JP3307385B2 - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is capable of causing a big hit game state to appear based on the display result of a big hit symbol being displayed on a symbol display device. The present invention relates to a pachinko machine having a probability setting means capable of changing settings within the pachinko machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a large number of pachinko machines have been provided to the market, in which a jackpot game state has appeared on the basis of the display result of a symbol display device showing a jackpot symbol and a large number of winning balls can be obtained in a short time. Have been. In recent years, in this type of pachinko machine, there have been a few proposals that can change the appearance probability of the big hit symbol within a predetermined range in order to make it easier to manage the payout rate and the like.

[0003]

In a pachinko machine capable of changing the appearance probability of the big hit symbol, the RAM provided on the control circuit board at the time of normal operation, for example, when the power is turned on at the start of business, is provided. To memorize within
The display result of the symbol display device is controlled based on the stored value, but the stored value may be different due to runaway of the program for some reason or occurrence of noise or the like, or during the game. There is a possibility that the set value may be intentionally changed due to fraud. And, in the conventional pachinko machine, there was no protection against them. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko machine that can continue a game with a normal appearance probability even if a setting probability changes due to an accident or fraud. Is to do.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, it is possible to make a big hit game state appear based on the result of displaying the big hit symbol on the symbol display device. A pachinko machine provided with a probability setting means capable of changing the appearance probability of the big hit symbol within a predetermined range; a set probability storage means for storing an appearance probability set by the probability setting means by a normal operation; A predetermined value set by the probability setting means and a value stored in the setting probability storage means .
Comparing means for comparing the set probability with the normal set value, and updating the storage value of the set probability storage means to a median value within a range which can be set by the probability setting means when the comparison result of the comparison means does not match. And updating means for performing the operation.

[0005]

During a game, a value stored in the set probability storage means and a predetermined value set by the probability set means .
When the comparison result does not match, the stored value of the set probability storage means is updated to a median value within a range which can be set by the probability setting means. Therefore, even if the stored value of the set probability changes due to an accident such as program runaway or noise, or if an attempt is made to incorrectly set a probability different from that during normal operation, the center within the range that can be set by the probability setting means Value can be set to continue the game,
Damage to the game hall or trouble with the player can be prevented.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG. 6, the overall configuration of the gaming board 1 of a pachinko machine provided with the variable winning device 20 according to the embodiment will be described. In FIG. 6, as is well known, a guide rail 2 for guiding a hit ball is erected in a substantially circular shape on a game board 1, and a range surrounded by the guide rail 2 constitutes a game area 3 in which the hit ball falls. are doing.

At the approximate center of the game area 3, a variable winning device 2 including a symbol display device 22 constituting a main part of the present embodiment.
No. 0 is arranged, and three starting winning ports 4a to 4c are provided horizontally below the variable winning device 20. In addition, a passing port 5 is arranged between the variable winning device 20 and the central starting winning port 4b. In addition, in the game area 3, in addition to the above-described parts, the winning openings 6a, 6b, 7a, 7
b, 8a, 8b, windmills 9a, 9b with lamps, windmill 10a
10 to 10d, and the big hit lamps 11a and 11b are arranged at symmetric positions with respect to the vertical center line, respectively. Further, the lowermost portion of the game area 3 is provided with the above-described winning opening and an out opening 12 for receiving a hit ball which has not won the winning device. The winning lamps 7a and 7b and the winning openings 8a and 8b among the above-described components have built-in operation lamps 13a, 13b, 14a, and 14b that blink and operate when a big hit or the symbol display device 22 fluctuates. The starting winning ports 4a to 4c have built-in starting winning ball detection switches 15a to 15c. The windmills with lamps 9a and 9b have the same function as the above-described operation lamp.

