent.

The advantageous section information command consists of 5-byte data. The first byte stores the telegram length of the accessory information command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the advantageous section information command is "2".

Advantageous section information is stored in the 4th byte. As the advantageous interval information, data relating to replays and instruction information in the advantageous interval is transmitted. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing details of advantageous section information. The advantageous interval information is data stored in the 4th byte of the advantageous interval information command, and is data indicating information regarding the game played before the advantageous interval information command is transmitted.

The advantageous section information is composed of 1-byte data from the 0th bit to the 7th bit. The 0th bit stores information indicating whether or not the game played before the transmission of the advantageous interval information command was during the advantageous interval. If it is in the advantageous section, "1" is stored in the 0th bit. The 1st bit stores information indicating whether or not there was instruction information in the game played before the advantageous interval information command was transmitted. If there is instruction information, "1" is stored in the first bit. The 4th bit stores information indicating whether or not the replay symbol combination was displayed in the game played before the advantageous interval information command was transmitted. When a replay symbol combination is displayed, "1" is stored in the 4th bit. The 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th bits are not used and "0" is stored.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the structure of an input command. The insertion command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the 1BET switch 20 is pressed or when the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command to the medal number control board 17 when receiving a bet amount setting operation for setting the bet amount for starting one game. Further, referring to FIG. 13, since the insertion command is a bi-directional command, the medal number control board 17 sends a response command in response to the insertion command to the main control board 16 when receiving the insertion command. Send. The input command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the input command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the input command is "3".

The number of inserted medals is stored in the 4th byte. When the 1BET switch 20 is pressed while the number of bets is 0, 1, or 2, the number of inserted medals is 1. When the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed while the number of bets is 0, the number of inserted medals is 3, and when the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed while the number of bets is 1, the number of inserted medals is 2. When the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed while the number of bets is two, the number of inserted medals is one. When the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is pressed in the replay operation state and an insertion command is transmitted, no data is stored in the number of inserted medals. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes. "Replay operation state" indicates a state after a replay combination is won.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the configuration of the settlement command. The settlement command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal number control board 17 when the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal amount control board 17 when receiving a settlement operation for canceling the number of bets for starting one game. Further, referring to FIG. 13, since the settlement command is a bi-directional command, the medal number control board 17 sends a response command to the main control board 16 in response to the settlement command when the settlement command is received. Send. The settlement command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the settlement command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the settlement command is "4".

The number of settlement medals is stored in the 4th byte. When the bet number clear switch 21 is pressed with the number of bets of 1, the number of settlement medals is 1, and when the bet number of clear switch 21 is pressed with the number of bets of 2, the number of settlement medals is reduced. When the number of bets is 3 and the number-of-bets clear switch 21 is pressed, the number of settlement medals is 3. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the configuration of a start command. The start command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when the start switch 7 is pressed. That is, the main control board 16 transmits a start command to the medal number control board 17 when starting one game. The start command is transmitted even when the start switch 7 is pressed in the replay operation state. The starting command is a command that does not directly affect the number of credits managed by the medal number control board 17 . Therefore, when the medal number control board 17 receives the start command, it does not transmit a response command to the start command to the main control board 16, and performs control according to the start command. The control according to the command at the start corresponds to, for example, a process of controlling to wait for the end of the game, a preparation process for receiving the command at the end, and the like. After transmitting the start time command, the main control board 16 performs the next control without waiting for a response from the medal number control board 17 . The next control is, for example, control for driving the reels.

The start command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the telegram length of the start command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the starting command is "6".

The 4th byte stores the input pulse numbers 1 to 3 to be transmitted to the hall computer. Even in the replay operation state, the number of input pulses for the predetermined number of input is transmitted. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the structure of a termination command. The end command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal number control board 17 when all the reels are stopped, that is, when the third stop is made. In other words, the main control board 16 transmits an end command to the medal count control board 17 when ending one game. The termination command includes the number of payout medals determined according to the derived symbol combination. When medals are paid out to the player, the number of credits increases. Therefore, the end command is a command that directly affects the number of credits managed by the medal number control board 17 . Therefore, the medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 when receiving the end command. Further, after transmitting the end command, the main control board 16 performs the following control on the condition that the response command is received. The next control corresponds to update processing of data displayed on the game auxiliary display device 12 and the like.

In other words, when the medal count control board 17 receives the end command, it transmits a response command responding to the end command to the main control board 16, and performs control according to the end command. The control according to the end command is, for example, the control of adding the number of payout medals to the number of credits.

The end command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the end command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the end command is "5".

The number of payout medals is stored in the 4th byte. The maximum number of payout medals is 15. When the symbol combination for replay is derived, or when there is no payout medal count, "0" is stored in the 4th byte. That is, the end command is a command capable of specifying the game value given to the player according to the result of the one game when the one game ends. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of a payout pulse command. A payout pulse command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 when all the reels are stopped, that is, when the third stop is made. The payout pulse command is a pulse signal for transmitting the number of medals to be given to the player according to winning to a hall computer (not shown) connected to the medal number control board 17 . After receiving the payout pulse command, the medal count control board 17 transmits a payout pulse signal to a hall computer (not shown). Thereby, the hall computer can store the number of payouts in the S table 2 . The payout pulse command is transmitted to the number-of-medals control board 17 even in the replay operation state. After transmitting the payout pulse command, the main control board 16 performs the next control without waiting for a response from the medal number control board 17 .

A payout pulse command is composed of 5-byte data. The first byte stores the message length of the payout pulse command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the payout pulse command is "7".

The fourth byte stores the payout pulse number for transmission to the hall computer. The maximum payout pulse number is 15. When the symbol combination for replay is derived, or when there is no payout medal count, "0" is stored in the 4th byte. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the configuration of a jackpot command. A jackpot command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal number control board 17 at the start and end of the jackpot. Also, the jackpot command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the number-of-medals control board 17 even in the case of hot start when the power is turned on. As a result, the hall computer signal can be restored in the S stage 2 without backing up the hall computer signal.

A jackpot command consists of 5-byte data. The first byte stores the message length of the jackpot command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the jackpot command is "8".

A hole computer signal is stored in the 4th byte. The hall computer signal is a signal for notifying the hall computer of the jackpot information of the S table 2 . Jackpot types such as RB, BB, and AT are stored. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing details of the hall computer signal. The hole computer signal is data stored in the 4th byte of the jackpot command. The whole computer signal is composed of 1-byte data from the 0th bit to the 7th bit. Information indicating that the jackpot type is RB is stored in the 0th bit. Information indicating that the jackpot type is BB is stored in the first bit. Information indicating that the jackpot type is AT is stored in the second bit. The 3rd to 7th bits are not used and "0" is stored.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine illegal 1 command. The gaming machine fraud 1 command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 at the start and end of setting change/setting confirmation.

The gaming machine illegal 1 command is composed of 5-byte data. The first byte stores the telegram length of one illegal gaming machine command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the gaming machine illegal 1 command is "9".

Setting information is stored in the 4th byte. The setting information is information when setting is changed/checked, and information indicating whether or not fraud is detected at that time. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing details of setting information. The setting information is data stored in the 4th byte of the gaming machine illegal 1 command. The setting information consists of 1-byte data from the 0th bit to the 7th bit. Data indicating whether or not the setting is being changed is stored in the 0th bit. The first bit stores data indicating whether or not the setting is being checked. The 2nd to 4th bits store data indicating whether or not fraudulent manufacturer definition has been detected. The 6th and 7th bits are not used and "0" is stored.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the structure of the gaming machine illegal 2 command. The illegal gaming machine 2 command is an unused command in the S machine 2 . In the S platform 2, the door open detection switch 25 is connected to the medal count control board 17. FIG. Therefore, the main control board 16 does not need to transmit the door information to the medal count control board 17 . Therefore, "0" is stored in the 4th byte.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing details of door information. Since the medal number control board 17 detects opening or closing of the door, all bits included in the door information are not used and "0" is stored.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the configuration of 3 unauthorized gaming machine commands. The gaming machine illegal 3 command is an unused command in the S machine 2 . The gaming machine illegal 3 command is a command for expansion, and is used when it becomes necessary to send a new command from the main control board 16 to the medal count control board 17 in the future.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main control state command. A main control state command is a command indicating the state of the main control board 16 . The main control state command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal number control board 17 at a predetermined timing. The medal number control board 17 can acquire the state of the main control board 16 or the S table 2 by receiving the main control state command.

The main control state command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the main control state command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the main control state command is "12". A gaming machine status signal is stored in the 4th byte. The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main control board error command. The main control board error command is a command indicating the type of error that has occurred in the main control board 16 . The main control board error command is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the medal number control board 17 when an error occurs in the main control board 16 and when the error that has occurred is resolved.

The main control board error command consists of 5 bytes of data. The first byte stores the message length of the main control state command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the main control board error command is "13". The 4th byte stores an error number. The error number is a number indicating the type of error that has occurred in the main control board 16 . The 5th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 4th bytes.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a main control board error list. The error number shown in FIG. 34 is the error number stored in the 4th byte of the main control board error command. E6 is an error number indicating a reel rotation error. The main control board 16 determines that a reel rotation error has occurred when the input from the origin sensor cannot be detected three times in succession. When a reel rotation error occurs, the main control board 16 transmits the value of the 4th byte of the main control board error command as "E6". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when an error release switch (not shown) is pressed. Even when the error is resolved, the main control board 16 transmits the main control board error command.

E7 is an error number indicating a game medal overflow error. When the number of game medals exceeds 16383, the main control board 16 determines that a game medal number overflow error has occurred. When a game medal overflow error occurs, the main control board 16 transmits the value of the 4th byte of the main control board error command as "E7". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when an error release switch (not shown) is pressed. Even when the error is resolved, the main control board 16 transmits the main control board error command.

E8 is an error number indicating a backup error. The main control board 16 judges that a backup error has occurred when the value of the RAM backed up before the power failure does not match the value of the RAM in the inspection of the RAM after the power is turned on. When a backup error occurs, the main control board 16 transmits the value of the 4th byte of the main control board error command as "E8". The main control board 16 cuts off the power of the S table 2 and determines that the error has been resolved when the setting is changed again. Even when the error is resolved, the main control board 16 transmits the main control board error command.

E9 is an error number indicating a communication abnormality error. If the main control board 16 does not receive a response command within 40 ms after transmitting a command requiring a response command to the medal count control board 17, it determines that a communication error has occurred. When a communication abnormality error occurs, the main control board 16 transmits the value of the 4th byte of the main control board error command as "E9". The main control board 16 determines that the error has been resolved when an error release switch (not shown) is pressed. Even when the error is resolved, the main control board 16 transmits the main control board error command.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the structure of a gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. The gaming machine performance information is information for the purpose of totaling performance information. The gaming machine performance information is for outputting results calculated based on games.

The gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command is composed of 28-byte data. The first byte stores the message length of the gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command. A serial number is stored in the second byte. A value indicating a command number is stored in the third byte. As shown in FIG. 13, the command number of the gaming machine performance information (preliminary) command is "14". Gaming machine performance information can be stored in the 4th to 27th bytes. In this embodiment, "0" is stored in the spare area. The 28th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 27th bytes.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a command list from the medal number control board 17 to the main control board 16. As shown in FIG. The medal number control board 17 transmits two types of commands to the main control board 16 .

A response command is a command for responding to a command received from the main control board 16 . For example, when the medal number control board 17 receives a command at the end, it transmits a response command because the command at the end affects the number of credits. That is, the response command is a command having bidirectionality because it responds according to what it has received. A command number of 3 to 5 can be set for the response command. The message length of the response command is 4 bytes.

The frame side information command is a command for transmitting system information including connection information between the medal number control board 17 and the CU3. The medal number control board 17 transmits a frame side information command to the main control board 16 every 0.3 seconds. Note that the predetermined period during which the frame-side information command is transmitted may be other periods than 0.3 seconds. The main control board 16 does not respond even if it receives the frame side information command. Therefore, the frame-side information command is a command that continues to be transmitted unidirectionally from the medal number control board 17 to the main control board 16 without bidirectionality. The command number of the frame side information command is "81h" and the message length is 4 bytes.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing the structure of a response command. A response command consists of 4-byte data. The first byte stores the message length of the response command. A value indicating a command number is stored in the second byte. The command number in the response command stores the command number of the received command that is the target of the response. When transmitting a response command to the insertion command, the medal number control board 17 stores "3" as the command number. When transmitting a response command to the settlement command, the medal count control board 17 stores "4" as the command number. When transmitting a response command to the end command, the medal count control board 17 stores "5" as the command number.

Information indicating the reception result of the response command is stored in the third byte. The third byte contains a data area of 1-4 bits. If the 0th bit in the data area of the 3rd byte is "1", it indicates that the response command is "OK to receive". "Received OK" indicates that the received command received by the medal number control board 17 is normal. Hereinafter, a response command in which the 0th bit in the data area of the 3rd byte is "1" may be referred to as a "response command indicating OK to receive". That is, the response command is a command for notifying the main control board 16 that the received command has been received normally. A received command is a command sent from the main control board 16 to which the response command is to be sent. If the 1st bit in the data area of the 3rd byte is "1", it indicates that the response command is "serial number mismatch". "Serial number mismatch" indicates that the received command received by the medal number control board 17 is not normal. Hereinafter, a response command in which the 1st bit in the data area of the 3rd byte is "1" may be referred to as a "response command indicating serial number mismatch". That is, the response command indicates that the serial number of the received command that is the object of the response does not match the serial number calculated by the medal number control board 17 .

When the second bit in the data area of the third byte is "1", the response command indicates "insufficient number of game medals". When the number-of-medals control board 17 receives an input command as a received command and the number of credits is insufficient in spite of a request to subtract the number of credits, the second bit stores "1" as a response. Command is sent.

When the 3rd bit in the 3rd byte data area is "1", it indicates that the response command is "overflow of the number of game medals". When the number-of-medals control board 17 receives a settlement command as a received command and the number of credits (the number of game medals) is the upper limit, a response command in which "1" is stored in the third bit is transmitted. The 4th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 3rd bytes.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing the structure of a frame side information command. The frame-side information command is transmitted from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16 every 0.3 seconds, as described above.

The frame side information command is composed of 4-byte data. The first byte stores the message length of the frame side information command. A command number is stored in the second byte. The command number of the frame side information command is "81h". Information indicating the system state of the medal count control board 17 is stored in the third byte. The system status of the medal number control board 17 includes information as to whether or not the count button has been pressed, and whether or not the CU 3 and the medal number control board 17 are normally connected. The 4th byte stores a checksum for determining whether or not an error has occurred in the information transmitted in the 1st to 3rd bytes.

[About communication between the main control board and the medal count control board]
FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an example of communication between the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17. As shown in FIG. Serial communication is adopted for communication between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 . As shown in FIG. 39, the main control board 16 transmits an input command when the number of bets is set. The bet number setting operation includes pressing the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 .

When the medal count control board 17 receives a command from the main control board 16, it measures the elapsed time using a counter. If the reception of the command is not completed within 10ms after the command is received from the main control board 16, the medal number control board 17 Determine that a timeout error has occurred. In the example of FIG. 39, since the insertion command is received before 10 ms has elapsed since the medal number control board 17 received it, no timeout error occurs.

The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the insertion command. When the main control board 16 receives a command from the medal number control board 17, it uses a counter to measure the elapsed time. If the reception of the command is not completed within 2.24 ms after the command is received from the medal count control board 17, the main control board 16 closes the connection between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17. It is determined that a timeout error has occurred in communication. In the example of FIG. 39, the response command is received by the main control board 16 before 2.24 ms has elapsed, so no timeout error occurs.

In addition, when the main control board 16 transmits a command such as an insertion command that requires a response command from the medal number control board 17, the time elapsed since the bet number setting operation that triggered the transmission of the insertion command was performed. Time is measured using a counter.

If the reception of the response command from the medal number control board 17 is not completed within 40 ms after an event such as a bet number setting operation occurs, the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17 is determined to have occurred due to a timeout error. In the example of FIG. 39, the reception of the response command is completed before 40 ms have passed since the bet number setting operation, so no timeout error occurs.

After the main control board 16 receives a response command to the input command, the main control board 16 starts control corresponding to the bet number setting operation.

Subsequently, the start switch 7 of the S table 2 is pressed by the player. The main control board 16 transmits a start command to the medal count control board 17 when the start switch 7 is pressed. As described above, the start command is a command that does not require a response command from the medal count control board 17. FIG. Therefore, the medal number control board 17 does not transmit the response command.

Finally, when the player performs the third stop operation, all the reels are stopped. When all the reels have stopped, the main control board 16 transmits an end command to the medal count control board 17 . In this example, the medal number control board 17 does not transmit a response command even though the end command requires a response command. Therefore, the main control board 16 does not receive the response command within 40 ms after all the reels stop, and determines that a timeout error has occurred.

FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining communication of a frame-side information command. As shown in FIG. 40, the medal number control board 17 transmits the frame side information command to the main control board 16 every 300 ms. The main control board 16 determines that a timeout error has occurred when a period exceeding 2.24 ms elapses from the start of reception of the frame-side information command until the reception is completed.

FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing processing when the main control board 16 receives a command. As shown in FIG. 36, the medal number control board 17 transmits two types of commands to the main control board 16: a response command and a frame side information command.

Referring to FIG. 41, main control board 16 receives a command from medal count control board 17 (step S10). The main control board 16 determines whether or not the received command is the frame side information command (step S11). If the received command is a frame-side information command (YES in step S11), the main control board 16 checks whether the frame-side information command contains error information (step S12). The error information is information indicating whether or not the CU 3 is normally connected to the S 2 . When error information is included in the frame side information command (YES in step S12), the main control board 16 transmits the error information to the effect control board 15, and ends the process. As a result, the effect control board 15 can display on the liquid crystal display 51 that an error that the CU 3 is not connected to the S table 2 has occurred. If error information is not included in the frame-side information command (NO in step S12), the process ends.

If the received command is not the frame-side information command (NO in step S11), that is, if the received command is a response command, the main control board 16 executes processing according to the response command, and terminates the processing. do.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing the flow of communication between the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17 after power-on. When the power-on switch 102 is pressed to turn on the power to the main control board 16, the main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command. After that, the main control board 16 transmits an input command in response to the operation for setting the number of bets. Since the insertion command is a command that requires a response command, the medal number control board 17 transmits the response command to the main control board 16 based on the reception of the insertion command. For example, the medal number control board 17 sets the 0th bit of the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (accepted) when there is a margin in the number of game medals. If the number of game medals is insufficient, the second bit in the third byte of the response command is set to "1" (insufficient number of game medals).

Subsequently, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal number control board 17 based on the settlement operation. The settlement operation is an operation indicating that the number-of-bet clear switch 21 has been pressed. As a result, the process of returning the bet amount to the credit amount is executed. Since the settlement command is a command that requires a response command, the medal number control board 17 transmits the response command to the main control board 16 based on the reception of the settlement command. For example, the medal number control board 17 sets the 0th bit of the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (accepted) when there is a margin in the number of game medals. , the first bit is set to "1" (serial number mismatch), and if the number of game medals overflows, the third bit in the third byte of the response command is set to "1" (overflow of the number of game medals).

In FIG. 42, the bet amount setting operation is performed again, and communication based on the bet amount setting operation is performed. Subsequently, when the start switch 7 is pressed, the main control board 16 transmits a start command to the medal number control board 17 . After transmitting the start command, the main control board 16 controls the progress of the game, such as driving the reels, without waiting for a response from the medal count control board 17 . When the medal count control board 17 receives the start command from the main control board 16, it controls the game end waiting state as control according to the start command. Since the starting command does not require a response command, the medal number control board 17 does not transmit a response command.

When all the reels have stopped, the main control board 16 transmits a command at the time of termination to the medal count control board 17 . The medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on the reception of the end command. For example, the medal count control board 17 sets the 0th bit in the 3rd byte of the response command to "1" (accepted) when the end command is normal, and sets the 3rd byte of the response command when the serial numbers do not match. , the first bit is set to "1" (serial number mismatch). Subsequently, the main control board 16 transmits to the number-of-medals control board 17 in the order of the accessory information command, the advantageous section command, and the payout pulse command.

In this way, the main control board 16 does not affect the number of credits when starting one game. Therefore, after transmitting the start command, the main control board 16 does not wait for a response from the medal number control board 17 and starts the next control. Since the number of credits may be affected when one game is executed and finished, the next control is performed on the condition that the response command sent from the medal number control board 17 is received after sending the command at the time of finishing. Execute. Thus, by improving the communication between the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17, the main control board 16 can progress the game while checking the status of the medal number control board 17. - 特許庁

[Example of processing for serial number]
As described above, the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17 communicate using serial numbers. That is, the medal number control board 17 executes processing for confirming whether the serial numbers match in order to determine whether or not the command transmitted from the main control board 16 is normal. An example of the processing for serial numbers will be described below with reference to FIGS. 43 to 45. FIG. FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of communication when the serial number is normal.

When the power is turned on, the main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command to the medal count control board 17 . As described above, the serial number given to the gaming machine installation information command is "0". The medal number control board 17 determines the initial value and the added value for the serial number based on the main chip ID included in the gaming machine installation information command. In the example of FIG. 43, the medal number control board 17 determines the initial value of the serial number as "137" and the additional value as "13". Using a similar calculation method, the main control board 16 determines the initial value of the serial number as "137" and the added value as "13" based on the main chip ID.

After transmitting the gaming machine installation information command, the number of bets is set, and the main control board 16 transmits an input command. The insertion command is a command that is transmitted to the medal number control board 17 for the first time after the gaming machine installation information command is transmitted. Therefore, the main control board 16 assigns the initial value "137" as the serial number to the input command and transmits it. The medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the insertion command. At this time, the medal number control board 17 transmits a response command indicating acceptance to the main control board 16 because the communication is normal. That is, when the medal number control board 17 determines that the insertion command transmitted from the main control board 16 is normal by the process of confirming whether the serial numbers match, the medal number control board 17 responds to the insertion command is normal to the main control board 16.

Subsequently, when the start switch 7 is pressed, the main control board 16 transmits a start command. At this time, the main control board 16 adds a value obtained by adding the additional value "13" to the previously transmitted serial number value "137" and transmits the added value. That is, the main control board 16 assigns "150" as the serial number to the command at the start and transmits it.

When the medal count control board 17 receives the insertion command with the serial number of "137", it calculates that the serial number of the command to be received next is "150" based on the added value. When receiving the start command, the medal number control board 17 confirms whether the serial number value calculated before the reception matches the serial number value given to the actually received start command. Execute the process. Since the serial numbers match, the medal number control board 17 determines that the communication is normal.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing an example of communication when a serial number mismatch error occurs. The processing until main control board 16 receives a response command corresponding to the bet number setting operation is the same as in FIG. 42, and thus description thereof will not be repeated. As described above, when the medal number control board 17 receives the insertion command, it calculates that the serial number given to the command to be received next is "150".

