JP2821878B2 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine typified by a pachinko machine and the like, and more particularly, to a gaming machine that displays a plurality of symbols in a variable manner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, as a form of a pachinko machine, a pachinko machine can be converted into a first state which is disadvantageous to the player and a second state which is advantageous to the player based on the display mode of the symbol displayed by the display device. There is a pachinko machine equipped with a variable winning device. The symbol display in this kind of pachinko machine is generally performed by transferring display data to a display device together with control of a game by an electric control means for controlling the pachinko machine.
The display device has a so-called digital display that displays numbers or English characters according to a combination of light-emitting portions of, for example, seven-segment light-emitting diodes, and draws and displays a plurality of patterns and characters on the outer surface of the rotating drum. There is a rotating drum display or the like in which one of the symbols or the like faces a window and the display of the symbols or the like is changed by rotation of the drum. Further, there is a matrix display in which, for example, 5 × 7 light emitting elements such as light emitting diodes are arranged as display elements and light emitting portions are selected and displayed.

[0003]

However, conventional digital displays have poor display contents and lack interest.
For example, when displaying numbers from 0 to 9, it can be seen that there are ten screens corresponding to each number, but each screen is instantaneously converted and there is no continuity between the screens. On the other hand, the rotary drum display has continuity and dynamic change at the time of symbol conversion, but the mechanical structure is complicated and it takes time and effort to manufacture and assemble the game board. There are many variations. In addition, when the rotating speed of the rotating drum is displayed at a constant speed when the rotating drum draws a symbol, the so-called reach or hit symbol is easily predicted, and the game performance is poor. Therefore, it is necessary to change the number of rotations of the motor to change the display speed of the symbols, or to increase the number of the symbols by increasing the diameter of the rotating drum, thereby making it difficult to predict the symbols. And the mechanical structure becomes complicated. Furthermore, there is no change in the probability of reaching.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been proposed in view of the above, and the invention according to claim 1 is provided after a plurality of predetermined symbols are displayed on a plurality of display units, respectively. A control device that controls a game in a gaming machine that can be given a predetermined value to a player when the symbols stopped and displayed on each display unit have a predetermined combination of predetermined symbols, Display control means for performing variable display and stop display of the symbol based on a control signal transmitted from a control device, and a symbol which is stopped and displayed on at least one of the plurality of display units. The number is different from the number of symbols stopped and displayed on another display unit. In the invention described in claim 2, the number of the symbols stopped and displayed last is larger than the number of other symbols.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A gaming machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to a pachinko machine shown in the drawings. A display device 1 shown in FIG. It is provided in triplicate.

Each display means 3 has a display element 2 on the surface of a display substrate 4 of, for example, about 20 × 20 mm.
A bare LED element having no lens section is provided. In the illustrated embodiment, a translucent cover member 5 is attached to the front surface of the display substrate 4 to protect the display element 2. Further, the cover member 5 can be colored.

The display means 3 is provided on the front surface of the first circuit board 6. A printed circuit is appropriately provided on the front and rear surfaces of the first circuit board 6, and a chip element 7 such as a transistor or a resistor is disposed on the rear surface to drive each of the display elements 2 to emit light (display element driving means). ) 8 to form
For example, a male connector 9 is arranged on the peripheral edge of the rear surface of the first circuit board 6.

On the rear side of the first circuit board 6,
The second circuit board 10 is provided opposite. On the front and rear surfaces of the second circuit board 10, a chip element 7, an MCU 11, a crystal 12, and the like are arranged to form an electric circuit constituting the display control means 13. The female connector 14 corresponding to the male connector 9 is arranged, and the connectors 9 and 14 are fitted to each other to drive the drive means 8 of the first circuit board 6.
And the display control means 13 of the second circuit board 10 are electrically connected, and are fixed with screws or the like via the support posts 15. The first
The circuit board 6 and the second circuit board 10 may be connected via a cable.

An external connection terminal 17 which is a part of the connection means 16 is provided on one side edge of the second circuit board 10, and the pachinko machine 18 is controlled through the external connection terminal 17 through the external connection terminal 17. It can be connected to the control device 19 and receives a control signal such as symbol control data from the control device 19. The connection means may be provided with an input buffer circuit.

The display device 1 as described above is, for example, 90X
It can be configured within 45 × 25 mm, and one display means 3 can display a character of 10 × 10 dots.

Next, an example of the central display device 20 provided with the display device 1 as described above, and a pachinko machine 18 having the central display device 20 will be described.