The variable winning device 20 provided substantially at the center of the game area 3 has a mounting board 21 mounted on the surface of the game board 1, and a symbol display device 22 is provided on the mounting board 21. I have. In this embodiment,
The symbol display device 22 includes three 7-segment LEDs. Then, when a hit ball wins in any of the starting winning openings 4a to 4c, the 7-segment LED of the symbol display device 22 starts to fluctuate at a speed that cannot be visually recognized by the player,
When a certain time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed, the variable display is stopped, and the three symbols are stopped and displayed. When the combination of symbols stopped and displayed is a predetermined combination of big hit symbols, a big hit game state is set. In addition, the probability that the big hit symbol appears can be set in three stages as described later.

When the big hitting game state is reached, the opening and closing members 23a and 23b pivotally supported at substantially the center left and right of the mounting board 21 are opened for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds). However, if the number of winning balls received by the open / close members 23a and 23b during opening is ten, the open / close members 23a and 23b are closed even before a certain time has elapsed. In addition,
As is well known, the opening / closing members 23a and 23b are connected to an opening / closing solenoid 24 (shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1) via a link member (not shown), and the opening / closing members 23a and 23b open when the opening / closing solenoid 24 is excited. It is supposed to be.

The hit ball received by the opening / closing members 23a and 23b rolls rearward in a winning space formed substantially in the center of the mounting board 21, and a V winning hole 25 formed in the center.
Or, a prize is won in the normal winning opening on the left and right thereof. At the V winning opening 25, a V winning ball detection switch 26 (shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1) faces, and detects a hit ball that has won the V winning opening 25. When the V winning ball detection switch 26 is turned on, the open / close members 23a and 23b are repeatedly opened for a certain period of time or for a certain number of times (hereinafter, this open state is referred to as an open cycle). That is, when the big hitting game state is reached, the opening and closing members 23a, 23
The winning ball accepted by opening b is the V winning opening 25
, The continuation right is established, and the open state of the ball receiving members 23a and 23b of the variable winning device 20 is repeatedly performed by the number of times corresponding to the number of times the continuation right is established.
A large amount of winning balls will be generated in a short time. However,
The number of repetitions described above is set to a maximum of 16 times on condition that a hit ball is hit into the V winning opening 25.

In order to count the number of hit balls received by the opening / closing members 23a and 23b, a winning ball number detecting switch 27 is arranged below the V winning ball detecting switch 26. The winning ball number detection switch 27 is a winning ball guided to the winning space and is not only a winning ball winning in the V winning opening 25, but also a winning winning in the normal winning opening formed on the left and right of the V winning opening 25. It is arranged at a position where a ball can also be detected. The winning balls that have passed the winning ball number detection switch 27 flow down along the back surface of the game board 1 and are processed as winning balls. Further, the variable prize winning device 20 may include, in addition to the above-described configuration, a jackpot game state or a symbol display device 2.
A start memory lamp 28 (located below the symbol display device 22) is provided to notify that the hit ball has been stored in the start winning ports 4a to 4c at the time of the fluctuation display of 2.

The configuration of the symbol display device 22 and the control device for controlling the operations of the opening and closing members 23a and 23b will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the control device. The control device uses a microcomputer 30. The microcomputer 30 has an external ROM 3
1. The external RAM 32 is connected. And external R
In the OM 31, the upper limit, the median, and the lower limit of the appearance probability of the symbol data and the big hit symbol are set.

The external RAM 32 is formed with a mode determination counter 33, a display symbol counter 34, an out-of-number memory 35 and a hit number memory 36 in which numerical values which change every moment by the display symbol counter 34 are formed. A decision memory 37 for storing the decided numerical value for determining the hit mode, and a set probability memory 38 for storing any value of the appearance probability of the big hit symbol set by the probability setting switch 45 described later when the power is turned on. Have been. The confirmation memory 37 stores the start winning ports 4a to 4c.
Has the number of reserved prize balls + 1. The numerical value for mode determination for each retained winning prize ball is determined at the time of winning (passing), and the numerical value is stored in each determination memory 37. It should be noted that the appearance probability of the big hit symbol is changed by changing the maximum value of the mode determination counter 33 as described later.

