JP2024064162A - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a gaming machine capable of executing an interesting presentation that utilizes a hidden operation notification function. [Solution] A gaming machine capable of executing a specific hidden operation presentation as a type of hidden operation presentation, in which an advantageous event advantageous to the player may or may not occur as a result of the operation of an operation means, and in which, in the case where the operation means is in a special state when the specific hidden operation presentation occurs despite the hidden operation notification function being disabled, there is a higher probability that an advantageous event will occur as a result of the operation of the operation means in the specific hidden operation presentation than in the case where the operation means is in a special state when the specific hidden operation presentation occurs because the hidden operation notification function is enabled. [Selected Figure] Fig. 26

Description

The present invention relates to an amusement machine.

Gaming machines are known that are capable of executing hidden operation effects (hidden button effects) in which the operation of an operating means may be reflected in the effect, even though no operation is required of the player (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). Gaming machines are also known that are equipped with a hidden operation notification function that notifies the occurrence of such a hidden operation effect.

JP 2022-057649 A

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a gaming machine that can execute interesting effects using a hidden operation notification function.

The gaming machine according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, comprises a display means having a display area in which a decorative pattern showing the result of a winning/losing lottery is displayed, an operation means operable by a player, a hidden operation effect execution means for executing a hidden operation effect in which the operation of the operation means may be reflected as an effect even when an image prompting the operation of the operation means is not displayed in the display area, and a hidden operation notification function for notifying the player of the occurrence of the hidden operation effect by putting the operation means into a special state different from the normal state when the hidden operation effect is enabled. As one type of hidden operation effect, a specific hidden operation effect can be executed in which an advantageous event advantageous to the player may occur as a result of the operation of the operation means, or in which the advantageous event may not occur. In the case where the operation means is in the special state when the specific hidden operation effect occurs despite the hidden operation notification function being disabled, the probability of the advantageous event occurring as a result of the operation of the operation means in the specific hidden operation effect is higher than in the case where the operation means is in the special state when the specific hidden operation effect occurs because the hidden operation notification function is enabled.

The present invention makes it possible to create interesting effects using the hidden operation notification function.

1 is a front view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. (a) is a diagram showing the decorative patterns and reserved patterns displayed in the display area, and (b) is a diagram to explain the base image and the consumption order position (a diagram showing a state where no reserved patterns are displayed at all). 13 is a diagram for explaining the game state (transition of the game state). FIG. A diagram to explain the reserved pattern configuration (normal configuration, special configuration). This figure shows an example in which a suggestive image is displayed and a hold change effect occurs for the target hold pattern. This figure shows an example in which a suggestive image is displayed, but no hold change effect occurs for the target hold pattern. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 1-2. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining specific example 1-3. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 1-4. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 1-5. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining specific example 1-5 (an example different from FIG. 10). A diagram for explaining an overview of a specific performance. A figure showing an example in which a description-changing performance occurs, in comparison with an example in which a description-changing performance does not occur. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing patterns of specific images that can be displayed, arranged in order of reliability. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 2-1. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 2-2. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 2-3. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 2-5. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining image presentation. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 3-3. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 3-4. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 3-5. 13A is a diagram showing an example of a normal operation presentation and a hidden operation presentation, and FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a screen for switching between enabling and disabling the hidden operation notification function. A diagram to explain the promotion effect (specific hidden operation effect). A figure showing the presentation flow when the hidden operation notification function is enabled (when the presentation button is operated in a specific hidden operation presentation). A figure showing the presentation flow when the hidden operation notification function is disabled (when the presentation button is operated in a specific hidden operation presentation). FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 4-1. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing an original position and an advanced position of a movable member, respectively; FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an image change presentation. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 5-2. FIG. 31 is a diagram for explaining specific example 5-2 (another example than FIG. 30). FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 5-3. FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining specific example 5-3 (another example than FIG. 32). FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining specific example 5-4.

1) Basic configuration of the gaming machine An embodiment of the gaming machine 1 (pachinko gaming machine) according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the gaming machine 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1. In the following description, the term "image" includes not only still images but also moving images. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the following description is based on the premise that the player plays the game as instructed (the player plays the game normally without performing special games). In addition, when it is said that "a gaming ball enters XX (wins a prize)," strictly speaking, it means that the sensor installed in the XX has detected the entered gaming ball.

The gaming machine 1 includes a gaming board 90. The gaming board 90 is made of a substantially square piece of plywood, and has a guide rail 903 that is substantially arc-shaped and forms a path that guides gaming balls launched by operating a launching device 908 (launching handle) to a gaming area 902.

The game area 902 is provided with a display device 91 which is the main display device, a starting area 904, a big prize area 906, an outlet 907, and the like. The display area 911 of the display device 91 is a portion which can be seen through an opening 901 formed in the game board 90. The game area 902 is also provided with a number of game pegs which act as obstacles against which the game balls collide and which change the way the game balls flow down. The game balls flowing down the game area 902 change into various forms depending on the conditions when they collide with the game pegs.

In such a gaming machine 1, gaming balls are launched toward the gaming area 902 by operating the launching device 908. When a gaming ball flowing down the gaming area 902 enters a winning area such as the starting area 904 or the big winning area 906, a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out by the payout device.

Note that we will not explain components of the gaming machine 1 that are not related to the present invention, such as the frame of the gaming machine 1 and the lower and upper trays that store the gaming balls. These components can have the same structure as known gaming machines.

2) Reserve The lottery for the big win is executed by a winning/losing lottery means provided on a control board (control circuit) not shown, triggered by the entry of a game ball into the starting area 904. In this embodiment, a first starting area 904a (the so-called "special chart 1" starting area) and a second starting area 904b (the so-called "special chart 2" starting area) are provided as the starting area 904. A numerical value (winning/losing lottery information) is obtained from a random number source triggered by the entry of a game ball into the starting area 904, and if the numerical value is the same as the predetermined winning number, it is a big win, and if it is different, it is a loss. Hereinafter, the winning/losing lottery based on the first winning/losing lottery information obtained by the entry of a game ball into the first starting area 904a is sometimes referred to as the first winning/losing lottery (special chart 1 lottery), and the winning/losing lottery based on the second winning/losing lottery information obtained by the entry of a game ball into the second starting area 904b is sometimes referred to as the second winning/losing lottery (special chart 2 lottery).

In this embodiment, the results of the winning/losing lottery will be announced in the order in which the numbers were obtained, but if there is winning/losing lottery information for which the results have not yet been announced, the newly acquired winning/losing lottery information will be stored in a storage means provided on a control board (not shown) as reserved information (strictly speaking, pre-variation reserved information, as described later).

In this embodiment, as the reserved pattern 70, a reserved pattern during change 71 corresponding to the winning/losing lottery information (hereinafter sometimes referred to as reserved information during change) in which the during-change performance (from the start of the change of the decorative pattern 80 (decorative pattern group 80g) to the complete stop of the combination indicating the winning/losing lottery result, which is the so-called performance during one change. Hereinafter, it may be simply referred to as "change" or "rotation") that notifies the winning/losing lottery result has started, but the notification of the winning/losing lottery result has not been completed, and a reserved pattern before change 72 corresponding to the winning/losing lottery information (hereinafter sometimes referred to as reserved information before change) in which the during-change performance that notifies the winning/losing lottery result has not started (see FIG. 2(a)). Note that the reserved pattern during change (reserved pattern during change 71) is not strictly included in the concept of "reserved" (information), but since it is generally referred to as "reserved change" or the like, in this embodiment, it is defined as being included in the concept of "reserved" (information). In this embodiment, the pending pattern 71 during change is displayed larger than the pending pattern 72 before change, but the basic shapes of the two are the same. The basic shapes of the pending pattern 71 during change and the pending pattern 72 before change may be completely different.

The maximum number of pre-change reserved information is limited. In this embodiment, the maximum number of first pre-change reserved information (special chart 1 reserved) obtained by winning the first starting area 904a is four, and the maximum number of second pre-change reserved information (special chart 2 reserved) obtained by winning the second starting area 904b is four. Therefore, with respect to the reserved pattern 70 corresponding to one of the special charts 1 and 2, one reserved pattern 71 during change and up to four pre-change reserved patterns 72 may be displayed (see FIG. 2(a)). The pre-change reserved pattern 72 is set so that if the game ball should be launched aiming at the first starting area 904a (normal game state to be described later), the first pre-change reserved information (special chart 1 reserved) is displayed as the pre-change reserved pattern 72, and if the game ball should be launched aiming at the second starting area 904b (special game state to be described later), the second pre-change reserved information (special chart 2 reserved) is displayed as the pre-change reserved pattern 72. Unless otherwise specified, each figure shows the display state of the reserved pattern 70 in the normal game state. Regardless of the game state, the pre-change reserved pattern 72 corresponding to both the first pre-change reserved information and the second pre-change reserved information stored in the storage means may be displayed (up to eight pre-change reserved patterns 72 may be displayed). When both the first pre-change reserved information and the second pre-change reserved information are stored in the storage means, the result of the winning/losing lottery based on the second pre-change reserved information (second winning/losing lottery information) is notified preferentially. In other words, the gaming machine 1 according to this embodiment has a priority of consuming the special pattern 2.

Completion of the notification of the corresponding winning/losing lottery result is sometimes referred to as "consumption" (completion of notification of the winning/losing lottery result corresponding to a certain reserved pattern 70 is referred to as "reservation being consumed"). As the position where the reserved pattern 70 is displayed in the display area 911, a consumption order position corresponding to the consumption order, which is the order in which the notification of the corresponding winning/losing lottery result is completed, is provided (see FIG. 2 (b)). In this embodiment, as the consumption order positions, five positions are provided: the first consumption order position A1, which is the position where the changing reserved pattern 71 is displayed, and the second consumption order position A2, the third consumption order position A3, the fourth consumption order position A4, and the fifth consumption order position A5, which are the positions where the pre-changing reserved pattern 72 is displayed. The consumption order of the reserved pattern 70 displayed at each consumption order position is in the order of first consumption order position A1, second consumption order position A2, third consumption order position A3, fourth consumption order position A4, and fifth consumption order position A5. Specifically, each digestion order position is arranged in a line along the lower edge of the display area 911, and the reserved pattern 70 displayed in the digestion order position to the right is earlier in the digestion order. In addition, the second digestion order position A2 to the fifth digestion order position A5, where the pre-change reserved pattern 72 is displayed, are arranged at equal intervals.

Each digestion order position is a position set on the pedestal image 75. In other words, the pedestal image 75 is an image that serves as a guide showing the position where the reserved pattern 70 will be displayed. Since five digestion order positions are provided, five pedestal images 75 are displayed (see FIG. 2). The pedestal images 75 are displayed regardless of whether the reserved pattern 70 is displayed at the corresponding digestion order position (displayed in normal state). If a so-called standby image (demo image) or the like is not displayed, each pedestal image 75 is displayed even when the reserved pattern 70 is not displayed at all. The basic form of the pedestal image 75 may be changed according to the so-called stage that governs the style of the performance during the change. In this embodiment, the pending reserved pattern 71 during the change is displayed larger than the pending reserved pattern 72 before the change. Therefore, one pedestal image 75 (pending pedestal image 751) associated with the first digestion order position A1 is larger than four pedestal images 75 (pre-change pedestal image 752) associated with the second digestion order position A2 to the fifth digestion order position A5 where the pending reserved pattern 72 before the change will be displayed. In addition, the second consumption order position A2 to the fifth consumption order position A5, where the pre-change reserved pattern 72 is displayed, are arranged at equal intervals, so the four pre-change pedestal images 752 corresponding to each are also arranged at equal intervals.

When the in-flight performance for a certain winning/losing lottery result ends (when a certain winning/losing lottery result is announced), the in-flight reserved pattern 71, which is the reserved pattern 70 corresponding to that winning/losing lottery result, is erased (the reserved is "consumed"). If a certain winning/losing lottery result is a loss and one or more reserved patterns 70 (pre-flight reserved pattern 72) are displayed before the in-flight performance for a certain winning/losing lottery result ends, the in-flight performance for the next winning/losing lottery result (a new in-flight performance) will start, and at the beginning of the new in-flight performance, the reserved pattern 70 will move toward the corresponding consumption order position (hereinafter referred to as a moving-up operation). In other words, each reserved pattern 70 moves up one consumption order position. In this embodiment, since the consumption order position is earlier the further to the right, each reserved pattern 70 will move toward the right.