In the example of FIG. 44, the fraudulent operation is performed after the bet number setting operation is performed. As described above, an unauthorized operation is, for example, an operation that alters commands sent and received between the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17, or an unauthorized person uses the main control board 16 or the medal count control board 17 Indicates an operation to control the . In FIG. 44, the main control board 16 is controlled by an unauthorized person, so that the main control board 16 transmits the end command even though all the reels are not stopped. That is, in FIG. 44, an unauthorized operation is performed for the purpose of causing the medal count control board 17 to execute the payout process even though no winning has occurred. However, an unauthorized person cannot acquire the initial value and the added value of the serial number determined based on the main chip ID of the main control board 16, and the number of command transmissions and receptions. It is not possible to know the serial number value. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 44, the unauthorized person adds the serial number "78" to the command at the time of termination and transmits it. 78” does not match, it is determined that a serial number mismatch error has occurred, and a response command indicating that the serial number does not match is sent to the main control board 16. That is, when the medal number control board 17 determines that the end time command transmitted from the main control board 16 is not normal by the process of confirming whether the serial numbers match, the medal number control board 17 responds to the end time command and A response command indicating that the command is not normal is sent to the main control board 16 . The main control board 16 that has received the response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match does not execute the payout control after the end command. This makes it possible to prevent unauthorized operations.

Illegal operations include not only those that cause the main control board 16 to transmit an end-time command even though there is no winning as shown in FIG. 44, but also the following illegal operations.

For example, as an illegal operation, it is conceivable to cause the main control board 16 to transmit a bet number cancel command even though the bet number set in the BET counter of the RAM 161c of the main control board 16 is 0. As a result, the fraudulent player can increase the number of credits stored in the medal number control board 17 even though the number of bets has not been set.

Further, as an illegal operation, it is conceivable to alter the response command transmitted by the medal number control board 17 in response to the insertion command transmitted by the main control board 16 . For example, the fraudulent person causes the medal number control board 17 to transmit a response command indicating acceptance to the main control board 16 even though the credit amount is "0". This allows the fraudulent person to set the bet amount even though the credit amount is "0".

As described above, the unauthorized operation includes an unauthorized operation that forges a command transmitted by the main control board 16 and an unauthorized operation that forges a command transmitted by the medal number control board 17. FIG. In the S machine 2 of the present embodiment, all of the unauthorized operations described above can be prevented by using the "serial number".

Subsequently, a start command with a serial number of “150” is sent to the medal number control board 17 . The serial number “150” given to the command at the start coincides with the serial number calculated by the medal number control board 17 in advance. Due to the match, the medal number control board 17 determines that the serial number mismatch error has been resolved, and transmits a response command indicating acceptance to the main control board 16 . In this way, in the S stage 2, it is possible to easily determine that the serial number mismatch error has been resolved in the medal number control board 17.

As shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, when the medal count control board 17 receives a command transmitted from the main control board 16, it uses the initial value of the serial number and the added value to Determine whether the transmitted command is normal. That is, the medal count control board 17 transmits a response command when a command requiring a response is received, and furthermore, by adding information indicating whether or not communication is normal to the response command, The main control board 16 can progress the game while checking the status of the medal count control board 17 .

In addition, as shown in FIG. 44, since the serial numbers do not match, it is possible to grasp the possibility that an unauthorized operation has been performed, and exchanges between the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17 are possible. Increased security for

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example of communication when an error related to game medals occurs. The processing until the medal count control board 17 receives the command at start is the same as in FIG. 42, so the description will not be repeated. After transmitting the command at the start, the main control board 16 transmits the command at the end to which the serial number "163" is assigned based on the fact that all the reels have stopped. At this time, although the number of payout medals is provided in the end command, an error relating to game medals occurs because the number of credits is the upper limit. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 transmits to the main control board 16 a response command indicating the game medal count overflow. As a result, the main control board 16 does not execute the payout process.

After that, the number of credits is subtracted based on the operation of the counting button 10 or the like, and the medal number control board 17 enters a state in which the payout medals can be accepted. That is, the error related to game medals is eliminated. After that, the main control board 16 again transmits to the medal count control board 17 the command at the time of termination to which the serial number "163" is assigned. In response to this, the medal number control board 17 transmits a response command indicating acceptance OK since no error related to game medals occurs.

[Communication before transmission/reception of gaming machine installation information command]
FIG. 46 is a diagram showing an example of communication occurring before transmission/reception of the gaming machine installation information command. As described above, the main control board 16 transmits the gaming machine installation information command to the medal count control board 17 after the power is turned on.

In the example of FIG. 46, the main control board 16 transmits the end command to the medal number control board 17 after power is turned on and before transmitting the gaming machine installation information command. If the medal number control board 17 receives a command from the main control board 16 before receiving the gaming machine installation information command, it discards the command regardless of the type of the command and the given serial number. In other words, the medal number control board 17 does not execute processing according to commands other than the gaming machine installation information command from the main control board 16 at least until it receives the gaming machine installation information command.

As a result, the medal count control board 17 does not communicate with the main control board 16 in a state where communication is not established with the main control board 16 based on the gaming machine installation information command. It is possible to enhance the security of exchanges between the board 16 and the medal number control board 17. - 特許庁That is, it is possible to prevent illegal operations performed before receiving the gaming machine installation information command.

In the example of FIG. 46, after the end command is discarded, the gaming machine installation information command A is transmitted to the medal count control board 17 in response to power-on. The medal number control board 17 determines the initial value and the added value of the serial number based on the reception of the gaming machine installation information command A. FIG.

Subsequently, in FIG. 46 , the medal number control board 17 receives the game machine installation information command B from the main control board 16 . At this time, since the medal number control board 17 has already received the gaming machine installation information command A, the serial number initial value and the added value are not updated based on the gaming machine installation information command B. That is, even if the game machine installation information command is transmitted again from the main control board 16 after receiving the game machine installation information command, the medal number control board 17 does not execute the processing according to the game machine installation information command.

As a result, the medal number control board 17 can prevent spoofing of the main control board 16 by an unauthorized board other than the main control board 16 connected to the medal number control board 17, for example. That is, it is possible to prevent the initial value of the serial number and the added value from being illegally rewritten.

[Timeout at power on]
FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of timeout at power-on. The main control board 16 transmits a gaming machine installation information command when the power is turned on. The main control board 16 uses a counter to measure the elapsed time since the power was turned on.

If the main control board 16 does not complete the transmission of the gaming machine installation information command within 5000 ms after the main control board 16 is powered on, the main control board 16 and the medal count control board 17 assuming that an error has occurred in the communication. That is, when the medal number control board 17 fails to receive the gaming machine installation information command within 5000 ms after the power supply of the S table 2 is turned on, it controls to an abnormal state. In the example of FIG. 47, the gaming machine installation information command is not transmitted within 5000 ms after the main control board 16 is powered on, so the medal count control board 17 determines that a communication error has occurred. do. The medal count control board 17 causes the display 312 of the CU3 to display that a communication error has occurred.

As a result, when the medal number control board 17 cannot establish communication with the medal number control board 17 based on the gaming machine installation information command after the power of the S table 2 is turned on, the communication Abnormalities can be notified to the outside.

The medal number control board 17 is connected to the CU control board 32 . Even if a communication error occurs in the main control board 16 , the medal number control board 17 can communicate with the CU control board 32 .

The communication error that occurred in the main control board 16 is resolved by turning on the power again, and the game machine installation information command is normally transmitted within 5000 ms after the power of the main control board 16 is turned on, and the medal number control board 17 sends a response command indicating that the reception is OK.

[Regarding betting number setting operation and settlement operation]
FIG. 48 is a diagram for explaining a bet amount setting operation and a settlement operation. As described above, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command to the medal number control board 17 when the bet amount setting operation is performed by pressing the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 . Further, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the number-of-medals control board 17 when a settlement operation is performed by pressing the number-of-bets clear switch 21 .

As shown in FIG. 48, the main control board 16 transmits an insertion command to the medal number control board 17 based on the operation for setting the number of bets. The input command is a command including the number of input medals. The medal number control board 17 reads the number of inserted medals included in the received insert command, and performs bet number setting processing. Specifically, the number of inserted medals is subtracted from the number of credits managed by the medal number control board 17, and the number of inserted medals is added to the number of bets. For example, if the number of bets before the bet amount setting process is executed is 0 and the valid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is performed as the bet amount setting operation, the token amount control board 17 subtracts 3 from the credit amount. and add 3 to the number of bets. The medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 on the basis of receiving the insertion command.

Subsequently, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command to the medal number control board 17 based on the settlement operation. The settlement command is a command including the number of settlement medals. The medal count control board 17 reads the number of settlement medals included in the received settlement command, and performs bet count cancellation processing. Specifically, the number of settlement medals is subtracted from the number of bets managed by the medal number control board 17, and the number of settlement medals is added to the number of credits. For example, if the number of bets before the bet amount cancellation process is executed is 3 and the bet amount clear switch 21 is pressed, the medal amount control board 17 subtracts 3 from the bet amount, Add three. The medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 based on the reception of the settlement command.

Here, the medal number control board 17 transmits a common response command to the insertion command and the settlement command. That is, the medal count control board 17 transmits a common response command to the main control board 16 when receiving the insertion command and when receiving the settlement command. Specifically, the medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the main control board 16 both when it receives an insertion command and when it receives a settlement command. Here, when the insertion command is received, the medal number control board 17 does not execute processing for adding the number of credits (the number of game medals), so the game medal number overflow cannot occur. Therefore, the medal number control board 17 does not store "1" in the 3rd bit of the 3rd byte of the response command to the insertion command and transmit it.

Further, when receiving the settlement command, the medal number control board 17 does not execute the process of subtracting the number of credits, so that the number of game medals becomes insufficient. Therefore, the medal number control board 17 does not store "1" in the 2nd bit of the 3rd byte of the response command to the insertion command and transmit it.

In this way, the medal count control board 17 uses the data stored in the third byte differently depending on whether the input command is received or the settlement command is received. is notified to the main control board 16 . As a result, the medal number control board 17 can share the response command when the bet amount setting operation is performed and when the bet amount canceling operation is performed, so that the processing load can be reduced. can be done.

FIG. 49 is a diagram showing an example in which a new bet number setting operation is performed after the bet number setting operation and before the response command is received. As shown in FIG. 49, the main control board 16 transmits an input command based on the bet number setting operation A. FIG. The main control board 16 performs control so that the transmission of the input command is completed before 40 ms elapses from the start of transmission so that a timeout error does not occur. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the insertion command.

In the example of FIG. 49, after accepting the bet amount setting operation A and before receiving the response command to the input command based on the bet amount setting operation A, the bet amount setting operation B is newly performed. The main control board 16 does not accept the bet number setting operation B. That is, the main control board 16 does not accept a new bet number setting operation until it receives a response command from the medal number control board 17 after sending the insertion command to the medal number control board 17 . As a result, it is possible to prevent a new bet amount setting operation B from being accepted in a situation where the processing corresponding to the bet amount setting operation A has not been finalized in the medal amount control board 17 .

FIG. 50 is a diagram showing an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after the settlement operation and before the response command is received. As shown in FIG. 50, the main control board 16 transmits a settlement command based on the settlement operation A. FIG. The main control board 16 performs control so that transmission of the settlement command is completed before 40 ms elapses from the start of transmission so that a timeout error does not occur. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the settlement command.

In the example of FIG. 50 , after receiving settlement operation A and before receiving a response command to the input command based on settlement operation A, settlement operation B is newly performed. The main control board 16 does not accept the settlement operation B. That is, the main control board 16 does not accept a new settlement operation until it receives a response command from the medal number control board 17 after transmitting the settlement command to the medal number control board 17 . As a result, it is possible to prevent a new settlement operation B from being accepted in a situation where the processing corresponding to the settlement operation A has not been finalized in the medal number control board 17 .

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing an example in which a new settlement operation is performed after a bet number setting operation and before a response command is received. As shown in FIG. 51, the main control board 16 transmits the input command based on the bet number setting operation. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the insertion command.

In the example of FIG. 51, after receiving the bet amount setting operation, and before receiving the response command to the input command based on the bet amount setting operation, a new settlement operation is performed. The main control board 16 does not accept the settlement operation. That is, the main control board 16 does not accept a new settlement operation until it receives a response command from the medal number control board 17 after sending the insertion command to the medal number control board 17 . As a result, it is possible to prevent a new payment operation from being accepted in a situation where the processing corresponding to the bet number setting operation has not been finalized in the medal number control board 17 .

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing an example in which a new bet number setting operation is performed after the settlement operation and before the response command is received. As shown in FIG. 52, the main control board 16 transmits an input command based on the settlement operation. The medal count control board 17 transmits a response command in response to receiving the insertion command.

In the example of FIG. 52, a bet number setting operation is newly performed after receiving a settlement operation and before receiving a response command to the settlement command based on the settlement operation. The main control board 16 does not accept the operation for setting the number of bets. That is, the main control board 16 does not accept a new bet number setting operation until it receives a response command from the medal number control board 17 after transmitting the settlement command to the medal number control board 17 . As a result, it is possible to prevent a new bet amount setting operation from being accepted in a situation where the medal amount control board 17 has not decided the processing corresponding to the settlement operation.

[Bet number setting operation and sequence number]
FIG. 53 is a diagram explaining a serial number error in a bet number setting operation. As shown in FIG. 53, the medal count control board 17 sets the initial value of the serial number to "137" based on the reception of the gaming machine installation information command.

After that, at the S table 2, a bet number setting operation is performed. The main control board 16 transmits an input command based on the operation for setting the number of bets. A serial number "78" is assigned to the input command. That is, the serial number assigned to the input command does not match the initial value of the serial number. Therefore, the medal number control board 17 transmits to the main control board 16 a response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match. The main control board 16 does not accept a new bet number setting operation from the time it receives the response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match. That is, when the main control board 16 receives a response command indicating that the game is not normal, the main control board 16 does not resume acceptance of the bet number setting operation.

FIG. 54 is a diagram explaining a serial number error in settlement operation. As shown in FIG. 54, the medal number control board 17 sets the initial value of the serial number to "137" based on the reception of the gaming machine installation information command.

After that, at the S table 2, a bet number setting operation is performed. The main control board 16 transmits an input command based on the operation for setting the number of bets. "137" is given as a serial number to the input command. That is, the serial number assigned to the input command matches the initial value of the serial number. Therefore, the medal count control board 17 transmits to the main control board 16 a response command indicating acceptance. The main control board 16 accepts the bet number setting operation based on the receipt of the response command indicating acceptance, and performs the following control.

Subsequently, in FIG. 54, a settlement operation is performed. The main control board 16 transmits a settlement command based on the settlement operation. A serial number of "78" is assigned to the settlement command. That is, the serial number given to the settlement command does not match the serial number calculated by the medal count control board 17 . Therefore, the medal number control board 17 transmits to the main control board 16 a response command indicating that the serial numbers do not match. The main control board 16 does not accept a new settlement operation based on the reception of the response command indicating the serial number mismatch. That is, when the main control board 16 receives a response command indicating that it is not normal, it does not resume accepting the payment operation.

Referring to FIGS. 53 and 54, main control board 16 performs a new bet amount setting operation or bet amount cancellation in a situation where processing corresponding to bet amount setting operation or settlement operation has not been finalized in medal amount control board 17. It is possible to prevent the operation from being accepted.

[Confirmation processing of frame side information]
FIG. 55 is a diagram for explaining confirmation processing of frame-side information. As described above, the medal number control board 17 transmits the frame side information command to the main control board 16 at regular intervals. The system information included in the frame-side information command includes connection status information indicating whether or not the medal count control board 17 and the CU control board 32 are normally connected.

In the example of FIG. 55, the connection between the medal number control board 17 and the CU control board 32 is cut. After the disconnection, the medal count control board 17 transmits to the main control board 16 a frame side information command indicating a connection error. After the main control board 16 receives the frame side information command indicating the connection abnormality, the start switch 7 is pressed. At this time, the main control board 16 does not transmit the start command.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 55, even after the main control board 16 receives the frame side information command indicating the connection abnormality, if the bet number setting operation and the settlement operation are performed, the main control board 16 , to send the input command and the settlement command. That is, when the main control board 16 receives a bet amount setting operation for setting the bet amount for starting one game, it determines whether the connection between the medal number control board 17 and the CU3 is normal. Regardless, the insertion command is transmitted to the medal number control board 17. In addition, when the main control board 16 receives a settlement operation for canceling the number of bets for starting one game, the main control board 16 receives the payment regardless of whether the connection between the medal number control board 17 and the CU 3 is normal. First, a settlement command is transmitted to the medal count control board 17. Further, after the connection between the medal count control board 17 and the CU control board 32 is restored and the main control board 16 receives the frame side information command indicating normal connection, it transmits a command at start. That is, at the start of one game, the main control board 16 confirms the connection status between the medal number control board 17 and CU3 based on the frame side information command, and confirms that the connection between the medal number control board 17 and CU3 is normal. The first game is started when . In addition, the main control board 16 performs the next control without waiting for a response from the medal number control board 17 after transmitting the start command. The next control is, for example, reel drive control for starting the game.

As a result, the main control board 16 starts one game on the condition that the connection between the medal number control board 17 and the CU 3 is normal, so the game progresses while checking the status of the medal number control board 17. be able to. Furthermore, since the game value is not affected when one game is started, the main control board 16 executes the next control without waiting for a response from the medal number control board 17 after transmitting the start command. be able to.

In addition, the main control board 16 can transmit an insertion command in response to a bet number setting operation, regardless of whether the connection between the medal number control board 17 and the CU 3 is normal. You can send a settlement command.

[Regarding the display of the number of payouts]
FIG. 56 is a diagram for explaining display control of the payout number. After stopping all the reels, the main control board 16 transmits a command at the end to the medal number control board 17 . The end command shown in FIG. 56 is a command accompanied by at least one payout medal. The medal number control board 17 transmits a response command based on the reception of the end command. In addition, the medal number control board 17 adds the number of credits according to the number of payout medals indicated by the end command. After receiving the response command, the main control board 16 displays the payout number on the game auxiliary display 12 . That is, the main control board 16 causes the auxiliary game display 12 to display the number of payout medals on condition that the response command is received after transmitting the end command. As a result, the main control board 16 can display the number of payouts on the auxiliary game display 12 while checking the status of the medal number control board 17 .

After transmitting the response command, the main control board 16 transmits the accessory information command, the advantageous section command, and the payout pulse command. That is, the main control board 16, after transmitting the command at the end, on the condition that the response command is received, the role information command that can specify whether or not the special role is controlled to the winning state, the advantageous section A command is sent to the medal count control board 17 . As a result, the main control board 16 can inform the medal number control board 17 whether or not it is being controlled to an advantageous section while checking the status of the medal number control board 17. While confirming the number of medals, the number of medals control board 17 can be made to output the ratio of the number of payouts given in the advantageous section or the like.

[About role ratio monitor]
FIG. 57 is a diagram showing a role ratio monitor 89. As shown in FIG. FIG. 57 shows the role ratio monitor 89 when the lights are off. As shown in FIG. 57, the role ratio monitor 89 includes a first segment A, a second segment B, a third segment C, a fourth segment D, a fifth segment E, a sixth segment F, a seventh segment G, and an eighth segment. The segment DP consists of five role ratio information displays 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, and 50e that can be turned on/off, respectively. By setting display data to , the display can display various information by turning on or off the first to eighth segments A to DP.

FIG. 58 is a diagram showing a display example of the role ratio monitor 89. As shown in FIG. The medal number control board 17 provides the role ratio monitor 89 with (1) an instructed role payout ratio with respect to the total cumulative number of payouts, (2) a continuous role payout ratio over the past 6000 games, and (3) a payout ratio of the past 6000 games. Accessory payout ratio, (4) Continuous accessory payout ratio to total cumulative payout number, (5) Accessory payout ratio to total cumulative payout number, (6) Accessory condition ratio to total cumulative payout number, (1) to (6) are displayed in order. Below, the information indicated by (1) to (6) may be referred to as display content.

The accessory payout ratio indicates the ratio of the payout amount of the accessory when winning the special combination (BB) to the number of payouts in a predetermined period. The continuous role ratio indicates the ratio of the number of payouts of the role when winning the special combination (RB) to the number of payouts in a predetermined period. Further, the instructed accessory payout ratio indicates the ratio of the accessory payout number to the payout number in a predetermined period when the payout number at the time of instruction (navigation) is included in the accessory payout number. That is, it is the ratio of the total number of medals paid out when the navigation notification is performed and the number of medals paid out in BB or RB to the total accumulated number of medals paid out. The condition ratio of accessories, etc. indicates the ratio of the number of games played when a special combination (BB, RB, CB, and SB) is won to the number of games played during a predetermined period. That is, the role ratio monitor 89 outputs the ratio of the number of paid-out medals given in the state of winning a special role to all the number of paid-out medals that have already been given. The display contents displayed on the role ratio monitor 89 are calculated by the medal count control board 17 .

When the display contents are switched and displayed every predetermined period in the display order of (1) to (6) shown in FIG. In , even if these values can be updated to new values as the game progresses, updating to new values is restricted and the display is cycled using the original values.

Specifically, if the game progresses and these values can be updated to new values within one period until these displays are completed, new values are calculated and stored in the RAM 171c. However, by setting the original value without setting the new value in the output buffer for displaying the display contents on the role ratio monitor 89, the display on the role ratio monitor 89 is changed to the original value set in the output buffer. After one cycle of display is completed, a new value may be set in the output buffer, and then the new value may be used for display. In addition, if these values can be updated to new values within one period until these displays complete one cycle, the operation for obtaining the new values is restricted and the role ratio The display on the monitor 89 may be cycled, and when the cycle of display is completed, calculation may be performed to obtain a new value, and then the display on the role ratio monitor 89 may be performed using the new value. . By doing so, it is possible to prevent values calculated at different times from being mixed during the period until the contents displayed on the role ratio monitor 89 are completed.

In addition, the medal count control board 17 displays an unusual display mode when the continuous accessory payout ratio for the past 6,000 games or the continuous accessory payout ratio with respect to the total accumulated payout exceeds a specified ratio (for example, 60%). (For example, if normal lighting is always on, the upper two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 are blinking on, etc.) to display the continuous bonus payout ratio. In addition, the medal count control board 17 displays a different display mode (e.g., , if normal lighting is always on, the high-order two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 are blinking, etc.) to display the payout ratio of the role product.

In this way, when the continuous accessory payout ratio and the accessory payout ratio exceed the specified ratio, it is displayed in a display mode different from usual, and there is a possibility that the gambling property is controlled to be high. It is designed to warn you that

Further, when the medal number control board 17 displays the continuous role payout ratio and the role payout ratio for the past 6000 games on the role ratio monitor 89, the total number of past games has reached 6000 since the power was turned on. When it is not, for example, all the digits displayed on the role ratio monitor 89 are flashed. It's becoming That is, the medal number control board 17, in the process of calculating the display contents to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, when the period of 6000 games has not passed since the start of accumulation of the data used in the process, the role All digits of the ratio monitor 89 are flashed. In addition, in the process of calculating the display contents to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, the medal number control board 17 performs the role calculation when a period of 6000 games has not elapsed since the start of accumulation of data used in the process. Some digits of the ratio monitor 89 may be blinked. As a result, it is possible to recognize the possibility that the displayed ratios and ratios are biased. When displaying, it is possible to inform the outside that there is a risk of data shortage.