On the other hand, start winning ball detection switches 15a-15c for detecting winning balls in the start winning ports 4a-4c,
The V winning ball detection switch 26 for detecting a winning ball that has passed through the V winning opening 25 and the winning ball number detecting switch 27 for detecting a winning ball in the opening / closing members 23a and 23b have waveforms formed by flip-flops for preventing chattering. It is connected to the microcomputer 30 via the shaping circuit 39. Further, a probability setting switch 45 is connected to the microcomputer 30 so that the appearance probability of the big hit symbol can be set in any of a plurality of steps within a desired range. In the present embodiment, three levels are set, and the upper limit, the median, and the lower limit are, for example, 1/20.
The probabilities of 0, 1/220, and 1/240 can be set, respectively. Note that the probability setting switch 45 is
What is necessary is just to comprise with a dip switch, a rotary switch, a select switch, etc.

The clock generation circuit 41 outputs an external interrupt signal via the frequency divider 40 to the IN of the microcomputer 30.
Output to T terminal. Then, the microcomputer 30 executes the main program shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in synchronization with the external interrupt signal. A timing signal output from the timing signal generation circuit 42 is input to an RST1 terminal of the microcomputer 30, and a numerical value generation program shown in FIG. 5 is started in synchronization with the timing signal. A reset signal output from the reset signal generation circuit 43 by the ON operation of the power supply circuit 44 is input to the RST2 terminal of the microcomputer 30, and the reset signal activates an initial program shown in FIG.

A display drive circuit 46, a display selection circuit 47, and a driver 48 are connected to each output port of the microcomputer 30. The above-mentioned symbol display device 22 and the starting memory lamp (LED) 28 are connected to the display driving circuit 46 and the display selecting circuit 47. These displays are dynamically driven by outputting selected data and display data from the microcomputer 30 at regular intervals. That is, each display unit is selected by the display selecting circuit 47, and the display driving circuit 46 at that time is selected.
Is displayed in accordance with the output signal of. The driver 48 controls the driving of the open / close solenoid 24, the big hit lamps 11a and 11b, and the operation lamps 13a, 13b, 14a and 14b according to the signal from the microcomputer 30.

Next, the operation controlled by the above-described control device will be described with reference to a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the microcomputer 30. (1) Initial setting at power-on When the power circuit 44 is turned on, power is supplied to the microcomputer 30 and the reset signal generating circuit 43
Outputs a reset signal to the RST2 terminal. Then
Microcomputer 30 (hereinafter referred to as CPU 30)
Executes the processing shown in FIG. That is, the symbol display device 2
The three-digit numerical registers X1, X2, X3 displayed in 2 are set to initial values (1, 5, 3). In addition, the starting winning opening 4a
The starting prize counter C for counting the number of reserved balls that have been won and held for ４4c is set to “0”, and the ball receiving members 23a,
Winning ball counter G for counting the number of winning balls to 23b
To "0", the V winning counter A for detecting a ball winning the V winning opening 25 to "0", and the opening number counter L for counting the number of opening cycles of the ball receiving members 53a and 53b to "0". Set. The state register F storing the control state is set to "0", and the timers T1, T2, T3, T4
Is initially set to “0”. Then, the numerical value I of the mode determination counter 33 is set to the initial value “1”, and the display symbol counter J is set to the initial value “1”. Further, a value set by the probability setting switch 45 is stored in the setting probability memory 38.

(2) Step of the mode decision counter and step of the display symbol counter The numerical value (random number) generation program shown in FIG. 5 is started in synchronization with the timing signal input from the RST1 terminal.
That is, it is determined whether or not the value stored in the set probability memory 38 in step 200 matches any of the upper limit, the median, and the lower limit within the range that can be set by the probability setting switch 45. This is to monitor whether or not the value stored in the setting probability memory 38 at power-on changes to a different value due to external noise or when the program returns to normal by the trap function when the program runs away. is there. If they do not match, the median is stored in the set probability memory 38 in step 202,
If the values match, the process proceeds to step 204 without performing such processing.
Set the value stored in 8. In this way, even when the stored value of the set probability changes due to an accident such as program runaway or noise, the probability of appearance of the big hit symbol is set to an average value within a range that can be set by the probability setting switch 45. Can be continued, and damage to the game arcade or trouble with the player can be prevented.

