JP2024088487A - Gaming Machines - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a gaming machine that can enhance the effectiveness of notifications regarding winnings that occur during a specified period and increase motivation to play.
[Solution] The device includes a first identification means and a second identification means which is a device different from the first identification means, and the winning openings include a first winning opening (large winning opening), and in a first case in which multiple game balls are detected within a single specified period by the winning sensor associated with the first winning opening, the first identification means makes an identification notification (emitting a winning sound) individually for each of the multiple game balls detected within the specified period, and the second identification means does not make an identification notification individually for the multiple game balls detected within the specified period, but makes a single identification notification (displaying an image of the number of winning balls) for the specified period.
[Selection] Figure 15

Description

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

Some gaming machines, such as pachinko machines, are configured to generate jackpot games in which a round of play in which game balls are allowed to enter a jackpot slot can be played multiple times, and some allow game balls to enter the jackpot slot more than a set number of times during a round of play (so-called over-winning).

JP 2017-86100 A

In general gaming machines, the notification of winning is effective in increasing motivation to play. However, for example, since the period during which over-winning as described above is permitted is limited, if a large number of winnings (not limited to winnings at the large winning slot, but including winnings at other winning slots) occur in the same period, the notification of each winning may not be fully effective.

Therefore, the present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a gaming machine that can improve the effectiveness of notifications regarding winnings that occur within a specified period of time and increase motivation to play.

According to the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine capable of releasing gaming balls, having a plurality of winning openings each having a winning sensor for detecting the gaming balls, and capable of awarding prize balls when the gaming balls are detected by the winning sensor, the gaming machine comprising an identification means and a control means for controlling the identification means, the identification means including a first identification means and a second identification means which is a device different from the first identification means, the winning openings including a first winning opening, in a first case in which a plurality of gaming balls are detected within a single predetermined period by the winning sensor associated with the first winning opening, the first identification means individually issues an identification notification for each of the detections of the plurality of gaming balls that occurred within the predetermined period, and the second identification means does not individually issue an identification notification for the detections of the plurality of gaming balls that occurred within the predetermined period, but issues a single identification notification for the predetermined period.

The present invention provides a gaming machine that can improve the effectiveness of notifications regarding winnings that occur within a specified period of time and increase motivation to play.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device disposed in the area II shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a bird's-eye view showing the operation buttons arranged in the area III shown in FIG. 1 and their surroundings. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a game board installed in the gaming machine. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine. Figure 8(a) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special symbol is a hit or not, Figure 8(b) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 1, Figure 8(c) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a big hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 2, and Figure 8(d) is a diagram that shows a schematic drawing of a lottery table for selecting stopping symbols used when a small hit is derived in the special symbol hit or not determination related to special symbol 2. Figure 9(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 1 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, and Figure 9(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when a special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 1 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PA. Figure 10(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB, and Figure 10(b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used when special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB. Figure 11 (a) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a special chart change pattern lottery table used in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is in effect, and Figure 11 (b) is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of a special chart change pattern lottery table used when a special chart change pattern HNP is determined in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is in effect. FIG. 12(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special chart variation pattern derivation state, and FIG. 12(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special chart variation pattern derivation state. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a winning sound table. FIG. 14(a) is a diagram showing a specific example of identification notification during the over-winning allowable period, and FIG. 14(b) is a timing chart relating to the specific example shown in FIG. 14(a). FIG. 15(a) is a diagram showing a specific example of identification notification during the over-winning allowable period, and FIG. 15(b) is a timing chart relating to the specific example shown in FIG. 15(a). FIG. 16(a) is a diagram showing a specific example of identification notification during the over-winning allowable period, and FIG. 16(b) is a timing chart relating to the specific example shown in FIG. 16(a). FIG. 17 shows a flow of the winning sound control process for the big winning port.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all drawings, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and the description will be omitted as appropriate. In the following description, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" refer to the gaming machine 10 as viewed from the front side (player side) as shown in FIG. 1, unless otherwise specified.
In the following explanation, "advantageous (degree of advantage)" refers to an advantage for the player, and further, unless otherwise specified, refers to an advantage in terms of the amount of prize balls (gaming media) obtained (including not only the payout of gaming balls but also the payout of medals), excluding aspects of presentation such as so-called premium images.

<Features of the present invention>
Before describing the details of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment, the features of the invention described in this embodiment will be described.
In addition, when explaining the features, the configuration in parentheses is an example of the configuration of this embodiment that corresponds to the immediately preceding configuration, and the configuration may be described in parentheses for a similar purpose in the explanations of the gaming machine 10 that follow.

The present invention relates to a gaming machine 10 (a so-called pachinko gaming machine) that is capable of firing gaming balls, has a plurality of winning openings (a large winning opening 55, a first starting opening 57, a second starting opening 59, a gate 63, a general winning opening 67) each having a winning sensor that detects the gaming balls, and can award prize balls when the gaming balls are detected by the winning sensors.
The gaming machine 10 comprises an identification means (speaker 33, main display unit 81) and a control means (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300) that controls the identification means.
The above-mentioned identification means includes a first identification means (speaker 33) and a second identification means (main display unit 81) which is a device different from the first identification means.
The above-mentioned prize openings include a first prize opening (large prize opening 55).

In a first case (as shown in FIG. 15 ) in which a plurality of game balls are detected within a single predetermined period by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port,
The first identification means individually identifies and notifies (produces a winning sound) each of the detections of the plurality of game balls that occur within the predetermined period, while the second identification means does not individually identify and notify each of the detections of the plurality of game balls that occur within the predetermined period, but instead makes one identification notification (displays a winning ball display image) for the predetermined period.

With the above-mentioned features, even if the winnings at the first winning port are concentrated in one specified period, the gaming machine 10 can improve the recognizability of the identification notification for winnings at the first winning port by consolidating (making a single identification notification) the winning notifications made for the specified period using a device separate from conventional winning notifications (identification notifications made individually for each winning) (for example, allowing the player to easily check the number of winning balls that have been won within the specified period).

The gaming machine 10 having the above characteristics will be specifically described based on the following embodiment.

<Structure of the gaming machine 10>
First, the structure of the gaming machine 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of the gaming machine 10, Figure 2 is a diagram showing a pattern display device 90 arranged in area II shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a bird's-eye view showing a group of operation buttons arranged in area III shown in Figure 1 and their surroundings, Figure 4 is a diagram showing a game board 50 installed in the gaming machine 10, and Figure 5 is a rear view of the gaming machine 10.
1 to 5 are merely components necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and components and functions not shown here may be added to the gaming machine 10. In addition, the gaming machine 10 does not necessarily have to include all of the components shown here, and some components or functions may be omitted as long as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

The gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is a so-called pachinko machine, in which gaming balls are shot into the front area (hereinafter referred to as "gaming area 50a") of a gaming board 50 on which numerous gaming nails (not shown) are erected, and a prize ball is obtained when the gaming ball enters a prize opening (such as the big prize opening 55). Note that in the following explanation, the entry of a gaming ball into a prize opening may be simply expressed as "entering (a prize opening)."

The gaming machine 10 comprises a rectangular outer frame 15 that opens at the front and rear, a middle frame 17 that detachably holds a gaming board 50 on the front side of the opening of the outer frame 15, and a front frame 20 that is configured to cover the front side of the gaming board 50.

The middle frame 17 is supported so as to be freely rotatable about its left end by a hinge mechanism (not shown) on the same side as the hinge mechanism 21, and can be opened and closed in front of the outer frame 15. The middle frame 17 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the opposite direction to the unlocking direction of the front frame 20 (right in this embodiment)).

The front frame 20 is supported by a hinge mechanism 21 so as to be rotatable about the left end side, and can be opened and closed relative to the middle frame 17. The front frame 20 can be locked and unlocked by a cylinder lock 23 (by inserting a door key into the cylinder lock 23 and turning the door key in the direction opposite to the unlocking direction of the middle frame 17 (left in this embodiment)).
In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with a transparent member 25 arranged to cover the playing area 50a, and the transparent member 25 protects the playing area 50a and the playing board 50 from view.
The front frame 20 also has an upper ball tray 27 and a lower ball tray 29 for storing game balls, and the upper ball tray 27 and the lower ball tray 29 are spaced apart from each other vertically and are formed integrally with the front frame 20.
In addition, the front frame 20 is provided with an operating handle 31 on the right side of the lower ball tray 29, and by rotating the operating handle 31, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 27 are launched toward the game area 50a.

1 to 5, the middle frame 17 has a middle frame door open sensor 76 that detects whether the middle frame 17 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the outer frame 15, and a front frame door open sensor 77 that detects whether the front frame 20 is in an open state or a closed state relative to the middle frame 17. In this embodiment, both of these door open sensors are ON in the open state and OFF in the closed state. However, these door open sensors may be configured to be OFF in the open state and ON in the closed state.
This allows the gaming machine 10 to detect both the open/closed state of the middle frame 17 relative to the outer frame 15 , and the open/closed state of the front frame 20 relative to the middle frame 17 .

3, a group of operation buttons operated by the player is arranged on the upper surface of the upper ball tray 27. The group of operation buttons includes a ball loan button 39a and a return button 39b for accepting a return operation of a prepaid card as a main operation unit 39 electrically connected to the main control board 100 described later, and includes an effect button 37 for switching effects occurring during a game or accepting an operation by a player to obtain various information related to the gaming machine 10 as an operation unit electrically connected to the first sub-control board 200 described later, and cursor buttons 38 (up cursor button 38a, down cursor button 38b, left cursor button 38c, right cursor button 38d, center cursor button 38e) for instructing operations to the up, down, left, and right directions, respectively. Each operation unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the operation, and the control board to which it is connected detects the operation of each operation unit by a change in the detection state of the sensor.
In addition, the effect button 37 and cursor button 38 are also used to operate the menu screen (including selecting the winning sound to be output from the speaker 33 described later).
Furthermore, a movable decorative body 22 that is operated by an actuator such as a motor (not shown) is provided on the side of the upper ball tray 27.

A ball ejection mechanism 36 is provided below the lower ball tray 29 to eject the game balls stored in the lower ball tray 29 downward. By operating this ball ejection mechanism 36, a bottom opening (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the lower ball tray 29 opens, and the game balls fall naturally from the bottom opening and are ejected.
Although not shown in the figure, the upper ball tray 27 is provided with a mechanism which, similar to the ball removal mechanism 36, can be operated to move the stored balls to the lower ball tray 29, and by operating both this mechanism and the ball removal mechanism 36, it is possible to remove the stored balls.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of speakers 33 (33a, 33b) are disposed on the left and right sides of the upper frame portion 32 of the front frame 20. In addition, the upper frame portion 32 and the left and right side frame portions 34a, 34b of the front frame 20 are formed from a light-transmitting cover, within which a frame lamp 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) is disposed. The speaker 33 and the frame lamp 35 can emit sound or turn on or off in conjunction with effects and error notifications that occur during play.

The performance display device 80 is composed of a main display section 81 disposed approximately in the center of the game board 50, and a sub-display section 82 disposed around the main display section 81. The sub-display section 82 further includes an upper sub-display section 82a disposed above the main display section 81, a left sub-display section 82b disposed on the left side of the main display section 81, and a right sub-display section 82c disposed on the right side of the main display section 81.
Here, the main display unit 81 is a fixed liquid crystal display device, and the upper sub-display unit 82a, the left sub-display unit 82b, and the right sub-display unit 82c are movable liquid crystal display devices operated by actuators such as motors (not shown).

The main display unit 81 can display the changing display of a pattern row that is performed in conjunction with the changing display in the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 described below, and can also display various other effects.
In the variable display of the pattern rows (decorative patterns) displayed on the main display unit 81, the displayed decorative patterns form three pattern rows. In this embodiment, the direction of the variable display of each pattern row is downward, but the direction is not particularly limited. For example, it may be upward, left and right, depth, or a combination of these (diagonal direction).
Here, the depth direction refers to a virtual direction recognized by the player in a display mode that uses a technique (e.g., perspective) that makes the player perceive the pattern row as if it is changing from the back of the main display unit 81 to the front or vice versa, even though in reality it is a planar changing display on the display screen of the main display unit 81.
In addition, the decorative symbols in this embodiment include a "1 symbol" that imitates the number "1", a "2 symbol" that imitates the number "2", a "3 symbol" that imitates the number "3", a "4 symbol" that imitates the number "4", a "5 symbol" that imitates the number "5", a "6 symbol" that imitates the number "6", a "7 symbol" that imitates the number "7", an "8 symbol" that imitates the number "8", and a "9 symbol" that imitates the number "9", and these symbols are provided in each symbol row. In the following description, the "1 symbol", "3 symbol", "5 symbol", "7 symbol", and "9 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "odd number symbols", and the "2 symbol", "4 symbol", "6 symbol", and "8 symbol" may be collectively referred to as "even number symbols".

Each of the sub-display sections 82 is not only provided for the purpose of displaying a performance image related to a performance, but is also configured to be movable.
The initial positions of the upper sub-display unit 82a are on the upper side relative to the main display unit 81, the left sub-display unit 82b are on the left side relative to the main display unit 81, and the right sub-display unit 82c are on the right side relative to the main display unit 81, and each of the sub-display units 82 is configured to be movable from these initial positions to a position where the entire display area of the sub-display unit 82 overlaps with the display area of the main display unit 81.

In addition, in this embodiment, the performance display device 80 (main display unit 81, upper sub-display unit 82a, left sub-display unit 82b, right sub-display unit 82c) all use liquid crystal display devices, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, various types of display devices, such as drum type and dot matrix type, can be used as the performance display device 80.

A plurality of light emitting diodes (hereinafter abbreviated as "LEDs") are arranged on the lower right side of the main display unit 81, and these LEDs form the display area of the pattern display device 90, and special patterns and normal patterns are displayed on the pattern display device 90.
In addition, the symbol display device 90 is disposed at a position that is more difficult for the player to see than the main display section 81, and the display area of the symbol display device 90 is smaller than the display area of the main display section 81.
In addition, the arrangement and number of LEDs in the pattern display device 90 in this embodiment are as shown in Figure 2, but this is only one example, and the arrangement and number of LEDs in the pattern display device 90 are not limited to this example.

The special symbols are symbols that are stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol change that determines whether or not to activate a special electric device (e.g., the special electric device 65). The special symbols in this embodiment include a first special symbol displayed on the first special symbol display device 91 and a second special symbol displayed on the second special symbol display device 92.
In addition, the special pattern may be abbreviated as "Special pattern", the first special pattern as "Special pattern 1", and the second special pattern as "Special pattern 2".