The medal number control board 17 displays "00" in the lower two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 before reaching 6000 games. A ratio to be displayed in the lower two digits may be displayed. In other words, before reaching the 6000th game, it is preferable that the display mode of the lower two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 is different from the display mode after the 6000th game. By adopting such a configuration, in a state where 6000 games have not been reached, the tally such as the continuous bonus payout ratio specified by the display of the upper two digits (for example, "1C") on the role ratio monitor 89 is 6000. It can be recognized that the game has not been reached, and the possibility that the displayed ratio and ratio are biased can be recognized. In addition, when 6000 games have not been reached, the lower two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 are configured to display "00". Data is displayed in two digits. For example, when data is not displayed in one of the role ratio monitors 89 of the lower two digits, an abnormality in the role ratio monitor 89 can be recognized.

Further, when the medal number control board 17 displays the continuous accessory payout ratio with respect to the total accumulated payout number on the role ratio monitor 89, the number of past games generally converges to the design value of the slot machine. When the specified number of games (for example, 175,000 games) has not been reached, for example, the display of the upper two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 is flashed, and the display mode is different from the usual display mode. It is possible to recognize that the item payout ratio has not reached the specified number of games where it generally converges to the design value of the slot machine, and it is possible to recognize the possibility that the displayed ratio and ratio are biased. It has become.

In addition, when the medal number control board 17 displays the role item payout ratio with respect to the total cumulative number of payouts on the role ratio monitor 89, the number of past games is a prescribed game in which the role item payout ratio converges approximately to the design value of the slot machine. When the number (for example, 175,000 games) has not been reached, for example, the display of the upper two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 is flashed, or the like, by controlling the display mode to be different from the normal display mode, thereby increasing the character payout ratio. It is possible to recognize that the number of games has not reached the specified number of games, which generally converges to the design value of the slot machine, and that the displayed ratio and ratio may be biased. there is

In addition, when the medal number control board 17 displays the instructed accessory payout ratio with respect to the total accumulated payout number on the role ratio monitor 89, the number of past games is approximately the designed value of the slot machine. When the specified number of games to converge (for example, 175,000 games) has not been reached, for example, the display of the upper two digits of the role ratio monitor 89 is blinked. It is possible to recognize that the instructed accessory payout ratio has not reached the specified number of games that generally converges to the design value of the slot machine, and there is a possibility that the displayed ratio and ratio are biased. It is recognizable.

In addition, the medal number control board 17 determines whether or not the data used for calculating the continuous role product payout ratio and the role product payout ratio for the past 6000 games are normal. If the value is in a certain data format (01 repetition, etc.), the data determined to be abnormal and the data related to the data are initialized, and the role ratio monitor 89 indicates that the abnormality has been detected. A display (for example, "FFFF") is displayed to inform the user of the fact, so that the user can recognize that the calculation of these data is not performed normally.

When the data determined to be abnormal and the data related to the data are initialized, for example, either one of the continuous accessory payout ratio or the accessory payout ratio in the past 6000 games is determined to be abnormal. If so, all of the data may be initialized, or only a portion of the data may be initialized.

In addition, it is determined whether the data used for calculating the continuous accessory payout ratio for the past 6000 games or the total cumulative payout number, the accessory payout ratio, and the instructed accessory payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number are normal, When it is determined that there is an abnormality, the fact is notified, and then predetermined operations (for example, switches such as the start switch 7, the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, and the setting key switch 37 are operated in a predetermined procedure. The data may be initialized by doing so.

In addition, in reporting that an abnormality has been determined, as described above, the role ratio monitor 89 may be caused to display (for example, "FFFF") that an abnormality has been detected to notify that effect. When an abnormality is determined, a command that can specify the fact is transmitted to the effect control unit 151, and the effect control unit 151 side informs that the abnormality is determined by the liquid crystal display 51 or the like. may

In the present embodiment, during the period from when the power is turned on until the power supply is stopped, the instructed accessory payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, the continuous accessory payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the continuous accessory payout ratio for the past 6000 games, Accessory payout ratio, continuous accessory payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, accessory payout ratio to the total cumulative payout number, and accessory condition ratio to the total cumulative payout number are switched and displayed every predetermined period. However, it may be displayed only when the open state of the front door 1b is detected, or displayed only when operation of a predetermined operation switch (for example, the reset/setting switch 38) is detected. , it may be displayed when the game is not in progress, it may be displayed while the settings are being changed or confirmed, or it may be displayed only for a predetermined period after the power is turned on. Further, the display content may be switched each time a predetermined operation is performed instead of automatically switching at predetermined intervals.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the role ratio monitor 89 is notified that an abnormality in the data used for calculating the display content of the role ratio monitor 89 has been determined or that the data for calculating the display content is insufficient. However, a command that can be specified to that effect is sent to the effect control unit 151, and the effect control unit 151 controls the liquid crystal display 51 or the effect device. .

In addition, in the present embodiment, the instructed accessory payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number, the continuous accessory payout ratio for the past 6000 games, the accessory payout ratio for the past 6000 games, and the continuous accessory payout ratio for the total cumulative payout number The role ratio monitor 89 displays the role ratio monitor 89, and the RAM 171c is initialized by changing the settings in addition to these displays. When a disconnection of the wiring (backup power supply wiring, etc.) provided in the S stage 2 is detected, the content that makes it possible to recognize that fact is displayed on the role ratio monitor 89. good.

In particular, if the settings are changed during the bonus, during the advantageous section, or during the carryover of the bonus, the bonus or the advantageous section is forcibly terminated, or if the bonus during carryover is cleared, the game will be regulated while the bonus is carried over. more than a certain number of times, or an operation to intentionally end an advantageous section, that is, when the player intentionally shifts from a relatively advantageous game state to a disadvantageous game state, and the role ratio monitor 89 When it is detected that there is a possibility that the connection is not normal due to disconnection or the like occurring in the connection, the fact is notified in a identifiable manner. By doing so, it is possible to recognize the possibility of illegal operation so as not to display correct information such as the accessory payout ratio, continuous accessory payout ratio, instructed accessory payout ratio, and the like.

In addition, in order to avoid overflow of the total cumulative number of games, the total cumulative payout number, etc., in the configuration where the total cumulative data is initialized, the above-mentioned accessory payout ratio, continuous accessory It is preferable to notify in a manner different from the case where there is a possibility of illegal operation so that correct information such as the payout ratio and the instructed accessory payout ratio is not displayed. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the display of correct information such as the bonus payout ratio that the total cumulative number of games played and the total cumulative number of payouts have been initialized by the overflow avoidance process. Initialization by can be recognized separately.

In addition, as described above, if there is a possibility that the correct information such as the accessory payout ratio, the continuous accessory payout ratio, or the instructed accessory payout ratio is not displayed, we will detect that fact. Then, the history of the detection is recorded on the medal number control board 17 side, and the history is recorded on the medal number control board 17 side by performing a predetermined operation without notifying at the time of the detection. Display (for example, role ratio monitor 89, etc.), display provided on the production control unit 151 side (for example, liquid crystal display 51, etc.), external display of S stand 2 (for example, display 312), etc. You may enable it to confirm.

In addition, correct information such as setting change, disconnection detection, and connection failure of the role ratio monitor 89 is displayed as a role payout ratio, a continuous role payout ratio, an instructed role payout ratio, and the like. production control that there is a possibility that the correct information is not displayed as the character product payout ratio, the continuous character product payout ratio, the instructed character product payout ratio, etc. as described above. You may enable it to confirm with the display and production|presentation apparatus which the part 151 controls. In addition, during the bonus, during the advantageous section, or during the carry-over of the bonus, the setting is changed, the bonus or the advantageous section is forcibly terminated, or the bonus during carry-over is cleared. The performance control unit 151 records the history of the detection of the possibility of illegal operation so that correct information such as payout ratio, instructed accessory payout ratio, etc. is not displayed, and these are recorded by a predetermined operation. You may be able to check the history of

[Initialization processing of role ratio information]
FIG. 59 is a diagram for explaining initialization processing of role ratio information. As shown in FIG. 59 , after the power is turned on, the main control board 16 transmits the gaming machine installation information command A to the medal number control board 17 . After that, the game is repeated, and the main control board 16 transmits the advantageous interval command and the payout pulse command to the medal number control board 17 .

The number-of-medals control board 17 executes a backup process of storing the role ratio information in the backup memory 294 based on the reception of the payout pulse command. The role ratio information is data used for calculating data to be displayed on the role ratio monitor 89, and is included in the role information command, the advantageous section command, and the payout pulse command. The medal number control board 17 may store the role ratio information in the backup memory 294 every time it receives a command including the role ratio information.

In the example of FIG. 59, the main control board 16 is tampered with after the backup process is executed. As described above, "unauthorized operation" means an operation that alters commands exchanged between the main control board 16 and the medal number control board 17, or illegally controls the main control board 16 or the medal number control board 17. Indicates operations, etc. In the example of FIG. 44, the main control board 16 is controlled by the illegally connected device due to the unauthorized operation, and the main control board 16 transmits the gaming machine installation information command B to the medal count control board 17. . At this time, the medal number control board 17 again executes backup initialization for initializing the role ratio information stored in the backup memory 294 based on the reception of the gaming machine installation information command. That is, when the main chip ID specified from the gaming machine installation information command is different from the main chip ID specified from the gaming machine installation information command received last time, the medal number control board 17 displays on the role ratio monitor 89 Initialize the data used.

As a result, the medal number control board 17 initializes the data used for displaying the role ratio information based on the main chip ID that the main control board 16 has, and if the main control board 16 is not valid, It is possible to ensure that a normal role ratio corresponding to the machine is output.

[Regarding game programs and non-game programs]
The main control unit 161 of the S machine 2 of the present embodiment executes a game program and a non-game program. A game program is a program in which commands relating to progress of a game such as an internal lottery process are described. A non-game program is a program in which instructions not directly related to the progress of a game, such as data output processing to a role ratio monitor, are described. Unintentional intermixing of data between game programs and non-game programs can cause problems. For example, if the data in the non-game RAM area is rewritten in spite of the fact that data in the game RAM area should be rewritten by a command from the game program, the program may be defective. In order to prevent such a problem, the main control unit 161 distinguishes between game programs and non-game programs, executes the programs, and progresses the game.

Below, with reference to FIG. 60, areas in which non-game programs and game programs are stored will be described. FIG. 60 is an address map of a memory area used by the main controller 161. FIG. As shown in FIG. 60, the memory area used by the main control unit 161 includes a memory area (0000H to EFFFH) allocated to the ROM 161b and a memory area (F000H to FFFFH) allocated to the RAM 161c.

The memory area of the ROM 161b consists of a program/data area in which programs and fixed data are stored, an unused area to which access is prohibited, and other areas. Other areas include a ROM comment area in which arbitrary data such as the program title and version can be set, and a vector table area in which the upper address of the CALLV instruction subroutine and the start address of the timer interrupt processing (main) are set. , an HW parameter area in which parameters for setting internal functions of the main control unit 161 in terms of hardware are set, and an unused area in which access is prohibited.

The memory area of the RAM 161c consists of a usable area (F000H to F400H) that can be used as a work and other areas (F401H to FFFFH). The other area includes an internal function register area (FE00H to FEACH) in which a register group for controlling each function installed in the main control unit 161 is stored. Each function installed in main control unit 161 includes, for example, a function of a serial communication circuit, which will be described later. That is, the internal function register area of the RAM 161c includes a storage area for setting functions of the serial communication circuit.

The program/data area in the ROM 161b includes a game program area for storing a game program related to the progress of the game, a game data area for storing the game data used by the game program, an unused area 1, and a a non-game program area for storing non-game programs not used, a non-game data area for storing non-game data used by the non-game program, and an unused area 2 .

It should be noted that the progress of the game is to proceed with a series of processes that constitute the game, and in the case of a slot machine, at the stage where the game can be started by setting the number of bets, the game is started and the reels are rotated. a step of stopping the reels and deriving the display result; and a step of giving a value such as a medal according to the display result.

Note that, in the above description, the front and back of the storage area indicates the size relationship of the address values assigned to the storage area, and the smaller address is the front, and the larger address is the rear. For this reason, a storage area allocated behind one storage area corresponds to a storage area having a larger address value than that of one storage area, and a storage area allocated ahead of one storage area corresponds to , a storage area having an address value smaller than that of one storage area.

The RAM 161c includes a game RAM area used as work by the game program, an unused area 3, a stack area where the game program saves data, a non-game RAM area used by the non-game program as work, an unused area 4, It also includes a stack area where the non-game program saves data.

The game RAM area is composed of areas AD. Here, areas A to D are called all initialization target areas, areas B to D are called initialization target areas at the end of setting change, areas C to D are called bonus (BB) end initialization target areas, The area D is called an initialization target area at the end of each game. The all-initialization target area is an area that is initialized by performing a predetermined operation when a RAM error occurs. The area to be initialized at the end of setting change is an area to be initialized when the setting change is finished. The area to be initialized at the end of the bonus is an area to be initialized at the end of the bonus. The area to be initialized at the end of each game is an area that is initialized each time a game ends.

Hereinafter, the game program area, the game data area, and the game RAM area may be collectively referred to as the game area, and the non-game program area, the non-game data area, and the non-game RAM area may be collectively referred to as the non-game area. .

The non-game RAM area is composed of areas E and F. Here, the area E is called an initialization target area at the end of each game, and the area F is called an initialization area at power-on. An area to be initialized at the end of each game (area E) in the non-game RAM area is initialized each time the game is finished, similarly to the area to be initialized at the end of each game (area D) in the game RAM area. This is the area where A power-on initialization area (area F) is an area that is initialized when power is turned on again after the S-table 2 is powered off. The area F stores variables used in safety device processing, which will be described later. A region E stores a stopping flag used in safety device processing, which will be described later.

[Instructions used by the program]

The program executed by main control unit 161 includes a main routine that manages the progress of the entire program, and subroutines that are called during execution of other programs.

An LD instruction is included as an instruction for reading data stored in the program/data area in the main control unit 161 . The LD instruction is an instruction to read 1-byte data stored at an address specified in a main routine or subroutine to a specified register. The main control unit 161 reads the data stored at the address specified by the LD instruction, and stores the read data in the register specified by the LD instruction.

LD instructions include normal LD instructions and LDQ instructions, which are special LD instructions. A normal LD instruction is an instruction that specifies both a high-order address and a low-order address, and reads out data stored in a specific area of the ROM 161b or RAM 161c with the specified high-order address and low-order address. On the other hand, the LDQ instruction specifies only the lower address, and the address is obtained by the upper address preset in the special register (Q register) in the internal function register area of the RAM 161c and the specified lower address. This is an instruction to specify and read data stored in a specific area of the ROM 161b or RAM 161c and store the read data in a designated register. can be stored in the register of

When reading data stored in a specific area of the ROM 161b or RAM 161c in the main routine or subroutine, the LDQ instruction, which is a special LD instruction, is used to read all addresses (upper and lower parts) indicating the specific area. It is possible to read the data in the specific area by specifying only the lower part of the address instead of specifying it. By using the LDQ instruction, it is possible to read data with a smaller amount of data compared to the normal LD instruction that reads data by specifying both the upper address and the lower address, and the address is specified when reading data. It is possible to reduce the waste of the program for

Among the game data stored in the game RAM area of the RAM 161c, the game data with particularly high frequency of use is stored in an area whose top address is a specific value in the game RAM area, and the specific value is stored in a special register. (Q register) is set as the upper address of the game data, and when the main control unit 161 reads out the game data, the game data is read by specifying only the lower address using the LDQ instruction, Compared to a normal LD instruction that reads data by designating both upper and lower addresses, it is possible to read game data with a smaller amount of data. Program waste can be reduced.

In addition, the main control unit 161 can change the value set in a special register (Q register) in the main routine or subroutine. In setting, a specific value is set in a special register (Q register), which indicates the top address of game data that is frequently used by the game program. In this embodiment, the special registers (Q registers) include the first Q register and the second Q register, but below, the first Q register and the second Q register are collectively , simply referred to as the "special register (Q register)". For example, "F0" is stored in a special register (Q register). As a result, when the game program is running, a specific value indicating the top address of game data frequently used by the game program is set in a special register (Q register). Using the LDQ instruction, it is possible to read game data with a high frequency of use.

As a special LD instruction, the high-order address used for reading by the LDQ instruction may be set in a predetermined storage area other than a special register (eg, Q register), such as a vector table area. Part of the address is specified using a value stored in a predetermined storage area such as With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the waste of programs for specifying addresses when reading data. Also, for example, by allocating an identification value with a smaller amount of data than an address to each of the multiple areas that make up the vector table area, setting a data storage address for each of these multiple areas, and specifying the identification value, To reduce the waste of a program for specifying an address when reading data, even in a configuration using a special LD instruction that can specify the storage address of data stored in an area corresponding to an identification value. can be done.

In addition, a CALL instruction (call instruction) is included as an instruction for causing the main control unit 161 to execute the program stored in the program/data area. A CALL instruction is an instruction to call and execute a subroutine stored at an address specified in a main routine or subroutine. When calling a subroutine with a CALL instruction, the main control unit 161 stores the address of the caller in the stack area, and calls and executes the subroutine stored at the designated address. When the subroutine ends, the RET instruction (return instruction) returns to the caller address stored in the stack area, that is, the program of the caller main routine or subroutine that executed the CALL instruction.

Further, it includes a CALLEX instruction (call instruction) as an instruction for causing the main control unit 161 to execute the program stored in the program/data area. The CALLEX instruction switches register banks in addition to calling the subroutine stored at the address specified in the main routine or subroutine. FIG. 61 is a diagram for explaining register banks included in the CPU 161a of the main control unit 161. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 61, the CPU 161a has a first register bank R1 and a second register bank R2.

The first register bank R1 has 10 registers: 1Q register, 1U register, 1A register, 1B register, 1C register, 1D register, 1E register, 1F register, 1H register and 1L register. registers. Similarly, the second register bank R2 includes a 2Q register, a 2U register, a 2A register, a 2B register, a 2C register, a 2D register, a 2E register, a 2F register, a 2H register, and a 2nd register. 10 registers of 2L registers are included.

The main control unit 161 in this embodiment uses the first register bank R1 when executing an instruction according to the program described in the game program area, and executes the instruction according to the program described in the non-game program area. If so, the second register bank R2 is used. In other words, when executing an instruction according to the program written in the game program area, the main control unit 161 does not use the second register bank R2 and executes the instruction according to the program written in the non-game program area. If so, the first register bank R1 is not used. As a result, in the S machine 2 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the data from being unintentionally mixed between the game program and the non-game program, thereby preventing a problem from occurring. In the following description, the program written in the game program area is simply referred to as "game program", and the program written in the non-game program area is simply referred to as "non-game program".

That is, the main control unit 161 uses the first register bank R1 when executing the game program as the main routine, but when the non-game program is called as a subroutine by the CALLEX instruction, the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2. More specifically, when the non-game program area is called as a subroutine by the CALLEX instruction, the main control unit 161 stores the address of the caller in the stack area and calls the subroutine stored at the specified address. Execute. At the end of the subroutine, the RETEX instruction (return instruction) returns to the address of the caller stored in the stack area, that is, the game program of the caller that executed the CALLEX instruction. 1 Switch to register bank R1. As a result, in the S machine 2 of the present embodiment, different register banks can be used when executing a game program and when executing a non-game program. It is possible to prevent the content and the processing content in the non-game program area from being mixed on the register.

[Q register setting]
FIG. 62 is a flow chart showing activation processing of the main control unit 161 . The main control unit 161 is implemented as a control computer such as a microcomputer, for example. Before the user program is executed, the main control unit 161 executes start-up processing for setting hardware functions of the microcomputer, for example. A user program is a program for controlling the progress of a game, a program stored in the ROM 161b, and means a program designed by a gaming machine manufacturer or the like. On the other hand, the activation process is a process provided in the main controller 161 itself, and is automatically executed when the main controller 161 is activated.

The main control unit 161 executes the activation process of the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 62 also based on the fact that the main control unit 161 is supplied with power. In FIG. 62, as an example of setting processing related to the hardware functions of the main control unit 161, initial values are set to the first Q register and the second Q register (step Sj1). After execution of step Sj1, although not shown, the main control unit 161 can perform setting processing related to the hardware functions of the main control unit 161 and the like. For the setting processing related to the hardware functions, for example, the functions of the serial communication circuit are set.

In step Sj1 of the present embodiment, the initial value of the first Q register is, for example, "F0", and the initial value of the second Q register is, for example, "F3". As a result, the main control unit 161 can reduce the wastefulness of the program for designating the address when calling the game RAM area which is frequently referenced and written when executing the game program. can. Similarly, the main control unit 161 reduces the waste of the program for specifying the address when calling the non-game RAM area that is frequently referenced and written when executing the non-game program. be able to. As a result, the main control unit 161 of the present embodiment can reduce the program capacity at the time of command execution in each of the game program and the non-game program.

After setting initial values in the first Q register and the second Q register in step Sj1, the main control unit 161 executes the user program (step Sj2). The user program includes an initial setting process described later with reference to FIG. 63, a main process described later with reference to FIG. 66, and the like. In this way, before the user program starts game control, an initial value is set in the first Q register, and an initial value is also set in advance in the second Q register. As a result, the main control unit 161 can preset initial values in the first Q register and the second Q register before starting game control, thereby simplifying the processing. Further, according to such a configuration, it becomes unnecessary to set the values of the first Q register and the second Q register in the user program. That is, the processing performed by the user program can be saved. In this embodiment, the initial value of the first Q register and the initial value of the second Q register are different values, but the same value may be set as the initial value.

[Regarding the initial setting process of the main control board 16]
FIG. 63 is a diagram for explaining the initial setting process performed by the main control board 16. As shown in FIG. The initial setting process is a process that is included in the user program and written in the game program area of the ROM 161b.

The main control board 16 starts up in a state in which the timer interrupt is disabled due to the occurrence of a reset when the power supply to the S table 2 is started. Various processing is performed according to After starting, first, all the output ports 0 to 9 are initialized, and an initial setting process included in the game program is performed.

The initialization process is started in a state in which timer interrupts are disabled. As shown in FIG. 63, the initialization process first refers to a predetermined area of the input port (Sa1) and outputs from the power failure detection circuit. It is determined whether or not the power failure detection signal is ON (Sa2). Then, when the power failure detection signal is in the ON state, it waits until the power failure detection signal is in the OFF state. After that, the power supply voltage of the S unit 2 becomes normal, and after the power failure detection signal is turned off, the main control unit 161 sets values in the first Q register and the second Q register (Sa2Q). At step Sa2Q, "F0" is set in the first Q register and "F3" is set in the second Q register. That is, in step Sa2Q, the same processing as in step Sj1 in FIG. 62 is performed. In other words, the same value is reset to the first Q register and the second Q register.