The pachinko machine 18 has a central display device 20 substantially at the center of a game section 22 surrounded by guide rails 21 and has a game below the central display device 20 which is driven by a drive source without receiving a hit ball. The first state disadvantaged to the person,
It has a variable winning device 23 which can easily receive a hit ball and can be converted into a second state advantageous to the player.

The central display device 20 has a window 25 on a mounting board 24, and the display device 1 faces behind the window 25. An eaves-shaped upper indicator light portion 26 is provided above the window portion 25, and a lamp 27 is housed therein. Also, a prize winning opening 28 is provided above the upper indicating lamp section 26. on the other hand,
A lower indicator light portion 29 is provided below the window portion 25, and a lamp 27 is housed therein.

The variable winning device 23 has a horizontally long winning opening 31 formed in the mounting board 30 and a gate 33 driven by a solenoid 32 is rotatably faced to the winning opening 31. The gate 33 has its lower edge pivotally attached to the mounting substrate 30 and is rotatable about 90 degrees in the forward direction. When the gate 33 rotates, the large winning opening 31 is opened, and the back surface (upper surface) of the gate 33 is opened. The hit ball that flows down the game section 22 in the
1 is taken in. The bottom part of the special winning opening 31 is divided into three parts by a partition part 34, and a continuous winning opening 36 is formed by facing a continuation switch 35 at the center. Further, 10 count switches 37 are provided on the left and right and below the continuation switch 35 to detect all the hit balls that fly into the special winning opening 31. A drop winning opening 38 is provided diagonally below the mounting board 30 provided with the special winning opening 31, and a lens portion 39 is protruded below the large winning opening 31, and the lamp 27 is housed therein. . The lamp 27 is also made to face the rear of the special winning opening 31 to illuminate the special winning opening 31. Further, a so-called tulip-type prize-winning tool is provided in the gaming section 22 on the left and right of the large prize-winning opening 31 to form a sleeve-winning prize opening 40.

The game section 22 of the pachinko machine 18 is further provided with a starting port 41. According to the illustrated embodiment, the starting ports 41 are provided at three positions on the left, right, and lower sides of the central display device 20, and each of the starting ports 41 faces a starting port switch 42.

Next, the game in the pachinko machine as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the time charts of FIGS.

When the power is turned on, initial settings such as clearing the RAM are performed, and switches provided on the game board 43 are checked. If an error occurs, error processing is performed. If there is no error, each display means 3 of the central display device 20 starts the dark and fluctuating display.

Display means 31 on the left side of the game board 43
Indicates that eight symbols can be displayed, the central display means 3c can display ten symbols, and the right display means 3r can display twelve symbols, and each of the display means 31, 3 c, and 3 r can be displayed. The pattern is set to be converted in about 120 ms. In this case, the display means 3 of the display device 1 does not convert each symbol instantaneously at a predetermined time, but controls the display elements 2 arranged in the horizontal direction line by line to scroll and display the symbols. is there.

The outline of the pachinko game is as follows. When a hit ball shot by a player enters one of the starting ports 41 provided in the game section 22, and the starting port switch 42 is turned on by this entering ball,
Each of the display means 31, 3 c, and 3 r starts displaying brightly. Then, when the variable display is stopped, each display means 3
When the symbols displayed by 1, 3c and 3r form a predetermined combination, the variable winning prize device 23 disposed in the game section 22 as a predetermined value is set to the second state in which the player can easily hit a ball which is advantageous to the player. Time conversion.

The mode for stopping a fluctuating symbol includes an automatic stop mode for automatically stopping after a predetermined time has elapsed,
There is a manual stop mode in which the player operates the variable time reduction button 44 to stop. In the automatic stop mode, the left symbol of the left display means 31 stops after a predetermined time (approximately 5 seconds) after each symbol starts bright and fluctuating display. The symbol is determined by adding the random number for the left symbol, the random number for the middle symbol, and the random number for the right symbol one by one during the remaining time of the control program (from after performing a series of processes to being reset by the interrupt signal). Repeat, 8 types for left symbol (0
7), 10 types (0-9) for middle symbol, 12 for right symbol
A random number of types (0 to 11) is generated (see the flowchart of FIG. 15), and a random number for the left symbol at the time when about 5 seconds have elapsed since the symbol started to change is determined as the left symbol,
After a lapse of about 12 ms as the fixed time, the operation stops at the symbol corresponding to the random number. The random number for the middle symbol at the time when the left symbol stops is determined as the middle symbol, and is fixed for a fixed time (approximately 50
(0 ms), and stops at the corresponding symbol. The right symbol random number at the time when the middle symbol stops is determined as the right stop symbol, and after a fixed time (approximately 500 msec) has elapsed, it stops at the corresponding symbol. It should be noted that the fluctuation time of the middle symbol is twice as long as about 240 ms from the time of stopping the left symbol, and the fluctuation time of the right symbol is twice as long as about 240 msec after the middle symbol is stopped (FIG. 19).
Time chart). By doing so, the fluctuation of the middle symbol and the right symbol is delayed, and the player's sense of expectation to form a large role is increased. Then, the determination of the hand is made about 0.5 second after the right symbol stops.