The normal symbol is a symbol that is stopped and displayed as a result of a symbol variation that determines whether or not to operate a normal electric role (for example, the normal electric role 61). The normal symbol in this embodiment is displayed on the normal symbol display device 93.
In addition, normal patterns are sometimes abbreviated as "Fuzu", and normal electric devices are sometimes called "denchu".

In addition to the above-mentioned display devices, the symbol display device 90 is provided with a first special symbol reservation lamp 94, a second special symbol reservation lamp 95, and a normal symbol reservation lamp 96.
The first special pattern reserve lamp 94 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved special pattern 1, the second special pattern reserve lamp 95 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved special pattern 2, and the normal pattern reserve lamp 96 makes it possible to identify the number of pattern variations of reserved normal patterns, and all of them make it possible to identify the number of corresponding pattern variations by the lighting state of the two LEDs (in this embodiment, right side always lit only = 1, left and right sides always lit = 2, right side flashing + left side always lit = 3, left and right flashing = 4).

In the following explanation, the pattern change in which the first special pattern display device 91 or the second special pattern display device 92 displays a special pattern in a variable manner and then stops displaying the special pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the special pattern,'' and in the following explanation, the pattern change in which the normal pattern display device 93 displays a variable manner and then stops displaying the normal pattern will be referred to as the ``pattern change of the normal pattern.''
In addition, in the following description, the change display of the pattern row (decorative pattern) displayed on the above-mentioned main display unit 81 may be referred to as "pattern change of decorative pattern" to distinguish it from "pattern change of special pattern" and "pattern change of normal pattern".
In the following explanation, when the term "pattern change" is used, it means a pattern change of a special design unless otherwise specified.

As shown in FIG. 4, a number of obstacles such as game pegs (not shown), windmills 52, and decorative parts are arranged on the front of the game board 50, thereby defining a game area 50a in which the shot game ball can roll.
Additionally, on the left and upper sides of the play area 50a, there are arranged a curved outer rail 51 and an inner rail 53 for guiding the game balls launched by rotating the operating handle 31 to the upper part of the play area 50a. The outer rail 51 is located outside the inner rail 53 with the center of the play area 50a as the reference point. Here, the windmill 52 is a nail-shaped mechanism for changing the direction in which the game balls fall.

The gaming machine 10 allows the strength of the ball to be varied by the amount of rotation (e.g., the angle of rotation) of the operating handle 31, and various obstacles are arranged in the gaming area 50a to make the ball roll along either the first flow path X (so-called left hit), along which a weaker ball will roll, or the second flow path Y (so-called right hit), along which a stronger ball will roll.

In Figure 4, the main prize openings are shown as the large prize opening 55, the first start opening 57, the second start opening 59, the gate 63, and the general prize opening 67, but the prize openings shown are only examples, and the number and arrangement of the openings may be changed as appropriate.

The large prize opening 55 is located in the lower right of the play area 50a. A large prize opening sensor 72 is attached to the large prize opening 55, and a prize ball is determined to have been won in the large prize opening 55 based on the detection result of the large prize opening sensor 72, and the number of prize balls associated with the large prize opening 55 (15 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In this embodiment, the obstacles are positioned so that more game balls roll toward the large prize opening 55 when rolling from the second flow path Y compared to when rolling from the first flow path X.

A special electric device 65 is disposed above the large prize opening 55. The special electric device 65 is a member that can be switched between an open state, in which it is easy to win a prize in the large prize opening 55, and a closed state, in which it is difficult to win a prize, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a special electric device solenoid 66.
More specifically, the special electric device 65 is in an open state during a part of a big win game that starts when a big win is derived by the special chart hit/miss judgment described later, or during a part of a small win game that starts when a small win is derived by the special chart hit/miss judgment, and thus entry into the big winning hole 55 is permitted. In this way, when the special electric device 65 is in an open state, it is easy to enter the big winning hole 55, so the big win game and small win, in which the chances of winning prize balls are greatly increased, can be said to be advantageous game states. In addition, although details will be described later, the small win game in this embodiment can cause a big win game.
In a jackpot game, the special electric device 65 is alternately set to an open state and a closed state, and one open state (sometimes referred to as a "round game", and the total number of round games occurring in one jackpot may be referred to as the "number of rounds") ends when a predetermined number (10 in this embodiment) of game balls have entered the large prize opening 55, and the special electric device 65 enters a closed state. Furthermore, one open state in a jackpot game also ends when a sufficient time (30 s (seconds) in this embodiment) has elapsed for a predetermined number of game balls to enter the large prize opening 55.
On the other hand, in the small win game, the game ends when the special electric device 65 is in the open state for 1.8 seconds or when 10 game balls enter the large prize hole. Therefore, in the small win game, it is more difficult for game balls to enter the large prize hole than in the large win game.

However, when the special electric device 65 is set from the open state to the closed state based on the entry of a specified number of game balls (10 in this embodiment) in one round, it cannot immediately return to the closed state. Therefore, in one round of play in a big win game or in a small win game, there may be cases where more than the specified number of game balls enter the big win port 55, and such a win is called an over win, and the period during which over wins are permitted may be called the over win allowance period.

The first starting hole 57 is located at the center of the game area 50a. A first starting hole sensor 70 is attached to the first starting hole 57, and the winning of the first starting hole 57 is determined based on the detection result of the first starting hole sensor 70, and the number of prize balls (4 in this embodiment) associated with the first starting hole 57 is awarded. In at least some cases where the winning of the first starting hole 57 is determined, the pattern of the special chart 1 is changed.
In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the first starting hole 57 when they roll from the first flow path X compared to when they roll from the second flow path Y.

The second starting hole 59 is located in the lower right of the play area 50a. A second starting hole sensor 71 is attached to the second starting hole 59, and the winning of the second starting hole 59 is determined based on the detection result of the second starting hole sensor 71, and the number of prize balls associated with the second starting hole 59 (1 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In at least some cases where a winning jackpot has been awarded at the second starting hole 59, the pattern on special chart 2 will change.
In addition, in the game area 50a of this embodiment, obstacles such as game nails are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the second starting hole 59 when they roll from the second flow path Y compared to when they roll from the first flow path X.

A normal electric device 61 is disposed in the flow path connected to the second starting port 59. The normal electric device 61 is a member that can be switched between an open state in which it is easy to insert a game ball into the second starting port 59 and a closed state in which it is difficult to insert the ball, and is switched to either the open state or the closed state by a normal electric device solenoid 62.
More specifically, the normal electric device 61 is opened when the result of the normal winning/losing judgment described later is a normal winning (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as a "normal winning"), and thus entry into the second starting hole 59 is permitted. In this way, when the normal electric device 61 is in the open state, entry into the second starting hole 59 is possible, so that the opportunity for the pattern variation of the special drawing 2 to be executed can be greatly increased while suppressing the decrease in the game balls by the prize balls.

Gate 63 is located in the center right of play area 50a. A gate sensor 74 is attached to gate 63, and the detection result of gate sensor 74 determines whether or not a winning jackpot has been won at gate 63. In at least some cases where a winning jackpot has been won at gate 63, the pattern on the regular jackpot will change.

The general winning opening 67 is located in the lower left of the game area 50a. A general winning opening sensor 73 is attached to the general winning opening 67, and a winning ball is determined based on the detection result of the general winning opening sensor 73, and the number of prize balls associated with the general winning opening 67 (4 in this embodiment) is awarded.
In this embodiment, the obstacles are arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the first flow path X compared to when rolling from the second flow path Y, but the obstacles may be arranged so that more game balls roll toward the general winning opening 67 when rolling from the second flow path Y. Also, a plurality of general winning openings 67 may be provided.

The outlet 69 is disposed at the bottom of the game area 50a. Game balls that are shot into the game area 50a and do not enter any of the winning holes described above fall into the outlet 69 and are treated as out balls.
In this embodiment, an out ball sensor 75 (not shown) is provided for detecting out balls, which are game balls that have entered the winning hole and the out hole.

As shown in Figure 5, the rear of the game board 50 is fitted with a main control board case 109 in which the main control board 100 is stored, a first sub-control board case 209 in which the first sub-control board 200 is stored, a second sub-control board case 309 in which the second sub-control board 300 is stored, a power supply control board case 509 in which the power supply control board 500 is stored, and a payout control board case 409 in which the payout control board 400 is stored.In addition to the rear of the first sub-control board case 209 and the second sub-control board case 309, an opening/closing cover 45 which covers part of the rear of the main control board case 109 is attached in a removable manner.
In addition, a RAM clear switch 43 is provided on the main control board 100.
Furthermore, the substrate cases and covers that cover the respective substrates are made of transparent materials, and the corresponding substrates can be seen through each case and cover.

A game ball tank 46 is disposed on the back of the game board 50, above the opening and closing cover 45, in which game balls supplied from the game island's ball supply equipment are stored. The game ball tank 46 is further connected to a payout passage 49 that leads to the upper ball tray 27 via a tank rail 47 and a payout unit 48, and the balls paid out by the payout unit 48 are paid out through the payout passage 49 to the upper ball tray 27.

So far, we have explained the structure of the gaming machine 10 in this embodiment, but this is just one specific example, and the present invention can also be implemented with a different configuration.

<Regarding the control configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, a control configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the control configuration shown in Fig. 6 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a control configuration not shown in Fig. 6.

The main control board 100 is equipped with a CPU 101 that performs various calculation processes related to the game, a ROM 102 that stores data such as control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 103 that functions as a work area and buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, an I/O port 104 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and a random number circuit 105 that operates separately from the program processing by the CPU 101 and generates random numbers (hard random numbers), and these are connected to each other via an internal bus.

The CPU 101 executes various processes related to the main control of the game by reading out various control programs stored in the ROM 102 and performing arithmetic processing.
The RAM 103 is backed up by a backup power source generated in a backup power circuit described later. Specifically, among the information stored in the RAM 103, various information is backed up so that when power is restored (when power is turned on) after a power outage, the data can be used to restore the gaming machine 10 to the state it was in immediately before the power outage. For example, in addition to the data of the stack pointer and each register held at the time of the power outage, information related to the game, such as the state of the gaming machine 10 at that time (a game stop state or a game possible state), the current normal drawing state, etc., are backed up. Note that this information is cleared (initialized) by the RAM clear process. Therefore, after the RAM is cleared, a special pattern variation pattern derivation state PA (low probability of normal drawing described later) is newly set. Furthermore, when the RAM clear process is executed, the pattern string related to the decorative pattern is in a state in which the initial pattern combination is stopped and displayed, and even if the RAM clear process is not executed when the power is turned on and the pattern variation is not being executed at the time of the previous power outage, the initial pattern combination is also stopped and displayed. In addition, this initial symbol combination is displayed statically only when the power is turned on, and is not displayed statically due to the execution of symbol variation.

In this embodiment, at least an area in which such information related to the game is stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related area of RAM 103) is backed up, as well as an area in which the complement of a checksum and a backup flag related to the game-related area of RAM 103 are stored (sometimes referred to as the game-related backup information area of RAM 103). Then, when power is restored, the gaming machine 10 returns to normal using the various pieces of information stored in the backed-up game-related area of RAM 103 and the game-related backup information area of RAM 103.
In addition, the specific method of backup in this embodiment is not limited. For example, the area to be backed up in the RAM 103 may be realized with a configuration capable of non-volatilely retaining data even in a power-off state. As another example, in the RAM 103, different hardware may be provided for a first memory configured to be capable of non-volatilely retaining data even in a power-off state and a second memory referenced during operation of the gaming machine 10. In that case, the gaming machine 10 may save the information to be backed up from the second memory to the first memory when power is cut off, and recover the saved information from the first memory to the second memory when power is restored.

The main control board 100 is also electrically connected to the first start opening sensor 70, the second start opening sensor 71, the large prize opening sensor 72, the general prize opening sensor 73, the gate sensor 74, the out ball sensor 75, the middle frame open door sensor 76, the front frame open door sensor 77, etc., and is configured to be able to input detection signals from these sensors to the CPU 101 via the I/O port 104.

In addition, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the first special pattern display device 91, the second special pattern display device 92, the normal pattern display device 93, the first special pattern reserve lamp 94, the second special pattern reserve lamp 95, the normal pattern reserve lamp 96, the normal electric role solenoid 62 and the special electric role solenoid 66, and is configured to be able to control these via the I/O port 104.
Similarly, the main control board 100 is electrically connected to the main operation unit 39 and the RAM clear switch 43 , and is configured to be able to detect the operation of the main operation unit 39 .

The main control board 100 and the first sub-control board 200 are connected by eight parallel signal lines and one strobe line, and are connected so that communication is possible in only one direction, from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, and various performance control commands are transmitted from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200.
Furthermore, data cannot be transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the main control board 100, and the first sub-control board 200 is configured so as not to be able to request the main control board 100 to transmit data.
In addition, in this embodiment, a parallel transmission method is used for transmitting data from the main control board 100 to the first sub-control board 200, but a serial transmission method may also be used.

The first sub-control board 200 comprises a CPU 201 which performs various arithmetic processing related to game presentation based on presentation control commands from the main control board 100, a ROM 202 which stores data such as presentation control programs and various lottery tables, a RAM 203 which functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 204 which inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and these are connected to each other via an internal bus, and the CPU 201 is configured to execute main control related to game presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 202.
In addition, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the performance button 37 and the cursor button 38, and is configured to be able to detect the operation of these operating sections.

In addition, the first sub-control board 200, through performance control processing based on performance control commands from the main control board 100, generates image control commands that instruct the image to be displayed on the second sub-control board 300, audio control commands that instruct the audio to be output to the audio control board 310, lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35, and movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, etc.
Here, the first sub-control board 200 is connected to the second sub-control board 300 and the voice control board 310 to enable two-way communication, and each control command (image control command, voice control command) is transmitted from the first sub-control board 200 to the second sub-control board 300 or the voice control board 310, while in response, a response command (ACK command) indicating that the control command was received successfully is transmitted from each control board (second sub-control board 300, voice control board 310) to the first sub-control board 200.