In this manner, the main control unit 161 sets a value in the first Q register and a value in the second Q register not only in the activation process but also in the user program. This allows the main control unit 161 to set arbitrary values in the first Q register and the second Q register in the user program. Even if an abnormality occurs in the startup process of the main control unit 161 and the initial values are not set to the first Q register and the second Q register in step Sj2, the user program and the second Q register, it is possible to prevent an error from occurring in the user program due to no values being set in the first Q register and the second Q register. Note that in the S stage 2 of the present embodiment, values are set in the first Q register and the second Q register in both the processing of step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and the processing of step Sa2Q in FIG. The base 2 may have a configuration in which only one of the processing of step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and the processing of step Sa2Q in FIG. 63 is performed.

Subsequently, the main control unit 161 calculates the parity of a predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sa3), and sets a predetermined initial address in the stack pointer (Sa4). Then, it is determined whether or not the parity calculated in step Sa3 is normal (Sa5), and if the parity is normal, fixed data for RAM breakdown diagnosis set in a predetermined area of RAM 161c at the time of power failure is acquired. Then (Sa6), it is diagnosed whether or not the memory contents of the RAM 161c are destroyed based on the fixed data for RAM destruction diagnosis (Sa7).

If it is determined that the parity is normal in step Sa5, and if the contents stored in the RAM 161c are diagnosed in step Sa7, the parity in the RAM 161c calculated in step Sa3 and the result of the diagnosis in step Sa7 are stored in the RAM 161c. It is determined whether or not there is an abnormality (Sa8). The case where the RAM 161c has an abnormality is the case where the parity is not normal, or the case where the parity is normal but it is diagnosed that there is an abnormality in the stored contents.

Then, when there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c, the value of the flag register storing the calculation result among the registers provided in the main control board 16 is saved by storing it in a predetermined order in the game stack area of the game RAM area. After that, the non-game RAM area initialization process included in the non-game program is called (Sa10). That is, the process of step Sa10 is a process of calling the non-game program from the game program. Therefore, the word "(non-gaming)" is attached to the beginning of the process name of step Sa10. In the initial setting process shown in FIG. 63 and the main process shown in FIG. 66, the name of the process for calling the non-game program from the game program is prefixed with "(non-game)". Specifically, steps Sa10, SaF1 and Sa30 in FIG. 63 and steps Sb2, Sb13, Sb36 and Sb50 in FIG. 66 correspond to the process of calling the non-game program from the game program. Hereinafter, such a process of calling a non-game program from a game program is simply referred to as "non-game program call process". The above-described CALLEX instruction can be used for the non-gaming program calling process.

The main control unit 161 changes the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2 when the non-game program calling process such as the non-game RAM area initialization process shown in step Sa10 is executed. , and the process of setting the value of the second Q register are executed at the beginning of the process corresponding to the non-game program calling process. At this time, "F3" is set in the second Q register. That is, in the non-gaming program calling process, the value of the second Q register is reset in the same manner as in step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and step Sa2Q in FIG.

In this way, the main control unit 161 sets a value in the first Q register at step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and step Sa2Q in FIG. The value of the 2nd Q register is set each time the non-game program calling process for calling is executed. As a result, in the S machine 2 in the present embodiment, even if an unintended value is set in the second Q register of the second register bank R2, every time the non-game program is called, the second register bank R2 Since the value of the 2Q register can be reset, it is possible to ensure the prevention of malfunctions. It should be noted that the main control unit 161 does not have to set the value of the second Q register each time the non-game program is called. That is, as described above, in the S machine 2 in the present embodiment, before the progress of the game is controlled, the processing of step Sj1 in FIG. 62 and the processing of step Sa2Q in FIG. This is because the value is already set in the second Q register even if the value of the second Q register is not set each time the non-game program is called because the value is set in the register and the second Q register.

62 and step Sa2Q in FIG. 63, the main control unit 161 does not set a value in the second Q register but sets a value only in the first Q register. May set the value of the second Q register when called. At this time, the main control unit 161 may set the value of the second Q register only when the non-gaming program is called for the first time after the power is turned on. That is, as described above, in order to ensure the prevention of defects, the value of the second Q register is not reset each time the non-game program is called, and the second Q register is set only when the non-game program is called for the first time after the power is turned on. By setting the register values, the processing can be simplified.

After that, initialization of the non-game RAM area, which is the object of the non-game RAM area initialization process, is performed. More specifically, the main control unit 161 designates the start address (the first address of the unused area) and the end address (the last address of the non-game RAM area) of the initialization target RAM, and designates the start address. After clearing the data of the specified address as the initial value of the address, the process of updating the specified address to the next address is repeatedly executed until the specified address reaches the end address. (In this embodiment, the area from the beginning of the unused area to the end of the non-game RAM area) is initialized. Then, a process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1 is executed. After initializing the non-game RAM area of the RAM 161c, the process returns to the initial setting process.

In addition, in the non-game RAM area initialization process, by specifying the start address and the end address of the initialization object RAM, the capacity of the initialization object RAM is calculated, and the RAM area of the initialization object RAM A configuration may be adopted in which the area from the start address to the end address of the initialization target RAM is initialized by sequentially clearing from the start address.

When it is determined that there is no abnormality in the RAM 161c in the step of Sa8, the fixed data for RAM breakdown diagnosis set in the RAM 161c is cleared (Sa12), and the game to be initialized when there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c. An initialization start address for RAM destruction is set to specify the address of the RAM area (Sa13).

Subsequently, in S machine 2 in the present embodiment, area F initialization processing, which is non-game program calling processing, is executed (SaF1). The area F initialization process is a process of initializing the area F included in the non-game RAM area shown in FIG. Details of the area F initialization process will be described later. After that, referring to the input port 2, it is determined whether or not the setting key switch 37 is in the ON state (Sa14).

If it is determined in step Sa14 that the setting key switch 37 is in the ON state, a gaming machine installation information command is transmitted to the medal number control board 17 (Sa14a), and setting change processing is performed. In the setting change process, the reset/setting switch 38 and the start switch 7 are operated in a predetermined procedure to confirm the set value, and the setting key switch 37 is turned off. is terminated, and the game is shifted to a state in which the game can be progressed. Further, in the setting change process, when starting the setting change process, a setting command (start) indicating the start of the setting change process is transmitted to the effect control unit 151, and when ending the setting change process, A setting command (end) indicating the end of the setting change process is issued. In the setting change process, when ending the setting change process, the start address of the RAM area to be initialized at the time of setting change is designated, and the process returns to step Sb47 of the main process described later. And, by performing RAM initialization processing in step Sb47, the area from the top address of the initialization object RAM area at the time of setting change to the end address of the game RAM area, that is, all game RAM areas are initialized. It has become so. In addition, it is good also as a structure which initializes all the game RAM areas except the stack area in use of RAM161c.

If it is determined in step Sa14 that the setting key switch 37 is not in the ON state, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c based on the parity of the RAM calculated in step Sa3 and the diagnosis result in Sa7 (Sa15). , when it is determined that there is no abnormality in the RAM 161c, the output buffer for outputting the external output signal is cleared (Sa16). Also, a reel error counter, which is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c and counts the number of reel rotation errors detected in the main processing described later, is cleared (Sa17). After that, by setting the address at the time of the power failure to the stack pointer SP based on the contents stored in the RAM 161c, the stack pointer is returned to the state at the time of the power failure (Sa18). Thereafter, a gaming machine installation information command is transmitted to the medal number control board 17 (Sa15a), and port input processing is performed twice in succession (Sa19, Sa20).

Port input processing consists of input status data related to the input status of the detection signals of various switches input to the parallel input port (input data indicating the current input status of various switches, input data indicating the current input This is a process of updating the confirmed data indicating that there is a change, edge data indicating that the confirmed data has changed from the previous time). Port input buffers 0 to 2 for storing input state data of various switches are provided in a predetermined area of the game RAM area of the RAM 161c. It is stored in predetermined bits of a port input buffer predetermined for each type. In port input processing, the input ports 0 to 2 of the parallel input ports are used.

Detected states (ON state or OFF state) of various switches are stored as input data in predetermined bits of the port input buffer. In addition, the detected state (ON state or OFF state) of the port input processing of the previous time and this time is compared, and if the input data of this time and the previous time are in the same state, the detected state of the input data of this time is displayed. On the other hand, if the current input data and the previous input data are in different states, the previous determined data are maintained. Further, when the determined data changes from the OFF state to the ON state by comparing the current and previous determined data, ON edge data indicating that the determined data has changed from the OFF state to the ON state is output to the port input buffer 0. to 2, and when the defined data changes from the ON state to the OFF state, OFF edge data indicating that the confirmed data has changed from the ON state to the OFF state is stored in the predetermined bits of the port input buffers 0 to 2. store in bits. The input data, fixed data, and edge data of various switches stored in the port input buffer can be referred to from game programs and non-game programs.

In addition, in the initial setting process, by performing the port input process twice in succession, when the port input process is subsequently performed, the input state of the various switches after the initial setting process is performed, that is, the S unit 2 Since input state data related to the input state such as detection signals of various switches is created based on the input state of various switches after the power supply to the is resumed, unintended input states may be identified. can be prevented. Further, in the port input process, the final data may be created based on the input data acquired by three or more port input processes (for example, the current, previous, and two previous input data). In such a configuration, the initial setting process is performed by continuously performing the port input process in the initial setting process a number of times less than the number of times of the port input process required to create the finalized data. When the port input process is performed after the initial setting process, the input status data can be created based on the input status of the various switches after the initial setting process is performed.

After performing port input processing in steps Sa19 and Sa20, a predetermined input port is referenced (Sa21) to determine whether or not the reset/set switch 38 is in the ON state (Sa22). If the switch 38 is ON, status data indicating that the reset/setting switch 38 is ON is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sa23).

When it is determined in step Sa22 that the reset/setting switch 38 is not in the ON state, and after setting the status data in step Sa23, the effect control unit 151 issues a return command indicating that the control state has been restored to the state before the power interruption. (Sa24), in the command transmission processing of the timer interrupt processing (main), a door command transmission flag indicating the transmission of the door command indicating the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c. (Sa25). In command transmission processing, a door command is normally transmitted when the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 changes. A door command indicating the detection state of the door open detection switch 25 is transmitted regardless of whether or not the detection state of has changed.

After setting the door command transmission flag in step Sa25, all the registers are restored to the state before the power failure stored in the RAM 161c (Sa26), and the timer interrupt is enabled (Sa27), After completing the initial setting process and shifting to the timer interrupt process (main), the process returns to the main process that was being executed before the power supply to the S unit 2 was stopped.

On the other hand, in step Sa15, when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c, a gaming machine installation information command is transmitted to the medal count control board 17 (Sa15b), game RAM initialization processing is performed (Sa28), and Sa13 The area from the initialization start address at the time of RAM destruction set in the step 2 to the end of the game RAM area of the RAM 161c is initialized. Thereafter, similarly to the process of Sa10, the main control unit 161 executes a non-game RAM area initialization process, which is a non-game program calling process (Sa30). That is, at the beginning of the process, the main control unit 161 executes the process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the first register bank R1 to the second register bank R2 and the process of setting the value of the second Q register. Subsequently, after initializing the non-game RAM area, the main control unit 161 executes a process of switching the register bank used by the CPU 161a from the second register bank R2 to the first register bank R1. Subsequently, the main control unit 161 sets the door command transmission flag (Sa32), sets the timer interrupt to enabled (Sa33), and prepares a RAM abnormality error number indicating that there is an abnormality in the RAM 161c in a predetermined register. (Sa34), the initialization process is terminated and error processing is started.

The error process is a process of controlling an error state in which progress of the game is disabled. An error command capable of specifying an error number prepared in a predetermined register is transmitted to the effect control unit 151, and the error number is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c. Set as a referenceable error flag. Also, it controls to display the error number on the game auxiliary display 12 . After that, the error state is controlled until it is specified that the condition for canceling the error state corresponding to the error number prepared in the predetermined register is satisfied. When the RAM abnormality error number is prepared in a predetermined register and the state is shifted to the error state, by turning on the power switch while the setting key switch 37 is ON, the state is shifted to the setting change state and all the games are played. By initializing the RAM area, the data abnormality in the RAM 161c can be reliably resolved and the error state can be released. On the other hand, when the power switch is turned on without turning on the setting key switch 37, the abnormality of the RAM 161c is detected again, and the error state is entered again.

In this way, after the power supply to the S table 2 is started, the main control board 16 executes the activation processing of the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 62, and then executes the user program including the initial setting processing. In the initial setting processing, timer interrupt processing (main), setting change processing, or error processing is performed depending on the state of the main control board 16 when power supply to the S table 2 is started. move to And, when making the transition to these processes, a command capable of specifying the type of processing to be transferred is transmitted to the effect control unit 151, and when making the transition to the timer interrupt process (main), that is, S When the control state before the power supply to the base 2 is stopped is restored, a return command is transmitted to the effect control unit 151, and when the setting change process is started and the state is changed to the setting change state , a setting command (start) is transmitted to the effect control unit 151, and an error command is transmitted to the effect control unit 151 when error processing is started due to an abnormality in the RAM 161c and the state shifts to an error state.

After the main control board 16 shifts from the initial setting process to the setting change process, the main control board 16 goes through the setting change state and returns to the state in which the game can be progressed. When returning to the state, a setting command (end) capable of specifying that the setting change state is terminated is transmitted to the effect control unit 151, but the return command is not transmitted. Also, after shifting to error processing due to an abnormality in the RAM 161c, the processing shifts to the setting change processing as described above and the error state is canceled, thereby returning to a state in which the game can be progressed. Even when the error processing is terminated and the state in which the game can be progressed is restored, the return command is not transmitted to the effect control section 151.例文帳に追加

In this way, the main control board 16 of this embodiment is activated when power supply to the S table 2 is started, and initializes all the output ports 0-9. Further, after initializing the output ports 0 to 9, the main control board 16 performs an initial setting process included in the game program. Then, in the initial setting process, when it is determined that the RAM 161c has an abnormality, a non-game RAM area initialization process included in the non-game program is called to initialize a predetermined area of the non-game RAM area of the RAM 161c. Further, in the initial setting process, a RAM initialization process included in the game program is called to initialize a predetermined area of the game RAM area of the RAM 161c. The RAM area is configured to be initialized by a non-game program.

[Regarding safety device processing]
In the S machine 2 according to the present embodiment, after the number of awarded medals to the player turns to an increasing trend throughout the day, an upper limit is set for the increased number of awarded medals, and the player acquires excessive medals. Safeguard processing is performed to limit The number of awarded medals in the safety device process is a value indicating the number of medals awarded to the player as a result of winning.

The main control unit 161 determines whether or not the number of awarded medals has turned to an increasing trend, for example, by determining whether or not the number of awarded medals within a predetermined number of games (for example, 50 games) is equal to or greater than a threshold. stipulate. The main control section 161 may determine whether or not the number of granted medals has turned to an increasing trend by other methods. The safety device process executed by the main control unit 161 is a process of disabling the progress of the game when the number of granted medals after turning to an increasing trend reaches the limit number. By executing the safety device process, it is possible to prevent an excessive increase in the number of medals given to the player. As a result, the S platform 2 in the present embodiment can prevent excessive payout of medals from the slot machine due to unauthorized operation. In addition, if the number of awarded medals increases, a state can be created in which there is a risk that the gambling urge will be remarkably aroused. Therefore, by setting a limit on the number of awarded medals by setting an upper limit, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the S-level 2 greatly arouses the gambling spirit. The safety device processing is executed within the safety device related processing of the main processing.

FIG. 64 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the main processing performed by the main control board 16. FIG. Note that the main process is repeatedly executed for each unit of game (one game). One cycle of the main process corresponds to one game unit. Also, the main process is included in the game program and includes a plurality of processes. As described above, even in the main process shown in FIG. 64, the name of the process corresponding to the non-game program calling process is prefixed with the words "(non-game)".

As shown in FIG. 64, the main control section 161 first performs RT information output processing included in the non-game program (Sb2). The main control unit 161 outputs the RT information to the test board or the like based on the end of the game by operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R in the previous game. FIG. 65 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the RT information output process performed by the main control board 16. FIG. As described above, in the non-game program calling process, switching of register banks (SQ4, SQ6) and setting of the value of the second Q register (SQ2) are executed first.

The main control unit 161 sets the stack pointer in the non-game RAM area (step Si2) and acquires the RT status (step Si3). Specifically, referring to the information on the game state (RT status) of the S machine 2 set in a predetermined area of the game RAM area, the information on the game state (for example, the state of RT) is output as an external output signal Set to output from the port.

That is, in step Si3, the number of the external output signal to be output is read into the register, and external output signal processing is also performed to output the external output signal to external equipment such as a call lamp and a hall computer. The external output signal includes, for example, a signal indicating whether or not control is being performed in the advantageous section. As a result, it is possible to notify external devices such as a test board and a hall computer whether or not control is being performed in the advantageous section. In addition, in the main process, the external output signal process for outputting the RT information is executed prior to the multiple interrupt wait process (Sbw1) described later. Further, when transmitting the RT information to the test board, the main control unit 161 transmits the RT information to the test board as a test signal.

Subsequently, the main control section 161 initializes the stopping flag (step Si4). After that, the register bank is switched to the first register bank R1, and the RT information output process ends. Then, the main control unit 161 executes multiple interrupt waiting processing (Sbw1). The multiple interrupt waiting process is executed to guarantee the output time of the information output in the RT information output process. That is, the main control unit 161 executes the multiple interrupt waiting process for the purpose of delaying the progress of the game for a predetermined period of time. Multiple interrupt wait processing is also referred to as delay processing. As a result, the main control unit 161 waits for a predetermined period of time after generating the test signal when the previous game ends, so that the external device such as a test board can reliably receive the test signal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent discrepancies in information between the external device and the main control unit 161 .

After that, the main control unit 161 performs a game start waiting process (Sb5), which will be described later, and performs the process from the end of the control of the previous game to the start of the next game. In the game start waiting process, acceptance of setting the bet amount is started, processing for setting the bet amount according to the bet amount setting operation is performed, and operation of the start switch 7 is detected in a state where the prescribed number of bets is set. By doing so, processing for starting the next game is performed.

Then, an internal lottery process is performed to determine (internal lottery) whether or not to allow the occurrence of a prize (Sb6). In the internal lottery process, winning is allowed based on the set values (1 to 6) set in advance in the S machine 2 and the random number for the internal lottery obtained at the same time as the game is started by detecting the start switch 7. An internal lottery is held to determine whether or not to allow the derivation of display results.

Then, after AT lottery etc. are performed, production control processing (Sb12), test signal generation processing (Sb13), control state command group transmission processing (Sb14), and freeze control execution processing (Sb16) are sequentially performed. In the effect control process, a flag for effect referred to when the main control board 16 performs effect control is set. The test signal generation processing corresponds to non-game program calling processing. In the test signal generation process, a test signal is transmitted so that information indicating the control state of the S platform 2 can be confirmed by a test device provided outside the gaming machine. The information indicating the control state of the S machine 2 includes the lottery result of the internal lottery process in step Sb6. In the control state command group transmission process, a control state command group including a plurality of commands capable of specifying various control states at the start of one game is transmitted to the effect control section 151 . That is, the main control unit 161 outputs information regarding the result of the internal lottery and information regarding the game state to the effect control unit 151 . In the freeze control execution process, regarding the freeze control that delays the progress of the game until the predetermined end condition is satisfied, it is confirmed whether or not there is a request to perform the freeze control, and if there is a request, the type of freeze control and the freeze The control timing is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c.

A freeze execution process for executing freeze control is performed based on the type of freeze control and the execution timing of freeze control set in the RAM 161c (Sb16). In the freeze execution process, if it is set in step Sb13 to perform freeze control at the start of the game, freeze control is executed to delay the control of the game for a predetermined period. In addition, when the type of freeze control with effects using the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (hereinafter referred to as reel effects) is set as the type of freeze control, the reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R are excited. Acceleration pattern for presentation as an excitation pattern (for example, an acceleration pattern that rotates in a direction different from the rotation of the reels in the game, a slower speed than the rotation of the reels in the game, starting to rotate in the same direction as the rotation in the game) Acceleration pattern to vibrate the reel, acceleration pattern to vibrate the reel, etc.) are set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c, and control is performed so that the reel performance is performed within the period during which the freeze control is being performed. After that, the main control unit 161 executes multiple interrupt waiting processing (Sbw2). The multiple interrupt waiting process is executed to secure the output time of the information output in the test signal generation process. That is, the main control unit 161 executes the multiple interrupt waiting process for the purpose of delaying the progress of the game for a predetermined period of time. The multiple interrupt waiting process in Sbw2 and the multiple interrupt waiting process in Sbw1 are common processes. That is, the main control unit 161 is executed when the start switch 7 is operated to start the rotation of the reels, and when the game is finished by operating the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R. Execute wait processing multiple times. As a result, the memory capacity can be reduced by sharing the delay processing performed at the start of the game and at the end of the game. In this embodiment, a delay of about 130 milliseconds (0.13 seconds) occurs due to the execution of the multiple interrupt wait processing in Sbw2.

In addition, the main control unit 161 does not execute the process of determining whether or not to control the state of the S unit 2 to the error state in the process of waiting for multiple interrupts that is commonly executed. The process of determining whether or not to control to the error state is, for example, the error transition process shown in Sb32. As a result, the main control unit 161 is controlled to be in an error state during the delay processing, which causes a discrepancy between the information of the test signal transmitted to the test substrate and the information of the S stand 2 that is in the error state. can be prevented from occurring.

After performing the interrupt multiple times waiting process in the step of Sbw2, refer to the one game time management timer set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c in order to measure the elapsed time from the reel rotation start point in the previous game. (Sb18), based on the one-game-time management timer, it is determined whether or not a specified time (4.1 seconds in the present embodiment) of one game has passed since the start of reel rotation in the previous game (Sb19). ). At this time, the main control unit 161 considers that the interrupt multiple times waiting process is performed at Sbw2, and determines whether or not the specified time for one game (4.1 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed do. Depending on the timing when the start switch 7 is operated, the main control unit 161 performs the multiple-time waiting process at the timing when the multiple-interruption waiting process ends before the stipulated time (4.1 seconds) of one game elapses. Execute. More specifically, the main control unit 161 determines that when the start switch 7 is operated at a timing at which the multiple interrupt waiting process can be executed before 3.97 seconds have passed since the reel rotation start point in the previous game, Start executing the wait for interrupt multiple times process before at least 3.97 seconds have elapsed.

As a result, the specific time from when the reel rotation of the previous game starts to when the reel rotation of the next game becomes possible does not include 0.13 seconds generated by the delay processing, and is appropriately 4.1 seconds. can be determined whether or not has elapsed. In short, the main control unit 161 executes the reel rotation start command transmission process in the predetermined game after 4.1 seconds have passed since the start switch 7 was operated in the game before the predetermined game. Further, after executing the delay process, the main control section 161 carries out the process of step Sb19 for determining whether or not the specified time for one game has passed. That is, the main control unit 161 executes the delay processing so that the delay processing ends before the end of the specified time for one game.

