JP2023135204A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve a game amusement.SOLUTION: When a jackpot is won, an enlarged display is performed with rapid enlargement of a blessing image 200 in a liquid crystal display instrument 42 over 10 frames ("10f" in the figure). Then, the enlarged display is performed with gentle enlargement of the blessing image 200 in the liquid crystal display instrument 42 over 20 frames ("20f" in the figure). Then, the reduced display of the blessing image 200 is performed in the liquid crystal display instrument 42 over 5 frames ("5f" in the figure). Then, the maintenance display is performed so as to maintain the size of the blessing image 200 to a prescribed size in the liquid crystal display instrument 42 over 30 frames ("30f" in the figure). Then, the rotation display of the blessing image 200 is performed while performing the maintenance display of maintaining the size of the blessing image 200 in the liquid crystal display instrument 42 over 90 frames ("90f" in the figure). The second time in which the maintenance display of the blessing image 200 is performed is longer than the first time in which the enlarged display of the blessing image 200 is performed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 40

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine on which games can be played.

Conventionally, as a gaming machine, a game ball, which is a game value, is fired into a game area, and when the game ball enters a winning area such as a winning slot, the prize ball is paid out to the player, and the result of the fluctuating display of identification information. 2. Description of the Related Art Gaming machines (for example, pachinko machines) that can change the gaming state depending on the situation are known.

Also, if you perform a game start operation after setting the number of bets for one game using the gaming value, the fluctuating display of identification information will start, and if you perform a stop operation after the fluctuating display has started, the fluctuating display of identification information will stop. However, there are known gaming machines (for example, slot machines) in which winnings can occur based on the display results derived at this time, and the gaming state can be changed depending on the type of winning.

Among such gaming machines, gaming machines that can perform effects are known (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP2019-093054A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-192351

By the way, there was room for improvement in the presentation in order to increase the interest of the game.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a gaming machine that can improve the interest of gaming.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a gaming machine capable of displaying an effect image, in which the effect image is displayed in a reduced size after being enlarged, and after the reduced display, the size of the effect image is changed to a predetermined size. It is possible to perform a sustained display that maintains the effect image, and a second time period during which the effect image is maintained and displayed is longer than a first time period during which the effect image is displayed in an enlarged manner.
Therefore, it is possible to attract interest in the enlarged performance image and maintain interest in the reduced performance image, thereby improving the interest of the game.
Note that when maintaining a predetermined size, it is not necessarily limited to the same size, and may be approximately the same size.

The effect display of the effect image displayed at the first time is provided with an audio output means capable of outputting a sound at the second time, and the effect display of the effect image displayed at the first time is The display area is larger than the image, and the sound is displayed in front of the effect image, and the volume of the sound output at the second time decreases with the passage of time, and the sound is output for a predetermined period after the volume decreases. It may be configured so that it is not output.
Therefore, it is possible to attract interest in the enlarged performance image and maintain interest in the reduced performance image, thereby improving the interest of the game.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a pachinko machine according to the present embodiment. It is a perspective view showing the same pachinko machine when the front frame is in an open state. It is a back view of the same pachinko machine. It is a front view showing a game board provided in the same pachinko machine. 5 is a perspective view of an inner guide rail attached to the game board shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism provided on the inner guide rail shown in FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism. It is a front view when the ball return prevention member provided in the same ball return prevention mechanism is in a closed state. It is a front view when the ball return prevention member is in an open state. It is a diagram showing a state in which the game ball that has entered the game area is about to return to the boundary area while the ball return prevention member is in the middle of being displaced from the closed state to the open state. 12 is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line shown in FIG. 11. FIG. It is a diagram showing a state in which the game ball that has returned from the game area to the boundary area collides with the ball return prevention member. 5 is a front perspective view showing a starting port unit attached to the acrylic board of the game board shown in FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the starting port unit. It is a perspective view showing attachment of the starting port unit to an acrylic board. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the starting port base attached to the acrylic plate. 19 is an enlarged view of the rectangular area indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 18. FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line XX-XX in FIG. 18. FIG. It is an enlarged front view of the starting port base attached to the game board. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line XXII-XXII in FIG. 21. FIG. It is a sectional view showing the positional relationship between the starting port base attached to the acrylic board of the game board and the transparent board held by the front frame. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing various electronic devices installed in a pachinko machine. 12 is a flowchart (1/2) showing an example of a procedure of reset start processing. 12 is a flowchart (2/2) illustrating a procedure example of reset start processing. 3 is a flowchart specifically illustrating an example of a procedure for checking the occurrence of a power outage. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for interrupt management processing. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of variation of performance symbols. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of variation of performance symbols. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of production control processing. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of working memory performance management processing. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of production design management processing. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a procedure of production design variation pre-processing. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance of a blessing performance. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance of a blessing performance. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance of a blessing performance. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance of a blessing performance. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a performance of a blessing performance. It is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the display timing of a performance image and the output mode of a performance sound in a blessing performance.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a pachinko machine (gaming machine) according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine when the front frame is in an open state.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pachinko machine P has a vertical rectangular outer frame 1 installed in an island facility of a game parlor, and an inner frame attached to the front of the outer frame 1 in the form of a door so that it can be opened and closed. 2, and a front frame 3 attached to the front surface of the inner frame 2 in a door-like manner so as to be openable and closable. The outer frame 1 and the inner frame 2 constitute a main body portion 4. The main body 4 holds a game board 5.

An upper bearing body 6 and a lower bearing body 7 are fixed to the left side frame portion of the outer frame 1. First pins (not shown) are provided at both upper and lower ends of the left side frame portion of the inner frame 2 . By pivotally supporting both of these first pins on the upper bearing body 6 and the lower bearing body 7, a first hinge mechanism that supports the inner frame 2 with respect to the outer frame 1 so as to be openable and closable is configured. Further, second pins (not shown) are provided at both upper and lower ends of the left side frame portion of the front frame 3. By pivotally supporting both of these second pins on upper and lower support plates 8 and 9 protruding from the left side frame portion of the inner frame 2, the front frame 3 is supported so as to be openable and closable relative to the left side frame portion of the inner frame 2. A second hinge mechanism is configured.

The right side frame portion of the inner frame 2 is the free end side opposite to the first hinge mechanism and the second hinge mechanism. A cylinder lock 10 is provided on this right side frame. A key is inserted into the keyhole of the cylinder lock 10, and the inner frame 2 or the front frame 3 is unlocked depending on the rotation direction of the key.

The front frame 3 holds a transparent plate 11 made of glass, plastic, or the like. The transparent plate 11 faces the game board 5 when the front frame 3 is in a closed state with respect to the inner frame 2. Various devices are provided around the transparent plate 11 of the front frame 3. For example, a design unit 12 is provided above the transparent plate 11, a saucer 13 is provided below the transparent plate 11, a production operation unit 14 is provided at the front center of the saucer 13, and a production operation unit 14 is provided on the lower right side of the production operation unit 14. An operating handle 15 is provided on the holder.

The design unit 12 includes a left speaker unit 12a, a right speaker unit 12b, a logo unit 12c disposed between them, and a base unit 12d that supports the logo unit 12c. The left speaker unit 12a is arranged on the upper left side of the transparent plate 11. The right speaker unit 12b is arranged on the upper right side of the transparent plate 11. The logo unit 12c is arranged above the transparent plate 11. The base unit 12d is disposed above the transparent plate 11 and on the back side of the logo unit 12c. Note that a design corresponding to the content, specifications, etc. of the model is applied to the front surface of the logo unit 12c.

The front frame 3 is provided with a plurality of speakers S.

The saucer 13 can accommodate game balls. The tray 13 contains game balls lent out by a game ball lending device (not shown) installed on the side of the pachinko machine P, and prizes paid out from the prize ball payout device (reference numeral 20 in FIG. 3) of the pachinko machine P. The ball is guided. When the saucer 13 is full of game balls, the state is detected by a full tank detection unit (numeral 23 in FIG. 3).

The performance operation unit 14 enables switching of performances performed as the game progresses.

The operating handle 15 is configured so that the player can rotate it in a predetermined direction. When the operating handle 15 is rotated, the game balls housed in the saucer 13 are sent to the firing device (launching means) 16 disposed below the game board 5, and the rotation angle of the operating handle 15 is adjusted. It is fired with the appropriate intensity. Note that a rectifier unit 17 is disposed below the transparent plate 11 on the back surface of the front frame 3. The rectifier unit 17 supplies the game balls stored in the saucer 13 to the firing device 16.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine P. As shown in FIG. 3, the pachinko machine P has a main control board 18, a sub-control board 19, a prize ball payout device 20, a payout control board 21, and a firing control board (not shown) on its back side. , an external terminal board 22 , and a full tank detection unit 23 .

The main control board 18 performs main processing related to games. The sub-control board 19 receives commands from the main control board 18 and controls various production units. Note that the main control board 18 and the sub-control board 19 are covered by a back cover member 24.

The prize ball payout device 20 pays out prize balls based on the game ball entering a predetermined prize opening provided in the game area of the game board 5. The payout control board 21 receives instructions from the main control board 18 and controls the prize ball payout device 20.

The firing control board controls the operation of the firing device 16 according to the rotation angle of the operating handle 15. The external terminal board 22 outputs various information such as the number of jackpots to the hall computer of the gaming hall. The full tank detection unit 23 detects that the saucer 13 is full of game balls.

In this way, the pachinko machine P is equipped with various boards and the like for controlling the progress of the game on its back side, and these controls allow the game to proceed smoothly.

Next, the game board 5 will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the game board 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the game board 5 includes a substantially rectangular acrylic board 5a, a board lamp 25, a rail base 26, an outer guide rail 27, and an inner guide rail 28. The rail base 26 is fixed to the front surface of the acrylic plate 5a, and has an arcuate inner peripheral surface when viewed from the front. The outer guide rail 27 is attached along the inner circumferential surface of the rail base 26, and is arranged in an arc shape from the left side away from the lower center of the game board 5 to the left end, the upper end, and the vicinity of the upper right end. be done. The inner guide rail 28 is attached to the inside of the outer guide rail 27 on the front surface of the acrylic board 5a, and extends from a position slightly left of the lower center of the game board 5 to near the left end and near the upper left end of the game board 5. They are arranged in an arc shape. A curved region between these outer guide rails 27 and inner guide rails 28 serves as a guide passage 29. The guide path 29 guides the game ball fired by the firing device 16 (see FIG. 2) to the game area 30. A boundary area 700 is provided between the guide path 29 and the game area 30. The exit of the boundary area 700 communicates with the gaming area 30, and the entrance of the boundary area 700 communicates with the guide passage 29. Although details will be described later, a ball return prevention mechanism (reference numeral 50 in FIG. 5) is provided at the tip of the inner guide rail 28, and this ball return prevention mechanism is disposed in the boundary area 700.

The game area 30 is an area inside the outer guide rail 27 and the inner guide rail 28, and has a left-handed hitting area 30a and a right-handed hitting area 30b in which the degree of entry of the game ball is different depending on the firing strength of the firing device 16. including. The left-handed hitting area 30a is located on the left side of the game board 5 when viewed from the player facing the pachinko machine P. On the other hand, the right-handed hitting area 30b is located on the right side of the game board 5 when viewed from the same player.

The gaming area 30 is provided with various winning holes and the like. For example, in the lower center of the gaming area 30, a first starting prize opening 31 and an out opening 32 are provided. Further, in the left-handed play area 30a of the game area 30, a normal prize opening 33, a warp passage 34, a windmill 35, a plurality of game nails 36, etc. are provided. Furthermore, a gate 37, a second starting prize opening 38, a large prize opening 39, etc. are provided in the right-hand playing area 30b of the gaming area 30. Although the details will be described later, the first starting prize opening 31 is formed by attaching the starting opening unit 60 to the acrylic plate 5a.

An opening 40 cut out in a predetermined shape is formed approximately in the center of the acrylic plate 5a of the game board 5. On the back side of the acrylic board 5a, a liquid crystal display 42 and the like for displaying various effects related to the game is provided at a position that the player can see through the opening 40. The image display surface of the liquid crystal display 42 is arranged further back than the board surface of the game board 5.

Although not shown, the game board 5 has a first special symbol display, a second special symbol display, and a first special symbol located outside the gaming area 30 and at a position that is visible to the player. It has a reservation display, a second special symbol reservation display, a normal symbol display, a normal symbol reservation display, and a right hit notification display. These display devices are devices for displaying various situations related to the game.

When the player rotates the operating handle 15 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to an arbitrary angle, game balls are continuously launched toward the game area 30 by the firing device 16. Normally, at the start of a game, the player launches a game ball toward the left-handed hitting area 30a. The launched game ball collides with the windmill 35 and the plurality of game nails 36, and flows down the left-hand hitting region 30a while changing the direction of flow irregularly. As a result, when the game ball that has flown down enters the first starting winning hole 31, an electronic jackpot lottery is held to determine whether or not to execute the jackpot game state, and a predetermined number of balls (for example, 3 balls) are drawn. Prize balls will be awarded. In addition, if the game ball that has flown down enters the normal winning hole 33, a predetermined number of prize balls (for example, 3 balls) will be awarded, and if the ball enters either the first starting winning hole 31 or the normal winning hole 33. If not, it is ejected to the back side of the game board 5 through the outlet 32.

On the other hand, if the player wins the above-mentioned jackpot electronic lottery, the state shifts to a jackpot game state. In the jackpot game state, the player hits the game ball toward the right-handed hitting area 30b. Then, the shot game ball flows down the right-handed hitting area 30b and can enter the big prize opening 39. The big winning hole 39 is provided with a big winning hole slide plate 39a that is slidable in the front and back direction. When the big winning opening slide plate 39a slides forward, it closes the big winning opening 39, and when it slides backward, it opens the big winning opening 39. In the jackpot game state, the jackpot opening slide plate 39a opens the jackpot opening 39 multiple times at predetermined timing. A large number of prize balls (for example, 2,000 balls) are awarded to the player by letting game balls enter the big winning hole 39 that is opened between the start and end of the jackpot game state.

Further, when the above-described jackpot game state ends, the game shifts to a time saving state. In the time saving state, the player hits the game ball toward the right-handed hitting area 30b. Then, when the shot game ball passes through the gate 37, an electronic lottery of normal symbols is executed. When winning the electronic lottery of normal symbols, a game ball can be entered into the second starting winning hole 38. The second starting winning opening 38 is provided with a second starting winning opening sliding plate 38a that is slidable in the front-back direction. When the slide plate 38a for the second starting winning hole slides forward, it closes the second starting winning hole 38, and when it slides backward, it opens the second starting winning hole 38. When winning the electronic lottery of the normal symbol, the second starting winning hole slide plate 38a opens the second starting winning hole 38 a plurality of times at a predetermined timing. When the game ball enters the second starting winning hole 38, an electronic lottery for a jackpot is held again, and a predetermined number (for example, one) of prize balls are awarded. Note that the number of times that the jackpot electronic lottery will be held in response to the entry of a ball into the second starting winning hole 38 is set to a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times). If the player does not win the jackpot electronic lottery within the prescribed number of times, the time saving state is ended and the player again hits the game ball toward the left hitting area 30a.

[Outline of game progress]
The gaming states of the pachinko machine P include a normal state (non-time-saving state) and a time-saving state in which the probability of a jackpot is the same as in the normal state, but the efficiency of changing special symbols is improved compared to the normal state. In addition, in this embodiment, a special pattern may be abbreviated as a special pattern, and a normal pattern may be abbreviated as a common pattern. Also, the first special symbol may be abbreviated as special symbol 1, and the second special symbol as special symbol 2.

In the pachinko machine P, when the gaming state is the normal state, it is advantageous for the player to perform a firing operation aiming at the left side of the gaming area 30 (so-called left-handed shooting operation). The normal state is a state that is controlled in the same manner as the initial setting state of the pachinko machine P (for example, when a predetermined return process is not executed after power-on, as in the case where a system reset is performed). In the normal state, when the player performs a left-handed operation by rotating the operation handle 15 provided in the pachinko machine P and a game ball enters the first starting prize opening 31, the first special symbol display device 334 (FIG. 24) (see) starts the variable display of the first special symbol. In addition, in the normal state, since the time during which the second starting winning hole slide plate 38a protrudes is extremely short, it is impossible for a game ball to enter the second starting winning hole 38 during the normal state.

In addition, if the game ball enters the starting winning hole during the period when the special symbol fluctuation display is being executed, the jackpot gaming state, and the small winning gaming state are being controlled (a starting winning has occurred, but the starting winning is not If the variable display of the special symbol based on the winning cannot be executed immediately), the variable display of the special symbol based on the winning is suspended until a predetermined upper limit number (for example, 4).

If a jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed in the variable display of the first special symbol, it becomes a "jackpot", and if a small winning symbol different from the jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed, it becomes a "small win". Moreover, if a missed symbol is stopped and displayed, it becomes a "miss".

After the display result in the variable display of the first special symbol becomes a "jackpot", the game is controlled to a jackpot game state as an advantageous state advantageous to the player. In the jackpot game state, the player performs a right-handed operation by rotating the operation handle 15 provided on the pachinko machine P.

In the jackpot game state, the jackpot opening 39 is opened in a predetermined manner. The open state is set at the earlier timing of the elapse of a predetermined period (for example, 29 seconds) or the timing until the number of game balls that have entered the big prize opening 39 reaches a predetermined number (for example, 10 balls). will continue until The predetermined period is the upper limit period during which the big winning hole 39 can be opened in one round, and is also referred to as the upper limit opening period hereinafter. One cycle in which the big prize opening 39 is opened in this way is called a round (round game). In the jackpot game state, the round can be executed repeatedly until it reaches a predetermined upper limit number of times.

In the jackpot game state, the player can obtain a prize ball by entering the game ball into the jackpot opening 39. Therefore, the jackpot gaming state is an advantageous state for the player. The greater the number of rounds in the jackpot gaming state and the longer the open upper limit period, the more advantageous it is for the player.