The first sub-control board 200 is also electrically connected to the frame lamp 35, and transmits lamp control data via the I/O port 204. The frame lamp 35 is configured such that its illumination is controlled by the lamp control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.
Furthermore, the first sub-control board 200 is electrically connected to the movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82, and transmits movement control data via the I/O port 204. The movable decorative body 22 and the sub-display unit 82 are configured so that their movement is controlled by the movement control data transmitted from the first sub-control board 200.

The second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a CPU 301 that performs various arithmetic processing related to image presentation based on image control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 302 that stores image control programs and various data, a RAM 303 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 304 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU 301 executes main control related to image presentation in accordance with the control program stored in ROM 302.
In addition, the second sub-control board 300 is equipped with a VDP (not shown) that generates image data according to the content of the performance determined by the performance content determination means 225 (described later) based on a control signal received from the CPU 301, and a sound source IC that generates sound data according to the content of the performance based on a control signal received from the CPU 301. The VDP is a so-called image processor that reads image data stored in an image ROM in response to an instruction from the CPU 301, processes the image data, and transmits the generated image data to the main display unit 81 and the sub-display unit 82. A high-speed VRAM that is used to expand and process the image data read from the image ROM is also connected to this VDP.

The audio control board 310 is equipped with a CPU 311 that performs various calculation processes related to audio performance based on audio control commands from the first sub-control board 200, a ROM 312 that stores audio control programs and audio data, etc., a RAM 313 that functions as a work area or buffer memory that serves as a temporary storage area, and an I/O port 314 that inputs and outputs signals between peripheral boards and each device, and is configured so that the CPU 311 executes main control related to audio performance according to the control program stored in the ROM 312. Therefore, the audio control board 310 can read audio data stored in the ROM 312 in response to audio control commands received from the first sub-control board 200, synthesize the read audio data, and transmit the final synthesized audio data to the speaker 33 via an amplifier, causing the speaker 33 to output audio.

The dispensing control board 400 is mainly composed of a CPU, ROM and RAM (all not shown).
In addition, the payout control board 400 is connected to the main control board 100 for two-way communication, and performs control to drive the payout unit 48 to pay out game balls based on a payout control command from the main control board 100, and also controls the launch of the game balls by synchronously driving the ball feeding mechanism and the launching mechanism based on the amount of operation of the operating handle 31.

The power supply control board 500 is composed of a normal power supply circuit 501 which generates normal power to be supplied to electronic and electrical components such as the control board mentioned above based on the primary power supply supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, a backup power supply circuit 502 which generates backup power, and a power interruption detection circuit 503 which detects power interruption (a predetermined voltage drop in the voltage supplied by the normal power supply).
In addition, a power switch 40 is connected to the power supply control board 500, and assuming that primary power is being supplied from the game island's power supply equipment, when the power switch 40 is turned ON, normal power is generated in the normal power supply circuit 501 of the power supply control board 500, and power is supplied to electronic and electrical components including the above-mentioned control boards (main control board 100, first sub-control board 200, second sub-control board 300, and payout control board 400).
In addition, when a power interruption detection circuit 503 detects a power interruption, the power supply control board 500 transmits a power interruption signal (NMI signal) to each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.
In addition, the backup power circuit 502 is configured to be charged when power is being supplied to the gaming machine 10 from the power supply equipment of the gaming island.
In addition, the backup power supply circuit 502 may be provided on the dispensing control board 400, and the power interruption detection circuit 503 may not be provided on the power supply control board 500, but may be provided on each of the main control board 100, the first sub-control board 200, and the dispensing control board 400.

<Functional configuration of the gaming machine 10>
Next, the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the gaming machine 10. Note that the functional configuration shown in Fig. 7 is necessary for explaining the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, and the gaming machine 10 may have a functional configuration not shown in Fig. 7. Also, when explaining the functional configuration, Figs. 8 to 12 will be referred to as necessary.

As shown in FIG. 7, the main control board 100 is equipped with a ball entry determination means 110, a main random number generation means 115, a main hold control means 120, a pre-determination means 125, a special drawing means 130, a normal drawing means 135, a jackpot game control means 140, a pattern display control means 145, an electric role control means 150, a game state control means 155, a main information storage means 160, a main error control means 165, a main command management means 170, a power restoration process execution means 175, and a power cut process execution means 180. These means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the main control board 100 described using FIG. 6.

First, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the main control board 100, data derived by calculations in the means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas. In particular, the data (performance control commands) stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160 is transmitted by the command transmission means to the sub-command management means 270 of the first sub-control board 200, which will be described later, after being stored.

The ball entry determination means 110 determines whether a ball has been entered into each entry port based on the detection results of the sensors installed in each entry port.

The main random number generating means 115 is capable of generating multiple types of random numbers with different update ranges depending on the random number circuit 105, and when a win at a winning port is determined, it obtains (latches) one or more random numbers corresponding to that winning port from the random number circuit 105.
More specifically, when it is determined that the first start gate 57 or the second start gate 59 has been won, the main random number generating means 115 obtains a random number for determining whether or not the special symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a special symbol stop symbol, and a random number for drawing a special symbol change pattern, which will be described later. When it is determined that the gate 63 has been won, the main random number generating means 115 stores a random number for determining whether or not the normal symbol has been won, a random number for drawing a normal symbol stop symbol, and a random number for drawing a normal symbol change pattern, which will be described later, in a corresponding storage area of the main information storage means 160.
The random number circuit 105 monitors whether the multiple types of random numbers it updates are being updated normally, and if an update abnormality occurs in which the random numbers are not updated normally, information indicating the occurrence of the abnormality is written to a specific storage area of the random number circuit 105. Therefore, the CPU 101 can grasp that an update abnormality has occurred in the random number circuit 105.

The main reservation control means 120 controls the reservation of the pattern change of the special chart and the reservation of the pattern change of the normal chart. Regarding the special chart 1, the random number for determining whether the special chart is a hit or not, the random number for drawing the special chart stop pattern, and the random number for drawing the special chart change pattern, which are obtained as a result of winning the first starting port 57, are reserved (stored) as operation reservation information for the special chart 1.
More specifically, the main hold control means 120 is provided with a hold counter (hereinafter referred to as the "special chart 1 hold counter") which is incremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is held and decremented by 1 each time the activation hold information of special chart 1 is used (used in the draw by the special chart draw means 130), and controls the operation hold information to be stored in a storage area corresponding to the current special chart 1 hold counter of the main information storage means 160 until the value of the special chart 1 hold counter reaches an upper limit value (4 in this embodiment), and clears the used activation hold information each time the activation hold information is used, and moves (shifts) the remaining activation hold information from the current storage area to a storage area corresponding to a special chart 1 hold counter which is 1 less than the current special chart 1 hold counter, in order from the smallest special chart 1 hold counter.
In addition, the main reserve control means 120 performs the same control as described above for special drawing 2 and regular drawing separately from special drawing 1, and the reserve counter for special drawing 2 is referred to as the special drawing 2 reserve counter, and the upper limit value of the special drawing 2 reserve counter in this embodiment is 4.
In addition, in the following explanation, "suspended operation information" may be expressed as "suspended pattern change" or simply as "suspended."
In addition, when the main hold control means 120 updates (adds or subtracts) the operation hold information (hold counter) of special chart 1 or special chart 2, it generates a performance control command (hold command) including the special chart 1 hold counter and the special chart 2 hold counter, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
In this embodiment, when both the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 1 and the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 2 are reserved, a priority change is performed in which the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 2 is preferentially used. However, instead of this priority change, a simultaneous change in which the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 1 and the operation pending information corresponding to the special chart 2 are simultaneously used in this case may be adopted.

The advance judgment means 125 executes an advance judgment for a pre-reading performance targeting the pending activation information in at least some cases where the pending activation information of a special chart is pending at a specified advance judgment timing.
More specifically, the pre-judgment means 125 reads out each random number of the operation reservation information reserved this time, and executes pre-judgment for each of the special chart hit/miss judgment, special chart stop pattern lottery, and special chart change pattern lottery, which will be described later. In each pre-judgment, a lottery table (not shown) that is the same as or equivalent to the lottery table used in the lottery corresponding to each pre-judgment is used. Therefore, the results of these pre-judgments will be the same as the results of the lottery that will be executed later.
In addition, the pre-determination means 125 generates a performance control command (pre-determination command) including the derived result of the pre-determination, and stores the command in a transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Since the pre-determination command is transmitted (generated and stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160) at least part of the timing of the predetermined pre-determination, it will be transmitted following the above-mentioned reserved command. Here, the predetermined pre-determination timing refers to a timing that is not during a jackpot game, for example, a timing when the operation reservation information of the special chart is reserved. In this embodiment, if the operation reservation information of the special chart 1 is reserved during the normal chart high probability described below, the pre-determination is restricted, and therefore the transmission of the pre-determination command corresponding to the pre-determination is also restricted. On the other hand, if the operation reservation information of the special chart 2 is reserved during the normal chart low probability described below, the pre-determination may be restricted, or it may not be restricted.

The special drawing means 130 includes a special drawing hit/miss judgment means 131, a special drawing stop pattern drawing means 132, and a special drawing change pattern derivation means 133, and executes processing by each means in the order of the special drawing hit/miss judgment means 131, the special drawing stop pattern drawing means 132, and the special drawing change pattern derivation means 133. When the special drawing change start condition is satisfied, the special drawing lottery means 130 reads out the earliest operation pending information among the operation pending information reserved in the main information storage means 160.
In addition, "the conditions for starting the change of the special chart are satisfied" means, for example, that all of the following conditions are satisfied: a jackpot game is not being played, neither Special Chart 1 nor Special Chart 2 is currently changing the pattern (including when the pattern change related to Special Chart 1 or Special Chart 2 is displayed as stopped), and at least one of Special Chart 1 and Special Chart 2 has pending operation information.

Here, FIGS. 8 to 11 are diagrams that typically show lottery tables used in the main control board 100, and will be referred to as necessary in the following description.
In addition, in a lottery using a lottery table, including other lottery tables, the lottery values stored in the lottery table are added to the read random number in a predetermined order (if there is only one lottery value, the addition is performed once), and a result corresponding to the lottery value where a carry (overflow) occurs is derived as the result of the lottery. Similarly, in the explanation of the lottery table, the lottery table is given a name for convenience of explanation, but it is sufficient that the data such as the lottery value included in the lottery table corresponding to the name is identifiable and stored in each ROM, and these names do not specify the area in which the data is stored. In the illustrated lottery table, items described for convenience of explanation or "-" or "0" may be described as the lottery value, but these do not necessarily indicate the data stored in each ROM. And, there is no winning result with "-" or "0" described as the lottery value. Furthermore, when the same lottery value as the random number range used for the lottery (the number of random numbers that can be obtained within that range) is written in the lottery table, the result is derived 100%, so there is no need to perform a lottery. Also, when the total value of the lottery values used in one lottery matches the random number range used for the lottery, a carry is always generated in the addition of the last lottery value, so the addition does not need to be performed, and in that case, the lottery value used for the addition itself is not necessary.

The special pattern hit/miss judgment means 131 reads out a random number for the special pattern hit/miss judgment for each pattern change, and executes a special pattern hit/miss judgment to judge by lottery whether a big hit, a small hit, or a miss will be won, using the read out random number and a lottery table for the special pattern hit/miss judgment.
8(a) is a diagram showing a schematic drawing of a lottery table for determining whether a special drawing is a hit or a miss, and the drawing table is different between special drawing 1 and special drawing 2, and the range of random numbers used in these determinations is 0 to 65535. Therefore, in the special drawing hit or miss determination in special drawing 1, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205/65536 (about 1/320), and a miss is otherwise obtained, and a small hit is not derived. On the other hand, in the special drawing hit or miss determination in special drawing 2, a big hit is derived with a probability of 205/65536 (about 1/320), a small hit is derived with a probability of 1100/65536 (about 1/59.6), and a miss is otherwise obtained.
In this embodiment, as described later, a jackpot game can occur via a small jackpot, so the probability of a jackpot being derived in the special chart hit/miss determination is set to the one probability mentioned above.

When the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the special chart stopping pattern lottery means 132 determines the special chart stopping pattern by lottery using a random number for special chart stopping pattern lottery (in this embodiment, in the range of 0 to 999) and a lottery table for special chart stopping pattern lottery.
Specifically, as shown in Figure 8 (b), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping patterns used when a jackpot is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 1, when a jackpot is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 1, pattern A is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 950/1000 (approximately 1/1.05), and pattern B is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20).
Here, whether pattern A or pattern B is determined, after the end of the jackpot game, the normal pattern will have a high probability, as described below, but the number of pattern changes during which the normal pattern high probability will continue will be 30 times if pattern A is determined after the end of the jackpot game, and 80 times if pattern B is determined after the end of the jackpot game.
Here, the number of rounds for pattern A is 4, and the stopping pattern becomes a normal high probability pattern after the end of the jackpot game, as described below, and the prescribed number of times for the normal high probability pattern (the maximum number of times that the pattern variation continues while the normal high probability pattern continues) is 30. On the other hand, the number of rounds for pattern B is 10, and the stopping pattern becomes a normal high probability pattern after the end of the jackpot game, and the prescribed number of times for the normal high probability pattern is 80. Therefore, it can be said that pattern B is a more advantageous pattern than pattern A in terms of both the number of rounds and the prescribed number of times for the normal high probability pattern.

As shown in Figure 8 (c), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping symbols used when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol hit/miss judgment related to special symbol 2, when a jackpot is derived in the special symbol hit/miss judgment related to special symbol 2, symbol a is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 250/1000 (1/4), and symbol b is determined as the stopping symbol with a probability of 750/1000 (approximately 1/1.33).
Here, the number of rounds for pattern a is 4, and the stopping pattern becomes a normal high probability pattern after the end of the jackpot game, and the prescribed number of times for the normal high probability pattern is 80. On the other hand, the number of rounds for pattern b is 10, and the stopping pattern becomes a normal high probability pattern after the end of the jackpot game, and the prescribed number of times for the normal high probability pattern is 80. Therefore, it can be said that pattern b is a more advantageous pattern than pattern a in terms of the number of rounds.