Then, when it is determined that the specified time for one game has not passed, it waits until the specified time for one game passes based on the one-game time management timer, and plays one game based on the one-game time management timer. After the stipulated time has passed, a predetermined value (in this embodiment, a value corresponding to 4.1 seconds) is set in the one-game-time management timer, and the elapsed time from the reel rotation start time is newly set. Time measurement is started (Sb20), the weight lamp 93 is controlled to be in an OFF state (extinction state) (Sb21), and a reel rotation start command that can specify the start of rotation control of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R is produced. A reel rotation start command transmission process to be transmitted to the control unit 151 is performed (Sb22). On the other hand, when it is determined in step Sb19 that the prescribed time for one game has passed, the processing of steps Sb20 to Sb22 is immediately performed. After the predetermined value is set in step Sb20, the one-game-time management timer is decremented every predetermined time, and the predetermined time (4 in this embodiment) for one game from the reel rotation start point in the game is counted. .1 second) has elapsed, it is set to 0, and it is possible to determine whether or not the one game prescribed time has elapsed based on whether the one game time management timer is 0 or not. there is

In this way, the main control unit 161 in the present embodiment executes the test signal generating process in Sb13, and then executes the interrupt multiple times waiting process in Sbw2 to delay the progress of the game for a predetermined period. Further, the main control unit 161 executes the reel rotation activation process shown in Sb24, in which the rotation of the reels is started after being delayed for a predetermined period by the multiple interrupt waiting process of Sbw2. As a result, after the test signal is generated at the start of the game, the main control unit 161 waits for a predetermined period of time by delay processing, so that, for example, the external device including the test board can reliably receive the test signal. This can be guaranteed, and it is possible to prevent discrepancies in information between the external device and the main control unit 161 .

Further, the main control unit 161 executes the control state command group transmission processing for outputting the information regarding the internal lottery result and the information regarding the game state to the effect control unit 151 in Sb14, and then executes the reel rotation activation processing shown in Sb24. . As a result, the main control unit 161 generates a test signal at the start of the game, and after outputting information about the internal lottery result to the effect control unit 151, waits for a predetermined period of time. It is possible to ensure that the external device receives the test signal reliably, and that the effect control unit 151 receives information regarding the internal lottery result. It is possible to prevent discrepancies in information between them.

After the reel rotation start command transmission process is performed in step Sb22, the normal acceleration pattern for controlling the rotation of the reels at a predetermined game speed is stored in the RAM 161c as an excitation pattern for controlling the excitation of the reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R. A predetermined area is set (Sb23), and reel start processing is performed to start rotation of the reels by controlling the excitation of the reel motors 32L, 32C, and 32R based on the excitation pattern set in the RAM 161c (Sb24). The main control unit 161 executes external signal processing for transmitting information such as the state of the gaming machine to the outside such as a hall management computer (hall computer) or a hall server that performs security management (Sb24a).

Then, navigation notification processing is performed (Sb25). In the navigation notification process, the AT is controlled, and when the notification target combination is won in the internal lottery, a navigation number that can specify an advantageous stop mode for the player according to the notification target combination. is controlled to be displayed on the game auxiliary display 12, while the navigation number is controlled not to be displayed on the game auxiliary display 12 when AT is not controlled.

A reel stop initial setting process (Sb26) is performed to set various information necessary for reel stop control according to the RT state and the lottery result of the internal lottery. Then, the freeze control process is performed (Sb27), and if it is set to perform the freeze control at the timing, the set type of freeze control is performed.

After performing the freeze control process in step Sb27, the reel stop control process for controlling the stop of the reels is performed (Sb28). In the reel stop control process, it is determined whether or not the reels under rotation control are rotating at a predetermined constant speed. An excitation pattern for accelerating the reels to constant speed rotation is set, and all the reels under rotation control are controlled to rotate at constant speed rotation. On the other hand, when all the reels under rotation control are rotating at a constant speed, the reception of the stop operation of the reels under rotation control is enabled, and the stop operation by the stop switch is waited. Then, when a valid stop operation is detected for a reel on which a stop operation is valid (detection of ON edge data for a stop switch on which a stop operation is valid), a reel on which a valid stop operation is performed. , the reel stop control is performed to stop the reel at a predetermined stop position based on the information set in the reel stop initial setting process. Such reel stop control is repeatedly performed for the reels under rotation control to stop the rotation of all the reels, thereby ending the reel stop processing.

After finishing the reel stop processing, the freeze control processing is performed (Sb29), and when it is set to perform the freeze control at the timing, the set type of freeze control is performed.

After that, RT state check processing (Sb30) and prize determination processing (Sb31) are performed. In the RT state check process, it is determined whether or not the combination of RT transition symbols accompanied by the transition of the RT state is stopped on the reels, and if the combination of RT transition symbols is stopped, it is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c. The current RT state is updated to the RT state according to the combination of the RT transition symbols. In the winning determination process, it is determined whether or not an illegal winning has occurred based on the result of the internal lottery and the symbol combinations stopped on the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R.

Then, after performing the winning determination process in step Sa31, the input/payout error check process is performed (Sb32), and the role ratio monitor data process corresponding to the non-game program calling process is performed (Sb36).

In the role ratio monitor data process, first, similar to the above-described RT information output process, the register bank used by the calling game program is switched and the value of the second Q register is set. Each state count process included in the non-gaming program is performed, and a predetermined period (for example, a period of 6000 games before the current game, a period of 175000 games before the current game, etc.) that is advantageous to the player Update the data regarding the number of medals to be paid out in the state-controlled section (advantageous section, etc.).

Thereafter, the replaying LED is controlled to be turned off (extinguishing state) (Sb39), the replaying flag indicating that replaying is being performed is cleared (Sb40), and the display of the navigation number on the game auxiliary display 12 is cleared. After that (Sb41), a termination command is transmitted to the medal number control board 17 (Sb42a), freeze control processing is performed (Sb43), and if it is set to perform freeze control at that timing, it is set. Do some kind of freeze control.

Then, to the medal number control board 17, it transmits the role information command (Sb43a) and transmits the advantageous section command (Sb43b). After that, a game end time setting process is performed (Sb44), and it is determined whether or not the symbol combination of the replay combination is stopped on the reels 2L, 2C and 2R, and if the symbol combination of the replay combination is stopped. 2. is a process of setting the number of bets for replaying in the next game (in this embodiment, 3 is set as replay medals in a replay medal counter set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c; ), a process of setting a replaying flag in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c, a process of controlling the replaying LED to the ON state (lighting state), and the like. In the game end setting process, it is determined whether or not the number of won medals in the advantageous section has reached 2400 (limiter condition). At this time, when the number of won medals in the advantageous section reaches 2400, the main control section 161 ends the advantageous section and controls to the normal section. In addition, the main control unit 161 executes external signal processing for transmitting information such as the state of the gaming machine to the outside such as a hall management computer (hall computer) or a hall server that performs security management (Sb43c).

Then, a payout pulse command is transmitted to the medal number control board 17 (Sb44a), and a jackpot command is transmitted (Sb44b). After that, after performing the ball output control process for controlling the ball output at the end of the game (Sb45), the start address of the area of the RAM 161c to be initialized at the time of the game end is set (Sb46), and the RAM initialization process is performed. (Sb47), the area from the head address to the end of the RAM 161c is initialized.

Then, after clearing the winning flag that is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c and indicates the result of the internal lottery in the game (Sb48), the effect control unit outputs a command at the time of game end that can specify that one game has ended. 151 is executed (Sb49).

That is, at Sb49, the main control unit 161 outputs the information regarding the result of the internal lottery and the information regarding the game state to the effect control unit 151 based on the end of the game by the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R. The main control unit 161 executes the process of waiting for multiple interrupts of step Sw1 to delay the progress of the game for a predetermined period after the game end command transmission process of Sb49 is executed. The main control unit 161 executes a game start waiting process for starting acceptance of the bet number setting after a predetermined period of delay due to the multiple interrupt waiting process in step Sw1. As a result, the main control unit 161 generates a test signal at the end of the game, outputs information about the result of the internal lottery to the effect control unit 151, and waits for a predetermined period of time, so that, for example, the external device It is possible to ensure that the test signal is reliably received and that the effect control unit 151 receives information regarding the result of the internal lottery. It is possible to prevent discrepancies in information from occurring.

Then, the main control unit 161 executes a safety device related process as the final process of the main process (Sb50). FIG. 66 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the safety device-related processing performed by the main control board 16. FIG. Safety device related processing corresponds to non-game program calling processing. Therefore, the main control unit 161 executes register bank switching processing in steps SQ7 and SQ9, and sets the value of the second Q register in step SQ8. After executing the process of step SQ8, the main control unit 161 executes the safety device process (Sk1).

The main control unit 161 determines whether or not the number of medals awarded to the player has turned to increase in the safety device process. Specifically, the main control unit 161 determines whether or not the state is controlled to the AT1 state. When determining that the main control unit 161 is not controlled to the AT1 state, it ends the safety device processing. When the main control unit 161 determines that the AT1 state is being controlled, the main control unit 161 acquires the number of medals won by the player after being controlled to the AT1 state.

The main control unit 161 determines whether or not the number of medals acquired after being controlled to the AT1 state exceeds a predetermined number (for example, 19000). If the number of medals won after the AT1 state is controlled does not exceed the limit number (for example, 19000), the main control section 161 terminates the safety device processing. When the number of won medals after being controlled to the AT1 state exceeds a predetermined number (for example, 19000), the main control section 161 turns on the stop flag and terminates the safety device processing.

Returning to FIG. 66, the main control unit 161 determines whether or not the stopping flag is ON (Sk3). That is, the main control unit 161 determines whether or not the stopping flag has been updated to ON in Sg21 of the safety device processing. If the stop flag is not ON (NO in Sk3), the main control unit 161 returns the register bank to the first register bank R1 (SQ9) and terminates the safety device-related processing. If the stop flag is ON (YES in Sk3), the RWM abnormality cancellation flag is turned OFF (Sk4). The RWM abnormality cancellation flag is a flag for determining whether or not RAM clearing is permitted when the RAM clearing process is executed. When the RWM abnormality cancellation flag is OFF, the main control unit 161 cannot clear the RAM even when the RAM clear processing is executed. Therefore, when the suspension flag is turned ON, the RWM abnormality cancellation flag is turned OFF to limit the RAM clear processing, so that the suspension flag that was turned ON in Sg21 is updated to OFF due to a problem or fraud. to prevent

Subsequently, the main control unit 161 sets a stop error number (Sk5), and then executes error processing (Sk6). By executing the error processing, the main control unit 161 controls the state of the S stand 2 to a state in which the game cannot proceed. That is, referring to the main process of FIG. 64, the process of disabling the progress of the game due to the number of medals acquired from the AT1 state reaching the limit number is the safety device related process (step Sb50 ).

As shown in FIG. 64, the safety device-related processing (step Sb50) includes external output signal processing (step Sbw3) for informing external devices such as a hall computer whether or not they are being controlled in the advantageous interval (step Sbw3). This is a process performed at the end of all processes such as the game end setting process (step Sb44) for determining whether or not the number of won medals in the section has reached 2400 (limiter condition).

In this way, the safety device-related processing (Sb50), which can disable the progress of the game due to the number of medals acquired from the AT1 state being controlled reaching the limit number, is performed at the end of the main processing. Since the game end setting process is performed before the progress of the game is disabled, it is possible to control the game to the disabled state after controlling to the normal section when the limiter condition is satisfied. .

In addition, since the external output signal processing is performed in step Sb2 before the game progress is disabled, the game progresses after informing the external device whether or not the control is in the advantageous section. can be controlled to a state where In this way, the main control unit 161 appropriately displays information about the advantageous section even when the progress of the game is disabled due to the number of medals acquired after being controlled to the AT1 state reaching the limit number. After processing, the progress of the game can be disabled. As a result, it is possible to prevent inconsistency in the information regarding the advantageous section after the disabling of the progress of the game is released.

FIG. 67 is a flow chart showing the details of error processing performed by the main control unit 161 . As shown in FIG. 67, in error processing, first, an error number (error number) set before execution of error processing is stored (Sf1). When the error process is called in step Sk6 of the safety device related process, the stop error number is set as the error number. The error number includes numbers that indicate other errors than the abort error number. For example, when the error process is called from the input/discharge error check process, the error number E4 or E5 is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c.

The main control unit 161 executes an error start command transmission process for transmitting an error command with an identifiable error number (Sf2). The main control unit 161 acquires the error factor corresponding to the error number (Sf3), and performs an error number display process for controlling the game auxiliary display 12 to display the error number (Sf3). After that, the error state is controlled until it is specified that the condition for canceling the error state corresponding to the error number prepared in the predetermined register is established (Sf5).

When the stop error number is set due to the number of medals acquired from the AT1 state reaching the limit, when the error state is shifted to, the setting key switch is used as a condition for canceling the error state. is on and the S-table 2 waits until the power is turned on. That is, until the setting change process is executed, the S machine 2 is in a state in which the game cannot proceed. As another example, when the error number (E5) is prepared in the register and the state is shifted to the error state, the detection state of the inserted medal sensors 31a to 31c is OFF as a cancellation condition of the error state, and It waits until the reset/setting switch 38 or the reset switch 23 is turned on.

If the condition for canceling the error state is satisfied (YES in Sf5), the process proceeds to Sf6 to perform a one-interrupt waiting process. Then, the input buffers 1 and 2 are acquired (Sf7), and based on the acquired input buffers 1 and 2, it is determined whether or not the payout sensor, inserted medal sensor, and full tank sensor are normal (Sf8). If it is judged normal in Sf8, the process proceeds to Sf9. On the other hand, if it is determined in Sf8 that it is not normal, the process returns to Sf6, and steps Sf6 to Sf8 are repeated until it is determined that it is normal in Sf8.

In step Sf9, the ON edge state of the input buffer 0 is acquired, and the reset/set state is waited until the reset/set switch 38 or reset switch 23 becomes the ON edge state (until the operation is performed) (NO in Sf10). When the switch 38 or the reset switch 23 is in the ON edge state (YES in Sf9), the process proceeds to Sf11.

In the step of Sf11, the payout number display data is stored, the error number is cleared (Sf12), and the error cancellation command transmission process (Sf13) is executed. In the error cancellation command transmission process, an error cancellation command for canceling the error state is transmitted. In step Sf14, one-time interrupt waiting processing is performed, and the error processing ends.

In this way, when the setting change process is performed, the main control unit 161 controls the state of the S platform 2 from the state in which the game cannot proceed to the state in which the game can proceed. The setting change process is a process for initializing information related to control of the advantageous section, AT, and BB, and cannot be executed unless the setting key switch is turned on by the store clerk. Thereby, the main control unit 161 can prevent the medals from being awarded excessively.

In this way, when the error processing is executed based on the fact that the number of medals acquired since the AT1 state has reached the limit number, the setting change processing is executed, thereby performing the error processing shown in FIG. ends, and the safety device-related processing shown in FIG. 66 ends. Furthermore, the main control unit 161 ends step Sb50 of the main process shown in FIG. 64 based on the end of the safety device-related process.

As a result, the main control unit 161 returns the processing to step Sb2, and repeats the steps from Sb2 again. When the main process completes one unit of game control, the main process is repeatedly executed for each unit of game.

Thus, the main processing performed by the main control board 16 of the present embodiment is included in the game program, and processing included in the non-game program, such as RT information output processing, winning information output processing, role ratio monitor It is designed to call for data processing, etc. Then, when calling a process included in a non-game program, each time the process of the corresponding non-game program is called, the value of the flag register among the registers provided on the main control board 16 is changed to the game program on the calling game program side. It is stored in the stack area and saved, and the value of the stack pointer SP used in the game program is stored in the non-game RAM area and saved on the side of the called non-game program, and all the main control board 16 has The value of the register is stored in the non-game stack area and saved. Then, processing corresponding to the called non-game program (for example, processing to initialize the non-game RAM area in the non-game RAM area initialization process, each state count process in the role ratio monitor data process described later, non- Sensor monitoring processing, test signal generation processing, role ratio monitor display data selection processing, etc.) in game-related processing are performed.

In addition, after the non-game program is processed, the main control board 16 stores the values of all the registers saved in the non-game stack area at the start of the non-game program on the non-game program side. to restore the register to the state at the start of the non-game program, and set the value of the stack pointer SP stored in the non-game RAM area at the start of the non-game program to the stack pointer SP, The stack pointer SP is returned to the state at the start of the game program, and the value of the flag register stored in the game stack area before calling the non-game program on the calling game program side is transferred to the corresponding flag register. A process is performed to restore the register to the state before the non-game program is read and called.

Further, when performing various processes according to the non-game program, the main control board 16 performs various processes according to the non-game program by calling the non-game program from the game program using the above-mentioned CALLEX command or the like. Upon completion of each process according to the non-game program, the program returns to the calling game program.

[Regarding game start waiting process]
FIG. 68 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the game start waiting process performed by the main control board 16. As shown in FIG. The game start waiting process is included in the game program and is a subroutine called in the main process included in the game program.

As shown in FIG. 68, in the game start waiting process, first, a bet number display process is performed (Sc1), and the 1 to 3 BETLEDs 14 to 16 corresponding to the number of medals set as the bet number are controlled to be in the ON state (lighting state). do. After that, the process proceeds to step Sc5. The value of the replay medal counter set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c is read into a predetermined register (Sc5). In the replay medal counter, a value corresponding to the result of the previous game is set by the game end setting processing in the previous main processing, and the replay winning combination in the previous game is replayed. is given, while a numerical value (for example, 3) corresponding to the specified number of bets required to play the game is set, if replay was not given in the previous game is set to 0.

Thereafter, the replay medal counter in the RAM 161c is cleared (Sc6), and it is determined whether or not the value of the replay medal counter read in step Sc5 is greater than 0, that is, whether or not a replay is granted. (Sc7). If replay is granted, bet amount setting processing is performed (Sc8). In the bet amount setting process, the value of the medal counter for replay is set as the bet amount, and the 1 to 3 BETLEDs 14 to 16 are set to the ON state (lighting state) to set the specified number of bets (3 in this embodiment). ) is set. In addition, it transmits to the effect control unit 151 an insertion number command that can specify the number of medals used for setting the number of bets.

When it is determined that the value of the medal counter for replay is 0 in the step of Sc7, that is, when it is determined that the replay is not awarded, and when the replay is awarded in the step of Sc8, and after the bet amount setting process is performed. performs a one-interrupt waiting process (Sc10). By performing one-interrupt wait processing, timer interrupt processing (main) is performed to update the detection state of various switches, the lighting state of LEDs, various timers, etc., and the detection state of these various switches is updated, subsequent processing can be performed.

After the one-time interrupt waiting process is performed in step Sc10 and the timer interrupt is performed once, acceptance of various switch operations is enabled. An operation input acceptance process for accepting an operation by a switch is performed (Sc14).

In the operation input acceptance process, acceptance of operations by the 1BET switch 20 and the MAXBET switch 6 is validated when the credit set in the predetermined area of the RAM 171c is 1 or more. Further, when the number of bets set in the predetermined area of the RAM 171c is the specified number, acceptance of operation by the start switch 7 is validated. Also, acceptance of operations by the number-of-bet clear switch 21 and the setting key switch 37 is validated.

Further, in the operation input reception processing, when the operation of the start switch 7 is detected while the operation of the start switch 7 is valid, a start flag indicating that the start switch 7 has been operated is set in a predetermined register. conduct. Further, when the operation of the setting key switch 37 is detected while the operation of the setting key switch 37 is valid, the setting value display processing for displaying the setting value on the setting value display 24 is performed. In addition, when the operation of the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is detected while the operation of the 1BET switch 20 and the MAXBET switch 6 is valid, the number of medals up to the prescribed number can be bet based on the credits. number, and the number of medals set in the number of bets is subtracted from the credit. After performing a process corresponding to the switch or the like whose operation has been detected, the operation input acceptance process is ended.

After performing the operation input acceptance process in step Sc14, it is determined whether or not a valid operation of the start switch 7 has been detected based on the start flag (Sc15). If it is determined that the start flag is not set in the predetermined register and the effective operation of the start switch 7 is not detected, the process proceeds to step Sc16, and LED display processing for controlling the lighting state of the start effective LED is performed. .

In the LED display process, when the operation of the start switch 7 is enabled by the operation input reception process of step Sc14, and the operation of any switch other than the reset switch is not detected, the start enable LED is turned on ( lighting state) and the operation of the start switch 7 is enabled, and the operation of any switch other than the reset switch is detected, or the operation of the start switch 7 is not enabled. Then, the start valid LED is controlled to be in the OFF state (extinguished state), and whether the operation by the start switch 7 is valid or invalid is informed by the lighting state of the start valid LED.

In step Sc15, when it is determined that a start flag is set in a predetermined register and a valid operation of the start switch 7 is detected, a random number for internal lottery is obtained from the random number circuit, and stored in the RAM 161c. Set in the area (Sc17). After that, the set bet amount setting state data that can specify the set bet amount is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sc18), the start enable LED is set to the OFF state (extinguishing state) (Sc19), and the token maintenance permission flag is set. is cleared from a predetermined area of the RAM 161c (Sc20), the display of the payout number on the game auxiliary display 12 is cleared (Sc21), the game start waiting process is terminated, and the process returns to the main process. Thereafter, in the main process, an internal lottery is performed using the random number value obtained in step Sc17, and the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are started to rotate in response to detection of the operation of the start switch 7. Then, one game is started.

FIG. 69 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the bet number setting operation acceptance process performed by the main control board 16. As shown in FIG. When the main control board 16 detects the operation of the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 after the operation of the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 is enabled in the operation input acceptance process of FIG. The bet number setting operation acceptance process shown in FIG. 69 is executed.

The main control board 16 acquires the number of bets from 0 to 3 set in the BET counter of the RAM 161c (Sd1). The main control board 16 calculates the number of inserted medals based on the obtained number of bets and whether the switch whose operation is detected is the 1BET switch 20 or the MAXBET switch 6 (Sd2). For example, if an operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is detected when the number of bets is 0, the number of inserted medals is 3. The number is 1.

The main control board 16 transmits an insertion command including the calculated number of inserted medals to the medal number control board 17 (Sd3). The medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the insertion command. The main control board 16 executes a bet number setting process in response to receiving the response command (Sd4). That is, the main control board 16 adds the number of bets stored in the BET counter of the RAM 161c.

FIG. 70 is a diagram for explaining the control contents of the settlement operation acceptance process performed by the main control board 16. As shown in FIG. When the main control board 16 detects an operation of the bet number clear switch 21 after the operation of the bet number clear switch 21 becomes valid in the operation input reception process of FIG. to run.

