JP3503743B2 - 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, particularly a pachinko machine for playing by opening and closing a large winning device by launching a game ball into a game area and winning a prize in a starting device. Of gaming machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Prior arts related to gaming machines such as pachinko machines include, for example, "Pachinko machine" disclosed in JP-A-5-38380, "Pachinko machine with a pattern display device" disclosed in JP-A-6-319854, It is disclosed in "Pachinko machine" of Kaihei 6-319858, "Pachinko machine" of JP-A-8-318036, and the like.

Such a conventional game machine or pachinko machine has a substantially circular game area. In this game area, multiple winning devices, symbol actuation gates, starting devices,
It has a normal symbol display device, a special symbol display device, a special winning device, and the like. The game ball shot along the guide rails provided at the periphery of the game area is launched into the game area and flows down in the game area. When the game balls that flow down enter the prize winning device (or the big winning device), a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out to the player from the prize ball payout device inside the game machine.
On the other hand, when the game ball wins the symbol operation gate, the normal symbol display device displays "hit" or "out". "Win"
In the case of, for example, the rotary blade of the starting device is opened and closed to facilitate the winning of the game ball. Further, when the game ball wins the starting device, it controls the fluctuation of the special symbols such as numbers displayed in the plurality (for example, three) of the symbol display areas of the special symbol display device. Then, when the special symbol stopped and displayed after a predetermined time is a predetermined "big hit symbol", the above-mentioned big winning device is opened to facilitate a player's winning of a game ball. To On the other hand, among the game balls that flow down the game area, the game balls that did not win (or the out balls)
Are transferred to the outside of the gaming machine (for example, an island facility of a game arcade) through the outlet.

Here, the special symbol display device has a "time reduction" mode in which the time required until a "big hit" is shortened, thereby contributing to the profit of the player or eliminating dissatisfaction. According to the standard, this operating condition for shortening the time is allowed only in the following cases. (1) After the operation of the condition device, (2) after the operation of the condition device by the "big hit" in the special symbol, (3) at the time of the operation of the condition device, when the special symbol wins the lottery for shortening the time with low probability, (4) When the special symbol time is not shortened, and when the special symbol fluctuation ends, when the lottery for shortening the time is won,
(5) At the end of the condition device operation when the special symbol is a "time reduction symbol" big hit, (6) At the end of the condition device operation, when winning the lottery of the "time reduction determination symbol",

[0005]

However, in all cases, the time-reducing operation is started only at the timing associated with the "big hit" operation. The player is dissatisfied with the fact that this "time reduction" operation mode is not used for other purposes as well as for shortening the time required until "big hit". On the other hand, when the starting memory for storing the winning balls to the starting device is full or overflows, the player limits the firing of the game balls so as not to be disadvantageous. However, in this case, the operating rate of the game machine is reduced, which is disadvantageous to the game arcade. Therefore, in order to avoid the disadvantage when the starting memory becomes full (overflow), when the number of starting memories reaches a predetermined number, a rescue procedure for shortening the variation time and accelerating the digestion is disclosed in the above-mentioned conventional techniques and the like. There is.

However, in each of these conventional techniques, when the number of starting memories reaches a predetermined number, the change (or scroll) time of the special display symbol is shortened, and a new change is started more quickly, and the start is started. It is a remedy to make it easier for the memory to be digested. Then, when the starting memory is returned to less than the predetermined number, the rescue procedure is canceled. That is, it corresponds only to a state that occurs sporadically, and does not deal with the continuous changing condition in the game state thereafter.

Therefore, the present invention has been conceived in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine having an effect of suppressing the occurrence of overflow of starting memory in a relatively long range. To do.

[0008]

A gaming machine of the present invention is a starter capable of winning a game ball in a game area where a game ball is driven along a guide rail, and a variation control is performed by winning the starter. Of the symbol display device and this symbol display device
Predetermine the number of gaming balls won in the starting device during operation
The upper limit is stored as the upper limit, and
In the gaming machine comprising a starting memory device for displaying the number,
The number stored in the starting storage device is determined by the predetermined number.
When the number of games is high, game balls will win in the starting device.
Display unit that displays the time reduction judgment pattern that starts fluctuation
And the number stored in the starting storage device.
Is the predetermined number, the starter further
Based on the random number of the time judgment random number when the game ball wins
Then, the stop design of the display is determined, and the stop design is predicted.
If the design has been decided to win, winning the starter
The symbol display device displays until the number of times reaches the predetermined number of winnings.
Until the display symbol is confirmed after the variable display of the symbol is started.
It is to shift to the shortening mode that shortens the fluctuation time in .