As shown in Figure 8 (d), which is a schematic diagram of a lottery table for selecting the stopping patterns used when a small win is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 2, when a small win is derived in the special pattern hit/miss judgment related to special pattern 2, pattern c is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 250/1000 (1/4), and pattern d is determined as the stopping pattern with a probability of 750/1000 (approximately 1/1.33).
Here, when a big win game occurs in a small win game related to the pattern c, the number of rounds in the big win game becomes 4, and the stopping pattern becomes a normal high probability after the end of the big win game, and the specified number of times related to the normal high probability is 80. On the other hand, when a big win game occurs in a small win game related to the pattern d, the number of rounds in the big win game becomes 10, and the stopping pattern becomes a normal high probability after the end of the big win game, and the specified number of times related to the normal high probability is 80. Therefore, it can be said that the pattern d is a more advantageous pattern than the pattern c in terms of the number of rounds when a big win game occurs.
Here, the number of rounds in a big win game when a big win game occurs in a small win game is the number of rounds of the small win game. In the following explanation, a big win game caused by a small win game related to the pattern c may be expressed as a "big win game related to the pattern c", and a big win game caused by a small win game related to the pattern d may be expressed as a "big win game related to the pattern d".

In this embodiment, as described above, the rate at which the pattern a is determined, which generates a jackpot game with four rounds, when a jackpot is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2, is the same as the rate at which the pattern c is determined, which generates a jackpot game with four rounds, when a small jackpot is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2, and the rate at which the pattern b is determined, which generates a jackpot game with ten rounds, when a jackpot is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2, is the same as the rate at which the pattern d is determined, which generates a jackpot game with ten rounds, when a small jackpot is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2. Therefore, the advantage of the jackpot game when a jackpot is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2 and the advantage of the jackpot game that occurs when a small jackpot is derived in the special chart hit/miss judgment related to the special chart 2 are the same.

In addition, the special chart stop pattern selection means 132 determines pattern C as the stop pattern when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for special chart 1 is a miss, and determines pattern e as the stop pattern when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment for special chart 2 is a miss.

In this way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the jackpot game generated by the pattern change related to special chart 2 tends to be more advantageous than the jackpot game generated by the pattern change related to special chart 1. Therefore, the transition from the special chart change pattern derivation state PA to another special chart change pattern derivation state described later can further increase the interest in the game.

The special pattern variation pattern derivation means 133 has a plurality of types of special pattern variation pattern selection tables to be referred to when determining the special pattern variation pattern, and selects one special pattern variation pattern selection table for determining the current special pattern variation pattern based on the current special pattern variation pattern derivation state and the result of the current special pattern hit/miss judgment, determines one special pattern variation pattern using the selected special pattern variation pattern selection table and the random number for special pattern variation pattern selection, and determines the variation time based on the determined special pattern variation pattern. Here, the variation time refers to the time from the start of the pattern variation related to the special pattern (special pattern 1 or special pattern 2) to the end of the pattern variation.
Although details of the transition conditions will be described later, the special chart variation pattern derivation state in this embodiment includes a special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, a special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and a special chart variation pattern derivation state PC. The above-mentioned method of determining the special chart variation pattern is adopted in the pattern variation of the special chart 1 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and is adopted in the pattern variation of the special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC. In addition, in the pattern variation related to the other special chart in each special chart variation pattern derivation state, a predetermined special chart variation pattern is determined according to the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment.

Figure 9 (a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used for the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 9 (a), in the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA, special chart change patterns HNP to ASP-C can be determined.
Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA is a miss, there is a 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11) probability of special chart change pattern HNP, a 52/1000 (approximately 1/19.2) probability of special chart change pattern HRP, a 13/1000 (approximately 1/76.9) probability of HSP1-A, and a 11/1000 (approximately 1/90. 9) probability of HSP1-B, 9/1000 (about 1/111) probability of HSP2-A, 7/1000 (about 1/143) probability of HSP2-B, 5/1000 (1/200) probability of HSP3-A, 3/1000 (about 1/333) probability of HSP3-B are determined, and in this case, the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-C are not determined. Note that, although details will be described later using FIG. 9 (b), when the special pattern variation pattern HNP is determined, the special pattern variation pattern is further specified using the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern variation.
On the other hand, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to the special chart 1 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PA is a jackpot, the special chart change pattern ASP1-A has a probability of 90/1000 (about 1/11.1), the special chart change pattern ASP1-B has a probability of 110/1000 (about 1/9.09), the special chart change pattern ASP2-A has a probability of 135/1000 (about 1/7.41), and the special chart change pattern ASP3-B has a probability of 165/1000 (about 1/6.01). Special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B is determined with a probability of 1.06), special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A with a probability of 180/1000 (approximately 1/5.56), special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B with a probability of 220/1000 (approximately 1/4.56), and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-C with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10), and in this case, special chart fluctuation pattern HNP to special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B will not be determined.
In this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HRP to HSP3-B is determined at a rate of 100/1000 (1/10), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 900/1000 (approximately 1/1.11). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 1 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PA is a big hit, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP1-A to ASP-C is determined at a rate of 1000/1000 (1/1).
Here, in the description of the special pattern variation pattern of this embodiment, when two special pattern variation patterns are described with "~" between them, the description of the special pattern variation pattern existing between the special pattern variation pattern described earlier and the special pattern variation pattern described later is omitted according to the order described in the drawing related to the special pattern variation pattern lottery table for each special pattern variation pattern derivation state. Also, in the description of the special pattern variation pattern of this embodiment, regardless of whether the corresponding variation time is described or not, if the names of the special pattern variation patterns are different, it indicates that the different special pattern variation patterns are different (different variation times).

Figure 9 (b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 9 (a)) is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 9 (b), the special chart variation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 during special chart variation pattern derivation state PA include special chart variation pattern HNP-A with a variation time of 3200 ms (milliseconds), special chart variation pattern HNP-B with a variation time of 5600 ms, special chart variation pattern HNP-C with a variation time of 8000 ms, and special chart variation pattern HNP-D with a variation time of 11200 ms, in that order of increasing variation time.
Specifically, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1). Similarly, if the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 150/1000 (about 1/6.67), and the special pattern change pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 850/1000 (about 1/1.18). If the special pattern 1 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A is determined with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20), and the special pattern change pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 150/1000 (about 1/6.67). The special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 800/1000 (1/1.25), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 800/1000 (1/1.25). If the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the pattern variation is 0, the special pattern variation pattern HNP-B is determined with a probability of 50/1000 (1/20), the special pattern variation pattern HNP-C is determined with a probability of 100/1000 (1/10), and the special pattern variation pattern HNP-D is determined with a probability of 850/1000 (about 1/1.18). In the following explanation, when the value of the special pattern reserved counter to be referred to is 3, it may be called "retention 3", when the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 2, it may be called "retention 2", when the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 1, it may be called "retention 1", and when the value of the special pattern reserved counter is 0, it may be called "retention 0".
In this way, when the special pattern change pattern HNP is determined in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern change pattern (change time) that is likely to be determined by the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change differs. More specifically, the smaller the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change, the more likely it is that a long pattern change will be determined (the larger the value of the special pattern 1 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change, the more likely it is that a short change time will be determined).
In addition, such special chart variation pattern HNP (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "basic special chart variation pattern") also exists in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB and the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and in these special chart variation pattern derivation states, the reserved counter referenced is different from that in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and in both cases the value of the special chart 2 reserved counter is referenced.

FIG. 10(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used for the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999.
As shown in FIG. 10(a), in the pattern change related to special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB, special chart change patterns HNP to ASP-F can be determined.
Specifically, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to the special chart 2 in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a miss, the special chart change pattern HNP is determined with a probability of 960/1000 (about 1/1.04), the special chart change pattern HSP-D with a probability of 20/1000 (1/50), the HSP-E with a probability of 15/1000 (about 1/66.7), and the HSP-F with a probability of 5/1000 (1/200), and in this case, the special chart change pattern ASP-D to the special chart change pattern ASP-F are not determined. Note that, although details will be described later using FIG. 10(b), when the special chart change pattern HNP is determined, the special chart change pattern is further specified using the value of the special chart 2 reserved counter at the start of the current pattern change. And, the method of determining the special chart change pattern using this special chart 2 reserved counter is the same in the special chart change pattern derivation state PB described later.
On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit, special chart change pattern ASP-D is determined with a probability of 500/1000 (1/2), ASP-E with a probability of 350/1000 (approximately 1/2.86), and ASP-F with a probability of 150/1000 (approximately 1/6.67), and in such case, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern HSP-F are not determined.
In this way, in this embodiment, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern fluctuation related to the special chart 2 in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a miss, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns HSP-D to HSP-F is determined at a rate of 40/1000 (1/25), and the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP is determined at a rate of 960/1000 (approximately 1/1.04). Furthermore, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB is a big hit or a small hit, any one of the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP-D to ASP-F is determined at a rate of 1000/1000 (1/1).

Figure 10 (b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 10 (a)) is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 10 (b), the special chart variation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB include special chart variation pattern HNP-E with a variation time of 3000 ms and special chart variation pattern HNP-F with a variation time of 15000 ms.
Specifically, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, and when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-E is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-F is not determined. On the other hand, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 0 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-F is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-E is not determined.
In addition, special chart variation pattern HNP-E and special chart variation pattern HNP-F are different from either the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, or the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC described below.

FIG. 11(a) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart change pattern lottery table used for the pattern change related to special chart 2 when the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is in, and the range of random numbers used in the lottery is 0 to 999.
As shown in FIG. 11(a), the special chart change pattern lottery table used for the pattern change related to special chart 2 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC may differ depending on the number of pattern changes executed without a jackpot game in the special chart change pattern derivation state, and in the pattern change related to special chart 2 when in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern ASP-I can be determined.
Specifically, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is a miss, special chart change pattern HNP is determined with a probability of 950/1000 (approximately 1/1.05), special chart change pattern HSP-G with a probability of 25/1000 (1/40), special chart change pattern HSP-H with a probability of 15/1000 (approximately 1/66.7), and HSP-I with a probability of 10/1000 (1/100), and in this case, special chart change pattern ASP-G to special chart change pattern ASP-I are not determined.
On the other hand, if the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the pattern change related to special chart 2 during the special chart change pattern derivation state PC is a big hit or a small hit, regardless of the number of rotations in the special chart change pattern derivation state PC, special chart change pattern ASP-G is determined with a probability of 500/1000 (1/2), ASP-H is determined with a probability of 350/1000 (approximately 1/2.86), and ASP-I is determined with a probability of 150/1000 (approximately 1/6.67), and in such case, special chart change pattern HNP to special chart change pattern HSP-I are not determined.

Figure 11 (b) is a schematic diagram showing a special chart variation pattern lottery table used when a special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 during the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC, and the range of the random numbers used in the lottery (different from the random numbers used in the lottery related to the special chart variation pattern lottery table shown in Figure 11 (a)) is 0 to 999.
As shown in Figure 11 (b), the special chart variation patterns HNP that can be determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 when the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC is in include special chart variation pattern HNP-G with a variation time of 2000 ms and special chart variation pattern HNP-H with a variation time of 10000 ms.
Specifically, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 3 at the start of the current pattern change, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 2 at the start of the current pattern change, and when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 1 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-G is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-H is not determined. On the other hand, when the special pattern 2 reserved counter is 0 at the start of the current pattern change, the special pattern change pattern HNP-H is determined with a probability of 1000/1000 (1/1), and in these cases, the special pattern change pattern HNP-G is not determined.
In addition, special chart variation pattern HNP-G and special chart variation pattern HNP-H are different from both the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 1 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, and the special chart variation pattern that can be determined when special chart variation pattern HNP is determined in the pattern variation related to special chart 2 in the above-mentioned special chart variation pattern derivation state PB.

In addition, at the start of the pattern change, the special pattern change pattern derivation means 133 generates a performance control command (change start command) that includes the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment, the determined special pattern to stop, and the determined special pattern change pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The regular map lottery means 135, like the special map lottery means 130, reads out the most recent pending activation information from the pending activation information stored in the main information storage means 160 when the regular map pattern is not changing, and uses the read random number to perform a regular map hit/miss judgment to determine whether the regular map is correct or not, and determines various parameters related to the regular map (regular map change time, regular map stop display time, etc.) based on the result of the regular map hit/miss judgment and information such as the current special map change pattern derivation state.
In the normal drawing hit/miss judgment, there are a normal drawing lottery state with a high probability (sometimes abbreviated as "normal drawing high probability") and a normal drawing lottery state with a low probability (sometimes abbreviated as "normal drawing low probability"). Although the drawing of the lottery table is omitted, in this embodiment, in the normal drawing high probability, the probability of a normal drawing hit is 65535/65536, and the remaining probability of a 1/65536 miss, while in the normal drawing low probability, the probability of a normal drawing hit is 1/65536, and the remaining probability of a 65535/65536 miss. In addition, in the normal drawing low probability, it may be set so that the normal drawing does not hit (65536/65536 miss).

When the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment is a big hit or a small hit, the big hit game control means 140 determines the demo time for the start demo and the demo time for the end demo according to the determined symbol.
Furthermore, at the start of a jackpot game, the jackpot game control means 140 generates a presentation control command (jackpot start command) including information such as a demo time related to the start demo of the jackpot game, and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, and at the end of the jackpot game, generates a presentation control command (jackpot end command) including a demo time related to the end demo of the jackpot game, and stores it in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160. This is also true for a jackpot game caused by a small jackpot game.

In addition, the big win game control means 140 starts a small win game when the result of the special winning/unwinning judgment is a small win, and when the game ball passes through a V winning area (not shown) provided in the big win opening 55 during the small win game, the end of the small win game (more precisely, the end of the end demo of the small win game) is used as a trigger to start a big win game corresponding to the small win. Therefore, in this embodiment, the small win game functions as a game that generates a big win game.
In addition, if the game ball does not pass through the V winning area during a small win game, the big win game will not start (occur) after the small win game ends.