The main control board 16 determines whether or not a replay operation is in progress (Se1). If the replay is in progress, the main control board 16 terminates the process. If the replay is not in operation, the main control board 16 determines whether or not the number of bets is set to 1 or more (Se2). If the number of bets is not set to 1 or more, the main control board 16 terminates the process. When the number of bets is set to 1 or more, the main control board 16 acquires the number of bets of 1 to 3 set in the BET counter of the RAM 161c (Se3).

The main control board 16 transmits to the medal count control board 17 a settlement command including the acquired number of bets as the number of settlement medals (Se4). The medal number control board 17 transmits a response command to the insertion command. The main control board 16 executes the settlement operation process in response to receiving the response command (Se5). That is, the main control board 16 subtracts the bet number.

Communication between the effect control unit 151, the main control unit 161, the number-of-medals control unit 171, and the CU control unit 323 will be described below. In Embodiment 1, the configuration in which the main control unit 161 is included in the main control board 16 and the medal number control unit 171 is included in the medal number control board 17 has been described. A configuration in which the medal count control unit 171 is included in the main control board 16 together with the main control unit 161 will be described in the S-table 2 in which the main control unit 161 and the medal count control unit 171 are integrated.

FIG. 71 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the card unit and the slot machine when the main control section 161 and medal number control section 171 are integrated. As shown in FIG. 71 , the main control section 161 includes both the medal number control section 171 and the main control section 161 . That is, the main control section 161 and the medal count control section 171 are mounted on the same substrate. As a result, there is no need to connect the main control section 161 and the medal count control section 171 with a connector or the like, and security can be enhanced. In addition, by reducing the number of parts, it is possible to reduce the probability of occurrence of defects.

As shown in FIG. 71, the main control unit 161 is connected to the reel motors 32L, 32C, 32R, the setting key switch 37, the reset/setting switch 38, the start switch 7, and the game auxiliary display 12. there is Note that the main control unit 161 operates through the reel motors 32L, 32C, 32R, the setting key switch 37, the reset/setting switch 38, the start switch 7, the game auxiliary display 12, and the medal count control unit 171. , may be connected. That is, the reel motors 32L, 32C, 32R, the setting key switch 37, the reset/setting switch 38, the start switch 7, and the game auxiliary display 12 may be connected to the medal number control section 171.

The medal count control unit 171 is also connected to the count button 10 , the RAM clear switch 293 and the role ratio monitor 89 . Note that the medal count control section 171 may be configured to be connected to the count button 10 , the RAM clear switch 293 , and the role ratio monitor 89 via the main control section 161 . The count button 10 , the RAM clear switch 293 and the role ratio monitor 89 may be connected to the main controller 161 .

FIG. 72 is a diagram for explaining communication of the effect control section 151, the main control section 161, the number-of-medals control section 171, and the CU control section 323. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 72, the main control board 16 in which the main control section 161 and the medal number control section 171 are integrated has the medal number control section 171 and the main control section 161 mounted thereon. The main control unit 161 includes a first serial communication circuit SR1, a second serial communication circuit SR2, and a third serial communication circuit SR3. The first serial communication circuit SR1 to the third serial communication circuit SR3 are serial communication circuits installed in the main control unit 161 implemented as a control computer such as a microcomputer. The medal count control section 171 includes a fourth serial communication circuit SR4, a fifth serial communication circuit SR5, and a sixth serial communication circuit SR6. The fourth serial communication circuit SR4 to the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 are also serial communication circuits installed in the medal count control section 171 implemented as a control computer such as a microcomputer.

The first serial communication circuit SR1 and the third serial communication circuit SR3 of the main control section 161 have a transmission function and a reception function. As shown in FIG. 72, the first serial communication circuit SR1 has a transmission terminal Tx1 and a reception terminal Rx1 as terminals for connecting with other devices. The first serial communication circuit SR1 also has a transmission buffer Tb1, which is a buffer for transmission, and a reception buffer Rb1, which is a buffer for reception. The third serial communication circuit SR3 also has a transmission terminal Tx3, a reception terminal Rx3, a transmission buffer Tb3, and a reception buffer Rb3.

On the other hand, the second serial communication circuit SR2 of the main control unit 161 has only the transmission function out of the transmission function and the reception function. That is, the second serial communication circuit SR2 is a transmission-only serial communication circuit. As shown in FIG. 72, the second serial communication circuit SR2 has only a transmission terminal Tx2 and a transmission buffer Tb2 as terminals for connecting to other devices. Therefore, the second serial communication circuit SR2 is configured so as not to be able to receive signals (commands) from other devices. As a result, the signal can be preferably transmitted when the signal is transmitted in one direction. That is, the second serial communication circuit SR2 can be preferably used for communication between the main control section 161 and the effect control section 151 that require one-way signal transmission.

The fifth serial communication circuit SR5 and the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 of the medal count control section 171 have a transmitting function and a receiving function, like the first serial communication circuit SR1 and the third serial communication circuit SR3. That is, the fifth serial communication circuit SR5 has a transmission terminal Tx5, a reception terminal Rx5, a transmission buffer Tb5, and a reception buffer Rb5. Also, the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 has a transmission terminal Tx6, a reception terminal Rx6, a transmission buffer Tb6, and a reception buffer Rb6. Further, the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 of the medal count control section 171 has only a transmission function, like the second serial communication circuit of the main control section 161. That is, the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 has a transmission terminal Tx4 and a transmission buffer Tb4.

As shown in FIG. 72, the main control section 161 and the medal number control section 171 perform signal communication using the first serial communication circuit SR1 and the fifth serial communication circuit SR5. As described above, bidirectional commands such as the insertion command and the settlement command are transmitted between the medal count control section 171 and the main control section 161 . In other words, communication between the medal count control section 171 and the main control section 161 includes two-way communication. In this manner, two-way communication is realized by using the first serial communication circuit SR1 and the fifth serial communication circuit SR5, which have a transmission function and a reception function.

Further, since the communication between the medal number control section 171 and the CU control section 323 is bidirectional communication, the medal number control section 171 has both a transmission function and a reception function for communication with the connection terminal board 1000. A sixth serial communication circuit SR6 is used. The medal number control section 171 is connected to the CU control section 323 via the connection terminal plate 1000 . The frame-side information command is a command that continues to be transmitted in one direction from the medal count control board 17 to the main control board 16 without bidirectionality. The medal number control section 171 transmits the frame side information command to the third serial communication circuit SR3 of the main control section 161 using the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 having only a transmission function. The third serial communication circuit SR3 transmits the test signal to the test substrate 300. FIG. In this way, in the S platform 2 when the main control unit 161 and the medal count control unit 171 are integrated, one-way communication is performed using a serial communication circuit having only a transmission function, and two-way communication By using a serial communication circuit having both a transmission function and a reception function, one-way command transmission and two-way command transmission can be separately used and the serial communication circuit can be used, which is preferable. data can be communicated.

The test substrate 300 is configured to convert various types of test signals into specific signals and output them to the test apparatus. Thus, by using the test substrate 300, the slot machine does not need to generate a specific signal that matches the test device, and by using the test substrate 300, the test device can be used from various types of slot machines. A test signal can be received. This eliminates the need to generate a test signal for each slot machine that matches a prescribed test device.

Further, the main control unit 161 receives a bidirectional command such as an insertion command from the medal count control unit 171 using the reception terminal Rx1 of the first serial communication circuit SR1, and transmits a response command through the first serial communication. Transmission is performed using the transmission terminal Tx1 of the circuit SR1. As a result, bidirectional command transmission/reception between the main control unit 161 and the medal count control unit 171 can be completed only by the first serial communication circuit SR1, and security can be enhanced.

In addition, as described in FIG. 41, when the main control unit 161 receives a command having interactivity that is transmitted irregularly, such as an input command, the main control unit 161 indicates to the medal number control unit 171 that the command has been received. Send a response command. Thus, the medal count control section 171 can determine that the main control section 161 has normally received an input command or the like.

Further, the main control section 161 receives the frame side information command from the medal number control section 171 using the receiving terminal Rx3 of the third serial communication circuit SR3 different from the first serial communication circuit SR1. As a result, the main control section 161 can receive commands from the medal count control section 171 using the third serial communication circuit SR3 even if an abnormality occurs in the first serial communication circuit SR1.

Communication of frame-side information commands periodically transmitted is performed using the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 of the medal count control section 171 and the third serial communication circuit SR3 of the main control section 161. FIG. On the other hand, in the medal count control section 171, the fifth serial communication circuit SR5 is used in place of the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 for communication such as an input command that is not regular, and the main control section 161 uses the third serial communication circuit A first serial communication circuit SR1 is used instead of SR3. As a result, it is possible to prevent overflow from occurring due to overlapping of the frame-side information command that is transmitted periodically and the insertion command that is transmitted based on the operation of the player.

Next, the capacity of the transmission buffer will be explained. The transmission buffer Tb2 of the second serial communication circuit SR2 and the transmission buffer Tb4 of the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 used for one-way communication are 128 bytes. On the other hand, the transmission buffer Tb1 of the first serial communication circuit SR1, the transmission buffer Tb3 of the third serial communication circuit SR3, the transmission buffer Tb5 of the fifth serial communication circuit SR5, and the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 are used for bidirectional communication. The transmission buffer Tb6 of is 64 bytes. This makes it difficult for the serial communication circuit for one-way communication to overflow even when many commands are transmitted.

Next, the memory area for setting functions of each serial communication circuit included in the internal function register area will be described. In the internal function register area of the RAM 161c described with reference to FIG. 60, the functions of the first serial communication circuit SR1 to the third serial communication circuit SR3 mounted as functions of the main control unit 161, which is a control computer such as a microcomputer, are stored. contains an area to set the Similarly, in the internal function register area (not shown) of the RAM 171c, the functions of the fourth serial communication circuit SR4 to the sixth serial communication circuit SR6 installed as functions of the medal number control unit 171, which is a control computer such as a microcomputer, are stored. contains an area to set the

The capacity of the function setting area of the serial communication circuit used for unidirectional communication is smaller than the capacity of the function setting area of the serial communication circuit used for bidirectional communication. As a result, in the serial communication circuit for one-way communication, complicated settings are not required, and the settings can be simplified. That is, the capacity of the function setting area of the second serial communication circuit SR2 within the RAM 161c is smaller than the capacity of the function setting area of the first serial communication circuit SR1 within the RAM 161c.

Also, as shown in FIG. 72, the main control section 161, the medal count control section 171, the effect control section 151, and the connection terminal board 1000 are connected by a serial communication circuit. This facilitates routing of the wiring pattern. In other words, since the number of wirings can be reduced compared to parallel communication, wiring patterns can be easily laid out.

<Regarding deletion of the operation promotion image>
In the S platform 2 of the present embodiment, an operation promotion image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 to prompt the player to operate. The operation prompting image prompts the player to operate the lower panel switch 57 and invalidate the MAXBET switch 6, for example. The effect control unit 151 performs various effects when detecting that the player has performed an operation as prompted by the operation prompting image. For example, the effect control unit 151 changes the display of an image displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 based on detection of an operation by the player, outputs a sound effect from the speaker 53, or operates a character. do.

Arrangement of a plurality of switches operated by the player will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 73 is a perspective view for explaining the operation surface of the switch provided on the S platform 2. FIG. FIG. 73 shows the X, Y and Z axes. As shown in FIG. 73, the liquid crystal display 51 and the reels 2L, 2C, 2R are provided facing the same direction as the positive direction of the X-axis, D1. In other words, the normal direction of the liquid crystal surface (display surface) of the liquid crystal display 51 is the same as the positive direction of the X-axis. A player sits on the positive side of the X axis of the S platform 2 and faces the liquid crystal display 51 to play a game.

Further, as shown in FIG. 73, the MAXBET switch 6 is provided on the upper surface 95 of the projecting portion 94 . The MAXBET switch 6 is provided facing the direction D2, which is the same direction as the positive direction of the Z-axis. In other words, the normal direction of the operating surface of the MAXBET switch 6 is the same direction as the positive direction of the Z-axis. The operating surface is a surface of a switch such as the MAXBET switch 6 that is touched by the player. The operation surface may have a planar shape or a curved surface such as a hemisphere. In the case of a hemispherical shape, the direction D2 means the normal direction of the vertex of the hemisphere.

The stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R and the lower panel switch 57 are provided on the surface of the projecting portion 94 on the positive direction side of the X axis. The stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are provided in the direction D3 which is the same direction as the positive direction of the X axis, and the lower panel switch 57 is provided in the direction D4 which is the same direction as the positive direction of the X axis. It is set towards In other words, the normal direction of the operation surfaces of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R and the lower panel switch 57 is the same as the positive direction of the X-axis.

As shown in FIG. 73, the MAXBET switch 6 is provided facing the positive direction of the Z axis, while the liquid crystal display 51, the reels 2L, 2C and 2R, the stop switches 8L, 8C and 8R , the lower panel switch 57 is provided toward the positive direction side of the X-axis. That is, direction D2 is orthogonal to directions D1, D3, and D4. Thus, in the S table 2 in the present embodiment, the effect control unit 151 prompts the player to operate the MAXBET switch 6, the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R, and the lower panel switch 57. The promotion image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 .

FIG. 74 is a diagram showing an example of an operation prompting image that prompts the operation of the MAXBET switch 6 without suggesting the operation timing. FIGS. 74A to 74D show the transition of screens displayed on the liquid crystal display 51. FIG. 74(A) to 74(D) showing the liquid crystal display 51, the screens shown in each drawing do not need to be displayed on the entire liquid crystal display 51, and the liquid crystal display 51 may be displayed only in part. For example, in FIG. 74A, an operation prompting image Ms1 and a switch image Im1 are displayed so as to be superimposed on a background image such as a mountain, the sun, and clouds. , reels 2L, 2C, and 2R. More specifically, these images are displayed between the ends of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R on the positive Z-axis side shown in FIG. can be displayed in As a result, in the S machine 2, the player can see both the reels 2L, 2C, 2R and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 at the same time.

At the bottom of FIG. 74, a time axis showing the timings at which FIGS. 74A to 74D are displayed is shown. As shown on the time axis of FIG. 74, the player first operates the start switch 7 . The effect control unit 151 starts displaying the screen shown in FIG. 74(A) at timing Tm1 based on the start switch 7 being operated. The screen shown in FIG. 74A is displayed during the period from timing Tm1 to timing Tm2.

In FIG. 74A, a background image such as a mountain, the sun, and clouds, an operation prompting image Ms1, and a switch image Im1 are displayed. The characters "Press the button!" are displayed in the operation prompting image Ms1. An image showing the appearance of the MAXBET switch 6 is displayed in the switch image Im1. In FIG. 74A, the transparency of the operation prompting image Ms1 and the switch image Im1 is 0%. Note that the effect control unit 151 may display characters “Press the MAXBET switch!” on the operation prompting image Ms1 without displaying the switch image Im1.

By displaying the operation prompting image Ms1 and the switch image Im1 on the liquid crystal display 51, the effect control section 151 prompts the player to operate the MAXBET switch 6. FIG. On the other hand, the operation prompting image Ms1 in FIG. 74 is an image that does not suggest the operation timing. Suggestion of the operation timing means the timing at which the operation should be performed, and is different from suggesting the remaining time of the operable time. Suggestion of operation timing will be described in detail later.

The effect control unit 151 detects the operation of the MAXBET switch 6 while the operation prompting image Ms1 is being displayed, and causes the liquid crystal display 51 to start erasing the operation prompting image Ms1. That is, the effect control unit 151 increases the degree of transparency of the operation prompting image Ms1 step by step based on the player's operation of the MAXBET switch 6 at the timing Tm2. The effect control unit 151 gradually increases the transparency of the operation prompting image Ms1 from 0% to 100%. FIGS. 74(B) and 74(C) show screens showing the progress during the increase of the transmittance.

FIG. 74B shows the operation prompting image Ms1 and the switch image Im1 with the transparency of 40% at timing Tm3. FIG. 74(C) shows the operation prompting image Ms1 and the switch image Im1 with a transparency of 80% at timing Tm4. FIG. 74D shows that the transparency of the operation prompting image Ms1 and the switch image Im1 becomes 100% at timing Tm5, and that they are erased from the screen of the liquid crystal display 51. FIG. As a result, during the erasing period of the operation prompting image Ms1, by gradually transmitting the operation prompting image Ms1, it is possible to enhance the presentation effect.

In addition, the effect control unit 151 causes the speaker 53 to output an operation sound based on detection of the operation of the MAXBET switch 6 in FIG. 74(A). The operation sound in FIG. 74(A) is, for example, an electronic sound for notifying the player that the MAXBET switch 6 has been properly operated, and is output at a predetermined volume.

The effect control unit 151 displays the effect result image 96 based on the transparency of the operation prompting image Ms1 and the switch image Im1 being 100%. The effect result image 96 in FIG. 74 shows the characters "Unfortunately...!". Note that the effect result image 96 may be an image indicating, for example, "Chance!", "Suspicious...", "Decision!" Thus, the liquid crystal display 51 displays the effect result image 96 based on the operation of the MAXBET switch 6 .

In the S platform 2 of the present embodiment, the operation prompting image Ms1, which does not suggest the operation timing but prompts the invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6, starts to be erased at the timing Tm2, and is completely erased at the timing Tm5. That is, in FIG. 74, the period from when the deletion of the operation prompting image Ms1 is started until the deletion of the operation prompting image Ms1 is completed is the period Dr1 as shown on the time axis of FIG. The period Dr1 is, for example, 1 to 3 seconds.

Next, an operation prompting image that suggests operation timing will be described. FIG. 75 is a diagram showing a first example of an operation prompting image that suggests the operation timing and prompts the operation of the lower panel switch 57. FIG. In FIG. 75, as in FIG. 74, the screen of the liquid crystal display 51 shown in FIGS. 75(A) to (D) and the time axis showing the timings at which FIGS. 75(A) to (D) are displayed. It is shown. As shown in FIG. 75, at timing Tm1 based on the operation of the start switch 7, the operation prompting image Ms2 and the rendering area Im2 are displayed.

The operation facilitating image Ms2 shows the text "Press the lower panel switch at the right time!". A target image Tg1 and an aiming image Ar1 are shown in the effect area Im2. The target image Tg1 is a UFO that randomly moves within the rendering area Im2. On the other hand, the aiming image Ar1 is fixed and displayed substantially in the center of the rendering area Im2. The effect shown in FIG. 75 encourages the player to operate the lower panel switch 57 at the timing when the target image Tg1 overlaps the aiming image Ar1. It should be noted that the target image Tg1 may move within the effect area Im2 with periodic or regular motion such as a sine wave instead of randomly moving.

Since the target image Tg1 is displayed as a moving image so as to move within the effect area Im2, at timing Tm2, the target image Tg1 moves from the position at timing Tm1 as shown in FIG. 75(B). As shown in FIG. 75(C), the target image Tg1 moves further from the position shown in FIG. 75(B) and overlaps the aiming image Ar1 at timing Tm3. In the example of FIG. 75, the player operates the lower panel switch 57 at timing Tm3 when the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 overlap. As a result, the effect control unit 151 erases the effect area Im2 including the operation prompting image Ms2, the aiming image Ar1, and the target image Tg1. The effect control unit 151 displays the effect result image 97 when the operation prompting image Ms2 and the effect area Im2 are erased. The effect result image 97 is an image showing characters "EXCELLENT!".

In addition, the production control section 151 causes the speaker 53 to output an operation sound based on detection of the operation of the lower panel switch 57 in FIG. 75(C). The operation sound in FIG. 75(C) is an electronic sound for notifying the player that the lower panel switch 57 has been properly operated, and is output at a predetermined volume. In this embodiment, the operation sound in FIG. 75(C) is the same sound as the operation sound in FIG. 74(A). That is, the output period and output volume of the operation sound in FIG. 75(C) are the same as the output period and output volume of the operation sound in FIG. 74(A). Note that the operation sound in FIG. 74(A) and the operation sound in FIG. 75(C) may be the same in only one of the output period and the output volume. As a result, even when either the MAXBET switch 6 or the lower panel switch 57 is operated, the player can be notified of the effective operation.

The effect control unit 151 changes the characters displayed by the effect result image 97 depending on whether or not the operation of the lower panel switch 57 is detected at the timing when the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 overlap. For example, the effect control unit 151 may display the characters "BAD..." when detecting the operation of the lower panel switch 57 at the timing when the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 do not overlap. Further, when the effect control unit 151 detects the operation of the lower panel switch 57 at the timing when the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 do not overlap, the effect control unit 151 does not display any image, and the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 are displayed. When the operation of the lower panel switch 57 is detected at the timing overlapping with , a specific character may be displayed. Whether or not the timing at which the player operates the lower panel switch 57 coincides with the timing at which the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 overlap does not affect the progress of games such as internal lottery. As shown in FIG. 75, the period from the start of erasing of the operation prompting image Ms2 to the completion of erasing of the manipulation prompting image Ms2 is a period Dr2. Period Dr2 is, for example, 0.03 seconds to 0.3 seconds. When the frame rate of the S platform 2 is set to 30 fps, the effect control unit 151 may set, for example, 1 to 10 frames as the timing at which the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 overlap.

Thus, in FIG. 75, unlike the example of FIG. 74 that does not suggest the operation timing, the operation prompting image Ms2 that suggests the operation timing is displayed. The operation prompting image Ms2 is an image suggesting that the lower panel switch 57 should be pressed at the timing when the target image Tg1 moving within the rendering area Im2 overlaps the aiming image Ar1. Further, the target image Tg1 does not overlap the aiming image Ar1 at the timing Tm1 when the display of the target image Tg1 is started. Moreover, the entire period during which both the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 are displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 is, for example, 10 seconds.

That is, the period during which the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 overlap is relatively short compared to the entire period during which both the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 51 . In the effect shown in FIG. 75, within 10 seconds in which both the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 are displayed, during 0.03 to 0.3 seconds in which the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 overlap, It encourages people to operate. In this way, the suggestion of the operation timing is specified to start at a timing different from the start timing of the predetermined period within a predetermined period (for example, 10 seconds in which the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 are displayed). (for example, 0.03 seconds to 0.3 seconds when the target image Tg1 and the aiming image Ar1 overlap). It is different from the one that is displayed and suggests the effective period of operation of the effect switch.

As described above, the operation at the operation timing required in the effect of FIG. 75 is an operation with a higher degree of difficulty than the operation performed on the effect switch within the operation effective period of the effect switch. Therefore, after the player operates the lower panel switch 57, the S machine 2 preferably informs at what timing the S machine 2 recognizes and accepts the player's operation. In other words, it is desirable for the player to appropriately grasp the timing of the operation.

By comparing FIG. 74 and FIG. 75, the erasure of the operation prompting image Ms2 of FIG. It is longer than the period Dr2 from the start to the completion of erasing of the operation prompting image Ms2. As a result, the period Dr2 from when the operation of the lower panel switch 57 is detected to when the operation prompting image Ms2 and the effect area Im2 are erased is the period when the operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is detected and the operation prompting image Ms1 is erased. Since the period until the operation timing is shorter than the period Dr1, it is easy for the player to feel the actual operation timing of the lower panel switch 57 which the player performs in response to the indication of the operation timing.