On the other hand, in the manual mode, when the player operates the fluctuating time reduction button 44, the left symbol is determined after the fluctuating time reduction button detection time (approximately 8 ms), and thereafter, the middle symbol and the right symbol are shifted to the automatic mode. Is determined in the same manner as described above, and the display symbols on the respective display means 31, 3 c and 3 r are stopped.

In the flowchart (A) of FIG. 14 showing the details of the process A, first, it is determined whether or not the symbol is rotating, and if the symbol is rotating, it is determined whether or not the symbol is in the stop mode, that is, the ball enters the starting port 41. It is determined whether the symbol is brightly fluctuating. In the symbol stop mode, the upper unnecessary bits of the automatic stop timer are cleared, and the automatic stop timer is decremented. When the timer expires, the symbol stop mode is set. In addition, the timer does not end, and the fluctuation time reduction switch 44
Is operated, the symbol stop mode is set, a random number is called from the random number generation routine (G) shown in FIG. 15, the left symbol stop position is set, and the left symbol stop timer is set to a fixed time of 12 ms. Is set to stop the left symbol 12 ms after the symbol is determined. Also, 500ms is set as a fixed time in the middle symbol stop timer and the right symbol stop timer, and after the middle symbol is determined, 5ms.
After the passage of 00m seconds, stop the middle symbol, determine the right symbol,
After the elapse of 500 ms, the right symbol is stopped.

In the combination symbol countdown processing routine (B) shown in FIG. 16, first, a left symbol is designated for a symbol code set subroutine. In the display device 1 of the embodiment, one symbol is designated. Is composed of 10 vertical lines, so 12 ms which is 1/10 of the fluctuation time of about 120 ms is set in the symbol update timer. Thus, the symbol is scrolled by one line in 12 ms. In the symbol code set subroutine, it is determined whether or not the symbol is stopped, and if not, the symbol update timer is added. If the symbol has not been updated before the set time has elapsed, the process returns to the main routine. If the symbol is updated, the update timer is cleared, the symbol code is decremented by 1, and the symbol scrolled by one stage is displayed. If the symbol code does not exceed the symbol code range, the process returns to the main routine.

Next, in the main routine, a medium symbol is designated, a symbol code is set to the symbol code subroutine in the same manner as described above, and a symbol updating timer is set to 12 ms. If not in the symbol stop mode, the process jumps to the symbol code setting subroutine.
The pattern is displayed shifted by one line in 2 ms. If the left symbol is stopped in the symbol stop mode, the symbol update timer is set to 24 msec, the shift time of the middle symbol is set to 24 msec, the program branches to a symbol code setting subroutine, and the middle symbol is set in the same manner as the left symbol. The pattern is shifted by one line every 24 ms. Extending the display time in this way makes it easier to see the symbols and gives the player the luck of expecting the symbols to be aligned. Further, the right symbol is similarly set so as to be shifted by one line every 12 ms or 24 ms.

If the symbol code exceeds the set code range in the symbol code setting subroutine, the final code corresponding to the number of symbols is cut. It is set so as to be 119 in the right symbol.

When the symbol code obtained as described above is sent to the display device 1, each of the display means 31, 3c and 3r displays a symbol corresponding to the symbol code. In this case, the symbols displayed by the display means 3l, 3c, 3r are stopped and displayed as meaningful symbols, that is, symbols in which the last digit of the symbol being displayed is 0-9. The left display means 3 has eight images, and the center display means 3c has ten images.
Although the number of the left and right display means 3r is twelve, 72 left symbols, 90 medium symbols, and 108 right symbols in the middle of conversion are displayed continuously even if they are not stopped. It fluctuates continuously as if it were a pattern drawn on a rotating drum.