The pattern display control means 145 displays the special pattern 1 on the first special pattern display device 91 in a variable manner according to the variable time corresponding to the determined special pattern variable pattern of the special pattern 1, and displays the special pattern 1 in a stopped pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variable time has elapsed. Similarly, the special pattern 2 is displayed on the second special pattern display device 92 in a variable manner according to the variable time corresponding to the determined special pattern variable pattern of the special pattern 2, and displays the special pattern 2 in a stopped pattern determined by the special pattern stop pattern lottery after the variable time has elapsed. Here, the stop display time of the pattern change related to the special chart refers to the time from when the special chart is stopped and displayed until the pattern change of the next special chart can start (when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a miss), or the time from when the pattern change of the special chart ends and until the big win game or small win game starts (when the result of the normal chart hit/miss judgment is a normal hit), and the stop display time of the pattern change related to the special chart in this embodiment is a uniform 300 ms, regardless of the type of special chart or the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment.
In addition, the pattern display control means 145 has a special chart game timer for managing the time (variation time, stop display time) related to the display of special chart 1 and special chart 2, and when the special chart is stopped from being displayed (at the timing when the value of the special chart game timer becomes "0"), it generates a presentation control command (variation stop command) for requesting a confirmed stop display of the decorative pattern, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Here, the definite stop display of the decorative pattern refers to the final stop display of the decorative pattern in the pattern change, and is different from the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern that may occur during the execution of the pattern change. In the provisional stop display of the decorative pattern, for example, the decorative pattern displayed as stopped is accompanied by a small movement (so-called swinging movement) up and down, while in the definite stop display of the decorative pattern, the decorative pattern displayed as stopped is not accompanied by swinging movement, and so on. Even if the same decorative pattern is displayed as stopped, the display mode of the decorative pattern displayed as definite stop is different from the display mode of the decorative pattern displayed as provisional stop. Therefore, the player can recognize whether the display of the decorative pattern is a definite stop display or a provisional stop display.

Furthermore, the pattern display control means 145 causes the normal pattern display device 93 to display the normal pattern in a variable manner in accordance with a variable time corresponding to the determined normal pattern variable pattern of the normal pattern, and after the variable time has elapsed, causes the normal pattern to be displayed in a stopped state with the determined stopping pattern.
In addition, the pattern display control means 145 has a regular pattern play timer for managing the time related to the regular pattern (regular pattern change time, regular pattern stop display time, etc.).

In the above-mentioned big win game or small win game, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the special electric device solenoid 66, and opens the special electric device 65 according to an opening pattern corresponding to the stopping pattern of the special chart.
In addition, when the result of the normal winning/losing judgment is a normal winning, the electric device control means 150 outputs a control signal to the normal electric device solenoid 62 to open the normal electric device 61. In this embodiment, the open state of the normal electric device 61 ends when either the time of the open state reaches a specified time (4000 ms in this embodiment) or the entry of a game ball into the second starting hole 59 occurs in the open state, and the normal electric device 61 is closed.

The game state control means 155 controls the normal drawing state. Specifically, the game state control means 155 sets the normal drawing state to low probability regardless of the stopped pattern of the special drawing related to the jackpot game at the start of the jackpot game, and when a specified condition such as the end of the jackpot game is satisfied, sets the normal drawing state to high probability until the pattern changes a specified number of times, and sets the normal drawing state to low probability after the pattern changes a specified number of times. Note that in this embodiment, during a small jackpot game, the normal drawing state in the pattern change that caused the small jackpot game is maintained. Therefore, if a small jackpot is won during a normal drawing high probability, the normal drawing state is maintained during the small jackpot game related to the small jackpot, and if a jackpot game is caused by the small jackpot game, the normal drawing state becomes low probability at the start of the jackpot game.

Such a general drawing state changes in link with the above-mentioned special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state is managed by the game state control means 155. The transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state will be described below with reference to Figures 12(a) and 12(b). Note that Figure 12(a) is a state transition diagram showing the transition of the special drawing variation pattern derivation state, and Figure 12(b) is a diagram showing the relationship of the average variation time for each special drawing variation pattern derivation state.
As shown in Fig. 12(a), in the special pattern derivation state, there is a special pattern derivation state PA as a special pattern derivation state corresponding to a normal pattern low probability, and there are a special pattern derivation state PB and a special pattern derivation state PC as special pattern derivation states corresponding to a normal pattern high probability, and any of these special pattern derivation states is set except during a jackpot game. And, there are transition conditions (i) to (v) for the transition conditions between the special pattern derivation state PA and the special pattern derivation state PC.

Specifically, transition condition (i) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern A, transition condition (ii) is the end of a jackpot game related to pattern B, transition condition (iii) is the end of a jackpot game related to patterns a, b, c, and d, transition condition (iv) is the end of pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in normal pattern high probability becomes 30 times (the specified number of times related to special pattern change pattern derivation state PB), and transition condition (v) is the end of pattern change in which the number of pattern changes related to special pattern 2 executed without a jackpot game in normal pattern high probability becomes 80 times (the specified number of times related to special pattern change pattern derivation state PC).
In addition, when a big win game occurs in the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC, the state transitions to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC again after the big win game ends, and the number of pattern variations related to the special pattern 2 that can be executed up to the specified number of times related to the special pattern variation pattern derivation state PC is reset. In addition, when a big win game does not occur in the small win game related to the transition condition (iii), the state when the small win game occurred (normal pattern high probability, and the number of pattern variations related to the special pattern 2 that can be executed up to the specified number of times) is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 12(b), the average fluctuation time of each of the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and the special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PC is shorter in the order of special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PA, special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PB, and special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state PC. This is due to the length of the fluctuation time related to the basic special pattern fluctuation pattern that is most likely to be determined in each special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state. Here, the average fluctuation time refers to the sum of the fluctuation times derived by multiplying the occurrence rate (the probability that may occur in any pattern fluctuation, derived by multiplying the probability of the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment by the probability of the special pattern fluctuation pattern) for each of the fluctuation times related to the special pattern fluctuation pattern that can be selected in a certain special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state. However, in this embodiment, when there is only one special pattern fluctuation pattern that can be selected in the certain special pattern fluctuation pattern derivation state, the fluctuation time related to the special pattern fluctuation pattern is treated as the average fluctuation time.

In addition, when a transition occurs between the regular chart lottery state and the special chart variation pattern derivation state, the game state control means 155 generates a presentation control command (game state designation command) including the state after the transition, and stores the command in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.
Furthermore, the game state control means 155 counts the number of times that the pattern change related to the transition to another special pattern change pattern derivation state is executed in each special pattern change pattern derivation state, and generates a performance control command including the number of times of the counted pattern change each time the pattern change is started, and stores the command in the transmission command area of the main information storage means 160. The information included in the performance control command may be included in the above-mentioned change start command.

As described above, the main information storage means 160 is a means for temporarily storing data read by each means and data derived by calculations or the like by each means in the corresponding storage areas.

The main error control means 165 monitors the input information of the I/O port 104 and determines whether the gaming machine 10 is in an error state. If it is determined that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, it stores a presentation control command (error command) including information that can identify the error state in a transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

When a performance control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160, the main command management means 170 transmits the performance control command to the first sub-control board 200.
In principle, each performance control command is transmitted in the order in which it is stored in the transmission command storage area of the main information storage means 160.

The power recovery process execution means 175 includes a recovery state setting means 176 and a playable state transition means 179.

The return state setting means 176 executes a return state setting process to set a return state based on whether or not there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, the state at the time of power interruption immediately before the power is restored, the state of the RAM clear switch 43 when power is restored, and the state of the inner frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. The return states set by this process include a game stop state and a game ready state (which may or may not involve the execution of a RAM clear process).
Specifically, if there is an abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored, a game-stopped state is set regardless of the state of the RAM clear switch 43 and the state of the middle frame door open sensor 76 when power is restored. Also, if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 is ON (pressed state) when power is restored, the RAM clear process is executed and a playable state is set on the condition that the middle frame door open sensor 76 is ON when power is restored (if the middle frame door open sensor 76 is OFF when power is restored, the RAM clear process is not executed and a playable state is set), and if there is no abnormality in the RAM 103 when power is restored and the RAM clear switch 43 is OFF (not pressed state) when power is restored, the RAM clear process is not executed and a playable state is set.
Here, the game stop state is a return state in which game progress is impossible by not executing processing according to the detection results of the sensors installed at each winning port (it is not necessary to look at the detection results of the sensors themselves).
On the other hand, the playable state is a return state in which the game can be continued by executing a process according to the detection result of the sensor installed in each winning port. In particular, if the RAM clear process is not executed when the power is restored, the game returns to the playable state at the time of the last power outage. For example, if the last power outage was during a big win game or a small win game, the game returns to the big win game or small win game that was being executed, and if the last power outage was during a pattern change, the game returns to the pattern change that was being executed.

Whether or not there is an abnormality in RAM 103 is determined by executing a RAM abnormality check at the beginning of the recovery state setting process (specifically, a process which determines whether or not a backup flag is stored (whether or not the backup flag is ON) in the backup information area related to the target area, derives a checksum of the target area and the complement stored in the backup information area related to the area if the backup flag is stored (if the backup flag is ON), and determines that the target area is normal if the calculation result is 0, otherwise determines that the target area is abnormal) on the area related to the game in RAM 103.

The playable state transition means 179 executes a playable state transition process for transitioning to a playable state when a playable state is set.
More specifically, in the game play state transition process, if the security signal output is ON, a process of turning the security signal output OFF and initial settings of the device are performed.
In addition, during the initial setting of the device, processes such as sending a launch permission command to the payout control board 400 to permit the launch of game balls, setting the state in which balls will be valid when they enter each winning port, and setting data to activate the random number circuit 105 are performed.

The power cut-off process execution means 180 executes a power cut-off process based on receiving a power cut-off signal from the power supply control board 500 .
Specifically, for an area of RAM 103 related to gaming, a process is performed in which a checksum for that area is derived and the complement of that checksum is stored in a backup information area of RAM 103 related to gaming, and a backup flag indicating that a power cut process has been performed for that area is turned ON (a backup flag is stored in the backup information area of RAM 103 related to gaming).

As shown in Figure 7, the first sub-control board 200 is equipped with a sub-random number generation means 210, a normal performance control means 220, a sub-error control means 230, a lamp control means 240, a movable prop control means 245, a customization means 250, a sub-information storage means 260, and a sub-command management means 270, and these means are functional representations of what is realized by each control configuration on the first sub-control board 200 described using Figure 6.
Here, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in the means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas. Also, the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 is stored in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270. In the following explanation, the storage of the performance control command transmitted from the main command management means 170 in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260 by the sub-command management means 270 may be simply expressed as "receiving a performance control command."

The sub-random number generating means 210 can generate random numbers (software random numbers) that are updated by the CPU 201 through program processing, and obtains random numbers at the timing when each lottery (details will be described later) is performed by the normal performance control means 220.

The normal presentation control means 220 includes a presentation mode control means 221, a presentation route determination means 222, a sub-hold control means 223, a look-ahead presentation control means 224, a presentation content determination means 225, a decorative pattern control means 226, and a jackpot presentation control means 227.

When the presentation mode control means 221 receives a game state designation command, it controls the transition of the presentation mode in a manner consistent with the special chart variation pattern derivation state managed on the main control board 100 side.
The presentation modes in this embodiment are broadly divided into normal, RUSH Challenge, and RUSH modes, with normal corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PA, RUSH Challenge corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PB, and RUSH corresponding to the special chart variation pattern derivation state PC.

When the presentation route determination means 222 receives a pre-determination command, it determines (sets) a presentation route corresponding to the reserved pattern change based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command (in this embodiment, the special pattern change pattern). Note that, when the special pattern change pattern corresponding to the pattern change is the above-mentioned special pattern change pattern HNP, the presentation route determination means 222 does not determine a presentation route when the pre-determination command is transmitted, and at the start of the pattern change, it determines a presentation route based on the special pattern change pattern included in the change start command (for example, in the special pattern change pattern derivation state PA, the special pattern change pattern HNP-A to the special pattern change pattern HNP-D).
Here, the presentation route refers to the presentation from the start to the end of the pattern change, and specifies the process of the presentation that notifies the result of the special pattern determination in the pattern change, and the content of the presentation executed in the pattern change is determined by the presentation content determination means 225 described later in accordance with the presentation route corresponding to the pattern change.

The presentation route in this embodiment is roughly divided into a miss presentation route that notifies that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a miss (the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is neither a big hit nor a small hit), and a big hit presentation route that notifies that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit or a small hit. Furthermore, the miss presentation route includes a non-development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is not executed, and a development miss presentation route in which the development presentation is executed. In addition, as described later, when the big hit presentation route is determined, the development presentation is executed unless otherwise explained.
Here, the development performance is a performance that is executed after the decorative pattern reaches a reach state (a state in which the decorative pattern is displayed stationary except for one pattern row, and the remaining pattern rows are displayed in a variable manner), and at the end of the performance, it is notified whether the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit or a small hit. Therefore, in the development performance corresponding to the development miss performance route, a series of performances corresponding to the development performance is executed, and at the end of the performance, it is notified that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is neither a big hit nor a small hit. On the other hand, in the development performance corresponding to the big hit performance route, a series of performances corresponding to the development performance is executed, and at the end of the performance, it is notified that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a big hit or a small hit.
In addition, as described later, in this embodiment, in one presentation mode, each of the determined special chart variation patterns corresponds to one different presentation route. Therefore, in the following description, the presentation route for the special chart variation pattern may be simply expressed as a special chart variation pattern. However, multiple presentation routes may be made to correspond to one special chart variation pattern, and in this case, one presentation route may be determined from multiple presentation routes corresponding to the determined special chart variation pattern.
Below, the contents of the presentation route corresponding to each special chart change pattern determined in each presentation mode will be explained.

First, the presentation routes corresponding to special chart variation patterns HNP-A to HNP-D and special chart variation pattern HRP, which are determined normally (special chart variation pattern derivation state PA), correspond to the non-development miss presentation route described above.
Specifically, the special pattern variation patterns HNP-A to HNP-D correspond to a presentation route that notifies the user that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in the current pattern change is a miss when the decorative pattern is not in a reach state and the decorative pattern is displayed in a scattered pattern (a state in which all pattern rows are displayed and the same decorative pattern is not displayed in each pattern row). Here, the same decorative pattern refers to a decorative pattern that imitates the same number, and the parts other than the numbers that make up the decorative pattern may be different. Similarly, different decorative patterns refer to decorative patterns that imitate different numbers.
The special pattern change pattern HRP corresponds to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-change, and then the decorative pattern stops and displays in a scattered manner without executing the development performance described later, thereby notifying the user that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss. Here, the pseudo-change refers to a period before the development performance starts, which is divided by the stop of the decorative pattern based on a certain rule (for example, the stop of the decorative pattern in which the same decorative pattern stops in the middle pattern row and the right pattern row, such as "5 pattern-6 pattern-6 pattern"). Therefore, it can be said that the pseudo-change occurs only when the number of pseudo-changes is two. In other words, if the number of changes of the decorative pattern until the reach state is constituted is one, it can be said that the pseudo-change does not occur, and in that case, it can be said that one pseudo-change is executed. Note that the maximum number of pseudo-changes in this embodiment is three, but the maximum number of pseudo-changes is not limited to this, and any number of times equal to or greater than two may be adopted.