FIG. 76 is a diagram showing a second example of an operation prompting image that suggests the operation timing and prompts the operation of the lower panel switch 57. FIG. 76, similarly to FIGS. 74 and 75, the screen of the liquid crystal display 51 shown in FIGS. 76(A) to (D) and the timing of displaying FIGS. Axes are shown. As shown in FIG. 76, at timing Tm1 based on the operation of the start switch 7, the operation prompting image Ms3 and the rendering area Im3 are displayed.

The operation facilitating image Ms3 shows the text "Push the lower panel switch at the right time!". In the rendering area Im3, a gauge and characters reading "Press when the gauge is full!" are displayed. With reference to the time axis of FIG. 76, the value shown on the gauge within the effect area Im3 gradually increases from timing Tm1. As shown in FIG. 76(B), the gauge value is increased compared to the state of FIG. 76(A). Also, as shown in FIG. 76(C), the gauge value is further increased compared to the state of FIG. 76(B).

In the example of FIG. 76, as shown in FIG. 76(C), the player operates the lower panel switch 57 at timing Tm3 before the gauge becomes full. The effect control unit 151 erases the effect area Im3 including the operation prompting image Ms3 and the gauge based on the player's operation at the timing Tm3. The effect control unit 151 displays the effect result image 98 when the operation prompting image Ms3 and the effect area Im3 are erased. The effect result image 98 is an image showing characters "GOOD!". When the effect control unit 151 detects that the lower panel switch 57 has been operated at the timing when the gauge is full, it may display a effect result image showing the characters "EXCELLENT!".

Thus, in the second example of FIG. 76 as well, the operation prompting image Ms3 suggesting the operation timing is displayed. The period during which the gauge is full is shorter than the entire period during which the effect area Im3 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51.例文帳に追加For example, if the entire period during which the rendering area Im3 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 is 10 seconds, the period during which the gauge is full is 0.03 to 0.3 seconds.

Thus, in the production of FIG. 76 as well, the operation at the operation timing required by the player is an operation with a higher degree of difficulty for the player than the operation of the production switch performed within the operation effective period of the production switch. is. Therefore, as in FIG. 75, it is desirable for the player to appropriately grasp the timing of the operation. By comparing FIG. 74 and FIG. 76, the period Dr1 from the start of erasing operation prompting image Ms1 in FIG. It is longer than the period Dr3 from the start to the completion of erasing of the operation prompting image Ms3. As a result, the period Dr3 from when the lower panel switch 57 provided facing the front side of the S table 2 is operated to when the operation prompting image Ms3 is erased is MAXBET provided on the upper surface 95 of the projecting portion 94. Since the period is shorter than the period from when the switch 6 is operated until the operation prompting image Ms1 is erased, the operation of the lower panel switch 57 performed by the player in response to the suggestion of the operation timing is actually operated. It is easy for the player to feel the timing.

Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the effect control board 15 is connected to the MAXBET switch 6 via the main control board 16 and the relay board 1100 . On the other hand, the effect control board 15 is directly connected to the lower panel switch 57 . That is, the effect switch 56 requires relaying between the main control board 16 and the relay board 1100 in order to detect that the MAXBET switch 6 has been disabled. A control command indicating the SW signal of the MAXBET switch 6 from when the MAXBET switch 6 is actually pressed rather than the period from when the lower panel switch 57 is actually pressed until the SW signal of the lower panel switch 57 is received from the main control board 16 becomes longer. Therefore, as described above, in the S platform 2 according to the present embodiment, the erasing of the operation prompting image Ms2 is not performed during the period Dr1 from when the erasing of the operation prompting image Ms1 is started until the erasing of the operation prompting image Ms1 is completed. It is set to be longer than the period Dr2 from the start to the completion of erasing of the operation prompting image Ms2. As a result, it is possible to perform effect control in accordance with the period required for detection by the effect control unit 151 in order to actually detect the operation signal, thereby preventing the player from feeling uncomfortable.

Also, as described with reference to FIG. 73, both the lower panel switch 57 and the liquid crystal display 51 are provided facing the positive direction side of the X-axis. As a result, the period Dr2 from when the lower panel switch 57 directed in the same direction as the liquid crystal display 51 is operated until the operation prompting image Ms2 is erased is changed from when the MAXBET switch 6 is operated until the operation prompting image Ms2 is erased. Since the period until Ms1 is erased is shorter than Dr1, it is easy for the player to experience the actual timing of the operation of the lower panel switch 57 performed by the player in response to the suggestion of the operation timing.

<Structure including effect switch 56>
In the above-described S table 2, an example has been described in which the invalid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 is used as the switch for receiving the operation for effect. That is, the effect control unit 151 detects that the player has performed an operation for effect by detecting that the MAXBET switch 6 is disabled via the main control board 16 .

A slot machine in which the effect switch 56 is provided and the main control unit 161 detects only valid operation of the MAXBET switch 6 will be described below. FIG. 77 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the slot machine when the effect switch 56 is provided. As shown in FIG. 77 , the effect control board 15 is directly connected to the effect switch 56 without going through the main control board 16 . That is, the production switch 56 outputs the SW signal to the production control board 15 . Also, the MAXBET switch 6 and the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R output SW signals to the main control board 16 via the relay board 1100. FIG.

FIG. 78 is a perspective view for explaining the operating surface of the performance switch 56 provided on the S platform 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 78, the operating surface of the effect switch 56 is decorated with the letters "PUSH". The effect switch 56 is provided facing the direction D5, which is the positive direction side of the Z axis. More specifically, the normal direction of the operating surface of the effect switch 56 is the positive direction of the Z axis.

FIG. 79 is a diagram showing an example of an operation prompting image that prompts the operation of the effect switch 56 without suggesting the operation timing. 79, similar to FIG. 74, transitions of screens displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 are shown as FIGS. 79(A) to 79(D). Also, in FIG. 79, the time axis is shown in the lower part of FIG. 79, as in FIG.

As shown on the time axis of FIG. 79, the player first operates the start switch 7 . The effect control unit 151 starts displaying the screen shown in FIG. 79(A) at timing Tm1 based on the start switch 7 being operated. The screen shown in FIG. 79A is displayed during the period from timing Tm1 to timing Tm2.

In the operation prompting image Ms4 shown in FIG. 79(A), the characters "Press the button!" are displayed. An image showing the appearance of the effect switch 56 is displayed in the switch image Im4. Note that the effect control unit 151 may display characters such as "Press the PUSH button!" on the operation prompting image Ms4 without displaying the switch image Im4.

By displaying the operation prompting image Ms4 and the switch image Im4 on the liquid crystal display 51, the effect control section 151 prompts the player to operate the effect switch 56. FIG. The operation prompting image Ms4 in FIG. 79 is an image that does not suggest the operation timing, like the operation prompting image Ms1 in FIG.

The effect control unit 151 detects the operation of the effect switch 56 while the operation prompting image Ms4 is being displayed, and causes the liquid crystal display 51 to start erasing the operation prompting image Ms4. That is, the effect control unit 151 displays the effect image Ef1 superimposed on the operation promotion image Ms4 based on the player's operation of the effect switch 56 at the timing Tm2. That is, the effect control unit 151 erases the operation promotion image Ms4 and the switch image Im4 while generating the effect Ef1.

FIG. 79B shows the operation promotion image Ms4, the switch image Im4, and the effect Ef1 at the timing Tm3. The effect Ef1 is, for example, an explosion, a firework, a flash, etc., and is a moving image that changes so as to obscure the operation prompting image Ms4 and the switch image Im4. FIG. 74C shows the operation promotion image Ms4, the switch image Im4, and the effect Ef1 at the timing Tm4. As shown in FIGS. 79B and 79C, the effect Ef1 gradually expands to cover the operation prompting image Ms4 and the switch image Im4. After that, the effect Ef1 is erased, and an effect result image 99 shown in FIG. 79(D) is displayed. In the effect result image 99 in FIG. 79, the characters "chance!" Characters such as

As described above, in the S platform 2 of the present embodiment, the operation prompting image Ms4 that does not suggest the operation timing but prompts the operation of the effect switch 56 starts to be erased at the timing Tm2 and finishes erasing at the timing Tm5. . That is, the period from when the erasing of the operation prompting image Ms4 is started until the erasing of the operation prompting image Ms4 is completed is the period Dr4 shown in FIG. The period Dr4 is, for example, 1 to 3 seconds.

FIG. 80 is a diagram showing an example of an operation prompting image that suggests the operation timing and prompts the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R. In FIG. 80, as in FIG. 74, the screen of the liquid crystal display 51 shown in FIGS. 80(A) to (D) and the time axis showing the timings at which FIGS. 80(A) to (D) are displayed. It is shown. As shown in FIG. 80, the operation prompting image Ms5 is displayed at timing Tm1 based on the operation of the start switch 7 .

The characters "Aim for 7!" are displayed in the operation prompting image Ms5. A background image or the like is not attached to the characters "Aim for 7!", but only the characters are attached. As shown in FIG. 80(A), reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are displayed during rotation. The player operates the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R at a special timing when black 7 is derived, as shown in the operation prompting image Ms5.

In FIG. 80(B), the main control section 161 stops the left reel 2L with the black 7 drawn, based on the operation of the left stop switch 8L at the timing Tm2 when the black 7 is drawn. Further, in FIG. 80(C), the main control unit 161 stops the middle reel 2C in a state where the black 7 is drawn based on the operation of the middle stop switch 8C at the timing Tm3 when the black 7 is drawn. . As shown in FIGS. 80B and 80C, when the reels 2L and 2C are stopped, the operation prompting image Ms5 remains displayed.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 80(D), when the right stop switch 8R is operated at the timing Tm4 when black 7 is drawn, the main control unit 161 detects that the right stop switch 8R has been operated. is transmitted to the effect control section 151 as a control command, and the effect control section 151 changes the image displayed by the liquid crystal display 51 to the mode shown in FIG. 80(D). That is, as shown in FIG. 80(D), the effect control unit 151 erases the operation promotion image Ms5 at the timing Tm4. Immediately after that, the effect control section 151 displays seven colors of flashing lights on the entire liquid crystal display 51 at timing Tm5. As shown on the time axis of FIG. 80, the erasing period of the operation prompting image Ms5 is a period Dr5 from timing Tm4 when the right stop switch 8R is pressed to timing Tm5. The period Dr5 is, for example, 0.01 seconds, which is shorter than either of the periods Dr1 and Dr4.

As a result, a period Dr5 from when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R provided facing the front side of the S platform 2 are operated until the operation prompting image Ms5 is erased is provided on the upper surface 95 of the projecting portion 94. The stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R that the player performs in response to the indication of the operation timing are shorter than the period Dr4 from when the displayed effect switch 56 is operated until the operation prompting image Ms4 is erased. , it is easy for the player to experience the actual timing of the operation.

FIG. 81 is a diagram showing an example of an operation prompting image that prompts the operation of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R without suggesting the operation timing. Similar to FIG. 74, FIG. 81 shows transitions of screens displayed on the liquid crystal display 51 as FIGS. 81(A) to 81(D). Also, in FIG. 81, the time axis is shown in the lower part of FIG. 81 as in FIG.

As shown in the time axis of FIG. 81, the start switch 7 is first operated by the player. The effect control unit 151 starts displaying the screen shown in FIG. 80(A) at timing Tm1 based on the operation of the start switch 7 .

An operation prompting image Ms6 in FIG. 80(A) is an image used for navigation effect, and is an image suggesting the operation order of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R. That is, in the operation prompting image Ms6 in FIG. 80A, images indicating "1", "2" and "3" are displayed in association with the positions of the stop switches 8L, 8C and 8R. In the example of FIG. 80, the left stop switch 8L is associated with an order suggesting image Ms6L indicating "1", and the middle stop switch 8C is associated with an order suggesting image Ms6C indicating "2". , and the left stop switch 8R is associated with an order suggesting image Ms6R indicating "3". As a result, the main control unit 161 prompts the player to operate the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R in the order of the left stop switch 8L, the middle stop switch 8C, and the right stop switch 8R.

The player presses the left stop switch 8L at timing Tm2. The main control section 161 detects that the left stop switch 8L has been operated, and transmits a control command to the effect control section 151 . The effect control unit 151 starts erasing the order suggesting image Ms6L based on the reception of the control command indicating that the left stop switch 8L has been operated. As shown in FIG. 80B, similarly to the example of FIG. 79, the display of the effect Ef2 superimposed on the order suggesting image Ms6L starts at timing Tm2. After that, at timing Tm3, the display range of the effect Ef2 is expanded. Furthermore, at timing Tm4, the order suggesting image Ms6L is erased together with the effect Ef2. That is, in the example of FIG. 81, the erasing period of the order suggesting image Ms6L is the period Dr6 from timing Tm2 to timing Tm4. The period Dr6 is, for example, 1 to 3 seconds.

As described above, in the S platform 2 according to the present embodiment, the period Dr5 from when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated to when the operation prompting image Ms5 is erased is the period when the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R are operated. is shorter than the period Dr6 from when the operation prompting image Ms6 is erased. As a result, it is easy for the player to experience the actual operating timing of the stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R that the player performs in response to the suggestion of the operation timing.

Also, as shown in FIG. 81, each of the order suggestive images Ms6L, Ms6C, and Ms6R included in the operation prompting image Ms6 is provided with a decorative image ImB1. As a result, the erasing period of the order suggesting images Ms6L, Ms6C, and Ms6R to which the decorative image ImB1 is attached is longer than the erasing period of the operation prompting image Ms5 to which the ornamental image is not attached, thereby enlivening the performance and increasing interest. can be enhanced. Referring to FIGS. 74, 79 and 81, periods Dr1, Dr4 and Dr6 are erasing periods of operation suggestive images not suggesting operation timing. Also, referring to FIGS. 75, 76 and 80, periods Dr2, Dr3 and Dr5 are erasing periods of operation suggestive images suggesting operation timing.

<About the game information display>
In the S platform 2 according to the present embodiment, the game information display section 90 is provided on the upper surface 95 of the projecting section 94 . In the game information display section 90, an AT1 state, an AT2 state, or an advantageous state such as a high probability state is notified. FIG. 82 is a diagram showing the appearance of the game information display section 90. As shown in FIG.

The game information display unit 90 includes 1BETLED 14 , 2BETLED 15 , 3BETLED 16 and a game auxiliary display 12 .

The game auxiliary display 12 displays the number of medals paid out due to the occurrence of winning, operation information (navigation information) corresponding to the operation mode, and the like. Hereinafter, the number of paid-out medals displayed by the auxiliary game display 12 may be referred to as "the number of paid-out medals". That is, the game auxiliary display 12 displays the game value given to the player according to the result of one game. The game auxiliary display 12 is composed of a 7-segment LED display and is controlled by the main control section 161 .

The 1BETLED 14 notifies that the number of bets is set to 1 by lighting. The 2BETLED 15 notifies by lighting that the number of bets set to 2 is set. The 3BETLED 16 notifies by lighting that the number of bets has been set to 3. The replay lamp 91 indicates that a replay prize has been won by turning on. The outer end signal lamp 92 is turned on to indicate that the S-mount 2 will shift to the AT1 state or the AT2 state. The wait lamp 93 indicates that the wait is applied by turning on. That is, the wait lamp 93 indicates that it is within the period of one game time management timer.

As described above, the S platform 2 in the present embodiment can be controlled in the advantageous section normal, the high accuracy state, the AT1 state, and the AT2 state. Advantageous section Normally, navigation is not executed. The high-probability state is a state in which the number of points to be given is larger than the normal in the advantageous section, and it is a state in which it is easy to shift to the AT1 state. The AT1 state is a state in which navigation is displayed, and ends when a predetermined number of games are completed. The AT2 state is a so-called pseudo-bonus state in which the player can increase the number of net increase coins that can be obtained by following the navigation.

As shown in FIG. 4, the AT2 state can be controlled from the AT1 state. For example, when the number of remaining games in the AT1 state is not 0 and the state is controlled to the AT2 state, the state is controlled to the AT2 state while maintaining the AT1 state. For example, when the AT1 state has 30 games remaining and the state is controlled to the AT2 state, after the game in the AT2 state ends, the game in the AT1 state with 30 remaining games is restarted.

The S stand 2 in the present embodiment is provided with an external output terminal for communicating with a hall management computer, a hall server for security management, an external display device, or the like. As explained in the flowchart of the main processing, the main control unit 161 receives the gaming machine status information from the S machine 2 via the external output terminal and manages the hall management computer (hall computer) and security. Send to outside such as a hall server. That is, the main control unit 161 notifies by lighting of the outer end signal lamp 92 whether the state of the S-mount 2 is controlled to be the advantageous section normal state, the high-precision state, the AT1 state, or the AT2 state.

FIG. 83 is a flow chart showing external signal processing. In the external signal processing (Sb24a, Sb43c) of the main processing, the main controller 161 executes the flowchart shown in FIG. The main control unit 161 acquires the advantageous state in which the S-table 2 is controlled, and determines whether or not the advantageous state is controlled to the AT1 state (step St1). In step St1, as described above, when the game state is controlled to the AT2 state with the remaining number of games remaining in the AT1 state, the main control unit 161 determines that the AT1 state is controlled. Also, even if the control is only in the AT1 state, the main control unit 161 determines that it is controlled in the AT1 state. When determining that the state is controlled to the AT1 state (YES in step S11), the main control section 161 controls the outer end signal lamp 92 to emit light (step St2). After that, the main controller 161 starts outputting the external signal 1 (step St3). The external signal 1 is a signal indicating that the state is controlled to the AT1 state. When the external signal 1 has already been output, the main control unit 161 maintains the state of outputting the external signal 1 .

The main control section 161 further acquires the advantageous state in which the S-table 2 is being controlled, and determines whether or not the advantageous state is the AT2 state (step St4). That is, in step St4, the main control unit 161 determines whether or not the AT2 state is being controlled while the AT1 state is maintained. When determining that the AT2 state is maintained while the AT1 state is maintained (YES in step St4), the main control section 161 starts outputting the external signal 2 (step St5). The external signal 2 is a signal indicating that the state is controlled to the AT2 state. When the external signal 2 has already been output, the main control unit 161 maintains the state in which the external signal 2 is being output. When determining that the AT2 state is not controlled while the AT1 state is maintained (NO in step St4), the main control section 161 ends the output of the external signal 2 (step St5). If the external signal 2 has not already been output, the main control unit 161 maintains the state in which the external signal 2 is not output.

Returning to step St1, if it is determined that the state is not controlled to the AT1 state (No in step St1), then the main controller 161 stops outputting the external signal 1 (step St7). If the external signal 1 has not already been output, the main control unit 161 maintains the state in which the external signal 1 is not output. After that, the main control section 161 controls the outer end signal lamp 92 in a normal mode (step St8). The normal mode of the outer end signal lamp 92 means a mode in which no light is emitted.

The main control section 161 determines whether or not the advantageous state is controlled to the AT2 state (step St9). When determining that the state is controlled to the AT2 state (YES in step St9), the main control section 161 controls the outer end signal lamp 92 to emit light (step St10). After that, the main controller 161 starts outputting the external signal 2 (step St11). When the external signal 2 has already been output, the main control unit 161 maintains the state in which the external signal 2 is being output. When determining that the state is not controlled to the AT2 state (NO in step St9), the main control section 161 stops outputting the external signal 2 (step St12). If the external signal 2 has not already been output, the main control unit 161 maintains the state in which the external signal 2 is not output. After that, the main control section 161 controls the outer end signal lamp 92 in a normal mode (step St13). The main controller 161 causes the outer end signal ramp 92 to operate as shown in FIG. 84 by following the flow chart shown in FIG.

FIG. 84 is a diagram for explaining the lighting mode of the outer end signal lamp 92 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 84, at timing t1, the outer end signal lamp 92 is controlled to be in the lighting state by being controlled from the high probability state or the advantageous section normal state to the AT2 state. Further, at timing t2, the outer end signal lamp 92 is controlled to the normal state by being controlled from the AT2 state to the high accuracy state or the advantageous section normal. Subsequently, at timing t3, the outer end signal lamp 92 is controlled to be in the lighting state by being controlled from the high probability state or the advantageous section normal state to the AT1 state. Further, at timing t4, the state is controlled to AT2 while maintaining the AT1 state. At this time, the outer end signal lamp 92 maintains the lighting state. Further, at timing t5, when the AT2 state is controlled to the AT1 state, the outer end signal lamp 92 maintains the lighting state. Finally, at timing t6, the outer end signal ramp 92 is controlled to the normal state by being controlled from the AT1 state to the normal section.

As described above, the S stage 2 in the present embodiment outputs the external signal 1 when it is controlled to the AT1 state, and outputs the external signal 2 when it is controlled to the AT2 state. The output can prevent the player from determining whether the S stand 2 is controlled to the AT1 state or the AT2 state. Further, the main control unit 161 controls the outer end signal lamp 92 to emit light before outputting either one of the external signal 1 and the external signal 2 to the outside. As a result, it is possible to notify that the specific light emitting means has controlled the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state before outputting a signal regarding the advantageous state to the external device, so that the game machine can be notified of the fact that the control has been performed to the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state. It is possible to prevent the external device from informing the advantageous state.

Further, the main control section 161 controls the outer end signal lamp 92 in the normal mode after stopping the output of the external signal 1 as shown in steps St7 and St8 in FIG. 83 and timing t6 in FIG. After stopping the output of external signal 2 as shown in steps St12 and St13 and timing t2 in FIG. 84, outer end signal ramp 92 is controlled in a normal manner. As a result, after stopping the output of the external signal relating to the advantageous state to the external device, the outer end signal lamp 92 is controlled in the normal mode, so that the external device notifies the AT1 state or the AT2 state. In spite of this, the S-mount 2 can prevent being controlled to an advantageous state other than the AT1 state or the AT2 state. Further, the main control section 161 controls the specific light emitting means in the specific mode during the period in which either one of the external signal 1 and the external signal 2 is output. Thus, by controlling the outer end signal lamp 92 to emit light, it is possible to externally discriminate whether the state is controlled to the AT1 state or the AT2 state.

As shown at timings t4 and t5 in FIG. 84, the main control section 161 may start and stop outputting the external signal 2 while the external signal 1 is being output. The main control unit 161 maintains the light emission mode of the outer end signal lamp 92 regardless of whether the output of the external signal 2 is started or not and whether the output of the external signal 2 is finished. Thus, by controlling the outer end signal lamp 92 to emit light, it is possible to let the outside know that it is controlled to at least the AT1 state.

[Main configuration]
The S table 2 according to the present embodiment has been described above. The main configuration of the S platform 2 according to this embodiment will be described below.