3) Decorative symbols In this embodiment, as in known gaming machines, the winning/losing lottery result is notified to the player by the combination of decorative symbols 80 (see FIG. 2(a)) displayed in the display area 911 of the display device 91. Specifically, a decorative symbol group 80g (left decorative symbol group 80gL, middle decorative symbol group 80gC, right decorative symbol group 80gR) including a plurality of kinds of decorative symbols 80 starts to fluctuate, and finally one decorative symbol 80 is selected from each decorative symbol group 80g and stops (hereinafter, when simply saying "stop", it means that it stops completely, and so-called pseudo-stop state (a state in which it appears to the player to have stopped but is slightly shaking, etc.) is excluded). When a jackpot is won, the combination of decorative symbols 80 selected and stopped from each decorative symbol group 80g (left decorative symbol 80L, middle decorative symbol 80C, right decorative symbol 80R arranged from the left) becomes a predetermined winning combination (in this embodiment, a set of three decorative symbols 80 of the same type). If it is a loss, it will be a loss combination other than the combination that results in a big win. In this embodiment, the various decorative patterns 80 include any of the numbers "1" to "7." The decorative patterns 80 with the same number are "same type" patterns (the decorative patterns 80 with different numbers are "different type" patterns).

4) Game state, jackpot In this embodiment, a normal game state and a special game state are set as game states in which the player plays with the aim of winning the lottery result being a jackpot (see FIG. 3). The special game state is a game state that is more advantageous to the player than the normal game state. The normal game state is a low probability game state in which the probability of winning a jackpot is low (about 1/319 in this embodiment), and is a low base state (low probability, no time reduction) in which the game ball is unlikely to enter the starting area 904. The special game state is a high probability game state in which the probability of winning a jackpot is high (about 1/50 in this embodiment), and is a high base state (high probability, time reduction) in which the game ball is likely to enter the starting area 904. The normal game state is a state in which the game ball should be launched aiming at the first starting area 904a. In this embodiment, it is a state in which the so-called "left hit" should be performed. Therefore, the normal game state can be said to be a game state in which the aim is to win a jackpot after the first winning/losing lottery. On the other hand, the special game state is a state in which the game ball should be launched aiming at the second starting area 904b. In this embodiment, it is a state in which a so-called "right hit" should be performed. Therefore, the special game state can be said to be a game state in which the aim is to win a jackpot after the second winning/losing lottery. The special game state is a state in which the game ball is likely to win the lottery to open the second starting area 904b triggered by entering the normal starting area 905, so the game ball enters the second starting area 904b relatively easily.

In this embodiment, a normal jackpot and a special jackpot are provided as the jackpot. A normal jackpot is a jackpot that transitions to a normal game state after the jackpot game ends. A special jackpot is a jackpot that transitions to a special game state after the jackpot game ends. A jackpot obtained by winning the first win/lose lottery is a normal jackpot or a special jackpot. A jackpot obtained by winning the second win/lose lottery is a special jackpot. Except for special cases such as winning a lottery based on the reserved information stored in the storage means immediately after the game state transition (so-called remaining reserved lottery), the normal game state is a game state that aims to win the first win/lose lottery, so a jackpot obtained in the normal game state is a normal jackpot or a special jackpot. The special game state is a game state that aims to win the second win/lose lottery, so a jackpot obtained in the special game state is a special jackpot.

In addition, the condition for transitioning to a special game state after the special jackpot game ends may be the entry of the game ball into a specified area (V area) that opens during the special jackpot game (V entry) (so-called V-variable machine).

The special game state ends when the winning/losing lottery results in a loss a predetermined number of times in succession. When the special game state ends, the game state transitions to the normal game state. If a jackpot (special jackpot) is acquired before the predetermined number of consecutive losses after transitioning to the special game state, the game state transitions again to the special game state (the count of the predetermined number of times is reset). In other words, the gaming machine 1 of this embodiment is a so-called ST machine, in which the condition for consecutive wins is to win the second winning/losing lottery before the predetermined number of consecutive losses after transitioning to the special game state. In this embodiment, the predetermined number of times (ST number of times) is set to 72 times.

When the winning/losing lottery result is a jackpot, a jackpot game is executed. A jackpot game is a unit game in which the jackpot area 906 (see FIG. 1; the jackpot area 906 is normally closed) is opened one or more times until a predetermined closing condition is established. The closing condition is established when either a predetermined number of game balls (e.g., 10 balls) enter the jackpot after the jackpot area 906 is opened (winning condition) or a predetermined time has passed after the jackpot area 906 is opened (time condition). In this embodiment, if game balls are continuously shot toward the jackpot area 906 in a jackpot game, the winning condition is established before the time condition is established. In other words, 10 game balls enter the jackpot area 906 in one unit game. A unit game is also called a round (game). The number of unit games (number of rounds) included in a jackpot game can be set appropriately. In this embodiment, all jackpots (regular jackpots and special jackpots) are 10-round jackpots.

5) The following describes the effects (contents and control of effects) that can be executed by the gaming machine 1 according to this embodiment. Note that the configuration may be such that only some of the effects described below can be executed. Also, in some of the drawings that explain the effects, the illustration of the reserved patterns 70 and decorative patterns 80 may be omitted.

5-1) Suggestion image (suggestion that a hold change will occur by suggestion image)
In the gaming machine according to the present embodiment, the state of the reserved symbol indicates the probability that the corresponding winning/losing lottery result will be a winning one, and it is possible to execute a reserved change performance in which the state of the reserved symbol changes. The reserved change performance itself is well known, so it will be explained briefly below.

As the modes of the reserved pattern 70, one or more types of normal modes 70n and one or more types of special modes 70s are set, which have a higher probability ((jackpot) reliability) that the corresponding winning/losing lottery result (the winning/losing lottery result announced in the during-changing performance when the target reserved pattern 70 is displayed as the changing reserved pattern 71) will be a jackpot than when it is in the normal mode 70n (see Figure 4). The normal mode 70n is the normal state of the reserved pattern 70 (the reserved pattern 70 has the highest probability of being in the normal mode 70n). In this embodiment, four types of special modes 70s are provided, namely, the first special mode 71s to the fourth special mode 74s. The jackpot reliability of the corresponding winning/losing lottery result increases in the order of the normal mode 70n (lowest), the first special mode 71s, the second special mode 72s, the third special mode 73s, and the fourth special mode 74s (highest). In this embodiment, when the fourth special mode 74s occurs, the corresponding winning/losing lottery result is determined to be a jackpot (confidence level = 100%). Such a mode for determining a jackpot does not have to be provided. The differences between the modes can be determined by differences in color, etc. For example, the normal mode 70n can be "white", the first special mode 71s can be "blue", the second special mode 72s can be "green", the third special mode 73s can be "red", and the fourth special mode 74s can be "rainbow" (in the drawings, the colors of the reserved pattern 70 for the special mode 70s are represented by letters).

In the hold change effect, the state of the reserved pattern changes in a direction that increases its reliability. If the state of the reserved pattern before the occurrence of the hold change effect is called the pre-state, and the state of the reserved pattern after the occurrence is called the post-state, the post-state is a state with a higher reliability than the pre-state. Therefore, the occurrence of the hold change effect can be said to be a welcome event for the player. In this embodiment, a suggestive image 10 may be displayed that suggests that the probability of the hold change effect occurring has increased. The suggestive image 10 (the suggestive effect by the suggestive image 10) will be described below. Note that in this embodiment, the hold change effect can occur even if the suggestive effect does not occur. However, the occurrence of the suggestive effect may be a condition for the occurrence of the hold change effect.

The suggestion image 10 is not displayed under normal circumstances (as shown in FIG. 2, the suggestion image 10 is not displayed under normal circumstances). In other words, most of the time (more than 90% of the time) when the during-variation performance is being performed, the suggestion image 10 is not displayed. Since the suggestion image 10 suggests the occurrence of a pending change performance, it is not displayed when the pending pattern is not displayed.

Suggestion image 10 (see FIG. 5(a) etc.) suggests the occurrence of a reserve change effect in which a reserved pattern (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the target reserved pattern 70T) that may cause a reserve change effect changes when a move-up operation is performed to move up the consumption order position. If the consumption order position before the move-up operation is the Nth consumption order position and the consumption order position after the move-up operation is the N-1th consumption order position, this suggests that the probability of a reserve change effect occurring for the target reserved pattern 70T increases when the target reserved pattern 70T moves from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position. Note that since the earliest consumption order is the "first" consumption order position, N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2.

The suggestion image 10 is displayed between the Nth and N-1th digestion order positions (see FIG. 5(a)). From another perspective, the suggestion image 10 is displayed in a position that overlaps with at least a portion of the path that the reserved symbol takes when moving from the Nth digestion order position to the N-1th digestion order position (moving the digestion order up by one position). From yet another perspective, the suggestion image 10 is displayed in a location that makes the Nth and N-1th digestion order positions closer than any of the other digestion order positions. Thus, the player can sense that the suggestion image 10 is an image displayed in association with the Nth and N-1th digestion order positions.

The specific form of the suggestion image 10 may be any. In this embodiment, the suggestion image 10 is in a form that represents a "gate." When the target reserved pattern 70T performs a moving action in which it moves from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position, it appears to pass through the gate (see FIG. 5(b)). When the suggestion image 10 is displayed and a reserve change performance occurs, the target reserved pattern 70T performing the moving action passes through the gate, resulting in a performance form that appears to have changed to a post-event form (see FIG. 5(c)). When the suggestion image 10 is displayed, the probability of a reserve change performance occurring for the target reserved pattern 70T is higher than when the suggestion image 10 is not displayed. As described above, the suggestion image 10 is not displayed under normal circumstances, so in this embodiment, the suggestion image 10 is erased after the reserve change performance occurs (see FIG. 5(d)).

As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, even if the suggestive image 10 is displayed (even if the target reserved pattern 70T passes through the gate), there are cases where the reserved change effect does not occur. Also, although not shown, even if the suggestive image 10 is not displayed, there are cases where the reserved change effect occurs as a result of the advance operation. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the target reserved pattern 70T changes from the normal mode 70n to the first special mode 71s, but it may also be possible for the pattern to change to the second special mode 72s to the fourth special mode 74s. It may also be possible for a pattern to change from a certain special mode 70s to a special mode 70s with a higher reliability.

In this way, the suggestion effect in this embodiment is that the suggestion image 10 is displayed between two adjacent consumption order positions (between the Nth consumption order position and the N-1th consumption order position), so it is easy to understand that this is a suggestion of a reserve change effect in which the appearance of the reserved pattern changes when moving between the two consumption order positions.

Below, we will explain specific examples of improvements, concrete changes, modifications, etc., made to the above-mentioned suggestive image 10 (suggestive performance). Note that, to the extent possible, a configuration may be made in which multiple techniques described using the following specific examples are combined and applied.

〇Specific example 1-1
In the above embodiment, it has been explained that there is a possibility that the state of the target reserved pattern 70T will not change (a reserved change performance will not occur) even if the suggestive image 10 is displayed, but it is also possible to configure it so that when the suggestive image 10 is displayed, the state of the target reserved pattern 70T will always change (a reserved change performance will always occur) as a trigger for the movement from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position. In this case, the suggestive image 10 will function as a "notice" of the occurrence (and timing) of the reserved change performance.

Specific example 1-2
The suggested image 10 is one of a plurality of images having different aspects. For example, a first suggested image 11 (suggested image "small") (see FIG. 7(a)) and a second suggested image 12 (suggested image "large") (see FIG. 7(b)) larger than the first suggested image 11 are set as suggested images 10 that can be displayed. Any method may be used to set the difference in the aspect of each suggested image 10. As in this example, it is also possible to make the suggested images 10 different in size, different in color, or different in the object itself represented by the suggested image 10 (for example, one kind of suggested image 10 is a "gate" as in the above embodiment, while another kind of suggested image 10 is in the form of a "tunnel").