The special chart fluctuation patterns HSP1-A to HSP3-B correspond to the above-mentioned development miss performance route.
Specifically, the special pattern change pattern HSP1-A and the special pattern change pattern HSP1-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-change, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss, and the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a spread pattern after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern change pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP1-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special pattern change pattern HSP1-B.
The special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through two pseudo fluctuations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a miss, and the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a spread eye after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to each special chart fluctuation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B.
The special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through three pseudo fluctuations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a miss, and the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a spread eye after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to each special chart fluctuation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B.

The special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B correspond to the jackpot performance route described above.
Specifically, the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A and the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-variation, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit, and the decorative pattern is displayed in a pattern alignment (a state in which all pattern rows are stopped and the same decorative pattern is stopped and displayed in each pattern row) after the end of the development performance. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP1-B.
The special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through two pseudo fluctuations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a big hit, and the decorative pattern stops and is displayed after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to each special chart fluctuation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B.
The special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state through three pseudo fluctuations, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a big hit, and the decorative pattern stops and is displayed after the development performance ends. Note that, like the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A and the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B, the types of development performances corresponding to each special chart fluctuation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEA corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A, and the development performance HEB corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B.
The special pattern change pattern ASP-C corresponds to a presentation route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-change, and then a development presentation HEC is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a jackpot, and the decorative pattern stops and is displayed in a matching pattern after the development presentation ends.

In this way, in this embodiment, by making the same development performance correspond, the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A, the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A, the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A, and the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B corresponds to the performance route corresponding to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B. As a result, the contents of the performances of the corresponding performance routes will match from the start to the end (the timing when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is shown by the development performance related to the performance route). Therefore, in the pattern change in which the development performance HEA and the development performance HEB are executed, the player can have a sense of expectation of winning the jackpot. In addition, the above-mentioned special pattern change pattern in which the performance route in which the development performance HEA and the development performance HEB are executed is determined can also be said to be a special pattern change pattern that makes the player expect a jackpot. These are the same in other performance modes described later.
In addition, there is no corresponding development failure performance route for the special chart variation pattern ASP-C. Therefore, when the development performance HEC is executed in the pattern variation, the player can be made to definitely recognize that he has won the jackpot. Therefore, it can be said that the performance route corresponding to the special chart variation pattern is a performance route that determines the winning of the jackpot, and the special chart variation pattern is a special chart variation pattern that determines the winning of the jackpot.

Also, as shown in FIG. 9(a), when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a miss, within the range where the number of pseudo fluctuations is the same, the special chart fluctuation pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance HEA is executed (for example, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A), the special chart fluctuation pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance HEB is executed (for example, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B) is less likely to be determined in that order. And, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a jackpot, within the range where the number of pseudo fluctuations is the same, the special chart fluctuation pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance HEA is executed (for example, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A), the special chart fluctuation pattern corresponding to the performance route where the development performance HEB is executed (for example, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B) is more likely to be determined in that order. And, as described above, the development performance HEC is executed only when a jackpot is won.
Therefore, the expectation of winning the jackpot can be increased in the order of the development performance HEA, the development performance HEB, and the development performance HEC. The expectation of winning the jackpot related to such development performances is also the same in the relationship between the development performance HED, the development performance HEE, and the development performance HEF, and the relationship between the development performance HEG, the development performance HEH, and the development performance HEI, which will be described later.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9(a), when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a miss, in the range of the same type of development performance, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where no pseudo-change occurs (for example, special chart change pattern HSP1-A), the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo-changes is two (for example, special chart change pattern HSP2-A), and the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo-changes is three (for example, special chart change pattern HSP3-A) are more likely to be determined in that order. And, when the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment is a big hit, in the range of the same type of development performance, the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where no pseudo-change occurs (for example, special chart change pattern ASP1-A), the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo-changes is two (for example, special chart change pattern ASP2-A), and the special chart change pattern corresponding to the performance route where the number of pseudo-changes is three (for example, special chart change pattern ASP3-A) are more likely to be determined in that order.
Therefore, the more times the pseudo fluctuation is executed, the higher the expectation of winning the jackpot.

As described above, in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP1-B, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-C, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-A, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP1-B, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-C, the reach state is reached without any pseudo-fluctuation, in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP2-B, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-A, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP2-B, the reach state is reached after two pseudo-fluctuations, and in special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-A, special chart fluctuation pattern HSP3-B, special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-A, and special chart fluctuation pattern ASP3-B, the reach state is reached after three pseudo-fluctuations.
Therefore, the time to reach the reach state is longer in the order of the special pattern change pattern that reaches the reach state without pseudo-change, the special pattern change pattern that reaches the reach state with two pseudo-changes, and the special pattern change pattern that reaches the reach state with three pseudo-changes. However, in the pattern change that determines the special pattern change pattern ASP-C, the time to reach the reach state is longer than the special pattern change patterns that reach the reach state without other pseudo-changes (special pattern change pattern HSP1-A, special pattern change pattern HSP1-B, special pattern change pattern ASP1-A, and special pattern change pattern ASP1-B).

Next, the presentation route corresponding to the basic special chart fluctuation patterns (special chart fluctuation patterns HNP-E and HNP-F) that can be determined in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PB corresponds to the non-development miss presentation route described above. Specifically, the special chart fluctuation pattern HNP-E and HNP-F correspond to a presentation route that notifies the user that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a miss by the decorative pattern not reaching a reach state and the decorative pattern being stopped and displayed with a scattered pattern. This is also the case for the basic special chart fluctuation patterns in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC described later, so an explanation will be omitted for this special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state.

The special chart fluctuation patterns HSP-D to HSP-F correspond to the above-mentioned development miss performance route.
Specifically, the special pattern variation patterns HSP-D to HSP-F correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-variation, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a miss, and the decorative pattern is displayed with a scattered eye after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performances corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HED corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern HSP-D, the development performance HEE corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern HSP-E, and the development performance HEF corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern HSP-F.
In addition, the special chart fluctuation patterns ASP-D to ASP-F correspond to the jackpot performance route described above.
Specifically, the special pattern variation patterns ASP-D to ASP-F correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern reaches a reach state without pseudo-variation, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special pattern hit/miss judgment in this pattern change is a big hit or a small hit, and the decorative pattern stops and is displayed after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performance corresponding to each special pattern variation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HED corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-D, the development performance HEE corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-E, and the development performance HEF corresponds to the special pattern variation pattern ASP-F.

The special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-G to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-I that can be determined in the special chart fluctuation pattern derivation state PC correspond to the above-mentioned development miss performance route. Specifically, the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-G to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-I correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern becomes a reach state without pseudo-fluctuation, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a miss, and the decorative pattern is stopped and displayed with a spread eye after the development performance ends. Note that the types of development performance corresponding to each special chart fluctuation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEG corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-G, the development performance HEH corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-H, and the development performance HEI corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern HSP-I.
In addition, the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-G to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-I correspond to the above-mentioned big win performance route. Specifically, the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-G to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-I correspond to a performance route in which the decorative pattern becomes a reach state without pseudo-fluctuation, and then a development performance is executed to notify that the result of the special chart hit/miss judgment in this pattern fluctuation is a big win, and after the end of the development performance, the decorative pattern is displayed stopped with the pattern aligned. Note that the types of development performance corresponding to each special chart fluctuation pattern are different from each other, and the development performance HEG corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-G, the development performance HEH corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-H, and the development performance HEI corresponds to the special chart fluctuation pattern ASP-I.

When the sub-hold control means 223 receives a hold command (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as the occurrence of a hold winning), it sets performance data for displaying the number of hold images corresponding to the special hold counter 1 and the number of hold images corresponding to the special hold counter 2 in the hold display area (not shown) of the main display unit 81 based on the information on the special hold counter 1 and the special hold counter 2 included in the command. Note that the hold images are images that are the subject of a hold pre-reading performance that changes into various forms that suggest the degree of advantage, such as the expectation of a jackpot game occurring.

When the look-ahead performance control means 224 receives a pre-determination command, it determines the content of the look-ahead performance based on the result of the pre-determination included in the command.
The pre-reading effect is an effect that suggests the expectation for the result of the special symbol hit/miss judgment in the pre-reading target symbol change and the content of the effect to be executed in the pre-reading target symbol change before the pre-reading target symbol change starts, for the purpose of increasing the interest in the game. Note that the pre-reading target symbol change is a symbol change related to the main special symbol (special symbol 1 in the special symbol change pattern derivation state PA, and special symbol 2 in the special symbol change pattern derivation state PB and the special symbol change pattern derivation state PC), and refers to a symbol change reserved in the hold 1 to hold 3 state, or a symbol change reserved in the hold 0 state and during the execution of the symbol change related to the special symbol.

When the effect content determining means 225 receives a variation start command, it determines the content of the effect to be executed in the current pattern variation according to the presentation route already determined by the presentation route determining means 222.
More specifically, the performance content determination means 225 determines the performance content (performance pattern) for each performance execution timing in the pattern change by a lottery using a performance pattern lottery table corresponding to the performance route determined by the performance route determination means 222. In this way, it is possible to change the content of the performance related to (executed according to) the determined performance route, and to provide a connection between the performances in one pattern change. Even if the same performance route is determined, it is also possible to diversify the performances to be executed. Note that the timing for determining the performance content can be, for example, the start of the pattern change.

When the decorative pattern control means 226 receives a variation start command, it determines the final (determined stopped) combination of decorative patterns (left pattern, center pattern, right pattern) based on the determined stopping pattern of the special pattern.

When the jackpot start command is received, the jackpot performance control means 227 determines the content of the jackpot game performance that notifies the player that a jackpot game is being played, based on the information included in the command. The jackpot game performance includes a start demo performance that notifies the player that a jackpot game is being played, a round performance that notifies the player that a round game is being played, and an end demo performance that notifies the player that a jackpot game is being played. Similarly to when the jackpot start command is received, when the jackpot performance control means 227 receives a performance control command related to a small jackpot game, the jackpot performance control means 227 determines the content of the small jackpot game performance that notifies the player that a small jackpot game is being played, based on the information included in the command.
Furthermore, the jackpot presentation control means 227 is configured to be able to emit a predetermined winning sound and display the number of winning balls generated during the over-winning period when an over-winning occurs during jackpot play (over-winning allowable period), details of which will be described later.

The normal performance control means 220 reads out performance data for each device corresponding to each performance at the execution timing of that performance, in accordance with the content of the performance determined by the above-mentioned means provided in the first sub-control board 200. If the read performance data includes performance data related to images, an image control command is generated based on that performance data, and the command is stored in a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. Furthermore, if the read performance data includes performance data related to sound, an audio control command related to sound is generated based on that performance data, and the command is stored in a transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260.
In particular, when the return state upon power restoration is a playable state accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for notifying that a playable state has been achieved accompanied by the execution of a RAM clear process, and when the return state upon power restoration is a playable state without the execution of a RAM clear process, the normal presentation control means 220 reads presentation data for notifying that a playable state has been achieved without the execution of a RAM clear process.
Furthermore, when the recovery state upon power restoration is a game stop state, the normal presentation control means 220 reads out presentation data for notifying not only that the game has been stopped, but also that it is necessary to execute a RAM clear process.
Details of these notifications are omitted, but it is preferable that they continue to be executed for a certain period of time (e.g., 30 seconds) after execution has begun, and the presentation device that executes the notification does not matter.

When an error command is transmitted, the sub-error control means 230 determines an error notification pattern, and reads out performance data for executing an error notification in accordance with the error notification pattern.
In addition, the error notification is executed in priority over the variable performance related to the pattern variation. Here, the error notification is executed in priority, which does not only mean that when the device related to the execution of the error notification and the device related to the execution of the variable performance are the same device, only the error notification is executed in the device (the execution of the variable performance is restricted by the execution of the error notification), but also includes the error notification being executed in a manner that is easier to recognize than the variable performance in the device.
In addition, the sub-error control means 230 may independently (independently of the main error control means 165) determine whether or not the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, and if it determines that the gaming machine 10 is in an error state, read out presentation data that executes an error notification.

The lamp control means 240 holds lamp control data for controlling the lighting of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35. For example, if the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a lamp, the lamp control means 240 reads out the lamp control data based on the performance data, and transmits the read lamp control data to the lamp to be executed.

When the performance data read by the normal performance control means 220 contains performance data corresponding to a movable role, the movable role control means 245 reads movement control data for controlling the movement of the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82 from the ROM 202 based on the performance data, transmits the read movement control data to the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82, and controls the movement of the movable ornament 22 and the sub-display unit 82.

The customization means 250 can change the customization items included in a menu screen (not shown) that can be called up by operating the effect button 37 while game play is stopped, based on the operation of the effect button 37 and the cursor button 38.
For example, when "Change winning sound" is selected on the menu screen, the player can operate the left cursor button 38c or the right cursor button 38d to select either winning sound A or winning sound B. Depending on the selection of the winning sound, the customization means 250 changes the winning sound table (a table that is referenced when generating a voice control command including performance data related to the winning sound) that is referenced after the selection.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a winning sound table.
When a winning sound A is selected in the above "changing the winning sound", and a winning occurs for each winning port, the normal performance control means 220 determines the performance data for the winning sound by referring to the winning sound table A. Specifically, the normal performance control means 220 determines the winning sound A1 triggered by a normal winning for the large winning port 55 (detection by the large winning port sensor 72 during a normal round game), determines the winning sound A2 triggered by an over winning for the large winning port 55 (detection by the large winning port sensor 72 during the over winning allowable period), determines the winning sound A3 triggered by a winning for the first starting port 57 (detection by the first starting port sensor 70), determines the winning sound A4 triggered by a winning for the second starting port 59 (detection by the second starting port sensor 71), and determines the winning sound A5 triggered by a winning for the general winning port 67 (detection by the general winning port sensor 73).
When a winning sound B is selected in the above "changing the winning sound", and a winning occurs for each winning port, the normal performance control means 220 determines the performance data for the winning sound by referring to the winning sound table B. Specifically, the normal performance control means 220 determines the winning sound B1 in response to a normal winning for the large winning port 55 (detection by the large winning port sensor 72 during a normal round game), determines the winning sound B2 in response to an over winning for the large winning port 55 (detection by the large winning port sensor 72 during the over winning allowable period), determines the winning sound B3 in response to a winning for the first starting port 57 (detection by the first starting port sensor 70), determines the winning sound B4 in response to a winning for the second starting port 59 (detection by the second starting port sensor 71), and determines the winning sound B5 in response to a winning for the general winning port 67 (detection by the general winning port sensor 73).