In addition, in the display device 1 according to the illustrated embodiment, the display device 1 itself has the display control means 13 and has a symbol control data receiving function. An 8-bit code can be received after being divided into 4-bit codes, and the number of connection wirings can be reduced. That is, the display device 1 and the pachinko machine 18 need only be connected by a total of 11 input lines of the power supply line 2, the control line 2, the address line 3, and the data line 4 as connection means, but 10 × 10 × 3 display elements 2
.. Are controlled by the conventional control method, 40 or more lines are required. Further, when the display means 3 is controlled by the control device 19 of the pachinko machine 18, the load on the control device 19 becomes heavy, and the display may flick.

The display control means 13 of the display device 1
Has a storage means for storing a display control program and character pattern data therein, and performs various displays by processing control signals transferred from the control device 19 of the pachinko machine 18 in accordance with the program.

The display control means 13 has eight input registers.
It is determined by signals from 0, R1, and R2. Data terminal D
The data from 0, D1, D2, and D3 are transferred from the data terminals D0, D1, D2, and D3 to the register terminal R at the edge when the write signal at the WE terminal changes from L level to H level.
Write to the register specified by 0, R1, R2. When resetting the display means 3 and updating the display character, the reset terminal RES is set to the H level.

The input register includes, for the left, middle, and right display means 31, 3 c, and 3 r, a symbol code divided into four bits by the control device 19 of the pachinko machine 18 and four upper and lower bits for mode setting. Bit is input.

The display control means 13 has three character control registers corresponding to the left, middle and right display means 31, 3 c and 3 r, respectively. Are converted to 8 bits by reset and transferred. By the 8-bit data and the setting of the mode control register, each display means 3
Characters displayed in 1, 3c, 3r are determined.

The display device 1 arranges a plurality of characters vertically by setting the mode control register.
A vertical scroll mode for displaying any 100 dots,
There are two display modes, a fixed mode for displaying a fixed character.

In the vertical scroll mode, a code is assigned to each dot in a column (one horizontal line), and in the fixed mode, a code is assigned to each character.
In the vertical scroll mode, different character patterns are set for the left, middle, and right display units 31, 3 c, and 3 r (see the code table in FIG. 21).

In the mode control register, the following modes can be set in common for each of the display means 31, 3 c and 3 r. The vertical scroll mode, the fixed display mode, the mode in which the display means 3 is brightly lit and the mode in which the display means 3 is dimly lit, and the mode in which the blinking state of the display means 3 is different (not blinking, blinking at 0.05 seconds, blinking at 0.2 seconds) ,
Flashing at 0.3 seconds), and two test modes, data check and LED check.

The MCU 11 of the display control means 13 sets the LE in about 1 ms based on the data of the control register.
The character is expressed by scanning D.

When the display device 1 having the above-described configuration is controlled by the control device 19 of the pachinko machine 18 and the vertical scroll mode is selected, the display means 31, 3 c and 3 r are shifted by one line. It changes as if the rotating drum on which the pattern was drawn is rotating. For example, FIG.
(A), the left display means 3 displays codes 0 to 9,
The center display means 3c displays codes 94 to 3, and the right display means 3r displays codes 112 to 1. Such a display state is impossible with a conventional display device.

Further, the game state is visually displayed to the player by various display lamps such as lamps and LEDs provided around the central display device 20 and the game board 43, and a large winning prize is obtained by using the display device 1. It is also possible to display the number of times the mouth 31 has been opened and the number of winning balls (see FIG. 20).

Then, the symbols of the display means 31, 3 c, 3 r are sequentially stopped (see FIG. 18), and the combination of the stopped symbols is used to determine a winning combination. For example, as shown in FIG. 22 (B), if the display means 31, 3 c, 3 r are aligned in a predetermined pattern, it is determined that the winning combination is large, and the winning combination 31 is set and the large winning opening 31 is opened for about 30 seconds. The hit ball that has won the special winning opening 31 is counted by the 10 count switch 37, and the special winning opening 3
When there are 10 winnings in 1 or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the special winning opening 31 is closed. In addition, large winning a prize mouth 3
When the continuation switch 35 detects a hit ball while the ball 1 is open, the opening operation is terminated and the special winning opening 31 is returned again.
And can be opened up to 10 times. Further, up to four winning memories can be stored in the starting port 41, and after the symbol stops changing or after the opening operation ends, the change starts again. Furthermore, a small winning combination is set as the winning combination. In the case of the small winning combination, the special winning opening 31 is opened for about 6 seconds.