Based on this premise, the probability of the reserve change performance occurring for the target reserved pattern 70T differs depending on the type of the suggested image 10 displayed. For example, the probability that the target reserved pattern 70T will change its state due to the advancement action from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position is higher when the second suggested image 12 is displayed than when the first suggested image 11 is displayed between the Nth consumption order position and the N-1th consumption order position (see FIG. 7). Since the occurrence of a reserve change performance is an advantageous event for the player, it can be said that the player is more pleased when the second suggested image 12 is displayed than when the first suggested image 11 is displayed. In this way, when the suggested image 10 is displayed, the performance form is one in which the player will also pay attention to the type of the suggested image 10. In addition, the suggested image 10 (type of suggested image 10) functions as a suggestion not only of the timing when the reserve change performance may occur (when the target reserved pattern 70T is displaced from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position), but also of the probability of the reserve change performance occurring at that timing.

Specific example 1-3
The suggestion image 10 is one of a number of different types of images with different aspects. The method for setting the difference in aspect between the various suggestion images 10 is as described in the above specific example 1-2. For example, one of suggestion image A (suggestion image "blue" 13) that exhibits blue, suggestion image B (suggestion image "green" 14) that exhibits green, and suggestion image C (suggestion image "red" 15) that exhibits red is displayed (see FIG. 8(a)).

Based on this premise, depending on which type of suggestion image 10 is displayed, the state after the change of the target reserved pattern 70T when the reserved change performance occurs (post-event state) is suggested. In other words, various suggestion images 10 are associated with one of the special modes 70s of the reserved pattern, and when the reserved change performance occurs, the reserved pattern changes to the special mode 70s corresponding to the type of the displayed suggestion image 10. In this example, the color of the suggestion image 10 suggests the color of the corresponding special mode 70s. When the suggested image A (suggestion image "blue" 13) is displayed and the reserved change performance occurs, the post-event state of the target reserved pattern 70T becomes the first special mode 71s ("blue" reserved). When the suggested image B (suggestion image "green" 14) is displayed and the reserved change performance occurs, the post-event state of the target reserved pattern 70T becomes the second special mode 72s ("green" reserved). If the suggestion image C (suggestion image "red" 15) is displayed and a reserve change effect occurs, the subsequent state of the target reserved pattern 70T will be the third special state 73s ("red" reserved) (see FIG. 8(b)). By doing this, when the suggestion image 10 is displayed, the type of the suggestion image 10 will also be the type of effect that the player will pay attention to. In addition, the suggestion image 10 (type of suggestion image 10) functions to suggest not only the timing at which the reserve change effect may occur (when the target reserved pattern 70T moves from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position), but also the subsequent state of the target reserved pattern 70T (to which of the special states 70s it will change) if a reserve change effect occurs at that timing.

Specific Example 1-4 (an example that further embodies Specific Examples 1-2 and 1-3)
The type of the suggested image 10 once displayed can be changed. After a certain type of suggested image 10 is displayed between the Nth consumption order position and the N-1th consumption order position, the type of the suggested image 10 can be changed (see Figs. 9(a)-(c)) before the target reserved pattern 70T is advanced from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position (see Fig. 9(d)). The change in the type of the suggested image 10 is a change in a direction advantageous to the player. As in Specific Example 1-2, if the type of the suggested image 10 is intended to suggest the probability of the reserved change performance occurring, the type of the suggested image 10 can be changed in a direction that increases the probability (see Fig. 9). This makes it possible to create a performance form that is expected to increase the probability of the reserved change performance occurring. Although not shown, as in Specific Example 1-3, if the type of the suggested image 10 is intended to suggest the post-event state of the target reserved pattern 70T at the time of the reserved change performance occurring, the type of the suggested image 10 can be changed in a direction that increases the reliability of the corresponding special state 70s. This makes it possible to create a presentation format that is expected to increase the reliability when a hold change presentation occurs.

When the type of suggestive image 10 changes, it is preferable to have an effect that triggers the change (a suggestive change effect) occur. For example, an image that acts on the suggestive image 10 (a trigger image 19) is displayed (see FIG. 9(a)), and then the type of the suggestive image 10 changes (see FIG. 9(c)). This reduces the risk that the player will overlook the change in the suggestive image 10.

Specific example 1-5
The manner in which the target reserved pattern 70T moves from being displayed in the Nth consumption order position to being displayed in the N-1th consumption order position (the manner in which the target reserved pattern 70T is advanced) differs between a case in which a suggestion image 10 is displayed between the Nth consumption order position and the N-1th consumption order position and then the appearance of the target reserved pattern 70T changes (a case in which a reserve change performance occurs) and a case in which a suggestion image 10 is displayed but the appearance of the target reserved pattern 70T does not change (a reserve change performance does not occur).

For example, when a reserve change performance occurs, the target reserved pattern 70T passes through the location where the suggested image 10 is displayed (the suggested image 10 and the target reserved pattern 70T overlap) (progressing from FIG. 10(a)→(b-1)→(c-1)). On the other hand, when a reserve change performance does not occur, the target reserved pattern 70T does not pass through the location where the suggested image 10 is displayed, that is, the target reserved pattern 70T is displaced along a path that avoids the suggested image 10 (progressing from FIG. 10(a)→(b-2)→(c-2)). The reserve change performance using the suggested image 10 is a performance that makes it appear as if a change in the state of the target reserved pattern 70T has occurred due to the action of the suggested image 10, so when a reserve change performance occurs, the target reserved pattern 70T is displaced through the location where the suggested image 10 is displayed (see FIG. 10(b-1)). On the other hand, if the reserved change effect does not occur, the target reserved pattern 70T is displaced so as not to pass through the area where the suggested image 10 is displayed, in order to show that the effect of the suggested image 10 has not been reached (see FIG. 10 (b-2)). There are various other methods that can be considered to make it appear as if the effect of the suggested image 10 has not been reached. For example, it is possible to have the target reserved pattern 70T disappear ("warp") and be displayed in the N-1th consumed order position.

By controlling the suggestion image 10 instead of the target reserved pattern 70T, it may be possible to make it appear as if the effect of the suggestion image 10 did not affect the target reserved pattern 70T. For example, when the target reserved pattern 70T performs a moving up operation, if the suggested image 10 that was displayed up until then disappears, the reserved change performance is not generated (progressing from FIG. 11(a)→(b-2)→(c-2)). On the other hand, if the suggested image 10 remains displayed when the moving up operation is performed, the reserved change performance is generated (progressing from FIG. 11(a)→(b-1)→(c-1)). In this way, whether the suggested image 10 remains (whether it disappears) until the target reserved pattern 70T performs the moving up operation is an easy-to-understand performance form that determines whether the reserved change performance occurs or not.

5-2) Description Changed Performance The gaming machine according to this embodiment can execute a specific performance (see FIG. 12) as a performance constituting the performance during variation. The specific performance leads to an advantageous ending advantageous to the player or an unfavorable ending that is an ending when the advantageous ending is not reached. The advantageous ending includes a so-called reversal pattern in which an unfavorable ending appears to have been reached once and is then reversed. In this embodiment, the specific performance is used as a type of super reach performance. If the winning/losing lottery result (target winning/losing lottery result) corresponding to the performance during variation including the specific performance is a big win, the result is an advantageous ending, and if it is a loss, the result is an unfavorable ending. In other words, the specific performance can be said to be a performance that notifies the target winning/losing lottery result by its ending. The specific performance in this embodiment is a so-called battle performance in which an ally character (indicated with the character "aji" in the drawings) which is a character on the player's side and an enemy character (indicated with the character "enemy" in the drawings) fight each other. A favorable ending is when the ally character wins (the enemy character loses) (see FIG. 12(c-1)), and an unfavorable ending is when the ally character loses (the enemy character wins) (see FIG. 12(c-2)). The ally character or enemy character that can appear in a specific performance may be of one type or of multiple types.

In the special performance, a special image 20 is displayed in the display area 911 (see FIG. 12(a)). In this embodiment, the special image 20 is displayed at the beginning of the special performance. The special image 20 includes a numerical element 21 and an explanatory element 22. The numerical element 21 suggests the probability that the special performance will end favorably through the concept of "number". In this embodiment, the number of "star" marks is displayed as the numerical element 21. The minimum and maximum values of the "number" can be set as appropriate. In this embodiment, the minimum value is "1" (one mark), and the maximum value is "5" (five marks). The minimum unit may be set to less than 1. For example, the number of numerical elements 21 may be set in increments of 0.5. In this embodiment, the number of solid star marks that appear to be filled with the inside of a star is the number of numerical elements 21 (hollow star marks are not included in the number of numerical elements 21). Regardless of the number of numerical elements 21, the number of solid star marks + the number of hollow star marks = 5 (maximum value of numerical elements 21). For example, if the number of numerical elements 21 is 3, the number of solid star marks and the number of hollow star marks are displayed as 3 (see FIG. 12(a)). In this way, even if the number of numerical elements 21 displayed is not the maximum value, it is easy to understand that the maximum value of numerical elements 21 is "5."

Unlike this embodiment, the "number" itself may be displayed as the numerical element 21. Also, a meter or the like having a specified size as one unit may be displayed as the numerical element 21 (for example, the size of one unit is X, and the length of the meter is N x X (N is a natural number). The value of "N" here corresponds to the concept of "number"). Note that the amount of numerical element 21 in the following explanation refers to the amount of "number" represented by the numerical element 21.

The explanatory element 22 is displayed to explain what the numerical element 21 represents. The explanatory element 22 is displayed to accompany the numerical element 21 so that the player can understand that the explanatory element 22 is an explanation of the numerical element 21 (see FIG. 12(a)). In this embodiment, the explanatory element 22 may be displayed in the majority good mode 22a or the minority good mode 22b. The majority good mode 22a is a mode that indicates that the more numerical elements 21 there are, the more favorable the situation is for the player. In contrast, the minority good mode 22b is a mode that indicates that the fewer numerical elements 21 there are, the more favorable the situation is for the player. In other words, when the explanatory element 22 in the majority good mode 22a is displayed, the more numerical elements 21 there are, the more promising the situation appears to the player, and when the explanatory element 22 in the minority good mode 22b is displayed, the more promising the situation appears to the player, the fewer numerical elements 21 there are.

In this embodiment, the explanatory element 22 of the majority good state 22a includes the word "expectation". On the other hand, the explanatory element 22 of the minority good state 22b includes the word "risk". Since the word "expectation" is commonly used to suggest that the higher the number, the higher the probability of a favorable situation for the player. Therefore, the situation in which the numerical element 21 is displayed together with the word "expectation" (the majority good state 22a) suggests to the player that the more the numerical element 21, the more the player can expect to have a favorable outcome. On the other hand, the word "risk" is commonly used to suggest that the higher the number, the lower the probability of a favorable situation for the player. Therefore, the situation in which the numerical element 21 is displayed together with the word "risk" (the minority good state 22b) suggests to the player that the less the numerical element 21, the more the player can expect to have a favorable outcome.

In particular, in this embodiment, an enemy character is displayed together with the specific image 20 (see FIG. 12(a)). By displaying the word "Expectation" (multiple good aspects 22a) together with the enemy character, the numerical element 21 appears to indicate the expected value of defeating the enemy character (the more numerical elements 21 there are, the higher the probability of defeating the enemy character appears). On the other hand, by displaying the word "Danger" (few good aspects 22b) together with the enemy character, the numerical element 21 appears to indicate the strength (degree of danger) of the enemy character (the more numerical elements 21 there are, the stronger the enemy character appears and the lower the probability of victory appears).

The multiple favorable conditions 22a may be any condition that appears to be more promising the more the numerical elements 21 are present, and examples other than "expectation" include "confidence". If used in a battle presentation like the specific presentation of this embodiment, it may represent the probability that the player's character will end up winning, such as "probability of winning (expectation of winning)" or "probability of defeat (expectation of defeat)". A favorable outcome in a specific presentation may be considered as a "success", and the term may be "probability of success (expectation of success)". It may also be represented as "probability of winning (expectation)" to represent the probability that the result of the lottery will be a win, such as "probability of winning the jackpot (expectation)".

The minority favorable state 22b may be any state that appears more promising the fewer the numerical element 21, and examples other than "degree of danger" include "probability of falling." If used in a battle presentation like the specific presentation of this embodiment, it may represent the probability that the player's character will end up losing, such as "enemy strength" or "probability of defeat." An unfavorable outcome in a specific presentation may be considered a "failure," and may be represented as "probability of failure." It may also represent the probability that the winning/losing lottery result will be a loss, such as "probability of losing (expectation level)."