The contents that can be customized by the customization means 250 (the customization items included in the above menu screen) are not limited to changing the above winning sound, and may include, for example, at least one of "volume adjustment" for adjusting the volume of the speaker 33, "brightness adjustment" for adjusting the brightness of various lamps such as the frame lamp 35, and "BGM selection" for selecting the BGM to be played from the speaker 33 in the current game state.
However, the contents that can be customized by the customization means 250 do not include items that affect the manner of displaying the number of prize balls executed for the over-winning allowable period in which the over-winning has occurred. Details of the display of the number of prize balls will be described later with reference to Figures 13 to 15.

As described above, the sub-information storage means 260 is a means for temporarily storing data read by the means provided in the first sub-control board 200, data derived by calculations in said means, etc., in the corresponding storage areas.

The sub-command management means 270 receives performance control commands transmitted from the main control board 100 and stores the received performance commands in a received command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260. If an image control command is stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260, the sub-command management means 270 transmits the image control command to the second sub-control board 300. Furthermore, if a voice control command or a volume adjustment command is stored in the storage area, the sub-command management means 270 transmits these commands to the voice control board 310. In principle, these commands are transmitted in the order in which they are stored in the transmission command storage area of the sub-information storage means 260.

As described above, the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment is configured to be able to emit a predetermined winning sound and display the number of winning balls generated during the over winning allowance period when an over winning occurs during a jackpot game (over winning allowance period).
By the way, so-called pachinko gaming machines can increase the player's motivation to play by notifying the player of winning (not limited to over-winning, but including other winnings). However, for example, since the above-mentioned over-winning allowable period is limited to a very short time, if many winnings are concentrated in the over-winning allowable period, the notification of each winning may not be effective.
In the gaming machine 10 according to the present embodiment, the above-mentioned problem is solved by devising a method of issuing a predetermined winning sound and displaying the number of winning balls when a winning occurs during the over-winning period, thereby improving the effect of the winning notification and increasing the player's motivation to play. The execution method will be described in detail below.

<Regarding identification notification during the over-winning period>
First, the details of the identification notification during the over-winning allowable period will be described with reference to Figures 14 to 16.
Figures 14(a), 15(a), and 16(a) respectively show specific examples of identification notifications during the over-winning period, and Figures 14(b), 15(b), and 16(b) are timing charts relating to each specific example.
The over-winning allowable period T1 shown in Fig. 14(b), Fig. 15(b), and Fig. 16(b) is specifically a period from when the number of winnings at the large winning opening 55 reaches a specified number during one round of play (when the large winning opening is open) until the large winning opening 55 closes and a predetermined grace period ends. The length of the over-winning allowable period T1 may be changed as appropriate as long as it is long enough to allow multiple winnings (detection of multiple game balls). Here, "allowing multiple winnings" includes not only allowing multiple winnings at a single winning opening, but also allowing one or more winnings at each of multiple winning openings (for example, the large winning opening 55 and the general winning opening 67).

14A shows a situation where one over-winning occurs within one over-winning allowable period. At this time, the gaming machine 10 notifies the player of the over-winning in a manner that is identifiable by the player. In this embodiment, the notification may be referred to as an over-winning identification notification.
The over-winning identification notification includes a winning sound being emitted from the speaker 33 and the display of a winning ball count image sg on the main display unit 81.
Specifically, the prize ball number image sg is an image including the characters "+15," and the characters specify the number of prize balls that will be awarded when a gaming ball enters the large prize opening 55. The prize ball number image sg is displayed once for one over-winning allowable period.
On the other hand, the winning sound that is issued in response to an over-winning is issued every time an over-winning occurs. Since Fig. 14(a) shows a situation in which one over-winning has occurred, the winning sound for an over-winning is issued once.
The winning sound for the over win shown in the figure is executed by the performance data related to the winning sound A2 or the winning sound B2 shown in FIG.

14(b), the sound of the winning sound starts when an over-winning occurs (when a gaming ball is detected entering the large winning port 55 during the over-winning allowable period T1) and ends when time T2 has elapsed from that time. On the other hand, the display of the winning ball count image sg starts when the over-winning allowable period T1 ends and ends when time T3 has elapsed from that time.
In this manner, in the present embodiment, the display of the winning ball number image sg and the sound of the winning sound are both terminated by the passage of time corresponding to each effect. Furthermore, the display of the winning ball number image sg starts at a timing after the sound of the winning sound is produced.

Note that the time chart in Figure 14 (b) shows a state in which the production of the winning sound ends before the over-winning allowable period T1 ends, but depending on the timing of the over-winning, the winning sound that is produced in response to an over-winning may end after the over-winning allowable period T1 ends, i.e., the period during which the winning sound is produced may overlap with the period during which the winning ball count image sg is displayed.

FIG. 15(a) shows a situation in which two over-winning events occur within one allowable over-winning period.
At this time, the gaming machine 10 displays a prize ball number image sg in a form (including the characters "+30") that can specify the number of prize balls for two wins in the large winning port 55. The gaming machine 10 also displays the prize ball number image sg once for one over-win allowable period in the case shown in Fig. 15(a) as in the case shown in Fig. 14(a).
On the other hand, since the winning sound for an over win is produced every time an over win occurs, the gaming machine 10 produces the winning sound for an over win twice in the case shown in FIG. 15(a).
The winning sound for the over win shown in the figure is also executed by the performance data related to the winning sound A2 or the winning sound B2 shown in FIG.

As shown in Fig. 15(b), the sound of the two winning sounds is started at the timing when the two over-winnings occur. In the figure, the time T4 during which the first winning sound is sounded is shorter than the time T2 during which the second winning sound is sounded. This is because the figure shows a situation in which the sound of the second winning sound starts before the sound of the first winning sound ends, and at this time, the gaming machine 10 overwrites the performance data set at the time of the first over-winning with the performance data set at the time of the second over-winning, thereby controlling the sound of the winning sound.
Therefore, the winning sound shown in the figure sounds like the first winning sound and the second winning sound are connected to the player, making it difficult to distinguish them from each other. Therefore, it is not easy for a player to distinguish the number of over wins and the number of winning balls that have been generated accordingly from the winning sound alone.
On the other hand, the display of the winning ball number image sg starts when the over winning allowable period T1 ends, and ends after a time T3 has elapsed from that time, as in the case shown in Fig. 14(b). Here, the time T3 shown in Fig. 15(b) and the time T3 shown in Fig. 14(b) are the same length of time.
In this way, in this embodiment, although the length of time for which the winning sound is played can change depending on the situation (the length of the interval between occurrences of over-winning), the length of time for which the gaming machine 10 displays the prize ball number image sg remains constant, so that the player can reliably identify the content indicated by the prize ball number image sg (in this embodiment, the number of prize balls obtained during the over-winning allowable period T1).

Note that the time chart in Figure 15 (b) shows a state in which the winning sound continues to be played until after the over-winning allowable period T1 has ended (the period during which the winning sound is played overlaps with the period during which the prize ball count image sg is displayed), but depending on the timing of the over-winning, it is possible that the winning sound played in response to an over-winning will end before the end of the over-winning allowable period T1, and the period during which the winning sound is played will not overlap with the period during which the prize ball count image sg is displayed.

16A shows a situation in which one regular win and one over win occurred within one over win allowance period. Here, regular win means a win at the regular win port 67 (detection of a game ball by the regular win port sensor 73).
At this time, the gaming machine 10 displays a prize ball number image sg in a form (including the characters "+19") that can specify the total value of the number of prize balls for one win at the general winning port 67 and the number of prize balls for one win at the large winning port 55. In the case shown in Fig. 16(a), the gaming machine 10 displays the prize ball number image sg once for one over-winning allowable period, as in the cases shown in Fig. 14(a) and Fig. 15(a).
On the other hand, in the case shown in FIG. 16(a), the gaming machine 10 emits a winning sound triggered by a general winning once and a winning sound triggered by an over winning once each.
The winning sound for the over win shown in the figure is also executed by the performance data for the winning sound A2 or the winning sound B2 shown in Fig. 13. On the other hand, the winning sound for the general win is executed by the performance data for the winning sound A5 or the winning sound B5 shown in Fig. 13.

As shown in Fig. 16(b), the winning sound generated upon a normal winning and the winning sound generated upon an over-winning are started separately upon each winning. In the figure, the time T5 during which the winning sound for the normal winning is generated is overwritten by the time T2 during which the winning sound for the over-winning is generated. Note that, in the figure, the time length of time T5 is shown to be shorter than time T2, but it may be longer than time T2.
Although the winning sounds shown in the figure are different types of winning sounds, the winning sound of the normal winning is overwritten by the winning sound of the over winning, which is the same as the situation shown in Figure 15 (b), so the winning sound of the normal winning and the winning sound of the over winning sound sound as if they were one after another to the player, making it difficult to distinguish between them. In particular, since the winning sound of the normal winning is overwritten, it is not easy for the player to notice that both the normal winning and the over winning have occurred just from the winning sound.
On the other hand, the display of the winning ball number image sg starts when the over winning allowable period T1 ends, and ends after a time T3 has elapsed from that time, as in the cases shown in Figures 14(b) and 15(b). Here, the time T3 shown in Figure 16(b) is the same length as the time T3 shown in Figures 14(b) and 15(b).
In this way, in this embodiment, even if there are multiple types of winnings that occur during the over-winning allowance period T1 (winnings occur in different winning ports), the length of time that the gaming machine 10 displays the prize ball number image sg remains unchanged, so the player can reliably identify the content indicated by the prize ball number image sg (in this embodiment, the number of prize balls obtained during the over-winning allowance period T1).

Note that the time chart in Figure 16(b) shows a case where an over-winning occurs after a regular winning occurs during the over-winning allowance period T1, but even if a regular winning occurs after an over-winning occurs during the over-winning allowance period T1, the length of time that the gaming machine 10 displays the prize ball count image sg remains unchanged, and the content shown by the prize ball count image sg is still "+19".

As described above, the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment has an identification means for notifying the player of a winning prize in a manner that is recognizable to the player, which is a first identification means (speaker 33) and a second identification means (main display unit 81) which is a device different from the first identification means, and the winning slots include a first winning slot (large winning slot 55).
In the first case (shown in Figure 15) in which the winning sensor associated with the first winning port (large winning port sensor 72) detects multiple game balls within a single specified period (over-winning allowable period T1), the first identification means (speaker 33) makes an individual identification notification for each of the multiple game balls detected within that specified period, while the second identification means (main display unit 81) does not make an individual identification notification for the multiple game balls detected within that specified period, but makes a single identification notification for that specified period.
This makes it possible to improve the recognizability of the identification notification relating to the winning (ease of checking the number of winning balls, etc.) even if winnings at the first winning slot are concentrated in one specified period.

Furthermore, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, in the first case (the case shown in Figure 15), it can be said that the manner of a single identification notification (the display manner of the prize ball number image sg) made by the second identification means (main display unit 81) changes depending on the number of prize balls awarded within a specified period.
This allows the gaming machine 10 to check the number of prize balls awarded within a specified period of time through an identification notification by the second identification means.

In addition, in the second case (case shown in Figure 14) in which the winning sensor associated with the first winning port (large winning port sensor 72) detects one game ball within one specified period (over-winning allowable period T1), the second identification means (main display unit 81) makes one identification notification for that specified period, and it can be said that the manner of the one identification notification made by the second identification means in the first case (display of the prize ball number image sg of "+30") is different from the manner of the one identification notification made by the second identification means in the second case (display of the prize ball number image sg of "+15").
As described above, the gaming machine 10 changes the manner of identification notification depending on whether one gaming ball is detected during a specified period or multiple gaming balls are detected, so that the player can clearly recognize the difference.

In addition, in the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment, the winning ports include a second winning port (general winning port 67) that is different from the first winning port, and in a third case (as shown in Figure 16) in which one game ball is detected by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port and one game ball is detected by the winning sensor associated with the second winning port within one specified period (over-winning allowable period T1), the second identification means (main display unit 81) does not make an individual identification notification for the detection by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port (large winning port sensor 72) that occurred during the specified period and the detection by the winning sensor associated with the second winning port (general winning port sensor 73) that occurred during the specified period, but makes a single identification notification (displaying a prize ball count image sg of "+19") for the specified period.
Furthermore, in the third case, the gaming machine 10 can be said to be such that the first identification means (speaker 33) separately identifies and notifies each of the detections by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port that occur during the specified period and the detections by the winning sensor associated with the second winning port that occur during the specified period (emits separate winning sounds for an over winning and a general winning).
As described above, in the gaming machine 10, when winnings are concentrated in a certain period regardless of the type of winning port, it is difficult to recognize the number of winning balls, etc., so by making a single identification notification by the second identification means, it is possible to improve the recognition of the identification notification related to the winning (ease of confirming the number of winning balls, etc.) On the other hand, by making individual identification notifications by the first identification means, it is possible to meet the needs of players who want to confirm the winnings individually by the type of winning port.

<Winning sound control process for the big winning port>
Next, the winning sound control process for the big winning port will be described.
FIG. 17 shows a flow of the winning sound control process for the big winning port.

As shown in FIG. 17, in the first step S202 of the winning sound control process for the large prize opening, it is determined whether or not a win has occurred at the large prize opening 55 (detected by the large prize opening sensor 72), and if the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S204, and if the condition is not met, the winning sound control process for the large prize opening is terminated.

In step S204, it is determined whether the timing of the winning occurs within the over-winning period, and if the condition is met, the process proceeds to step S212, and if the condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S206.

In step S206, it is determined whether the winning sound table currently selected is winning sound table A, and if this condition is met, the process proceeds to step S208, and if this condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S210.

In step S208, the winning sound A1 is determined as the normal winning sound for the large prize opening 55, and in step S210, the winning sound B1 is determined as the normal winning sound for the large prize opening 55.
Then, from both step S208 and step S210, the process proceeds to step S218.

In step S212, it is determined whether the winning sound table currently selected is winning sound table A. If this condition is met, the process proceeds to step S214; if this condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S216.