A predetermined number of prize balls are discharged when a ball is hit into a prize hole provided in the game section 22. In the case of the pachinko machine 18 shown in FIG. If one prize ball is ejected and another prize ball 28, a dropped prize hole 38, a sleeve prize hole 40, and a large prize hole 31 are won, 13 prize balls are discharged per one prize ball. Has become. This is performed in the prize ball control processing (F) in FIG.

The prize ball control mechanism 45 for controlling the prize balls to be ejected as described above has a two-prong ball control mechanism 45 so that five and eight prize balls enter.
There is a prize ball case 46 divided into rows, and when the prize ball is discharged, a prize ball control switch (not shown) is operated to discharge the prize ball. A ball stop lever 47 is inserted between the second and third balls from the bottom of the row containing eight prize balls. In synchronization with the ball control switch, the prize ball control solenoid 48 is operated to release the ball stop lever 47, and 5 + 8 = 13 prize balls are discharged. On the other hand, when the winning opening 41 is won, the winning number is stored, and 5 + 2 = 7 winning balls are discharged without operating the winning ball control solenoid 48 at the time of discharging the winning balls.
Then, at the same time as the prize ball control switch is turned off, the prize ball control solenoid 48 once operates the ball stopping lever 47,
After filling the prize ball in the prize ball case 46, the prize ball control solenoid is turned off, the ball stop lever 47 is released, and the ball stop lever 47 is inserted between the second and third balls from the bottom, and the next prize ball is performed. Prepare for discharge. Each time seven prize balls are ejected, one prize memory to the starting port 41 is decremented. When the winning in the starting opening 41 and the winning in the other winning openings are almost the same, seven prize balls are first discharged by storing the winning in the starting opening 41,
After the winning memory is exhausted, thirteen prize balls are discharged based on winning in another general winning opening.

Note that the winning memory to the starting port 41 and the discharge of the prize balls are visually displayed to the player by various display lights, and
Sound effects are provided to inform the player audibly, to improve the convenience of the player and further enhance the interest of pachinko games.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately implemented unless the structure described in the claims is changed.

[0043]

According to the present invention, a plurality of predetermined symbols are displayed on a plurality of display portions after performing a variable display, and are stopped and displayed, and the symbols stopped and displayed on each display portion are provided in a predetermined specific combination. In the case of becoming, in a gaming machine that can give a predetermined value to the player, a control device that controls the game,
Display control means for performing a variable display and a stop display of the symbol based on a control signal sent from the control device,
Since the number of symbols stopped and displayed on at least one of the plurality of display units is made different from the number of symbols stopped and displayed on the other display units, high-speed display is possible even in variable display such as scroll display. Processing becomes possible, and clear display without flickering becomes possible, and the interest of the game further increases. Further, since the number of symbols to be displayed on each display unit is made different, it is difficult to predict and aim at the symbols by simple control, and the game performance is remarkably improved. Furthermore, even if the appearance rate of the symbols is constant, changing the order of the game units to be stopped and displayed can change the probability of reaching, and can cope with various games.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display device viewed from a front side.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the display device as viewed from a rear side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a circuit provided in a display device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the game board.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the central display device.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the central display device.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the variable winning device.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the variable winning device.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 12 is a part of a flowchart of a control device.

FIG. 13 is a part of a flowchart of a control device.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a symbol stop routine.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a random number generation routine.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a combination symbol countdown processing routine.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a symbol code setting subroutine.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a symbol stop routine.

FIG. 19 is a time chart of the automatic stop mode.

FIG. 20 is a time chart of a major role.

FIG. 21 is a symbol code table.

FIGS. 22A and 22B show an example of a display state of the display means, in which FIG. 22A is in the process of changing, and FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 display device 2 display element 3 display means 8 drive means 13 display control means 19 control device 23 variable winning device 41 starting port

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] When a plurality of predetermined symbols are displayed on a plurality of display sections after performing variable display, the symbols are stopped and displayed, and the symbols stopped and displayed on the respective display sections have a predetermined specific combination. In a gaming machine capable of giving a predetermined value to a player, a control device for controlling a game, and a display control means for performing a variable display and a stop display of the symbol based on a control signal sent from the control device, Wherein the number of symbols stopped and displayed on at least one of the plurality of display units is different from the number of symbols stopped and displayed on the other display units. Machine. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the number of symbols stopped and displayed last is larger than the number of other symbols.