In addition, the number of winnings to the starting device is predetermined
The game has transitioned to the shortened mode until the number of prizes has been reached.
A plurality of different values for the predetermined number of winnings depending on the stop symbol
It is shall switch to. Furthermore, the stop pattern is the preliminary
If it is decided in succession to the symbols that have been decided,
Compared to the shortened mode, it can reduce the fluctuation time further.
Ru Der things to shift to a reduction mode.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The configuration and operation of a preferred embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board of a preferred embodiment of a game machine according to the present invention. This gaming machine 10 has a substantially circular gaming area 20. In this game area 20, there is a guide rail 22 at the peripheral edge and an outlet 24 at the bottom. Also, in the game area 20, the winning device (or winning opening) 30, the left and right symbol operation gates 31, 32, the left and right sleeve winning device
33, 34, lower left and right winning devices 35, 36, normal symbol display device 40,
Starting memory device 41, special symbol display device 42, starting device 43, special winning device 44 and display section 50 for displaying the time reduction determination symbol
Is provided.

Here, the symbol operation gates 31, 32, the winning device
30 and 33 to 36 have openings for receiving the flowing game balls and detection switches for detecting the winning game balls and sending a detection signal to the control device. The normal symbol display device 40 is composed of, for example, three LED (light emitting diode) lamps. The starting storage device 41 is also composed of, for example, an LED lamp or the like, and displays the number of unprocessed winning balls that have won the starting device 43 by the number of LED lamps or the like. The special symbol display device 42 is composed of, for example, a color liquid crystal display panel,
For example, it has three special symbol display areas. In each special symbol display area, a special symbol composed of a plurality of predetermined numbers, letters or symbols (for example, numbers “0” to “11”) triggers the winning of the game ball to the starting device 43. Fluctuating or stopped as

Next, the operation of the gaming machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, when the game ball wins the starting device 43, the special symbol display device 42 operates, and the special symbol as described above starts changing. When the special symbol display device 42 is in operation and a game ball is won in the starting device 43, the winning game ball cannot be immediately processed and is stored and displayed in the starting storage device 41 for later processing. This starting storage device 41 is
With a predetermined number (hereinafter, assumed to be 4) as the upper limit,
As described above, the stored number is displayed or notified to the player by the LED lamp.

When the starting memory number of the starting memory device 41 is four, when a game ball is won in the starting device 43, an overflow state occurs. Therefore, a time display unit 50 for displaying the time shortening determination symbol constructing the main unit of the game machine according to the invention
The fluctuation of the shortening judgment pattern is started. In the specific embodiment of the gaming machine 10 according to the present invention shown in FIG.
The pattern is displayed on a display unit composed of a 7-segment display unit. However, it goes without saying that another display may be used as long as it is a display capable of displaying a plurality of symbols. Further, the display unit 50 for displaying the time reduction determination symbol is not a dedicated display device, but is also used as the special symbol display device 42 (or the normal symbol display device 40) described above, and even if a part of the display area is used. Good.

The time reduction determination pattern is, for example, "0"-
It is 10 symbols of "9". For example, the time reduction judgment pattern
When the stop symbol "3" is displayed on the display unit 50 for display, the "variation time" is changed from the "normal mode" to the "shortening mode" until the winning of the game ball to the starting device 43 becomes, for example, 20 times. Be changed. Further, for example, when the symbol “7” is displayed, the winning time to the starting device 43 thereafter is, for example, 50 times until the variation time is changed from “normal mode” to “shortening mode”
Is changed to. In this "shortening mode", the special symbol display device 42 only shortens the normal stop of "off", for example, from 9.0 seconds to 5.0 seconds, and does not shorten "big hit" or "reach of off". . Here, "outside reach"
For example, only two of the three special display symbols are in the same symbol in the “reach” state (“out” to expect “hit”).

Display unit 50 for displaying a time reduction determination pattern
Is triggered by the overflow of the starting storage device 40, the start variation, to Make <br/> constant display a predetermined stop symbols, for example, after 2 seconds. The stop symbol of this time reduction determination symbol is determined based on the random number value at the time when the overflow of the time determination random number consisting of a total of 10 frames of "0" to "9" occurs. And if this random number is "3", the time is shortened.
The stop symbol of the determination symbol is "3", and if the random number value is "7", the stop symbol is "7", and the random number value and the stop symbol correspond to each other. Here, the time reduction determination symbol is not stored.

Next, the stop design of the time reduction determination design,
In cases other than "3" and "7" described above, if an overflow of the starting storage device 41 occurs after that, the determination operation is started again. On the other hand, again save time determination symbol
When the stop symbol “3” or “7” is obtained, it is also possible to shift to the “ultra-shortening mode” in which the time is further shortened compared to the “time-shortening mode”.

In the "shortening mode", the special symbol display device 42
The time required from the start of fluctuation of the display pattern to the normal stop was shortened. On the other hand, in the "super shortening mode", if the elapsed time from when it is detected that the game ball has won the starting device 43 to when the variation of the special symbol is started becomes, for example, 2.5 seconds or more, 2.5. Seconds are shortened, and in normal stop, it is shortened to 2.5 seconds.