In step S214, the winning sound A2 is determined as the winning sound for the over-winning, and in step S216, the winning sound B2 is determined as the winning sound for the over-winning.
Then, from both step S214 and step S216, the process proceeds to step S218.

As described above, the gaming machine 10 of this embodiment has winning sound table A and winning sound table B that can be changed by customization using the customization means 250, and the winning sound table referenced is changed based on the customized results for both winning sound control for a win (over win) at the large prize opening 55 that occurs within the over-win allowable period, and winning sound control for a win (normal win) at the large prize opening 55 that occurs outside that period.
On the other hand, although the illustration of the presentation control table is omitted, the display control of the prize ball number image sg changes the display mode (text content) determined according to the number of prize balls obtained within the over-winning allowable period, but is not affected by customization by the customization means.

Therefore, the gaming machine 10 is further equipped with a customization means (customization means 250) for customizing part of the identification notification, and in the first case (the case shown in Figure 14), the identification notification (the output of a winning sound by the speaker 33) made individually by the first identification means for each of the detections of multiple gaming balls that occur within a single specified period changes in appearance due to customization by the customization means, and in the first case, the identification notification (display of a winning ball count image by the main display unit 81) made by the second identification means for a single specified period (over-winning allowable period T1) does not change in appearance due to customization by the customization means.
This further enhances the effect of the present invention, which is to improve the recognizability of a single identification notification made by the second identification means (ease of identifying winnings that occur during a single specified period).

<Other Modifications>
Modifications not mentioned in the above description are listed below.

First, as mentioned above, in this embodiment, it has been mentioned that the identification notification for over winning can be executed in a big win game, but the identification notification for over winning can also be executed in a small win game that generates a big win game.

The identification notifications for each winning prize described in the above embodiments do not necessarily have to be executed by the device used in the above description, and may be realized by a device different from that of this embodiment as long as it achieves the objective of the present invention.
In this case, the board that controls the device corresponding to the first identification means and the board that controls the device corresponding to the second identification means may be the same or different. For example, the present invention may be implemented in a mode in which the first sub-control board 200 controls the first identification means and the main control board 100 controls the second identification means. In addition, the board that controls at least one of the first identification means or the second identification means may be one not mentioned in the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the configurations corresponding to the first and second winning ports are respectively the large winning port 55 and the general winning port 67, but the present invention is not limited to this combination. The present invention may be implemented in a form in which the first and second winning ports are each large winning ports, or in a form in which the first and second winning ports are each start ports.
However, in light of the purpose of the present invention, it is preferable that the first prize opening and the second prize opening are both a combination into which a game ball can enter during the same round of play (for example, the combination of the large prize opening 55 and the first starting opening 57).
In addition, in a modified example where the first winning port is the starting port, at least one of the identification notification by the first identification means and the identification notification by the second identification means in the "first case" and "second case" of the present invention may be a display that identifies the number of reserved entries that have occurred within the specified period (including the display of a reserved icon). Also, in a modified example where both the first winning port and the second winning port are the starting port, at least one of the identification notification by the first identification means and the identification notification by the second identification means in the "third case" of the present invention may be a display that identifies the number of reserved entries that have occurred within the specified period.

In the above embodiment, it has been explained that the main display unit 81 is not affected by customization, but it is also permissible to implement the present invention in a gaming machine in which the configuration corresponding to the main display unit 81 is affected by customization.

In the above-described embodiment, the single identification notification made by the second identification means is in a form that makes it possible to identify the number of winning balls obtained within a specified period (over-winning allowable period), but the form is not limited to this.
For example, the single identification notification made by the second identification means may be in a manner that makes it possible to identify the number of winning entries within a specified period, or it may be in a manner that makes it possible to identify the type of winning slot into which the game ball entered within a specified period, or it may be in a manner that makes it possible to identify the difference in the number of balls within a specified period (number of winning balls - number of balls discharged), or it may display an indicator (for example, safe or base) that can be calculated using the number of winning balls generated within a specified period.

In the above-described embodiment, the over-winning period is cited as an element equivalent to a specified period, but it is sufficient if multiple game balls can be detected (multiple winnings) within the specified period, and this can be modified as appropriate within the scope of achieving the objectives of the present invention.
For example, the predetermined periods in the above embodiment exist independently of each other (the over-winning allowable period occurring in the previous round of play is separate from the over-winning allowable period occurring in the following round of play). On the other hand, the present invention may be implemented in such a manner that each of the predetermined periods is continuous (there is no time interval between the previous and following predetermined periods, or the time interval is very short). In this modified example, it may be assumed that the start and end timings of detection by the winning sensor span the preceding and following predetermined periods. In this case, it is preferable that both the identification notification by the first identification means and the identification notification by the second identification means are executed in the following predetermined period.

In the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figures 15 and 16, with regard to the identification notification made individually by the first identification means, if a winning event that triggers a subsequent identification notification occurs during the execution of a previous identification notification, the previous identification notification is overwritten and the subsequent identification notification is made. However, the implementation of the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, if a winning event that triggers a later identification notification occurs while a previous identification notification is being executed, the gaming machine may execute each in parallel, or may execute the later identification notification after the previous identification notification has ended.

Although not illustrated or explained in the above embodiment, it is preferable that game information indicating that a prize has been won at each prize slot (the detection history of each prize sensor) be stored in a designated memory area (e.g., a designated address in RAM 203) until an identification notification based on that prize (both the identification notification by the first identification means and the identification notification by the second identification means) is executed, and even if a power outage occurs before the identification notification is executed, it is preferable that the power be restored after the power outage and the identification notification can be executed (in particular, that an identification notification by the second identification means can be executed).
In other words, in the first case (corresponding to the case shown in FIG. 15), the single identification notification made by the second identification means may be identifiable after power-on when a power interruption occurs before the end of a single predetermined period after a plurality of game balls are detected within the single predetermined period. Or, in the second case (corresponding to the case shown in FIG. 14), the single identification notification made by the second identification means may be identifiable after power-on when a power interruption occurs before the end of the single predetermined period after a game ball is detected once within the single predetermined period. Or, in the third case (corresponding to the case shown in FIG. 16), the single identification notification made by the second identification means may be identifiable after power-on when a game ball is detected by the winning sensor associated with the first winning slot and a game ball is detected by the winning sensor associated with the second winning slot within the single predetermined period and a power interruption occurs before the end of the single predetermined period.
In this way, even if a power outage occurs during the specified period, the player can be reliably allowed to identify the number of prize balls awarded within that specified period by the identification notification from the second identification means.
Furthermore, the gaming machine embodying the present invention may take on the following modifications.
For example, a gaming machine implementing the present invention allows that in the event of a power outage during a specified period, the number of prize balls awarded within that specified period cannot be identified after the power is turned on (both the first identification means and the second identification means do not provide an identification notification after the power is turned on).
In addition, in the event that a power outage occurs during a specified period, a gaming machine implementing the present invention allows one of the first identification means and the second identification means to make an identification announcement regarding the number of prize balls awarded during that specified period after power is turned on, and the other to not make an identification announcement after power is turned on.
Alternatively, in the gaming machine embodying the present invention, when a power outage occurs during a predetermined period, both the first identification means and the second identification means are allowed to perform an identification notification of the number of prize balls awarded during the predetermined period after the power is turned on. In this modified example, the identification notification by the first identification means and the identification notification by the second identification means may have different notification modes, or may have different execution timings.
In the above-mentioned modified examples, in the case where a power outage occurs during a specified period, a gaming machine that performs an identification notification of the number of prize balls awarded during the specified period after power is turned on may not perform the identification notification until a specific period has elapsed since power is turned on. Furthermore, the gaming machine may not perform the identification notification even if game balls are detected entering the first and second winning slots before the specific period has elapsed since power is turned on.

In addition, in the present embodiment, as long as the relationship between the probability, ratio, frequency, and number of times is ensured, the smaller value may be 0, and the larger value may be the maximum value. In particular, as long as the phenomenon aspect is ensured, the control for realizing the high and low of each ratio described above does not matter.
Furthermore, each lottery value in the lottery table illustrated in this embodiment is just an example, and as long as the magnitude relationship between the lottery tables is maintained, each lottery value may adopt any value within the range.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above description, but includes various modifications, improvements, and other aspects as long as the object of the present invention is achieved.

<Additional Notes>
The present embodiment encompasses the following technical idea.
(1) A gaming machine capable of firing gaming balls, comprising a plurality of winning openings each having a winning sensor for detecting the gaming balls, and capable of awarding prize balls when a gaming ball is detected by the winning sensor, the gaming machine comprising: an identification means; and a control means for controlling the identification means, the identification means including a first identification means and a second identification means which is a device different from the first identification means, the winning openings including a first winning opening, and in a first case in which a plurality of gaming balls are detected within a single specified period by the winning sensor associated with the first winning opening, the first identification means makes an individual identification notification for each of the detections of the plurality of gaming balls that occur within the specified period, and the second identification means does not make an individual identification notification for the detections of the plurality of gaming balls that occur within the specified period, but makes a single identification notification for the specified period.
(2) In a second case in which one game ball is detected within one of the specified periods by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port, the second identification means makes one identification notification for that specified period, and the manner of the one identification notification made by the second identification means in the first case is different from the manner of the one identification notification made by the second identification means in the second case.
(3) A gaming machine as described in (1) or (2), in a third case in which the winning openings include a second winning opening different from the first winning opening, and one game ball is detected by the winning sensor associated with the first winning opening and one game ball is detected by the winning sensor associated with the second winning opening within one of the specified periods, the second identification means does not make an identification notification separately for the detection by the winning sensor associated with the first winning opening that occurs within the specified period and the detection by the winning sensor associated with the second winning opening that occurs within the specified period, but makes a single identification notification for the specified period.
(4) In the third case, the first identification means individually identifies and notifies the winning sensor of the first winning port that occurs during the specified period and the winning sensor of the second winning port that occurs during the specified period.

10 Gaming machine 15 Outer frame 17 Middle frame 20 Front frame 21 Hinge mechanism 22 Movable decorative body 23 Cylinder lock 25 Transparent member 27 Upper ball tray 29 Lower ball tray 31 Operation handle 32 Upper frame portion 33 (33a, 33b) Speaker 34a, 34b Left and right side frame portions 35 (35a, 35b, 35c) Frame lamp 36 Ball removal mechanism 37 Performance button 38 Cursor button 38a Up cursor button 38b Down cursor button 38c Left cursor button 38d Right cursor button 38e Center cursor button 39 Main operation portion 39a Ball loan button 39b Return button 40 Power switch 43 RAM clear switch 46 Game ball tank 47 Tank rail 48 Payout unit 49 Payout passage 50 Game board 50a Game area 51 Outer rail 52 Windmill 53 Inner rail 54, protective member 55, large prize opening 57, first start opening 59, second start opening 61, normal electric role 62, normal electric role solenoid 63, gate 65, special electric role 66, special electric role solenoid 67, general prize opening 69, outlet opening 70, first start opening sensor 71, second start opening sensor 72, large prize opening sensor 73, general prize opening sensor 74, gate sensor 75, outlet ball sensor 76, middle frame door open sensor 77, front frame door open sensor 80, performance display device 81, main display section 82, sub-display section 82a, upper sub-display section 82b, left sub-display section 82c, right sub-display section 90, pattern display device 91, first special pattern display device 92, second special pattern display device 93, normal pattern display device 94, first special pattern hold lamp 95, second special pattern hold lamp 96, normal pattern hold lamp 100, main control board 101, CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 I/O port 105 Random number circuit 109 Main control board case 110 Ball entry determination means 115 Main random number generation means 120 Main hold control means 125 Advance determination means 130 Special chart lottery means 131 Special chart win/loss determination means 132 Special chart stop pattern lottery means 133 Special chart change pattern derivation means 135 Regular chart lottery means 140 Big win game control means 145 Pattern display control means 150 Electric role control means 155 Game state control means 160 Main information storage means 165 Main error control means 170 Main command management means 175 Power restoration process execution means 176 Recovery state setting means 179 Playable state transition means 180 Power cut process execution means 200 First sub-control board 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 I/O port 209 First sub-control board case 210 Sub-random number generation means 220 Normal presentation control means 221 Presentation mode control means 222 Presentation route determination means 223 Sub-hold control means 224 Pre-reading presentation control means 225 Presentation content determination means 226 Decoration pattern control means 227 Big win presentation control means 230 Sub-error control means 240 Lamp control means 245 Movable role control means 250 Customization means 260 Sub-information storage means 270 Sub-command management means 300 Second sub-control board 301 CPU
302 ROM
303 RAM
304 I/O port 309 Second sub-control board case 310 Audio control board 311 CPU
312 ROM
313 RAM
314 I/O port 400 Dispensing control board 409 Dispensing control board case 500 Power supply control board 501 Normal power supply circuit 502 Backup power supply circuit 503 Power interruption detection circuit 509 Power supply control board case X First flow path Y Second flow path

Claims (4)

A gaming machine capable of releasing gaming balls, having a plurality of winning openings each having a winning sensor for detecting the gaming balls, and capable of awarding prize balls when the gaming balls are detected by the winning sensor, comprising:
Identification means;
A control means for controlling the identification means;
Equipped with
The identification means includes a first identification means and a second identification means that is a device different from the first identification means,
The winning opening includes a first winning opening,
In a first case in which a plurality of game balls are detected within a single predetermined period by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port,
The first identification means individually identifies and notifies each of the detections of a plurality of game balls that occur within the predetermined period,
The second identification means does not individually identify and report a plurality of game balls detected within the predetermined period, but instead reports a single identification for the predetermined period.
A gaming machine characterized by: In a second case where one game ball is detected within one of the predetermined periods by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port, the second identification means issues an identification notification once for the predetermined period;
The manner of the single identification notification performed by the second identification means in the first case is different from the manner of the single identification notification performed by the second identification means in the second case.
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1. The winning port includes a second winning port different from the first winning port,
In a third case in which one game ball is detected by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port and one game ball is detected by the winning sensor associated with the second winning port within one of the specified periods, the second identification means does not individually identify and report the detections by the winning sensor associated with the first winning port that occurred during the specified period and the detections by the winning sensor associated with the second winning port that occurred during the specified period, but instead issues a single identification report for the specified period.
3. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2. In the third case, the first identification means individually identifies and notifies the detection by the winning sensor of the first winning opening that occurs during the specified period and the detection by the winning sensor of the second winning opening that occurs during the specified period.
4. The gaming machine according to claim 3.

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