(1) A gaming machine capable of playing games,
Display means (for example, processing for displaying an image on the liquid crystal display 51);
a first operation detection means (for example, a process of detecting an operation on the MAXBET switch 6) for detecting a first operation by the player (for example, an operation on the MAXBET switch 6 shown in FIG. 74);
a second operation detection means (for example, a process for detecting an invalid operation on the lower panel switch 57) for detecting a second operation by the player (for example, an operation on the lower panel switch 57 shown in FIG. 75);
The display means is
displaying a first operation prompting image (for example, an operation prompting image Ms1 shown in FIG. 74) prompting the first operation while not suggesting the operation timing; Based on the detection of the first operation by the one-operation detection means, the first operation prompting image is erased (for example, as shown in FIG. 74, the operation prompting image Ms1 is erased according to the operation). is started)
A second operation prompting image (for example, an operation prompting image Ms2 shown in FIG. 75) is displayed to suggest an operation timing and prompt the second operation, and when the second operation prompting image is displayed, the second operation prompting image is Based on the detection of the second operation by the operation detection means, the second operation prompting image is erased (for example, erasing of the operation prompting image Ms2 starts in response to the operation as shown in FIG. 75). is done)
During the period from the start of erasing of the first operation prompting image to the completion of erasing of the first operation prompting image (for example, period Dr1 in FIG. 74), erasing of the second operation prompting image is started. to completion of erasing of the second operation prompting image (for example, period Dr2 in FIG. 75). (For example, as shown in FIGS. 74 and 75, the period Dr1 for erasing the operation prompting image Ms1 that does not suggest the operation timing is longer than the period Dr2 for erasing the operation prompting image Ms2 that suggests the operation timing.)

Specifically, the period from when the second operation is detected until the second operation prompting image is deleted is longer than the period from when the first operation is detected until the first operation prompting image is deleted. Also, the second operation performed by the player in response to the suggestion of the operation timing becomes easier for the player to experience the actual timing of the operation.

(2) first operating means (for example, the MAXBET switch 6 shown in FIG. 73) that receives the first operation;
a second operating means (for example, the lower panel switch 57 shown in FIG. 73) provided in a predetermined direction (for example, the direction D3 shown in FIG. 73) and receiving the second operation;
The display means is
provided in the predetermined direction (for example, direction D1 as shown in FIG. 73),
The first operation prompting image is displayed when prompting the first operation, and the first operation prompting is performed based on the operation of the first operation means while the first operation prompting image is displayed. Erase the image (eg display and erase the operation prompting image Ms1 shown in FIG. 74)
displaying the second operation prompting image when prompting the second operation, and prompting the second operation based on the fact that the second operation means is operated while the second operation prompting image is displayed; Erase the image (eg, display and erase the operation facilitating image Ms2 shown in FIG. 75)
During the period from the start of erasing of the first operation prompting image to the completion of erasing of the first operation prompting image (for example, period Dr1 in FIG. 74), erasing of the second operation prompting image is started. to completion of erasing of the second operation prompting image (for example, period Dr2 in FIG. 75) (for example, as shown in FIGS. (Erase the operation prompt image quickly).

Specifically, the period from when the second operation means directed in the same direction as the display surface is operated until the second operation prompting image is erased is the first Since the period is shorter than the period until the operation prompting image is erased, it is easy for the player to experience the actual timing of the second operation performed by the player in response to the suggestion of the operation timing.

(3) the display means is an effect display section provided facing the front side of the gaming machine (for example, a liquid crystal display 51 provided facing the direction D1 as shown in FIG. 73);
The first operating means is provided on the upper surface (for example, the upper surface 95 shown in FIG. 73) of a projecting portion (for example, the projecting portion 94 shown in FIG. 73) that projects toward the front side of the gaming machine. (eg MAXBET switch 6 directed in direction D2),
The second operating means is provided toward the front side of the gaming machine (for example, a lower panel switch 57 directed in the direction D4),
The effect display unit
can display a specific image (for example, an effect result image 96 of "Unfortunate" shown in FIG. 74) based on the operation of the first operating means;
When the first operation means is operable, displaying the first operation prompting image prompting the operation of the first operation means (for example, the operation prompting image Ms1 of "press the button!" shown in FIG. 74). death,
can display a special image (for example, images 97 and 98 of "EXCELLENT!"
When the second operating means is operable, the second operation prompting image prompting the operation of the second operating means at the special timing ("Press the lower panel switch at the right timing" shown in FIGS. 75 and 76). !” is displayed.

Specifically, the period from when the second operation means provided toward the front side of the game machine is operated until the second operation prompting image is erased is the first Since the period is shorter than the period from when the operation means is operated until the first operation prompting image is erased, the second operation performed by the player in response to the suggestion of the operation timing is not actually operated. It is easy for players to experience.

(4) The display means
an effect display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display 51 directed in a direction D1 as shown in FIG. 78) provided toward the front side of the gaming machine;
A variable display unit (for example, reels 2L and 2C directed in direction D1 as shown in FIG. 78) that is provided facing the front side of the game machine and is capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information that can be individually identified. , 2R) and
The first operating means is provided on the upper surface (for example, the upper surface 95 shown in FIG. 78) of a projecting portion (for example, the projecting portion 94 shown in FIG. 78) that projects toward the front side of the game machine (for example, the , effect switch 56 directed in direction D5),
The second operation means is provided toward the front side of the game machine, and is a derivation operation means (for example, stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R directed in the direction D3) for stopping the variable display of the variable display section. and
The variable display unit can display a specific display result (for example, "7" aligned) based on operation of the derivation operation means at a specific timing (for example, a pull-in timing at which "7" is drawn),
The effect display unit
capable of displaying a specific image (for example, a result display image 96B of "Chance!" shown in FIG. 79) based on the operation of the first operating means;
When the first operation means is operable, displaying the first operation prompting image prompting the operation of the first operation means (for example, the operation prompting image Ms4 saying "press the button!" shown in FIG. 79). death,
displaying the second operation prompting image (the operation prompting image Ms5 of "Aim for 7!" shown in FIG. 80) prompting the operation of the derivation operation means at the specific timing when the derivation operation means is operable; .

Specifically, the first operation provided on the upper surface of the projecting portion is the period from when the derivation operation means provided toward the front side of the gaming machine is operated until the second operation prompting image is erased. Since the period is shorter than the period from when the means is operated until the first operation prompting image is erased, the second operation performed by the player in response to the suggestion of the operation timing is not timed to match the timing of the actual operation. Easy for people to feel.

(5) The display means
an effect display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display 51 directed in a direction D1 as shown in FIG. 78) provided toward the front side of the gaming machine;
A variable display unit (for example, reels 2L and 2C directed in direction D1 as shown in FIG. 78) that is provided facing the front side of the game machine and is capable of variably displaying a plurality of types of identification information that can be individually identified. , 2R) and
Each of the first operation means and the second operation means is provided toward the front side of the game machine, and is a derivation operation means (for example, directed in the direction D3) for stopping the variable display of the variable display section. stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R),
The variable display unit can display a specific display result (for example, "7" aligned) based on operation of the lead-out operation means at a specific timing (for example, a pull-in timing at which "7" is drawn). ,
The effect display unit
displaying the first operation prompting image (for example, the order suggesting images Ms6L, Ms6C, and Ms6R shown in FIG. 81) prompting the operation of the derivation operation means during the variable display of the variable display unit;
erasing the first manipulation prompting image (for example, starting erasing in FIG. 81B) based on the fact that the derivation operation means is operated while the first manipulation prompting image is displayed;
When the derivation operation means is operable, the second operation prompting image (operation prompting image Ms5 "Aim for 7!" shown in FIG. 80) prompting the operation of the derivation operation means is displayed at the specific timing. death,
When the derivation operation means is operated while the second operation prompting image is being displayed, the second operation prompting image is erased (for example, erasing is started in FIG. 80(D)).

Specifically, the period from when the derivation operation means is operated until the second operation prompting image is erased is longer than the period from when the derivation operation means is operated until the first operation prompting image is erased. Also, the second operation performed by the player in response to the suggestion of the operation timing becomes easier for the player to experience the actual timing of the operation.

(6) game control means (for example, the main control unit 161 shown in FIG. 2) that controls the progress of the game;
Effect control means (for example, the effect control unit 151 shown in FIG. 2) for controlling the effect,
The first operation means (for example, MAXBET switch 6) outputs a first operation signal to the game control means (for example, a SW signal to the main control section 161 shown in FIG. 4),
Said second operation means (for example, production switch 56) outputs a second operation signal to said production control means (for example, SW signal to production control section 151 shown in FIG. 4),
The game control means transmits an operation command (for example, a control command shown in FIG. 2) to the effect control means based on the input of the first operation signal from the first operation means,
The production control means is
causing the display means to display the first operation prompting image (for example, the operation prompting image Ms1 shown in FIG. 74) when prompting the operation of the first operation means;
When the operation command is received while the first operation prompting image is displayed, the first operation prompting image is erased (for example, the effect control unit 151 erases the operation prompting image Ms1 shown in FIG. 74). ),
causing the display means to display the second operation prompting image (for example, the operation prompting image Ms2 shown in FIG. 75) when prompting the operation of the second operation means;
When the second operation prompting image is displayed, the second operation prompting image is erased (for example, by the effect control unit 151) based on the input of the second operation signal from the second operation means. Erasing the operation prompting image Ms2 shown in FIG. 75),
During the period from the start of erasing of the first operation prompting image to the completion of erasing of the first operation prompting image (for example, period Dr1 shown in FIG. 74), the erasing of the second operation prompting image is started. is longer than the period (for example, the period Dr2 shown in FIG. 75) from when the second operation prompting image is erased to when the erasing of the second operation prompting image is completed.

Specifically, the effect control means sets the erasing period of the first operation promotion image based on the operation of the first operation means via the game control means to the second period based on the operation of the second operation means not via the game control means. By making the period longer than the erasing period of the operation prompting image, the effect control can be performed in accordance with the period required for detection by the effect control means in order to actually detect the operation signal, so that the player feels uncomfortable. can prevent embracing

(7) The display means
displaying the first operation prompting image (for example, the operation prompting image Ms6 with the decorative image shown in FIG. 81) with a decorative image (for example, the decorative image ImB1 shown in FIG. 81) on the back;
When the first operation means is operated while the first operation prompting image is displayed, the first operation prompting image is erased (for example, with a decoration image in FIG. 81(B)). start erasing the operation prompting image Ms6L)
displaying the second operation prompting image (for example, the operation prompting image Ms5 "Aim for 7!" shown in FIG. 80) without a decoration image on the back;
When the second operation means is operated while the second operation prompting image is displayed, the second operation prompting image is erased (for example, the operation prompting image in FIG. 80(D) is displayed). Start erasing Ms5)
During the period from the start of erasing of the first operation prompting image to the completion of erasing of the first operation prompting image (for example, period Dr6 shown in FIG. 81), the erasing of the second operation prompting image is started. is longer than the period (for example, period Dr5 shown in FIG. 80) from when the second operation facilitating image is erased to when the erasing of the second operation prompting image is completed.

Specifically, by making the erasing period of the first operation prompting image with the decoration image longer than the erasing period of the second operation prompting image with no decoration image, the production is livened up and the amusement is heightened. be able to.

(8) The display means gradually increases the transparency of the first operation prompting image (for example, the transparency of the operation prompting image Ms1 shown in FIG. 74 is gradually increases).

Specifically, during the erasing period of the first operation prompting image, the presentation effect can be enhanced by gradually transmitting the first operation prompting image.

(9) The production control means
outputting a first operation sound (for example, the operation sound in FIG. 74(A)) based on the fact that the first operation means is operated while the first operation prompting image is displayed;
outputting a second operation sound (for example, the operation sound in FIG. 75(C)) based on the fact that the second operation means is operated while the second operation prompting image is being displayed;
The first operation sound is output in the same output period or output volume as the output period or output volume of the second operation sound.

Specifically, regardless of whether the first operation means or the second operation means is operated, the player can be notified of the effective operation.

(10) pre-determining means (for example, internal lottery processing by the main control unit 161) that determines display results that are allowed to be derived;
a start operation means (for example, a start switch 7) for starting the variable display of the variable display unit;
The game control means is
A test for identifying information about the determination result of the pre-determination means (for example, information indicating the pre-determination result) based on the operation of the start operation means to start the variable display of the variable display unit. Execute test signal generation processing for generating a signal (for example, test signal generation processing shown in FIG. 64: Sb13),
After executing the test signal generation processing, delay processing (for example, FIG. 64: multiple interruption waiting processing shown in Sbw2) for delaying the progress of the game for a predetermined period is executed,
After the predetermined period has elapsed, a variation start process (for example, reel rotation activation process shown in FIG. 64: Sb24) for starting the variation of the variable display portion is executed.

Specifically, the game control means waits for a predetermined period of time after generating the test signal at the start of the game. It is possible to prevent information discrepancies from occurring between the equipment and the game control means.

(11) The game control means is
A test for identifying information about the determination result of the pre-determination means (for example, information indicating the pre-determination result) based on the operation of the start operation means to start the variable display of the variable display unit. Execute test signal generation processing for generating a signal (for example, test signal generation processing shown in FIG. 64: Sb13),
Execution of output processing for presentation (for example, control state command group execution processing shown in FIG. 64: Sb14) for outputting information on the determination result of the pre-determination means and information on the game state to the presentation control means,
After executing the test signal generation processing and the effect output processing, delay processing for delaying the progress of the game for a predetermined period (for example, FIG. 64: Multiple interruption waiting processing shown in Sbw2) is executed,
After the predetermined period has elapsed, a variation start process (for example, reel rotation activation process shown in FIG. 64: Sb24) for starting the variation of the variable display portion is executed.

Specifically, the game control means generates a test signal at the start of the game, and after outputting information about the determination result of the pre-determining means to the effect control means, by waiting for a predetermined period, for example, an external device can ensure that the test signal is reliably received, and that the performance control means reliably receives information regarding the determination result of the pre-determination means, and between the external device, the game control means, and the performance control means It is possible to prevent discrepancies in information from occurring.

(12) The game control means is
Based on the end of the game by the operation of the derivation operation means, the game state output processing (for example, RT information output processing shown in FIG. 64: Sb2, FIG. RT status acquisition and transmission processing shown in Si3 of 65) is executed,
After the game state output process is executed, a delay process (for example, FIG. 64: interrupt multiple times waiting process shown in Sbw1) for delaying the progress of the game for a predetermined period is executed,
After the predetermined period has passed, a process for starting acceptance of bet number setting (for example, game start waiting process shown in FIG. 64: Sb5) is executed.

Specifically, the game control means waits for a predetermined period of time after generating the test signal at the end of the game, so that, for example, the external device can reliably receive the test signal. It is possible to prevent discrepancies in information from occurring between the external device and the game control means.

(13) The game control means is
Based on the fact that the game has ended by the operation of the derivation operation means, output processing ( For example, FIG. 64: command transmission processing at the end of the game shown in Sb49) is executed,
After the effect output process is executed, a delay process for delaying the progress of the game for a predetermined period (for example, FIG. 64: Multiple interruption waiting process shown in Sbw1) is executed,
After the predetermined period has passed, a process for starting acceptance of bet number setting (for example, game start waiting process shown in FIG. 64: Sb5) is executed.

Specifically, the game control means generates a test signal at the end of the game, and after outputting information about the determination result of the pre-determining means to the effect control means, by waiting for a predetermined period of time, for example, external It is possible to ensure that the device receives the test signal reliably and that the performance control means reliably receives information regarding the determination result of the pre-determination means, and between the external device, the game control means and the performance control means It is possible to prevent the occurrence of discrepancies in information.

(14) The game control means performs common delay processing (for example, , FIG. 64: Sbw1 and Sbw2 are common processes) are executed.

Specifically, the storage capacity can be reduced by sharing the delay processing performed at the start of the game and at the end of the game.

(15) The game control means, in a predetermined game, after a specific time (for example, a wait time of 4.1 seconds) has elapsed since the start operation means was operated in the game before the predetermined game, the fluctuation Start processing is executed (for example, reel rotation start processing shown in FIG. 64: Sb24)
After executing the delay process, it is determined whether or not the specific time has elapsed. (For example, after the interrupt multiple-time waiting process shown in FIG. 64: Sbw2 is executed, the determination process shown in Sb19 is executed)

Specifically, whether the specified period of time from when the previous game starts to fluctuate until the next game can start fluctuating does not include the predetermined period generated by the delay process, and whether the specific time has passed appropriately. You can decide whether or not

(16) The game control means does not execute the process of determining whether or not to control the state of the gaming machine to an error state during the predetermined period. (For example, FIG. 64: Error transition processing is performed at Sb32.)

Specifically, it is possible to prevent discrepancies between the information of the transmitted test signal and the information of the gaming machine in the error state due to being controlled to the error state during the delay processing. .

(17) The game control means can be connected to conversion means (for example, test board 300) for converting the test signal generated in the test signal generation process into a specific signal (for example, common test signal).

Specifically, there is no need to generate a test signal for each gaming machine in accordance with a prescribed test device.

(18) The game control means is
In an advantageous section including a plurality of types of advantageous states with different degrees of advantage, the states of the gaming machine are changed to a first advantageous state (for example, AT1 state shown in FIG. 4) and a second advantageous state (for example, AT2 shown in FIG. state) and is controllable to
outputting a first signal (for example, an external signal 1) to the outside when the state of the gaming machine is the first advantageous state;
outputting a second signal (for example, external signal 2) to the outside when the state of the gaming machine is the second advantageous state;
A specific light emitting means (for example, the outer end signal lamp 92) is controlled in a specific manner when either one of the first signal and the second signal is output.

Specifically, it is possible to prevent the player from determining whether the gaming machine is controlled to the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state by the output of the external signal.

(19) The game control means controls the specific light emitting means to the specific mode before outputting one of the first signal and the second signal to the outside. (For example, as shown in FIG. 83, before the external signal output processing of St3 and St11, the processing of controlling the light emission mode of St2 and St10 is executed.)

Specifically, before outputting a signal related to the advantageous state to the external device, it is possible to notify that the specific light emitting means has controlled to the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state. It is possible to prevent the advantageous state from being previously notified by the external device.

(20) The game control means controls the specific light emission means to the normal mode after stopping the output of either one of the first signal and the second signal. (For example, as shown in FIG. 83, before the external signal output processing of St7 and St12, the processing of controlling to the normal mode of St8 and St13 is executed.)

Specifically, after stopping the output of the signal relating to the advantageous state to the external device, the specific light emitting means is controlled in the normal mode, so that the external device can detect the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state. It is possible to prevent the game machine from being controlled to an advantageous state other than the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state despite being notified.

(21) The game control means controls the specific light emitting means to the specific mode only during a period in which either one of the first signal and the second signal is output. (For example, as shown in FIG. 84, the outer end signal lamp 92 lights only during the output period of the external signal 1 or the external signal 2.)

Specifically, by controlling the specific light emitting means in a specific mode, it is possible to make it possible to externally determine whether the control is in the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state.

(22) The game control means controls the specific light emitting means in a specific manner during the period in which either one of the first signal and the second signal is output. (For example, as shown in FIG. 85, the outer end signal lamp 92 can also be illuminated during the output period of the external signal 1 or the external signal 2 and during the high accuracy state.)

Specifically, by controlling the specific light emitting means in a specific mode, it is possible to make it possible to externally determine that there is a possibility that the specific light emitting means is being controlled to the first advantageous state or the second advantageous state.

(23) The game control means
Outputting the second signal may be started and stopped during the period of outputting the first signal,
Regardless of whether or not the output of the second signal is started and whether or not the output of the second signal is finished, the specific light emitting means is held in the specific mode. (For example, as shown in FIG. 84, during the output period of the external signal 1, the outer end signal lamp 92 keeps lighting, and the output of the external signal 2 is started and stopped.)

Specifically, by controlling the specific light emitting means in a specific mode, it is possible to make it possible to externally determine that the specific light emitting means is controlled to at least the first advantageous state.

[Modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible. Modifications of the above embodiments applicable to the present invention will be described below.

[Regarding the value set in the 2nd Q register]
Regarding the 1st Q register and the 2nd Q register as the registers used for the LDQ instruction in the first embodiment, it is explained that "F0" is set in the 1st Q register and "F3" is set in the 2nd Q register. did. That is, as shown in the address map of the memory area used by the main control unit 161, the 1Q register used for executing the game program is set to "F0", which is the upper address of the game RAM area, and the non-game program "F3", which is the upper address of the non-game RAM area, is set in the second Q register used for execution. This is because the game RAM area is frequently referred to when executing the game program, and the non-game RAM area is frequently referred to when the non-game program is executed.

However, in a modification, for example, both the first Q register and the second Q register may be set with "F0", which is the upper address of the game RAM area. When "F0" is set in the second Q register, the LDQ instruction can be used when referring to the game RAM area from the non-game program. Moreover, since the same high-order address is set in both the first Q register and the second Q register, program design is facilitated. In other words, the program can be designed without distinguishing the handling of the LDQ instruction between the game program and the non-game program.

[About the serial communication circuit]
When the main control unit 161 and the medal number control unit 171 are integrated, the configuration in which the main control unit 161, the medal number control unit 171, the effect control unit 151, and the connection terminal board 1000 are connected by a serial communication circuit explained. However, at least part of the communication among the main control section 161, medal count control section 171, effect control section 151, and connection terminal board 1000 may be parallel communication. Thereby, the communication speed can be increased.

[Regarding the lighting mode of the outer end signal]
FIG. 85 is a diagram for explaining a first modification of the lighting mode of the outer end signal lamp 92. FIG. In the first modified example, it is controlled to a highly accurate state from timing t2 to timing t3. As shown in Modification 1, the main controller 161 controls the outer end signal lamp 92 to emit light during the period from timing t2 to timing t3. That is, the main control unit 161 controls the outer end signal lamp 92 to emit light during the period in which either one of the external signal 1 and the external signal 2 is output. As a result, the main control unit 161 can externally determine that there is a possibility that the outer end signal lamp 92 is controlled to the light emitting mode, so that the state is controlled to the AT1 state or the AT2 state.

FIG. 86 is a diagram for explaining a second modification of the lighting mode of the outer end signal lamp 92. FIG. In the second modified example, the main control unit 161 does not continuously output the external signal 2 while being controlled to the AT2 state, and transmits only one pulse of the external signal 2 to the external device. Thereby, the amount of communication in external signal processing can be reduced.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and any changes or additions that do not depart from the gist of the present invention are included in the present invention. Needless to say.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning of equivalents of the scope of the claims.

2 S stand, 2L, 2C, 2R reel, 6 MAXBET switch, 7 start switch, 8L, 8C, 8R stop switch, 51 liquid crystal display, 16 main control board, 17 medal number control board.

Claims (1)

A gaming machine capable of playing games,
display means;
a first operation detection means for detecting a first operation by a player;
a second operation detection means for detecting a second operation by the player;
The display means is
prompting the first operation and displaying a first operation prompting image with a decorative image on the back;
erasing the first operation prompting image based on detection of the first operation by the first operation detecting means while the first operation prompting image is being displayed;
prompting the second operation and displaying a second operation prompting image without a decorative image on the back;
erasing the second operation prompting image based on detection of the second operation by the second operation detecting means while the second operation prompting image is being displayed;
The period from the start of erasing of the first operation prompting image to the completion of erasing of the first operation prompting image is from the start of erasing of the second operation prompting image to the erasing of the second operation prompting image. A game machine that is longer than the period until the is completed.