In the following explanation, the specific image 20 is represented as "Expectation level: ○" and "Risk level: ○" (○ is the "number" of the numerical elements 21 (in this embodiment, the number of star marks)). In this embodiment, the explanation change performance is one in which the numerical elements 21 remain the same and the explanation elements 22 change from one of the majority good state 22a and the minority good state 22b to the other. In this embodiment, an explanation change performance can occur in which the minority good state 22b changes to the majority good state 22a. Specifically, it is as follows.

At the time when the specific image 20 is displayed (at the start of display), the explanation element 22 is in a state where "risk level" (few good aspects 22b) is displayed (see FIG. 13(a)). In this embodiment, regardless of whether the explanation change performance occurs or not, "risk level" is displayed at the start of display ("expectation level" (many good aspects 22a) is not displayed at the start of display). If the explanation change performance does not occur, the display of "risk level ○" is maintained until the end (until the specific image 20 is erased) (see FIG. 13(b-1), (c-1)). As will be described in detail later, the explanation change performance is a so-called chance up (performance), and in the default (basic performance form) in which the chance up does not occur, the display of "risk level" is maintained. In other words, in the default case, the smaller the numerical element 21 of "risk level ○", the higher the probability of a favorable ending (if the explanation change performance does not occur, "risk level 5" is the lowest reliability (probability of reaching a favorable ending), and "risk level 1" is the highest reliability (see FIG. 14)).

In this embodiment, when the "risk level is 5" at the start of the display, the explanation change effect may occur. That is, while maintaining the numerical element 21, the "risk level" (minority good state 22b) is replaced with the "expectation level" (majority good state 22a) (see Figs. 13(a), (b-2), (c-2)), resulting in the specific image 20 of "expectation level 5" being displayed. The minority good state 22b indicates that the more the numerical element 21, the less hopeful the player is in the situation. However, by replacing the minority good state 22b with the majority good state 22a, the situation suddenly changes to one in which one can expect a favorable outcome. From another perspective, when the explanation change effect occurs, the initial "risk level 5" (which is actually an indication of the "provisional" reliability) changes to "expectation level 5", and the reliability appears to the player to have increased significantly. In this embodiment, an action image 29 that acts on the "risk level" (few good states 22b) is displayed (see FIG. 13(b-2)), which then changes to the "expectation level" (few good states 22a) (see FIG. 13(c-2)). By triggering a change from the few good states 22b to the many good states 22a when such an action image 29 is displayed, the risk of the player overlooking the change is reduced.

In this embodiment, the reliability of the specific image 20 (probability of reaching a favorable ending) is set as shown in FIG. 14 (list of patterns of specific images 20 that can be displayed (P1 to P6)). As described above, in the cases of P1 to P5 where the explanation change performance does not occur (when it remains "risk level"), the smaller the numerical element 21, the higher the reliability. In the case of P6 where the explanation change performance occurs, the reliability is considered to be equal to or higher than the highest reliability when the explanation change performance does not occur. In other words, the occurrence of a change from "risk level 5" to "expectation level 5" is considered to be equal to or higher than the reliability when "risk level 1" is displayed (P5). When "risk level 5" is displayed at the start of the display, if there is no change (P1), the reliability will be the lowest, but when the explanation change performance occurs and the performance changes to "expectation level 5" (P6), the reliability will change to the highest level all at once. Note that when the explanation change performance occurs, it may be set to be determined that a favorable ending will be reached (reliability = 100%). In addition, because the explanation change effect is a chance-up effect, effects that decrease the reliability, such as "Expectation level 5" → "Risk level 5," will not occur.

In this way, when a specific image 20 including a numerical element 21 and an explanatory element 22 explaining it is displayed, the gaming machine according to this embodiment is capable of executing an interesting chance-up effect (explanation-change effect) in which the explanatory element 22 changes from a minority good state 22b (risk level) to a majority good state 22a (expectation level) while the numerical element 21 remains the same. Chance-up effects in which the numerical element 21 changes are well known, but this is a novel effect in that it is not the numerical element 21 but the explanatory element 22 explaining it that changes.

In particular, the image change presentation in this embodiment is a change from "risk level 5" to "expectation level 5," that is, a change from a state in which a specific image 20 with "the numerical value represented by the numerical element being the maximum and a small number of favorable states" is displayed to a state in which a specific image 20 with "the numerical value represented by the numerical element being the maximum and a large number of favorable states" is displayed. In other words, this is an interesting presentation form in which a change occurs from a state with the least hope (a state that appears to have the lowest reliability) to a state in which hope is suddenly raised (a presentation form that expresses the transition from "hell to heaven" by a change in the explanatory element 22).

The following describes specific examples of improvements, specific embodiments, and modifications to the above-mentioned description change performance. Note that, to the extent possible, a configuration may be created that applies a combination of multiple technologies described using the following specific examples.

〇Specific example 2-1
It has been explained that the gaming machine in the above embodiment is capable of generating an explanation change presentation from a minority good state 22b to a majority good state 22a, but it may also be capable of generating an explanation change presentation from a majority good state 22a to a minority good state 22b.

At the start of the display, "Expectation" (many favorable aspects 22a) is displayed as the explanation element 22. In the default (basic presentation form) where no chance up occurs, the display of "Expectation" is maintained (see Figures 15(a), (b-1), (c-1)). In other words, in the default case, the more "Expectation ○" numerical elements 21 there are, the higher the probability of a favorable outcome (when no explanation change presentation occurs, "Expectation 1" is the lowest reliability and "Expectation 5" is the highest reliability).

If "Expectation Level 1" is displayed at the start of the display (see FIG. 15(a)), an explanation change effect may occur in which this changes to "Risk Level 1" (see FIG. 15(b-2)(c-2)). The majority good state 22a indicates that the smaller the numerical element 21, the less hopeful the situation is for the player, and by replacing the majority good state 22a with a minority good state 22b, the effect changes to one in which the player can suddenly expect a favorable outcome.

...

〇Specific example 2-2
The explanation change performance in the above embodiment and specific example 2-1 is a performance in which the numerical value represented by the numerical element 21 changes from the minority good state 22b to the majority good state 22a when the numerical value represented by the numerical element 21 is the maximum value, and a performance in which the numerical value represented by the numerical element 21 changes from the majority good state 22a to the minority good state 22b when the numerical value represented by the numerical element 21 is the minimum value, that is, a performance that occurs when the numerical element 21 is the maximum or minimum value, but it may also occur when the numerical element 21 is other than the maximum or minimum value. For example, an explanation change performance (see FIG. 16) in which "risk level 4" changes to "expectation level 4" or an explanation change performance (not shown) in which "expectation level 2" changes to "risk level 2" may occur.

In addition, because the explanation change effect occurs as a so-called chance-up effect, there is no change in the direction of maintaining the status quo or decreasing the reliability. If the numerical element 21 has five stages as in the above embodiment, the center is "3". Therefore, a change from one of "Expectation Level 3" and "Risk Level 3" to the other corresponds to maintaining the status quo, and such a change does not occur. In addition, there is no change in the direction of decreasing the reliability, such as from "Expectation Level 4" to "Risk Level 4" or from "Risk Level 2" to "Expectation Level 2". However, this does not deny the possibility of a configuration in which such changes in maintaining the status quo or changes in the direction of decreasing the reliability can occur.

Specific example 2-3
As in the above embodiment, a character image is displayed together with the specific image 20 (numerical element 21, explanatory element 22). When an explanation change effect occurs, it is triggered by a change in the type of character represented by the character image. If the specific effect is a battle effect as in the above embodiment, the character may represent an ally character that appears in the battle, or an enemy character. This reduces the risk that the player will overlook the occurrence of an explanation change effect.

When no explanation change effect occurs, it is advisable to display different characters according to the respective stages of the numerical element 21. If the patterns of the specific images 20 that can be displayed are specified as in the above embodiment, character A (see FIG. 17(a-1)) is displayed at "danger level 1", character B (see FIG. 17(a-2)) at "danger level 2", character C (see FIG. 17(a-3)) at "danger level 3", character D (see FIG. 17(a-4)) at "danger level 4", and character E (see FIG. 17(a-5)) at "danger level 5". If each character is an enemy character, the effect will be such that the "strong characters" appear to be displayed in the order of character A, character B, ... character E (strongest).

When a description change effect occurs, character E is displayed together with the specific image 20 of "risk level 5" at the start of the display. After that, character E changes to a different character as a description change effect occurs in which "risk level 5" changes to "expectation level 5". The character displayed after the change can be roughly considered as follows (two patterns).

As a first pattern, it is possible to have character A displayed as the changed character. In other words, when the explanation change performance occurs, a change from character E to character A occurs (see FIG. 17(b-1)). As described above, character A is displayed at "danger level 1" (see FIG. 17(a-1)) and corresponds to the weakest character, so it is possible to have character A displayed when the explanation change performance occurs. In other words, the same type of character that is displayed at the highest reliability when the explanation change performance does not occur is also displayed when the explanation change performance occurs. In this way, a configuration is created that indicates to the player that the occurrence of the explanation change performance can be expected to be equivalent to the most reliable case when the explanation change performance does not occur.

As a second pattern, it is possible to display a character of a different type from any of the characters that may be displayed when the description change effect does not occur as the changed character. For example, a character X different from any of the characters A to E is displayed. In other words, a change from character E to character X occurs when the description change effect occurs (see FIG. 17(b-2)). If the configuration is such that the reliability is higher when the description change effect occurs than when the description change effect does not occur (than the case of "risk level 1"), it is preferable to use the second pattern. In other words, the presentation form is such that character X is displayed as a "weaker" character than any of the characters A to E (than character A). If the setting is such that the result of the target winning/losing lottery is a guaranteed jackpot when the description change effect occurs, the display of character X will function as a so-called premium presentation. In this way, the configuration is such that the occurrence of the description change effect is a special event that is different from any of the cases when the description change effect does not occur.

Specific example 2-4
In the above-mentioned explanation change performance, the explanation element 22 changes while the numerical element 21 is maintained. However, the numerical element 21 may change along with the change in the explanation element 22. Since the explanation change performance occurs as a chance increase, when the minority good state 22b changes to the majority good state 22a, a change occurs in which the numerical element 21 increases. For example, an explanation change performance may occur in which a "risk level 4" at the time of starting the display changes to an "expectation level 5". On the other hand, when the majority good state 22a changes to the minority good state 22b, a change occurs in which the numerical element 21 decreases. For example, an explanation change performance may occur in which a "expectation level 2" at the time of starting the display changes to a "risk level 1".

However, from the perspective of clarity of the presentation, it is preferable to use an explanation change presentation in which the explanatory element 22 changes while the numerical element 21 remains the same. This is because if the numerical element 21 changes along with the explanatory element 22, it is difficult to grasp what change has occurred. If the explanatory element 22 changes while the numerical element 21 remains the same, there is the advantage that it is easy to understand that the reliability has increased by changing from one situation, where the more "numbers" are more favorable, to the other, where the less "numbers" are more favorable.

Specific example 2-5
Before the description change performance occurs, a provocative performance may occur, which suggests that the description change performance may occur. After the provocative performance, a favorable result indicating that the description change performance has occurred or an unfavorable result indicating that the description change performance has not occurred is reached. For example, as in the above embodiment, if the description change performance from the minority good state 22b to the majority good state 22a can occur, an action image 29 acting on the minority good state 22b (risk level) is displayed (see FIG. 18(b)), and a provocative performance is generated in which the minority good state 22b changes to the majority good state 22a (expectation level) as a favorable result (see FIG. 18(c-1)) and the minority good state 22b does not change to the majority good state 22a as an unfavorable result (see FIG. 18(c-2)).

In this way, when a teasing effect occurs, it becomes a form of effect in which the player hopes that the explanatory element 22 will change as a result (a change from one of the minority good state 22b and the majority good state 22a to the other occurs). The change from the minority good state 22b to the majority good state 22a is a change that appears to have suddenly increased reliability (if the minority good state 22b remains, it will have the lowest reliability), so whether or not a favorable result will be achieved is a big turning point for the player.

5-3) Image Presentation The gaming machine according to this embodiment is capable of executing image presentation as a part of the presentation during the variation. The image presentation in this embodiment includes a first stage (first part), a second stage (second part), and a third stage (third part).