In addition, the jackpot type is set in "Jackpot". For example, multiple types of jackpot opening modes (number of rounds and upper limit opening period) and gaming states after the jackpot gaming state (normal state, time-saving state, etc.) are prepared, and jackpot types are set accordingly. . As the jackpot type, there may be provided a jackpot type in which a large number of prize balls can be obtained, and a jackpot type in which a few prize balls or almost no prize balls can be obtained.

After the jackpot gaming state ends, the time saving state may be controlled depending on the jackpot type. In this embodiment, all jackpots are controlled to shorten the time. When the jackpot game is finished and the game state is controlled to a time-saving state, it is advantageous for the player to perform a firing operation (also referred to as a right-handed operation or right-handed hit) aiming at the right side of the game area. When the player performs a right-handed operation by rotating the operating handle 15 of the pachinko machine P and the game ball passes through the gate 37, the normal symbol display device 333 (see FIG. 24) starts to display the normal symbols in a variable manner. be done. In addition, if the game ball passes through the gate 37 during the period during which the previous fluctuating display of the normal symbols is being executed (if the gaming ball passes the gate 37, but the fluctuating display of the regular symbols based on the passage cannot be immediately executed) In this case, the variable display of normal symbols based on the passage is suspended up to a predetermined upper limit number (for example, 4).

In this variable display of ordinary symbols, if the symbol per ordinary symbol is stopped and displayed, the display result of the ordinary symbol becomes "per ordinary symbol". On the other hand, if a normal symbol other than the common symbol (ordinary symbol is off) is stopped and displayed, the display result of the ordinary symbol becomes "ordinary symbol is off". When it becomes a "normal figure hit", opening control is performed to keep the slide plate 38a for the second starting prize opening in an open state for a predetermined period (the second starting winning opening 38 becomes in an open state).

In the time-saving state, the probability of "hitting a common symbol" with the fluctuating display of the regular symbol is the same as in the normal state (non-time-saving state), but when the probability of "hitting the common symbol" with the fluctuating display of the regular symbol The opening period of the second starting prize opening 38 may be longer than in the non-time saving state. Specifically, in this embodiment, the opening modes of the second starting winning hole 38 include a short opening in which the second starting winning hole 38 is opened for an extremely short time so that it is impossible to win a game ball, and a short opening. There is a long opening in which the second starting prize opening 38 is opened so that a plurality of game balls can be won. In the non-time saving state, only short opening is performed, but in the time saving state, long opening may be performed. As a result, it is impossible to enter the game ball into the second starting prize opening slide plate 38a in the normal state, but it is possible to enter the game ball into the second starting winning opening sliding plate 38a in the time saving state. become. Furthermore, in the time-saving state, the time for fluctuating display of the normal symbols is also shorter than in the non-time-saving state.

Then, when a long opening is performed, multiple game balls can be won in the second starting prize opening 38, so special symbol retention memory (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "special symbol retention") occurs. It becomes easier to do. In addition, in the time saving state, the variation time of the special symbol is shorter than in the normal state. Therefore, in the time saving state, the long opening makes it easier for the game ball to enter the second start winning hole 38 than in the regular state, and since the fluctuation time of the special symbol is shorter than in the normal state, the special symbol is more likely to be won than in the normal state. becomes more likely to be displayed in a fluctuating manner.

The time saving state continues until a predetermined termination condition is satisfied, such as a predetermined number of variable displays of special symbols being executed. The condition where the end condition is that the variable display of the special symbol has been executed a predetermined number of times is also referred to as number-cutting (number-of-time cutting definite variation, etc.).

When a game ball enters the second starting winning hole 38 formed in the second starting winning hole slide plate 38a, the second special symbol display device 335 (see FIG. 24) starts variable display of the second special symbol. .

In the variable display of the second special symbol, if a jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed, it becomes a "jackpot", and if a small winning symbol different from the jackpot symbol is stopped and displayed, it becomes a "small win". Further, if a losing symbol different from the jackpot symbol or the small winning symbol is stopped and displayed, it becomes a "loser".

After the display result in the variable display of the second special symbol becomes a "jackpot", the game is controlled to a jackpot game state as an advantageous state advantageous to the player. Further, after the display result in the variable display of the second special symbol becomes "small win", the game is controlled to a small win game state.

In the small winning game state, the large prize opening 39 is opened in a predetermined manner. The open state is set at the earlier timing of the elapse of a predetermined period (for example, 29 seconds) or the timing until the number of game balls that have entered the big prize opening 39 reaches a predetermined number (for example, 10 balls). will continue until In the small winning game state, only one round can be executed.

Then, in the small winning game state, when the game ball that enters the big winning opening 39 passes through the specific area 39b, the small winning gaming state is controlled to be in the jackpot gaming state after the small winning gaming state ends. At this time, the small winning gaming state is set as the first round, and the jackpot gaming state starts from the second round.

On the other hand, when the game ball that has entered the big winning opening 39 passes through the non-specific area 39c, the small winning gaming state ends without developing into a jackpot gaming state. After the small win game state ends without being controlled by the jackpot game state, the game state is not changed and the game state continues to be the same as before when the display result of the special symbol fluctuation display becomes "small win". controlled.

[Progress of production, etc.]
In the pachinko machine P, various performances are performed according to the progress of the game. The effect is performed by displaying various effect images on the liquid crystal display 42.

As a performance executed according to the progress of the game, the "left", "middle", and "right" performance symbol display areas 42L, 42C, and 42R provided on the liquid crystal display 42 display a variable display of the first special symbol. Alternatively, in response to the start of the variable display of the second special symbol and the start of the variable display of the normal symbol, the variable display of the production symbol is started. At the timing when the display result (also referred to as a confirmed special symbol) is stopped and displayed in the variable display of the first special symbol or the variable display of the second special symbol, the final effect symbol (three A combination of production symbols) is also stopped and displayed. Similarly, at the timing when the display result (also referred to as a fixed normal symbol) is stopped and displayed in the fluctuating display of normal symbols, the final performance symbol (combination of three performance symbols) that is the display result of the fluctuating display of performance symbols also stops. Is displayed.

During the period from when the fluctuating display of the performance symbols is started until it ends, the manner of the fluctuating display of the performance symbols may become a predetermined ready-to-win mode. Here, the li-zhi mode refers to a performance pattern that has not yet been stopped and displayed when the performance design that is stopped and displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 42 constitutes a part of a jackpot combination or a small win combination that will be described later. This refers to the manner in which the fluctuating display continues.

Moreover, the ready-to-win effect is executed in response to the above-mentioned ready-to-win mode being entered during the variable display of the effect symbols. In the pachinko machine P, the percentage of display results (results of display of variable display of special symbols and display results of variable display of production symbols) of "jackpot" depending on the performance mode (also called jackpot reliability or jackpot expectation). A plurality of types of reach effects with different percentages of "small wins" (also referred to as small win reliability and small win expectation) are executed. The reach performance includes, for example, normal reach and super reach, which has higher jackpot reliability than normal reach.

When the display result of the variable display of the special symbols becomes a "jackpot", a fixed effect pattern that becomes a predetermined jackpot combination is derived on the screen of the liquid crystal display 42 as a display result of the variable display of the effect patterns. (The display result of the fluctuating display of production symbols is a "jackpot"). For example, the same performance symbols (for example, "7", etc.) are all stopped and displayed on predetermined effective lines in the "left", "middle", and "right" performance symbol display areas 42L, 42C, and 42R.

When the display result of the variable display of the special symbols becomes a "small hit," the display result of the variable display of the production symbols will be a fixed effect pattern (for example, , "1 3 5", etc.) are derived (the display result of the fluctuating display of the production symbols becomes "small hit"). For example, performance symbols constituting a chance are displayed in a stopped state on predetermined effective lines in the "left", "middle", and "right" performance symbol display areas 42L, 42C, and 42R.

If the display result of the variable display of the special symbol is "miss", the mode of the variable display of the production symbol does not become a reach mode, and the display result of the variation display of the production symbol is a fixed production symbol of a non-reach combination. (Also referred to as "Non-Reach Off") may be stopped and displayed (the display result of the fluctuating display of production symbols becomes "Non-Reach Off"). In addition, if the display result is "miss", after the mode of fluctuating display of the production symbols changes to the reach mode, a predetermined reach combination that is not a jackpot combination ("missing the reach") will be displayed as the display result of the variation display of the production symbols. '') may be displayed in a stopped state (the display result of the fluctuating display of the effect symbols may be "out of reach").

Performances that can be performed by the pachinko machine P include displaying a hold display and a variable display display. In addition, as other effects, for example, a preview effect that foretells the reliability of the jackpot is executed while the effect symbols are being displayed in a variable manner. The preview performance includes a preview performance that foretells the reliability of a jackpot in a fluctuating display that is currently being executed, and a pre-read preview performance that foretells the reliability of a jackpot in a fluctuating display before execution (a fluctuating display whose execution is pending). As a pre-read preview performance (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a pre-read performance), a performance that changes the display mode of a variable display compatible display (a pending display or an active display) to a different mode than usual may be performed.

In addition, on the liquid crystal display 42, by temporarily stopping the performance symbols during the fluctuating display of the performance symbols and then restarting the fluctuating display, one fluctuating display can be made to appear pseudo-like multiple fluctuating displays. A pseudo-continuous performance may also be executed.

In addition, the jackpot game during the small win game state and some jackpot types (jackpot type of the jackpot game state in the same manner as the small win game state, for example, the jackpot type that makes the subsequent gaming state a high probability state). By performing a common performance depending on the state, the player may not be able to tell whether the player is currently in a small win game state or a jackpot game state. In such a case, by executing a common performance after the end of the small win gaming state and after the end of the jackpot gaming state, it is possible to make it impossible to distinguish between a high probability state and a low probability state. It's okay.

Further, for example, when a variable display of special symbols is not being executed, a demonstration image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 42.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the general configuration of the ball return prevention mechanism provided at the tip of the inner guide rail 28 will be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inner guide rail 28.

As shown in FIG. 5, a ball return prevention mechanism 50 is provided at the tip of the inner guide rail 28 to prevent the game balls that have entered the game area 30 from returning to the guide path 29. The ball return prevention mechanism 50 includes a main body case 52, a cover 53, and a ball return prevention member (displacement member) 54. The main body case 52, the cover 53, and the ball return prevention member 54 are all molded products made of synthetic resin material. The ball return prevention mechanism 50 is formed by combining the main body case 52, the cover 53, and the ball return prevention member 54. As described above, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 is arranged in the boundary region 700 when the inner guide rail 28 is attached to the acrylic plate 5a.

Next, the detailed configuration of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. 6 is a front perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50, FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the main body case 52 is integrally formed with the upper end of the inner guide rail 28, and includes a bottom part 52a and a side part 52b standing up from one end of the bottom part 52a. have A space surrounded by the bottom surface portion 52a and the side surface portion 52b serves as a notch portion S. The cutout S has an open front side facing the transparent plate 11 and an upper side facing the boundary area 700 (see FIG. 8). The upper opening end of the notch S serves as a stopper wall 52c. The stopper wall 52c is formed at the upper end of the side surface 52b located near the game area 30, and is a columnar wall surface that crosses the upper end in the width direction.

A first bearing portion 52d and a guide groove 52e are formed in the bottom surface portion 52a of the main body case 52. The guide groove 52e extends in a substantially arc shape along a virtual circle centered on the first bearing portion 52d. Further, the bottom surface portion 52a is provided with a first screw hole 52f and a first positioning pin 52g (see FIG. 8). A second positioning pin 52h is provided on the back side of the bottom part 52a (see FIG. 7), and when this second positioning pin 52h is inserted into a hole (not shown) in the acrylic plate 5a, the ball is fixed. A return prevention mechanism 50 is positioned on the acrylic plate 5a.

The cover 53 is formed into a plate shape and has a second screw hole 53a and a positioning hole 53b. Further, a second bearing portion 53c is formed on the back side of the cover 53. By inserting the first positioning pin 52g of the bottom part 52a into the positioning hole 53b, and inserting the screw 55 into the second screw hole 53a and the first screw hole 52f of the bottom part 52a, the cover 53 is fixed to the front surface of the notch S. It is attached to the main body case 52 with the sides closed.

The ball return prevention member 54 has a shaft hole 54a, an on-off valve 54b, and a weight portion 54c. The on-off valve 54b and the weight portion 54c are bent in a dogleg shape with the shaft hole 54a as a boundary. A support shaft 56 is inserted through the shaft hole 54a, and one end of the support shaft 56 is engaged with a first bearing portion 52d of the bottom portion 52a, and the other end is engaged with a second bearing portion 53c of the cover 53. It has been stopped. Thereby, the ball return prevention member 54 is rotatably supported by the main body case 52 and the cover 53.

The on-off valve 54b is formed into a substantially rectangular plate shape, and its length in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) is long enough for a game ball returning from the game area 30 to the boundary area 700 to collide with it. There is. The on-off valve 54b has a first side surface portion 540b facing the guide passage 29, and a second side surface portion 541b opposite to the first side surface portion 540b and facing the gaming area 30 (left-hand hitting area 30a). (See Figure 9). The first side surface portion 540b is a portion that collides with a game ball that is fired from the firing device 16 and passes through the guide path 29. The second side surface portion 541b is a portion that collides with the game ball attempting to return to the guide path 29 from the game area 30.

The tip of the on-off valve 54b is tapered. Specifically, the vertical length of the first side surface portion 540b is longer than the vertical length of the second side surface portion 541b, and the distance from the tip of the first side surface portion 540b to the second side surface portion 541b is longer than that of the second side surface portion 541b. It slopes downward toward the tip. Furthermore, a protruding portion 541c that protrudes toward the gaming area 30 is formed in the center of the second side surface portion 541b.

The weight portion 54c is thicker and heavier than the on-off valve 54b. An engagement pin 54d is provided protruding from the back side of the weight portion 54c, and this engagement pin 54d is inserted into the guide groove 52e of the bottom surface portion 52a (see FIG. 7). As described above, the ball return prevention member 54 is rotatably supported by the main body case 52 and the cover 53, and is movable between the open state and the closed state. In a normal state, the ball return prevention member 54 is urged to rotate in one direction (counterclockwise) about the support shaft 56 by the weight of the weight portion 54c, and the engagement pin 54d is pushed into the guide groove 52e. It is in contact with one end of the As a result, the ball return prevention member 54 cannot rotate any further and maintains the closed state. On the other hand, the ball return prevention member 54 is rotated in the other direction (clockwise) about the support shaft 56 by the contact force when it comes into contact with the game ball fired from the firing device 16, and is rotated in the other direction (clockwise) as described above. When it comes into contact with the stopper wall 52c, it becomes open.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state (first state) and the ball return prevention mechanism 50 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the open state (second state) The return prevention mechanism 50 will be explained. FIG. 9 is a front view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state, and FIG. 10 is a front view of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the open state.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state (first state), the on-off valve 54b protrudes from the upper surface opening of the notch S toward the exit of the boundary region 700 in a substantially vertical posture. There is. In this state, the distance (specific distance) from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) to the outer guide rail 27 is shorter than the diameter of the game ball B and is the shortest. Note that this distance means the shortest distance from the tip of the on-off valve 54b (first side surface portion 540b) of the ball return prevention member 54 to the outer guide rail 27. Therefore, even if the game ball that has once entered the game area 30 collides with the game nail 36 or the like and bounces back toward the boundary area 700, it will collide with the ball return prevention member 54. In addition, the ball return prevention member 54 maintains the closed state even if it is collided with a game ball, so it does not rotate counterclockwise. Therefore, the ball return prevention member 54 prevents the game ball that has entered the game area 30 from returning to the guide path 29 when in the closed state.

When the game ball B fired from the firing device 16 toward the game area 30 in the state shown in FIG. The return prevention member 54 can be displaced from the closed state to the open state. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the ball return prevention member 54 rotates in the direction of opening the exit of the boundary area 700, and when it collides with the stopper wall 52c, further rotation is restricted and the ball returns to the open state. (second state). In this state, the distance (specific distance) from the tip of the on-off valve 54b (first side surface portion 540b) to the outer guide rail 27 is longer than the diameter of the game ball B and is the longest. Therefore, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the open state, it allows the game ball fired by the firing device 16 to enter the game area 30 from the boundary area 700. Note that after the ball return prevention member 54 is displaced to the open state, it instantaneously rotates in the opposite direction (counterclockwise) under the urging force of the weight portion 54c and is again displaced to the closed state shown in FIG. .

As described above, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 is configured to prevent the game ball that has entered the gaming area 30 from returning to the guide path 29 when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state. In this embodiment, the ball return prevention member 54 can further prevent the game ball from returning to the guide path (guide area) 29 even in a state (third state) in the middle of being displaced from the closed state to the open state. There is.

FIG. 11 shows how a game ball that has entered the game area 30 (left-handed hitting area 30a) is about to return to the boundary area 700 while the ball return prevention member 54 is in the middle of being displaced from the closed state to the open state. The figures shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are enlarged views of the area surrounded by the dotted line shown in FIG. 11.

In FIG. 11, one game ball (first game ball) B1 fired from the firing device 16 toward the game area 30 enters the boundary area 700 from the guide passage 29, and enters the ball return prevention member 54 (opening/closing valve 54b). ), is in contact with the outer guide rail 27 and another game ball (second game ball) B2. In FIG. 12, the point of contact between one game ball B1 and the first side surface portion 540b of the on-off valve 54b is denoted by P1, the point of contact with the outer guide rail 27 is denoted by P2, and the point of contact with another game ball B2 is denoted by P3. ing.

Further, the other game ball B2 enters the boundary area 700 from the game area 30 and is in contact with the tip of the ball return prevention member 54, the outer guide rail 27, and the first game ball B1. In FIG. 12, the point of contact between the other game ball B2 and the tip of the on-off valve 54b is indicated by P4, the point of contact with the outer guide rail 27 is indicated by P5, and the lowest point of the other game ball B2 is indicated by P6. .