Table 2 shows examples of time settings in the "normal mode", "shortening mode" and "super-shortening mode" in various states.

[0020]

[Table 1]

As shown in Table 1, in the case of "normal stop", 9.0 seconds in "normal mode", 5.0 seconds in "shortening mode" and 5 seconds in "super shortening mode" .0
Seconds or 2.5 seconds. Also, in the case of "disengagement reach A", 15.0 seconds in the "normal mode", 15.0 seconds in the "shortening mode", and 5. in the "super shortening mode".
0 seconds or 2.5 seconds. In the case of "Out Reach B", 20.0 seconds in "Normal Mode", "Short Mode"
For 20.0 seconds and for "super shortening mode" 10.0
Seconds or 7.5 seconds. In the case of "disengagement reach C", 25.0 seconds in "normal mode", "shortening mode"
For 25.0 seconds and for "super shortening mode" 15.0
Seconds or 12.5 seconds. In the case of "disengagement reach D", 30.0 seconds in "normal mode", "shortening mode"
For 30.0 seconds and for "super shortening mode" 20.0 seconds
Seconds or 17.5 seconds.

On the other hand, in the case of "big hit reach E",
It is 20.0 seconds in the "normal mode", 20.0 seconds in the "shortening mode" and 10.0 seconds or 7.5 seconds in the "super shortening mode". In the case of "big hit reach F",
"Normal mode" 25.0 "Normal mode"
Seconds, 25.0 seconds in the "shortening mode" and 15.0 seconds or 12.5 seconds in the "super shortening mode". In case of "big hit reach G", "normal mode" 30.
0 seconds, 30.0 seconds in the "shortening mode" and 20.0 seconds or 17.5 seconds in the "super shortening mode".

The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention have been described above in detail. However, such an embodiment is merely an example of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any way. Various modifications and changes can be made according to the specific application without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
In addition, the "shortening mode" and "super shortening mode" described above
Is not necessarily limited to the finite number of times as described above. However, considering the wave of the winning state of the game ball to the starting device, if the time shortening mode is activated when the winnings to the starting device are sparse, the operating time of the special symbol display device decreases too much, and the playing time Occurrence time of the fluctuation of the pattern occupying in the inside decreases, and the player may be amusement on the contrary. Therefore, it is preferable to limit the time to a relatively short time, so that the balance of the whole game can be easily secured.

[0024]

As can be understood from the above description, the gaming machine of the present invention can bring about the following notable practical effects. That is, in gaming machines such as pachinko machines, there is a wave in the winning state of the game ball to the starting device,
In some cases, the player may not win the prize for a long time, or once the player starts winning the prize, he or she will win the prize in quick succession, and the starting storage device will soon overflow. When this overflow occurs, it is in an optimal state to enjoy the effect of shortening the variation time of the special display symbol, and also when the player feels the necessity. By grasping this timing and providing an appropriate game state to the player, the player does not dislike the occurrence of overflow and the game is continued. As a result, it is advantageous for the player as well as the operating rate of the gaming machine is improved, which is advantageous for the management of the gaming hall.

Furthermore, if an overflow condition occurs even in the above-mentioned "shortening mode", it is also possible to shift to the "super-shortening mode" for shortening the time required to confirm the special symbol display device, that is, stop display. . This makes it possible to further enhance the interest of the player.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a game board front view of a preferred embodiment of a game machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Gaming machine 20 Gaming area 22 Guide rail 24 Outlet 41 Starting memory device 42 Design display device 43 Starting device 44 Big prize device 50 Display unit for displaying time reduction judgment design

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] And wherein 1, wherein the gaming area where a game ball along a guide rail is driven gaming ball prize available starting device,
Symbol display device that is variably controlled by winning the start device
And, during the operation of this symbol display device, win the starter
Store the number of game balls with a predetermined number as the upper limit
With, in the gaming machine comprising <br/> a start memory device for displaying the number of the the stored, determined the number stored in the start-up storage device said pre
When the number of games is high, game balls will win in the starting device.
Display unit that displays the time reduction judgment pattern that starts fluctuation
And the number stored in the starting storage device is predetermined.
When the number of games has reached a certain number, more game balls are won in the starting device.
Based on the random value of the time judgment random number at the time of
The figure in which the stop symbol is determined and the stop symbol is predetermined
If it is a pattern, the number of winnings to the starting device is the predetermined winning number
Until the number of times, the symbol display device displays a variation table of symbols
Change time from the start of display until the display symbol is confirmed
A game machine characterized by shifting to a shortening mode for shortening . 2. The number of winnings to the starting device is a predetermined number of winnings.
The mode has been shifted to the shortened mode until the number reaches a certain number, and the predetermined number of times of winning is different according to the stop symbol.
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is switched to a value . 3. The stop symbol is the predetermined symbol
If it is continuously determined in
Then shift to ultra-shortening mode to further reduce the fluctuation time
The gaming machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that cause.