In the gaming machine of this embodiment, the result of the lottery is announced by a combination of three decorative symbols 80 selected from each of the three decorative symbol groups 80g, and the image presentation occurs when all three decorative symbol groups 80g are displayed in a variable manner (when no selected symbol from any of the three decorative symbol groups 80g is displayed) (see FIG. 19(a)). In other words, it occurs suddenly in a state where it is not even clear whether a reach will be achieved and the player does not expect it at all.

In the first stage, a bug image 30 (abnormal image) that makes it look like a malfunction has occurred in the display device 91 is displayed in the display area 911 (see FIG. 19B). Since the image makes it look like a malfunction has occurred in the display area 911, the bug image 30 is displayed in the entire display area 911 (however, it is permitted to display small information (such as small patterns) so as not to stand out near the outer edge of the display area 911). As described above, just before the image performance starts, all three decorative pattern groups 80g are in a state of being displayed in a variable manner, so that the decorative pattern group 80g and the background image 89 displayed as its background (not shown in the drawings that explain things other than the image performance), and in this embodiment, the image including the reserved pattern (the previous image), are in a state in which the bug image 30 that makes it look like a malfunction has occurred in the display device 91. Note that the bug image 30 in this embodiment is not a so-called frozen image. In other words, it is not a "frozen" image that does not include elements that change over time, but an image that includes elements that change over time. By doing this, when the bug image 30 is displayed (first stage), the player may feel that the display device 91 has actually broken down, rather than that a known freeze effect has occurred (particularly in this embodiment, the probability of an image effect occurring is extremely low (details will be described later). Therefore, when an image effect occurs, it will be the first time that most players encounter an image effect).

After the first stage, the game moves to the second stage in which an image that clearly represents a predetermined target, that is, a normal image 32 that is clearly a normal image, is displayed (see FIG. 19(c)). By displaying such a normal image 32, the player understands that the malfunction of the display device 91 is not real (it is a performance). The normal image 32 is displayed superimposed on top of the bug image 30. That is, the layer representing the normal image 32 is set in front of the layer representing the bug image 30. The size of the normal image 32 is smaller than that of the bug image 30 (the normal image 32 is displayed in a part of the display area 911, not the entirety). Therefore, the second stage can be said to be a state in which the bug image 30 appears to be displayed as the background of the normal image 32. The normal image 32 in this embodiment is an image representing a predetermined character (hereinafter referred to as the target character). The target character is a character that appears in the original work that is the motif of the gaming machine.

After the second stage, the game moves to the third stage. The third stage is a stage in which the normal image 32 is used to make it look as if the bug image 30 has been destroyed. In this embodiment, the target character is displayed as the normal image 32, and when the target character delivers a punch backwards (see FIG. 19(d)), an image is displayed in which the bug image 30 looks as if it has been shattered (see FIG. 19(e)). By destroying the bug image 30 in this way, it is possible to clearly indicate that the image presentation has ended.

After the image presentation ends (after the third stage), the result is shown. In this embodiment, the occurrence of the image presentation is linked to the occurrence of an event advantageous to the player. In other words, after the image presentation ends, it is shown that an event advantageous to the player has occurred. In this embodiment, a winning combination (three of the same decorative symbols 80) is displayed, indicating that the result of the lottery is a jackpot (see FIG. 19(f)). In this way, the bug image 30 is destroyed in the third stage, resulting in a presentation form that looks as if a winning combination has been displayed. As described above, the image presentation in this embodiment occurs when all three decorative symbol groups 80g are displayed in a variable manner, so the progression is from a state where even a reach has not been achieved to a state where a winning combination is suddenly displayed (a confirmed jackpot state) via the image presentation.

In addition, this type of image effect only occurs when the result of the lottery is a jackpot (a winning change). It also rarely occurs even in a winning change. In this embodiment, it is a rare effect that occurs only once in about 200 winning changes.

In this way, the gaming machine of this embodiment can execute an interesting effect (image effect) in which the bug image 30 is displayed, which may make the player feel that the display device 91 is broken. However, in this embodiment, the image effect displays the normal image 32 superimposed on the bug image 30, so the player can understand at that point that the display device 91 is not broken (the display of the bug image 30 is unlikely to lead to a complaint).

In particular, the image presentation in this embodiment involves the sudden display of a bug image 30 while all three decorative pattern groups 80g are being displayed in a dynamic manner, so there is a high probability that the player will perceive a malfunction of the display device 91 as being real.

In addition, as in the image presentation of this embodiment, the bug image 30 is displayed as if it has been destroyed in the third stage, thereby clearly indicating the end of the image presentation. Furthermore, as in this embodiment, by using the normal image 32 (target character) to make the bug image 30 appear to have been destroyed, the normal image 32 not only serves the function of indicating to the player that the malfunction is not real (the display of the bug image 30 is a presentation), but also serves the function of providing a trigger to destroy the bug image 30 and indicate to the player the end of the image presentation.

The following describes specific examples of improvements, specific embodiments, and modifications to the above image presentation-related matters. Note that, to the extent possible, configurations may be made that apply a combination of multiple technologies described using the following specific examples.

Specific example 3-1
Although the image presentation in the above embodiment has been described as including the first to third stages, the third stage may not be executed. That is, the image presentation may end when the bug image 30 and the normal image 32 are displayed superimposed in front of it. Since the player will realize that the display device 91 is not broken when the normal image 32 is displayed (second stage), the image presentation is ended with the second stage.

Furthermore, the image presentation may end when the bug image 30 is displayed (first stage) (the image presentation ends without displaying the normal image 32), but in this case there is a risk that the player's suspicion that the display device 91 may be broken may remain. It is precisely because the bug image 30 and normal image 32 are displayed together (second stage display is performed) that the player can be sure that the bug image 30 is displayed intentionally (displayed as a presentation), so it is preferable to have this kind of display.

Specific example 3-2
In the above embodiment, the image effect is described as a big win confirmation effect, but it does not have to be a big win confirmation effect. However, it is preferable that the image effect is a chance-up effect that increases the probability that the winning/losing lottery result will be a big win when the image effect occurs compared to when the image effect does not occur.

For example, after the image presentation ends, the game may transition to a reach-established state (a state in which the decorative patterns 80 selected from two of the three decorative pattern groups 80g are of the same type, and the other one has not been decided). That is, the game progresses in such a way that the bug image 30 is destroyed, indicating that a reach has been established. In other words, the image presentation leads to a result indicating that an event advantageous to the player, that of a reach, has occurred.

Specific example 3-3
After the image presentation ends, an event advantageous to the player may occur, or the advantageous event may not occur. For example, as in the above embodiment, after the image presentation ends, a state may shift to a state in which a winning combination is displayed (a state in which a big win is notified) (see FIG. 20(c-1)), or a state may shift to a state in which a losing combination is displayed (a state in which a loss is notified) (see FIG. 20(c-2)). In other words, the display of a winning combination is an event advantageous to the player, and the advantageous event may not occur.

Based on this premise, the aspect of the normal image 32 suggests the probability of an advantageous event occurring. For example, a first normal image 321 and a second normal image 322 in a different aspect from the first normal image 321 (for example, the first normal image 321 and the second normal image 322 show different characters) may be displayed as the normal image 32, and the probability of an advantageous event occurring is higher when the second normal image 322 is displayed than when the first normal image 321 is displayed (see FIG. 20(a)). If the setting is "occurrence of an advantageous event = jackpot," the second normal image 322 is a more reliable image than the first normal image 321. In this way, the normal image 32 not only has the function of showing the player that the malfunction is not real (the display of the bug image 30 is a performance), but also has the function of suggesting the probability of an advantageous event occurring after the image performance ends.

Specific example 3-4
As explained in the above specific example 3-3, after the image presentation ends, an event advantageous to the player may or may not occur. The presentation mode of the third stage is configured to differ depending on whether the advantageous event occurs or not. For example, if the bug image 30 is completely destroyed (destruction is "successful") (see FIG. 21(b-1)), an advantageous event occurs (see FIG. 21(c-1)), but if the bug image 30 is not completely destroyed (destruction is "failed") (see FIG. 21(b-2)), an advantageous event does not occur (see FIG. 21(c-2)).

In this way, the third stage ending (the ending of the image presentation) is set to be either a "success ending" or a "failed ending", with a configuration in which a favorable event occurs if the ending is successful, but no favorable event occurs if the ending is unsuccessful. The image presentation is characterized by the display of a bug image 30, so by using the bug image 30 to indicate whether or not the successful ending has been reached, the flow of the presentation becomes easy to understand.

Specific example 3-5
In the above embodiment, the image effects are described as occurring suddenly (the bug image 30 is displayed suddenly) when all three decorative pattern groups 80g are displayed in a variable manner, but they may occur at other times. Also, there may be multiple times when the image effects can occur.

In the case of this example, an image effect may occur in a scene unfavorable to the player, and after the image effect (the unfavorable scene is canceled), the scene may change to a favorable scene. For example, an image effect may occur in a state where a losing combination (a combination other than a winning combination) of the decorative symbols 80 is displayed (however, the decorative symbols 80 are assumed to be in a state where they are not completely stopped (so-called pseudo-stop state)). In other words, when a losing combination is displayed (see FIG. 22(a)), the image is displayed as if it had become a bug image 30 (see FIG. 22(b)). Then, after a normal image 32 is displayed (see FIG. 22(c)), a display is made as if the bug image 30 has been destroyed (see FIG. 22(d)(e)) (the bug image 30 is erased), and then a winning combination is displayed (see FIG. 22(f)), and the result of the winning/losing lottery is notified as a jackpot. In this way, image effects can be used for a flow of effects that appear to be a loss, but are then overturned.

As another example (not shown), an image effect may occur when the reach is not achieved, and then the image effect may transition to a reach-achieved state. In this way, image change effects can be used to suit scene changes (from an unfavorable scene to an advantageous scene).

5-4) Specific Hidden Operation Presentation The gaming machine according to this embodiment is provided with an operation means that can be operated by the player. One type of the operation means is a push button, i.e., a presentation button 60 (see FIG. 1). As a presentation constituting the during-variation presentation, it is possible to execute a presentation in which the player is requested to operate the presentation button 60 (hereinafter, this may be referred to as a normal operation presentation to distinguish it from the hidden operation presentation described later). The normal operation presentation is well known, so a detailed description is omitted. In the normal operation presentation (one example of which is shown in FIG. 23(a-1)), an image showing the presentation button 60, an image showing the requested operation mode (e.g., the word "press"), an image showing the remaining valid operation period (e.g., an image of a meter decreasing over time), and the like are displayed in the display area 911, so that the player knows that he or she is in a situation where he or she should operate the presentation button 60.

The gaming machine according to this embodiment does not display an image in the display area 911 encouraging the operation of the effect button 60 as in the normal operation effect, but is capable of executing a hidden operation effect (one example of which (a hidden operation effect that occurs when a reach is achieved) is shown in FIG. 23(a-2)) in which an operation effective period is set during which the operation of the effect button 60 may be reflected as an effect (naturally, the start and end of the operation effective period are not displayed in the display area 911). The hidden operation effect itself is known as a so-called "hidden button (effect)." Because an image encouraging the operation of the effect button 60 is not displayed in the display area 911, essentially only some players (such as players who notice the existence of the hidden operation effect) can enjoy the effect of the effect.

A hidden operation notification function is provided as a function that the player can select to enable/disable (can arbitrarily switch between enabled and disabled). When the hidden operation notification function is enabled (ON), the state of the effect button 60 changes when a hidden operation effect occurs. In other words, the hidden operation notification function is a function that notifies the player of the occurrence of a hidden operation effect by the state change of the effect button 60. When the hidden operation notification function is enabled (ON), when a hidden operation effect occurs, the effect button 60 changes from its normal state (normal state 70n) to a special state different from the normal state (see FIG. 23 (a-2)). The special state may be a state in which the player can distinguish that it is a state different from the normal state. The effect button 60 in this embodiment has an illuminant (LED, etc.) not shown inside, and the light emitted by the illuminant is visible to the player (the structure of such an effect button 60 itself is well known, so a description is omitted). In this embodiment, the normal state is when the effect button 60 (illuminant) is in a non-illuminating state, and the state in which it emits purple light is the special state. In this embodiment, the special state (purple light emission) is a state that can only be seen when the hidden operation notification function is activated. Therefore, for example, even if the effect button 60 is configured to emit light in a normal operation effect, the light emission state is a state that is different from the special state (purple light emission). Note that the normal state may also be set to be an emitting state (a setting in which the light emission color is different from the special state), such that the normal state is a state in which white light is emitted and the special state is a state in which purple light is emitted.