Then, in the next step 206, it is determined whether or not the value of the numerical value I of the mode determination counter 33 is equal to or greater than the final value set in step 204. If not, the mode determination counter is determined in step 208. The value I of 33 is incremented by one. If it is determined in step 206 that the numerical value I of the mode determination counter 33 is equal to or greater than the final value, the process proceeds to step 210, where the numerical value I of the mode determination counter 33 is set to 1 as an initial value. In this way, the mode determination counter 33 generates a mode determination numerical value that is sequentially incremented in the range from the initial value 1 to the final value at an arbitrary time after the power is turned on. The generation speed of the numerical value at this time is determined by the timing signal output from the timing signal generation circuit 42.

Similarly, at step 212, it is determined whether or not the value of the display symbol counter J corresponds to a hit. If it is determined that the value is out of range, the value of the display symbol counter J is determined to be out of value at step 214. When it is stored in each of the three digits of the memory 35 and is determined to be a hit, at step 216, the value of the display symbol counter J is stored in the hit numerical memory 3
6 is stored in each of the three digits. And the next step 2
At 18, it is determined whether the value of the counter J is 999 or not.
If it is not 9, the counter J is incremented by 1 at step 220. If it is determined in step 218 that the value of the counter J is 999, the process proceeds to step 222 and the value of the counter J is set to 0. Thus, every time the timing signal is input, the outlier value memory 35 stores the outlier display numerical value, and the hit value memory 36 stores the hit display numerical value. Note that the method of generating random numbers is not limited to the method described above.

(3) Main Program After the initial setting, each time an external interrupt signal output from the frequency divider 40 is input, the CPU 30 executes the main program shown in FIGS. In FIG. 2, a timer update process is performed in step 100, and in step 102, the state signals S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 of the switch group are read. These status signals are configured by negative logic, and when the signal is at a low level, the switch is in the ON state, indicating that a winning ball has been detected.

When the start winning signal is detected in step 104, it is determined in step 106 whether or not the number of reserved winning balls is smaller than 4. Only when the number is smaller, the starting winning counter C is set to 1 in step 108. Is updated, and the mode determination counter 33 at that time is
Is stored in the determination memory M (c) 33. That is, when a winning in the starting winning openings 4a to 4c is detected in a state where there is no pending winning ball, the starting winning counter C becomes 1, and the value of the mode determination counter 33 at that time is stored in the determination memory M (1). Is done. Further, when the start winning counter C is 1 or more, if the player wins further in the start winning ports 4a to 4c, the winning ball becomes a hold winning ball and the starting winning counter C is incremented by one. Then, the value of the mode determination counter 33 at the time of the winning is determined by the definite memory M corresponding to the held winning ball.
(c) is stored. In this way, the starting winning opening 4a ~
When the player wins 4c, a numerical value for determining the winning mode is determined.

Next, when a winning ball signal is detected in step 112, the winning ball counter G is updated by 1 in step 114, and when a V winning signal is detected in step 116, the V winning game is detected in step 118. Counter A
Is set to 1. When the value of the V winning counter A is set to 1, it indicates that the continuation right has been established.

The next steps 120 to 126 are as follows:
Step 1 is a processing step for determining each game state.
20 determines whether or not the symbol display device 22 is changing, step 122 determines whether or not the opening and closing members 23a and 23b are being opened, and step 123 determines that the continuation right is established. It is determined whether or not an interval set between the open cycle and the open cycle is present.
4 determines whether or not the game has entered the big hit game state before the start of the first opening cycle, and step 126 determines whether or not there is a starting winning memory. Hereinafter, each game state will be described separately.