In the state shown in FIG. 12, the distance (specific distance) from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 to the outer guide rail 27 is longer in the open state (see FIG. 10) than in the closed state (see FIG. 9). It is shorter than . In other words, it is the distance between the closed state and the open state. Moreover, the distance H1 from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) to the outer guide rail 27 is shorter than the distance H2 from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27. In other words, the distance H1 from the contact point P4 between the other game ball B2 and the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 to the outer guide rail 27 is the distance H1 from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27. It is shorter than distance H2. In other words, the length H1 of the perpendicular line L1 drawn from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 to the outer guide rail 27 is the length H2 of the perpendicular line L2 drawn from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27. It is shorter than .

In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the above-mentioned intermediate state, the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) has a contact point P4 between the other game ball B2 and the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b). The distance H3 from the contact point P3 between the game ball B2 and one game ball B1 is shorter than the distance H4 from the lowest point P6 of the other game ball to the contact point P3. That is, the length of the line segment L3 connecting the contact point P4 and the contact point P3 is shorter than the length of the line segment L4 connecting the lowest point P6 and the contact point P3.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, when the ball return prevention member 54 is in the above-described intermediate state, the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 reaches the lowest point P6 of the other game ball B2. It doesn't rotate much. Specifically, the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 is located at a position higher than the lowest point P6 of the game ball B2 in the vertical direction, and to the left of the lowest point P6 of the game ball B2 in the horizontal direction (guide path 29 side). That is, the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 is located at the upper left with respect to the lowest point P6.

Even if the game ball B2 tries to return to the guide path 29 after the collision between the game ball B1 and the game ball B2 as described above, it will come into contact with the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) from the game area 30 side. I will do it. Therefore, the ball return prevention member 54 is likely to be subjected to a contact force from the game area 30 side toward the guide path 29 side and rotate counterclockwise. Therefore, the ball return prevention member 54 blocks the exit of the boundary area 700 more than when the game ball B1 and the game ball B2 collide, and it becomes difficult for the game ball B2 to return to the guide path 29. As a result, even when the game ball B1 and the game ball B2 collide as shown in FIG. 11, the game ball B2 can be prevented from returning to the guide path 29. In other words, it is possible to prevent two game balls from returning to the guide path 29 in succession.

In addition, when the game ball B1 and the game ball B2 collide as shown in FIG. 11, the distance (specific distance) H1 from the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) to the outer guide rail 27 is If the distance H2 from the lowest point P6 of the game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27 is longer than the distance H2, the game ball B2 will contact the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 and the outer guide rail 27 after the collision. It is possible to get in between. Then, the game ball B2 can come into contact with the tip of the ball return prevention member 54 from above, so the ball return prevention member 54 is more likely to rotate clockwise. Therefore, the ball return prevention member 54 opens the exit of the boundary area 700 more than when the game ball B1 and the game ball B2 collide, and cannot prevent the game ball B2 from returning to the guide path 29.

As described above, the pachinko machine P according to the present embodiment has been sufficiently improved in preventing the game balls that have entered the game area 30 from returning to the guide path (guide area) 29, compared to the conventional pachinko machine. However, as shown below, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 is prevented from getting caught with the game ball, thereby further improving the return prevention. Therefore, with reference to FIG. 14, prevention of catching between the ball return prevention mechanism 50 and game balls will be explained. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which the game ball B that has returned from the game area 30 to the boundary area 700 collides with the ball return prevention member 54.

As shown in FIG. 14, the game ball B returns from the game area 30 to the boundary area 700 and is in contact with the on-off valve 54b of the ball return prevention member 54 and the main body case 52. Specifically, the game ball B is in contact with the protruding portion 541c of the on-off valve 54b in the closed state, and is also in contact with the upper end portion (stopper wall 52c) of the main body case 52. In FIG. 14, the point of contact between the game ball B and the protrusion 541c of the on-off valve 54b is indicated by P7, the point of contact with the upper end of the main body case 52 is indicated by P8, and the leftmost point of the game ball B is indicated by P9. .

In such a state, the contact point P7 between the game ball B and the protrusion 541c of the on-off valve 54b is located below the leftmost point P9 of the game ball B in the vertical direction. In addition, the contact point P8 between the game ball B and the upper end of the main body case 52 is located to the left of the lowest point P6 of the game ball B in the horizontal direction, and is located to the left of the lowest point P6 of the game ball B in the vertical direction. is also located above. That is, the contact point P8 is located at the upper left with respect to the lowest point P6. The distance (first distance) H5 from the contact point P7 to the contact point P8 is shorter than the distance (second distance) H6 from the leftmost point P9 to the lowest point P6 of the game ball B. Therefore, the game ball B has an opening on the upper surface side facing the boundary area 700 in the main body case 52 (see FIG. 8), and a portion on the proximal end side of the protruding portion 541c in the second side surface portion 541b of the on-off valve 54b. It is so designed that it cannot enter the gap area SP between . Moreover, as shown by the dotted line arrow in FIG. By applying a force diagonally upward to the right, it bounces back to the game area 30. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game ball B from entering the gap region SP and being caught between the on-off valve 54b of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 and the main body case 52. Therefore, the return prevention of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 due to such a catch of the game ball B is not impaired. Therefore, since the return prevention of the ball return prevention mechanism 50 can be stably ensured, it is possible to further improve the prevention of the game balls that have entered the game area 30 from returning to the guide path (guide area) 29.

According to the pachinko machine P according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be achieved.

The pachinko machine P according to the present embodiment has a guide path which is an area between an outer guide rail (outer rail) 27 and an inner guide rail (inner rail) 28 and which guides the launched game ball to a gaming area 30. (guidance area) 29, and a ball return prevention mechanism 50 that prevents the game ball from returning from the game area 30 to the guide path 29, and the ball return prevention mechanism 50 has a closed state (first state) and an open state. It has an on-off valve (displacement member) 54b that can be displaced between a state (second state) and a state (third state) in the middle of being displaced from a closed state to an open state. A game ball that is guided from the guide path 29 to the gaming area 30, with the distance from the tip end to the outer guide rail 27 being a specific distance H1. Assuming that one game ball B1 is the game ball B1 and the game ball that is about to return from the game area 30 to the guide passage 29 is the other game ball B2, the closed state is a state where the specific distance is shorter than the open state, and the open state is a state where the specific distance is shorter than the open state. In a state in which the distance is longer than in the closed state, and in the middle of displacement from the closed state to the open state, one game ball B1 contacts the side surface, the outer guide rail 27, and the other game ball B2, and the other game ball B2 is in contact with the tip and the outer guide rail 27 of one game ball B1, so that the specific distance H1 is longer than the open state and shorter than the closed state, and the distance from the lowest point of the other game ball B2 to the outer guide rail 27 is This state is characterized by being shorter than the distance H2. Therefore, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 not only prevents the game ball that has entered the gaming area 30 from returning when the ball return prevention member 54 (on-off valve 54b) is in the closed state, but also prevents the ball return prevention member 54 from returning. Even during the transition from the closed state to the open state, the game balls that have entered the game area 30 can be prevented from returning to the guide path 29. Therefore, it is possible to improve the prevention of the game balls that have entered the game area 30 from returning to the guide path (guide area) 29.

Furthermore, the pachinko machine P according to the present embodiment has an area between an outer guide rail (outer rail) 27 and an inner guide rail (inner rail) 28, and guides the fired game balls to the gaming area 30. It includes a guide passage (guidance area) 29 and a ball return prevention mechanism 50 that prevents the game ball from returning from the game area 30 to the guide passage 29, and the ball return prevention mechanism 50 is in a closed state (first state). , an on-off valve (displacement member) 54b that can be displaced to an open state (second state), and a main body case (holding member) 52 that can hold the on-off valve 54b. 30, and a tip on the tip side of the second side surface 541b, and if the distance from the tip to the outer guide rail 27 is a specific distance, the closed state is reached. is a state in which the specific distance is shorter than in the open state, and in the open state, the specific distance is longer than in the closed state, and the main body case 52 is in contact with the second side surface portion 541b of the on-off valve 54b in the open state. It has a stopper wall (contacting part) 52c, and the game ball may come into contact with the stopper wall 52c and the second side surface part 541b (the protruding part 541c) in the closed state, and in the closed state, the game ball and the stopper wall 52c The distance from the contact point P8 of the game ball to the contact point P7 of the second side surface portion 541b (protrusion 541c) is the first distance H5, and the distance from the lowest point P6 of the game ball to the leftmost point P9 is the second distance. H6, the first distance H5 is characterized by being shorter than the second distance H6. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the prevention of the game balls that have entered the game area 30 from returning to the guide path (guide area) 29.

Next, the configuration of the above-described starting port unit (resin member) 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the starting port unit 60, and FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the starting port unit 60.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the starting port unit 60 is a resin member having an elongated shape that is curved as a whole to match the shape of the lower edge of the game board 5 (acrylic board 5a). The starting port unit 60 includes a starting port base 61, and a first front decoration part 62 and a second front decoration part 63 fixed to the entire surface of the starting port base 61.

The starting port base 61 includes a first plate portion 64 having a substantially trapezoidal shape, a second plate portion 65 having a substantially triangular shape, and a connecting portion 66 that connects the first plate portion 64 and the second plate portion 65. , has. The front surface (second surface) of the first plate-shaped portion 64 comes into contact with the game ball flowing down the game area 30. The back surface (first surface) of the first plate-shaped portion 64 is in contact with the acrylic plate 5a via a mounting base portion to be described later.

A first front decoration part 62 is fixed to the front surface of the first plate-like part 64. Although not shown, a fixing pin is formed to protrude from the back surface of the first front decoration part 62, and this fixing pin is inserted into a fixing pin through hole formed in the first plate-shaped part 64. By inserting the first front decoration part 62, the first front decoration part 62 is attached to the first plate part 64.

The first front decoration part 62 cooperates with the starting opening base 61 and a substantially U-shaped starting opening forming part 62a that cooperates with the acrylic plate 5a of the game board 5 to form the first starting prize opening 31. It has a first outlet forming part 62b and a second outlet forming part 62c which form the outlet 32. The first outlet forming part 62b is provided on the left side of the starting port forming part 62, and the second outlet forming part 62c is provided on the right side of the starting port forming part 62.

Attachment base portions (first resin portions) 69 having a predetermined thickness are formed at each of the four corners of the back surface of the first plate-like portion 64 . Each attachment base portion 69 is a flat portion that comes into contact with the front surface of the acrylic plate 5a when the first plate portion 64 is attached to the acrylic plate 5a. Among these mounting base parts 69, three mounting base parts 69 formed at the upper right corner, the lower right corner, and the lower left corner on the back surface of the first plate-shaped part 64 are provided with screws (fixing members) (FIG. 17). A screw hole (first hole portion) 67 into which a reference numeral 71) is inserted and a pin (positioning protrusion) 68 that determines the mounting position of the starting port base 61 with respect to the acrylic plate 5a form a pair, and are spaced apart at a predetermined interval. and are formed adjacent to each other. The screw hole 67 is recessed from the front surface of the first plate-like portion 64 toward the back surface of the mounting base portion 69 and penetrates from the front surface of the first plate-like portion 64 to the back surface of the mounting base portion 69 . The pin 68 is formed to protrude rearward from the back surface of the mounting base portion 69. On the other hand, only a screw hole 67 is formed in a mounting base portion (fourth resin portion) 69 formed at the upper left corner of the back surface of the first plate-shaped portion 64, and no pin 68 is formed therein.

Further, the first plate-shaped portion 64 includes a thin portion (second resin portion) 70 and a thick portion (third resin portion) 75. The thin portion 70 is a portion formed at the peripheral end portion (in this example, the upper end portion) of the first plate-shaped portion 64 . In this thin section 70, the length (dimension) (that is, thickness) from the front surface to the back surface of the first plate section 64 is smaller than that of the thick section 75, and as it approaches the circumferential edge of the first plate section 64, It's getting smaller. On the other hand, the thick portion 75 is a portion formed outside the peripheral end of the first plate-shaped portion 64. In the thick portion 75, the length from the front surface to the back surface of the first plate-like portion 64 is larger than that in the thin portion 70, and is generally constant.

A second front decoration part 63 is fixed to the front surface of the second plate-like part 65. The second front decoration part 63 has a passage 63a that cooperates with the second plate-shaped part 65 and guides the game ball to the normal winning hole 33. The above-mentioned mounting base portion 69 is formed at the right end portion on the back surface of the second plate-shaped portion 65 . This mounting base portion 69 has both a screw hole 67 and a pin 68 formed therein. Further, like the first plate part 64, the second plate part 65 has a thin part 70, which is a part formed at the peripheral end (in this example, the upper end) of the second plate part 65. , and a thick wall portion 75 that is formed at a portion other than the peripheral end portion of the second plate-like portion 65.

The connecting portion 66 includes a first front wall 66a, a second front wall 66b, and a plurality of curved pieces 66c protruding from the back surfaces of these front walls 66a, 66b. The first front wall 66a, the second front wall 66b, and the plurality of curved pieces 66c cooperate with the acrylic plate 5a of the game board 5 to form a plurality of normal winning holes 33. Further, a screw hole 67 is formed in a connecting piece 66d that connects the curved piece 66c protruding from the back surface of the first front wall 66a and the curved piece protruding from the back surface of the second front wall 66b.

In this way, in the starting port base 61, a set of screw holes 67 and pins 68 are formed in each of the three mounting base parts 69 provided on the back surface of the first plate part 64, A set of screw holes 67 and pins 68 are formed in one mounting base portion 69 provided on the back surface. Further, only a screw hole 67 is formed in one mounting base portion 69 provided on the back surface of the first plate-shaped portion, and one screw hole 67 is formed in the connecting piece 66d of the connecting portion 66.

Next, with reference to FIG. 17, the attachment of the starting port unit 60 to the game board 5 (acrylic board 5a) will be described. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing how the starting port unit 60 is attached to the acrylic plate 5a. In addition, in FIG. 17, for convenience of explanation, the first front decoration part 64 and the second front decoration part 65 are not shown in the starting port unit 60.

As shown in FIG. 17, the front surface of the acrylic plate 5a has a plurality of (six in this example) screw through holes (second hole portions) into which the screws 71 inserted into the screw holes 67 of the starting port base 61 are inserted. ) 72 and a plurality (four in this example) of pin through holes (positioning holes) 73 into which pins 68 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) of the starting port base 61 are inserted. When attaching the starting port unit 60 (starting port base 61) to the front surface of the acrylic plate 5a, first, the pin 68 of the starting port base 61 is inserted into the pin through hole 73 of the acrylic board 5a. At this time, three pins 68 formed on the first plate-like part 64 of the starting port base 61 and one pin formed on the second plate-like part 65 are inserted into the pin through-hole 73 of the acrylic plate 5a. By inserting it, the starting port unit 60 is positioned with respect to the acrylic plate 5a. Next, the screw 71 is passed through the screw hole 67 of the starting port base 61 and screwed into the screw through hole 72 of the acrylic plate 5a. At this time, four screw holes 67 formed in the first plate-like part 64, one screw hole 67 formed in the second plate-like part 65, and one screw hole formed in the connecting piece 66d of the connecting part 66 are inserted. The screw 71 is passed through the screw hole 67 and screwed into the screw through hole 72 of the acrylic plate 5a. Thereby, the starting port unit 60 can be fixed to the front surface of the acrylic plate 5a.

Next, the arrangement of the screw hole 67 and pin 68 of the starting port base 61 will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. 18 is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of the starting port unit 60 in the game area 30 of the game board 5, and FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the dotted line frame portion shown in FIG. 18.

As shown in FIG. 18, in the second plate-shaped portion 65, the pin 68 of the mounting base portion 69 is formed in the thick portion 75 and not in the thin portion 70. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the mounting base portion 69 is formed on the back surface of the thick wall portion 75 of the second plate-shaped portion 65, and the pin 68 of this mounting base portion 69 is also formed on the back surface of the thick wall portion 75. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, in the first plate-shaped portion 64, the pin 68 formed at the upper right corner of the back surface is formed in the thick portion 75 and not in the thin portion 70. Specifically, the pin 68 is formed on the back surface of the thick part 75 along the boundary line between the thick part 75 and the thin part 70 and aligned with the screw hole 67 . Further, the lower left corner and the lower right corner on the back surface of the first plate-shaped portion 64 are thick walled portions 75, and pins 68 are formed on the mounting base portion 69 on the back surface of the thick wall portions 75.

Although no pin is formed in the attachment part (fourth resin part) at the upper left corner on the back surface of the first plate-shaped part 64, if a pin is formed at this position, this pin will be attached to the gaming area 30. There is a risk of damage due to a relatively large impact from the falling game balls. Therefore, in order to prevent such a situation in advance, no pin is formed at this position.

Next, with reference to FIG. 20, details of the diameter of the screw through hole 72 formed in the starting port base 61, the diameter of the pin through hole 73, and the length (dimensions) of the pin 68 will be described. FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line XX-XX in FIG. 18. In addition, in FIG. 20, hatching is not applied for convenience of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 20, the diameter R1 of the pin through hole 73 is approximately equal to the diameter R2 of the screw through hole 72 (R1≈R2). Further, the diameter R3 of the pin 68 is smaller than the thickness T1 of the second plate-like portion 65 of the starting port base 61 (R3<T1), and specifically, the diameter R3 of the pin 68 is 70% or less of D1. It is preferable (R3≦0.7D1). Here, the thickness T1 of the second plate-like part 65 is the length (dimension) from the front surface of the second plate-like part 65 to the back surface of the attachment base part 69 in the range where the pin 68 is formed. Furthermore, the length D1 of the portion where the pin 68 is inserted into the pin through hole 73 is smaller than the length D2 of the portion where the screw 71 is inserted into the screw through hole 72 (D1<D2).

According to the game board 5 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be achieved.

Since the diameter R3 of the pin 68 of the starting port base 61 is smaller than the thickness T1 of the second plate-like portion 65, sink marks are less likely to occur in the starting port base 61 formed by injection molding a resin material. . Therefore, defects in the starting port base 61 can be suppressed.

Furthermore, the length D1 of the portion where the pin 68 is inserted into the pin through hole 73 is smaller than the length D2 of the portion where the screw 71 is inserted into the screw through hole 72. Even if an unexpected external force is applied to the pin, the possibility of the pin breaking and being damaged can be reduced. Therefore, defects in the starting port base 61 can be suppressed.

Further, since the diameter R2 of the pin through hole 73 of the starting port base 61 is approximately equal to the diameter R1 of the screw through hole 72, these through holes 72 and 73 can be formed together at the manufacturing stage of the acrylic plate 5a. , it is possible to increase work efficiency and reduce work costs.

Next, a modification of the pachinko machine P will be explained.

(Modified example)
A game board 500 according to a modified example will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22. FIG. 21 is an enlarged front view of the starting port base 61 attached to the game board 500, and FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line XXII-XXII in FIG. 21. In addition, in FIG. 22, hatching is not applied for convenience of explanation. The game board 500 differs from the first embodiment in the position of the pin 68 in the second plate-shaped portion 65 of the starting port base 61 and the size of the pin through hole 73 in the acrylic plate 5a.

As shown in FIG. 21, in the second plate-like portion 65, the screw holes 67 of the mounting base portion 69 and the pins 68 are formed at different positions. Specifically, the mounting base portion 69 is formed at the right end portion on the back surface of the second plate-shaped portion 65 so as to straddle the thin portion 70 and the thick portion 75 . The screw hole 67 of this mounting base portion 69 is formed in the thick portion 75, while the pin 68 is formed in the thin portion 70. Although not shown, the upper right mounting base portion 69 on the back surface of the first plate-shaped portion 64 is formed to extend over the thin wall portion 70 and the thick wall portion 75, and the mounting base portion 69 is screwed The hole 67 is formed in the thick portion 75, while the pin 68 is formed in the thin portion 70. Note that the pin 68 only needs to be formed at least in the thin wall portion 70, and may be formed, for example, so as to straddle the thin wall portion 70 and the thick wall portion 75. Further, when a plurality of pins 68 are formed, some of the pins 68 may be formed in the thin wall portion 70 and the remaining pins 68 may be formed in the thick wall portion 75.

As shown in FIG. 22, the diameter R1 of the pin through hole 73 is larger than the diameter R2 of the screw through hole 72 (R1>R2), and larger than the diameter R4 of the shaft portion 71a of the screw 71 (R1>R4). ), which is smaller than the diameter R5 of the head 71b of the screw 71 (R1<R5).

FIG. 23 is a sectional view showing the positional relationship between the starting port base 61 attached to the acrylic plate 5a of the game board 5 and the transparent plate 11 held by the front frame 3. Note that hatching is not provided in FIG. 23 for convenience of explanation.

As shown in FIG. 23, when the front frame 3 is in a closed state with respect to the inner frame 2 (see FIG. 2), the game board 5 and the transparent plate 11 face each other. In this state, the length (shortest length (dimension)) D3 between the front end of the starting port base 61 and the transparent plate 11 is longer than the length D1 of the portion where the pin 68 is inserted into the pin through hole 73. is also small (D3<D1). Specifically, the front end of the starting port base 61 is the front surface of the first front wall 66a and the second front wall 66b of the connecting portion 66, and the length D3 between these front surfaces and the back surface of the transparent plate 11 is is smaller than the length D1 described above.

According to the game board 500 according to the modified example configured in this way, the following effects can be achieved.

Since the diameter R3 of the pin 68 of the starting port base 61 is larger than the diameter of the screw through hole 72 and larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 71a of the screw thread 71, the strength of the pin 68 can be improved and the pin 68 becomes less likely to be damaged.

Further, since the diameter R1 of the pin through hole 73 is larger than the diameter R2 of the screw through hole 72 and larger than the diameter R4 of the shaft portion 71a of the screw 71, the pin 68 inserted into the pin through hole 73 is A predetermined gap can be formed between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the pin through hole 73, making it difficult for the pin 68 to be damaged during insertion. Moreover, since the diameter R1 of the pin through-hole 73 is smaller than the diameter R5 of the head 71b of the screw 71, the durability of the acrylic plate 5a can be maintained. In particular, since the screw through holes 72 and the pin through holes 73 are often formed close to each other, the durability of the area of the acrylic plate 5a where these through holes 72 and 73 are formed is likely to be reduced. . Therefore, designing in this way is extremely effective because the durability of the acrylic plate 5a can be maintained.

Furthermore, since the diameter R3 of the pin 68 is smaller than the thickness of the second plate-like portion 65 of the starting port base 61, sink marks are less likely to occur in the starting port base 61 formed by injection molding a resin material.

Furthermore, since the length D1 of the portion of the pin 68 inserted into the pin through hole 73 is smaller than the length D2 of the portion of the screw 71 inserted into the screw through hole 72, the amount of protrusion of the pin 68 This prevents the pin 68 from breaking and being damaged.

In this way, since the starting port base 61 attached to the acrylic plate 5a has the various features described above, defects in the starting port base (resin member) 61 can be suppressed.

Further, a set of screw holes 67 and pins 68 are formed in the mounting base portion 69 of the second plate-like portion 65 of the starting port base 61, but among these, the screw hole 67 is formed in the thick portion 75. On the other hand, the pin 68 is formed in the thin portion 70. Therefore, since positioning can be performed by supporting the peripheral end of the starting port base 61, the positioned starting port base 61 can be sufficiently fixed, and the starting port base 61 can be easily attached to the acrylic plate (panel plate) 5a with the screws 71. can do. Moreover, compared to the starting port base 61 in which the pin 68 is not formed in the thin wall portion 70 of the peripheral end, the starting port base 61 can be made smaller by the amount that the pin can be arranged in the thin wall portion 70 of the peripheral end. Therefore, due to this miniaturization, a new space can be created in the gaming area 30, and the degree of freedom in designing the gaming area 30 can be increased.

Furthermore, since the shortest length D3 between the frontmost end of the starting port base 61 and the transparent plate 11 is smaller than the length D1 of the portion where the pin 68 is inserted into the pin through hole 73, By making the width in the direction as small as possible, the game balls can be made to flow down in the game area 30 as designed. On the other hand, the length D1 of the portion where the pin 68 is inserted into the pin through hole 73 is larger than the shortest length D3 between the frontmost end of the starting port base 61 and the transparent plate 11. A sufficient length D1 for positioning can be secured, and defects in the starting port base (resin member) 61 can be suppressed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention, and all technical matters included in the technical idea described in the claims are included in the present invention. Subject to invention. Although the embodiments described above are preferred examples, those skilled in the art can realize various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements based on the content disclosed in this specification. These are within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, in the above embodiment, although FIG. 11 shows a state in which the ball return preventing member 54 is displaced to a state approximately intermediate between the closed state and the open state, the present invention is not limited to this state, and the ball return prevention member 54 is in the closed state and the open state. The present invention can also be applied to cases where the device is displaced to any state between the two.

Further, in the above embodiment, in FIG. 11, it was shown that the ball return prevention member 54 can prevent the game ball B2 from returning to the guide path 29, but if the game ball B2 returns from the game area 30 to the boundary area 700, Even if another game ball C subsequently returns to the boundary area 700, the two game balls (game ball B2 and game ball C) are moved to the guide path 29 by the ball return prevention member 54, of course. It is possible to suppress the return to .

Further, in the above embodiment, the ball return prevention mechanism 50 is integrally formed at the upper end of the inner guide rail 28, but is not limited to this configuration and may be formed separately from the inner guide rail 28. .

Further, in the above embodiment, the boundary area 700 was provided between the guide passage 29 and the game area 30, but the boundary area 700 may be included in the guide passage 29 without being limited to this configuration. .

Further, in the above embodiment, the protrusion 541c is formed on the second side surface portion 541b of the on-off valve 54b, but the structure is not limited to this, and the second The surface of the side surface portion 541b may be made flat.

Further, in the above embodiment, the stopper wall (contact portion) 52c was configured to abut the second side surface portion 541b of the on-off valve 54b in the open state, but the stopper wall (contact portion) 52c is not limited to this configuration. For example, the stopper wall 52c may be configured to be in pressure contact with the second side surface portion 541b of the on-off valve 54b in the open state, or may be configured to be close to it.

Further, in the above embodiment, the starting port base 61 has been described as an example of the resin member of the present invention, but the technical idea of the present invention is to Applicable to resin members. For example, the technical idea of the present invention may be applied to the warp passage 34 made of resin material. Moreover, when units constituting the big prize opening and the second starting opening are provided, the technical idea of the present invention may be applied to the base member attached to the acrylic board 5a among these units.

Further, in the above embodiment, the starting port base 61 has a set of screw holes 67 and pins 68 formed in each of the three mounting base parts 69 provided on the back surface of the first plate-shaped part 64, and Although one set of screw holes 67 and pins 68 were formed in one mounting base part 69 provided on the back surface of part 65, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. A mounting base portion 69 is formed as appropriate depending on the shape of the member to be attached to the acrylic plate 5a, and a set of screw holes 67 and pins 68 are formed in the formed mounting base portion 69, or only screw holes are formed. can be determined.

Further, in the above embodiment, the first plate-like part 64 and the second plate-like part 65 of the starting port base 61 had the thin-walled part 70 at the upper end, which is a part of the peripheral end. Not limited to configuration. The position of the thin portion 70 can be appropriately determined depending on the position where the resin member of the present invention is attached to the acrylic plate 5a.

Further, in the above embodiment, the mounting base portion 69 is formed on the back surface of the first plate-like portion 64 and the second plate-like portion 65 of the starting port base 61, and the screw hole 67 and the pin 68 are formed in this mounting base portion 69. However, it is not limited to this configuration. For example, the screw holes 67 and pins 68 may be formed directly on the back surfaces of the first plate portion 64 and the second plate portion 65 without forming the mounting base portion 69 on the back surfaces of the first plate portion 64 and the second plate portion 65. good. In this case, the back surfaces of the first plate-like part 64 and the second plate-like part 65 become the surfaces that come into contact with the acrylic plate 5a of the game board 5.

[Control configuration]
Next, a configuration related to control of the pachinko machine P will be explained. FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing various electronic devices installed in the pachinko machine P. The pachinko machine P is equipped with a main control device 70 (main control computer) that is the center of control operations, and this main control device 70 mainly has the function of controlling the progress of the game in the pachinko machine P. There is. Note that the main control device 70 is built into the main control board unit 170.

The main control device 70 is also equipped with a circuit board (main control board) on which a main control CPU 72, which is a central processing unit, is mounted, and the main control CPU 72 has a ROM 74, a RAM ( It is configured as an LSI that integrates semiconductor memories such as RWM) 76 and the like. The main controller 70 is also equipped with a random number generator 75 and a sampling circuit 77. Among these, the random number generator 75 generates hardware random numbers (for example, 0 to 65535 in decimal notation) for determining the jackpot in the special symbol lottery and the hit determination in the regular symbol lottery. is input to the main control CPU 72 through the sampling circuit 77. In addition, the main control device 70 is equipped with peripheral ICs such as an input/output (I/O) port 79, a clock generation circuit (not shown), and a counter/timer circuit (CTC), which are connected to the main control CPU 72 as well as other peripheral ICs. Mounted on the board. Note that a signal transmission path, a power supply path, a control bus, and the like are formed as wiring patterns on the circuit board (or the inner layer portion).

The gate 37 described above is integrally provided with a gate switch 78 for detecting passage of a game ball. In addition, the game board 5 includes a first starting winning opening switch 80 corresponding to the first starting winning opening 31, a second starting winning opening switch 82 corresponding to the second starting winning opening 38, and a count corresponding to the big winning opening 39. A switch 84, a specific area switch 85a corresponding to the specific area 39b of the big winning opening 39, and a non-specific area switch 85b corresponding to the non-specific area 39c of the big winning opening 39 are provided.

The first starting winning port switch 80 detects the entry of a game ball into the first starting winning port 31, and the second starting winning port switch 82 detects the entering of a gaming ball into the second starting winning port 38. belongs to. When a game ball is detected by the first starting winning port switch 80 or the second starting winning port switch 82, a predetermined number (one) of gaming balls are paid out as a prize ball based on this detection information.

Further, the count switch 84 is for counting the number of balls that have entered the big winning hole 39. When game balls are detected by the count switch 84, a predetermined number (for example, 15) of game balls are paid out as prize balls based on this detection information.

The specific area switch 85a is for detecting that a game ball has entered the specific area 39b of the big prize opening 39. Further, the non-specific area switch 85b is for detecting that a game ball has entered the non-specific area 39c of the big winning opening 39.

Similarly, the game board 5 is provided with a normal winning hole switch 81 that detects the entry of a game ball into the normal winning hole 33. When a game ball is detected by the normal prize opening switch 81, a predetermined number (6) of game balls are paid out as prize balls based on this detection information.

Winning detection signals from these switches are input to the main control CPU 72 via an input/output driver (not shown). In addition, due to the configuration of the game board 5, in this embodiment, the detection signals from the gate switch 78, the normal prize opening switch 81, the count switch 84, the specific area switch 85a, and the non-specific area switch 85b are transmitted via the panel relay terminal board 87. The panel relay terminal board 87 is provided with wiring patterns, connection terminals, etc. for relaying each winning detection signal.

The above-mentioned normal symbol display device 333, normal symbol operation memory lamp 333a, first special symbol display device 334, second special symbol display device 335, first special symbol operation memory lamp 334a, second special symbol operation memory lamp 335a and game The display operation of the status display device 338 is controlled based on a control signal from the main control CPU 72. The main control CPU 72 outputs control signals to these display devices 333, 334, 335, 338 and lamps 333a, 334a, 335a according to the progress of the game, and controls the lighting state of each LED. In addition, these display devices 333, 334, 335, 338 and lamps 333a, 334a, 335a are installed on the game board 5 while being mounted on one integrated display board 90, as described above, and this integrated display Control signals are transmitted from the main control CPU 72 to the board 90 via the panel relay terminal board 87.

Further, the game board 5 is provided with a normal electric accessory solenoid 88 corresponding to the second starting winning opening slide plate 38a, and a big winning opening solenoid 89 corresponding to the big winning opening sliding plate 39a. These solenoids 88 and 89 operate (energize) based on the control signal from the main control CPU 72, and respectively open and close (operate) the second starting winning opening slide plate 38a and the big winning opening sliding plate 39a. Note that control signals are also transmitted from the main control CPU 72 to these solenoids 88 and 89 via the panel relay terminal board 87.

In addition, a glass frame release switch 91 is installed on the front frame 3, and a plastic frame release switch 93 is installed on the inner frame 2. When the front frame 3 is opened independently, a contact signal from the glass frame release switch 91 is input to the main control device 70 (main control CPU 72), and when the inner frame 2 is opened from the outer frame 1, the plastic A contact signal from the frame release switch 93 is input to the main control device 70 (main control CPU 72). The main control CPU 72 can detect the open state of the front frame 3 and the inner frame 2 from these contact signals. Note that when the main control CPU 72 detects the open state of the front frame 3 or the inner frame 2, it generates a door open information signal as an external information signal.

A payout control device 92 is installed on the back side of the pachinko machine P. This payout control device 92 (payout control computer) controls the operation of the payout device unit 172 described above. The payout control device 92 is equipped with a circuit board (payout control board) on which a payout control CPU 94 is mounted, and the payout control CPU 94 is also an LSI integrated with a CPU core (not shown) and semiconductor memories such as a ROM 96 and a RAM 98. It is configured. The payout control device 92 (payout control CPU 94) controls the operation of the payout device unit 172 based on the prize ball instruction command from the main control CPU 72, and executes the payout operation of the requested number of game balls. The main control CPU 72 generates a prize ball information signal as an external information signal together with the prize ball instruction command.

A payout device board 100 is installed together with a payout motor 102 (for example, a stepping motor, a payout means) in a prize ball case (not shown) of the payout device unit 172, and a drive circuit for the payout motor 102 is installed on this payout device board 100. It is provided. The payout device board 100 specifically controls the rotation angle of the payout motor 102 based on the payout number instruction signal from the payout control device 92 (payout control CPU 94), and pays out the specified number of game balls from the prize ball case. Let it come out. The paid-out game balls are sent to the receiving tray 13 through the paying-out channel in the channel unit 173.

Further, for example, a payout road ball cut-off switch 104 is installed at an upstream position of the prize ball case, and a payout count switch 106 is installed at a downstream position of the payout motor 102. When a prize ball is actually paid out by driving the payout motor 102, a count signal from the payout counting switch 106 is input to the payout device board 100 each time. Further, when a ball is out at an upstream position of the prize ball case, a contact signal from the payout road ball out switch 104 is input to the payout device board 100. The payout device board 100 transmits the input count signal and contact signal to the payout control device 92 (payout control CPU 94). The payout control CPU 94 can detect the actual number of payouts and the out-of-ball state based on the signal received from the payout device board 100.

Further, in the pachinko machine P, a full tank switch 161 is installed, for example, inside the lower tray 6c (in a position at the back when viewed from the front of the pachinko machine P). The actually paid out prize balls (game balls) are discharged into the upper tray 6b through the channel unit 173, but when the upper tray 6b is full of game balls, the game balls that are paid out more than that are discharged into the upper tray 6b as described above. It flows into the lower plate 6c like this. Further, when the lower tray 6c becomes full of game balls, the full tank switch 161 is turned on and a full tank detection signal is input to the payout control device 92 (payout control CPU 94). In response to this, even if the payout control CPU 94 receives the prize ball instruction command from the main control CPU 72, it temporarily suspends any further prize ball operations and stores the remaining number of unpaid prize balls in the RAM 98. Furthermore, the memory in the RAM 98 can be backed up even when the power is cut off, so even if a power outage (including momentary power outage) occurs during a game, the information on the number of remaining prize balls that have not been paid out will not be lost. .

Further, on the back side of the pachinko machine P, a firing solenoid 110 is installed together with a firing control board 108. Further, a ball feed solenoid 111 is provided within the saucer 13. The launch control board 108, the launch solenoid 110, and the ball feed solenoid 111 constitute the launch control board set 174 described above, and the launch control board 108 is provided with a drive circuit for the launch solenoid 110 and the ball feed solenoid 111. ing. Among these, the ball feeding solenoid 111 performs an operation of feeding the game balls stored in the saucer 13 one by one to a predetermined shooting position within the shooting machine case. Further, the firing solenoid 110 performs an operation of hitting the game balls sent out to the firing position and continuously (intermittently) firing the game balls one by one toward the game area 30 as described above. Note that the game balls are fired at intervals of, for example, about 0.6 seconds (within 100 balls per minute).

On the other hand, the operation handle 15 located on the front side of the pachinko machine P is provided with a firing lever volume 112, a touch sensor 114, and a firing stop switch 116. Of these, the firing lever volume 112 generates an analog signal proportional to the amount of operation (so-called stroke) of the firing handle by the player. Further, the touch sensor 114 detects that the player's body is touching the operating handle 15 (firing handle) from a change in capacitance, and outputs a detection signal. The firing stop switch 116 generates a firing stop signal (contact signal) in response to the player's operation.

A firing relay terminal board 118 is installed on the saucer 13, and signals from the firing lever volume 112, touch sensor 114, and firing stop switch 116 are transmitted to the firing control board 108 via the firing relay terminal board 118. Ru. Further, a drive signal from the firing control board 108 is applied to the ball feeding solenoid 111 via the firing relay terminal board 118. When the player operates the firing handle, an analog signal (an encoded digital signal may be used) is generated by the firing lever volume 112 according to the amount of operation, and the firing solenoid 110 is driven based on the signal at this time. Thereby, the strength with which the game ball is launched is adjusted according to the amount of operation by the player. Note that the drive circuit of the firing control board 108 stops driving the firing solenoid 110 when the detection signal from the touch sensor 114 is off (low level) or when a firing stop signal is input from the firing stop switch 116. do. In addition, a game ball rental device connection terminal board 120 is connected to the firing relay terminal board 118, and when a card unit is not connected to the game ball rental device connection terminal board 120, the firing control board The drive circuit 108 stops driving the firing solenoid 110.

Further, the saucer 13 has a built-in frequency display board 122 and a loan/return switch board 123. Among these, the power display board 122 is provided with a power display section display (7 segment LED for 3 digits). Further, the lending and return switch board 123 is equipped with a switch module that is connected to the ball lending button and the return button, respectively, and when the ball lending button or the return button is operated, the operation signal is transmitted to the lending and return switch board 123. 123 and is transmitted to the card unit via the terminal board 120 for connecting a rental device such as game balls. Further, from the card unit, a frequency signal indicating the remaining frequency of the valuable medium is transmitted to the frequency display board 122 via the gaming ball etc. lending device connection terminal board 120. A display circuit (not shown) on the frequency display board 122 drives a display based on the frequency signal, and numerically displays the remaining frequency of the valuable medium. In addition, if no valuable medium is inserted into the card unit, or if the remaining count of the loaded valuable medium becomes 0, the display circuit of the count display board 122 drives the display to display a demonstration (valuable medium It is also possible to display a display prompting the user to input

Moreover, the pachinko machine P is equipped with a production control device 124 (computer for production control) as a control configuration. This performance control device 124 controls the performance accompanying the progress of the game in the pachinko machine P. The production control device 124 is also equipped with a circuit board (composite sub-control board) on which a production control CPU 126, which is a central processing unit, is mounted. The production control CPU 126 includes a CPU core (not shown) and semiconductor memories such as a ROM 128 and a RAM 130 as a main memory. Note that the performance control device 124 is provided at a position covered by a back cover unit 178 on the back side of the pachinko machine P.

In addition, the production control device 124 is equipped with an input/output driver (not shown) and various peripheral ICs, as well as a lamp drive circuit 132 and a sound drive circuit 134. The production control CPU 126 controls the production based on the production commands sent from the main control CPU 72, and gives commands to the lamp drive circuit 132 and the sound drive circuit 134 to cause the frame lamps and board lamps to emit light, and to cause the speakers to emit light. Processing such as actually outputting sound effects, voices, etc. from S is performed.

The production control device 124 and the main control device 70 are interconnected, for example, via a communication harness (not shown). However, communication between them is performed only in one direction from the main control device 70 to the production control device 124, and communication in the opposite direction is not performed. In addition, a parallel format may be adopted for the communication harness depending on the bus width of various commands sent from the main control device 70 to the production control device 124, or each driver IC (I/O) A serial format may be adopted depending on the hardware configuration.

The lamp drive circuit 132 includes, for example, switching elements such as a PWM (pulse width modulation) IC and a MOSFET (not shown). ) to manage operations such as light emission and blinking. The various lamps include, in addition to the frame lamps, board lamps installed on the game board 5 for decoration and presentation purposes.

Further, the sound drive circuit 134 is a sound generator that includes, for example, a sound ROM, a sound control IC, an amplifier, etc. (not shown), and this sound drive circuit 134 drives the speaker S to output sound.

In this embodiment, a glass frame illumination board 136 is installed on the inner surface of the front frame 3, and drive signals from the lamp drive circuit 132 and the acoustic drive circuit 134 are transmitted through the glass frame illumination board 136 to various frame lamps, It is applied to the panel lamps and speakers S. Further, a production button 45 is connected to the glass frame illumination board 136, and when the player operates the production button 45, a contact signal is inputted to the performance control device 124 through the glass frame illumination board 136. Further, a jog dial 45a is connected to the glass frame illumination board 136, and when the player rotates the jog dial 45a, the rotation signal is input to the performance control device 124 through the glass frame illumination board 136. Furthermore, when an operation performance that prompts the operation of the performance button 45 is executed, the performance control CPU 126 lights up the enable lamp of the performance button 45. Here, an example is given in which the production button 45 and jog dial 45a are connected to the glass frame illumination board 136, but when installing a saucer illumination board, the production button 45 and jog dial 45a are connected to the saucer illumination board. You can leave it there.

The liquid crystal display 42 is installed on the back side of the game board 5, and its display screen is visible through a substantially rectangular opening formed in the game board 5. Further, an inverter board 158 is installed on the back side of the game board 5, and this inverter board 158 generates AC power to be applied to the backlight (for example, cold cathode tube) of the liquid crystal display 42. Further, an effect display control device 144 is installed on the back side of the game board 5, and the display operation of the liquid crystal display 42 is controlled by the effect display control device 144. The effect display control device 144 is equipped with a display control CPU 146, which is a general-purpose central processing unit, and a circuit board (effect display control board) on which a VDP 152, which is a display processor, is mounted. Among these, the display control CPU 146 is configured as an LSI in which semiconductor memories such as a ROM 148 and a RAM 150 are integrated together with a CPU core (not shown). Further, the VDP 152 is configured as an LSI in which semiconductor memories such as an image ROM 154 and a VRAM 156 are integrated together with a processor core (not shown). Note that a part of the storage area of the VRAM 156 can be used as a frame buffer.

The ROM 128 of the performance control CPU 126 stores a basic program regarding the control of the performance, and the performance control CPU 126 executes the control of the performance in accordance with this program. The control of the effect includes, as described above, the control of the effect using the frame lamp, the panel lamp, etc., and the speaker S, as well as the control of the effect by displaying an image using the liquid crystal display 42. The effect control CPU 126 transmits basic information regarding the effect (for example, effect number) to the display control CPU 146, and upon receiving this, the display control CPU 146 specifically selects an image for the effect based on the basic information. Control the display.

Display control CPU 146 outputs a more detailed control signal to VDP 152. Upon receiving this, the VDP 152 accesses the image ROM 154 based on the control signal, reads the necessary image data therefrom, and transfers it to the VRAM 156. Furthermore, the VDP 152 expands the image data on the VRAM 156 into a frame buffer for each frame (still image per unit time), and displays each pixel (full color pixel) of the liquid crystal display 42 based on the buffered image data. Drive individually.

Additionally, a power control unit 162 (power control means) is installed on the back side of the inner frame 2. This power supply control unit 162 has a built-in switching power supply circuit, and when it takes in external power (for example, AC 24V, etc.) from the island equipment through the power cord 164, it can generate necessary power (for example, DC +34V, +12V, etc.) from there. The power generated by the power supply control unit 162 is distributed to the main control device 70, payout control device 92, production control device 124, and inverter board 158. Further, power is supplied to the launch control board 108 via the payout control device 92, and power is also supplied to the card unit via the game ball etc. lending device connection terminal board 120. Note that low voltage power (for example, DC +5V) for logic is generated by a power supply IC (such as a three-terminal regulator) built into each device. Further, as described above, the power supply control unit 162 is grounded to the island equipment through the ground wire 166.

The external terminal board 160 is connected to the payout control device 92, and various external information signals generated by the main control device 70 (main control CPU 72) are sent from the external terminal board 160 to the outside via the payout control device 92. This is what will be output. The main control device 70 (main control CPU 72) and the payout control device 92 (payout control CPU 94) can output external information signals to the outside of the pachinko machine P through the external terminal board 160. The signals output from the external terminal board 160 are compiled by, for example, a hall computer (not shown) in a game hall. Although a configuration in which the external information signal is routed through the payout control device 92 is exemplified here, a configuration in which the external information signal is directly output from the main control device 70 to the external terminal board 160 may also be used.

The above is an example of the configuration regarding control of the pachinko machine P. Next, control processing executed by the main control CPU 72 of the main control device 70 will be described.

[Reset start (main) processing]
When the pachinko machine P is powered on, the main control CPU 72 starts a reset start process. The reset start process prepares the initial state of the pachinko machine P by restoring the gaming state (so-called power restoration) based on the backup information saved at the time of the previous power cut, or conversely clearing the backup information. This is a process for Further, the reset start process is positioned as a main process (main control program) for ensuring stable gaming operation of the pachinko machine P after adjusting the initial state.

25 and 26 are flowcharts illustrating an example of the procedure of reset start processing. Hereinafter, the processing performed by the main control CPU 72 will be explained step by step.

Step S101: The main control CPU 72 first sets the top address of the stack area in the stack pointer.

Step S102: Next, the main control CPU 72 sets the vector type interrupt mode (mode 2) and modifies the default RST type interrupt mode (mode 0). Thereby, the main control CPU 72 can thereafter refer to any address (with the least significant bit being 0) as an interrupt vector and execute the designated interrupt handler.

Step S103: The main control CPU 72 executes reset standby processing here. This process is to ensure a certain amount of standby time (for example, about several thousand ms) at the time of reset start (for example, power-on), and to check the main power-off detection signal during that time. Specifically, after setting a loop counter for the waiting time, the main control CPU 72 bit-checks the input port of the main power-off detection signal while decrementing the value of the loop counter. The main power-off detection signal is input from, for example, a power monitoring IC that is a peripheral device. If the input of the main power-off detection signal is confirmed before the loop counter reaches 0, the main control CPU 72 restarts the process from the beginning. This makes it possible to protect the system, for example, when the main power switch (not shown) is repeatedly turned on and off within a short period of time (about 1 to 2 seconds).

Step S104: Next, the main control CPU 72 permits access to the work area of the RAM 76. Specifically, the RAM protect setting value of the work area is reset (00H). As a result, access to the work area of the RAM 76 is permitted from now on.

Step S105: The main control CPU 72 also initializes a mask register to set an interrupt mask. Specifically, a value that enables CTC interrupts is stored in a mask register.

Step S106: The main control CPU 72 refers to the previously saved input signal from the RAM clear switch and confirms whether the RAM clear switch has been operated (switch ON). If the RAM clear switch is not operated (No), then step S107 is executed.

Step S107: Next, the main control CPU 72 checks whether backup information is stored in the RAM 76, that is, whether the backup validity determination flag is set. If the backup was successfully completed in the previous power-off process and the backup validity determination flag (for example, "A55AH") is set (Yes), then the main control CPU 72 executes step S108.

Step S108: The main control CPU 72 performs a sum check on the backup information in the RAM 76. Specifically, the main control CPU 72 performs a sum check on all areas in the work area of the RAM 76 (user work area including the prohibited area and the stack area) except for the backup validity determination flag and the sum check buffer. If the result of the sum check is normal (Yes), then the main control CPU 72 executes step S109.

Step S109: The main control CPU 72 resets the backup validity determination flag (for example, to "0000H").
Step S110: The main control CPU 72 also clears the command that was waiting to be sent immediately before the previous power-off occurred.

Step S111: Next, the main control CPU72 executes production control return processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 sends return commands to the performance control device 124 (for example, model designation command, special symbol probability state designation command, performance command when the number of working memories increases, performance command when the number of working memories decreases, number cut (remaining counter number command, special gaming state designation command, etc.). In response to this, the production control device 124 changes the production state that was being executed at the time of the previous power cut (for example, internal probability state, display mode of production symbols, production display mode of the number of working memories, sound output content, light emitting state, etc.) can be restored.

Step S112: The main control CPU 72 executes state recovery processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 sets various values in the work area of the RAM 76 based on the backup information, and sets various values to the gaming state that was being executed at the time of the previous power cut (for example, the display mode of special symbols, internal probability state, (working memory contents, various flag states, random number update state, etc.). The main control CPU 72 also restores the backed up PC register values.

On the other hand, if the RAM clear switch was operated when the power was turned on (step S106: Yes), the backup validity determination flag was not set (step S107: No), or the backup information was not normal. (Step S108: No), the main control CPU 72 moves to step S113.

Step S113: The main control CPU 72 clears the storage contents of the RAM 76 other than the prohibited area. As a result, the work area and stack area of the RAM 76 are all initialized, and even if valid backup information is stored, its contents are erased.
Step S114: The main control CPU 72 also initializes the RAM 76.

Step S115: The main control CPU72 executes production control output processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 outputs a command (command necessary for production control) to be transmitted to the production control device 124 after initial setting.

Step S116: The main control CPU 72 executes payout control output processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 outputs an instruction command to the payout control device 92 to start paying out prize balls.

Step S117: The main control CPU 72 executes CTC initial setting processing and initializes the CTC (counter/timer circuit), which is a peripheral device. In this process, the main control CPU 72 sets an interrupt vector register and also sets an interrupt count value (for example, 4 ms) in the CTC. As a result, the next time a CTC interrupt occurs, the main control CPU 72 can continue processing from the backed up program address of the PC register.

When the above procedure is executed in the reset start process, the main control CPU 72 shifts to the main loop shown in FIG. 26 (connection symbol A→A).

Steps S118 and S119: The main control CPU 72 prohibits interrupts and then executes a power-off occurrence check process. In this process, the main control CPU 72 bit-checks the input port of the main power cutoff detection signal and monitors the occurrence of power cutoff (drop in drive voltage). When the power is cut off, the main control CPU 72 clears the output port buffers corresponding to the normal electric accessory solenoid 88, the big prize opening solenoid 89, etc., and clears the entire work area of the RAM 76 except for the backup validity determination flag and the sum check buffer. Back up the contents of and save the sum result value in the sum check buffer. Then, the main control CPU 72 stores the above-mentioned valid value (for example, "A55AH") in the backup validity determination flag area, prohibits access to the RAM 76, and stops the process (NOP). On the other hand, if power interruption does not occur, the main control CPU 72 next executes step S120. Note that there is also a known programming example in which the CPU executes processing when such a power-off occurs as non-maskable interrupt (NMI) processing.

Step S120: The main control CPU 72 executes initial value update random number update processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 increments random numbers for updating (changing) initial values of various software random numbers. In this embodiment, various random numbers (e.g., jackpot symbol random numbers, reach determination random numbers, fluctuation pattern determination random numbers, etc.) other than the jackpot determination random number (hardware random number) and the hit determination random number (hardware random number) corresponding to normal symbols are used. is generated programmatically. These software random numbers are updated by a loop counter within a predetermined range in another interrupt process (step S201 in FIG. 9). (the random number may not be the target) is changed. The random number for updating the initial value is used to randomly change this initial value, and in step S120, the random number for updating the initial value is updated. Note that step S120 is executed after interrupts are prohibited in step S118 because a similar process is executed in another interrupt management process (step S202 in FIG. ) to prevent this. As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the jackpot determination random number and the hit determination random number are hardware random numbers generated by the random number generator 75, and the update cycle thereof is faster than the timer interrupt cycle (for example, several ms). (for example, several μs), there is no need to update the initial values of the jackpot determination random number and the hit determination random number.

Steps S121 and S122: The main control CPU 72 allows interrupts and executes other random number update processing. The random numbers updated in this process are random numbers (reach determination random numbers, variation pattern determination random numbers, etc.) that are not related to determination of winning type (hit type) among software random numbers. This process is performed in the remaining time when a timer interrupt occurs during execution of the main loop and the main control CPU 72 executes another interrupt management process (FIG. 9). Note that the details of the interrupt management process will be described later.

[Power outage check process]
FIG. 27 is a flowchart specifically illustrating a procedure example of the above-mentioned power-off occurrence check process.
Step S130: First, the main control CPU 72 sets conditions for checking for occurrence of power outage. This check condition can be set, for example, as an on-counter value for confirming that the main power-off detection signal is continuously output.

Step S132: Next, the main control CPU 72 reads the main power-off detection switch input port and checks whether a main power-off detection signal is output (checks a specific bit). Although not particularly shown, a main power-off detection switch is mounted on the main controller 70, for example, and this main power-off detection switch monitors the drive voltage supplied from the power supply control unit 162 and determines the voltage level. Outputs a main power failure detection signal when the voltage falls below the reference voltage. Note that the main power-off detection switch may be built into the power supply control unit 162. When the main control CPU 72 confirms that the main power-off detection signal is not being output at this point in time (No), the main control CPU 72 exits from this process and returns to the reset start process. On the other hand, if it is confirmed that the main power cutoff detection signal is output (Yes), the main control CPU 72 proceeds to the next step S134.

Step S134: The main control CPU 72 checks whether the above check conditions are satisfied. Specifically, the on-counter value set in step S130 is subtracted by 1, for example, and it is checked whether the result becomes 0 or not. If the on-counter value is not 0 at this point in time (No), the main control CPU 72 returns to step S132 and reconfirms the main power-off detection switch input port. Then, when the check condition is satisfied by repeating the loop from step S134 to step S132 (step S134: Yes), the main control CPU 72 next proceeds to step S136.