The player may enable/disable the hidden operation notification function in any manner. In this embodiment, a customization screen is displayed in a standby state (a state in which the variable performance is not being executed), and the "hidden button notification" (the hidden operation notification function) can be switched ON/OFF (see FIG. 23(b)). In this embodiment, a cross key 61 (see FIG. 1) is provided as an operation means different from the performance button 60, and a selection operation (movement of the cursor) is performed with the cross key 61, and a decision operation is performed by operating the performance button 60.

There are several types of hidden operation effects (target hidden operation effects) that are the target of the hidden operation notification function. When the hidden operation notification function is enabled (ON) and a target hidden operation effect occurs, the effect button 60 changes from the normal state to a special state immediately before or at the same time as the effect occurs (hereinafter referred to as the switching time). This allows the player to notice the occurrence of the hidden operation effect. On the other hand, when the hidden operation notification function is disabled (OFF), the effect button 60 remains in the normal state even when the switching time is reached, except when a special control is performed as described below (that is, the occurrence of a hidden operation effect is not notified, except when a special control is performed). Note that, regardless of whether the hidden operation notification function is enabled/disabled, if the effect button 60 is operated during the operation effective period in the hidden operation effect, the operation becomes effective (if a predetermined condition is met, it is reflected in the effect). For example, a player who knows the timing of the occurrence of a certain type of hidden operation effect can operate the effect button 60 at that timing, even if the hidden operation notification function is disabled, to reflect the operation of the effect button 60 in the effect.

In this embodiment, a specific hidden operation effect can be executed as a type of target hidden operation effect. A specific hidden operation effect is an effect in which the operation of the effect button 60 may trigger an advantageous event that is advantageous to the player, or the operation of the effect button 60 may not trigger the advantageous event. In this embodiment, a specific hidden operation effect occurs in a so-called promotion effect. Specifically, it is as follows.

The so-called promotion performance itself is well known, so it will be explained briefly. In this embodiment, if the result of the winning/losing lottery is a big win, a winning combination (three decorative patterns 80 of the same type (including the same number)) will be displayed at the end of the variable performance. If the winning combination is a combination (normal winning combination) of decorative patterns 80 of even numbers (2, 4, 6), there is a possibility of either a normal jackpot or a special jackpot, and if the winning combination is a combination (special combination) of decorative patterns 80 of odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7), a special jackpot is confirmed. In other words, the special winning combination is more advantageous for the player than the normal winning combination. Based on this premise, after the result of the winning/losing lottery is confirmed as a big win by the normal winning combination being displayed (indicated by a pseudo stop) (see FIG. 24(a)), a promotion performance occurs in which the normal winning combination may change to a special winning combination. The promotion performance is divided into a pre-stage (a "teasing" stage) (see FIG. 24(b)) that suggests that the combination may change to a special winning combination, and a subsequent end stage (see FIG. 24(c-1) and (c-2)). A change to a special winning combination is considered to be a successful end, and a failure end is when the combination does not change to a special winning combination (the normal winning combination is maintained). In this embodiment, the pre-stage occurs in which both the normal winning combination and the special winning combination are displayed and then displayed as if they are pushing against each other (see FIG. 24(b)). After that, in the case of a successful end, the normal winning combination is pushed out (displayed as if it has moved outside the display area 911), and a performance in which the special winning combination remains (see FIG. 24(c-1)) is executed. On the other hand, in the case of a failure end, the special winning combination is pushed out (displayed as if it has moved outside the display area 911), and a performance in which the normal winning combination remains (see FIG. 24(c-2)) is executed. In this embodiment, even if a normal winning combination is finally displayed (if the promotion performance ends in failure), it may be possible to be informed that the jackpot won during the subsequent jackpot play was a special jackpot (there is also the possibility of promotion during the jackpot play).

In such a pre-stage of the promotion performance (i.e., a state in which the outcome is not yet known), a specific hidden operation performance is executed (the operation valid period of the specific hidden operation performance is set). The outcome of the promotion performance is predetermined based on the type of the big win (normal big win, special big win). In other words, in the pre-stage, the player is not notified, but whether or not the outcome will be successful is determined internally (unless the big win is a special big win, the successful outcome will not be reached). If the promotion performance reaches a successful outcome, a specific lottery is executed when the performance button 60 is operated during the operation valid period of the specific hidden operation performance (during the pre-stage), and if the specific lottery is won, a specific sound is output from the speaker 65. If the promotion performance reaches a failed outcome, the specific lottery will not be won even if the performance button 60 is operated during the operation valid period of the specific hidden operation performance (during the pre-stage) (the specific lottery may not be executed, or the probability of winning the specific lottery may be set to 0%). In other words, if the promotion performance reaches a failed outcome, a specific sound is not output. In this way, the specific sound notifies (congratulates the player) in advance (before the promotion effect reaches its conclusion) that the promotion effect will reach a successful conclusion. In other words, the specific hidden operation effect is an effect that may cause an advantageous event to occur for the player, which is to notify that the promotion effect will reach a successful conclusion. Note that the advantageous event is not limited to the specific sound (sound output). For example, a lamp installed in a specified location may light up in a special manner (for example, rainbow colors).

Since the specific hidden operation performance is a type of hidden operation performance, when a promotion performance occurs while the hidden operation notification function is enabled (ON), the performance button 60 will be in a special state in the preliminary stage (changing from the normal state to the special state when the switching time is reached) to notify the occurrence of the specific hidden operation performance (see FIG. 25(a)). In the case of a promotion performance leading to a successful ending, a specific lottery is executed when the performance button 60 is operated during the operation valid period of the specific hidden operation performance (see FIG. 25(b)), and if the specific lottery is won, a specific sound is output (an advantageous event occurs) (see FIG. 25(c-1)). If the specific lottery is not won, a specific sound is not output (an advantageous event does not occur) (see FIG. 25(c-2)). In the case of a promotion performance leading to a failed ending, the specific lottery is not won, so even if the performance button 60 is operated in the specific hidden operation performance, a specific sound is not output. Also, even if the performance button 60 is operated in the specific hidden operation performance in the promotion performance leading to a successful ending, the specific performance may not be won and the specific sound may not be output. On the other hand, even if you operate the effect button 60 during a specific hidden operation effect but no specific sound is output, it is possible to reach a successful ending.

When a promotion effect occurs while the hidden operation notification function is disabled (OFF), the effect button 60 will basically remain in its normal state (if it is normal control and not special control, details of which will be described later). In other words, the occurrence of a specific hidden operation effect will basically not be notified (see FIG. 26(a)).

However, in this embodiment, even if the hidden operation notification function is disabled (OFF), there may be a special control in which the effect button 60 is put into a special state (changing from the normal state to the special state when the switching time is reached) in the advancement stage of the promotion effect (see FIG. 26(b-1)). In this embodiment, the special control is executed in some cases (for example, 25% of the cases in which such cases occur) in which a promotion effect that leads to a successful conclusion occurs when the hidden operation notification function is disabled (OFF). When the effect button 60 is operated during the operation effective period of the specific hidden operation effect in the case where the special control is executed (see FIG. 26(b-2)), the operation is always triggered to output a specific sound (an advantageous event always occurs) (see FIG. 26(b-3)). As in the case where the hidden operation notification function is enabled (ON), a specific lottery may be executed when the effect button 60 is operated during the operation effective period of the specific hidden operation effect, but the probability of winning the specific lottery is 100%.

As mentioned above, since the special control is executed in some cases where a promotion performance that leads to a successful ending occurs while the hidden operation notification function is disabled (OFF), it is possible that the promotion performance will lead to a successful ending even if the special control is not executed, that is, if the normal control as shown in FIG. 26(a) is executed. When the normal control is executed, if the performance button 60 is operated during the operation effective period of the specific hidden operation performance, it is controlled in the same way as when the performance button 60 is operated when the hidden operation notification function is enabled (ON) (controlled as shown in FIG. 25(b)(c-1)(c-2)). In other words, even if the performance button 60 does not enter a special state, it is possible that the performance button 60 is operated during the operation effective period of the specific hidden operation performance, and as a result, a specific lottery is executed, and a specific sound is output in response to winning the lottery.

In addition, for hidden operation effects other than the specific hidden operation effects, if the hidden operation notification function is disabled (OFF), the effect button 60 will not be in a special state. In other words, special control will not be executed for hidden operation effects other than the specific hidden operation effects.

In this way, the gaming machine according to this embodiment is equipped with a hidden operation notification function that notifies the occurrence of a hidden operation effect, and even if the hidden operation notification function is disabled (OFF), the effect button 60 may change from its normal state to a special state (in short, even if the hidden operation notification function is OFF, the notification function may be activated). In such a case, it is determined that an event advantageous to the player will occur as a result of the operation of the specific hidden operation effect whose occurrence was notified by the activation of the notification function. In other words, when the unexpected event of activation of a notification function that would not normally be activated occurs, an interesting gameplay is realized in which it is determined that an advantageous event will occur.

The following describes specific examples of improvements, specific embodiments, modifications, etc., of the specific hidden operation presentation (hidden operation notification function) described above. Note that, to the extent possible, a configuration may be created in which multiple technologies described using the following specific examples are combined and applied.

Specific example 4-1
In the above embodiment, when the special control is executed, the specific sound is always output (an advantageous event occurs) when the effect button 60 is operated during the operation effective period of the specific hidden operation effect, but the specific sound may not be output. Specifically, even when the special control is executed, the specific lottery (with a winning probability of ≠ 100%) is executed in response to the operation of the effect button 60 in the specific hidden operation effect, and the specific sound is output (an advantageous event occurs) when the specific lottery is won, but the specific sound is not output when the specific lottery is not won (see FIG. 27).

However, the probability of winning is higher for the specific lottery executed in response to an operation when special control is performed (specific lottery in the case shown in FIG. 27) than for the specific lottery executed in response to an operation while the hidden operation notification function is enabled (specific lottery in the case shown in FIG. 25). In other words, the probability of a specific sound being output (an advantageous event occurring) in response to the operation of the effect button 60 in the specific hidden operation effect is higher when the effect button 60 is in a special state even though the hidden operation notification function is disabled than when the effect button 60 is in a special state because the hidden operation notification function is enabled. In this way, the fact that the effect button 60 is in a special state even though the hidden operation notification function is disabled does not guarantee the occurrence of an advantageous event, but it functions as an indication (chance increase) that the probability of the advantageous event occurring has increased.

In the technical field of the present application, when a "contradictory" event occurs, there are many settings that cause a player to be happy afterwards. In this example, even if a "change in the performance button that contradicts the setting of the hidden operation notification function" occurs, in which the performance button 60 goes into a special state even though the hidden operation notification function is disabled, there is a possibility that an advantageous event will not occur (the promotion performance will end in failure). In other words, if this example is performed, a "contradictory" event occurs but no advantageous event occurs afterwards (the promotion performance will end in failure), which may cause a player to lose interest. To eliminate such a risk, it is sufficient to make it so that an advantageous event always occurs (the promotion performance will end in success) when the performance button 60 goes into a special state even though the hidden operation notification function is disabled, as in the above embodiment.

Specific example 4-2
In the above embodiment, it has been explained that even when normal control is executed with the hidden operation notification function disabled (OFF) (when the effect button 60 remains in its normal state) (see Figure 26 (a)), there is a possibility that a specific sound will be output (an advantageous event will occur) when the effect button 60 is operated in a specific hidden operation effect. However, the configuration may be such that there is no possibility of a specific sound being output (an advantageous event will occur) when normal control is executed with the hidden operation notification function disabled (OFF).

In this case, when a specific hidden operation effect, which is one type of hidden operation effect, is executed with the hidden operation notification function disabled (OFF), an advantageous event occurs if the effect button 60 is in a special state, but the advantageous event does not occur unless the effect button 60 is in a special state, resulting in an easy-to-understand effect format.

Specific example 4-3
Although the hidden operation notification function in the above embodiment is described as notifying the occurrence of a hidden operation effect by the state of the effect button 60 (operation means), it does not have to be by the state of the effect button 60 (operation means). For example, the occurrence of a hidden operation effect may be notified by changing the state of a light-emitting device other than the effect button 60 from a normal state to a special state.

However, since the hidden operation effect is literally a type of operation effect that requires the operation of the effect button 60 (operation means), it is preferable to have its occurrence notified by the state of the effect button 60, as in the above embodiment.

5-5) Image change effect using movable member The gaming machine according to this embodiment includes a movable member 40 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 28). The movable member 40 is a member that can be displaced along a planar direction (a surface direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction) in front of the display area 911 of the display device 91 (the player side). The movable member 40 in this embodiment is a member that is long in the width direction (approximately horizontally long). The movable member 40 can be positioned at an original position (see FIG. 28(a)) and an advanced position (see FIG. 28(b)). The movable member 40 in this embodiment reciprocates between the original position and the advanced position. The movable member 40 is normally positioned at the original position. The original position is a position along the upper edge of the display area 911. In this embodiment, most or all of the movable member 40 positioned at the original position is covered by the game board 90 (the game board 90 may be formed of a light-transmitting material, and the movable member 40 may be configured to be visible through the game board 90). The movable member 40 reaches the advanced position by displacing (sliding) downward from the original position. When the movable member 40 is in the advanced position, the movable member 40 exists so as to straddle the left and right sides of the display area 911. Note that in each drawing, the display area 911 and the movable member 40 are shown in a simplified manner with an approximate positional relationship.

Any type of driving mechanism may be used to operate the movable member 40, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. For example, a guide rail extending in the vertical direction may be provided on the left and right outer sides of the display area 911, and the movable member 40 to which the power of a driving source such as a motor is transmitted may be guided by the guide rail and displaced in the vertical direction.

In this embodiment, it is possible to execute an image change effect using the movable member 40 as an effect constituting an effect during a change corresponding to a certain winning/losing lottery result (target winning/losing lottery result). The image change effect is an effect that indicates that a certain image (hereinafter referred to as the pre-change image 41) has changed to another image (hereinafter referred to as the post-change image 42). From another perspective, it can be said that it is an effect that indicates to the player that a different type of post-change image 42 has been selected, while making it appear that the pre-change image 41 has been selected. It is preferable that the change from the pre-change image 41 to the post-change image 42 is a change in a direction that is advantageous to the player. In this embodiment, the image change effect is executed by changing an image (confidence image) that indicates the probability ((jackpot) confidence) that the target winning/losing lottery result will be a winning one from the pre-change image 41 to the post-change image 42. Note that in this embodiment, the image change effect is executed during a reach effect (executed on the condition that the reach is established), but it may be executed in a state where the reach is not established.

Multiple types of candidate images are provided as images that can be displayed as the reliability image. In this embodiment, four types of candidate images are provided, including the characters "?", "Chance", "Hot", and "Definite". The type of reliability image that is finally displayed indicates the reliability of the target winning/losing lottery result. The reliability increases in the order of "?" < "Chance" < "Hot" < "Definite". When "Definite" is displayed, it is confirmed that the target winning/losing lottery result is a jackpot.

After a certain type of reliability image is displayed, an image change effect is used to indicate that it has changed to a different type of reliability image. Note that after a certain type of reliability image is displayed, an image change effect may not occur. In that case, the certain type of reliability image indicates the reliability of the jackpot of the target winning/losing lottery result. In other words, an image change effect may occur to make it appear as if a certain type of reliability image has been selected, and then to indicate that it has changed to a different type of reliability image. Specifically, this is the type of effect that is as follows:

First, a certain reliability image is displayed in the display area 911 (see FIG. 29(a)). The certain reliability image corresponds to the pre-change image 41 (although the player is not aware that an image change effect will occur at that point). After that, the movable member 40 is positioned at the advance position. The movable member 40 positioned at the advance position covers a part of the display area 911, but the upper side of the display area 911 is not covered by the movable member 40 and is exposed. A certain reliability image (pre-change image 41) is displayed in the exposed area. In other words, the pre-change image 41 is displayed on one side of the movable member 40 (the upper side in this embodiment) (see FIG. 29(b)). Note that the order of displaying the pre-change image 41 and positioning the movable member 40 at the advance position may be reversed (FIG. 29(a) and (b) are reversed). Also, displaying the pre-change image 41 and positioning the movable member 40 at the advance position may occur simultaneously.

Then, the movable member 40 is displaced upward (to the original position). In other words, the movable member 40 is displaced toward the side where the pre-change image 41 is displayed. Therefore, at least a portion of the pre-change image 41 is covered by the movable member 40. In this embodiment, the pre-change image 41 is temporarily covered in its entirety by the movable member 40 (see FIG. 29(c)). Note that the pre-change image 41 is erased at the point in time when it is entirely covered by the movable member 40 (at the point in FIG. 29(c)). In this way, the movable member 40 covers the pre-change image 41, creating a performance that makes it appear as if the image has been erased.

The fact that the movable member 40 is displaced upward (to one side) in this way means that the range of the display area 911 exposed below the movable member 40 (to the other side) gradually becomes larger, and a different type of reliability image (changed image 42) that is more reliable than a certain type of reliability image is displayed in the exposed portion. That is, a different type of reliability image newly appears in the exposed portion below the movable member 40. As the movable member 40 moves upward, the changed image 42 is also displayed to move upward (see Figures 29(c) and 29(d)). In this way, the changed image 42 appears to be lifted by the movable member 40. In this embodiment, an image (hereinafter referred to as a support image 45) that appears to connect the movable member 40 and the changed image 42 when viewed from the front is displayed (see Figure 29(d)). By displaying such a support image 45, the impression that the changed image 42 appears to move along with the movable member 40 can be enhanced. In this embodiment, an image showing a "pedestal" hanging from the movable member 40 is displayed as the support image 45. In other words, the effect is such that the post-change image 42 appears to be held up by the movable member 40 via the "pedestal." Alternatively, it is also possible to configure the display to show an image like a "rope" connecting the movable member 40 and the post-change image 42.

In this way, both the movable member 40 and the post-change image 42 are displaced with the post-change image 42 displayed on the other side of the movable member 40. When the movable member 40 reaches the original position, the displacement of the movable member 40 stops, and the displacement of the post-change image 42 also stops, and the support image 45 is erased. This results in the post-change image 42 being displayed approximately in the center of the display area 911 (see FIG. 29(e)). In other words, this is a presentation form in which the player sees a certain type of reliability image (pre-change image 41) replaced by a different type of reliability image (post-change image 42) with a higher reliability. The higher the reliability of the different type of reliability image, the higher the probability that the result of the target win/lose lottery will be a jackpot.

In this way, the image change presentation in this embodiment indicates that a certain image (pre-change image 41) has changed (been replaced) by another image (post-change image 42). The pre-change image 41 is displayed on one side of the movable member 40 (see FIG. 29(b)), and as the movable member 40 moves to one side, at least a portion of the pre-change image 41 is covered (see FIG. 29(c)), and the area on the other side of the movable member 40 (part of the display area 911) becomes larger, and the post-change image 42 is displayed in this larger area (see FIGS. 29(d)(e)). This makes it easy for the player to understand that an image change has occurred (a different image has been selected to replace the image that was previously displayed).

The following describes specific examples of improvements, specific embodiments, and modifications to the above image change effects. Note that, to the extent possible, a configuration may be created that applies a combination of multiple technologies described using the following specific examples.

Specific example 5-1
In the above embodiment, the image change presentation is such that the pre-change image 41 is displayed above the movable member 40 and the post-change image 42 is displayed below the movable member 40, but the reverse may be true, that is, the pre-change image 41 is displayed below the movable member 40 and the post-change image 42 is displayed above the movable member 40. Because the pre-change image 41 is displayed below the movable member 40, as the movable member 40 displaces downward, at least a portion of the pre-change image 41 is covered by the movable member 40, and the area above the movable member 40 in the display area 911 gradually becomes larger.

In addition, while the movable member 40 in the above embodiment is displaced in the up-down direction, it may be displaced in other directions, for example, left-right. That is, an image change presentation may be performed using a movable member 40 that displaces left-right. The image change presentation is such that a pre-change image 41 is displayed on one side of the movable member 40 in the left-right direction, and a post-change image 42 is displayed on the other side of the movable member 40 in the left-right direction.

Specific example 5-2
The before-change image 41 and the after-change image 42 to be the target of the image change performance are not limited to images suggesting reliability as in the above embodiment. For example, it is also possible to target the decorative pattern 80. That is, an image change performance is executed in which the decorative pattern 80 in the pre-change state is the before-change image 41 and the decorative pattern 80 in the post-change state is the after-change image 42.

It is assumed that so-called chance eyes (the concept of such "chance eyes" itself is well known) have been set. For example, a combination in which the numbers contained in the decorative pattern 80 are arranged in order from the left is assumed to be a chance eye, and other combinations (excluding winning combinations) are assumed to be non-chance eyes. The display of a chance eye indicates that the situation is more advantageous to the player than the display of a non-chance eye. For example, the display of a chance eye suggests the occurrence of a so-called consecutive performance (pseudo consecutive performance or pre-read consecutive performance). As the consecutive performance itself is well known, a detailed explanation will be omitted. The three decorative patterns 80 that make up the non-chance eye are displayed on one side of the movable member 40 that is positioned in the advanced position as a pre-change state (pre-change image 41) (see FIG. 30(b)), and then the movable member 40 is moved to one side (toward the original position) and the three decorative patterns 80 that make up the chance eye are displayed on the other side of the movable member 40 as a post-change state (post-change image 42) (see FIG. 30(c)(d)), and finally the movable member 40 returns to the original position and the chance eye is displayed approximately in the center of the display area 911 (see FIG. 30(e)). This is an image change presentation. By doing this, it is possible to make it look as if a non-chance eye has been formed, while clearly showing that it has changed into a chance eye.

Also, an image change effect can be used as a promotion effect (the promotion effect itself has already been described). The three decorative symbols 80 that make up the normal winning combination are displayed on one side of the movable member 40 located at the advance position as a pre-change state (image before change 41) (see FIG. 31(b)), and then the movable member 40 is moved to one side (the original position side) while the three decorative symbols 80 that make up the special winning combination are displayed on the other side of the movable member 40 as a post-change state (image after change 42) (see FIG. 31(c)(d)), and finally the movable member 40 returns to the original position, and the special winning combination is displayed approximately in the center of the display area 911 (see FIG. 31(e)). This makes it easy to understand that the normal winning combination has changed to a special winning combination (the occurrence of a "promotion").

Specific example 5-3
The configuration may be such that the image does not change even though the movable member 40 is displaced. For example, the image on one side of the movable member 40 is displayed (see FIG. 32(b)), and then the movable member 40 is displaced to one side, but the image corresponding to the changed image 42 is not displayed on the other side of the movable member 40 (see FIG. 32(c)(d)), and finally no change in the image occurs (see FIG. 32(e)). In accordance with the above embodiment, a certain reliability image may be displayed and then changed to a reliability image with a higher reliability (resulting in a performance form as shown in FIG. 29), or a certain reliability image may remain displayed (a certain reliability image is presented as the final reliability image) (resulting in a performance form as shown in FIG. 32).

Unlike the above example, it is also possible to have a configuration in which an image on one side of the movable member 40 is displayed (see FIG. 33(b)), and then the movable member 40 is displaced to one side, resulting in an identical image appearing on the other side of the movable member 40 (see FIGS. 32(c)-(e)) (this can also be considered as a configuration in which the image before change 41 = the image after change 42). In other words, it is also possible to have the image that is at least partially covered by the displacement of the movable member 40 to one side and the image that appears on the other side of the movable member 40 be the same image, thereby creating a presentation that indicates that no change in the image has occurred.

Specific example 5-4
The type of the changed image 42 is suggested by the state of the movable member 40. For example, the movable member 40 has a light-emitting decorative part 40a that can change its light-emitting state. In the image change performance, before the type of the changed image 42 is determined, the light-emitting decorative part 40a emits light in one of a plurality of light-emitting states. For example, the state in which the light-emitting decorative part 40a emits light in white is set as the first state (see FIG. 34(a)), and the state in which it emits light in red is set as the second state (see FIG. 34(b)). In addition, when the movable member 40 (light-emitting decorative part 40a) is set as the first state, the probability that an image that is preferable to the player will be displayed as the changed image 42 is set to be higher. In accordance with the above embodiment, the probability that the most reliable reliability image will be displayed as the changed image 42 is set to be higher when the movable member 40 is set as the second state than when it is set as the first state. Since the post-change image 42 represents the reliability of the target winning/losing lottery result, it can be said that the reliability of the target winning/losing lottery result is higher when the movable member 40 is in the second state than when it is in the first state. In this way, it is possible to create a presentation form that will draw the player's attention to the state of the movable member 40.

When using a configuration like that of specific example 5-3 above, the state of the movable member 40 may suggest whether or not the outcome will be a change to the post-change image 42. In other words, the setting is made so that the probability of a change from the pre-change image 41 to the post-change image 42 (an image change that is advantageous to the player) occurring is higher when the movable member 40 is in the second state (see FIG. 34(b)) than when it is in the first state (see FIG. 34(a)). Even in this way, it is possible to create a presentation form that is likely to draw the player's attention to the state of the movable member 40.

6) Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is in no way limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The matters described in the above embodiment can also be applied to other gaming machines, such as slot machines, except for the fact that they utilize a configuration unique to pachinko gaming machines.

In the above embodiment, the winning/losing lottery results are set as a jackpot and a losing lottery result, and the winning lottery result is obtained (the winning lottery game is executed), but the winning lottery may be obtained via a small winning lottery. Since the gameplay that allows the winning lottery to be obtained via a small winning lottery (the gameplay of a so-called "two-type game machine" in which the winning lottery is obtained by making the game ball enter the special area (V area) that opens when the small winning lottery is won) is well known, detailed explanations are omitted. For example, if the winning lottery is set to lead to the winning of a jackpot (except in the case of an irregular event such as a malfunction of the game machine or the player not playing as instructed) (a setting in which the winning lottery is essentially set to be the same as the winning lottery), the winning lottery described in the above embodiment includes the winning of a small winning lottery ("jackpot" can be read as "small winning").

Specific means (gaming machines) obtained from the above embodiment are listed below.

・Method 1-1
The game machine is provided with: a winning/losing lottery means for executing a winning/losing lottery based on winning/losing lottery information obtained when a gaming ball enters a predetermined area; a storage means for storing a predetermined number of winning/losing lottery information for which notification of a corresponding winning/losing lottery result has not been completed as reserved information; a display means having a display area for displaying a reserved pattern indicating the presence of the reserved information stored in the storage means; and an effect execution means for executing a reserved change effect by changing the state of the reserved pattern, which suggests that the probability, or reliability, of the winning/losing lottery result corresponding to the reserved pattern being a winning pattern has increased, A gaming machine in which the reserved patterns are displayed in the display area at positions corresponding to the consumption order, which is the order in which the notification of the corresponding win/lose lottery results is completed, and when the notification of a win/lose lottery result is completed and a target reserved pattern, which is one of the reserved patterns, moves from the Nth (N is a natural number of 2 or more) consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position, a suggestion image indicating that the probability of the reserve change effect occurring for the target reserved pattern has increased is displayed between the Nth consumption order position and the N-1th consumption order position.
According to the gaming machine described above, when the target reserved pattern is displaced from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position, it is possible to clearly indicate that there is a possibility that a reserved change effect will occur for the target reserved pattern.

・Method 1-2
The gaming machine described in means 1-1 is characterized in that the probability of the reserved change effect occurring for the target reserved pattern varies depending on which of multiple types of images with different aspects is displayed as the suggestive image.
By doing this, the suggestion image functions to suggest not only the timing when a hold change effect may occur (when the target hold pattern moves from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position), but also the probability that a hold change effect will occur at that timing.

・Method 1-3
The gaming machine described in means 1-1 is characterized in that the appearance of the target reserved pattern after it changes when the reserved change performance occurs is suggested depending on which of multiple images with different appearances is displayed as the suggested image.
By doing this, the suggestion image functions to suggest not only the timing at which a hold change effect may occur (when the target hold pattern displaces from the Nth consumption order position to the N-1th consumption order position), but also the appearance of the target hold pattern after it changes if a hold change effect occurs at that timing.

・Method 1-4
The gaming machine described in means 1-1 is characterized in that the manner in which the target reserved pattern moves from the Nth position in the consumption order to the N-1th position in the consumption order is different between a case in which the suggestive image is displayed and then the reserved change effect occurs and a case in which the suggestive image is displayed but the reserved change effect does not occur.
By doing this, the difference between when the hold change effect occurs and when it does not occurs becomes clear, resulting in easy-to-understand gameplay.

・Method 2-1
A gaming machine capable of executing a specific presentation in which a specific image including a numerical element and an explanatory element showing the content represented by the numerical element is displayed, characterized in that in the specific presentation, an explanatory change presentation can occur in which the explanatory element changes from one of a majority good state, in which the higher the numerical value represented by the numerical element, the more favorable the situation is for the player, and a minority good state, in which the lower the numerical value represented by the numerical element, the more favorable the situation is for the player.
According to the gaming machine, it is possible to realize an interesting gaming experience in which the meaning expressed by the numerical elements suddenly changes as the explanatory elements change.

・Method 2-2
A gaming machine characterized in that, as the explanation change effect, at least one of the following effects may occur: an effect in which the majority good state changes to the minority good state when the numerical value represented by the numerical element is a minimum value, and an effect in which the minority good state changes to the majority good state when the numerical value represented by the numerical element is a maximum value.
By doing this, the explanation is changed so that the situation suddenly changes from hopeless to favorable.

・Method 2-3
3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a character image is displayed together with the specific image, and the type of character represented by the character image changes when the explanation change effect occurs.
By doing this, the risk of the player overlooking the occurrence of the explanation change effect is reduced.

Measure 3-1
A gaming machine comprising: a display means having a display area; and an effect execution means for executing an image effect including a first stage in which a bug image making it appear as if a malfunction has occurred in the display means is displayed in the display area; and a second stage in which a normal image which clearly represents a specified object is displayed superimposed in front of the bug image.
According to the gaming machine, it is possible to execute an interesting effect that makes it look as if the display means has broken down. However, since a normal image is displayed over the bug image, the player understands at that point that the display device is not broken (the bug image is displayed as an "effect") (there is little risk of the display of the bug image leading to a complaint).

Measure 3-2
The gaming machine described in Means 3-1, wherein the image presentation includes a third stage in which the normal image is used to make it look as if the bug image has been destroyed.
By executing an effect that makes it look as if the bug image has been destroyed in this way, it is possible to clearly indicate the end of the image effect. The normal image not only indicates to the player that the display device is not broken, but also functions to destroy the bug image (indicating the end of the image effect).

Measure 3-3
The gaming machine described in Means 3-1 or 3-2 is characterized in that the result of a lottery for winning or losing is notified by a combination of N decorative patterns selected from N groups of decorative patterns each including a plurality of types of decorative patterns, and the bug image is suddenly displayed when all of the N groups of decorative patterns are displayed in a variable manner.
When all N decorative symbols are displayed in a variable manner, the player is not even interested in the situation where a reach has not been achieved. By suddenly displaying a bug image in such a situation, the player is more likely to feel that the display device has really broken down.

・Method 4-1
a hidden operation notification function, which the player can select to enable/disable, and which notifies the player of the occurrence of the hidden operation effect by putting the operation of the operation means into a special state different from a normal state; and a specific hidden operation effect can be executed as one type of the hidden operation effect, in which an advantageous event advantageous to the player may occur as a result of the operation of the operation means, or in which the advantageous event may not occur; and, when the operation means is in the special state when the specific hidden operation effect occurs despite the hidden operation notification function being disabled, there is a higher probability that the advantageous event will occur as a result of the operation of the operation means in the specific hidden operation effect than when the operation means is in the special state when the specific hidden operation effect occurs because the hidden operation notification function is enabled.
The gaming machine is capable of executing an interesting chance-up effect in which the operating means is in a special state even though the hidden operation notification function is disabled.

Measure 4-2
The gaming machine described in claim 1, characterized in that if the hidden operation notification function is disabled but the operating means enters the special state when the specific hidden operation effect occurs, the advantageous event occurs as a trigger for operation of the operating means during the specific hidden operation effect.
In this way, when the hidden operation notification function is disabled and the operation means is in a special state, this is an event that goes against the player's expectations (a contradictory event), so the player may have hopes for a subsequent development. In order to avoid disappointing such player expectations, it is preferable to configure the game so that when the operation means is in a special state even though the hidden operation notification function is disabled, the occurrence of an advantageous event is confirmed.

Measure 5-1
A gaming machine comprising: a display means having a display area; a movable member capable of operating in front of the display area; and an effect execution means capable of executing an image change effect in which the movable member is positioned at a first position and a pre-change image is displayed on an exposed portion on one side of the movable member in the display area, and then the movable member is displaced from the first position to a second position different therefrom and a post-change image is displayed on an exposed portion on the other side of the movable member in the display area.
According to the gaming machine, the change from one image (image before change) to another image (image after change) can be clearly shown by utilizing the movable member.

Measure 5-2
The gaming machine described in means 5-1 is characterized in that the display area may display one of a number of types of reliability images indicating the reliability, which is the probability that the result of the win/lose lottery will be a win, and the image change presentation is a presentation in which a pre-reliability image, which is one type of reliability image, is displayed as the pre-change image, and a post-reliability image, which is one type of reliability image and has a higher reliability than the one displayed as the pre-reliability image, is displayed as the post-change image.
In this way, an image change effect can be used when changing the reliability image.

Measure 5-3
The gaming machine described in means 5-1 is characterized in that a decorative pattern indicating the result of a lottery is displayed in the display area, and the image change presentation is a presentation in which the decorative pattern in a pre-change state is displayed as the pre-change image, and the decorative pattern in a post-change state is displayed as the post-change image, which indicates that the situation is more favorable for the player than the pre-change state.
In this way, image change effects can be used when changing the appearance of the decorative pattern.

Measure 5-4
The gaming machine described in means 5-3 is characterized in that, when the decorative patterns are a normal winning combination and the result of the winning/losing lottery is announced as a winning combination, the winning may be either a normal winning or a special winning which is more advantageous than the normal winning, whereas, when the decorative patterns are a special winning combination different from the normal winning combination and the result of the winning/losing lottery is announced as a winning combination, the winning is set so that there is no possibility of the normal winning but there is a possibility of the special winning, and the image change presentation is a presentation in which the decorative patterns which are the normal winning combination are displayed as the pre-change image and the decorative patterns which are the special winning combination are displayed as the post-change image.
In this way, the image change effect can be used for the so-called promotion effect.

1 Gaming machine 10 Suggestive image 20 Specific image 21 Numerical element 22 Explanation element (22a Many good aspects, 22b Few good aspects)
30 Bug image 32 Normal image 40 Movable member 40a Illuminating decorative part 41 Image before change 42 Image after change 60 Performance button (operation means)
65 Speaker 70 Reserved pattern (71 Reserved pattern during change 72 Reserved pattern before change)
A1 to A5 digestion order position (1st digestion order position to 5th digestion order position)
80 Decorative Designs
89 Background image 91 Display device 911 Display area

Claims (1)

A display means having a display area for displaying a decorative pattern showing a winning or losing lottery result;
An operation means operable by a player;
a performance execution means for executing a hidden operation performance in which the operation of the operation means may be reflected as a performance even when an image prompting the user to operate the operation means is not displayed in the display area;
a hidden operation notification function that, when enabled, notifies a player of the occurrence of the hidden operation effect by putting the operation means into a special state different from a normal state;
Equipped with
As one type of the hidden operation presentation, a specific hidden operation presentation can be executed in which an advantageous event advantageous to the player may occur as a trigger for the operation of the operation means, or in which the advantageous event may not occur;
A gaming machine characterized in that, when the operation means is in the special state when the specific hidden operation presentation occurs despite the hidden operation notification function being disabled, there is a higher probability that the advantageous event will occur as a result of operation of the operation means in the specific hidden operation presentation than when the operation means is in the special state when the specific hidden operation presentation occurs because the hidden operation notification function is enabled.

Images