(A) Processing when no winning prize ball is generated When no winning prize ball is generated, that is, at step 12
When it is determined as “NO” in 0 to 126, the processing of steps 100 to 126 and 180 to 184 is performed. Thus, when the starting winning ball has not been generated, the symbol display device 22 in step 180 stops displaying the predetermined symbol, and the operation lamp 1 in step 182.
3a to 14b perform a predetermined display in a normal game state. In step 184, the open / close SOL2
4 is OFF.

(B) Fluctuating operation processing of the symbol display device In step 126, when the value of the starting winning counter C is determined and a winning is detected, the value of the starting winning counter C is decremented by 1 to indicate the fluctuating operation state. The register F is set to 1, and the fluctuation timer T1 is set to a predetermined value (for example, 5 to 7 seconds) (steps 126 to 130). Then, as the start winning counter C is decremented in step 128, the content of the determination memory M (c) 37 is incremented and updated one by one in step 132. Next, in step 134, it is determined whether or not the timer T1 has timed out. Until the time is up, steps 100 to 120, 134,
The processing of 180 to 184 is repeated. Step 18 during this time
0, the symbol display device 22 is driven to perform variable display, and step 1 is executed.
At 82, the operation lamps 13a to 14b are driven for display in a predetermined mode in the variable game state.

When it is determined that the timer T1 has timed out, it is determined in step 136 whether or not a hit has occurred based on the numerical value stored in the determination memory M (0). For example, when the value of the mode determination counter 33 is “3”, it is determined that a hit has occurred, and when the value is any other value, it is determined that the hit has occurred. Then, the routine proceeds to step 138, and if it is not a hit, the routine proceeds to step 140, and the value of each digit of the outlier numerical value memory 35 storing the outlier display numerical value is set in the numerical value display registers X1, X2, X3. As a result, on the symbol display device 22, the out-of-range display numerical value stored in the out-of-range numerical value memory 35 is displayed. On the other hand, if it is a hit, the process proceeds to step 142, where the value of each digit of the hit value memory 36 storing the hit display numerical value is set in the numerical display registers X1, X2, X3. At 22, the hit display numerical value stored in the hit numerical value memory 36 is displayed. Step 140
After the end of the process, the process moves to step 180.

Next, after the big hit flag is set in step 144, a predetermined value, for example, 2 seconds, is set in the interval timer T2 in step 146. Steps 100 to 124, 148, and 180 to
When the interval timer T2 times out, the process proceeds to step 150 where the opening / closing members 23a and 23b are opened.

(C) Processing at the time of big hit If the result of determination at step 138 is a hit, after the interval timer T2 times out, "1" is set to the opening number counter at step 150, and the value of the register F is set at step 152. Is set to 2, the release time (for example, 30 seconds) is set in the release timer T3, and the release SOL flag is set. Steps 100 to 122, 154, 156, and 18 are performed until the timer T3 determines that the time is up in step 154, or until it is determined in step 156 that the number of winning balls in the opening / closing members 23a and 23b is ten.
The processing of 0 to 184 is repeated. During this time, in the processing of step 184 based on the setting of the open SOL flag,
The open / close solenoid 24 is turned on, and the open / close members 23a, 23
It is released until b reaches the time or until 10 winning balls are generated. Further, the lamp group is a display indicating the big hit game state.

When the timer T3 has timed out or when 10 winning balls have been generated, the opening cycle ends, and at step 158, the counter G is set to 0 and the opening SOL is opened.
Reset the flag. Also, the above-described step 100
122, 154, 156, and 180 to 184, when a winning ball is generated, the processing described below is performed, and the opening and closing members 23a and 23b are opened without generating the V winning ball. Is completed, at step 172, the V winning counter A is set to 0, the value of the register F is set to 0, the big hit flag is reset, and the big hit gaming state is ended. Even when the open / close members 23a, 23b are closed without generating a V winning prize ball, there is a possibility that the ball won just before the closing of the open / close members 23a, 23b enters the V winning opening 25. Therefore, it is preferable that the reception of the V prize be made valid until a predetermined time elapses after the opening is completed.