Step S136: The main control CPU 72 clears the output port buffer corresponding to the test signal terminal and command control signal in addition to the output port corresponding to the normal electric accessory solenoid 88 and the big winning opening solenoid 89 as described above.

Step S138, Step S140: Next, the main control CPU 72 adds the entire contents of the work area of the RAM 76, excluding the backup validity determination flag and the sum check buffer, in 1-byte units, and repeats the addition until the addition is completed for the entire area. .
Step S142: When the sum calculation is completed for all areas (step S140: Yes), the main control CPU 72 stores the sum result value in the sum check buffer.

Step S144: Next, the main control CPU 72 stores the valid value in the backup validity determination flag area as described above.

Step S146: The main control CPU 72 also stores "01H" indicating access prohibition in the protect value of the RAM 76, and prohibits access to the work area (including the prohibited area and the stack area) of the RAM 76.

Step S148: The main control CPU 72 then enters a standby loop and stops all other processes in preparation for the main power cutoff. After the main power is turned off, backup power is supplied from a backup power circuit (not shown) (for example, a circuit including a capacitive element mounted in the main controller 70), so the memory contents of the RAM 76 are lost even after the main power is turned off. It is retained without doing anything. Note that the backup power supply circuit may be built into the power supply control unit 162, for example.

Through the above processing, all the information stored in the work area of the RAM 76 to be backed up (to be summed) is retained as memory in the RAM 76 even after the main power is turned off. Furthermore, the retained memory is restored as backup information when the power is turned off, after confirming that the checksum is normal in the previous reset start process (FIG. 25).

[Interrupt management processing (timer interrupt processing)]
Next, interrupt management processing (timer interrupt processing) will be explained. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for interrupt management processing. The main control CPU 72 executes interrupt management processing at predetermined time intervals (for example, several milliseconds) based on an interrupt request signal from the counter/timer circuit. Each step will be explained below.

Step S200: First, the main control CPU 72 saves the values of the registers (accumulator A, flag register F, and each pair of general-purpose registers B to L) used during the execution of the main loop to the save area of the RAM 76. After the values are saved, other values can be written to the registers (A to L) during interrupt management processing.

Step S201: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes a lottery random number update process. In this process, the main control CPU 72 updates the value of a counter for generating various random numbers for lottery. The value of each counter is incremented in the counter area of the RAM 76, and the value is looped within a specified range. The various random numbers include, for example, jackpot symbol random numbers.

Step S202: The main control CPU 72 executes the initial value update random number update process here as well. The contents of the processing are the same as those described above.

Step S203: The main control CPU 72 executes input processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 inputs various switch signals from the input/output (I/O) port 79. Specifically, the passage detection signal from the gate switch 78, the first starting winning opening switch 80, the normal winning opening switch 81, the second starting winning opening switch 82, the count switch 84, the specific area switch 85a, the non-specific area switch The input state (ON/OFF) of the winning detection signal from 85b is read.

Step S204: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes switch input event processing. In this process, among the switch signals input in the previous input process, the gate switch 78, the first starting winning opening switch 80, the normal winning opening switch 81, the second starting winning opening switch 82, the count switch 84, the specific area switch 85a Based on the winning detection signal or the passing detection signal from the non-specific area switch 85b, an event occurring during the game is determined, and further processing is executed depending on the event that has occurred. Note that the specific details of the switch input event processing will be described later using another flowchart.

In this embodiment, when a winning detection signal (ON) is input from the first starting winning port switch 80 or the second starting winning port switch 82, the main control CPU 72 selects a signal corresponding to the first special symbol or the second special symbol, respectively. It is determined that an event that triggers an internal lottery (lottery trigger) has occurred. Further, when a passage detection signal (ON) is input from the gate switch 78, the main control CPU 72 determines that an event that triggers a lottery corresponding to the normal symbol has occurred. When determining that any of the events has occurred, the main control CPU 72 executes processing corresponding to each event. In addition, the process executed when the winning detection signal is input from the first starting winning a prize opening switch 80 or the second starting winning a prize opening switch 82 will be described later using another flowchart.

Step S205, Step S206: The main control CPU 72 executes the special symbol game process and the normal symbol game process during the interrupt management process. These processes are for concretely advancing the game in the pachinko machine P. Among these, in the special symbol game process (step S205), the main control CPU 72 controls the execution of the internal lottery corresponding to the first special symbol or the second special symbol described above, and controls the first special symbol display device 334 and the second special symbol. 2. It controls the variable display and stop display by the special symbol display device 335, and controls the operation of the big winning opening slide plate 39a according to the display result. The details of the special symbol game process will be described later using another flowchart.

In addition, in the normal symbol game processing (step S206), the main control CPU 72 controls the variable display and stop display by the above-mentioned normal symbol display device 333, and controls the second starting prize opening slide board according to the display result. 38a. For example, the main control CPU 72 stores the random number (random number determined per normal symbol) acquired upon passage of the gate 37 in the previous switch input event process (step S204), and during this normal symbol game process, A random number is read from memory, and it is determined whether or not it falls within a predetermined winning range (activated lottery execution means). If the random number falls within the winning range, the normal symbol display device 333 causes the normal symbol to be variably displayed and the normal symbol is stopped and displayed in a predetermined winning mode, and then the main control CPU 72 activates the normal electric accessory solenoid 88. Excite and operate the second starting prize opening slide plate 38a (movable piece actuating means). On the other hand, if the random number value is outside the winning range, the main control CPU 72 stops displaying the normal symbols in a winning manner after the variable display.

Step S207: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes a prize ball payout process. In this process, a prize ball instruction is given to the payout control device 92 to instruct the number of prize balls based on winning detection signals input from various switches 81, 82, 84, 85a, and 85b in the previous input process (step S203). Output the command.

Step S208: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes external information processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 sends the above-mentioned external information signals (for example, prize ball information, door opening information, symbol confirmation number information, jackpot information, starting opening information, etc.) to the hall computer of the gaming hall through the external terminal board 160. Store in port output request buffer.

In this embodiment, among various external information signals, for example, "Jackpot 1" to "Jackpot 5" are output as jackpot information to the outside, so that an external electronic device (data display (external information signal output means) can provide a variety of jackpot information to players (external information signal output means). In other words, by dividing and outputting jackpot information into multiple jackpots 1 to 5, jackpot types (winning types) can be aggregated and managed from these combinations on a hall computer (not shown), and internally Recognizing changes in the probability state (low probability state or high probability state) or shortening state of symbol fluctuation time, or occurrence of a small hit (a hit where the conditional device does not operate) that is not classified as a "jackpot" even if it is other than non-winning. It becomes possible to aggregate and manage information. In addition, based on the jackpot information, for example, a data display device (not shown) may count and display the number of jackpots that have occurred within the past few business days for each pachinko machine P, or recognize whether or not each machine is currently hitting a jackpot. Or, it is possible to recognize whether or not the symbol fluctuation time is currently being shortened for each machine. In this external information processing, the main control CPU 72 controls in detail the output status (ON or OFF set) of each of "Jackpot 1" to "Jackpot 5".

Step S209: The main control CPU 72 also executes test signal processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 generates various test signals representing its own internal state (for example, normal symbol game management state, special symbol game management state, jackpot, probability variation function in operation, time reduction function in operation). and stores them in the port output request buffer. Using this test signal, the internal state of the main control CPU 72 can be tested, for example, outside the main control device 70.

Step S210: Next, the main control CPU 72 executes display output management processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 controls the normal symbol display device 333, the normal symbol operation memory lamp 333a, the first special symbol display device 334, the second special symbol display device 335, the first special symbol operation memory lamp 334a, the second special symbol Controls the lighting state of the operation memory lamp 335a, game state display device 338, etc. Specifically, the drive signal stored in the port output request buffer in the previous special symbol game process (step S205) or normal symbol game process (step S206) is outputted to the port. Note that the drive signal is stored in the port output request buffer as byte data to be applied to each LED. As a result, each LED is driven in a predetermined display mode (a mode that displays changing symbols, displaying stoppages, displaying the number of active memories, displaying the game status, etc.).

Step S211: The main control CPU 72 also executes output management processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 outputs the external information signal (byte data) stored in the port output request buffer in the previous external information process (step S208). In addition, the main control CPU 72 outputs the drive signals, test signals, etc. of the normal electric accessory solenoid 88 and the big prize opening solenoid 89 stored in the port output request buffer to the port.

Step S212: The main control CPU72 executes production control output processing. In this process, the main control CPU 72 checks whether there is a command (command necessary for production control) that should be sent to the production control device 124 in the command buffer, and if there is an unsent command, the command to be output is sent. Port output.

Step S213: Then, the main control CPU 72 clears the port output request buffer stored in the current CTC interrupt.

In addition, in this embodiment, an example is given in which the processing of steps S205 to S212 (gaming control program module) is executed as a timer interrupt processing, but these processing is incorporated into the main loop of the CPU and executed. There are also known programming examples.

Step S214: When the above processing is completed, the main control CPU 72 stores a value (01H) specifying the end of the interrupt in the interrupt program counter, and ends the CTC interrupt.

Steps S215 and S216: Then, the main control CPU 72 restores the saved values of the registers (A to L) and permits the next CTC interrupt. After this, the main control CPU 72 returns to the main loop (program address indicated by the stack pointer).

[Specific example of fluctuating display of production symbols]
Next, the variable display of effect symbols performed on the liquid crystal display 42 will be specifically explained. When an internal lottery regarding special symbols is performed in the pachinko machine P, a fluctuation pattern (in other words, fluctuation time) is determined under the control of the main control CPU 72, and a fluctuation display is performed using the first special symbol and the second special symbol. .

Further, when a regular symbol lottery is performed in the pachinko machine P, a fluctuation pattern (in other words, a fluctuation time) is determined under the control of the main control CPU 72, and a fluctuation display of regular symbols is performed.

However, as mentioned above, the first special symbol, the second special symbol, and the regular symbol themselves are displayed by lighting and blinking using 7-segment LEDs, so they lack visual appeal. Therefore, in the pachinko machine P, a variable display performance using performance symbols is performed as described above.

As shown in FIG. 29, the presentation pattern 43 includes, for example, a left presentation pattern 43L, a middle presentation pattern 43C, and a right presentation pattern 43R. displayed on the right. Each performance pattern represents, for example, the numbers "1" to "9". Here, the left presentation pattern 43L, the middle presentation pattern 43C, and the right presentation pattern 43R all constitute a pattern row in which the numbers are arranged in descending order from "9" to "1". Such symbol rows are displayed variably in a vertically flowing (scrolling) manner in the left area, middle area, and right area of the screen, respectively.

In this embodiment, the performance design includes a performance design corresponding to a special design (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a special performance design).

In addition, in FIG. 29, an example will be explained in which a variable display of the special effect design corresponding to the first special symbol is performed, but a variable display of the special effect effect pattern corresponding to the second special symbol or a general effect effect will be explained. The variable display of symbols is also performed in a similar manner. Further, the display mode of the special effect design and the display mode of the normal pattern effect pattern do not have to be the same as long as they are difficult to distinguish. For example, the shape may be slightly deformed, the color may be slightly different, the transparency may be slightly different, or the size may be slightly different.

FIGS. 29 and 30 are continuous diagrams showing examples of effect images corresponding to variable display and static display of special symbols. In addition, here, regarding the fluctuation of the special symbol at the time of non-winning (losing), an example of a variable display performance and a stop display performance (result display performance) performed using performance symbols is shown. This fluctuating display effect is carried out between when the special symbol (here, the first special symbol is used, but it may be the second special symbol) starts to fluctuate until it is displayed as a stop display (including a fixed stop). This corresponds to a series of performances. Further, the stop display performance is a performance that represents the stop display of the special symbol and the result of the internal lottery at that time as a combination of performance symbols. Here, first, before explaining the specific contents of the control processing, the basic flow of the variable display effect and stop display effect for each variation employed in this embodiment will be explained. Note that the background image is omitted in FIGS. 29 and 30.

[Before displaying fluctuation]
(a) in FIG. 29: For example, in the state before the first special symbol starts changing (state not in demonstration production), three production symbols 43L, 43C, and 43R are displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 42. Columns are displayed larger. At this time, in accordance with the stop display of the first special symbol or the second special symbol, the effect design is also in a state of being stopped and displayed.

In addition, at the bottom of the screen of the liquid crystal display 42, there is a reservation display (with reference symbols M1 and M2 in the figure) indicating the number of working memories (also referred to as the number of reservation memories) for each of the first special symbol and the second special symbol. It is to be displayed. These pending displays M1 and M2 can be displayed when the special effect design is subject to change, and the number of working memories of the first special symbol and the second special symbol (the first special The display number of the symbol working memory lamp 334a and the second special symbol working memory lamp 335a), and the display number increases or decreases in conjunction with changes in the number of working memories during the game. Further, in order to facilitate visual discrimination, the pending display M1, M2 corresponding to the first special symbol is displayed in the shape of a circle (○), for example, and the pending display M2 corresponding to the second special symbol is displayed in the shape of a circle (○). For example, it is displayed in the shape of a star (☆). In the example of (a) in FIG. 29, all four pending displays M1 are lit to indicate that the number of working memories of the first special symbol is four, and all pending displays M2 are not displayed ( (indicated by a broken line) indicates that the number of active memories of the second special symbol is 0 (memory number display performance execution means).

In addition, the number of working memories of the first special symbol is displayed in the special symbol 1 reservation display area Z1 at the upper right of the screen of the liquid crystal display 42. In addition, the number of working memories of the second special symbol is displayed in the special symbol 2 reservation display area Z2. Furthermore, mini symbols are displayed in the mini symbol display area Z3. This mini symbol is the "fourth production symbol" following the left, middle, and right production symbols, and is displayed in a variable manner in synchronization with the variable display of the special symbol.

(b) in FIG. 29: For example, in synchronization with the start of fluctuation of the first special symbol, the three symbol rows scroll and fluctuate on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42, thereby starting a fluctuating display performance (performance execution means). That is, in synchronization with the start of fluctuation of the first special symbol, the columns of the left performance symbol 43L, middle performance symbol 43C, and right performance symbol 43R are vertically scrolled (flowing) within the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42. The variable display effect starts. In addition, the pending displays M1 and M2 are displayed in the pre-change display area X1 of the band-shaped part in the lower part of the liquid crystal display 42 before the start of the change, but after the start of the change, they are displayed in the lower left part of the liquid crystal display 42. It moves to the display area X2 during fluctuation according to the displayed pedestal image, and continues to be displayed until the fluctuation of the special symbol (performance symbol) is stopped and displayed (memory display performance during fluctuation). In addition, in the figure, the fluctuating display of the performance symbols is simply indicated by a downward arrow. In addition, during variable display, individual performance symbols are displayed in a transparent state (transparent display), so that the image that is the background of the performance design (background image) is displayed on the display screen in a state that is easy to see. has been done.

In addition, in synchronization with the start of variation of the first special symbol, the working memory number of the first special symbol in the special symbol 1 pending display area Z1 is subtracted by "1", and the variable display of the mini symbol in the mini symbol display area Z3 is started. be done.

Here, as shown in FIG. 29(b), the number of working memories of the first special symbol decreases by one with the start of variation, and accordingly, the number of displayed symbols of the pending display M1 decreases by one. It has been reduced by one item. For example, if there were 4 working memories up to that point, the earliest (oldest) memory number display in the pending display M1 is moved to the fluctuating display area X2, and the effect consumed by the internal lottery is adjusted. will be carried out. As a result, it is possible to inform the player that the number of working memories for the first special symbol has been consumed.

In the example of (b) in FIG. 29, the pending display M1, which was at the top in the storage order, moves to the changing display area X2, leaving only 3 displays in the pre-changing display area X1. , an effect is performed in which each of the three pending displays M1 remaining on the screen is shifted in one direction (to the left in this case) by one space. As a result, the context of changes in the number of working memories is accurately expressed in the performance, and the player is informed that ``the number of working memories has been consumed and the number has decreased by 1'' and that ``the number of working memories has been consumed and the special symbol It is possible to teach in an intuitive and easy-to-understand manner that "the current situation is changing."

(c) in FIG. 29: For example, after a certain amount of time (about half of the fluctuation time) has elapsed, the left effect pattern 43L first stops fluctuating. This example shows that the effect pattern representing the number "8" has stopped on the left side of the screen. Note that illustration of the background image is omitted here (the same applies hereafter). At this time, the mini symbols in the mini symbol display area Z3 that are the same as the left performance symbol 8L also stop.

(d) in FIG. 30: Following the left presentation pattern 43L, the right presentation pattern 43R stops changing. This example shows that the effect pattern representing the number "3" has stopped at the middle position of the screen. At this point, it has already been determined that the reach state will not occur, so it is almost obvious visually that the current fluctuation is a non-reach (normal) fluctuation. At this time, the mini symbols in the mini symbol display area Z3 that are the same as the right performance symbol 8R also stop. Note that reach fluctuations due to slip patterns, etc. are excluded here. A "sliding pattern" is, for example, once the production symbol representing the number "7" stops, then the symbol row slides by one symbol and the production symbol representing the number "8" stops, which develops into a reach. The idea is to do so. Alternatively, there is also a pattern where the performance symbol representing the number "9" stops, and then the symbol row slides in the opposite direction by one symbol, and the performance symbol representing the number "8" stops, which develops into a reach. be. In addition, for example, after a production pattern that represents a completely different number such as "5" stops, a character appears on the screen and the right production pattern row changes again, and the number "8" is displayed. There is also a pattern where the production pattern stops and develops into a reach.

(e) in FIG. 30: In synchronization with the stop display of the first special symbol, the last medium effect symbol 43C stops. If the result of this internal lottery is non-winning and the first special symbol is stopped and displayed in a non-winning (losing) manner, the performance symbol will also be stopped and displayed in a non-winning (losing) manner. be exposed. In other words, in the illustrated example, the effect symbol representing the number "1" has stopped at the middle position of the screen, and in this case, the effect symbol combination is "8" - "1" - "3". Because it is a deviation, the production is expressing that this change corresponds to a normal ``deviation.'' At this time, the mini symbols in the mini symbol display area Z3 that are the same as the medium performance symbol 8C stop, and the mini symbols are also stopped and displayed in a manner corresponding to the miss.

Further, when the stop display effect is performed, the hold display M1 that has been moved to the fluctuating display area X2 and continues to be displayed is also hidden. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively and easily instruct the player that ``the variation of the special symbols has ended''.

The above is an example of a variable display performance and a stop display performance (when not winning) that are performed using a performance symbol for each fluctuation. That is, in this embodiment, three rows of performance symbols are displayed in a variable manner, and one time of variable display ends when the three rows of performance symbols are stopped and displayed. Through such a performance, it is possible to make the player have a sense of expectation for winning, and finally, the result of the internal lottery can be clearly taught in the performance.

In addition, the above example is for a non-winning time, but in the case of a jackpot (winning), after the reach effect is executed during the fluctuating display effect, the effect pattern appears in the jackpot mode (for example, "7") in the stop display effect. - "7" - "7", etc., where the same numbers are aligned) are stopped and displayed. At this time, the stop display mode of the performance symbols basically corresponds to the winning symbol (stop display mode of the first special symbol display device 334 or the second special symbol display device 335) internally selected by the main control CPU 72. selected. In addition, when a small hit (win) occurs, the performance pattern is stopped and displayed in a stop display effect in a small win format (for example, in a manner reminiscent of a small win according to a certain rule, such as "1" - "3" - "5"). Ru.

[Production control processing]
FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the production control process executed by the production control CPU 126. This effect control process is executed in the timer interrupt process (interrupt management process) that occurs during the execution of the effect control main process of the reset start process (sub). Note that the production control CPU 126 generates a timer interrupt at a predetermined interrupt cycle (for example, several tens of μs to several ms cycle) during execution of the reset start process, and executes the timer interrupt process.

The production control processing includes command reception processing (step S400), working memory production management processing (step S401), production symbol management processing (step S402), display output processing (step S404), lamp drive processing (step S406), and sound drive. The configuration includes a subroutine group of processing (step S408), effect random number update processing (step S410), and other processing (step S412). The basic flow of the production control process will be explained below along with each process.

Step S400: In the command reception process, the production control CPU 126 receives a production command transmitted from the main control CPU 72. In addition, the production control CPU 126 analyzes the received commands and stores them by type in the command buffer area of the RAM 130.

The production commands sent from the main control CPU 72 include, for example, (special symbols, normal symbols) production command when the number of working memories increases, (special symbols, normal symbols) production command when the number of working memories decreases, and starting winnings. Start-up prize winning sound control command that indicates that a prize has been won, a demonstration performance command that indicates that the state has entered the demo state, a lottery result command that indicates the results of an internal lottery or general drawing lottery, a variation pattern command that indicates a variation pattern, and a special command. Fluctuation start command that indicates that a symbol or normal symbol has started to fluctuate, Fluctuation display specification command that indicates that a special symbol or regular symbol is being fluctuated, Stop symbol command that indicates a stop symbol of a special symbol or regular symbol, Special A symbol stop display command that indicates that a symbol or normal symbol stops after changing, a symbol stop display command that indicates that a special symbol or a normal symbol is changing, a state designation command that indicates the gaming state, and a jackpot round. A round number command that indicates the number of rounds, a firing position designation command, an error notification command that indicates the occurrence of an error and the type of error, a small win opening designation command that indicates that it is the opening period for a small win, and a small win that opens the big prize opening 39. A jackpot opening designation command indicating that the jackpot opening period is in progress, a jackpot opening specification command indicating that the jackpot opening 39 is currently open, and a jackpot jackpot opening specification command indicating that the jackpot opening 39 is open. , a jackpot end production command that indicates that the ending period will be produced at the end of the jackpot, a number-cutting counter value command that indicates the remaining number of time reductions, and a variation pattern destination judgment command that indicates the judgment result of the variation pattern of the suspended variation display. , a stop display time end command, etc., which indicates that the stop display time at the end of symbol variation has ended.

Step S401: In the working memory effect management process, the effect control CPU 126 controls the execution of the above-mentioned storage number display effect and the prefetch preview effect using the pending displays M1 and M2. The contents of the working memory performance management process will be further described later with reference to other drawings.

Step S402: In the performance symbol management process, the performance control CPU 126 controls the contents of the variable display performance and the stop display performance using the performance symbols, and controls the performance content during the opening/closing operation of the slide board 39a for the big winning opening. do. In addition, in this process, the performance control CPU 126 initializes the display mode of the performance symbols (material setting means) or changes the initial setting (material setting changing means). In addition, in this process, the performance control CPU 126 selects performance patterns for various preview performances (pre-ready notice performance before reach occurrence, notice performance after reach occurrence, etc.). The contents of the performance symbol management process will be further described later with reference to other drawings.

Step S404: In the display output process, the production control CPU 126 provides the production display control device 144 (display control CPU 146) with basic control information of production content (for example, the number of operating memories for each of the first special symbol and the second special symbol). , working memory performance pattern number, look-ahead preview performance pattern number, variable performance pattern number, variable time preview performance number, background pattern number, etc.). Thereby, the effect display control device 144 (display control CPU 146 and VDP 152) controls the display operation of the liquid crystal display 42 based on the instructed effect content (effect execution means).

Step S406: In the lamp drive process, the effect control CPU 126 outputs a control signal to the lamp drive circuit 132. In response to this, the lamp drive circuit 132 drives (turns on or off, flashes, changes brightness gradation, etc.) the frame lamp provided on the front frame 3, the panel lamp 25, etc. based on the control signal.

Step S408: In the next sound drive process, the performance control CPU 126 sends the sound drive circuit 134 the performance contents (for example, BGM, audio data, etc. during a variable display performance, a reach performance, a mode transition performance, a jackpot performance, etc.). Instruct. As a result, the speaker S outputs sound according to the content of the performance. Note that, when the audio data is set in step S405, the performance control CPU 126 performs audio output control in accordance with the audio data in this process. Note that the sounds whose output is controlled in this process include the symbol stop sounds of the production symbols 43L to 43R and the pending change sound when the pending change production is executed.

Step S410: In the performance random number update process, the performance control CPU 126 updates various performance random numbers in the counter area of the RAM 130. The effect random numbers include, for example, random numbers used for preview selection, random numbers used for normal background change lottery (effect lottery), and the like.

Step S412: In other processing, for example, the production control CPU 126 outputs a control signal to the driving IC of the movable body for production. The movable body for presentation operates using a corresponding solenoid as a driving source, and performs presentation in synchronization with the image display on the liquid crystal display 42 or independently.

Through the above performance control processing, the performance control CPU 126 can control the performance content in the pachinko machine P in an integrated manner. Next, the contents of the performance symbol management process executed in the performance control process will be explained.

[Working memory performance management processing]
FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of working memory effect management processing. The contents will be explained below along with an example procedure.

Step S700: First, the performance control CPU 126 receives the performance command when the number of working memories increases, which is transmitted from the main control CPU 72 when a game ball enters the first starting prize opening 31, the gate 37, and the second starting winning opening 38. Check whether or not. Specifically, the performance control CPU 126 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and checks whether the performance command for increasing the number of working memories is stored. If it is confirmed that the effect command when increasing the number of working memories is saved (step S700: Yes), the effect control CPU 126 executes step S702 and step S703. Note that if it cannot be confirmed that the effect command when increasing the number of working memories is saved (step S700: No), the effect control CPU 126 does not execute step S702 and step S703.

Step S702: The production control CPU 126 executes production selection processing when the number of working memories increases. In this process, the performance control CPU 126 selects a performance that displays the hold displays M1 and M2 corresponding to the first special symbol, the normal symbol, and the second special symbol.

Step S703: When displaying the pending displays M1 and M2, the production control CPU 126 executes a pre-read production management process. In this process, the performance control CPU 126 executes a process of determining by lottery whether or not to execute a pre-reading effect, and when it is determined to perform a pre-reading effect, determines what kind of content of the pre-reading effect is to be executed. Execute the process to determine.

The lottery probability of the look-ahead performance is set so that the probability of execution is high when the special symbol is a jackpot or small hit, and when the regular symbol is a long open. If it is determined to perform the pre-read effect, the effect control CPU 126 executes the pre-read effect in steps S404 to S408 of FIG.

In addition, if the stop symbol corresponding to the long opening is selected in the normal symbol, it becomes easy to win a prize in the second starting winning hole 38 when the long opening is performed. In the second starting prize opening 38, the probability of a small hit is approximately 1/1, and if it becomes a small hit, there is a possibility that it will develop from a small hit to a jackpot, and even if it does not become a small hit, it will be a jackpot. Therefore, by indicating that a stop symbol that becomes a long open is selected by the look-ahead effect, the expectation level of a jackpot is indicated.

There are various aspects of the look-ahead effect, such as changing the mode of the pending display, cutting in a performance image, changing the mode of background display on the liquid crystal display 42, and making a character corresponding to the look-ahead effect appear. It is provided. When the mode of the pending display changes, the color of the pending display changes each time the pending memory stored before the pending display to be read ahead is consumed, suggesting the degree of jackpot expectation, or the pending display changes. It also includes a mode in which the shape of the symbol changes to a different shape to indicate the expectation of a jackpot.

Step S704: The effect control CPU 126 confirms whether or not the effect command when the number of working memories decreases has been received from the main control CPU 72. Specifically, the performance control CPU 126 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and checks whether the performance command when the number of working memories decreases is stored. When it is confirmed that the performance command when the number of working memories decreases is saved (step S704: Yes), the performance control CPU 126 executes step S706. Note that if it cannot be confirmed that the performance command when the number of working memories decreases is saved (step S704: No), the performance control CPU 126 does not execute step S706.

Step S706: The production control CPU 126 executes production selection processing when the number of working memories decreases. In this process, the performance control CPU 126 executes a performance that shifts the pending displays M1 and M2 corresponding to the first special symbol and the second special symbol. Furthermore, the performance control CPU 126 selects a performance that moves the pending display corresponding to the lottery element consumed by the internal lottery from the pre-change display area X1 to the fluctuating display area X2. The storage pending display moved to the display area X2 during fluctuation is erased when the fluctuation ends.

After completing the above procedure, the performance control CPU 126 returns to the performance control process (FIG. 31).

[Production design management processing]
FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the production symbol management process. The production symbol management process includes execution selection processing (step S500), production symbol variation pre-processing (step S502), production symbol variation processing (step S504), production symbol stop display processing (step S506), and when the variable winning device is activated. The configuration includes a subroutine group of processing (step S508). The basic flow of the production symbol management process will be explained below along with each process.

Step S500: In the execution selection process, the performance control CPU 126 selects the jump destination of the process to be executed next (any of steps S502 to S508). For example, the performance control CPU 126 sets the program address of the process to be executed next as the jump destination address, and also sets the end of the performance symbol management process in the "jump table" as the return destination address. Which process is selected as the next jump destination depends on the progress of the processes performed so far. For example, if the fluctuating display performance has not yet started, the performance control CPU 126 selects the performance symbol fluctuation pre-processing (step S502) as the next jump destination. On the other hand, if the production symbol fluctuation pre-processing has already been completed, the production control CPU 126 selects the production symbol variation processing (step S504) as the next jump destination, and if the production symbol variation processing has been completed, then The effect pattern stop display processing (step S506) is selected as the jump destination. Further, the variable winning device activation process (step S508) is selected as a jump destination when the variable winning device management process (step S5000 in FIG. 13) is selected in the main control CPU72. In this case, steps S502 to S506 are not executed.

Step S502: In the performance symbol variation preprocessing, the performance control CPU 126 performs work to prepare conditions for starting a variable display performance using performance symbols. In addition, in this process, the performance control CPU 126 selects the contents of the reach performance according to various conditions (lottery results, winning type, variation pattern, etc.), and selects the content of the reach performance for the preview performance (a reach other than the advance preview performance pattern). (pre-event notice pattern, post-reach notice pattern, etc.). In addition, the production control CPU 126 also controls demonstration production when the pachinko machine P is in a so-called customer waiting state. Note that the specific contents of the process will be described later using another flowchart.

Step S504: In the production symbol variation process, production control CPU 126 generates control information to instruct production display control device 144 (display control CPU 146) as necessary. For example, when performing a performance using the performance button 45 while executing a variable display performance using performance symbols, the performance control CPU 126 monitors whether or not the player operates the performance button, and the performance content is adjusted according to the result. (Button effect) control information is instructed to the display control CPU 146. In addition, in the production symbol variation process, the production control CPU 126 also executes a process of executing a pseudo variation (pseudo continuous notice).

Step S506: In the performance symbol stop display process, the performance control CPU 126 controls the content of the stop display performance using performance symbols and moving images in a manner according to the result of the internal lottery. That is, the performance control CPU 126 instructs the performance display control device 144 (display control CPU 146) to end the variable display performance and execute the stop display performance. In response to this, the performance display control device 144 (display control CPU 146) actually ends the variable display performance that has been executed up to that point on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42, and executes the stop display performance. As a result, the stop display performance is executed approximately in synchronization with the stop display of the special symbols, and the results of the internal lottery can be taught (disclosed, notified, notified, etc.) to the player in a performance manner (performance execution means ). In addition, at the time of a small hit, a stop display effect can be executed in a manner similar to or similar to that of a win.

Step S508: In the process when the variable winning device is activated, the performance control CPU 126 controls the content of the performance during the small hit or the jackpot (special game performance execution means). In this process, the performance control CPU 126 selects the content of the performance during the big win according to various conditions (for example, winning type). For example, in the case of a 10-round jackpot, the performance control CPU 126 selects a 10-round big winning performance pattern as the performance content to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 42, and instructs the performance display control device 144 (display control CPU 146) to select the performance pattern. . As a result, the image of the performance during the big win is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 42, and the content of the performance changes as the round progresses.

[Pre-processing for production pattern variation]
FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for performance symbol variation pre-processing. The procedure will be explained below using an example procedure.

Step S600: The production control CPU 126 checks whether a demonstration production command has been received from the main control CPU 72. Specifically, the production control CPU 126 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and checks whether or not a demonstration production command is stored. As a result, if it is confirmed that the demonstration performance command is saved (Yes), the performance control CPU 126 executes step S602.

Step S602: The production control CPU 126 executes a demo selection process. In this process, the performance control CPU 126 selects a demonstration performance pattern. The demonstration performance pattern defines the content of the performance indicating that the pachinko machine P is in a so-called customer waiting state.

When the above procedure is completed, the performance control CPU 126 returns to the last address of the performance symbol management process. The performance control CPU 126 then returns to the performance control process and controls the content of the demonstration performance based on the demonstration performance pattern in the subsequent display output process (step S404 in FIG. 31) and lamp drive process (step S406 in FIG. 31). do.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S600 that the demonstration production command is not saved (No), production control CPU 126 next executes step S604.

Step S604: The performance control CPU 126 checks whether the current change is a loss (non-winning). Specifically, the performance control CPU 126 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and checks whether the lottery result command for non-winning is stored. As a result, if it is confirmed that the non-winning lottery result command is saved (Yes), the performance control CPU 126 executes step S612. Conversely, when it is confirmed that the lottery result command for non-winning is not saved (No), the performance control CPU 126 executes step S606. In addition, it is also possible to confirm whether or not the current variation is a loss based on a variation pattern command or a stop symbol command in addition to the lottery result command. That is, if the current variation pattern command corresponds to a missed normal variation or a missed reach variation, it can be determined that the current variation is a missed variation. Alternatively, if the current stop symbol command specifies a non-winning symbol, it can be determined that the current variation is a loss.

Step S606: If the lottery result command is other than non-winning (loss) (Step S604: No), then the performance control CPU 126 checks whether the current change is a jackpot. Specifically, the production control CPU 126 accesses the command buffer area of the RAM 130 and checks whether the lottery result command for the jackpot is stored. As a result, if it is confirmed that the lottery result command for the jackpot is saved (Yes), the performance control CPU 126 executes step S610. Conversely, when it is confirmed that the lottery result command for the jackpot is not saved (No), only the lottery result command for the small win remains, so in this case, the production control CPU 126 executes step S608. In addition, it is also possible to confirm whether or not the current fluctuation is a jackpot based on the fluctuation pattern command or the stop symbol command. That is, if the current variation pattern command corresponds to a jackpot variation, it can be determined that the current variation is a jackpot. Furthermore, if the current stop symbol command corresponds to a jackpot symbol, it can be determined that the current variation is a jackpot.

Step S608: The production control CPU 126 executes a small winning variation production pattern selection process. In this process, the performance control CPU 126 determines the current performance pattern number based on the variable pattern command (for example, "C0H00H" to "D0H7FH") received from the main control CPU 72. The production pattern number is prepared in advance in correspondence with the variable pattern command, and the production control CPU 126 can refer to a production pattern selection table (not shown) and select the production pattern number corresponding to the variable pattern command at that time. can. Note that the effect pattern number may be prepared in pairs with the variable pattern command, or a plurality of effect pattern numbers may be prepared for one variable pattern command. Note that the performance of the performance pattern selected in this process includes a blessing performance that congratulates a small hit after stopping the confirmed performance symbols that become a small hit combination with the performance symbols.

In addition, when a performance pattern number is selected, the performance control CPU 126 refers to a performance table (not shown), and determines the fluctuation schedule (variation time, type of reach, and reach occurrence timing) of the performance symbol corresponding to the fluctuation performance pattern number at that time, and stops. Determine the display mode, etc. The types of performance symbols determined here all correspond to the "combination of symbols at the time of small hit."

As described above, the performance when winning a small win may be the same as the performance when winning a small win, or it may be a performance exclusively for winning a small win that clearly discloses the winning of a small win.

The above procedure is for the case where the game corresponds to a "small hit", but when the game corresponds to a jackpot, the production control CPU 126 confirms that it is a "jackpot" in step S606 (Yes). In this case, the production control CPU 126 executes step S610.

Step S610: The performance control CPU 126 executes a jackpot time-varying performance pattern selection process. In this process, the performance control CPU 126 determines the current performance pattern number based on the variable pattern command (for example, "E0H00H" to "F0H7FH") received from the main control CPU 72. In the jackpot performance pattern selection process, the process may be further branched for each jackpot stop symbol. In addition, when the variation pattern is a variation pattern corresponding to a pseudo-continuous notice performance, the production control CPU 126 executes a process of selecting a production pattern for executing the pseudo-continuous notice production during the execution of the variation display production (when the variation pattern is off) The same is true). In the pseudo-continuous notice presentation, when the presentation pattern is temporarily stopped and then changed again, the pseudo-continuation pattern can be stopped at the middle presentation pattern. Note that the performance of the performance pattern selected in this process includes a blessing performance that congratulates a jackpot after stopping the confirmed performance symbols that become a jackpot combination due to the performance symbols.

In addition, in the case of non-election, the following procedure is executed. That is, when the performance control CPU 126 confirms that it is a failure in step S604 (Yes), it then executes step S612.

Step S612: The performance control CPU 126 executes the off-time variation performance pattern selection process. In this process, the effect control CPU 126 determines the effect pattern number at the time of failure based on the variation pattern command (for example, "A0H00H" to "A6H7FH") received from the main control CPU 72. The performance pattern numbers when the game is off are classified into "normal deviation fluctuations", "short time deviation fluctuations", "missing reach fluctuations", etc., and detailed reach fluctuation patterns are defined for the "missing reach fluctuations". Note that which performance pattern number the performance control CPU 126 selects is determined by the variable pattern command transmitted from the main control CPU 72.

When the performance pattern number at the time of a miss is selected, the performance control CPU 126 refers to a performance table (not shown) and determines the fluctuation schedule (variation time, presence or absence of reach, occurrence of reach, etc.) of the performance symbol corresponding to the fluctuation performance pattern number at that time. (reach type and reach occurrence timing) and the mode of stop display (for example, "7" - "2" - "4", etc.) are determined.

After executing any one of the above steps S608, S610, and S612, the production control CPU 126 next executes step S614.

Step S614: The production control CPU 126 executes production selection processing. In this process, the performance control CPU 126 selects by lottery the content of the preview performance to be executed during the current variable display performance. The content of the preview performance is determined based on, for example, the result of an internal lottery (winning or non-winning) and the current internal state (normal state, high probability state, time shortened state). As described above, the advance notice performance is for notifying the player of the possibility that a ready-to-win state will occur during the variable display performance, or of the possibility of a jackpot in the end. Therefore, when the game is not won, the selection ratio of the preview performance is set low, but when the game is won, the selection ratio of the preview performance is set relatively high in order to increase the player's expectations.

In this way, when the performance control CPU 126 wins the lottery to determine whether or not to execute the preview performance (when the prescribed performance execution conditions are met), the performance control CPU 126 determines whether or not the winning performance will be executed during the execution of the variable display performance (predetermined performance). A preview performance (relating to a predetermined performance that suggests whether or not the predetermined performance will be successful) is executed to suggest that the performance symbols will be stopped and displayed in a specific manner.

Furthermore, when it is determined in this preview selection process that the preview performance is to be executed, the performance control CPU 126 executes a process of determining at which timing during the variable display the preview performance is to be started. In addition, the preview performances include various preview performances that are executed during the variable display (step-up preview performance, conversation preview performance, cut-in preview performance, group preview performance, character falling performance, next preview performance, title color change performance) ), but also includes pseudo-continuous preview performances, look-ahead preview performances, memory marker change preview performances, etc.

Step S616: Production control CPU 126 executes mode production management processing. In this process, the performance control CPU 126 executes a process of selecting a performance according to the gaming state. For example, a process is executed to select a performance according to a normal state, a jackpot game state, a small win game state, and a time saving state.

When the above procedure is completed, the performance control CPU 126 returns to the performance symbol management process (end address). As a result, in the subsequent performance symbol variation process (step S504 in FIG. 33), the fluctuation display performance and the stop display performance are executed based on the actually selected fluctuation performance pattern, and also based on various advance notice performance patterns. A preview performance will be performed.

It should be noted that the performance control CPU 126 selects the performance data of the normal performance screen since it is in the normal state when selecting the variation pattern of the special performance design corresponding to the first special symbol. In addition, when selecting the variation pattern of the special performance symbol corresponding to the second special symbol, it is certain that a small hit or jackpot will occur, so the performance data on the small hit preparation screen or jackpot preparation screen is select. Further, when selecting the variation pattern of the normal pattern performance pattern corresponding to the normal pattern, since the time is in a time saving state, the performance data of the time saving performance screen is selected.

When selecting the performance data for the normal performance screen, small hit preparation screen, jackpot preparation screen, and time-saving performance screen, the performance to be displayed on each screen is also selected. Then, the performance control CPU 126 displays the selected performance screen and executes the selected performance in the subsequent performance symbol variation process (step S504 in FIG. 32).

[Example of blessing performance]
Next, examples of the blessing performance performed on the liquid crystal display 42 and the speaker S will be specifically explained using FIGS. 35 to 39.

Image display control and audio output control in the blessing performance shown in this example are performed by the performance control CPU 126. Specifically, the effect control CPU 126 sets the effect data shown in this example in step S608 and step S610 of FIG. 34, and executes the effect in step S404 and step S408 of FIG. 31 based on the set data. .

In this example, a case where a jackpot is achieved will be explained, but a congratulatory performance is similarly executed when a small win is achieved.

As shown in FIG. 35(a), for example, on the liquid crystal display 42, the combination of performance symbols 43L, 43C, and 43R ("1"-"1"-"1" in the example in the figure) that results in a jackpot stops. , suppose you hit the jackpot. At this time, the speaker S outputs performance sound at a predetermined volume. In the example shown in the figure, an example is shown in which effect sounds with volumes of 4 memories are output.

Next, as shown in FIG. 35(b), the effect patterns 43L, 43C, and 43R are erased on the liquid crystal display 42, and only the background is displayed. At this time, a performance sound is output from the speaker S, but a predetermined volume (volume of 4 memories in the figure) is maintained. Note that while the blessing performance is being performed, the display of the mini symbols is maintained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 35(c), the blessing image 200 (in this example, the letter "V") appears in the minimum state on the liquid crystal display 42. This makes it appear as if the blessing image is being displayed at the farthest end of the screen. Furthermore, an effect display 201 that emphasizes the blessing image 200 is displayed. The effect image 201 has a larger display area than the blessing image 200, and is displayed in a layer higher than the blessing image 200 (that is, on the near side of the blessing image 200). At this time, a performance sound is output from the speaker S, but a predetermined volume (volume of 4 memories in the figure) is maintained.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 36(d) and 36(e), an enlarged display is performed on the liquid crystal display 42 so that the blessing image 200 is rapidly enlarged toward the front side. At this time, it appears as if the enlargement speed is gradually increasing. Furthermore, the effect display 201 continues to be displayed. In this case as well, the effect image 201 has a larger display area than the blessing image 200 and is displayed in a layer higher than the blessing image 200 (that is, on the near side of the blessing image 200). Note that the expansion speed at this time only needs to be maintained at least. At this time, a performance sound is output from the speaker S, but a predetermined volume (volume of 4 memories in the figure) is maintained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 36(f), the liquid crystal display 42 displays a situation in which the visibility of the blessing image 200 decreases while the blessing image 200 continues to rapidly expand. Specifically, the blessing image 200 is displayed expanding beyond the display area of the liquid crystal display 42. Therefore, a part of the blessing image 200 becomes invisible. Furthermore, the effect display 201 continues to be displayed. In this case as well, the effect image 201 has a larger display area than the blessing image 200 and is displayed in a layer higher than the blessing image 200 (that is, on the near side of the blessing image 200). At this time, a performance sound is output from the speaker S, but a predetermined volume (volume of 4 memories in the figure) is maintained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 37(g), on the liquid crystal display 42, the enlargement speed of the blessing image 200 decreases, and a gradual enlargement is displayed. The gradual enlargement of the blessing image 200 continues until the blessing image 200 reaches its maximum size (maximum size). Furthermore, when the blessing image 200 reaches its maximum size, the mode of the effect display 201 also changes. In this case as well, the effect image 201 has a larger display area than the blessing image 200 and is displayed in a layer higher than the blessing image 200 (that is, on the near side of the blessing image 200). At this time, a performance sound is output from the speaker S, but a predetermined volume (volume of 4 memories in the figure) is maintained.

In other words, on the liquid crystal display 42, the blessing image 200 is reduced so as to fit within the image display area of the liquid crystal display 200. Furthermore, the effect display 201 continues to be displayed. The display mode of the effect display 201 changes to a different mode from when it is enlarged to the maximum size. In this case as well, the effect image 201 has a larger display area than the blessing image 200 and is displayed in a layer higher than the blessing image 200 (that is, on the near side of the blessing image 200). Note that the expansion speed at this time only needs to be maintained at least. At this time, a performance sound is output from the speaker S, but a predetermined volume (volume of 4 memories in the figure) is maintained.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 38(j) and (k), when the reduction display of the blessing image 200 is completed on the liquid crystal display 42, a maintenance display for maintaining the size of the blessing image 200 at a predetermined size is performed. be exposed. At this time, the effect display 201 is displayed, but the effect display 201 is gradually erased, and the visibility of the blessing image 200 is improved. Note that when maintaining a predetermined size, it is not necessarily limited to the same size, and may be approximately the same size.

Next, as shown in FIG. 38(l), the blessing image 200 is displayed in rotation on the liquid crystal display 42 so as to rotate counterclockwise around an axis extending in the vertical direction. Then, by rotating and displaying the blessing image 200, a right-handed operation is suggested. In other words, the player is encouraged to hit right toward the big winning hole 39 in the right hit region 30b. At this time, the effect sound is output from the speaker S, but at a lower volume than the predetermined volume (the volume of 2 memories in the figure). Therefore, the volume of the performance sound decreases.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 39(m) and 39(n), while the blessing image 200 is being rotated and displayed on the liquid crystal display 42, the volume of the effect sound output from the speaker S decreases, The volume of the performance sound becomes 0 and is muted. Therefore, there will be no sound. Note that methods for muting the sound include a method in which the production control CPU 126 stops outputting the production sound output signal, and a method in which the production sound output signal continues to be output but the volume is reduced.

Next, as shown in FIG. 39(o), the blessing image 200 is erased on the liquid crystal display 42, and a jackpot start display 202 is displayed, which indicates that the state will shift to a jackpot gaming state. At this time, the volume of the performance sound is returned to the predetermined volume.

[Display timing of performance images and output mode of performance sounds in blessing performance]
FIG. 40 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the display timing of the performance image and the output mode of the performance sound in the blessing performance.

In this embodiment, an example in which the frame rate is set to 30 fps (1 frame = approximately 0.03 seconds) will be described, but the frame rate may be set as appropriate, such as setting the frame rate to 60 fps. You may do so.

As shown in FIG. 40, when the performance symbols are stopped and a final display is made, the background is displayed on the liquid crystal display 42 over three frames ("3f" in the figure) (see FIG. 35(b)). At this time, the volume of the performance sound output from the speaker S is maintained at a predetermined volume.

Next, the blessing image 200 is rapidly enlarged and displayed on the liquid crystal display 42 over 10 frames ("10f" in the figure) (see FIGS. 35(b) to 36(f)). Then, during the enlarged display, a state in which the blessing image 200 has become larger than the image display area of the liquid crystal display 42 is displayed. Therefore, the blessing image 200 is completely cut off (see FIG. 36(f)). At this time, the volume of the performance sound output from the speaker S is maintained at a predetermined volume.

Next, an enlarged display of the blessing image 200 is performed by gradual enlargement on the liquid crystal display 42 over 20 frames ("20f" in the figure). The gradual enlargement display continues until the blessing image 200 reaches its maximum size (see FIG. 37(g)). At this time, the volume of the performance sound output from the speaker S is maintained at a predetermined volume.

Next, the blessing image 200 is displayed in a reduced size on the liquid crystal display 42 over five frames ("5f" in the figure). The reduced display continues until the blessing image 200 falls within the image display area of the liquid crystal display 42 (see FIGS. 37(h) to 37(i)). At this time, the volume of the performance sound output from the speaker S is maintained at a predetermined volume.

Next, a maintenance display is performed to maintain the size of the blessing image 200 at a predetermined size on the liquid crystal display 42 for 30 frames ("30f" in the figure) (see FIGS. 38(j) to 38(k)). ). At this time, the effect display is gradually erased, and finally the effect display is erased. Further, the volume of the performance sound output from the speaker S is maintained at a predetermined volume.

Next, the blessing image 200 is rotated and displayed while maintaining the size of the blessing image 200 at a predetermined size on the liquid crystal display 42 for 90 frames ("90f" in the figure). 38(l) to FIG. 39(n)). This encourages right-handed hitting. At this time, the volume of the performance sound output from the speaker S gradually decreases, and finally becomes silent.

Although not shown in FIG. 40, after the blessing image 200 is rotated and displayed for 90 frames, the blessing image 200 is erased, and a jackpot start display 202 is displayed, indicating that the game enters a jackpot game state. At this time, the volume of the effect sound is returned to the predetermined volume (see FIG. 39(o)).

In this embodiment, the second time during which the blessing image 200 is maintained and displayed is longer than the first time during which the blessing image 200 is displayed in an enlarged manner.

By performing the effect in the manner described above, when the blessing image 200 is displayed in an enlarged manner, the effects are displayed in a short time and the effect is performed using the effect sound, thereby making it possible to give excitement and surprise to the player. .

When the congratulatory image 200 is displayed in a reduced size and then maintained, the effect display is erased over a long period of time and the volume of the performance sound is lowered, thereby giving the blessing a lasting impression.

In addition, since the image display surface of the liquid crystal display 42 is placed further back than the game board 5, by specifying the direction of rotation of the blessing image 200, it is possible to visually understand that right-handed playing is encouraged. It can be made easier.

[Effects of this embodiment]
(1) In a gaming machine (in this example, Pachinko machine 1) that can display a production image (in this example, blessing image 200),
After the effect image is enlarged and displayed, it is reduced and displayed, and after the reduction display, it is possible to perform maintenance display in which the size of the effect image is maintained at a predetermined size (in this example, as shown in FIG. 38(j)) ~Figure 39(n), Figure 40),
The second time during which the effect image is maintained and displayed is longer than the first time during which the effect image is enlarged and displayed (FIG. 40 in this example).
Therefore, it is possible to attract interest in the enlarged performance image and maintain interest in the reduced performance image, thereby improving the interest of the game.

(2) comprising an audio output means capable of outputting audio at the second time;
It is possible to display an effect display of the effect image at the first time (in this example, FIG. 35(c) to FIG. 37(g), FIG. 40),
The effect display displayed at the first time has a larger display area than the effect image, and is displayed in front of the effect image (in this example, FIGS. 35(c) to 37(g) ),
The volume of the audio output during the second time period decreases over time, and the audio is not output for a predetermined period after the volume decreases (in this example, FIGS. 38(l) to 39(n), 40).
Therefore, it is possible to attract interest in the enlarged performance image and maintain interest in the reduced performance image, thereby improving the interest of the game.

[Other variations]
In the above embodiment, an example was explained in which the blessing image 200 is rotated after being displayed in a reduced size. However, the timing of rotating the blessing image 200 is different from the above embodiment, for example, by rotating the blessing image 200 before being displayed in an enlarged manner. The timing may be different.

In the above embodiment, the explanation has been given of an example in which the suggestion of right-handed hitting is given only by rotating the blessing image 200. may also indicate right-handed batting.

In the embodiment described above, the congratulatory image 200 consisting of the letter "V" was used as an example of the effect image. A different aspect from the embodiment may be used.

In the above embodiment, the pachinko machine 1 is described as an example in which a small hit develops into a jackpot when passing through the specific area 39b of the big winning opening 39. The present invention may be applied to a probability-variable type gaming machine in which the probability of winning a jackpot varies depending on the case.

In the case of probability-variable type pachinko machines, the ST type (a type that sets a practical upper limit on the number of probability variations) or the loop type (a type that does not set a practical upper limit on the number of probability variations) has a book. The invention may be applied.

Further, the present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine with settings, a variable rate limiter machine, and a pachinko machine equipped with a performance display monitor.

Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to managed gaming machines. A managed game machine, for example, is equipped with a managed game machine game board and a managed game machine frame, and circulates a certain number of game balls within the machine itself, and directly delivers the game balls to the players and the game balls used in the game. This is an enclosed gaming machine that does not require payouts. The managed gaming machine can play games by connecting it to a dedicated unit (IC card unit) dedicated to the managed gaming machine.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was explained in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine that uses game balls, but the number of bets is set using medals and credits as gaming values, and the reels are rotated by operating the start lever. The present invention may be applied to a slot machine in which rotating reels are stopped by a stop button operation, and winnings can be generated depending on the type of symbol or combination of symbols when the reels are stopped.

P Pachinko machine (gaming machine)
42 Liquid crystal display 45 Production button 70 Main control device 72 Main control CPU
74 ROM
76 RAM
124 Production control device 126 Production control CPU

Claims (2)

In a gaming machine that can display a performance image,
The effect image may be displayed in a reduced size after being enlarged and displayed, and after the reduced display, maintenance display may be performed in which the size of the effect image is maintained at a predetermined size;
A gaming machine characterized in that a second time period during which the effect image is maintained and displayed is longer than a first time period during which the effect image is enlarged and displayed. comprising an audio output means capable of outputting audio at the second time,
an effect display of the effect image can be displayed at the first time;
The effect display displayed at the first time has a larger display area than the effect image and is displayed in front of the effect image,
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the sound output during the second time period decreases over time, and the sound is not output for a predetermined period after the volume decreases.