JP2024058198A - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a gaming machine capable of appropriately handling gaming balls. [Solution] A pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with an intrusion prevention part 192 on a normal operating member 12b that is displaceable between a ball entry prevention position that prevents the entry of a gaming ball into a second starting hole 12a and a ball entry allowance position that allows the entry. When the normal operating member 12b is at least in a normal position, this intrusion prevention part 192 is located at a ball entry prevention position between an area where a ball rolling path R is formed and the second starting hole 12a. This ball entry prevention position is above the lower end of the second starting hole 12a, and is a position where it can come into contact with the upper half of a gaming ball that is moving from the ball rolling path R toward the second starting hole 12a to prevent the ball from entering. [Selected Figure] Fig. 33

Description

The present invention relates to gaming machines such as pachinko machines.

As an example of a gaming machine, a pachinko gaming machine in which a game is played using gaming balls is known. In this pachinko gaming machine, a gaming area is formed on the front side of a gaming board arranged inside the machine, and the gaming area is configured so that the gaming area can be seen from the front of the machine. The gaming area is provided with multiple types of ball entry ports through which the gaming balls can enter. For this reason, a gaming ball shot into the gaming area by a player's handle operation or the like may enter one of the ball entry ports while flowing down the gaming area, or may not enter the ball and flow down to the bottom end of the gaming area and be discharged from the outlet. When a gaming ball enters an entry port, the gaming ball is detected by a ball entry detection sensor (proximity sensor), and the detection signal of the sensor is input to the control means (CPU). When a game ball enters the ball entrance, the control means performs control based on the input of the detection signal to award the player a prize ball according to the type of the detection signal (type of ball entrance) or to perform a lottery (win/lose determination) to determine whether or not to create an advantageous state for the player. In other words, when playing a pachinko game machine, a player can earn a profit according to the game ball entering the ball entrance (for example, Patent Document 1).

A game board is generally equipped with a variable ball entry means having a ball entry port (variable ball entry port) that changes the ease with which a game ball can enter. The variable ball entry means forms a ball entry port and is equipped with a ball entry detection sensor, and an operating member that can be displaced under the control of a control means is provided correspondingly near the ball entry port. This variable ball entry means is always in a state in which the operating member prevents the game ball from entering the ball entry port. Then, when a predetermined trigger occurs, the control means controls the drive source, changing the attitude of the operating member, which allows the game ball to enter the ball entry port.

JP 2015-13042 A

In recent years, the playability of pachinko machines has diversified, but in all playability, variable ball entry means (ball entry openings that change whether or not the ball can enter) play an important role. Various structures have been proposed for this variable ball entry means, but they are still not perfect and there is room for improvement.
For example, there is a demand for a configuration that can appropriately handle game balls, such as being able to quickly and reliably switch whether or not a ball can be scored into a ball entry hole (or how easy it is to score into a ball entry hole).

The present invention was made to solve the problems of the past, and its purpose is to provide a gaming machine that can properly handle gaming balls.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the gaming machine according to the present invention is provided with a gaming area formed on the front side of a gaming board through which gaming balls can flow, a ball entry port provided in the gaming area through which the gaming balls can enter, and an operating member that can be changed between an auxiliary position that assists the entry of the gaming ball into the ball entry port and a normal position that does not assist, the ball entry port being provided at a position through which the gaming ball can enter after flowing down an upstream passage that can reduce the momentum of the gaming ball, the operating member being a member that is inclined laterally and exposes a rolling surface that rolls the gaming ball to the gaming area in the auxiliary position, and on the rolling surface The ball entry opening is provided downstream of the ball rolling path that is formed, opening toward the ball rolling path, and includes an intrusion prevention means that can be displaced between a ball entry blocking position that blocks the entry of a game ball into the ball entry opening and a ball entry allowing position that allows the game ball to enter the ball entry opening, and the intrusion prevention means is located at the ball entry blocking position when the operating member is at least in the normal position, and the ball entry blocking position is above the lower end of the ball entry opening and is a position that can contact the upper half of a game ball that is moving from the ball rolling path toward the ball entry opening to prevent the ball from entering.

According to this, the intrusion prevention means is positioned above the lower end of the ball entry opening, and prevents the ball from entering the opening by contacting the upper half of the game ball moving from the ball rolling path toward the ball entry opening. This makes it easier for game balls that come into contact with the intrusion prevention means, which has been displaced from the ball entry permitted position to the ball entry blocking position, to escape downward, preventing ball jamming.

The gaming machine of the present invention having the above configuration allows for proper handling of gaming balls.

1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine according to a first embodiment. 1 is a front view of the game board, with the front plate of the game ball handling mechanism removed. FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of region X in FIG. 2A. FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing, in blocks, the electrical configuration of a main control board and peripheral devices. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing, in blocks, the electrical configuration of a sub-control board and peripheral devices. FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a win/lose determination table. 1A is an explanatory diagram of a jackpot type determination table for a first special symbol, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of a jackpot type determination table for a second special symbol. An explanatory diagram of a small win type determination table. An explanatory diagram of the normal pattern hit/miss determination table. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a normal winning type determination table. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a general map fluctuation pattern selection table. 4 is a flowchart of a main-side main control process. 13 is a flowchart of a main-side timer interrupt process. 13 is a flowchart of a pattern sensor detection process. 13 is a flowchart of a normal operation process. 13 is a flowchart of a general map condition confirmation process. 13 is a flowchart of a special symbol waiting process. This is a flowchart of the special chart jackpot determination process. 13 is a flowchart of special symbol-related processing. 13 is a flowchart of a game status management process. This is a flowchart for processing special electric gimmicks (Type 1 jackpot, V jackpot). This is a flowchart for processing special electric gimmicks (small wins). 13 is a flowchart of a sub-side main control process. 13 is a flowchart of a 1 ms timer interrupt process. 13 is a flowchart of a 10 ms timer interrupt process. 13 is a flowchart of a received command analysis process. 1A is a front view of the normal electric winning unit in the first embodiment (the normal operating member is in the auxiliary position and the intrusion prevention member is in the ball-entry allowing position), and FIG. 1B is a longitudinal side view of the normal operating member cut along line A-A in FIG. (a) is a left side view of the normal power winning unit in the first embodiment (with the normal operating member in the auxiliary position), and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the mounting state of the normal power winning unit on the game board when viewed from the same direction as (a). (a) is a plan view of the normal electric winning unit in the first embodiment (the normal operating member is in the auxiliary position and the intrusion prevention member is in the ball entry allowing position), and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the mounting state of the normal electric winning unit on the game board when viewed from the same direction as (a). (a) is an oblique view of the normal electric winning unit in the first embodiment (with the normal operating member in the normal position and the intrusion prevention member in the ball entry prevention position) viewed from the upper left front, and (b) is an oblique view of the normal electric winning unit (with the normal operating member in the auxiliary position and the intrusion prevention member in the ball entry allowing position) viewed from the upper left front. (a) is a right side view of the normal operating member (normal position) and the intrusion prevention member (ball entry prevention position), (b) is a right side view of the normal operating member (auxiliary position) and the intrusion prevention member (ball entry allowing position), and (c) is an explanatory diagram regarding the shape of the opening and closing part of the intrusion prevention member in the ball entry prevention position. This is an exploded front view of the regular electricity winning unit in the first embodiment with the upper cover separated upward, and the middle cover and intrusion prevention member are cut at the front and rear positions where the arm of the intrusion prevention member is received by the arm receiving surface of the middle cover, and the cross-sectional shape is shown enlarged. A front view of the regular electricity winning unit in the second embodiment. (a) is an oblique view of the regular electric winning unit in the second embodiment (with the intrusion prevention part in the ball-entry preventing position) viewed from the upper left front, and (b) shows the regular electric winning unit in (a) with the upper cover removed. (a) is an oblique view of the regular electric winning unit in the second embodiment (with the intrusion prevention part in the ball-entry allowing position) viewed from the upper left front, and (b) shows the regular electric winning unit in (a) with the upper cover removed.

A gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a pachinko gaming machine in which a game is played using gaming balls of a fixed size (approximately 11 mm in diameter) will be used as an example of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. When describing the directions and relative positions of each part of a pachinko gaming machine, "left," "right," "top," and "bottom" will be used as references when viewed from the perspective of a player playing opposite the pachinko gaming machine. Additionally, the side closer to the player (the near side) will be referred to as "front," and the side furthest away (the far side) will be referred to as "rear."

First Embodiment
[Main configuration of pachinko gaming machine 1]
The pachinko game machine 1 (see FIG. 1) of the first embodiment includes a game machine frame. The game machine frame is configured to include at least an inner frame 16 that holds a game board 2 (see FIG. 2) described later, and a door-shaped front frame 18 that covers the front of the inner frame 16, and is installed on an installation island (not shown) in a game parlor via a rectangular outer frame W. The front frame 18 includes a left side lamp 23a, a right side lamp 23b, and a top lamp 23c, and a window 18a is formed inside the frame surrounded by these. This window 18a is an opening that allows the game area 3 formed on the board surface (front) of the game board 2 to be viewed, and a transparent window plate 18b is provided to cover this window 18a. In addition, speakers 8 are provided at the left and right upper ends of the front frame 18 (both left and right sides sandwiching the top lamp 23c) as sound output means that output sounds such as music, sound effects, and notification sounds according to the performance content.

Both sides of the front frame 18 that constitute the left side lamp 23a and the right side lamp 23b are translucent, and multiple LEDs are arranged inside the translucent parts. Each LED can emit multiple colors, and lights up or blinks depending on the performance content, and also changes the emitted color.
The top lamp 23c is a rotating light having an LED and a rotating reflector inside (not shown). The LED can emit light of multiple colors, and lights up or blinks depending on the performance content or the notification content, and further changes the emitted light color. The rotating reflector rotates around the LED in response to the drive of the movable body motor 23d (see FIG. 4), and changes the reflection direction of the LED light.

In addition, the lower part of the front frame 18 is provided with a handle 4, a ball supply tray (also called the upper tray) 24, and a surplus ball receiving tray (also called the lower tray) 25. The ball supply tray 24 is for storing game balls paid out from the ball loan payout device 80 (see FIG. 3) and the prize ball payout device 400 (see FIG. 3), or for storing game balls to be supplied to the launch device 90 (see FIG. 3). The surplus ball receiving tray (also called the lower tray) 25 is provided below the ball supply tray 24 on the front frame 18. The surplus ball receiving tray 25 stores game balls that exceed the number that can be stored in the ball supply tray 24.

The handle 4 is located at the lower right of the front frame 18, in other words, in a position where it can be gripped with the right hand of a player playing facing the pachinko machine 1. The handle 4 is equipped with a touch switch 92 (see FIG. 3), a firing lever 4a, and a firing stop button 4b. The touch switch 92 outputs a signal indicating that the player has touched the handle 4, and is located in a position where it can be touched by the right hand of a player holding the handle 4. The firing lever 4a is for adjusting the strength of the firing of game balls by the firing device 90 (striking hammer), and is rotatably mounted on the handle 4. The firing stop button 4b is for stopping the firing of game balls when they are being fired, and is located in a position where it can be operated with the thumb of the right hand holding the handle 4.

The effect button 5 is provided on the upper surface of the ball supply tray 24 of the front frame 18. The effect button 5 can be pressed by a player facing the pachinko game machine 1 with one hand, but is provided at a position where the player cannot operate the effect button 5 and the handle 4 at the same time with only one hand. The effect button 5 is also provided at a position where the player cannot operate the effect button 5 and the effect lever 6, which will be described later, at the same time with only one hand. The effect button 5 has an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring built in, and when the pressing operation state of the effect button 5 is released, the restoring force of this elastic member causes the effect button 5 to return to the state before the pressing operation. The effect button 5 has a function button detection switch 5a that detects the pressing operation of the effect button 5, a function button vibration motor 5b that vibrates the effect button 5, and a function button lamp 5c that emits light on the effect button 5 built in (see FIG. 4). The effect button vibration motor 5b vibrates at a predetermined timing, for example, during the period when the pressing operation of the effect button 5 is valid. In this embodiment, the effect button 5 is vibrated by operating the effect button vibration motor 5b, and the surface of the effect button 5, which is made of a translucent material, is lit up or blinked by emitting light from the effect button lamp 5c (an LED in this embodiment), to provide an effect that, for example, notifies the player that operation of the effect button 5 is valid or increases the expectation of a jackpot.
When a player presses the effect button 5 during the period when the pressing operation of the effect button 5 is valid, the operation is detected by the effect button detection switch 5a, and a specific effect is performed as a result. Hereinafter, the specific effect performed as a result of the operation of the effect button 5 is referred to as a button effect.

The effect lever 6 is provided to the left of the surplus ball tray 25 (near the lower left end) of the front frame 18. The effect lever 6 can be held and operated by a player facing the pachinko game machine 1 with one hand, but is provided in a position where the player cannot operate the handle 4 or the effect button 5 simultaneously with only one hand. Specifically, the effect lever 6 can be operated by pushing it to the back with the hand holding it (push operation), and can also be operated by rotating it left and right (rotation operation). In addition, the effect lever 6 is provided with an effect lever push detection switch 6a that detects the push operation of the effect lever 6, an effect lever rotation detection switch 6b that detects the right rotation operation and left rotation operation of the effect lever 6, and an effect lever vibration motor 6c that vibrates the effect lever 6 (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the effect lever 6 is vibrated by the operation of the effect lever vibration motor 6c, so that, for example, an effect is performed to notify that the operation of the effect lever 6 is valid or to increase the expectation of a jackpot. When the player pushes or rotates the effect lever 6 during the period when operation of the effect lever 6 is valid, the operation is detected by the effect lever push detection switch 6a or the effect lever rotation detection switch 6b, which triggers a specific effect. Hereinafter, the specific effect triggered by the operation of the effect lever 6 is referred to as the lever effect.

[Configuration of game board 2]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the game board 2 is held by the inner frame 16 so that its board surface (front surface) is positioned substantially directly opposite the face of the player. The game board 2 is covered from the front by the aforementioned glass plate of the front frame 18, but the board surface can be seen through the transparent window plate 18b (window 18a) from the player side (front). On the outer periphery of the board surface of the game board 2, a ring-shaped game area forming means (rail member 17, etc.) is arranged to define the game area 3, which is the area where the game balls flow down (roll), on the inner periphery side. In addition, on the left side of the board surface of the game board 2, the rail members 17 are arranged in two rows on the left and right, and the balls launched by the launching device 90 move upward along the inside of the rail members 17 to reach the game area 3. In this case, the launched balls are guided by the left (outer) rail member 17 to reach the upper area of the game area 3.

Although not shown, multiple game pegs are driven into the game area 3 of the game board 2. As a result, the game ball flowing down the game area 3 comes into contact with the game pegs and changes its behavior. As the game ball flows down the game area 3, it either enters the ball entry openings 10a, 11a, 12a, 14a, and 15a (described below), or it does not enter the ball and flows down the game area 3 to the bottom end and is discharged from the exit 19 to the outside of the game area 3 (towards the inner frame 16). Multiple exits 19 are provided in the game area 3, and one of them is located at the bottom end of the game area 3.

Here, a large center decorative body 20 is arranged at the center of the game board 2 and is spaced inward from the game area forming means such as the rail member 17. This center decorative body 20 is annular or frame-shaped and is attached along the edge of a large opening (not shown) formed in the approximate center of the game board 2. Then, almost the entire screen (front surface, for example, a liquid crystal panel) of the performance display device 7 (performance display means) located behind the game board 2 is exposed to the front side of the board through the inner opening of the center decorative body 20, and when viewed from the front of the pachinko game machine 1, the center decorative body 20 is positioned so as to decorate the periphery of the screen of the performance display device 7. The center decorative body 20 has translucency, and inside it are provided with a plurality of LEDs that light up and blink according to the performance content.
The game board 2 is provided with light-emitting means (LEDs) at multiple locations, including the center decorative body 20, and is configured to decorate the game board 2 with the light emitted by the light. The decorative light-emitting means provided on the game board 2 in this manner will be referred to as "board lamps 2a" below (see FIG. 4). Each LED constituting the board lamps 2a can emit light in multiple colors, and lights up or blinks depending on the performance content, and further changes the light emission color.

The center decorative body 20 protrudes annularly (frame-shaped) forward from the surface of the game board 2, preventing the game balls flowing down the game area 3 from moving to the inner circumference of the center decorative body 20 (the space in front of the screen). The center decorative body 20 divides the game area 3 so that it branches into left and right areas at its upper part. In other words, the game area 3 is an area that includes a left game area (first ball flow area) 3L, which is the path of the game balls flowing down the left side of the center decorative body 20, and a right game area (second ball flow area) 3R, which is the path of the game balls flowing down the right side of the center decorative body 20. Here, when the handle 4 is operated to launch a game ball with a relatively strong launch strength, the game ball flies along the upper edge of the game area 3 and comes into contact (collides) with the buffer section 21 provided at the upper part of the right game area 3R. The buffer section 21 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, so it functions to absorb the impact of the game ball without being damaged by contact (collision) with the game ball, and allows the game ball to quickly flow downstream to the right game area 3R.

As shown in Fig. 2A, the game board 2 is provided with a first start winning device 10, a general winning member 11, a second start winning device 12, a gate 13, a first large winning device 14, and a second large winning device 15. These components have ball entry openings 10a, 11a, 12a, 13, 14a, and 15a through which game balls flowing down the game area 3 can enter. In addition, the second start winning device 12, the first large winning device 14, and the second large winning device 15 function as variable ball entry means capable of changing the ease with which game balls can enter the ball entry openings 12a, 14a, and 15a.
In the following description, an entry port that is determined as an entry port that can award prize balls in response to an entry of a game ball may be referred to as a "winning port." The entry of a game ball into a winning port may also be expressed as a "winning." In addition, a "starting port" (or "triggering port"), which is one type of entry port (winning port), is a winning port in which the entry of a game ball triggers the variable display of a special pattern, which will be described later. The entry of a ball into this starting port may be expressed as a "starting entry (starting winning)."

The first start winning device 10 is provided in the center of the lower area of the center decoration 20 so as to protrude from the front side (glass plate side) of the game board 2. This first start winning device 10 is a winning device (winning section) having a first start hole 10a and a first start hole sensor 10b. The first start hole 10a opens upward in the game area 3. The first start hole sensor 10b (see FIG. 3) is a sensor (detection means) that detects a game ball that has entered the first start hole 10a (start ball entry), and is disposed in the middle of a winning path (not shown) that leads the game ball that has entered the first start hole 10a to the rear side of the game board 2. The first start winning device 10 is configured to always maintain the first start hole 10a in a state where a ball can be entered, and is not equipped with any member that changes the ease of entering the first start hole 10a or the opening dimensions.

The general winning member 11 is located at a left position in the lower area of the center decorative body 20, protruding from the front side (glass plate side) of the game board 2. This general winning member 11 is a winning device (winning section) having a general winning opening 11a and a general winning opening sensor 11b. The general winning opening 11a opens upward in the game area 3. The general winning opening sensor 11b (see FIG. 3) is a sensor (detection means) that detects a game ball that has entered the general winning opening 11a, and is located in the middle of a winning path (not shown) that leads the game ball that has entered the general winning opening 11a to the rear side of the game board 2. The general winning member 11 is configured to always keep the general winning opening 11a in a state where a ball can be entered, and is not equipped with any member that changes the ease of ball entry into the general winning opening 11a or the opening dimensions.

The gate 13 (operating port) is located in the right area of the center decorative body 20, protruding forward (towards the glass plate) from the surface of the game board 2. A gate sensor 13a (see Figure 3) is disposed in this gate 13, which detects game balls passing through. The gate 13 is configured to allow game balls to pass (enter) in the vertical direction (from top to bottom) within the game area 3.

The second start winning device 12 is located to the right of the center decoration 20 and slightly below the gate 13. The second start winning device 12 is a winning device (winning section) having a second start hole 12a, a normal operating member (operating member) 12b, a second start hole sensor 12c (described later, see FIG. 3), and a normal solenoid 12d (see FIG. 3), and is provided so as to protrude from the face of the game board 2 to the front side (glass plate side). The second start hole 12a opens toward the upper left in the game area 3. The second start hole sensor 12c is a sensor (detection means) that detects a game ball that has entered the second start hole 12a (start ball entry), and is located in the middle of the winning path 38 (described later, see FIG. 2A) continuing to the second start hole 12a. The normal operating member 12b is a plate-like member having an inclined upper surface, and is configured to be slidable back and forth between a normal position (first position, ball entry prevention position) on the rear side and an auxiliary position (second position, ball entry permission position) on the front side. The normal solenoid 12d is connected to the normal operating member 12b, and maintains the normal operating member 12b in the normal position in the demagnetized state (non-operated state), and maintains the normal operating member 12b in the auxiliary state in the excited state (operated state). The normal operating member 12b in the normal position is located behind the surface of the game board 2 and allows the game ball to pass downward without receiving it from above (the gate 13 side). On the other hand, the normal operating member 12b in the auxiliary position is located in front of the surface of the game board 2 and receives the game ball from above (the gate 13 side), and assists the ball to enter the second starting hole 12a (starting ball entry) by rolling the upper surface along the inclination. In other words, the second starting opening 12a provided in the second starting winning device 12 is a ball entry opening (variable ball entry opening, variable starting opening) in which the ease of entry of the game ball changes depending on the posture of the normal operating member 12b.
With regard to this second starting hole 12a, the opening dimensions are not actually changed by the normal operating member 12b, but the state in which the normal operating member 12b is in the normal position and a game ball cannot enter can be expressed as the "closed state", and the change to the closed state can be expressed as "closing", and the state in which the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position and a game ball can enter can be expressed as the "open state", and the change to the open state can be expressed as "opening".

The first large prize winning device 14 is provided at the bottom of the right game area 3R (below the second start winning device 12) so as to protrude from the game board 2 to the front side (glass plate side). The first large prize winning device 14 is a winning device (winning section) having a first large prize winning port 14a (special prize winning port, special ball winning port), a first special operating member 14b, a first large prize winning port sensor 14c (see FIG. 3), and a first special electric solenoid 14d (see FIG. 3). The first large prize winning port 14a opens upward in the game area 3. The first large prize winning port sensor 14c is a sensor (detection means) that detects a game ball that has entered the first large prize winning port 14a, and is disposed in the middle of a winning path (not shown) that leads the game ball that has entered the first large prize winning port 14a to the rear side of the game board 2. The first special operating member 14b is a plate-like member having an inclined upper surface, and is configured to be slidable back and forth between a ball-entry blocking position (first position) at the front and a ball-entry allowing position (second position) at the rear. The first special electric solenoid 14d is connected to the first special operating member 14b, and maintains the first special operating member 14b in the ball-entry blocking position in the demagnetized state (non-operated state), and maintains the first special operating member 14b in the ball-entry allowing position in the excited state (operated state). The first special operating member 14b in the ball-entry blocking position is located forward of the surface of the game board 2 and closes the first large winning hole 14a, thereby preventing the game ball from entering the first large winning hole 14a, and causes the game ball to flow downstream (downward left) by the inclined upper surface. On the other hand, the first special operating member 14b in the ball entry permitting position is located behind the surface of the game board 2 to open the first large prize entry opening 14a and permit the game ball to enter the first large prize entry opening 14a. In other words, the first large prize entry opening 14a provided in the first large prize entry device 14 is a prize entry opening (variable ball entry opening) whose opening dimensions change (the ease of entry of the game ball changes depending on the position).
In the following description of the first large winning hole 14a, the state in which the first special operating member 14b is in a ball-entry preventing position and the game ball cannot enter the hole is referred to as a "closed state," and the change to the closed state is referred to as "closing." Also, the state in which the first special operating member 14b is in a ball-entry allowing position and the game ball can enter the hole is referred to as an "open state," and the change to the open state is referred to as "opening."

The second large prize winning device 15 is provided at the top of the right game area 3R (above the second start winning device 12) so as to protrude from the game board 2 to the front side (glass plate side). The second large prize winning device 15 is a winning device (winning section) having a second large prize winning port 15a (special prize winning port, special ball winning port), a second special operating member 15b, a second large prize winning port sensor 15c (see FIG. 3), and a second special electric solenoid 15d (see FIG. 3). The second large prize winning port 15a opens upward in the game area 3. The second large prize winning port sensor 15c is a sensor (detection means) that detects a game ball that has entered the second large prize winning port 15a, and is disposed in the middle of a winning path (not shown) that leads the game ball that has entered the second large prize winning port 15a to the rear side of the game board 2. The second special operating member 15b is a plate-like member having an inclined upper surface, and is configured to be slidable back and forth between a ball-entry blocking position (first position) at the front and a ball-entry allowing position (second position) at the rear. The second special electric solenoid 15d is connected to the second special operating member 15b, and maintains the second special operating member 15b in the ball-entry blocking position in the demagnetized state (non-operated state), and maintains the second special operating member 15b in the ball-entry allowing state in the excited state (operated state). The second special operating member 15b in the ball-entry blocking position is located forward of the surface of the game board 2 and closes the second large winning hole 15a, thereby preventing the game ball from entering the second large winning hole 15a, and causes the game ball to flow downstream (downward to the left) by the inclined upper surface. On the other hand, the second special operating member 15b in the ball entry permitting position is located behind the surface of the game board 2 to open the second large prize entry opening 15a and permit the game ball to enter the second large prize entry opening 15a. In other words, the second large prize entry opening 15a provided in the second large prize entry device 15 is a prize entry opening (variable ball entry opening) whose opening dimensions change (the ease of entry of the game ball changes depending on the position).
In the following description of the second large winning hole 15a, the state in which the second special operating member 15b is in a ball-entry preventing position and the game ball cannot enter the hole is referred to as a "closed state," and the change to the closed state is referred to as "closing." Also, the state in which the second special operating member 15b is in a ball-entry allowing position and the game ball can enter the hole is referred to as an "open state," and the change to the open state is referred to as "opening."

The winning path inside the second large winning device 15 is formed with a specific area through which a game ball that has entered the second large winning opening 15a can pass (enter), and the game ball that has entered the second large winning opening 15a is discharged to the rear side of the game board 2 via the specific area. In addition to the large winning opening sensor 15c described above, the winning path is provided with a specific area sensor 55a (Figures 2 and 3) that detects a game ball that passes through (enters) the specific area. In this embodiment, the passage of a game ball into the specific area during a small winning state described below triggers a transition to a V winning state (development into a type 2 big winning state described below).

The pachinko game machine 1 can adjust the firing strength of the game balls in response to the operation of the handle 4 described above, so that the game balls can be shot into the left game area 3L and the right game area 3R by adjusting the firing strength. In this embodiment, due to the board configuration described above, a game ball shot toward the left game area 3L (hereinafter referred to as a "left shot") may enter the ball entry openings (first start opening 10a, general winning opening 11a) provided in the left game area 3L. On the other hand, a game ball shot toward the right game area 3R (hereinafter referred to as a "right shot") may enter the ball entry openings (gate 13, second start opening 12a, first large winning opening 14a, second large winning opening 15a) provided in the right game area 3R.

[Game ball handling mechanism 30]
Here, the game balls guided to the right game area 3R flow down the upstream passage 22 (see FIG. 2A) that extends downward from the position of the buffer section 21. The upstream passage 22 has a passage width that is less than twice the diameter of the game ball, and is formed in a serpentine shape. That is, the upstream passage 22 allows the game balls guided from the buffer section 21 side to flow down in a line, reducing their momentum and rectifying the flow. A game ball processing mechanism 30 that constitutes the right side of the game board 2 is disposed below the upstream passage 22. The game ball processing mechanism 30 receives the game balls from the upstream passage 22 and guides them to the ball entrances 12a, 13a, 14a, 15a or the exit 19, or causes them to flow out downstream of the mechanism 30.

The game ball processing mechanism 30 includes a mounting plate (mounting target) 31 that forms most of the right game area 3R on the front side, a plurality of winning units (such as the normal electric winning unit U described later) that are attached to the rear side of the mounting plate 31 to form a winning device (variable ball entry means), and a plurality of transparent covers (one of which is the front plate 32 described later) that are positioned to cover the front side of the mounting plate 31 and form a ball passage between the mounting plate 31 and the mounting plate 31. Specifically, three winning units are attached to the rear side of the mounting plate 31 so as to be spaced apart vertically, and the winning unit at the upper end of these units constitutes the second large winning device 15 described above, the winning unit at the lower end constitutes the first large winning device 14 described above, and the winning unit (normal electric winning unit U) at the middle portion constitutes the second start winning device 12 described above.
Here, the game ball processing mechanism 30 is provided so that the second large prize winning device 15 is close to the upper end, so that when the player starts hitting the ball to the right as the second large prize winning port 15a starts to open (the start of the small prize state described later), the game ball can be quickly guided to the second large prize winning port 15a. Also, the game ball processing mechanism 30 is provided so that the first large prize winning device 14 is farther downward than the second large prize winning device 15, and the ball passage (gate passage 34, detour 35, junction 37, etc. described later) between them is curved, so that when the first large prize winning port 14a is opened after the second large prize winning port 15a is closed (the start of the V-winning state described later), the game ball that was shot out aiming at the second large prize winning port 15a until just before flows down as it is and reaches the first large prize winning port 14a at the right time, so that the efficiency of the jackpot game state (the two-type jackpot state described later) can be improved.

Below, the configuration of the portion of the game ball processing mechanism 30 below the second large prize device 15 and above the first large prize device 14 (the middle portion of the game ball processing mechanism 30) will be mainly explained with reference to Figures 2B, 2C, and 2D. Figure 2B is a front view of the mounting plate 31 (its middle portion) that is exposed when the front plate 32 is removed from the middle portion of the game ball processing mechanism 30, Figure 2C is a front view of the front plate 32, and Figure 2D is a rear view of the front plate 32.

As shown in Fig. 2B, the mounting plate 31 (at its middle portion) has a mounting opening 31a that exposes a part of the normal electric winning unit U (see Figs. 26 to 29) attached to the rear surface of the mounting plate 31 to the play area 3 (right play area 3R). The normal electric winning unit U constitutes the second start winning device 12, and has a holder 133 that forms the second start opening 12a and the normal operating member 12b described above. The mounting opening 31a exposes the holder 133 (second start opening 12a) and the normal operating member 12b to the right play area 3R.
In addition, a wall portion for forming a plurality of ball passages (described later) around the mounting opening 31a is protruded forward from the front surface of the mounting plate 31. Each ball passage is formed as a whole by combining the mounting plate 31 and the front plate 32 (the front plate 32 has a front wall of each ball passage), but for convenience, each ball passage will be basically described with reference to FIG. 2B.
Since the general-purpose winning unit U is the main characteristic structure of this embodiment, its specific structure will be described in detail later. Meanwhile, the specific structures of the winning units constituting the second large winning device 15 and the first large winning device 14 will not be described here.

At the upper end of the range (middle part) shown in FIG. 2B on the front side of the mounting plate 31, a branching passage 33 is provided that branches the game balls flowing in from the upstream side (the second large prize device 15 side) into multiple ball passages. The branching passage 33 branches into three ball passages: a gate passage 34 that passes the game balls through the gate 13, a detour path 35 that guides the game balls to bypass the gate passage 34, and a discharge passage 36 that discharges the game balls from the game area 3.

The gate passage 34 is located below the branch path 33. The upstream part of the gate passage 34 extends downward in a straight line, and the gate 13 is provided in this part, and the gate sensor 13a is also installed. On the other hand, the downstream part of the gate passage 34 is a curved passage that is bent in a C-shape to the rear, as is clear from Figures 2B, 2D, and 27(b). That is, the downstream part of the gate passage 34 is formed by utilizing a concave curved surface formed on the front surface of the mounting plate 31 and a convex curved surface (the lower part of the second wall portion 42 described later) formed on the rear surface of the front plate 32. The gate passage 34 thus provided receives the game ball flowing downward from the branch path 33, passes the gate 13 as it is, and after dissipating energy in the curved passage part of the downstream part, reaches the front of the mounting opening 31a described above.

Here, the normal operating member 12b of the second start winning device 12 described above is located inside the normal winning unit U in the normal position, and protrudes forward from the front of the normal winning unit U in the auxiliary position (see Figures 26 to 29). This normal winning unit U is attached to the rear surface of the mounting plate 31 so as to cover the mounting opening 31a of the mounting plate 31 from the rear. The normal operating member 12b is configured to maintain a position retreated from the mounting opening 31a of the mounting plate 31 in the normal position, and to protrude forward from the mounting opening 31a in the auxiliary position (see Figures 27(b) and 28(b)), with the upper surface, which is the rolling surface 154, facing the right play area 3R. Therefore, when the normal operating member 12b is in the normal position, the game ball that passes through the gate passage 34 falls through the front space of the attachment port 31a without being received by the normal operating member 12b, reaches the junction 37, and flows downstream (towards the first large winning device 14) along the junction 37. On the other hand, when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position, the game ball that passes through the gate passage 34 is received by the rolling surface 154 in the front space of the attachment port 31a, rolls to the lower right along the inclination of the rolling surface 154, and enters the second starting port 12a formed on the left side (ball entry port forming surface 148) of the holder 133. The ball passage formed on the rolling surface 154 when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position is called the "ball rolling path R".

A front plate 32, which is a translucent cover, is disposed at a distance forward from the mounting plate 31 (between the mounting plate 31 and the transparent window plate 18b of the front frame 18). As shown in FIG. 2C, a concave recess 32a is formed in the front of the front plate 32. The recess 32a is concave on the front side of the front plate 32, and protrudes on the rear side, narrowing the front-to-rear dimension of the right play area 3R (see FIG. 2D and FIG. 27(b)). More specifically, the recess 32a is provided in the right play area 3R in a region whose upper end is the position of the exit of the gate passage 34 and whose lower end is a position slightly above the normal operating member 12b (i.e., the region where the ball rolling path R is formed when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position), and functions to narrow the front-to-rear dimension of the region where the ball rolling path R is formed. The lower edge of the recess 32a is provided with an energy dissipating projection 39 that projects rearward (see Figs. 2D, 27(b) and 28(b)). The energy dissipating projection 39 will be described later in relation to the normal operating member 12b.
Furthermore, due to the passageway configuration of the gate passageway 34 as described above, it is designed so that the game ball reaches the height position of the normal operating member 12b approximately 1.2 seconds (1200 ms) after passing through the gate 13.

The game ball that rolls on the ball rolling path R on the rolling surface 154 and enters the second starting hole 12a flows down the winning path 38 that extends downward from the right side of the holder 133, and is discharged from the winning ball discharge port 38a at the bottom to the rear side of the game board 2.

Game balls that do not head downward from the branch path 33 (gate path 34) but deviate to the left are guided to the detour path 35. The detour path 35 extends downward on the left side of the gate path 34 and connects to the upstream end of the aforementioned junction path 37. That is, in the junction path 37, game balls that have passed through the gate path 34 (passed through the gate 13) and game balls that have passed through the detour path 35 join together. In addition, if a predetermined winning hole is provided that has a high probability of winning for game balls that have flowed down to the downstream side of the junction path 37 (downstream of the first large winning hole 14a), and a predetermined number of prize balls (for example, one) are awarded for each ball that enters this predetermined winning hole, the player can play right-handed games without significantly reducing the number of balls he has.

Game balls that deviate from the branch path 33 to the right side without heading downward (gate passage 34) are guided to the discharge path 36. The discharge path 36 is provided so as to hang straight down at its end that slopes downward to the right, and an outlet 19 is formed at its lower end (see FIG. 2A). In other words, game balls guided to the discharge path 36 are discharged from the outlet 19 at the lower end of the discharge path 36 to the rear side of the game board 2 without entering any of the ball entry ports.
In addition, the discharge path 36 and the aforementioned winning path 38 are located near the right end of the game ball processing mechanism 30 (see Figure 2A), and are hidden behind the right side lamp 23b of the front frame 18 when the pachinko game machine 1 is viewed from the front.

As shown in FIG. 2D, in addition to the recess 32a and energy dissipation protrusion 39, the rear surface of the front plate 32 is provided with a first wall 41 that forms the front wall of the branch path 33, a second wall 42 that forms the front wall of the gate passage 34 (including the gate 13), a third wall 43 that forms the front wall of the bypass path 35, a fourth wall 44 that forms the front wall of the discharge path 36, a fifth wall 45 that forms the front wall of the junction path 37, and a sixth wall 46 that forms the front wall of the winning path 38.

[Configuration of display 50]
As shown in Fig. 2A, a display 50 is provided at the lower right end of the game board 2 (lower right of the game area 3), which is a game information display means for displaying various game information. As shown in Fig. 3, the display 50 includes a first special symbol display 51 (special symbol display means) for variably displaying a first special symbol (also called a first special symbol or special symbol 1), a second special symbol display 52 (special symbol display means) for variably displaying a second special symbol (also called a second special symbol or special symbol 2), and a normal symbol display 53 (normal symbol display means) for variably displaying a normal symbol (also called a normal symbol). Furthermore, the display 50 includes a first special symbol reserved display 51a that displays the number of reserved activations of the first special symbol in the first special symbol display 51, a second special symbol reserved display 52a that displays the number of reserved activations of the second special symbol in the second special symbol display 52, and a normal symbol reserved display 53a that displays the number of reserved activations of the normal symbol display 53. Hereinafter, when matters common to the first special symbol and the second special symbol are explained, they are simply referred to as special symbols or special symbols. Also, when matters common to the first special symbol display 51 and the second special symbol display 52 are explained, they are simply referred to as special symbol displays.

The normal symbol display 53 is composed of, for example, two LEDs. The lit and unlit LEDs represent normal symbols, and the alternating lighting of the LEDs represents the normal symbol variation display. When the game ball passes through the gate 13 (gate sensor 13a), a judgment is made as to whether or not to open a predetermined ball entrance (in this embodiment, the second start entrance 12a) (normal symbol winning judgment), and the normal symbol display 53 displays the normal symbol variation. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the normal symbol display 53 started to display the normal symbol variation, it stops displaying (confirmed display) the normal symbol corresponding to the result of the normal symbol winning judgment (operational ball entrance judgment). If the normal symbol displayed (confirmed display) by the normal symbol display 53 is a normal symbol indicating a win, the normal operation member 12b of the second start winning device 12 is in a ball entry permitting position, and the second start entrance 12a is opened, resulting in a normal symbol winning state (auxiliary game to be described later). In this embodiment, there are two types of normal symbols when the normal winning judgment is a winning symbol (advantageous winning symbol, unfavorable winning symbol), and each type of winning normal symbol is associated with a different time for the normal operating member 12b to be in the ball-scoring position.

Each of the special symbol displays 51, 52 is composed of a plurality of LEDs. Each of the LEDs constituting each of the special symbol displays 51, 52 lights up in a predetermined lighting pattern, and the combination of the lit and unlit LEDs represents the special symbol, and the state in which the combination of the lit and unlit LEDs changes represents the display of the special symbol. Hereinafter, the change pattern of the special symbol from when the special symbol starts to change and when the special symbol stops (confirmed display) is called the special symbol change pattern. The special symbols include a big win symbol indicating that the special symbol hit judgment (also called internal judgment, big win judgment, hit or miss judgment, starting ball hit judgment, etc.) has been judged as a big win, a small win symbol indicating that the special symbol hit judgment (also called internal judgment, small win judgment, hit or miss judgment, starting ball hit judgment, etc.) has been judged as a small win, and a miss symbol indicating that the special symbol hit judgment has been judged as a miss. The small win will be described later.

When a game ball enters the first starting hole 10a, a special symbol hit determination is performed, and the first special symbol display 51 changes and displays the first special symbol. Then, the first special symbol display 51 stops and displays (confirms) the first special symbol corresponding to the result of the special symbol hit determination after a predetermined change time has elapsed since the first special symbol display 51 started changing the first special symbol. When the first special symbol display 51 is prohibited from starting a new first special symbol change display (when the first special symbol display 51 is changing and displaying the first special symbol or when a jackpot game state has occurred), if a game ball enters the first starting hole 10a, the change display of the first special symbol on the first special symbol display 51 triggered by the ball entering is reserved (activation reserved), and the number of reserved activations is displayed by the first special symbol reserved display 51a. Hereinafter, the number of reserved activations on the first special symbol display 51 is referred to as the number of reserved first special symbols.

When the game ball enters the second starting hole 12a, a special symbol hit determination is executed, and the second special symbol display 52 displays the second special symbol. Then, the second special symbol display 52 displays the second special symbol corresponding to the result of the special symbol hit determination after a predetermined time has elapsed since the second special symbol display 52 started to display the second special symbol. When the second special symbol display 52 is prohibited from starting a new display of the second special symbol (when the second special symbol display 52 is displaying the second special symbol or when a jackpot game state has occurred), if the game ball enters the second starting hole 12a, the display of the second special symbol on the second special symbol display 52 triggered by the ball entering is reserved (activation reserved), and the number of reserved activations is displayed by the second special symbol reserved display 52a. Hereinafter, the number of reserved activations on the second special symbol display 52 is referred to as the number of reserved second special symbols. Additionally, when explaining matters common to the first special drawing reservation number and the second special drawing reservation number, it will simply be referred to as the special drawing reservation number.

Hereinafter, the period from when the special symbol display starts to display the special symbol fluctuations until the special symbol stops (confirms) is referred to as one special symbol fluctuation (or one special symbol fluctuation). Also, the reduction of the number of reserved special symbols by one as a result of the execution of a special symbol fluctuation is referred to as the consumption of reserved special symbols. In pachinko gaming machine 1, the reserved operation of the special symbol display is used to display the fluctuations of special symbols in the chronological order of their occurrence timing, and the reserved special symbols are consumed. However, the consumption of the second reserved special symbol number is executed with priority over the consumption of the first reserved special symbol number (the display of the fluctuations of the second special symbol is executed with priority over the display of the fluctuations of the first special symbol). Note that a predetermined fluctuation interval (stop time of the special symbol) is provided between the end of the display of the fluctuations of the special symbol on the special symbol display and the start of the display of the fluctuations of the next special symbol due to the consumption of the reserved special symbol number.

[Display area of the performance display device 7]
Next, the performance display device 7 will be described. The performance display device 7 can display moving images and still images such as performance images, message images, and demonstration images. The performance display device 7 variably displays performance (decorative) patterns as performance images. In the following description, the variable display of the performance patterns may be referred to as "variable performance". The performance patterns are patterns representing Arabic numerals (for example, 1 to 10). The performance patterns may include patterns representing characters other than numbers, such as alphabets and special characters, or may be combined with patterns representing characters other than numbers. As areas in which the performance display device 7 variably displays the performance patterns, a left performance pattern display area, a middle performance pattern display area, and a right performance pattern display area are set in order from the left. In the left performance pattern display area, a left performance pattern 7L is displayed, in the middle performance pattern display area, a middle performance pattern 7C is displayed, and in the right performance pattern display area, a right performance pattern 7R is displayed. In the following, when describing matters common to the left performance pattern display area, the middle performance pattern display area, and the right performance pattern display area, they will simply be referred to as the performance pattern display area.

The manner in which each performance symbol changes may be, for example, that the numbers represented by the performance symbol move from the top to the bottom of the screen in ascending order, that is, that the symbols scroll vertically. Other changeable modes include a horizontal scrolling method in which the performance symbol moves from the left or right side of the screen to the other, and a switching method in which the performance symbols are displayed in ascending order at the same display position. The performance display device 7 also displays a background image as the performance image behind each performance symbol. For example, the background image may be a moving image from a television drama or movie, an animated moving image of that moving image, animation, or an original moving image created by the pachinko game machine manufacturer. The performance display device 7 is a liquid crystal display device. An organic EL display device, a display device using a dot matrix LED, or the like may also be used as the performance display device 7.

Here, generally, the variation of the performance symbols is performed in synchronization with the variation of the special symbols on the special symbol display device. In contrast, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of this embodiment, in the normal game state (non-time-saving game state described below), the variation is performed in synchronization with the variation of the special symbols on the special symbol display device, while in the game state advantageous to the player (time-saving game state described below), the variation is performed in synchronization with the variation of the normal symbols on the normal symbol display device.

In this embodiment, a performance hold display area 7B is provided at the bottom edge of the display screen of the performance display device 7. This performance hold display area 7B displays the number of pending activations corresponding to the number of pending activations of the first special symbol in the normal game state (non-time-saving game state), and displays the number of pending activations corresponding to the number of pending activations of the normal symbol in the favorable game state (time-saving game state).

In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1, in addition to notifying the result of the special winning judgment based on the result of the variable performance (stop display of the performance pattern), performances are performed that suggest the result of the variable performance or liven up the process leading up to the display of the result. Such performances are performed by using a combination of images displayed on the performance display device 7, sounds output from the speaker 8, and the lighting of the lamps (board lamp 2a, left side lamp 23a, right side lamp 23b, top lamp 23c) on the game board 2 and front frame 18. In other words, the performance display device 7, speaker 8, and lamps 2a, 23a, 23b, and 23c provided in the pachinko game machine 1 function as performance execution means that execute the performance.
In addition, the performance display device 7, speaker 8, and lamps 2a, 23a, 23b, and 23c also function as abnormality notification means for notifying the user of an abnormal state that has occurred in the pachinko gaming machine 1.

[Major Electrical Configuration of Pachinko Game Machine 1]
Next, the main electrical configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG.
The pachinko game machine 1 comprises a main control board 60, a power supply board 70, a payout control board 73, a launch control circuit 75, a sound control board 78, a lamp control board 79, a ball payout device 80, a launch device 90, a sub-control board 100, and an image control board 200.

As shown in FIG. 3, a one-chip microcomputer for game control (hereinafter referred to as the game control microcomputer) 61 is mounted on the main control board 60. The game control microcomputer 61 is equipped with a CPU 62, a ROM 63, a RAM 64, and an input/output circuit 65. The game control microcomputer 61 generates random numbers used in various judgments (lotteries), such as jackpot random numbers, jackpot type random numbers, small jackpot type random numbers, reach random numbers, fluctuation pattern random numbers, regular jackpot random numbers, regular jackpot type random numbers, and regular jackpot fluctuation pattern random numbers. The CPU 62 executes ball entry detection, special jackpot determination (including jackpot determination, small jackpot determination, jackpot type determination, small jackpot type determination, etc.), regular jackpot determination (including pattern type determination), and updates of various random numbers (functions as a judgment means for making a judgment when a game ball enters the ball entry hole). The ROM 63 stores various tables such as the computer program executed by the CPU 62, the winning/losing determination table T1, the big win type determination tables T2 and T3, the small win type determination table T4, and the regular win type determination table T10. The RAM 64 is used as a work memory when the CPU 62 executes the computer program.

The RAM 64 is further provided with a first special chart reservation memory section 64a (first reservation memory means), a second special chart reservation memory section 64b (second reservation memory means), and a regular chart reservation memory section 64c.
The first special symbol reservation memory section 64a has first to fourth memory areas. That is, the maximum number of first special symbols that can be stored is four. In each memory area, values such as a big win random number, a big win type random number, a small win type random number, a reach random number, and a change pattern random number (referred to as start ball entry information or start winning information) acquired by the game control microcomputer 61 (information acquisition means) due to a game ball entering the first start hole 10a are stored. For example, when a game ball enters the first start hole 10a while the first special symbol display device 51 is displaying the first special symbol, the execution of the display of the first special symbol based on the ball entry is in a standby state at that time. In this case, the start ball entry information acquired as a result of the ball entry is stored in the first special symbol reservation memory section 64a, and when it becomes possible to start the change after that, the display of the first special symbol based on the start ball entry information is started. In other words, if the special chart change display cannot be started at the timing when the starting ball entry information is obtained as a result of the ball entering the first starting hole 10a, the execution of the first special chart change display based on the starting ball entry information is put on hold (activation put on hold) until the change start condition (start condition) is met.

The second special symbol reservation memory unit 64b has first to fourth memory areas. In other words, the maximum number of second special symbols that can be stored is four. In each memory area, values (start ball entry information) such as the jackpot random number, jackpot type random number, small jackpot type random number, reach random number, and change pattern random number acquired by the game control microcomputer 61 due to the game ball entering the second start hole 12a are stored. For example, when the game ball enters the second start hole 12a while the second special symbol display device 52 is displaying the second special symbol, the execution of the display of the second special symbol based on the ball entry is in a standby state at that time. In this case, the start ball entry information acquired as a result of the ball entry is stored in the second special symbol reservation memory unit 64b, and when it becomes possible to start the change after that, the display of the second special symbol based on the start ball entry information is started. In other words, if the special chart change display cannot be started at the timing when the starting ball entry information is acquired as a result of the ball entering the second starting hole 12a, the execution of the second special chart change display based on the starting ball entry information is put on hold (activation put on hold) until the change start condition (start condition) is met.

The start ball entry information such as the jackpot random number is stored in the order of occurrence of the operation reservation, that is, in the order of acquisition by the game control microcomputer 61, from each of the first storage areas of the first special pattern reservation storage unit 64a and the second special pattern reservation storage unit 64b. For this reason, for example, if the start ball entry information is stored in the first to fourth storage areas in the first special pattern reservation storage unit 64a, the start ball entry information stored in the fourth storage area is the most recent information in terms of time, and the start ball entry information stored in the first storage area is the oldest information in terms of time. Also, for example, if the start ball entry information is stored in the first to fourth storage areas in the second special pattern reservation storage unit 64b, the start ball entry information stored in the fourth storage area is the most recent information in terms of time, and the start ball entry information stored in the first storage area is the oldest information in terms of time. The start ball entry information stored in each storage area is shifted one by one to the storage area with the oldest storage order each time the variable display of the special pattern is completed. For example, the jackpot random number stored in the second memory area is shifted to the first memory area. Also, the judgment (lottery) of the special winning judgment based on the starting ball entry information stored in the first memory area is executed when the variable display of the special pattern by the special pattern display device ends and the timing to start the next variable display arrives (when the starting condition of the variable display is met).

In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1, as described above, the consumption of the second special chart reserved number is executed in priority to the consumption of the first special chart reserved number. In other words, if there are multiple first special chart reserved numbers and multiple second special chart reserved numbers, the second special chart reserved numbers are consumed in order first, and then the first special chart reserved numbers are consumed in order. For example, when the start ball entry information is stored in the first storage area of the first special chart reserved storage unit 64a and the first storage area of the second special chart reserved storage unit 64b, when the start timing for the variable display of the special chart arrives, the start ball entry information stored in the first storage area of the second special chart reserved storage unit 64b is shifted to the execution area (execution target area), and a judgment such as a special chart hit judgment based on this start ball entry information is executed. On the other hand, at this time, the start entry information in the first storage area is not shifted in the first special chart reserved memory unit 64a, and then when the timing for starting the display of the special chart changes arrives with the number of reserved second special charts at 0, it is shifted to the execution area (execution target area), and a judgment such as a special chart hit judgment based on this start entry information is executed.

The regular symbol reservation memory unit 64c stores operational ball entry information such as a regular winning random number (a random number for determining (lottery) whether a regular symbol is a winning symbol or not) acquired by the game control microcomputer 61 due to the game ball passing through the gate 13. When the regular symbol display 53 is displaying a regular symbol in a variable manner and the game ball passes through the gate 13, the operation of the regular symbol display 53 due to the passing is temporarily reserved (operation reservation), and the regular winning random number acquired due to the passing is stored in the regular symbol reservation memory unit 64c. The reserved variable display of the regular symbol is performed next after the current variable display of the regular symbol is completed. In the pachinko game machine 1, the regular symbol reservation memory unit 64c has a memory area for a total of four reservations, and the number of reserved operations of the regular symbol display 53 is a maximum of four. The operational ball entry information such as a regular winning random number is stored in order from the first memory area of the regular symbol reservation memory unit 64c in the order of occurrence of the reserved operation, that is, in the order of acquisition by the game control microcomputer 61. Therefore, when the active ball-scoring information is stored in the first through fourth memory areas, the active ball-scoring information stored in the fourth memory area is the newest information in terms of time, and the active ball-scoring information stored in the first memory area is the oldest information in terms of time. Hereinafter, the number of active ball-scoring information stored in the normal symbol display 53 is referred to as the normal symbol number.

The main control board 60 is also equipped with a RAM clear switch 66. In other words, the RAM clear switch 66 can be pressed from the rear side of the pachinko gaming machine 1. When the pachinko gaming machine 1 starts up with the RAM clear switch 66 pressed, it initializes the RAM 64 and the RAM 120 of the sub-control board 100.

The main control board 60 is electrically connected to the display devices 50. The main control board 60 is further electrically connected to the first start opening sensor 10b, the general winning opening sensor 11b, the second start opening sensor 12c, the first large winning opening sensor 14c, the second large winning opening sensor 15c, the gate sensor 13a, and the specific area sensor 55a via the relay board 74.

The first start opening sensor 10b detects a game ball that has entered the first start opening 10a and outputs a detection signal to the main control board 60. The general winning opening sensor 11b detects a game ball that has entered the general winning opening 11a and outputs a detection signal to the main control board 60. The second start opening sensor 12c detects a game ball that has entered the second start opening 12a and outputs a detection signal to the main control board 60. The first large winning opening sensor 14c detects a game ball that has entered the first large winning opening 14a and outputs a detection signal to the main control board 60. The second large winning opening sensor 15c detects a game ball that has entered the second large winning opening 15a and outputs a detection signal to the main control board 60. The gate sensor 13a detects a game ball that has entered (passed through) the gate 13 and outputs a detection signal to the main control board 60. When a game ball is detected by any of the aforementioned sensors 10b, 11b, 12c, 14c, 15c, and 13a other than the gate sensor 13a, the payout conditions for the number of prize balls predetermined for each sensor are met.

Here, in this embodiment, the prize balls for one detection by the first start hole sensor 10b (one ball entering the first start hole 10a) are set to "3", the prize ball for one detection by the second start hole sensor 12c (one ball entering the second start hole 12a) is set to "1", the prize balls for one detection by the first large prize hole sensor 14c (one ball entering the first large prize hole 14a) are set to "10", the prize ball for one detection by the second large prize hole sensor 15c (one ball entering the second large prize hole 15a) is set to "1", and the prize balls for one detection by the general prize hole sensor 11b (one ball entering the general prize hole 11a) are set to "10".

In addition, the specific area sensor 55a detects a game ball passing through a specific area inside the second large prize device 15 and outputs a detection signal to the main control board 60.

The main control board 60 is also electrically connected to the normal solenoid 12d, the first special electric solenoid 14d, and the second special electric solenoid 15d via the relay board 74. The normal solenoid 12d is excited based on the control of the main control board 60, and changes the normal operating member 12b from a ball entry blocking position to a ball entry allowing position. The first special electric solenoid 14d is excited based on the control of the main control board 60, and changes the first special operating member 14b from a ball entry blocking position to a ball entry allowing position. The second special electric solenoid 15d is excited based on the control of the main control board 60, and changes the second special operating member 15b from a ball entry blocking position to a ball entry allowing position.

The main control board 60 is electrically connected to the card unit 76, the ball loaning device 80, and the prize ball payout device 400 (prize ball granting means) via the payout control board 73. The card unit 76 is provided adjacent to the pachinko game machine 1, and performs operations such as reading and writing the balance on the prepaid card. The ball loaning device 80 is equipped with a ball loaning motor 81 and a ball loaning sensor 82. The ball loaning motor 81 drives a member that pays out game balls as loan balls, and the ball loaning sensor 82 outputs a signal indicating that a game ball has been paid out by that member to the main control board 60 via the payout control board 73. The game control microcomputer 61 counts the number of loaned balls paid out by the ball loaning device 80 based on the signal output from the payout control board 73. When the prepaid card inserted into the card unit 76 has a recorded balance equal to or greater than the minimum balance that can be withdrawn, operating the ball loan button (not shown) activates the loan ball dispensing device 80, which dispenses the minimum number of loan balls into the ball supply tray 24.

The prize ball payout device 400 is equipped with a prize ball motor 401 and a prize ball sensor 402. The prize ball motor 401 drives a member that pays out game balls as prize balls, and the prize ball sensor 402 outputs a signal indicating that a game ball has been paid out by that member to the main control board 60 via the payout control board 73. The game control microcomputer 61 counts the number of prize balls paid out by the prize ball payout device 400 based on the signal output from the payout control board 73.

The main control board 60 is also electrically connected to the launch device 90 via the launch control circuit 75. The launch device 90 is equipped with a launch motor 91, a touch switch 92, and a launch volume 93. The launch motor 91 drives a striking hammer (not shown) that strikes and launches the game ball. The touch switch 92 outputs a signal indicating that the player has touched the handle 4. The launch volume 93 adjusts the strength with which the striking hammer strikes the game ball according to the amount of rotation of the launch lever 4a.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 also includes a power supply board 70. The power supply board 70 supplies power to the main control board 60 and the payout control board 73. The power supply board 70 also supplies power to each device electrically connected to the payout control board 73 via the payout control board 73. The power supply board 70 also supplies power from the main control board 60 via the relay board 74 to each sensor and solenoid electrically connected to the relay board 74. The power supply board 70 also supplies power via the main control board 60 to the displays 50 electrically connected to the main control board 60.

The power supply board 70 is provided with a backup power supply circuit 71. When power is not being supplied from an external source to the pachinko gaming machine 1, the backup power supply circuit 71 supplies the power necessary to retain information to the RAM 64 of the main control board 60 and the like. A power switch 72 for turning on and off the main power supply that supplies power to the power supply board 70 is electrically connected to the power supply board 70.

The main control board 60 transmits various commands to the sub-control board 100 (see Figure 4). The main control board 60 can transmit commands to the sub-control board 100, but the sub-control board 100 cannot transmit commands to the main control board 60. In other words, communication between the main control board 60 and the sub-control board 100 is one-way communication in which only transmission from the main control board 60 to the sub-control board 100 is possible.

As shown in FIG. 4, a one-chip microcomputer for effect control (hereinafter referred to as the effect control microcomputer) 101 is mounted on the sub-control board 100. The effect control microcomputer 101 (effect control means) includes a CPU 102, a ROM 110, a RAM 120, and an input/output circuit 103. The CPU 102 controls the effects in accordance with the game. The ROM 110 stores various tables in addition to computer programs for the CPU 102 to control the effects. The RAM 120 is used as a work memory when the CPU 102 executes the computer programs. The RAM 120 also includes a first special chart reserved effect memory unit 121, a second special chart reserved effect memory unit 122, a variable effect memory unit 123, and a normal chart reserved effect memory unit 125.

The first special chart hold effect memory unit 121 has four memory areas consisting of the first to fourth memory areas, and each memory area stores start ball entry information (random number value, etc.) indicated by the first start ball entry command output (transmitted) from the main control board 60. The first start ball entry command is a command that includes start ball entry information (values such as jackpot random number, jackpot type random number, variable pattern random number, and reach random number) acquired by the game control microcomputer 61 when the game ball enters the first start hole 10a.

On the other hand, the second special chart hold performance memory unit 122 has four memory areas consisting of the first to fourth memory areas, and each memory area stores start ball entry information (random number value, etc.) indicated by the second start ball entry command output (transmitted) from the main control board 60. The second start ball entry command is a command that includes start ball entry information (values such as jackpot random number, jackpot type random number, small jackpot type random number, variable pattern random number, and reach random number) acquired by the game control microcomputer 61 when the game ball enters the second start hole 12a.

The variable performance memory unit 123 stores the start winning information (random number value, etc.) indicated by the first start winning command or the second start winning command used for the variable performance pattern. The input/output circuit 103 transmits and receives data between each board, etc. connected to the sub-control board 100.

The regular ball hold performance memory unit 125 has four memory areas, the first through fourth memory areas, and each memory area stores the active ball entry information (random number value, etc.) indicated by the active ball entry command output (transmitted) from the main control board 60. The active ball entry command is a command that includes the active ball entry information (values of regular ball entry random number, regular ball entry type random number, regular ball change pattern random number, etc.) acquired by the game control microcomputer 61 when the game ball passes through (enters) the gate 13.

The sub-control board 100 also includes a real-time clock (RTC) 124. The RTC 124 measures the current (present) date and time. For example, when power is supplied to the pachinko game machine 1 from an external power supply device, the RTC 124 operates on the power, and when power is not supplied from the external power supply device, the RTC 124 operates on power supplied from a backup power circuit 71 provided in the power supply board 70. Therefore, the RTC 124 can measure the current date and time even when the power of the pachinko game machine 1 is not turned on or when the memory contents of the RAM 120 are cleared. A backup power circuit that supplies power to the RTC 124 may be provided in the sub-control board 100. In the pachinko game machine 1, it is possible to execute special effects based on the results of timekeeping by the RTC 124.

The image control board 200 is electrically connected to the sub-control board 100. The image control board 200 is equipped with a VDP 201 (Video Display Processor), an image control CPU 202, a control ROM 203, a control RAM 204, a CGROM (Character Generator Read Only Memory) 205, and a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) 206. The image control CPU 202 controls the performance display device 7 to display performance images such as variable performance patterns, button performance images, and preview images. The control ROM 203 stores a computer program for the image control CPU 202 to control the performance display device 7. The control RAM 204 is used as a work memory when the image control CPU 202 executes the computer program. The CGROM 205 stores image data for the performance display device 7 to display performance images. The VDP 201 reads image data from the CGROM 205 according to a display list created by the image control CPU 202, and loads the read image data in a load area in the VRAM 206. The VDP 201 then composites the image data loaded in the VRAM 206, and stores the composite image data in a frame buffer in the VRAM 206. The VDP 201 then converts the image data stored in the frame buffer in the VRAM 206 into an RGB signal, and outputs it to the performance display device 7. As a result, the performance display device 7 displays a performance image.

The sub-control board 100 is electrically connected to the board lamp 2a, the performance button lamp 5c, the left side lamp 23a, the right side lamp 23b, the top lamp 23c, and the movable body motor 23d via the lamp control board 79. The performance control microcomputer 101 uses the data stored in the ROM 110 to create light emission pattern data that determines the light emission mode of each lamp, and transmits the light emission pattern data to the lamp control board 79. The lamp control board 79 then controls the light emission of each lamp according to the received light emission pattern data. The performance control microcomputer 101 also uses the data stored in the ROM 110 to create rotation operation pattern data that determines the operation mode of the rotating reflector in the top lamp 23c, and transmits the rotation operation pattern data to the lamp control board 79. The lamp control board 79 then controls the drive of the movable body motor 23d according to the received rotation operation pattern data.

Each speaker 8 is electrically connected to the sub-control board 100 via the audio control board 78. The audio control board 78 is equipped with an audio control CPU (not shown), an audio data ROM (not shown), an audio synthesis circuit (not shown), and an amplifier (not shown). The audio data ROM stores audio data for each speaker 8 to output sounds such as music and sound effects. The audio control CPU reads audio data from the audio data ROM based on a command received from the sub-control board 100, and outputs the read audio data to the audio synthesis circuit. The audio synthesis circuit synthesizes the input audio data and converts the synthesized synthetic audio data into an analog audio signal and outputs it to the amplifier. The amplifier amplifies the input audio signal and outputs it to each speaker 8. Then, each speaker 8 outputs a sound indicated by the input audio signal.

The sub-control board 100 is also electrically connected to a performance button detection switch 5a, a performance lever push detection switch 6a, a performance lever rotation detection switch 6b, a performance button vibration motor 5b, and a performance lever vibration motor 6c.

The effect button detection switch 5a outputs a signal indicating that the effect button 5 has been pressed to the sub-control board 100. The effect lever push detection switch 6a also outputs a signal indicating that the effect lever 6 has been pushed to the sub-control board 100. Furthermore, the effect lever rotation detection switch 6b also outputs a signal indicating that the effect lever 6 has been rotated to the sub-control board 100. In response to this, the effect control microcomputer 101 changes the effect content of the button effect based on the signal input from the effect button detection switch 5a during the period of the button effect, which is one type of effect. Also, the effect control microcomputer 101 changes the effect content of the lever effect based on the signal input from the effect lever push detection switch 6a or the effect lever rotation detection switch 6b during the period of the lever effect (a lever effect that encourages the player to push or rotate), which is one type of effect.

The performance button vibration motor 5b is a member that vibrates the performance button 5 and is housed inside the performance button 5. The performance lever vibration motor 6c is a member that vibrates the performance lever 6 and is provided in the part that contacts the performance lever 6 or inside the performance lever 6. The ROM 110 stores operation pattern data that determines the operation pattern of the performance button vibration motor 5b and operation pattern data that determines the operation pattern of the performance lever vibration motor 6c. The performance control microcomputer 101 reads the operation pattern data from the ROM 110 when it is time to vibrate the performance button 5, and drives and controls the performance button vibration motor 5b based on the read operation pattern data. In addition, the performance control microcomputer 101 reads the operation pattern data from the ROM 110 when it is time to vibrate the performance lever 6, and drives and controls the performance lever vibration motor 6c based on the read operation pattern data.

[Explanation of game state]
Next, the gaming state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described.

(Big win game state, small win state)
The pachinko game machine 1 of this embodiment is a type of machine called a type 1/2 mixed machine, which combines the playability of each game machine that was previously called a type 1 pachinko machine and a type 2 pachinko machine. Here, the playability of the type 1 pachinko machine is to generate a jackpot game state when a jackpot judgment (jackpot lottery) of a special chart hit judgment triggered by a ball entering the starting hole is won, and the playability of the type 2 pachinko machine is to open a large prize winning hole when a small prize judgment (small prize lottery) of a special chart hit judgment triggered by a ball entering the starting hole is won, and develop into a jackpot game state when a game ball that entered during the opening passes through a specific area inside the large prize winning hole. In the pachinko game machine 1 of this embodiment, which is a type 1/2 mixed machine, a jackpot game state (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "type 1 jackpot state") is generated when a jackpot is won in a special chart hit judgment triggered by a ball entering the starting hole. In addition, in the special winning judgment triggered by the ball entering the starting hole, if the big win judgment is a miss and the small win judgment is a win (if a small win is won), a small win state that opens the big prize winning hole is generated, and only if the game ball that entered the big prize winning hole during this small win state enters a specific area, it develops into a big win game state (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "two-type big win state"). In addition, the two-type big win state is generally a big win game state that is composed of a small win state and the subsequent V win state. In contrast, it is also possible to regard only the V win state as a big win game state.

In this embodiment, in addition to the jackpot game state (Type 1 jackpot state) based on the result of the jackpot determination by the special chart hit determination, there is a possibility that a small hit state or a V hit state (2nd round or later of the Type 2 jackpot state) may occur. In the Type 1 jackpot state or the V hit state, it is possible to aim for the game ball to enter the first large winning hole 14a, while in the small hit state, it is possible to aim for the game ball to enter one of the second large winning holes 15a. If the game ball that enters the second large winning hole 15a during the small hit state passes through a specific area, a V hit state that opens the first large winning hole 14a is generated (developing into a Type 2 jackpot state).

The jackpot game state changes in the order of an opening period, a continuous operation period in which multiple rounds (a period during which a game ball can be entered) occur, and an ending period. During a round, the first special operation member 14b is operated by driving the first special electric solenoid 14d to open the first large prize winning hole 14a. Here, each round of the jackpot game state, except for one round (small prize state) of the two-type jackpot state, ends when the round end condition is met, whichever comes first: the number of game balls that have entered the first large prize winning hole 14a reaches a predetermined upper limit number (e.g., 10 balls) or a predetermined opening time (e.g., 30 seconds) has elapsed. In addition, in the jackpot game state, an interval time (round interval) is set between rounds, and the first large prize winning hole 14a is set to remain closed at least during this interval time (the first special electric solenoid 14d is controlled to be inactive). Since the prize balls awarded for each ball that enters the first large winning hole 14a are set at 10, during a jackpot game state (type 1 jackpot state, V jackpot state), the player's balls are significantly increased by the prize balls awarded for each ball that enters the first large winning hole 14a.

On the other hand, the small win state ends when the second large winning opening 15a opens for a shorter time (for example, 1.8 seconds) than other rounds (a ball winning period) or when the number of game balls that have entered the second large winning opening 15a reaches a predetermined upper limit (a predetermined number of balls or less), whichever comes first (basically the passage of the opening time). Note that, since the prize ball for each ball that enters the second large winning opening 15a is set to one, during the small win state, the player's balls will not increase due to the prize ball for the ball that enters the second large winning opening 15a.
In this embodiment, all small win states are generated as small win states (advantageous small win states) in which the game ball that entered the second large winning port 15a can pass through a specific area. In contrast, it is also possible to generate advantageous small win states in which the game ball passes through a specific area and unfavorable small win states in which the game ball passes through a non-specific area (does not pass through a specific area).

(Time-saving game state, non-time-saving game state)
Below, we will explain each function of the general time-saving game state (function to shorten the change time of special patterns, function to shorten the change time of normal patterns, function to extend the opening time of the second starting hole 12a, and function to increase the number of times the second starting hole 12a is opened).
In addition, the pachinko game machine 1 of this embodiment has, among the functions described below, a function for shortening the time for changing special symbols, a function for shortening the time for changing normal symbols, and a function for extending the opening time of the second starting hole 12a, and by activating these functions, a time-saving game state (a state where it is easy to score a ball) different from a non-time-saving game state (a normal game state, a state where it is not easy to score a ball) is generated. However, as described later, in this embodiment, when the number of occurrences of the time-saving game state (called the "number of consecutive occurrences") between the transition from the non-time-saving game state to the jackpot game state and the return to the non-time-saving game state reaches a predetermined upper limit number, the transition from the jackpot game state to the time-saving game state is prohibited and the game is forcibly returned to the non-time-saving game state (has a time-saving limiter function).

A game state in which the probability variation function of the display (normal symbol) on the normal symbol display 53 is activated can be set as a time-saving game state, and a game state in which the function is not activated can be set as a non-time-saving game state. When the probability variation function of the normal symbol is activated, the probability of winning the normal symbol hit judgment is improved compared to when it is not activated. As a result, when the probability variation function of the normal symbol is activated, it is possible to increase the frequency with which the normal operating member 12b is activated and the second starting hole 12a is opened.
However, the pachinko gaming machine 1 (the game control microcomputer 61) of this embodiment does not have a function of varying the probability of normal symbols. However, this function may be included.
In addition, the pachinko game machine 1 of this embodiment does not have a probability variation function (a function for improving the hit probability of the special symbol hit judgment) for each display (special symbol) on the first special symbol display device 51 and the second special symbol display device 52, and there is no game state (so-called "probability variation game state") in which the probability of a jackpot is higher than the normal (low probability state). In contrast, a probability variation game state that activates the probability variation function of the special symbol may be generated. In this case, the probability variation game state may be generated simultaneously with the time-saving game state.

A game state in which the special symbol variation time shortening function is activated can be called a time-shortened game state, and a game state in which the function is not activated can be called a non-time-shortened game state. When the special symbol variation time shortening function is activated, a shorter variation time is more likely to be selected as the special symbol variation time compared to when the function is not activated. As a result, in a state in which the special symbol variation time shortening function is activated, for example, the frequency at which the special symbol variation display result is derived can be increased, and it is possible to shorten the game time until a jackpot game state or the like occurs. In addition, since the consumption pace of the special symbol reservation is fast, it is easier for an effective ball to enter the starting hole (special symbol reservation) to occur, and therefore a smooth game progress can be realized.
In addition, a game state in which the normal symbol variation time shortening function is activated can be set as a time-shortened game state, and a game state in which the function is not activated can be set as a non-time-shortened game state. When the normal symbol variation time shortening function is activated, the normal symbol variation time becomes shorter than when the function is not activated. The pachinko game machine 1 of this embodiment has this function. In contrast, the normal symbol variation time shortening function may not be provided.
Furthermore, a game state in which at least one of the opening time extension function and the opening count increase function for the second start hole 12a is activated can be set as a time-saving game state, and a game state in which the function is not activated can be set as a non-time-saving game state. When a normal pattern is stopped (determined) with a predetermined normal pattern, an auxiliary game is performed to open and close the second start hole 12a in an operation pattern corresponding to the current game state. The opening time of the second start hole 12a in this auxiliary game is longer than in the non-time-saving game state due to the opening time extension function. In addition, the opening count of the second start hole 12a in this auxiliary game is greater than in the non-time-saving game state due to the opening count increase function. Therefore, under a situation in which the opening time extension function or the opening count increase function is activated, the frequency of game balls entering the second start hole 12a is increased. As a result, the ratio of the number of winning balls to the number of shot balls is increased, so that the player can aim for a big win (or a small win) without significantly reducing the number of game balls he has in hand.

In this way, the function for shortening the fluctuation time for special and normal symbols, and the function for extending the opening time and increasing the number of openings for the second starting hole 12a are support functions for increasing the frequency with which game balls enter the second starting hole 12a. Of these, the control that activates at least one of the functions, particularly the function for extending the opening time and the function for increasing the number of openings related to the operation of the normal operating member 12b (driving the normal electric solenoid 12d), is sometimes referred to as "electric support control."

The pachinko game machine 1 (game control microcomputer 61) of this embodiment is capable of activating the special symbol fluctuation time shortening function, the normal symbol fluctuation time shortening function, and the second start port 12a opening time extension function among the above functions, and is capable of generating a non-time-saving game state in which none of these three functions are activated, and a time-saving game state in which all three functions are activated (functioning as an activation means for generating a plurality of types of states). However, the time-saving game state only needs to be a state in which at least one function is activated, and for example, it may be a game state in which the normal symbol probability fluctuation function is activated in addition to or in place of at least one of the above three functions.

In this embodiment, the "time-saving game state" is a state in which electric support control (by the opening time extension function) is performed, and since the ratio of the number of winning balls to the number of shot balls is high, it can be rephrased as a "high base state (advantageous game state)." On the other hand, the "non-time-saving game state" can be rephrased as a "low base state (normal game state)" in comparison to the high base state described above.

Here, the conditions for granting the time-saving game state in the pachinko game machine 1 can be set to, for example, the end of a jackpot game state (type 1 jackpot state) based on the determination of a predetermined jackpot pattern (special pattern), the end of a jackpot game state (type 2 jackpot state) based on the game ball passing through a specific area in a small win state when a predetermined small win pattern (special pattern) is determined, the end of a special pattern variable display based on the result of a special pattern hit determination when a predetermined time-saving pattern (special pattern) is determined, etc. In this embodiment, the time-saving game state may be granted after the end of a jackpot game state (type 1 jackpot state, type 2 jackpot state) based on the determination of a jackpot pattern or small win state, and the time-saving game state may be granted based on the determination of a time-saving pattern.
In addition, the conditions for ending the time-saving game state in the pachinko game machine 1 can be, for example, a predetermined number of special chart change displays being executed, a predetermined number of regular chart change displays being executed, a jackpot being determined and the corresponding special chart change display being ended (a jackpot game state being started) before a predetermined number of special chart change displays (or a predetermined number of regular chart change displays) are executed, a predetermined number of small wins being determined and the corresponding special chart change display being ended (a small win state being started) before a predetermined number of special chart change displays (or a predetermined number of regular chart change displays) are executed, a predetermined small win pattern (special pattern) being determined and the corresponding special chart change display being ended (a small win state being started) before a predetermined number of special chart change displays (regular chart change displays) are executed, etc. In this embodiment, the time-saving game state may end in response to the execution of a predetermined number of special chart change displays, and the time-saving game state may end in response to the execution of a predetermined number of regular chart change displays.

[Main decision table]
Next, the main judgment tables referred to by the game control microcomputer 61 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described.

(Correct or incorrect decision table T1)
The winning/losing judgment table T1 shown in FIG. 5 is a table that the game control microcomputer 61 refers to when executing the special symbol winning judgment (big win judgment, small win judgment). The winning/losing judgment table T1 is configured by associating the type of special symbol winning judgment (whether it corresponds to the first special symbol or the second special symbol) with a big win random number value. The big win random number value is a value generated by the big win random number counter. A computer program for operating the big win random number counter is stored in the ROM 63, and the big win random number value is generated by the CPU 62 executing the computer program. The big win random number counter may be one that utilizes a random number generating circuit such as a counter IC. The big win random number counter of the pachinko game machine 1 counts a total of 65536 values from 0 to 65535. In other words, a total of 65536 big win random number values from 0 to 65535 can be generated.

In the win/lose judgment table T1, a jackpot random number value (0 to 65535) for judging whether the first special chart is a win or a miss is assigned to each judgment result of the jackpot/miss. The game control microcomputer 61 judges a jackpot when the jackpot random number value obtained from the jackpot random number counter is a value within the range of 0 to 327, and judges a jackpot not to be a win, that is, a miss, when the jackpot random number value is other than 0 to 327 (328 to 65535) among 0 to 65535.
In addition, in the winning/losing judgment table T1, the jackpot random number value (0 to 65535) for the winning judgment of the second special chart is allocated to each judgment result of the jackpot and small win. The game control microcomputer 61 judges a jackpot when the acquired jackpot random number value is within the range of 0 to 327, and judges a small win when it is other than 0 to 327 (328 to 65535) among 0 to 65535. In other words, all values that are not a jackpot (misses) are allocated to small wins. That is, the probability of being judged as a jackpot is the same between the winning judgment of the first special chart and the winning judgment of the second special chart, but if it is judged not to be a jackpot, it may be judged as a small win in the judgment of the second special chart, and the winning probability is higher than that of a jackpot. In addition, in this embodiment, since the winning judgment of the first special chart does not judge a small win, the judgment of the second special chart has a very high probability of being judged as a small win compared to the winning judgment of the first special chart.

(Big Win Type Determination Tables T2, T3)
The jackpot type determination tables T2 and T3 shown in FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 6(b) are tables that are referred to when a jackpot type is determined to be a jackpot in the jackpot determination and the game control microcomputer 61 executes the jackpot type determination. The jackpot type determination table is configured by associating a predetermined number of jackpot type random numbers with each jackpot type (jackpot pattern type). The jackpot type random number is a value generated by the jackpot type random number counter. A computer program for operating the jackpot type random number counter is stored in the ROM 63, and the jackpot type random number counter operates and generates a jackpot type random number by the CPU 62 executing the computer program. The jackpot type random number counter may be one that utilizes a random number generating circuit such as a counter IC. In this embodiment, the jackpot type random number counter counts a total of 100 jackpot type random numbers from 0 to 99. In other words, a total of 100 jackpot type random numbers from 0 to 99 can be generated.

Here, as the first special pattern among the special patterns, two types of jackpot patterns 1-1, 1-2, which indicate a jackpot (occurrence of a jackpot game state), and at least one type of miss pattern, which indicates neither a jackpot nor a small jackpot, are set. Note that no small jackpot pattern, which indicates a small jackpot (occurrence of a small jackpot state), is set for the first special pattern. If a jackpot is determined in the special pattern hit determination of the first special pattern, a jackpot pattern (jackpot type) is determined based on the jackpot type determination table T2 shown in FIG. 6(a), and the type of jackpot game state and the type of game state thereafter are determined by the determination of this jackpot pattern. Note that in each jackpot game state, the upper limit of the opening time of the first large prize winning port 14a in each round is set to 30 seconds.

When the special pattern hit judgment of the first special pattern is a jackpot judgment result and the jackpot type of the first special pattern is determined, if the jackpot type random number value is within the range of 0 to 49 (50 percent), the "jackpot pattern 1-1" is determined as the jackpot pattern, a 3-round jackpot is determined as the type (number of rounds) of the jackpot game state, and it is determined that the game state after the jackpot game state is time-saving 1. In this case, the time-saving game state (time-saving 1) ends when the occurrence of the jackpot game state is determined, the special pattern variation display is executed 10 times, or the normal pattern variation display is executed 50 times.
On the other hand, when the special pattern hit judgment of the first special pattern is a jackpot judgment result and the jackpot type of the first special pattern is determined, if the jackpot type random number value is within the range of 50 to 99 (50 percent), the "jackpot pattern 1-2" is determined as the jackpot pattern, a 3-round jackpot is determined as the type (number of rounds) of the jackpot game state, and it is determined that the game state after the jackpot game state is time-saving 2. In this case, the time-saving game state (time-saving 2) ends when the occurrence of the jackpot game state is determined, the special pattern change display is executed 10 times, or the normal pattern change display is executed 100 times.

As for the second special pattern, one type of big win pattern 2-1, which indicates a big win (a big win game state occurs), and two types of small win patterns a and b, which indicate a small win (a small win state occurs), are set. Note that no losing pattern, which indicates a loss other than a big win or small win, is set for the second special pattern. In other words, unlike the first special pattern, the second special pattern has a small win pattern set, and no losing pattern set.

If the special pattern hit judgment of the second special pattern judges that a jackpot is reached, the jackpot pattern (jackpot type) is determined based on the jackpot type judgment table T2 shown in FIG. 6(b), and the type of jackpot game state and the type of game state thereafter are determined based on the jackpot pattern. In the jackpot game state, the upper limit of the opening time of the first large prize winning port 14a in each round is set to 30 seconds. In this embodiment, if the special pattern hit judgment of the second special pattern judges that a jackpot is reached, the jackpot pattern is determined to be "jackpot pattern 2-1" regardless of the jackpot type random number value within the range of 0 to 99 (100 percent), and a 10-round jackpot is determined as the type of jackpot game state (number of rounds), and it is determined that the game state after the jackpot game state is time-saving 2. In this case, the time-saving game state (time-saving 2) ends when the occurrence of a jackpot game state is determined, the special chart change display is executed 10 times, or the normal chart change display is executed 100 times, as described above.

(Small win type determination table)
The small win type determination table T4 shown in FIG. 7 is a table to be referred to when the small win determination is determined as a small win in the special win determination for the second special pattern, and the game control microcomputer 61 executes the type determination of the small win. The small win type determination table T4 is configured by associating a predetermined number of small win type random numbers with each small win type (small win pattern type). The small win type random number is a value generated by the small win type random number counter. A computer program for operating the small win type random number counter is stored in the ROM 63, and the small win type random number counter operates by executing the computer program by the CPU 62 to generate a small win type random number. The small win type random number counter may be one that utilizes a random number generating circuit such as a counter IC. In this embodiment, the small win type random number counter counts a total of 100 values from 0 to 99. In other words, a total of 100 small win type random number values from 0 to 99 can be generated. In this embodiment, as described above, two types of small win patterns, "small win pattern a" and "small win pattern b", are set as the small win patterns.
In this embodiment, the number of rounds of the jackpot game state (two types of jackpot state) that occurs when the game ball passes through a specific area in the small jackpot state varies depending on the determination of the small jackpot type (small jackpot pattern) by the game control microcomputer 61. Specifically, when the special symbol hit determination (small jackpot determination) during the time-saving game state results in a small jackpot and the special symbol is determined to be the small jackpot pattern a, a 3-round jackpot is set as the jackpot game state (two types of jackpot state). On the other hand, when the special symbol hit determination (small jackpot determination) during the time-saving game state results in a small jackpot and the special symbol is determined to be the small jackpot pattern b, a 10-round jackpot is set as the jackpot game state (two types of jackpot state).
In addition, in the small win state, regardless of the type of small win symbol, the second large winning hole 15a is opened for a predetermined time (1.8 seconds), and the game ball that entered the second large winning hole 15a is guided to a specific area. When the game ball passes through the specific area, this triggers the development from the small win state to a type 2 jackpot state (jackpot game state) (transition to a V win state). In each round of this type 2 jackpot state (V win state after the second round), the first large winning hole 14a is opened. The upper limit of this opening time is set to 30 seconds, the same as in the type 1 jackpot state.

Regardless of whether the game state is a non-time-saving game state or a time-saving game state, when a small win determination result is derived in the special symbol win determination of the second special symbol, if the small win type random number value is within the range of 0 to 49 (50 percent), the game control microcomputer 61 determines the small win symbol a as the small win symbol. Also, if the small win type random number value is within the range of 50 to 99 (50 percent), the game control microcomputer 61 determines the small win symbol b as the small win symbol.
When a small win state develops (transitions) into a big win state (V win state), time reduction 2 occurs after the end of the big win state (V win state), but the end conditions of this time reduction 2 are as described above. That is, it ends when the occurrence of the big win state is determined, the special chart change display is executed 10 times, or the normal chart change display is executed 100 times.

(Normal pattern match determination table)
The normal symbol win/loss judgment table T9 shown in FIG. 8 is a table that the game control microcomputer 61 refers to when executing the normal symbol win judgment. The normal symbol win/loss judgment table T9 is configured by associating the normal symbol win random number value with the judgment result of the normal symbol win judgment. The normal symbol win random number value is a value generated by the normal symbol win random number counter. A computer program for operating the normal symbol win random number counter is stored in the ROM 63, and the normal symbol win random number counter operates and generates a normal symbol win random number value by executing the computer program by the CPU 62. The normal symbol win random number counter may be one that uses a random number generating circuit such as a counter IC. The normal symbol win random number counter of the pachinko game machine 1 counts a total of 65536 values from 0 to 65535. In other words, a total of 65536 normal symbol win random number values from 0 to 65535 can be generated.

In the normal symbol win/loss determination table T9, values between 0 and 891 are set as the winning random number value for determining whether or not a normal symbol is a win. The game control microcomputer 61 determines that a normal symbol is a win if the normal symbol win random number value obtained from the normal symbol win random number counter is a value within the range of 0 to 891, and determines that a normal symbol is not a win if the value is within the range of 892 to 65535, i.e., it is a miss.

(Regular map type determination table)
The normal winning type determination table T10 shown in Fig. 9 is a table that the game control microcomputer 61 refers to when determining the operation pattern of the normal operating member 12b. In the normal winning type determination table T10, a normal winning type random number is assigned to each winning pattern of the normal patterns, and each winning pattern is associated with an operation pattern of the normal operating member 12b (normal operating pattern) in relation to the game state (non-time-saving game state, time-saving 1, time-saving 2) at the time of the determination. The operation pattern of the normal operating member 12b includes information on the opening time of the second start hole 12a (operation time of the normal operating member 12b).

The regular map type random number value is a value generated by the regular map type random number counter. A computer program for operating the regular map type random number counter is stored in ROM 63, and the regular map type random number counter operates to generate a regular map type random number value when the CPU 62 executes the computer program. The regular map type random number counter may utilize a random number generating circuit such as a counter IC. In this embodiment, the regular map type random number counter counts a total of 233 values from 0 to 232. In other words, a total of 233 regular map type random number values from 0 to 232 can be generated.

Here, in the pachinko game machine 1 of this embodiment, two types of operation patterns of the normal operating member 12b are set, a first operation pattern FS1 and a second operation pattern FS2. Of these, the first operation pattern FS1 is an operation pattern in which the normal solenoid 12d is energized for only 0.07 seconds (70 ms) (the normal operating member 12b is activated to open the second starting hole 12a). In this case, even if a game ball lands on the normal operating member 12b in the ball entry permitting position, it will not reach the second starting hole 12a because it will immediately return to the ball entry preventing position. In contrast, the second operation pattern FS2 is an operation pattern in which the normal solenoid 12d is energized for 2.7 seconds (2700 ms). Therefore, there is a possibility that a game ball that lies on the normal operating member 12b in the ball entry permitting position will roll to the second starting hole 12a and enter it.

9, when the normal winning judgment is a winning judgment result, if the normal winning type random number value is a value within the range of 0 to 154, the pattern hz1 is determined as the winning pattern of the normal pattern, and if the normal winning type random number value is a value within the range of 155 to 232, the pattern hz2 is determined as the winning pattern of the normal pattern. If the game state at the time when the normal winning judgment is made is a non-time-saving game state, the first operation pattern FS1 is determined as the operation pattern of the normal operating member 12b regardless of whether the winning pattern of the normal pattern is pattern hz1 or pattern hz2. On the other hand, if the game state at the time when the normal winning judgment is made is time-saving 1, if the winning pattern of the normal pattern is pattern hz1, the first operation pattern FS1 is determined as the operation pattern of the normal operating member 12b, and if it is pattern hz2, the second operation pattern FS2 is determined as the operation pattern of the normal operating member 12b. On the other hand, if the game state at the time when the normal winning determination is made is time-saving 2, the second operation pattern FS2 is determined as the operation pattern of the normal operating member 12b, regardless of whether the winning normal pattern is pattern hz1 or pattern hz2.

As described above, the game control microcomputer 61 determines multiple types of operation patterns of the normal operation member 12b with different determination probabilities in the non-time-shortened game state, time-shortened 1, and time-shortened 2. Here, the game control microcomputer 61 controls the time-shortened game state (time-shortened 1 and time-shortened 2) so as to determine an operation pattern (second operation pattern FS2) in which the opening time of the second start hole 12a is longer with a higher probability than in the non-time-shortened game state, which corresponds to the electric support control (by the opening time extension function) described above.
In addition, the game control microcomputer 61 determines an operation pattern (second operation pattern FS2) in which the opening time of the second starting port 12a is longer with a higher probability in time reduction 2 than in time reduction 1.

(Normal map fluctuation pattern selection table T11)
The normal symbol fluctuation pattern selection table T11 shown in FIG. 10 is a table that the game control microcomputer 61 refers to when determining the fluctuation pattern (normal symbol fluctuation time) regarding the fluctuation display of the normal symbol.

The normal map variation pattern random number value is a value generated by the normal map variation pattern random number counter. A computer program for operating the normal map variation pattern random number counter is stored in ROM 63, and the normal map variation pattern random number counter operates to generate a normal map variation pattern random number value when the CPU 62 executes the computer program. The normal map variation pattern random number counter may utilize a random number generating circuit such as a counter IC. In this embodiment, the normal map variation pattern random number counter counts a total of 100 values from 0 to 99. In other words, a total of 100 normal map variation pattern random number values from 0 to 99 can be generated.

The game control microcomputer 61 determines a normal map fluctuation pattern FP1 with a fluctuation time of 111 seconds (111000 ms) when the normal map hit determination during the non-time-saving game state is a hit determination result and the normal map fluctuation pattern random number value is within the range of 0 to 49, and determines a normal map fluctuation pattern FP2 with a fluctuation time of 92 seconds (92000 ms) when it is within the range of 50 to 99. Also, the game control microcomputer 61 determines a normal map fluctuation pattern FP3 with a fluctuation time of 111 seconds (111000 ms) when the normal map hit determination during the non-time-saving game state is a miss determination result and the normal map fluctuation pattern random number value is within the range of 0 to 49, and determines a normal map fluctuation pattern FP4 with a fluctuation time of 92 seconds (92000 ms) when it is within the range of 50 to 99.
In response to this, the game control microcomputer 61 determines a normal map fluctuation pattern FP5 with a fluctuation time of 3 seconds (3000 ms) when the normal map hit determination during the time-saving game state is a hit determination result and the normal map fluctuation pattern random number value is within the range of 0 to 49, and determines a normal map fluctuation pattern FP6 with a fluctuation time of 1 second (1000 ms) when it is within the range of 50 to 99. Also, the game control microcomputer 61 determines a normal map fluctuation pattern FP7 with a fluctuation time of 3 seconds (3000 ms) when the normal map hit determination during the time-saving game state is a miss determination result and the normal map fluctuation pattern random number value is within the range of 0 to 49, and determines a normal map fluctuation pattern FP8 with a fluctuation time of 1 second (1000 ms) when it is within the range of 50 to 99.
That is, the normal map variation pattern that can be selected during the non-time-saving game state is long, and the normal map variation pattern that can be selected during the time-saving game state is short. Here, as the normal map variation pattern for the normal map that can be selected during the time-saving game state, there are provided a normal map variation pattern FP6 that changes the normal operating member 12b from the normal position to the auxiliary position at the timing just before the game ball that has passed through the gate 13 reaches the height position of the normal operating member 12b (the area where the ball rolling path R is formed when in the auxiliary position), and a normal map variation pattern FP5 that changes the normal operating member 12b from the normal position to the auxiliary position at the timing after the game ball that has passed through the gate 13 passes the height position of the normal operating member 12b (the area where the ball rolling path R is formed when in the auxiliary position).

[Main processing of the gaming control microcomputer 61]
Next, the main processing executed by the game control microcomputer 61 will be explained with reference to the drawings.

(Main side main control processing)
First, the main-side main control process will be described with reference to FIG.
When the power supply of the pachinko game machine 1 is turned on, the game control microcomputer 61 reads out and executes a computer program for main control processing from the ROM 63. The game control microcomputer 61 first performs an initial setting (step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1). In this initial setting, for example, stack setting, constant setting, interruption time setting, CPU 62 setting, SIO (System Input/Output), PIO (Parallel Input/Output), CTC (Counter/Timer Circuit: a circuit for managing interruption time), resetting various flags, counters, timers, etc. Next, the game control microcomputer 61 executes interrupt prohibition (S2) and executes normal symbol/special symbol main random number update processing (S3). In this normal/special pattern main random number update process, the initial values of each random number counter that generates the aforementioned jackpot random number, jackpot type random number, small jackpot type random number, reach random number, variation pattern random number, normal jackpot random number, normal jackpot type random number, and normal jackpot variation pattern random number are updated by adding "1" to each. When the count value of each random number counter reaches the upper limit, it returns to "0" and is added "1" again. Note that the initial value of each random number counter may be a value other than "0" and may be changed randomly. Also, each random number counter may be updated by adding a value of "2" or more to the count value. Also, each random number may be a so-called hardware random number generated by a known random number generating circuit made of a counter IC or the like. When using this hardware random number, the random number update process (S3) by software is not necessary.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 executes interrupt permission (S4). During interrupt permission, the main timer interrupt process (S5) can be executed. The main timer interrupt process (S5) is executed based on an interrupt pulse input to the CPU 62 at, for example, a 4 ms cycle. In other words, it is executed at a 4 ms cycle. Then, after the main timer interrupt process (S5) ends and before the next main timer interrupt process (S5) starts, the initial value update process of various counters is executed by the normal pattern/special pattern main random number update process (S3). Note that if an interrupt pulse is input to the CPU 62 when the interrupt is prohibited, the main timer interrupt process (S5) does not start immediately, but starts after the interrupt permission (S4) is executed.

(Main timer interrupt processing)
Next, the main timer interrupt process (S5) will be described with reference to FIG.
The game control microcomputer 61 executes an output process (S10). In this output process, commands and the like set in the output buffer provided in the RAM 64 of the main control board 60 in each process described below are output to the sub-control board 100, the payout control board 73, and the like. Next, the game control microcomputer 61 executes an input process (S11). In this input process, each detection signal detected by various sensors (first start hole sensor 10b, second start hole sensor 12c, gate sensor 13a, first large prize hole sensor 14c, second large prize hole sensor 15c, specific area sensor 55a, general prize hole sensor 11b, etc.) mainly attached to the pachinko game machine 1 is read. Next, the game control microcomputer 61 executes a timer update process (S12). In this timer update process, the subtraction counter operating as a timer is updated (subtracted). Next, the game control microcomputer 61 executes a prize ball control process (S13). In this prize ball control process, a payout command for paying out prize balls according to the type of winning port is set in the output buffer of the RAM 64 based on the detection signals of various sensors read in the input process (S11). The payout command is a command output to the payout control board 73. Next, the game control microcomputer 61 executes normal and special symbol main random number update process (S14). This normal and special symbol main random number update process is the same as the normal and special symbol main random number update process (S3) executed in the main control process on the main side of FIG. 11. In other words, the update process of the initial value of each random number counter is performed both during the execution period of the main side timer interrupt process (S5) and during the other period (the period from the end of the main side timer interrupt process (S5) until the start of the next main side timer interrupt process (S5)).

Next, the game control microcomputer 61 executes the sensor detection process (S15), normal operation process (S16), special symbol waiting process (S17), and special symbol related process (S18) in order, which will be described later, and then executes other processes (S19) to end the main timer interrupt process. The other processes (S19) are abnormality determination processes that determine whether an abnormal state has occurred in the pachinko game machine 1. For example, the abnormality determination processes include an illegal ball entry detection process that detects illegal ball entry, a magnetic detection process that detects illegal magnetism, a door opening process that detects the opening of the front frame 18 or the inner frame, an electric wave detection process that detects illegal electric waves, and an impact detection process that detects impacts (vibrations). In addition, in the other processes, the first special symbol reservation indicator 51a is controlled to a display mode that indicates the number based on the number of first special symbols reserved, and the second special symbol reservation indicator 52a is controlled to a display mode that indicates the number based on the number of second special symbols reserved. Then, the main side main control process S2 to S4 is repeatedly executed until the next interrupt pulse is input to the CPU 62, and when the interrupt pulse is input (approximately 4 ms later), the main side timer interrupt process (S5) is executed again. In the output process (S10) of the main side timer interrupt process executed again, the commands etc. set in the output buffer of the RAM 64 in the previous main side timer interrupt process (S5) are output to the specified board.

(Pattern sensor detection process)
Next, the symbol sensor detection process (S15) will be described with reference to FIG.
The game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the game ball has passed through the gate 13 (S30). The gate sensor 13a detects that the game ball has passed through the gate 13. When it is judged that the game ball has passed through the gate 13 (S30: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 executes a gate passing process (S31). In this gate passing process, it judges whether the number of reserved normal symbols is 4 or more, and if the number of reserved normal symbols is not 4 or more, it adds "1" to the number of reserved normal symbols and executes a process of acquiring and storing a random number for a normal symbol winning lottery to draw a normal symbol.

After S31 is completed, or if it is determined that the game ball has not passed through the gate 13 (S30: No), the game control microcomputer 61 determines whether the game ball has entered the second start hole 12a (S32). The game ball's entry into the second start hole 12a is detected by the second start hole sensor 12c. If the game ball has not entered the second start hole 12a (S32: No), the process proceeds to S38, but if it is determined that the game ball has entered the second start hole 12a (S32: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 determines whether the second special chart reservation number U2 has reached the upper limit of "4" (S33). If the second special chart reserved number U2 has reached the upper limit of "4" (S33: Yes), the process proceeds to S38. However, if the second special chart reserved number U2 has not reached "4" (S33: No), the game control microcomputer 61 adds 1 to the second special chart reserved number U2 (S34). This establishes the variable reservation condition for the second special chart.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 executes a second special chart related random number acquisition process (S35). In this second special chart related random number acquisition process, a big win random number, a big win type random number, a small win type random number, a reach random number, and a change pattern random number are acquired, and each of the acquired random numbers is stored in a memory area of the second special chart reserved memory unit 64b that corresponds to the current number of second special charts reserved. For example, if the current number of second special charts reserved is "3", each random number is stored in the fourth memory area.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 executes a second start winning command creation process (S36). In this second start winning command creation process, a second start winning command is created based on the random number groups acquired in S35. This second start winning command is composed of data indicating that the game ball has entered the second start hole 12a, data indicating the random numbers acquired in S35, and the like. Next, the game control microcomputer 61 sets the second start winning command created in S36 in the output buffer of the RAM 64 (S37). This set second start winning command is output to the sub-control board 100 in the output process (S10), and the presentation control microcomputer 101 executes presentation based on the random numbers included in the second start winning command.

Next, the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the game ball has entered the first start hole 10a (S38). The game ball entering the first start hole 10a is detected by the first start hole sensor 10b. If the game ball has not entered the first start hole 10a (S38: No), the sensor detection process is terminated, but if it is determined that the game ball has entered the first start hole 10a (S38: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the first special symbol reservation number U1 has reached the upper limit value of "4" (S39). If the first special symbol reservation number U1 has reached "4" (S39: Yes), the sensor detection process is terminated, but if the first special symbol reservation number U1 has not reached "4" (S39: No), the game control microcomputer 61 adds 1 to the first special symbol reservation number U1 (S40). This establishes the variable reservation condition for the first special symbol.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 executes a first special chart related random number acquisition process (S41). In this first special chart related random number acquisition process, a jackpot random number, a jackpot type random number, a reach random number, and a change pattern random number are acquired, and each of the acquired random numbers is stored in a memory area of the first special chart reserved memory unit 64a that corresponds to the current number of first special charts reserved. For example, if the current number of first special charts reserved is "3", each random number is stored in the fourth memory area.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 executes a first start winning command creation process (S42). In this first start winning command creation process, the first start winning command is created based on each random number group stored in the first special chart reservation memory unit 64a in S41. This first start winning command is composed of data indicating that the game ball has entered the first start hole 10a, data indicating each random number stored in the first special chart reservation memory unit 64a in S41, and the like. Next, the game control microcomputer 61 sets the first start winning command created in S42 in the output buffer of the RAM 64 (S43). This set first start winning command is output to the sub-control board 100 in the output process (S10), and the performance control microcomputer 101 executes a performance based on each random number included in the first start winning command.

(Normal operation processing)
Next, the normal operation process (S16) will be described with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG.
The game control microcomputer 61 judges whether or not the auxiliary game is being played (the normal operation member 12b is being operated) (S50), and if it is judged that the auxiliary game is not being played (S50: No), it judges whether or not the normal symbol is being displayed in a stopped state (determined display) (S51). Here, if it is judged that the normal symbol is not being displayed in a stopped state (S51: No), the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether or not the normal symbol is being displayed in a variable state (S52), and if it is judged that the normal symbol is not being displayed in a variable state (S52: No), it judges whether or not the reserved number V of the normal symbol is "0" (S53). Here, if it is judged that the reserved number V of the normal symbol is "0" (S53: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 ends the normal operation process.

In addition, if the game control microcomputer 61 determines in S53 that the reserved number V of normal symbols is not "0" (S53: No), it performs a normal symbol winning determination process (S54-1). In this normal symbol winning determination process (S54-1), a normal symbol winning determination is performed based on the relationship between the acquired normal symbol winning random number value and the normal symbol winning/losing determination table T9, and it is determined whether or not the normal symbol is a winning symbol. Then, if the normal symbol winning determination result is a winning result, a normal symbol determination process (including a normal symbol winning type determination process) is performed based on the relationship between the normal symbol winning type random number value and the normal symbol winning type determination table T10, and normal symbol stopping symbol data corresponding to the result of the normal symbol winning determination (determined normal symbol) is set in a specified memory area of RAM 64 (S54-2). In other words, in the normal pattern determination process (S54-2), if it is a "lose", data corresponding to the "normal lose pattern" is set, and if it is a "win", the normal winning pattern (normal pattern hz1 or normal pattern hz2) is determined, and data corresponding to the determined normal pattern is set.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 performs a process to determine the normal pattern change time (normal pattern change pattern) based on the relationship between the acquired normal pattern change pattern random number value and the normal pattern change pattern selection table T11 (S54-3). In the normal pattern change time determination process (S54-3), the normal pattern change time (normal pattern change pattern) is selected based on whether the game state is a non-time-saving game state or a time-saving game state, whether the normal pattern hit determination has resulted in a hit, and the relationship with the value of the normal pattern change pattern random number value.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 subtracts 1 from the number of reserved normal symbols V (S54-4), shifts the storage location (memory area) of each reserved normal symbol in the reserved normal symbol memory unit 64c from the current position to the side to be read, and clears the memory area corresponding to the fourth reserved symbol in the reserved normal symbol memory unit 64c (the memory area farthest from the side to be read) (S54-5). In this way, the reserved normal symbols are consumed in the order in which they were reserved. After that, the game control microcomputer 61 starts displaying the variation of the normal symbols in the normal symbol variation pattern selected in S54-3 (S54-6). In addition, in conjunction with this, a normal symbol variation start command is set to inform the sub-control board 100 of the start of the variation of the normal symbols and the result of the variation display (the type of normal symbol to be displayed as stopped). This normal symbol variation start command includes the success or failure of the normal symbol hit judgment determined in S54-1, S54-2, and S54-3, the stop symbol, and the normal symbol variation time.

In addition, if the game control microcomputer 61 determines in S52 that the normal symbol variation display is in progress (S52: Yes), it determines whether the normal symbol variation time has ended (S55-1), and if it determines that the normal symbol variation time has not ended (S55-1: No), it ends the normal operation process. On the other hand, if it determines that the normal symbol variation time has ended (S55-1: Yes), it stops the normal symbol variation display with the display result (normal winning symbol or normal losing symbol) according to the result of the normal symbol winning judgment and the normal symbol winning type judgment (S55-2). Then, it sets a normal symbol variation stop command (variation stop command for normal symbols) to notify the sub-control board 100 that the normal symbol variation has stopped (S55-3), sets the normal symbol stop time (S55-4), and ends the normal operation process.

In addition, if the game control microcomputer 61 determines in S51 that the normal symbol is being displayed in a stopped state (S51: Yes), it determines in S56 whether the stop time of the normal symbol has ended, and if it determines that it has not ended (S56: No), it ends the normal operation processing. On the other hand, if it determines that it has ended (S56: Yes), it executes a normal symbol condition confirmation process (S57). This normal symbol condition confirmation process is a process that is executed at the timing when the normal symbol change display ends during the time-saving game state, and is a process that counts the number of times the normal symbol change display is executed during the time-saving game state, and confirms whether the condition for ending the time-saving game state based on the number of normal symbol changes has been met.

Here, referring to FIG. 15, the normal condition confirmation process (S57 in FIG. 14) will be described. The game control microcomputer 61 first judges whether the time-saving flag is ON or not (S57-1), and if the time-saving flag is OFF, that is, the game is in a non-time-saving game state (S57-1: No), the normal condition confirmation process is terminated. On the other hand, if the time-saving flag is ON, that is, the game is in a time-saving game state (S57-1: Yes), the value of the normal fluctuation counter set in the game state management process (FIG. 19, described later) at the end of the big win game state is decremented by 1 (S57-2). Next, the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the value of the normal fluctuation counter has become 0, that is, whether the end condition of the time-saving game state due to the normal fluctuation count has been established (S57-3). If the value of the normal figure fluctuation counter is determined to be 0 (S57-3: Yes), the time-saving flag is turned OFF (S57-4), and the process proceeds to S57-5. On the other hand, if the value of the normal figure fluctuation counter is determined to be 1 or more (S57-3: No), the time-saving flag is kept ON and the process proceeds to S57-5.
Then, in S57-5, the game control microcomputer 61 sets a game state designation command including information on the current game state (non-time-saving game state, time-saving 1 or time-saving 2) in the output buffer of RAM 64, and terminates the normal game condition confirmation process.
In this embodiment, the game state designation command includes, as game state information, any one of the following: non-time-saving game state, time-saving game state, big win game state (Type 1 big win state, V win state), and small win state. The game state designation command that can be set in S57-5 (the point at which a predetermined stop time has elapsed from the end of the variable display of the normal pattern) is basically a command that includes information on any one of the game states: non-time-saving game state, time-saving 1, or time-saving 2. The game state designation command set in the output buffer of RAM 64 is output to the sub-control board 100 in the output process (S10) of the main side timer interrupt process.

Returning to FIG. 14, after the normal symbol condition confirmation process (S57) is completed, the game control microcomputer 61 determines whether the normal symbol stop symbol data for the normal winning symbol is set, that is, whether there is a win or not (S58-1), and if it is determined that there is no win (S58-1: No), it ends the normal operation process. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a win (S58-1: Yes), it determines whether there is a time-saving game state (S58-2), and if it is determined that there is a time-saving game state (S58-2: Yes), it executes the normal operation pattern determination process (time-saving) (S58-3). On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a win (S58-1: Yes) and that there is a non-time-saving game state (S58-2: No), it executes the normal operation pattern determination process (non-time-saving) (S58-4).

Here, in the normal operation pattern determination process (time reduction) of S58-3, the game control microcomputer 61 determines the normal operation pattern of the normal operation member 12b based on the item corresponding to the current time reduction game state among "time reduction 1" and "time reduction 2" in the normal winning type determination table T10 (FIG. 9) described above. Then, in the following S58-5, the operation pattern is set and the auxiliary game (operation of the normal operation member 12b) is started. As a result, if the normal winning judgment is a winning judgment result, if the time reduction 1 is in progress, the second start hole 12a is opened for 0.07 seconds (70 ms) or 2.7 seconds (2700 ms), and if the time reduction 2 is in progress, the second start hole 12a is opened for 2.7 seconds (2700 ms). Then, the normal operation process is terminated.
In contrast, in the normal operation pattern determination process (non-time shortening) of S58-4, the normal operation pattern of the normal operation member 12b is determined based on the "non-time shortening" item in the normal winning type determination table T10 (FIG. 9) described above. Then, in the following S58-5, the operation pattern is set and the auxiliary game (operation of the normal operation member 12b) is started. As a result, if the normal winning determination is a winning result during the non-time shortening game state, the second start hole 12a is opened for 0.07 seconds (70 ms). Then, the normal operation process is terminated.

In addition, when the game control microcomputer 61 judges in the above-mentioned S50 that the auxiliary game is being played (the normal operating member 12b is in operation) (S50: Yes), it judges whether or not the end condition of the auxiliary game (the operation end condition of the normal operating member 12b) is satisfied (S59-1). Here, the operation end condition is an operation time end condition that the operation time for each operation pattern set in S58-3 or S58-4 has ended, or a specified number of balls entered condition that the number of balls entered into the second starting hole 12a has reached a specified number of balls entered.
When the game control microcomputer 61 determines that the operation end condition is not satisfied (S59-1: No), it ends the normal operation process. On the other hand, when it determines that the operation end condition is satisfied (S59-1: Yes), it ends the auxiliary game (operation of the normal operating member 12b) (S59-2) and ends the normal operation process.

(Special pattern waiting process)
Next, the special symbol waiting process (S17) will be described with reference to FIG.
The game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the variation time or the stop time of the special symbol is being measured (S60), and if it is being measured (S60: Yes), the special symbol standby process is terminated. On the other hand, if neither the variation time nor the stop time of the special symbol is being measured (S60: No), the process proceeds to S61. In S61, the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the second special symbol reserved number U2 is "0". Then, if it is judged not to be "0" (S61: No), that is, if the start condition for the variable display of the second special symbol is established, the game control microcomputer 61 executes the second special symbol winning judgment process (S62) described later, and then executes the second special symbol variation pattern selection process (S63) for determining the special symbol variation pattern of the variable display of the second special symbol. In the second special symbol variation pattern selection process (S63), the special symbol variation pattern is determined by referring to the special symbol variation pattern selection table (not shown) based on whether the time-saving flag described later is ON (whether the game is in a time-saving game state), whether the big win flag is ON (whether the big win has been won), and whether the small win flag is ON (whether the small win has been won). Next, the game control microcomputer 61 subtracts "1" from the second special symbol reservation number U2 (S64), and shifts each data stored in each storage area of the second special symbol reservation storage unit 64b one by one to the storage area with the oldest storage order, that is, the side to be read (S65). Next, the game control microcomputer 61 executes the second special symbol variation start process (S66). In this second special symbol variation start process, the special symbol variation start command is set in the output buffer of the RAM 64, and the second special symbol display 52 starts displaying the variation of the second special symbol. The special symbol variation start command set in the output buffer of the RAM 64 includes data of the special symbol stop symbol set in the second special symbol hit determination process (FIG. 17) described later and data of the second special symbol variation pattern set in the second special symbol variation pattern selection process. After executing S66, the game control microcomputer 61 ends the special symbol standby process.

In addition, when the game control microcomputer 61 determines in the above-mentioned S61 that the second special chart reserved number U2 is "0" (S61: Yes), it determines whether the first special chart reserved number U1 is "0" (S67). When it is determined that it is not "0" (S67: No), that is, when the start condition for the variable display of the first special chart is established, the game control microcomputer 61 executes the first special chart hit determination process (S68) described later, and then executes the first special chart change pattern selection process (S69) for determining the special chart change pattern of the variable display of the first special chart. In addition, in the first special chart change pattern selection process (S69), the special chart change pattern is determined by referring to the special chart change pattern selection table (not shown) based on whether the time-saving flag described later is ON (whether the game is in a time-saving game state), whether the big win flag is ON (whether the big win has been won), and whether the small win flag is ON (whether the small win has been won). Next, the game control microcomputer 61 subtracts "1" from the first special symbol reservation number U2 (S70), and shifts each data stored in each storage area of the first special symbol reservation memory unit 64a one by one to the storage area with the oldest storage order, that is, the side to be read (S71). Next, the game control microcomputer 61 executes the first special symbol variation start process (S72). In this first special symbol variation start process, a special symbol variation start command is set in the output buffer of the RAM 64, and the first special symbol variation display is started on the first special symbol display 51. The special symbol variation start command set in the output buffer of the RAM 64 includes the data of the special symbol stop symbol set in the first special symbol hit determination process (FIG. 17) described later and the data of the first special symbol variation pattern set in the first special symbol variation pattern selection process. After executing S72, the game control microcomputer 61 ends the special symbol standby process.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the first special symbol reservation number U1 is "0" (S67: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 determines whether or not it is in a standby state (S73). The standby state refers to a state in which it is not in a big win game state, the special symbol is not fluctuating, and the special symbol reservation number is zero. More specifically, the standby state is a state that occurs when, in addition to the above-mentioned conditions, the special symbol (or performance symbol) is stopped and a certain period of time has elapsed after the stop display (confirmation display) of the symbol. Here, when it is determined that it is in a standby state (S73: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 ends the special symbol standby process. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not in a standby state (S73: No), the game control microcomputer 61 executes a standby screen setting process (S74). In this standby screen setting process, a predetermined standby time is measured, and a customer waiting standby command for displaying the standby screen is set in the output buffer of the RAM 64 after the elapse of this standby time. Thereafter, the game control microcomputer 61 ends the special symbol waiting process.
In this manner, in this embodiment, the variable display of the first special chart is performed only when the second special chart reservation number U2 is "0" (S61: Yes). In other words, the consumption of the second special chart reservation is executed in priority to the consumption of the first special chart reservation.

(Special drawing hit determination processing)
Next, the second special chart hit determination process (S61) and the first special chart hit determination process (S67) will be described with reference to Fig. 17. The second special chart hit determination process and the first special chart hit determination process have the same process flow, so they will be described together.

The game control microcomputer 61 reads the jackpot random number stored in the first memory area of the special chart reservation memory section of the RAM 64 (S80) and refers to the hit/miss judgment table (hit/miss judgment table T1 in this example) (S81). Next, the game control microcomputer 61 refers to the range of random number values (judgment values) corresponding to the jackpot in the hit/miss judgment table T1 and judges whether or not there is a random number value the same as the jackpot random number value read in S80, that is, judges whether or not there is a jackpot (S82).

If it is determined that a jackpot has been reached (S82: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 turns on the jackpot flag indicating that a jackpot has been reached (S83). After that, the game control microcomputer 61 reads out the jackpot type random number stored in the first storage area of the special chart reserve storage section, and determines the type of jackpot by referring to a jackpot type determination table (in this example, jackpot type determination tables T2 and T3) in which multiple jackpot types are set (S84). The jackpot pattern of the special chart, the stop pattern of the special chart, the distribution rate, the maximum number of rounds, and the jackpot performance pattern are different depending on the type of jackpot. In addition, the upper limit number of times that the special chart can be displayed during the time-saving game state is also determined depending on the type of jackpot. After that, the game control microcomputer 61 sets the special chart stop pattern data for stopping (determined display) the jackpot pattern of the special chart according to the type of jackpot determined in S84 in the special chart buffer provided in the RAM 64 (S88), and ends this process.

On the other hand, if it is not determined to be a big win (S82: No), the game control microcomputer 61 refers to the range of random numbers corresponding to the small win in the win/loss determination table T1, and determines whether there is a random number that is the same as the big win random number read in S80, that is, whether it is a small win or not (S85). As described above, there is a case where a small win is not won in the lottery of the first special chart, but a small win is won in the lottery of the second special chart. If it is determined to be a small win (S85: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 turns on a small win flag indicating that it has been determined to be a small win (S86). After that, the game control microcomputer 61 reads out the small win type random number stored in the first storage area of the special chart reserve storage unit, and refers to the small win type determination table T4 in which multiple small win types are set, and determines the type of small win (S87). Depending on the type of small win, the small win pattern of the special chart, the stop pattern of the special chart, the distribution rate, the small win performance pattern, etc. differ. In addition, depending on the type of small win, it is also determined whether or not a big win state occurs when a specific area is passed, whether the time-saving game state continues, or whether the time-saving game state ends. After that, the game control microcomputer 61 sets the special symbol stop pattern data for stopping (confirming) the small win pattern of the special symbol according to the type of small win determined in S87 in the special symbol buffer provided in the RAM 64 (S88), and ends this process.

On the other hand, if it is not determined to be a small win (S85: No), i.e., if it is determined to be a miss, the game control microcomputer 61 sets the special chart stop pattern data for stopping and displaying (confirming display) the missing pattern of the special chart in the special chart buffer (S88), and ends this process.

(Special pattern related processing)
Next, the special symbol-related process (S18) will be described with reference to FIG.
The game control microcomputer 61 first judges whether it is the end timing of the measurement of the fluctuation time (time according to the special symbol fluctuation pattern set in S98) of the special symbols (first special symbol, second special symbol) (S110). Then, when it is judged that it is the end timing of the fluctuation time (S110: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 displays the stop symbol of the special symbol according to the special symbol stop symbol data set in S88 (confirms the fluctuation display of the special symbol) (S111-1) and sets the special symbol fluctuation stop command (fluctuation stop command for the special symbol) in the output buffer provided in the RAM 64 (S111-2). Also, it starts measuring the stop time of the special symbol (S111-3). Then, the game control microcomputer 61 ends the special symbol related processing after the end of S111-3.

On the other hand, if the game control microcomputer 61 determines in the above-mentioned S110 that the special symbol variation time has not ended (S110: No), it determines whether or not the measurement of the stop time of the special symbol that was started in the above-mentioned S111-3 has ended (S112). If it determines that the stop time has ended (S112: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 executes a game state management process (S113) that will be described later. Thereafter, the game control microcomputer 61 determines whether or not the jackpot flag is ON (S114-1), and if it determines that it is ON (S114-1: Yes), it executes a game state reset process (S114-2). In this game state reset process, it determines whether or not the time-saving flag is ON, and if it determines that it is ON, it turns off the time-saving flag.

When the game control microcomputer 61 determines in the above-mentioned S112 that the timing for the stop time of the special symbol has not ended (S112: No), it determines whether the game state is a jackpot game state (Type 1 jackpot state or V win state) (S115-1). For example, the game control microcomputer 61 determines that the game state is a jackpot game state when the jackpot flag is ON and neither the variation time nor the stop time of the special symbol has been measured. Then, when it is determined in this S115-1 that the game state is a jackpot game state (S115-1: Yes), it executes the special electric role processing (described later) for the Type 1 jackpot state or the V win state (2nd round and after of the Type 2 jackpot state) (S115-2). Then, after the end of S115-2, the special symbol-related processing ends.

On the other hand, if the game control microcomputer 61 determines in the above-mentioned S115-1 that the game is not in a big win game state (S115-1: No), it proceeds to S116-1 without going through the above-mentioned S115-2 and determines whether the game state is in a small win state or not. Note that the game control microcomputer 61 determines that the game is in a small win state, for example, when the small win flag is ON and neither the change time nor the stop time of the special pattern has been measured. Then, if it determines that the game is in a small win state in this S116-1 (S116-1: Yes), it executes the special electric role processing (described later) related to the small win state (S116-2). Then, after the end of S116-2, the special pattern-related processing ends.

(Game status management process)
Next, the contents of the game status management process (S113) will be described with reference to FIG.
The game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the time-saving flag is ON or not in order to judge whether the game is in a time-saving game state (S113-1). When the time-saving flag is judged to be OFF (S113-1: No), the game control microcomputer 61 proceeds to S113-7 described later. On the other hand, when the time-saving flag is judged to be ON (S113-1: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 subtracts 1 from the value of the special chart fluctuation number counter for counting the number of fluctuations of the special chart fluctuation display (first special chart, second special chart) during the time-saving game state (S113-2). After that, the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the value of the special chart fluctuation number counter after subtraction of 1 has become "0" (S113-3). Then, when the game control microcomputer 61 determines that the value of the special chart fluctuation counter after subtraction of 1 has become "0" (S113-3: Yes), it turns off the time-saving flag (S113-4), sets a game state designation command including information on the current game state (non-time-saving game state) in the output buffer of the RAM 64 (S113-5), and ends the game state management process. On the other hand, when the game control microcomputer 61 determines that the value of the special chart fluctuation counter after subtraction of 1 is not "0" in the above-mentioned S113-3 (S113-3: No), it does not turn off the time-saving flag, but sets a game state designation command including information on the current game state (time-saving 1 or time-saving 2) in the output buffer of the RAM 64 (S113-5), and ends the game state management process.

In this embodiment, the game state designation command includes, as game state information, any of the following: non-time-saving game state, time-saving game state, jackpot game state (one type jackpot state, V win state), and small win state. The game state designation command that can be set in S113-5 (the point at which a predetermined stop time has elapsed from the end of the special pattern change display) is any of the following: non-time-saving game state, time-saving 1, time-saving 2, jackpot game state (one type jackpot state), and small win state. The game state designation command set in the output buffer of RAM 64 is output to the sub-control board 100 in the output process (S10) of the main timer interrupt process. The value of the special pattern change number counter is decremented by 1 each time a special pattern change is consumed, and when the value of the special pattern change number counter becomes "0", the time-saving game state ends with the end of this pattern change. In this embodiment, in addition to the termination condition based on the number of times the special pattern changes, a termination condition based on the number of times the normal pattern changes is also set as the termination condition for the time-saving game state. In other words, during the time-saving game state, when the number of times the special pattern changes reaches the number of times that the termination condition is met (10 times) or when the number of times the normal pattern changes reaches the number of times that the termination condition is met (50 times or 100 times), the time-saving game state ends.

(Special electric device processing (Type 1 big win state, V win state))
Next, the contents of the special electric device processing (S115-2) for the first type big win state or the V win state will be described with reference to Fig. 20. The game control microcomputer 61 executes the special electric device processing shown in Fig. 20 during a period when the special symbol is neither being displayed variably nor being displayed stationarily and the big win flag is ON.

In the special electric device processing (Type 1 jackpot state, V jackpot state), the game control microcomputer 61 executes the jackpot opening setting (S117-1), the jackpot round setting (S117-2), the jackpot ending setting (S117-3), etc. In the jackpot opening setting (S117-1), the game control microcomputer 61 performs processing such as setting commands (opening command (jackpot start command), opening end command) indicating the start timing and end timing of the opening period (jackpot opening) of the jackpot game state (Type 1 jackpot state) in the output buffer of the RAM 64. In addition, in the jackpot round setting (S117-2), the game control microcomputer 61 performs processing such as setting commands (round start command (open command), round end command (close command)) indicating the start timing and end timing of the round period (round performance) of the jackpot game state (Type 1 jackpot state, V jackpot state) in the output buffer of the RAM 64. Furthermore, in the jackpot ending setting (S117-3), the game control microcomputer 61 performs processing such as setting commands (ending command, ending end command (jackpot end command)) indicating the start and end timing of the ending period (jackpot ending) of the jackpot game state (type 1 jackpot state, V jackpot state) in the output buffer of the RAM 64.

In addition, in the jackpot opening setting and jackpot ending setting described above, the game control microcomputer 61 sets the execution time of the jackpot opening and jackpot ending in a predetermined timer and measures it. In the jackpot round setting described above, the game control microcomputer 61 opens and closes the first large prize opening 14a in an operation pattern according to the type of jackpot game state. Then, during a round game, when the upper limit number of game balls enter the first large prize opening 14a or a predetermined time has passed, the game control microcomputer 61 closes the first large prize opening 14a and ends the round game. The game control microcomputer 61 opens and closes the first large prize opening 14a for the number of rounds determined for each type of jackpot game state. In addition, the game control microcomputer 61 subtracts 1 from the value of the special electric role activation valid counter each time a round of play is started, and after the round of play ends when the value of the special electric role activation valid counter becomes "0", it sets an ending command in the output buffer of the RAM 64 in the jackpot ending setting and outputs it.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether it is time to end the jackpot game state (time to end the jackpot ending) (S117-4). If it is judged that it is not time to end the jackpot game state (S117-4: No), it ends the special electric device processing (Type 1 jackpot state, V jackpot state). On the other hand, if the game control microcomputer 61 judges in S117-4 that it is time to end the jackpot game state (S117-4: Yes), it executes the processing of S117-5 to S117-8. Here, the game control microcomputer 61 turns off the jackpot flag in S117-5, turns on the time-saving flag in the following S117-6, and further sets the value of the special chart fluctuation counter for counting the number of times the special chart fluctuates during the time-saving game state to 10 in S117-7, and sets the value of the normal chart fluctuation counter for counting the number of times the normal chart fluctuates during the time-saving game state to 50 times (in the case of time-saving 1) or 100 times (in the case of time-saving 2). Then, in S117-8, the game state designation command is set in the output buffer of the RAM 64, and the special electric device processing (type 1 jackpot state, V win state) is terminated.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 ends the special symbol-related processing when the special electric device processing (Type 1 big win state, V win state) ends.

(Special electric device processing (small win state))
Next, the special electric accessory processing (S116-2) for the small win state will be described with reference to Fig. 21. The game control microcomputer 61 executes the special electric accessory processing (small win) shown in Fig. 21 in order to open the second large winning opening 15a based on the small win. Note that the special electric accessory processing (small win state) in this embodiment is executed in relation to the second special chart, so the description will be given on the premise of the second special chart.

The game control microcomputer 61 executes the small win opening setting (S119-1), the small win release setting (S119-2), etc. in the special electric device processing (small win state).
In the small win opening setting (S119-1), the game control microcomputer 61 performs processing such as setting commands (opening command (small win start command), opening end command) indicating the start timing and end timing of the opening period of the small win state (small win opening) in the output buffer of the RAM 64. A small win opening is an effect in which an effect image celebrating the occurrence of a small win is displayed on the effect display device 7 and music celebrating the occurrence of a small win is played from each speaker 8. In the small win opening setting, the execution time of the small win opening is set in a specified timer and measured.

In addition, in the small win release setting (S119-2), the game control microcomputer 61 controls the drive of the second special electric solenoid 15d in accordance with the already determined operation start timing of the second special operating member 15b (or the start timing of the small win state) and operation end timing of the second special operating member 15b (or the end timing of the small win state). It also performs processing such as setting commands (open command, close command) indicating the determined operation start timing and operation end timing in the output buffer of the RAM 64.

Then, the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the game ball has passed through the specific area (S119-4). The specific area sensor 55a detects that the game ball has passed through the specific area. If it is judged that the game ball has passed through the specific area (S119-3: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 turns on the jackpot flag (S119-4). Next, a game state designation command including information indicating that the game is in a V-hit state is set in the output buffer of the RAM 64 (S119-5) as a game state designation command including information on the game state. This game state designation command is output to the sub-control board 100 in the output process (S10) of the main timer interrupt process. As a result, in the pachinko game machine 1, even if the game ball passes through a specific area while the second large prize opening 15a is open, it is possible to execute control to develop the small win game state into a type 2 jackpot state (initiate a V win state) in the same way as when a jackpot is determined to have been reached by the special chart win determination.

If S119-3 is a negative judgment (S119-3: No) or after S119-5 is completed, the game control microcomputer 61 proceeds to S119-6. In this S119-6, the game control microcomputer 61 judges whether the closing condition of the second large prize winning port 15a based on the winning of a small prize is established. The closing condition of the second large prize winning port 15a based on the winning of a small prize is that the upper limit number of game balls enter after the second large prize winning port 15a is opened, or the opening time set for the opening pattern corresponding to the winning small prize has elapsed. Then, if it is judged that the closing condition of the second large prize winning port 15a is established (S119-6: Yes), the game control microcomputer 61 turns off the small prize flag (S119-7) and ends the special electric role processing (small prize game state). On the other hand, if it is determined that the condition for closing the second large prize opening 15a is not met (S119-6: No), the special electric device processing (small prize game state) is terminated without going through S119-7.

As described above, the game control microcomputer 61 functions as a "judgment means (start judgment means)" that executes a special winning judgment (start ball entry judgment, hit or miss judgment) that can determine whether or not a big winning game state or a small winning state (a ball entry possible period of the first large winning opening 14a or the second large winning opening 15a) is generated when a game ball enters the first starting opening 10a or the second starting opening 12a. The game control microcomputer 61 functions as a "drive control means" that controls the first special electric solenoid 14d and the second special electric solenoid 15d so as to change the first special operating member 14b and the second special operating member 15b from a ball entry blocking position to a ball entry allowing position based on the result of the special winning judgment (start ball entry judgment, hit or miss judgment) (by the start judgment means). In addition, the game control microcomputer 61 (start determination means) is set so that the special winning determination, which is triggered by the game ball entering the second starting hole 12a (variable starting hole) during the time-saving game state (ball-entering state), always results in a big winning game state or a small winning state (period during which ball entry is possible).
The game control microcomputer 61 also functions as a "judgment means (operation judgment means)" that executes a normal hit judgment (operational ball hit judgment, hit/miss judgment) that can determine whether or not the second start port 12a (variable start port), which is a type of start port and has a form in which the ball can or cannot be hit, is opened for a long time (2.7 seconds) (specific state) in which the game ball can be hit, triggered by the passage (entry) of the game ball through the gate 13 (operation port).The game control microcomputer 61 also functions as a "drive control means" that controls the normal electric solenoid 12d (drive source) to change the normal operating member 12b (operation member) from the normal position to the auxiliary position based on the result of the normal hit judgment (operational ball hit judgment, hit/miss judgment) (by the operation judgment means).
In addition, the game control microcomputer 61 functions as a "creation means" that creates a time-saving game state (a state where it is easy to score a ball) in which a long (2.7 seconds) open state (specific state) in the second starting hole 12a is more likely to occur than a non-time-saving game state (a normal game state). The game control microcomputer 61 (creation means) can create a plurality of types of easy-to-score states (time-saving 1 and time-saving 2) in which the number of times the normal symbols are displayed as a time-saving game state termination condition is different. In addition, the game control microcomputer 61 (creation means) can create a plurality of types of easy-to-score states (time-saving 1 and time-saving 2) in which the probability of operating the normal operating member 12b (winning the advantageous hit of the normal symbol) is different so that a long (2.7 seconds) open state (specific state) in the second starting hole 12a occurs.

[Main processing of the performance control microcomputer 101]
Next, the main processing executed by the performance control microcomputer 101 (FIG. 4) will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Sub-side main control processing)
First, the sub-side main control processing will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the performance control microcomputer 101 executes an initial setting (S160). In this initial setting, for example, stack setting, constant setting, interrupt time setting, CPU 102 setting, SIO (System Input/Output), PIO (Parallel Input/Output), CTC (Counter/Timer Circuit: a circuit for managing interrupt time), resetting of various flags, counters, timers, etc. are performed. Next, the performance control microcomputer 101 judges whether the power off signal is ON and the contents of the RAM 120 are normal (S161), and if the judgment is negative (S161: No), the performance control microcomputer 101 initializes the RAM 120 (S162) and proceeds to S163. Also, if the judgment is positive in S161 (S161: Yes), the performance control microcomputer 101 proceeds to S163 without initializing the RAM 120. In other words, if the power-off signal is not ON, or if the power-off signal is ON but the contents of the RAM 120 are not normal (S161: No), the performance control microcomputer 101 initializes the RAM 120, but if the power-off signal is ON due to a power outage or the like but the contents of the RAM 120 are kept normal (S161: Yes), the performance control microcomputer 101 does not initialize the RAM 120. Note that when the RAM 120 is initialized, the values of various flags, counters, timers, etc. are reset. Also, S160 to S162 are executed only once after the power is turned on, and are not executed thereafter.

Next, the performance control microcomputer 101 prohibits interrupts (S163) and executes a random number update process (S164). In this random number update process, the initial values of various performance determination random number counters are updated. The performance determination random numbers include a variable performance pattern random number for determining a variable performance pattern, and a notice performance random number for determining various notice performances. The random number update method can be the same as the random number update process performed by the game control microcomputer 61 described above. Next, the performance control microcomputer 101 executes a command transmission process (S165). In this command transmission process, various commands stored in the output buffer in the RAM 120 of the performance control microcomputer 101 are transmitted to the image control board 200, the sound control board 78, the lamp control board 79, and the like. Next, the performance control microcomputer 101 executes interrupt permission (S166). Thereafter, S163 to S166 are repeatedly executed. Additionally, while interrupts are enabled, it is possible to execute reception interrupt processing (S167), 1 ms timer interrupt processing (S168), and 10 ms timer interrupt processing (S169).

(Reception interrupt processing)
Next, the reception interrupt process (S167) will be described.
The performance control microcomputer 101 judges whether the signal level of the strobe signal (STB signal) given from the main control board 60 to the external INT (interrupt) input section of the performance control microcomputer 101 has changed, that is, whether it is time to receive a command. For example, it judges whether the signal level of the strobe signal has changed from high to low. If it is determined that it is not time to receive, the performance control microcomputer 101 ends this process. On the other hand, if it is determined that it is time to receive, the performance control microcomputer 101 receives various commands transmitted from the main control board 60 and stores the various received commands in the reception buffer of the RAM 120. This reception interrupt process is executed in priority to other interrupt processes (S168, S169).

(1 ms timer interrupt processing)
Next, the 1 ms timer interrupt process (S168) will be described with reference to FIG.
The performance control microcomputer 101 executes this 1 ms timer interrupt process each time an interrupt pulse with a 1 ms period is input to the sub-control board 100. The performance control microcomputer 101 executes input processing (S170). In this input processing, the performance control microcomputer 101 creates switch data (edge data and level data) indicating that the switch is ON based on detection signals from the performance lever push detection switch 6a, the performance lever rotation detection switch 6b, and the performance button detection switch 5a.

Next, the performance control microcomputer 101 executes output processing (S171). In this output processing, the variable performance start command set in the output buffer of the RAM 120 in the variable performance control processing described later is output to the image control board 200. Also, in order to make the board lamp 2a, the left side lamp 23a, and the right side lamp 23b emit light in accordance with the display of the performance display device 7, the lamp data created in the lamp processing (S183) in the 10 ms timer interrupt processing described later is output to the lamp control board 79. In other words, the board lamp 2a, the left side lamp 23a, and the right side lamp 23b emit light in a predetermined light emission mode according to the lamp data. Also, in order to drive the movable body motor 23d in accordance with the display of the performance display device 7, drive data (data for driving the movable body motor 23d) is created and the created drive data is output. In other words, the movable body motor 23d is driven in a predetermined operation pattern according to the drive data. Also, in order to output sound from the speaker 8 in accordance with the display of the performance display device 7, sound data created by the sound control process (S184) in the 10 ms timer interrupt process described below is output to the sound control board 78. In other words, sound is output from the speaker 8 according to the sound data.

Next, the performance control microcomputer 101 judges whether or not a variable performance start command (special chart variable start command or normal chart variable start command) has been output in S171 (S172). The variable performance start command is a command output to the image control board 200 when a variable performance start command is input from the game control microcomputer 61. In addition, during a non-time-saving game state, the special chart variable performance start command is output to the image control board 200 in response to the input of the special chart variable start command, and during a time-saving game state, the normal chart variable performance start command is output to the image control board 200 in response to the input of the normal chart variable start command. Here, when the performance control microcomputer 101 judges that the variable performance start command has been output (S172: Yes), it starts measuring the variable performance pattern variable time (S173). Next, the performance control microcomputer 101 performs watchdog timer processing to reset the watchdog timer (S174). After S174 ends, or if it is determined that the variable performance start command has not been output (S172: No), the performance control microcomputer 101 ends this process.

(10ms timer interrupt processing)
Next, the 10 ms timer interrupt process (S169) will be described with reference to FIG.
The performance control microcomputer 101 executes this 10 ms timer interrupt processing every time an interrupt pulse with a 10 ms period is input to the sub-control board 100. The performance control microcomputer 101 executes a received command analysis process (FIG. 25) described later (S180) and executes a switch state acquisition process (S181). In this switch state acquisition process, the switch data created in the input process (S170) of the 1 ms timer interrupt process is stored in the RAM 120 as switch data for the 10 ms timer interrupt process. Next, based on the switch data stored in the switch state acquisition process, a switch process is executed to set the display contents of the button performance, etc. displayed by the performance display device 7 (S182). Next, the performance control microcomputer 101 executes a lamp process (S183). In this lamp process, lamp data is created to control the light emission of each lamp (board lamp 2a, left side lamp 23a, right side lamp 23b, etc.) in accordance with the display of the performance display device 7, and time management of the light emission performance is performed. As a result, each lamp performs a light emission performance in accordance with the display of the performance display device 7.

Then, the performance control microcomputer 101 executes the audio control process (S184). In this audio control process, the microcomputer 101 creates audio data (data for controlling the output of audio from each speaker 8), outputs the created audio data to the audio control board 78, and manages the time of the audio performance. As a result, audio is output from each speaker 8 in accordance with the display of the performance display device 7. The performance control microcomputer 101 then executes other processes (S185) and ends this process. In the other processes (S185), the microcomputer 101 executes processes such as updating the variable performance pattern random number and the advance performance random number for determining the advance performance. In addition, in the other processes (S185), the microcomputer 101 executes a right-hit performance process for performing a right-hit performance that encourages the player to hit the right, and a performance mode setting process for setting the performance mode (described later) in accordance with the game situation specified in response to the reception of various commands from the game control microcomputer 61 (S180).

(Received command analysis process)
Next, the received command analysis process (S330) will be described with reference to FIG.
The microcomputer 101 for controlling the performance judges whether or not it has received a game state designation command from the main control board 60 (S190-1), and when it judges that it has received the command (S190-1: Yes), it executes a sub-side game state setting process (S190-2). The game state designation command includes information indicating the game state (whether it is a non-time-saving game state, a time-saving game state, a type 1 big win state, a small win state, or a V win state). In this sub-side game state setting process, the received game state designation command is analyzed, and the game state currently set is identified based on the information included in the game state designation command, and the game state flag indicating that game state is set to "1", and the other game state flags are set to "0". In addition, the microcomputer 101 for controlling the performance ends the measurement of the stop time (of the left, center, and right performance patterns 7L, 7C, and 7R) that was started in the variable performance end process (S196-2, when the special pattern variable stop command is received) described later.
After completing the processing of S190-2, or if it is determined in S190-1 that a game state designation command has not been received (S190-1: No), the performance control microcontroller 101 proceeds to S191-1.

The performance control microcontroller 101 determines whether or not it has received a start winning command (first start winning command or second start winning command) from the main control board 60 (S191-1), and if it determines that it has been received (S191-1: Yes), it proceeds to S191-2 and stores the start winning information contained in the start winning command received in S191-1 in the first special chart hold performance memory unit 121 or the second special chart hold performance memory unit 122 (updates the memory).
After completing the processing of S191-2, or if it determines in S191-1 that it has not received the start winning command (S191-1: No), the performance control microcontroller 101 proceeds to S192-1.

The performance control microcontroller 101 determines whether or not it has received an active ball entry command (information on the result of the normal ball hit determination) from the main control board 60 (S192-1), and if it determines that it has been received (S192-1: Yes), it proceeds to S192-2 and stores the active ball entry information contained in the active ball entry command received in S192-1 in the normal ball hold performance memory unit 125 (updates the memory).
After completing the processing of S192-2, or if it determines in S192-1 that it has not received an activation ball entry command (S192-1: No), the performance control microcontroller 101 proceeds to S193-1.

The performance control microcomputer 101 judges whether an opening command has been received from the main control board 60 (S193-1), and if it is judged that an opening command has been received (S193-1: Yes), executes an opening performance selection process (S193-2). In this opening performance selection process, the opening command is analyzed, and a pattern (content) of the opening performance to be executed in the opening in the big win game state is selected based on the analysis result. In detail, an opening performance pattern selection table (not shown) in which an opening performance pattern is set in correspondence with each opening command is referenced, and an opening performance pattern associated with the received opening command is selected. Then, an opening performance start command for starting an opening performance with the selected opening performance pattern is set in the output buffer of the RAM 120.
After completing the processing of S193-2, or if it is determined in S193-1 that an opening command has not been received (S193-1: No), the performance control microcontroller 101 proceeds to S194-1.

The performance control microcomputer 101 judges whether or not a round designation command has been received from the main control board 60 (S194-1). If it is judged in this process that a round designation command has been received (S194-1: Yes), a round performance selection process is executed (S194-2). In the round performance selection process, the type of round performance to be executed in each round of the big win gaming state is selected, and a round performance start command for starting the selected round performance is set in the output buffer of the RAM 120.
After completing the processing of S194-2, or if it determines in S194-1 that it has not received a round designation command (S194-1: No), the performance control microcontroller 101 proceeds to S195-1.

The microcomputer 101 for controlling the presentation judges whether or not an ending command has been received from the main control board 60 (S195-1), and if it judges that an ending command has been received (S195-1: Yes), executes an ending presentation selection process (S195-2). In this ending presentation selection process, the ending command is analyzed, and a pattern (content) of the ending presentation to be executed at the ending of the big win game state is selected based on the analysis result. In detail, an ending presentation pattern selection table (not shown) in which an ending presentation pattern is set in correspondence with each ending command is referenced, and an ending presentation pattern associated with the received ending command is selected. Then, an ending presentation start command for starting an ending presentation with the selected ending presentation pattern is set in the output buffer of the RAM 120.
After completing the processing of S195-2, or if it determines in S195-1 that an ending command has not been received (S195-1: No), the performance control microcontroller 101 proceeds to S196-1.

The performance control microcontroller 101 determines whether or not it has received a (special chart) variation start command from the main control board 60 (S196-1), and if it determines that it has been received (S196-1: Yes), it proceeds to S196-2 and performs processing such as shifting the memory contents in the first special chart pending performance memory unit 121 or the second special chart pending performance memory unit 122 to the corresponding variation performance memory unit 123.
After completing the processing of S196-2, or if it determines in S196-1 that it has not received a fluctuation start command (S196-1: No), the performance control microcontroller 101 proceeds to S197-1.

The performance control microcontroller 101 determines whether or not it has received a normal map change start command from the main control board 60 (S197-1), and if it determines that it has been received (S197-1: Yes), it proceeds to S197-2 and performs processing such as shifting the memory contents in the normal map hold performance memory unit 125.
After completing the processing of S197-2, or if it determines in S197-1 that it has not received the normal map change start command (S197-1: No), the performance control microcontroller 101 proceeds to S198.

Then, in S198, the performance control microcomputer 101 executes variable performance control processing related to the variable performance executed on the display screen of the performance display device 7. Then, the performance control microcomputer 101 executes processing related to the reception of commands other than the above commands (such as a special chart variable stop command) (S199), and ends the received command analysis processing.

[Composition of General Electric Winning Unit U]
Here, the specific configuration of the regular electric winning unit U having the features of the present invention will be described mainly with reference to Figures 26 to 34 etc.

As shown in Figures 26(a), 27(a), 29(a) and 29(b), the normal power winning unit U is a housing (container) consisting of a unit base 130, a middle cover 131 (first member) and an upper cover 132 (second member), which accommodates the above-mentioned normal power solenoid 12d and normal operating member 12b, as well as an intrusion prevention member 180 (intrusion prevention means) described below.
The unit base 130 constituting the lower part of the normal power winning unit U is a rectangular box-shaped box with an open top, inside which the normal power solenoid 12d is arranged. The specific structure of this normal power solenoid 12d is not shown, but in general, the plunger biased by a compression coil spring is moved forward and backward by energizing (exciting) and deenergizing (demagnetizing) the coil on the outer periphery, thereby generating linear power. A middle cover 131 constituting the middle part of the normal power winning unit U is arranged to cover the upper opening of the unit base 130 on which the normal power solenoid 12d is arranged, and the normal operating member 12b is placed on the upper surface of the middle cover 131 (see FIG. 31). In addition, a link means 136 is arranged on the unit base 130 and the middle cover 131 to transmit the left-right power of the plunger of the normal power solenoid 12d to the normal operating member 12b as a forward-rearward power. A part of the link means 136 is located on the left side of the middle cover 131 (see FIG. 31), and is connected to the normal operating member 12b. The upper cover 132, which constitutes the upper part of the normal electric winning unit U, is arranged to cover the upper surface of the middle cover 131 on which the normal operating member 12b is placed.

31, the middle cover 131 of the normal electric winning unit U is a member having a mounting portion 138 on its upper surface on which the normal operating member 12b can be placed, and the upper cover 132 is a member having a covering portion 145 that covers from above the normal operating member 12b placed on the mounting portion 138. By assembling the upper cover 132 to the middle cover 131 from above, the normal operating member 12b is held movably between the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132.
The normal power winning unit U is configured so that when the normal power solenoid 12d is in a demagnetized state (non-driven state), the normal operating member 12b, which can slide back and forth, is positioned at the rear end of its range of movement (normal posture), and when the normal power solenoid 12d is in an excited state (driven state), the normal operating member 12b is positioned at the front end of its range of movement (auxiliary posture). The normal power solenoid 12d in this normal power winning unit U is driven and controlled by the game control microcomputer 61 (drive control means) (switching from one of the demagnetized state and the excited state to the other), so that the normal operating member 12b changes from one of the normal posture and the auxiliary posture to the other.

In addition, although the normal operating member 12b in this embodiment is configured to be displaced between a position/posture (assistance position/assistance posture) that assists the entry of the game ball into the second starting hole 12a and a position/posture (normal position/normal posture) that does not assist, it is not structured to directly open and close the second starting hole 12a. Therefore, the normal electric winning unit U is provided with an intrusion prevention member 180 as a member that directly opens and closes the second starting hole 12a (see Figures 29(a) and 29(b), etc.). This intrusion prevention member 180 is arranged between the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132, similar to the normal operating member 12b, and is configured to be displaceable between a ball entry prevention position (a closed position that blocks a part of the second starting hole 12a) that prevents the game ball from entering the second starting hole 12a and a ball entry permission position (an open position shifted from the second starting hole 12a) that allows the game ball to enter the second starting hole 12a. The specific shape of this intrusion prevention member 180 will be described later.

As shown in Figures 26(a), 27(a), 28(a), 29(a) and 29(b), the normal electric winning unit U has a holder 133 that protrudes forward from the right side of the front surface. This holder 133 is a part that holds the second start hole sensor 12c inside, and is provided so as to protrude forward from the front surface of the mounting plate 31 (front surface of the game board 2) when the normal electric winning unit U is attached to the rear surface of the mounting plate 31. The second start hole 12a (ball entry hole) is formed on the ball entry hole forming surface 148, which is the side (left side) of the normal operating member 12b. In contrast, the second start hole sensor 12c housed in the holder 133 is a thin rectangular parallelepiped, and a detection hole KH for detecting game balls is formed in the front part of the thin wall direction. The detection hole KH of the second starting hole sensor 12c faces the second starting hole 12a from the inside of the holder 133 and is exposed to the left space of the holder 133 (the area where the ball rolling path R is formed).

(About the assembly of the regular electric unit U)
Here, we will explain the configuration regarding the attachment of the normal power winning unit U to the game board 2 (mounting plate 31) and the configuration regarding the assembly of the housing that accommodates each component of the normal power winning unit U (in particular, the assembly of the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132 to each other).

27(b) and 28(b), the normal power winning unit U is attached from the rear to the rear surface (mounting hole 31a) of the mounting plate 31 (mounting object) constituting the game board 2. In this normal power winning unit U, the unit base 130 and the middle cover 131 are assembled in the vertical direction, and the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132 are also assembled in the vertical direction. The normal power solenoid 12d and the linking means 136 are housed between the unit base 130 and the middle cover 131, and the normal operating member 12b, the linking means 136, the second start port sensor 12c, and the intrusion prevention member 180 are housed between the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132. Therefore, by assembling the unit base 130, the middle cover 131, and the upper cover 132 in the vertical direction, the assembly work efficiency of each member to be housed is improved compared to when they are assembled in the front-back or left-right direction. That is, the normal solenoid 12d and part of the linking means 136 can be placed on the unit base 130, and the middle cover 131 can be assembled so as to cover them, which makes it easy to store and hold the normal solenoid 12d and the linking means 136. Also, the normal operating member 12b, part of the linking means 136, the second start sensor 12c, and the intrusion prevention member 180 can be placed on the middle cover 131 (the aforementioned mounting portion 138), and the upper cover 132 can be assembled so as to cover them, which makes it easy to clamp the normal operating member 12b, the linking means 136, the second start sensor 12c, and the intrusion prevention member 180.

In this embodiment, the holder 133 is constructed by assembling the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132 together, and the second start port sensor 12c can be inserted and removed through an insertion/removal opening (not shown) formed on the rear surface. However, when the upper cover 132 is removed, the second start port sensor 12c can be detached upward from the middle cover 131. Therefore, if the second start port sensor 12c is attached and detached at the same time as the upper cover 132 is attached and detached to and from the middle cover 131, the second start port sensor 12c can be attached and detached more easily than through the insertion/removal opening. The holder 133 may be constructed of only one of the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132.

As shown in Figures 26, 29(a) and 29(b), when the upper cover 132 is assembled to the middle cover 131, the concave portion formed on the upper edge of the front of the middle cover 131 and the concave portion formed on the lower edge of the front of the upper cover 132 are aligned vertically, so that the advance/retract opening 134 through which the normal operating member 12b moves is formed to open to the front of the normal electric winning unit U. This advance/retract opening 134 is formed in a forward position relative to the normal operating member 12b in the normal position and in a position that allows the normal operating member 12b in the auxiliary position to pass through. As a result, when the normal operating member 12b changes from the normal position to the auxiliary position, it advances forward through the advance/retract opening 134 to expose the rolling surface 154 to the right play area 3R, and when it changes from the auxiliary position to the normal position, it retreats through the advance/retract opening 134 to the inside of the normal electric winning unit U to retract the rolling surface 154 to the outside of the right play area 3R.
A peripheral wall portion 135 that protrudes forward is formed on the opening edge of the advance/retract opening 134. This peripheral wall portion 135 is configured to fit into the mounting opening 31a of the mounting plate 31 described above from the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 26(a) and FIG. 31, the unit base 130 has lower screw insertion portions 137 on the left and right sides of its front surface. The lower screw insertion portion 137 has a screw hole (not shown) that penetrates its center in the vertical direction, and is configured to allow a screw to be inserted into this screw hole. As shown in FIG. 31, a concave fitting recess KO is formed on the upper surface of the lower screw insertion portion 137. In contrast, the middle cover 131 has lower screw receiving portions 139 that fit into the fitting recess KO (upper surface of the lower screw insertion portion 137). The lower screw receiving portion 139 has a screw threading hole (not shown) recessed from the center of its lower surface toward the upper side, and is configured to allow a screw to be screwed into this screw threading hole. When assembling the unit base 130 and the middle cover 131, the lower screw receiving portion 139 is fitted into the fitting recess KO of the lower screw insertion portion 137 (the lower screw insertion portion 137 and the lower screw receiving portion 139 are facing each other vertically), and a screw is inserted into the lower screw insertion portion 137 from below and screwed into the lower screw receiving portion 139. This joins the lower screw insertion portion 137 and the lower screw receiving portion 139 with the screw, and the unit base 130 and the middle cover 131 are fixed to each other.

26(a), 27(a), 29(a) and 31, the upper cover 132 has upper screw insertion parts 147 on the right (not shown) and left sides of its rear surface. The upper screw insertion part 147 has a screw hole (not shown) that penetrates its center in the vertical direction, and is configured to allow a screw to be inserted into the screw hole. A concave fitting recess KO is formed on the lower surface of the upper screw insertion part 147. On the other hand, the middle cover 131 has upper screw receiving parts 142 that fit into the fitting recess KO (lower surface of the upper screw insertion part 147). The upper screw receiving part 142 has a screw screw hole (not shown) recessed downward from the center of its upper surface, and is configured to allow a screw to be screwed into the screw screw hole. When assembling the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132, the upper screw receiving portion 142 is fitted into the fitting recess KO of the upper screw insertion portion 147 (the upper screw insertion portion 147 and the upper screw receiving portion 142 are facing each other vertically), and a screw is inserted into the upper screw insertion portion 147 from the top side and screwed into the upper screw receiving portion 142. As a result, the upper screw insertion portion 147 and the upper screw receiving portion 142 are joined by the screw, and the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132 are fixed to each other.

The normal electric winning unit U also has a boss receiving portion 141 (see Figs. 26(a), 27(a), 27(b), 28(a), 29(a), 29(b) and 31) that receives the boss 31b (see Fig. 27(b)) protruding from the rear surface of the mounting plate 31. The boss receiving portion 141 is specifically provided on the left side of the middle cover 131. The left side surface (one side surface) of the middle cover 131 is formed with a rectangular parallelepiped protrusion 140 that protrudes to the left (arrow Y1 direction in Fig. 29), and the boss receiving portion 141 is formed so as to protrude upward from the top surface of this protrusion 140 (arrow Y2 direction in Fig. 29, i.e., the assembly direction of the middle cover 131 to the upper cover 132). This boss receiving portion 141 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape extending in the front-rear direction, and the front surface is open in a concave shape. This opening receives the boss 31b of the mounting plate 31 (see FIG. 27(b)), allowing the normal electric winning unit U to be attached to the mounting plate 31. The boss receiving portion 141 also has a screw hole that penetrates its center in the front-to-rear direction, and a screw inserted into this screw hole is screwed into a screw threading hole (not shown) in the boss 31b, reliably connecting the boss receiving portion 141 and the boss 31b to stabilize the mounting state of the normal electric winning unit U to the mounting plate 31.

As mentioned above, the direction (front-rear direction) in which the entire normal electric winning unit U is attached to the game board 2 (mounting plate 31) intersects with the direction (up-down direction) in which the unit base 130, middle cover 131, and upper cover 132 that constitute the housing are assembled to each other. The middle cover 131 has a boss receiving portion 141 that receives a boss 31b that protrudes rearward from the mounting plate 31, and an upper screw receiving portion 142 that is connected to the upper screw insertion portion 147 of the upper cover 132 in the up-down direction (direction that intersects the front-rear direction) with a screw, and the boss receiving portion 141 is arranged so that it can receive the boss 31b when the boss 31b crosses a position that overlaps the upper screw insertion portion 147 and the upper screw receiving portion 142 in the up-down direction (direction that intersects the front-rear direction) as shown in FIG. 27(b).

As shown in Figures 29(a), 29(b) and 31, the upper cover 132 has an extension 146 extending downward (in the direction of assembly with the first member) from a side wall forming its left side surface (one side surface), and the above-mentioned upper screw insertion portion 147 is provided on the left side surface of this extension 146. As a result, the upper screw insertion portion 147 is provided biased downward to a position that avoids an adjacent position to the left side surface of the upper cover 132. Then, the boss 31b from the mounting plate 31 is positioned so as to cross the space (adjacent position to the left side surface of the upper cover 132) generated by biasing this upper screw insertion portion 147 downward, and is connected to the boss receiving portion 141.
As is clear from FIGS. 29(a) and 29(b), the extension 146 of the upper cover 132 is provided so as to be connected to the peripheral wall portion 135 surrounding the advance/retract opening 134 for reinforcement.

(Regarding the shape of the normal operating member 12b and its relationship with the front plate 32)
Next, the specific shape of the normal operating member 12b provided in the normal power winning unit U and its positional relationship with the front plate 32 (energy dissipation protrusion 39) will be described.

The normal operating member 12b is a plate-like member that basically extends horizontally, with bent parts, openings, protruding parts, etc. formed in various places, and each shape performs an appropriate function. Regarding the external shape of this normal operating member 12b, Figure 26(b) shows the cross-sectional shape of the normal operating member 12b taken along line A-A in Figure 26(a). Figure 28(a) shows the shape in plan view using solid and broken lines. Furthermore, Figure 31 shows the normal operating member 12b, as viewed from the front, placed on the placement portion 138 of the middle cover 131 with the top surface exposed.

The rear portion of the normal operating member 12b has various shapes for stably operating the normal operating member 12b in the front-rear direction, and its front portion forms the rolling surface 154 for the game ball. The rear portion of the normal operating member 12b is provided with a linking hole 151 for receiving power from the link means 136. The upper surface of the rear portion of the normal operating member 12b is provided with a guided protrusion 152 that engages with a front-rear guide groove (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the upper cover 132. Furthermore, the lower surface of the rear portion of the normal operating member 12b is provided with a sliding leg 153 for stabilizing the position of the normal operating member 12b on the middle cover 131 (mounting portion 138).

As shown in FIG. 26(a), the front portion of the normal operating member 12b that forms the rolling surface 154 is provided so that the upper surface (rolling surface 154) is inclined downward to the right when viewed from the front. The inclination angle is not constant, and the left and right ends are inclined to the right downward at a larger angle than the center. That is, as shown in FIG. 28(a) and other figures, the rolling surface 154 is composed of a middle rolling surface portion 162 that is inclined downward to the right at a specified inclination angle, a left rolling surface portion 161 that is inclined downward to the right at a larger inclination angle than the middle rolling surface portion 162 and connects to the upstream end (left end) of the middle rolling surface portion 162, and a right rolling surface portion 163 that is inclined downward to the right from the downstream end (right end) of the middle rolling surface portion 162 at a larger inclination angle than the middle rolling surface portion 162.

As is clear from FIG. 26(a), the inclination angle of the middle rolling surface portion 162 of the normal operating member 12b is set so that the extension of the inclination direction reaches a position above the lower edge of the second starting hole 12a (a position above the lower end of the detection hole KH of the second starting hole sensor 12c). The right rolling surface portion 163 is provided so as to connect the downstream end of the middle rolling surface portion 162 to the lower edge of the second starting hole 12a (the inclination angle is set). In other words, when the game ball rolls vigorously on the middle rolling surface portion 162 and flies out in the inclined direction, the game ball will enter the second starting hole 12a (pass through the detection hole KH) after contacting the upper edge of the ball entry hole forming surface 148 in the holder 133 and reducing its moving speed, and it is avoided from entering the second starting hole 12a (passing through the detection hole KH) at high speed. This makes it possible to prevent false detections by the second starting port sensor 12c.

As is clear from the relationship between Figures 2B and 28(b), the upper surface of the normal operating member 12b is configured so that the boundary between the left rolling surface portion 161 and the middle rolling surface portion 162 is located on the destination side of the game ball discharged from the exit of the gate passage 34. In other words, when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position and a game ball passes through the gate 13 and is discharged from the gate passage 34, the game ball is received by the downstream end of the left rolling surface portion 161 and the upstream end of the middle rolling surface portion 162 on the rolling surface 154. In this case, the large inclination angle of the left rolling surface portion 161 reliably prevents the received game ball from flowing to the left side.

In addition, as is clear from the vertical cross-sectional side view of the normal operating member 12b shown in Figure 26(b), the front portion of the normal operating member 12b is formed so that the plate thickness gradually decreases toward the front end, and the vertical dimension of the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b (the moving tip surface when changing from the normal position to the auxiliary position) is small. In other words, a problem that can occur with the normal operating member 12b has traditionally been the risk of the game ball being pinched between the rear surface of the front plate 32 and the front and rear of the member when changing from the normal position to the auxiliary position (so-called "ball pinching" occurs); however, by reducing the area of the front end surface 155 (the surface facing the rear surface of the front plate 32), the possibility of such ball pinching is reduced.

28(a), the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b is, based on the front position of the boundary between the left rolling surface portion 161 and the middle rolling surface portion 162, a left inclined surface 171 on the left side that moves away from the front plate 32 and continues to the left end surface 157 as it approaches the left end surface 157 (the side end surface on the upstream end side) of the normal operating member 12b (as it moves leftward), and a right inclined surface 172 on the right side that moves away from the front plate 32 and continues to the right end surface 158 as it approaches the right end surface 158 (the side end surface on the downstream end side) of the normal operating member 12b (as it moves rightward). That is, the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b is configured to prevent ball biting when the game ball is about to pass in front of the left inclined surface 171 at the timing when the normal operating member 12b changes from the normal position to the auxiliary position, by having the left inclined surface 171 press the game ball against the rear surface of the front plate 32 while moving it to the left. Also, the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b is configured to prevent ball biting when the game ball is about to pass in front of the right inclined surface 172 at the timing when the normal operating member 12b changes from the normal position to the auxiliary position, by having the right inclined surface 172 press the game ball against the rear surface of the front plate 32 while moving it to the right.

Here, as shown in Figures 2D, 27(b) and 28(b), the rear surface of the front plate 32 is provided with a pyramidal energy dissipation protrusion 39 that protrudes rearward. Note that, on the front side of the front plate 32 shown in Figure 2C, the front position of the energy dissipation protrusion 39 is concave. As is clear from the positional relationship between the concave portion (energy dissipation protrusion 39) and the normal operating member 12b (shown by a broken line) in Figure 2C and Figure 27(b), the energy dissipation protrusion 39 is located slightly above the normal operating member 12b (a close position where the vertical separation dimension is equal to or less than the diameter of the game ball). As shown in Figure 28(b), the energy dissipation protrusion 39 is provided in an upper position relative to the gap that occurs between the left inclined surface 171 of the normal operating member 12b and the front plate 32, avoiding an upper position relative to the position of the normal operating member 12b in the auxiliary posture. In other words, by providing the energy dissipation protrusion 39, it is possible to slow down the speed of the game ball flowing down the right game area 3R, and it is also possible to reduce the possibility of the game ball reaching the gap between the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b and the rear surface of the front plate 32, thereby preventing ball jamming.

28(b) and other figures, the energy dissipating protrusion 39 is located forward and slightly above the boundary between the left rolling surface portion 161 and the middle rolling surface portion 162. As described above, the energy dissipating protrusion 39 is located in close proximity to the normal operating member 12b, so that a game ball that passes through the gate 13 and is released downward and slightly forward from the exit of the gate passage 34 will also come into contact with the energy dissipating protrusion 39 at approximately the same time (or immediately after) it is received at the boundary between the left rolling surface portion 161 and the middle rolling surface portion 162 on the upper surface (rolling surface 154) of the normal operating member 12b. Here, the apex 39T of the energy dissipation projection 39, which is the most protruding position from the rear surface of the front plate 32, is located slightly to the left of the boundary between the left rolling surface portion 161 and the middle rolling surface portion 162 and the center position of the gate passage 34 in a plan view (see FIG. 28(b)) (specifically, at approximately the same left-right position as the left end of the gate passage 34). In this case, the game ball released from the exit of the gate passage 34 changes its direction of travel when it comes into contact with the inclined portion of the energy dissipation projection 39 to the right of the apex 39T, and moves downstream of the middle rolling surface portion 162. In other words, the energy dissipation projection 39 is located on the destination side of the game ball that has passed through the gate 13, and has an inclined shape that guides the game ball from the gate 13 onto the normal operating member 12b (middle rolling surface portion 162) in the auxiliary position.

(Regarding the intrusion prevention member 180)
Next, the intrusion prevention member 180 provided in the normal power winning unit U will be described.

The normal electric winning unit U is provided with an intrusion prevention member 180 (intrusion prevention means) that can be displaced between a ball entry prevention position (see FIG. 29(a)) that prevents the game ball from entering the second starting hole 12a and a ball entry permission position (see FIG. 27(a) and FIG. 29(b)) that allows the game ball to enter. In this embodiment, the intrusion prevention member 180 is separate from the normal operating member 12b, and as shown in FIG. 31, is pivotally supported on the upper surface of the above-mentioned middle cover 131 of the normal electric winning unit U. The intrusion prevention member 180 is configured to swing up and down in conjunction with the movement of the normal operating member 12b in the front-rear direction.
The ball entry blocking position of the intrusion prevention member 180 is a position between the area where the ball rolling path R is formed (the upper area of the rolling surface 154) when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position and the ball entry opening forming surface 148 (the second starting opening 12a) of the holder 133. The ball entry allowing position is a position above the ball entry blocking position. The intrusion prevention member 180 is configured to be located at the ball entry blocking position when the normal operating member 12b is at least in the normal position. More specifically, the intrusion prevention member 180 is located at the ball entry blocking position when the normal operating member 12b is in the normal position, and is located at the ball entry allowing position when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position. That is, the intrusion prevention member 180 is displaced from one side to the ball entry blocking position and the ball entry allowing position in conjunction with the movement of the normal operating member 12b in the forward and backward directions (the change between the normal position and the auxiliary position).

Figures 30(a) and 30(b) show the relative positions of the normal operating member 12b and the intrusion prevention member 180 inside the normal electric winning unit U, as seen from the right side. The housing is basically not shown, and only its front surface HF, the second starting hole 12a, and the position of the detection hole KH are shown by two-dot chain lines. The intrusion prevention member 180 has an arm 182 that swings up and down based on a shaft 181 at the rear end, and the tip side of this arm 182 is connected to an opening/closing part 185 that opens and closes the second starting hole 12a. In addition, an arm protrusion 183 for preventing fraud is provided at the rear end of the arm 182 (rear of the shaft 181).

When the normal solenoid 12d is in a demagnetized state (non-driven state), the normal operating member 12b is located behind the front HF of the normal winning unit U (housing) (normal position) as shown in Figure 30 (a). In this case, since the intrusion prevention member 180 is separated from the extrusion surface 156, which is a forward-downward inclined surface provided on the normal operating member 12b, the tip side (opening/closing part 185 side) is in a position lower than the height of the shaft 181 due to its own weight (located at the swing bottom end), and as a result, the opening/closing part 185 is positioned to cover the second starting hole 12a (detection hole KH) from the left side, preventing the ball from entering. In other words, the swing bottom end of the intrusion prevention member 180 is in the ball entry prevention position. On the other hand, when the normal solenoid 12d is in an excited state (driven state), the normal operating member 12b moves forward of the front HF of the normal winning unit U as shown in Figure 30 (b) and takes the auxiliary position. In this case, the push surface 156 of the normal operating member 12b pushes the arm 182 of the intrusion prevention member 180 forward, so that the intrusion prevention member 180 moves to the upper swing end. As a result, most of the opening/closing part 185 retreats above the second starting hole 12a (detection hole KH), allowing the ball to enter. In other words, the upper swing end of the intrusion prevention member 180 is in the ball entry permitting position.
In this way, the intrusion prevention member 180 is configured so that its front end can swing up and down with its rear end acting as an axis 181, and at the upper end of its swing, which is the ball-entry allowing position, it is located above the second starting hole 12a, while at the lower end of its swing, which is the ball-entry preventing position, it is located opposite the second starting hole 12a.

When the intrusion prevention member 180 is in the ball entry prevention position shown in FIG. 30(a), the lower surface of the arm projection 183 faces the upper surface of the right end of the normal operating member 12b in the normal position. In this state, if an external force is used to forcibly move the intrusion prevention member 180 from the lower end of the swing to the upper end of the swing, the arm projection 183 moves downward and abuts against the normal operating member 12b, and as a result, the normal operating member 12b does not move downward or forward (does not change to the auxiliary position) and remains stationary, and the intrusion prevention member 180 does not swing to the ball entry permitted position. In other words, even if a fraudster illegally accesses the right play area 3R and tries to forcibly move the intrusion prevention member 180, it is not possible to create a state in which a ball can enter the second starting hole 12a, and fraudulent behavior can be deterred.

As shown in Figures 30(a) and 30(b), the opening/closing part 185 of the intrusion prevention member 180 is formed in a tapered shape (wedge-shaped) in which the width dimension in the vertical direction (swing direction) narrows toward the tip when viewed from the side. The shape of this opening/closing part 185 is determined in relation to the swing range of the intrusion prevention member 180, and is configured so that when the intrusion prevention member 180 is at the bottom swing end (ball entry prevention position), its bottom surface is approximately horizontal (see Figure 30(a)), and when the intrusion prevention member 180 is at the top swing end (ball entry allowance position), its top surface is approximately horizontal (see Figure 30(b)). In other words, by making the opening/closing part 185 located at the swing end where the movement distance is the longest among the intrusion prevention member 180 that swings at a predetermined swing angle in the vertical direction, the vertical dimension of the movement range of the intrusion prevention member 180 is restricted by making it tapered (wedge-shaped).

In addition, the lower end of the intrusion prevention member 180 (specifically, the opening/closing part 185), which is the tip of the movement when displacing from the ball entry allowable position to the ball entry blocking position (when moving downward), is tapered downward (towards the destination side when displacing from the ball entry allowable position to the ball entry blocking position), as is clear from the external shape of the opening/closing part 185 when viewed from the front as shown in Figure 30 (c). More specifically, the intrusion prevention member 180 (specifically, the opening/closing part 185) has an inclined contact surface part 186 on its left side (the side on the side of the area where the ball rolling path R is formed) that approaches the holder 133 side (approaches the second starting hole 12a) as it moves downward (the destination side when displacing from the ball entry allowable position to the ball entry blocking position). That is, by making the lower end of the opening/closing part 185 of the intrusion prevention member 180 have a tapered shape when viewed from the front (a contact surface part 186 is provided on the left side of the lower end of the opening/closing part 185), in a situation where multiple game balls are continuously rolling on the rolling surface 154 (ball rolling path R), the opening/closing part 185 of the intrusion prevention member 180 can be inserted between the successive balls to prevent the subsequent game balls from entering the second starting hole 12a.

31, the middle cover 131 is provided with an arm receiving surface 143 against which the lower surface 184 of the arm 182 abuts when the intrusion prevention member 180 moves from the ball-entry allowing position (upper end of swing) to the ball-entry blocking position (lower end of swing). The arm receiving surface 143 is provided at the front edge of the middle cover 131 and is adapted to receive the lower surface 184 of the tip of the arm 182. The lower surface 184 of the arm 182 and the arm receiving surface 143 are substantially parallel planes that are inclined downward to the right. In other words, the lower surface 184 of the arm 182 and the arm receiving surface 143 are inclined in a direction intersecting the swing direction (up-down direction) of the intrusion prevention member 180 (lower right direction), so that when the intrusion prevention member 180 rotates vigorously from the upper end of swing to the lower end of swing and contacts the arm receiving surface 143, it will repel slightly upward to the right. That is, by preventing the ball from rebounding in the return direction (upward, toward the ball-entry position), the opening/closing section 185 is configured not to open the second starting hole 12a. Also, as shown in FIG. 31, the middle cover 131 is provided with a support wall 144 adjacent to the right side of the swing range of the intrusion prevention member 180, so that the left-right vibration of the arm 182 (intrusion prevention member 180) caused by contact with the arm receiving surface 143 is prevented by the support wall 144.

[Effects of the First Embodiment]
According to the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment described above, the following action effects (1-1) to (1-5), action effects (2-1) to (2-5), and action effects (3-1) to (3-5) are achieved.

(1-1) The pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment is equipped with a right game area 3R (game area 3) formed on the front side of the game board 2 and through which game balls can flow, a second starting hole 12a (ball entry hole) provided in the right game area 3R and through which game balls can enter, a normal operating member 12b (operating member) that can be changed to an assisting position that assists the game ball in entering the second starting hole 12a and a normal position that does not assist, and a normal solenoid 12d (drive source) that displaces the normal operating member 12b between the assisting position and the normal position, and a normal winning unit U consisting of a plurality of members including the normal operating member 12b and the normal solenoid 12d is attached from behind to the rear surface of a mounting plate 31 (mounting target) that constitutes the game board 2. The normal electric winning unit U includes a middle cover 131 (first member) and an upper cover 132 (second member) that are assembled to each other in the vertical direction (assembly direction intersecting with the front-rear direction), and the middle cover 131 includes a boss receiving portion 141 that receives a boss 31b protruding rearward from the mounting plate 31, and an upper screw receiving portion 142 (screw receiving portion) that is connected to the upper screw insertion portion 147 (screw insertion portion) of the upper cover 132 in the vertical direction by a screw. The boss receiving portion 141 is provided so that it can receive the boss 31b in a state where the boss 31b crosses the extension line (directly above) of the joining direction of the upper screw insertion portion 147 and the upper screw receiving portion 142 in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the normal electric winning unit U can be attached to the mounting plate 31 more stably than, for example, when the boss receiving portion 141 receives the boss 31b outside the upper screw receiving portion 142 (upper screw insertion portion 147). In addition, the regular electricity winning unit U can be configured compactly.
(1-2) In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment, a protrusion 140 is provided on the left side (one side) of the middle cover 131, and a boss receiving portion 141 protrudes upward (toward the second member in the assembly direction) from the protrusion 140 and receives the boss 31b from the front at a position adjacent to the left side (one side) of the upper cover 132. In other words, by configuring the boss receiving portion 141 to receive the boss 31b of the mounting plate 31 at a position adjacent to the left side of the upper cover 132, the mounting state of the normal power winning unit U to the mounting plate 31 can be stabilized. In addition, the normal power winning unit U can be configured compactly.
(1-3) In addition, the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment has an extension portion 146 that extends downward (toward the first member in the assembly direction) from the side wall that forms the left side surface of the upper cover 132, and an upper screw insertion portion 147 is provided on this extension portion. Since this extension portion 146 allows the upper screw insertion portion 147 to be positioned closer to the middle cover 131, the space necessary for the boss receiving portion 141 to receive the boss 31b can be secured.
(1-4) In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment, an advance/retract opening 134 through which the normal operating member 12b moves is formed between the front walls of the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132, and a peripheral wall portion 135 is formed along the opening edge of this advance/retract opening 134, and an extension portion 146 is provided so as to connect to this peripheral wall portion 135. In other words, since the extension portion 146 of the upper cover 132 is reinforced by the peripheral wall portion 135, the assembled state of the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132 can be stabilized by the connection between the upper screw insertion portion 147 provided on the extension portion 146 and the upper screw receiving portion 142 of the middle cover 131.
(1-5) In the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment, the middle cover 131 is a member having a mounting portion 138 on the upper surface on which the normal operating member 12b can be placed, and the upper cover 132 has a covering portion 145 that covers the normal operating member 12b placed on the mounting portion 138 from above, and the upper cover 132 is assembled from above to the middle cover 131, so that the normal operating member 12b is movably held between the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132. In other words, since the middle cover 131 and the upper cover 132 are assembled in the vertical direction to hold the normal operating member 12b therebetween, if the upper cover 132 is removed from the normal power winning unit U, the operation of the normal operating member 12b can be checked while the normal operating member 12b is placed on the mounting portion 138 of the middle cover 131.

(2-1) The pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment is equipped with a right game area 3R (game area 3) formed on the front side of the game board 2 and through which game balls can flow down, a second starting hole 12a (ball entry hole) provided in the right game area 3R and through which game balls can enter, a normal operating member 12b (operating member) that can be changed to an assisting position that assists the game ball in entering the second starting hole 12a and a normal position that does not assist, and a front plate 32 that faces the front of the mounting plate 31 (i.e., the front of the game board 2) and is spaced forward, and when in the assisting position, the normal operating member 12b inclines laterally to expose a rolling surface 154 that rolls the game balls between the front of the mounting plate 31 and the rear surface of the front plate 32, and when in the normal position, moves in the front-rear direction so as to retract the rolling surface 154 to the mounting plate 31 side (game board 2 side). The second starting hole 12a is provided downstream of the ball rolling path R formed on the rolling surface 154 when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position, and opens toward the ball rolling path R, so that the game ball rolling on the ball rolling path R enters the second starting hole 12a. On the other hand, when the normal operating member 12b is in the normal position, the rolling surface 154 of the normal operating member 12b is not exposed between the front surface of the mounting plate 31 and the rear surface of the front plate 32, so that the game ball falls between the mounting plate 31 and the front plate 32 so as to traverse the ball rolling path R, and does not enter the second starting hole 12a. Here, the normal operating member 12b has inclined surfaces 171, 172 at its front end surface 155, which is the moving tip surface when changing from the normal position to the auxiliary position, that move away from the front plate 32 as it approaches the side end surfaces 157, 158 of the normal operating member 12b and continue to the side end surfaces 157, 158, so that when the normal operating member 12b changes from the normal position to the auxiliary position, if a game ball is located on the destination side (front side), the game ball is guided laterally by the inclined surfaces 171, 172. This makes it possible to prevent ball jamming between the normal operating member 12b and the front plate 32.
(2-2) In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment, the left inclined surface 171 provided on the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b moves away from the front plate 32 and connects to the left end surface 157 (the side end surface on the upstream end side of the rolling surface 154) of the normal operating member 12b as it approaches the left end surface 157. As a result, a game ball located in front of the normal operating member 12b that changes from the normal position to the auxiliary position is guided to the left (the side moving away from the normal operating member 12b) by the left inclined surface 171, thereby more reliably preventing ball jamming.
(2-3) In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment, the right inclined surface 172 provided on the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b moves away from the front plate 32 and connects to the right end surface 158 (the side end surface on the downstream end side of the rolling surface 154) of the normal operating member 12b as it approaches the right end surface 158. As a result, a game ball located in front of the normal operating member 12b that changes from the normal position to the auxiliary position is guided to the right (the side moving away from the normal operating member 12b) by the right inclined surface 172, thereby more reliably preventing ball jamming.
(2-4) In addition, the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment has an energy dissipation protrusion 39 that protrudes rearward on the rear surface of the front plate 32, and this energy dissipation protrusion 39 is provided at a position above the gap that occurs between the left inclined surface 171 and the front plate 32 when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of a game ball being present in front of the left inclined surface 171 when the normal operating member 12b approaches the front plate 32, thereby reducing the risk of ball jamming.
(2-5) The pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment is equipped with a normal solenoid 12d (drive source) that changes the normal operating member 12b to a normal position and an auxiliary position, and a gate 13 that is provided in the right game area 3R and through which the game ball can pass, and the game control microcomputer 61 that controls the game performs a normal hit judgment (win/lose judgment) when the game ball passes through the gate 13 (judgment means), and controls the normal solenoid 12d to change the normal operating member 12b from the normal position to the auxiliary position based on the judgment result of the normal hit judgment (drive control means). On the other hand, the energy dissipation protrusion 39 is located on the destination side of the game ball that has passed through the gate 13 (gate passage 34), and has an inclined shape that leads the game ball from the gate 13 onto the operating member in the auxiliary position. Here, in this embodiment, the time it takes for the game ball that has passed through the gate 13 to reach the height position of the normal operating member 12b is approximately 1.2 seconds, while the normal map fluctuation pattern FP6 as the normal map fluctuation pattern per normal map corresponds to the 1 second fluctuation time of the normal map fluctuation display, so the game ball that has passed through the gate 13 can be guided to the second starting port 12a by the rolling surface 154. Here, by guiding the game ball that has passed through the gate 13 to the normal operating member 12b (rolling surface 154) by contact with the energy dissipation protrusion 39, it is possible to prevent the game ball from coming into contact (colliding) with the normal operating member 12b with force, and to prevent damage to the normal operating member 12b.

(3-1) The pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment is provided with a right game area 3R (game area 3) formed on the front side of the game board 2 and through which game balls can flow down, a second starting hole 12a (ball entry hole) provided in the right game area 3R and through which game balls can enter, and a normal operating member 12b (operating member) that can be changed to an auxiliary position that assists the game balls in entering the second starting hole 12a and a normal position that does not assist, and the normal operating member 12b is inclined laterally to expose a rolling surface 154 that rolls the game balls to the right game area 3R in the auxiliary position. The second starting hole 12a is provided downstream of the ball rolling path R formed on the rolling surface when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position so as to open toward the ball rolling path R side. Here, the normal electric winning unit U is provided with an intrusion prevention member 180 (intrusion prevention means) that can be displaced between a ball entry blocking position that blocks the entry of a game ball into the second starting hole 12a and a ball entry allowable position that allows the game ball to enter. When the normal operating member 12b is at least in the normal position, this intrusion prevention member 180 is located at the ball entry blocking position between the area where the ball rolling path R is formed and the second starting hole 12a. And, the moving tip (i.e., the lower end) when displacing from the ball entry allowable position to the ball entry blocking position is tapered toward the moving destination side (downward). In this way, since the moving tip of the intrusion prevention member 180 toward the ball entry blocking position is tapered toward the moving destination side, when displacing from the ball entry allowable position to the ball entry blocking position, the intrusion prevention member 180 can get between the successive balls rolling on the ball rolling path R to prevent the subsequent game balls from entering the second starting hole 12a.
(3-2) Furthermore, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment, the intrusion prevention member 180 has an inclined contact surface portion 186 on its left side (the side facing the area where the ball rolling path R is formed) that approaches the second starting hole 12a as it moves downward (the side to which it moves when displaced from the ball entry allowing position to the ball entry blocking position). Therefore, when the intrusion prevention member 180 displaces from the ball entry allowing position to the ball entry blocking position, the intrusion prevention member 180 gets between the game ball that is about to enter the second starting hole 12a and the second starting hole 12a, thereby preventing the game ball from entering the second starting hole 12a.
(3-3) In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment, the intrusion prevention member 180 is configured so that the front end side can swing up and down with the rear end side as the axis 181, and at the ball entry allowance position which is the upper end of the swing, it is located above the second starting hole 12a, while at the ball entry blocking position which is the lower end of the swing, it is located so as to face the second starting hole 12a. In other words, when the intrusion prevention member 180 is displaced from the ball entry allowance position to the ball entry blocking position, it moves from the upper end of the swing to the lower end of the swing, so that even if a game ball is present near the second starting hole 12a at that time, the contact surface portion 186 of the intrusion prevention member 180 can block the game ball from entering the second starting hole 12a and can be quickly guided downward.
(3-4) The pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment is equipped with a second start hole sensor 12c (ball entry detection sensor) that detects a game ball passing through the detection hole KH, and a holder 133 that holds this second start hole sensor 12c. The holder 133 is provided so as to protrude forward from the front surface of the mounting plate 31 (the front surface of the game board 2), and has a second start hole 12a on the ball entry hole forming surface 148, which is the left side surface (the side surface on the normal operating member 12b side), and is configured to expose the detection hole KH from this second start hole 12a. The intrusion prevention member 180 has a tapered opening/closing portion 185 at the tip of the arm 182 that swings around the rear end side as an axis 181, the width dimension in the swing direction narrowing toward the tip side, and this opening/closing portion 185 has a contact surface portion 186. In this way, by making the opening/closing portion 185 provided at the tip side of the arm 182 of the intrusion prevention member 180 have a tapered shape in which the width dimension in the swinging direction narrows toward the tip side, the vertical dimension of the movement range of the intrusion prevention member 180 can be reduced, and it can be configured so as not to unnecessarily interfere with the behavior of the game ball in the right game area 3R.
(3-5) In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the first embodiment, the normal electric winning unit U (housing, specifically the middle cover 131) is provided with an arm receiving surface 143 against which the lower surface 184 of the arm 182 abuts when the intrusion prevention member 180 moves from the ball entry allowance position to the ball entry blocking position, and the lower surface 184 of the arm 182 and the arm receiving surface 143 are inclined in a right downward direction, which is a direction intersecting with the vertical direction (the swing direction of the intrusion prevention member 180). In this way, by inclining the lower surface 184 of the arm 182 and the arm receiving surface 143 in a direction intersecting with the vertical direction, the intrusion prevention member 180 moving from the ball entry allowance position to the ball entry blocking position can be prevented from bouncing back (repulsing) to the ball entry allowance position side by contacting the arm receiving surface 143. Therefore, it is possible to reliably block the entry of the ball into the second starting hole 12a.

Second Embodiment
Next, the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 32 to 34. Note that the same or corresponding components as those of the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In the pachinko game machine 1 of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, a game ball processing mechanism 30 is disposed on the game board 2, and the game ball processing mechanism 30 is provided with a mounting plate 31, a front plate 32, and a normal power winning unit U. However, while in the first embodiment described above, an intrusion prevention member 180 (intrusion prevention means) was provided in the normal power winning unit U as a separate member from the normal operating member 12b, in this embodiment (second embodiment), an intrusion prevention section 192 functioning as an intrusion prevention means is provided in the normal power winning unit U as a part of the normal operating member 12b.
In addition, the pachinko game machine 1 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the energy dissipation protrusion 39 is not provided on the rear surface of the mounting plate 31 (not shown), and the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b is a flat surface parallel to the front plate 32. Other than that, the configuration is generally the same or substantially the same as the first embodiment. Note that the rear surface of the front plate 32 (energy dissipation protrusion 39) and the front end surface 155 of the normal operating member 12b (inclined surfaces 171, 172) may be shaped similarly to the first embodiment.

Specifically, as shown in Figures 33(b) and 34(b), the normal operating member 12b in the second embodiment has a connecting wall 191 rising from its right edge and an intrusion prevention part 192 (intrusion prevention means) extending forward from the front edge of the connecting wall 191. That is, the connecting wall 191 connects the normal operating member 12b and the intrusion prevention part 192. In this way, the intrusion prevention part 192 is provided on the normal operating member 12b and is configured to operate in the front-rear direction together with the normal operating member 12b. When the normal operating member 12b is in the normal position and retreats to the side of the game board 2, the intrusion prevention part 192 is located at the ball entry prevention position, and when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position and protrudes forward from the front surface of the game board 2, the intrusion prevention part 192 is located at the ball entry allowance position. The ball entry allowance position of the intrusion prevention part 192 is located forward of the ball entry block position.

As shown in FIG. 32, the intrusion prevention unit 192 is configured to be movable parallel to the ball inlet forming surface 148 at a position close to the holder 133 (ball inlet forming surface 148) (specifically, a position where the distance from the ball inlet forming surface 148 is less than the radius of the game ball). In other words, the intrusion prevention unit 192 is arranged to be movable in the front-rear direction along the ball inlet forming surface 148.

33(b) and 34(b), the intrusion prevention part 192 has an upper edge 193 extending in the front-rear direction, which is the direction of movement of the intrusion prevention part 192, a front edge 194 extending downward from the front end of the upper edge 193, and a lower edge 195 connecting the lower end of the front edge 194 and the connecting wall part 191, and the lower edge 195 is formed in an arc shape that is concave upward. Both ends of the lowermost lower edge 195 of the intrusion prevention part 192 are located slightly above the center position of the detection hole KH of the second starting hole sensor 12c held by the holder 133. Then, as shown in FIG. 33(a), when the intrusion prevention part 192 is in the ball entry prevention position, the connection part (front lower end) of the front edge 194 and the lower edge 195 of the intrusion prevention part 192 is located so as to face approximately the center of the detection hole KH of the second starting hole sensor 12c. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 34(a), when the intrusion prevention part 192 is in the ball entry allowing position, the lower edge 195 of the intrusion prevention part 192 is positioned so as to be slightly along the outer side of the opening edge of the detection hole KH. In other words, the ball entry blocking position of the intrusion prevention part 192 is above the lower end of the second starting hole 12a, and is set at a position where it can contact the upper half of the game ball attempting to move from the ball rolling path R toward the second starting hole 12a to prevent the ball from entering.

[Effects of the second embodiment]
According to the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the second embodiment described above, the following operational effects are achieved.
(4-1) The pachinko game machine 1 of the second embodiment is provided with a right game area 3R (game area 3) formed on the front side of the game board 2 and through which game balls can flow down, a second starting hole 12a (ball entry hole) provided in the right game area 3R and through which game balls can enter, and a normal operating member 12b (operating member) that can be changed to an auxiliary position that assists the game balls in entering the second starting hole 12a and a normal position that does not assist, and the normal operating member 12b is inclined laterally to expose a rolling surface 154 that rolls the game balls to the right game area 3R in the auxiliary position. The second starting hole 12a is provided downstream of the ball rolling path R formed on the rolling surface when the normal operating member 12b is in the auxiliary position so as to open toward the ball rolling path R side. Here, the normal electric winning unit U (normal operating member 12b) of the second embodiment is provided with an intrusion prevention part 192 (intrusion prevention means) that can be displaced between a ball entry prevention position that prevents the game ball from entering the second starting hole 12a and a ball entry allowance position that allows it. When the normal operating member 12b is at least in the normal position, this intrusion prevention part 192 is located at a ball entry prevention position between the area where the ball rolling path R is formed and the second starting hole 12a. And, this ball entry prevention position is above the lower end of the second starting hole 12a, and is a position that can contact the upper half of the game ball that is trying to move from the ball rolling path R toward the second starting hole 12a to prevent the ball from entering, so that the game ball that comes into contact with the intrusion prevention part 192 displaced from the ball entry allowance position to the ball entry prevention position is easily able to escape downward, and ball bite between the holder 133 (ball entry hole forming surface 148) and the intrusion prevention part 192 can be suppressed.
(4-2) In addition, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the second embodiment, the intrusion prevention unit 192 is provided on the normal operating member 12b and is configured to be able to operate integrally with the normal operating member 12b. This stabilizes the relative positions and operation timing of the normal operating member 12b and the intrusion prevention unit 192, allowing the normal operating member 12b and the intrusion prevention unit 192 to function appropriately.
(4-3) The pachinko game machine 1 of the second embodiment is equipped with a second start hole sensor 12c (ball entry detection sensor) that detects a game ball passing through the detection hole KH, and a holder 133 that holds this second start hole sensor 12c, and the holder 133 is provided so as to protrude forward from the front surface of the mounting plate 31 (front surface of the game board 2), and has a second start hole 12a on the ball entry hole forming surface 148, which is the left side surface (side surface on the normal operating member 12b side), and is configured to expose the detection hole KH from this second start hole 12a. Also, the normal operating member 12b is movable in the front-rear direction, and is configured to protrude forward from the front surface of the mounting plate 31 (front surface of the game board 2) in the auxiliary position, while being retracted to the mounting plate 31 side (game board 2 side) from the auxiliary position in the normal position. The intrusion prevention section 192 is arranged to be movable in the forward/backward direction along the ball entry port forming surface 148 of the holder 133, and by moving the intrusion prevention section 192 to a position close to the second starting port sensor 12c, the intrusion prevention section 192 can be displaced to a ball entry blocking position to immediately prevent a ball from entering the second starting port 12a.
(4-4) Furthermore, in the pachinko game machine 1 of the second embodiment, the intrusion prevention portion 192 is positioned so that its lower edge 195 is aligned with the opening edge of the detection hole KH at the ball entry allowing position, so that the amount of movement of the intrusion prevention portion 192 when displacing from the ball entry allowing position to the ball entry blocking position is small, and the ball can be immediately prevented from entering the second starting hole 12a.

<Other embodiments>
In the first embodiment described above, the intrusion prevention means (intrusion prevention member) is linked to the operating member (normal operating member) by a linking means, so that the intrusion prevention means is displaced to the ball entry blocking position and the ball entry allowing position in conjunction with the change in the position of the operating member based on the drive source (normal solenoid). In the second embodiment, the intrusion prevention means (intrusion prevention unit) is provided integrally with the operating member (normal operating member), so that the intrusion prevention means is displaced to the ball entry blocking position and the ball entry allowing position in conjunction with the change in the position of the operating member based on the drive source (normal solenoid). In contrast, the operating member and the intrusion prevention means may be operated based on the drive of separate drive sources. In this case, the intrusion prevention means may be positioned at the ball entry blocking position when the operating member is at least in the normal position, and for example, the intrusion prevention means may be displaced to the ball entry allowing position only during a portion of the period during which the operating member is in the auxiliary position.
In the second embodiment described above, the intrusion prevention means (intrusion prevention section) is configured to be located above the center of the detection hole of the ball entry detection means (second starting hole sensor) at the ball entry prevention position. In contrast, the ball entry prevention position of the intrusion prevention means may be set so that the lower end of the intrusion prevention means is located below the center of the detection hole of the ball entry detection means, within a range above the lower end of the ball entry hole.
In the first and second embodiments described above, the operating member (normal operating member) is configured to be movable (slidable) in the front-rear direction. However, the operating member may be configured to be movable in the left-right direction or the up-down direction.
In the first embodiment described above, the intrusion prevention means (intrusion prevention member) is configured to be movable (swingable) in the up-down direction. However, the intrusion prevention means may be configured to be movable (swingable or slidable) in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction.
In the second embodiment described above, the intrusion prevention means (intrusion prevention portion) is configured to be movable (slidable) in the same direction as the operating member (normal operating member). However, the intrusion prevention means may be configured to be movable (swingable or slidable) in a direction different from that of the operating member.
In the first embodiment described above, the front end surface of the actuating member (normal actuating member) that serves as the moving tip surface when changing from the normal posture to the auxiliary posture is provided with a left inclined surface that moves away from the front plate as it approaches the left end surface of the actuating member and continues to the left end surface, and a right inclined surface that moves away from the front plate as it approaches the right end surface of the actuating member and continues to the right end surface. In contrast, only one of the left inclined surface and the right inclined surface may be provided on the front end surface of the actuating member, or no inclined surface may be provided on the front end surface as in the actuating member of the second embodiment.
In the first embodiment described above, the energy dissipation protrusion protruding rearward is provided on the rear surface of the front plate that is provided on the game ball handling mechanism constituting the right part of the game board and covers the front surface of the mounting plate (front surface of the game board) from the front. In contrast, it is also possible not to provide the energy dissipation protrusion on the rear surface of the front plate as in the second embodiment.
In the first embodiment described above, the energy dissipation projection on the rear surface of the front plate is provided close to the operating member (normal operating member) in the auxiliary position. In contrast, the energy dissipation projection may be provided at a position that is farther upward than the diameter of the game ball from the operating member. In this case, it is possible to prevent ball pinching caused by the game ball being pinched between the operating member and the energy dissipation projection.
In the first and second embodiments described above, the operating member (normal operating member) is configured so that the game ball that has passed through the gate reaches the area where the rolling surface forms the ball rolling path when the operating member is in the auxiliary position. In contrast, the operating member may be configured to operate at a position where the game ball that has passed through the gate does not reach or is difficult to reach.
In the first and second embodiments described above, the housing of the ball-winning unit (regular electric winning unit) is made up of a first member (middle cover) and a second member (upper cover) that are assembled together in the vertical direction (assembly direction intersecting with the front-rear direction), the first member is equipped with a boss receiving portion and a screw receiving portion (upper screw receiving portion), and the second member is equipped with a screw insertion portion (upper screw insertion portion). In contrast, the first member and the second member may be configured to be assembled together in the left-right direction (assembly direction intersecting with the front-rear direction), etc.
In the first embodiment described above, the intrusion prevention means (intrusion prevention member) is provided with an inclined contact surface portion on the side of the area where the ball rolling path is formed by the operating member (normal operating member) that approaches the ball entry opening (second starting opening) as it moves toward the destination side when displacing from the ball entry allowable position to the ball entry blocked position, thereby giving the moving tip of the intrusion prevention means a tapered shape. In contrast, the intrusion prevention means may be provided with an inclined contact surface portion on the side of the ball entry opening that moves away from the ball entry opening (second starting opening) as it moves toward the destination side when displacing from the ball entry allowable position to the ball entry blocked position, giving the moving tip of the intrusion prevention means a tapered shape.
In the first and second embodiments described above, the large prize entry port (first large prize entry port) through which a ball can enter in the jackpot game state and the large prize entry port (second large prize entry port) through which a ball can enter in the small prize state are different, but it is also possible to make the same special prize entry port available for ball entry in both the jackpot game state and the small prize state.
In the first and second embodiments described above, the small win judgment result is not derived in the special chart hit judgment of the first special chart, but the small win judgment result may be derived in the special chart hit judgment of the first special chart. In this case, the probability of the small win judgment result in the special chart hit judgment of the first special chart is made lower than the probability in the special chart hit judgment of the second special chart, or the probability of the game ball passing through the specific area during the small win state based on the special chart hit judgment of the first special chart is made lower than during the small win state based on the special chart hit judgment of the second special chart, so that the game based on the special chart hit judgment of the second special chart can be made more advantageous than the game based on the special chart hit judgment of the first special chart. Conversely, the probability of a small win being determined in the special chart hit judgment of the second special chart may be made lower than the probability in the special chart hit judgment of the first special chart, or the probability of the game ball passing through a specific area during a small win state based on the special chart hit judgment of the second special chart may be made lower than during a small win state based on the special chart hit judgment of the first special chart, in which case the game based on the special chart hit judgment of the first special chart can be made to have a more advantageous gameplay than the game based on the special chart hit judgment of the second special chart.
In the first and second embodiments described above, a normal symbol reserve memory unit is provided that can store up to a predetermined upper limit of operational ball entry information obtained in response to the passage (entry) of a game ball into an operational port when a normal symbol change display or auxiliary play is being performed. However, the configuration may also be such that the control means (game control microcomputer) executes a normal symbol hit determination in response to the passage of a game ball into the operational port only when a game ball passes through an operational port (gate) in a state where a normal symbol change display or auxiliary play is not being performed (a memory unit for storing operational reserves of normal symbols is not provided).

[The invention disclosed herein]
The above-mentioned embodiments disclose the following inventions. In the following description, the names and expressions of the corresponding configurations in the embodiments and the symbols used in the drawings are added in parentheses for reference. However, the components of each invention are not limited to these additions.

(Invention 1)
A gaming machine comprising: a gaming area (3) formed on the front side of a gaming board (2) through which gaming balls can flow; a ball entrance (12a) provided in the gaming area (3) through which the gaming balls can enter; and an operating member (12b) that can be changed between an assisting position that assists the entry of the gaming balls into the ball entrance (12a) and a normal position that does not provide assistance,
The actuating member (12b) is a member that exposes a rolling surface (154) for rolling the game ball to the game area (3) in the auxiliary position by inclining laterally, and the ball entrance (12a) is provided on the downstream side of a ball rolling path (R) formed on the rolling surface (154) so as to open toward the ball rolling path (R);
a ball intrusion prevention means (192) displaceable between a ball intrusion prevention position for preventing balls from entering the ball inlet (12a) and a ball intrusion permission position for allowing balls to enter the ball inlet,
The intrusion prevention means (192) is located at the ball entry prevention position when the operating member (12b) is at least in the normal position,
The ball entry blocking position is above the lower end of the ball entry opening (12a) and is a position capable of contacting the upper half of the game ball moving from the ball rolling path (R) toward the ball entry opening (12a) to block the ball from entering the game machine (1).

According to this, the intrusion prevention means is positioned above the lower end of the ball entry opening, and prevents the ball from entering the opening by contacting the upper half of the game ball moving from the ball rolling path toward the ball entry opening. This makes it easier for game balls that come into contact with the intrusion prevention means, which has been displaced from the ball entry permitted position to the ball entry blocking position, to escape downward, preventing ball jamming.

(Invention 2)
The intrusion prevention means (192) is provided on the actuating member (12b) and is configured to be operable integrally with the actuating member (12b).

This stabilizes the relative positions and operation timing of the actuating member and the intrusion prevention means, allowing the actuating member and the intrusion prevention means to function properly.

(Invention 3)
The ball entrance detection sensor (12c) detects a game ball passing through a detection hole (KH), and a holder (133) holds the ball entrance detection sensor (12c),
The holder (133) is provided so as to protrude forward from the front surface of the game board (2), has the ball entrance (12a) on a ball entrance forming surface (148) which is the side surface on which the ball rolling path (R) is formed, and is configured so as to expose the detection hole (KH) from the ball entrance (12a);
The actuating member (12b) is movable in the front-rear direction, and is configured to protrude forward from the front surface of the game board (2) in the auxiliary position, and to retreat toward the game board (2) from the auxiliary position in the normal position,
An amusement machine as described in Invention 2, wherein the intrusion prevention means (192) is arranged to be movable in the forward and backward directions along the ball entrance forming surface (148).

With this configuration, the intrusion prevention means moves to a position close to the ball entry detection sensor, and the ball can be immediately prevented from entering the ball entry opening by displacing the intrusion prevention means to the ball entry blocking position.

(Invention 4)
4. A gaming machine as described in claim 3, wherein the intrusion prevention means (192) is positioned so that its lower edge (195) is aligned with the opening edge of the detection hole (KH) at the ball entry allowing position.

With this, the intrusion prevention means is positioned along the opening edge of the detection hole of the ball entry detection sensor at the ball entry permitted position, so the amount of movement required when the intrusion prevention means displaces from the ball entry permitted position to the ball entry blocking position is small, and the ball can be immediately prevented from entering the ball entry opening.

1... Pachinko game machine, 3... Game area, 12a... Second start port (ball entry port), 12b... Normal operating member (operating member), 12c... Second start port sensor (ball entry detection sensor), 12d... Normal power solenoid, 13... Gate, 31b... Boss, 32... Front plate, 39... Dissipation protrusion, 61... Game control microcomputer (determination means, drive control means), 131... Middle cover (first member), 132... Upper cover (second member), 133... Holder, 134... Advance/retreat port, 135... Peripheral wall portion, 137... Lower screw insertion portion, 138... Placement portion, 139...lower screw receiving portion, 141...boss receiving portion, 143...arm receiving surface, 146...extension portion, 148...ball entrance port forming surface, 154...rolling surface, 155...front end surface, 171...left inclined surface, 172...right inclined surface, 180...intrusion prevention member (intrusion prevention means), 181...axis, 182...arm, 184...underside of arm, 185...opening/closing portion, 186...contact surface portion, 192...intrusion prevention portion (intrusion prevention means), 195...lower edge of intrusion prevention portion, KH...detection hole, R...ball rolling path, U...normal electric winning unit (ball entrance unit).

Claims (1)

A gaming machine comprising: a gaming area formed on the front side of a gaming board and through which gaming balls can flow; a ball entry opening provided in the gaming area and through which the gaming balls can enter; and an operating member that can be changed between an assisting position that assists the entry of the gaming ball into the ball entry opening and a normal position that does not assist,
The ball entrance is provided at a position where the game ball that has flowed down an upstream passage capable of reducing the momentum of the game ball can enter the ball entrance,
The operating member is a member that is inclined laterally to expose a rolling surface for rolling the game ball to the game area in the auxiliary posture, and the ball entrance is provided on the downstream side of the ball rolling path formed on the rolling surface so as to open toward the ball rolling path,
a ball intrusion prevention means displaceable between a ball intrusion prevention position for preventing a game ball from entering the ball intrusion opening and a ball intrusion permission position for allowing a game ball to enter the ball intrusion opening;
The intrusion prevention means is located at the ball entry prevention position when the operating member is at least in the normal position,
A gaming machine characterized in that the ball entry prevention position is above the lower end of the ball entry port and is a position that can contact the upper half of the gaming ball moving from the ball rolling path toward the ball entry port to prevent the ball from entering.

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