(D) Processing when a V Win Prize Ball Exists If a V win prize ball is present when the opening / closing members 23a and 23b are in the open state, the V prize counter A is set to 1 in step 118. Then, at the end of the open state of the opening / closing members 23a and 23b, the V winning counter A is
Is determined to be 1, the value of the register F is set to 3 in step 164 to indicate the generation of the continuation right. Next, at step 166, a predetermined value, for example, 2 seconds, is set in the interval timer T4. Steps 100 to 123, 168, 180 to 18 until the interval timer T4 set as described above times out.
Step 4 is repeated. Then, the interval timer T4
Is completed, the value of the V winning counter A is set to 0 in step 170 and the value of the continuation number counter L is updated. Then, the process proceeds to step 152, where the opening / closing member 23a,
The open cycle of 23b is repeated. However, continuation rights
The adjustment is made in step 160 so that the occurrence does not occur more than 16 times. That is, when the number of times of continuation becomes 16, the process proceeds to step 172, the V winning counter A is set to 0, the value of the register F is set to 0, the big hit flag is reset, and the big hit game state is set. To end.

(E) Processing after the end of the jackpot game state As described above, when there is no V winning in the open cycle or when the number of continuations ends 16 times and the jackpot game state ends, the processing of the step 172 is performed. After, step 1
At 74, the set value of the probability setting switch 45 is read, and at step 176, the read value and the set probability memory 3 are read.
It is determined whether the value stored in 8 is the same.
This is to monitor whether or not the setting value of the probability setting switch 45 has been illegally changed after the power is turned on. If they are not the same, the median value is stored in the set probability memory 38 in step 178, and if they are the same, the process proceeds to step 180 without performing such processing. As described above, even when the setting value of the probability setting switch 45 is changed due to fraud, the appearance probability of the big hit symbol is set to an average value within a range that can be set by the probability setting switch 45 and the game is continued. This can prevent damage to the game arcade or prevent trouble with the player.

The embodiment has been described above.
In the above-described embodiment, the range that can be changed by the probability setting switch is three stages. However, the range may be more or less, or may be changed and set in a stepless manner. Also, in the event of an accident or fraud, a set probability memory 3
The value updated to 8 does not necessarily have to be the median,
Any value may be used as long as it is within the change range. However, in consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of both the player and the game arcade, it is desirable to update the value to a substantially middle value between the upper limit and the lower limit. Note that the regular setting time of the probability setting switch does not have to be at the time of turning on the power, and for example, the probability setting switch may be normally operated only when a key switch provided together with the probability setting switch is operated. .

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, during the game, the value stored in the set probability storage means and the value set by the probability setting means are set.
The comparison is performed by comparison means for comparing with a predetermined regular set value . If the comparison results do not match, the stored value of the set probability storage means is updated by the update means to the center of the range which can be set by the probability set means. Is updated to the value
Even if the stored value of the set probability changes due to an accident such as program runaway or noise, or if an attempt is made to incorrectly set a probability different from that during normal operation, set the median value within the range that can be set by the probability setting means. The game can be continued, and damage to the game hall or trouble with the player can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit for controlling a game operation of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the game operation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the game operation.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing executed when power is turned on.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a numerical value generation process.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the game board of the pachinko machine according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22 symbol display device 30 microcomputer 38 setting probability memory (setting probability storage means) 45 probability setting switch (probability setting means)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A big hit game state can appear based on the display result of the symbol display device displaying a big hit symbol, and the appearance probability of the big hit symbol can be set and changed within a predetermined range. In a pachinko machine provided with a probability setting means, a setting probability storage means for storing an appearance probability set by the probability setting means by a normal operation, and a value stored in the setting probability storage means and the probability setting means during a game. Set by a predetermined
Comparing means for comparing a set value with a regular set value; and updating the stored value of the set probability storing means to a median value within a range which can be set by the probability setting means when a comparison result of the comparing means does not match. A pachinko machine comprising: